Elevate - Willow Creek's Jr. High Service

This past Sunday, a few of our staff had the great opportunity to attend Elevate, Willow Creek Community Church's Jr. High Service. Scott Rubin and Jason Raitz, two of the current Believe speakers both work there and it was great to see one of their "typical" weekend services. I think they enjoyed introducing Evan to numerous people who have seen his videoes.

The part that I was most impressed by was the fact although they are one of the largest churches in America, they still have to set up and tear down everything every week. The junior high meets in the gym which is used for about 75 other things every week. So they have to set up all the stage, curtains, stage props, chairs, tables, ping pong/pool tables, etc.

There are so many churches that have to set up and tear down every week because they meet in a temporary space such as a movie theater, night club, school, etc. because the space is only temporary. This is the same for the Jr. High Ministry at Willow.

Michigan Believe

This past weekend was the first ever Believe event in the state of Michigan. We received a ton of great feedback on people that were excited to see us in the state, and we had the highest attendance ever for a first year new site location (All of the above made Andy Hansen giddy). The event was held in Holland, MI at Hope College in the DeVos Fieldhouse. Christ in Youth also holds two of their high school Move events there in the summer as well. Arena seating has such a cool feel (seats going up), and is drastically different from the convention center feel (seats on the floor).

Anyways, here are some highlights from the weekend:

- Steve Carter, from Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, did a great job. The evaluations we received appreciated not only the speaking time to the students but also the adult training on Saturday morning.

- The venue got crazy cold on Saturday morning. The temperature dropped outside, which we thought was the only reason it was so cold inside. After lunch we found out that it was our hazer which made the Fieldhouse cold (the exhaust fans had to be on when our hazer was on, and with the exhaust fans on the heating flame could not stay lit). Hope Staff said they would have this problem fixed by the time we are there next year.

- Great Lakes Christian College sponsored the event and combined with Northview Christian Church in Coldwater, MI, they provided one of the strongest volunteer forces yet. We had over 30 people that stayed and helped with tear down.

- Evan the Keytar player got in a paint fight with Doug the bass player and got black paint on his green jumpsuit.

- Seth, our lighting engineer, got to enjoy his favorite restaurant, Red Robin, numerous times.

- Major props and thanks goes to Ron, Mark, Monte, Seth, Tony, and Matt for spending hours last Wednesday to cover all the windows in the Fieldhouse with black plastic. No one who attended the event had any idea how much time they spent and what a difference it made.

Hotel Tip #1 - $3.00 Orange Juice

Hotel Tip #1 - If you are going to charge $10.00 for breakfast buffet and $3.00 for orange juice, put a sign somewhere.

Yesterday, our staff was getting ready to leave for the venue, and we were going to get breakfast on the way until one of our staff told us they had continental breakfast. So...we all went in the room, grabbed some plates, sat down and eat. No big deal right - until she brought us our bill. Fortunately, my bill was only $4.50 (oatmeal and yogurt), but some people like Seth, had to pay $3.00 for a glass of OJ. I know you live you learn, but there were no signs and there were no menus.

If you are a hotel - first, don't charge for breakfast, and second, if you do charge, tell people you are going to charge them before they eat.

The land of U-Turns

The Believe Team is in Holland, Michigan this weekend for the Michigan Believe. We spent all day setting up in the DeVos Fieldhouse on the campus of Hope College.

I guess because I have not spent that much time in Michigan, I didn't realize you can't make a left turn anywhere! All you can do is make a Michigan left, which supposedly cuts down on traffic accidents. My theory is Michigan drivers are worse than the rest of the country and this is why they used to have so many accidents when drivers tried to turn left.

What's in a name?

This past Monday, a few of us went to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch while we were in Chicago. This was my first time to ever eat there and I loved it. Krystle suggested it told me what it was like and we gave it a shot.

I never would have picked this restaurant on my own for one reason - I hate tomatoes. I don't like them on my salad, I don't like them on my cheeseburger, I don't like my chili to have too many tomatoes. I am not alone - tomatoes is an item that a lot of people despise.

From just reading the sign, I would have thought everything in the store had something to do with tomatoes. You would have been wrong - there were not too many things with tomatoes at all (which was a good thing).

So, the point is either (1) when you start a business, don't title your company something that is going to turn people away, or (2) a good reference is better than a bad name.

Cubs v Mets

This afternoon, Josh, Krystle, and I were able to go to the Cubs/Mets game at Wrigley Field. Anyone who know me know I am a die-hard Cubs fans. I also have not been to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field in 10 years. The last time I went Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa were chasing home run records and Kerry Wood was a rookie.

