Tory Farina

A visit with 8's

Mike Munos Cooking some seriously awesome Food

Some of the Engine and Ladder team of St. Paul Fire station #8.

I spent the day with some seriously entertaining and genuine men. I got to the house about 10 in the morning to find that they were a block down the street at an apartment fire. They pulled a guy who was unconscious out of his burning apartment. They spoke about it rather nonchalantly. "Yeah, I don't really count it as a save. A while back the ladder crew pulled a 300lb guy out a window and two of them hauled this guy down. The ladder was only rated for 450 lbs. They are hero's."

They take there job serious and are good at what they do but they don't pass up a moment to have a good time. Channel 5  news stopped by to interview them and they were trying to get one of the guys to get in a monkey suite that one of the guys had and walk behind the camera. I think that when you deal with such serious issues like fire all day long you have to find ways to cut up and laugh of the intense moments.

I will be honest I completely understand why guys do the job. It is challenging, fun, different all the time and you have a community to be apart of. We are in good hands in this city. Thanks Guys for letting me tag along. You are indeed Hero's.

Nap Time!

Olivia and Daisy decided it was time to take a nap together. They are going to be best friends.

Rescue Me wk1

WOW! what a fantastic day. This was so much fun. we had been preparing for it for such a long time it was fun to finally see the day come.

Highlights!

• We saw 12 Connection Cards filled out- our normal is 3-5
• the energy was awesome!
• I counted 10-12 people raise there hand to say "I need a new heart"
• we had around 160 people come on Sunday...

Our set list this week was:

• Here is our King by the David Crowder Band
• One Way by Hillsong United
• Mighty to Save by Hillsong

I was so energized after the Sunday. It just feels like we are running at full speed. Our connection groups are coming and looking amazing. The blood drive is going to be a big success. I feel like High Point is an exciting place to be right now.

80 MPH in a residential neighborhood

I went for a ride along with a Minneapolis Parks Police Officer. What a trip. We got out on the street and looked for a car full of guys with guns for about an hour and a half. They were could not be found. Then we got a call for a report of a stolen vehicle being found. The guys who stole the truck were hungry and decided the golden arches were calling. My partner for the day... flipped on the siren and lights and hit the gas. He red lined the engine and we were going at one point 80 mph.

I hate roller coasters. No more than that the little feeling of losing your stomach sends me over the edge. I grabbed the seat, Stopped breathing and was trying to think of any reason I could to get out of the car. We hit a bump and i thought the tires would leave the pavement for a moment. (I may have screamed like a little girl at that point but I am not sure.) We pulled up to the Micky D's in time to see cops slamming the guys on the ground with guns drawn and a crowed gathering.

It felt good to see the Cops enforcing order and law. I was amazed at how people the 4th ward disrespected the cops and treated them horribly. I have had my fix and officially do not want to be a Cop. But I value them and there service because it is not an easy job.

Mac Add-ictive song

I have been trying to find out who this is... and finally found the song from the Mac add. This is such a cool song and here voice! WOW! my new favorite chick singer. Here is a link to listen to it.

Link: cool.

1. 1234 - Feist

Feist - 1234
Uploaded by tvspot

Well Done!

My neighbor last night (who is a rabid Cubs fan! Go Cubs... since the Brewers are out) stopped by to let me know he got the mailer and was struck by how cool the look was. He was like, "From a business side of things that grabbed my attention! well done!"

Cool Huh?
I had a secret shopper come to the church a couple weeks ago and this is what she said...

"First of all, I can't express enough how much I liked it. For the first time since I can remember about church, I don't dread going. I'm working on arranging my schedule to come more, which can be a process sometimes. I've told my friends about it... ...about coming with me next time, its was a hugely positive experience."

"I'm not sure all of your messages are like that, but it was easy to listen to, easy to follow. Not once did my head nod off or my mind wander, like it would almost every other time I've been to church. I was totally focused, and it was more like having a conversation with a good friend than you speaking to a large group. "

I am so excited for this Sunday! I know many of you have called and texted me about how you are praying for this week. We need it. Invest- Invite- Pray- and let God do the Rest... It is going to be a great weekend.

Wednesday Fasting and Prayer...

God Change my world into your world... Let me see the world with your eyes... May I pray for things today with the attitude you have for them... It is not about me today it is about you and your mission.

• Bless the mailer and let it impact those that receive it in the mail
• Fill my heart and mind with a message that will connect with people well and restore hearts to you
• Break the chains that keep people far and away from you... Help them to see your hand on their life
• Fill us as a church with you presence in new and real ways
• Give boldness and wisdom to those that are asking loved ones to church this sunday... Help them to meet the needs that are represented.

Thank you for what you have done in my life and in the lives of this church. God change our world... There is so much hurt in the world and I pray you would use me and this church to help heal the hurt. Restore what the enemy has meant for evil and turn it to good as your word promises. -Amen

The Ask...

I was in sales for a while in college. I had a good time selling womens shoes downtown at the Marshall Fields (Dayton's) Oval Room. Ladies are fun to sell to. They see it as an adventure and can get lost in the journey of finding the perfect pair of shoes. It was my job to be there guide.

I would discover there likes and dislikes and bring out shoes that I felt helped them and then after a while it was time to help them decide. My favorite way to do this was the we are in this together ask... "Well we seem to like these should we wrap them up?"... I also like the encouraging ask... "Those are way to Hot to not take home... Should I put it on your card?"... and then The blunt time is ticking ask... "well you know these don't last long so maybe you should take them home and think about them."

Asking got harder for me when we started the church because then I had to ask people I had relationship with if they would support the dream that we had called High Point. "will you help us reach a city?" "will you partner with us and help us start a church to reach the unchurched?" I found that they were looking for a place to support as much as I was looking for people to support our place. once I was able to connect there need with my need the ask was a little easier.

I have found that you never can stop learning to ask. People don't mind asking as long as they are given an out. I know some salesman who would disagree but I think that the difference between a pushy sales man and a good salesman is that you are there not to push a product but to help people connect with what they are looking for.

That is the same way it is with asking people to come to church or Christ... If I am pushing church or religion without helping them realize how it connects with a need they have them I am missing it and probably offending them. What are people looking for? I think deep down in the dark side of people there is a longing for a connection with God... It is what the woman at the well had when Jesus started talking about water with her and before you know it he lead her into receiving his salvation. He saw her need and led her into the ask. He wasn't pushing he was leading.

I hate being pushed... I had a bad experience at a time share meeting. I love being lead to a better future and will regularly accept if there is a perceived need that you are filling.

Asking for life change is the same way... You are connecting people without Christ with the answer to there need.

So what do our Fav Four in our life need? Friendship? Love? Acceptance? Emotional hope? Direction? 

Ask with their need in mind

Coming to a mailbox near you...

We dropped the mailers to the post office today. Be on the look out and pray for your neighbor. I am so excited about this mailer. I think it will really grab peoples attention!

It rained the whole time and and I parked in a deep puddle which made loading the 25,000 mailers into my Ford Focus Wagon a nice treat. My ankles are still drying out. It is worth it!

Just an update... last week we had people again say that they came to church because of the signs we put on the side of the road! WOW... a sign on the side of the road can be apart of someones eternal destiny.

We gave opportunity for those of you who want to join Team High Point and serve in an area of the church and saw a number of you volunteer. Thank you. If you were not there Sunday have no fear... There is still room for you to volunteer. Stop by the welcome center and fill out an involvement card and one of our leaders will get a hold of you to give you an orientation.