Am I a Revolution?

TOP CHEF 7

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:16:00 +0000

So, i have been thinking about doing this for quite some time... and after some prayer, and not so subtle nudging... i am going to apply for TOP Chef season 7.

Seriously if you haven't seen the show, one of the best displays of new culinary talent that is on TV. As soon as Chris get back in town we are going to shoot our 5 min audition video, and i am just finishing the 28 page application.

who knows, might make it on there... wouldn't that be crazy! So send out your prayers, if this is supposed to happen, than lets do it. If not, well... we will just have to see!

have you checked out my Chefs blog Lately?

a word

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:47:00 +0000

My mornings start out like most mornings, i wake up to Annsley's voice over the baby monitor saying "Daggy... 'ere are you" like clock work at 7:15am. I get her out of bed with he 52 million blankets (her newest obsession), fix her breakfast (this morning "blue" cinnamon toast... which is not blue at all... don't ask... i don't know), i hop in the shower, eat, dress, go to work.

Each morning over the last year and a half i have been making it a practice to pray over my family on my way to work... this means i dont turn on 620 WDAE, or my latest audio book... but i pray for the things of God to fill us, protect us, and against the things or schemes of the enemy.

The last couple of days i have been feeling this closeness to God in my car... i don't know why... but i do.

this morning i made my way to Mike and Emily's new house to meet with them for their wedding which is this saturday. After an hour of good conversation, a cinnamon bagel, and a good cup of coffee...Mike, Emily, our good friends Joey and Niki and myself took the time to pray for this weekend.

Which is a HUGE story... Mike and Emily got divorced almost 2 years ago... and God took something horribly broken and has reshaped it into something so beautifully broken. As we were praying i couldn't help remember all the conversations, tears, questions, prayers that God used to lead them to this place of redemption.

I am so honored that i got to be apart of this morning... to see friends... to laugh, cry (yes i am a crier) to pray with people who are choosing to live a different way... the way of Love, of forgiveness given and received, of suffering and sacrifice, of second place, of Joy and sorrow intermingled, of purpose, of confidence and questions, of mystery and hope... people who are choosing to follow the way of Jesus.

After this celebration, Niki said she felt that God was speaking a word over me... She said "thoroughbred". Which in my mind has huge thoughts attached to it... not just my love of horses (which she has no clue about).

So i am asking God today to speak to this word... what does this mean... i am praying for the promises that God gave my family will come to be, and i am filled with an overwhelming richness today.

How did this not make the top 3

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:10:00 +0000

So i am a little bummed, a couple of months ago Davey and I were given the info about the St.Pete Song Contest from Chris and Charity here at Element.

The basic idea was to write a song that would become the official Song of St. Petersburg. This song could be used in advertising, commercials, websites... So when we began the writing process we decided it would be best to write it with those avenues in mind.

After a week of tweaking... i got to say we were both pretty pumped about it. It has a great hook, it have the commercial relevance that we were going for, and a ton of energy.

"This is my City"

so today they announced the top 3... and as i bet you can imagine... we did not make it.

Now granted this whole recording was done on our Mac, with no external mics... so the recording in Ok...

I guess i am more bummed that it was passed over for 3 songs that sound alike (classic island rock) and that will continue to describe it as a sleep beach town, instead of a burgeoning art, music, and sports community.

All in All, i wish them the best... We spoke with some people from the office during the competition who were incredibly helpful and who has such a great sense of welcoming.

but any city's out there who want a killer new tune to use for their marketing... just let us know.

New Bumper

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:41:00 +0000

Hey guys, here is the Killer Bumper that Chris and Melody made for our new series "Utopia", if you would like it... just ask and there are many more cool videos that we are doing for this series.

I freaking love EPIC series!!!

wow...

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:49:00 +0000

So, i am not gonna lie... i google my name. Don't act so surprised you know you do it do. What came up today was a blast from the past. Besides the fact that my cheeks we significantly more chubby... i came across a video of a song i wrote about Jill and I... and i wrote it for my sisters wedding almost 5 years ago.

I was having coffee this morning with one of our element guys, he was sharing about some of the HUGE painful things that are going on in their marriage... and i feel like most our generation has not been taught how 2 become 1.

Sadly we learn it out the hard way, or hurt the very one who is supposed to be completing us, to the point of no return.

When i heard this song (which i haven't sung since... to be honest i completely forgot that i even wrote it), i had HUGE amounts of memories, some good, some painful, some still in process of our first couple years of marriage.

If i only knew then what i know now, right.

If you can look past the cheeks, and the pour audio recording... i think this song might speak to you like it spoke to me again.

