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Halloween

Halloween is always interesting.  Part of me wishes we didn't live in such an isolated society where it is only "normal" to walk up and knock on your neighbor's door one day a year.  I'm guessing most of the people that stood in my driveway today live within a few hundred yards of my house.  Yet this is probably the only time this year that I'll notice them.  And it is only for a brief moment.

I had around 40-50 trick-or-treaters tonight.  Many adorable 8-year-olds whose eyes lit up as I dropped Laffy Taffy and Twix bars into their bags.  I had the usual number of teenagers that barely were wearing any sort of costume.  I tried to not get mad at them.  I remember that time when I was too old to trick-or-treat but still really wanted to.  Maybe it is OK that they are hanging on to childhood.

One couple pushed their wheel-chair bound son up to my door.  I think he was asleep in his cute Tiger costume.  But I loved that they were out as a family celebrating this experience together.

But I think my favorite trick-or-treaters this year were a man and his infant son.  Not that I had any more time with them than anyone else that came to my door.  But I thought it was so sweet that this man was out taking his less than a year old son door-to-door collecting candy.  Of course the kid had no idea what was going on and probably couldn't care less.  Maybe this was just an opportunistic parent who had a craving for Kit Kats.  But what I think I saw was a new dad who is so excited about being a father that he wants to experience every facet of daddydom right away.  I wonder how long he has waited for this child he proudly paraded around the neighborhood.  Or maybe this little one is a blessing he never thought much about until the arrival day came.  Now he can't get enough of being a dad.  Whatever the story I smiled as I watched him walk down the driveway bonding with his little bundle of pride.

Maybe we should dress up and notice each other every day.

Thinking in Starbucks

Spent a bunch of time thinking in Starbucks today.  I had one of those rare and precious days when the calendar was void of appointments and meetings.  Decided that some time getting my head on straight should be the priority.

First of all, let me say the new free wifi in all of downtown Naperville is lovely.  I've been in Starbucks, Potbelly's, and now Barnes and Noble.  Free wifi to be had everywhere.  Just one more reason to love Naperville.

I finished reading this book today.  Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership.  It was good and insightful and timely.  I'm in one of those seasons of leadership that is more valley than mountain top.  I'm sure outside circumstances are contributing factors but I've been around long enough to know the hard times can also bring out the ugly in us.  I'm trying to be proactive about making sure I don't slide into burnout or suddenly start screaming at someone who doesn't deserve it.  This book was helpful to me.  I mention it now because I'm sure there are people who read this blog that go through their own form of leadership struggles.  You might find it helpful too.

I've been thinking about moving.  Been thinking about it for several months now.  Nothing major...just trying to simplify my life by being a few minutes away from the place I work and "do life" instead of 30 minutes.  But the area I'd like to move to is so much more expensive than where I live now (not to mention the hassle of trying to sell my current house and the current high interest rates).  Staying where I am makes me feel financially free.  Moving would make me feel mentally and time-conscious free.  I can't decide which is more important.

Spent time thinking about discipleship.  And vision.  And how the two go together.  How do we help people grab hold of a vision as a natural outgrowing of their own pursuit of Jesus?  How do we help people cultivate a hunger for God and the things of God so that when they are presented with a vision from God it feels like a release for the passion burning within them.  I believe people need to hear words of vision from a source outside themselves; but if those words were intersecting with a process of pursuit happening within their own souls, would it ignite a more radical and sustained commitment to the mission?  How do we help people fall more deeply in love with Jesus and the things of his Kingdom?  If that happens, would everything else fall into place?

Spent some time thinking about how much I like peppermint mochas.  Especially when Starbucks gift cards make them free peppermint mochas.  I didn't spend a lot of time thinking about this but I did nonetheless.  Kudos to the ladies of Carillon for making this thought possible.  But I'm pretty sure none of you read my blog so nevermind.

Anyway, it was a good day of thinking at Starbucks.  I have come to experience these times as necessary for my sanity and my growth.  And for satisfying my craving for hot beverages that have enough chocolate and syrup to cover up the taste of coffee.

1-800-CANTCALL

I've always been annoyed with phone numbers given in word form.  Supposedly they make things easier by giving you an easy word to remember instead of a random number.  But in my experience all they do is slow you down as you have to search the 3 letter combinations on the dial pad for the correct button.  I guess if someone told you a number and you couldn't write it down and you had to hold it in your memory  for 2 days the word form would be helpful.  But other than that it is just annoying.

But now for me it is also useless.  Today I had scheduled Stanley Steemer to come clean my carpets.  I needed to call them to ask an important question but no matter where I looked...national website, local branch, etc...the only number I could find was 1-800-STEEMER.  The problem?  I have a Blackberry.  And the numbers on my Blackberry don't have the traditional 3 letter combinations stamped on their buttons.  So 1-800-STEEMER?  I have no idea how to dial that.

Kudos to my sister who answered my cry for help and was able to decipher the code for me so that I could call the company.  But now I have a solution for next time.  I am posting this picture on my blog so that the next time I come across a word phone number I can use my Blackberry to look up this webpage and have this picture for a reference guide.

Can't they just give us a number?

ICON

About a month ago we started a new type of service at the Yellow Box.  We decided to call it "ICON."  Some people hate the name.  Others like it.  What it was attempting to convey was something that was more "traditional" or "ritual" or "symbolic" or "reflective" although none of these words seems adequate.

Probably the best explanation I've heard is this...  Everything we do at CCC is about helping people find their way back to God.  At least that is the mission we believe God has given us.  Our original service is full of creativity, humor, and practical teaching.  Every week the service is different.  Usually something about it is a bit irreverant which is both entertaining and helps break the ice with people who might be nervous about attending a church service.  Often you will hear people leave saying, "I don't feel like I went to church!"  And it's a good thing when they say it.  They experience something that challenges their preconceived (often negative) concept of "church."  And they want to return to experience it again.

But there are others who say, "I don't feel like I went to church."  And it's not a good thing.  These are probably people who grew up with positive experiences at church.  Somewhere along the way they wandered away.  Maybe they haven't attended or thought about God for years.  And as they begin to find their way back to God they are looking for something that reminds them of the past with God that they knew.

So enter the ICON service.  More worship including modern arrangements of hymns.  More space for reflection.  None of the irreverant humor.  A bit more symbolism.  Standing to read the day's Scripture together.  The same practical teaching.  While it draws from the past, it also has technology of the present.  During worship, storytelling videos fill the 3 giant screens that stretch across the stage.  The lighting system creates a visual experience that is more advanced than any of our other venues.

I really like it.  We still have some kinks to work out and I think we could take some of what we are trying to create even further, but I really like it.  I was thinking today that had I had the misfortune of being one of those people who wandered away from the faith of their youth, this service would probably be more of what I needed to help me find my way back to God.  There is a piece of the worship experience that it enables that doesn't happen in our other services.  I guess that's really about the space for reflection.  The space to just stop.  The space to pay attention to what's happening individually with God in the midst of the corporate gathering.

It reminds me a bit of my campus ministry days.  If I had more time or if it was related to my job I would love to play a part in crafting the experience of this service.  But instead I'll just be glad that we are continuing to try new things and to take new risks all with the hope of helping more people find their way back to God.

Indians Win!

Beating the Yankees is a close second to actually winning a World Series.

Family Getaway

Just spent Sunday-Tuesday in Sugar Grove, Ohio on a short trip with my family.  We rented an  awesome cabin and enjoyed a couple days of hiking, grilling, hot tubbing, ping-ponging, card-playing, camp firing, and cheering.  The last was for our beloved Cleveland Indians who make it past the Yankees to the ALCS!  The biggest kudos of the week go to my 5-year-old diabetic nephew Joe who energetically completed a 3-mile challenging hike through Hocking Hills State Park.  Just some great days with my family.

Whirlly Ball

This morning some of my Naperville Campus colleagues and I took a little team-building time off and went to play Whirlly Ball.  If you're not familiar with the sport, it is part bumper cars, part lacrosse, and part basketball.  Two teams constantly collide as they attempt to shoot a wiffle ball through a small circle on either side of the court using a plastic scoop to pass and shoot.  It was a blast!  We played for 2 hours.  The only 2 downsides...

1) I almost lost a foot.  Someone rammed me and the frame of my bumper car dropped pinning my right foot.  I seriously though I broke a bone in the top of my foot.  I struggled for several minutes to get free...couldn't even get my foot out of my tennis shoe.  Finally the guy who works at the place was able to lift the frame up to release me.  Ouch.  15 seconds later I scored a goal.

2) Some serious soreness is in our future.  It's a pretty violent game.  These are not your typical carnival bumper cars.  Much higher speeds and much less padding.  I'm sure I won't be able to move tomorrow.

Thanks to Tim Bakker our fearless leader for taking us!

Go TRIBE!

I'm watching Game 1 of the American League Division Series where my Indians are whipping up on the Yankees 11-3 in the 7th inning.  I grew up going to Indians games every summer with my mom and nothing makes me feel connected to Cleveland quite like the Indians in the playoffs.  I'm really trying to be a Cubs fan too ever since I moved to Chicago.  I do root for the Cubs but I can't say that I feel the stomach turning, outloud cheering, adreneline rushing emotion when I watch the Cubs the way I do when I watch the Indians.  I don't think bandwagon or transferred fans can ever experience the game as intensly as a childhood fan.

Not many people are giving the Indians a chance in this series.  But here they are killing the Yankees in Game 1.  I hope they can go a long way.  A Cubs-Indians World Series would be awesome!  Although I might have to go to Cleveland for 10 days if that happens.