A letter to my NC3 Family

If there's one thing that has marked NC3 since it's beginning, it is change. We've changed office space, meeting places, service times, number of services, etc. Change is always exciting, but it's also always a little uncomfortable. When things are good, we'd love nothing more than for everything to stay the same. But that's not how our God works.

For about a year now, Tricia and I have sensed God stirring us to consider a new type of ministry. And now, with the support of Pastor Kevin and the rest of the NC3 leadership, we are taking a very big step. NC3, after July 27th, I will no longer be your Creative Arts Pastor. Our dream is to plant a church... a church much like New Community that provides a place where those with little or no church background can encounter the incredible love and grace of God. That's what you've been to this community and that's what other communities need.

The past four years that I've been able to serve with you, have been an incredible time for me and my family. We've learned a lot. We've grown a lot. Our best friends are here. My children learned that God loves them here. There is nothing that could take away the place that NC3 will always have in our hearts. And if it were simply a matter of comfort, we could stay forever. You've been incredibly good to us and I have had the privilege of working with the finest artists and tech crew that I've ever known. But God is never very concerned with our comfort, as you well know. He's calling us to take what we've learned here and use it somewhere else—in order to make Hell a little less crowded.

Our plan is to train for a year with a church planting team from Community Christian Church in Naperville, with hopes of launching a new congregation sometime in late 2009 or early 2010. Although there was talk of us staying on into the Fall, our Leadership Team graciously offered me some time with pay to get started on our new chapter. It's an incredible blessing and a testament to the quality of NC3's leaders.

Those same leaders are why I know that God will continue to bless NC3 as He already has. There is much to be excited about and I can't wait to see the heights to which this church family will rise. We will keep you informed about our future plans. We want your prayers and your friendship as we move on to this next challenge.

Thank you for being such a great church family. Thank you for your love and concern over the past four years of ministry together.

We love you!
Corbett, Tricia, Katy and Will Reeves

Where ya been????

Sorry, Meanderings and Musings is on hiatus. I'll be re-launching in July with a new design and focus...maybe even a new name! (but the same web address)

For those of you who still check every day or so to see if I've posted, two things:
1)Thank you
2)Seriously, get a blog reader click here

Where is your mission field?

well... where is it?

write it down here.

Lovin' the '80s

One of my favorite movies is Raising Arizona. Of course I'm a child of the '80s (high school class of '89), so when I came across the following video, paying homage to Raising Arizona, the Karate Kid, and even the Cars (can you find the reference?), I loved it. The only thing I need is a little Back to the Future and maybe some Say Anything and my 80's sampler would be rolling.

Check out "Sweep the Leg" by No More Kings...

Stuff Christians Like

So a few weeks ago, someone turned me on to a newish blog by a guy called Prodigal Jon called Stuff Christians Like. Mostly it's a very tongue-in-cheek view of the Christian sub-culture and how idiotic it often looks to those outside of church. But every once-in-awhile, he just lets loose with something ridiculously meaningful like this post. If you are an artist (techies count) you need to read that post.

You should check out Stuff Christians Like. It's a good addition to your blog reader (you are using a blog reader, right!).

The Political unReality

In a sharp contrast to my earlier years, I've become very uninterested in the political process in the last few years. Basically, I think our entire system is broken and it's not going to get much better no matter who is in office. So I feel no need to stump for McCain or Obama or Clinton or anyone else, but...


Every once in a while, a soundbite catches your attention and you just can't ignore it. Former President Bill Clinton in West Virginia, campaigning for his wife against Barak Obama made the following statement:


"The great divide in this country is not by race or even income, it's by those who think they are better than everyone else and think they should play by a different set of rules..."

Really, Bill? Couldn't anyone else in your wife's campaign say this with just a hint more credibility?



So what was Hillary's reaction when she heard that?



Could it have been...

A new trip to the movies

Some friends of ours (thanks Mark and Kim) took Tricia and I, along with another couple to the movies last night. We went to a place that some of you may be familiar with, but I wasn't: Hollywood Boulevard in Woodridge, IL.

The novelty of this place is that its a full service restaurant inside a movie theater. Prior to and during the movie, a server comes out takes drink orders, appetizers (called "the previews) and the like, comes back with your drinks and takes your meal order...yadayadayada...just like in a typical sit-down restaurant.

