BabuLife

Worship Recap: 6/29/08

This was "Summer Breakout Sunday" which means all the kids who participated in this week's VBS at Grace were invited to be a part of the worship services.  We played the three main tunes with the kidlets and played Video Doog's video recap.  It was pretty tight up there on the stage.

Tim capped off the VBS with a special message to the adults using the same theme and points their kids learned during the week.  I don't know if it's unique for the pastor to teach the same content brought up (or down) to an "adult-level", but it really seems to be something that parents appreciate.  We had 6 professions of faith Sunday...AWESOME!!!  Check out Tim's "Web Bonus" here.

Capped off the message with me on the acoustic playing Chris Tomlin's "Mighty is the Power of the Cross". One of my favorite tunes.  With a message geared to communicate who Christ was, this song wraps it all up perfectly.  "What can take a dying man, raise him up to life again...Mighty is the power of the cross".

Check out a post from Rebekah at Happy Mom Blog, a volunteer at this week's Summer Breakout at Grace here.  You'll see a video rehearsal we had with the kids on Friday.

-Babu

Busting Myths that Busted Our Rumps

Beat.  That's pretty much how the 120 or so volunteers felt after Friday's conclusion of Summer Breakout (Vacation Bible School). While we were all beat, there was a sense of feeling extremely rewarded for the time and effort put into this year's "Mythbusters" themed VBS. Teaching kids about God by busting myths people have regarding Jesus.

Thank you to all who volunteered this week.  You took time out of your work schedules to spend a few hours investing in eternity.  You burnt vacation time that won't be returned...but the return will be seen both here on earth and in heaven as you taught our kids the value of a personal relationship with G od.

Thanks for ministering to my kids all you Summer Breakout volunteers.  I believe we have truly one of the most unique and rewarding VBS' in the area...all because of your sacrifices.

Check out the website created for the kids to log on each night to take the mythbuster quiz. Great job! www.GraceSBO.com

By the way...I'm over the fact that you embarrassed my onstage in front of the Grace children.  There is no way any grown man can hit a marshmallow with a toy putter.

Grace Microcast - DFTL Wrap Up/Interview with a Former PLO Sniper

This week on the Grace microcast we wrapped up the three week series called "Don't Forget the Lyrics" on Psalm 119. You'll hear who won the iPod Nano drawing along with how this little mini-series was hatched.

On July 6 we'll kick off another three week series on missions (worldwide and backyardwide). My Dad will be coming to speak to the church about reaching the Muslim world. It's not often you get to hear from a former PLO sniper about his story of change and redemption. As a "sneak peak" the KCMO 710 news director, Kevin Patrick, interviewed my dad on the phone about his ministry and upcoming book called "Once an Arafat Man". It's about half-way thru the podcast.

Give a listen to the podcast here. It's at the bottom.

Worship Confessional: 6/22/08

"Don't Forget the Lyrics" series comes to an end.  Thanks to all who participated in the game portion of the series.  The winner of the iPod Nano drawing was John Doughty.  He nailed the lyrics last week to "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2. This week we played the tune "Help!" by the Beatles.  Both ladies finished off the lyric "Get my feet back on the ground"....great job!  It was a fun run these past three weeks.  Hope you Gracers enjoyed it!

This series on Psalm 119 was a refreshing look for me at the importance of having a daily time with God through the Bible.  A great end to one of the most compelling passages in the Bible.  Check out Tim's notes on yesterday here.

Here's the worship setlist:

• Filled with Your Glory (G) by Starfield
• Salvation is Here (B) by United
• Friend of God (D) by Michael Gungor
• Glorious (D) by Chris Tomlin
• Holding on to You (E) by Paul Colman

Next week Tim wraps up this week's Summer Breakout (Grace's Vacation Bible School) with a message to us adults based on what the kids of Grace have been learning all week called "Mythbusters".  Smashing myths about Jesus.  Presumptions, assumptions, myths and stereotypes will be addressed and demolished this weekend. :)

See you Sunday!

-Babu

A Visit From a Freaky Head

How is a man supposed to work under these conditions?  Can you spot the freaky head in this picture that magically appeared in my office?  What's wrong with you Grace people?!?

Break Through Walls

"You have to find something that you love enough to be able to take risks, jump over the hurdles and break through the brick walls that are always going to be placed in front of you."
 - George Lucas, creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones

Has God Found What He's Looking for in You?

"Sometimes when we're struggling for answers...we want direction...we want guidance...and we haven't found what we're looking for.  God doesn't answer anything.  God's silent.  Sometimes we forget this is a two-way relationship. We're seeking for something in life and we're looking at this difficult time but do we realize that maybe God is looking for something at that very same moment.  And God says...You know what, I've been looking for this.  The reason you're in this situation, and I've allowed this to go on...not because I want to hurt you...I've been looking, and God says, Dude, I still haven't found what I'm looking for...and I'm God.  I'm trying to let something happen in your heart and life."                                                                                                                             Tim Howey

I had a chance to really listen to the message from yesterday, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"...and wow...this was a punch in the gut to me.  God is looking...waiting for us...to come to Him and give Him control of whatever situation we find ourselves in.  Awesome stuff.

