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THURSDAY THOUGHTS

Here's my weekly Thursday Thoughts:

- New Shows: I really like the new Alcatraz show. Touch...I didn't connect with that one. Still loving Person of Interest too.
- I try to watch only 5 shows. That's all I have time for beyond sports.
- Pistons look good one night and horrible the next 12. Young, inexperienced & inconsistent.
- This weekend is the NFL Pro Bowl. Here's my prediction: No one will care.
- Superbowl: I'm starting to lean towards picking the Giants.
- I haven't watched a ton of hockey this year...like hardly at all. Wings are in first at the half way point. I'll plan to watch the playoffs. That's the best I can give to hockey.
- It's always good to have a big bat in the line up but I'm not super excited about the pick up of Prince Fielder. Bad Defense. I would have rather seen them get a solid 3B & Starting Pitcher & another relief pitcher for that much money.
- Stephani has conferences this week. Emma had soccer game. I've had a bunch of meetings. Busy week. Looking forward to the weekend.
- Had preschool conferences for Eli today. He excels in all areas except he has to work on hopping on one foot. 
- Started working out consistently again this week.
- Wondering when winter is going to hit us?
- Working on a bunch of stuff coming up for The Journey. Next Site. Easter. Next Phase. Some messages coming up. Creative stuff for series coming up. Next group of leader.
- We have 20 teens & leaders heading to High School Winter retreat this weekend. Praying for a fun, safe, meaningful weekend.
- We went to Verdonia's or whatever it's called - the newer Italian place where Tony's use to be. They have kids eat free on Tuesdays. They can make their own pizzas. It's kinda fun for them. Overall, we felt the place was just okay. Good but not great. There other places (Pints & Quarts, CF Prime & Dockers) are all better. Best Brick oven pizzas are at K2 in Grand Haven above Kirby's.
- My eye is tweaking. Which means I need mental break.

Hope you have a relaxing weekend!

SUNDAY RECAP FOR JANUARY 22

IT'S YOUR CHOICE - WEEK 3
what's the wise choice?

RECAP
Today Paul shared about how God can give us confidence to keep making the wise choice. God doesn't see our past or even our present situation. He sees the potential in us. We see this in the life of Gideon (Judges 6-8). Gideon thought he was weak & a no body, yet God called him a mighty warrior. As Gideon began trusting God, he found that God is faithful and wise. Gideon ended up being part of something way bigger than himself. God did the impossible. It wasn't because of Gideon or what he did, it was undeniable about God and His power. Without God, the impossible is the impossible; with Him, the impossible becomes possible - Matthew 19:26. So whatever you are facing now - whatever choice is heavy on your heart - no matter what's in your past - with God all things are possible. It's about trusting in Him - making the wise choice - follow His ways - making the small daily decisions because we are potentially only one decision away from seeing God do the impossible in our lives.

SONGS
You Decide - Brandon Heath
Love Invades - Robbie Seay Band
Stronger - Hillsong
Forward Motion - Relient K
You Hold it All - New Life Worship
Look to You - Hillsong United 

THURSDAY THOUGHTS

Here's some things bouncing around my mind grapes...

- NFL Championships Weekend Picks: NE & NY. Goes with the east coast picks for the Superbowl rematch. 
- SF looked real tough on Sunday. I was impressed & shocked. Not sure if they're ready for next hurdle.
- Glad UofM is more competitive in bball again. State blew their chances the other night.
- Big Ten is tough this year.
- Pistons are not tough this year. Horrible.
- Really enjoying all the hoops on tv.
- My alma mater made sportcenter this week. The men's team in a div 3 of the NCCAA (yes 2 "c") played a Div 1 NCAA school. W. Kentucky 142 - Toccoa Falls 39. Congrats on making ESPN.
- I had a dumb cold this week. Hate being sick.
- Best food of the week at my house: Roasted Pork Chops & Mushrooms with a mustard/yogurt sauce, baked potato, roasted winter veggies. Love comfort food in cold.
- Tea Latte. Sounds girlie. Still Good.
- Winter is hear for sure. Kids are loving the snow. Made a snow man & a snow dog on Monday. 
- I was shocked at how many people don't know about The Muppets. I had about 200 people ask me a church about my shirt with Beaker & Dr. Bunson Honeydew. 
- Modern Family was laugh out loud funny this week. The Middle was funny too.
- Alcatraz is literally the new lost. I liked it.
- I'm kinda over American Idol and all the singing shows. 
- I still really like Person of Interest too.
- I thought Touch looked interesting...the new one on Fox. Any other new shows look good to you?
- I heard another rumor about the iPad 3 coming out in February. I'm still guessing iPad 2s in April.
- Apple announced they are doing digital text books. I think that is bigger than the press it's getting.
- I got the new David Crowder album. Jury is still out on it. It's okay. It might grow on me to where I love it. We'll see. Still really loving the newest Switchfoot album. So good. 
- Fun weekend ahead and even bigger next week.

Have a great weekend!

I'M A MORON

I heard Craig Groschell share something like this the other day...

If you're were voted most likely to succeed or maybe on homecoming court. If you were at the top of your class or popular, we'll have I have some good news for you - God can still use you. It's not that he doesn't want to use someone special like you, but he does specializes in using us idiots.

Remember, you're potentially only one choice away from a different life. Make a impact. It might be a small step today. But daily decisions determine our destination. Look around your day with different eyes. Let God use you to do something big in 2012.

 

VIDEOS FROM SUNDAY

Here's some media from Sunday:

 

 

SUNDAY RECAP FOR JANUARY 15

IT'S YOUR CHOICE
making the wise choice

RECAP
Paul talked today about our direction for this new year. We can't just have good intentions, intentions get you no where (unless you're selling gym memberships). Making the wise choice come for making daily decisions to keep going in the right direction. We looked at the life of Esther and how small decisions set her up to save her people - in contrast - Haman made a series of choices that led his life to a disaster. We are only one choice away from a totally different life. Follow God and keep in step with Him to make the wise choice.

