Teamwork: The Game Plan

October 15th, 2010

These are my notes from today’s Pueblo West Cyclone Football Team Devo

The plight of the Chilean miners has been inspirational to watch.

They are calling them “Los 33”.  Their struggle reminds us of what’s really important in life and shows what can be accomplished if you dig deep and stick together.

• 33 men, trapped for 69 days.

• Under the leadership of their foreman, Luis Urzua, they developed a game plan!

• ALL 33 emerged victorious, relatively healthy, and they have inspired the world. They’re true winners!

• Teamwork: They were courageous, unified, selflessly cooperated with each other, and exercised their FAITH in God.

“There are actually 34 of us, because God has never left us down here,” – Jimmy Sanchez, 19 year old rescued miner.

Former College and NFL Coach Les Steckel, CEO & President of FCA

“Let me take you where you can not take yourselves.” - Steckel

• When asking other Coaches what their team philosophies are, he usually gets an explanation of their offensive/defensive schemes… It’s rare that a coach can produce a coherent philosophical approach to not just coaching players but teaching them the important things in life.

• I appreciate Coach Pinkerton and his staff for caring more about your success as young men than just winning football games.

“As a leader you’ll make mistakes, you won’t always be popular, but you have to know what you believe in.” - Steckel

Develop Your Game Plan – for football, but also for life.

• What are your principles?  What direction are you moving?  What are your guiding convictions?

• Don’t wait until life happens to you, determine now what kind of a person you want to be… today!

• HAVE COURAGE – WORK TOGETHER – EXERCISE FAITH

If you as a team will band together, develop your character, and have faith, you will always be winners! You’ll inspire Pueblo West High School and your community.

PRAYER POINTS: Full recovery for former Cyclone Team Member, JASON MARTINEZ.  Protection &  provision for the Cyclone football team.

R~

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The CD Is Officially Dead

September 3rd, 2010
Itunes Old and New Logo

iTunes old and new logos

This may be the final blow to the already terminally ill CD.

On Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 – Steve Jobs unveiled iTunes 10 at an Apple Special Event. With the new version comes a new icon. The previous icon with the CD has been used for the past ten years… but this new icon has been redesigned with the CD obviously missing. Why?

Well, Jobs said it’s because music album purchases on the iTunes Store has now (or soon will) surpass CD sales. Wow! Always knew this would happen. One day I will tell my grandkids that the CD died back in twenty-ten. ;)

Another reason for the dropped CD graphic is because iTunes has really become so much more than an mp3 player with audio books, tv shows, movies, podcasts, and now social media (ping), all at users fingertips.

Anyway, my mind always draws parallels to Apple and how we can better do things in our church services…

Apple’s appeal, success and values the church can adopt:

1. Hip, relaxed, genuine.
2. Innovative
3. Creative
4. Communication
5. Smart
6. Friendly
7. Growth
8. Quality
9. Enthusiasm
10. User experience
11. Embrace technology
12. Risk taking
13. Evolving
14. Beauty
15. Design
16. Engineering
17. Vision
18. Intuitive
19. Value
20. Color
21. ____________
^Tell me what else you would list! :)

Just thoughts… :)

R~

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Grocery Store

September 28th, 2009

Last night I went grocery shopping. Nothing major, just popped-in to grab a few items. For some reason I felt like such a n0ob. Even though there were not a lot of people in the store I felt as if the few that were there could sense an inexperienced vibe coming from me. Maybe, maybe not. OR maybe it was that I was self conscious because the items I placed in my little shopping basket screamed, “BACHELOR!”

Truth is, I haven’t done the whole grocery shopping thing in quite sometime. I am slightly embarrassed to admit this, but I mostly eat out or on the run. But now that I am a bonafide homeowner with a mortgage plus utility bills and am an engaged man with a wedding, honeymoon and wifey relocation expenses to pay for, I am realizing that I will once again have to get back into the supermarket routine. I like that I will save money and eat better…

…but I stinkin’ hate grocery shopping!

R~

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Rick Warren at OrlandO9

August 18th, 2009

Friday, August 7th, 2009, I was able to attend Pastor Rick Warren’s morning session at the 53rd General Council of the Assemblies of God. His message was very refreshing for my spirit and I thoroughly enjoyed the session, even though it was very long. Appreciate Rick’s transparency, wisdom, and heart.

Here is the video. Rick is at time stamp 58 minutes.

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Gerald E. Gurule Sr.

June 30th, 2009

Gerald E. Gurule Sr.

Gerald E. Gurule Sr.

Gerald E. Gurule Sr., 51, of Pueblo, went to be with the Lord on June 24, 2009. He was preceded in death by his father, John D. Gurule; grandparents, Nestor and MatildaValenzuela and Eulalia and Casimiro Gurule; and nephew, Steven Gurule. Gerald is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Janet Gurule; children, Gerald Gurule Jr. and Lisa M. Gurule; special friend, Kelly Ranger; mother, Ermie Gurule; brothers, Fred (Nancy), John (Mary Ellen), Raymond, David (Yolanda), Pat (Sherii) Gurule; parents-in-law, Joe and Evelyn Gurule; brothers-in-law, Tony and Robert Gurule; his dog and partner, Honey Cub; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family and friends. Gerald was a roofer for Turner Roofing for 25 years. Gerald had a heart of gold and is going to be deeply missed. Viewing, 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Romero Chapel. Funeral service, 10 a.m. Monday, Family Worship Christian Center, 3800 Parker Blvd. Interment, Imperial Memorial Gardens. Family and friends will be received at Romero Courtesy Hall following interment. In lieu of food and flowers, donations may be made to Sunflower Bank (510 W. 29th St.) in memory of Gerald E. Gurule Sr.

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Leadership: Miles McPherson

June 20th, 2009

Leadership development must be ongoing for anyone in ministry. This is what I’m feeding on tonight; 2 Catalyst videos featuring leadership thoughts by my former pastor, Mile McPherson.

Catalyst Voices – Miles McPherson (Evangelism) from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Catalyst Voices – Miles McPherson (Leadership) from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Robert

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Becoming

June 18th, 2009

I was recently at the salon of all salons (Studio 127, shameless plug), waiting for the fabulous Terre to cut & style my hair (and what an incredible job she always does, too!).

So as I waited I was reading a magazine article about the local art scene in a certain European city when a statement by an artist caught my attention. He said that the city is in a perpetual state of becoming.  He added that it was the creative chaos associated with that state of becoming that attracted him to relocate to that city.

I feel that my ministry to young people is similar to that European city. “A perpetual state becoming” really sums up how I’ve been feeling lately. I’ve often wondered if we’ll ever really arrive… if we’ll ever really be what we want to become. To be honest, this notion had been bothering me.

I’m at that five year mark as a youth pastor, and even though we’ve grown in so many areas and have had so many successes, youth ministry remains a messy and chaotic city at times.

However, this article gave me a refreshing perspective and helped me reframe my ministry. Maybe we’re never meant to “arrive” and maybe it’s the creative chaos that keeps us unsettled, which leads to growing and evolving. The perpectual state of “becoming” keeps you from getting stuck in one place or one narrow way of thinking. Keeps you on your toes and forces you to either innovate or stagate.

I’m learning to embrace the chaos. Afterall, I believe it was that chaos that drew me to youth work 13 years ago.

Be patient with me. I’m in a perpetual state of becoming…. and I like it.

Robert

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