Genius - You must be mistaken!

I was reading a blog today and was directed to a website that tells you what your "blog reading level" is. This is what it said about my blog.

To Engage or Disengage Culture? That is the question.

About a month ago I received an email from a concerned parent of one of our students. She gave me the down-low about a new movie coming out entitled The Golden Compass. I think you know what she's talking about. There's all kinds of hype from my brothers and sisters in Christ about how evil this book and soon-to-be released movie is. Here's a thought though. Why don't we, adults, watch the movie and/or read the book and learn what's going on in culture. I heard the author of the book say this quote on T.V. a couple of weeks ago, "My books are about killing God." But why are we so afraid of a human's effort to kill the divine. I got news for ya, it ain't gonna happen. Even if all belief in our great God ceased, He would not die. He's not dependant upon our belief for His survival. However, we're dependant on His. From everlasting to everlasting our God reigns and there's no man that can shake that solid truth. I might see the movie because I want to be able to answer the questions and engage in conversation with people when they have just come out of the movie. Instead of getting up in arms about it, let's embrace the opportunity to talk to people about it. Just some thoughts...you can read what others (Guitarist from Third Day) are saying as well.

FreeRice.com

If you are bored, need to kill some time or want to update your vocabulary you can fulfill all of these things by visiting freerice.com. You can give rice to families who need food, for free just by playing a mulitiple choice word definition game. Play and give!

Grandma and Cooper

Dinner with Grandma Potter

Last night Erica and I went to dinner at my Aunt Marty & Uncle Larry's house. My cousin Hannah and her husband were there as well as my Grandma Potter, AKA Jingle-Bell Grandma. We had a great time talking, laughing at my ketchup addiction and then we played Mexico Train Dominos. Grandma is coming over this Friday for dinner at our house.

I left last night completely relaxed. There are certain people that radiant a peaceful presence. One of those people is my Grandma. When she touches my hands, it's ever-so-lightly, so gentle that it almost tingles. Erica had to drive home because I was alsmot asleep when we walked out to the car. I love my Grandma. Her presence demands that my soul be still before the Lord and find rest.

As Promised My G.I. Joe Costume from Halloween

Re:action

Re:action is a new college ministry that we've started. We've been laying the ground work with a few students and hope to grow into the hundreds...becuase our vision is huge and our vision is never as big as God's. Be faithful with a few, and He will entrust many! If you know of any college-aged people (18-25) in the Fresno/Clovis area that need to get conntected into a relevant environment of Christ-followers...please let me know.

3 Sundays left

We have only 3 more Sundays for New Harvest Church to meet at Clovis West High School! The building is almost ready! December 16th is the day!

Friend Wheel

This feature is crazy! In Facebook you can add an application called the "Friend Wheel." It shows all your contacts and which ones are connected. The crazy side of my wheel is Pepperdine (mostly) and the less-crazy is Fresno/Clovis (mostly). Wow!

Kristian Stanfill EP

I just got it in the mail today from DASH. I've been debating buying it for a couple of months, but now I don't have to. I would highly recommend it. It's called Hello...and it's got a great song called Beautiful Jesus.

I'm back!

As much as I love hanging out in Mexico with a bunch of teens...I love being home with my wife more. Happy to be home!

Dodgeball and Mexico

We are now back in the good 'ol USA. We're eating some lunch in Carlsbad. But here's another picture from our trip. There's nothing like teaching kids how to play dodgeball on a soccer field.

Soccer

We're playing soccer now with the neighborhood kids!

In Mexico

We're about to mix cement!

Student Ministry Wins

Here are some wins from this past Sunday!

 

Here are some comments I received from this past Sunday...

 

"The band was rocking!"
- a volunteer

 

"What a great Sunday morning at Turnpike.  The worship was almost perfect.  The Holy Spirit used Greg to speak excellent truth.  This all added to some great discussion in the 7th grade boys group."
- a volunteer

 

"let me just say that worship today was AMAZING. you guys played my three of my favorite songs, ever. it really spoke to me, so thanks! :)"
- a senior student

"I thought Sunday was great as well.  Greg spoke truth and it provoked some good questions.  I had the 8th & 9th grade girls but they didn't seem to discuss the message like I had hoped.  Later that night as I spoke with my student and I asked him if his life looked different then his non Christian friends.  The conversation got pretty deep.  The short version is sometimes he feels like he is missing out on what looks like fun, cool behavior because he is a Christian.  Anyways maybe you can turn that in to a message some Sunday.  I know I felt that way as a teenager & as an adult some times.  I'm sure there are other kids out there that feel the same way."
- a volunteer and a parent

 

Other wins we experienced on Sunday:

4 new students

4 new Student Impact sign-ups

3 Possible new volunteers in Turnpike (1 for sure - to be with the 8th grade girls group)

1 Possible new addition to the worship team (a first time visitor expressed interest in singing)

 

 

 

 

New Chris Tomlin Song

Here's a new song Chris Tomlin did at his concert on Saturday. Found this video on Josh Bayne's Blog. Thanks for sharing!

Chris Tomlin concert

It's half-time at the concert. I just heard Louie Giglio speak and I can't imagine anywhere I'd rather be than in the throne room itself right now. I am floored and speechless. Our God is a great and holy God who saves!