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I have a dream swirling around in my head to start a record label.
Why not...my life's kinda boring right now.
A family of amazing bands.
Roosters...screaming hope in the dark!
The world needs a great record label.
One that doesn't suck the life out of bands.
Who wants in?
Those are the letters on the knuckles of the dude sitting across from me right now.
I asked him about it. He said it stands for F#@$ THE F#%$ OFF
Not really sure that makes a lot of grammatical sense but we've had a pretty amazing conversation for the last hour.
He said he's tried to live like a ghost for the last year.
Completely off the grid...no connection to anyone or anything.
He got his heart broke and lost his kids...sucky situation.
I'm listening and looking.
I pray for opportunities.
Thanks for always being faithful God!
When someone asks to use your computer to charge an ipod and they look homeless...let em...say hi...see what happens.
It's an odd number to dislike but it has been my nemesis!
For over a month I've been stuck at this weight. I've hit 170.4 on multiple occasions...this morning being the most recent encounter with defeat.
First thought this morning after stepping on the scale was a super shot of Metamucil in my coffee and let nature take its course! I just need to see a 6 as the second number.
The day I look down and see 169.9 I'm throwin a party. Not the kind of party that Sean caters with delicious food...that wouldn't make much sense. It's going to be the kind of party that just involves me and a couple fist pumps.
Can't wait...I'll let you know
We've reached a significant milestone as parents.
The LAST DIAPER!!!!!
Zeke turns 8 in April so this marks the first time in 8 years without changing diapers.
Moses is now officially rockin' undies and pull ups.
We're still experiencing about one accident a day but it feels like the worst of it is over.
We've done it all...
Cloth with pins
Cloth with covers
G-Diapers with cloth
G-Diapers with inserts
Regular Diapers
Pull ups
Swimmers
It's a big day for the Lances.
Celebrate milestones!
Moral of story...
If you're in the middle of a poop season know that it can be over in 8 years :)
Today was the day that I gave in.
I've been asked 4,072 times.
It's made sense every time.
It makes no sense that I haven't done it yet.
Every time I tell them...I know...I know.
Today I registered my Starbucks card.
I get a tall black bold coffee almost every day...$1.50...don't judge me :)
This will give me free refills and free coffee on occasion.
Makes sense. It's not rocket science.
I think I'm addicted to the ritual of pulling $2 out of my pocket and always walking around with 50 cents. I'm weird.
Moral of the story. Don't give up. Stay persistent. You never know the day that something will click for someone. Keep asking. Keep knocking. Keep seeking. Keep scratching and clawing. One day it will happen. Be encouraged!
Thanks Starbucks. You have my heart for life :)
Today we got the blood test back from Moses' allergy test.
Milk, eggs, soy, cats, dogs, walnuts.
Bummer.
Time for Scarlet to go.
Anyone in the market for a Morky?
Half Maltese / Half Yorkie
Cute dog...licks the air for no reason...eats kleenex
Doesn't shed...poops small...eats mostly cheerios and rice...
Unless you don't have kids. Then she will probably eat dog food.
Let me know.
Sitting with Alyssa and Moses in an office two days ago getting some blood work done for Mo's allergies. Older lady is hacking and sounding like she's on the verge of death...I'm annoyed...no compassion, no mercy, just annoyance. Holy Spirit prompts me to pray for her...really...now...I'm annoyed...that would be weird...I'll do it quietly. Walked out. Missed opportunity.
Later I'm in the office and Nicolle Garbutt comes in. She leaves for 4th brain surgery in a day. Holy Spirit prompts me to pray...I obey...bring God to the middle of the situation...his heart is shared with Nicole. I stepped in. Kingdom opportunity.
Everyday you are faced with choices to choose in our out to the voice of the Lord that directs your life. I walk away too much. Learning to choose in.
Just got back from 3 days at Risen King...conference was amazing.
I saw a guy that I prayed for at the last conference a year ago. He's a church planter in New York. Last year he came forward for prayer from chronic pain he had in his left knee that he had for years. I prayed for him and God completely took the pain away. Year later...still no pain! God is awesome.
God spoke some pretty significant things over the time. I was really encouraged and refreshed. The whole Randall crew (minus Whitney) were there. So good to hang with Andrew and Caleb. So proud of the men they've become.
