Today the Atkinson family goes deep into the wilderness (actually it’s like 30 minutes from Dallas) – but it will be hot and dark and bug-filled, I’m sure. Nothing like camping with the family. The last time we were awakened during the night with raccoons scratching on the outside of our tent. Looking forward to fishing, reading, swimming and making Smores with the family.
This past Sunday I had a good friend of mine (Chris Kim), who is a worship leader in Washington DC, come visit and attend Bent Tree. 2 weeks ago, Cynthia Ware was in town and got to come out and visit Bent Tree. As I’ve mentioned before, I love to show guests around, give them a behind-the-scenes tour and allow them to attend and listen in to our pre-service, in-between services and post-service meetings.
My hope is that if you’re in Dallas, you’ll give me a shout and come by for a visit. The reverse is true as well. If you see on my blog that I am coming to your town, please invite me out to visit your ministry. I’d love to!
I just learned of the death of Steven Curtis Chapman’s youngest daughter, Maria (age 5). I am speechless and can’t stop crying. His song “Cinderella” (inspired by his daughters) is one of my favorite songs and one that’s been a song in my heart a lot lately. Please lift them up in prayer. More info can be found HERE and HERE.
Yesterday was a great day. I taught “Communicating to Those that Listen with Their Eyes” and “Church 2.0″ – both went well. I’ll teach them both again tomorrow. This morning I’m teaching “Leading and Planning Multi-sensory Worship”.
Today from noon to 3pm is the Church 2.0 Local Forum – Chicago. Sponsors for this gathering are Park Community Church, The Shema Movement, iStockphoto and SermonSpice. If you can’t attend, but follow me on Twitter, feel free to text me questions during the 3 hour frame of our gathering.
Tonight, Jonathan and I are going to try to catch one of Willow Creek’s last Wednesday night services.
What a city! Today I (along with my intern, Jonathan) will be heading to Chicago. This will be my 5th year speaking at the Moody Bible Pastors’ Conference. I look forward to this conference every year and really enjoys the times of worship and the amazing preaching each main session. This will be Jonathan’s first trip to Chicago, so we’ll have to hit up all the tourist’s spots.
While I’m in Chicago, I’ll be hosting the 2nd Church 2.0 Local Forum. This will take place a Park Community Church in Chicago on Wednesday from noon to 3pm. If you’re in driving distance – please join us!
EXTRA:
I called the Celtics at the beginning of the season – I still got them all the way. It’s going to be like old school: Lakers vs. Celtics. Celtics will win the title. You heard it here!
Below is a press release from my friend, Tim Eason:
After thirteen years of service, Tim Eason of ChurchMedia.net has announced his official retirement from the media ministry field. “It’s been a great experience and I’ve worked with some great people. Some of the relationships I’ve developed have stood the test of time and I expect that they will continue as I open another chapter of my life. When I started my company in 1995 I never imagined that ChurchMedia.net would become a staple in the media ministry world. I simply wanted to help other churches to use this powerful form of communication to teach God’s Word.
Now that I feel God calling me another direction, I’m so thankful that the ministry I set out to do will continue in the hands of people that I trust to take it to the next level,” Eason said.
Tim Eason’s activity level in his ministry decreased as he encountered numerous health problems. This made it harder for him to travel and even work at home. “My physical problems and resulting emotional difficulties have made it hard to do my job. I faced the inevitable possibility that CMN would eventually die without me being able to give it my full attention. Rather than let that happen, I felt that it was time to pass the torch over to someone with more time and energy.
I felt strongly that CMN should go to someone familiar with the community and not just ‘some company’ with good intentions. When the possibility of selling the company to Phil and Dan came up, I felt a total peace about the whole thing.
I’m not completely sure about what God has planned for my next step. I’ll revisit my musical background and write some new music. I’ll also be expanding my favorite pastime, watching movies and TV, by writing reviews on the shows I watch. I’m sure I will dabble in content creation and will still be available for some private consultations.
Ultimately I’ll be looking at how I can incorporate my health-related experiences into a format that can help others suffering from physical and emotional problems. I hope to turn my trials into a new ministry. My exploration into the next chapter of my life can be followed at www.timeason.com.”
PERSONAL:
Long before I started speaking and writing on media ministry, I looked to Tim and learned from him. Tim was a true pioneer in media ministry and God only knows how big his impact has been and will be. I thank God for him, his ministry, his speaking and writing, his website and how God used him to grow the area of ministry that is so close to my heart and many of yours. I encourage you to keep an eye on him, his new website and new ministry. I don’t think God is through with him, yet!
I started to title this return blog something like “Resurrection” or “I’m Back”, but I feel “American Idol” is more appropriate. You would not believe all God has been showing me while my laptop was in the shop for over a week.
Here I am, Mr. Church 2.0 and a tech guy and then my laptop crashes. The first couple of days I was mad – really mad, then I started figuring out what God was up to.
Don’t think God had anything to do with my computer crashing? I do and I have a story that I’ll share another day. For now, I’ve used up my “online time” catching up on emails.
