Archive for May, 2007

Recently, as the days past and I neared the big 27-year-old mark (in reality I know it’s not that big!) one of my favorite people in the world, Cindy Smith (my pastor’s wife), asked me, “So what did you think you would be doing at 27? Or what did you think life would like or what didn’t you think life would look like?” I didn’t get to answer Cindy’s question, because we were at a friend’s wedding and there were far too many people there! So here we go, I figured it would be something fun to blog about. So here are some of my 27th Birthday Reflections (see last year’s reflections, click here):
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This week’s quote of the week, goes along the same vein as last week’s, and it comes from blogging pastor Scott Hodge. It’s good!

The difference between creativity and innovation is the difference between thinking about getting things done in the world and getting things done.

“Creativity THINKS up new things. Innovation DOES new things.”

So let’s try this one again, (this an attempt to get some feedback!) What INNOVATION is bubbling around in that mind and heart of your’s. Let’s hear what God is doing!

I am one of those guys that has many (too many probably) RSS feeds to several blogs! One of them is a guy named Joshua Longbrake who has written a bunch for Relevant.com and also has an heart for traveling, life-change, Eastern Europe, and a lot of other things that strike a cord with me. I actually found his blog while he was touring Europe for three months or so and blogged about his experiences. Anyway, read his blog! He recently posted a cool entry about story and the stories behind the faces we see each day. Here is part I liked, but make sure you read it all (click HERE).

But everyone has a story. Everyone has a past. Everybody has been shaped by something. One parent. No parents. Economic situation. Rape. Culture. Orphaned. Pain. Struggle. Lack of pain and struggle. Death. Divorce. Privilege. Popularity. People are shaped by situations and the people that surround them.

Everyone has a story.

And when you know someone’s story, it changes everything, doesn’t it? Your friends who act certain ways, ways which would annoy you if they were from a stranger, are given grace because you know them. You understand them. He acts that way because of this. And she does those things because of that. You understand. Everyone who knows them understands.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEG! This day 24 years ago, my third birthday (as my Birthday is tomorrow the 16th) was ruined! Okay, it wasn’t ruined! I am blessed to have a wonderful sister like Megan and blessed to nearly share a birthday with her too! Growing up we were at each other’s throats but since college we have in many ways become best friends! I love her deeply! I am so proud of her! I look at the woman she is becoming and I thank God! So thank you Lord for the 15th of May and the beautiful daughter of Your’s that was brought into this world 24 years ago! I love you MEG! Happy Birthday!

In the last few days a pastor in D.C. has been mentioned twice in two completely different contexts! His name is Mark Batterson and he is pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. and he wrote a book that I’m told that I MUST read, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars. Well, in the midst of a couple of hours of support calls (please pray for these as I’ve not got much concrete stuff set up yet) I found his blog and found something entitled The Lion Chaser’s Manifesto. It was extremely encouraging to me as I am in the midst of something bigger than me, that if God doesn’t show up in will fail! So here it is! I pray it moves you too!

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!

A week or so ago, I posted about the tragic and sudden death of a friend and former co-worker, Liz Duncan, and I’ve been wanting to post another entry about things on the back end of everything that went down. First off, it was, and has been since, a tough time in the world of AIA following the events, but it also has been a tremendous time of celebration. Celebration? Yes, celebration. Celebration of a life well lived! The Tuesday after Liz’s death we held a memorial service at AIA headquarters and I couldn’t help but see how Liz lived life well!

Recently, I was talking to a group of high school kids and I was talking about Changing the World and how so often young people think they can’t make a difference, or they have to wait to get older. I told the kids we have to take advantage of each day we are giving and trust that God can use us to Change the World, because we are not guaranteed tomorrow. As I think back to my interactions with Liz and the many stories I’ve heard since her home going I have been inspired, convicted and many other feelings as I’ve looked at my own life. Liz made a difference, Liz Changed the World! One of the ways, we have seen the difference Liz made was at Brooks Sports in Seattle. Brooks shut down their office, their production factory and much more in the wake of Liz’s death and then went above and beyond. They will be releasing a shoe with Liz’s initials on them, they are starting a Liz Duncan Memorial Fund and much more. They had a news clipping about all of this, here is a section that moved me (click HERE for the rest):

During her time at Brooks, Liz elevated teamwork, spirit, energy and confidence within her department and beyond. A consummate shining light for all that is good and inspirational in the world, she brightened the days of every employee, account and partner she came in contact with.

Liz made a difference. What difference will you make today? What difference will I make today? May the life and death of Liz inspire each of to live life well and point to Jesus often in the midst of it!

I got an email sent to me recently (and a phone call, thanks Chris!) about my team, the Prague Lions, winning their first EFAF Cup Game (this is the European Champions League for American Football) last weekend. This is big news for our team and the development of football in Czech! The only sad thing is I wasn’t there to celebrate with the team! In time… Below is the headline about the game and you can click HERE for the rest of the write up!

Prague – In what turned out to be one of the most breath-taking EFAF Cup games in recent memory, the Prague Lions defeated the Carinthian Black Lions at Charles University Stadium by the score of 17-13 as a last gasp 4th down pass fell incomplete in the endzone.

Please pray for the next 3 weeks as I seek to connect with people and develop new relationships that Lord-willing will result in God providing the needed support for my return to Prague at the end of the summer.

rev·o·lu·tion – “A willing of the unimaginable to the imaginable.” - unknown

What are you dreaming about today? What unimaginable thing is God calling you, with His power, to bring into the imaginable? I’m dreaming and praying… So let’s put the comments to work! Fill the world in! (or at least the small readers of zACHhARROD.com!) Let us know what revolutions for the Kingdom of God are you dreaming up? May the Lord lead us in the steps of Jesus the greatest revolutionary ever!