I'M USED

Well, let me say that Innovate 08 did not disappoint last week. Man what an awesome time. It was inspirational, educational, motivational and many, many other ationals.

These guys rocked the house:

• Tim Stevens great insight on leveraging pop culture in the church
  
• Rob Wegner always super energetic definitely keeps you awake and on your toes
  
• Mark Beeson a wonderful opening and tremendous recap and closing
• Shawn Wood great presentation. His book helped me sort through some things in my walk.
• Steven Furtick his message spoke volumes. He was totally off the hook!

The over-all theme “Stop Talking and Start Doing” something I think we need to apply more often in all aspects of our lives and especially in our churches. I sat in on a break out session with Kem Meyer. It was about using “social networking” to better relate and communicate with your friends, family, church, ministry team. As always she nailed it. I also met a new friend, Tim Schraeder I had been following his blog for a while and had taken some advice from his writings in the past. Thanks Tim.

All-in-all a wonderful experience. Thank you Granger Community Church for your always amazing hospitality and guidance.

Well, any of you that live in the path of that windstorm/hurricane are probably still realing from the effects. Living in Ohio I never in a million years would have been worried about being struck or even adveresly affected by Ike or any other hurricane for that matter. Boy, was I wrong in that line of thinking. We are on day 3 at my house with no power. I have a well also, which means, you guessed it, no water either. The first night was no big deal really. I got the sleep I so much needed from a previous few busy days. I woke up Monday morning and fired up the ol’ gas grill and fixed breakfast. That was a little fun. But, last night it got old. I resorted to surfing the net a little on my phone just to feel in touch again. They are saying it could be days before everyone gets their power back. However, the blessing in disguise is that I have been in the word more than ussual the past few days and God has been revealing more and more to me. I am also getting a lesson in compassion. What we are going through is nothing compared to those actually on a coastline when one of these bad boys hits. I’m getting depressed after just a few days without my normal routine and all. I keep thinking, how in the world do they do it?  I feel that God is really using this time to expand my heart (which some may say was needed) and feel more love and concern for those in crisis. Thank you Heavenly Father for this.

But seriously problems in Ohio?!?!

I’d like to welcome Jeanne Roberts to the blogosphere. I asked Jeanne recently if she would be interested in writing for our “Digging Deeper” devotional blog. She accepted. Then she decided to start her own blog. Jeanne wrote this a while back and it’s awesome. I look forward to reading what she has to say. Check it out.