Sixteen

Sixteen years ago today I married my wife Jennifer.

If you know us well, you know it wasn't the best decision she ever made. But it's worked out really well for me, and I'm so grateful that she got stuck with me.

Happy Anniversary Jen.

The New Evil Empire

So ...

When did the Phillies ...

... become the Yankees?

this weekend @ VERVE

We are continuing our series The Me I Want To Be, where we're talking about how to become the best version of ourselves, the me that is growing closer to God and becoming more like Jesus.

Last week we talked about how serving can be transforming, but it's not just serving. God has given us all kinds of pathways to spiritual growth, and this Sunday morning and Monday night we're going to look at one of the most important. And, hint, it's probably not something you'd expect.

See ya at Verve.

Interns Wanted

We currently have two interns - one for the summer and one through the end of the year - who are having awesome experiences. They are getting training, but also real hands-on opportunities to serve and lead and really do ministry. They have book assignments, and we bring in guest speakers to teach them. Very cool stuff.

So ... we'd like to have some interns next year too. It's a help to us, but even more a way we can invest in the future of God's Kingdom.

Are you interested? If so, e-mail my assistant, Kandysss, at kandyss@vivalaverve.org, and she'll help you with the next steps.

The pay is non-existent, but getting to work at Verve and hang out with me? Priceless.

Verve Happs

Things are flying at Verve.

I think this week's service was maybe the best we've had. We started a new series - The Me I Want To Be - where we're talking about HOW we grow spiritually. We did three spoken word kind of poetry elements that added a cool emotive element. The band did a great job with specials by The Killers and Switchfoot. It all seemed to work together really well.

We've had several "marketing" meetings - where we've been talking about how to let Vegas know that we exist and we're here for people who don't like church, but are wanting to find God.

We had Brad Russell and his wife from Dulles Community Church in Northern Virginia here visiting us. Very cool people who really get what we're doing.

We brought Julie Bullock, from Generis out to give us some coaching on fundraising. Everyone on Verve's staff has to raise part to all of their salary. As a new church our offerings just aren't sufficient to cover our building, ministry expenses, and salaries. So we have all asked friends and family and churches to support us financially for a few years. Julie helped us to understand the right and wrongs ways to ask people, show appreciation, etc. She was great.

And, speaking of that -- thank you so much to everyone who supports us financially. We depend on you, and your investment in Verve is going to pay big and eternal dividends!

Vince Recommends...

What do you think is the funniest show on T.V.? --- You're wrong. (Unless you agree with me. Then you're right!)

Okay, I don't know what you said. Maybe you said, The Office. I love The Office. In fact, I started loving The Office from the first episode, so unless you're from England, I've been loving and saying how funny it is at least as long as you.

But it's not the funniest show on T.V. It was a couple years ago, but it's been passed by the funnies show on T.V. .... 30 Rock. Never watched it? You are totally missing out. Watched it and disagree that it's the funniest show on T.V.? We've already covered that. You're wrong.

And ... you're welcome.

Antonucci Stuff

Our family has been on the go, trying to squeeze a few fun things into life here in Vegas, especially with the kids being out of school, and being gone some as well. Like...

• Saw a couple of movies in the last few weeks. I'm giving Karate Kid an A, Toy Story 3 a B+, and Despicable Me a B. (And yes, seriously, Karate Kid is that good. Totally surprised me!)
• The kids have done several sleep overs.
• Tonight Jen and I are going out for dinner for our 16th Anniversary (!!). Sixteen years, but it only feels like 23.
• Last week we were at camp. There is a camp in the mountains outside Sacramento, California that we go to every year. It's a youth camp and we love the teenagers there. A really fun time, and it's also cool ministry wise. This year I was the main speaker, which is an honor and all kinds of amazing stuff happened. Including the fact that 30 kids made decisions for Christ and got baptized including...
• My son, Dawson. Making decisions is not easy for him, and I always try to talk people out of following Jesus (because that's what He did), so it was difficult for him, but he made the choice anyway, and I am so proud of him.
  

Were

Just had an idea for a message series, and I'm gonna give it out for free to those of you who do message series...

I'm studying through the book of Ephesians and there are like five passages that have a "formerly you..." "but now you..." contrast, distinguishing life before Christ and life with Christ. They are 2:1-10; 2:11-13; 2:19-22; 4:17-24; and 5:8. Might be a cool series to study through those five passages to help people see the difference having Jesus should make in their lives.

And if it was me, I think I'd call it: Were. (As in, "As for you, you were..." "Like the rest, we were..." "But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were..."

