Baptism Video

My First Announcement Video

This is the first time I have put together an announcement video (specifically the editing part). Good fun! Enjoy!

Another First Day of School!

This morning Ady and I tearfully dropped off our girls for their first day of school at their new schools here in California. Claudia began 8th grade and Natalia began 5th grade. They're growing up so fast! They both came home very excited and are already making friends. We're super proud of them. (Oh yeah, and Claudia overheard some kids saying, "Did you see that dad taking a picture of his daughter? What a dork!" That's right! Wait till they show up at our youth group one day and that dork becomes their youth pastor. lol!)

17 Students Baptized Yesterday!!!

Fun Family Project

Sometimes God has a funny way of positioning us to pay attention to things that matter to Him. Yesterday we had such an experience. We got all ready to go out and run some errands that really needed to get done. However, when we opened the door we realized that our side of the road had been paved and we could not get our car out of the garage. We had received a notice a few days ago that they would be paving on August 26th, but for some reason I was thinking that that was next week. They road was blocked off for 24 hours, which meant we weren't going anywhere. So, what to do? While there was lots to do around the house in terms of unpacking, we opted to just enjoy the day together as a family. We watched Back to the Future III and put together a 750-piece puzzle of Times Square. Aside from sore backs, it was a lot of fun!

All-Staff Redneck Picnic ... I Won the Pie-Eating Contest!

25 Questions to Help Debrief Your Youth Ministry Summer Calendar by Josh Griffin & Kurt Johnston

1. What did we plan that was a success?
2. What surprised us that was totally awesome?
3. Where did we get blindsided?
4. Was there a good balance of evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and worship?
5. Did we lose/gain momentum at any time this summer?
6. What was an epic fail?
7. Where were the wins with parents?

Read the rest here.

Wire Announcements for this Week

Announcements 8-21-11 from The Wire on Vimeo.

Glam Tea Party Great Success!

I was super proud of my wife Adriana and Wendy, who's on our student ministries staff, for putting on a phenomenal event for girls and their mothers/mother-figures last night! The Glam Team Party was a tremendous success. With 83 girls/moms, the room was completely packed - to the point where we had to turn people away! Next time we'll be holding it in a larger room to accommodate the important connection between girls and their moms. Here are a few pics of Ady & Wendy in action as well as a couple of pics of Adriana with Claudia. To see all of the pics from the night, check out the pictures here.

Friends from New York Visit Us in the Desert!

On Sunday I was surprised in the middle of our 11am service when three of my boyz from New York - Ren, Travis, and Christ-Matt Jainarine - came walking into the room. Adriana had been secretly planning their arrival, and she got me good. I had a feeling they would be coming out at some point, but was totally NOT expecting them that morning. Their family was in southern California at Disneyland and decided to drive out and see us. After church we were treated to a wonderful lunch to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Jainarine's 24th anniversary. It was such a special day!

Glam Girls' Tea Party

Tonight we're hosting a Mother-Daughter Tea Party. Adriana is speaking at it. Her talk is called "Embracing the True You". So excited!

Communion Dealer

I'm talking about Communion this Sunday. This is one of the videos I'll be showing. Very funny stuff!

Bill Hybels Response to Starbucks Founder Howard Schultz Withdrawal as Summit Speaker

I was so blessed by Bill Hybles' response to Starbucks founder Howard Schultz withdrawal as a Global Leadership Summit speaker.

Our Children's Pastor Brett Humphrey on Grace

15 Years Ago Today Adriana & I ...

... were married in Morelia, Mexico! I woke up that morning with a spider bite on my neck, and as soon as we walked down the aisle after being introduced as husband and wife, I ran straight to the bathroom (too many tacos the night before). Aside from those comical things, it was the best day of my life. Adriana was absolutely stunning! I had pursued her for three years, and finally the day had arrived! Incredibly, beyond comprehension and to my great relief, she didn't leave me standing at the altar. What amazes me is that she is even more beautiful, and I am even more attracted to and in love with her today than I was that day. We've journeyed through life, grown together as individuals and as a couple, and are the proud parents of two wonderful daughters. I'm so glad she said, "I do."

Create a Roar

by Dan Wolgemuth

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 6:1).

Buckley Air Force Base is twelve miles from our house. This means that frequently we are on a flight pattern for fighter jets taking off. The roar is unmistakable: powerful and fierce.

While the noise created from the powerful jet engines is captivating, the visual image of the airplane is illusive. The reason for this is simple. When I am interrupted by the sound of a fighter, I immediately look to the location where I am hearing the sound. The problem is that the incredible speed of the airplane propels it well ahead of the sound. If I'm chasing the airplane by following the sound, I'll never catch up.

The flight path of the jet precedes the auditory impact that it leaves. The airplane is "gone" by the rime we recognize its presence.

I'm convinced that this description matches well the life lived by Jesus ... and it instructs our lives as well.

The powerful force of Jesus' earthly existence - the sonic boom of His love, His teaching, and His behavior - roared through history long after His image was gone, long after His body ascended into the eternal presence of His Father.

Godly. honorable, humble leaders are most distinctly known by the intensity of the roar that trails behind a life well lived.

If you look at the profound impact that significant leaders have had throughout history, the sound will most often be far from the individuals themselves. The transformation trails behind. Real change lingers behind the catalyst that creates it.

A leader who expects the noise to surround his or her life is not really interested in progress. He or she is interested in fame and recognition. A servant leader understands and expects that it will be long after he or she is gone that people will most appreciate the full impact and force of his or her life.

It's not until Jesus announces, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21) that the sound will catch up to the image - when the lag time is gone, when the invisible is brought to light.

Find joy in living a life that creates a roar miles and miles behind you.

Excerpt from: Fragments: God's Pattern in Life's Pieces

Ooo ... I think I Pooped

I think you'll be able to see why our youngest has long been the family comedian. This was her being silly when she was 5-years-old. Oh, how she cracks us up!

Great Website for Tween Girls!

Being a father of a middle school daughter and a daughter who's entering adolescence, I am always looking for resources that will help my daughters explore and grow in their faith. A few days ago I found out about a tremendous website for tweenage girls called Sammie Sisters - a website for Christian girls filled with fun and helpful articles just for girls, a place for them to share their thoughts, and learn about life and faith. SAMIE stands for

Sisters
Acting in Love
Maturing
In Faith
Empowered by God.

Check it out and see if it's something you'd like your daughters to be a part of.

My Baby's First Summer Camp!

Yesterday was another milestone for our family. Our 9-year-old daughter left for her first-ever summer camp! She was so excited about going that she had her suitcase packed 11 days before she left. We're so proud of her! We know she's going to have a great encounter with Jesus and is going to build some great relationships. 

Here are a few questions for you parents:

• What was your first experience of letting your kids go away to a camp or retreat or missions trip like?
• What did you look for that helped you in making your decision to allow them to go? (e.g. leadership, camp history, structure, content ...)
• How did you debrief with your child(ren) when they returned?

Theology of a 5-Year Old ... This is God, This is the Devil

My daughter has always enjoyed sharing with us when we do family devotions. This was a lesson she gave us a few years ago when she was 5-years old. LOL! Enjoy!

What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable.

Thanks to my buddy Joey Famiglietti for the lead on this video. Selah.

P.O.D. performs new song "On Fire" Live at Cornerstone

The Barking Cat

Awesome Wrestling Super Flying Suplex!

The Wire Announcement Video 7.31.11

Announcements 7-31-11 from The Wire on Vimeo.