This is my assignment

Way too Long

So it has been way too long... sorry for the last of posting. 

I just got home from a week with some INCREDIBLE students at ODEGO Student Camp in Cocoa Beach. The week was awesome, i felt like God was stretching all of us as leaders, and then all of the students in the way they wrestled with the unknowing part of following christ.

The week was entitled "Story", ( and i didn't even pick it... some of you what an epic junkie i am) and i went through the narrative of Solomon (special thanks to my good buddy Rabbi Bob)... his rise to fame, and His crash and burn... and what this means for us.

For the first time i taught in a 4 part native to High-school students, wasn't sure if they would connect all the dots, if they would wrestle with the tension, and if they would see the bigger picture.

But to my surprise... wow... what a HUGE success.

I brought Jill and Annsley with me... although we did have fun, and Anns loved the "Kids", the Music, and the pool... taking a toddler to a hotel for a week is never restful!

This morning our House Church pitched in to do a Yard Sale to help raise some money for good friends of ours who are in the final stages of the adoption process... hoping to have baby Landon here soon!

I am worn the heck out... but Looking forward to a packed day with Element, the Tampa Rays, and dinner with the In-Laws.

Home

So Jill, Annsley and I just returned home after a few days in New Palatine Indiana... not going to lie, If Jill had never lived there before... i would not have known it existed. The weather was perfect... a perfect 70 degrees, which seemed taylor made for all the wedding festivities (BBQ, Touch football, and one epic Corn hole tournament).

Besides visiting a new town, their were a few other firsts to add to this weeks list of things.
Before heading out to INDY, the Element Band and i started recording 3 new worship tunes over at Tropic Studios with producer/genius/friend Steve Swenson. I have known steve for what seems like forever, dating all the way back when we almost recorded 9years waiting's 2nd record there (instead opting to follow the dismal advice of our manager, and not record there).

For all the people i have recommended Tropic to, i never myself have had the pleasure. WOW, would be the understatement of the year.

Seriously some of the most sought after talented and down to earth people, coupled with some of the industries most coveted gear is adding up to be a match made in heaven. I can't wait to hear what the guys have been laying down while i have been away.

Annsley, was a champ as she took to flight for the first time ever (although i am sure the kids benadryl helped a little), even during the turbulence and the crazy stomach turning landing she rocked it.

I had a conference call with the NGA about a project that has been brewing for our city, that looks like it might be GROWing into something much bigger than i have ever dreamed of.

On top of all of that stuff, this week was the first weekend i have not been at Element since we started gathering 9 months ago. To be honest i thought i would worry more... but in reality, not at all. There is something HUGE that happens when you have incredible people who take ownership in a vision... it no longer is just about me.

I was so proud to hear (from multiple people) how great Davey, Ashely, and Caleb lead everyone in worship, and how on point Grant was with he Message. But i think more than just the stage things... i love the fact that we did not take a vacation from being a church, when i was on vacation.

People still loved, still lead, still served, and still gave... and i am not just talking about Sunday either.

Granted this weekend i got way less sleep, i have an enormous amount of peace.

Its great to get away, and unplug for a moment... to lust over the great weather, and enjoy some time and space with family in the middle of corn fields... but i am glad to be home... and i don't just mean our house...

but here... i am, for too many reasons to count, glad to be here.

14, 14, 14, 14!!!

So my 19 month old is WAY smarter than her daddy... i could attribute it to by dormant genius gene that i never really tapped into, or maybe even the fact Jill took good vitamins when she was pregnant... but really i think it has allot to do with these DVD's we bought for her.

The other day i heard Annsley count above 10, and although she has mastered the first 10 numbers, she ventured into a whole new world. She hasn't mastered it by any calculators standard but i think it is pretty darn cute!

She counted like this:

10

11

12

14

14

14

14

14!

Sounds like math to me... wait, maybe she did take after me after all!!!

Big weekend...

So yeah, this weekend was pretty much HUGE. We had the launch of MOTION, which was everything and nothing like i expected it to be.

