The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
Friday afternoon 1/20/12
Standing in our kitchen at home
Jordan: Hey Mom, I'm soooo excited for tonight.
Me: What's going on?
Jordan: I'm going with Paul, Jorge and Hayden to see my favorite bands at the House of Blues in Orlando tonight.
Me: Which bands are these? The ones you go to where people get punched in the face while they're listening?
Jordan: Yeah, yeah, but they're amazing. Tonight it's August Burns Red, Texas in July, Silverstein and Letlive.
Me: I will just never understand why anyone would want to go back to a concert where they get punched in the face...maybe you could explain this to me.
Jordan: Mom, mom, seriously... it's not about being punched in the face. Some of these bands have an amazing message. You need to consider the lyrics.
Me: Be careful, Jordan. I get a little concerned with this hardcore stuff. Do you think this environment lends itself to people bringing drugs to these concerts? I'm thinking there might be some people smoking weed at the very least.
Jordan: Mom, get real, people smoke weed at every concert. You've just never realized it.
Me: Every concert? Hmm. That's strange. I've been to so many Gaither Homecomings and nobody has smoked weed that I've seen.
Jordan: They do, you just don't see them.
Me: [eyebrows raised] Really? I had no idea. So you mean while the Gaither Vocal Band is singing "Let Freedom Ring" people get inspired to get free and smoke some weed?
Jordan: Yeah, happens all the time. You just never noticed it.
Me: I never knew that. Thanks for enlightening me. Well, I want you guys to be careful tonight. Drive careful to and from Orlando, and stay away from the weed.
Jordan: Of course, of course. I'm really hoping to get a picture with the drummers from August Burns Red and Texas in July and talk to them.
Me: I hope you do hon, that would be so great.
Saturday morning, 3:30 AM
Jordan walks in from concert wee hours of Saturday morning. Larry and I have waited up for him. Huge smile on his face, so excited.
Jordan: Mom! I talked to both of them and got a picture!! It was sooooo awesome. It was the best night ever!!!!
Me: Wait...first I need to know, did you get punched in the face?
Jordan: [sheepishly]Yeah, I did. See, I have a little bruise under my eye. It's alright though.
[I look at him and sigh, and shake my head - wondering how long it will take for the bruise under his eye to go away.]
Jordan: Yeah, it was awesome!!! [Bouncing around the room while he talks] I can't wait to show you all my photos but my phone is dead. I got to meet the drummer and talk to him about how he flips his sticks when he plays and how I learned to do that from him. It was so amazing!!! He was like, "does your neck get cut when you flip your sticks?" and I was like, "yeah, yeah that happens all the time!" and he was like, "I hate when that happens" and I was like, "I know, right???!!"
Me: I'm glad you had such a good time. Let's go to sleep and we'll look at your pictures tomorrow.
Jordan: Yep! Good night mom. Love you.
Me: Goodnight, babe. Love you too.
Saturday, 1:30 PM
I am sitting on my bed, with my laptop, still working on getting details wrapped up for Sunday's service. Jordan comes in, sits next to me on the bed.
Jordan: [groaning in pain] Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh....
Me: What's wrong hon?
Jordan: Whiplash.
Me: From what?
Jordan: The concert last night. I'm so sore today. My neck hurts.
Me: Why? Sore from what?
Jordan: I banged my head so hard to the music.
Me: Oh.
Jordan: Hey, my phone is charged now, so I can show you the pictures.
[I look at about thirty pictures and 3 videos he recorded on his iPhone of the bands performing.]
Jordan: Look at this one. It's Jake Luhrs from August Burns Red. He's the frontman singing this song, Salt and Light. On this one right here he's singing, "I’m the harbinger, not the author of these timeless words. Led by the Comforter I sing to you. And if my throat were to be cut from ear to ear, I hope that these words would carry on in these songs that I pray you sing one day. We sing for you. We sing for you. We sing for you. We sing for you. We sing for you. We sing for you. We sing for you. We sing for you."
Me: Wow, that's awesome. I'm glad you had such a good time but I'm sorry your neck is sore.
[Reaching over to rub his neck.]
Jordan: That's okay, it was so worth it.
Sunday 12:45 PM
In the car on the way to lunch after church. Jordan is listening to videos on his iPhone.
Jordan: Mom, listen to this...it's Jake Luhrs from August Burns Red giving his testimony.
Me: [laying back in my seat, exhausted after church on Sunday.] Okay...go ahead, turn it up. I'm listening.
Jordan: [midway through video] Mom, are you awake?
Me: Yep. I'm listening. Just have my eyes closed...