If you use this idea, don't give me credit. 'Cause, you know, it may not come out good, and I can't be getting a rep for bad ideas. ;)

Switch

Last week I finally read Switch, by Chip & Dan Heath. (They also wrote Made To Stick, which is fantastic and the best book I've read on communicating.) Switch is about how change happens: If you want to change, if you want to help someone else change, if you want to bring change to an organization or church.

It's not a book of opinions, but of research and case studies, and it's fascinating. They break engineering change into three steps: (1) Direct the rider, (2) Motivate the elephant, and (3) Shape the path. The rider is our logical side that thinks long term, the elephant is our emotional side that wants instant gratification, the path is the context in which we live.

The idea of Switch is that to achieve change we need to convince the rider, the elephant, and help with the circumstances. And the book is full of practical ideas for how to do it.

If you want to change, or want to help people change, buy the book.

this weekend @ VERVE

I am psyched for this weekend at Verve, and you should be too! We are starting a brand new series: The Me I Want To Be.

Here's the idea: We talk a lot about how we want to grow closer to God, and we want to be more like Jesus, and most people who go to church do so because that's what they want. But HOW? How do we grow closer to God? How do we grow to become more like Jesus? How do I become the me I want to be?

In this series we will talk about HOW. And it will be life-changing if you show up, and apply it.

Don't miss it.

Suffering

We just completed our GPS series with S: Suffering.

We've tried to examine "Who has God made me to be?" so we can better understand, "How has God uniquely designed me to serve and make a difference for Him?" And of the three factors we've looked at, suffering is probably the surprise. The fact that our gifts and passions reveal our place to serve is expected, that our suffering and weakness may give us a ministry? Not so much.

But it's true. Look through the Bible, and at famous people since who have changed the world, and you'll find that most have experienced great suffering. And, even further, that often their suffering birthed their ministry.

So how have you suffered? What's your weakness? Don't waste it! Discover how it can lead you to turn the world upside down.

To learn more about leaving behind the mundane and really living the life, check out my book, I Became A Christian And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt. 

VERVE Happs

It's an exciting time at Verve. Like really exciting.

• We just finished our GPS series, where we talked about how God directs us where to serve and make an impact with our lives.
• We had a ton of people sign-up for First Serves - a chance to try out a volunteer position to see if it's a good fit. For our church to grow and be effective in accomplishing God's mission for us, we need for people to step up and make their unique impact at Verve.
• We started our second semester of Verve University. This summer we're offering two courses: Verge and Verb. We had about 40 people between the two classes on Sunday.
• We have pastors from two different churches coming in this week and next to see what we're doing at Verve and look for ways they might be able to partner with and support us.
• We're starting a brand new series this week I'm really pumped about. Should definitely help people to take next steps spiritually.

Vivalaverve!

Vince Recommends...

So this is a very localized recommendation, but I've got to do it, just in case you happen to be localized in this locale. Last weekend I was in Austin, Texas. I've been to Austin about 8 times in the last 5 years because of Gateway Church and E.L.I.

So, if you are ever in Austin you must go to Amy's Ice Cream. (Click on the link and check it out, it's one of the more fun web sites you'll ever see.) There's one in the airport, so you can try it even if you just have a layover.

And here's what you need to get: They have a blended float kind of thing, and you need to get it with Dr. Pepper and Mexican Vanilla Ice Cream. Trust me.

And you're welcome.

The Outsider Interviews

I have read a TON of books the last few weeks, mostly on airplanes and in hotel rooms. Thought I'd give you a few brief reviews and maybe a learning you can apply too.

One book was The Outsider Interviews. It's a book by three guys (one who has a ministry I really appreciate, one who was in my living room a couple months ago, and one I have no idea about) who went around the country interviewing people who are "outside" faith on panels in front of live audiences. They were trying to learn what their views were of Christians.

The book is meant as a follow-up to unChristian, in which a couple guys did thousands of interviews with non-Christians to get their views on Christians. This book kind of puts flesh on that book, giving a little more insight into who the people are who hold these views.

If you're a Christian with no non-Christian friends, or a pastor who wants to reach out to people who are far from God, but spends little time with them, this book is a good read.

Had To Ask

I was in the store the other day, innocently walking through the produce section when something caught my eye...

A pluot.

