theChampy

twloha: [ Alice in wonderland ]

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:42:57 -0400

[ Alice in wonderland ]

For Freedom

Fri, 21 May 2010 21:38:00 -0400

I jailbroke my iPhone a couple weeks ago. There was no real reason for me to do it., but I’ve had my iPhone for almost 1.5 years, so I decided to see what it would be like.

People jailbreak their iPhones for different reasons. Some want custom themes, others want to unlock so they can go to a different carrier, others want to tether their computers to their phones to use the 3G connection.

I dove into the world of jailbreak apps and custom themes to see what it was all about. I installed a theme to make my phone look like the upcoming OS release. I tried out an app that lets me run applications in the background, which the iPhone doesn’t support yet. I even hacked into the system files to install a theme that made my phone look like Android and changed some of the phones sounds to custom ones.

If I still have your attention after the nerdspeak, I’ll tell you what I learned and observed from my experience.

It seems that some people go crazy when they break free from the “chains” of Apple’s closed software. Some of the apps and themes I saw were just downright pointless/ugly. (That’s not to say there aren’t legit apps that are pointless.)

After I restored my phone back to it’s locked up state, I was able to appreciate some of the freedom I had when it was open.

So what’s the lesson? Freedom is good. Freedom is a gift from God. He allows us to make choices, but He desires that our choices would match up with the plans He has for us and the way He wants us to live. He has told us things He wants us to do, given us some commandments to live by, but there is freedom found in that too. We benefit from making wise choices, agreed?

And to take it to another level, when we live under the Lordship of Christ, we are freed from far more than we could ever imagine. Addiction, spiritual death, loneliness, the list goes on.

Unfortunately, some of us take our freedom and go crazy. We do whatever we want to do, disregarding that there may be a good reason why God asks us to live a certain way.

So, wherever you are, take a moment to be thankful that you weren’t created as a being without the opportunity to choose. Be thankful for your freedom, but realize that sometimes guidelines are a good thing.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Ephesians 5:1

Disclaimer: I do not intend to make any comparisons or analogies between God and Apple. The process of jailbreaking spurred the thought for this post, but that’s where the connection ends. Thanks for reading!

I keep coming back to this song. How appropriate that it’s...

Fri, 21 May 2010 10:18:00 -0400

I keep coming back to this song. How appropriate that it’s called “Home”.

Humility

Wed, 05 May 2010 09:21:52 -0400

“The heart of humility lies in undivided attention to God, a fascination with His beauty revealed in creation, a contemplative presence to each person who speaks to us and de-selfing our plans, projects, ambitions and soul.” - Brennan Manning

I’ve always considered myself a humble person, which doesn’t really sound like the most humble statement.

I guess because I did behind-the-scenes ministry, avoided attention and shied away from praise, I felt I was a humble person. But I recently learned that it is so much more than just not wanting attention.

Here are 12 Degrees of Humility, written by Saint Benedict:

1. Obedience inspired by awe of God.

2. Break out of ego-centric patterns and see the world from God’s perspective.

3. Develop the ability to accept the authority of others.

4. Develop a constancy of character through perseverance.

5. Offer full disclosure of our attitudes and actions to a trusted spiritual director.

6. Learn contentment in all things, considering everyone greater than ourselves.

7. See your greater purpose in community while putting yourself lower than others.

8. Understand your role and be willing to not advance beyond that role. Embrace your limits.

9. Realize that our value lies in community, not in ourselves.

10. Don’t get caught up in frivolous activities that could lead to destroying community.

11. Speak gently, using reasonable words and tones.

12. Always demonstrate a posture of humility, whether before others or God.

There it is. Some I’ve reached, others I have a long way to go on. But it’s a process, and as I walk with God, He will develop these in me.

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:3-8

Grace & Peace

For Anne

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:48:00 -0400

This post has a background story.

Rewind to a couple years ago. I was a server at TGI Friday’s, and I had the chance to serve one of the regulars at the restaurant. It was Anne, a sweet woman who considered us servers as part of her family.

After getting to know her, we realized we attended the same church. She told me that she would save me a seat during the service, and that was that. For about a year, I sat with Anne during church.

Through job changes, mission trips, and even a dating relationship, Anne took interest in my life. She had no children of her own or family nearby, so she treasured our friendship. She even helped support me on my first mission trip to Mexico.

About a year ago, my ministry duties changed and I didn’t attend the same service, so I didn’t see Anne too often. We did have lunch a couple times at, you guessed it, TGI Friday’s, but our interaction wasn’t was not as constant as before.

