I seriously have a lot of thoughts in my head to get on here. Some better than others, I’m sure. But just haven’t gotten them from my head to my fingers yet.
Soon, really soon.
Page 17 of 96
Sometimes you just gotta get it out:
- Soccer: Addison’s first game last night got tornadoed out. There were warnings around us and a little rain, so it was called off. She was disappointed. In a word, soccer in Oxford doesn’t seem to be as big/good as soccer in Clinton.
- Owl City: It’s just a guy w/ some really creative skills in making music. It’s my new fave. It should be yours too. Unless you like Nickleback. Then there’s no hope.
- I’m watching politics now. Not sure who I’ll vote for. Pretty sure who I won’t vote for. But nothing is for certain. Palin’s speech tonight should be interesting. I feel sorry for her daughter. On many different levels.
- I’m looking forward to this fall at The Orchard. Very interested to see all that God does with us. We want to be used by Him.
- MSU’s opponent for this weekend is actually staying at Camp Lake Stephens a few miles away from me. I might try to go see them playing in the creek or taking a mud hike. How funny would that be?
- I set up a 12′ soccer goal in my back yard Monday. It’s nice. It’ll be a pain to move/take down.
- There are Louisiana evacuees all around town. The Square was full of them yesterday. There are even a lot on my street. New Orleans still is closed.
- I miss a good Clinton High School pep rally. Nothing compares. And I especially like when they “close” with Superstar.
- My wife is at the doctor. Five dogs attacked her while she was running the other night. Bit her leg. Obviously it isn’t too serious if she’s just now at the doctor two mornings later. But for a tetanus shot and all that. But a car came up honking and swerving at the dogs to scatter them. She says if not for that car they might have taken her down. Scary.
I got more stuff. But should be more than a list of things.
This year, not much happened. MSU lost a football game, church happened. Fantasy Football drafts. And my wife getting attacked by some dogs [she’s okay though]. Lots of new folks in town too because of Gustav down south.
But last year this time I was on a plane. I was flying home from Washington D.C. after a great little get away to the nation’s capital. It was almost an impromptu vacation. But after having tasted and seen how much I liked being there, I want to go back for sure. Was able to connect w/ David Russell while there, but beating myself up that I forgot that a good friend from back home now works there too as an architect.
Anyway, if you ever get the chance to visit The District…do it! It is steeped in US History. Lots of cool things to experience. Most of it free. And you can walk pretty much everywhere. After spending four days there last year, I consider myself an expert.
Here are a few pics from last year. I have many more I’ll try to upload later.
First day we were there. A quick shot.
Nice shot of Abe.
Outside of la Casa Blanca.
A shot from the WWII Memorial. Washington Monument in the background.
There’s a longer story that goes with this, but George W. Bush is in that limo. I can post a larger picture if someone wants to try to see in there. But there were TONS of security cars before and after him. The limo is about to turn right into a back entrance to the White House. That lady biker cop you see was funny.
Some artistic garden.
Lots of folks around. Taken from the porch of the Lincoln Memorial.
After being cautiously optimistic about Mississippi State’s football chances this season, they were summarily dashed last night as they made a trip to Ruston, Louisiana. As the first SEC team to ever play IN Ruston, the visiting Bulldogs were a favorite. But poor mistakes and dumb plays doomed them. They started out well. Then the wheels fell out.
So now, what do I have to look forward to this football season? All is not lost. Don’t get me wrong. But Croom and company have their work cut out for them this next week. Yes, we lost big time to another Louisiana team in our opening game last year. But that was Louisiana State, not Louisiana Tech. LSU went on to win the National Championship.
So, my hopes of a surprise season were dashed. Momentum going the wrong direction. And dangit if I didn’t have to wake up this morning in Oxford, Mississippi and go to church with a bunch of Rebels who won their opener last night with a new coach.
God has a sense of humor.
As we gear up for our big launch for small groups for the fall, Tuesday night we had a meeting of small group leaders. It was a BBQ dinner at our house. And it was fun. It was great to have a group of leaders together like that and see their desire for the people of our church.
