this weekend @ VERVE

This week at Verve we are launching our new series, "I Want a Movie Life" in which we'll be finding life-changing spiritual lessons from recent blockbuster movies.  We've done this series before, and it's been one of our most popular.  The first week we'll be talking through the movie Rango.  Did you see it?  Think it's just a kid's movie?  Nope.  It's so funky and odd, kids probably don't get half of it!  If you've seen it, great.  If not, you'll be fine - come and hear about it.  We'll see you this Sunday morning or Monday evening!  And bring some friends! 

And remember those invite cards.  I've been out-of-town all week speaking at a conference, got home late last night, and got up at 5:30 this morning so I could put the 100 cards on homes in my neighborhood.  Get 100 on doors and 10 into hands of friends before Sunday!

Flash Mob Crime

Have you heard that the most current wave of violence and crime are flash mobs made possible by new technology.  People are using texts and twitter to decide on a business to hit, and then at the assigned time, a huge group will converge on the place, beating, stealing, looting, pillaging in an overwhelming way.  How sad.

The irony is that I had this idea when my Guerrilla Lovers book was released.  I wanted to try and create guerrilla lover flash mobs, trying to figure out how to get large groups of people to converge on a place to do acts of kindness and goodness in an overwhelming way.

Here's what I think:  We are devolving, and darkness and hate will win the day, unless we force in light and love.  We can't just sit back and think pleasant thoughts.  We need to be as strategic and aggressive for good, as the people in these flash mobs are being for evil.  Jesus said it this way, "the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."  We need to be forceful with love.  The way I'd say it:  We need to ambush this world with guerrilla love.

Analysis Paralysis?

Researchers did a study at a grocery store near San Francisco. They set up a table on two consecutive Saturdays with jams. One week 6 jams, the other 24 kinds of jam. More people stopped to look when there were more types. However, significantly more jam was actually purchased when there were fewer options to choose from.

When it comes to analysis, more choices lead to paralysis. What does that mean for you?

And if you're a pastor, what does it say about the number of ministries and classes you should offer?

FREE (!) Conference (?)

Yesterday I decided our Vault Conference is actually free.  What do I mean?  Well, how much would you pay for:

• Two breakfasts and a lunch?
• Three books?
• A Vegas show straight from the Strip?

Seeing as how breakfast or lunch is typically around $10, and books cost $15, and this Vegas show has about a $70 ticket, I'm thinking the total right about $125.  And you get all that at the Vault Conference, and that happens to be the price of Vault (unless you bring more than one person, than it's only $100).  So, in effect, FREE conference!  Or you can look at it as a $125 conference, with $125 worth of FREE stuff you'll get!

Either way, why aren't you registered yet? It starts in two weeks. Especially if you live in Vegas, or L.A., or Phoenix, or San Diego, or Salt Lake City.  Drive over on Monday morning, drive home Wednesday afternoon.  You'll pay less than $50/night for a hotel.  And this conference WILL impact your ministry and could just change your life.  Register today!

VERVE Happs

It's time I face it, Las Vegas is illogical.  I am someone who thrives on logic, on being able to figure things out and get to the bottom of things.  But there's so much that is illogical about Vegas.  For instance...

Three weekends ago our first service was pretty packed, and second was pretty empty.  It was the first week of football season, so our conclusion was that people were doing church early so they could get home to watch the games.

But then two weekends ago our first service was empty, and our second was packed.  Why?  I have no idea.  But we had sent out postcards, and someone suggested that perhaps the new people showing up didn't care about football and second service allows you to sleep in.  Okay.

This this past weekend ... first service packed, second service empty.  Seriously?!  I think I have to give up trying to understand.

I enjoyed the X-Factor series we just completed, thought it presented a good thought-provoking challenge.  And I'm excited about our I Want A Movie Life series starting this week.  We've done it before, and I think it's becoming a favorite around Verve.

