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Finding God in the Foam of Your Latte

This weekend, we kicked off a series I've been promising in our Grace Vision Class for over 14 years:  "Finding God in the Foam of Your Latte (an expositional study of the book of Leviticus)."

We had a blast.

• Foreshadowing of Christ -- We pointed out that people get bogged down reading all the rules & regulations of the Law when they don't keep their eyes on the beautiful picture (Christ) being foreshadowed in every rule.  That's Hebrews 10:1,12 and Colossians 2:16-17.
• Every Sacrifice Pictures Christ -- We walked through each of the five sacrifices in Leviticus 1-7 and showed how they pictured Christ. But if you glanced at the Week 8 Tip Sheet located at OWNit365.com, you had a heads-up about that.
• Latte Discounts -- Don't forget to take your Grace worship guide by Take 5 next Sunday for a buck off a latte. :-)

We'll be spending next Sunday & next 2 Wednesdays in this series too.  I can't wait.  These are times when the Bible just comes alive!  (People too.)

Nervous Pizza Man

I just saw a list of the "40 Ways to Make the Pizza Man Nervous."  Cracked me up.

Here were my Fave-12...

1. Ask him if they have pizza.

2. Say “Hello” and act as if he just called you.

3. Imitate the voice of whoever's taking the order.

4. Stop speaking every 10 seconds and start playing an instrument.

5. Spell out every ingredient.

6. Explain him that you want to "rent" a pizza.

7. While you are you are making an order, randomly start pressing the numbers on the phone and tell them to stop doing it.

8. Tell a secret code to the guy taking the order and tell him to memorize it for orders you’ll make in the future.

9. Make the order during a car chase on TV. When there are gunshots, yell "Aaarghhh."

10. Avoid using the word “PIZZA” by any means. If the guy taking the order says it, hang up saying "Please, don’t use that word with me."

11. Ask for mushrooms as the first ingredient, then before you hang up, say "and no mushrooms please." Then hang up before he can say anything.

12. Finish the order with: “Remember, this conversation never happened”.

Time Flies

Wow.  Time has absolutely FLOWN this week.  And there was absolutely NO WAY I could blog.  I'll try to catch up tonight.

• Time Change Anyone? -- I wonder how many people will remember to set their clocks back for tomorrow. I guess we tried something different this go around...not mentioning the time change to anyone.  :-)
• What Up??? -- So...what in the world has been taking all my time?  Well, I've not been running.  My MRI won't be for another couple weeks!  (The x-rays I got were negative.)  Right now, I'm slowly but surely turning into a tub of goo.  :-)  However, my work-world been all about 4 things...
• • Weekend Lie$ Series -- This has been a fun series.  I've learned a ton about how God views money recently and it's been a BLAST teaching everyone.  We're just trying to set people free from the INSANITY of the OVER-spending, UNDER-thinking, and using CREDIT cards as a form of volitional slavery...errr...a crutch.
  • Wed Numbers Series -- We're in the 2nd half of the book now, walking through events that happened near the end of the 40 years of wandering.  It seems like every week we are seeing the RICHES of the word, the FORESHADOWING of Christ, and incredibly PRACTICAL lessons for OUR life's journey.
  • Essential Studies Rewrite -- I am PUMPED about this one.  We are in the process TOTALLY rewriting the 5 essential classes we desire everyone to take at Grace.  They will be Grace Vision (formerly Prospective Members), Grace Mission (formerly Purposes), Grace Beliefs (a brand-new class), Personal Worship (another brand-new class), & Personal Gifting (formerly SHAPE).
  • Job Interviews -- In the last week, I've also been interviewing people for the Youth Pastor & Assistant Children's Director roles.  It's exciting!  We're praying for them & they're out there.  We just need to discern who God's ALREADY chosen.
• Tim Hawkins Night - Last night, Cathy & I surprised Jacob & Karina with tickets to the Tim Hawkins show at Lee's Summit Community Church.  He is a RIOT & we loved it.  If you haven't heard him, you've GOT to check him out on YouTube.
• Mmmm...BBQ -- Before that, we noshed on Dickeys.  BBQ -- all-you-can-eat whole pickles -- all-you-can-eat ice cream.  :-)

L8R.

Web Bonus - Turning to God

Yesterday, I was back in the saddle after a week off for the Wichita Marathon.  My body feels normal again...then again, I'm not really running yet.  Special thanks to Pastor Brian Gann who did a great job on the topic of "Crying Out to God" in Jonah 2.  As always, you can check out the audio or video at VisitGraceChurch.com.

