Our girls definitely have different views of soccer...
Mallory (red bow) loves the social aspect of the game
Macy (red bow) likes to play defense
We're starting the Baylor Bow Head thing early.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Final Soccer Game
Today is the final Soccer game for The Fusion. We had the genius idea of putting Macy & Mallory on the same soccer team even though Mallory is three years younger than almost everyone else in the league. That way our family doesn't have to split up for practice or games - we are always together.
Our girls definitely have different views of soccer...
Our girls definitely have different views of soccer...
Friday, May 18, 2007
Psalm 8
If you are looking for a clip to get your people in a worship frame of mind you ought to check out Psalm 8. I used this recently in both a small group and large group setting.
Small group :: I wanted to get our people to engage in a deeper level of prayer. Our group often focuses on periphery items like Uncle Joes Toe and Aunt Jane’s pain, instead of getting real. I want our people to expect great things from God. So – I talked for a minute or two about that type of praying and then I played this clip. Since its Psalm 8 it was a perfect set up because our people were seeing how Big and Huge our God is and it allowed them to get real with a God like that.
Large group :: I needed to get a bunch of people who didn’t know each other to get comfortable worshipping together. We had the band play one song and then we showed this clip. It took the focus off of ourselves and put it where it should be – on Almighty God!
Small group :: I wanted to get our people to engage in a deeper level of prayer. Our group often focuses on periphery items like Uncle Joes Toe and Aunt Jane’s pain, instead of getting real. I want our people to expect great things from God. So – I talked for a minute or two about that type of praying and then I played this clip. Since its Psalm 8 it was a perfect set up because our people were seeing how Big and Huge our God is and it allowed them to get real with a God like that.
Large group :: I needed to get a bunch of people who didn’t know each other to get comfortable worshipping together. We had the band play one song and then we showed this clip. It took the focus off of ourselves and put it where it should be – on Almighty God!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Shanna Makes Me Sad
Shanna makes me sad because tomorrow is her last day on the job with The Rightnow Campaign. Shanna and I have worked as a team for the last four plus years. She is as much responsible as any other human being for the implementation and success of our ministry and specifically our Leadnow and Fusion Conferences. I have leaned on her in so many ways and it's honestly hard to imagine doing our ministry without her.
I was always told that it takes 10 positive statements to take away one negative statement. So I'm going to say 10 positive things about Shanna and one negative. That way she won't feel bad if she reads this.
Positive
My favorite memory of Shanna is from our very first Fusion event in 2004. We were the first ones to arrive in the Dallas Convention Center on November 12th and the last ones to leave at something like 2 am on November 14th. As we left that mammoth, empty space we paused for a moment to just soak it in. I'll never forget that. The look on Shanna's face completely captured my emotions: it was a mixture of absolute praise to God for what He had just done and amazement that He let us do it.
Don't tell me it will be the same, because it won't.
I'm gonna miss Shanna.
I was always told that it takes 10 positive statements to take away one negative statement. So I'm going to say 10 positive things about Shanna and one negative. That way she won't feel bad if she reads this.
Positive
- She a servant
- She is married to an Aussie
- She has bailed me out of many, many situations
- She doesn't like Aggies
- She is has backbone - the girl is tough
- She makes tasty cookies
- She is passionate
- She makes everyone else look like they know what they are doing
- She is the real deal
- She really, really loves Jesus
Negative
- She is leaving The Rightnow Campaign
My favorite memory of Shanna is from our very first Fusion event in 2004. We were the first ones to arrive in the Dallas Convention Center on November 12th and the last ones to leave at something like 2 am on November 14th. As we left that mammoth, empty space we paused for a moment to just soak it in. I'll never forget that. The look on Shanna's face completely captured my emotions: it was a mixture of absolute praise to God for what He had just done and amazement that He let us do it.
Don't tell me it will be the same, because it won't.
I'm gonna miss Shanna.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Things I'm Thinking About...
I just watched the movie Jesus Camp. I'm thinking about that...
The movie reminded me of a discussion I had with a group of Pastors last month. We were talking about the real issues that our culture is dealing with - the issues that the church rarely discusses. As a part of our conversation one of the Pastors said that he thought one of our problems in church is that we are always telling people that this is going to be their best year yet... Or that this is their moment... Or that the best is to come... His point was that we are selling our churches a bill of goods that may not be true. He went on to explain that when we make promises to people about their situations we can give them a false hope and then it makes their circumstances become their God. Here is the bottom line - is Jesus enough? Do we need our circumstances changed? Or do we just need Christ.
At Leadnow+DC, Donald Miller made a point that the Bible tells us that we will grow like trees planted by streams of water. He said that a tree doesn't grow very fast. He even conducted a scientific study by taking a lawn chair out to the forrest and watching... The trees grew - a little (it's a joke people). The point is that while God can do anything, the way that He has orchestrated our growth is for it to be slow and steady. But we live in such a consumeristic society that we want it all and we want it now. I wonder what it would look like if we just simply tried to be faithful in the things that God gives us each day. Not looking towards some super Christian experience or accomlishment, but seeking out a life of simple obedience.
