destinationKOEHLER

Moved!

2011-05-03T05:09:00.000-07:00

This site has moved to ericfkoehler.com. You can follow my latest posts there! Thanks for reading.

your sentence

2010-10-07T19:57:00.000-07:00

I had the chance to get away with the great team from Fellowship Church to attend Catalyst 2010. Catalyst is a two day event designed to be a spark for the significant things God can bring about in your life. It's a great event filled with energy, passion, and big hair (it's in Atlanta). There were many good talks and inspirational moments. One of the talks that really kicked me around was by Daniel Pink. Daniel's an author and speaker. He ended his talk with this question...what's your sentence? How do you describe your life? What would you say? What are you doing? I've been thinking about that for a bit now. It's not as easy as I thought it would be uncover a single sentence that defines. I love the challenge though, and it's filling me with energy. What kinds of words would you use? What's your sentence?

2010-10-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

There is something that I have been looking forward to for several months. I didn't know if it would ever arrive, but it's close. Love Week is coming soon! Love Week is an event at Fellowship Church where we will get the chance to GO (to the community), SERVE (without expecting anything in return), and LOVE (care for others). I believe that the church should do more than just gather. Gathering is a good thing, and we should do that. But we should also be actively involved in the life of our community and serve in practical ways. Events begin on Wednesday, October 13th and end on Sunday, October 17th with an opportunity for the whole church to be engaged in a project that will provide food for those in need. Don’t miss out! I can't wait to see and be part of an energized group that is ready to go, serve, and love others.

high school

2010-09-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

I've got a child in high school now. It doesn't seem possible that he should be old enough for all of this, but here we are. We actually went to a back-to-school night for parents recently. Interesting. I have no idea how he figures out where he's going. I'm happy to say that he's loving it so far. I remember a bit of my first year at Yorkville High School. Loved it. I made great friends and still have some contact 22 years later. My high school years were good. I want my son (and the rest of my kids) to enjoy them too. Beyond working hard, getting good grades and "stuff" like that, I really want him to develop some life skills that he can take anywhere. Here's a few of my hopes for all my kids as they travel through school...

> respect for all people
> trust in authority
> solution-based thinking
> creativity - live life with some imagination
> compassion for the hurting
> generosity - a desire to give things away
> positive attitude

Beyond all of that, I want them to love God. I believe these skills and passions can take them far in life. It will be fun to watch!

pictures of God...

2010-09-15T04:58:00.000-07:00

What kind of picture in your mind do you have of God? Perhaps you picture God as being really, really nice (all of the time). He’s tender. This tender, nice picture of God always has him holding a lamb with flowing “Fabio” styled hair and silky robes. He’s just a nice guy with great hair and great robes. Perhaps you picture God as a cuddly, stuffed animal. He would never talk, but He would always be there to comfort.
Maybe you picture God as the great terminator in the sky. He's an individual who is mean and enjoys making people miserable. Or maybe you picture God as a vending machine. You just input some cash and out comes something that will satisfy...for a moment. Perhaps God actually is different than our pictures. Scripture tells the story of one man who finally said, "I'm speechless, in awe - words fail me. I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything." When pictures fail, fade, or get lost, go without words. Get speechless before the One who can do anything.

crossbows & catapults

2010-08-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

My youngest son Caden has recently started playing one of my favorite childhood games called "Crossbows & Catapults". I started playing this game with my neighbor Doug in Yorkville, Illinois. Doug got the game for a birthday, and it changed everything. We spent hours setting up and strategizing. We modified the crossbows so that they could blast through anything in their way. We transformed the dining room in his house to a medieval battlefield. Fast forward a few years (maybe 25!). The game is better and faster. The colors are brighter. And...more weapons. There's now a canon. It all makes me aware of how fast time seems to be flying. I've been thinking of this phrase recently, life is short...be awake. I'm trying to do more than just move from day to day. I'm trying to do more than just exist. I'm trying to do more than just the "same old thing". We don't have all the time in the world. Enjoy today. Enjoy the moments that you have to laugh, live, and impact others. For me, it was a simple game of Crossbows & Catapults with someone I love.

2010-08-14T11:40:00.001-07:00

I think we sometimes freak ourselves out with the word "perhaps". It's kind of an intersting word...

per·haps/pərˈ(h)aps/Adverb
1. Used to express uncertainty or possibility: "perhaps I should have been frank with him". 2. Used when one does not wish to be too definite or assertive in the expression of an opinion.

It seems that the word "perhaps" brings with it a certain lack of confidence. I think I use this word too much in my own mind. I say things like, "perhaps I'm not good enough. Perhaps I'm not smart enough. Perhaps someone else should do this. Perhaps God doesn't care about me." Perhaps. Perhaps. Perhaps. It keeps us from focusing. It keeps us from being awake to powerful moments around us. I'm learning to increase my focus by being awake to small things. Words of encouragement, a smile, a thank you, a pat on the back. Small may feel "too small" and insignificant. However, small things lead to big things. What are you doing to increase your focus?

"the summit"

2010-08-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

I just attended my first "Leadership Summit" hosted by Willow Creek Community Church. Loved it! Basically, it was two days of inspirational thoughts and challenges from those who lead at high levels. Here were some of my favorite takeaways:

> You cannot give passion if you don't have it. - T.D. Jakes, Pastor
> Part of leadership is giving people confidence. - Jack Welch, former Chairman and CEO of General Electric
> When leaders invest in themselves, everyone wins! - Bill Hybels, Pastor
> Greatness is a process that involves disciplined thought and disciplined action. - Jim Collins, Business Thinker and Best Selling Author
> Leadership is all about helping your "players" get better. - Tony Dungy, Winning Coach of the 2007 Super Bowl (over the Chicago Bears)
> Our nature is to be active and engaged not passive and inert. - Daniel Pink, Business Thinker and Best Selling Author
> It's never too early to start giving. - Blake Mycoskie, Founder of TOMS Shoes

words...gifts...

2010-07-31T18:12:00.001-07:00

Words matter. They really do. Have you ever found yourself using words to end conversations? It's like when you throw them out, everything dies. Sometimes we almost use them to brush people off so that we can move on to the next "thing". Here's my top five conversation list. I've actually caught myself using these words. Craziness...

1. Whatever...
2. That's what you think...
3. I guess we'll see about that, eh?...
4. Not gonna happen...
5. Let me pray about that...

What's your top conversation ending line? I'm working at using words that build, encourage, and inspire. It's not always easy, but it does seem to flow with God's expectations. "Say only what helps, each word a gift." (Ephesians 4:29). Are your words a gift?

Caden...the big brother

2010-07-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

We've had an interesting thing happen in life. It seems that whenever we move to a new state, we have a new baby! Imagine that. When we moved to Indiana we had babies. When we moved to Illinois, we had a baby. We moved to Pennsylvania in January of 2010. And...we're having a baby! Caden's going to be a big brother.

The kids are excited and seem to think they have naming rights. We'll have to see about that. We bought Caden a "I'm a big brother" t-shirt to wear around the house. It only took about 30 seconds before the screaming began (I think they were screams of happiness?!). I guess it pays off when you can read. He's wearing the shirt proudly in the picture (with black eye...that's a different post).

2011 shall begin with new life in our home. We're really excited about a growing family. New church. New state. New home. New friends. New baby. I can't wait to meet our new child. Life's an adventure! Love it.

my sink...

2010-07-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

So, we just moved into a new home. Love the new house. It has air conditioning and that’s really all I care about right now in the middle of summer! I grew up without air-conditioning and my kids are like, “Dad, how old are you?”. Whatever.

So, in my new house, I have my own sink. In 17 years of marriage, I have never had my own sink. Never. And I’ve got to tell you that I just love my sink. I love it. It’s my sink. Mine. I’ve got my own drawers and my own mirror. It's fantastic! My wife’s sink started leaking the other day. I actually struggled with my own wife using my sink for a few days (did I mention it was my sink?). And then it occurred to me, “I’m a selfish pig. What’s wrong with me?”