Now we had a place like this in New Orleans when I was in college, but it was just a low-rent kinda place where you sat on couches and a server kept you supplied with stadium-type food (hotdogs, nachos, etc) and pitchers of your beverage of choice.

This was much nicer! Great food... Great atmosphere... Nice big (regular theater size) screen... and awesome reclining leather chairs to sit in. The theater shows first run films (we saw Baby Mama) and tickets are only 8 bucks and the food isn't too overpriced (Tricia and I had two entrees, a great appetizer and softdrinks for about $35).

We'll go back. If you like movies and food, you should check it out.

Leadership Example #1

I thought this was really informative. The product involved could not be farther than what I concern myself with--in fact I'm against the use of consumer credit for the most part--but there are a lot of great lessons for someone who wants to lead better.

It's long so here's the title and a teaser and then you can follow the link for more.

Peace
Click here to read the entire article.

Toyota Tackles an Audacious Goal

How to lead an organization through transformational change

by George Borst, President and CEO, Toyota Financial Services

It would be great if leaders could learn everything they need to know before they need to know it. That's rarely the case -- most of us learn on the job, in the thick of it. Sometimes we don't even realize what we've learned until long after the moment has passed. In hindsight, I realize how fortunate I was.

We were beginning to tackle a major initiative that would significantly change Toyota Financial Services (TFS); simultaneously, I was being exposed to new leadership ideas. I would need these new ideas, along with new skills and abilities, to lead my team to achieve a "BHAG" -- a "Big Hairy Audacious Goal," as Built to Last authors Jim Collins and Jerry Porras call it.

My BHAG was to lead TFS through an expansion of our customer base and product line. TFS offers automotive loans to Toyota and Lexus customers, but if we could add credit cards, mortgages, and loans to Toyota customers and dealers, we could create much more business, profit, and ultimately, loyalty.

But that required transformation in every aspect of the organization -- new people, infrastructure, knowledge, and skills. Some of the changes offered exciting new opportunities, but others presented new problems. In every case, the expansion required new methods of leadership from me -- including framing, communication, and team-building strategies -- to face the upcoming challenges.

Read the rest of the article here.

Busted...

So I was outed yesterday morning. I'd been trying to hide it... I'd blame it on the kids; I'd say that the TV was already on that channel; I'd claim that I was just "checking it out." But Saturday morning, the kids were already up and out, I had no way to explain my way out of the fact that Tricia came in to the bedroom to find me watching...



Lilo and Stitch.

That's right, it's all out in the open now...I feel so relieved. I like to watch Lilo and Stitch, the kids animated series on the Disney Channel (7am & 7:30am), that's based on the Disney movie of the same name. Funny thing is... I haven't even seen the movie.

I know for some of you, this will bring me down off the pedestal. For others of you, it just confirms you worst fears, and you're able to nod with a knowing "mm--hmmm." That's all okay with me though, cause I've got my "ohana" -- Tricia, Katy and Will all still love me just the same. And my extended animated ohana... well we're tight and when I see them again tomorrow morning at 7am on channel 173, I'll tell them you said to say "Hi."

Peace

Near Disaster...

Okay, so the job of a worship pastor is multi-faceted...there's many a duty that falls to me on a weekly basis. But it cannot be denied that in the present, playing a guitar on most Sundays is my bread and butter--or at least what people most perceive.

So I was a little alarmed when this happened this afternoon (Saturday)...
.
.

But how many pastors can brag about their "banana bread" making injuries. That, my friends is a one-inch slice from a Pampered Chef Chopper...on my chording hand. And we're supposed to play James Taylor tomorrow.

BTW, the slime looking stuff is the "super glue" they put on me at the Immediate Care. Seemed like a better option than stitches for a quick healing. Plus if it comes off, I can replace it myself with a quick trip to Ace Hardware...thank God for modern medicine.

Wanted: Video Geeks for Jesus

I made a video transition. It connects this weeks main title slide to the song background. It is two seconds long. It took over TWO HOURS to make. Much of that was the learning curve...hopefully my next attempt won't take as long.


