evan mcbroom THE OTHER SIDE of the boat

I'm Locked in The Crate for 3rd world medical projects - Help me get out!

Today, October 6, I'm held up in a 20 foot shipping container with three friends from church and together we're raising money and awareness for FAME to support their work in medical evangelism around the world!

Projects include:

• Renovations to an out-patient clinic in Haiti $23,500
• Ambulance for mission in India $15,000
• Medical supplies for mission in Honduras $5,000
• Scholarships for healthcare workers in Ghana $2,500

Our hope is to reach our goal and sleep in our own beds.  Will you please donate to this incredible work? FAME meets the physical and spiritual people by bringing the love of Christ through medical care to areas that are really hurting.

Donate now at www.give2thecrate.org - select Oct 6 Evan McBroom under team captain.  Select any project country. 

Here's some Facebook links to learn more:

See me in The Crate: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=286543&id=664768893

Learn more about FAME: http://www.facebook.com/FAMEworld?v=app_4949752878 

DONATE NOW: $10, $25, $50...any amount at www.give2thecrate.org Please select Team Captain Evan McBroom - and any project you like. GIVE TODAY!

Special thanks to my friends Kelly Ulm, Jennifer Denniston and Randy Cox for being part of The Crate.  Also - thanks to Randy's company Compendium for their matching gift project.

I have no regrets following God.

I just Tweeted: 

Seeing afresh 2day what I sensed God say 2me when we sold our much-cherished lake house..."You will never regret following Me."

Lisa Campbell Bauer, a Facebook friend and the former director of communications at First Christian Church in Springfield, Ohio left me a comment on Facebook.  She said, "I would love to hear the rest of the story, Evan...this is huge!"  So, as Paul Harvey would say, "Here is the rest of the story." 

 In 2007 my wife and I went through Crown Ministry's class on stewardship and in what we sensed as a step of obedience to God, we downsized our big house, trading it for one that is still wonderful, but less costly each month in mortgage, homeowners fees, utilities and such.  My income leading Fishhook was significantly less than my former agency days, and going through Crown helped move us to action. Our new house is great - and the view from our back deck (left) is so peaceful. It was a good move.  But not enough.

In 2008 my wife and I came to the realization that we also need to sell our lake house.  It was a much-loved remnant of our former lifestyle that could not be afforded.  After many, many tears we made the decision to put it up for sale.  Selling it would not only relieve us of the monthly expenses, but the proceeds of selling would help us dig out of a debt hole we'd slowly put ourselves in.  

As is typical, putting the house on the market required a couple months of projects to get it ready to sell.  Weekend after weekend, and even some weekdays I labored to make the place even more spectacular (it really was a special place - timber frame - hand carved logs - a view of the lake from a perch in the woods).  I was resolved to get this job done, and for the most part, I was focused on task.  However...the place held so many special memories, and it represented so many hoped-for days.  I had envisioned retirement there.  I anticipated days ahead with my children and their friends in high school and college days.  I was not only walking away from a wonderful past I was giving up a beautiful future there.  

So while on task, I was packing up the linen closet, and with all the windows open on a warm, early spring day, I was overcome by a nearly unbearable sense of loss.  I dropped to the floor and sat with head in hands sobbing.  I looked down the long hallway that led to the great room and looked out through the windows into the trees and sky.  As I cried, I said aloud, "God, will I regret selling this place?"

With an immediacy that passes my own ability to form a phrase in my head, I sensed a small, assuring voice say, "You will never regret following me." This voice, that speaks in full, complete thoughts, in an instant...I have come to trust as God's voice.  

I still look back on our days owning that lake house as some of the best our family has ever experienced.  I have never regretted selling it. 

Today's reminders about following God have little to do with the lake house. But today several emails have crossed my screen that remind me that I've followed God for a great purpose and I am seeing the fulfillment of my calling afresh today.  I trust I will never regret following Him.

When I grow old I won't wear purple, but I will...

 Surely you've heard of the poem embraced by the ladies of the Red Hat Society.  It's a sweet thing about the unacceptable things a woman plans to do as she ages...tossing conventions aside, including wearing purple.

