Imagine…

Over the past couple of weeks I have shopped for and purchased 40 costumes, 8 LED stand lights, 17 pairs of eyelashes, blue, white and black fabric, two orange buckets to make a tree stump out of, various branches, twigs and shiny silver things, 8 72″ balloons, glitter spray paint, TONS of plywood, screws and paint. There may be more but my brain is clouded with the toxic overload of flourescent lights and fabric dye…eeek.

It takes a lot of resource and time to put together something like Imagine Christmas. Some people may ask if all of this is really worth it – is this just some frivolous pursuit of entertainment? Well…I’m glad you asked –

There are thousands of people in this city who do not know the amazing message of salvation – thousands who do not attend church on a regular basis – thousands who are lost in their sin and need freedom in their lives. They probably have the attitude that church is an old fashioned, boring, overly religious, judgemental place to spend a couple of hours every week. The truth is, they are right if you look at most examples of “church” these days. It is our responsibility to change these assumptions.

We can do this by shattering the stereotypical perceptions of the church – not an easy thing to do. We DO NOT accomplish this by maintaining the “usual” methods that have not served us well over the years. The secular entertainment industry has put us in a position where we MUST up the anty significantly or loose our target audience – the unchurched and unsaved.

Let me just say this… you do not want to miss December 16th at the The Rock. What we are able to do when we pull together for a common cause is going to amaze you – it is going to ignite something in this city that has been dormant for a very long time – the passionate pursuit of God and of those that are lost. It’s not all about what we can get out of church – it’s all about what we give to this city through the church. Once we are saved and have a solid relationship with our creator, it is our responsibility and our privaledge to reach out to our sphere of influence and make a difference in the Kingdom of God.

I hope you are all inviting your friends, family and co-workers like crazy people. Get a big stack of invitation cards this Sunday and give them all away – go here and e-mail invitations to all of your peeps.

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Family Pictures

 

Our good friend Millie did a photo session for us yesterday. She is amazing – thanks for the great pictures, Mills! So – go to her blog and check them all out – www.milliehollomanblog.com. She is one of the creative crazies that inspires me to continually work at my craft.

Love you, Millie!

How Did This Happen?

SO STINKING FAST???

Monday Morning Again

So this morning in our staff meeting, Bryan mentioned that we have three Sundays left until Imagine Christmas and I almost spontaneously threw up. For real… if any of you have some time today or tomorrow and want to come help with some detail stuff for the show, please let me know!

On a happier note….Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I love it more than Christmas because it’s less stressful and the food is just amazing. I’ll start my turkey prep on Wednesday morning – it’s a two day process for me but man is it worth it! Don’s making his famous Pumpkin Cheesecake and yankee stuffing and I’ll make a big fat dish of mac and cheese per Jennifer’s request. We’ll go see a movie after naps Thursday afternoon and then go back to Bryan and Jen’s for leftovers. Yummm…

What are your Thanksgiving traditions? Which dishes make you absolutely salivate and has everyone begging for every year?

Let’s hear it, people!

What Do You Think?

Should I cut it all off or not?

I Need…

• 2 men’s blue tunics for Don and Matthew – they’re my angels in Imagine Christmas and they need something to wear so they won’t come out on stage with their bareness hanging out
• Winter outerwear for 30+ kids in coordinating colors
• A quite snow machine…dang it!
• An army of volunteers to do our Imagine Christmas bulk mail next week
• More backstage people
• low rolling fog that doesn’t make the stage slippery and cause injury to my amazing dancers (sorry, Sarah!)
• to not get sick every time I think about food
• to finish my volunteer schedule…eeeek

If any of you wonderful people out there would like to help me with any of this, feel free! I welcome help in any form it may come! I am not above begging or groveling but I would prefer to do this with my dignity still in tact. 🙂

