Catalyst 2009
- Catalyst Day One Getting Things Started and Andy Stanley
- Catalyst 2009 – Labs
- Catalyst Day One – Malcolm Gladwell
- Catalyst Day One – Rob Bell
- Catalyst Day One – Francis Chan
- Catalyst Day Two – Dave Ramsey, “The Momentum Theorem”
- Catalyst Day Two – Chuck Swindoll
- Catalyst Day Two wrapup – Andy Stanley
- Catalyst 2009 – Fun Stuff
Well today was the first day of Catalyst. Since this is my first year there everything is new to me. And everything was WOW for me. They really dont spare any change in making this an unforgettable event. At least I know now why the tickets are so much
Anyway, today was a day full of incredible stuff that challenged, some stuff that was controversial and some holy moments too. When trying to think, of a way to describe what Catalyst has been for me so far this is what Ive come up with
What catalyst does is mix your mind and your heart together and adds a good helping of holy getupanddosomething
Yeah, that good.
One disappointment with catalyst was the unreliability of the wifi I was really hoping to blog during the day so I wouldnt have these late night posting sessions but it looks like I wasnt alone in this. Many of the official bloggers of catalyst were unable to get any kind of wifi connection either with both the in house arena wifi and at&t not playing nicely. Still, blogs are getting written! If I come across any Ill post them at the end of each post I make on Catalyst.
What Ive decided to do is write each post in a series so that theyre all linked together. For each speaker Im just going to write about the one (or maybe two) things that impacted me the most out of what they spoke. Ill also post links that Im aware of at the time of posting to other coverage about that speaker. Im not going to be writing a post on every speaker, partly because there are some that I just didnt listen to (because I skipped out early to check out booths without the crowd swarm) and some I just didnt hear (because I wear hearing aids and have tinnitus and my prayer for close captioning doesnt get answered one day! One day.) Oh, and I should mention, if youre following Catalyst you really need to bookmark catalystbackstage.com. Visit it and youll know why
A few remarks Id like to make about the beginning of the event. A woman (sorry, my recognizant abilities are not great) opened up catalyst with an amazing Hallelujah moment and of course FEEBAND came out ROCKING the house with some awesome worship. Ive read about this band and now I know why people around here love them. Im SOOOO glad the Catalyst package included some free downloads of their music!
Andy Stanley was the first speaker. He shared from Joshua 5:13-15 and here was the biggest takeaway for me.
Its really not about whos for you or against you its really about who you are for.
In other words, are you, am I willing to submit my skills, abilities, opportunities, my person to God and His bigger story? God was in effect saying to Joshua, I have not come to be a part of what YOU are doing. I want YOU to become a part of MY story!
When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”
“Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord ‘s army.”Joshua 5:13-14
The commander of the Lords army answered, Neither. Why? Because its not about whos your friend or whos your foe. Its about who you are for. Are you for God and His plan? Is He Lord over your life? Are you wanting His mark to be made through you or are you just wanting to make your piddly little mark?
Andy said that there is a statement on his Dads wall that has always stuck out with him – God takes full responsibility for the life wholly devoted to Him
Andy really hit home as he finished with this:
You need to settle once and for all why you do what you do and who your doing it for Living to make my mark is to small a thing to give my life to so, lets give our lives to leaving His mark!
What a challenge! And how liberating! You dont have to concern yourself with whos for you or whos against you concern yourself with who YOU are FOR!! And it better be Jesus.
(check out what Kevin, Brad, Jason, and Kent, have to say about Andy if you want to read more)