More Than Just a Game

On Sunday we're starting a new series at Destiny. It is called "Monopoly, It's More Than Just a Game". The month of February will allow us to place our focus on our finances. You see, the way we handle our money tells a lot about us. It shows what we believe, it reveals what's important to us and it exposes just what (or who) we trust.

Before we delve into how we handle our money, let's go with an easier question...what token do you choose when you play Monopoly?

Going for 20 More...

My wife says nice things about me, and after 20 years of marriage, I'm glad that she still thinks that way. We celebrated our 20 year anniversary yesterday and today I'm thankful for the "wife of my youth" and look forward to being with that same woman as the "wife of my old age".

5 Highlights of the first 20:
-Seminary together.
-3 great kids.
-The Young Life years.
-Our first home.
and
-Destiny.

5 Highlights I'm looking forward to in the next 20:
-Graduations.
-Weddings.
-Grandkids. (The order of these first three is very important to me!)
-Mentoring others.
and
-Mo letting me be a curmudgeon every once in a while...

Truth

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:14-16

None of us enjoy difficult conversations, but each of us should not only be prepared to speak the truth to one another but also to hear the truth as well. This is how the Body of Christ works. We speak boldly and kindly to one another and in turn our relationships are strengthened.

I'm thankful for those who speak truth into my life and for those who allow me to speak truth into theirs. This is life-giving to me.

Sunday Highlights

-Fellowship One Check In working like a champ for Kidz Planet.
-new letters turned purple this week.
-Hard-hitting message from Greg, check out the podcast if you missed it!
-Find Your Fit shirts sold like hot cakes...Destiny sure does shirts well.
-Lunch on Us was delicious, thanks to Kim and Meredith.
-Water's Edge Parent Meeting went well, lots of interest there.
-I had middle schoolers walking over mouse traps in order to illustrate our need to listen to God.
-The new hang out venue for Water's Edge was a hit. Very cool environment.
-Fell asleep watching X-games and mid conversation with Mo.
-and now am looking ahead to Verizon to choose a new phone to replace my smashed Motorola Q (snowboarding face plant, nuff said).

Final Wardrobe Enhancement

You can Find Your Fit in two ways this weekend.

Decide who you are...Guardian, Trailblazer, Mastermind, Social Genius, or Ninja. Then, decide what size shirt you wear...S, M, L, or XL. For only $10, you can be sporting the latest in Destiny fashion.

Be the first on your block to be decked out in a 100% cotton, long sleeve, Find Your Fit shirt and show the world who you are and where you go on Sundays.

Find Your Fit...Ninja

As a ninja, you are a procedural, task-oriented, detail lover. You love being as thorough as possible and would rather be behind the scenes than in a crowd. People may never see the NINJA, but they know you were there by trail of completion left behind you!

Ninja Volunteer Roles:
• Set-up/Tear Down- Youth
• Hospitality- Membership Experience
• Administration- Youth
• Family Check-In- Kid’s area
• Sunday Prep- Host Team
• Behind the Scenes- Weekday
• Tech support- Weekend & Kid’s areas
More Ninja Volunteer Roles:
o Behind the Scenes- Kid’s area
o Tech Team- Youth
o Administrative Support- Life Groups & Missions
o Set Up/Tear Down – Kid’s area
o Hospitality- Host Team
o Setup/Teardown- Experience
o Point Person- Kid’s area

Wardrobe Enhancement III

I'm not going to limit you to baby blue, although it does look good on this guy. For your 10 spot on Sunday morning, you will be able to choose gray, orange, blue, green or white. More details and an actual pic tomorrow...

Find Your Fit...Mastermind

If you are a mastermind, you are inspirational, motivating, and are a team builder. You can see the big picture vision and rally everyone behind it. You love seeing people come together to accomplish a common goal. If you see a great team, you can bet there is a MASTERMIND behind it all!

Mastermind Volunteer Roles:
o ImagiNation Leader- Kid’s area
o Mission Team Leader-Life Group & Mission
o Life Group Coach- Host Team
o Life Group Leader- Life Group & Missions
o Experience Leader-Youth
o Leader-Kid’s area
More Mastermind Volunteer Roles:
o Host Team Coach- Host Team
o Missions Leader-Youth
o Team Leader- Kid’s area
o Leader- Youth
o Host Team Leader- Host Team

Wardrobe Enhancement II

If you are looking to complete that ensemble for the golf course, the disco or casual Friday at the office, be sure to bring $10 to Destiny on Sunday. I'm just sayin' what I'm sayin'.

Wardrobe Enhancement

All I'm sayin' is you do not want to miss what is happening this week at Destiny. I'll give you more details as the week progresses.

Find Your Fit...Social Genius

If you are a social genius, you are outgoing, friendly, and are a net worker. You love chatting it up with everybody and naturally make people feel at ease around you. People might say that “every time with the social genius is like the first time”!

