Last night, I stayed up till 2am watching the U2 LIVE concert webcast. It started at 12am EST and although I would’ve loved to have snuck in some sleep, I could NOT miss out on history in the making. I’m not sure if people really understand just how crazy this live global webcast was. It was the 1st of its kind. Surely, it won’t be the last of its kind. Over 100,000 were live at the Rose Bowl, but MILLIONS more watched online, and felt the magic that is U2. Now, although it was a crazy huge step for the music/entertainment industry, I feel as though it was a huge step for internet campuses all over the world.

Millions watched, and felt as though they were right there experiencing it live. Millions grasped what was going on live and were able to attend the concert. Millions were able to come together, with millions from around the globe. It was legit. Internet campuses also provide a legit experience. U2 did a global LIVE concert for the first time, but we do several LIVE experiences every week at Flamingo Road Church. Check out www.frclive.tv this weekend if you get a chance. It’s got legit fellowship. It’s a legit experience. It’s a legit campus.

It could just change your perspective on a few things…

As I sat in a studio taking my Senior portraits this weekend, there was a mother looking through some photos with her son. She was in her mid-40’s and while looking at the photos said, “I would love this job. You know, I have a knack for taking photos… I should’ve done that as a career and followed my dream.” She then quickly closed the book, and sighed heavily as though regretting the path that her life ended up taking.

I don’t want that. I don’t want to live my life in a manner that 30 yrs. down the road, I wish I would’ve done my passion or followed my dream. I want to live my life doing what I love, and I want to live my life knowing that when God called me to something (no matter how crazy it was), I did it. I want to leave a legacy that when God called me to move or to jump, I responded by, “How high?!”

Don’t live your life in regret. It’s not too late to turn around, and follow that dream that you’ve always dreamt. The crazy big passion you have for something, use it! God put it in you for a reason, and it’s not to wish you would’ve acted upon it!

Catalyst 2009 Compassion Moment from Catalyst on Vimeo.

THIS is why I sponsor a little girl from the DR, through Compassion International.

Moments like these, restore my hope in my faith, in my world, and in all humanity. Here in this video, Jimmy Wambua from Kenya met Mark, his Compassion International Sponsor of  over 19 years (From Canada)… for the 1st time on stage. It was an unbelievable moment (Jimmy begins to talk at around 3:45).

This moment absolutely wrecked me. I was trying to maintain my composure and be the “cool” Christian, but there was just no way. Every single person was crying in the arena, and in watching in absolute awe as we got the chance to share in this incredibly special moment. In this video, it was like Jesus was hugging Jimmy. Mark was doing exactly what Jesus had commanded us ALL to do. Even now as I watch this video, I relive the moment again… and can NOT hold back the tears. This is compassion at it’s finest. This is doing what Jesus did at it’s finest.

By the way, Jimmy is currently a student at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and is getting a Masters degree. NEVER underestimate the ability you have to impact a person’s life. That $38 monthly check is so much more than just money… it’s hope.

Catalyst was AMAZING. One of my favorite sessions was with Chuck Swindoll. Here are just 5 of the little nuggets that he shared with us that he’s learned, from 50 yrs. of ministry:

- “Tradition is the living faith of those now dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of those still living.”

- “We must be willing to leave the familiar methods without disturbing the Biblical message!”

- “God can’t pour His blessings into hands that are already full (with stuff WE are hanging on to).”

- “When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible person & CRUSHES them. Always, always, always… leave room for the crushing.”

- “Brokenness and failure are necessary. They drive us to the cross.”

So, just as I finished packing for Catalyst, I heard my phone ring. I picked it up, and saw I had received an e-mail. I thought it was probably just a FaceBook notification, or perhaps a new Twitter follower alert.. but boy, was I pleasantly surprised! It was a confirmation that my good friend Gloria, and myself, had been confirmed to be part  of a special lunch on Friday with Michael Hyatt. We get to be part of a special group that has lunch, and a Q and A session with him. When I registered, I really was praying that it would come through, because I am a regular follower of his blog, and I’m even a registered Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger. Sure enough, God came through… and I can’t wait to get a chance to meet and talk to Michael Hyatt.

Here’s more about him, from his blog:

“I am the Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Nelson Publishers, the largest Christian publishing company in the world and the seventh largest trade book publishing company in the U.S. Our company is privately-held. I have worked at the company for a total of thirteen years. I began my publishing career at Word Publishing while a student at Baylor University. I worked at Word for a total of six years. In addition to serving as Vice President of Marketing at Thomas Nelson in the mid-80s, I also started my own publishing company, Wolgemuth & Hyatt, with my partner Robert Wolgemuth in 1986. Word eventually acquired our company in 1992. I was a successful literary agent from 1992 until early 1998. I have also written four books, one of which landed on the New York Times bestseller list where it stayed for seven months. I am currently working on my fifth book, The How of Wow. It is scheduled for publication in the fall of 2009. I joined Thomas Nelson for the second time in 1998. Since that time I have worked in a variety of roles in both divisional and corporate management. I was promoted to President and COO in February 2004 and CEO in August 2005. I also serve as Chairman of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).”

BIG THANKS TO: Backstage Leadership!

In less than 1 week, I will be in Atlanta for the Catalyst Conference. I am beyond being freakin’ stoked. Who else is going? Let’s connect!!!