The movie reminded me of a discussion I had with a group of Pastors last month. We were talking about the real issues that our culture is dealing with - the issues that the church rarely discusses. As a part of our conversation one of the Pastors said that he thought one of our problems in church is that we are always telling people that this is going to be their best year yet... Or that this is their moment... Or that the best is to come... His point was that we are selling our churches a bill of goods that may not be true. He went on to explain that when we make promises to people about their situations we can give them a false hope and then it makes their circumstances become their God. Here is the bottom line - is Jesus enough? Do we need our circumstances changed? Or do we just need Christ.
At Leadnow+DC, Donald Miller made a point that the Bible tells us that we will grow like trees planted by streams of water. He said that a tree doesn't grow very fast. He even conducted a scientific study by taking a lawn chair out to the forrest and watching... The trees grew - a little (it's a joke people). The point is that while God can do anything, the way that He has orchestrated our growth is for it to be slow and steady. But we live in such a consumeristic society that we want it all and we want it now. I wonder what it would look like if we just simply tried to be faithful in the things that God gives us each day. Not looking towards some super Christian experience or accomlishment, but seeking out a life of simple obedience.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Frontline Band
We did a Leadnow event in Washington DC last week and had the band at Frontline Church lead worship. They are really good! They are led by Stephanie Cuomo and are one of those groups that leads worship from a passionate and real relationship with Christ. Check em out.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Shipment from DC
Over the weekend we received 4 pallets full of all of our gear we took to DC for the Leadnow & Fusion Conferences. I took a few hours to unpack all of the items and re-pack them to get ready for Dallas. As I worked on the inventory I couldn't help thinking about the guy that drove the truck all the way to DC and back. His name is Nate...
Nate is an amazing man of God. He is a professional truck driver who happens to go to my church. When he heard about our need he made sure that his own company would send him on any routes in the Northeast. Of course, God arranged it for him to need to be in Baltimore the day after our event. So Nate, volunteered to take all of our stuff to DC. And when we got to DC and met up with Nate he stuck around the whole weekend helping out in any area that he could. Nate is a big, strong man. He can easily do the work of two men, but the amazing thing is that he always does it with a servants heart. Nate has one of those contagious attitudes that all servants have.
I admire Nate.
Nate is an amazing man of God. He is a professional truck driver who happens to go to my church. When he heard about our need he made sure that his own company would send him on any routes in the Northeast. Of course, God arranged it for him to need to be in Baltimore the day after our event. So Nate, volunteered to take all of our stuff to DC. And when we got to DC and met up with Nate he stuck around the whole weekend helping out in any area that he could. Nate is a big, strong man. He can easily do the work of two men, but the amazing thing is that he always does it with a servants heart. Nate has one of those contagious attitudes that all servants have.
I admire Nate.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Stand-by
I flew from Orlando back home to Dallas earlier this week. It was one of those situations where I got to the airport much earlier than my flight was scheduled to take off. So I got on the stand-by list to catch an earlier flight. The earlier flight would get me home four hours before I was supposed to land. Four hours may not seem like much, but these were no ordinary four hours. This was the difference between 6 pm and 10 pm. If I get home at 6 pm, then I get dinner with my family, time to play with my kids, a chance to connect with my wife and... it was a Wednesday night - so I also had to watch LOST. Now getting home at 10 pm would mean dinner on my own, the kids already asleep, and Robin waiting up for me with LOST already recorded and the pause button being utilized. Watching LOST is not an option at my house...
So I am at the airport and the new handy technology will post a list of passengers and their number on the stand-by list. I'm at slot 16. This doesn't sound good. I approach the counter and ask how many empty seats they have on the flight and I am told that there are six. So basically, 10 people have to not show up for their flight for me to make it. Not looking good. As our departure time approached they begin to calling people on the plane. You know the routine: Group One, Group Two, etc... They don't do the stand-by people until the end. It's now 10 minutes until departure and they rattle off the first six names. A lot of people have gone down that hallway onto the plane. I'm not feeling good about this one. They call out for three more. Then two. Then another group of three. Now we are talking. My name is number two on the list. It's four minutes prior to departure. The images of dinner with family vs. dinner alone are racing through my head. Will they call me? I'm waiting for the beautiful words to come through the mic - "Passenger McCartney, Passenger Marc McCartney would you please see the attendant at the counter."
They call the next name. It's a minute before departure - they look like they are wrapping things up and ready to go. But don't feel bad for me - I've been here before. The stand-by list can be cruel. She offers the hope of catching the earlier flight, but she rarely comes through. I've been the next one on the list more times than I care to count. I can handle it. It will be a late night, but at least I have my iPod and PSP. I'm gonna be okay.
You see you have to tell yourself these things because you don't want to get your hopes up. You don't want to get disappointed. But deep down inside, you do still hold out hope... And then it came. My name. My time.
I made the flight. I ate dinner with the family. Yes - we ate at Chiloso. I played with the kids. Robin and I took time to talk about stuff. We watched LOST and talked about Jacob. It was good.
I love that stand-by list.