Ververs:  If you picked up the packets of 110 cards, put 100 of those on doors and give 10 to friends this week!  It's a pretty easy way to potentially make a really big difference!

Vince Recommends...

They did it again.

I'll be honest: There aren't a ton of Christian bands that I like. But, all other things being equal, I would rather listen to music about God and that helps me think about Jesus than anything else. So several years ago I asked my friend Fletch to let me listen to some of his CD's of Christian bands to see if I could find some new one's to like. I listened to a ton, but there was only one band that stood out to me. So I got on iTunes and bought their, at the time, two CD's. And as I started listening to them, I fell in love with the music of Needtobreathe.

Their third CD came out a couple years later, and this last Tuesday their fourth. And ... they did it again. They are so good it's ridiculous. Check 'em out.

Last Meal?

Did you hear that Texas just dropped the whole "last meal" for death row inmates? No more will those about to die in Texas be able to choose their favorite meal for their last.

But ... what if YOU got to choose your last meal?  What would it be?

I'm going with, hmmmm, how about:
 - APP: Fried Calamari or Chips & Salsa (Chili's) 
 - Dinner: Cowboy Ribeye
 - Dessert: Banana's Foster.

What would your last meal be?

Only In Vegas?

When I went to college I took a few unusual courses.  I took a class called "Ancient Sports" where we learned about sports in Greece and Rome and the start of the Olympics.  I took a class called, "Blacks in Film" where we looked at the history of movies made specifically by or for African Americans.  So I know that it's not all History and Math and Science.

But ... I learned recently that there is a class at UNLV on ... beer.  They not only learn, they actually brew beer in class.  A "Big Beer Bash" is held during the semester.

Two thoughts:  (1) This has got to be the most popular course at UNLV, and (2) And we wonder why America's losing it's place as the leader of the world?

this weekend @ VERVE

This week we continue our new series The X Factor.  We're talking about that special something you see in certain people, and that we all want.  How do we find it, and what's keeping us from it? 

Last week we looked at one obstacle - the idea that God is mad at us and so we can't have Him in our lives.  This week we're going to look at where we search for the x-factor, and consider the possibility that we've been seeking it in the wrong place.

See ya Sunday morning or Monday evening!

"The Talk"

I've now had the privilege of having "the talk" with each of my kids.  The experts suggest having it when your kids turn 8, we waited with each till they were 10.  I think I'm pretty good at it, so I thought I'd share an outline of what I say to maybe help other parents who have this in their future. Here goes:

1. First, I ask, we're going to talk about sex, so tell me what you think sex is and what you know about it.
2. I explain that mom and I know all about sex, and so you can tell us anything you hear about it, or ask us anything about it...
3. Then, I say, I'm going to explain what sex is, but first let's talk about marriage. Because God gave sex as something that is amazing and beautiful and powerful for married people to share.
4. Marriage is So important to God.
5. God wants a husband and wife to have a relationship with each other like they have with no one else. He wants them to have intimacy - to be closer with each other than any other two people AND He wants them to have children together.
6. So what is sex?  Then I tell about boy parts, girl parts, how they fit together, etc.  (With my kids at least, this is where you get looks of shock, and interesting questions.)
7. Why does God give sex?  Well, remember what God wants for married people?  First, intimacy.  And sex gives married people intimacy.  In fact, the Bible says when people have sex they become "one flesh" - it's like they're so close they almost become one person.  It's like relational super glue.  (I also explain here that sex feels good, allows the two people to share special feelings that they don't get to share with anyone else, etc.)
8. And second, for them to be able to have children and be parents.  Sex is how people have babies.  Then I explain how that works.  Daddy juice + Mommy egg = baby!  (I also explain here that sex doesn't always produce babies, but it always can...)
9. So ... sex is an awesome, perfect, beautiful gift god gives to married people.
10. But there's a problem.  Sometimes people take that gift for married people, and they use it outside of marriage.
11. Why is that a problem?  Well, remember what sex does?  Well, the problem is that it does it for people who aren't married too.
12. Sex gives two people intimacy, like they become one.  And it does the same for unmarried people.  The problem is that those two people then break up and go their separate ways, and it's like they ripped a piece of the other one off and take it with them.  (I explain that in a little more detail, some illustrations, and I talk about the pain it causes people, and how it creates problems in marriage later - which it always does.)
13. Sex allows people to have babies.  And so when two unmarried people have sex they can also have a baby.  And that's not what they want, and think about that...  (More details.)
14. So sex outside of marriage creates all kinds of problems.  Inside of marriage it's awesome.  (I use fire as an illustration - fire is a needed and amazing thing, but where fire is in the wrong place it is destructive...)
15. Then I talk about puberty.  Body starts changing (I explain, or mom did for our daughter), God is moving you towards the point where you can get married (if you want and He leads you to it) and you can have that kind of intimacy and have babies.
16. Puberty is also when you start to get attracted to the opposite sex, temptations start to come to move towards sex, or have sex, before marriage.  But remember that's not what God intended it for, it leads to problems and is destructive.
17. So wait for marriage.
18. And inside marriage, it is amazing, beautiful, etc., etc.
19. Questions?
20. Then I explain that we'll have this same talk (with a few added details each time) every six months...