Worship Confessional: 6/15/08

Week 2 of the Psalm 119 series "Don't Forget the Lyrics".  Our song this week for the game was "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and the contestants once again nailed it.  As a matter of fact, the first service contestant knew the band name (U2) the album (The Joshua Tree) which track it was on the album (#2) and what side of the LP it was on (side 1).  Wow.  There's a devoted U2 fan. Yes youngins out there who don't know...we used to have to turn over albums or cassette tapes to listen to the full album...and artists used to consider this as they were creating the song placement on the albums. Great message on questioning God and not being satisfied with life.  Listen to it here.  Be sure to check out Tim's blog to take part in his conversation regarding the 8 questions in the Bible.

In addition to the game, we had our Summer Breakout Jr kids (ages 4 - 5) up on stage singing with us. CUTE!!!  Sorry no pics...if anybody took one, please let me know and if you can forward one, please do.  Check out the video posted by David on the Grace Facebook group page here.

Sunday's setlist.  You can purchse on iTunes:

• Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin
• I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For by U2
• You Never Let Go by Matt Redman

The third and final week is next Sunday.  The drawing for the iPod Nano happens during the second service. One more chance to win this week.

See you!
-Babu

Friday Randomness for June 13

Friday stuff for you.  Enjoy...

• Rich does it again.  Another great "Worship Mythbusters" post. This one was called "Expressiveness in Worship versus Legalism" Go check it out.
• Summer Breakout Jr. Just finished three days of playing kids worship music.  As I stated on a previous post...Rob Biagi is Da Man of children's worship.  He writes some tough music and as usual...the Grace team nailed it.  Great job!  Special thanks to all the workers who took vacations and spent time ministering to my kids and all the Gracer kidlets. I'm continually amazed each year at how many people volunteer. Awesome job!
• Twitter. Seriously...if you've not checked it out...go.  Follow me and maybe I'll follow you.  I'm finding it difficult to keep my "following" list down to 50 or less.  I don't know how some folks can follow anything more than 50.  Get yours here...follow me here.
• Grace Church on Twitter.  Forgot to mention...Grace has a Twitter account.  What for you ask?  Just another way to keep you Gracers informed.  If you follow Grace Church here, you can elect to have Grace Tweets text messaged to your phone.  Don't worry, we only update it with news and important info (rain outs, event info, event cancellations etc).  Follow Grace on Twitter here.
• What's a Twitter? One other Twitter thing...don't know what "Twitter" is? Go here.
• The Daily Scribe. The folks at Daily Scribe reviewed the content here on BabuLife and have deemed it worthy enough for a feed.  Thanks for including me on the site.  Thanks to Rich for the recommend.
• Podcasting. Lately my life has been revolving around solutions that will equip Gracers with more tools to keep up with Church info, vision and discipleship.  For a community that's constantly "on the go" what better way than equipping with audio they can take with them?  Easier to listen while driving than watching.  Tim and I are experimenting with "Microcasts" periodically throughout the summer. Give them a listen here and email us at podcast@graceks.org or phone us with a voice mail at 206-426-5394.
• Pride. It usually does come before a fall.  Praying it away from my world this week. Proverbs 12:1...don't be stupid.
• New series. We're on week two of "Don't Forget the Lyrics". Our iPod giveaway continues this week with another chance to finish the lyric to a song.  Can't wait to see who wins this weekend.  Correction to the reading mentioned on the microcast...should've been Psalm 119:121-128 not 119:141-148.  Sorry about that.
• 8 Questions. Check out Tim's post for this current series. Talked about it on the Microcast this week.
• My wife and daughter.  They ran the stage this week during SBO Jr.  As I stood on stage, I felt pretty overwhelmed with pride and joy when I looked across the stage to see my oldest daughter (8) with a headset on standing next to my wife waiting for her cue to help bring props offstage. A servants heart molded by the awesome example of my wife Addie.
• Friday night.  Nothing is going on.  I'm excited about just going home and playing with the kids. I've missed them this week.

That's it for now!  Want more Babu absorption?  Check out Twitter and follow me here.  Did I mention that?

-Babu

Summer Breakout '08 is Here

This is the week of  SBO Jr (Summer Breakout for ages 4 - Kindergarten).  Lots of little kidlets running around the church...I love it!  The band is playing for them this week and they are doing awesome.  I've also found that children's worship music is not as easy as you'd think.  Let me say that Rob Biagi is the grand master of kid's worship music.  I bow before you sir Biagi...

This morning was Day 2.  I arrived early to find this giant "hamster ball" in the auditorium.  As a child I've dreamt of moments like these...when a large inflatable ball appears before me and I am given access to enter and roll to my hearts content.  Yes...I did it.  It was a dream come true...however, I didn't ever imagine that I would be sore...age has set in on my dream.  Here's a pic of the ball...