Chef Bobby

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:13:00 +0000

So i have my next big Chefs Table Wed September 30th at Chefs on the Loose here in Tampa. If you are looking for a great date, some killer food (if i do say so myself) and a fun time in one of Tampa's coolest places... well then i think you should come.

Check out my Chef's Blog, make sure you RSVP (seating is limited) and i hope to see you there.

Resonate

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:10:00 +0000

i will let Paul talk to you just as he did with me today...

Romans 4

Trusting God

^1-3 So how do we fit what we know of Abraham, our first father in the faith, into this new way of looking at things? If Abraham, by what he did for God, got God to approve him, he could certainly have taken credit for it. But the story we're given is a God-story, not an Abraham-story. What we read in Scripture is, "Abraham entered into what God was doing for him, and that was the turning point. He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own."

^4-5If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.

^6-9David confirms this way of looking at it, saying that the one who trusts God to do the putting-everything-right without insisting on having a say in it is one fortunate man:

Fortunate those whose crimes are carted off,
whose sins are wiped clean from the slate.
Fortunate the person against
whom the Lord does not keep score.
Do you think for a minute that this blessing is only pronounced over those of us who keep our religious ways and are circumcised? Or do you think it possible that the blessing could be given to those who never even heard of our ways, who were never brought up in the disciplines of God? We all agree, don't we, that it was by embracing what God did for him that Abraham was declared fit before God?

^10-11Now think: Was that declaration made before or after he was marked by the covenant rite of circumcision? That's right, before he was marked. That means that he underwent circumcision as evidence and confirmation of what God had done long before to bring him into this acceptable standing with himself, an act of God he had embraced with his whole life.

¹²And it means further that Abraham is father of all people who embrace what God does for them while they are still on the "outs" with God, as yet unidentified as God's, in an "uncircumcised" condition. It is precisely these people in this condition who are called "set right by God and with God"! Abraham is also, of course, father of those who have undergone the religious rite of circumcision not just because of the ritual but because they were willing to live in the risky faith-embrace of God's action for them, the way Abraham lived long before he was marked by circumcision.

^13-15That famous promise God gave Abraham—that he and his children would possess the earth—was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God's decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when he believed. If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract! That's not a holy promise; that's a business deal. A contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect. But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise—and God's promise at that—you can't break it.

¹⁶This is why the fulfillment of God's promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God's promise arrives as pure gift. That's the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it, those who keep the religious traditions and those who have never heard of them. For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father—that's reading the story backward. He is our faith father.

^17-18We call Abraham "father" not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn't that what we've always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, "You're going to have a big family, Abraham!"

^19-25Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." But it's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.

Lost Books

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:12:00 +0000

So, over the years i have become quite a reader... and in that i have gathered quite a bit of books. Because i am so quick to geek out over a book, and i want people to read it and likewise get inspired by it... i loan books out.

But here is one thing that has not chance... my library is not organized... not even close.

So i thought i would put this out there, that if you have borrowed a book, or if i forced the book on you... (unless i gave you the book, in which case that was a gift) can you let me know that you have it.

If you are reading it... no worries, take your time. If you are done, send it back my way so i can share the inspiration with more people.

I should really get more organized... insert over exaggerated nod from my wife here.

Speaking of books... if you want to know what i am getting excited about right now, check out Calvin Millers Symphony Trilogy!!!! Some one should do an audio book of that!

I think this is so freaking cool!

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:25:00 +0000

So for all of you who have been following our series at element called Joshua, i just came across something seriously creative, not to mention a lil graphic... that might help you understand (from a visual standpoint) what happened!!!

Seriously awesome... check out the circumcision page!

The Brick Testament

Our First House church meeting... man has it been that long

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 20:07:00 +0000

I came across these pictures of our very first meeting as Element Church, this was over a year ago... and i guess as this week we celebrate our 1 year anniversary of our gatherings, its only fitting to know that they would never have happened without our house churches!

Reading List

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:15:00 +0000

So i love to read, sometimes with actual book and paper... and others through the magic of I-tunes or Audible.com. None the less, reading is a huge part of my life as a dreamer and a leader.

I wanted to share with you some of the books that i have been reading that have been rocking my world... both as a follower of christ and as a story junkie.

Divine Commodity

Walking with God

Tipping Point

The Singer Trilogy (thanks to Lisa for this gem of a find)

Down River

the Last Child

All of the Inheritance Cycle (guilty epic read)

Let me know your thoughts... and Happy reading!

WE ARE ELEMENT

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:09:00 +0000

so, i have been crazy busy as of lately... pretending to be a general contractor for the warehouse project, a husband, daddy, a pastor, administrator, and to my surprise... and artist.