Here's what I'm learning. Life is best lived with our arms extended, ready to give. When we're generous with our life, we don't necessarily lose. Actually, we gain so much. Today, I will choose to be generous!

happy 10th!

2010-07-14T05:16:00.000-07:00

My Chandler is ten today! Happy Birthday bud. You're an amazing person and I'm proud to call you my son. I hope you have a great day. Enjoy all of your new "stuff" and may you continue to smile and laugh. You're a bringer of joy and I thank God for you!

lists

2010-07-08T06:14:00.000-07:00

We're in the middle of this experience at Fellowship Church called "Lists". I find myself putting together different kinds of lists all of the time. To-do lists, gift lists, jobs for the kids lists, vacation lists, craigslist (Just sold a dryer. Thanks Craig.). Lists are kind of crazy because they give us something to do. They outline next steps and help us prioritize the stuff we have accomplish. What list are you currently staring at? What's next on your to-do list? It's interesting because God actually shares lists with us. His lists aren't exactly what you would think either. They're simple. They're encouraging. They're comforting. I'd invite you to join me for this experience as we discover new, powerful lists that give our lives direction, clarity, and motivation!

the 4th...the goo goo dolls...and smoothies

2010-07-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

I like the Goo Goo Dolls. I like the 4th of July. I like fireworks. I like Philadelphia. I like new friends (hello Cleave & Rhonda), and my kids like smoothies. That's how my 4th of July ended. I couldn't get close enough to the stage to actually see lead singer John Rzeznik, but the high definition screens helped. The sound was great. I even got to hear them do my favorite song, "Better Days". Loved it. The fireworks were amazing. The smoothies were cold (at least that's what my kids said). It was a good night and a great way to spend our first 4th in the birthplace of our nation. I'm looking forward to many more! And next time...a few more smoothies.

2010-06-28T05:27:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at Fellowship Church this past weekend! It's been a few days now, but I'm still thinking about it. Fun stuff. Here's a few impressions from a meaningful experience...

> It was great to see so many happy people on Sunday. Thanks for smiling.
> The air conditioning felt great in the big room. Loved it! It's been seriously hot here.
> It was fun to see people connecting in the lobby before and after our experience. Way to go church.
> A big thanks to Austin Sisk for leading worship this weekend. Worship was passionate!
> Let's get generous as a church! Live in an economy of abundance, not an economy of scarcity.
> You can't do everything or solve every problem, but you can do something. Find that "thing" and go for it.
> God constantly used what people had in front of them to do some crazy stuff. Begin to think about how God can use what makes your heart beat fast to make a difference!
> Go with Jesus...he will not stop your generosity (John 12:7-8).
> You will not want to miss "Lists", our next experience. It begins on Sunday, July 4th. Can't wait to see you again.

my dad

2010-06-20T12:21:00.000-07:00

I've got a great Father! He's influenced me in ways that are hard to describe. He set an amazing example throughout my growing years. He went to work every day and never complained. He loved my mom. He took us to McDonalds every now and then. He laughed. He was the model of consistency. He encouraged my dream to give my life to the church. He cared. He provided. He cheered for me. Thanks Dad. Happy Father's day. Father's are a big deal. I'm still learning and growing as a dad. It's an adventure that should be embraced. If you're a dad...you matter. Have a great day!

1013 by 2013

2010-06-10T06:51:00.000-07:00

Before we moved to Pennsylvania from Illinois, I was sent an email that included a prayer. It was a prayer that I had never heard before (having not been from Pennsylvania). The prayer was given by William Penn in 1684. It was his dream for the city of Philadelphia.

“And Thou Philadelphia the virgin settlement of this province named before thou wert born, what care, what service, what travail have there been to bring thee forth and preserve thee from such as would abuse and defile thee. O that thou mayest be kept from the evil that would overwhelm thee, that faithful to the God of thy mercies in the life of righteousness, thou mayest be preserved to the end. My soul prays to God for thee that thou mayest stand in the day of trial, that thye children may be blest of the Lord and thy people saved by His power.”

The two parts that really jumped out to me were “that thou mayest be kept from evil”, and “that thye children my be blest of the Lord and thy people saved by His power”. And then I began to think. Has that prayer been answered? Has it happened?

And my conclusion was that it’s probably happened in small ways. Here and there – answers to the prayer. But has there been anything faith related that has captured the attention of thousands? Has there been a faith community that has been the answer to any part of that prayer?

My sense is, that’s not the case. And here’s what I want. Here’s what I’ve been dreaming about. I want the church to be the answer to that prayer. I want the church to be the answer to a prayer given by William Penn back in the day. I can't speak for every church in this area, but I do know that Fellowship Church has swung the door wide open on being the type of faith community that cannot be explained. We want God to use us to bless others and help people see His amazing power! To help with that, we've set our feet in the direction of reaching 1,013 attenders by 2013. We say it like this, "ten-thirteen in twenty-thirteen"!

It's time to get to work! It's time to serve, invite, care, and give like never before. It's a big dream, but we will not play it safe. Our need for God is huge! 1013 in 2013. With God nothing is impossible!

Fellowship Church

2010-05-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

I love this place. It has been a great ride and I'm humbled, excited, and thrilled to be part of this faith community! Go Fellowship. Great days are ahead, and I'm looking forward to doing work together. Thanks for welcoming our family and including us in your life. I'm so energized with the next challenge in front of us. It will be fun to chase that together and become the church that people believe to be filled with hope!

The Berenstain Bears

2010-05-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of the Berenstain Bears. It's like they're part of the family! One of my favorites is "In the Dark". We do this thing in our home where we read to the kids at bedtime. It seemed like a really good idea when we had one child. It still seemed like a good idea when we had two kids. Three...still OK. Now I fall asleep reading to them. This of course makes them angry (they don't get how hard it is to stay awake reading anything at age 40). I digress...

So, Sister Bear refuses to sleep with the light off because she's scared of the dark. Papa Bear takes Sister Bear up to the attic where it's really dark (is this a good idea?) and says, "there's nothing special about the dark. It's just part of nature" (meaning..."get over it". That's what my dad would have said). I digress again...

When I read that the other day it struck me as interesting and true. The dark is part of nature. It happens. Not only do kids get freaked out by the dark, adults do too. Beyond the physical darkness, we experience disappointments, frustrations, and personal hurt. These life dilemmas have a way of throwing us in the dark. They don't necessarily sink us...it just gets dark. This stuff happens. The darkness comes. How will you respond? What's your coping mechanism?

3121 McLaughlin Court

2010-05-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

We have a new home! We're so excited about a new place and a new community to serve, reach, and love. We never imagined when we moved from Illinois that we would have the chance to be in a permanent residence in less then six months. There was a house to sell...the search for something new...all of that "stuff". God has been so good to us. It's overwhelming to think about at times. So...There's been 7216 Maryland Avenue, 921 Michigan Avenue, 2716 Discovery Drive, and now 3121 McLaughlin. New friends. New memories. A new adventure in Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania! We're ready.

...in the dark

2010-05-14T08:37:00.001-07:00

I begin a new experience at Fellowship Church called "In the Dark". It seems that most of us, at some point in life, experience moments in the dark. What's interesting is that it's not always big, hopeless, gloomy events that throw us into the dark. Sometimes it's the smaller things that sneak up on us and take away the smiles, the laughs, and the hope. Maybe it's an unfulfilled dream. Maybe it's a financial choice. Maybe it's a relationship that has drifted. All of these seemingly "small" things can add up and throw us into the dark. Have you ever been there? If so...don't throw your life away. Most of the time we think of "the dark" as a bad thing. But is it? The dark can actually be a great place for getting a dose of hope, clarity, and a very big God!