I learned that a pluot is a hybrid of a plum and an apricot. And I've just got to ask: How drunk did they have to get the plum and the apricot to make this happen?

this weekend @ VERVE

Okay people, no playing games today. This weekend we're concluding our GPS series, where we're learning how to discern where God might be leading us, and especially leading us to make an impact with our lives. The G stood for our gifts and the P our passion. And I could keep you guessing as to what the S is, but as I said - no games.

The S is your suffering.

Say what? Your suffering is the crap you've had to go through in life, right? It's the stuff you're trying to forget, right? So why is it in this equation?

Because God wants to redeem your suffering. I mean, wouldn't it suck if all suffering is is the crap you've gone through and want to forget? What if it can be a big part of how God uses us to bless other people and make a difference in the world? That would be pretty cool, right? Well then, make sure you're at Verve this weekend.

Find Your Niche

When you think of the actors whose movies have grossed the most money, names like Tom Hanks, Eddie Murphy, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, and Tom Cruise come to mind. But I was thinking that right up there towards the top has to be ... John Ratzenberger.

He was Cliff on Cheers, but has since voiced a character in all three Toy Story movies, Cars, Monsters Inc., Up, WALL-E, Ratatouille, and Finding Nemo. Sure, you never see him, but he's been in a bunch of the biggest movies of our lives.

Just shows: Get with the right people, find your niche, play your part, be willing to not be seen if necessary, and who knows what can happen. And, by the way, you can do that too.

VERVE Happs

This weekend at Verve we continued our new GPS series by talking about our P - our passions. One of the keys to understanding who God made us to be and how He designed us to serve is discovering what we're passionate about.

On Sunday night we had Vervalicious - which is an event where people who are new to Verve get to meet our staff and hear our vision, and we all eat lots of good desserts.

Today I leave for a camp in California. One of the coolest things God has done in my life is that back in 2001 our church in Virginia Beach made a commitment to love and serve a people group who mostly live in Communist countries in Southeast Asia, and some amazing things have happened through us there. Well, some of that people group live on the West Coast of America, and every year they have a camp for their teenagers. I have gone to that camp like five of the last six years, and it's this week. I cannot wait to get Verve involved in missions, so we can make a difference not just in Las Vegas, but also across the globe.

Vince Recommends...

Alright, my recommendations to improve your life have mostly been things like Cakesters, and keeping a decibel meter in your pocket, so I thought today I'd get a little more sophisticated by recommending an author ... Douglas Coupland.

Even if you haven't heard of him, he's touched your life a little as he's the guy who invented, or popularized (it's debatable) the terms "generation x" and "mcjob." I haven't read all his books yet, but I have read most, and they're great.

Coupland's writing is typically kind of quirky, but he is sometimes very poignant. Here's a quote from one of his books: "Now here is my secret: I tell it to you with an openness of heart that I doubt I shall ever achieve again, so I pray that you are in a quiet room as you hear these words. My secret is that I need God -- that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem to be capable of giving; to help me be kind, as I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond being able to love."

You're welcome.

Sloshed Anthems

One more question inspired by watching the World Cup: Is there a national anthem that, when sung by the soccer players and fans of that country, doesn't create the impression that everyone is drunk?

Seriously. If you didn't know any better and turned on the TV and listened to the players and fans sing the national anthem, you would swear they had each drunk a bottle of vodka and chased it with a Colt 45.

Discipline

I've read a bunch of books lately - like maybe 6 in the last 3 weeks. Two were The War of Art and Linchpin. Linchpin was really good, The War of Art was really great. But anyway...

They had a theme in common I didn't expect going in - both promoted discipline. I mean promoted like Don King promotes boxing matches. Both authors attribute their success, and they've both had a ton, to discipline. ... Love it.

People ask me all the time, "How can you start a church AND write a book at the same time?" They also ask, "Why don't you Twitter, and why don't you read anyone's Twitter?" And my answer: "I can start a church AND write a book at the same time because I don't Twitter or read anyone else's Twitter."

They ask, "How can you start a church AND write a book AND do comedy?" They also ask, "Why don't you do Facebook?" And my answer: "I can start a church AND write a book AND do comedy because I don't do Facebook."

There is a TON of stuff I don't do that almost everyone does, some of it stuff I'd probably enjoy doing, but because I don't do it, I can do what I consider more important things - that most people don't have the time to do...

this weekend @ VERVE

This weekend at Verve we're continuing our brand new series, GPS. We're trying to learn how to discover where God is leading us in life, and especially where He's leading us to serve and make a difference with our lives. Last week we talked about your G - your gifts. This week we'll talk about your P - your ... well, you'll have to come to Verve to find out.