Well, about a week ago, Anne passed away. I was at work, and the call came in that Anne had fallen and hit her head at the doctor’s and was in a coma. A couple days later, we were having her memorial service at the church.

Anne had a lot of previous health problems, and she always said that she was around as long as the Lord wanted her to be on the earth. But it wasn’t her passing that hit me the hardest. It was the fact that I hadn’t seen her in months, and now she was gone.

There is definitely regret in my heart over the fact that I didn’t make more of an effort to connect with her, but from that regret, a lesson has been learned, and that’s what I want to share with you.

Don’t take those in your life for granted. Nurture relationships, and make the people in your life a priority.

You may have heard this before, but don’t dismiss it as cliche. I know I won’t, because I have lived with the feelings that come from not making the effort I should.

God has placed people in your life to encourage you, share life with you, and make you a better you. Don’t take that lightly.

And remember the moments you share. I’ll never forget the last time I saw Anne. It was at TGI Friday’s. God’s perfect storytelling, if you ask me.

So, this is a post for Anne, and for all of the people in my life. I love you all.

Grace & Peace

Chase.Your.Passion

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:22:00 -0500

I put in my two weeks notice last Friday.

You see, news is not what I am passionate about. I’m passionate about people, technology, and ministry, and how those can all be used together.

A little over a year ago, I was a recent college grad who had no idea where to start on the job search. But a couple weeks after graduation, I received an e-mail about a position I had interviewed for months earlier.

The position was still open, and I was offered the job. It was an answer to prayer and provision from God. I walked into a job with people I already knew from my internships doing something I had a comfortable grasp on.

It was a great job with incredible people. And I honestly had no plans to leave anytime soon.

But here I am over a year after starting, and I’m saying goodbye.

Why? Because I’m chasing my passion.

My church approached me with a job offer to assume the role of Assistant Media Director. I didn’t even know they were looking until they sat down with me.

And after a lot of prayer and examination, I know it is what I’m supposed to do. It combines all of my passions, and frees me up to be involved in areas that I have been missing.

I’m looking forward to spending more time with the students at my church, and meeting with my small group for Bible study.

But a big part of me is going to miss ABC Action News. I was an intern there for two semesters and a full-time employee for over a year.

My prayer has always been that my life would make an impact on everyone I encountered there, and I hope that prayer was answered.

To my ABC Action News coworkers: It was an honor and a privilege working with you and I will not soon forget what I learned from each of you.

To my future coworkers: I am excited about this next chapter that God is leading me on, and I look forward to walking it with you.

Thanks for reading, and remember, don’t be afraid to do what you are passionate about.

“Chase down your passion like it’s the last bus of the night.” — Glade Byron Addams

The.Point

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:16:17 -0500

This past weekend, I participated in a Disciple Now weekend with the students at my church.

We split into groups, stayed in host homes, did service projects, played relay games, and gathered for worship and Bible study.

I always look forward to these weekends. Even though I’m exhausted at the end, it’s totally worth it. This kind of exhaustion comes when you have poured yourself out into the lives of others.

Those “lives” in question are 6th and 7th grade guys.

People think I’m a brave soul to try to teach them, but I am constantly blown away by the ways that God reminds me that I have an impact on their lives.

When we were having a time of group prayer, to have my group surround me and pray for me was incredible.

And when one of my former students that I lost touch with came and prayed for me, I about broke down. To know that I had a lasting impact on this individual blows me away.

Weekends like these remind me that I don’t deserve to be doing what I’m doing, but through God’s grace alone, I am able to.

I was also reminded that impacting the lives of students is what makes my heart beat out of my chest. I would give anything for them to know the love of Jesus that I have experienced, and I pray that I get to do it until I die.

God also showed me that I am right where I need to be, surrounded by the people that He wants to walk alongside me. The guys I got to lead with this weekend are great men of God, and it was a privilege to serve with them.

And about “The Point”. The theme for the weekend focused on the point of worship, and that only God was deserving and worthy of our worship. Man oh man was I convicted to the core about what I worship in my life. I look forward to replacing them with God as the focus of my life and devotion.

This is just a taste of what the last weekend did to my heart, but I wanted to share it with you. Thanks for reading.

Grace & Peace

True.Love

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:19:00 -0500

I’m single. Most everyone I know is aware of this. It’s not for lack of trying, it’s just the way things are.

