A Little Reminder of Just How Small We Are...

This is a photo taken from the ISS Expedition earlier today by astronaut, Soichi Noguchi. What an incredible shot of the earth at sunset with the planet Venus in the background. It is a great reminder of how small we really are... and how BIG our God is. The words of an obscure old song come to mind. It is actually a song that I am including on a "hymns" project that I am in the process of recording (and hoping to release sometime soon). The song is called "How Big Is God". Here is the first verse and chorus of that song:

Verse 1:
Though men may strife to go beyond the reach of space
To go beyond the distant shimmering stars
This world's a room so small within my Master's house
The open sky... but a portion of his yard

Chorus:
How big is God... How big and wide his vast domain
To try to tell... these lips can only start
He's big enough to rule this mighty universe
Yet small enough to live within my heart

"We are worshiping an unrivaled, uncontested God of all kind of might and power and glory and awe! There is none like Him, anywhere in all of creation!” - Louie Giglio

The Me I Want To Be

We just started a new series @ NewPointe called "The Me I Want To Be"... and I can tell (already) that it is going to be a powerful series. You will always be you – a growing, healthy you or a languishing you – but God did not create you to be anybody else. When you flourish... you become more you. You become more that person God had in mind when he thought you up. You don’t just become holier. You become you-ier.

Our Video team put together this amazing bumper video to go along with the series. Wes and Keith: Great job! What I love about this video is that... in less than 2 minutes... it completely sums up the "big idea" of the series. We all have "stuff" in our lives that tends to "define" us. We are lazy, greedy, stressed out... you name it... and that is the "me" that we have settled for. BUT what is the "me" that God wants me to be? What would it look like if I could move closer to THAT "me". I want to be more generous. I want to be more compassionate. I want to talk about Jesus more. I want to be a better husband and dad. Whatever it is... you don't have to stay where you are.



Be sure to check out the BLOG that we created to go along with this series (www.thechangeinside.me) and then also join us for a 40 day fast. The BLOG is updated daily with new devotionals and scriptures to guide us through the adventure. So check back every day to see what's new. It is going to be a series that absolutely stretches us all. Don't miss a single week. If you can't join us at one of our 3 campuses... join us LIVE on line each week at 9:00 and 11:00 at www.newpointe.org.

American Idol Update: Top 24

I am so bummed that I didn't get to see the guys sing last night. I heard that I didn't miss much though. They will narrow the field a little tonight by eliminating 2 girls and 2 guys. If I had to chose the 4 based on what I have heard of them so far... I would have to go with Haley, Janell (or Lacey) and ANY of the guys except for Andrew or Casey.

Here we go: I always hate those choral sounding group songs that they make them do to open the show. They all look so uncomfortable... and it's pre-recorded... so what's the point. AND... this song is a poor choice anyway. Please make it go away!

OK... the first round of girls:

Siobhan - safe (I thought she played it too safe Tuesday night. She can really belt it out... but she chose to go soft. I also didn't think that it was fair that the mix was so bad for her song. It sounded like the band was muted... and all we were hearing was the "bleed" in her mic. She sounded great though. She is probably my favorite female vocalist at this point in the competition.)
Haeley - safe (Really??? I thought she was outta here.)
Michelle - safe (The best performance for Tuesday night. Good voice. She carries herself like a seasoned performer too. Don't know how versatile she is... but she is could be a contender.)
Katelyn - safe (I thought she was true to the tune that she picked. Another contender.
Katie - safe (She can sing... I'm not a fan... but she can sing. That song was WAY too big for her)
Janell - gone (She sounded so much better with her guitar Hollywood week. WOW... what happened??? I guess she just couldn't pull it off with the LIVE band. I knew that she would be going home tonight though. It was pretty bad Tuesday night.)

Allison Iraheta is singing tonight. Cool! She was my pick for last season. I still think that she would have been a better choice (long-term) than Kris Allen. I love her voice. I love the raspy-ness. She sound a little more raspy than normal tonight. I wonder if she is sick? I hated the tune... but I am still a fan of that voice.

