BabuLife

The Crack Heard 'Round the World

The year was 1985.  Live Aid was playing around the world as millions of people watched their favorite artists sing their songs to help feed the hungry. One of my faves of the time was Duran Duran.  During the Live Aid concert, they played the song "View to a Kill" from the Bond movie of the same name.  Thousands of people screaming for them, millions of people around the world watching and what happens?  Simon Le Bon, the vocalist, has an embarrassing voice crack during the song.

It happens to all of us at some point.  That embarrassing  moment where we do something that makes us want to cut and run.  The story isn't about the moment, but how they kept going and how they continue to make music after 23 years from the date of this event.  People said it was the end for them.  They're still going at it.  See the video clip below. (it is kinda funny.)  Has it happened to you?

Persistence

"Persistence isn't using the same tactics over and over. That's just annoying.

Persistence is having the same goal over and over."  Seth Godin

When Old Friends are on TV

Last night I was checking out our new Dish Network system flipping through channels when I saw a picture on the screen.  It was the face of a man who looked eerily like a boy I used to play baseball with and hung out with at school.  When I saw it, there was a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.  He wasn't a contestant on a game show, he wasn't an actor on a TV show, but he was the subject of that evening's newscast.

He was picked up for a 1992 home invasion and rape.  His sampling of DNA taken in August of 2007 was identified as the DNA of one of the men who raped a women in her home 16 years ago.  You see 1992 was the year we graduated.  It was supposed to be the year our paths as High Schoolers were laid out before us and we could choose how we wanted to live our lives.  I can't help but think about how that summer in August of 1992, as I was preparing for my first year of college, my old friend was choosing a path of destruction. He probably thought after 16 years he'd never get caught. I wonder if he had nightmares about that evening.

When I saw the picture and heard the story, I was reminded of Tim's message this past Sunday about prayer.  How God brings things to our minds, puts people in our paths, brings to remembrance people in our past...not by some strange coincidence, but for a reason.  Today I'm thinking of my old baseball buddy and elementary school friend, the woman and family who were dealt a huge blow in the summer of 1992.  Praying that somehow through this, God might capture his heart and set him free from the bondage of sin and destruction he's living with.

Lesson: remember to pray for those God lays before your path.

M'Lady's at it Again

In case you hadn't heard, my wife is blogging again.  Go check out My Life with Little Women.

My Day....

1. Met with Jeff Bonesteel who moves to Vegas this next week.  I'm sad to see him go.  He had some great experiences that I think would have been a HUGE benefit to the weekend.  He was the program director from a very large church in our area.  We ate breakfast while I asked him a bazillion questions...just hoping to learn a little from his experiences.
2. I led a guy to Christ this morning.  Returned a phone call to someone who just couldn't sleep.  He was a nervous wreck after visiting Grace for the first time Sunday.  He needed desperately to talk with someone who could help him make sense of what was happening.  Turns out, God was knocking on the door and he just needed to be shown how to let Him in.  Incredible way to start the day in the office.
3. Staff Meeting.  Blew through the tasks and updates with the staff.  I've got nothing on my mind but Easter.  However, I've got to get in gear with all of the things ministry leaders are wanting done for promotions.
4. Pastoral Prayer time - The pastor dudes in the office got together to pray for various things.  Jimmy Luv (Check my Twitter to see some of what's up with him), Brian Gann who had to facilitate a funeral where they requested that he not be "preachy"...don't know how he did that, prayed for hires (pastor, admin and executive assistant positions) and other stuff.
5. Tabernacle Series Brainstorm.  Tim, Jim and I had an hour meeting brainstorming the  upcoming series on the Tabernacle.  I'm pretty jazzed about the series theme...it's going to be unique.  Starts the weekend after Easter, March 30 I believe.
6. Coffee time. Tim, Jim and I downed some coffee together at the "It's a Grind" shop down the street.  I can't stand coffee but I sure love the cold stuff.  I think it's because it doesn't qualify as coffee, it's more like milk shakes.  Had a great time together just talking about what's up in our worlds.  I really was beat at the end of this meeting.
7. Guitar lesson.  I've currently got 7 students right now.  I'm at my max.  Today's student is doing extremely well.  He's got the ability to sing and play.
8. CiCi's Pizza with the fam.  We ended up sitting with Hal and Kaysha from Grace.  They just showed up and we stayed 'till 8:30 (past the kids bedtime) talking.  Great couple.  We need to hang out more.

After Twittering now for more than 24 hours, I felt the need to sum up my day and share with you all.  Man...I got to lead a guy to Christ!  I love it!!!