Now i know I AM an artist, but i didn't think i would be in the studio... let alone one as amazing as Tropic Sound... let me explain.

Over the last few months the Element Band has been writing, and recording worship songs for Element. One of our ideas was to use the money from a CD or a Download to help with the build out of the new kids Warehouse.

Needless to say, the project turned out greater than i could have imagined!

and now all we need is you to help.

the Download is only 7$ and every penny will go to providing a place for our kids... we have the chord charts up there for free, so you can use the tunes in your church too.

I am asking for some HUGE favors here... i need you to please pray about purchasing this EP and in turn partnering with an almost 1 year old church plant!

go to WE ARE ELEMENT , I hope you enjoy the songs, they are a refection of where God has been leading and shaping us as Element

This is my assignment

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:49:00 +0000

Way too Long

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:31:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:21:00 +0000

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!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:48:00 +0000

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:

14!

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

Big weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:52:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:25:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:03:00 +0000

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:

Our First Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:14:00 +0000

So this week has seemed jammed packed... i moved my office next the the christmas storage and the baptism pool, i have been working my butt off on MOTION (which is just 3 weeks away), and i have been prepping for Element's first Easter service.

Normally around this time of year we would working on a mailer/flyer/marketing piece... or i would be running ragged trying to be ultra creative in my planning for a Sunday service, or spending a lot of money on add campaigns... but not this year.

One, i don't really know if any of that works... or in the long run really matters. I am wondering if we will have a bunch of newbies this easter, (being that our only advertisement is on facebook) and i am wondering if "a bunch" if what we are really looking for.

What i have been chewing on is what if our people invite people that they have relationships with, that they do life with, and that they actually know. I think inviting someone to our gathering that way would have way more influence or potential for anything we say or do to actually matter or stick.

I consider my self a creative, and Element is full of creatives (incredible brilliant minds)... but impressing someone with our religious inspiration rarely (if ever) translates into a God that is tangible. If we say that God is real, that our lives here are a part of HIS story... then i think what would matter most is if we were just our real selves... not the polished Christmas and Easter selves.

I have a couple people i would like to invite to check out our Element gathering... and i am hoping that because of our relationship they would see it is not some religious sales pitch... but as a friend who is sharing a very real part of my life.

So i am curious as to what our first Easter will look like, i know that we have not done anything really out of the ordinary... we are looking at the resurrection from a personal angle, we are going to sing a song that has been really resonating with in some of us, and Chris is making a pretty killer video... i think we are just going to be ourselves... and let the hospitality, and simplicity of our call speak for itself.

If you think about us, please keep us and our city in your prayers... it is my Hope that people will find a place they can be apart of... grow in... and fall in love with God.

I'll keep you posted.

Out of the Blue

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:57:00 +0000

Sunday afternoon i was in Dover performing a wedding ceremony at cross creek ranch, when i was informed of the passing of Nate's Dad. I fist met Tim, when Nate and i started a band called Jesus Shoes, which eventually and thankfully became 9 years waiting. Tim was a constant source of support and encouragement, he spoke truth and blessings over our music, and over our lives.

I can't remember a single time where when we left the stage that Tim didn't speak life into us. He was one of those guys... you know a contagious encouragement.

A couple years ago i went to visit him in the hospital as we recovering from a stoke... and it wasn't just 5 months ago that i saw him worshiping God and beaming with pride as Nate launched his newest dream Insideout (a killer student missions experience).

It is comforting to know that we will most definitely see Tim again, but it is still sad to know the void he has left. Please pray for Nate and his brothers Josh and Silas... and for Nate's mom Pam.

Nate is the guy who built our stage for us here at Element, a friend for over 12 years, and a brother who could use some encouragement right about now.

If you would like to send you love the memorial service will be Saturday April 4th

at Revival Outreach Center (ROC) At 225 N. Dover Rd Dover, FL 33527 At 4pm

Chef Bobby

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:37:00 +0000

Ok, so most of you know that i am a foodie, and know how much i love to create in the kitchen. Well a couple of weeks ago i created my new Chef Bobby Blog, and have been loving sharing with you my thoughts and weekly creations.

I want to invite all of you to and eat my food, now before you start making your way over to my house, and before Jill starts panicking about the toys on the floor and the laundry thats still in the dryer... it not here.

I have been invited to do a Chefs Table at Chefs on the Loose here in Hyde Park. The idea is it is kind of like a live, hands-on gourmet cooking show. After you have satisfied your culinary curiosity, you will leave armed with the recipes and the know-how to make my inspirations yours.