Brian & Bethany

2010-05-10T07:30:00.001-07:00

I had a great visit with someone I consider to be my mentor, Brian Pipping. I had the privilege of serving with Brian at a great church in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois for close to seven years. He is a great friend, leader, and teacher. I’m a better person as a result of his generous investment in my life. His daughter Bethany is getting ready to graduate from Liberty University and take the world by storm. She loves the church and has great dreams to make a difference with her life. I want the same things for my kids! It was great to spend time with both of them. It made me think about how valuable it is to intentionally share what you have learned and experienced in life. Am I investing in the lives of others? Am I sharing what I’ve learned? These are the questions I’m asking myself today. What about you?

2010-05-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

I love Pandora internet radio. It's simple, flexible, and allows you to listen to "your music". I was listening to my "Five For Fighting" station this morning and the Pearl Jam song "Immortality" began to flow. It's pretty powerful. These words really got my attention...

I cannot stop the thought
I'm running in the dark
coming up a which way sign

It made me think about the different times I've found myself running in the dark. Sometimes when that happens you see signs (meaning you get all kinds of advice), but it's just not right. All of the advice becomes a "which way" sign that screams: Where do you really go? What should you really do? Has that ever happened to you? I've discovered two things that help...a friend who will listen and intentional movement. Talk to someone who actually listens and then take a step. Move. Thanks Pandora.

2010-05-03T05:40:00.000-07:00

I love it when people give of themselves. There was an article in the DELCO Times on Monday, May 3rd about a group of people from Fellowship Church who gave a week of their lives to serve the poorest of the poor in the Dominican Republic. Just reading their story really moved me. It shows that when a community supports (schools, organizations like Chick-fil-A, churches), and individuals are willing to step-out and go, people can be radically changed! Thanks to the team for going (I'm so proud of you guys!). Thanks to the community for supporting, encouraging, and giving. Thanks to the DELCO Times for a great follow-up story!

powerful picture

2010-04-30T11:51:00.001-07:00

I prefer to use mostly original photographs or artwork as I blog, but this picture is just amazing, powerful, and reflective. I found it in a place that was making a case for the 30 photos that changed the world. Dorothea Lange took this picture called “Migrant Mother” in 1936. Legend has it that this working mother sold the tires on her car so that she could feed her seven children. This picture came to represent the devastation of the Great Depression. This picture also made me very thankful. I have a good life. It’s so easy to focus on what we don’t have that we lose sight of our own abundance. Be thankful today. Be thankful and then take another step. Be generous.

my favorite car

2010-04-27T17:23:00.001-07:00

I’m 40 now! Happy Birthday to me. It’s kind of an interesting event because it seems like everyone around me enjoyed the whole concept of “getting old” much more than me. One of the groups that really seemed to enjoy it all were my kids. Forty seems really old to them. Kind of funny. If you ask Caden (the youngest) how old I am, he says “four”. I guess three years olds can’t even fathom forty let alone say it! Love it. After all of the celebrating, there is one gift that sticks out to me. It’s the gift in the picture. Caden and I play a lot of cars together. It’s kind of his favorite thing to do right now. He knows my favorite car is the old, beat-up Blazer. He calls it “daddy’s favorite car”. This car was actually mine when I was younger and has made its way into his hands. The car is close to twenty-five years old! On the morning of my birthday, Caden asked me to close my eyes and hold out my hands. When I opened my eyes, the old Blazer was in my hands and a big smile was on his face! I’d love to freeze that moment for a long time. He was trying to make his dad happy, and it worked. I actually got an ipad for my birthday, but my favorite car moves me the most.

The Delaware County Daily Times

2010-04-19T11:07:00.001-07:00

I’ve got the privilege now to be a community journalist for the Delaware County Times. I’m really excited about this opportunity as it gives my blog the chance to join the growing list of other community journalists in Delaware County. Phil Heron (editor of the Delaware County Daily Times) had the dream of inviting others to share what’s happening in Delaware County through blogging. I’m honored and very happy to join the conversation! I’ve got so much to learn about this area, and this will be a great way to connect with others. I use my site to share a mixture of insight on life, culture, family, and the church. Check out the other blogs and you’ll get a taste of the Phillies, activities for moms, political blogs, tech blogs, and even a wake-up call blog! Great stuff. Enjoy…

the middle years

2010-04-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Parenting in the middle years when our kids are 13-17 years of age…WOW. That’s a challenge. It’s challenging because families rapidly change. Rapidly changing families are in need of someone who can paint a hopeful future. My wife and I have two kids the middle years, and here’s what we’re discovering as we walk through this unique time:

> New parenting strategies are needed. You must grow as a parent and develop new skills. Parent on purpose.
> Kids in the middle years like a little space but realistically can’t handle a total absence of parental boundaries. Maintain consistent boundaries.
> Parents are needed but not necessarily asked for during this stage. Be involved.

And along the way…laugh! It helps.

fractious reactions

2010-04-11T19:44:00.001-07:00

Parenting is just an amazing thing! It’s kind of a journey where you learn so much about relationships, yourself, and life. I’ve discovered that there aren’t any perfect parents! Who knew? I know I’m certainly not a perfect parent. I’ve also discovered that parenting is not easy. There have been many moments where I wished that I had a snappy answer for a parenting dilemma. Snappy answers don’t really exist. Snappy answers only lead to more eye roles, groans, and fractious reactions. Snappy answers aren’t really answers at all. Sometimes it almost seems like there is a hope leak when it comes to parenting. I believe the key is when we help our kids become relationship rich not just experience rich. People need experiences. Kids need experiences, but it’s the relationships along the way that make those experiences real. What are you doing as a parent to help your kids build and maintain key relationships in their lives? That’s where real parenting hope begins.

Donovan...I hardly knew ye

2010-04-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

I’ve got to tell you that I’m kind of sad about Donovan McNabb leaving town. One of the bright spots (there were many…and this probably wasn’t that high on the list!) of moving to the Philadelphia area, was that there was a football team with a real quarterback. I’ve grown up as a Chicago Bears fan. Outside of a few years when Jim McMahon was actually healthy, this is a team that hasn’t had a real quarterback in years. Years. Lots of years. Cutler may be changing that, but I’m no longer there. I was filled with hope to be a fan of a Chicago prep hero who will land in the Hall of Fame someday. No luck. Eagles president Joe Banner said that “Donovan is the ultimate professional”. Of course he is…in another city. Division rivals no less. I’m hopeful though that the Eagles won’t walk through a quarterback desert. It's painful (did I mention years?) Go Kevin Kolb. Perhaps Kyle Orton is available!

happy easter 2010

2010-04-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

Potential. That’s what I think of when I reflect on this past Easter weekend. There is so much potential. There is so much potential for people to find hope. There is so much potential to serve others. There is so much potential for life change. We’ve walked through an incredible weekend as a community. Here are a few highlights.

> The Good Friday experience was moving. What an amazing sacrifice for us! Incredible and very humbling.
> The Egg Hunt at Garnet Valley High School was amazing. There were approximately 1,500 total attenders (plus a cow and bunny). There were lots of people and lots of cars.
> The Sunday morning experience was so fun and energizing! Loved Linkin Park, Jim Gaffigan, making fun of peeps, and the story of Cain & Abel. What a combo. Again, lot’s of people!

Fellowship Church is a great place. Thanks for inviting. Thanks for serving. Imagine Easter 2011! Can’t wait.

3 days...3 events

2010-04-02T05:54:00.000-07:00

It’s here! Easter weekend has arrived. This is your invitation to have a great weekend family experience at Fellowship Church! Check out this line-up:

Friday, April 2nd
Stations of the cross experience
Bethel Road campus anytime between 4:00pm & 6:00pm

Saturday, April 3rd
Family Easter Egg Hunt @ 11:30am
Garnet Valley High School upper soccer fields. Everything is free and you could have a chance to win a Xbos 360, Nintendo Wii, ipods, & more!

