Iowa City Retreat

So, it's been almost a week, and I haven't posted about the retreat yet. Well, that's about to change. Here are a few of the highlights:

Always find out what's in a box before you decide to carry it through the hotel lobby. We were down to two boxes left--plus the cart-load--and we didn't want to have to make another trip just for two boxes, so the two of us that weren't pushing the cart decided we could get them. When we got everything up to the room where we were having the sessions, we found out that I had carried one of the subs--and wall-sat with it in the elevator because I didn't want to set it down--and the bass player had carried the mixing board. Nothing like finding out that you've just carried thousands of dollars of equipment to make you glad you didn't find out what it was by the sound it makes when you drop it.

40 people worshiping to 2 guitars and a djembe can be as good as over 1,000 people rocking out at Anthem. Yes, for the Saturday morning worship, we only had 3 people in the worship "band". For the Friday night worship, we had 2 guitars, a bass, a djembe, and an extra vocalist. It seems more personal when there's room to spread out during worship--and I think I may be getting too old for front-row-during-Anthem style worship.

Salt in a bar is going to be fun. I know, you're jealous, but you can come visit and experience Salt in a bar if you want. It's a nice little place with a moose in the bar itself--I'm not sure if it's plastic or an actual taxidermied moose. Besides, worshiping God while people in the next room are drinking beer? How can God NOT use that to bring people into his kingdom?

Here's a conversation that I've had many times this past week. Me: "I don't like Iowa City." Other person: "Why not? I love Iowa City." Me: "It's too big for me." Other person: "Wait. Aren't you from Des Moines?" Me: "Yeah, and I hate Des Moines too."

Hotel beds are too soft. I've gotten used to futons and dorm room beds. I can't sleep on big, fluffy mattresses. I need to feel the random springs or bars digging into me.

I almost forgot the big one. We don't know the name of the church yet. It might be "Cornerstone Church of Iowa City", but it might not. We discussed possible other names, and I think we ended up having over half a dozen suggestions, with "Anthem Church" being the most popular.

Well, that's all I can remember, so I'll now go rest my poor, poor handses. (Another reason I shouldn't be up against the stage during Anthem--I tend to pound my fists, and now my knuckles are all bruised)