Band LifeGroup

Every week during the message at the 10am experience, the band and I get together in the green room. We sit down and have a small group together. This is a great way for me as a Pastor to help get a pulse on what is going on with my band at home, spiritually, personally, etc...

We took a small break during the summer but have since started meeting and this time is very crucial (can't believe I took a break) for me to connect with the peeps in the band. Today we talked about obedience. In My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers, we looked at October 10th's reading.

The cool thing is that it talks about knowing God and being Holy through simple obedience, rather than knowledge or intellect. That is huge! I grew up trying to know God by amassing knowledge about Him, and then not really doing anything with it. It's one thing to be able to exegete a passage of scripture, it's completely different to actually obey what I know God's word says.

So, check out the reading (here) and let me know what you think.

Derrick

Cooking With Balls

Yep, I came across this cookbook...and I must say I would never purchase it...because I would have to actually purchase the main ingredient.....testicles. I can think of a couple people that I've worked with that would find humor in this book.











I personally am a little grossed out by it...

So, have you ever had em?

Lifechurch.tv Tulsa Worship Confessional #5

Here's the latest thoughts and concerns from yours truly. I'd love to get feedback about what you guys like to know about and what piques your interest!

Enjoy

I Took Matters Into My Own Hands

So, it's hot out. Long hair in 105 degree weather with crazy humidity really sucks. So, after seeing Terry Storch take a Wahl to his...I took my Wahl to mine...here are the pics.

The 4th Confessional

Enjoy!

THIRTY TWO

I turn 32 today. Man, at least Trent Austin is older than me. He is my counterpart at the Edmond, OK campus. I think he's like forty something. So, when he is no longer relevant...I know I've got about 10 years left before I call it quits! Ha!

Word Cloud Thingy

A friend showed me this cool website, Wordle where you can upload a rss feed or whatever text you want and it configures a word cloud. I made one from the Swerve blog feed. Pretty cool...and fun...who knew? Check it out here.

Too Close To Home...

I just found out via Twitter that Greg Laurie (a well known pastor) just lost his son in an auto accident. He left behind a child, and a pregnant wife. WOA! I've got a child and a pregnant wife. Makes me really think about how fragile life is, and wonder if my life insurance is good enough.

I've been praying for the Laurie family, that God would give them thick, tangible grace in their loss. I can't imagine how much hurt they must be feeling. Please pray for them.

WORSHIP CONFESSIONAL - THE THIRD ONE

Favorite Cigar?

We went to the baby Dr. today to determine the gender of our kiddo. What do ya know...it's a BOY! As one of my favorite comedians (Mitch Hedburg) once said..."my favorite cigars are, itsaboys."

Yay, now we don't have to buy new clothes or paint anything pink and toile.

I Actually MEANT To Go In There!

So we took a trip to the mall to use a couple of gift certificates. Rachel stepped into Victoria's Secret to shop...and so Ezra and I headed out to cruise the mall in his Eddie Bauer stroller. There were a lot of stores I could go into...which one do I choose? The Disney Store.

I know, right? What was this ex-baptist doing going into a Disney store? It was a giant Nemo stuffed animal at the back of the store. Ezra and I had a good time looking at all the giant stuffed animals, and I learned a thing about myself.

I have completely stepped into daddy-dom. I no longer felt the urge to stroll into the Sharper Image, now I was all about seeing what would make my kiddo point and smile. Good to know I've grown up...at least a little bit, I mean I was looking at stuffed animals.

We're Expanding

Man, my wife and I had a conversation a couple weeks ago. She said something to me...."Derrick, time to buck up." DANG! Now, in her defense, this came after the knowledge that she is indeed pregnant with our second child. Knowing what we know about her pregnancy with Ezra, she'll most likely be sick for the majority of the time.

Buck Up...man, that's hard when your sweet bride tells you that. My main goal when I am at home is to take over any and all responsibility she has with Ezra, help keep the house straight, and help us stay on top of creating margin in our family's finances. Couple that with my new desire to eat healthier (dang Phat Philly's) and be more consistent in my running...and this boy has lots of bucking up to do.

Main reason for the post was to declare that our family will be adding another real live person in November. The other reason was to publicly confess my desire to help my wife during this time. Hopefully, we'll have a girl, be done with pregnancies (adoption is more favorable at this point to Rachel) and live happily ever after.

More on that later!

Fav-5...more or less.

I am often chided and ridiculed, skewered even, for some of my favorite things. They're not really that extravagant but you know, it's the little things...you know? So here it goes...

FIVE:
Growing up with pot smokers had a good side effect: I like incense. Yep, when the house is clean, we put on some classic rock and burn a stick of incense. My favorite is Nag Champa. You can read all about it here if you like. If you purchase some...then your house will smell like mine....can't wait huh?





FOUR:
I don't like to shave that often. I usually only do so twice a week. When I do, I only use this American Crew Shave Oil. It has a nice minty tingle when yer done. The gels and foams pale in comparison. I have only been able to get it in hair salons or places like Ulta. You gotta try it out!











THREE:

I just started running last year. My friend Aaron
got me in the habit of running. My friend Steve
actually keeps me accountable to it! The thing with running is, you have to run in the right gear. No...really. Since you don't need a gym membership to run, you need to invest in good shoes FIRST, but good SOCKS next. For real. My fav's are the Balega hidden comforts. Basically, you've got to eliminate all cotton from your gear. Only acrylic, or polyester-type stuff will do. Trust me, good socks are a must...




TWO:
Hmm, what to say about one of the BEST INVENTIONS EVER? This stuff is so wonderful. This item has its own subculture of people that come up with phrases like: "It's a party in your pants." or..."a window unit for your zipper." Basically it's like this: I almost HAVE to put this stuff on each morning. In the summer it is a must. There's a great website you can check out to really experience the effervescence that is...Gold Bond





NUMERO UNO!
So this is my all-time-favorite product. This is by far the most expensive toilet paper out there. IT IS TOTALLY WORTH IT! Some people don't like the feeling it leaves behind but this stuff is crucial if you're a regular kind of person. Not to be gross or crass, but I mean...it feels pretty good on the whole. (yes...that was an Austin Powers line.) So, be liberated...go to your neighborhood supermarket and slap on some Charmin Plus w/ Aloe...you'll never regret it!







So those are the things I apparently can't live without. When I look back at them, I think of how much God has blessed me. We're currently sponsoring a child through Compassion and I know that this child will most likely never enjoy any of these things. Sorry to go all spiritual on ya, but the perspective hits me in the face pretty hard. I think it's time I started asking God to make me uncomfortable again....oh man....I really don't like praying that prayer....you?