SONGS
Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash
You Hold it All - New Life Worship
You - Hillsong Life
Rescue - Desperation Band
Our God - Chris Tomlin
Satify - Tenth Ave. North 

WISDOM FROM THIS WEEK

We are reading through Proverbs this month as we look to make the wise choice. Here's some insight that stood out to me. It's not too late to jump in. Start today with Proverbs 13.

8:11 - for wisdom is more precious than rubies,  and nothing you desire can compare with her.
9:8-12 - Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;  teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,  and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
10:8-9 - The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
10:13 - Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
11: 2 -  When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
11:5 -The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
11:6 - The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
11:25 - A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
12:1 - Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,but whoever hates correction is stupid.
12:25 - Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
13:4 - A sluggard's appetite is never filled,but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
13:20 - Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.\
13:24 - Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS

Here's some little bits from my brain...

- I'm fine with the snow coming but it already seemed like spring?!?! Weird winter so far.
- My mom called me the other day. She got an iPad. Again Weird. She's never touched a computer that wasn't attached to a sewing machine.
- I'm growing my full beard out. Maybe...at least for right now.
- We're looking at refinancing right now. New Obama law where you don't need an appraisal. I like saving money. 
- Todays unwise decision...leaving my facebook logged in at church. It was my birthday today from about 30 minutes thanks to my co-workers at The Journey.
- I've been likin' the Proverbs Challenge. Good stuff. Today Prov. 12. Tomorrow Prov. 13 and so on.
- Some of our Journey Teens are heading to Middle School Winter Retreat this weekend. Good times at camp. Hope they have a fun & meaningful experience.
- I got some new music this week from David Crowder Band & Rend Collective Experience. I'm still thinking about getting the new Snow Patrol & maybe the new Black Keys.
- Steph got me some special Starbucks coffee from their "Reserve" of exotic, rare roasts. It was an Aged Sumatra. It was really good.
- I broke my Ellipical and we used some of our Christmas money to get a new one. It got delivered yesterday. Let the exercising begin! 
- Got some clothes in the mail yesterday that I ordered online for 66% off. Good deals after Christmas.
- I wish I could take a nap.
- With the cold weather coming in...comfort food is going in the oven.
- Looking forward to the NFL games this weekend. I did pretty good on my picks last week. I expect NO, GB, NE & BAL to win this weekend but they are all top seeds except NO so I think there will probably be another upset. Maybe Tebow?!?!?! Probably not.
- Pistons are horrible. I was thinking about getting my free tickets through Meijers but not sure if it's worth going to or not.
- Thinking about taking the kids ice skating sometime soon. I'm not much of a skater so we haven't gone. Emma has indoor soccer this week and we will probably have movie night with Kung Fu Panda 2 and then if it acutally snows, Emma will beg to play outside.

Hope you have a great weekend!

NEW YEAR PLAN FOR ME

Proverbs 10:17 The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good.

I'm a creative type. I don't like status quo. I like to be kinda unique...a like different. I don't like routine. I love change. So discipline is not natural in most areas of my life. I've learned to be disciplined with money and some things morally. But when it comes to daily life and things like sleep, food, excercise, daily events & focus, I've seemed to function more spontenously in the past.

While I like that creative approach to life, it didn't always put me in the best place to make the wise choice. It gave me an excuse to be lazy, to not eat right, or not balance my time wisely. So I'm learning to like a small amount of routine for my life.  Weird.

This applies a lot to my relationship with Jesus too. I heard someone say that if we are going to follow Jesus that means you are a disciple. Disciple comes from being disciplined. That was a gut check for me. I was too busy doing good things but not always making the wise choices for all areas of my life. That also included my relationship with God.

Read this today on Mark Batterson's blog: I believe that your destiny is determined in the early daylight hours.  How you start the day will determine what the rest of the day is like.  That is why praying and reading Scripture in the morning is so important.  It sets the tone.  Like turning the dial on your radio, it’s the way you tune into God’s frequency.  And that daily discipline will ultimately determine your destiny.  

I've tried to spend time with God in the mornings - like waking up early - but that doesn't work for me because I need to wake up some to focus. So I have a routine in the morning - just not first thing - that is set into my day now. What about you? Do you need to be more disciplined...It might seem kinda dumb like it does to me - but you might start to like it (again like me).

One more thought from Mark Batterson today: One of the reasons why many people don’t feel intimacy with God is because they don’t have a daily rhythm with God. They have a weekly rhythm.  If all you have with God is a weekly touchpoint called church, you’ll lose touch with God. Would that work with your spouse or your kids?  It doesn’t work in God’s family either.  We need to establish a daily rhythm in order to have a daily relationship with God.  

I want you to make wise choices this year and that begins with a connect with the all-wise One. Maybe start with the Proverb Challenge (today Proverbs 11, tomorrow Proverbs 12...and so on).

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU MIX TAPE

Looking to make the wise choice this year? Need a sound track to encourage you to make the changes you want to make? Here's a new year, new you mixtape: 
Typical - Mute Math
Slumber - Needtobreathe
Thrive - Switchfoot
New Day - Robbie Seay Band
All Things New - Elevation
Let Me Feel You Shine - David Crowder Band
Square One - Coldplay
The Motions - Matthew West
Get Back Up - Toby Mac
Resurrect Me - Jon Foreman
Beautiful Things - Gungor
Don't Stop Believing - Journey
Movement - Rend Collective Experience

Download them. Listen to them. Live it. FYI - You'll hear these songs (and others) in the mix before & after church.