Sunday, April 4th
Easter services @ 9:00am & 11:00am
Garnet Valley Middle School Auditorium

Clarice & Reaghann

2010-03-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

Clarice and Reaghann. Clarice is my daughter and Reaghann is my niece. They're great friends even though they don't live that close to each other anymore. They've had the chance for the past seven days to spend every moment together. They're fun to watch.They're oblivious to the fact that in a few moments, they will separate and not see each other for a few months. They laugh. They plan. They talk as if time stands still...enjoying every moment as if it will last indefinitely. They enjoy their time together (really enjoy). I find myself not always tuned into the people around me. Know what I mean? There's always the next thing to do...the next challenge to embrace...the next mountain to climb. I wish I was more like Clarice. Slow down. Appreciate those next to you. Enjoy the moment.

everybody

2010-03-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

We’re involved in an experience right now at Fellowship Church called “Everybody”. This two-week journey is something that’s very energizing to me. Our first conversation focused on how everybody’s important to God. Everybody. He cares for all. He's interested in…everybody. It’s interesting because when you walk through the pages of Scripture, it seems that God is constantly asking us to completely rearrange our lives (every part of it) so that we can help others. Why would God ask us to do that? Perhaps it’s because doing life with Jesus is a process of laying down our agendas and getting in God’s plan. God’s plan involves everybody. It’s really quite amazing don’t you think?

signs...

2010-03-18T06:42:00.000-07:00

I prayed over signs today. It seems kind of weird. It felt a little awkward too, but I’m so excited about these little signs that will be scattered along Bethel Road for the next few weeks. They’re more than signs. They’re invitations for people to come and be part of a story that could change their circumstances. It’s been fun watching people drive by and stare. Today I prayed for Mr. BMW, Mr. Dodge truck, Miss Ford Focus, Mr. Honda Accord, Miss Toyota Solera, Mr. School Bus Driver, and Miss Acura. I love these signs. I hope they inspire! Their value will be enhanced with a personal invite to a great weekend. Who are you inviting?

undercover boss thoughts...

2010-03-10T07:07:00.000-08:00

I've recently started watching a show that has captured my attention. It's interesting. Compelling. There are so many life lessons presented throughout the show on leading, humility, and finding solutions. It made me thankful for the bosses in my life who have helped me. It's also made me wonder how well I serve the people around me. As I've been watching the show, I've made a few random notes about reward, communication, and transparency, and how these areas can help us in our serving efforts.

the reward piece...
> Reward loyalty
> Reward hard work
> Reward positive attitudes

the communication piece...
> Encourage, encourage, encourage
> Don’t be afraid to challenge those who function outside the established DNA
> Communicate your findings (both good and bad)
> Fix disconnected areas

the transparency piece...
> Discover the personal stories of the people you work with
> It’s OK to make mistakes (just be ready to fix them)
> Happy employees/volunteers are productive employees/volunteers

What is your personal takeaway? Is there anything your organization can better to create a better working environment?

no clue...

2010-03-04T09:55:00.000-08:00

I love the church! I've been filled with hope this week that the church is simply amazing! It is. This is what God has given to provide answers, hope, inspiration, and comfort and a whole bunch of other things. The church is the hope of the world. There is nothing more important that what happens every time we open the doors and seek to share God with people. I want to see God go crazy at Fellowship Church. I want that so we can say "no clue". I want a "we have no clue" experience where we can't explain what God is doing. We want God's presence to be real and unexplainable. I think we began to see something like that last Sunday. So many people responded and stepped out to place a simple piece of paper at a cross. That simple act was a huge step for many people who are struggling with significant issues. All I asked for on Sunday was for people to right a letter on a card (A, B, or C). God was working in the hearts of individuals because what we collected was much more than single letters. Many actually wrote out heart-felt responses. In addition to that, there were three individuals who trusted Christ. Miracles are happening. Only God. I don't think God wants us to be just another church. We have such a big dream to redefine church and help people experience life-change. I believe God is preparing us in small ways for something big. I want more of what happened on Sunday. I know not every day can be like that experience, but I want every experience to be one where we're totally depending on God. God wants all of Fellowship Church. The money...the strategy...the teaching...the programs...the leaders...the volunteers...the children...the marriages...the first impressions...the missions...the set-up...the tear down. God wants it all. So desperate for God. Keep praying. Keep reaching. Keep inviting.

Fellowship Church is amazing!

2010-02-28T16:22:00.000-08:00

We wrapped up the "East to West" series today at Fellowship. I think this topic has touched people as we all live in the tension of having to give and seek forgiveness. Keep chasing forgiveness. Be an extender of what God has given to you! Here's a few highlights from this weekend.

>Loved "At the Cross". Powerful. The team did a great job performing this song and setting the stage.

>I'm so thankful for the guys who pray with me before I teach. God is moving!

>We had one injury during set-up today, but the volunteers at Fellowship just push through! You're amazing.

>Another group of students returned today from a retreat. You were missed in our experience, and I look forward to seeing you on the front row again next Sunday.

>I loved watching the church make choices today. Very moving. Many of you took a step and made the choice to follow through on God's promptings. Go for it. Enjoy the journey and be amazed at God!

>It was great to see all of the conversations happening in the lobby. Go church. It's fun being a part of something that is helping people connect with God and others.

>I got to have one significant conversation today with a couple that loves Fellowship. They love being a part of this faith community, and they can't wait for the doors to open. Love it!

>There were at least two kids (and I believe some adults) who responded to God's forgiveness today by embracing His leadership. Awesome. So energizing!

culture & forgiveness

2010-02-26T13:49:00.000-08:00

The stage of culture is amazing. There is so much to observe, contemplate, and watch. It seems that how people handle the relationships in their lives is perpetually on display. How do people handle seeking and giving forgiveness? From Tiger Woods very public apology in recent days to John Edwards to Ted Haggard to South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford and their public apologies. To ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser and his mocking of co-worker Hannah Storm and his apology…from ski divas Lindsey Vonn & Julia Mancuso in Vancouver battling it out relationally. To a “I’m sorry for offensive comments" from John Mayer. To us…and our issues. It’s real. What will your choice be? Choose forgiveness. It frees us. Is it possible that we miss out on so much of life just because we’re standing in a dark place, dangling the keys of forgiveness but never using them? Non-forgiveness keeps us in the fight. Let go. Forgive.

the weekend...

2010-02-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

Fellowship Church is a great place! I look forward to Sunday morning each week because of all the energy and innovation. Here are a few thoughts on a great weekend...

Our Sunday experience was energizing. We're walking through a series right now called "East to West". It's a series that is helping us focus on forgiveness. God has forgiven us in such amazing ways, and now He's looking for us to extend that to the people around us. There are a lot of great conversations happening right now where people are chasing forgiveness. Go for it. Be bold. Be courageous. Pray before you go ("thaw" out a bit). Prepare what you need to say. Ask for forgiveness.

The band at Fellowship is amazing. I love the energy they bring and their ability to engage the crowd. They nailed "Apologize"! I could listen to that for a long time. Great job.

The excitement coming from the children's area is captivating. It makes me want to be a kid again and participate in what they get to do each week. It's very creative and is preparing the next generation of leaders. Go children's ministry team. You're awesome!

I'm so happy with those of you who create great first impressions, prepare food, push carts, set-up truss, hang signs, lights, fabric and make an attractive space for those who walk through the doors. Great job! Everything you do plays a vital role in helping us serve people. What you do matters down to the smallest detail. Your happy smiles and positive attitudes in the middle of working hard is inspiring.

We're inviting! Thanks. I believe that honors God in a huge way!

The people of Fellowship...it's great to be with you. I walked away from Sunday genuinely very happy that I get to serve with you. I'm humbled and can't wait to see you again!

east to west

2010-02-17T11:17:00.000-08:00

Building and maintaining healthy relationships is one of the greatest challenges we face in life. It’s a struggle. Getting along with people is a huge struggle! Sometimes we may even wonder if healthy relationships are possible. There is nothing quite as draining as a friendship that fails. There is also probably nothing as rewarding as a friendship that works! The key to “happy relationships"...forgiveness. God forgives. Constantly. Psalm 103 even tells us “He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west”. Amazing! He takes all of our ugliness and the stuff that we wish we could get out of our minds, and He chooses not to remember them. Unfortunately, we take what God designed to be beautiful, and we fail to pass it on to the people around us who need it the most. Often it seems that dealing with giving forgiveness and seeking forgiveness can cause us to become distrait and disconnected. Forgiveness means to “turn the key, open the cell door, and let the prisoner walk free”. When we give forgiveness this way, when we release people, everyone walks free. Less stress. More connection. What relationship in your life is waiting for your forgiveness? Have you been holding back because of hurt or because you want to make “the offender” in your life suffer? Don’t miss out on what God could do through your life simply because you don’t forgive. Live in an economy of forgiveness. Today…turn the key, open the cell door, and let people walk free!

the view...

