An All Star....

It's been 4 months in Raleigh now and we're absolutely loving our new life. Being so far away from all that we've ever known (San Diego). God has been blessing us with new relationships. Both Lauren and I love people and both agree that life is to be done with people. As many of you know she is playing softball and having a blast doing it too.

Last week, Cameron and I went to see her first game. It's a lot different than the league we used to play with in San Diego, they're a lot more serious about their softball here. Because she's soo competitive she does whatever it takes to win even if it means scraping both knees playing defense.


Yeah she scraped her knees and they're killing her. O.K. this may sound mean but as she's hurting, I'm proud.

Let me explain.

I'm glad that I have a wife who is competitive and does whatever it takes to win. She works hard and it shows and will prove to be worthwhile in the long run. She had batting practice yesterday and as I sat there watching I could tell that her team really finds value in her being on the team. And that's what makes me proud. I honestly have to admit that I wasn't too fond of her playing on this team because they weren't Christians but she insisted that it would be O.K. and it has been AWESOME for her.

Every athlete gets sore and every once in a while needs a good massage so i think that my wife deserves one. Not only for being a great athlete, but for being an awesome mom and wife! An all star in more ways than one! I love you babe and your boys (all three of us) are cheering you on!

Celebration!

I'm one who loves to celebrate EVERYTHING! In fact one of my pastors use to say "celebrate until further notice" I think that we as Christ followers don't celebrate enough, we sell ourselves short and never fully experience the fullness of that joy that comes from GOD'S blessings. One of the phrases that I've always heard and found to be trite is the phrase "YAY GOD". Bill Hybels (whom i love and respect) one of the top leaders around and one of the most respectable people in the Christian community says it all the time. I don't disagree with Bill in celebrating and praising GOD for his goodness but "YAY GOD?" When i think of that phrase, it feels like we think GOD is a three year old and we say "YAY GOD" because we're surprised at what he's able to do. It feels like when it's said it comes with a wink and a gun almost with a sense of sarcasm. When i hear it said it feels like a cheerleader cheering GOD on. I know that i may be stirring the pot a little bit about this. But GOD is in the miracle business. He's in the business of changing and saving lives, he's perfect and pure, majestic and holy. "YAY GOD" is an understatement. Sometime the best way to celebrate is a simple Thank You. Let's not patronize him, hes the maker of all things perfect, let the way we live our lives celebrate GOD. Save the cheese and wine for Oprah..

Shalom,

Steve

What ever happened to GOOD music...

I've been scouring YOUTUBE in search of videos featuring probably my favorite singer of all time, Eva Cassidy. Now I consider myself eclectic and I LOVE all types of music, but what I find myself listening to the most is folk and jazz. I know some of you probably would've guessed Tupac or 50 cent. I have moments when I listen to those guys too, but there's just something about the sulky sound of smooth jazz and the simplicity of folk that draws me to those specific genres. I stumbled upon Eva Cassidy while doing a Google search for Norah Jones. I found that they were signed by the same record label and have a similar sound and style. I also found out that in 1996 Eva Cassidy (33) lost a battle to cancer and passed. I don't know if Eva had a relationship with GOD and don't know anything about her spiritual life. What i do know is that GOD gave us Eva to grace us with pure music. In a time where the music business is more interested in your look than your talent, there's a hunger for PURE music and she has been my favorite example of that.

There are a couple of YOUTUBE videos of her singing at some of her last shows that you should really check out. I watch those videos to re-up my passion and love for music. Thanks to technology I'm just a few clicks away from listening to GOOD music.

Here's one of my favorite songs from Eva:

Peace!

Cameron for President?

One of the coolest people I know right now is a guy we call "Homeless Kevin". HK has been attending CATT for five weeks straight now and as of two weeks ago made a commitment to jump in serve where needed. We love HK. Homeless Kevin has a unique story and a love for life that's inspiring to all of our leadership team. We first met Kevin at our first public service at the Royal Bean coffee shop. He and about three of his buddies were just hanging out and when they saw us setting up for service they came over and struck up conversation with some of our volunteers. When our Sunday Experience ended we were tearing down and Kevin comes over to help us. We loaded our vehicles and as we were leaving Kevin said "I'll see you next week" now i don't know if it was the free coffee we offered that Sunday or God working on his heart but ever since that weekend Kevin's hasn't missed an Experience.

This guy knows more people and has been more places than anybody I know. If you need information on anything and everything I'm pretty sure if you were to ask Kevin about it he's got an answer. Kevin filled out a communication card with his address and his email, all of it legit. How homeless is he? We're still trying to figure that out right now. Here's a cool thing that you should know about Kevin, his (home?) address is 8 miles away from church and he doesn't have a car, so he walks 8 miles every Sunday morning to serve at CATT. He's never late and never complains about it. We've offered to pick him and drop him off after service and he refuses every time.

Anyhow after service yesterday we were setting up for our Triangle Basics lunch when Kevin and I had this conversation:

Kev: "Hey Steve, where's Cameron?"
Me: "He's at home sick"
Kev: "Bummer, i miss not seeing him around this morning."
Me: " I know, he'll be here next week though"
Kev: " I had a dream about him this week"
Me: "Really?, what about?"
Kev: "That when he grew up, He became the President of the United States of America"
Me: (chuckling) "That's funny"
Kev: "I'm serious,(sincere look on his face) I'd vote for him"
Me: "Thanks Kevin."
Kev: "Anyhow tell him that i said Hi and that i hope he gets better."
Me: "I'll let him know."

President Cameron Lee Faiai, that sounds pretty cool. Who knows, what we do know is that he's got Kevin's vote, I guess we'll join the race for office now.

All joking aside...

Here's what i appreciate about Kevin, he's choosing to get in the game in spite of the stage of life that he's in. He desires to be there and is willing to serve where needed. God is using him as a daily reminder to me that GOD loves and cares about everyone no matter what your status is. Only GOD knows the work going on in Kevin's heart right now, and the cool thing for us as a leadership team is that we have front row seats in watching it all unfold. Through what's happening with Kevin, GOD is allowing us to live out who he has called us to be as a CHURCH as a COMMUNITY and as his BELOVED.

P.S. If you're reading this and you're involved in any kind of ministry and you've had those days where you feel like giving up, Remember Kevin. The homeless guy who walks 8 miles to church to serve. Remember Kevin who has less than you and i do, but lives life like he has everything he's ever needed. Let it serve as a reminder to us when we're having those little pity parties that WE sometimes throw for ourselves that we need to stop whining and complaining and get our asses in gear, there's much Kingdom work to be done! Sorry i just had to get that off my chest.

Shalom!

Reading List.

My friend, Rod recently came out with his first quarter reading list and as always comes up with an amazing one. What I appreciate about all of my years working alongside Rod was that he always challenged his team to be readers and self leaders. So I thought that I would share with you my own reading list that I'd like to finish by the end of summer. Here they are in order:

Launch - Nelson Searcy

Stripped - Jud Wilhite

Quiet Strength - Tony Dungy

Beautiful Boy - David Sheff

UnChristian - David Kinnaman

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day - Mark Batterson

Followership - Barbara Kellerman

Strengths Finder - Tom Rath

Fired up or Burned Out - Michael Stallard

I LOVE how GOD uses great authors and thinkers like the ones listed above to challenge me in my life as a leader, husband and father. I just recently invested in a Barnes and Noble discount card and it has increased my desire to read more.

As my family and I embark upon this journey in starting a church, there is a "must" in staying sharp, fresh and inspired. Thanks Rod for the challenge in being a self leader.