Great Writing
As someone who thoroughly enjoys writing, it is always thought provoking to read good writers and specifically about their technique. I found a great post on Donald Miller’s blog about the over use of adjectives and lack of properly used verbs. I know it sounds boring, but if you enjoy good literature, or even just a well crafted sentence check it out.
“What Makes This Paragraph So Great?”
Posted on March 31st, 2009 by David | 3 Comments »
Jonestown
I feel sick. My stomach is in knots, I feel dirty and disgusted.
… I feel sick.
I just got done watching a documentary on Jonestown and I am appalled at the tragedy, the abuse of power, the death. It’s because of situations like that, that people are hesitant to go to church; hesitant to trust pastors or religious leaders.
Unbelievable.
I pray a tragedy like that never happens again.
What is your prayer for the world?
Posted on March 31st, 2009 by David | 1 Comment »
2009 Goals
Last year I posted goals for 2008 and I was approached the other day and asked if I was planning on posting goals for this year. I don’t know if at the time I was planning on it, but the more I thought about the more I wanted to. I liked the accountability that comes a long with making your goals known, I like the documentation of the goals and I like that people are willing to help you achieve those goals. So, without further adieu, let me introduce you to the 2009 Top Ten Goals (in no particular order).
1. Get my first children’s book published with the brilliant illustrations of Mike Corley
2. Ride at least one cycling ride/race (Tour De Whatcom?)
3. Pay off at least 85% of our remaining student loans.
4. Buy an iphone.
5. Run a 5k and a 10k.
6. Learn guitar (once again making the list).
7. Read at least 24 books (12 ministry related, 6 fiction, 6 nonfiction).
8. Travel to Europe.
9. Speak at a couple venues outside of New Life Church (has be come a little more challenging since the switch out of Children’s Minsitry)
10. Add 10 lbs. to my lean mean preaching machine frame.
11. (Bonus Goal) Start or get involved in a business endeavor part time outside of my regular ministry at New Life (coaching, consulting, who knows).
Nothing too outrageous on there, but I think a great place to start. Let’s see what happens…
Posted on March 30th, 2009 by David | 6 Comments »
Watching "He's Just Not That Into You"
Okay, so I went with Monika this evening to watch watch “He’s Just Not That Into You,” just a little research for my message this week entitled, “He’s Just That Into You.”
If you ready my post on this topic earlier this week you know I had an awkward experience buying the book. Well…I had another awkward experience watching the movie this evening.
See, right before we went to watch the movie we ate dinner with a couple friends and I was given another copy of the book. Why do I need another copy of the book? Well by borrowing the book I can return the copy I bought; not a book I need in my collection.
Anyway, we ended up with a copy of the book and because of the start time of the movie we didn’t have time to put the book in my truck before the movie started. So, there we go strolling through the theater “He’s Just Not The Into You” in hand!
…Monika, why didn’t you bring your Mary Poppin’s purse to stow the book in?
How lame did we look. We’re going to watch the movie and we’re carrying in the book itself. It’s like going to watch Lord of the Rings and carrying in the trilogy book set.
What am I going to do, read the book in the dark? Compare the prose of the book with the movie script?
Well, everything was okay once we were in the theater seated and the book was hidden under my jacket on the seat next to me. However when we left, there was the pink book in all of its self-help glory.
…”Excuse me…excuse me…can you tell me where the follow up book discussion is taking place?”
Humiliating!
So in order for us to make our escape, Monika hid the book under her jacket as we made the walk of shame from the theater to the car. It looked like we were stealing and ex-large ju-ju bee.
Man, I think this will be a great message, but I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to being done with this literary/theatrical phenomenon.
What “phenomenon” are you tired of?
Posted on March 15th, 2009 by David | 1 Comment »
Your Love Never Fails
I feel like a salesman today promoting products but I just came across a great CD that I wanted to pass along, it’s called “Your Love Never Fails.”
This is a great worship CD that I found on jesusculture.org. You can either purchase it on the website or on itunes. Just simply some solid worship music.
You can never have too much.
What type of music can you not get enough of?
Posted on March 12th, 2009 by David | No Comments »
Hawk Aqua Scooter
If you’ve never been to woot.com before, do it. It’s a great site for deals on random products. Case in point the Hawk Aqua Scooter, which is listed today for $99.99.
