Here's my weekly Mind Dump of what's going on in my life right now.
- This week is going by SO FAST! Work life and home life have definitely overlapped last couple of days. Tonight both Mary Kay and I are working madly on our laptops.
- Watching the McCain speech while I'm typing this. It's hard to imagine that he could do any better than Sarah Palin last night. Wow! I'd like to know more about her. Great VP pick!
- Tim has left to go hunting in Montana. I'm still getting accustomed to being the Exec. I've been in several meetings this week when someone has asked a question and everyone looked my way. I usually turn around to see who everyone is looking at. God grant me the humility to do this job well, without a big head, but with solid leadership that our church can rely upon.
- Making progress on CCB (Church Community Builder) conversion. It seems like every available moment at work right now is focused on the new church management software. Orientation meetings with staff went well.
- Great meeting today with Ron, Greg and Karin, the lady who leads our cafe. Karin has done a wonderful job of volunteer leadership. Hopefully I encouraged her today and gave her some freedom to try some new things. Watch out Crossroads. Change is coming! (I noticed she already moved the couch around to the other side - cool!)
- Tomorrow I meet with management team plus Lori, Deering and Jonathan. We need to make decisions on set up of many areas within CCB. These choices will be ones Crossroads lives with for a long time to come. We must instill Crossroads' lingo into CCB.
- This weekend I have the privilege of teaching at all 3 Crossroads' services. My topic is "Prayer." What a great opportunity! Almost overwhelming. I was stressed over it yesterday, since everything I've done this week has been administrative. But this morning at 5:30 AM, God woke me up and told me that the talk was ready to go. I was to get up and get my shower and sit down and write. It took me less than 90 minutes! I wrote my talk on prayer while in prayer with God!
- Preaching schedule will be full next two weeks. One more weekend coming up on topic of "Study," and the next two Wednesdays we get back to "What is the Local Church" series.
- Have I mentioned that I have a vacation coming up on September 19th? I've reserved a home on the beach at the Outer Banks. I'll be there with most of my family. I think I'll be ready!
- Tomorrow morning I meet with elders and management team at 7 AM. We will be talking about "What is a Church," in conjunction with future plans for Multi-Site discussions.
- Mary Kay is an awesome wife!
- Mary Kay is an awesome director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness - Richland County! She attended a recent murder trial here in Richland County of a police officer killed by his brother. The brother was found NGRI (Not guilty by reason of insanity.)
- Local newspaper emailed her for comments on the trial. I watched her work on her response for more than 2 hours. I'm so proud of her and her work!
- Reviewed Big Push published materials that Julie worked so hard on this week. Looks GREAT! Can't wait to tell the congregation about our October series! Next week I get to REVEAL!
- We sent Jillian (child #4) back to college this week. I expect she'll be gone for a long time this time.
- I take Jessica (child #3) to North Central State College tomorrow at 3:30 PM to buy her new books for upcoming quarter.
- Jonathan (child #2) is helping me with CCB at Crossroads. He just bought himself a "new" used car. He had to. He's expecting his child #3 in February and he doesn't have room in his current car. He called me last night at 9:30 after he bought it. I drove over to see his new car. What joy!
- Jennifer (child #1) looking for a babysitter this weekend for our two granddaughters. We had to turn her down. Hate that. But I'm preaching and Mary Kay...
- Going to play tomorrow night with Mary Kay at local playhouse. The name of the play is "Proof." It is another effort by Mary Kay to bring the problem of families and mental illness to Richland County.
- Tomorrow blood check at 8:30 AM. Coumadin working well. No blood clots since December. I can't relax on medication, diet, or exercise. I want to live for a long time. I want to enjoy family. I want to work for another 20 years. Please, God.
- Talked to Lori and to Deering today about the possibility of doing a weekly discussion style podcast about what it's like to work at a place like Crossroads. Clearly, none of us have enough to do!