I don't think I'll wear purple, but as I get older (and even now) I'm gonna pace myself better than I did in my youth. I used to run at work full speed for months then find my recuperation...sick in bed.  So, as I get older, I'm gonna take more afternoons off.  I'm gonna spend a couple mornings a week sipping coffee with my wife.  And this coming Monday, I'm gonna take Presidents Day off and be with my family.  

Tuesday morning I'll be behind on email.  I'll have to ask someone for an extra day to have their proposal ready.  I'll show up less than prepared to a meeting.  But I will enjoy a day with my kids and my sweetie that makes all those fumbles worth it.  

How 'bout you?  For some old lady, the change is purple. For me, it's pace.  And you? 

Take the first step

Do you have an overwhelming task?  Are you faced with a challenge too big to tackle?  Do you have a Goliath sized to-do list and not a single stone in your sling?  I feel that way right now.  I've got some things...mostly just annoyingly detailed tasky-tasks that need doing.  They need starting.  But I don't feel I have the go-juice to get 'em done. And so...I look around me to find some measure of inspiration to get off my jeans pockets and knock 'em out. 

Take this moment for instance.  This is me on Saturday a few minutes after the completion of my first half marathon.  13.1 miles.  Official time 2 hours, 05 minutes, 52.8 seconds. I finished 69th in my age bracket.  No records here...but it was a big day for me.

A bigger day?  January 1, 2008.  The morning I started walking. In a post dated February 1, 2008, I tell of my first month of walking.  75 miles in a month.  Those first early morning steps 22 months ago set in motion a series of events that led to Saturday's finish.  I would say that the decision to get out of bed and walk was harder than the decision to run the final mile on Saturday.  It wasn't glamorous to get out of bed.  There was no cheering crowd and certainly no medal waiting for me at the finish...but the first step was the first step. 

What's the first step you need to take to get the big task off your list.  I've got mine...I'm gonna go take it now.

My Biggest Interview Ever... Buzz Aldrin!

I get to do some pretty fun stuff in my life.  Interviewing Buzz Aldrin is near the top of the list...and at the top of the list of people I've been honored to meet. I've been in Atlanta this week working with my old company at the CEDIA Expo and serve as a reporter on a convention TV channel shown throughout the convention center and in 24,000 downtown Atlanta hotel rooms.  The work is a blast, the work covers a lot of Fishhook expenses, it's a great time to be with my old friends from The Sanders Group and CEDIA. Here's an example of how I've spent this week...getting to interview Buzz Aldrin!

If at first you don't suceed, tri, tri again

About a month ago, I was scheduled to run my first triathlon.  It was to be the pay-off for 18 months of slowly getting into, out of and back into shape.  In January 2008 I started walking.  By June 2008 I started running, a few mailboxes at a time. I was losing weight and feeling great.  In August 2008 my father passed away and I lost my rhythm and by January 1, 2009 I was at an all time high on the scales at 206 pounds.  I started running again. 

In July I was to compete in my first triathlon.  My wife Debbie inspired me as she competed her first one this spring.  The morning of my event came and I was ready.  Months of running, riding and swimming had me primed.  But an accident with a bungee cord the morning of the race landed me in the ER.  While loading the bikes on the rack, the bungee slipped from my hand and recoiled into my eye.  Through the mystery of the Vasovagel response I passed out repeatedly and my triathlon day was finished before it started. 

And so, after a procedure to repair a tear in my retina, I laced up my shoes, climbed on my bike and got back in the pool and continued my training.  And with my "eye" on the prize of completing the race, I finished 368th out of 600 competitors this past Saturday.  And oddly, the satisfaction was sweeter for all the bumps along the way. 

There's a handful of lessons I draw personally from the experience but perhaps the greatest I can share is to be encouraged in discouraging circumstances that the finish line still awaits and when we falter (physically, spiritually, emotionally...) we can pick ourselves up, ask God to help us get on our feet, and continue on toward our destination. 

What's out in front of you that seems to get farther and farther away? Keep on.  Tri again.

PS: Thanks to Fishhook's Jenn Stump for hanging out at the finish line.  Her husband Brian was competing too and she kindly captured this moment.  You need to check out Jenn's blog for her photography business.  Incredible. 

