Connections

American Idol and God of This City

Kris Allen, American Idol champ singing God of This City! Thanks Chris Surratt for twittering this. Good stuff!

How do you practice this?

Inspired. Danny MacAskill from dave on Vimeo.

Random Christmas Thoughts

Blogging has been slow round here due to the rush of things going on the last few weeks.  I'm hoping that in a few weeks richbutler.org will look a little simpler and more like me, but until then enjoy the same ole' blog. 

There are a few things on my mind this Christmas:

1. I wrote about my Christmas awakening here.

2. Rethinking my personal goals and how I did in 2008.  I'm ready for 2009!

3. Been enjoying some new music lately.  You need to check out Kristene Meuller.

4.  Been using some artists/painters in our services lately. We will silent auction the paintings with proceeds going to missions.  I will post pictures soon...they are amazing.

5. No one has Christmas lights on their house this year.  Have you noticed?  More people have said that this year feels nothing like Christmas....I agree.

Getting ready to fill my mug with hot chocolate, get some warm clothes on and go see the few Christmas lights that are actually up in my city!

Clearing My Mind

I haven't had much to say around this blog lately...I apologize for that.  I'm hoping that a Thanksgiving break will allow my mind to rest so I can be fresh with ideas very soon.  Until then....let me dump my mind for you.

* We find out if we are having a boy or girl tomorrow.
* Driving to MS for Thanksgiving.  The trip includes some coffee, Christmas CD's, a stop at Cracker Barrell and lots of laughs.
* The day after Thanksgiving, I love to eat a Thanksgiving Sandwich with Turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, hot sauce and mayo....it's almost better than the actual feast.
* Loved watching Ole Miss take it to LSU.
* Almost in the fantasy football playoffs...this next week should seal the deal.
* Finally purchased a recliner Saturday.  Every man needs a recliner...can I get an amen on that one.
* CRCC stepped up in a huge way.  We had a faith goal of 150 Boxes of Love (meal that will feed a family of 6) this year for those who are in need in our city.  Happy to say that the last count was 175 sponsored and counting.  Yeah God! Many were saved and a few were physically healed at the Distribution Center downtown G-ville on Saturday.
*David Walker's CD will be out next Monday!  You can purchase it at itunes, Amazon, or his website.  CD release at CRCC on the night of December 14th...mark your calendars.
*CRCC will have a Christmas Blog this year that will be rolling out in a few weeks with daily devotionals, outreach initiatives for our city and some other cool things.  Check by around December 2 for a link!
*Peppermint Mocha creamer in the mornings in my coffee is finally here!

What's On My Mind

* Started our new series on our Core Values today.
* The first Value is the Supremacy of Scripture. Was great to see everyone engaged as we looked at the Word.
* It was great addressing our church family concerning the elections and our President Elect.
* Prayed for the president as a church today. Great opportunity as the church to bless our president and not curse him.  We are commanded to pray for those in authority....bottom line.
* Grateful for Proposition 8 and  the protection of Marriage between 1 man and 1 women. Way to go California! Thank you Jesus!
* The pillars of God's throne are Justice and Righteousness.  We are on the way to seeing Justice established in our nation....for this I am grateful.  However, we need the pillar of Righteousness firmly placed as a nation....we have a long way to go.
* It was nice having an "unplugged" worship set with just Walker and basic drum kit today to kick off The Core.
* So glad to bench Payton Manning and start Jay Cutler in Fantasy Football....51 points from Cutler!
* Will start a 3 part Blog series on "Prayer" tomorrow.
* Love riding around town looking at the colored leaves.
* Been painting Ella Tays' room and her bathroom. I have a love/hate with painting.
* My new favorite game is Speed Scrabble...somebody is likely to get hurt over it though.
* Excited to start capturing some rcent testimonies on video starting in a few weeks.  God is moving at CRCC!
* Ate my wife's homemade Chicken and Dumplings for lunch.  My wife can cook! Like a tranquilizer dart to the neck...so sleepy now.
* I have had blogger's block lately.  I need some inspiration to blog.  Everyone is now twittering and I refuse. Any topics or ideas you want to see on this blog?