2010-02-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

This is the view from my front door! Lots of snow in the past few hours. And I was told it rarely snowed in Philly. Who knew? Apparently there had been only four 20-inch-plus snowstorms in this area since 1884. We're now up to six and all of this in the seven weeks since we moved here. Glad to be a part of history! It's beautiful. It's tranquil. It's like swimming in vanilla ice cream (according to Cailee - our seven year old). I guess they don't even want people on the roads right now unless it's an emergency. I figured that a run to Starbucks came pretty close, but even they were closed. I guess it's time to relax. Enjoy the pause.

winning

2010-02-01T09:27:00.000-08:00

I've been getting Time Magazine since we moved to Pennsylvania. I like it. The articles are decent and the pics are great. It does seem to be a bit smaller than what I remember my Dad reading back in the day. I guess this is not your father's magazine. Recently, I enjoyed a fascinating piece called "Cleanup Artist". It shares the story of Robert Bobb and his task of fixing the Detroit, Michigan public school system. Robert was basically given the task of being the emergency financial manager. The Detroit public school system has walked through years of significant challenges and financial stress. In the past decade, the number of students attending school in Detroit has plummeted from 167,000 to 84,600. It's projected to fall to as low as 65,000 students. Pretty big drop. There is good news though. The situation is beginning to change. There is hope as improvements are becoming reality in both the academic and the financial arenas. Go Robert Bobb! In the article, Robert made this statement that is so powerful. I read it over and over again because it just hit me as something that we sometimes fear. He said, "we cannot be afraid to win". Sometimes, organizations, businesses, teams, and even churches can actually be afraid to win. I'm convinced that we cannot be afraid of winning as we do church! Let's dream about it. Plan for it. And work like never before so that the church can be a winning organization that is truly serving people. Let's not forget the words of Jesus. "As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." Let's live sent and aim for the win.

Blocks

2010-01-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

I'm working through my first teaching experience at Fellowship Church called "Blocks". I believe God has a great plan for Fellowship in 2010! It's a plan that will continue to help us redefine church. I'm having a lot of fun and I'm already so proud of this faith community. "Blocks" is all about thinking through what it will take to become a life changing community. Here's our three big thoughts: #1: Transitions are unique opportunities for growth. #2: Discover what makes God's heart beat fast. #3: God's desire is for Fellowship Church to "win the day" by living sent. There is nothing like an energized, motivated church that seeks to impact the crowd around them. Honestly, I think we're seeing that happen! Let's go FC!

Fellowship Church!

2010-01-16T08:07:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had the opportunity to be a part of a grand opening event? New store? New business? New restaurant? Grand openings are filled with energy and celebration. They’re generally fun events. I want to invite you to be a part of a fun event at Fellowship Church this Sunday, January 17th (yes, church can be fun!). It’s not really a grand opening, but it is my first opportunity to celebrate with you the future of Fellowship! We launch a brand new series called “Blocks” where we will talk about the “stuff” needed in order to build a dynamic community. I'll be talking about how transitions are unique opportunities for personal growth. I’m so excited about this opening week and I hope to see you there!

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

2010-01-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

I watched a movie a few years ago called Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Not bad. It was somewhat of an entertaining flick that featured Brangelina. Shortly after that, I met the real Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Amazing people. They lived down the street from us in Illinois on the famed Discovery Drive (famous in my mind). I call them friends because that's what they were. In every sense of the word, they were great friends. Saying goodbye to them was kind of hard. They've been encouraging and supportive. They have a great family and have been like second parents to my kids. I wish we had more time together. Thanks for everything and we're looking forward to a visit from the Smith's in Philly!

this side up

2009-12-31T11:02:00.000-08:00

We're halfway through with the whole moving thing and it is something. Our "stuff" is somewhere between Illinois and Pennsylvania. We're hanging out in Ohio with the hopes of landing in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania soon. We're taking a little pause for the Volkswagen to find its soul (what?!). More on that later. The new year begins soon and I'm so excited about 2010 for my family and my new church family. It's not every year that you get the chance to start with new everything (for the most part). I'm making the choice now to enjoy it. "This side up" is more than just a picture from the garage on the day we packed up our home. It's a new tag line for a new year.

Fellowship Church

2009-12-26T17:01:00.000-08:00

I'm excited about this place. I got to spend my first week at the new church and I can't wait to get back and live permanently in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania! It's gonna be a great ride. To the future!

Fun Storm!

2009-12-23T11:33:00.000-08:00

It’s been an interesting week. It all started with a 17 hour day trying to get to the Philadelphia airport last Saturday. While land dwellers were enduring one of the worst December storms in Philly history, I was in a plane trying to land on a clear runway at approximately 3:30pm. It didn’t happen. We were close, but not close enough. We landed in Syracuse, NY and then jumped into a cab for a seven hour ride to Philly! Fun stuff. The cab ride was freezing! It will be a trip that I’ll never forget. Thanks for the memories. The rest of the week has been filled with Christmas parties, staff meetings, planning for 2010, a trip to Camden, NJ to give out gifts, and prep for the Christmas Eve experiences at Fellowship Church. I love this place already and can’t wait until we get to live here permanently. We’ll get to do that starting on Saturday, January 2nd.

Thanks Grace Church!

2009-12-12T07:34:00.001-08:00

It’s a difficult thing to describe and share how thankful I am, and how thankful our family is for our 6 ½ years at Grace Church. These have been some of the best years of our life. We came to Grace in 2003 with four kids and a lot of excitement. Cameron our oldest was seven (he’s now 14) and Caden (who’s 3) wasn’t even born. We started out serving at 114 Channahon Street in Shorewood and eventually relocated right here. Many things have changed. The one thing that hasn’t changed is an amazing God who had done great things in all of our lives. I want to express thanks to you...

1. I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve great people.
You…the people of Grace are awesome! You have loved us as a family. You’ve taken care of us, and you will always hold a special place in our hearts. This is a great church, and I consider it an honor to have served you.

2. I’m thankful for the opportunity to grow professionally.
I believe that God has used my 6 ½ years here to prepare me for the next season of ministry. This has been like a greenhouse of growing and learning for me, and now I get to take what I’ve learned and bless another faith community.

3. I’m thankful for the opportunity to not “play it safe”.
I think many people and churches choose the familiar over the breakthrough because it’s easier. It’s safe. I think God is tired of weak, safe Christ followers (and churches) who don’t take a step. We’ve had an aggressive strategy to reach this city. We’ve swung for the fences, and it’s been fun. I’ve learned that it’s more fun taking bold steps with Jesus than sitting on the sidelines watching without Jesus.

4. I’m thankful for the opportunity to help people begin and grow a friendship with Jesus Christ. My heart for reaching and serving people has blended with yours, and some of my happiest memories have been watching people cross the line of faith. Together, we’ve had the chance to be a generous, life-changing community.

5. I’m thankful for this community.
We have loved living here and have enjoyed doing life in this community, not just the church, but this area. God gave us a heart for loving where we live.

We now get ready to exchange Chicago deep-dish pizza for Philly cheese steak. And Chicago style hot dogs for soft pretzels. And Italian Beef for Hoagies. It’s saying goodbye to the Bears, the White Sox, the Bulls, and the Blackhawks and hello to the Eagles, the Phillies, the 76ers, and the Flyers.