Well... are you blown away? Neither was Tricia! ;-)

I'm admittedly rather jealous of churches that have awesome video/media departments. I think that video is very much the first language of most of the people who visit our church. I'm glad that we're a part of the NewThing Network and are able to use many of their media. But I really hope and pray that God will bring someone our way who is gifted and wants to use their talents in a local church setting.

Maybe it's you that I've been praying for. Maybe you looked at what I made and immediately thought of 13 ways to make it better. Maybe you are the soon-to-be newest NC3 artist, specializing in all things video. Drop me an email.

Peace!

A Question for Leaders

Leadership is at the discrepancy of the led. I think that's a hard concept for many of us that aren't as good at leading as we'd like to be. Successful leadership can be measured by the degree of followship. (It's been said that a leader who isn't being followed is just taking a walk.)

Followship can be encouraged by the leader in many ways...not all of them good.

• Followship can be obtained by fear: Do what I say or you're fired. Do what I say or I'll hurt or kill you. Both of these can provide followers, but probably not longevity nor effectiveness.
• Followship can be obtained by guilt: Follow me because you owe me...I've done ____ for you. Ahhh...used by moms, world-wide. ;-)
  
• Followship can be obtained by a simple lack of options: Follow me because I'm the best you can do.

Perhaps a better model is: Follow me because I can show you a desirable future and I can take you there with me.

If that's the case, a further measure of leadership becomes the degree to which vision is cast AND the progress made toward that envisioned destination.

So for me the question becomes, "Have I shown you a place you want to go, and am I helping you get there."

First Week at 705

Not sure why it took me so long to blog about this. Luckily I have good blogger friends who caught my slack here and here. 705 causes a mixture of emotions in me. I've poured so much of my time, heart and energy into it for the last three weeks, that I feel like I've been cheating on my wife with this project--90 hour work-weeks do not a strong marriage make. Now all of the major hurdles are past, the birthing pains have subsided, but I may have a touch of postpartum.

Many have described the new facility as "home." I'm not there yet. It's not quite home. Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed being able to simply move my guitar to my office and leave everything else plugged in and in place, after the 2nd worship service. I love much of what we've been able to do with a new building... the quality mixing console, the six (count 'em - 6) monitor mixes for the band and vox, the way we've upgraded our stage lighting capability while going to a far more cost effective lighting rig. The screen and projector are both major upgrades that I'm lovin' already.

It's going to come.


This Sunday was definitely off the chain! Lots of new faces...lots of faces, period. 394 different people came to one of our two worship experiences. The band was just simply smoking! We still have a few sound issues to address, as well as a power issue (as in, suddenly not having any), but it's gonna come together. Mike, Steve and Sean are a great team to work with...three guys I'd hire in a second if the time was right.


It's way late...I've got more to say, but I'd better end this while I'm somewhat coherent.

Happy Birthday, Will!

My son, Will turned 5 on Sunday. He is a great kid...I couldn't ask for better. Loving, considerate, way too smart... he's definitely all boy. I'm excited about the challenge of raising him to be a man of God, and seeing God use him to change the world!

Should we move to the city?

Scott Hodge has been blogging from Q in NYC. A few days ago he shared his notes from a session with Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian in NYC and author of The Reason For God.

In his session, Tim said "If you want to be culture makers you ought to live in big cities."

That strikes a nerve with me. Could it be that evangelical christian leadership has focused on rural/suburban areas because its easier, and neglected the opportunity to truly make a cultural difference?

Personally, I've always felt like a city-guy at heart, so when I read Scott's notes on Tim's session, I nod...I get what he's saying. Now I'm not saying there's not a necessity for ministry in rural or suburban areas...two thirds of my ministry life has been spent in communities under 40,000. But...I'll finish with Tim's words...

"If you can be used elsewhere, great. But don't stay out of the cities because you’re selfish or cowardice or don’t have the grace or because you're clueless about their importance."

Read Scott's blog about the three city-graces

It was a good plan!

The plan was in place... Katy (our six year-old) attending a spend-the-night birthday party at her cousin's in Joliet; Will (our five year-old) getting some one on one overnight quality time with "Nanna," Tricia's mom. Knock praise band practice out quick as all the songs were kinda "old favorites," and then nothing to do but spend a relaxed, quiet evening with my incredibly hot wife.