I love gadgets, and there is something about this product that intrigues me. Would never buy it, but nevertheless, it’s pretty stinkin’ cool.
What is the weirdest gadget or gizmo that you have ever bought?
Posted on March 12th, 2009 by David | No Comments »
Buying "He's Just Not That Into You"
I just got back from Barnes and Noble where I uncomfortably bought the book, He’s Just Not That Into You. It’s a little research for my message next week, entitled, “He’s Just That Into You.”
To make matters worse, not only did I have to buy it from a dude, the book was located in the “relationship” section, which was located next to the “sex” section, which was by the old couple who was making out.
I’m just not that into that…
What is the most awkward thing that you have ever bought?
Posted on March 11th, 2009 by David | 2 Comments »
Man Up
Later this year we are going to have a series at New Life called, “Man Up.” The premise is that as men, we need to take our spiritual leadership to the next level, especially in our homes, with our families.
For a variety of reasons it is often challenging for men (myself included) to step up and be the spiritual leaders of their families. While I personally have felt that way, I haven’t been able to put my finger on exactly what it is that makes it so challenging, and so I posed that question in our strategy team.
“What makes it so hard for a man to take the spiritual lead with his family?”
There were a variety of great responses but the one that stood out to me the most was that, while men and women are both relational, they pursue relationships/connection/intimacy in different ways. This came from a woman, go figure. Leave it to the women to hit the nail on the head when it comes to how men operate.
Anyway…
Women pursue relationships through conversation and talking, while men pursue relationships through action.Put another way, men are most comfortable opening up when they are working on a task together.
For example, women are completely fine sitting and talking over a cup of coffee for hours, while most men would rather be active, pursuing relationships/connection over a task ie, fishing, working on a car, building something, etc.
The task is what brings men together and allows them to feel connection while for women it is specifically the conversation. This isn’t to say that it’s all black and white. Both men and women fall at different places along the spectrum, but there is a lot of truth to men finding connection while “doing” something, and women while simply talking.
So how does this all tie into men being the spiritual leader in their home?
It ties in because spiritual leadership in a home often consists of prayer, talking about the bible, getting emotional, etc. It is missing the component that allows men to feel most comfortable opening up, causing men to lead from a place of discomfort and insecurity.
Posted on March 11th, 2009 by David | 2 Comments »
Lost, 24, Prison Break, Brothers and Sisters
[polldaddy poll=1441595]
Posted on March 10th, 2009 by David | No Comments »
P. Kerry Bunday
A couple years ago my wife Monika and I met a great couple, their names were…and still are…Shane and Shelley. We’ve become close friends over the course of the last couple years and have even had the privilege of getting to know their parents, siblings even their nephew. All of whom are incredible people. Shelley’s dad Kerry has even become our unofficial accountant, helping with our taxes the last couple years.
Kerry, is an incredible guy and savvy business man and each time I see him I come to appreciate him more and more. He truly is unlike anyone I have ever met; you never know exactly what you’re going to get when you’re around him. Off the wall comments, funny antidotes, brilliant insights, standoffishness, warm and welcoming conversation it’s always an adventure.
Well, I met with him this morning at his beautiful high rise office in Bellevue and was greeted with a head nod as he arrived. No conversation, simply a nod as he walked past me in the reception area on the way to his office.
When we met after about 5 minutes of him settling in and me pretending to read the Harvard Business Review, we jumped right into taking care of the taxes. He crunched numbers as I sat there staring at the GQ magazine sitting on his desk; a magazine he actually gave me as I left. Slight random but I’ll enjoy browsing through it this evening.
Anyway, the time in his office flowed from awkward silence to him teaching me about my tax return and how tax brackets work, to conversations about him flying his plane in “the soup.” I loved every minute of it.
Kerry is intense, passionate and in a very positive way quirky. I could spend hours in conversation with him, picking his brain on life, business, fitness – he’s on the board of an incredible gym in Seattle, etc.
He’s the type of person that would be an incredible mentor.
Who in your life, would you like to be mentored by?
Posted on March 9th, 2009 by David | 4 Comments »
