cheval glass

Pastor Jeff's 25th

Last night, we celebrated Pastor Jeff's 25 years in ministry...his wife, Darlene and 3 daughters - Tiffany, Lauren, and Emily- planned a huge surprise celebration at LCC-Bluffton and it worked!  He had no idea. Check out the video below to see his surprise. Todd and I had a blast over the last month looking at old videos and pictures and helping put the video tribute together. Seeing my husband at 15 and 16 in "Youth Group" (Jeff was his Youth Pastor) was priceless. Here are some other pics from the night. Todd's best friend, Brian, came down from ATL to be a part of the evening - they were in youth group together (see pic). I guess Jeff is wondering today about the level of deceptiveness of his family and staff - I can't believe none of us blew the surprise...I was impressed with our "sneakiness"...

The way it should be

Not enough staff members have the joy of leaving a church with relationships in good standing and with good wind in your sails.  When Todd and I left NorthStar Church in 2005 to head to NYC to help with a church plant, that is exactly how we left.  Mike  prayed over us-encouraged us and is to this day a great friend, mentor, and terrific leader in our lives. My current Senior Pastor Jeff is about to take a 3 month sabbatical (the cat's away...jk!) He is planning to do some resting, but is also using his time to meet with other church leaders and ask questions. So, he's meeting with Mike - something Todd and I encouraged. There's been some good natured smack back and forth between the 4 of us the last couple of days (yes, I actually started it - can you believe it?) and it has made me take notice of how this is the way it should be...brothers and sisters in Christ loving each other through transitions and respecting God's unique call for each of our lives.  Kudos to Mike and Jeff - they both put up with Todd and I (extra crowns in Heaven), but I am THRILLED that they are taking the opportunity to meet (iron sharpens iron) as 2 OUTSTANDING Senior Pastors.  I wish everyone were as blessed as Todd and I to work for these 2 guys...

Spurgeon makes me think

I am a big fan of Spurgeon and one of the reasons is because He challenges me to think about a Scripture text that I would never find relevant to my life on my own.  He writes in such a way that I have to think - it's not so simple that I can just glance at it and move on. I read his morning meditations very often.  Who makes you think about Scripture in a different way? Share it with us.

"Let us attend sermons, but above all, let us be much alone with Jesus." C.H. Spurgeon

Being the church

Islanders are bringing their friends to LCC-HHI. We had a lot of 1st time guests yesterday and I got a case of the nerves when I started seeing all this people I had never seen before and well, lets just say I don't know what people thought I was talking about when I told them to go get a cup of coffee...anyway.  Our worship time was active. People are really expressing themselves more freely each week.  We did our worship stations (communion, giving) before the message and it flowed really well with our music and Responsive Scripture Reading. Marquis Laughlin spoke via video and it was UNBELIEVEABLE!  My video guy, Joel (a thespian himself) was enthralled with it. Even after all that, the BEST part of the service for me was afterwards when 2 of our women leaders approached Todd and I about their passion to minister to a specific group of people on this Island.  Let's just say they want to be the church not just go to church.  Islanders are getting active... watch out, Hilton Head.

My girl Amanda

Check out this video of an amazing singer, Amanda Richardson Blount singing one of my FAVORITE songs.  I am a little biased, because she was a part of my first student worship team at NorthStar Church in Atl in the late 90"s and her sister, Ashley, is an amazing keyboard player. Amanda would take a song that I had written and give it life like you could not believe. She inspired me to write better. The whole family means so much to me...you go, Amanda! I'm so proud of you!

American Girl Movie

I took Sydney last night...it was FANTASTIC! We will be buying it on DVD.  Sydney said her favorite part of the movie was "when the little girl talked." I loved Abigail's character and the way she treated her parents and others around her.  And it was nice to take my daughter to something G-rated that was not animated!

Quiet

It is a quiet Friday morning as I sit in my office and plan services for the rest of the month...My lifestyle has totally changed in the last month in many ways and I have had some MAJOR time to be reflective.  The major thing I have come away with is this...I need quiet to hear from God.  I know this is not profound, but I am finally maybe understanding the way I am wired a little more at the age of 35.  So, I have been listening and asking God what I have missed in the noise of my life most recently. He's telling me good stuff, and I'm so glad I've slowed down to hear it.

The Smell Report

JOIN US at the Watercooler!

I went on a bike ride today with the kids and my friend Rion and her kids to the park and then to the pool.  While riding, the smells of summer just overwhelmed me - fresh cut grass, heated asphault, flowers - all of it just took me back to being 10 and growing up in South Louisiana during the summer.  The emotions I felt, the way I looked at life, the peace of being a kid and having your whole life in front of you... Well, there is research on this.   The Smell Report from the Social issues Research Center tell us this...  "The perception of smell consists not only of the sensation of the odours themselves but of the experiences and emotions associated with these sensations. Smells can evoke strong emotional reactions. In surveys on reactions to odours, responses show that many of our olfactory likes and dislikes are based purely on emotional associations."

CLICK HERE to read more....

John Mayer Live in LA

I have been a Mayer fan from the beginning...he played Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA in the early days which was a venue I played once in my life (I know..who cares, Cyn?) ANYWAY, his new live record is fantastic. If you have ever seem him live, this is a great representation of that...you'll love it.

Staycation's over

The Monday after...well, at least I don't have any bags to unpack and laundry to do. Staycation was a success( CLICK HERE to see the video diary). But as Joe Scarborough says, "What did we learn today?" Here's my thoughts after a week of rest.  These may not be profound, but they are prompting BIG changes in my lifestyle.
1. Being a better mom is more important than being a better musician.
2. Read more than answer e-mails.
3. Sleep is more important than finishing my to-do list.
4. I need to take time to refresh more often than I want to.