Valentine’s Day was yesterday, and in the past, I have labeled it “Singles Awareness Day” or some other name dripping with bitterness.

This year though, I actually spent time thinking about love instead of trying to ignore the day.

I reflected on the love that I have in God, and how powerful and overwhelming that is.

Almost 12 years ago, I made an exchange with God. He gave me an eternal, abundant life, and I gave Him my heart.

Then at Late Nite, as Pastor Jeff was talking about love, he read and dissected 1 Corinthians 13:1-11. I have included verses 1-7 below:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Jeff talked about us as human beings and our selfishness in love, and that we must love like verses 4-6 describe. It was a great reminder that I have growing to do, that my display of love is imperfect, and that love is not about what I get from it, but what I can give/show to others.

But I was also reminded of 1 John 4:8, which reminds us that “God is love”.

Replace “love” in the verses of 1 Corinthians 13 with “God”, and you have an incredible picture of God’s character, and who we are without Him.

So, this Valentine’s Day, and every day of the year, I know that I have someone who loves me unconditionally.

Do I still want to meet, court, and marry a Godly woman? Heck yes I do! But until that day comes, I am content with where I’m at, and with the abundant love that I have been given.

And I can say with all of the conviction I could possibly muster up, that God loves you.

Know that, feel that, live in that realization.

Grace & Peace

Disappointment

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:45:39 -0500

Lately, I’ve had to learn to deal with disappointment.

It’s not that I’ve never been disappointed until recently, but I got to a point where I had to let go before it affected other areas of my life.

You see, I was looking to others to validate me, to complete me. And when they let me down, I felt like there was something wrong with me, that I had done something wrong. Then I would be bitter towards them because of the way I felt.

That is dangerous for a couple reasons.

First, I’m putting unfair expectations on people. No one is perfect, and I’m a prime example of that. So expecting them to act a certain way, to validate me with their actions, is too much pressure.

That destroys relationships. Friendships and marriages can fall apart because of unfair/unmet expectations.

Second, I was never meant to find my satisfaction or validation in other people.

I believe we were all created as relational beings. We need others to walk through life with us. But when we look to them to “complete” us, we are setting ourselves up for failure.

The evening that I faced my disappointment head on, I was reminded that there is only one source for my satisfaction, Jesus Christ.

He is the only One who will never fail me, the only One who I can expect to do exactly what He said He would do.

This wasn’t something I didn’t know, just something that I had allowed myself to forget, becoming distracted by earthly relationships.

This reminder was incredibly freeing. I can simply be thankful for the relationships I have, and enjoy all of the times we share. And when I am disappointed, I can let it go, because they are not my source of satisfaction.

I leave you with Psalm 90:14:

“Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”

Grace and Peace

Wine.Wool.WildHoney

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:29:18 -0500

I recently finished a book titled Scouting the Divine. The author Margaret Feinberg, writes about her quest as she seeks to think of the Bible as more than a dusty old book.

The Bible has so much depth to offer, but Margaret found herself having trouble relating to certain passages that she had read countless number of times, and also seemed ancient.

As she puts it, how can we fully grasp abiding in the vine when we buy our grapes at the store, and how do we look at Jesus as the Good Shepherd when we only see sheep in petting zoos?

These questions led her on a journey, where she spent time with a shepherdess, a farmer, a beekeeper, and a vintner. With everyone she spent time with, she shared scriptures with them related to their skill, and asked for their insight.

While meeting with Lynne the shepherdess, Margaret grew a deeper understanding of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. When Lynne called her sheep, they came running to her, just as Jesus said about his sheep (us). And Margaret marveled at the fact that Lynne knew every one of her sheep by name, and knew their personalities and traits.

Meeting with her farmer friends Joe and Aaron, Margaret learned about God’s timing, the need for qualified workers, and the need to rest, all concepts spoken of in relation to our walk with Christ and being his people.

Her time with Gary the beekeeper gave her a deeper understanding of the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey. She was impacted by Gary, who trusted God even though his bees were dying and his business suffered as a result. The image of bees also gave Margaret a better view of the Body of Christ, and how each believer has a special role to play.

And meeting with Kristof the vintner, Margaret was blown away while thinking of God as the vinedresser, and the purpose of pruning us so we experience greater growth.

Reading through Margaret’s journey was inspiring, and brought new light to passages that I had been in the habit of passing over because I thought I knew what they were about.

