Tory Farina

I'm Back...

Things I learned through my time of Withdrawal...

•  Wayne Cordero saved my life and ministry... After reading his book “Leading on Empty” I am convinced I was headed for a breaking point at some point down the line in my life and ministry. I have and will continue to make changes necessary to leave a Lasting Legacy.
• I have more time than I thought. Cutting out extra stuff helped me realize how much time I waste.
•  My relationship with the Lord is the Source of Everything else. Yet often It gets shelved somewhere between car maintenance and shower cleaning. It does not occupy the space in my heart and mind that it should if it is the source of everything. (As a pastor this is a sad revelation.) So I am evaluating the changes that must be made to transform this unacceptable situation.
• Christian music is good but not a lot of it is GREAT!
• Facebook / Twitter are far more useful tools than they get credit for. I was shocked at how many people I felt disconnected from.
• I get grumpy when I fast Food.
•  Maintaining a Blog is exhausting. I need to figure out how to be a smarter blogger. I think I might use more video. Would you watch my short clips?
• Changing patterns takes a tremendous amount of intentionality. You cannot say... I want to change, I need to change or even I must change without making a plan and actually putting the plan into action.
•  Push email on my iphone is stupid. I cannot and will not be a slave to my email... especially when I delete most of it. My email will serve me and not the other way around.
• This will be a yearly event. I will also add into my life’s schedule times of getting out of town for times of withdrawals.
• I need a Sabbatical... Not this year but in the next few years as we round the corner to seven or ten years it is Vital the Elizabeth and I get a Sabbatical in order to gain freshness and longevity at High Point.
•  We are entering into a season of High Points Story that is really exciting. I feel encouraged, Fired Up and energized by what I feel the Lord is brewing in my heart.
•   Isolation is a Scary place to be... Withdrawal is a Non Negotiable place to visit!
•   The WELL of your Soul is what you serve others with... If it’s shallow, contaminated, or not built to last you’re in trouble. If it is Deep and Living water it will refresh people for Years to come.
• Jesus took breaks from the demands of Life and ministry often... I am still chewing on this and am incredibly challenged by it!

I have lots more to say but will leave it at this and work out more the next fe days and weeks. I just wanted to let you know I am back and FIRED UP!

Amplify Sunday Nov. 22nd...

Here is the Playlist for Amplify Sunday Nov. 22nd @ Summit Church in St. Paul. We begin at 6pm and are expecting it to be an amazing night.

U2...

I am a huge fan of people stretching the envelope, breaking boundaries and shaping culture. U2 partnered with YouTube and put on a free live streamed concert. The implications  are huge! we are moving away from network driven TV and more and more to user generated content. This is an example of our future and what an exciting future it is!!!!

I also love to see people lead/move a crowed of people. The stadium was jammed!!! And four people kept the entire crowed on the edge of their seats. STAGE PRESENCE WAS AMAZING! The lights and picture and sounds was amazing to watch. But all in all it was still just four people engaging and moving the crowed.

Take a look and watch a truly amazing performance... 

(move the time line to 148: to watch Bono lead the crowed into worship...)

The Nerve...

Here is my final Mute Math post until the show. ENJOY!!! (I could use his shirt for this Sunday!!!!)

This is a Jam...

In prep for Saturday night I am showcasing some fun i expect to experience at 1st Ave. When Mute Math comes to town. This is a serious JAM!

Weekly Recap...

I love when Our band reinterprets a song and makes it contemporary and exciting. This Sunday during the offering time The Band played... "The Touch The Feel of Cotton" Song.I asked the 1st service to text in what they thought it was but no one got it.

I am enjoying this series. It is a challenge for me. I feel like each week I am boiling a box of spaghetti as I prepare. I am realizing how much content their is to cover and how little time I have on a Sunday to get it covered. We will defiantly be revisiting these subjects in the new year.

Monday night was fun to be apart of but not so fun to watch. Favre was consistent and Rogers was not. It might have had something to do with his O-line but It just wasn't a great game for my packers. I look forward to next month in Lambeau. 

Elizabeth Update... She is doing a little better with the fluids they have been giving her by IV. This afternoon we are going in to get a picc line put in so that she doesn't have to get an IV every few days. She has small veins and it takes a half a dozen tries sometimes. She also found out yesterday that she needs a root canal... YEAH! She hates dentists, (she had a bad experience as a kid, but haven't we all?) So We keep saying "Put it on my tab" and laughing because that is about all we can do. Keep praying for her she is going through a lot to get this baby here.

I am being challenged lately about how we are training and developing you as the church to "Live Your Potential" lots of thoughts and planning. I am going to be challenging you in the next few months to do somethings you have never been challenged to do! Maybe I have been watching too much "Biggest Loser" but I want to get you into shape spiritually, physically and mentally and help you experience a new level that God has for you! Stay tuned in... And start praying about if you are where God wants you to be? What your next step may be?

We have our 3rd Leadership Lunch this Sunday. I love this time with our Ministry Team Leaders. They do a great Job and deserve to be thanked and developed. I look forward to who God is developing to be our next leaders.

Phil Wickham is coming out with a new album soon http://philwickham.com/.I was sent his 1st album this week. He put it together in High School. It got me excited to find a Youth specialist to help us find and cultivate the next Great Worshiper, Leader, Politician, Teacher, Salesman, Missionary. If we can show our kids their potential at a Young age they will thrive in this life. Scripture calls it shooting arrows! I want to shoot O and the next little one we have as far as I can to make a difference in this world!

Take a minute and listen to this song as you Thank God today for His grace and mercy and Love. Take a minute to allow his presence to wash over you. Take a minute and Thank God for His Grace!

Wild things...

I saw the preview and wanted to cry, heard the sound track and felt the raw emotion again. Now I am so excited to see this. I don't know what about it intrigues me the most, the effects, the music, the story but I cant wait to see it. It may not be any good but I have a feeling I will LOVE! This Kind of movie is my kind of movie. What do you think?

Brian Eno Interview...

I was listening to this on the way to the office this morning and found Brian Eno saying some really interesting things.

• He looks for things that haven't been done before... Novelty = Excitement
• Gospel Music is all about hope. People are transfixed with things about Hope. It is something we all need.
• Don't look for things that made you a hit and try and reproduce that. Look for things that stretch you.
• Imagine what could be the best we can get out of this situation
• the composer is the gardener of the piece.
• Passion is allowing yourself to be taken over... choose to live passionately.

Stuff like this inspires me. To hear an artist talk of creating inspires me to work harder at what I create. It challenges me to fight for new and creative and not just settle for what has been done and what is easy. It challenges me to love the Gospel and the Hope that It brings.

Go live out the hope of the World and Create something that is beautiful!

Heaven and Earth...

Haven and Earth by is coming soon and I can wait! I am a huge Phil Whickam fan!

Elevator Music - I need this...

I just heard this song and am trying to find a copy of this disk. It is the lead singer of Mute Math at Victory Fellowship in New Orleans. Heck Yeah this looks Good... I need this! Take a listen...