Rick Astley and Sermon Prep

 

I am currently sitting in Liquid Highway preparing for Sunday's sermon.  Dustin Hughes, our youth pastor, is behind me preparing his message for Sunday as well.  It's nice to go to another location to get focused on sermon preparation.

At my table: I have a cup of Bold Coffee, ESV Study Bible, a moleskine journal, a commentary and some books on prayer. 

What you wouldn't know is that Rick Astley's "She Wants to Dance With Me" is playing over the speakers.  Nothing like Sermon prep and Rick Astley!

Don't forget to read the last post and help a brother out!

What's On My Mind!

* God is doing some amazing things at CRCC.  People getting saved, healed and delivered!  Thank you God!
* My Fantasy Football team is slowly moving from the top to the bottom of the rankings. Arrgh!
* Learning a ton about forgiveness lately.  It works! It will set you free!
* 1 and 2 Peter are rocking me to the core right now!
* I have been on a reading break other than scripture lately.  I am excited about diving into this book and the new ESV Study Bible.
* I love this weather!
* Love pumpkin spice anything and everything! It's everywhere this time of year.
* Redefining our Core Values as a church...very refreshing.
* Learning more and more daily about how God has actually wired me.
* My wife's new haircut is awesome....she is so beautiful.
* Been a long but good week already.
* Monday Night Prayer was amazing.  Prayer really works!
* Our cash budget is putting the crunch on us...in a good way.  Thanks Dave Ramsey!
* My daughter just moved upstairs in her "Big Girl" room.  I almost cried...seriously!
* Greenville is blessed with some amazing churches.

That'll Preach!

You could preach a whole series on this 1 minute clip.

I first saw it on Scott William's blog (which by the way is one of my favorites). It's sort of like "destiny" all summed up...never mind the "Good, Bad and the Ugly" music with a Jay-Z'ish beat.

You don't even have to know who Troy Palamalu and LaDainian Tomlison is to appreciate the clip. I didn't know whether to run in place, read my Bible or prophecy over my baby's mama after watching this video!

Nostalgia

There are some things that just take me back...you know... nostalgia. 

I was in Wal-Mart tonight picking up a few things and I passed an isle where I caught a smell of some Autumn Spice candles.  I was immediately taken back to the days of my childhood, when my mom would boil potpourri on the stove and this aroma filled my home during the Fall.

The rest of the night I was on a cerebral rewind. 

Some things I remember about growing up were:

* Listening to Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams while riding in my brother's maroon Monte Carlo! 

* Trying to balance my Boom-Box on the handle bars of my Huffy bicycle.

*  Watching Ricky the Dragon Steamboat wrestle Rick Flair for the Championship!

*  Eating tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches every Sunday night on a TV tray while watching the A-Team and then Night Rider!

What are your Nostalgic remembrances?

What's Been Going On

My posting has been a little sporadic lately, so I thought I would just catch you up-to-speed. It makes up for me not twittering and not posting everyday. Enjoy!

* Fantasy Football Draft is Thursday night.  I pick #1 because I won the league last year....just reminding you guys reading this that are in the league.

* Just posted to Craigslist for the 1st time! I am emptying my closets! If you want a Sweet Diving Watch at a great price...email me!

* Can't wait till Thursday night college football! Even my alma mater is playing University of Miami on their opener.  This is scary!

* My dog "tee-teed" on a new shirt of mine while it was on the floor....I didn't know and ironed the shirt...sealing the smell into the fabric of the shirt.  I walked around all day wondering who was stinking in the office.

* New blog header on FastforGreenville.com to reflect more of my city.

40 Days for Life is coming up to see abortion overturned!  Join in with us on fastforgreenville.com.

* A prayer initiative is planned for 9-11-08 (called the 9/11 Initiative...creative huh) that will focus on praying for government, the elections, our nation and our city's government! More to come later this week!