The Summit Church Office

Well, unfortunately I can not post the full video online. For several reasons, one being that it is too big of a file. It’s a full episode, 20 minutes long. Also, there may be some things that happen during the episode that some may call inappropriate. But I thought I would atleast share the story behind the project.

I have the pleasure of working with some great people. Funny people with a great sense of humor, which makes for a lot of fun times. For some time now some of us have been joking about the fact that it would be cool to have camera’s following us around to capture all of the funny moments, like the show The Office. Well, the opportunity came up for us to do something with the idea. Our Executive Pastor, Jim Hines, was geting ready to leave us. He is now working full time with one of our ministry partners, SCPI. He loves the show The Office, and as a going away present we decided to film an episode of our own Office, re-living some of the funniest moments of the last year. So we set off to do so, brainstorming some of the greatest events, even creating a story board and all. The process itself was so much fun, and the end product was great. We watched the episode together as a staff at Jim’s going away lunch this past Tuesday and everyone found it funny, which was a relief to those of us who made the video. Anyhow, here is the intro to the video with the theme song of the Office from the Scrantones. If you want to watch the full video you’ll just have to come by the office.

Special Project

The Office + Summit Church = Good Times

More to come soon!

A Desire for Crazy Love

I recently began reading “Crazy Love” from Francis Chan. (click here to check out the site for the book). At first I thought the book was going to be okay but it started picking up in the 3rd chapter. As the title suggests, the book is about love: God’s unending, unconditional love and the love that we are to have for Him and this world.

When one becomes a father you begin to understand God’s love a bit more. You make/create this being which you love before it is even born and you know no matter what he/she does you will always love them unconditionally. My mom always told me that when I had a baby I would begin to understand the type of love she has for me and she was right, the love I have for my girls is like nothing else. But Chan brings up another point using this human fatherly love example that I had never really thought of, which is God’s desire for us.

“Sometimes when I come home from work, my little girl greets me by running out to the driveway and jumping into my arms before I can even get out of the car. As you can imagine, arriving home has become one of my favorite moments of the day. My own love and desire for my kid’s love is so strong that it opened my eyes to how much God desires and loves us. My daughter’s expression of love for me and her desire to be with me is the most amazing thing. Nothing compares to being truly, exuberantly wanted by your children. Through this experience, I came to understand that my desire for my children is only a faint echo of God’s great love for me and for every person He made.”

This example really resonates with me. The hugs and kisses I get from my daughter Emery are the best in the world. I melt whenever she puts her little arms around me and rests her head on my chest/shoulder. And her  little kisses are the best ever. But recently she has become a lttle dry with me and has learned to use the word “NO”. Whenever I ask for a hug or a kiss she says “no”, which kills me. I desire for my little girl to love me, to hug and kiss me and to play with me. But yet this is only a faint echo of the desire that God has for me. That the eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful God of the universe desire’s my love is mind blowing. That he desires for me to intimately know Him anf pursue Him is too much for me to comprehend.

So here’s the thing, take a moment to think about God’s love today. Thank Him that He loved you so much that He gave His life for you and that He, the God of all, desires You. Peace!

Awakening Book Project

Here’s an excerpt from Louie Giglios blog about the book they will be releasing later this year. 

“Knowing we were going to encounter beautiful and varied faces, cultures and hues on the Passion World Tour, we asked Jeremy Cowart to bring his unique eye, genius creativity and array of lens along for the ride in an effort to capture the essence of a six-continent journey to some of the great cities of the world.  And capture he did.  Over 18,000 images in all document every grand cityscape as well as the minute details some might miss.   Now the process begins of narrowing that ocean of photographic thread into a tapestry that can articulate what God is doing around the globe in this generation.  Combined with Jeremy’s images are my reflections on the vision of the WT and a taste of what we encountered along the way.  Our hope is that Awakening’s pages will inspire those who read it to take their place in God’s epic story.”

Click here to check out the website for the book, as well as a 4 minute video with over 2,000 pictures, to get a glimpsse of what this project will look like. I am a big fan of Jeremy Cowart’s work, and love the ministry of Passion, so I am excited for this to be released. We have Jeremy Cowart’s “Hope in the Dark” book here at the Summit offices, and it is amazing how he captured Africa through his lens.

Enjoy!