Yesterday's topic was "Turning to God" from Jonah 3.  We picked up the story of Jonah right after he gets vomited expectorated "ejected" onto the shore by the sea creature.

Hmmm...  What could we say about yesterday...?

• Mmmmm...Ambergris -- I got to teach people about "ambergris"...literally, "sperm whale vomit."  If the mystery sea creature was a sperm whale, then Jonah probably was covered with the stuff.  When it's wet, it's slimy, light-colored & smells like fecal matter.  When it dries, it darkens up & doesn't smell much better.
  
• Mmmmm...Ambergris & Eggs -- You're probably going to have read this to believe it.  But some people prepare a gourmet dish of ambergris with eggs.  Mmmmm...  Let's just say that it has a "unique" flavor.
• Acts 1:8 -- It's been a couple weeks since I mentioned this verse.  Where has the time gone???  Love it...learn it...live it: "But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
• The Number 40 -- I didn't have the time to comment on it, but did you notice that Jonah's message to the Ninevites was that they had "40 days" until judgment?  40 is the "number of testing" in the Bible.
• 1. God tested the world with 40 days of rain (Genesis 7:4)
  2. God tested the spies with 40 days of searching (Numbers 13:25)
  3. God tested Ninevah 40 days until judgment (Jonah 3:4)
  4. Satan tested Jesus after 40 days of fasting (Matthew 4:2)
  5. People tested Jesus' resurrection thru 40 days of proofs (Acts 1:3)

• The EASY way, or the HARD way -- I think we ALL -- just like Jonah -- have our shot at living life the easy way, or the hard way.  If Jonah had just pressed "The Easy Button" he would have ended up looking like some angry, hairless, Golum-like, street preacher...

• The RIGHT Way to Dress Fifi -- It's that time of year where some people like dressing up their pets in ridiculous costumes. But I say the only thing you should dress your pet in is "sackcloth" like Jonah 3:8.  :-)

FYI, Wednesday night (6:45-8:00 pm), we continue our "Navigating your Journey" series with a talk on "Contribution" from Numbers 7-8.   Saw some AMAZING things I'm ready to share with everyone as I studied it out Saturday!

Then next Sunday, we'll talk about those times we find ourselves "Wrestling with God" from Jonah 4.  A moment EVERYONE who follows God can relate to.

Web Bonus - The Ultimate Party

Yesterday, we kicked off our Christmas Series called "The Invitation."

Last week, Pastor Jim taught from Luke 14.  Yesterday, I taught from Luke 14.  Next week, I'll teach from Luke 14.  (Sounds like God wants us to figure out what He's saying in Luke 14!!!)  :-)

Yesterday, I talked about "The Ultimate Party" from Luke 14:1-17 -- the party God has been planning from before time began...the feast God invites every person in history to...the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.

Here are a few "bonus" thots...

• Feedback -- I got this email about yesterday...
  
  • "Thanks man.  I have long believed Jesus to be a party animal.  Sometimes (always?) traditional religion (shall we say) has not understood.  I LOVE my God and his sense of humor AND his ability to throw a good one (party that is)."
    
• Bone Marrow...Mmmmm -- I referenced bone marrow as a delicacy in yesterday's discussion of Isaiah 25:6-8.  First, special thanks to Jason Henderson, a developmental chef at Applebee's (and our Weekend Worship Director) for the info.  I also found this website on making a meal of bone marrow.  Mmmm...  :-)  Anyone ever eat this?
  
• Cutting Room Floor -- Here's some bonus material for further study:
  • Leviticus 23 -- Every feast the Jewish people were supposed to observe were a foreshadowing (a "type") of God's Ultimate Feast of Revelation 19:7-9.
  • Matthew 22:1-14 -- Here's another time Jesus teaches on the same topic.  THIS one is a little more "in-your-face."
  • Mark 10:1-23 -- In this section, Jesus LAYS INTO the religious leaders for, not only misinterpreting the Bible, but making stuff up and being TOTAL judgmental-hypocrites!
  • Romans 10:15 -- I didn't have the time to dive into how God considers people who invite others to His Ultimate Party "foot models."  Are you God's "foot model?"  :-)
• Go 7-for-1 -- Remember to pray for & go "7-for-1."  That is, it takes 7 invites (on average) to have 1 person say "Yes" to visit church with you.  Let's keep praying "Each one brings one" for our 3 Christmas services on Sunday, Dec 21.  That would mean that our church of 1000 would see 2000 people hear the gospel that day!!!
• Our G3 Prayers -- Stop right now & pray these things (our Nov-Dec prayer requests)...
  