Until... I come home from work at 4:30 running a 100 deg. fever with chills and aches. Not the romantic mood setter I'd been hoping for.

Instead, here I am still in bed on Saturday, hoping to snap back by tomorrow
...knowing that my volleyball team's last game today is something I have to skip
...knowing that there is a lot of work left to be done at 705 before next weeks launch
...and knowing that I'm pretty much stuck here for most of this day.

Not loving life right now... =(

705 progress

Wow! I haven't blogged in a while...mainly due to the combination of three things: the renovations at 705 E. Washington, preparations for Easter, and moving our offices the week after Easter.

The auditorium at 705 is coming along. As of today, all electrical is finished except for a ceiling outlet for the projector. The balcony is finished. The sound booth is built and painted...just needs trim and the countertop cut to fit. The projecton screen is up!!!

Other remaining projects:
Hanging the projector - 4/1
Hanging stage light bars - 4/1-4/2? (have to be cut down and re-welded)
Installing new sound board - 4/3
Installing stage lighting - 4/7 (waiting on board and dimmers)
Building/installing acoustic panels for back of room - 4/7-4/9 (waiting on fabric)
Building/installing window panels - 4/7-4/9 (waiting on fabric)
Running all audio/video/light cabling - 4/3-4/5

All this is do-able. I'm not in panic mode yet, but a couple of missed deadlines could definitely send me there. I have had so much help on this project. Steve and Shane Mahnke, Scott Mounts, Sean Davis, Mike St. Germain, Dave Ritter, Derek Wren, Brian Depung, and Jake Lambros have all played big parts in what we've accomplished so far. Dave Tatum, Glenn Burnam, Ed Jenkins, and Randy White all have jumped in as well. Kevin Murphy kept the power on (most of the time) and Jeff Eberhard has done a great job of encouraging (git-r-done, dangit!) and standing around looking very knowledgable and important. =) I love you, Jeff! Mike Lanahan has been a great idea man and he'd be on-site a lot more if he weren't at home with new twins.

I'm sure I've forgotten someone, and I apologize, but thank you to everyone who has pitched in and played a part. Wouldn't be this close if it hadn't been for the part you played.

Grrrrrrrrrr!

I don't know why, but I'm getting a ton of spammy comments lately. I've not wanted to, but I decided to go ahead and require word verification for leaving a comment. It's really no big deal, and I hope this doesn't put off anyone who wants to add to the conversation. I just don't want anyone getting spammed or even worse contracting a virus because of this blog.

Thanks for reading!

New Babies!!

Monday evening, my very good friends Mike and Kelli Lanahan got a bit of a surprise when their doctor said, "today's the day!" Skip forward just a very few hours and look what happened...



and then there were five...



now that's a happy (and relieved) mama.

Congratulations Mike, Kelli and Joey! And welcome to the world Jacob and Addison.

Check out more pics here.

Thanking my team / 705

This past Saturday was the big kick-off for our remodel of 705 E Washington, the older church building that we've bought to serve as NC3's temporary home. IT WAS AWESOME!!! I realize that some of you had to miss it and I'm very sorry that you did. We had a great time. I'm not sure how many people were there but I would guess upwards of 50.

Everyone did a great job, but I'm forced to report very objectively that MY TEAM IS THE VERY BEST ONE! Some of the folks who showed up to help weren't even signed up...they just showed up. (Kinda sounds like this!)

Of course it helps that the major job my team accomplished was DESTRUCTION! We got to tear things up and tear things down and to my knowledge there was only one event that nearly required stitches. Good times!!


Well if you're feeling like you missed out on all the fun, don't sit around moping about it. There are people working at 705 nearly all of the time currently. Next Saturday will again be a huge work day with all of the same energy and fun (there's also going to be a COOK-OUT!) The sad part is, the destruction is nearly over, but that just makes room for the fun part of building something that will last and be used for a long time. Walls are being scraped, cleaned and painted... New walls are being put up about as fast as the old walls came down. Bathrooms are getting a complete make-over (much needed. Thanks LLK).