It’s a great team of people. We all laughed a lot at Dave’s jokes [but not @ him at all. right?] And when we had some discussion time it was good. Really good. Makes me really confident in the semester. Also, it almost made me want to keep those people together as a small group! We launch next week. And we’re looking forward to everything that happens.
And then tonight… While in Jackson I worked with the staff at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson a number of times. We went to the same winter retreat together and attended a lot of planning meetings for it. It is a large church. And they have lots of freshmen here at Ole Miss.
So a few of the parents from Jackson decided to have a “first of the year dinner” for them. There were around 25 freshmen there. You realize that they sent 25 kids to one university. Those 25ish would easily be larger than 90% of the Methodist youth groups in Mississippi.
But we were invited to come out and meet the freshmen. They seem to be a cool group of kids. Wes, their youth minister said there are some really solid leaders among them. A few came to The Orchard on Sunday. Hopefully some of them will call The Orchard their church “home away from home.”
Yesterday was a big day for us at The Orchard. Probably our biggest service ever. We had over 150 folks there when you count the children and teachers for their classes. There was such an energy in the room.
Services start at 10:30 on Sunday mornings. And at about 10:20ish, it looked to be a normal Sunday morning. Summers have been a little slow for us in a few ways, while at the same time adding quite a few new couples and families. And even when Pat finally shooed everyone into the worship room at 10:33 it still seemed like a regular Sunday. But there was a little more energy to the room. But as Matthew began to welcome people and started the first song, people kept coming into the room. And then more. And more and more.
We were having to continually take chairs off the racks and set them up in the back. And then we ran out of room in the back and had to set them up along the side. It was packed. Part of it was that school started for Ole Miss today, so there were a lot of college students back in town who had been Orchard attenders. And part of it was new college students checking us out for the first time.
There also were a few friends from my old youth group who drove up from Mississippi State to spend the morning with us too. And…I was the one preaching that morning. It was more teaching about why we value Small Groups at The Orchard, and why we see Biblical precedents for them too. We launch SGroups next week and wanted to hit them good. But I was pretty confident about the morning.
So all in all, it was a great morning. And lunch afterward was good to catch up with some old friends. The video above is dark. I know. But I tried to use my Macbook to capture some quick video. It was still plugged into a few cords and cables. So it’s shakey too.
But we fell that big things are on the way for The Orchard. Be in prayer for us.
How was your Sunday?
Rick Warren
“Over the last hundred years, the hands and feet of Christ have been amputated. So, basically, in the eyes of the world, we have become a big mouth. Most of the time we are known for what we are against, instead of what we are for. The church must be mobilized for what it is for, not what is is against. I want to be for the poor, the sick, the lost, and I want to be “the friend of sinners.”
Last year a friend went to a conference in Granger, Indiana. Yeah, Granger. Never heard of it?
Anyhow, It was called Innovate and was at Granger Community Church. I’d kept up with the church for a little while because I read the blogs of some of the staff members. It’s a great church. Very creative. Very missional. And making a big impact on their communities.
Last night I came across it again. Innovate08. I knew it was coming soon. But it had slipped my mind. And if I was to go to a conference I’d like for it to have something specifically related to my area of ministry. But when looking at Tim’s blog he mentioned how it’s possible to grab lunch w/ key staff members to pique their minds about things, and when I saw that there was a BreakOut session specifically about Small Groups…I began to really think about it.
Turns out that there’s already a group of people I know from The Orchard in Tupelo heading up there! How crazy is that? So, I’m looking through details, but I’m really hoping to make it!
All Along The Watch Tower by Dave Matthews Band
Last week I put up a Dylan song that g liked. So I figured I’d give g one more Dylan song to see if it was up to standards. I think this a much better remake than the one I had last week. Of course, I like DMB better than GnR too.
Welcome to The Black Parade [originally by My Chemical Romance]
If you’ve not heard the original of Welcome to the Black Parade by MCR, then you might not truly appreciate it. To transpose it to piano totally is impressive. I like the original song a lot too.
I caught the bug first from Pat. But I spent too much time it last night. But it was worth it. Wonder what you would look like if you grew up in a different era? Yearbook Yourself!