Felt like I received a ton of faith and a new desperation and expectation for God.
Looking forward to this next season!
It's becoming a Lance family tradition.
Sunday-Friday we're up at ridiculous times to run or take kids to school.
Seriously...who decided it makes sense to start pre-school at 7:30?
But Saturday's are a different story.
On Saturday its Lord of the Flies, anything goes, survival of the fittest.
Alyssa and I stay in bed as long as physically possible. Today it was 9!
Kids come in 38 times yelling about breakfast..."someone punched me"..."the play room is on fire"
Our response stays consistent..."work it out, go back to the playroom."
Promise we are good parents 6.5 days of the week.
As parents of three you need a morning that you can be a little selfish.
I should write a parenting book :)
When you finally get up you have to change your mindset.
You have to be ok with 4 things you value being broken and a healthy layer of milk and cheerios coating the floor.
The rest of the day consists of special breakfast, wii games, playing outside, reading, naps, friends, and general tomfollery! It's our Sabbath...it's what we do.
Do you have a day of rest?
I've been thinking about this a lot lately.
There are so many things that I'm thinking through operationally as a church coming into our new space that it makes my head hurt. And with every policy and procedure and system and staff position and line item I wonder how you keep that thing that keeps you real and raw.
As a church...how do we keep our street cred?
Is this what Death Cab felt like as they were poised to release Plans on Atlantic?
Four albums on Barsuk and all the street cred the world had to offer...indie status up for grabs...no more ep's...no more individually signed vinyl...no more shows without ticket master.
Plans was an amazing album but now everyone knew about their indie darlings.
They lost something even though they gained so much.
All the die hard turned their collective noses up.
Ultimately I'm not worried. We're not selling records. We're trying to follow Jesus as a community in Redding. We're committed to loving and making disciples...that's not gonna change.
Don't worry...I'm not planning on purchasing a tie or shaving or covering up tattoos :)
I just wonder all the implications on moving into a space and growing.
Growing is healthy. Putting out albums that the whole world can enjoy is awesome.
But everything comes at a cost.
Maybe I'll have to plant a church out of a bar and call it the Postal Service :)
I'd love to hear your thoughts...be nice!
Here's to never selling out...
I committed to getting healthy in November...it's almost March.
I've reached a lot of goals but there is one that I'm most excited about.
Most people celebrate getting back into a great pair of jeans...being able to accomplish a physical goal...for me it's one thing...
No more fluffing the sheets!
When I'm out of shape and my shirts are tight I'm constantly pulling up the bottom of my shirt to re-adjust it so it doesn't stick to my body all weird...fluffing the sheets.
I had a realization today that I'm in a shirt that was really tight four months ago and now I'm contemplating giving it away because its loose. I haven't had the re-adjusting nightmare recently and I'm celebrating today.
So many reasons to put off celebrating...I'm not exactly where I want to be...I can totally improve. All true statements but in the midst of the process you have to appreciate the journey.
Celebrate today.
What milestone have you reached?
Get stoked about it!
I woke up this morning and realized how fast things are changing.
Being the dad of 3 makes you look back and realize that seasons change very quickly.
I'm really wanting to treasure the moments I have right now in my life and write them down so I remember them in the future.
Things I realized this morning:
- Mo will not always climb into my bed with his ice cube feet that find my stomach at 5:30a.m. and lay on top of me and find a way to breathe his awful breath into my face.
- Sofia will not always stick her tongue out and act like shes dying every time we can't understand what she is saying.
- Zeke won't always look at me with a goofy smirk and tell me he loves me 13 times a day.
- Moses will not always fall asleep right next to his door so that you have to bump him with the door 10 times before he wakes up.
- Sofia will not always dance her entire way through dinner. I won't always have to sneak a bite of chicken into her mouth as she's twirling and spinning.
- Zeke will not always decorate every square inch of our house for holidays. He will not always build bow and arrows and fans and peel the paint off his walls for no apparent reason.
All these days will pass. That's why I blog and tweet. Cataloging, remembering, and writing down is a discipline that God has implemented from the beginning of time. It's so easy to forget. Life moves so fast. Treasure the moments!
Grabbed some coffee today with Joey from the band Kings.
Met the band about a year ago. Had them come out to play for Erase the Dark.
They led worship at the Stirring.
Amazing band. Amazing guys.
