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I saw this video on Holy Cow's Blog.

Watch it. Don't stop until you get to the end. Trust me, you'll appreciate it.

I'm a people watcher. I realize that many people think they are "people watchers", but I really am one. I can sit and watch people interact with other people, objects, whatever, for hours. They fascinate me.
Heather used to look at someone and then make up a story about them. Within minutes, she would have their entire life story told. Of course we had no way of verifying it, so I had to take her word that it was true!

I don't do that. Instead, I try to figure out why they do certain things. I watch a couple chatting in line. I watch their body language. She runs her hand through her hair. He laughs at something and his hand extends toward her – not touching, but invading her "space." They are strangers flirting.
Then there's the man looking over the bags of coffee (I'm at Starbucks). He picks one up and then another. He isn't interested in buying one, he's just needing to do something while he stand there. It's obvious to me that he doesn't like standing in line, and just wants to get through it.
There's two women, co-workers I assume. They are chatting and laughing. Another woman walks by them with her coffee in hand. She stops and chats with them for a few minutes, the three of them talking like they are life long friends. Then the one who already has her coffee leaves, and the other two look at each other and one rolls her eyes. Co-workers, yes. Friends, no.

I can't help it. I just love watching people.

Of course, the question often comes to me … is someone watching me right now? What are they thinking about me? What have they decided about me personality? Hmmmm.

Do you ever find that life is moving too fast? That if you blink, you just might miss out on something?

I do. At least there are seasons when I do. This is one of them. I am almost afraid to blink because I don't know what will be different when I open my eyes again.

On a personal level, I've watched my oldest daughter become a young woman. Yes, she's still only 15, and is just a young girl. But it seems like yesterday I was cuddling her on the couch, listening to her laugh as I tickled her. Now, she's in Costa Rica, living an adventure that is almost beyond words. My youngest continues to grow and mature. If I blink again, where will she be?

Families are an interesting organism. They are constantly evolving. Sometimes it's for the worse. Sometimes it's for the better. My prayer for those reading this today is that your changes are ones for the better.

Professionally, I am pastoring two churches right now. Talk about intense! Issues arise – some pretty serious – that demand more attention. I look at some weeks – like this one – and wonder how I can add some extra hours to the day. If I blink, what wont get done?

Can you relate?

The Bible says a lot about rest. About being still. About blinking. Sometimes it's in the greatest of storms that we have to do just that: rest, be still, blink. Settle in on God. And in him, find the peace that seems to be missing in seasons like this.

What do you do when you're afraid to blink?

Well, it's over for another year. Wow.

It was an incredible day. While it is difficult to calcualate actual numbers (because only those who register for the morning ride or for supper get counted), it would not be a stretch to assume that we were easily over 400 people at this year's event.

For those who don't know what the Appreciation day is all about, let me quickly explain. A few years ago, we came up with the idea of doing an event that simply says "thank you" to the motorcycle community for all the good that they do during the year. You see, motorcyclists raise enormous amounts of cash for local charities. In fact, many believe they as a group, no one else raises more! Last year, motorcyclists raised approximately $1 Million for local charities and organizations. Not bad for a bunch of bikers!

The Appreciation Day is a way of expressing gratitude to the bikers of the N.C.R. It is the only event that can boast 100% participation by the primary dealerships in the city. Because of the donations from those shops, we are able to provide a full pig-roast dinner at no coast! Along with the $1,000s of prizes and giveaways, it is a huge event. It is something I'm very proud to be a part of.

Like every year, the Bikers' Church people rose to the occassion. We had over 60 volunteers. Each worked tremendously hard, doing the tasks assigned to them, and then stepping in and helping others. We laughed a lot, played a lot, and ate a lot.

This morning, as I prepare to head over to my "other church", I am still basking in the energy of a wonderful day.

I will try to send a couple of pictures from my iPhone in a minute.

So … what's you're guess … does this guy have a life?

Every year, the Beloit College puts out what they call their "Mindset List". It is a list of all the things that students entering their first year of college have always had in their life.

Let's see if you feel old after reading this:

Students entering college for the first time this fall were generally born in 1990.

For these students, Sammy Davis Jr., Jim Henson, Ryan White, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Freddy Krueger have always been dead.

