Things on my brain

I have a lot of things running through my brain today and I’m having a hard time focusing.  So I thought I would try to write some things out some where to get my brain cleared out so I can focus.

1.  Rube Goldberg Machines are are rad.  The thing that I love about them is that these things don’t look like they should work.  But someone took the time to set up a system that when all the steps are completed accurately it works, and it looks cool.  There are two things that I keep thinking about with these devices.

  • Someone took a lot of time to set the machine up, we usually only see the final product.  I think the process is vital to the success of the machine.  But it takes a lot of trial and error and experimenting.
  • If I just try to take the final product and try to replicate it in my house then I will fail because I don’t understand the process.
  • This is true for all systems. Business, church, writing, etc.  I need to do the work of experimenting with the process and work towards success.  And I cannot be envious of someone else’s system.  I need to make my own system.  I need to do the work.

2) Being an outsider sucks.  I went to Giggles Comedy Club last night.  It was the last night that the current owner, Terry, would be running the place.  So it was a good bye party/open-mic session.  I did my first stand-up there and I thought it would be great to be a part of the last night.  I don’t have a lot of time to commit to doing stand-up, it’s a creative hobby for me.  Because of my infrequency I don’t really belong to the inside circle.  I don’t really know all the in jokes, I don’t have a lot to talk about with the other people performing.  Last night, I went to work on material.  I was off personally it was not my best performance.  But I also felt like a complete outsider the whole time.  That was rough.  I needed to be reminded how horrible feeling like an outsider is.

There was someone there, Colmeat (sp?) Who was performing for the 2nd time ever.  That was a rough night for him, if I felt like an outsider, he must have felt really outside.  I felt really bad for him.  I’m glad I had a chance to chat with him before the whole event.

3) Working on a talk about Work for a conference break-out.  A book that have been very helpful is Linchpin by Seth Godin.  I would recommend that anyone who works take the time to read this book.  It’s really encouraging.

4) Know your crowd

5) My kids are amazing

6) trust that which you have received.

7) Fear will disable you

That’s all.  I think that will be helpful.

It All Comes Around

Last Tuesday night I participated in the Open Mic at Laughs Comedy Spot in Kirkland, WA.

Laughs is in the strip mall that used to house the local Godfather’s Pizza.  Godfather’s was amazing.  They had a daily lunch buffett, all the pizza you could eat for 6 bucks, or something like that.  My Brother and I used to walk up there, eat pizza until we were so full we couldn’t blink.  Burn off some pizza by playing Terminator 2: Judgement Day Pinball.

What Now !?
Seriously, this was the best pinball machine ever

After some intense Pinball Action we would go back to the buffet and stuff ourselves with the Dessert Pizza.  Dessert Pizza, in case you are unfamiliar is pizza dough topped with the fixin’s for cinnamon roll’s and coffee cake.  In other words, it was a diabetes starter kit.

It was weird being at Laughs, and thinking about what that place used to be for me.  All the summer afternoons we spent there.  My parents had a surprise 18th Birthday Party there.  My Parents and Kathy’s Parents first met there at said party.  And now it’s a comedy club.

Some of the comedians that I love to listen to have performed there, and then I got to do open mic on the same stage.  I learned to laugh and tell some of my earliest and worst jokes when I was hopped up on Mountain Dew and Dessert Pizza at this Godfathers.

It is weird how things change as you grow up, but your memories are still really strong for those places.  And then you can go back and make new memories.  Same thing happened at my 10 year reunion.  When I go back to the church I grew up in, when I see my family from Michigan.  All of these events have shaped me and made me who I am and I constantly get to interact with my memories and somehow it all comes around.

Dreams and Reality

I have big dreams.  But I must also live in reality.  I’m not saying this because I’m dissappointed with my reality.  I’m saying this because I need to remind myself that my reality is pretty amazing as well.  If I followed only my dreams then I would miss so much of what happens around me every day.

I used to think I could be a great actor (I went to college on a drama scholarship)

I used to dream about being a rock-star (I was in a band, [brace yourself for some pretty cheesy web-page-ry if you follow that link]we recorded three CD’s and played in 5 states, with some of the best friends I’ve ever known).

I think I’m funny and could be a stand-up comedian (I do open-mic every once in a while).

I want to write books (right now I’m happy writing papers).

All of my dreams I’ve been able to participate in to some degree, which I count as an amazing blessing.  I’ve just been doming to this realization that my reality today is enough.  I’ve learned to become content with whatever it is that God wants to do with me.

I think to most enjoy my present moment I have to embrace reality.  I cannot compare my reality today with the tomorrow of my dreams.  If I do that I will inevitably be disappointed with today, because dreams can always be so much better than reality.  But by living in my dreams I will also miss the opportunities that God brings into my life to live a part of my dream today.  I will probably never be a famous preacher/teacher/comedian/musician/author but I get to have a taste of those dreams every once in a while.  And for me . . . that’s more than enough.

