I would like to join me for coffee. I would like to call up my 16 year old self and have coffee in some vintage little nook that you can only find in one of those little eclectic towns. I would love to look myself in the eyes and just search my soul. I would love to guess what I am thinking. I imagine my younger self's first thought would be, "Wow, that is me 15 years from now. When did I get so old?" Then I imagine I would be thinking what kind of things do I want to know from the older me? I would like to join me for coffee. I would love to see the anticipation in those eyes 15 years prior to today. I would love to hear what he is so excited about. I would love to hear about the girl he is dating, the classes he is taking, the job he has, and the relationship with his family and friends. I would love to see what gets him stoked and amped up. I would love to ask my younger self why he wants to change the world. I imagine he would have a lot of wisdom to impart to me. However, I … [Read more...]
THE MONKEY MOCKED THE TIGER
This morning I heard a story that I may not have believed unless I had seen it on the Today Show. Apparently a monkey got loose at a Florida zoo and went to the Tiger cage and "mocked the tiger", as the zoo keeper so eloquently put it. The mocking got the tiger all fired up and caused him to jump a 14ft high fence. It was at this point that the 500 pound tiger came face to face with a 20 pound toddler and they simply stood and stared at each other. The mom of the toddler calmly picked her up and walked away and the tiger walked into the travel cage that the trainers opened for him. Now for me there are all sorts of church leadership parallels to this story. You can fill in your interpretation. Here are some of mine: The monkey is church people and the tiger is the pastor. The monkey is the pastor and the tiger is the church people. The tiger is Satan and the toddler is a fresh young Christ follower. The monkey is the world and the church is the tiger. I am the monkey and you are … [Read more...]
DON’T LOOK TO COMPETE, BUT COMPLETE!!! (THOUGHTS FROM SUNDAY)
Monday... What is in a name like Monday? Today there are a lot of things in that name. Today I am tired. I think in a good way, but a delirious good way for sure. Yesterday was an incredible whirlwind. I cannot express the things that I continue to see God doing in my life, the life of others and the life of the church here in Roanoke and across the nation. Yesterday at Newspring Church in South Carolina they had over 500 people give their lives to Christ. Elevation Church saw the same by way of first time decisions for Christ. In Compass Roanoke we saw one...AND IT WAS GLORIOUS!!! What I realized again yesterday was no matter if it is 500 or 1 the celebration is the same. Whether it is 500 or 1 God is still rejoicing over them all. Whether it is 500 or 1 the angels throw down the rock show of all rock shows for them..EACH AND EVERY ONE!!! I am thankful for the movement of God that is taking place right now across the Kingdom of God. The awakening that is coming from its slumber. I … [Read more...]
ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES
When I was a kid I believed that anything was possible. My guess is you did too!!! I don't know what happens to us between being a kid and being an adult that makes us forget that we have endless possibilities. God designed us to live a life of the endless possibilities. As I look to living a better story and helping others do the same we have to get back to that childlike state of knowing we can do anything as a long as God has called us to it. So question of the day is this... What Endless Possibility Have You Neglected That You Need To Begin Living Out? … [Read more...]
SLOW DOWN SATURDAYS
It is no secret that blog readers slow down their reading on the weekends. However, what are we all slowing down our reading to do? I know that on this Saturday I am going to slow down and eat breakfast with a friend from half way around the world at Rise n' Dine. I am going to slow down and hang with my girls and probably play the wii, chill outside, and cookout. I am going to curl up with THE WIFE and watch a movie and then probably fall asleep before I really need to so I will be rested to bring the noise from the Word of God tomorrow morning at Compass Roanoke!!! So what are you doing to slow down today? … [Read more...]
MY FRIEND PETE WILSON AND TAYLOR SWIFT TOGETHER…WELL KINDA!!!
My friend Pete Wilson and his whole family are in the new Taylor Swift music video. Pete and his wife are the couple fighting (haha) and his boys play Taylor's kids. Pretty cool to see friends in a number #1 music video. Check it out: … [Read more...]
HIGHLIGHT AND SADDEST PART OF MY WEEK
(Laura and Ella- First day of 1st Grade) This week has seen major changes in the DeVage household. This past Monday was the highlight and the saddest day all in the same and all for the same reason. At 7:50am Monday August 23, 2010 my little girl Ella started the first grade. What does that mean? That means she is at the big kid school now. She is a lamb in world full of wolves (extreme I know, but she is my baby). Monday we walked her to her class and bid her goodbye. Monday was not hard for me...Tuesday however, destroyed me. I went to walk her in and she said, "Daddy, I'm good. I know where to go." It was in that moment that I knew I had to begin letting her go just a teeny tiny bit. A tear may have entered the corner of one eye for just a second, but so did a bit of pride in my soul for the little girl that my baby is becoming. I am so proud of her and how she keeps growing up. How did you handle the first day of school for your first child? … [Read more...]
TELLING A BETTER STORY
A few months ago I read Donald Miller's book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years." Very rarely do I read 200 hundred plus page books in one sitting, but this was one of those rare moments. Every page I turned was full of highlighting and underlining. I wrote things in the margins. I was transformed by the words and thoughts that Mr. Miller had brought to life for me. It provoked thought about my story. The entire book was about just that. It was continually asking, "What kind of story are you living?" I got to the end of the book and that question lingered in me for days, maybe even weeks. But I did what I normally do with a book that I am finished with. I closed it, glanced one last time at the cover and then put it on the shelf with the countless other books I have finished. This book that was so impacting on me was now just a distant memory. The thought of living a better story was just that...a thought. And now that very thought was fleeting. That was until a week ago. I had a … [Read more...]
I SUBMIT LOVE GETS NO BETTER THAN THIS
I love these two more than words can express. I love how Natalie's hair is all crazy and how Ella is so happy. I submit that I can not love two human beings more than these two!!! … [Read more...]
CAL KNAPP AND A LITTLE BEAUTY DISH
Starting shooting some portraits with an Alien Bee 22" Beauty Dish with an Alien Bee 1600w Strobe. This was one of the first shots I took of my partner in crime Mr. Cal Knapp. Love the light and the catch lights in his eyes. If ya want some shnazzy photos like this one, just hit me up!!! … [Read more...]
LET'S SOCIALIZE