If you haven't heard their music you need to buy their album right now!
Joey brought me a shirt today that I will be sportin' tomorrow!
Jeremy produced their album at the Soundhouse...always epic!
Support great music. Spread the love.
What's the interior dialogue that keeps you going?
My last two runs have sucked. Today I walked the last mile home and felt like I was going to die. I feel like I've hit a mini wall. My weight loss has plateaued. I can't seem to break 170 and running is feeling like death.
I thought I'd share some of my internal screaming at self and see if there are some things I'm missing. I need some good one liners to keep me going.
Here's my usual self conversation:
- If you keep moving you will get there eventually
- At the end of this you'll have burned 600 calories.
- At the end of this you'll be able to eat 600 calories!
- You're not going to do anything else active today...keep going
- Sometimes I yell at myself like a drill sergeant calling myself all kind of things I shouldn't share on my blog :)
- If you keep going it's really unlikely that you're going to die. 10% possibility.
- Sometimes I trash talk myself. Go ahead and stop...go home and bury your face in an ice cream tub...that 25 lbs. you just lost will look amazing hanging from your love handles.
Not sure if some of those are helpful thoughts but it's all running through my dome and certain points in a run. What's your thing? What keeps you going? I need some help.
Let me have it.
Thoughts...behind the scenes...bloopers
Love the set this week...so much joy.
First song was new. No idea what it was called but it was awesome. If I were a bettin' man I'd say it was called Deep Waters.
Child Dedications in the morning were awesome. So much new life in our church...love it.
Something special about the Stirring surrounding these families committing to be a part of the journey for these little ones!
I got up and called a bank shot! That was crazy. I had a dream the night before and then God started speaking to me about what he wants to do and the dreams he has for us as a community. We are preparing for $145,000 offering to pay for some of the expenses in our new space and it was clear that God was saying we weren't dreaming big enough. $145,000 is a manageable and well thought through amount, but I was reminded that God's dreams don't have budgets! So we're asking for the whole thing. Let's pay off the whole building before the first day we move in. Nothing is impossible with God. 2.25 million. I'm calling it...bank shot! We need more testimony of God doing the impossible not people celebrating manageable budgets.
Nate's message was so needed for our community. We are trying to build a culture where every dating and married couple are surrounded in community, covered by older couples, and have a plan. I think it created great language for us to ask every couple that comes into our church. Don't disappear in your dating. We don't want a like, unlike option to your engagement on facebook or an invitation to your wedding as an event. We want to be a part of the journey.
From the first date to the final breath couples should be deeply planted and protected in community. (that's without my notes but I'm pretty sure after 3 gatherings I have it memorized :)
Funny moment: Nate talking about the next series we're starting and he says the church is in Deep Shift! Everyone is cracking up and he's playing it straight like he has no idea...classic.
Favorite moment of the day: Josiah leaving his keyboard at night, grabbing his mic and gettin' his joy of the Lord on! It was awesome. He brings much needed joy to our church.
What a great day.
I'd love to hear your takeaway!
I've been looking for one of these hats that would fit my dome for a long time. Tonight I found one. When you're bald you are faced with the reality of head accessories. Especially when you have basil cell carcinomas cut out of your nugget!
So I've rocked the short bill Fidel Castro hat, the cowboy hat, the fedora, and the full wrap around flip cap, your standard run of the mill flex fit baseball hat. Adding something new to your arsenal can always be scary...so I'm wondering...can I pull off being this guy??? The Irish cab driver meets Tiny Tim. Let me have it.
There is a story being written in the world...
And we are here to shine a light on it...
Light the Letter
Working on what we'd really like to say as a band.
There's a lot of bands in the world.
Very few have something to say.
Even fewer are shaping the future of our story.
We'd like to try. Why not?
Don't write music if it can't change the world...
That's just noise...and we have plenty of that!
Prepare yourself for a nauseating trip down memory lane...Don't worry, I don't do this very often!
Everything in my life right now costs a lot of money.
- I'm overseeing a 2 million dollar project at the Stirring, getting us into our new space.
- I'm building teams for a 5K run and walk fundraiser that we are looking to raise $50,000.
- I have a monthly grocery bill that's inching toward $500.
- I just spent $30 on a haircut for a dog that I don't even like.