Chinese Fortune Cookie

So we made our move to Estero from Cape Coral this weekend. It will be a while before the place is done. We now have about 450 square feet more than before, and we didn’t even have enough furniture to fill our old place. Our hope is to have new furniture in the next couple of weeks as soon as I get my tax return. My stepfather, Albert, is graciously painting all the rooms this week for us, which is such a big help, since I would not be able to get it all done before Ella is born. It’s been a long weekend, with few hours of sleep, but I can’t wait to be settled in and at home here in our new place. Thank you to all that helped with the move; Van, Jenny, Josh, Lilly, Albert and my mom.

Anyhow, as for the title of this post, Jessica and I just had some chinese takeout for dinner tonight and the quote inside the fortune cookie was actually pretty good and worth sharing. “A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.”

What are some of your goals for this year, month, week, whatever?

Please share in the comments. Thanks

When Blogging Was Easy….

I remember a time when blogging was easy for me. Now a days it seems impossible for me to update this thing. I never have time and when I do have some time, it seems so hard to put all of my thoughts ona single blog. I started to write a post earlier this week and ended up deleting it all because I could not clear my mind and focus on what I wanted to say. So here’s just a quick update.

1. Priscilla is coming to the Cape this weekend

2. We hopefully will get approved by the homeowners association tomorrow

3. We will be moving to Estero next weekend (pending approval from #2)

4. I will be leading “worship” this weekend at all services, Saturday, 2 morning services on Sunday and Sunday night for youth

Pretty busy weekend. Which means next week is all about boxing, cleaning and then moving. Not to mention that the follwing weekend I have to clean and paint our place in the Cape before our lease is up. And finally, after all that is done, we are expecting Ella early February. I normally would be very anxious about all this, which I was last week, but God has given me great peace during this time and I pray and hope that it will continue these next couple of weeks.

I’ll end by asking, what has God been teaching you lately? What scriptures is He speaking to you through? Please comment. Thanks!

Priscilla, My Blog is Updated

Yes, I have finally updated the blog. Priscilla, please remove me from my probabtion status as I plan to keep the blog updated weekly. Above you will find my new header, which is an awesome picture that Naty or Bryan, not sure who took this one, took when Emery was only like 3 months old. Also make sure to check out my “Current Playlist” to see what I am currently listening too. Check out some of the bands, you might actually enjoy some of it. Thanks for being patient.

2009 – Vision

First off, Happy New Year!

Like most, as the year ends we begin to look forward to the new year and begin to make plans, set-up goals (aka new year resolutions) and dream of what the new year will bring. 2008 was a year of change and 2009 will be no different, not in the sense of moving or taking on new challenges, but of growth and refinement. 2008 really questioned and challenged me in every area of my life and I feel that 2009 will be the year that I act on and change certain things in my life that God has showed me; as a husband, father, leader and most importantly, disciple of Christ.

Recently, Summit Church had to move their office space. As we were moving people were getting rid of books they no longer wanted or needed. There was a box with several copies of “Chazown” from Craig Groeschel. Chazown is Hebrew for Vision and the book is based on Proverbs 29:18 – “Where there is no vision, the people will perish”. I began to think about the word vision. To have vision is to have focus. Most churches do not have a vision. They may have a vision statement, but it is nothing more than that, a statement, something that was written long ago and easily forgotten. One of the things that impressed me about Summit Church was there sense of vision. Summit is truly focused and moved by their mission and vision for SW Florida: that every man, woman, and child would have a repeated opportunity to see, hear, and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything they do, every decision they have to make, is based on the mission and vision they believe God has called them to.

As I think of my life, I begin to wonder what the vision for it is. Without vision I am just wandering on earth, without clear direction or focus. Of course I know I am child of God, a disciple of Christ, but what is my personal “chazown” for the life that God has blessed me with. I feel that 2009 will be the year that makes certain things in my life clear: my role as a husband and father, my ministry and my gifts and calling.

I will continue to update what I will be learning in this year as God makes clear my direction and “chazown” for my life. For now I leave you with a great prayer I found in the book from Sir Francis Drake.

“Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little. When we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to it’s shore. Disturb us.”

Today is the Day – VOTE!

Today is the day. I will be waking up at 6AM to go vote. I will decide who to vote for after watching SNL tonight. (that’s just a joke). I only say that because my wife and I are about to watch it. But seriously, as Americans we have the freedom to vote without fear. Regardless of who you decide is the right person, go out and vote. I know I will.

Halloween Pics

Jessica put some pictures from our Halloween party on her blog, but these are the funny ones, you know, the ones that will haunt you for the rest of your life. I’m pretty sure Van regrets this pose. Just imagine, 10 years from now when he is leading at a church, we can always use this as blackmail. Enjoy