Houston Day One - Photo Log

Patrick and Chris picked me up from the airport, this is Houston tiny and off in the distance. It's SO flat here, but the weather tonight was nice, WARM and not too muggy.

The boys dormroom for the summer internship.

A BIG part of this trip is meeting Patrick, Chris' roommate and best friend here.

Walked the campus tonight, Chris continues to be compelled to attempt to climb things.

T-shirts folded daddy style :-)

Now the boys are playing lego starwars and I am going to bed...
"Chris, what did we establish about killing your teammates?" - Patrick

trip thots

Left Portland this a.m and now am sitting in the Phoenix airport. I'll post stuff along the way this week.

I heart technology! I'm in the middle of watching a rented movie on the video nano today. Best $3.99 I've spent in a long time. You can rent on itunes, you have 30 days to watch it and 24 hours from when you hit play the first time. So, I picked the longest movie I hadn't seen... Atonement and it got me from Portland to Phoenix and I'm not done yet!

Lost has ruined me.
When I am locked in a plane, I imagine what it would be like to be stranded on a dessert island with these people. The good news... I no longer worry about dying in a plane crash, I mostly just relish the idea of living with this cast of characters. I know, weird.

I made a game out of packing this trip. I'll be gone Sat a.m. to Friday p.m. and only brought my backpack and a carry on. Should be interesting. Well maybe not... my wardrobe won't be interesting at all.

It's 90 here. What I wore this morning was perfect, for Portland. But I've now lost the jeans and sweatshirt and tennis shoes for shorts and flip flops. Time to grab some lunch.

Something New! and a WUP too...

Lately the name Brooke Fraser has been on my radar and not just because we have the same name... she toured with Hillsong United and John Mayer, wrote or co-wrote a few of my favorite worship choruses (None but Jesus, Hosanna, Lead me to the Cross) so yesterday I did some checking and today i'm falling in love with her solo projects.
Albertine and What to Do with Daylight. (If you like Holly Resnick, and WHO DOESNT??? you'll like Brooke Fraser)

I desperately needed NEW music.

Why is that? What's wrong with all the really great stuff that fills my itunes library? There is something innate in me that craves a new experience, a new way of communicating truth, a delightful discovery.

This got me thinking about how much I overlook how our God IS a God of change.
He is the author of creativity.
He could have just made it/us and been done with it, but he designed us to make new things, to grow, to try, to move and to mend.

Recently my friend/teammate Jay challenged Julie and I to start and share from Wake Up Pads. The concept is from Radical Edge, by Steve Farber (thank you Bryce Schroeder)- an excellent book on how to stoke your business, amp your life and change the world.

Here are the "rules"

1. Carry it everywhere - memory faulty, pen and paper, reliable.

2. Scan - the world and write down what you see, without comment or judgement. Observe, don't judge.

3. Eavesdrop - listen to what people are talking about - live, radio, TV - don't judge, just listen, and write it down.

4. Ponder - read over what you've seen/heard and think about it. Write down some implications.

5. Talk about it - bounce your thoughts off others - everyone who matters - who are observing and interacting, too. Here's what I'm seeing/hearing/noticing - and kick it around together.

6. Do something about it! Stick out your neck and try something new.

Staff Lunch and Launch

* pardon all the closed eyes, the photographer was in a hurry to get back to his burger and beer...

Yesterday our staff team (minus Julie and Kent) had lunch at Helvetia Tavern to celebrate recent birthdays and to spend some time with Jos, who has given notice and will be leaving her job (is it really work?) at Sunset because her family has moved to Hood River.

I will miss Jos insanely.

Monday at lunch as we were talking about her leaving Sunset I was heart sick. Jos has challenged me toward growth as a friend and a manager . I REALLY value this in her. And I have learned from Jos. She has allowed herself to be open, challenged herself to new ways of looking at/responding to things, she's been so brave as she's navigated the relational ministry that she joined. She is consistent, direct, smart, giving and the funniest person I know. And that's saying something because I know some really funny peope.

So dear Jos, go with our love and blessing and when you come to your senses and grow weary of living in heaven on earth... call us.

Flipping Coins

I'm a firm believer that there is good and bad to most everything human, a good side and a bad side of the coin.

This morning I saw that in action...
My father's cancer is affecting his hearing. He can no longer understand my brother when he calls. But I am notorious for a loud voice and he can still hear me. So, after years of being too loud and told to use my inside voice or to stop yelling on the phone, I'm happy this is the voice God gave me.

Here's another example.
I pretty much hate changes in ministry leadership- over time I've seen God's hand in these and know that they are all part of how God continues to move us in to roles where we can more effectively connect people to him. But, I still hate them.
An example, in my time at Sunset there have been several Minister of Operations at Sunset. I loved them all... seriously. Off the top of my head... Bruce, Blair, Pep, Matt, Sally (sorry if I forgot someone) and now we have Mike the Mayor. In his short time here I have really come to love his presence in the office, his laughter and leadership. Before he came to town we heard that he was the Mayor of a small town, he sent me this link today announcing his resignation as Mayor of Antigo Wisconsin
Orygone... love that!
the bad news is that people leave, the good news is that others come.