- I own a aqua blue Toyota Echo that has a salvaged title :)
I just found myself reliving the days that we would put $2 of gas in Aaron's bug and drive to Newport for the day...eat a budget meal at Bakers for $2 and go see the Prayer Chain that night for $3. Seems like a long time ago. Livin' in my parents garage, eating all their food, mowing lawns so I could scrape together enough money to go to shows and buy crappy guitar gear.
Now I have 2 mortgages and 9 columns in a ledger for my savings account (thanks mom).
Just a different time in life.
Trying to enjoy every season!
Valentines Day marks the first date for Alyssa and I 17 years ago.
I was 17 she was 16.
I came straight from baseball practice to a Valentines party our church was throwing.
It was one of those random throw people together nights but I rigged the system to spend the evening with Alyssa.
The rest is history. We were on and off for 5.5 years before the wedding bells rang.
We've shared a lot of these days and I've gotta say the last two days have been tough to beat.
Alyssa is the best...period.
I could write a book about it but that says it all.
I could not love her anymore than I do!
Thanks for 17 unforgettable years babe!
I started a consistent Monday post last week about my Sunday Takeaway.
I spoke this week so I'm not going to do a takeaway on myself...that would just be weird.
Emily wrote a blog with a pretty sweet recap...check it out.
So here's some behind the scenes madness from the day:
- if you didn't notice we crammed 3,498 things into each gathering
- worship, offering, covenant, Barbers, Kingdom Healing conference, We love campaign w/ video, me speaking, and Aaron sending out. It might not seem like it but we work really hard to be clear and flow. We cut 17 things out. It's a busy season for us.
Funniest moments:
- Luke came up to me at the end and told me it wasn't my sweatband or orange shorts that were distracting...it was my crazy white legs! Amazing.
- Comments my beard left about my message on Facebook. I have no idea who started a profile as my beard. Little creepy, kind of hilarious.
- Giving a message on stage with a "Club Cougar" sign behind me...awkward.
Greatest moment of the day:
- Got a facebook request from someone I just met yesterday. This was her status today:
Today we had another garage sale. Crazy that we accumulate enough junk to constitute one of these a year!
The last post in my blog before I started it back up a couple weeks ago was on Sept. 26, 2009 and it was about our last garage sale. Here's what I posted:
There's somethin' about garage sales that always brings you back to reality.
You're giving away a driveway full of crap for quarters...and these are items that had great value to you at one point in time.
Today we made $75 and baked in the sun for hours as we watched our treasures slowly make their way into the back of pickups and minivans.
We should all have garage sales to remind ourselves that it's all just stuff...and at some point a weird guy with a fanny pack is gonna bargain you down to $1.50 for an item that you paid $100 for five years ago!
Here's to moths and rust.
It took me 2 weeks but I did it :)
Mon, Wed, Fri, Mon, Wed, Fri:
4,6,4,4,4,6 (those were the miles in case you wondering)
28 miles in 2 weeks.
Don't know how anyone does that in a day.
Gluttons for punishment.
Amazing to me that I had never really run over a mile a couple months ago.
I'm actually enjoying this at times...don't tell anyone.
So I went running by myself on Wednesday morning in the complete darkness on the Clover Creek trail. I was terrified.
God showed me some things.
I talked about those things with Nate.
Now I'm gonna share those things on Sunday at the Stirring.
Here's a hint in the form of key words...
Friends, elderly women with dogs, roosters, machete's, 9 irons, and experience
Come to think of it, that's a great title for the message.
If you want to know more...show up Sunday.
Life Together.
Running in the dark...
You ever have those moments that you wish you could jump into someone's shoes for a few days to give them a break from crazy pain or a situation they are going through?
Over a week ago my buddy Sean Gafner got a brutal surgery to fix his crazy sleep apnea. I just got through a series of text with him and he's still in incredible pain. I'm feelin' pretty good right now and I would totally pull off a switch-a-roo for a few days if given the chance. I hate seeing him so hurt and discouraged.
Sean's one of those once in a lifetime friends that was a gift from God when I came to Redding. God knows what you need when you move 10 hours away from all your family and friends to take on a new job in a new community. He's one of those guys that I would do anything for but when there are things that are out of your control, like painful surgeries, it makes it hard.