If you would like to register (and i hope you do) go to Chefs on the Loose and they will make sure you are on the list. There is a 25 person limit, so please hurry up. The date is Thursday night April 23rd, it will be a great date with great food, and some pretty awesome friends.

See you there!

NEW READ!!

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:29:00 +0000

Wow, Alan Hirsch is the freaking man!!! Check out his new book "Re-Jesus" i would be interested to hear your thoughts. Big read that is for sure... really gets the thoughts flowing.

SPREAD THE WORD

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:01:00 +0000

Part of this idea of being the church is to bear the burdens of each other, to be inventive in hospitality, and to help. Good friends and fellow members of Element Grant and Hannah are in the process of adopting thier first child... and knowing both the stress and the financial strain i can't help but think the people that call themselves the church CAN help.

Please if you think about it pass this flyer out, come check out the benefit show, and we are looking to be inventive in our hospitality... and ultimately our investment into the future of this movement we call the church!

For more info check out The Heart of Adoption

High Flight Society will be in town from Nashville, and two of our local bands Beyond Ariose and Despite Distance are giving their time and their rock fists to this nobel cause!

Hope to see you at the show!

From all angles...

noreply@blogger.com (Bobby) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:21:00 +0000

So seriously, the last couple of days have felt like i have been under some major attack. now i don't know if it is because i have been reading a book that has caused me to think more about spiritual things, but over the last couple days i feel like i have been getting it from all angles...

Let me explain...

Annsley is out 17 month old daughter, really she is amazing... smart, funny, out-going, and since day one she has been a really good sleeper.

Over the last couple of nights (4-5) Anns has been waking up multiple times crying, I don't know if it is a bad dream, bad Chinese food (we are not really feeding here spicy asian cuisine), or what. But you know this as well as i do... if she is crying, then we are up. Sometimes she will get herself back to sleep on her own, but not last night.

We had our normal routine, bath, playtime, brush teeth, and cuddle on daddy's lap while we watch her "shows". Only this time she screamed bloody murder when ever we tried to put her in her crib. This wasn't the normal "i don't want to go to sleep" cry... it felt like something more.

finally she went to sleep, but at 2:30am she woke to screaming again... only she could not console herself. Needless to say Jill and i didn't get too much sleep last night.

To add to the weirdness of the Anns, over the past 6-7 nights i have been having weird dreams, the kind that wake me up multiple times a night... which coupled with Annsley have left me restless.

Sometimes the dreams are scary, sometimes that are just weird... but i cant help feeling that they are not internal.

So i pray, but the dreams and the sleeplessness keep coming back.

Sunday morning was the first time in the history of Element that i felt so under attack that i couldn't think straight.

It all started when a good buddy of mine slept through his alarm (he has a baby that was up all night too), normally that wouldn't have been the biggest deal... but i needed him to help me set up the Baptism pool.

So there i was, trying to get the pool inflated, filled, and not leaking... all before the band showed up at 8. Which meant i was in fix it, git-er-done, control mode. Practice was weak... not because of the band (these guys are freaking incredible) but because my head was not in it, i missed out on the prayer time before because i was behind on everything else... so i opted to run through my message again, set out signs, and fix a leak that had let out 20-30 gallons of water! Frustrating!!!!

By the time we took the stage to lead our church in worship... my head was far from being in the right place.

So i wasn't satisfied with the music, i felt extra vulnerable because i was imagining the thoughts going through people heads like: "Man, Bobby is off today" or "i wonder what that other church is like".

(As i just wrote that i feel like a ton of bricks just hit me in the head... how messed up are those thoughts.)

Baptism went great, people cheered and prayed for the Carly, Lucy and Marcos... someone even put an inflatable shark in the water (they know i am deathly afraid of the pool sharks).

there was so much reason for celebration... but i felt like my chest was going to cave in... i didn't feel like myself at all.

I know i brought this home with me... as much as i kept praying i feel like i couldn't quite shake it... of course it bleeds into my family and the next thing i know Jill and i are into it.

I have been through spiritual attack before, so i wonder why this one caught me so off guard... even when i sensed it was happening i don't know why i just didnt grab the guys and ask them to pray over me... is it because i feel i have to be strong to lead? is it because i feel weird asking for peoples attention?

What ever the reason i, we, can't afford to let it go.

So i am asking... please pray for my family, our rest, for peace and clarity. Please pray for protection against the things we do not see... and please... if you see me trying to pretend like i have it in control, but clearly you know i am frazzled... do not let me leave with out praying with me.

what happened this weekend was not a horrible service (in fact aside from a song or two i thought God really spoke to us), but what happened was i felt like my joy was stolen... i missed out on the chance to celebrate, and to have peace with Jill and Anns as well as my Element family.