Here’s a First

I’ve never written about politics on this blog (and I may never again). To be honest I’m not a big political guy (probably because I can’t actually vote here in the US. Though I do encourage people to exercise their right to vote). However the events of the last 24 hours have been intriguing. Especially from a marketing, spin, communication perspective. You have Senator Obama at Invesco Field, pyrotechnics, glitz and glamor tweaking his message to focus more on the blue collar American rather than the younger voter that he’s been attracting (that according to most of the news outlets). Senator McCain puts an ad on TV congratulating Senator Obama on his candidacy. The morning after… no one was talking about the biggest acceptance spectacle ever. They were talking about a little know 44 year old governor from the remotest state in the Union, a tough, hockey playing, mother of five (her last child born in April with Down Syndrome) who’s quietly getting things done in Alaska – Sarah Palin.

Talk about stealing the limelight. Talk about change. Talk about 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling. I can’t vote, and I’m not a political junkie and I’m NOT making any political statement in this post… But this was a pretty incredible, and saavy, communication move on the part of the McCain camp. From a communication perspective. I’d say there are some pretty sharp people who are prepared to make some bold moves in the McCain camp. Not sure who’ll win this race, but one thing is sure – there’s been some incredible communication maneuvering on both sides. And while it’s fun to watch, sometimes I think it really clouds things.

Friendships

Yesterday was an awesome day… had lunch with Brian Howe and spent some time with Josh Brower. I love making new friends and I have to tell you that these two guys are incredible men. They pastor at two of the most incredible churches here in the Capital Region. Brian over at Northway and Josh at Lifechurch.tv. I love the fact that God’s doing incredible things in many fantastic churches around the region and we’re in this thing together. These are genuine friends, sincere in their support and encouragement and committed in their prayers for one another. If you live in the Capital District and you’re looking to discover and experience God there are some incredible churches. I want to encourage you check out Northway, check out Lifechurch.tv, check out Cornerstone. Check out one of the many incredible churches in the area. These two guys are my friends! I know at Northway and Lifechurch.tv (and I’m sure at many others) you’ll find incredible people with a passion to serve and help you. I’m thanking God for these kinds of friendships and the opportunity to serve this region together.

We say it all the time at Cornerstone – God hasn’t designed us to go through life alone, it’s about partnering one with another. I’m honored that I get to partner with some incredible people in our church, both here in Albany and Utica, and with some fantastic and genuine people at some great churches here in town. It’s not just the partnership, it’s the friendship that means so much!

Friendships

Yesterday was an awesome day… had lunch with Brian Howe and spent some time with Josh Brower. I love making new friends and I have to tell you that these two guys are incredible men. They pastor at two of the most incredible churches here in the Capital Region. Brian over at Northway and Josh at Lifechurch.tv. I love the fact that God’s doing incredible things in many fantastic churches around the region and we’re in this thing together. These are genuine friends, sincere in their support and encouragement and committed in their prayers for one another.

If you live in the Capital District and you’re looking to discover and experience God there are some incredible churches. I want to encourage you check out Northway, check out Lifechurch.tv, check out Cornerstone. Check out one of the many incredible churches in the area. These two guys are my friends! I know at Northway and Lifechurch.tv (and I’m sure at many others) you’ll find incredible people with a passion to serve and help you. I’m thanking God for these kinds of friendships and the opportunity to serve this region together.

We say it all the time at Cornerstone – God hasn’t designed us to go through life alone, it’s about partnering one with another, we designed to do life together. I’m honored that I get to partner with some incredible people in our church, both here in Albany and Utica, and with some fantastic and genuine people at some great churches here in town. It’s not just the partnership, it’s the friendship that means so much!

It’s here!

College football season is finally here! Unbelievable and looking forward to fun filled Saturday watching football. Hoping to experience my first east coast college football game (Oct 18 VT v Boston College). So much passion. So much drama. And then of course there’s the east coast bias. Oh I just made some of my east coast friends mad. But I’m an east coaster I can say it. How will Oregon do with a new quarterback? Is Georgia really that good? heir whole line is playing in new positions. Here we go! There’s the LA rivalry heating up between USC and UCLA and then of course there’s Tim and Amanda Massie and their wild and crazy support of Virgina Tech. Yeepeeeee.

