BabuLife

Avoiding Foolish Questions

It can be easy to get wrapped up in silliness.  Something I've learned in my Christian walk is to avoid getting sucked into foolish debates...especially when there is absolutely no profit in them.  There's too much work to do...too many people to reach...and too many victories to celebrate than to debate the "how to's".  Praise God for the liberty we have in Christ!

8This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable unto men. 9But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. 10A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; (Titus 3:8-10)

Super Cool Person of the Week: Jim

Now here's a guy that just continues to show up each Sunday around the time most people are just getting out of bed.  Not only that, but he comes with little kids and wife in tow driving roughly 30 minutes to get to church.  And he does it because he wants to just be available to help in any way he can.

Jim (aka Egg Nog...ask Jim what it means when you see him) is an integral part of the video team working with Video Doog to make the lyrics and video all work seamlessly.  Not only does he volunteer on the video team, Jim is also a part of the photography team at Grace.  Yes we have one of those.  When Jim isn't sitting in front of a computer monitor, you might find him with a camera attached to his face.  He's sort of our official worship service historical photographer.  As a matter of fact he snapped the shot in my blog banner above.

Jim's attitude, heart and level headedness are huge assets to not only our team, but for me as a worship leader. It's such a joy having people on the team who can role with anything that may come our way during a service.  Jim is another reason I love being a part of the Weekend Service Team at Grace.

Be sure to tell Jim this week he's Super Cool!

Stop Shouting at People!

I was struck today by a post I ran across on Typepad's recently updated blogs list.  I've often wondered what it would be like to sit on the receiving end of an evangelical outreach opportunity.  I'm not talking about walking by a street preacher guy...I'm talking sitting somewhere minding my own business and someone starts up a conversation and intentionally asks me questions and talks to me just to set up the big question..."If you died tonight, do you know where you'd spend eterinity"?  To many folks it sounds like a bullhorn 4 inches away from the ear.

I think some time ago our culture might have outgrown this approach generally to sharing the good news.  People are wanting real, not a set up to the big question.  Friendship, relationships, genuine concern and just plain friendliness are what people need.  The gospel in action. Loving others with no desire to just get another notch on the belt from someone who prays with you.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for telling people about Christ, but sometimes our approach needs to be realized and modified to being a genuine person who cares for others.  Maybe it's time folks stop shouting at people?

Read from someone who recently experienced this at Barnes and Noble here.  Any thoughts?

Wii Will Rock U

We had a LAN (local area network) party at Grace about a week or so back. Gary (Little G) does such an awesome job giving his time and effort to this ministry opportunity.  Each time he puts these together they seem to get better and better.  This time there was an added bonus...a raffle for a brand new Nintendo Wii system.

A great fundraising opportunity to help raise money for Kristy's run for leukemia.  How cool is that?  Video gaming at a church with the chance to win a Wii while helping someone raise money for a great cause?  I decided to do something I NEVER do...I entered the raffle.  I never win anything and just figured I'd give it a shot for a worthy cause.  To my surprise I found out the next day I won!

I think my oldest has enjoyed it more than I have.  She can whoop me up on Wii sports!  Here's a pic of the victorious team.

Read more about Gary and the LAN parties at Grace Church on Pastor Tim's blog here.

Indy IV in 2008

It's official.  You can find at StarWars.com an official note giving the release date of the next installment to the Indiana Jones franchise.  Thursday, May 22, 2008. If you're a Star Wars geek such as myself, you've probably been aware of this for more than a year, but now that the offical word is out everyone is picking up the story.  Doubters believe!  See the announcement StarWars.com here.  Visit IndianaJones.com for the official announcement here.

Check out the IMDB page for Indy IV here.  Some cast announcements have been made.