So for now I'm setting an alarm on my phone for 90 minutes after every time he takes his codeine. That's the time when the meds start to wear off and then there's 2.5 hours of hell. I told him I'm sending inspirational texts that will rival the speech from the movie Rudy.
Anyway...before this post gets too weird with man love, thank God for the family and friends that God has placed in your life that you are willing to bear burdens with. Because you know sometime in the near future you will need the support of a great friend!
I'm finding the value in discipline.
Most things of value take time.
Our world is in the business of quick.
Blogs take to long to read...Facebook
People can write a paragraph in Facebook...Twitter
When 160 characters gets to cumbersome...prepare for grunts
I should market that now...could be worth millions.
I like blogging.
It forces me to be aware of my day.
And if I wasn't aware through the day it gives me a moment to look back.
I'm convinced that days and weeks and months and years can be forgotten.
Write in a journal...start a blog...get it on paper or electronic equivalent.
God was always telling his people to remember.
Don't forget...don't let you kids forget...set up some stones...eat some bread...drink some wine...do something to trigger your memory.
I'm glad I'm back at blogging.
I'm going to find a way to finish my book.
I don't want to forget.
God is good. He's good every day.
It helps to chronicle the journey.
Today I hit my normal 4 mile run with Sean Baxter on the flat side of the Diesel Horse Bridge.
One added element in the mix...Sean's crazy dog Gunner.
Sean was pushing his daughter Stella in the jogging stroller and I was holding on for dear life.
It didn't help that there were 94 people on the trail with 58 dogs that Gunner wanted to get to know better. My biceps got a bigger work out than my legs because I was pulling with everything I had the whole time. Double work out.
Moral of the story. Run really early in the morning when you can let your dog run free and scare the insides out of the one other person on the trail that is up at that time. There's really nothing like a white object coming at you at 30 mph in the dark and hearing the dog's owners yelling something that sounds like "gun."
Good times.
I'm working through consistent posts that I'd like to become staples for the new blog.
I'm thinking about a weekly post about our Stirring gatherings...don't hold me to it.
- The Sunday Takeaway: I sit through 2-3 gatherings every week for the Stirring. We put a lot of time and prayer into what happens on a weekend. The Sunday Takeaway will be the notes in my moleskin that have stars next to them, or something special that God did, or a behind the scenes look at something that went down, or something hilarious that happened that most people didn't see. Here's my takeaway from today...
Jenna and Ashley did a great job leading worship. Ashley shared a testimony of God healing her legal blindness at the 11am gathering...super powerful...felt like it built a ton of faith in our family.
The funny moment of the morning was Nate backing up and almost bailing over the stool that we always set up in the middle of where we speak. I sit up front and watch Nate dance around it every week. This week his calculation was a little off. He played it off nicely :)
Nate taught on hearing God's voice in community. Encouragement, wisdom, words of knowledge, and prophecy. He's taught on spiritual gifts before and I think he has given the most solid teachings on the subject that I've ever heard. Here's the quote in my moleskin with the star next to it. It context of talking about words of knowledge, Nate said, "God gives us words of knowledge for people because He wants them to know that He knows." That was really powerful for me. Something I shared at the end of the gathering is a prayer that I made at the beginning of the year. I told God that I wanted to be faithful with every word that he gives me this year. Even if it terrifies me I want to be obedient when God gives me his heart to share with others. One thing I know about the kingdom of God is that when you are faithful with a little you can be entrusted with more. I want to be faithful with every prompting of the spirit in my life.
At the end of the gathering I prayed for a man that I met last week that is deaf and has brain cancer. It was an amazing moment to join his wife in tears and translation as we brought his situation before the God of the universe. Nothing is impossible with God.
Great Sunday.
I'd love to hear your takeaway.
Until next week...
Schedule....schedule....schedule.
Times, dates, subs, volunteers, meetings, design, budget, finishes, sound, lights, video, kitchen, seating, concrete, toilets, sinks, colors, lights, signs, landscape, communication, fundraising, strategy.
Lately I feel like I'm going a little crazy.
I just feel like someones going to come into my office one day and I'll be covered in sticky notes, with string and notes posted over every square inch of my office like in Beautiful Mind. I'll be in the fetal position in the corner sucking my thumb.
If that happens please don't take a picture and post it on Facebook...that would be a bummer.
What's your life like right now?
