Tory Farina

Top Ten reasons to come to HPC this Easter...

10. Pastor Mike is not on back pain killers this week for Announcements...

9. I have a big stage prop that is still in the "work in progress" stage and you have to come see if it works...

8. Its Easter and you have to go to church somewhere why not bring your grandma and aunt Mildred where at least you know the coffee is good

7. There is a rumor that Pastor Mike is showing up in a GIANT BUNNY suit. (since I started the rumor I don't think he will but you will never know if you don't show.)

6. The kids get more eggs filled with candy!!! (I think we should rock the candy for Easter and trump Halloween)

5. You don't have to have it all figured out to come

4. Good coffee makes the family reunion more palatable

3. E is going to talk about chocolate... maybe... and we all love chocolate

2. There will be a Rock'n Lenny Kravits Tune!

1. Invite a friend to church and You know they are going to hear something LIFE CHANGING!

Don't miss it! The Door opens at 10am Easter Sunday!

That smells...

Breakfast Sandwiches at Starbucks are going away.... WHY? They were a good revenue producer. They were pricey and good. NO... the reason that Starbucks is getting ride of there breakfast sandwiches is because when they heated them up it smelled. It smelled like hot bread with EEG and cheese. Sounds good to me:) I could eat one right now. But it took away from the core smell they wanted.  COFFEE

What and interesting thought remove a good thing because it takes away from something that is better or at least something that is core to who you are. I am a firm believer in this and applaud Starbucks for doing it. Coffee shops should smell like coffee.

Churches have a smell... The truth is that most people in church circles don't realize that the smell they produce can be intentional. I put on cologne and deodorant  because I want my wife to find me attractive. It works... there are certain smells I wear and it takes her back to our dating days. NICE! It gives her a positive impression. If I stink... She doesn't come near me... I have been to churches that literally stink... they are moldy, the paint is pealing, the carpet is nasty and the chairs are uncomfortable... They music is sad and so are the people greating. I want a warm, comfortable, good smelling and energizing church.

At High Point we are working constantly on our "Smell". I tell the set up and hospitality team to steam out all the wrinkles and to arrange the coffee and donuts and fruit in an appealing way. Not long I saw that the welcome center looked... stark. So we went to Ikea and found some attractive things to put on there. The Kids area we are constantly working to improve quality, appeal and content.

There are things we are not going to ever do... and things we are doing that some day we may stop doing. Why? Because sometimes we stink and forget that visitors and others can smell us but we are so comfortable in our stink that we don't even mind. Ever had a friend who had horrible B.O.? Ever talked to the friend about it? Maybe if your a good friend. I bring in people regularly to take a whiff of HPC. Some professionals and others amateur. Because I want Highpoint to represent Christ well. You and I are Guardians of His message and should make sure that although the message may turn people on or off... the church will do everything in its power to turn people on to the gospel!   

BIG WEEKEND

This is a big week leading up to Easter... I have been cranking out the work and the office is abuzz with excitement... so here is a quick update...

Friday/ Saturday- I was awoken Friday late/Saturday Early at four in the morning to a horrible scraping noise. Olivia started to cry and I went into protector man mode. I wondered the house looking for anything suspicious, convinced that I would find burglars I would have to ward off with my bare hands. Nothing was there. So I crawled back in bed and heard another noise. I looked out the window and there I saw a car with two men trying to push it. This is a little strange because the car was on the green space separating my house with all the other houses. There is no street for fifty yards. Take a look at the picture below. The funny thing was when I went to investigate... after they were gone... I found a Minnesota Drivers Manual in the back seat. What a funny thing to wake up to. By 9 the next morning they had removed it.

Saturday- I have been enjoying getting up in the morning and spending time talking with the Guys. We are walking through a Book called Deadly Viper and are discovering what it means to be in community as men and what it means to have integrity. I am pumped to see the men of High Point be leaders in this area.

I Finished my message after a little nap and then E and I went out to meet with some VIPs in our life...
Rob and Becca Ketterling pastor of River Valley Church
Peter and Carolyn Hass pastors of Substance Church
Billy Hornsby President of the Association of Related Churches

We went to my favorite Italian Restaurant Maggianos and had a last talking about church strategy, Church culture, Integrity and the sweet ARC conference that the team and I are going to in Alabama this April. It was a great night and we spent about three hours at dinner.






