jeff gibson

Do you miss the Parkway Drive?

Look what I found in the archives!!

Central Men's Challenge 09

Great times up in Williams this weekend at the Men's Challenge.  Highlights:

• I could see my breath.  Normally that's not a good thing.
• Nate Larkin brought a powerful message of failure, redemption and victory.
• Had a ton of guys sign up for small groups.
• Lots of guys songs and man, did the guys ever sing!  I rode up and back with the band guys and enjoyed hanging out with Mark, Perry and crew.
• Line of the weekend: Corey and Aaron were giving the sports report after the afternoon free time which featured some three on three basketball, ultimate frisbee and other things.  Some of us played golf.  Paul asked Corey to give the golf update, and Corey said, "I thought we were talking about sports."  Across the room I could see Danny stand up, at which Aaron said, "I think we just ticked off our boss!"
• And some baptisms:

We have a deck!

Well, after a little plumbing mishap, they are pouring the deck today!

 

The Church Should Be More Discriminating

Seth Godin writes in this post about how Wal-Mart sells hardcover books at a loss.  Why?  To get readers into their stores.  Readers, you see, tend to be smarter, better educated, and, oh yeah, make more money, and therefore have more disposable income.  And therefore, they buy more stuff.  

So if they get more readers into their store, they will sell more stuff.  

He says, “The challenge, then is to look for cues that people give you that they are better, and then cater to them. Every industry has people who are worth more, buzz more, care more and buy more than other people. Don't treat people the same, find the ones that matter more to you, and hug them.”  

Should the church cater to a certain type of people?  Or does it?

50 Years At Central Christian Church

 
Had a great time yesterday at Central’s 50^th Anniversary Celebration.  Thousands showed up to see the history of Central and pop culture through out the decades.  My favorites:

The 60’s:  Seeing a typewritten Central bulletin with the offering being something like $947.

The 70’s:  The Price is Right game.

The 80’s:  Danny Dodson walking around in a Ronald Reagan mask, while others of us passed out fans with his picture on it.  Moment of the day was the report of hearing a 13 year old say, “who’s this old guy”.

The 90’s:  Singing Kaoroke with Jodi Bray.  We killed the theme from Beauty and the Beast.  No, really, we killed it!

The 2000’s:  Had to be the human bowling or the big bungee jumping!

 

Most remarkable feat of the day:  In the 50 years that Central has existed, it has only had 4 senior pastors.  There's one of them in the picture.

 

Project Streetlight

Any runners out there?

Any of you running in the PF Changs 1/2 or full marathon?  You can benefit Project Streetlight at the same time.

What is Project Streetlight?

Phoenix is now the #1 city in the nation for Sex Trafficking, including Child Prostitution, more accurately described as Child Rape for Profit.  On any given night there are 300 children, average age 13, forced to prostitute themselves for the benefit of their “owners.”  When these children are liberated they have no safe place to go, and are kept in jail for their own safety.  Project Streetlight is currently raising funds to purchase and operate a rehabilitation facility that will provide these young victims with the education, counseling, life skills, and hope necessary to heal and to reclaim their lives.  If you haven’t yet, we encourage you to check out www.streetlightphx.com to get more information on the sex trafficking issues here in Phoenix.   So, how can running the PF Chang's Marathon or Half Marathon help?

Some friends of mine are organizing runners to secure sponsors to raise money.  By securing sponsors for your race, you can raise funds for Project Streetlight that are 100% tax deductible, and will help bring an end to Child Rape for Profit here in Phoenix.  You can have donors sponsor you at a set amount, or a per mile rate… there is complete flexibility in how you choose to ask for donations.  However, there are a few important details you should know:   All donations go directly to Streetlight – you are responsible to pay for your own registration fees for the race itself.

For more information, e-mail ReasonToRun@cox.net.   Choose to partner with my friends Jonathan and Heather Huston to raise funds for Project Streetlight, and help bring an end to Child Rape for Profit here in Phoenix.

San Francisco - The Golden Gate Bridge pt 2

I forgot this video we did on my phone:

San Francisco - Boudin's Bakery

No trip to Fisherman's Wharf would be complete without clam chowder in a sourdough breadbowl at Boudin's Bakery.  That's how we finished out our time there.  Or, if you prefer, how about a giant sourdough clam?

San Francisco - Napa Valley

We spent last Saturday in Napa Valley. 

We weren't sure what to expect, and frankly, except for finding some fall colors and the Outlet Mall, we could have had just as much fun staying in S.F. and finding the "Full House" house.

We're not into wine tastings, so looking back, I'm thinking, duh, what did you expect in Wine Country?

But here's the Andretti Winery.  While we were there, a Ferrari came up the drive and one of the workers hurried out to see it.  When she came back she explained that she thought it might be Mario. It wasn't.

San Francisco - Menlo Park Presbyterian

On Sunday LG and I went to Menlo Park Presbyterian Church and got to hear John Ortberg preach.  It neat to see an established church doing some progressive things, yet holding on to traditions that make it special, like greeting at the door on the way out.