I saw some questions on someone's blog earlier this year. Grabbed a few and thought they were great. I asked our staff these today. Thought they were really helpful.
I'd love to hear some of your answers:
- What's one thing this year that you are asking for that is impossible without God?
- What is one skill that you would like to improve on this year?
- What are some goals you have for yourself this year? Physically, spiritually, relationally, and creatively
Here's some of my goals:
- Experience life weighing in the 150's (159 will do...I have 12 pounds to go)
- Run 600 miles this year (about 12 a week)
- Read through the bible, and my six C.S. Lewis books
- Reclaim a sabbath every week with God and family
- Lead well into our new space
- Take a fat vacation with Alyssa after the church moves into our new space
- Record on album
- Finish a first draft of my book
I have more but some are a little more personal. What are some things you want to accomplish this year!
So if you read one of my last tweets you heard about my interaction with some kids at Zeke's school. I went to pick up Zeke at the playground and a kid pointed at me and said to his friend..."look, it's a hobo!"
I thought it was amazing and laughed harder than I have in a long time but it got me thinking about a few things. What parents talk to their 2nd graders about "hobos?" It's not like I was carrying a stick over my shoulder with a bandanna tied around it with my 3 earthly possessions inside of it. Hobo...hilarious...who uses that word.
Then I started thinking about first impressions and what the world sees when they see homeless people. If a kid on a playground can look at me with my amazing facial hair and think I'm homeless I can only imagine the looks and stares a person on the street gets every day. Not things you think about all the time but it definitely got me thinking.
There's a person made in the image of God with a story and a family behind every sign and probably deserves more than a finger point and a snap judgment....
Or it could just be your short bald pastor with tattoos with a beard that a squirrel could live in!
You never know.
After starting the day off with framing at the new space, I headed over to Risen King for a training on leadership. Dave Kraft is the man...check out his book.
It's an interesting season of my life but I find myself consumed with issues of leadership.
Here's a list of what I know in no particular order:
I have a lot to learn.
I really need to grow as a leader.
I have an amazing wife that supports and encourages me.
I desperately need God.
I have a great team around me.
I wish it was clearer.
I get overwhelmed with the great responsibility that I've been given at times.
I need to read more.
I really value the input of those that have been further down the road then I am.
In the midst of all my insecurities there are moments of great spirit-filled confidence when I know I am operating out of my God given passion and competency. I'm trusting as I grow in my leadership that these moments will become more frequent. For those of you that are on this journey with me I thank you for putting up with the craziness and messyness of figuring all of this out. It's a wild ride and I plan on enjoying every minute!
As a pastor you're brought into the best and worst of peoples journeys at key points in their story.
Marriage crisis
God moments
Death
Birth
Sin
Baptism
Testimony
Spirit filling
Tears
Healing
Sickness
Decisions
Dreams
Vision
Discouragement
Breakthrough
It's new every day. But I consider all of them to be sacred moments. Opportunities to bring God into everyday situations. I love what I do.
So I'm getting the first looks at the new danlance.com and it's gonna be sweet.
Here's my question. Does having myname.com make you want to punch me in the face?
I used to do the revrock thing but someone stole that url.
I want a place that is a hub for all the stuff I'm working on but I kinda feel like a ding dong having a website that is my name.
Do I need to get over it or should I come up with something clever?
Beardedbaldwonderland.com :)
Saturday seemed really significant to me.
I sat in the Simpson gym...packed with people...some new faces...a ton a familiar faces from the past.
All of us there to honor the legacy of a life well lived.
Mike Gower would of loved the crowd he pulled together for his memorial.
Looking at the impact his life has had on the kingdom in the faces of the ones he poured his life into.
My mentor in college...Jim Bailey was there with his wife Amy from Kansas City.
Jim saw something in me when no one else did.
He took a chance on me and I can say with confidence that I am the man I am today because Jim poured his life into me.
Mike and Jim stand as two people in my life that I will never forget.
I don't remember all the conversations or the advice but I remember the men and that they let me into pieces of their lives that shaped me forever. They knew Jesus in a way that was contagious and put me on a pursuit to know him in the same way.
Saturday was a significant moment in time for me.
It was a reminder to what's important. God and people.
I want to be remembered in a gym someday with people that I poured my life into.
Thanks Mike.
Thanks Jim.