HT: Rick
HT: StarWars.com
HT: TheForce.net

Super Cool Person of the Week: Sam

My Super Cool Person of the Week is...Sam!  Sam joined the team with the addition of the new band as electric guitar player back in November of 2006 and recently stepped it up by offering to support me with some of the administrative tasks.  Thank you Sam!!!  Pulling music, copying music, making sure CD's are distributed to the band members along with facilitating some of the rehearsals when I couldn't be there. Sam has been a great addition to the team...along with becoming a great friend! 

Be sure to tell Sam he is SUPER COOL!!!

Meet My Cousin

This past weekend we had a family reunion of sorts.  On my mom's side of the family there's a bit of Irish pride which seems to get greener around St. Patty's day.  It's a great opportunity to get all the grandparents, aunt's & uncles, cousins, second cousins, grandkids, great-grandkids and people who just happen to be dating someone in the family at the moment, in the same room at one time.

Saturday during our party I had a chance to catch up with my best friend who happened to be my cousin growing up.  I've known him since I was born and we had a bond that could never be broken type of friendship up until around the age of 18 or 19.  What happened to our friendship?  Oh a number of things I suppose.  Different interests, different priorities, different goals, different peers and of course a big factor...God interceding in my life.  I remember the moment I realized we were totally headed down different paths when I went to visit him back in 1993.  One of his friends at the time asked him, "Where's the Bible thumper?" I think my cousin felt bad and after a long conversation later with each other we both I think realized life was indeed changing.  When you're a young zealous christian, you sometimes say things that don't make sense because you're so excited about this new found God and you really want everyone you care about to know Him.  Unfortunately you sometimes forget you're just a "babe in Christ" and you tend to spit up all over them making a bit of a mess and can become rather annoying if you're not careful.  Which pretty much sums up how I feel it went back then. But really, when you're life changes so drastically, God puts a fork in the road and naturally when you follow him, your relationships and priorities change.  It never changes the love you have for the people in your life before, it just makes that love deeper and different.

Over the years I've googled his name to catch up on his mural artwork. He's an extremely talented painter/artist that has been painting the walls of businesses all over the country.  Some of his work is really astonishing.  Check out some of his work on his Myspace account here.

So catching up with him Saturday night was fun.  It really was good to see him again.  He even came to hear me teach Sunday! However, I did not get a chance to say goodbye to him.  Michael...if you get a chance to log on to a computer and actually look up my blog, I hope you come back soon and please be sure to make my family one of your first visits.

Sheewww!!! What a rush!

I gotta say I had fun today.  It's easy when you get to talk about something you have a passion for.  I did after all get to talk about worship and had the chance to use a Star Wars clip along with swinging a lightsaber onstage during my message in addition to having my parents be a part of it by sharing stories their ministry in Gaza.  How cool is that?!?  I hope all of you who were able to come were as blessed as I was this morning. Thank you to all who came up and encouraged me.  Preaching is not a role I'm comfortable filling and your kind words were uplifting.  Thanks!

Here's a link for the audio: Credit the Producer

Preaching Tomorrow!

My first full-fledged preaching.  Yes I've done it once before...but that didn't count...it was for one part of a message.  At least I didn't think it counted. Tomorrow I will be sharing my heart about worship with my church.  A friend asked today if I was nervous...I hadn't thought much about it so my answer I think might have sounded a little strange...I think I said "Not yet, I'm looking forward to it".  I think the nervousness will kick in right before I walk out. 

Thanks to all of you this week who have been so patient with me regarding some of my other duties and hats I wear around the church.  Particularly the communications area.  After Monday I'll be back on track!

I also realized I neglected to mention the other day on my "Day at the Library" post, my Dad will be a part of the message during the final point.

Now...off to bed so I can be refreshed and hopefully make sense as I speak tomorrow.

See you!
-Babu

Phone Number Fun

I ran across this website where you can type in your phone number to see if it spells anything.  Mine made absolutely no sense...if it did, I don't think I'd post it here on the web.  You never know if there are some Babu haters out there.

Check it out: PhoneSpell