Paige - safe (She was a little "screamy" on Tuesday night... but she can sing.)
Lacey - safe (She had a bad night Tuesday... her pitch was all over he place. I thought she might get eliminated tonight.)
Lilly - safe (She still has the quirky/unique vote from America... but that will get old after another couple of weeks.)
Crystal - safe (Again... I'm not a fan... but she CAN sing. What was up with the harmonica? That was horrible. I have heard a two-year-old spit in a harmonica and it sounded better.)
Didi - safe (Another quirky voice. That is popular so far this season. Again... I think it will get old. Especially when she has to stretch to do a genre that is out of her range.)
Ashley - gone (I think she got voted off because she was just trying to hard. She was over-singing and her pitch was all over the place on Tuesday night. She also picked a ridiculous tune to sing. ONLY Leona can sing that one.)

The guys: (Didn't get to hear any of them sing last night.)

Michael - safe
John - safe
Aaron - safe
Todrick - safe
Tim - safe
Joe - gone (I don't remember much about him.)

Kris Allen sings next. I have to admit... I am not a big Kris Allen fan. I like him as a person... but not feeling him as an artist. He's just OK.

Casey - safe (Great!)
Jermaine - safe
Lee - safe
Andrew - safe (YES!... all the way, baby!)
Tyler - gone (Good)
Alex - safe

Well... there you have it. You know... I have heard people say "This is the best season ever!"... or "Best talent ever on American Idol."... but I have to strongly disagree. I sure hope they bring their "A" games pretty soon. So far... Andrew is the only one with "the goods" to go the distance. I am afraid I'm losing interest in the show already. AND Ellen... is a total waste. She brings absolutely nothing to the judging of American Idol. I don't even think she is all that funny yet. Maybe at some point she will bring HER "A" game. Come on, Ellen... at least be funny!

Oh well... until next week....

Married Life LIVE

Our big Married Life LIVE event was this past Saturday night @ NewPointe... and we had an AMAZING NIGHT. The marriage essential this time around was Cultivating Communication. We went with a western theme: "The Good, the Bad and The Ugly". It was so much fun! My wife, April, did the decorations for the event this time around... and she knocked it out of the park. Here are a couple of pics of some of the decorations:

We always have a great time putting this event together. It takes a lot of hard work, creativity and hundreds of volunteer hours to pull it off... but the "pay-off" for us is seeing hundreds of married couples having a great time... making new friends... and letting down their "guard" to hear God's truths about how to work at a healthy God-centered marriage. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Speaking of all of those hours of preparation... the part of the event that I get to lead is working with the MLL Band. I think we have the best team in the world to work with. The guys that we had lined up for this MLL band came out on a Tuesday night to practice the music... in the middle of our biggest blizzard yet. Roads were closed... ALL other activities at the church had been canceled... and these guys braved the weather (One team member drove all the way from Canton [45 minutes away] in the stuff) to show up for rehearsal. In spite of what was happening outside with the weather... we had one of the most FUN rehearsals ever! Here are a few pics from rehearsal:

Rodney messin' with Q's tuning


















Jeff sharing some of his musical wisdom


















Dennielle and Wes going over the vocals to "I Gotta Feeling"


















We always have a lot of fun music at MLL... and this one was no exception. We opened the event with The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling"... The throughout the night we played tunes like "Shout", "Listen To The Music", "Jive Talkin'", "Smoke On The Water" and "Kiss Me Through The Phone". We closed with a great tune called "Let My Words". Dennielle did a fantastic job with that song. Then... as the crowd was leaving... we sang a very "Roy Rogers-esque" version of "Happy Trails" complete with clip-clops. The whole night was amazing. There were 3 NewPointe original videos based on the Too Light/Too Heavy commercials. We played a couple of games with a green screen. We ate a lot of great food. Our drama team had a hilarious sketch to set up the message... and then... Kevin West shared an incredible message on ALWAYS speaking words of value into our spouse's life. POWERFUL! Our next Married Life LIVE is Saturday, October the 16th. Make plans to be there! Until then... here are a few more pics of Saturday night's event:

Cool Creative Video

This is one of the coolest, and most creative videos that I have seen in a long time. It is an advertisement for Rethink Communications. The content is extremely inspirational for creative thinkers. Check it out:

American Idol Update: Hollywood Week - Day 2

It's very unusual that I am home on a Wednesday night to see the show... but I am leading worship at our Louisville campus this weekend and our band rehearsals are on Thursday nights. So... I will actually get to see one of my very first Wednesday night shows ever.