We had a blast. Some of the highlights from the game:

- It worked out that my favorite player, Ted Lilly, was pitching today. He also won his first game of the season. I feel like I had something to do with that.

- The "Chicago Dog" was everything I expected it to be.

- Krystle tried to negotiate with a guy over $2 for parking. She lost.

- I really wanted to buy the "Cardinals Suck" shirt, but instead I just bought a normal Cubs shirt.

- Kosuke Fukudome is not only the real deal, but the city of Chicago is doing everything they can to make money off the guy. You should see how many Japanese headbands there were to sell.

- In the eight inning Ronny Cedeno hit a grand slam. I don't know if I have ever seen one in person before.

- Krystle was the only person in the entire stadium (no, really, she was the only one) who sat down during the 7th innning stretch and didn't sing "Take me out to the ballgame."

- Josh wouldn't let a van pass us on the way out (it was a one lane road, and the van was trying to pass us where parked cars usually are), and then we heard a barrage of colorful words yelled at us. We were really close to turning on the siren on the megaphone.

- We had great seats for a great price. We were about 15 rows from field near the Met's bullpen.

The Cubs are hot and have a record of 14-6 and sitting in first place. Go Cubs Go!

Chicago Believe

Yesterday, Josh, Krystle, and I took a tour of the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL. This is where the Chicago Believe event is going to be held this upcoming October 17-18.

The actual room that Believe will be in is very similar to most rooms we are in throughout the year - a large convention center room. We all walked away excited about having the event there.

Good things about this particular location:

- It is easy to get to off of all major interstates around Chicago. It is also located in a very nice area of town as well.

- Free Parking. This is a big deal for those attending, because most convention centers charge an arm and a leg.

- Our room is located right inside the entrance - meaning - we will be somewhat secluded and there won't be a ton of jr. high students that have to walk past another event (ex. The Great American Beer Festival - yes, it happened a few years ago).

- From our initial conversations, they should be able to handle all our productions needs - so, no surprises.

- There is an REI store located less than 2 miles away.

- It is in Chicago! Go Cubs!

Crazy Anderson

Yesterday we finished the second of two Believe events in one weekend at the same location. As the first group was leaving on Saturday night, the second group was arriving. If there was ever a place to hold two events in the same weekend, Anderson University in Anderson, IN was the right choice. The Anderson staff is great to work with - they would even help sell merchandise and they also are a huge help with load in and load out.

Some of the highlights of the weekend include:

- Watching and hearing the locals react to the earthquake. Best quote (in your best Indiana farmer voice), "It sounded like a herd of cattle was right outside my window!"

- I gave Evan the Keytar player my camera for the weekend (which was a little scary) and told him to take 100 pictures during the weekend. Some of them are priceless.

- Sleeping downstairs under the stage and not leaving the auditorium for 3 straight days. (Comparable to where Harry Potter had to sleep)

- Scott Rubin, our main speaker from Willow Creek Church, did an amazing job preaching 12 times in 3 days.

- Seth, our lighting guys, passing out stickers of "The Rubyz" to everyone multiple times. (The Rubyz are new band that will be on tour next year)

- Watching 2000 jr. high students do the motions to "Mas Tortillas" simultaneously.

- Watching 2000 jr. high students gasp when Brent the Stunt Guy falls from 3 sets of scaffolding.

Two more Believe events to go on the Connect Tour - Michigan and Omaha!

Newest Member of the Golf Cult

Last Friday Krystle, Johnny, Monte and I played a round of golf at the amazing Par 3 course in Joplin. It is so amazing it only costs $7 to play 9 holes. And in the months of January and February you can pay $10 and play unlimited holes all day. Oh, compare the grass on the tee box (Krystle's picture) to the sand in the sand trap (Johnny's picture).

It was Krystle's first time to ever actually play a round of golf (she has been to the driving range before) and I think we were all blown away by how well she did her first time. The weather was horrible for golf (low 50s, winds around 28mph, with gust over 40 mph), but I think Krystle lost less balls than I did, and I think her score was better than Johnny's.

I did forget to tell her that you can only use a tee from the tee box (can't use a tee from the fairway) and I think she only swung and missed once.

Anyways, I think she is hooked and now part of the cult!

On a similar note, I almost chipped in for eagle on another round of golf I played on Tuesday. It rolled up and hit the pin and bounce out - if the pin would not have been there I would have had an eagle!

