My notes were pretty sparse for this session that Nancy led on Women in Ministry. Now, it’s not because the session wasn’t good, it’s just that I was that bad at taking notes. It happens.

Chad Swanzy did a super job of note-taking and have placed his notes on his blog. You can find it here:

Nancy Beach Session

I’m having some trouble with SCribble Live, but thought I’d try it again for the main session coming up. We’ll be trying it again

Morning Main Session – Francis Chan

Let me just say that I don’t like Francis. I mean I like him, but I don’t like what he has to say. But I do like it, but I don’t like what it does to me. He messes with my mind – A LOT. He just puts things so simply, so scripturally, so ….. And this morning’s session was no different.

I’ll attempt to put into words what I was feeling or thinking.

He started out by bringing his 14 yr. old daughter out on stage with him. He introduced her and then said she was going to play us a song. She began to play the piano and then she sang a song to God with an incredible voice. You could just see the pride that was on Francis’ face.

He mentioned that only a parent would understand how it would feel to have your child on stage with you singing songs of praise to God. I could just imagine myself with my two boys there doing the same thing. Being on stage, proclaiming the Gospel to thousands. A smile crossed my face as I imagined it with John twisting balloons and with Josiah singing praises.

He then went on to talk about his incredible love for her. And then he started talking about how 2 years ago, at this conference, he was able to have dinner with someone from the conference. The guy from the conference deals in human trafficking. Helping those teens, kids and adults who have been the object of being sold into slavery.

He went on to say that he couldn’t sleep that night as his mind wandered into what would he do if his daughter was stolen and then sold off into slavery. His mind filled with images of hands all over his daughter and how would he react. Who would he go to? the church? How much of a fuss he would make over it? How he would leverage anyone and everything he could to get his daughter back.

He then went on to say that God impressed upon him that he should think of the others as his daughters and sons. How he should have the same passion and put in the same energy to help others out too.

He was fired up to help! To do what he had to do! And then….
his friends started telling him that he was already doing enough
that he didn’t need to spend more time doing things
that they weren’t his kids

… and eventually, his fire for the human trafficking stopped.

He started to be “normal” again. For not being so passionate about this travesty.

His next story was about how he ran into a teenage girls at a summer camp. And how he heard she was sponsoring several children (thru Compassion International or a similar organization.) He got to meet her and asked her how many kids she was sponsoring. She said she just picked up another one so she was up to 14 children! That’s like at $30 a month! He asked her how she pays for it and she said she has a part-time job (she’s in High School) and in the summer she works 3 jobs! All to pay for these kids. She feels it’s more important to help these kids than to earn money for a car or extra clothes. Wow!

But, the question is… will “caring” people from her church or community tell her she should be using her money elsewhere. For something else. For her college fund. To by herself a car. Will people try to talk her out of her passion?!?

Do we as a church do this to people? Do we talk people out of being so passionate about Christ and serving Him, that we need to counsel them in being too radical. That we try to “teach” them not to do this?

Do we have seasoned Christians in our church that we would not want to be mentors over newer Christians who are on fire for God? Would we be afraid their fire would be put out by having to act normal?

Am I this? am i guilty of this? Of extinguishing someone’s flame with my words or actions or the way I treat them because they are passionately serving Christ and it looks different that makes me comfortable?

Is that me?

Or maybe I’m the one on fire, ready to serve others, care for their needs, live sacrificially so I can make an impact on those in need. Am I passionate?

Am I?

Or…….

Am I an even keel? Not wanting to rock the boat. Living my life, raising my boys, keeping us safe from harm, from hurts, from pain?

Or…..

Has God laid something on my heart that people/situations/my mind has tried to extinguish… to make me normal in my thinking? Has God laid something on my heart?

About Mexico?

About our neighborhood and community?

In Ephesians, Paul asked people to pray for him to have BOLDNESS. I think I am asking for people to do the same. That I will have the boldness to proclaim the love of God thru my actions, thru my thoughts, thru my words, thru my service, thru my love and acceptance of others.

Some random tidbits from my notes:
We never look more like Christ than when we are rescuing.

Will everyone try to talk you out of being radical for God’s Kingdom? For helping his children?

Deep breath, your next one could be beside Christ in Heaven – then what would you say?

Francis…… I hate you…… but I love you…… Thanx!

Overall, it was a great day. I’m exhausted and going to bed as soon as I post this!