Everyday

People occasionally ask me how they can become a pastor or a church planter.  And people ask me all the time how they can become an author.  (I'm pretty sure everyone wants to write a book.)

I heard an interview with Jon Foreman, the singer of Switchfoot, who said that he writes a song ... everyday.  He sets aside 90 minutes before he goes to sleep each night to write a full song.  Verse, Chorus, Verse, Bridge - a whole song everyday.  He said if you want to be a songwriter, that's what you do.  A lot of the songs won't be good, but that's how you get better.

So how do you become a pastor?  Right now, start being one, everyday.  Invest in people, share Jesus, write sermons or classes (even if you may never actually teach them).  How do you become an author?  You write, everyday.  It may suck, and it may never be seen by anyone, but you'll get better through the process, and someday you may actually become your dream.  But someday starts with everyday.

VERVE Happs

We started our new series, The X-Factor this week. We're talking about how some people have something - an intangible, hard to define something - that you want. It's the x-factor, and the x-factor is a real, authentic, deep relationship with God. But there are some things that hold us back from getting it - so in this series we're attacking those head on.

We did our first ever postcard mailing last week, and have a second card going out this week.  We had some extra (free) cards given to us by the printer - 10,000 of them! - and we're putting them as inserts in the Las Vegas Review Journal on Friday.

One of the dreams of Verve is that we wouldn't be about just the dreams of Verve, but instead the dreams of our people. We want to help people discover the dream God's put in them, and then help them make it a reality. That's part of the reason we offer our Verve U. course "Verb" - and I'm psyched that the newest semester of it just started!  I think it will be life changing for the 18 people taking it.

Vince Recommends...

Old, but awesome:



You're welcome.

I Hate To Take Credit But...

In my second book, Guerrilla Lovers, I wrote:  "I enjoy an occasional trip the home of Burger King.  But, personally, I question his sovereignty. I mean, really, what is he the king of? Quarter pound slabs of ground beef? I ask you: Who made the Burger King king anyway? And is he really deserving of his royal status? I’ll let you be the judge."  Then I proceeded to give three reasons why I question the sovereignty of Burger King, ending with, "And so, I end by making this request: O alleged king of burgers, relinquish your crown sir!"

So did you hear the news?  Burger King has announced that they are doing away with their "King" (see picture) and taking a more "food-centric" marketing approach.

Why are they making this decision?  Well, I don't know for sure, but I'm taking the credit on this one.

Obama's Vacation

A few weeks ago there was a lot of complaining about how Obama was taking a vacation and how he shouldn't when the nation is in the midst of an economic crisis. I think most of the Republican candidates jumped in.  And I've been thinking about those complaints, and how absurdly  stupid they were.

