Christmas Photo(s)

So here are just a few photo’s from Christmas.
And yes, when I say a few, I literally only mean a few.

4 Brothers

Brothers and Ladies

Myself and Allison

My new sweater vest

Myself and Allison

Allison and Reggie

Kelly

It was a great Christmas.
Spent time with tons of family and friends, and was once again blessed beyond my deserving.

God is good.

2008 Review in Photos

Wow.
I really have no clue where to begin.
2008 brought so many ups and downs that just the thought of going through and rehashing all of it freaks me out.
Regardless, 2008 was amazing for many reasons, and one in particular.

Thankful fors in 2008 in no particular order:
(clicking each photo will enable you to leave a comment and to enlarge a specific photo)

The gas prices were all over the place in 2008. Luckily, towards the end of the year it no longer cost me $100 to fill up.

I spent many of my hours sitting around one of these. Sometimes saying hello. Sometimes saying goodbye. Other time, saying nothing at all. God can always be found around in a flame.

And sometimes in 2008 I was able to witness something rare…my roommate cleaning. Don’t worry, we heard about it for about a week after he did it.

The worship team rocks it each week at Dialogue. Authentic worship…I truly love the experience of Dialogue.

New life…

Many books piled up in my library. I have to say however, Feel by Matthew Elliott takes the cake for changing my life the most.

Way too many of these in 2008. Unnecessary, which means they will be cut back in 2009. But man, a Cafe Mocha sure does hit the spot.

Many of these throughout 2008 as a group of us meet each week to share amazing conversation and solve the world’s problems.

Cade. Enough said. This kid is a riot.

Random notes found in my car left by the girl of my dreams…which just happens to be a reality now.

We Coffee You…just telling people we love them by giving them a free cup of St.Arbucks coffee on us. God is molding this community…it’s an AWESOME thing.

The verse that I seemed to stand next to during all of 2008.

Micah. He is our children’s director’s son. Great kid, and just inspired me in ways he could never understand.

Sunglasses. I know…a lame thing to be thankful, right? However, it’s just hard to find a good pair of sunglasses.

Many weddings this past summer. Old friends and new friends coming before God and shouting their love for one another. Nothing will take from the beauty of marriage.

Did I mention on that road trip that I did not sleep for about 36 straight hours. I’m not 18 anymore is what I found out.

Road trips with this woman could never get old. Hoping for many more in the future together.

Honestly…isn’t she gorgeous??

Michael and I had a great time playing some Guitar Hero…if I could have only got him to take the picture seriously.

Owen, growing up with the guy before our eyes.

Trips to Indy with old roommates.

Did I mention I won a signed guitar of Jon Mclaughlin’s…because I did.

Had a chance to meet Jon McLaughlin and talk with him for a bit at Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Indianapolis

The happy couple…now residing in South Carolina.

New friends seem to be a common theme in 2008. Matt was just one of many.

A group of my favorite ladies in my life.

Celebrated Jessica’s 16th birthday the right way…The Melting Pot.

It was a hot summer. So sure…we spent some time with water guys.

We made some time during the summer for some badminton competitions.

A trip to Cincinnati to see the Cubs vs. the Reds. The Reds won in the bottom of the 9th, walk off double. Go Reds!

This is from Allison and I’s first date. It was just the beginning of something great.

Good times with Paul. Sometimes, we might have went to far. =/

In 2008 Chris lost his battle with ALS, but won the victory of healing. See you with Jesus man!

Last second Switchfoot concert with Allison and Grace. Met up with others while we were there. Great show.

This kid…if you read my blog, you know all about him. If you don’t, oh boy.

New Years last year. Some dance exercise program came on tv, so we decided to join in.

God’s vision played out. Interpression was kicked off in 2008. 2009 will certainly be a big year for the individuals of Interpression.

One roommate(not me), placing inappropriate signs on other roommates while they sleep.

Trips to the reservoir. Relaxing in the beauty that God created for us to enjoy.

Dialogue has been a huge blessing in my life this year. The people of Dialogue make this more than a building.

Trunk & Treat w/o Master Owen just wouldn’t have been the same.

There are many more photo’s I could place up there; blog party, etc. However I have limited space and time.
Perhaps if I feel it, I’ll do a 2008 in Review part II.
I will say this, Twitpic made this a whole lot easier.

Anyhow….
I truly never will forget 2008.
Each memory will be tattooed on mind and heart forever.
From the moment of 01/01/08, to the moment of all the tears I cried, to the moment I first laid my lips on Allison’s, to the moments soon awaiting me in the next few days.
2008 will be a defining moment of my life to come.

I could truly never be more blessed.

Here’s to 2009!

In-Reach

Yesterday Dialogue Church plunged forward with another future multi-year event.
This event is what we call In-Reach.
Most people have heard of out-reaching.
Where you serve your community, and do things for people you don’t know, in a way to help them meet basic needs with the blessings and love of God.
In-Reach is very similar.
In-Reach is actually exactly like out-reaching.
However, instead of doing these things for people you don’t know, we’re doing them for the one’s closest to us.
At Dialogue we believe fully in order to love the people you don’t know, you have to first know how to love the people you are closest to.
Yesterday, a large group of Dialoguers went out on this journey to pour out love to a couple in our church. We opened up our schedules and spent all day doing random tasks for this family of six.