It's group night... and who will survive to go on to the next round?

It is always interesting to see what the contestants come up with when they are forced to collaborate. When they are expected to agree on a song... learn harmonies (which most have never done)... choreography... AND actually blend with 3 or 4 other vocalists. Now THAT'S when the real drama begins. I just hope the judges are able to see through all of that junk... and still send the best on to the next round. So far... my favorites are: Andrew Garcia, Casey James, Katie Stevens, Janell Wheeler and Mark Labriola.

Once again... I am going to blog as I watch the show. Now... these are just my opinions. You don't have to agree with me. So here we go:

Yep... the drama has begun. Auugh! Enough with the fighting already... get on with the music. It is amazing to me... how many really good singers cannot harmonize. WOW! It sure doesn't HELP them on group night. So the first 20 minutes was dedicated to nothing but... DRAMA.

Well... it's all happening so fast that it's hard to really post any details of what I'm hearing. It seems that for many of these groups... all of them are making it through.

Mary Powers is really getting on my nerves. The whole "taking charge" thing is way over the top. Nobody wants to listen to her... including the AI staff. AND... that team is absolutely falling apart. No surprises there.

No Way! Mark dropped his words! He's done! Ladies and Gentlemen: Mark Labriola is officially OUT of the competition. That dude could "bring it"! What a bummer. I guess Simon's no tolerance rule is in effect. He said,"If you forget the words... you're going home". I just can't believe that it is happening to Mark... .and yet so many average vocalists are moving on to next round.

Janell sounded great! She's through!

Andrew rocked it! Great! He's through!

Casey nailed his part too! (OK... the 3 Men and A Baby group was "stacked"! They all went through.)

OK... here is Mary's group The Dreamers. WOW! They are pretty bad! They put Mary through to the next round? No way! I didn't think ANY of them would go on.

Well... 71 made it through to next week... but only 24 will continue from there. It should be a good show next week. I am just bummed that Mark won't be there. Oh well... see you then!

American Idol Update: Hollywood Week - Day 1

It's Hollywood Week... and I am going to begin giving my "take" on the show starting with tonight's competition. I will be blogging in real time. I have a couple of favorites that I am really hoping to hear tonight. We'll see.

OK... so here we go:

Katie Stevens - Great voice... smooth vocal... a lot of style. A little strange to watch. Don't know why... but she makes me "uncomfortable".

Andrew Garcia - This guy is my favorite so far. He already has a very unique and creative approach. Here he goes: WOW! I LOVE this guy. What a great interpretation of Paula's tune! Andrew will go all the way to the end, baby! All the way! Great singer... great performer! Definitely my early pick.

Janell Wheeler - I like the raspy quality to her voice. She's pretty strong.

Lilly Scott - She sounds like an old jazz singer? I don't know? There is something that I like about her. It's kind of like listening to Zooey Deschanel as she sang "Baby, It's Cold Outside" on Elf.

Michael Lynch - I'm diggin' his version of the John Mayer tune. Nice voice. His tone is a little to thin. His voice reminds me of season 2 winner, Ruben Studdard. I think his voice could get old on a whole song though. I don't know. We'll see how he does.

Casey James - WOW! The first "legit" guitarist on American Idol... EVER. Great voice too! I like him a lot. Casey will make things interesting.

Didi Benami - Yet another very unique vocalist. She reminds me a little of a Colbie Caillat... or Sara Bareilles.

Crystal Bowersox - How does such a huge voice to come out that small frame? She can "bring it" though. The crowd really enjoyed her performance.

Until tomorrow night.....