coloring

Unity through Vision

Thanks to blogging, I was able to chat with Eugene Cho today about Quest's merge experience.  The thing that jumped out to me from our conversation was the idea of focusing on our similarities and not our differences.  Eugene shared that they have been closed-fisted in regards to why they do what they do (vision) and open-fisted as to how (methods).  This was a great reminder for me.  Through this process, we all have to be open to doing things differently, but we are all working together for the same purpose. 

Overheard

"In keeping with the marriage metaphor, Sunday will be like the wedding night.  It will be awkward, but it will still be good.  It will be clumsy at first, and it will only get better."  -Robb talking about our first Sunday together as the new Symphonic

Merging Teams

The worship teams (band and tech because they work in concert not separately) came together last night for the first time.  No instruments were played.  The focus was on community.  Everyone was asked to bring something that inspires them to worship.  Examples include:  songs, video clips, readings, artwork, etc.  Everyone was asked to take a risk, make themselves vulnerable, and share something deeply personal.  It was an incredible time of sharing and worship and relationship-building.  It also underscored the value that being on the worship team means leading worship.  Last night was a time of worship that only happened because everybody in the room contributed, and it was amazing.  The full-out jam session will happen later this week.

Solitude, pt. 3

Silence is honest.  The place where we are the most real.  It is self-reflecting, soul-searching, and God-seeking.  We resist it.  We need it.  We fear it.  We were created for it.  Silence slices through the lies and false images we project; it is not deceived.  It is truth, and truth changes us.

The Art of Small Talk

I don't know it.  In fact I hate it.  I love getting to know people, but I hate that initial stage.  It feels awkward.  You know what I am talking about.  There are new people at church, and they need to be welcomed...genuinely welcomed.  They need to be valued.  It is more (way more) than saying hi.  I want to walk over to them, but I don't want to say something that sounds obligatory and forced.

Last night, we were working at the warehouse, and I had the opportunity to connect with some people who are new at church.  The conversation started simply. I asked a question about favorite bands.  I think you can get a real feel for people based on their musical preferences.  One of the people I was chatting with agreed and said that he loves to check out CD collections of new friends for the very same reason.  I feel like I got to a new level of connection and as an added bonus I heard about some bands I need to check out.

Solitude, pt.2

"I'm ashamed to admit that I've sometimes offered people cheap hope.  I've made Jesus seem like a backslapping frat buddy rather than a war-hardened hero.  I've peddled him like the peanut guy at the ballpark.  "God!  I've got some red-hot God here!"

I've held out the plastic, easy hope hyped by the preachers of a bargain-basement God when all the while, the hope God offers is raw and real and unvarnished.  It rises through the centuries and reverberates in the hearts and souls of true spiritual pilgrims everywhere.  This is not a cheap hope but a costly one.  It's a tearstained hope strong enough to comfort people who've watched their parents die, seen their dreams fade away, struggled with whether or not to have an abortion, or lived through a divorce.  It's a hope for the oppressed, the guilty, the haunted, the hurting, the forgotten, the abused, the mocked, the ignored, the lonely, and the overlooked.  Workaholics and loudmouths and outcasts and spiritual fugitives like us.

It's a passionate hope, a real hope, a battle-scarred and yet victorious hope.  Only a hope like that could ever conquer heartaches this strong and wounds this deep and pain as fresh as today's headlines."  - excerpt from Story by Steven James

Robb has used several snippets from this book for Solitude time.  I can't believe I have just started reading it.  Excellent book! 

Solitude

We do something at church that Robb calls solitude.  We don't do it every week and it doesn't always look the same.  Basically, it is a time for reflection and prayer.  It can be as simple as silently reading words on the screen that are intended to challenge, inspire, and prepare our hearts for worship and steer our thinking in the direction of that week's message.  Sometimes the solitude is written by Robb, sometimes it's an excerpt from a book, and sometimes it is written by someone at Epic.  We have found that this does not intimidate people that aren't Christ-followers, but it actually stirs something in their hearts.  They often share that they felt something they cannot explain during "that reading thing they did" and leave very intrigued.

Top 10 Reasons I Heart Summer Break

Tomorrow is the first day of summer vacation, and I am thrilled!  Here's my top 10.  Insert your own drumrolls, and feel free to add your own favorites in the comments.

1. less stress (no more mental checklists of projects due, upcoming tests, etc.)
2. sleeping in
3. beach days (this is a girls only activity except for kids)
4. late nights with the kids watching movies
5. freedom to travel (we don't get weekends off)
6. sleeping in (this one should count twice)
7. Mondays (Robb's day off and now a family day)
8. I won't get called Mrs. Dreelin anymore (my daughter's teacher)
9. barbecues, fresh fruit, and warm weather
10. no more report cards (and all the drama that represents)

Influence & Innovation

I watched Lords of Dogtown last week.  In case you haven't seen it, it's a flick about a group of teens in Venice, CA who revolutionized the skating scene in the 1970s.  I am intrigued with Jay Adams' contribution to the skating world.  He is not considered the best skater in the world, but he is credited with being the most influential skater who shaped the skating world forever.  That has been rattling around in my head for a week.  If I had the choice between influence and notoriety, I would pick influence.  Which is more important to you?

Updated:  I am re-reading this post because that is the kind of person that I am, and I am wondering if notoriety was a fair word to use since Adams is obviously famous.  I guess the point is that I can't shake the thought that I don't have to be the best at anything to have an influence.

Two Become One

Two churches becoming one.  That was what Epic and Symphonic announced today.  It's a marriage of sorts.  Two healthy, growing churches deciding to come together in order to make a bigger impact for Christ in our city.  Now that the word is out, I will be sharing some experiences in the upcoming weeks about our "dating" process and what it looks like to bring two churches together.