Monday Morning Insights

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    This and That from Todd

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    1.  I’m bummed… my man Chris Sligh just got voted off of Idol.  I really had my doubts that he’d make it through this week.  I guess now I’ll have to go for the obvious winner… Melinda.  She’s also a Christian and has an unbelieveable voice.  Go, Melinda.

    2.  Had a little scare… I’m sitting in a hotel room in Toronto; and was afraid that I might not get to see the Idol results.  (Not that my life revolves around it or anything).  But my Canadian friends had me covered… picking up AI through a Buffalo Fox affiliate.

    3.  I’m in Canada participating in a meeting of Canadian multi-site churches.  It should be a great meeting.  I’ll share more as I have time after the meeting tomorrow.

    4.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet up with the gang at Community Christian in Naperville.  It was great to meet with Dave Ferguson, Jon Ferguson, and Pat Masek.  Also was able to sit in on one of their weekly “Big Idea” meetings.  And it was BIG!  (More on that later, hopefully, as well).

    5.  About a week ago, the fam and I caught Toby Mac on tour up at NorthRidge Church.  My friend Rick scored me some great tickets.  My kids absolutely loved Family Force Five (they do put on quite the show); but I liked Thousand Foot Krutch, Building 429, and Toby the best.  What a great night.

    6.  Lot of comments about yesterday’s Benny Hinn story on him outsourcing his prayer request lines.  No, it’s not Friday… that’s a real story.  I can’t make this stuff up, folks!

    7.  I just wrote an article that will publish Monday here at MMI and over at Rev. Online about ‘the top ten things I’m learning from churches who get it’.  It felt good putting some things down on paper that I’m learning recently (and I’m learning alot!)

    8.  I love the Fort Wayne International Airport.  (Yes, it is an ‘international’ airport.) In a day and age when people don’t go out of their way, they do at FWIA.  For example, today when arrived at the airport, it was raining.  But they literally followed me through the parking lot until I found a space, then offered me a ride to the terminal in their fancy totally enclosed golf cart.  Then as I signed in; the pleasant British lady behind the counter serenaded me with her humming, whistling, and singing version of Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line.” Add to that free internet wifi; and flights that leave on time, and you have a great airport experience.  And, when I arrive back to FW on Friday, they will have a greeter who will present me with a free cookie.  I admit, I’m not hard to please… but it seems like these folks are really really trying.

    9.  My least favorite airport… Chicago Ohare.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a flight leave on time from there.  And, in fact, two of my last four flights from there have been cancelled.  And their customer service is lousy as well.

    10.  My son, Tristan, set a new Rhoades family record for child high temperature:  104.7 takes the cake.  And earned him a quick trip to the emergency room.  He’s fine now.

    11.  If you’re still reading this, you deserve a prize.  Really, you do.  I have no idea why I shared most of this stuff, but boy, do I feel better.

    It’s good to be back.

    Todd

    Seems that I've been out of it for a while... I took last week off with a fever and a cold; and it's taken me a little while to get back into the swing of things. But now, I'm back baby... and full of all kinds of thoughts I need to get off my mind...

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    1. Andy McAdams on Thu, March 29, 2007

      Hey Todd,


      Welcome back.  I’m glad you’re feeling better.  I’m in Binghamton NY at the moment so we were just a few hundred miles from each other.  The churches here are in real need.


      About #8, perhaps some churches can learn something from the Fort Wayne Airport about TLC.


      About #11, where do I go to collect my prize?  Huh? Huh Todd?  I love prizes. 


      Andy

    2. Peter Hamm on Thu, March 29, 2007

      What’s my prize?


      Sounds like I want our team to be more like Fort Wayne and less like O’Hare. (My two experiences in O’Hare were great… guess I just got lucky.)

    3. Camey on Thu, March 29, 2007

      Hey Todd,


      1. I hear ya about Chris. Now maybe he’ll start blogging again. There’s a positive right? GO, Melinda!


      2. On the way home last night, I was getting the countdown… “Mom, do you realize there’s ONLY 15 minutes left?” Fortunately it was the result show.


      3 - 4. Look forward to hearing all about it.


      5. Sounds like you’ve got some great friends! I would call them friends with benefits but in today’s world - NO WAY!


      6. When I first read the Benny story I confess…. I thought you were having a relapse. “Todd, It’s not Friday man. PLEASE go back to bed.” Then, I read it again. The sobering fact that it was still Wednesday smacked me in the head.


      7. Sounds like you’re getting some good edumacation. Look forward to being edumacated.


      8. Great stuff! Lessons to be learned from that right there.


      9. What? No comment, not even the slightest remark about DFW airport? Chicken.


      10. Really now Todd….. Next time skip getting the kids sick. You know they will out do you and get more attention. Wimps like attention when they’re sick right? http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif Glad he’s better!


      11. I’m not only still reading this but have responded in-kind. MAN! Have you been missed then huh?


      WELCOME BACK TODD! Now, where’s that prize? lol


      Camey


      ——


      Andy: If you read this - can you share more about the needs in Binghamton NY?


      Chris Sligh: Thanks for the trip man! Can’t wait to read all about what you’ve learned on the journey.

    4. J.R. on Thu, March 29, 2007

      Todd,


      You’ve got to put in a spoiler warning next time.  Got friends in town so we have Idol taped.  Oh well, guess I can wow them with my “prediction” of who gets voted off.  http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif  BTW, have you flown much through Atlanta?  Never on time!

    5. kent on Thu, March 29, 2007

      I had lunch with Dave Ferguson last week, and there is no more generous and gracious person in the church. You gotta love what he does.

    6. Andy McAdams on Thu, March 29, 2007

      Camey,


      The needs in Binghamton NY are not uncommon to churches across America today.  However, in the Northeast the spiritual condition is worst then most places in the country.  In fact, Barna says that only 17% of the population in the Northeast attends any kind of church.  The opportunities for me to assist pastors with their churches have really opened up here, even more then other parts of the country where I’ve been.  That tells me that God is doing something and church leaders are taking a good look at their ministries and want to make a difference. 


      I actually am working with a number of churches from Newburgh NY to past Syracuse.  I often say that, “You can throw a rock and hit an evangelical church around that area and it will echo, because of the lack of people.” 


      The big problem is conflict in the churches and resistance to change.  Many pastors want to do something significant for Christ but find that the so-called pillars of the church are actually barriers in many cases. 


      Churches here (like in much of the U.S.) are still doing things the way they were done in the 70s.  There is very little evangelism, and hardly any discipleship and often they exist to just keep the doors open. 


      In the past year there were two floods in the Binghamton area and many of the churches were so short in resources just to keep things together for themselves, they could offer little help. 


      What I’m doing here is, working with pastors and leaders to develop a strategy for their churches to mature spiritually, mentor through One to One Discipling, reach out to their communities, build leaders, create a climate for growth and to be a more affective 21st Century church. 


      Thanks for asking.  Andy

    7. Jan on Thu, March 29, 2007

      Hey, thanks for sharing and glad you are feeling better!

    8. Camey on Thu, March 29, 2007

      Thanks Andy for sharing as you did. More to come.


      Todd, I know you don’t mind the temporary hijacking of this thread.

    9. Tommy on Thu, March 29, 2007

      Great to see that you are back at it!  Really enjoy your blog!

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