One Year Down (59 to go)

A year ago yesterday, I joined the married man's club and have absolutely loved & cherished, but mostly enjoyed this past year with my bride, Cyndi!

Why One year down and 59 to go?  I don't know its something that Cyndi keeps saying (I'm guessing she thinks I will only live till I am 85, but I'm hoping to celebrate at least 75 awesome years with her).  We left for Savannah, GA after church on Sunday (by the way we were told that we may have possibly driven through a tornado on the way to church...the weather here is weird).  Cyndi and I spent Sunday night and Monday in Savannah and definitely have a new favorite place to hang out!  Seriously, lots of history, lots of beauty, friendly people, and the weather was gorgeous!

Yesterday was also my Dad's bir

thday...What a great man!  Seriously, I think I have learned the most about Jesus and the love of God from his example!  Dad, Happy Birthday and thank you for being a man that Zach and I can look to everyday and want to be like!  I love you.

On another note, God has been doing some pretty amazing things lately.  I am doing a ton of ministry as well as in the process of doing video production and actually getting paid for it! There is also a book in the process of being written...kinda interesting concept but one that is a gut check (be sure to answer the question on the previous post).

Lastly before I sign off, a friend of mine from college recently had a son who is in need of your prayers tonight.  You can read the story here...but please pray for Corban tonight as well as Matt & Mindy.

~'til this GENERATION knows HIM~

What Do You Hate About Christians?

I have recently embarked on a research journey in which I am throwing this question out there...

What do you hate about Christians (or Christianity)?

So what are you thoughts? I would love to hear anything and everything you have...nothing is off limits. If you are a Christ follower, respond. If you aren't, I am desperately pleading for you to respond...you may respond anonymously or with your name.

So how about it? What do you hate about Christians?

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday...


Randis D. Silas

That's right, today is my best friend, travel mate, groomsman, and brother-in-law's (someday) birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Randis!

grrrr baby grrrr!

Orange Conference-pt. 3

Okay, here are my final notes from the last three general sessions at the Orange Conference last week.

General Session #3 - Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz)

• Don's definition of a good leader is a person who gets to know me in such a way that I want to take part of their vision (or the vision they've been given)
• A good leader gets to know people
• A leader invites people to get involved in the vision (they aren't selfish workaholics of the vision)
• A leader creates ownership of the vision and consistently is involving other people in the process
• Great leaders have lists of people they follow, peers, and people they are leading
• A leader has ambition -an ambition that they are actively trying to pursue (sometimes huge and absurd)
• A leader speaks something into the nothings

General Session #4 - Andy Stanly

• Spiritual Development happens the most in small groups!

General Session #5 - Louie Giglio

• We may not be on the brink to take the lead on culture
• What if we decided to be the church of Jesus?
• Jesus came to build HIS church
• We ought to BE something instead of DO something!
• Be relevant to Jesus, because He is who matters
• Many times we are in a bed of cultural infatuation
• How do we link our lives for Jesus?
• BE MORE PASSIONATE ABOUT JESUS instead of relevance!

What a great time of learning!! Thank you Jesus for such godly, passionate individuals!!

Orange Conference-pt. 2

General Session #2 - Francis Chan

Another passionate message...here are a few highlights and some of my thoughts:

• With a good TEAM we can grow anything
• Shouldn't there be a major difference from someone without the Holy Spirit from the ones who are a temple of the Holy Spirit?
• You can't make someone fall in love with Jesus
• You can't manipulate the commitment that the Bible and what Jesus calls for.
• What type of God stuff do you want to see in your life? In the lives of others?

"If Jesus had a church in my community, mine would be bigger." - Francis Chan

• Because of the commitment that Jesus calls for, many don't follow.
• Gangs are a better picture of the family of Christ is, than the actual church...(think about that one! Somethings wrong with this picture).
• God's agenda was for PEOPLE to declare His praises together...PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE.
• Unity in the church will change the world!
• If you call yourself a Christian, SET AN EXAMPLE! In all you do be an example! Are you just playing christian or are you really a DISCIPLE?

The biggest thing that stood out to me was this question: Is God calling you to start a movement? We've got to do something to reach this generation, it's going to start with a movement!