Twittering

I've avoided the Twitter factor for awhile.  Not really sure of it's usefulness or if I'd even have time for it.  After reading David's post on it, I found out that there really isn't any time involved at all.  I admit I'm easily intrigued by the latest web tools and hip ways to communicate.  So if you're at all interested in updated info about what's happening in the life of Babu...check out the "Twitter Updates" to the right of my blog or follow me on Twitter.

Check out the great video about Twitter below.  Big Fat Ol' Hat Tip to "The Hammer".

Best Show I Never Saw

I intended to write a follow up with a review on my Michael Buble concert going experience. However, due to the intense fear of heights that I have and the incredibly steep, high and extraordinary view we had with our seats at the new Sprint Center in Kansas City...the Michael Buble concert turned out to be the best show I never saw.

I should have known when we entered the building and escalated for what felt like 20 minutes (in reality it was probably 45 secs to a minute) to our seating level, this was not going to be an easy go for me.  The Sprint Center is truly an incredible facility and it's design is beautiful...but man...the top section is so steep even the usher I spoke with didn't want to take folks to their seats.  She told me she'd prefer to just point to the general area where we could find our seats.  Addie and I had the privilege of going out with our friends Brian and Marie who had no height issues whatsoever.  As you can see from this picture taken by our no fear friend Brian, Addie and I were just a little uncomfortable with the heights.  Maybe you can't tell, but this is the position I sat in for first 20 minutes before the lights went down.  My head forced to my right as to not face the open air sitting just 2 feet from my face.  I thought maybe as time would go by I could handle it...but no...when the lights went down and the opening act hit the stage...the room started spinning and I felt like passing out.  I leaned in to the wife and said "Hey...I can't do this...I'm about to pass out."  I headed straight for the exit and ended up spending the entire 2 and a half hours in the lobby.

So to all you heights fearing people such as myself...DO NOT GET TICKETS ON THE UPPER LEVEL OF THE SPRINT CENTER.  You may well want to consider dropping the extra cash for the lower level seats.  So I beat my friends to the punch before they could post anything on their blogs about my wimpiness with heights.

Worship Confessional: 3/9/08

Congratulations to those who arrived on time this morning with Daylight Saving kicking off.  Especially the first service people...you all deserve a pat on the back...consider yourselves patted.  This week we had a couple of things happening...communion and a youth testimony about the upcoming High School Student Life at the Beach camp.   I have to say hearing from both Jonathan and Meredith was impressive.  They did a great job sharing how God impacted them at previous Student Life camps.  Great job guys!

This morning at 5:30 a.m. I received a text message from our bass player (Jimmy Luv).  He had some health issues come up and couldn't play today.  Hope you're better Jimmy Luv!  Thanks to our WST utility man, Scott, for jumping in on bass.  Here's the worship set list:

• Yesterday, Today and Forever by Vicki Beeching
• No Sweeter Name by Kari Jobe
• Shine by Matt Redman
• Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin
• Everlasting God by Brenton Brown

Next week we're looking to roll out another new tune in "Hosanna" by Hillsong United.  Check it out here on iTunes Gracers if you want to get a jump start on learning it.

Tonight's the Night for Crooning

My Christmas gift to the lady was a pair of tickets to the Michael Buble show.  Let the crooning begin.   Looking forward to a night out on the town with a fancy dinner and then a trip to downtown Kansas City to the new Sprint Center.

I heard someone say on the radio that the only people attending might be women and those who had to go with their women.  Ouch...

Catch the video below to see what I'll be experiencing tonight.  This guy is good.

Light a Fire Tonight in Overland Park

It's the first Wednesday of the month.  That means IGNITE is on this eve at 7 - 8p.m..  Last month I listed some reasons why you should come.  I think I'll take a unique perspective this go around and list reasons why you shouldn't come tonight:

1. If you come you'll probably be a little too refreshed in the midst of your work week.  This means you might outperform your fellow peers at the office and this could lead to some uncomfortable relationships.
2. You might have too many songs in your head during the rest of your work week.  This could also annoy your peers at the office as you continually hum worship songs.
3. You might meet someone new.  If you're not into actually meeting new people and possibly making new friends, IGNITE may not be the place for you.  You might prefer staying home in your Lay-Z-Boy watching American Idol or something.
4. Too much music.  Yeah, if you don't like to praise God with music, this isn't the place for you.  An hour's worth of worship music is waaay too much for you.  Maybe just pop in a CD at home that you can just skip tracks on.
5. You might have to teach your kids about worship.  Since this is a family event (which means kids and adults attend) you might feel the need to encourage your kids to worship God and give Him full attention.  In fact, your kids may even see you singing to the Lord.  If you're not into that...IGNITE isn't the place for you.

So there you have it.  Five reasons why I think you might want to consider staying away from IGNITE this evening.  See you tonight!