For What It’s Worth 2.0

Catayst West Coast Pics ... 2009

I posted some of my initial thoughts from Catalyst West Coast earlier this week. Even though my camera phone is not top quality, I decided I would share some pics from Catalyst West Coast.

Pic 1: They rolled out the red carpet for us, literally. The crowd waits!
Pic 2: Free Lunch both days provided by Chic Fillet.
Pic 3: Hillsong United rocked.
Pic 4: James and Kyla Kinzler - James and I roomed 3.5 years in college. In each others weddings. I had not seen them since mine!
Pic 5: Chris Dodd, Chad (our new missionary friend from New Zealand), Kevin Jenkins, Jared Buckley, Mike Marshall, Scott Lawrence ... not pictured - ME - probably know what I look like!

We're ALL in this together

I saw this yesterday ... got me to thinking - "I can do more."



I have a responsibility to be His hands and feet. Not my neighbor. Not the guy who has a ministry. I have a responsibility to consume less too.

Consider what you can do / will do to respond. Then do it. I will too.

ht: Deadly Viper

Happy Birthday to my love

She's the straw that stirs my drink ... and I love her more than words.

Happy Birthday Love! You're a great mom, wife, and friend.

Who's afraid of the Swine-Flu?

Not this little girl! Umm ... Bacon!

Clarity sometimes comes with time

It's amazing how a little time helps clarify things. This past weekend I spoke at The Crossroads. I've been working on the message for about three weeks ... thinking about if for about four.

I made a mistake Saturday, overwriting a file that I had worked about 4 hours on, and needed for Sunday's message. So I thought.

After feeling like I wanted to throw up and having a little bit of an emotional breakdown (I cried in frustration ... at least I didn't yell or break anything!) I decided spending time with the family was in order. So for next several hours that's what I did. After dinner I calmly took about an hour/two and made the adjustments.

Granted, it wasn't what I planned for my message but ... after delivering it twice on Sunday, I see the purpose in it. I found a delivery style that worked for me, that I wouldn't have had I not - overwritten the file on Saturday.

Thought that was interesting ... looking back on it!

Catalyst West Coast Recap

OK, OK ... so I've been a little busy lately. I think my last post was somewhere around New Years. Anywho, for my three readers (and you know who you are) here's a bit of what I've experienced lately - For What It's Worth!

Most recently I attended Catalyst West Coast, with 5 other leaders from The Crossroads. It was an incredible two days of speakers - a great line up that included Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Perry Noble, Francis Chan and Hillsong United - a little like drinking from a fire hose.

I also got to meet and/or reacquaint myself to some really genuine people.

Here are a few personal takeaways:
• Life is uncertain but God isn't.
• PEP - is a great program restoring people's lives and giving them hope.
• “What you applaud you encourage, but beware of what you celebrate.” - Ravi Zacharias ... What is society asking us to celebrate?
• “I want to be a backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns!” - Erwin McManus Live your most heroic life. How am I living my most heroic life for Christ? He calls me to use my purpose for His.
• Withdrawal Weekly: Take your Sabbath – if we don’t we violate God’s order. Don’t call it day off – you’ll cheat on it. - from Rick Warren
• We (Catalyst Conference) also broke a Guinness Book of World Records for the largest Roshambo Game!

If you want my conference notes ... email me at emaildlake@gmail.com

Community Day of Prayer

We, at The Crossroads, are having a Community Day of Prayer. The doors open on Wednesday, March 18, at the Koina Cafe at 7 am and will be open until 10 pm.

With so many going through turmoil - in so many different ways (physical, emotional, spiritual, job loss, financial issues) - we decided that many would benefit from having a day devoted to prayer.

With that, if you are checking this out, and would like me to pray for you ... email me at emaildlake@gmail.com - I would be honored to pray for you and your need.

Six word story

I follow 66 people each day on Twitter. It's great to get a window into people's worlds. Most of the people I follow are actual friends and family that I've had some kind personal interaction with. Others are leaders, marketing gurus, a couple of athletes (including Shaq), ... oh and John Mayer.

Today Mayer tweeted (yes, it's a verb now like googled), "Ernest Hemingway once claimed he could write a great story in six words or less. His story: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." Sad story ... but reminds me of an quote my 11th grade teacher had on her wall .... "Vigorous writing is concise."

Mayer asked this question and I pose it to you ... "What would the six word story of your life be?" It may be a snap shot of a season in your life or it may be the whole picture.

Mine: "My life is His, hers, theirs" (a bit cheesy, but true)
Mayer's: "This heart didn't come with instructions."
Taylor Swift even chimed in: "My diary is read by everyone." - I like that from a singer / songwriter.

Give it some thought and post yours in the comment section. Six words ...

Reconnecting to the Blog ... For What it's Worth!

I turned 40 yesterday. Feeling pretty good about it. My wife told me ... "Look at it this way, 40 is the new 39!" Hardy har har! Anyway ... it's a good time to reflect for me, as with any birthday, but forty seems like better than others.

Allow me to mind dump:
:: It's been a month since I've blogged. Had a few other things on the plate, that have seemed a bit more important. Balance has been an important word for me in 2009. Blogging had to give. It was also a good bloggin' evaluation time / motive check / clear the blogging pallet. Done.

:: I missed my third marathon in as many sign ups. Read about it here and here. I am convinced the hardest part of running a marathon is the training. This time I hurt my MCL (strained it in week 12 of 16 training). At my doctors recommendation, I stopped training for the PHX RR marathon. My knee still is funky... I hope there will be another.

:: I am currently reading three books: Finishing up "Mad Church Disease" - Anne Jackson, "Killing Cockroaches" - Tony Morgan, and about have way through "Lasting Impressions" - Mark Waltz. All are work related but I like to read a little here a little there. Keeps me interested ...

:: Although I've not blogged lately, I've enjoyed sharing info and getting info from friends via Twitter. If you've not yet checked it out ... do so. Sharing life 140 characters at a time (dlake108) ... pretty cool. FaceBook is fun ... just not as instant as Twitter (that's one of the differences if you were wondering).

:: I've been doing a mess load of design for work lately.

:: I jumped on the Cardinal Bandwagon due to their recent success. I will be riding it into next year, especially since Kurt Warner has been resigned. Trying not to be a fair weather fan but The Chargers have a soft spot in my heart. My childhood love for the Raiders is all but gone. Nuff said!

:: Two of my kids have gotten glasses within the last month. Another odd fact is I think I may have eaten at In N Out about 10 times since opened (Mid January). Admission is the first step to recovery .... right?

:: Many of my friends and coworker are going through some rough seasons and I am glad to be a help and support. I am really enjoying life despite some turmoil.

Anyway, I am back to blogging regularly - hopefully more than a month at time. I'd like to hear your feedback if any musing makes you think ... or not. If you really want to know what's on my daily radar...Twitter is the way to follow me more consistently.

What's been the one highlight of your life lately?

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day from Julia Nunes. She's a great artist and I enjoy her clips. Worth the listen.

Check out more of Julia's music here.

I love you Melissa and glad you said Yes!