So, here’s my prayer for Grace Church…may you understand that God loves to use His church to impact and change people. May you choose to place your one and only life in the hands of Jesus who can fill you with purpose and direction and passion and meaning. May you come to know that your one life can change the life of another through something called THE CHURCH...the hope of the world. GOD BLESS YOU.

...a new city

2009-11-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

We’re moving! Wow. I’ve been on a journey with a church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania for the past few months. Glen Mills is a southwest suburb of Philadelphia. This journey has led to several interviews, visits, and conversations. As of Sunday, November 15th I accepted their offer to become the next lead pastor of Fellowship Church! I believe that this role is how God would have me best serve Him and the church for the next season of my life. As a family, we’re very excited about this opportunity to help redefine church in a new area…a new city. It’s going to be a great ride. It’s always a hard thing to leave friends, family, and a community that we have loved. This is the hard part. So many of you have helped mentor, shape, and encourage us along the way. We’re very thankful for your investment in our lives. You’ve been amazing and God has used you. We take lifelong friendships and happy memories with us. We’d love to invite you to a farewell reception at Grace Church on Friday, December 4th at 6:30pm. We’re looking forward to a night of expressing thanks to all of you who have impacted our lives.

Mowing

2009-11-13T11:28:00.000-08:00

It’s mid November, and I just mowed my yard, edged, and raked for the last time this season. It’s time to prep for winter. Martha Stewart told me that I should have done this by October 31st, but what does she know? This is a job that I enjoy and one of the few things where I actually feel like I know what I’m doing around the house. I’m not handy, but I can mow! It’s kind of relaxing and a little therapeutic. It also reminds me of the changing seasons and all of the things that you do to prepare for the next season. Seasons change. People change. Ships sail away. This all sounds like some bad song from the 80’s. Expose anyone? Yikes.

14 years!

2009-10-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

Cameron turned 14 in October! I love having a teenager in the house. He’s amazing. I’m proud to be his father and it has been an absolute joy to watch him grow into a young man. Good days are ahead for you Mr. Cameron F. Koehler and I can’t wait to see how God uses you. And…I hope you have a great basketball season. Enjoy every moment. Take control. Speed and power! Think Deron Williames, Luther Head, Dee Brown.

Hot Shoes

2009-10-16T08:22:00.001-07:00

I’ll get to the shoes. But first, this…I love my friends. I really do. They encourage. They point. They support. They laugh (I love to laugh). I’m very thankful for the friendships that I have developed over the past several years. One of those friends is Ron Faltin. He’s a great guy and awesome guitarist. You could say that he’s a rock star (Big Daddy). I’ve had the privilege of working with Ron for six years in leading worship. He’s helped me become a better musician and leader. I love his passion for God and heart for worship. He’s been a great encouragement to my family and me. Great encourager. So, the shoes. I recently went to a party and Ron walks in with these pukka shoes that he purchased in China. Hot…

Weekend Update

2009-10-09T08:45:00.001-07:00

We got kind of bored and tired with the whole announcement thing at Grace. Nobody listened. Nobody cared. Tears. People were crying for something more (whatever). We’ve moved to doing some video blurbs to share important information. It seems to help and its added a nice element to the weekend experience. Now…it’s time for 3D. Bring your glasses.

Ten things I’ve learned from Cailee Morgan

2009-09-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

Cailee is my six year old daughter and has a contagious view of life. I love watching her and I love being her dad! Here’s the list.
1.Share everything you have
2.Laugh a lot
3.Enjoy your family
4.Play hard
5.Run fast
6.Go for first even if you’re #4 (Cailee is fourth in the birth order but is convinced in her mind that she’s #1)
7.Laugh some more
8.Know your crowd…tiaras one minute, Star Wars the next
9.Stand up…don’t back down
10.Find the guy with the Harley (enjoy the ride)

Feed the Need

2009-09-21T17:33:00.001-07:00

Go Grace! We recently had the chance to impact the lives of several families in our community. I love this stuff. It’s so energizing to see the church…outside. Reaching. Giving. There’s nothing quite like the church when the church is serving others.

Michael

2009-09-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

Michael Jordan. Hall of Famer. Love it. He deserves every bit of recognition. I remember the day he was drafted. I remember The Shot, The 63-point Game, The Double Nickel, The Flu Game, and The Steal. I remember the powder he would throw on Johnny Kerr before the games. I remember finally beating Detroit. I remember watching him destroy Charles Barkley (on our honeymoon). I remember opening wedding presents while watching them win championship #3. I remember the three-peat and then the repeat of the three-peat. I remember both retirements. I remember Scottie pointing to Michael’s silhouette on the bottom of his shoe and asking him to return. I remember the season with 72 wins. I remember his restaurant downtown and Juanita’s macaroni & cheese. I remember Chicago being transformed into a winner. I remember the look in his eyes when he was ready to dominate. I remember thinking that Michael and Scottie could win every game. I remember yelling when they didn’t. I remember the bond Michael had with Scottie and Phil. He is the best player. Michael Jordan. Hall of Famer. Thanks for some great memories.

Peet's

2009-09-05T17:57:00.000-07:00

I had my first cup of Peet’s coffee yesterday. It was decent. The store was clean. The coffee was bold. It had a smooth, mellow brightness to it that was good for the palette. I’ve had many friends tell me that this is really the best stuff and as soon as I taste it, I’ll leave behind the burnt taste of Starbucks (not my words). Well, it’s not gonna happen. I like Starbucks. It’s better (sorry Peet). I’ll drink another cup of Peet’s someday, but my next stop will be St. Arbucks.

Circles

2009-08-21T16:36:00.001-07:00

A European study using global positioning software recently concluded that people who try to walk a straight line find themselves going in circles. Interesting…kind of. I guess people really do walk in circles. This is so relieving because I thought it was just me! I’m not sure about the walking thing - but driving can be a struggle. I’m not bad with directions, but I could definitely benefit from a Garmin, Navigon, Magellan, Mio, or TomTom navigational system (Apparently those are the top 5. Wouldn’t know. But the Magellan Maestro 4370 looks hot.). I’m kind of a “turn right or left” guy. I’ve never been good with the whole “go north or south”. Not sure why. It probably has something to do with my childhood (mom?). In one test, six students were taken to a large forest and told to “walk the line” (thank you Johnny Cash). Four of them walked under a cloudy sky and couldn’t see the sun. Can you say, “circles, small circles”? That’s what they all ended up doing. This study found that people tended to go in circles or veer from a straight line if there was nothing to guide their way. Nothing beats a guide. It points. It gives confidence. It keeps you on the right road. How interesting is it that God tells us, “trust Me from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for My voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; I’m the one who will keep you on track.” Goodbye circles. Goodbye Magellan. I’ve got a guarantee. It points. It gives confidence. It keeps me on the right road.

thirteen random things from my vacation...

2009-08-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

1. My children make me laugh. Very funny. All of them.
2. Uncle Ben is a stud and drives a massive Suburban that’s actually cool.
3. Tonia, my wife, is still my best friend.
4. I need to buy a cottage on a lake – today.
5. Blackjack is kind of interesting.
6. Ice cream cones are still the tastiest things in the world.
7. There’s nothing quite like a cup of Starbucks while overlooking a beautiful lake.
8. I don’t vacation enough.
9. Uncle Ben is a stud and has a pontoon boat that’s actually cool.
10. I still don’t get the whole “fishing” thing. What do people see in that?
11. Pineapple on the grill – not sure if that works.
12. Hamburgers from Walmart taste like crap. Nasty things.
13. People don’t drive mad in Indiana. I miss the mad Illinois drivers! They make me laugh when they raise their hands and fingers.

Thanks Kids

2009-07-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

I recently put together a talk where I needed the help of my kids. I wanted to use them in a media piece where I would share some of my hopes and dreams for them. I booked my favorite camera guy. Got the family ready and...big rain. Buckets of it were falling from the sky. It was amazing. So, take two with more hair spray and make-up! Here’s the finished product. A big thanks to my kids. You guys are amazing. I’m a happy father.

