Back from Nashville after a pilgrimage with the Hesters, the Mattises, and the Maxwells. Yesterday morning at Woodmont Hills (where I preached at all three services while John York sang in the choir and Rubel sat out there smiling at me) was wonderful. What a great, vibrant church!
And the Zoe Conference? 1200 people crammed into a 1000 seat auditorium. Not just that, but 1200 eager, sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs people crammed in there. There were so many wonderful things, but it’s hard to top hearing Brian McLaren. If you’ve never read his books, now is a good time to start.
Another big kick this year was meeting many of the regulars who comment on this blog. I really wanted to start Saturday night by saying, “All right, everyone who’s linked up through the World Of Blog, please stand up.”
I think this was my 10th (or maybe 11th) Zoe Conference, counting the ones on the road (Houston, Phoenix, Fresno, and St. Louis in the last two years). But it was Diane’s first. I loved having her there! After one session, we agreed that our favorite place to be in worship is sitting right next to Grant Boone. Not only is he carrying some of those vocal genes of his dad (Nick) and uncle (Pat), but he is a hold-nothing-back participant in worship!
Final note for the day: my World Series picks are still good: the Cards and the Angels.
We had wanted you to have the bloggers stand up. There were a few we didn’t get to meet. However, the high point was meeting your lovely wife. She is everything you said she was and more. Thanks for your part in the weekend. It was life changing for me.
Donna
Mike, Craig came back with his cup overflowing! He talked to me for a solid hour about the whole weekend.
He sure enjoyed getting to be with you again. I think he will be a regular from now on……and I hope to get him to Pepperdine in the Spring. Jimmy and Andee couldn’t make it this year, but they hope to be back next year. They hated they had to miss it.
Have a great week, and GO CARDS!
I forgot to mention those memorable, poetic words that Brandon uttered at the end of the conference. He said he was so full he felt like “a tick on a dog.” Thanks for the beautiful image, Brandon.
Doh! I sure wish I had known you were going to be speaking at Woodmont. I live a couple of hours away, but try to attend Woodmont three or four times a year.
Off topic, thought some of you might get a smile out of this photo I took on the backroads of Tennessee Saturday evening.
Sign of unity?
It was great meeting you and Diane! She was so sweet to ask all about Duncan, it was only as I was walking away that I realized we hadn’t talked about Megan at all. Forgiveness, please.
Okay, I want a copy of the Hoyt video clip for our church because obviously I didn’t cry enough over the weekend…What an inspiration! Nothing against Lance Armstrong, but this man literally towing his handicapped son in a life boat and on the handlebars of his bike, and in a running stroller for the Strong Man competition so much more typlifies what living strong actually means.
And by the way, we got a big laugh at lunch at the retelling of the “14 ways to give a cat medicine” story at lunch after church on Sunday.
ZOE was great. Kudos to you and the rest of the team for making it authentic, inspirational and for introducing me to Brian McClaren.
Mike, it was truly an amazing weekend! I was thoroughly blown away– as always– by the whole thing (see my blog for a “full report.”). What a rush to see 1200 people so desperately hungry to praise God– it was almost like a rock concert out in the hall before they would let us all in to the Great Hall for each session. The anticipation to worship, the anticipation for transformation. I think that is what I will carry away from this Conference. If we can create that kind of zealous passion each week at all churches– Wow! That would really be something. Thanks for being there and for sharing your heart with us. By the way– how did you like your Baha Burritto? Blessings! SkipD
Cindy - You can find it at http://www.hoytvideo.com. Or there is a slightly different version on Igniter Video #2. Thanks for showing up the picture of Duncan!
Skip - If I could put in a parking garage next to Baja Burrito, I’d be a wealthy man. I’ve always heard people complain that there is no good Mexican food in Nashville . . . but NOT TRUE. (All right, the guacamole wasn’t all I would have hoped, but everything else was wonderful.)
Mike,
It was good to finally meet you. Please continue to give Jefferson a hard time about the pretty, blue blouse he was wearing Friday night.
Greetings Mike,
A quick word of thanks for your work with the ZOE conference - my wife and I were blessed and challenged. I also want to invite anyone and everyone to my new blog, http://mlpolutta.blogspot.com/. You and Brandon have inspired me to get to know more about myself and others through this vehicle.
Thanks for all you do for Jesus!
Go BRAVES!!!
Looks like you’d be pulling for the team of one of your best friends instead of that OTHER team!!!
Hi Mike:
I agree about Brian McLaren…what a blessing to not only hear him, but to read his books. The folks at Zoe are quite visonary…having booked him 18 months out before the conference. Thank you Lord for making that happen.
Thank you Mike for allowing us to walk through the front door of your world and commune with your family. I am grateful to have heard the words of your brother about his son…you are so right about being desperate for home.
Khris
GO CARDINALS!
Okay, about the Mexican food…. you knew of a good place in Nashville, and you DIDN’T BRING IT UP DURING ONE OF YOUR TALKS? Hello? There are some Californians and Texans there who are going through jalapeno withdrawal!!!
Keep in mind, though, that I’ll have to get an opinion from someone who grew up in the Southwest before I’ll believe it! My grandfather was born in Romance, Missouri, and from him I learned about pancakes, pot roast, and how to pronounce the name of the state “M’zoora,” but when finding good Mexican food, I’d go to my grandmother, who grew up in Ft. Worth, every time. And that was even after he lived in San Diego for over 60 years!
And besides, if YOU can’t recommend the guacamole, how good can it be?
It was great meeting you. The whole conference was truly life changing. Sorry to disagree but it is finally the Braves year!
Am I breaking the 10th Commandment? I covet and envy the worship time you all experienced at the Zoe Conference. C’mon, bring out here on the plains next year, okay?
As far as the World Series is concerned - I must transfer my loyalty to Houston, now that my Padres have been eliminated, and really hope the Red Sox can do it this year, but you’re probably right, it’ll be the Angels for the AL.
You have just been given an example of man vs woman’s approach to the weightier things of life. Man goes for what he considers the most logical [Cards vs Angels] - woman goes for and sustains her emotional loyalty [hometown Astros vs the jinxed underdog Red Sox]. lol :>)
We missed you Sunday, Mike, but Mark served up a feast of droll sense of humor, thereby preparing the path to hard driven conclusions. He’s very talented and a joy to witness. Looking forward to your new series!!!
Cindy - I goofed. The video is at http://www.teamhoyt.com.
Slight update - my new blog is michaelpolutta.blogspot.com - sorry for the confusion. Hope to “read” you there!
I received Mike’s comments in the spirit in which they were intended, but before I’m officially sainted consider the following:
First, applauding a worshipper of the Almighty is a little like leaving one of Wayne Gretzky’s hockey games and saying, “Wow! That puck was awesome!”
And second, “poop” was a central theme in each of my last two blog posts.
That should do it.