Social Genius Volunteer Roles:
o Volunteer- Kid’s area
o Greeter– Youth Night
o Event Team- Life Groups & Missions
o Parking Team- Host Team
o Special Events
More Social Genius Volunteer Roles:
o Life Group Leader- Youth
o Contact Person- Life Groups & Missions
o Parking Team- Host Team
o Experience Room Greeter- Host Team
More Social Genius Volunteer Roles:
o Hospitality-Youth
o Producer- Kid’s area
o Greeting Team- Host Team

Find Your Fit...Guardian

As a guardian, you are a protector, a cultivator, and are compassionate. You watch out for the people around you and take care of their every need. The guardian is no wimp though; just try to hurt those close to a GUARDIAN and you’ll get your behind kicked!

Guardian Volunteer Roles:
o Infants / Toddlers Volunteer – Kid’s area
o Youth Mentor- Youth
o Mission Team Member (locally, regionally, globally)- Life Groups & Mission
o Small Group Leaders – Kid’s area
More Guardian Volunteer Roles:
o Life Group Leader- Youth
o Mission Headhunter- Life Groups & Missions

Find Your Fit...Trailblazer

This week I'd like to give you a look at the five "find your fit" personalities and just where they might serve at Destiny. My thanks to lifechurch.tv for their development of this dynamic tool.

If you are a trail blazer, you show ownership, initiative, and are independent. You can tackle just about anything and love to figure out how to do things better. The trail blazer loves a challenge and will rise to it without fail every time!

Trail Blazer Volunteer Roles:
o Security- Youth
o Activity Leader- Kid’s area
o Baptism Experience- Special Events
o Guest Services
o Life Group Coach – Life Groups & Missions
More Trail Blazer Volunteer Roles:
o Teacher- Kid’s area
o Check in- Youth
o Usher- Host Team
o Guest Services Greeter- Kid’s area
o Weekend Support- Life Groups & Missions

200k

In only 59 miles, my 1993 Isuzu Trooper will solidify her position in the Junky Car Club. Driving a 200,000 mile car is only recommended when you have a 2 mile commute and no major self esteem issues.


In 11 years, I may just have to apply for antique license plates...

Uncomplicate Like Children

As we get older the more complicated our lives become. Do you remember the simplicity of recess? The stage of life when your greatest concern was what was packed in your pressed tin lunchbox? Life was uncomplicated then. It is in that same frame of mind that Jesus encourages us to approach the Kingdom of God.

People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. "Let these children alone. Don't get between them and me. These children are the kingdom's pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in." Luke 18:15-17

What is complicating your spiritual journey? What are you allowing to get between you and Jesus?

Uncomplicate According to Micah

Jesus' words got me to concentrate on spinning just two plates. The Levi Strauss Company would have me believe that their 501 Jeans would uncomplicate my life, and today we are going old school, or should I say Old Testament.

And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly
and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

Micah has got it down to three action points for us, do you think we can handle that?

Uncomplicate According to Levi Strauss

This is worth the 1:56. Some mild nudity is involved, shield your kids' eyes.

Uncomplicate

Here's the new look of Are You Destinized? It is simplified. It is uncomplicated. It is where we will be for the next 100 entries!

I'm simplifying the blog because I can. Everything else in my life seems to build up speed and become more complicated and as it does I seem to add more and more to my life. I get myself to the place where I am like the plate spinner on the old Ed Sullivan Show. I work hard to keep all the plates spinning so that nothing crashes to the ground. This methodology is ultimately futile.

The smarter strategy is to decide which plates are fine china and which plates are plastic. Which plates need to keep spinning no matter what and which are ok if they fall to the ground. Jesus' words help us all to decide just which plates are vital.

"Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?" Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, "Love others as much as you love yourself." All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40

The love God plate and the love others plate need to keep spinning. If I can keep them up in the air, then everything else should be ok. That sounds uncomplicated enough.

Are your most important plates spinning or wobbling today?

Are You Destinized? Strips Down at 100!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Hebrews 12:1



Are You Destinized? is about to post it's 100th blog entry! Can you believe it? 100? Our blog centennial? Now, If I could just get some folks to actually read this stuff.... In honor of this milestone, we are stripping down Are You Destinized? We will still have the great restaurant references, the Destiny highlights as well as that rare spiritually poignant insight, but it will all be packaged differently, so that you, my faithful reader (I didn't want to say readers and assume that there are actually more than one of you), can get the most of out of these musings.

Tomorrow #100 will be up and will be stripped down. You will not want to miss it. Set your alarms...

Find Your Fit

Ever wanted to make someone’s day? Want to make people smile and feel special? Are you ready to find a place where you belong and where you can worship God by volunteering? If so, check this out!

When you choose to serve, you cross the line to let God use you to make a life-changing difference in other people’s lives. What on earth is better than that?! God has given you unique tools, abilities, and gifts. We, at Destiny, want to help you use what is inside you and this tool will help you Find Your Fit.


Let me know who you are and I'll help you find your fit...

