Stuff Christians Like

Thank you Greg for letting me know about what is now one of my favorite sites on the web! It is called "stuff christians like" and is an awesome blog. I will now officially list it on my favorite links! For example, here are two of some of my favorite posts about rating your worship leader. It is soooo hilarious and really hits the point. Check out these two posts:

http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2008/06/269-understanding-how-metrosexual-your.html

http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/2008/06/score-sheet-for-metrosexual-worship.html

Rhythm

Today I finally got back to the lap pool at Lifetime Fitness. It's been a couple months, at least, since I was there. Now, I have been keeping up with my running (with a couple lazy periods in between) and a little with cycling (been getting a lot of flats - I am replacing my tire, maybe that will work). However, getting back to swimming was not so good. When I went in today, it took about 15-16 laps to finally get it so I was on a consistent pace. I did make my 1/4 mile but it took some effort to find my rhythm. That happens with a lot of things that we do when we let them go for a while. Trying to find our cadence, our rhythm that we lost due to inactivity.

The last 27 days have been like that for me with being the Arts Director guy: finding my rhythm in the day to day operations. I think I am getting there. It is hard sometimes. Especially this month. I literally hit the job running at almost full speed! Good thing I was in this environment before! I can't imagine what it would have been like for someone brand, spankin new! So I had to find a pace, a cadence on how I would get things taken care of. Now, it isn't about being unflexible, though. Life will deal you curves. But, just like how it is playing an improvised jam with a band, you still have a sort of consistency - an ebb and flow if you will. I mean, the musicians will play their notes and solos all around a basic theme that is going on (like staying in key) and they are still going along with the rhythm that is set. It's the same with the job. I have been trying to figure out, for example, what days I dedicate to what; when and how to keep up my personal connects with leaders; finding the best times to schedule meetings, etc.; and, the most important part, really: when to have the family times and the down times. That has been the hardest part. For 26 days, it has been simply about getting my feet wet (again) and moving and jumping from one place and thing to another. After all, I had 3 months of no outside responsibility and now have many responsibilities!

Today however, I think I reached one of my milestones. I turned off the emails, turned off the phone, turned on the voicemails, and spent time outside of the work environment. It almost felt like that week before I started when I really laid low! So what did I do? Did some cleaning (I let some things go for several weeks). Converted a couple more records to mp3s. Went out to lunch with Mary (who also had the day off today). Went swimming. Got a bottle of wine for tonight. And watched Singing in the Rain (yes, I like that musical! You gotta problem wit dat buddy!). It has been nice. You know what? It will make me much better tomorrow. And the day after. And after that...

I think I am starting to find my rhythm. And the beat goes on...

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Baseball players and fans can be a ridiculously superstitious lot. Particularly Cubs fans. We have our share of silly hexes: goats, curses, black cat, Bartman, etc.

So, I love this picture from before yesterday's game. Especially before sweeping the Sox. There is something strangely symbolic here. It happened to Noah, maybe the Cubs? If they win it all this year, look back on this picture. If not, well, it did look nice!

Romeoville Sunday Service - 10th Anniversary

I have two posts today. Here are some pictures from this morning's service. What a great one! I think that this had to be the best by far! Hats off to the Romeoville staff and leaders for making this one truly special! Especially to Greg and Renea for heading up the band, choir, STUCO singers, etc. You guys did awesome! This service was a microcosm of the great diversity we have at Romeoville across ethic, cultural, and age backgrounds. Talk about the range of music! We can rock it with the best, then go over to some soulful gospel (thanks to our "3 amigos" - I think we will definitely hear more of those guys singing!), the go to some high energy gospel, then hit some rap and hip-hop (the hip/rap song done during communion was unbelievable). It was also great to see Tim Bakker and Jim Semradek back for a visit. Let's keep it going for 10 more years and BEYOND! (The Saturday festivities are in the next post below this)..

Romeoville Campus - 10th Anniversary

WOW. What a weekend! Saturday was totally amazing! We had a great celebration both inside and outside. It was simply awesome to see how everything came together. The brunch was hugely successful. The outdoor festivities were a lot of fun. Kudos to all the staff and leaders that made it so successful. If a picture can tell a thousand words, well, here are several thousand! The clown at the bottom is for some certain people that I know that just LOVE clowns! (Maybe we will start another clown ministry!:) - just kidding Eric - I think...). The pictures are from my camera phone (sorry choir, I didn't get any good shots for Saturday).

