BabuLife

Prepping for my Church Visit

What's it like to just go to church?  To walk in the doors, be greeted, pick up a worship guide, maybe drink coffee (HUGE MAYBE cos coffee is NASTY), to sit amongst the people waiting for the worship to begin.  I'm eager to see what's happening in another local body in the area.

I'm mulling over the things I will be looking for with both worship and communications hats on.  Here's what I'm hoping to learn from:

• Parking lot - The true first impression.  What do other churches do?  Honestly I don't know what it's like at our church.
• Visitor friendliness - How do they interact with first timers.
• Brochures - How do they communicate their available ministries.
• Worship guides - Yeah...I make these at Grace.  I LOVE to get ideas from other churches and I'm hoping I'll get some good ones from this visit.
• Pre-Service - What happens in the worship center before services.
• Music - Looking forward to the chance of just worshipping without leading.  Hoping to learn from a great team.

So where am I going?  I'm checking out Indian Creek Community Church right down the road from my house.

Enjoy your Sunday!
Babu

Coming Back Down from the Summit

Great finish today.  Every time I come down from the Summit I feel like I just got kicked around a little bit.  Which is what I need from time to time.  When you think you've got some things figured out...you get schooled and shown that you're possibly heading down the wrong path.  When you think you've been a failure in a particular area...you get schooled and shown that yeah...you kind of are failing at a few things and need to turn back around.

Today I had that moment when Bill Hybels shared his message called "Whatever You Do, Inspire Me".  Sometimes we leaders get so caught up with "getting it done" that we (and by we I mean me) tend to neglect the inspiration aspect of leadership.  That is, pumping inspiration into myself which then in turn bleeds into the life of the leaders depending on me.  That was may walk away from the Summit.

So with that said...here's what's spinning in my head after three days of vision pounding:

• Make time to get personally inspired.  What inspires me to keep going?
• Make time to inspire others.  How are the people I minister with inspired?
• Make time to celebrate with the team.  I like to do it individually with lunches and what not, but I've always felt like I've failed in this arena.  Last Easter was the first time I felt like our team was truly ministered to at one time...and that was all because one volunteer stepped up and took care of the team by organizing food and what not.  I then realized "STOP DOING IT ALL YOURSELF".
• STOP DOING IT YOURSELF.  I've got to step up to the leadership role more.  Inviting others to do the things I think folks don't have the time or won't want to engage in.
• Focus on my strengths.  Sometimes I waste time trying to focus on areas that I am really not made for when I could be building upon the strengths God has given me.
• Helping others.  I don't remember what speaker it was this week, but one of them said to identify what you're really good at and offer it as a help to those in need.  I sat there thinking "Great...I can play the guitar and sing somewhere. Not real helpful"  Then I thought about this whole blogging thing and website stuff realizing that there are inner city churches and others who might benefit from that experience.  Don't know what that means but something I thought about.

I love the Leadership Summit and am so grateful for the opportunity to go.  This year was extra special for me because my wife accompanied me for the first time these last three days.  Thank you Bek, Marie and my mom-in-law for watching the kidlets!  Thank you Tim for giving us all the opportunity to be ministered to.  It was definitely refreshing.

Be sure to check out Tim's notes from the Summit here.

Visit the Leadership Summit blog page here.

Church Visits 07

Last year I took a Sunday and visited a couple of local churches here in the area.  I'll be taking Sunday off from leading worship to check out some of the other works God has out in Johnson County.  Not sure yet where to go, I have a couple in mind.  Any ideas out there?

Worship leaders - do you visit other churches?  If so, how do you choose where to visit?  If not, why?

Back to the Summit,
Babu

Blog from the Summit

I am SOOOO not into blogging from the Summit.  I started to and then decided to just let the master note taker in our group be the source.  So check out our lead pastors blog here.

My report consists only of this...my backside is sore!  The chairs aren't condusive to long sitting.  Wondering if I should bring a cushion.

Later,
Babu

Leadership Summit 2007

Tomorrow I'm heading down the street with the Grace staff to one of the live broadcasts of the Willow Creek Leadership Summit. Last year's Summit had a buzz with the appearance of Bono from U2 (You can watch the entire interview in 8 parts here).  With or without the buzz, the Leadership Summit has provided me some great insight and inspiration.  Here are the speakers I'm looking forward to hearing most:

• Bill Hybels - Always a great influencer and speaker.  I always walk away feeling inspired when I hear Bill speak.
• Colin Powell - I've always had admiration for Colin Powell and his position during both wars in Iraq.  Looking forward to hearing his interview.
• Marcus Buckingham - I don't know this person, but from the description on the Willow Creek website, he sounds like he might have some great leadership insight.