“Love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart & soul.”
Deuteronomy 11:13

Extra Mile Team

Met with our Extra Mile Team (think Mission Team but much cooler) today and am excited about what God is going to do in and through these folks. I believe Destiny will be different and our community will be different as a result of the work these folks are embarking upon. Christmas in April, July 4th Outreach, Back to School Backpacks and our Birthday are the four big events that we will focus on in '08!

These guys want to serve others, engage people in serving and create spiritual opportunities. What a great set of goals!

The big question is: If your church were to disappear tomorrow, would anyone in your community notice?

Our extra mile team is working hard to make Destiny an integral part of the health of our community. We'll keep you posted on how we progress...

TGF wifi

I'm not late to the party or anything, but I was reminded about how much I love wifi. It's 50 degrees today and my Jeep (which has no top) needs to get the emissions inspected. With a topless vehicle like mine, you've got to strike when the iron, or simply the temperature, is hot. So, today is the day to get this done...but it is also the day to get a whole lot of other stuff done. So here I sit on a comfy leather couch with my laptop and have not missed a beat.
Laptops, wifi, smartphones...how did we ever get anything done without them?

"First Sunday" Guest Awareness

Do we realize who is joining us on a Sunday morning? Are we helping them to fully participate in all that is going on around them?

We don't need to provide Cheez Whiz, but we do need to be sensitive to the expectations of those who are with us for the very first time...How can we help those who exclaim "I don't know what goes on in Church, I've never been here!"

Day in the life...

Today felt absolutely packed, but I felt a little bit like I was in a zone. Here is how it played out:

-Packing lunches, making breakfasts, praying for my kids.
-1,000 yards in the pool.
-65 degrees and the Jeep windows are down.
-Starbucks. Venti Skim Chai on a gift card.
-Production Meeting.
-Destiny Kid Ministry Leadership Meeting.
-Late lunch at Popeyes with Dan, our Spiritual Growth Director.
-Lathan stopped by for a visit, looking for some help with Sunday setups.
-Kevin Hale stopped by to talk about Water's Edge.
-Visitor #1710 to this blog turned out to be a buddy from high school. It was good to reconnect.
-Clay's 5th grade basketball practice.
-French dip sandwiches for a late dinner.
-Now I'm hoping for some good zzz's.

Remembering why I don't enjoy running...

Got out and ran 5 miles this morning and was bored the entire time. I need to add something different and low cost to my regimen and soon! If I don't I may just sleep in...

Any ideas?

First 2008 Sunday Recap

There were some key elements that made this Sunday at Destiny a winner for me!

-"40" by U2. Anytime we pull out something from Bono and the boys, I'm in.
-new stage, new program, new car smell!
-Gold, silver and bronze ladel winners.
-Chili Cook Off complete with a late delivery of pizza.
-Fusion 4t5 moving into their new digs.
-ImagiNation doing what they do best in the gym.
-Great message from Lathan at middle school Water's Edge.
-Poignant video element entitled "Rock Star" at high school Edge.
and
-A quick 26 minute nap snuck in during the NFC Wild Card game.

What made your Sunday good?

Follow this link...

Found this blog entry to be convicting this morning...
Lifechurch Swerve

new

"I will buy you a new car
Perfect shinny and new
I will buy you that big house
Way up in the west hills
I will buy you a new life..." -Everclear

Do you need something new in your life? Are your relationships old? What about your job or your house? Do you need the infusion of something new in your life? According to Paul, when we enter into a relationship with Christ, the old things in our life are gone and new things replace them. What does your life smell like today? Is it more new car fragrance or musty trunk odor?

If you are looking for something new, check out the new series at Destiny and keep up with the details over at Greg's Blog.

I can't buy you a new car or that big house, but I can direct you to the one who can "buy" you a new life. Jesus.

Chili Cook Off This Sunday!

You, that's right, you, need to participate in Destiny's Chili Cook Off this Sunday. Right after Church, we will gather in Smart's Mill's cafeteria for some spicy crockpot love. All you have to do is get your pot of homemade chili over to Smart's Mill by 9:40, we'll judge it during Church and you could be one of the top three prize winning chili chefs for 2008.

This is not an overly strict competition, last year a seafood bisque almost won. It tasted good but anything called a "bisque" has no place in a chili competition!

If you need some help with your chili, just head over to the Chili Cook Off or check out How to Win a Chili Cook Off and then start cooking.

See you Sunday for some good eats.

Day One of 2008

-Good night's rest. 8+ hours.
-Daily Light...this is a killer old school devotional book. Pick one up if you can find it in print!
-Resolution 4k race with Clay. What a great way to start the '08!
-Got the Christmas Tree down without spreading needles throughout the house.
-Have almost finished our 2008 budget courtesy of Quicken for Mac and Joseph Sangl.
-Lots of good bowl games.
and
-Chicken Enchiladas for dinner.

If today is any indicator, 2008 is going to be great.