Richard Nixon (not typically quoted, give me some points!) once said to JFK, "I shall never join in any criticism of you, expressed or implied, for taking time off for relaxation. There is nothing more important than that a President be physically, mentally and emotionally in the best possible shape to confront the immensely difficult decisions he has to make."  True, Tricky Dick, so true.

And it's not just true for the President, it's true for all of us.  We all need to relax and recharge to be able to be at our best.  If you know me, you know that I'm crazy cheap with my money, and crazy intense about how I use my time, but the one exception I make is for ... vacation.  I need to get away from the grind, and so do you.

Question:  What's the best vacation you've ever gone on?

this weekend @ VERVE

Next week the biggest new show of the year starts: The X-Factor.  The idea is that some singers have an "x-factor" - an intangible, hard to define, but obvious something that will make them famous. 

This week we start our new series, yup, you guessed it: The X-Factor.  Our idea is that some people have a different kind of "x-factor" - a quality about them - you might see it in their joy, feel it in their passion, hear it in their laugh or caring voice - it's a special something that draws you to them, and makes you want that x-factor too.

In this series we'll be talking about some of the things that keep us from getting the x-factor we long for.  This week we'll focus on the idea that God is mad at us.  If you feel like God must be angry with you, don't miss this.

Come this week to learn more about the x-factor and how you can have it yourself!

Best. Chant. Ever?

Did you hear what hundreds of Libyans chanted together after rebels took control of the capital? 

It's over, Frizzhead!  It's over, Frizzhead!  It's over, Frizzhead!

What I want to know is: Who was the first person to yell that line?  Was there then an explosion of laughter, and people decided to humorously chant it together?  Or was the first shout met with nods of solemn agreement.  "Yes, it is over.  And, indeed Muammar Gaddafi does have frizzy hair.  Perhaps we should all chant this together to show our agreement with the sentiment."  "Yes, indeed, let us chant."

Anyone have video of it?

Uggggghhhhhh!

We have a freezer in our garage where we keep all our frozen meats and vegetables.  Apparently someone left it open probably two days ago and it wasn't noticed until this morning.

Questions:

Who left it open? I blame the kids. It wasn't me!  It may have been me.  I'm pretty sure it was me.

What did we lose?  Everything.  We buy in bulk and when things are on sale, and then freeze what we bought.  So there were steaks, shrimp, chicken, hot dogs, bacon, frozen pizzas, individual frozen meals, bags of veggies, ice cream, everything.

Who cleaned it up?  Me.

How long did it take me?  45 minutes.

How am I feeling?  Can I curse on my own blog?  Hmmmm.  I'll just say ugggghhhhhh!

Vault Schedule

A (not super detailed) schedule is now up at the Vault website.  And Vault is less than four weeks away! Been hearing about more people signing up, bringing other people on their staff or other pastors from their town. We had someone from Africa trying to get a temporary Visa to come, and a missionary in France trying to figure out how to be a part of Vault. I'm getting psyched.

Vault isn't the most impressive conference you'd ever attend - we're not trying to impress anyone. No light shows, no gimmicks. But it very well may be the most intense conference you'd ever attend. We are serious about helping people find Jesus and life in Him, and so we're going to try and help people who attend as best we can. We don't play games.

• That's why we provide three meals on site, even though it costs us money to feed everyone, it's worth it because it means we can keep talking and networking and learning during those meal times.
• It's why we have things people can come back for at night. Yeah, it's Vegas and if you want to go out and see the town, that's cool. But if you want to keep the conversation going, we're going to make sure that happens.

If you're serious about what we're serious about...

figure out how to be at Vault.

VERVE Happs

I enjoy living on the West Coast except for one thing - NFL games starting at 10 am on Sundays. And I was worried about the hit our attendance would take with the start of the season. (Not worried about our attendance "numbers," I just want people there because I know the impact it has on them. I LOVE football, but it doesn't change your life.) Last year our attendance dropped with the opening games. This year? Kinda sorta. First service was good, second was pretty empty. I guess people are willing to miss the first half of a game, but not the second half...