Check out the speakers here.

Anyone else going?

Bridge

"The word 'bridge' does not occur in the Bible. There may be two reasons. One is that God doesn't build bridges, he divides seas. The other is that usually his people must pass through the deadly currents of suffering and death, not simply ride over them."  Jon Piper

HT: Jonathan Herron

Worship Confessional: 8/5/07

This week we continued plowing through the "In the Know" series.  Two more weeks left in this study of First John.  I've always loved this book and it's black and white explanation of sin, love and God's nature. If you'd like to learn more about the study be sure to check out Tim's "Bible category for his Web Bonus notes from each Sunday.  Lots of good stuff there that he couldn't cover.  Check it out here.

Music-wise we had an awesome time of worship.  This week we had Lynnora on violin again (she does an amazing job).  Every time she plays I'm blown away at how fresh an older song can sound.  We also had a couple of songs during the message this week.  I got to play with my wife (that was my wife, Addie, singing the song "How Deep the Father's Love").  She's got pipes like buttah!  Lynnora also played an old hymn called "The Deep, Deep Love of God".  Second service I went and sat in the congregation to listen...wow.  Audio Scott did a fantastic job adding just the right amount of effects.  Sounded like we were in a huge music hall.

My favorite song from Sunday was the finale..I think (Shine was up there too).  We finished off with Starfield's "Son of God".  When that chorus comes on "Jesus, oh Holy One..." I got chills hearing the congregation sing with such enthusiasm in response to the message they'd just heard.

As worship was progressing during first service, I realized folks seemed to still be a little disconnected after the second song.  So during the announcements as Brian was talking, I prayed for some guidance on what might be an encouraging thing.  I can't stand when worship leaders tell people to sing loud, almost as if they're in trouble for not engaging.  I thought about all the families and struggles folks have getting kids out the door and how hectic it can be just getting a family to church on time.  Sometimes the pressure gets so intense that spouses oftentimes end up fighting then just as they cross the door, they put on their "Glory of the Lord" face...or at least try. It takes a few songs and some time to really disengage from the hectic morning and connect to the worship.  It was awesome to see that transformation yesterday as we all were able to make the song "Meet with Me" a genuine prayer for the Lord to meet with us.

Here's our worship list.  You can purchase them on iTunes by clicking the titles:

• Let Everything That Has Breath by Matt Redman
• Everlasting God by Brenton Brown (Tomlin Version)
• Meet With Me by Ten Shekel Shirt
• Shine by Matt Redman
• How Deep the Father's Love for Us by Stuart Townend (Sarah Saddler version)
• The Deep, Deep Love of God (No violin version available)
• Son of God by Starfield

The New Guitar Update

As promised...a pic of the new geetar in action.  Still feeling extremely blessed by this beautiful gift. Thanks to my buddy Jim for the pic.

Blogging Etiquette Tips

With all the new Gracer blogs popping up, I thought I'd throw out some things that I've learned from others about blogging etiquette.  I started this back in January but never took off with it.  If you've got some to add or know of a great link where someone has posted some helpful tips, please drop a comment with the link.  Here's a review from the tip I had in January:

The Hat Tip

Something I learned early in 2006 was the new and improved way of giving notice to a fellow blogger who posted something that you linked to on your blog.  The "Hat Tip" recognizes that blogger, giving your readers a chance to check out the origins of your "borrowed post". 

For instance, you run across a video or audio file that you thought was intriguing on my site here at BabuLife.  It may have been something worthy enough to be posted on your blog and you decide to share it with your readers.  When making the post, you could note a kind "Hat Tip" on your post as - HT: BabuLife along with the video or audio file you posted. It's a big internet, and I love clicking away from blogs I enjoy to others that I never would have seen or heard of.

Now I'm not a "numbers" kind of guy, believe me, my 60-70 subscribers are just fine for me. But if you're a fellow blogger, please consider giving a little Hat Tip to your blogging brethren,I've found that it's the friendly blogging thing to do.

A great resource: The Blogging Church by Brian Bailey and Terry Storch

Welcome Jim to Blogging

After much agonizing and debate, our youth/ministry pastor has officially started a blog.  My Gracer blogroll is getting hard to keep up with!  If you're a Gracer (that is one who is a member of Grace Church of Overland Park) drop a comment and add your link.

Jim is a great friend, gifted Bible teacher and genuine believer who takes great pride in his knowledge of pop culture.  Have a peek at his blog and drop a hello for me would you?  Visit his site here.

-Babu