Friday night was pretty stressful... there we definitely variables that we were not expecting. Logistics, personalities, and a few unmet expectations... but still it was a good night. The films, the volunteers, and the Production went seamless. Everyone seemed pleased, people felt welcome... it was good.

I was not as pleased with the turnout on friday as i guess i had expected to be... but that was probably the best thing anyways. There are definitely times that success after successes leads to an unhealthy dependancy on your own strength or will.

Driving home around 12:30 that night God allowed me to see the way HE succeeded that night... and for the love, right... we freaking nailed everything.

Saturday... i had a huge peace. I got to spend some time with Bryan and Jen Timmerman before they headed back to the east coast... seriously some of the coolest people i know, and great friends to boot.

That evening i arrived at the theater along with the rest of our team... we were calm, cool, and we now had one night under out belt. 

The night was perfect, the volunteers again were INCREDIBLE (Element people freaking rock!), the films were great, and the place was packed.

I had this feeling that Sunday's gathering was going to be something "thick" i don't really expect you to know what i mean by that other than... something was so evident that you could feel it, it was sensed, or maybe that i had this stick aroma of a fresh opened jar of peanut butter... lingering the entire time.

and just like i thought it was... there was a huge sense of energy, emotion... and family. I don't know... it was just God i guess. Which totally bleed over into our House Church Leader "Talk back meeting". there was a diffusion of ideas, incredible stories, not gonna lie LeEllen made me tear up, and this synergy... man was there ever synergy.

So, it was a big weekend... i am a lil worn out... but i just finished a great brian storming meeting for some creative Element stuff coming up

On the Eve of another dream

So i am a serial dreamer... (enter exhausted groan from the MRS here), some of you might know about CANVAS and how that has been able to make a HUGE impact in our art community here in Tampa. Mike D and i dreamed about a church making an investment and creating a platform for artist that aren't in a church. 

Not in the hopes to convert them, not in an effort to preach to them, but to make a friendship, to do what it takes to earn trust... and to ultimately leave our city better than we found it. What a cooler way to do that than to invest in a community of inspiration... these artists are the ones who have the power to bring beauty and life in so many ways to our city.

So kind of a phase two (that sounds too technical or planned out), is MOTION... our film festival. And incredible group of friends and dreamers have been working with me to plan this event. May 1-2 Channelside cinemas 8pm-10:30pm. 

I was sitting this morning with Brand Tampa founder Julia Gorzka and she was asking me why... why do we do what we do. I have been thinking allot about that lately... i know how much crap i get for epic lingo, and for some of the "catch phrases" that i seem to say... but all of it is true... its real. 

If we claim to be followers of Christ... then we would naturally leave a path of light, and life where ever we go. That is apart of our spiritual makeup if you will... i mean think about it right. We are supposed to have "Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, and Self-Control" so wouldn't that be something that would naturally make our cities a more beautiful place.

Not that we are not supposed be/do these things to announce or to promote that we are doing them... but i think they become a by product of following Jesus.

I don't know if the artists, or the film makers of Tampa will come to Element one day, or any church for that matter... that is not really my intention with the festival... but i hope that they will see that people who love God, and go to church... love those who don't.

Maybe they will see us as givers not takers, those who reveal the God colors and Flavors of this world... not yelling at the absence of them.

I think that is what Jesus would have done...

So.... i ask you to pray for MOTION, come to motion... do not be offended if the film were are showing don't line up with your lifestyle (thats not what this is about to start with), but pray for our film makers, support THEM as children of God... lets write another chapter in this legacy, and lets leave our city a little brighter.

I am excited!!! 

Thoughts on todays Message

So Lisa sent me this... man, this will make you think.

"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please.

Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine.

I don't want enough of Him to make me love a black man or pick beets with a migrant.

I want ecstasy, not transformation.

I want the warmth of the womb not a new birth.

I want about a pound of the eternal in a paper sack.

I'd like to buy $3 worth of God, please."--- Wilbur Reese: