What do you get when you combine the awesome God-given talent of celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart with the uniqueness of Louie Giglio and his team at Passion City Church in Atlanta? An incredible video for the grand opening of their new site at 515 Garson Avenue…that’s what!
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What I’ve learned at 7,000 Twitter updates.
Passion City Church – Jeremy Cowart – Opening Video
Save 15% on your tickets to Catalyst Conference Dallas
If you live in Dallas or the surrounding area, you won’t want to miss the Catalyst Conference in Dallas, happening May 11-13, 2011. It’s going to be at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, and 3,000 young leaders will converge, including great speakers, powerful worship, innovative programming, and an experience unlike any other.
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Noah Update (or) The best text message I’ve ever got.
When your wife calls when she knows you’re in a meeting it can only mean one of three things; Something really bad happened. Something really good happened. She forget you were in a meeting. Thankfully yesterday, it was all good!
For those of you who have been following along, we have been waiting for Noah’s tests to come back regarding Glutaric acidemia, type 1 (GA-1). We were told it would take four weeks from last Thursday to receive the results, and we just had to wait. (We had already been waiting four weeks before that, and let me just say that waiting is scary. Very scary. But that’s another post, for another day.
At 11:10 yesterday morning I was sitting in our monthly staff meeting at church, when my phone rang. I knew we were about to break for lunch, so I was planning on calling her right back, but I still like to check to make sure everything is ok. And as you can read, she was very, very ok The final test we were waiting on, Noah’s gene sequence, came back negative!!! I interrupted our meeting by blurting out the news I had just received, and we paused as a staff and gave thanks to God for answering our prayer regarding this! (By the way, not only did the test results come back negative, but they came back fast. Very fast. I attribute this to the fact that we have been praying that the tests would not only come back negative, they would come back fast. Hey, if you give me an inch, I’m taking a mile…!)
For all of you who have been praying so diligently for our son and for our family – THANK YOU! There are no words to express my gratitude to you all. From the deepest part of my heart I want you to know that it means the world to us that you would go to God on my sons’ behalf. That is seriously the best thing anyone could ever do for us, and I am deeply moved by so many peoples willingness to continually pray for Noah, and for us. Thank you again.
I’m no expert on prayer by any means. I’m not sure how our prayers, and how God’s plan for our life all work together, (Sure, I’ve been “trained” to “understand” all of the different theological arguments regarding the immutability of God, but I”m not sure I’ll ever be able to understand this facet of God.) but I do know this; I’ve prayed guts out the last six weeks. I have wept. Kneeled. Fasted. Sung. Tossed and turned as I tried to sleep. Laughed. Smiled. Asked every person I know to pray. Passed out pictures of Noah (lots of actually) so people could post them on their refrigerator to remember to pray for our son. And in the end God saw fit to line His will up, with my (and all of you who have been praying) prayer request. And it is awesome.
As a Christian I know I’m supposed to sort of “top-of” my prayers with, “….if it is your will, Amen.” I’ll be honest, the first few nights I prayed about this I didn’t say that. In fact I believe I said something like this to God,
“God, I’m know I”m supposed to say ‘if it’s your will, please don’t allow my son to have this’ but I don’t want to! I want this to be your will. I’m BEGGING you to let this be your will. I don’t want this NOT to be your will. I DO NOT WANT MY SON TO HAVE THIS! PLEASE GOD, ALLOW THESE TESTS TO COME BACK NEGATIVE, AND THAT THE FIRST TEST WE GOT WAS A FALSE POSITIVE!”
It may not be a very theological “correct” way to pray, but I’m sure there is something about being honest before God that is “correct.”
Make no mistake, God would have been just as good, and just as awesome if for some reason these tests came back negative. I really mean that. He has given us an incredible amount of peace the last six weeks, and we have learned that He really is an, “ever present help in time of great need.” Placing your child in the hands of God is the best place any child (or any adult) could ever be. (This is a lot easier said then done by the way.)
Please, continue to pray for Noah. Specifically two small issues with his heart which we will visiting a cardiologist next month to determine the what our course of action will be. (We are praying that God would allow these issues to heal on their own with no surgery required.) Also that he would continue to grow and develop well, and that as we interact with the various doctors, nurses, therapists, receptionists, etc., Noah’s life and our response would be a testimony to our great and wonderful God!
On last thing. Today as we celebrate, I am well aware that there are many parents today that aren’t. Parents that are waiting for test results. Parents that scared. Hurting. Fearful. Anxious. My heart is heavy for them, and would ask that you would please take time to pray a special care of comfort for those who are in that position today. If you are in that place today, please know I am praying for you. That God really does care for you, and really will give you joy and peace even when you think there is no way He can. (I can really proclaim this with integrity now.) If there some specific way I can pray for you, or you need to connect with some people, please contact me. It’d be my great honor to know what you are going through.
Joyful, thankful, and still praising God for the small things,
-rick
This kid is so cute, I just thought I’d post another picture. Just because.
(And yelp, I”ve become one of those mushy dads.)
The Making Of Orange – behind the veil
All week long we will be live streaming from backstage at The Orange Conference. This is totally cool, and totally FREE…!
Here is a sneak peak “behind the veil” before we get started. Enjoy..!
This is what keeps me up at night
I wonder what these crayons were doing an hour before this picture was taken. Were they just resting inside of a dark, dusty, old box on a shelf at Target? Do you think those colorful crayons would ever guessed that very soon some external force, a powerful force outside of their self, was about to intrude in their life in a powerful way? In fact, so powerful that these simple crayons would never be what they once were again. Life as they knew it was over. Something powerful was about to transform these crayons; so much so they could NEVER be the same again!
When I examine the lives of so many in the Bible who have had a true encounter with the Triune God, I see them as one of these crayons. No they don’t write in cool colors, but their lives were impacted by such a powerful external force that they couldn’t ever be the same again. They were all together different.
I think of Peter. One day he says he doesn’t even know Jesus, then a few pages over he is willing to die for this same Jesus. What happened? One day Matthew is collecting taxes, and then then later that same day he is inviting everyone to his house to tell them about this guy named Jesus he met. Why? How about John, a fisherman from a well-to-do family, with a flight temper who leaves it all behind (including his temper) to follow Jesus. His life forever changed. FOREVER. CHANGED. Then you have Paul. Just making an afternoon trip to Damascus. Little did he know that trip would change his life forever. FOREVER.
Normal people. Living normal lives. Impacted by a supernatural God when they least expected it. Wow!!!
Their lives turned inside out because of a supernatural, external God! Their lives would never be the same.
Be reminded of that today. God is powerful. He changes you in such a way that once you encounter Him, you can NEVER be the old you again. It’s impossible. You are changed. (The Bible says you’re a new creation!)
This thought keeps me up at night. It still blows me away. The fact that this powerful, loving, awesome, Triune God, would decide to come into this old, dusty crayon box and change me forever. Why me? Why not lots of other people who need God? Why not a “nicer” person? A “richer” person? A more “gifted” person? Why Rick?
Why you?
I can’t explain it, but it blows me away – every second of the day. I can’t get my mind off of it. I can’t stop thinking about it. It consumes me.
Grace.
Grace.
Grace.
Grace.
Grace.
Right Now – Day 2 – NIGHT SESSION – Live blog
This is the LIVE blog for Right Now – Day 2 – Night session
{There is no need to refresh your broswer, the updates will auto reload! Just leave the page up, sit back, relax, and enjoy the updates! I pray you will grow in your relationship with God through these updates! }
9 Principles Of Wise Decision Making
“How do I know if I”m making the right decision?”
This is a question that I am often asked as I get the chance to speak to many adults and teenagers who are simply wanting to know if they are making the “right” decision. Instead of trying to answer their question for them, I like to give them principles that help guide them, as they make an informed, Godly, decision. I have had this hand-written list, written on a small index card, for years now. I”m not sure where I got it, or who I heard them from – but I wish I could remember, because I’d like to think them – it’s a great list. (I’ll also never know if there were 10 principles, and I just didn’t write down the last one, or not. Regardless, I sort of like the fact that there isn’t a perfect “10.”
All of us at times are faced with a crossroad, and we must also weigh our decisions against the truths found in God’s Word. I hope these principals will bless you as you seek to make Godly decisions in your life
9 Principles of Godly Decision Making
1. Am I putting God’s desire ahead of my own? (Matthew 6:33)
2. Will it help me to love God and others more? (Matthew 22:37-39)
3. Does this help me fulfill the great commission? (Matthew 28:18-10)
4. Will this help me lead a more holy life? (1st Peter 1:15)
5. Will this increase my personal knowledge of Christ? (2nd Peter 3:18)
6. Is this Profitable? (1 Cor 6:12)
7. Is this glorifying God with my body? (1 Cor 6:19-20)
8. Is this causing another to stumble? (1 Cor 8:9)
9. Am I doing this for God’s glory? (1 Cor 10:31)
Twitter schooled me 7000 edition
1. Twitter moves fast. Very Fast. If you follow a lot of people, and you blink, you WILL miss something. {p.s. – it’s ok to miss something!}
2. A lot of people on twitter have the same job – “internet gurus” or “SEO experts.” {I have no idea what either does by the way.}
3. You can use twitter to do some REALLY cool stuff. {like this}
4. You can almost become obsessed with how many people are “following” you. {You just have to learn to not care about it.}
5. People that you interact with on twitter are REAL people. There is actually a human {and often times a family} behind that avatar.