Sunday- What a fun day... I felt like the service went well... the band was Hot and we had a bunch of Visitors... I am always challenged when I speak on Integrity. It is a hugely important issue and am always working on pealing back the layers in my life. I encourage you to do the same.

Lets go to the Auto Show... A bunch of us went to the Auto show and had a blast... I came away with a few realizations.
Cars are too expensive. I know am less happy with the ones I have. Walking around the convention center is crazy tiring.     

My favorite realistic cars that I could own someday...
The new Clubman by MINI- I like this because I can fit in the back seat and it looks cool

The Winner is- The new VW jetta (Wagon) Clean Diesel... 45 city and 55 hwy mpg!!! no batteries!
This car looks to be the next great Greener machine. It is cleaner burning than previous diesels. I will not be surprised if the American auto makers figure out a way to bring clean diesel to market soon as well.

Monday- I tried a Macdonald's Latte... I thought Hey they have expensive machines making it thats good. Cheaper then Starbucks... lets try it.

Survey says... NASTY! It was no better then the gas station equivalent. For $3 it was a waste of my money. The problem is partially with the machine... it just squirts both the milk and the espresso in at the same time and doesn't create the layers that a traditional latte should have. But the big problem is the user. The employees had no clue how to work it or what buttons to push. They tried to fallow the instructions but when there was a mistake they didn't start over they just tried to fix what was there.

Starbucks while over priced and machine driven at least has passionate people behind the machine who if I asked a coffee question would know the answer.

Black Sheap this may be the place of choice. It is local in S. St. Paul and is one of the best and coolest environments for a coffee shop around. check it out. free WIFI.

Tuesday- We are prepping for Easter... this week feels short but is not... we are preparing for Easter and our next series to fallow. High Point is Going GREEN in two weeks.

The office was abuzz with activity weighing candy that we sent to ICCM and getting everything perfect for this weekend.

INVITE SOMEONE FOR THIS WEEK. We are preparing a great illustrated message that will present the gospel of Jesus simple and effective.

Easter Egg hunt... The kids now have filled Easter Eggs for Sundays annual Easter Egg hunt in the Theatre. DON'T miss it.

Back to message prep and then we go and build the set tonight.

Auto Show Sunday

http://www.twincitiesautoshow.com/
Sunday the guys are going to the Auto show as an unofficial HPC outing. Ladies I suppose you are welcome but the guys just came up with the idea. We will finish tearing down the church and then grab a little lunch and off to see what I might buy used in a few years :)

I am  big fan of buying used. Both my cars are used they may not have that new car smell but with the money I saved on going used I can buy as many of those trees to hang on the window I want.

If you want to go to the auto show... help tear down and then we will carpool together.

An Email I had to share...

I received this email and just had to share it with you.
    -------------------------------------------------------

I wanted to send a quick note after we met yesterday to let you know how I have felt God in my life lately.  Three weeks ago my wife and I were invited to come and experience Highpoint.  We’d seen the signs outside the theatre, but didn’t think too much into checking it out.  Since we moved to IGH two years ago, we haven’t found a place we loved – or even liked… so we spent our mornings running errands and found less time to speak to God.  Needless to say, the invite was a great experience.

Your first message in the Gladiator series had so many applications, no only doubt in faith – but self-doubt.  I was right there with you when you were talking about the up and down rollercoaster and finding that balance.  I needed to hear that message, I am certain God wanted me to hear that.  As I was driving home, I cried… just thinking about how long it has been since I felt Him.  Truly felt Him.  I’ve learned more about making good decisions and chuckled during this weeks struggle to fit in. 

I will continue to come and enjoy the experience - the music, worship and comfort in knowing He is here for us.  You share the stories of the bible so well and always with a real world application.

Thank you, I haven’t looked forward to Sunday more often than I have the last three weeks.  It feels GREAT!