When we had a prayer service on location last Friday, PK read some great scriptures, some of which were taken from the dedication of the temple of Solomon. This ain't no temple, but it is God's building. Every wall, every square foot of carpet, every stroke of paint, every piece of equipment... it's all God's. We're not offering thousands of cattle or sheep as a sacrifice...we're bringing a sacrifice of our willing hearts, our gloved hands and our joyful spirits. We're sacrificing our most precious commodity (our time) to see that what belongs to God for His purposes is the very best we can provide. There is no room for mediocre. I'm not talking about budgets here, I'm talking about fiercely pursuing excellence in all that we put our hands to... excellence being defined as the very best we can do with what we have and what we can get. God's dream for Grundy County is worth everything we can give!

So come on out this Saturday! If you're not already on a team, show up anyway with gloves and a great attitude. God will use you for what He is accomplishing at 705.

100th Post!

So my blog has turned 100. It took just over 1 year, so I guess I'm averaging just under 2 posts a week. To help me celebrate my 100th post, I want you to do something for me. Let me know why you read this blog. Boredom, insight, entertainment, church happenings, maybe just to see what horrible thing I'll say next... Whatever it is, drop me a comment.

I now I'd like to speak directly to all of you lurkers who read but prefer to stay unseen and unheard from... Come out into the open! It's time.

For the next year or next 100 posts, whichever comes first, I'm considering narrowing the focus but before I do that, I want to know what draws you here in the first place. Help me out, just drop me a comment and don't do it anonymously. What would you like more of? What should never be mentioned again (Philips Bodygroomer, perhaps)?

And to those of you who read consistently, thank you... it's been fun so far, it will only get better.

Bob the Builder...

...I am not! But Corbett the General Contractor, I'm having to become.

This is it, folks. Friday we close on the property at 705 E. Washington Street. That night, we're having a prayer service there, and work starts Saturday morning at 8am. There's a lot to do before our completion goal of April 18, but I think we have the manpower and just enough experts (you can have too many experts) to get the job done and do it with excellence!

I can't wait to get to work with my team to make the Auditorium a great place for our family to come together and worship Almighty God. It might not be Solomon's Temple (I wonder what his budget was for acoustical treatment?) but it will be the VERY BEST we can make it, because God deserves our very best.

I know that we don't have an unlimited budget and also that this is a temporary home for us--we'll be building a larger facility at IL-47 and Minooka Road within the next few years--but we are going to do our best to make 705 E. Washington a very special place to 1)Bring you in, 2)Build you up, and 3)Send you out!

I believe that for the rest of my life, 705 (as we've begun to call the new property) should be synonymous with Reaching People with the Gospel of Jesus. This property will be a tool that we use to connect people with Jesus, and there is no stone that should be left unturned.

The people of Morris and Grundy County that will encounter God at 705, they deserve the best we can do. The people who've been burned by churches before... the people who are skeptical at best about organized religion... the people who's lives seem to be doing just great without any more than just token acknowledgement or service to our Creator... Some of these people are going to come through our doors...maybe only once. Our task is to create an environment that gives them a reason to re-think what they've always thunk.

Now this can't be done just with a building. It will take dedication and sacrifice and leadership... people willing to make Sunday morning more about the guest than the member. But if we sell out to the vision of Building Bridges to connect people with Jesus, we'll see that come to pass. And we can help that along by providing a physical space that screams of excellence and encourages interaction. I can't wait to get started! Get ready Morris!

Happy Birthday!!

To meeeeeeeee......

So let's have a little guessing game.
How old am I? (Don't cheat if you already know!)

American Idol - Alexis Cohen

I have to admit to being an Idol fan. It's hard to describe the emotions brought by the audition portion of the show... on one hand you feel good for the ones that succeed, especially the ones who come in humble and not flashy. On the other hand, you still feel good, because some of those people just make you glad you're not them. I realize maybe I'm channeling my inner Pharisee, but thats the truth folks.

That disclaimer aside, this is one of the funniest things I ever seen in my life! You must watch this.



"All rising," indeed!

I'm so glad I have that episode on DVR. That deserves a second watching.

A New Look

It's not easy being green... I thought I'd try black. What do you think?

BTW, I know I just introduced some of you to feed readers... but you're actually gonna have to click on the blog heading and go to the blog itself to see what I'm talking about.