Of all the 2011 messages, this weekend's would be in my top 3-ish for the one's I'd most want every Verver to hear. Not because it had to do with money, but because it was about being amazed by God's outrageous love, having to respond to a love like that, and living a "Love made me do it" kind of life. That's what I want to be about, and that's what I want our people to be all about. If you missed the message, you can listen to it by clicking "Launch Sermon Player" here.

So ... what are you most excited about that's happening at Verve lately?

Vince Recommends...

Okay, I admit (to my embarrassment) that I have not tried these, and it is odd to recommend something you've never had.

But I have a good reason for not having tried it yet.  I have been trying to eat a little "healthier" and "lose some weight" so that I don't have a "heart attack" and "fall over" and "die" when I'm only "41" years old.

Anyway, there is now the ...
Triple Double Oreo.

Holy crap!  I've got to believe that this was an act of God, and that it will be the food of choice in Heaven.

So, what's your favorite kind of cookie?

9.11

Every week Verve gives the first ten percent of our offerings to church planting. Honestly, we can't afford it. Currently our offerings don't even begin to cover our expenses. (We are relying on external support from other churches and friends around the country.) (Which I'm grateful for.) (But also sad about - I look forward to the day when we are self-supporting and all that money can go to start other churches.) But we tithe our offerings by giving at least 10% away.

This weekend we are giving an additional 9.11% to a church planting group in New York City. We know a bunch of their leaders, and many of the churches they've started in the past, and it is a high quality and effective organization.

And on this, the tenth anniversary of 9/11, when terrorists tried to make hate prevail, we're taking a stand along with many other churches around the country, and giving 9.11% of our offerings to help start churches in the city the terrorists tried to destroy.  They meant for hate to win the day, we're making sure it's love that prevails.

TV IS BACK

The new TV season is starting up.  The shows I'm excited to start watching again:

1. Mad Men: But unfortunately have to wait till 2012.
2. 30 Rock: Along with Mad Men, my favorite current shows.
3. Parks & Recreation: Has gotten funnier every season.
4. The Office: Has been getting less funny every season. Hopefully this year reverses the trend.
5. Top Chef: Also have to wait till 2012.
6. American Idol: Ditto.
7. Survivor: Every year it's great all over again.
8. Kitchen Nightmares: Speaking of which, I want to start a show called Church Nightmares!
9. How I Met Your Mother: Wait for it, wait for it...

That's all I watch.  But there are a few two shows I'm interested in checking out:

1. The X-Factor: The commercials make it look like American Idol + Jerry Springer.
2. Up All Night: Will Arnet makes me laugh no matter what he says

What show are you most excited to watch?

this weekend @ VERVE

What should be the driving force behind how you approach money, and use it on a daily basis?  Let’s broaden that question: What should be the driving force behind how you live your entire life? We’ll talk about it this week, and it could be life-changing, as we conclude our series Go For Broke with “Love Made Me Do It." To prepare for the message, read John12:1-8.

One Month Away!!

Our church planting conference, Vault, is now one month away!!!   You only have four weeks left, and we're capping it at 100 people, get to registering!

Why should you come?

• John Burke (of Gateway Church and No Perfect People Allowed) is doing three sessions including one on preaching and one on creating a come as you are culture.
• Will Mancini (of Auxano and Church Unique) is doing a session on vision clarity.  
• I'm teaching the principles we use at Verve that leads us to reach atheists and people who don't like church.  I'll share our programming principles, how to lead people from radically lost to radical followers, and more.

For $100 you'll get all that practical teaching AND you'll get:

• Three meals.
• A Vegas show.
• To attend one of our services
• To network with other pastors and church planters
• To connect with church planting agencies, and more.

 We've got a hotel deal for you for $35.  Seriously, why would you not come to this?