But I can tell you this - we have got something hysterical for you. Like wear adult diapers, 'cause you might laugh till you pee. Maybe that's what the P stands for - your pee.

Doubt it.

G Is For Gifts

At Verve we just started our GPS series, where we're learning how to understand where God is leading us, and especially where He might be leading us to serve and make a difference. And this week we talked about our gifts.

Almost everyone understands that they have some gifts - talents and abilities and skills. The thing we don't understand is that those gifts are not for us. God didn't give us them or the ability to develop them so we could be selfish. He gave us them to bless others and impact the world.

We talked about how knowing our gifts help us to know where we're to serve. One thing we didn't talk about is this: Using our gifts to serve the interests of others, rather than promoting ourselves, is one of the keys to happiness and personal fulfillment. That's counter-culture for sure, but it's true. If you want to be happy, stop worrying about being happy and use your gifts to serve others.

If you haven't yet, maybe it's time for you to find a place to serve and make a difference at Verve.

VERVE Happs

We had a good weekend at Verve.

The 4th of July landing on a Sunday isn't great for church attendance, but we had a decent crowd and a great service. We started a new series called GPS, where we're talking about how to know where God is leading you, and especially where He wants you to serve and make an impact with your life.

I am really psyched about the impact this series could have on the people of Verve, and then (through them) on Las Vegas. God has a heart for Las Vegas, and He wants to us to do something really beautiful here. And He's asking each of us not to be spectators, but to use our gifts to play our part. Wow!

Greg Rohlinger of Palm Valley Church was in town. Palm Valley has been incredibly supportive of us and we are so grateful. Sunday we were able to go to dinner with Greg and his wife, Lori. I'm excited that in a few months I'm gonna get to spend some time with Palm Valley's staff, and at their church.

Vince Recommends...

So let me tell you about one of my favorite moments in my "preaching" "career." One time I spoke at a church in Rochester, New York. The pastor at that church is the father of a guy who had attended and served as an intern at my church in Virginia Beach. He is one of the sharpest young guys I've ever met. He happened to be in Rochester and heard me that day. After my message he came up and said, "I finally figured out who you remind me of. You're like the preaching version of Bill Simmons."

Bam!

That was ridiculous. Like ridiculously cool. And my recommendation for this week, this is for you sports fans, is Bill Simmons. He is a columnist for ESPN and is hysterical and the king of (brilliant and zany) pop culture references.

You're welcome.

Stay Classy America

What Up Burger King?

Have you been to Burger King lately? I went to one (in Baker, California) a few weeks ago, and something has gone wacky at Burger King. LIKE ... you can now get RIBS there. No joke. You can just order ribs, or you can add 3 ribs to any extra value meal for like two bucks. AND ... you can now get funnel cakes there. Again, no joke.

BUT ... the weirdest thing is that over on the soda machine there is a sign with suggested pairings. Like it says something like: "Coke has a bold, bountiful rich flavor. Coke goes well with: A Whopper, and ..." Then it tells you what sandwiches Sprite goes best with, and Dr. Pepper.

Who is Burger King trying to fool? Are they going to start having sommeliers walking around helping the guests out?

I'm not sure, but I think the King might be on the Crack.

Intern-azing

We've got three interns at Verve at the moment, and they are three incredibly lucky people. Not only do they getting to work at what someone called the world's coolest church (okay, I'm the one who called it that, but I'm someone!), but they are also getting some incredible experiences.

One (not so good) example: On Tuesday our whole staff went to ... Chuck E' Cheese's. And you'll have to just trust: Playing skeet ball and pop-a-shot basketball with me is an incredible experience.

One (great) example: Every other Thursday we are having a roundtable learning event. We have a topic and a speaker and a discussion. Shaula Overholt, who is overseeing it, is knocking it out of the park. Like this week our speaker was Eric Bryant from Mosaic. Next time it's Kevin Odor, the Pastor of Canyon Ridge Christian Church in North Vegas. She even let me be one of the speaker's once.

Seriously, if I was gonna be an intern, Verve is where I would want to be.

this weekend @ VERVE

This weekend we are starting a brand new series: GPS.

Everyone needs direction. We want to know where to go, where God might be leading us. And this may be especially true when we think about how we're to make a difference with our lives. In this series we'll talk about exactly that. You'll learn tons about who you are, and how God wants to use you to turn this world upside down.

So let's be honest - this Sunday is July 4th. You're likely to have a few extra reasons not to come to Verve. No, don't miss it! This series is going to be great and potentially life changing, and you don't want to miss the beginning of it!