BabuLife

I'm a Geek

This week I had some curious people want to look in my office to see if my geekiness that sometimes emanates from this blog carries over into my physical world.  So, for those curious, here's a shot of the office and my treasured "Clone Shelves" which hold my armies of Star Wars dolls action figures.  And yes...it does go beyond the blog....and yes...I am an admitted geek...enjoy!

Watch D.O.G. for a Day

A few weeks ago I signed up at Sporty's school to be part of the Watch D.O.G.S.(Dads of Great Students)program.  Monday was my day of Daddy Greatness.

Born out of a response to the school shootings over the past 10 years, the Watch D.O.G.S. program has provided a way for fathers to get involved in their children's schools.  It's pretty easy.  All you have to do is show up, wear a vest, walk the halls, walk around the school, visit with kids during recess and lunch along with visiting a few classrooms.  I had the opportunity to spend some time with my daughters classmates.  It was very rewarding!  The kids couldn't stop shouting out "Hi Watchdog!" in the halls.

I asked the principal if I could maybe take the vest home.  If all it takes is a blue vest to win respect and hero status in the eyes of children, I figure maybe this blue vest could carry over to the home...as a matter of fact, I might get one for the office!

Check out how you can bring the Watch D.O.G.S. program to your school district here.

Worship Confessional: 2/24/08

Another week for me playing guitar with no leading!  Thanks to Mike Foley for stepping up and helping lead worship this weekend.  Mike has an awesome voice but even more than that an incredible heart for God and people.  It shows in his worship leading.  I think my fave was "King of Glory".  Mike OWNED that one!  He used to lead worship at a local church here in town and this was one of the tunes they played regularly.  Mike and his wife Shana have been attending Grace for almost a year.  Check out Mike's blog to learn more about him and his family here.

This was week 2 of our "24" series about the final hours in the life of Jesus Christ. Tim unpacked the story of how Jesus took time to serve his disciples in his final hours by washing their feet.  A call went out to our church body to consider using their gifts and hearts to serve in ministering to others.  We had a TON of folks offer to step up during our upcoming Easter services and Egg Hunt.  During the message, Tim illustrated the act of washing feet by actually doing that on stage.  Whose feet were involved?  Mine.  Why were my feet involved?  Because our youth/ministry pastor wasn't available.  Did it feel strange to have about 700 people watch my Pastor clean my feet?  Absolutely. By the way...that was pottering soil on my feet.  I'm still picking it out from under my toenails three days later.  Anyone need some pottering soil?  :)  Give a listen to the message here.

We also had 6-7 baptisms in the services.  I got to see Jenny O. get baptized.  She's currently going through our Foundations Discipleship class on Wednesday nights.  I loved hearing her story of how she'd drifted from God and recently began attending church which ignited her fire and love for the Lord.  Not only that...but her daughter was baptized along with her.  Way to go Jenny O.!!!!  Also seeing Tim baptize his oldest son was awesome.  A lot of choked up folks in the room...led of course by Tim.

And to the songlist...don't forget you can purchase in iTunes by clicking the titles:

• Let God Arise (B)
• Holy is the Lord (G)
• Son of God (G)
• Everything Glorious (C)
• King of Glory (G)

Digging Some New Tunes

I'm loving these tunes.  We'll be doing these at Grace over the coming month.  So all you Gracers out there, feel free to click the link to iTunes, buy them, and start learning!  By the way...tell me who you think that acoustic guitar player looks like on "No Sweeter Name". 

1. No Sweeter Name by Kari Jobe (Click the title to purchase on iTunes)
2. Hosanna by Hillsong United (Click the title to purchase on iTUnes)

Watch the vids below to check 'em out.

Daddy Daughter Night

Friday night was an evening I'll never forget.  I had the privilege of taking my eight year old daughter, Sporty, out on a date.  We joined three of her friends and their fathers for a meal at Hereford House and a night of dancing at the Ritz Charles provided by Blue Valley Parks and Rec.

If you've got a daughter and are looking for a great way to help teach her what a date with a gentleman should truly be like, I highly recommend this opportunity.  Just be ready to dance to all the greatest hits by Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers and yes...more Hannah Montana.  The DJ took requests but mine was ignored.  Somehow U2 didn't seem to fit their idea of a good time for little girls.

On Friday I learned that my oldest daughter is no longer my oldest baby.  Eh...who'm I kidding...she'll always be my baby no matter how old she gets.  I just can't deny the fact that she's growing and she needs her father to continually invest in opportunities like these.  We had an incredible time.  As we drove home I mentioned to Sporty that next year we may have to include my second-born, Posh, in the evening.  Sporty didn't seem thrilled about that.  I think she enjoyed having me all to herself...just the thought of her actually enjoying time alone with me makes me melt. 