Register now, and we'll see you at Vault - October 10-12.

NFL Predictions

Here they are, my NFL predictions - which I don't think anyone cares about, but anyway:

NFC EAST

1. Eagles: 12-4
2. Cowboys: 9-7
3. Giants: 9-7
4. Redskins: 3-13

 NFC NORTH

1. Packers: 13-3
2. Bears: 7-9
3. Lions: 7-9
4. Vikings: 6-10

NFC SOUTH

1. Saints:  11-5
2. Falcons:  11-5
3. Buccaneers: 10-6
4. Panthers: 2-14

NFC WEST

1. Rams:  8-8
2. Cardinals:  8-8
3. Seahawks:  6-10
4. 49ers:  6-10

AFC EAST

1. Patriots:  12-4
2. Jets:  11-5
3. Dolphins:  5-11
4. Bills:  3-13

AFC NORTH

1. Steelers:  12-4
2. Ravens:  11-5
3. Browns:  6-10
4. Bengals:  2-14

AFC SOUTH

1. Colts:  9-7
2. Texans:  8-8
3. Titans:  5-11
4. Jaguars:  5-11

AFC WEST

1. Chargers:  10-6
2. Chiefs:  8-8
3. Raiders:  8-8
4. Broncos:  4-12

Super Bowl: Eagles 31 - Patriots 24

Who is your pick to be in and win the Super Bowl?

VERVE Happs

This week we continued our new Go For Broke series by talking about why people fall into debt, and how we can fight our way out of debt.

I love how practical the Bible is. In Las Vegas, what's "current" is our crap economy and people upside down on their houses and figuring out what to do.  And the most common topic in the Bible, outside of God Himself, is ... money.

If you haven't been here, we've been seeing what's been going on at a new fraternity in Vegas called "Broke Phi Broke."  Here's the first 2 videos:





So ... what are you excited about that's happening at Verve?

Vince Recommends...

I think awhile back I recommended a short film series called Not A Fan, which is designed to be a small group curriculum type of deal.

Well, the book Not A Fan has now come out, and it is good.  The idea is that Jesus doesn't want fans, He wants followers.  He doesn't want people who think He's cool and are excited to be associated with Him.  He wants people who think He's Lord and are committed to doing whatever He asks.  Jesus doesn't want to be famous.  He wants to be worshiped.

Full disclosure:  I am friends with the author, Kyle Idleman.  But it makes me even more impressed with the book, because I know that Kyle is the real deal.  And he has been a great friend to me, and to Verve.

What's a book that you'd recommend?

Pardon Your Interruption

I used to allow comments on this blog, then I stopped mostly because I got sick of dealing with idiotic comments from mean-spirited jerks.

But, at the request of many people, I am going to open it up for you to make comments again.  I'm guessing that I've gone so long without allowing comments that I've trained people not to comment, and that I've driven away the people who only like blogs that allow comments.

I prefer allowing comments, because it's nice to start conversations, not just say what I say and be done with it.  So starting tomorrow, please leave your comments and join in the conversation ... unless you're a mean-spirited jerk.

Church Learn From Steve Jobs?

I love this post (below) from Will Mancini, who will be speaking on the first day of Vault! (Register now!)

Whatever your opinion of the Apple products, they continue to capture the consumer imagination and bring innovation to life.  With the historic moment of the iPad’s original release, now about 18-months old,  I want to revisit some of the actual sound bites of the marketing blitz. Quotes from the release include:

• When something exceeds our ability to understand how it works, it sort of becomes magical
• It’s hard to see how something so simple can be so capable
• It’s going to change the way we do the things we do, every day
• I don’t have to change myself to fit it; it fits me
• We decided, “Let’s redesign it all…let’s redesign and reimagine and rebuild from the ground up…”
• You get an order of magnitude more powerful
• There’s automatic orientation
• Everything gets out of the way so that you can focus on the content you care about
• We want to put it in the hands as many people as possible right from the start
• This is a new category, but millions and millions of people are going to be instantly familiar with it

What if the ministry of our local churches could reflect amazing claims like this?  Go ahead and reread the list, but this time thinking about your church.
Is there even room for a comparison of Apple’s advancements to gospel-centered ministry? I believe so and I think the magic of this tech revolutionary  has something to teach church leaders.