Only in Naperville

If you have been in downtown Naperville you might have seen him. I was there this evening walking back into the parking garage by the bookstore. Right by the stairs there looked to be a homeless-type person sitting with a bunch of stuff gathered around him (lots of 'stuff'). Much like what you would see in downtown Chicago down on lower Wacker. Except for one thing: he was sitting there surfing the web on his laptop! I don't know if he really is homeless (he wasn't asking for anything) and I don't know if the laptop was given to him. I just found the site illustrating very conflicting views - one you don't see every day.

Vacation plans for a 2008 Family

This is nuts. We are working on all of our vacation stuff for the next few months and are having a tough time getting a family vacation made up. Mary is out for the summer because of her work schedule. My schedule is a bit more flexible. The kids do have school starting at the end of August. However, it doesn't mean that no one is going anywhere.

Katrina just booked a flight today to Orlando to connect with all of her internet friends. No, not as weird as some might think. We have already met most of them. They all connected years ago through a Harry Potter club. Each summer, it seems, they all will visit one of their locations. A couple years ago we were the host family. It was so much fun for them and cool for us to meet them face to face. They have a friend in Florida, one in Cleveland, one or two in Alabama, and two in England (if there are more, I can't remember where from). This year, it is Florida (in July - ouch!). One of their friends from England is coming in too.

Alec and I are going to do our road trip to Atlanta in August. The Cubs play the Braves then. My brother lives there so that is cool too. We also will hike the Smokies for a day (or two?).

Mary is thinking to go to Sweden to visit her friend in the late fall (when arifare is down).

So where does that leave the family? Well, we should be able to get something figured out for September. It is important and necessary. Our family connects real good when we hang out together - whether for dinner or time away. I should say that it is nice to be able to have options now. You all know that just a few months ago, I wasn't sure what things would look like by now. But, with my job thing settled and, more importantly, Mary's job getting better each time, we have been blessed to be able to even talk of such things.

Of course there are the home repairs to come, car repairs to come, and the possibility of an extra car with Katrina driving. That could affect plans.

Heh..................................................................................

Bon Jour!

I think I'm digging this new blog look. The picture at the top is one of my favorites from when I was in Salisbury, England back in 2005. Our friends back in France are talking about us coming out there again. It might be worth thinking about for next spring (2009). Of course, I have to get adjusted here in Romeoville as the Arts Director guy first. We'll see. In fact, Greg and I thought it might be cool to look into partnering with Waterfront to make the trip. I love that! I do miss going out there (it has been a couple years now). It is a mission trip that is a natural for musicians/vocalists. The arts speak very loudly to French culture. It is a great way to connect God's Word to a people who are sorely lacking in it. Perhaps in early fall I will see if it is something that we can all do.



Romeoville Cubs end our season at 9-11. Talk about a Jekyl/Hyde team! Playoffs start next week.

Go Romeoville Cubs!

Wow, what a game we had today! Our team, other than one game where we were short handed, has been playing real good ball the last couple weeks. Tonight was just great. We played the 14-2 Woodridge Yankees and won 9-7. Stellar pitching on both sides of the ball really. It was 0-0 into the 4th inning where we finally got on the board. Then we started hitting. It then came down to the bottom of the seventh (the last inning in Pony league). We had our flame thrower on the mound. It eventually got to the point where they got a run in and had kids on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out. Next kid hits a rocket right to our pitcher. Had one of our infielders reacted in quicker we could have ended it with a double play! So now we are at 2 outs, tying run on 2nd, their winning run at the plate. Yeah, I was pacing the dugout! It got to a 2-2 count and the kid just whiffed at the last pitch. Game over. This was a real fun game. We only had 9 players. This weekend, graduations are getting in the way! Plus we have a couple injuries. Even Alec has one. He has been bothered by a hamstring for about a week now. The game before this (one we won handily by 12) we took him out of the game in like the 4th inning. He was hobbling way too much and could barely run. Today he was better - though not 100%. However, he went 2 for 3 today. We batted him lower in the order to go easy on him. He kind of was pulling a Soriano on us and not liking that idea. Well, he went Juan Pierre on us instead and got those two hits off of bunt singles! His first one was a beauty right down the 3rd base line. The other one got a bit too much air in it. The pitcher just missed catching it - he still threw it away and Alec got 2nd. However, Alec's best play was a fakeout he made to a kid on 2nd base while playing shortstop. The batter hit a slow roller to Alec. There was really no play at first. However, Alec nicely faked a throw to first. The runner on 2nd bit and Alec tagged him out! We had real good defense all around today. Our first pitcher only gave up one walk in three innings (no hits)!
So we are in the middle of our brutal stretch. We have a game tomorrow and then Wednesday. But we are playing good! Playoffs start next week!