[end video]
Me: Wow. That is really good. You're right Jordan, those guys are making a difference.
Standing in our kitchen at home
Jordan: Hey Mom, I'm soooo excited for tonight.
Me: What's going on?
Jordan: I'm going with Paul, Jorge and Hayden to see my favorite bands at the House of Blues in Orlando tonight.
Me: Which bands are these? The ones you go to where people get punched in the face while they're listening?
Jordan: Yeah, yeah, but they're amazing. Tonight it's August Burns Red, Texas in July, Silverstein and Letlive.
Me: I will just never understand why anyone would want to go back to a concert where they get punched in the face...maybe you could explain this to me.
Jordan: Mom, mom, seriously... it's not about being punched in the face. Some of these bands have an amazing message. You need to consider the lyrics.
Me: Be careful, Jordan. I get a little concerned with this hardcore stuff. Do you think this environment lends itself to people bringing drugs to these concerts? I'm thinking there might be some people smoking weed at the very least.
Jordan: Mom, get real, people smoke weed at every concert. You've just never realized it.
Me: Every concert? Hmm. That's strange. I've been to so many Gaither Homecomings and nobody has smoked weed that I've seen.
Jordan: They do, you just don't see them.
Me: [eyebrows raised] Really? I had no idea. So you mean while the Gaither Vocal Band is singing "Let Freedom Ring" people get inspired to get free and smoke some weed?
Jordan: Yeah, happens all the time. You just never noticed it.
Me: I never knew that. Thanks for enlightening me. Well, I want you guys to be careful tonight. Drive careful to and from Orlando, and stay away from the weed.
Jordan: Of course, of course. I'm really hoping to get a picture with the drummers from August Burns Red and Texas in July and talk to them.
 |
| Jordan and Matt Greiner from August Burns Red |
Me: I hope you do hon, that would be so great.
Saturday morning, 3:30 AM
Jordan walks in from concert wee hours of Saturday morning. Larry and I have waited up for him. Huge smile on his face, so excited.
Jordan: Mom! I talked to both of them and got a picture!! It was sooooo awesome. It was the best night ever!!!!
Me: Wait...first I need to know, did you get punched in the face?
 |
| Jordan with Adam Gray from Texas in July |
[I look at him and sigh, and shake my head - wondering how long it will take for the bruise under his eye to go away.]
Jordan: Yeah, it was awesome!!! [Bouncing around the room while he talks] I can't wait to show you all my photos but my phone is dead. I got to meet the drummer and talk to him about how he flips his sticks when he plays and how I learned to do that from him. It was so amazing!!! He was like, "does your neck get cut when you flip your sticks?" and I was like, "yeah, yeah that happens all the time!" and he was like, "I hate when that happens" and I was like, "I know, right???!!"
Me: I'm glad you had such a good time. Let's go to sleep and we'll look at your pictures tomorrow.
Jordan: Yep! Good night mom. Love you.
Me: Goodnight, babe. Love you too.
Saturday, 1:30 PM
I am sitting on my bed, with my laptop, still working on getting details wrapped up for Sunday's service. Jordan comes in, sits next to me on the bed.
Jordan: [groaning in pain] Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh....
Me: What's wrong hon?
Jordan: Whiplash.
Me: From what?
Jordan: The concert last night. I'm so sore today. My neck hurts.
Me: Why? Sore from what?
Jordan: I banged my head so hard to the music.
Me: Oh.
Jordan: Hey, my phone is charged now, so I can show you the pictures.
[I look at about thirty pictures and 3 videos he recorded on his iPhone of the bands performing.]
Me: Wow, that's awesome. I'm glad you had such a good time but I'm sorry your neck is sore.
[Reaching over to rub his neck.]
Jordan: That's okay, it was so worth it.
Sunday 12:45 PM
In the car on the way to lunch after church. Jordan is listening to videos on his iPhone.
Jordan: Mom, listen to this...it's Jake Luhrs from August Burns Red giving his testimony.
Me: [laying back in my seat, exhausted after church on Sunday.] Okay...go ahead, turn it up. I'm listening.
Jordan: [midway through video] Mom, are you awake?
Me: Yep. I'm listening. Just have my eyes closed...
[end video]
Me: Wow. That is really good. You're right Jordan, those guys are making a difference.
Comments
This is awesome!!! Parents have to get past the outside and look deep within. These radical Christians put most in our age bracket to shame! They are reaching those who are not following, while others sit back and warm a pew. Great stuff, today! I love a lot of the music my sons do.....but I just can't get into Red. LOL I'm sure Jordan will know who they are! :)