And the winner is…

Thanks to everyone who emailed me about the give away of Mark Batterson’s book, Wild Goose Chase. There were a number of compelling stories, but there’s one couple who’s story has been awesome to watch unfold over the last number of months… God has apprehended them and now they’re pursuing God’s purpose with everything you’ve got. So congratulations and Jason & Natasha!

Allow God to pop the bubble wrap!

I’m sure you’re probably aware of the whole Mike Guglielmucci (author of the Healer song) episode and while it’s sad what has happened, there’s a grace that I’m sure Mike’s experiencing as he gets the help he needs and God can still anoint a song regardless of the messenger. The blogosphere has been passionately abuzz with opinion and comments about the story. But this morning I stumbled across this post, and it added fuel to a fire that I’ve been investigating in my own soul. What am I allowing in my life to ruin me for the cause of Christ? Or have I so bubble wrapped my life that I’m insulated from “feeling” anything too deeply and as a result not moved to do anything too outta the boat. Rather moved to play it safe and live in balance.

I’ve always been inspired and challenged by Royce and Elizabeth Iverson. A couple who many would say had everything going their direction and living a great life in Portland, Oregon. However they were ruined for the cause of Christ when they allowed themselves to see things from an eternal perspective. I remember Royce on many occasions telling me, “all this stuff won’t mean a thing in heaven. I’ve only got one life to live and I don’t want to get to the end of my life and have regrets.”The ruining had begun. And it would radically change the trajectory of their life – they quit jobs, sold homes and possessions and moved from their comfortable, nice neighborhood in Portland to Uganda with their two kids to start a medical clinic and orphanage called Hope Village (video here). They had been ruined and moved to never look back. It was forward with what God had put in their heart or death of a vision which would slowly antrophy the rest of their spiritual existence. They chose to be ruined, and as a result choose life.

So in the midst the Mike Guglielmucci episode, or whatever local level irritant you’re encountering let me ask you what is ruining you? As we head into the fall, back to school, back to what might be a normalizing of work and corporate schedules is there something that’s going to ruin you this fall? Is it something with your kids that will cause you to change your schedule or lifestyle so you can invest in them. Is it something in your church, your community or in the world that you know is God challenging you to let yourself be ruined by it, so moved and changed from the inside out that you have to do something about it. A neighbor that needs your support and encouragement. A community that has needs they can’t meet on their own. An area of your church that’s struggling because you’re not there passionately engaged in making it better.

Whatever it is, let’s allow God to pop the bubble wrap!

Recalibrate

Back from kids camp and what an incredible experience for all the kids. It was awesome to see God touch each one of the kids from the Albany campus in different ways, not to mention the friendships that where made and deepened.

To be honest God had something up his sleeve for me that I didn’t expect – lots of time with no cell phone, no computer, just a bible, a book and lots of time. And boy did I need it. More than I could have imagined. Life has a way of sapping your connection with God, and certainly spending time with him on a daily basis keeps that connection alive. But sometimes, and this was one of those times for me, there needs to be a recalibration, a disengaging and getting reconnected, refocused, rejuvenated. Camp provided me with the opportunity to be alone with Jesus and for him to challenge me, and begin to work some change in me. I so identify with the last section of  “It” by Craig Groeschel… embarassed to say that but it’s true nonetheless. (BTW if you haven’t purchased “It” yet I can’t encourage you strongly enough to do so). We can be so busy doing the things that God’s called us to that we don’t spend the time we desperately need to with the One who called us in the first place. As Ken Malmin used to recite in many of his PBC classes, God has called us to be human beings, not human doings.

So here’s my encouragement to you today – find a way (take a couple of days, or a Saturday or Sunday) and find a quiet, unconjested place and spend some time with Him. It will recalibrate your soul.