So I am at the airport and the new handy technology will post a list of passengers and their number on the stand-by list. I'm at slot 16. This doesn't sound good. I approach the counter and ask how many empty seats they have on the flight and I am told that there are six. So basically, 10 people have to not show up for their flight for me to make it. Not looking good. As our departure time approached they begin to calling people on the plane. You know the routine: Group One, Group Two, etc... They don't do the stand-by people until the end. It's now 10 minutes until departure and they rattle off the first six names. A lot of people have gone down that hallway onto the plane. I'm not feeling good about this one. They call out for three more. Then two. Then another group of three. Now we are talking. My name is number two on the list. It's four minutes prior to departure. The images of dinner with family vs. dinner alone are racing through my head. Will they call me? I'm waiting for the beautiful words to come through the mic - "Passenger McCartney, Passenger Marc McCartney would you please see the attendant at the counter."
They call the next name. It's a minute before departure - they look like they are wrapping things up and ready to go. But don't feel bad for me - I've been here before. The stand-by list can be cruel. She offers the hope of catching the earlier flight, but she rarely comes through. I've been the next one on the list more times than I care to count. I can handle it. It will be a late night, but at least I have my iPod and PSP. I'm gonna be okay.
You see you have to tell yourself these things because you don't want to get your hopes up. You don't want to get disappointed. But deep down inside, you do still hold out hope... And then it came. My name. My time.
I made the flight. I ate dinner with the family. Yes - we ate at Chiloso. I played with the kids. Robin and I took time to talk about stuff. We watched LOST and talked about Jacob. It was good.
I love that stand-by list.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Heading to Egypt
I leave tomorrow for 10 days in Egypt. I have a strange mix of emotions about this trip. I don't like to leave my family. I hate being gone from home. So a large part of me doesn't even want to go. But a bigger part of me is consumed by the trip. My faith is telling me that I must go. That all will be well at home and it's okay.
Pray for me and my family while I am gone!
Pray for me and my family while I am gone!
Monday, June 27, 2005
Thankful for friends
I saw an old friend today at a Gas Station. He was a guy that I met my first week at Baylor and have loosely kept in touch with since graduation. This guy is amazing to me. He is someone that I really look up to. He has a life that I envy, a life that I desire. He is so devoted to Christ that he cannot help but speak truth. It’s as if Christ is running through every single thought that he has.
One thing that I love about him is his profession. It’s not just the profession itself, but how he views it. He is a Coach at a Junior High School. He could be at the High School making more money and having a better career. But he’s at the Junior High School because that’s where he thinks he can have the most influence for Christ.
I would love to live in such a way that I didn’t let my ambitions and pride get the best of me. I long to have a life that takes every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I am thankful for real life examples like my friend who draws me into a deeper union with Christ.
One thing that I love about him is his profession. It’s not just the profession itself, but how he views it. He is a Coach at a Junior High School. He could be at the High School making more money and having a better career. But he’s at the Junior High School because that’s where he thinks he can have the most influence for Christ.
I would love to live in such a way that I didn’t let my ambitions and pride get the best of me. I long to have a life that takes every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I am thankful for real life examples like my friend who draws me into a deeper union with Christ.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Comfort
I just returned from a weekend trip to South Georgia. I had my family with me and it was such a nice getaway for us. We were deep in the country staying in a log cabin. There was no cell phone coverage, no email, and lots of time on our hands. I went swimming with my daughters, sat on the porch watching sunsets, and spent a few hours playing with my new Fathers Day gift (iPod mini - it was the best Father's Day ever!) When it was time to drive back to the airport to go home I have to confess that a part of me didn't want to. Eventhough we only spent a few days in Georgia, it just seemed like life was simpler. There were no meetings to oversee, no traffic to wade through, no demands on my time. It was just me and my girls. It was comfortable. I think that God gives us seasons of this type of comfort. For me this season was only to last the weekend.
I know that God has called me to something that only He can do, yet within His calling part of my offering is to work hard. That scares me sometimes. I often try and seek after the simple and easy way. And that's not to say that sometimes God does allow us to walk thru a more level ground. I just know that right now in my life, He doesn't have me there. It is scary. Part of me longs for the simple. Part of me wants to find something to do that would be easier. But the part of me that is tuned into God's voice is hearing something different. It's the calling. God telling me to keep at it, keep my eyes on Him, and keep trusting His call.
Pray for me that I can do that. I want to trust only Him. I don't want to give into the temptations of safety and comfort. I want to live a life wholehearted for Jesus.
I know that God has called me to something that only He can do, yet within His calling part of my offering is to work hard. That scares me sometimes. I often try and seek after the simple and easy way. And that's not to say that sometimes God does allow us to walk thru a more level ground. I just know that right now in my life, He doesn't have me there. It is scary. Part of me longs for the simple. Part of me wants to find something to do that would be easier. But the part of me that is tuned into God's voice is hearing something different. It's the calling. God telling me to keep at it, keep my eyes on Him, and keep trusting His call.
Pray for me that I can do that. I want to trust only Him. I don't want to give into the temptations of safety and comfort. I want to live a life wholehearted for Jesus.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
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