Listen to the linchpin strategy of Apple’s success:

“It’s built by our hardware team in concert with our software team and what that gives you is a level of performance that you can’t get any other way. Apple is the one place that you can really do this. We build battery technology, we build chip technology and we build software and we bring all those things together in way that no one else can do it.”

The singular application of Steve Job’s success to church leaders is that design from the ground up is so fully integrated, that quality and innovation are unsurpassed. In church speak, we would dream that ministry content, ministry environments, ministry people and processes are so integrated that life change and accessibility to the gospel are unsurpassed.

But often doesn’t happen. Why not?  We simply  prefer NOT to do the work of designing, thinking and building this way. We like the message of Simple Church, or Church Unique, but get stuck relying on existing models. We get weary of talking with lay leadership about real changes in ministry strategy. We get satisfied with the good results of duplicating a program rather than the great results of incarnating our own. We get so busy on the ministry treadmill that we let every staff person makes decisions based on their own “operating system.”

What would happen if Steve Jobs decided to make disciples?
How would he design the church? What adaptations would he make to your ministry design? What would he stop altogether?  How would he redesign from the ground-up?

College Football Predictions

I've always really liked college football, but since moving to Vegas I've grown more to love it.  There's just something about waking up with the pregame shows starting at 6 am and the games starting at 9...

The seasons starting and I thought I'd make a few predictions (because I know you've been dying to hear them) so here goes:

• Early game to watch:  Today: LSU vs. Oregon.  Dang.
• The day to not get off your couch:  November 5.  Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma.  LSU vs. Alabama.  South Carolina vs. Arkansas.
• Surprise undefeated teams going into conference championship games: South Carolina (who is loaded) and Virginia Tech each have easy schedules.  The Gamecocks toughest game is at Arkansas.  The Hokies big challenge is ... at Georgia Tech?
• Best team not ranked in the top 5:  Texas A&M.  Unfortunately for them, they play Oklahoma at Oklahoma.  Not cool.
• Team I hate who unfortunately is on their way back:  Notre Dame.
• Heisman Winner:  Andrew Luck. (2) LaMichael James.  (3) Marcus Lattimore.  (4) Landry Jones.  (5) Trent Richardson.
• So who wins it all?  I hate to take the obvious (and I won't be shocked if Virginia Tech or South Carolina sneaks in) but I've got to go with Oklahoma.

this weekend @ VERVE

We are a nation in financial crisis.  Perhaps you are in financial crisis.  How did it happen?  What did we do that led us to broke?  And, more importantly, what steps can we take to get us out of broke and to a place of financial freedom?

We’ll talk about it this week as we continue our new Go For Broke series with, “Climbing Out of the Money Pit.”  To prepare for the message, read Luke 15:11-20.

Home Sweet Vegas

We recently spent a week in Virginia Beach, where we lived for 12 years before moving to Vegas almost three years ago.  We loved living in Virginia Beach, and honestly I was a little nervous about going back.  I wondered if we would feel like, "Why did we leave this place?!  What are we doing in Vegas?!"

But that's not the feeling we had at all.  Virginia Beach is still great, but it didn't feel like home.  We didn't feel like we belonged there anymore.

And my appreciation for Las Vegas keeps growing.  It's got it's quirks and issues, but I think it's one of the greatest cities in the world.  It's endlessly fascinating, there's always tons to do, and fun options are everywhere.  The heat issue isn't nearly the problem people think.  And the people are real, many are hurting and searching, they know they need something - and I'm so glad God sent us here to show them what they're truly looking for.