Remodeled the kids’ rooms

New Beds

New Furniture

New wall accessories

New desk

Installed a new dishwasher

Fixed the garbage disposel

Cleaned and groomed the yard

Cleaned the gutters

Cleaned some rooms for them

It was a great day.
Some Dialoguers went back for day two. There just wasn’t enough time to finish everything we wanted to in one day.
Now being the great blogger I am of course, you would assume I took before and after photo’s.
Uhh…yeah, I completely failed all of you and forgot.
However, this family was completely appreciative of everything.
It was great to see their faces and the kids faces as the day went along.
Satisfaction.
Not in us.
But in Him.

I am completely blessed to have the opportunity to serve such an amazing God with such amazing people.

Dialoguer’s…tell your side/view/thoughts of In-Reach.

Like this post? Subscribe to my blog feed here!

Dialogue Church Plant Update

It’s been awhile since I’ve really taken the time to fill everyone in on the Dialogue Church plant.

Let me first say, it’s been an awesome journey.
The journey so far has been short, yet, the future of the journey will certainly be long.
The team that I am surrounded with seem to amaze me every week.
Below are some of the things that have been/or will be going on at Dialogue:

We “Coffee” You Outreach – This was Dialogue’s first official outreach to let the community know that we are there and that we care. I was reading a blog about how different church’s have “gimmicks” that they use to be different than other church’s. I would agree with that to a point definitely. I don’t know though, maybe each church that has their only gimmick to be “different” felt the same way we did about the We Coffee You outreach. We believed that by giving 1000 people a $5 gift card to Starbucks, that it could offer a community that is so busy a chance to sit down with someone and build that relationship. Take time from their crazy lives, and spend some time to truly “dialogue” with someone. It’s been crazy awesome to watch this outreach come full circle, even after only a week.

In-Reach – In-Reach is something Dialogue is passionate about. We will be finding family’s within our own church family that need help. Whether it’s financially, spiritually, house repair, babysitting, or whatever it is. As a church, we will give them our service, our time, our love, and love them in whatever way is needed. Honestly, how can you love people you don’t know, if you don’t first love the people you do know?

Trunk-and-Treat – Dialogue will be hosting their first trunk-and-treat. Some of the members of Dialogue will be at Forrest Park with their vehicles, some dressed up, some not, to pass out candy to the kids as they roam the hood in search of all the stuff that dentist’s hate. There also will be games and other activities that will be taking place.

On the smaller side of things, here are a few of those updates:

Rear Projection – We were finally able to get a screen. Yes, that means no more projecting on the wall. I cannot say how much better it looks. You can actually see what is projected(which puts more pressure on me back in the booth to always be on top of my game…crap).

Chairs, Chairs, Chairs – Never knew how much all matching chairs could mean to a ministry. Wow. It makes the service just feel and look a whole lot better.

Hospitality – Our hospitality team has been doing a great job. Really. They serve and greet everyone like family. Soon we will be creating a new little sitting area, with some soft lighting, just inside the gym, with two new high cafe tables, a floor lamp, some art work…and if they let me, a medium sized plant(I just believe a plant makes everything feel so relaxed and comforting.). This also will help with the Sunday morning pileup of people in the hallways.

I’m sure there is more, but for now that is all I got.
If you have not stopped in to check out Dialogue and you are in the area, please do.
We would truly love to have you.

This is a part of Creative Chaos over at Ragamuffinsoul. Stop in there to check out everyone else’s creativity.

What’s exciting that is going on at your church right now??

Like this post? Subscribe to my blog feed here!

Lovin Dialogue

A lot of creative ideas have been coming up at Dialogue recently.
We’ve continued to passionately pursue being different.
Not just different to be different.
But, we believe in being different because we believe that is what our community needs.
Our community needs a church, a body of people, who will pursue their hearts with love and without hesitation.
Our community needs a place they can come and know that no matter who they are, or what they believe, that they are welcomed here.
That they are family.

Coming up in the next couple month Dialogue will be starting their first major outreach.
This outreach is centered around coffee.
Everyone loves coffee(especially when it’s free St.Arbucks).
Everyone loves conversation.

To read more about this outreach from the words of our pastor, check out Ryan’s blog here.

I’m loving this family.
This team.
This community.

What is something your church is doing right now to reach the community?

Like this post? Subscribe to my blog feed here!

Throwback Thursday

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve participated in this friendly thursday activity. My life has been extremely busy and crazy.

Anyhow, here it is, my brothers and I with our weiner dog which we named, Wee-wee. The year is 1990, and I would be the one in the middle with my face half covered. Enjoy!

[click the image to enlarge]

Happy Father’s Day

I just want to take a minute and honor all the father’s out there.
In particular, my dad;

Thanks for always supporting me, and for guiding me in my relationship with God. You have showed me the importance of hard work and of never giving up. You’ve also showed me the ability of loving and being compassionate. That it’s okay to be broken and soft. Without you, I fully believe I’d most likely be a punk and a jerk.
Thank-you Dad…today is YOUR day.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Like this post? Subscribe to my blog feed here!