Monday Morning Brain Dump

This one could be a doozy…

• My brother went swimming with sharks last week while he was in the Bahamas – I think he’s an idiot and just asking for trouble. What do you all think?
• Yesterday was hard for me. Leading worship in the service yesterday morning felt like wading through a big pond filled with oatmeal. (don’t ask me about food references…I’m pregnant for Pete’s sake!) I think – I know, rather – that a lot of the struggle is in me right now and not about the people. I’m distracted and sometimes feel inadequate to do this thing I’m doing. Ever feel like your time is just about up – that the grace has lifted for what your hands are doing? I’m sure it’s just the mommy in me wanting to give my undivided attention to my babies – I’m sure that’s all it is…
• Pastor Chris Phillips from River of Life Church in Jacksonville, NC brought an amazing message yesterday. You can download the MP3 of the message here later today.
• We had a really great rehearsal last night for Imagine Christmas. The violinist, Carrie Jackson, came and completely rocked this music. (my regular guys did a pretty fabulous job themselves!) I can not wait for Wilmington to experience this event. December 16th – 10am and 6pm at The Rock – DON’T MISS IT!
• My husband is amazing – he has really stepped it up and is taking great care of me. He hasn’t said one word about my mood swings or lack of desire to clean -anything– he’s the best and would probably appreciate your prayers for him over the next 7 months. 🙂
• We go for our first ultrasound this Friday! (there better only be one little fish down there in that aquarium…)
• Pad Thai with chicken for lunch sounded better in theory…

Feeling The Pressure

December 16th is coming at me waaaaay too quickly. There is so much to do and my brain can’t seem to lock down and push through all the lists and phone calls and budgets.  I definitely don’t feel qualified to do this job most of the time, but this is when I realize how important it is to have Holy Spirit’s help. When I feel inadequate, then I can honestly lean on Him and not on my own understanding. Yes, we need to study and be excellent in what we set our hands to do – obviously… God’s not really keen on showing up and doing everything for us but He does get pretty excited about partnering with us to make things supernaturally come together and blow our minds.

God’s grace is what gets me through every weekend worship service, every Glory Academy production, every seasonal event here at the church….I could not do this without Him. Even when I am feeling tremendous pressure – which I am – I have learned to rest in Him and believe that in the end all things work together for our good.

So – when you feel overwhelmed…what do you do?

Here you go, Hope…

So, Hope commented on the chicken chili post and wanted to know more about what was going on in my brain and less about what I may be cooking for dinner. Here you go, my dear!

• I can’t find costumes to fit the 20 dancers in the Jig scene of Imagine Christmas. Need….more….money…
• I’m wondering what makes the “quiet” snow machine $600 more than the one that sounds like an airplane engine. Hmmmm….
• I’m crazy about this baby already. My clothes don’t fit me, though (geeze, I’m only 7 weeks – good Lord!) But seriously – I am completely in love with this child. I don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy – I haven’t felt her move yet – but I just can’t help myself. <sigh>
• I want to be a better leader – I feel like I’ve been treading water for the last year and that doesn’t make me happy. Am I inspiring anyone or just maintaining?
• I saw two young labs killing a goose in my back yard yesterday morning – it freaked me out. I know, I know – the circle of life and all that – but all the other ducks and geese were across the street in my neighbor’s yard just staring stoically over at the carnage and I was freaking out. I yelled at them but they wouldn’t look up from their prize to even acknowledge me. Now I have a pile of scattered goose feathers all over my yard. Seriously – it freaked me out.
• I don’t want to stress anymore.
• I miss my friends – the ones that live here and the ones that don’t. We’re just all too busy and too tired to nurture meaningful relationships right now. Things need to change – our idea of what makes life worth it needs to change.
• I want to enjoy God more.

So – what’s in all of your heads?

Chicken Chili

So – I’ve been asked to post this recipe. It’s from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, “Parties”. I have changed it just a bit to make it easier, but it’s still basically the same… Enjoy!

Chicken Chili
Serves 12

8 cups chopped yellow onions (about 6 small onions)
1/4 cup good olive oil, plus extra for chicken
1/4 cup minced garlic (8 cloves)
4 red bell peppers, cored, seeded and large-diced
4 yellow bell peppers, cored, seed and large-diced
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
4 tsp kosher salt, plus more for chicken
2 – 28 ounce cans crushed tomatoes
2 – 28 ounce cans diced tomatoes
1/2 cup minced fresh basil leaves (if you don’t want to use fresh basil, I have used the canned tomatoes with basil instead)
8 split chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
freshly cracked black pepper

FOR SERVING
corn chips or tortilla chips
grated cheddar
sour cream

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet lined with foil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast the chicken for 35-40 minutes, until just cooked. Let cool while you finish the soup.

Cook the onions in the olive oil over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and basil. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Separate the chicken from the bones and tear into bit size pieces. Add to the chili and simmer, uncovered, for another 20 minutes. Serve with the toppings, or refrigerate and reheat gently before serving.

(sometimes I have added an extra can of tomatoes if I feel the consistency is too thick. Be sure to adjust the seasonings accordingly)

 ENJOY! (thanks, Mrs. Ina!)