Strep...

Strep throat is the official diagnosis around our house. We'll assume that Becca started this immediately after we got back from vacation. I picked it up about midway through my camp week and then Erin and Aidan are the last to jump on the band wagon.

This was supposed to be my first day in the office in over 3 weeks. Instead I'm opting for various medications, my couch, a book, and some TV.

I wouldn't wish this on anyone. In the last week I've lost 5-6 pounds because I just can't bring myself to eat.

This too shall pass. This to shall pass.

Book #20...

Leading On Empty
Wayne Cordeiro

If you are a leader in a church you need to do yourself a favor and go buy this book. You're not a leader? Go buy one and give it to a leader near you.

This book was like a good punch in the face. The kind that reminds you that you don't like getting punched in the face and you need to do something in order to prevent getting punched in said face in the future.

I'm also going to tell everyone to buy this book. Brad bought it, and he's so awesome that you should just do it to be like Brad. Or to be like Mike.

Guess that...

I think a little game would be a good way to start the weekend.

It's called "Guess That..."

I'll show you a photo. You need to respond correctly to win.

This week it's "Guess That...Chest!"










Today's prize: 15,000 points

Camp...

Last year I got invited out to speak to the Senior Teens at Camp Kawkawa. I was only able to spend a couple days there because of prior commitments, but I had such a blast that I asked the director, Wayne, if he would give me first dibs this year. He did.

I just got back. And it was a blast. I haven't done a week at camp since I was the same age of my own kids, so this was basically a brand new experience. Late nights, early mornings, food, games, campfires, waterfront...shall I go on?

The best part was I took my family along for a few of the days. They put us up in a brand new bungalow that overlooked the lake. They fed us like royalty. Seriously, this camp has the best camp food ever.

Only one problem. I got wiped out midweek by some bug that Becca had last week. I was up for 2 nights with a fever, headache, sore muscles, sore throat, and an inability to generally cope. I'm over the worst of it (which Aidan and Erin and just now entering in to), but it made for a rough couple of days where I slept the afternoons away instead of being on the lake.

This week was yet another solid reminder that I love working with teenagers. Fascinating creatures that they are, life is never dull with them around. I was talking all week about "Encounters With Jesus" and we definitely got to see some first hand encounters. I even got to participate in 6 baptisms on Thursday morning.

All in all it was a great experience to be had.

But now it's back to "normal life" and we all have to shake this stupid bug.

Let it begin...

A new season of footballing is now officially upon us, having beat Chelsea 3-1 in the Community Shield. Having watched a few of United's preseason games on the PC, I'm stoked to see what will happen this year.

Giggsy and Scholes are still at it. Owen is fit (at least temporarily). Vidic signed on for another few seasons. Rooney didn't get injured at the World Cup. Signing a Mexican striker who looks like an added boost of speed up front. Berbatov looking ever so calm. Macheda looming in the background ready to prove himself. Valencia ready for the runs down the wing.

Shall I go on?

Sure, no big name has been signed in the summer. But I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. Fergie usually knows what he's doing.

The only thing I'm holding out for is that Setanta HD will show up on the Shaw Direct lineup very, very soon.

Love the So Cal...

I don't know why but I've developed a soft spot for Southern California over the years.

We just got back last night from our latest adventure. We were able to snag some cheap flights in April and decided it was time to take the kids on a "flying" vacation.

Thanks to a little help from Grandpa, the kids thought they were flying to Vancouver Island right up until we passed through the security clearance when a guard said "Take your parents on all the scary rides, ok?"

Best response from Aidan when we finally fessed up, "Does this mean we aren't going to the Island?"

But what a blast we had. Exploring Disneyland, eating In-N-OutChick-fil-A, wandering through Hollywood, driving along the coast and just generally enjoying non-stop time together.



Highlights of the trip:

I drove our rental car straight off a curb thinking it was an exit from the parking lot. Lesson #1 learned: It pays to get the extra insurance.

Becca on the dance floor...only it was Bieber that was playing. Seriously...she jumped in there with very little prodding. You won't see any pics of Aidan on the dance floor...unfortunately he deemed dancing as too embarrassing.


Watching the kids get picked for Jedi Training. Aidan was thrilled to face off against his hero...Darth Maul.





Finding a Ferrari...in a mall parking lot! Sure, it was in the middle of LA, but still it's kind of funny, right?






Jumping on the Grizzly River Run minutes before the park closed. The was the most water we got hit with ever on this ride!




Acting like California tourists and strolling for stars.









Checking out the Hollywood sign.

Starting vacation...

Today is the official start of weeks of vacation. With it I am pleased to show you a video that made me laugh.

Oh Happiness...

For your summertime listening and viewing pleasure:

Monday...

Just got back yesterday from spending the week with some students and leaders down at Creation Festival, a music festival in Washington.

As I'm doing a little reading before starting a day of post-camping trip clean up, I found this video and it kind of gutted me.

If you're not familiar with the work of Invisible Children, go check them out.

Nate Henn // 1985 - 2010 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

10 years...

I passed a milestone at the beginning of the month.

Ten years of working full time with students.

I remember starting at a small town church in Alberta and my initiation was heading off on their annual long weekend Bike Trip. I remember my first office and how bare my walls and shelves were. I remember wondering how I would fill my days.

But I also remember being ready to take on the world.

I was so naive.