My Lesson from the Emergency Room

 

On Saturday I was to compete in my first triathlon.  I was pumped.  My wife and I were going to do the same event and we'd had a great time training for it.  At 6:00AM the morning of, as I was loading the bikes on our SUV's bike rack, a bungee cord slipped from my grip, striking my eye - ending my hopes of competing that day.  Through the mystery of the Vasovagal reaction - I passed out repeatedly and ended up in the ER - both to deal with the eye injury and to determine if there were deeper issues causing me to black-out.  My triathlon that day included an ambulance ride, a EKG and a CAT scan.  All checked out fine.

 A photo of my eye - (caution -it's a little graphic) View this photo

There are numerous lessons I drew that day including the irony of working hard to get in shape as a response to my fathers' passing a year prior only to spend my big day in the same ER he frequented his last year of life.  There's a lesson in perseverance, in overcoming discouragement and many lessons in being grateful - my injury could have been much worse and all indications are that my eye will be fine. 

Having done a little research on the topic (try googling "bungee cord eye injuries") I've learned that these devices, which I've relied on for years, recoil at speeds up to 60 MPH and do lead to the loss of sight in many people every year.  So, my biggest lesson, and the one I encourage you to learn from, is throw away your bungee cords.  Use rope.  Use safer devices.  I was probably 1/4" away from losing sight in my left eye.  Today, when you go home, go to your garage and throw them away and when you do, thank God for Evan's left eye.  I'm sure I will every time I tie a knot in a piece of rope.

My spiritual journey exposed - how ironic

How ironic.  In this month's "Fresh Catch" (Fishhook's 6x year free e-source for church communicators) we were talking about how to develop your volunteer ministry.  This weekend, I got to serve as a volunteer in my own church in a big way.  I delivered the message in all four services.  It was a great experience (for me at least).  At times...outta body.  At others, totally aware of every breath.  The message dives deep into my own spiritual journey.  I'm thankful to be part of a church that really lets people roll up their sleeves in significant ways. Take a listen...and let me know...which face in the crowd are you?

Select 6/21 Faces in the Crowd at this link

My blog needs a swift kick in the...

Go ahead.  Finish the sentence.  For the record, I was thinking "groin."  I would kick it in the backside (dare I say "ass?") but I don't think that would fully get it's attention.  Yes, a swift kick to the groin is what this blog needs. Trust me...kick me in the butt and I'll notice you, kick me in the groin and I'll do whatever you tell me to do.

This week, I'm feeding my brain.  I looked at my calendar and saw a little lighter load than normal and thought, "McBroom, you're stale."  Feed your brain with some fresh insight.  The food for the week is Seth Godin's Tribes (see how stale my thinking is...EVERYBODY has read Tribes already).  At my friend Ed Bahler'smention, I decided to sign up for Alltop.com and I built a MyAlltop pagethat, for now, includes info for small business owners (non church fresh ideas) and blogging.  The first blogging stuff I noodled on Copyblogger and this post by Jonathan Morrow.The post says I should "shoot my blog."  Since I don't own a gun, but I do have a pair of steel-toe work boots, I decided I'd give mine a swift kick.  I hope to fulfill this promise: change is a'comin.  And I hope, change for the good.

What I'm discovering this week (it's only Tuesday, but I officially started this on Saturday) is that I'm not sure after 2 years of blogging that I've found my voice or my focus for my blog, for Twitter, for Facebook, for the Fishhook Facebook fan page...and on and on.

It's my hope that new insight, and the thinking that follows, brings clarity, more fun and more...(whatever else I discover I need more of.)

My credit card is gonna miss Michigan

The image is burned in my mind. 17 summer vacations in Northern Michigan - first with my wife and later with our family.  An annual retreat that brought creation and recreation together.  I cherish these weeks and anticipate their return...but not this year.

For summer 2009, my family and my credit card are taking a different vaction. Oh, we'll miss days on the lake. Excursions to the marina to fill up the gas tank. All-you-can-eat Walleye dinners. The smell of go-carts and thrill of mini-golf. But come the end of the summer, while my credit card may have missed it's trip, I will not miss the hangover brought by added debt. This summer, my credit card will stay home. If it's good, I'll let it out a little.  Maybe a one day trip for water park fun at Holiday World, or a jaunt to the hardware store.  But this summer, my card and myself...we'll hang at home and if we miss Michigan greatly, we'll look at photos, tell stories and dream sweet dreams. 

How about you? Do you and your credit card have different plans this summer?