PreCon Session # 1 – Jim Wideman – SERVING ANOTHER LEADER’S MINISTRY
Feed the flock that is under your care
God – “Why should I give you any more kids if you can’t manage the ones I already have given you?”
Make a list of the reasons someone can’t do something (serve), then fix them one by one.
Overseer’s CAN’T do everything!
the devil can mix us up by getting us to do things we don’t have to do.
We must be willing and eager to serve.
The best way to a mom and dad’s heart is to serve their children!
To grow a ministry in your community…
find a need & fill it
find a hurt & heal it
People have a need to be needed
Priorities
God
Family
Sr. Pastor’s vision
Leaders under me
We need to know who leads us (Sr. Pastor)
his vision
his heart
his desires & dreams
think the way he thinks and leads
carry yourself the way he does
treat me the way I treat my leader
helpers get a double anointing

PreCon Session # 2 – John Saddington – reTHINKING SOCIAL MEDIA
Blogs over facebook, twitter, myspace, etc…
you have control over your own blog, you are not limited to whatever changes someone else makes or the fads
you can change your blog as thinks change
How can we use a blog?
Limit info – get people to come back
get them to engage on the blog
Principle of anominity can help some open communication lines as they aren’t scared
tie info in what you communicate in your ministry. Can you communicate some info on the blog that isn’t communicated elsewhere?
BE WILLING TO EXPERIMENT!!

PreCon Session # 3 – Diane Runge – FINE-TUNIG YOUR SYSTEMS
Are we willing to do whatever it takes to impact the hearts of the next generation?
How do you measure things? Stats? Stories?
Make our OS a MAC, not a PC
What are we (the church) called to accomplish?
What do we want parents, students, and kids to become?
Are we willing to put everything on the table and be willing to change?
our programs
special events
camps
vbs
all our stuff?

Main Session # 1 – Reggie Joiner – Stock Family
there is no “standard / typical” family
People want to go back to bible times and have things be the way they were before all this divorce, etc…
Looking at the bible, try to find a “healthy / normal / ideal” family
pretty tough to do this
God is the God of restorations
if you want your kids to have an every-day kind of faith, you need to have one and lead them in this.

Today will be a busy day as I will be ….

7:30 – Helping with registration
9:45 – First Pre-con session
11 – lunch meeting
1 – Pre-con session # 2
2:45 – Pre-con session # 3
4-7 Helping with Registration
7:30 – First General Session (Which will be broadcast live online)

Orange Conference

I APOLOGIZE!!! Something happened to my scribble feed!

here’s what’s happening thru-out my day:

Today’s drive was a good one. It was long, but didn’t seem overly long. We did a lot of talking and discussed many things. As a matter of fact, I think everyone can rest easier now – I think we solved all of the world’s problems!!

We made good time. We probably didn’t leave Mechanicsburg till 6:30am. We were eating at a Steak House by 6pm – and we already checked into our hotel!! We had a good dinner, then headed over to early registration.

Early Registration
This process just rocked! I mean, we just breezed thru. It must be because they use MACS!! It took almost no time to register & get our goodie bag. I then got to meet up with Kristie who is overseeing the registration. The reason I got to meet her is because I get to help with the registration tomorrow morning and afternoon. (7:30am!!)

Right now I’m in my room and wondering what equipment I’ll be taking with me tomorrow. I’m actually thinking about not taking my laptop. I love it, but since it’s a 17” MacBookPro, it’s a BEAST to carry around. Plus, I don’t think I’ll even have much time to sit an blog/write much. I’ll be helping with registration, going to sessions, lunch meeting, more sessions, then helping with registration again in the late afternoon and then attending the kick-off main session. Not much time to sit and type! I think I’ll save that till Thursday and Friday!

It’s time to review my stuff for tomorrow and think about getting some zzzzzzz’s.

Our game plan for today is to leave Mechanicsburg early in the morning, drive all day, and get to the Atlanta area around dinner time. In the ideal world, we’d get to early registration this evening, but I don’t think that’ll be happening. Our drive is about 10 1/2 hours (not counting stops).

I’m really looking forward to spending this time with my co-workers. We get a chance to toss around ideas and thoughts on our ministries, our community and our church. It’s a great chance to float some dreams, toss them around a little, get some feedback, and generally solve all of the world’s problems

My pre-conference plan is to return to my hotel room to write up a daily summary of my thoughts on the day’s events and make a post each evening. I hope to have the energy to do this each evening!!!