  • That every person begins serving in ministry
  • That every person invites someone on the journey with them
  • That every person is transformed more like Jesus

Next weekend, we talk about "The E-vites" from Luke 14:15-24.  Don't miss the last Sunday before we launch our 3rd Service & our service times change!  Tass will also be here to sign copies of his amazing book, Once an Arafat Man!

My Gatorade Experiment

Last Saturday, I ran my last 20-miler before the KC Marathon.

I had been a little unsatisfied with my nutrition plan during my previous long runs.  Before, I was alternating water & a large gulp of Gatorade every 2 miles.  Still, I was getting a more sluggish than I thought I should late in the long runs (& my stomach felt full & sloshed around with liquid too).

So I tried an experiment last Saturday.  I drank more Gatorade every 2 miles.  "Maybe the extra electrolytes would help me," I thought.  Here's what I found:

• Mile 0 -- Start at home.  Should be a great run!  I'll spend the next 3 hours working on next week's message during my run too (carrying paper & a pen on the run).
• Mile 2 -- My first 2 big gulps of Gatorade.  Not bad.
• Mile 4 -- 2 more gulps of Gatorade.
• Mile 6 -- And 2 more.
• Mile 8 -- And 2 more gulps.  Feeling good!
• Mile 10 -- 2 gulps.  Time to turn around at 87th & Antioch.
• Mile 12 -- 2 gulps.  Ok, I'm definitely feeling it in my legs.  Must be the distance.
• Mile 14 -- 2 more gulps.  Hmmm.  The Gatorade is starting to taste foul.  And I'm starting to feel funny.  Am I dizzy?
• Mile 16 -- 1 gulp (that's all I can stomach).  Ok, I'm definitely feeling dizzy on my run now.  I'm safe running on the sidewalks, but feel like I'm weaving.  That's a first for me.
• Mile 18 -- No gatorade.  Feeling sick.  I give up & call my wife to pick me up.  I'm ashamed.  Am I a whimp?  Or am I sick?
• Mile 20 -- On the car ride home, I have the wife stop the car (not once, but twice) so I can empty the contents of my stomach over & over onto the street.  How am I going to speak in just a few hours at Grace?  And I'm thinking, "Maybe doubling my Gatorade intake wasn't the best idea?"

:-)

I Like Ice Cream, But...

Ok, guys.

I like ice cream.

I really do.

But I'm pretty sure I'm not trying this suggestion sent to Ben & Jerry's!

My Favorite Fatburger

Over the years, there have been a few groups of people that I've trusted enough to share the most unhealthy scary "calorically-gifted" hamburger I ever ate.

I was in college at Stanford. We were on a road trip to UCLA. And during our stay in Westwood, we ate at the (in)famous "Fatburger" restaurant.

My order?  A 'Triple-King, Chili, Cheese, Egg Burger with Bacon.'

• 3 half-pound burger patties
• 3 slices of cheese
• 2 strips of bacon
• 1 fried egg
• 1 scoop of chili

Only ate one in my life.  Never did it again.

But I read a blog entry called "7 Burgers of the Apocalypse" and it got me thinking...  :-)

The Bacado

Every Tuesday, I meet with a group of guys at this place at this location for breakfast & Bible Study.  We've been taking turns leading a discussion through this book over the year.  Today, Eric led us through a discussion of this chapter (& I LOVE how that chapter foreshadows Christ in SO many ways!).

Anyway, we're men.  We each have our own culinary habits...what we typically order.  When pressed for time, Dave always orders "The Bacado" omelette.  Mmmm...the perfect blend of "BACon + AvoCADO + Eggs + Cheese."

• To make it at home, click here
• To enjoy it's nutritional value, click here

But we brainstormed today on a way to IMPROVE "The Bacado" (if it's possible).  We call it "The Balardo."  Mmmm...the perfect blend of "BACon + LARD + Eggs + Cheese."

So, if you are a man (& daring), join us on a Tuesday morning & order "The Bacardo" or "The Balardo."  :-)

The Bachelor's Diet

So...with the wife & daughter on the road this weekend to visit her family, what do father & son do?  Live the bachelor's life together, of course.

"Son, we've got some time today to do whatever you want to do?  So, what'll it be?"  ("Video games!")  "Ok."

"Son, you & your team played a great game of basketball today.  I am so proud of you.  You can eat wherever you want.  Where'll it be?  (Cici's Pizza!)  "Ok."

"Son, do you want to sleep in the bed again tonight?"  (Yes!)  "Ok, let's just build a pillow-barrier so you don't beat/kick/elbow/knee the tar out of me again!"

He's got the juvenile "Jimmy Legs."  :-)