I was also struck by the common theme weaving through the entire book, that God knows each and every one of us intimately. He knows our name, our traits, our strengths, and out weaknesses. He knows exactly how to prune us, when to bring trials, and how much we can handle.

Know today that you are known and loved by your Heavenly Father, the Good Shepherd, the vinedresser, the provider.

I leave you with some verses from Psalm 139:

“For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:13,14

Grace and Peace.

Hands by The Almost

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:30:00 -0500

Hands by The Almost

Heavy.And.Light

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:21:01 -0500

I had the opportunity to attend the third annual Heavy And Light this year. I have attended all three, and they keep getting better every year.

Born out of tragedy, the night is meant to express the heaviness and lightness that life brings, and the hope for tomorrow that keeps us going.

Some of my favorite artists, Aaron Gillespie, Aaron Marsh, Zach Williams, Stephen Christian, and Mat Kearney, were there playing acoustic versions of their songs and sharing their hearts.

We felt the solemnness as TWLOHA founder Jamie Tworkowski spoke of his friend Zeke’s suicide and interviewed Zeke’s girlfriend about the tragedy.

We laughed when spoken word poet Anis Mojgani began his poem with “You have been given a direct order to rock the f—k out.” He said the word, it was funny.

Perhaps the most pivotal moment came for me when a man named Aaron Moore, a local counselor, took the stage.

As Aaron spoke, I realized that I could relate in full.Aaron spoke about his support of To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) and the way he described it to anyone who inquired about its meaning.

He said he would tell them it’s an organization that brings awareness to depression and suicide. As he said that, my own descriptions of TWLOHA echoed back to me.

He then spoke of a moment when he realized that a more accurate description of TWLOHA is that it is an organization, a movement, that brings awareness of people, not conditions.

Real life hurting, broken people. That’s it! In that moment, my description of this movement was forever changed.

It’s about people. It’s about sharing with them that there is hope, that they are loved more than they know.

Then another Aaron, Aaron Gillespie of The Almost/Underoath, spoke the phrase that fills him with hope.

He said, “Jesus loves you.” Yes, he said more, but he could have stopped there. The love of Jesus fills me with more hope than I can contain. A hope that when things in life get heavy, He is there, and will walk with me. And that when things are light, he is there smiling with me, walking with me.

I don’t know what your beliefs are, just as Aaron didn’t know the beliefs of those he was talking to, but I can say with the conviction of someone who has felt it,

“Jesus loves you, and you are loved more than you could ever know.”

Peace

The.40

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:41:30 -0500

The number 40 is significant in the Bible.

A few examples:

Israel spent 40 years in the desert
Moses was 40 when he left Egypt, then he went back to egypt to rescue the Israelites 40 years later
Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting and enduring temptation
Jesus was on the earth for 40 days His resurrection before He ascended to heaven

40 represents a time of testing, of trial, of waiting. But it doesn’t end at that. There is always a period of redemption, renewal, or revival at the end of the 40 days.

I just spent 40 days fasting from social media, namely Twitter and Facebook. In the beginning, everything was going smoothly. I was really okay without it.

The second half was definitely rougher. I wanted to see what people wrote to me for my birthday, I wanted to know what was going on in the worlds of Facebook and Twitter.

It was a temptation, it was a trial, but, I was able to make it to the end. Through a strength that wasn’t my own, I went without.

And I survived. When all was said and done, I was okay. And I learned that there are things I spend so much time on that I don’t need to. Things that distract me that I don’t need to devote so much attention to.

So, there is the redemption, the renewal. I have a newfound appreciation for the convenience and connection that social media provides, and at the same time, I have been reminded that I don’t need them to play such a large part of my life.

I hope that made some sense. Sometimes it’s hard to express what’s in your heart in a way that is understandable.

Just know that this experience has been trying and rewarding all at the same time. And I’m thankful that I could share it with you.

Merry.Christmas

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:59:18 -0500

It’s Christmas Eve. Wow, that came fast. It seems like yesterday I was worried I wouldn’t be able to eat Christmas foods because of my wisdom teeth surgery.

I love Christmas. It’s always been my favorite holiday, maybe because my birthday is so close to it, so there’s a lot of celebrating.

But this year, I haven’t been in the “spirit” of the holiday as much as I normally am. Maybe it’s the busyness of life, juggling a full time job, a social life, and ministry.

So, today I am taking the time to reflect on what Christmas means.

The overwhelming realization that God in flesh was sent to the earth to be the Savior of all mankind.