See below for a glimpse of my headbanging Hannah Montana lovin' kid.

Worship Confessional: 2/17/08

Tim kicked off a new 5 week series called "24".  If you had 24 hours left on earth, what would you do?  We're looking at five things Jesus did in his final 24 hours before the crucifixion.  This week we looked at the first thing Christ did.  He had fellowship with the disciples by celebrating the last supper...which we did during services.  We strayed from our typical means of communion (matzah and grape juice in iddy biddy cups) and had eight tables set up around the room along with actual bread and goblets of grape juice for dipping.  We played two songs while folks reflected, prayed, and got up to take communion on their own.  Seemed like it went pretty well.  To listen to the message, check it out here.  By the way...how bout that 24 themed countdown clock and video bump?  Great job to Doog for making that happen.

During second service there were two baptisms.  What a cool story on David's!  He showed up at Grace for the first time last week, attended our Prospective Members class on his first day attending, received Christ at the end of the Prospective Members class, then showed up this Sunday to get baptized.  Holy cow!!!!  Amazing!  We also had a 7 year old get baptized this week.  What a great story from both of them!

This week was filled with some unique things.  We had all female led worship...that's right...no males on mics during the praise time.  Addie, Camelia, Gina and Mindy did a great job leading people in worship today.  It was fun to see how folks responded to the all female led music.  What'd I do?  I played the guitar stage left.  With the addition of some mics and a violin, we had some technical stuff that we spent a lot of time on during rehearsal which cut into our practicing time.  Even with the lack of rehearsal time and various key changes, Sam (electric guitar) Chris(Keys) and Scott (bass) did great handling the curveball.  We were stretched this week...especially Scott who jumped on the bass last minute all while leading the audio team.  Great job to all who made this week happen!

Here's the worship set list...don't forget, you can purchase the songs on iTunes by clicking the titles.

• Awesome is the Lord Most High by Chris Tomlin
• Sing to the King by Candi Pearson
• Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman
• All the World by Point of Grace
• Take My Life (Here am I) Tomlin version
• Grace Flows Down by Christy Nockles
• Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicki Beeching

Stay tuned...next week we have a guest worship leader...I'll be in the booth spending time with my fellow WST techies.

Indy Trailer Up

A Little Foundation Laying

Wednesday night we kicked off another Foundations session for 13 weeks.  This is a discipleship class that I'm facilitating with a room full of about 10 folks.  Each time I start these classes I'm blown away at how excited people are about their walk.  This particular class is filled with folks who've been down the religious path.  Caught up in religious traditions with nobody willing to show them what it means to have a personal relationship with God.  These folks are HUNGRY.

This was one of those nights where you can jus sense God's fingerprints all over the lives of these people.  It's amazing to think that through all the stuff they've been through and they're all together growing in their faith.  Such a cool thing to be a part of!

Now if any of them are reading this...don't forget to do your homework!

Consuming Worship Interview Part II

Head on over to read the rest of the interview.  Thanks again to Jeff for the great questions.  Visit Consuming Worship for part II.  Thanks to my friends for the kind comments on part 1.

Part 1

Part 2

Go Please...Seriously...It's Your Turn!

I can't take it anymore. I've been avoiding it here on the blog and have talked about posting on this topic since moving to Johnson County here in Kansas two years ago.  Not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings that I might possibly know...but I can't take it.  People of Olathe and Overland Park, KS...PLEASE STOP TELLING ME TO GO AT FOUR WAY STOP SIGNS WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY.

In Missouri there's this traffic rule that is taught, whenever two cars arrive at a four way stop at the same time, the car to the right goes first.  Is that not a known rule in Kansas?!?  After perusing the Kansas traffic laws site, I found from the official handbook the section that clearly explains the right of way laws.  Please click to the left and read #2 if you would like to help spread the word about this nifty little traffic rule.  I think the thing that I'm trying to figure out is if folks who wave me to go first really think they're doing me a favor.  Seriously.  You might be messing up the flow of traffic when you do that and you might cause an accident when you stray from the natural rules of driving.  And when you are waving me to go, please do it a little kinder.  You look annoyed with your hand waving frantically as if I'm taking forever to go.  But if you would just do the right thing and GO because it's your turn you wouldn't have to flick your wrist so hard!  Seriously!  You might actually get carpel tunnel if you continue waving people frantically through stop signs!

There...I said it.  My rant is over...after two years on Kansas roads.  Anyone else driving around Johnson County notice this driving difference from the Missouri side?  Please...spread the word.