BabuLife

My Halloween Pic

Tell me I'm not bad.

Kid-free for 3 Hours!

Friday night our middle schoolers are fundraising by offering to watch kids from 6-9pm.  OH yeah...you KNOW I'm all over that! There are 50 spots total and 39 have been taken.  If you're a Gracer and you're sitting on the fence...you might want to hit the Grace site and sign 'em up. Single moms or dads...you know 3 hours of quiet would be exhilirating. You deserve a break!

-Babu

What's Keeping me up at Night?

How did I miss "Scrubs"?  My wife and I are addicted to the reruns being played on KSMOTV at 11:30pm.  WAAAAY past my bedtime.  This show is a riot!

I'm like way late on my popular TV shows.

Did Adam & Eve have Bellybuttons?

This question has plagued man for centuries.  It's bothered people like her and even her.  Where can a person take such questions?  Well I know a place.  Each Wednesday night here at Grace Church, you can ask any question about the Bible, current events and how they relate to the Bible or just questions that have driven you nuts for so long. 

Last week someone asked the question "Did Adam and Eve have bellybuttons?"  And our pastor, Tim Howey took an entire hour to answer it.  Of course this question was jokingly asked after Tim challenged everyone to ask a question that could not be answered in the Bible...and if they could, he'd give them $100.  Unfortunately I was not in the room to hear the answer but some 35-40 people can now share with their friends and family the deep truth of God's Word about Adam and Eve's bellybuttons. The Bible has an answer for everything!

If you're interested in learning more about the Bible this is a great way to do it.  A great way to invite friends and family to a comfortable laid back setting where they can just chill and listen or ask any question at all.

If given the opportunity, what question would you ask?

Grace Numbers

It's been since May that I posted attendance numbers.  I thought I'd drop a note on how our attendance has been since our big move back in April.  You can check out the "Grace by the Numbers" category to have a look at the spring numbers.  When we were preparing for a move, other churches told us to expect to double within the first year.  It looks like they were right..and some.  Here's the last two weeks plus one month ago:

• 11/12: 779
• 11/5: 761
• 10/15: 637

Gaza Update - Some Local Threats

It's been some time since I've posted on how my folks are doing. They are well, however they have requested some urgent prayer. There are some significant things going on there that I cannot talk about on this site as google is a powerful tool for both innocent bloggers and those who would do harm to others.  But my folks know the power of the praying body of Christ and would covet your prayers this week.  If you'd like to learn more, feel free to email me.

Thanks!

Babu

Money Sucks

This Sunday we're kicking off a four week series on personal finances. Last year we did a finances series and had great response from it.  As the hollidays kick into gear and people begin pulling out the old credit cards to make their families happy with all the "stuff", we're hoping to help give people a little guidance in making financial decisions before it's too late.

This series was created by the good folks at Willow Creek up in Illinois.  Unfortunately the package did not come with the graphics...I had to start from scratch copying theirs, changing some elements.  This also comes with a small group curriculum that coincides with the messages each week.

Anybody else doing a finances series before the hollidays?

Thank You Whoever You Are!

Somebody ordered me a subscription to a magazine.  I don't know who it is but THANK YOU!  I've been reading the first two issues throughout the day.  "Step Inside Design" magazine showed up in my mailbox at the office this week.  And I kept racking my brain trying to figure out how I signed up for this and it hit me...someone out there actually extended a kind gesture through buying me a nifty little magazine subscription.  COOL! 

So thank you whoever you are!  I'm enjoying it!

Thank You Veterans

Thanking a vet can never be done enough.  I have friends and acquaintences who have served this nation to keep us free.  On this Veterans Day I want to thank you all.  And to those who are currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and all over the world...you and your families are in my prayers tonight.  Thank you.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.  We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." - Ronald Reagan

A Second Band

Monday night a monumental moment occurred on the Grace stage.  A second worship band was birthed.  A new drummer, a new bass player, a new guitarist, another new guitarist and a new keyboard player played through three songs.  It was tight!  I was blown away by the skills of John the drummer.  He really showed up ready to play.  Still looking for another worship leader type though.  I'll be leading this one as well.

This year I'm able to release our usual band players from their guilt ridden consciences when they ask to take a holiday weekend off (because really I can't make them NOT take off...they've just always been there).  They're not going to be leading this Thanks giving.  My fellow bandmates are amazing volunteers showing up every week to play.  I think our drummer has only been gone like once in a whole year.  Thank God our church is growing...more musicians with great heart are walking through the doors.