6. Twitter is really a time machine. {for instance, one day I sat down at 1pm and starting using twitter, one second later it was 5 pm – crazy!}
7. I have no idea how Guy Kawasaki makes his living.{I mean it, I really have no clue – do you?}
8. People who don’t use twitter have no idea why people who do, do!
9. Even though it’s really awesome to build so many new friendships on twitter, I have to be really careful to cultivate the friendships I already have. {this includes friends, wives, dogs, fish, etc.}
10. (TweetDeck) + (Any other thing) = “Any other thing “not getting done very well, or taking much more time then it normally takes.
11. My relationship with God is more important then my relationship with Twitter. {much more important.}
12. My relationship with my wife is more important then my relationship with Twitter. {much more important.}
13. It’s sort of funny {and annoying} when someone sends a message to me and says “hey will you follow me?” {unless of course it’s @human3rror, in that case that you should follow him, because he really likes followers!
14. There’s a guy on twitter who has over 20 Emmy’s! {plus he’s a Christians, my friend, and I’ve hung out with twice now – sweet!}
15. There are some SUPER cool people on twitter. {I’ve gotten to meet MANY of them first hand!}
16. When someone sends you DM they expect you answer it within five minutes. {note – I don’t take my laptop in the bathtub with me!}
17. It hurts the feelings of my friends and family when I use twitter on my iphone while we are out at dinner or just hanging out. {they are super nice, and would never tell me that, but I know it does. I really need to stop doing that.}
18. I do not need to get on twitter during church service, or class lecture. {I need to stop doing this also…..}
19. I sort of like it when I post a picture on twitter, and it gets a lot of views. {any other people out there check their picture views?}
20. Twitter is funnier then a “beachball at a Nickelback concert”! {pop quiz – anyone know where that quote comes from?}
These are just a few things I’ve learned at 7,000 twitter posts. What are some things you’ve learned. {Rather you are at 70 posts, or 70,000.}
Train Friday goes viral
It was less then a week ago that the idea for Train Friday was born, and the response has been amazing. People have been blogging about it, tweeting about it, and making videos like this one.
We have no idea what will happen tomorrow, but we are excited to see! What started out as just a fun idea as morphed into something much more. The rapid speed that this idea has caught on is proof of the power of social networking. {more on that subject in later posts.}
We hope to see you there!
-Rick
innovation 3 aka nationwide tweet up
Innovation 3 has come and gone; but you know what they say – videos are forever. {actually I don’t think anyone says that!} What you are about to see is REAL, the names have NOT been changed to protect anyone. Everyone in this video is a REAL person.
Speaking of “real” – I must say it was really awesome being able to meet so many people for the first time whom I have known on twitter for sometime. It was great to put a person with a profile! When I think about online-social-networking (as a means), doing this sort of stuff is certainly one of the ends (so to speak).
Being able to meet people, connect with people, hear people’s stories, hear people’s heart; is what being “created to relate” is all about! I enjoy these sorts of “events.” I enjoy being around all sorts of people. I enjoy meeting connecting with people all sorts of ways!
I am so thankful that God did not make us to simply live alone, but He has blessed us by creating so many people (and so many creative ways to meet those people) that there is no excuse for anyone to live “alone,” especially in this social-networking-society we live in! I am so thankful for the chance to have meet all of these people in the flesh. I look forward to these types of “events” in the future!
One more thing – please leave your infomation in the comments section. Your twitter name, your website address, what you do, what you dream, what your goals for 2009 are, heck, you can even tell us what your favorite flavor of ice-cream is. I’d just like to “continue the conversation.”
One last {serious} word – if I know you {on any level}, thank you for letting me walk through life with you. I really do consider it an honor!
{rick}.
{p.s. – I still have MUCH more footage from this event that I will be posting, so check back soon. You won’t want to miss the innovation 3 after party! Trust me!}
small
small (adjective) -
1.a : having comparatively little size or slight dimensions
2. a: minor in influence, power, or rank b : operating on a limited scale
3. lacking in strength (a small voice)
4. limited in degree
5. reduced to a humiliating position
I pulled these definitions of the word “small” from the Webster’s Dictionary. Reread the definitions again – slowly.
small. little. puny. nothing. helpless. shattered. broken. you. me. us. we. We are small.
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