Tonia's Story

2009-07-14T17:24:00.001-07:00

Here's a bit of Tonia's story. She did a great job and it was a huge help for one of my recent talks on marriage.

9 years old

2009-06-23T12:21:00.001-07:00

Chandler is now nine years old. He's been a great gift and a very funny part of our family. He's a star wars lovin', wii playin', ice cream eatin' boy. He came into our lives nine years ago and we're very proud of what he is becoming. He's got cool hair, dark brown eyes and is the nicest person you've ever met. That's our Chander. Happy Birthday bud!

June vacation 2009

2009-06-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

We’ve had a great week! It started with celebrating our sixteenth anniversary and ended with a very wet camping trip to the Warren Dunes in Michigan and stop at Willow for “Dadfest”. The kids were fun. We laughed, hiked, swam, and read a total of 2,500 pages as a family. I was able to knock down two Grisham books which have been waiting for me. I also beat Cameron in chess twice! This is becoming increasingly difficult and probably the last time I will be able to boast of such things. It’s back to work…

Happy 16th!

2009-06-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

Tonia and I got to stay in our first Frank Lloyd Wright home for our 16th anniversary. The Muirhead Home is an amazing Usonian design with lots of built-ins, fireplaces, and windows. Cool windows. Small windows. Skinny windows. Floor-to-ceiling windows. Windows, windows, windows. And…lots of architectural intrigue. Loved it. Need to buy it!

Rock Star!

2009-04-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

Justin…he’s amazing. He creates, edits, re-creates, tracks design trends, and provides innovate solutions. This is a little piece that he put together for a Walk for Life Event. I love working with this guy. He’s a huge help and a true rock star. Check out his stuff at sound republic media.

A Great City

2009-04-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day in Illinois, and there’s only one place (there’s probably a couple) to hang out…Chicago. Navy Pier was the destination and we had a great time. Here’s the breakdown: 1) $70 doesn’t get you very far. 2) Two year olds like carousals (who knew?). 3) The wind makes your hair very attractive. Fun for all.

Happy Easter

2009-04-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Its become a yearly tradition to participate in the EGGSTRAVAGANZA. The “ganza” is an event that involves 10,000 eggs filled with candy and many other activities where adults stand around and watch their kids have fun. Which brings me to the picture (not a complete a sentence). Caden, our youngest, filled his basket with multiple eggs and then proceeded to eat everything. In the Eurovan…still eating. It was amazing. He finally said, “I don’t feel so good”. The picture tells the story.

Churches

2009-02-20T07:57:00.001-08:00

I recently taught through a series called “Churches”. The experience basically walked through the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 & 3. When you begin to work your way through those words, you find that God is basically asking, CHURCHES...WHAT’S GOIN’ ON? What are you doing? How are you transforming lives? How are you changing culture? How are you helping people find me? It’s a penetrating set of questions that’s not just for a bunch of churches that existed way back in the day. It’s a question for us. God is literally asking, “what’s goin’ on with you?”.

#3 & Ice Cream

2009-02-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

Chandler (he's child #3) loves ice cream. And we’ve got this little tradition that involves ice cream & hair. It sounds a bit creepy, but it works for us. Whenever Chandler gets a little trim on his stylish head of hair, he gets ice cream. It’s quite an ordeal. And it’s not just any ice cream. It’s Oberweis. For those of you who hang out in Illinois, you know that Oberweis is pretty much the best stuff that money (a lot) can buy. So, here’s my son enjoying some extravagant dairy products after his latest trim on the locks!

Whiteboard "stuff"

2009-02-20T07:50:00.000-08:00

I'm no UPS guy...but here's my attempt at art on a whiteboard. A big thanks to a genius editor (Justin Michael) and his mad skill at making stick people move. Love it. I used this recently to provide some takeaways for a teaching piece.

Rock Star!

2009-02-20T07:44:00.000-08:00

I recently used this interview during a teaching piece. Tim...he's a rock star and I'm so grateful for people who challenge me to think of others.

pay to play...

2009-02-06T08:21:00.001-08:00

It’s kind of an Illinois thing. If you have enough money to pay for…let’s say a Senate seat, than it should be yours (what we’re we thinking?). Illinois politicians and big money peeps have been doing this for a long time. So long in fact that it could come out as a new iphone game. The Chicago Tribune just reported that we may soon be able to play “Pay2Play: The Corruption Game”. The goal of the game is get as much cash as possible by buying and selling Senate seats and “cushy jobs” before your gubernatorial term expires. Apple is currently taking “additional time for review”. Crazy. Here’s hoping for a few corruption free years on the big stage in Illinois. Now on to Beyonce vs. Etta…

Stellar Kart

2009-01-27T11:26:00.000-08:00

Its been awhile since I've been to a concert. I miss them! Fortunately, Stellar Kart came right to my church. Love it. It was Cameron's first "real" concert and he had a good time. Go Grace! The enormity of the show...

Enormity...

2009-01-23T08:07:00.000-08:00

I was reading my Chicago Tribune today (I love this paper) and I discovered that we can no longer use the word "enormity". Shocker. Who knew? This is the word of the year and it's already out. No longer can we talk about the enormity of the housing crisis, the banking crisis, or Blago's hair. It's a sad day. I shall now go and enjoy the enourmousness of my Venti cup of Starbucks.

Hot Shoes

2009-01-02T14:24:00.001-08:00

Hot shoes again! I love it. These guys were a present from my wife. She’s got great taste! I picked them out, but she paid for them. Actually, I picked them out and paid for them – but they’re from her. That’s how it works.

Christmas 2008

2009-01-02T14:20:00.001-08:00

Great times…kids with smiles…parents with smiles…grandparents with smiles…I guess there were just lots of smiles. And of course, the food. Fabulous. My sister makes these little, tasty treets that taste kind of like bread. But it’s not bread. They taste kind of sweet. But not too sweet. They’re perfect little things, and I don’t even know their names. That’s too bad. Hopefully, she remembers and will make a plate – for me! Oh, and they’re perfect with coffee. Maybe she'll send me a picture. So good.

Shrub…a delectable little beverage

2008-11-29T11:58:00.001-08:00

My family has this peculiar tradition passed on for many years that involves sherbet and juice. Yes, it’s a bit strange, but it’s the way we start important meals. That’s just the way we roll. Give it a shot. You could be surprised.

103.5

2008-11-29T11:51:00.000-08:00

103.5…that’s smokin’ hot. Our little guy reached this magical temperature and had to have a little I.V. work done at the hospital. They had to stick him a couple of times before the I.V. worked, and it was awful. Needless to say, he didn’t look too “out of it” when he got stuck. I was about ready to cry myself! The I.V. did its thing and Caden was able to come home in time for Thanksgiving. He’s back to normal. Laughing, smiling, playing with his cars and being a little boy again.

We've got a teenager...

2008-11-07T17:46:00.001-08:00

Wow. Where has the time gone? This little guy was just born and now he’s saying goodbye to blankie, the Jonas Brothers, and the Disney Channel (I so miss The Suite Life)! It’s on to the ipod touch and 7th grade basketball! Go Cameron. You’re amazing!

Down Time

2008-08-10T19:25:00.001-07:00

Seven whole days with no big agenda. It’s a beautiful thing. We didn’t go far from home, but far enough to have fun and enjoy a mélange of events. Cantigny. Red Robin. National Treasure 1 & 2. Napoleon Dynamite. Piglet’s Big Movie. Jellystone Campground. Lincoln Park Zoo. North Avenue Beach. Westfield Mall. Starbucks. That’s the list. It was a great time with the family and Cameron only threw up in the car twice. Twice. Not bad.

Stuff I'm reading...

2008-08-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

Many people have been asking about my book list – the “stuff” that I’ve been reading. OK, no one’s been asking. Not a single person. I just thought I’d throw it on the blog. Most recent reads: The Gospel According to Starbucks by Leonard Sweet, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. It’s time for me to pick up a Grisham book again so I’m going with The Broker. I’ve also started The Colonel – the life and legend of Robert R. McCormick indomitable editor of the Chicago Tribune and The Creative Marriage by Ed Young.