Belief = Behavior

If you wonder why I do the things that I do, you can bet that if you believed the same things that I believe, you would do the same. The reverse is true as well. If I believed the things that you believe, I would do the same things that you do.

I'm not really talking about a macro level, although it applies... I'm talking about the very basic moment to moment beliefs that we have that determine how we act in an instant.

• "I believe that person intentionally cut me off in traffic, so I angrily honked and threw my hands up."
• "I believe that every little bit helps, so I recycle everything possible."
• "I believe that you are clearly wrong, I am clearly right, and that you are just out to get me, therefore I fired off that disparaging email."
• "I believe that I'm supposed to share and that the Salvation Army is a worthy charity, so I put a couple of dollars into the red bucket at Walmart."

You see how it works? The interesting thing is, we often label a person's behavior bad judgment, but in reality, they're just acting out their beliefs.

What does this mean? If I want to alter your behavior, I have to change your beliefs.

Heart Broken

My heart hurts. I hate Satan! I hate that the most effective of us are still cracked pots. I hate that a wrong decision can completely derail an incredible ministry. I hate that someone that I respect and honor is hurting big time and fighting for the survival of his family.

I don't know Corey personally, but I have friends who serve with him. I've been very influenced by what he's done and how he's done it up to this point. And even in failure, I learn from him. Thanks dude...I'm praying for you!

And two things if you are a church leader:
1) Sin is crouching at your door. Make sure you have accountability and guard rails in place that limit your ability to give in to temptation. Everyone will be tempted.
2) Take a lesson from Senior Pastor Mark Beeson: He's one of the best. READ THIS!

Happy Birthday!

Hey everybody go here and give a big Happy Birthday shout out to the man, Pastor Kevin.




(not Pastor Kevin)





I don't know if he's gonna have this much fun, but he deserves it!

Anticipation is "building"

This Sunday, NC3 will come together as a family to make a huge decision impacting the future of our congregation and what our impact on our community will be. We'll be deciding whether or not to purchase the building at 705 Washington.

It is completely conceivable that I could actually have my office in the same building as our worship space. THAT IS EXCITING! Maybe that's hard to understand if you're not a music person.

I believe that our congregation will say, "Go For It!" That has been the track record here. Our leadership team is unanimous that this is the right decision, so that gives me enormous confidence that it's the right move, and I believe NC3-ers are going to feel the same way.

Our mission is to Build Bridges to connect people with Jesus. Because of it's location, I think buying this building will be one more way to tell our community, 'You don't have to come to us... we'll come to you!"

Are there reasons not to make the jump? Always. But there is nothing that a group of people, sold out for Jesus, willing to give and serve sacrificially can't overcome. When the congregation puts their stamp of approval on this move by our leadership, it's going to be another step right into seeing our Vision come to pass, of being a Christ-centered community, loving and accepting people so that lives are changed by the power of God.

I'll see you on Sunday!

New Readers / Feed Readers

Welcome to all the new people checking out the blog. My site stats have really taken off in the last week.

I just wanted to make a suggestion to all the folks who are starting to read my blog or Kevin's blog or just beginning to read blogs in general: get an aggregator!

Now I'm sure that sounds like incomprehensible geek talk, but its actually very simple. Many of you are still reading blogs by going to the actual website, i.e. corbettreeves.com or kevinyandell.blogspot.com. There's an easier way. An aggregator is simply an application that lets you subscribe (for free, of course) to an individual blog via (warning: geek talk) an RSS feed. RSS just means Really Simple Syndication, that is... a really simply way to distribute information to lots of people.

Probably the two most common are Google Reader and Bloglines. It's pretty simply... you set up a free account with Google Reader or Bloglines, enter in the site addresses of the blogs you wish to follow, and then wait. Whenever you wish to see what's happening in the blogosphere, you simply log in to your feed reader and it lets you know which bloggers that you follow have new posts.

So instead of jumping around cyberspace, going to blogsites like Tonymorganlive.com and evotional.com and leadingsmart.com to see if my favorite bloggers have posted something new, I go to my google reader account (actually it pops up as a tab on my home page) and any new posts show up over in the left column. Very quick and easy. And I can read the posts right on my reader, saving me the time and effort of visiting their actual blogsites.