A Little Activity Never Hurt Anyone

Oh yeah, I'm still around. Been workin', don't ya know. I have to figure something out in all this re-adjustment: when to find time to exercise? I typically like doing the "triathlon" things: cycling, running, and swimming. It has been sporadic at best the last several weeks. I am trying now to figure out how I got away from it? Especially when I had more time the last number of weeks? I mean, I haven't done the laps at the pool in several weeks. My running has been inconsistent: maybe once or twice a week if I am lucky (and then only 2 - 3 miles). Cycling has been getting a little better. The cold spring really delayed my starting with that sport. However, I am nowhere near where I should be at this time. I finally got in 30 miles last week for one ride. Usually by now I am up to regularly doing 30-35 miles (once or twice a week) with adding a long ride of 40-50 if I have time. It is true that it is hard to balance all of that. For instance, in the warmer months I will tend to do more cycling, a little less running, and much less swimming (when indoors). There are only so many hours in a day and so many days in a week! In the colder months, I gravitate much more to running and swimming. Cycling, unless you have the winter weather gear (which I do not - it is expensive), becomes virtually non-existent in the colder months.

Now wait. Many of you are saying, "huh? "Only" riding 30 miles?"; You might be saying ""only" running 2-3 miles in one week?"; Ok, I would ask, if not cycling or running, then what is it for you? If it is nothing, well, maybe it is time to think of something! Go walk the dog a few times in the week - whatever. With my personal schedule changing, I need to make room for time to do that stuff. When I am on a routine, it is amazing how better I feel and how much more productive I am. Well, let's see how it goes over the next couple weeks. I know that I can make the adjustment. I also know that I will also find, and keep, my 'down times' and my family times (however chaotic it might be!).

Peace out y'all.

Keep rockin' the free world...

Me and Bill C.

No, not Bill Carroll! My brain is always geared to catch mundane stuff that means little and I caught something today. The longtime radio news anchor, Bill Cameron, was rehired today by WLS-AM. He was part of the massive layoffs that the radio station had back on February 29 (their Black Friday). For those of you keeping score, that was 4 days before Black Monday (March 3rd) at Community Christian Church where I was let go. Now, like me, he gets re-hired - only 4 days later.

Interesting symmetry. It means absolutely nothing but I thought there was some humor there.

We are both back and loving it!

New Colors

Yeah, I got tired of green. Just trying some new colors. I'll try this for a while. But, I might keep experimenting. I haven't been posting too much lately. I have been spending the time getting acclimated to the "new" job. Much of it is refreshers, some of it is new. The School for the Arts position is all new. Sometimes I have wondered about taking on too much. However, let me tell you what: I think that good practice at time management will make it all work out. Seriously. And part of that time management needs to include what times will be off. That is very important in order to be productive. To be honest, through the initiations this week, that is really my focus: managing time. I know I can do the work. It fits me like a glove. It is looking to be real cool. However, that is often the danger - isn't it? You can get so into something so much and miss other things in life. In the words of Ferris Bueller: "if you don't stop and look around, you'll miss it". So, here is to living a full and productive life!

By the way, I have some new blog links on the right. Greg Eichelberger is learning what it is like to blog (heh, heh - rookie!). Yeah, I remember those days! Check it out with progress on what Waterfront Church is up to!

Day One

In the immortal words of Samwise Gamghee at the end of Lord of the Rings:

"Well, I'm back"