Mcdonalds and Starbucks are in the same buisness

This is such a strange thought.
                                           Macdonald's                    Starbucks
WiFi                                        x                                       x
High End Coffee                       x                                      x
Playground                               x                                           
Breakfast sandwich                   x                                       
Latte and Iced Latte                 x                                       x
GOOD decorations                    x                                       x
coffee beans and equipment                                              x
Friendly Teenage employees     x                                       x

So basically Starbucks and Macdonald's are in the same business.  I like Starbucks but the truth is that the things that make a coffee shop a fun place to be as the "3rd" location are becoming easily reproducible by other competitors. Starbucks needs to make sure that it remains unique and inviting while still delivering quality because McDonald's has a lot of money to through at decor and fancy coffee equipment. They may not know what region of the world the coffee comes from and how they actually prepare it in Italy but they can fallow the instruction booklet just fine to make a great Latte.

Starbucks this is what I want...

• a true barista... pull the shots hit the rubber ground removal thing and make me a drink like they used to
• Free WiFi
• Comfy chairs and tables... you do OK at this.
• cheaper drinks
• a little more relax space and a little less sales floor
• make me want to be apart of your community and drive the extra few minutes to go to you instead

I like...

• the personal barista recommendation
• Music and book ideas
• the quality
• the coffee cake (Classic)
• your breakfast sandwich was good.
• wood and carpet and couch and art

Just some thoughts I had last night.

Whats Your excuse pt2

Excuses are so easy to come up with in our areas of opportunity in our life.

It was this persons fault I couldn't do that. I don't have the education necessary for that job. If I made more money then of course I would give.

The truth is that God honers you in the small things. I am understanding this more and more. I am realizing that often I want to hit a home run but what matters more is that I have a High RBI. (That is about the max from me using a baseball metaphor.)  It is the small things done well over a long period of time that create amazing results. Think about it... I am always looking for people to have an amazing life change moment but rarely does that happen usually people have an experience take a step hear a prayer, watch a movie, read a book, talk to some friends, Pray and along the way God has been incrementally moving them from one spot to another.

That happens all the time. That is why we have all of these versions of software. version 10.5.2.1 each one takes us a step further to fixing a problem and a step further to having a better user experience.

So what is your excuse to why you are frustrated or stuck or bored or in sin? We excuse the things we are frustrated about. But what are you going to do today about it?

I am tired of having a fat mid section. So yesterday I started my journey to tight abs... (well maybe not tight abs but innertubeless abs) I figure if I cute out butter, big snacks, deserts, and French fries.

Today I am working on the solutions one step at a time so that I do not have the excuse to hold me back.

What do you want?

Thought I would throw it out to the people... What floats your boat? We are a few days out from our series planning and i am wondering what cool ideas you might have?

• What questions do you have?
• What out there idea do you want to see if we can find a spiritual tie to?
• What interests you?- cars, music, movies, knitting, fishing?
• What about the bible do you struggle with?
• What about being a Christian do you find challenging?

HPC now is the time to give input. We may or may not use it but, it sure is fun to think about it. I am not looking for what your last church did or what you go forwarded from aunt so n' so from Montana.

Thoughts from the weakend...

• We only saw a few people come in an hour late.
• everyone was a little grumpy
• I miss football and am wondering if being a packer fan will have the same feel next year?
• I need E on the front row flagging me down or I blow past the clock in the back and talk as long as I want.
• I met a new family that just raved about the church and has not missed a week since the start of the series. They were invited by a friend and both parties are glade it happened.
• I am a horrible drawer.
• kids do not understand we are saving the environment by changing the clocks. Parents don't either. Lets boycott it next year.

Series planning for the summer!

Pray for the team! FRIDAY we are planning out the sermon series for the fall. this is a stressful time for me because I carry the weight of what we present on Sunday as my responsibility.

Every week as the Dude with the Food I serve the word of God to hungry people. I feel pressure. I know it is Gods word and so the idea is to get as many ideas as we can pray about them and one by one walk through what we feel God wants to do in this season of the church.

There is food, Fun, sweat and laughs and a few tears. We are amazed that God often uses this time so that someone a month or two down the road can get nailed by a massage he wants them to hear.

Just this week I got an awesome email that showed just how God moves in peoples life on Sunday. Ill hopefully get to share it with you soon.

Off to the study cave to hammer more out.