Softball & Forgiveness

2008-08-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

Both of my younger brothers play softball. They’re still holding onto the dream! They seem to be having fun and that’s what counts. Softball doesn’t really do it for me. The ball is pretty big and I’m thinking that it would hurt if it bounced off your face or something. Actually, my fear of softball goes way back. Way back in “the day" when I was a youngster and I had a bad experience. That experience led me to learn a hard lesson about forgiving. It sounds weird, but it’s true. Softball and forgiveness. It goes together for me. You can check out the story in video bar (piece #3).

The Last Week

2008-06-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

School...it's over! We had an interesting start to the last week of school. Yikes! Bad milk. Nothing better. We all survived.

MHOTY

2008-05-08T06:09:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants in on this texting thing. I was just reading about how Pope Benedict will text message thousands of young Catholics on their mobile phones during World Youth Day in Sydney in July, hoping going digital will help him connect better with a younger audience. The Pope will text daily messages of inspiration and hope during the six-day Sydney event. There ya go. Communicating the right message is important. It's a big deal for all of us! It could be a text. It could be an email. It could be a face-to-face conversation. No matter the method, good communication does amazing things for our relationships. Sometimes we get it right! Occasionally, people might send us the MHOTY message...my hats off to you! Drop me a note about a time when someone left you a message of hope and you "tipped your hat".

Life on the other side of "send"

2008-05-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

We've all done it. We just blurt something (verbally puke) and it's out. Or, we use technology to "blow-up" someone. Why do it face-to-face when we can hide behind a phone or computer! Has that ever happened to you? Have you ever hit the "send" button on a piece of communication that you later regretted? You can't take it back. It's out there being read. It's out there causing hurt. This is what we call the silent cost of our words. YIKES. It is possible (I'm serious) to enjoy life on the other side of the send button. Leave me a comment. Do you have a story?

txt me

2008-04-24T06:31:00.000-07:00

HF. I’m teaching through a series called TXT ME! It’s a series about how we talk to each other. One would think that with texting (sending messages between cell phones and other handheld devices), and all of the other advanced ways we have of communicating that we would be really good at this. It's almost like all of our communication efforts would be amazing and close to perfect! We would never have explosive conversations. We would never experience “limited connectivity”. Unfortunately, that's not real. In the first talk, we’ll deal with the dangerous shortcuts we sometimes take in our communication with others. What about you? Do you text? How often? So…txt me (or at least drop me a note on this blog). EOM

Water cooler conversations

2008-02-07T08:05:00.000-08:00

What's the scuttlebutt? Here ya go...on Tuesday, February 5th, 24 states held primary elections to select delegates to national conventions to choose Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. Just in case you haven't turned on a TV recently, we're in an election year. YAHOOOOO! So, does an election year do anything for you? Will we find you standing at a stoplight holding a sign for your candidate? Maybe you wish the whole thing would go away. AND...here's the real question. What does God think about all of this? Does he care? Is God a voter? How can we talk about this with our friends? We're starting a new teaching series at Grace called "Is God". This series is designed to help us take normal conversations that are already happening around the water cooler, break room, or hallway and turn them for spiritual impact. I hope to see you there. Feel free to drop a comment about the whole voting thing!

Prayer & Star Wars

2008-01-17T15:31:00.000-08:00

U Choooob

2007-12-29T20:34:00.001-08:00

I’ve got a few items for your viewing pleasure @ U Choooooooob when you have absolutely nothing to do. It's just some stuff that I’ve done and a few items that my sons have been working on together. You can find it all here. Enjoy!

Billy Goats, Bulls, and things of that nature

2007-12-29T12:39:00.000-08:00

Ever hear of the "Curse of the Billy Goat," also known as the Cubs Curse? Do you recall the Saturday Night Live sketch in which a short order cook would yell out to incoming patrons: "Cheezborger! Cheezborger! No fries, cheeps! No Pepsi, Coke!"? All of the above have one thing in common: the World Famous Billy Goat Tavern, a Chicago legend since 1934. It’s a little place in Chicago next to the United Center (home of the Bulls) where I got to enjoy a meal with my son Cameron, Uncle Kevin, and nephew Austin. We arrived early for the Bulls vs. Bucks game and so we decided to step inside the trendy eatery. Yes, I had the cheezborger. The meat was questionable but the bread was outstanding! And here’s the thing…they serve fries. By the way, the Bulls pulled off the victory 103-99.

hot shoes

2007-11-23T13:50:00.000-08:00

I'm into shoes. You've got to put them on your feet, so you might as well enjoy them. Makes sense, eh? (I threw the "eh" in there for my Canadian Uncle. He's cool). This is one of my favorite pair. They're not black, but they'll have to do.

2007-11-03T14:45:00.000-07:00

Grace...the end of the anatomy talks. It starts with one moment...one word...one deed. It can make a huge difference. This is the final piece in this series. It's a piece that sometimes is the hardest to get because we don't often think of ourselves as having the ability to impact another life. I've been reading a book recently by Mike Breaux where he says, "God says 'trust me - jump! Make a splash with your one and only life, and we can make ripples together. Live your life in such a way that you touch someone else's life. Then they'll touch someone's life, and they'll touch someone's life - and long after you're dead and gone, the ripples will still be going strong.'" God is ready to use our one life. It can happen. And through the church, we can make a difference that will last beyond our lives! One moment...one word...one deed.

anatomy...grace number two

2007-10-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

This whole second piece deals with "how do I get care"? Here's the reality about life...it happens, right? It goes on. Every day. And it keeps going on. Sometimes we have these days, weeks, or even months where everything is good. Life is OK. But life continues to happen. It goes on. And it seems that no sooner do we have some good days than we just get smoked and find ourselves falling backwards wondering what just happened. It's in those moments that it helps to have a network of people around us who will show up and provide care for us. We all need it at times. It's not a bad thing. There are some words in Scripture that tell us to "be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Be interested in others and what they are doing." It seems that God has provided something for us when we walk through the rain. It's called the church. Here's the amazing thing about the church when it's working right...it is a place where people receive and give care. That's what I'm talking about!

grace anatomy

2007-10-20T17:11:00.000-07:00

Here we go! It's a series that I'll be involved with at an amazing place called Grace Church. The starting questions is, "how do I get involved"? What's really interesting about this is that involvement in a church begins with understanding that God has uniquely designed and gifted His followers. Amazing. He's designed us to "do" good things. Without even knowing it, God placed something within us so that we could do some good stuff. That "something" is called a gift and when the church operates like it should (should!!!), people are helped, the broken find healing, and impact happens. The real challenge for Christ followers...choose to be a doer. It's God's dream. It works. Lowe's has this marketing theme of "let's build something together". God's already doing that. The church. You. Me. Us. Check out the trailer at the media bar (pic #4).

manifesto "stuff"

2007-09-30T18:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the deal...I recently attended this cool little gathering of about 800 people who like the church. They're just into it. We got to hear Guy Kawasaki (a very funny man) talk to us about being revolutionaries in our world. Guy is CEO of garage.com, a Silicon Valley based firm that's all about high-technology start ups. He was also the chief evangelist of Apple Computer back in the day. Loved it...especially the "churn, baby, churn" part. Nice. You'll have to get it.

Hangin' out with Caden...

2007-09-30T18:06:00.001-07:00

Caden...the man...he just turned one. wow. A big 12 months. Time has been flying since those first few days in the hospital. He's the best and the whole family is having a great time with the little guy. He's into my Shuffle and we have a hard time keeping him off the computer. Whatever...it's hard to imagine life without this precious little one in our arms. He's a perfect fit and looks great in the Eurovan. V-dub in the house...

Bible for Newbies

2007-09-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

It's a little series that I taught at a place called Grace. We had an enjoyable four weeks figuring out what it means to "feed ourselves". The Bible is this amazing book that God wants us to use. It's His letter to us and it's incredibly helpful. There ya go.