1. Harry Potter could be a classmate, playing on their Quidditch team.
2. Since they were in diapers, karaoke machines have been annoying people at parties.
3. They have always been looking for Carmen Sandiego.
4. GPS satellite navigation systems have always been available.
5. Coke and Pepsi have always used recycled plastic bottles.
6. Shampoo and conditioner have always been available in the same bottle.
7. Gas stations have never fixed flats, but most serve cappuccino.
8. Their parents may have dropped them in shock when they heard George Bush announce “tax revenue increases.”
9. Electronic filing of tax returns has always been an option.
10. Girls in head scarves have always been part of the school fashion scene.
11. All have had a relative–or known about a friend's relative–who died comfortably at home with Hospice.
12. As a precursor to “whatever,” they have recognized that some people “just don’t get it.”
13. Universal Studios has always offered an alternative to Mickey in Orlando.
14. Grandma has always had wheels on her walker.
15. Martha Stewart Living has always been setting the style.
16. Haagen-Dazs ice cream has always come in quarts.
17. Club Med resorts have always been places to take the whole family.
18. WWW has never stood for World Wide Wrestling.
19. Films have never been X rated, only NC-17.
20. The Warsaw Pact is as hazy for them as the League of Nations was for their parents.
21. Students have always been "Rocking the Vote.”
22. Clarence Thomas has always sat on the Supreme Court.
23. Schools have always been concerned about multiculturalism.
24. We have always known that “All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”
25. There have always been gay rabbis.
26. Wayne Newton has never had a mustache.
27. College grads have always been able to Teach for America.
28. IBM has never made typewriters.
29. Roseanne Barr has never been invited to sing the National Anthem again.
30. McDonald’s and Burger King have always used vegetable oil for cooking french fries.
31. They have never been able to color a tree using a raw umber Crayola.
32. There has always been Pearl Jam.
33. The Tonight Show has always been hosted by Jay Leno and started at 11:35 EST.
34. Pee-Wee has never been in his playhouse during the day.
35. They never tasted Benefit Cereal with psyllium.
36. They may have been given a Nintendo Game Boy to play with in the crib.
37. Authorities have always been building a wall across the Mexican border.
38. Lenin’s name has never been on a major city in Russia.
39. Employers have always been able to do credit checks on employees.
40. Balsamic vinegar has always been available in the U.S.
41. Macaulay Culkin has always been Home Alone.
42. Their parents may have watched The American Gladiators on TV the day they were born.
43. Personal privacy has always been threatened.
44. Caller ID has always been available on phones.
45. Living wills have always been asked for at hospital check-ins.
46. The Green Bay Packers (almost) always had the same starting quarterback.
47. They never heard an attendant ask “Want me to check under the hood?”
48. Iced tea has always come in cans and bottles.
49. Soft drink refills have always been free.
50. They have never known life without Seinfeld references from a show about “nothing.”
51. Windows 3.0 operating system made IBM PCs user-friendly the year they were born.
52. Muscovites have always been able to buy Big Macs.
53. The Royal New Zealand Navy has never been permitted a daily ration of rum.
54. The Hubble Space Telescope has always been eavesdropping on the heavens.
55. 98.6 F or otherwise has always been confirmed in the ear.
56. Michael Milken has always been a philanthropist promoting prostate cancer research.
57. Off-shore oil drilling in the United States has always been prohibited.
58. Radio stations have never been required to present both sides of public issues.
59. There have always been charter schools.
60. Students always had Goosebumps.

This past summer, many churches partcipated in the One Prayer campaign. Pastors were invited to preach a sermon on a prayer they have for the Church at large.

I want to throw this out on a more personal level. If you could pray for one thing, what would it be? No rules or guidelines here … just totally open ended –

What would your one prayer be?

Over the past few months I have often been asked about Evangelist Todd Bentley. I don't know if it's because of his tattoos or because he is Canadian. Either way, I have intentionally kept my thoughts to myself.

However, Ed Stetzer has posted an excellent article regarding Bentely, and so I thought I would link to it. Read it here.

Today I preached my first sermon at City Church as the interim pastor. I think it went well. I felt good, anyway.

I was nervous this morning. It's been awhile since I've felt that way. I didn't want to let them down. They are a good bunch of people who are simply praying that whomever comes in as their new pastor will be as effective as the previous guy. For me, this transtional period is very significant. I want it to be done well. My hope and prayer is that I leave things stronger and further ahead for the next guy.

I often share with people that we have opportunities to make a difference in the lives of those around us. I see this time at City as one of those opportunities. I just don't want to screw it up.

So, the hard one is now behind me. I've spoken once. I have a better feel of what happens on a Sunday. Now, over the next few weeks, I'll share a little of my personal vision and focus. Then, we turn it up a gear with the process of finding a successor.

I appreciate all the kind words I recieved today. Many shared with me after the service that they really appreciated what I had to say. There were about a dozen Bikers' Church members there. Most of them came up to me and told me they thought the service was excellent. It's great hearing that from your friends.

I just hope I wont be as nervous next week!