That He was born to die an unimaginable death because He loves us and wanted to be with us forever, and this was the only way to make that possible.

So today, I can wholeheartedly wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, because I know what makes this holiday so meaningful and full of joy.

My prayer is that your life is full of love, joy, and blessings during this very special time.

I leave you with the words of the angels, spoken to the shepherds who were given a privilege very few had. The privilege of seeing the Savior at his birth, lying in a manger:

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord…Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:10-11,14

Merry Christmas

A Birthday Reflection

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:20:11 -0500

Every year on my birthday, I pause to take a look at the past year of my life and ahead to the next.

I turned 24 today, and the last year of my life has been eventful, fulfilling, and even trying.

From my graduation one year ago to finding out my closest friend is moving away, God has guided me and brought me through moments that made me laugh, cry, and cling closer to Him.

At the end of this year, I can say that my walk with the Lord has grown deeper, my friendships have grown richer, and I have made new friends along the way.

Did I do everything perfectly? Not by a long shot. But every mistake was a chance to learn, to grow, and to move on.

I am thankful for every experience of the last year.

And if you are reading this and you walked through any number of those experiences with me, thank you for being a part of my journey.

As I look ahead to the next year, I am older, wiser, and stronger.

And I have every intention of continuing to grow.

Disclaimer: My Facebook/Twitter fast is still in effect. The link to this post was published through the wonders of technology, allowing me to share it with you without logging in.

The Halfway Mark

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:02:44 -0500

I’m halfway through my Facebook and Twitter fast.

At this point, I expected to be on the verge of clawing my face off if I didn’t send out a tweet or a Facebook update.

Surprisingly though, it’s been pretty smooth.

Sure, there have been moments in the last couple of weeks that would have normally triggered me taking out my phone and firing up Tweetdeck or Facebook, but I’ve just powered through them.

It’s taught me to be okay with an awkward silence, or find a way to make conversation when such a moment arrives. Or find something else to do to cure my boredom.

I’ve also learned that I did depend too much on them. I’ve missed a few birthdays because I didn’t take the time to remember them or write them down. I just trusted Facebook to tell me. And without using Facebook, I forgot them.

There are people whose contact information I don’t have because our only interaction was through Facebook. So for 40 days, we won’t have any contact, and that’s my fault for not finding another form of communication.

Mostly, the last 20 days have shown me that I can survive without Twitter and Facebook. I don’t need to know everything that is going on in the digital world. I am content knowing only what I’ve been told through other forms of communication.

With all of that said, I’m expecting the next 20 days to be more difficult. My birthday is next week, then Christmas is shortly after.

This may sound ridiculous, but it feels good when people take the time to wish me Happy Birthday or Merry Christmas on my Facebook wall or tell me on Twitter, and I won’t get to see that until the 27th.

The temptation will be great, but I’ll be able to power through. I know I will, because God has not brought me this far to let me fail.

So, I thank you for your prayers and support up to this point. Please continue for the next 20 days.

P.S. If you came here through a link on Twitter or Facebook, it is because updates to my blog post automatically to Twitter and my Facebook status is updated by Twitter. I did not sign in to post this. Ah, the wonders of technology. :)

That my friends, is a waffle with bacon in it. It was...

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 07:25:57 -0500

That my friends, is a waffle with bacon in it. It was delicious…

A Call To Die

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:49:00 -0500

A call to die. Sounds harsh. Sounds like a book I would not pick up, let alone start working through.

Yet here I am, beginning a 40 day journey with some of the students at my church through this book, A Call to Die.

The premise: To live, you must die to self.

Matthew 16:24 says “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”

To call someone to take up a cross in that time meant death. The cross was not a pretty silver charm on a necklace. It was the most brutal form of death.

So, what does this mean? We are called to follow Christ no matter what it may cost us, to deny our selfish desires, and when we do that, we can follow Him, join Him in His work in the world.

Exciting? Absolutely. Easy? Not so much. So that is what this 40 day journey is about, dying to self daily and following Christ.

Here comes the kicker. This is not a casual read, it’s a commitment. And one of the commitments is to fast something for 40 days.

And as soon as I realized that, I knew exactly what it was that I was supposed to fast.

You see, I have an addiction, and its name is social media. Facebook and Twitter are always open on my computer and on my phone.

When I roll over in the morning to turn my phone alarm off, I check Facebook and Twitter. It’s bad.

So, that leaves me here, getting ready to give up both for 40 days, to sacrifice so I can grow closer to Christ.