Here’s my ongoing daily tally of what is happening with me at www.TheOrangeConference.com

I am using the software called SCRIBBLELIVE to document my thoughts and feelings during the conference. One things about SCRIBBLELIVE – if you are reading this while I’m making notes at the event, the most recent events are at the top. If i am done writing on this day, the earliest notes are up top.

Testing the window from Scribble with Mars Edit. i think I like this one better as I can control the window size easier.

• 7:47 PM balloonpastor - Test
• 7:50 PM balloonpastor - watching Global Night of Worship online – blog.buckheadchurch.org
• 7:53 PM balloonpastor - Yeah, Beth is home!!!
• 7:56 PM balloonpastor - wondering how easy this will be to use while I’m at the conference? I wonder?
• 7:57 PM balloonpastor - I am looking forward to going to the conference! It’s always an inspirational time for me. www.theorangeconference.com
• 8:00 PM balloonpastor -
  
• 8:00 PM balloonpastor -
  
• 8:02 PM balloonpastor - I wonder, should I set up a Scribble Event for each day at the orange conference? Just set it up in the am, then enter stuff throughout the day?
• 8:03 PM balloonpastor - Should I set up a separate twitter account to accomplish this, that way I won’t be bombarding all my people with a zillion posts thru the day?
• 8:05 PM balloonpastor - I think that will be the way to go. To set up a separate account.
• 8:06 PM balloonpastor - testing this
• 8:06 PM balloonpastor - trying an email
  testing it from my email
  
• 8:07 PM balloonpastor - Hi there Ken!
• 8:07 PM balloonpastor - I’m just trying to figure this thing out
• 8:13 PM balloonpastor - the time thing is a little off
• 8:17 PM balloonpastor - Testing out Scribble live on my blog – not sure if I want to use this or not. I might set up an event for each day. twurl.nl
• 8:18 PM balloonpastor - Not sure if I’ll use this or not… what are your thoughts?
• 8:19 PM balloonpastor - worship – live – blog.buckheadchurch.org
• 8:21 PM balloonpastor - Scribble allows you to update on the fly…..
• 8:21 PM balloonpastor - And it updates live on my blog
• 8:22 PM balloonpastor - Pretty cool stuff, but am I savy enough to use them??
• 8:25 PM balloonpastor - I’m not sure if I am or not.
• 8:26 PM balloonpastor - My most recent posts are on top. Not sure why the time stamps are off
• 9:27 PM balloonpastor - wonder how long between posts I can leave this “open”?? Anyone know?
• 9:30 PM balloonpastor - email test # 2
  Testing email # 2
• 10:37 PM balloonpastor - OK, so I think I like setting up Scribble thru a “generic window” on my blog rather than using their built-in tool to do this. Not sure what that says about me. I’m just not a big fan of how big the time and the way it appears in their tool.
• 10:39 PM balloonpastor - I think it is easier to read with a little spacing and the little line between posts
• 10:43 PM balloonpastor - And for some reason, the time is more accurate on the generic window – huh
• 11:37 PM balloonpastor - Gear List for Orange:
  MacBook Pro – it’s a 17”, which is nice, but it’s a BEAST to use at conferences! (plus extra battery) I expect to use this between sessions/breakouts, if I use it at all.
  iPhone (with RichardSolo extended battery) – my primary blogging/twittering tool for the conference
  Digital Camera with Eye-fi – it’s a decent one that takes great video too! Plus, it automatically uploads pictures to my Smugmug account and computer.
  Steno Pad & Pen – my primary means of note-taking. A little “old-school”, but it’s often a little tough to use a 17” laptop as an actual “laptop” and take notes.
  Nalgene Water Bottle with Kool-Aid – never go far with out it
  Flip Ulta HD (optional) – it’s small, but do I need it?
• 11:43 PM balloonpastor - Time for me to sign off this and get to bed! ‘gnight all

Tonight was another Red Robin Night. These are really fun nights. Busy, but fun. I enjoy being challenged to make new creations. There are times when I just have to say that I either don’t know how to make that or that I don’t have time to make a certain object or creation. Most times, I like a challenge or I try to make something a little different than the last time.

Tonight, one of my most unusual requests was a bunny rabbit. As I said, it was a fun night!