Tory Farina

The Hills were trully alive last night...

We have been having an early Christmas celebration the last couple days with my in laws. It was a lot of fun. We got gifts and horsed around and then last night we went to the "Sound of Music". What a performance!

E absolutely loved it... she was singing along and  knew every word of the songs. I enjoyed it but realized a few things.

We are so patterned to have the shock and awe in our media. "Live Free or Die Hard" is a case in point. But theatre is much slower and prettier. It is all about the live action and the emotion that that night has with the people it connects with. Real instruments and live voices. It  is a blast to see them not quite perfect. We have so much in our world that lives in an artificial unrealistic state of perfection it is fun to see theatre in its RAW state.

I think that is what the church has that makes it fun. Each week there is the potential for a major screw up and or a real connection. It is exciting and thrilling... It is a lot of fun.

See you tonight at the party.

Christmas Party Details...

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We are meeting at the Grand Reserve in Woodbury.
7pm 
There will be food, Music and Christmas Cheer!

Discover your "Red Nose"

I recommend these sources to help you discover your "Red Nose". See you in the morning as we unpack this together.

Marcus Buckingham
Next Generation Leader
RULES OF THE RED RUBBER BALL
Purpose Driven Life

I went to lunch with my best freind...

This sounds a little silly at first glance. I went to lunch with my best friend today. Friends are hard to develop and best friends come less often than we would like to admit. As married men get older they are less likely to develop deep relationships because they confide so deeply with there spouse. I feel that every year I just enjoy spending time with her and find she meets a lot of my needs. But the truth is that is a misconception. we men need deep male relationships. It is healthy and good to not just grunt at each other from across the coach as we watch a game on the tube but that we have vulnerable relationships.

I think we run a danger if we don't have people in our lives living in deep community with us. My friend is no longer living in town and this is getting hard to have that community. We will keep at it because friends are better than gold.

saterdays are a little different

I am trying to write with my baby on my shoulder and my beagle at my side while sitting in my favorite recliner. I usually work on Saturdays and prepare for the morning. This is becoming a little more of a challenge. Baby needs me and puppy just gets rowdy when people are outside playing in the snow.

Ill be done by morning but man is this transition hard. E is working part time at Williams-Sonoma. She loves it and it gets her around people that are un-churched. SO I'll let you know how it goes...

Also... we are going to my parents in North Carolina... We need a puppy sitter. If you are interested, daisy is a great dog just has a lot of energy. let me know.

What are could you be the best in the world at?

What are you the best in the world at? What if you gave it your greatest energy could you be the best in the world at?

We live in a world of specialists. You and I know more about one area than most do. I am convinced that if you and I could discover what it is that God has uniquely qualified you for. Living Your Potential is more than a slogan we talk about. When I read scripture I see people with God given hear and now potential. I also see people having to make a choice whether they will pay-pray the cost to live in that God given role.

I think we see mainly the hero's of the faith in scripture... I am convinced that many of those God called said no. Like the rich young ruler they were asked to pay a greater cost then they were willing to give.  What are you willing to give up in order to be who God has called  you to be? What has he crafted you for?

I feel blessed to be living this amazing journey of Gods calling. What are you called to do? What are you doing to pro actively take a step into where he wants you to be?

Get the degree- Go for the dream Job- Start the Family-
get the accreditation- Dream Big and Discover Gods faithfulness.

I get excited about a church of world changers. Think about if we all made a small impact on our world how great the ripple effect would be? WOW! This church could change History. I'm in it for the long haul.

Weekend Review 12/2/07

We started another Rock N' Roll style series... "Sounds Like Christmas"... I am excited to walk through each week with you. We know that the holiday season brings out all sorts of things that you never realized were under the surface. I remember my first Christmas as a married couple... I thought it would be great to be married and have our first Christmas with no one else... I spent two days moping around the apartment whining that I wasn't with the family eating the lasagna. It was the last time we have wanted to just hang out us for the Holidays. Family is where it is at. It is also where the stress is.

So this week We talked about Guilt... I hit it pretty hard because I am convinced that so many of us are stuck in past guilt that God never intended to be. We can not become who we are supposed to be when we are stifled by Guilt, shame and condemnation for what we have been apart of.

It was a really good day and I encourage you if you didn't hear it to listen to the pod cast.

We are truly in the middle of winter aren't we? It is snowing like crazy right now and I love it.

I have already had two cups of Hot chocolate and am about to go home and warm up to a cup now. If you  have never tried it...

This is the best!  Well worth the price trust me! 

www.Williams-Sanoma.com

My little elf...

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1165054642