10 years later and I've filled my shelves and my walls. I've filled days and nights and weekends and months. I've lost sleep (and hair). And I have realized that I still know so little.

But I'm currently doing what I love to do.

In celebration, I painted my office this week. Ok...so Erin painted my office. But I still picked up a paintbrush a few times.

I wonder if I have another 10 more in me?

Book #10...

Somehow I forgot to post this review. Oops!

Hear No Evil
Matthew Paul Turner

Another snarky (that's a word, right?) book much along the same lines as his previous one called "Churched" (review here) that seems to make fun of his fundamentalist upbringing and his experience within the world of Christian music.

I found the occasional piece of humor within a few of the stories and I was particularly drawn into the story of how his former boss tried to get him to write a dirt article on Amy Grant (short version here), but those moments seemed to be few and far between for my liking.

This book almost felt a little rushed and came across as a little disjointed and random.

If you aren't familiar with Turner I would probably liken him to a writer version of Derek Webb. He like to stir things up and cause the occasional ruckus. And I know that many people would probably stop reading his stuff, but I find that while he occasionally annoys me...I actually enjoy it.


So, I've got an extra copy to give away. Would you like it? Leave a comment with some sort of music story and I'll randomly pick someone by Thursday and throw it in the mail for you.


*This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

Currently playing...

Here's what's making the rounds in my CD player & iTunes lately.

Rend Collective Experiment "Organic Family Hymnal"
Finding new "worship" music tends to be a crap shoot...most of it is unoriginal, poorly written and uninspiring. Not so with this one. Besides, how can you not like a group who figures out how to do this:



John Mark McMillan "The Medicine"
I've been listening to the album via Grooveshark for the last few months, but the CD finally released (again) and I snagged a copy last week. Love this album! Go and buy it. You will not be disappointed.

The Tragically Hip "We Are the Same"
I'm not a huge Hip fan or anything, I think it's by Canadian obligation that I listen to them. The jury is still out on what I think of this album though as I have not really "listened" to it...it has been on in the background.

Never blogged about Oprah...

Until now. And it actually has nothing to do with Oprah.

This guy is fairly funny.



And this is part 1 of his travel show.

Yoda...

While not nearly as funny as the previous Darth Vader video, this one is still worth a few chuckles. I should buy a TomTom.

World Cup...

I love this game. It's too bad that a month of soccer comes to an end this weekend.

Pick your final score.

I'll go with Netherlands 2 - Spain 1

Summer TV...

Let's face it, TV in the summer is terrible.

So, admit it. Which shows do you watch?

No judging allowed.

We're watching Whale Wars (season 3) and Glee (season 1).

Slowing down...

I've been officially "on vacation" this week. Where to? Nowhere. What have I been doing?

• We've set up the kid's pool in the backyard. (It'll take a month of 30 degrees to heat that thing up enough that I'll actually get in it though.)
  
• We finally replaced the old rusted out BBQ.
• I passed my knowledge test for my Class 4. (Sure, it was the 2nd try, but I still passed.)
• Watching football. (Sometimes I wish the World Cup was every year!)
• We had friends from Edmonton stay with us for a few days and we took in the Canada Day parade and the Aquarium.
• Reading about Abraham Lincoln, who was apparently a vampire hunter. Who knew!
• Playing some video games.
• Watching some summer TV.

Such a great start to the summer. Anyone want to come over for a BBQ?

Stop Doing It...

Something Andy Stanley said at Catalyst West has been haunting me for months.

He was trying to break apart two myths that are prevalent amongst leaders, and especially within church leaders.

Myth #1 - Great leaders are great at everything
Myth #2 - I need to focus on my weaknesses and wing it with my strengths

Apparently when we start doing everything we start damaging ourselves and hurting our leadership ability. He was trying to get us to see the need for focusing on what only we can do and then delegating the other tasks to other leaders. By doing so we free ourselves up to thrive, and we create opportunities for other leaders.

Looking over the crowd at one point he started talking about the burnout that was probably evident in the lives of some of those in attendance and he said something to the extent of, "It's not the amount of work you're doing that's killing you, it's the kind of work."

I think he would argue that burnout starts when you're doing too much of everything and therefore not receiving energy and satisfaction from what you are good at doing.

So he tossed a few questions (below I have put only 4 of them) our way:

1. What do you do that is almost effortless from your perspective but daunting to others?
2. In what areas do people consider you the "go to" person?
3. What energizes you?
4. What do you wish you could stop doing?

This idea of "playing to your strengths" has been floating around in leadership circles for some time now, but it seems like most people (especially those in church circles) are slow in catching on to it. I know I have been.

Thoughts?

Almost there...

Another morning of work and then I'm officially on vacation for a week and a half. To make it through the next little while, I will find much joy in this video.

Back to normal...

One of the things I love about BC is the fact that I can play soccer year round. The only problem I have had these last 4 years is that I have been unable to connect with a team that actually plays during the summer. So I've been stuck with lots of rainy Saturdays on the pitch instead of sunny warm evenings.

But that came to an end. A guy I know from Aidan's school and who I play against in our rec league has been trying to get me out to play for their coed team. Yeah, it's coed, but it's still a chance to play the beautiful game.

Tonight was my first time playing since March (I think) when our team lost a semi-final match in extra time. And my body was shouting at me pretty loud...and it still is. But I was able to net a couple, which is always good for the soul.

Summer soccer is normal. I've missed it.