Oklahoma State...blame Derrick Rose

Oklahoma State can blame Derrick Rose. They can also blame Chris Douglas-Roberts.

Let me explain. The stage in the 2008 National Championship Game was set very similar to 2003 National Championship Game.

Roy Williams, current coach of Kansas in 2003, had speculation around him about taking the void North Carolina coaching position going into the championship game. Roy Williams played basketball for North Carolina.

Bill Self, current coach of Kansas, had speculation around him about taking the void Oklahoma State coaching position going into the championship game. Bill Self played basketball for Oklahoma State.

In 2003, Kansas played a fast Syracuse Orangemen team lead by outstanding freshman Carmelo Anthony.

In 2008, Kansas played a fast Memphis Tigers team lead by outstanding freshman Derrick Rose.

In 2003, after the lose, Roy Williams was asked a very awkward question about if he was leaving Kansas to take the job at UNC.

Everyone was expecting Memphis, up by 9 with 2:12 left, to close out the game and become national champs. If that had happened...Bill Self would have been asked a very awkward question about if he was leaving Kansas to take the job at OSU.

But.....Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts couldn't make free throws. Between the two of them they missed 4 of 5 free throws in the last 1:15.

Also, in 2003, a last second 3 point shot by the Jayhawks was blocked. In 2008, a last second 3 point shot by Jayhawk Mario Chalmers (being guarded by Derrick Rose), was not blocked, went in, and the game went to overtime.

In 2003 Kansas lost and the coach left. In 2008 Kansas won and the coach stayed.

So Cowboy fans...blame Derrick Rose for no Bill Self in Stillwater.

10 inches from the cup

Yesterday, I was able to play 27 holes of golf. The first 27 holes of golf for me in 2008. I don't think I have even been to the driving range since December. I guess pneumonia will do that to you.

Anyways, the first 18 I played with my dad, and the last 9 with my dad and another man that works at his bank. We played at East Lake Woodlands Country Club, located in Oldsmar, FL. The course is beautiful and I spent most of my day in the sand. I felt like there were 5 sand traps for every hole! I also lost a few balls in the water. We did see 2 gators and a ton of wildlife.

The exciting moment took place on hole number 7 of the North Course which was about 130 yards. I came with 8-10 inches of a hole in one. Without a doubt the closest I have ever been and probably the closest I will get in a very long time.

On another note, if Tony Anderson ever says he will play golf with you (either real golf or disc golf), don't count on him showing up.

Moises Alou is a liar

In Game 6 of 2003 National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins, the Cubs were within a few outs of going back to the World Series. Then on a foul ball, Steve Bartman reached out, touched the ball, and Moises Alou did not catch it. Yesterday, Alou came out and said he would not have caught the ball. His quote after the game in 2003, "I timed it perfectly, I jumped perfectly. I'm almost 100 percent that I had a clean shot to catch the ball. All of a sudden, there's a hand on my glove."

I know the truth. You know the truth. If Steve Bartman would not have touched the ball, Moises Alou would have caught the ball. The Cubs would have won the game. The Cubs would have gone to the World Series.

Moises Alou is a liar.

Opening Day

Yesterday was opening day for the Cubs and the majority of the major league teams. The Cubs lost the first one 4-3 in 1o innings. My observations below:

The Good:
- Kosuke Fukudome looked liked an all-star and worth every penny the Cubs paid for him. When no one else could hit (the rest of the Cubs went 2 for 31), Fukudome was 3 for 3 with a double and a 3-run home run to tie up the game in the bottom of the 9th. Maybe the Brewers were throwing Japanese balls yesterday.
- Carlos Zambrano looked good pitching through the first 6 innings. He only gave up 3 hits and only walked 1.

The Bad:
- Carlos Zambrano left the game with tightness in his forearm, which means that the game was up to the bullpen.
- Besides Fukudome, nobody hit the ball.

The Part that makes me really mad:
- Kerry Wood looked horrible. He had an amazing spring training where he didn't walk a batter and then on his first pitch he hits Rickie Weeks with a pitch! Where did all his amazing control go? And then he goes on to give up 3 runs in the 9th inning. In a moment of frustration, I told Abbey that I was going to drop him from my fantasy team for giving me -1.5 points yesterday. She told me that was the one player I can't drop because it is one of 5 players she actually knows and he is her "favorite."

A very small good side note:
- The team I cheer for second, the Tampa Bay Rays (not the Devil Rays), won the first game of the season and are sitting in first place all by themselves! Take that Yankees and Red Sox!