I’m not posting this to pat myself on the back. I’m telling you all this so I have accountability and I can celebrate after 40 days that God’s strength got me through it.

If you have my phone number, text me, call me, let’s actually talk face to face over coffee instead of “Facebooking” or “Tweeting”. My email address is danielchampagne1@gmail.com. I am accessible, just not in the way that most people use these days.

I can’t wait to share this journey with you. Peace.

As a disclaimer, my job requires me to post to the station’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, but I myself will not be logged in because we have logins for those accounts.

On.Your.Mark - Catalyst Part 1

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:16:46 -0500

First off, an apology. It has been almost a month since I got back from Catalyst and I have not written about the experience.

So here goes…

Going to Catalyst this year was a no brainer after last year. Catalyst 08 was my first experience, and it was life changing. It came on the heels of some things God had been revealing to me, and God orchestrated it at the last minute.

The funny part about last minute plans and having an actual plan is that there is more time for distractions to pop up when you aren’t running around last minute.

Before I left, distractions were popping up everywhere, even at the last minute. My fervent prayer was that God would remove those distractions and overtake them with what He wanted to speak to me.

He did just that. Last year’s conference largely focused on leadership principals, but this year was focused on the leader.

The theme was “On Your Mark”. We always focus on the “Go!” or the “Get Set”, but we largely ignore the first step.

“On Your Mark” means “Are You Open?” Are you open to what God has in store for you? The next step He has prepared for you? The things He wants to do through you?

There is another significance behind the theme. Andy Stanley, who opened up the conference, spoke about making a mark on the world.

But the striking point of what he said cut to the core of my motivation. He told an arena of 13,000 leaders that what we do isn’t about making our mark in the world, but being in the position for God to make His mark through us.

Ouch. He went on to say that our “mark” isn’t worth our lives. Living to make Daniel’s mark is too small to give my whole life to.

How convicting and encouraging! Convicting because I need to make a change, but encouraging to know that He has it figured out!

So, that theme permeated through the whole two days. And after returning, I have asked myself a hard question when facing a decision or task: “Will it be my mark, or God’s mark?”

This is the first of many posts on Catalyst. This was the summary post, but with speakers like Chuck Swindoll, Matt Chandler, and Rob Bell in attendance, how could I not write more?

Thanks for reading. And remember to always be on your mark.

Triathlons & Life

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:59:51 -0400

First off, I don’t know what gets into me that inspires these random athletic quests of mine.

A few years ago, I decided to run the DIsney half marathon. I was a gym-goer, but not a runner. 5 months later, I was running 13.1 miles through Disney parks.

Then, just two months ago, I got the crazy idea to participate in a sprint triathlon: 1/3 mile swim, 10 mile bike ride, and 5k run. I hadn’t worked out regularly for months. Crazy, right?

So, on October 24, I found myself at the water’s edge at Ft. Desoto at 7:55am. My wave would start swimming at 7:58. I was nervous to say the least.

And just like that, we were off. Swimming in salt water, against the current, with about 50 people swarmed around you is very much different from swimming laps in a pool, as I quickly discovered.

Swim finished, I climbed out of the water to jog to my bike. First thought: “Wow. My legs are tired already. How am I going to finish this?”

I quickly pushed the thought away and went to my bike, climbed on, and went, trying to ignore the signs telling me how far I had gone. I just wanted to look forward and finish.

10 miles done, and I’m dropping off my bike to start running 3.2 miles. After half a mile, I was convinced I couldn’t go further. The tightness in my calves was like nothing I ever felt before. I started walking.

When I felt rested, I’d run until the tightness reared its ugly head, then walk for a bit. It was during this run/walk time that I had a thought.

You see, when I ran the half marathon, I had a running partner. We trained together and pushed each other through it. In this case, my training partner wasn’t there.

I was struck with the importance of having someone there to go through this with. Someone who could push me, encourage me, finish with me. Someone who I could do the same thing for.

The same thing applies to this life. We were made to walk/run through it with others. That’s why we desire friendships, why we want to be in love.

Someone to walk through life with. Someone to push you, to encourage you when you’re convinced you can’t go any further.

And God plays that role as well. He wants us to walk through life with Him. And as friends and significant others may walk in and out, He remains.

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

We’re also told that He will never leave us or forsake us. We are not alone, and we were never made to be alone.

So, I finished the triathlon. I ran through the finish, powered by a burst of strength I can only attribute to the One who was running beside me the whole time.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for walking through life with me.