In this post I will share some brief thoughts on my recent family vacation to Chicago. Yes, we drove. It was long, about 12 hours including stops for my kids. It was windy, and cold, and rained 5 of 7 days. We had car troubles – on the way home, on a busy Interstate. We were OK. I saw some of the best sunsets of my life. I took this awesome pic right beside these words (it’s the Willis Tower, formerly the Sears Tower). We rode the “L” and bus, ate some Chicago-style deep-dish pizza (which was kinda like what eating will be like in heaven I think ….) went to a Zoo, and the Shedd Aquarium, and the Museum of Science and Industry, and Starved Rock National Park and Buffalo Rock State Park and visited one of my favourite churches for Sunday services, Willow Creek Community Church in the suburb of South Barrington. All in 7 days. Yep, it was busy. But here’s what else we did. Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the ‘Learning’ Category
Chicago – The 2 different “to do” lists
Learning requires action
So, this post will seem like a tiny little thought compared to many of my posts.
A simple conversation fueled this post.
Learning has to have “doing or action” as part of the process, or it’s just “head knowledge”.
Application is necessary to really learn & be one who “does” whatever that skill is.
If you “think” reading a book, or many books, blogs, or website bulletin boards means that you “know about” something – you are right. If you think the above “knowledge” means you can “do something” – you are wrong.
Big difference. Sadly, our culture is beginning to equate one with the other.
It’s an easy thing to “buy into”. Once you read enough, you convince yourself you “know” and then form opinions and begin to talk about it like you “do it yourself”.
Don’t fall victim to this. Be smart – apply the knowledge and “do it” before you start talking like you “do it”.
If not – accept that you have no authority to talk about how “it’s done” & stay quiet until you have actual experience. Or, be honest and say “I’ve read about it, but have no real experience with this myself…”
Let’s try a little humility in a culture that loves to over-exaggerate.
Summer Reading (more like Spring to Fall Reading….)
Here is a brief – very brief of some since I’m not done them – review of the 7 books I’m undertaking over the summer months – which means books I started in May and hope to finish sometime before November 
If you are curious – or if you are new to my blog – I am a big learner. I love books because they enable me to learn from people I will likely never meet. Most of what I read I choose based on what areas I am looking to improve or learn more about.
I try to keep at least 1 book in my reading at all times that is about leadership. Beyond that it is usually a mixture of worship related, culture/church related and more “me-focused” learning – in terms of how to do the Christian life better than I am.
People wonder how I choose books to read. I honestly pray about it and follow God’s leading when I am making purchases or when I’m starting at my bookcase in my office. Here we go!
A Series Of Posts On Worship: Why & What Do You Rehearse?
So, we probably all rehearse. In fact, I’m willing to say we ALL rehearse something – we might just be the ones who rehearse “winging it” or the spiritual equivalent “being moved by the spirit”. Some of us do that. Some don’t. Some of us have stop watches that document our exact length of songs so that we can execute the service knowing that at the designated “sync” time – we can go to the video feed.
Here’s the reality. We all rehearse something. Why? Why do we rehearse?
Stairway Pt. 2
So, on Nov. 30, 2009 I blogged about the song Stairway To Heaven which our Pastor made mention of in a message on that week – you can check out the post to see some back-story about me and the song Stairway.
This morning we played that song as a prelude to our service – and yes, I was lucky enough to be the one who got to play it. And I used my double neck. And it was super fun. But it wasn’t great just because I got to play it and it sounded awesome. It was great for a few more reasons. Read the rest of this entry »