This blog is something God has called me to do and something I take very seriously. Don’t worry – I’m not going anywhere, but I will be spending less time in-front of this screen at home. My God, my wife and my kids deserve more time from me. I get that – loud and clear.
More to come soon. Today I’m working on my classes that I’m teaching next week at the Moody Bible Pastors’ Conference in Chicago. I’d like to again thank my sponsor for this conference: EasyWorship.
And yes, there will be a Church 2.0 Local Forum in Chicago – We are officially booked now. Please join me this coming Wednesday from noon to 3pm at Park Community Church. Lunch will be provided for FREE. Spread the word!
Park Community Church
1001 N Crosby
Chicago, IL 60610.
PERSONAL:
Last night I attended my oldest daughter’s PTA meeting – the meeting part of it sucked. Really sucked! But it ended with getting to see my daughter sing and dance and I couldn’t have been more proud.
I’m back in Dallas – got back late and am exhausted, but had a great time. Where do I start? So much was packed into my 3 days there. Today will be a little long, but I’ll just cover Thursday. I’ll blog about Friday and Saturday tomorrow. Here goes…
Day 1 (Thursday): Thursday I arrived at LAX around mid-morning and drove straight from the airport to the Dream Center. I have heard a ton about them, got to catch one of their services once on TV and heard Dr. Phil talk about them last week when I was home sick. After hearing how boldly Dr. Phil endorsed their ministry last week on national TV, I determined I was going to work them into my trip.
Dr. Phil talked about the difference they are making in their community – about how many homeless and hungry they feed EVERY day (hundreds). He went on to talk about how they give people a place to stay, clothes and many other opportunities (medical, physical and spiritual). As I drove up to the church, this was confirmed by the huge line of homeless people I saw stretched around the building and down the street. Each person was waiting to receive a meal and receive from the clothes and hygiene products they give out.
The Dream Center was founded by Tommy Barnett (who I have a great respect for) and his son, Matthew. You may remember Tommy Barnett’s name as the one who is ministering to and leading the restoration process of fallen pastor, Ted Haggard. Tommy also ministered to Jim Bakker.
I met Pastor Matthew Barnett’s personal assistant in the parking lot and she waited for me to park, welcomed me and guided me upstairs to Matthew’s office. He was on a flight and returning that evening for their worship service. She went on to tell me a little of her story – how God had used the Dream Center to change her life and how after graduating from their one year discipleship program she came on staff.
FYI – Everyone I met there was as friendly and hospitable as could be. We found out that one of their daily tours was just beginning so I quickly joined the tour (with a couple from Switzerland). For the next hour, the tour guide took us around their campus, told us stories, would point out different ministries going on and where people (of all ages) were living and introduce us to various staff and people that were in their discipleship program and living there.
After the tour, I went to go take a closer look at their recording studio. On the tour, our tour guide mentioned that they have recording studios where youth can come in off the street and record their music for free. What an outreach! I found my way in and stumbled upon their worship band, which work in the studio and played some of their original music for me. Their worship band, Press Play, just signed a deal with Universal and will be coming to a store near you soon.
As I was hanging out with some of the band, the lead singer of Press Play and head Creative Arts/Worship Pastor, Dave Hanley, walked in and introduced himself. I got to talk with him for a while, catch a little of his heart and vision (I believe he’s been at the Dream Center for 12 years) and hear one of his newest songs.
They invited me to come hang out at their rehearsal for that night’s service, but I had to leave and go meet a friend for college that I hadn’t seen in 11 years. Many people also invited me to their Thursday night worship service, but I had already committed to hang out with some LA friends.
I drove away thanking and praising God for what I had seen with my own eyes – such an amazing ministry. I’ll be mentioning them for sure in my “Church 2.0″ book. If you EVER get to LA, please go and visit the Dream Center. I think all Church leaders should go and spend some time there. I’m looking into going back for a week of ministry with them. To find out more about what God is doing through this amazing ministry watch the promo video below.
Day 1 continued: Thursday went on to include catching up and eating dinner with a friend from college and then meeting Tom Rice ( media producer, writer, filmmaker and Founder of eight20eight) who had invited me to an improv comedy show at the Groundling Theater in Hollywood.
What a night! I had a blast and could honestly go watch them every night. The theater is a cozy and intimate setting and you feel very close to the stage and involved as an audience member. It was kind of like “Whose Line is it Anyway?”, where they would call various actors forward and ask the audience to give them scene ideas.
Besides the amazing Groundling cast, I was wonderfully surprised by their special guests for the night: Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live), Michael McDonald (MADtv) and Gary Anthony Williams (Malcolm in the Middle).
That was a full and fun day topped off with a stop at In-N-Out Burger (you know I had to hit it once). It gets better – more details about Friday and Saturday on tomorrow’s blog.
PERSONAL:
To my friends, family and anyone interested – below is a video of yesterday (me baptizing my daughter). Grace was the first person ever to be baptized in our new baptismal pool. Yesterday was a day of mixed emotions, as we also had a baby dedication and surrounded a couple in prayer who are 7 months pregnant with their son, who is expected to die at birth or shortly after.