Easter & Partnering with the City

This year, rather than doing our own thing we have decided to partner with the City of Mountlake Terrace  and the business community with their annual Easter Egg Hunt. We donated candy and eggs. Now we are looking for a few folks who would be willing to serve along side the city this Saturday morning.

This is one of the many ways that we get to show our community that we love them and want to do life with them.

Here are the details:

  • When? Saturday April 3rd Events starts at 10:00 so volunteers will need to be there by 9:30.
  • Where? Evergreen Playfield You can get directions by following this link: http://bit.ly/b481rl

  • What is going to be there? If you want to read more about the event you can read this article: http://bit.ly/dCfyEA
  • How Can I get involved? Please email jdeuman@thecreeksidechurch.org if you have any questions or would like to be involved.

This is going to be a great event for you and your kids, and a great opportunity to serve the city.

Why I Follow Jesus

I am not ashamed to call myself a Christian.  Something that I’ve been realizing while I practice my hobby stand-up comedy is that there are a lot of people who do not like Christians, Christianity or church.  This honestly breaks my heart because my relationship with Jesus has been so important to me, and I go to the open-mic and I always here something that is anti-Christian.

I can’t be ashamed of Jesus because as cheesy as it sounds he is never ashamed of me.  Even when I’m a complete idiot he still loves me and desires the best for me, more that I do for myself.  He is not afraid to associate with me.

Let me explain with Peter.

Jesus calls Peter by going fishing with him.  Peter was a fisherman.  Peter was having a horrible morning of fishing and Jesus said, “Hey Peter, through your net on the other side of the boat.”  Peter’s thoughts were probably, “Hey dude, what do you know about fishing?  Aren’t you a carpenter?  Why don’t you go and build something and leave the fishing to the professionals.”  But Peter obliged Jesus and threw his net on the other side of the boat, and they caught a boat load (literally) of fish.

From that moment on Peter decided that following Jesus was the way to go.  Now Peter wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.  He was impulsive, sometimes reckless, didn’t think before he spoke, said he would never desert Jesus, but he did.  Jesus was crucified, Peter probably watched him die from a distance.

So what does Peter do?  He goes back to work to fishing.  Jesus was died, rose from the dead, appeared to the disciples, spoke to them, but what does Peter do?  He went back to fishing.  Maybe he felt like Jesus was disappointed with him, maybe Peter felt like he was out of favor.  So he goes back to what he knew.

While he was fishing someone yells from the shore, “Cast your net on the other side.”  I wonder if that story had spread, and Peter may have been sick of it.  I don’t know. But he throws the net on the other side, and what do you know, they catch a ton of fish.

Peter jumps out of the boat and swims to shore and there’s Jesus.  Jesus restores Peter, even thought Peter was ashamed of Jesus, Jesus was not ashamed of Peter.  I love that story.  Because I’m an idiot and I need Jesus because he’s not ashamed of me.  His grace is enough.

I follow Jesus simply because he sees more in me than I see in myself.  He believes in me when I don’t.  Am I embarrassed by some things some christians do?  yeah.  Am I ashamed of somethings churches do in the name of Jesus?  sadly, yes.  Kind of like a crazy uncle.  I love them because we are family, but I wouldn’t say the things they say.

I can’t speak for them and Jesus.  I can only speak for me and my relationship with Jesus.  And I know that Jesus is not ashamed of me.

There is one person . . .

Who fills me with joy

Who deals with my insecurities

Who loves me no matter what

Whose opinion always matters to me

Who makes me laugh everyday

Who amazes me with her commitment to get the best for our family

Whose smile is all I need to remember how lucky I am

Who I am always more than happy to lose at board games to

Who I miss throughout the day

Who speaks truth to me all the time

Who lets me be who I am

Who believes in me

Who I would do anything for

Who makes the best meatloaf

Who helps me be better at everything

Whose blog I read all the way through, and am challenged every time.

Kathy thanks for being a source of joy and a great blessing in my life.  I thank God everyday for all you are and do and that he guided our two paths together.

Thank you for being an amazing mom.  Judah got your desire to be close and cuddle, and Joss got your go, go, go life.  I love them both mainly because they remind me of you.

You are amazing!

5 years

Today is the day after our 5 year anniversary at Creekside Church.  It’s been quite a tumultuous 5 years.  The journey has been challenging, inspiring, and life changing.  I’ve actually tried to write this post a couple of times, and each time I felt totally cheesy so I scrapped it.

The past five years have been incredibly important to my life as a Christian, husband and pastor.  Thanks Creekside for teaching me so much, and letting me learn with you.  I’m looking forward to more great years together.

ChurchRater.com At Creekside Church

On February 14th, 2010 churchrater.com paid Creekside a visit. The video below is from Fox affiliate KCPQ 13. You can also read the reports from our raters here and here.  This kind of feedback is very helpful and I would recommend church leaders to look into churchrater.com.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Church Rater At Creekside“, posted with vodpod