Give it a try! Subscribe to a few blogs you like and enjoy a new era of conveniently filling your brain with all of the info you could ever hope for... without leaving the comfortable confines of your aggregator.

Drop the rest of us a comment about how moving to an aggregator has worked for you!

You bit what?

As many of you know, I have a daughter, Katy and a son, Will. Katy is six and she's losing teeth. She's had a loose one in the front for several weeks but it never seemed loose enough to pull. I've been really ready for it to come out for a while now but I wasn't expecting the story that follows:

"Mom I lost my tooth!"
"How did it come out?"
"I just bit something and it fell out."
"What did you bite?"
"Will's butt."

The Bottom Line

During a prayer drive around town this morning (that's like a prayer walk, except for lazy people) I had a "what if" moment. What if people don't get on board? What if they don't see the benefit of what we're trying to do? What if they walk away?

You can call "what ifs" stategic thinking or you can call them a lack of faith or anything in between, but everyone has them from time to time. What if we're making a mistake? Then God laid an awesome thing on my heart... it all comes down to sticking tenaciously to the Vision.

The vision from God of where we are going is the only thing that can keep us focused in "what if" moments. It's the instrument panel when you're flying blind. Vision is what is left when you boil everything else away.

Stick to the vision; cast the vision to others; live in faith pursueing the vision; surround yourself with people who are sold out for the SAME vision; and set free those who seem to follow a different vision. If the vision is from God, he'll call the right people to pursue it.

What she said...

So we're in the car the other day and Tricia and I are having a conversation about something (I don't remember what) and my six-year old, Katy asked us a question (I don't remember this either) and I told her that it (whatever) happened while we were still living in Birmingham.

Katy asked, "Birmingham... isn't that where Jesus was born?"

Facility Opportunity

Well, it seems we have an opportunity to consider and a decision to make. If you're an NC3-er you know that we currently meet in an Elementary School on the weekends and have our offices in an office building in downtown Morris. We are currently in year two of a three-year capital campaign from which we are purchasing 20 acres a little north of Morris on Illinois Route 47.

A small church located near downtown (East of rt 47) has decided to sell its facility. The purchase price for this building and land would be very close to what we are currently paying for 1) mortgage on our office and 2) rent at the school.

Pros:

• 24/7 access to the facility allowing for mid-week activities, etc.
• Less time setting up, b/c many things could just stay set up.
• No more having to worry about how the political situation with the school board will affect our access to meeting space.
• Buying vs Renting
• Office space in the same building as the auditorium/class rooms.
• Ability to make class rooms warm and inviting, instead of institutional.
• Having a building could give us "credibility" in some peoples eyes in our community.

Cons:

• Parking is limited to on-street.
• Auditorium is a bit small...will need very big investment sound-wise to avoid taking a huge step back in sound quality.
• Stage is pretty shallow (nice and wide, though)
• The building is 40+ years old and looks it on the inside.
• There is NO foyer, currently.
• Children's area (1st - 5th) will be much smaller than what is available at the School.
• Perception that this building is our goal. (It's not...it's only a stepping stone on the way to a campus at Rt 47 & Minooka Rd.
• The amount of money and effort that would need to be put in to present a "WOW" factor with guests.

So talk to me about this. Let's have some comments. What are your thoughts on buying vs. renting... a traditional "church" building vs. a community center (elem school)... portable vs. stationary

Un-clogging

So I'm starting to think about why I let 23 days go by without blogging. I think I get clogged. I usually blog less when I'm taking in more. Now that strikes me as a little strange. If you know me, you know that I'm not one to keep much to myself. I love to learn and I love to share what I'm learning. So why do I clog up when I go into intake mode?

Perhaps I put too much pressure on myself to change someones life everytime I post. Maybe I'm waiting until my intake reaches a critical mass and has to escape somewhere...thus much of my "inspired" blogging is little more than a big "thought vomit." Hmmmmm... that's appetizing... pass me the chips.

I don't want to go too far down the road of bodily functions, but we all know that, at times, the longer it is before that which is taken in is released out can make a person not feel well at all.

All this to say, I'm going to try to post more often, even if that means blogging about thoughts and concepts that aren't completely thought out. I'll just keep putting it out there and see how it develops.

Signing off now... unclogged.