• My Dad-in-law & bro-in-law are featured in a commercial about sustainable forestry. Very proud of them. Check it out: http://bit.ly/b2fdkd #
• So many folks lined up to get baptized @ the 1st Wednesday service. I’m already crying. http://yfrog.com/jwsmgj #
• Pastor Mike just baptized his daughter, Alex. Now everyone is crying. http://yfrog.com/jlfc9j #
• Ladies- Is your man signed up for the EPIC Men’s Conference @Overlake? If not, then smack his butt in to gear! http://bit.ly/dj1BYB #
• A team from @Overlake will also be coming to Bangkok working to get girls working as prostitutes off the streets. (via @glbreakthrough) #
• Excited to partner with @MarkBatterson tonight at the NW Leadership Summit. #
• Dairy Queen marquee: Scream until daddy stops the car. #
• Thanks for the great wknd NW Leadership Summit. Heading home to teach Liam how to ride a bike w/o training wheels! #
• How is it that I’ve gone this long in my life & only JUST heard Mitch Hedberg for the 1st time today?! So funny! #
• In case there was ever any question, @mike_howerton is one of the most quality humans on the planet. #
• The funeral for Gene Porter AKA the creator of “The Man” from Dixie’s BBQ is today @Overlake. Anyone ever brave enough to meet “The Man”? #
• If success is measured by a bunch of lil sluggers tapping on eachother’s protective cups, then consider tonight’s practice a grand slam! #

• Prepping for 3 Conferences I’m leading at next month. Hope to see you the NW Leadership Summit (cont) http://tl.gd/b8g9u #
• Consultant (noun)-a person who takes a subject you thought you understood & uses fancy & confusing words to justify charging you lots of $. #
• Men of Overlake, EPIC is coming NEXT WEEK! This event sells out every year, so be sure to sign up now & bring a friend http://bit.ly/dj1BYB #
• If you don’t like my peaches, don’t shake my tree. #
• Me: Lets call it “S.T.D.-Spiritually Transmitted Disciplines”!
  Greg: 1st week-”It burns when I pray”
  (there ARE bad ideas in brainstorming) #
• Showing a group of Cub Scouts what a recording studio is like. Unsurprisingly, working with children is much like working with pros. #
• Cub Scout’s were great! Got to meet Corey, an awesome kid w/ some special needs. All of the kids kept loving on him. Best part of my night! #
• Showing a group of Cub Scouts what a recording studio is like. Unsurprisingly, working with children is much like working with pros. #
• It’s official: I’m coaching the Kirkland Mariners. I met all the other tee-ball coaches tonight & told them to expect total domination. #
• Anyone seasoned tee-ball coaches out there have any advice for a newbie? #
• Lazy afternoon. Finn & Marisa are napping, Liam’s watching Looney Toons, & I am listening to Aaron Copland while researching gelotology. #
• PERCUSSIVE-MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.
  Need an expert? Call me. #
• PLAY BALL! http://yfrog.com/33h6plj #
• “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” Mother Teresa. See you @Overlake as we see what James has to say about judgement. #
• My Canadian neighbor just shook my hand & said “Great hockey game, eh?!”
  Canadians are so cocky.
  Will this taunting ever end? #
• Stinkin Canadians, mocking us with their grace and niceness. #
• “Christianity if false is of no importance, & if true of infinite importance. One thing it can’t be is moderately important.” C.S. Lewis #
• “You are not worshiping right in any place until you are worshiping God right in every place.” AW Tozer, Purpose of Man #
• BAD CHOICE:Will Smith passed on playing Neo in the Matrix to do Wild, Wild West.GOOD CHOICE: Getting baptized this Wed!
  http://bit.ly/9SVZgE #
• I’m writing a book about helping uptight Christians to loosen up. Anything you’d like to see me address (in a loving spirit)? #
• I’m petitioning to change the name of “FIBER ONE Yogurt” to “Farty, Fart, Fart Sauce”.
  Will you sign my petition? #

• “The sufficiency of my merit is to know that my merit is not sufficient.” — St. Augustine #
• I love that Arthur Hamilton used the word plebeian in “Cry Me A River”. Further proof that popular songs don’t have to be so… plebeian. #
• Just watched Rob Bell’s “The God’s Aren’t Angry” DVD and bawling my eyes out in my office.
  Wow. #
• Marisa is heading in for surgery to clear out her sinuses & have a small bone removed. Would appreciate your prayers for her this morning. #
• Should I read some Anne LaMott or just waste time on http://babieswithlasereyes.com while I’m waiting for Marisa to get out of surgery? #
• Marisa came through the surgery fine & with no complications. Thanks for your prayers! She’s very groggy, but we’re on our way home now. #
• Dear Friends,

  Any suggestions on how to get 2 children to sleep in past 5:15am?

  Yours truly,
  Sleepless in Seattle #

• Watched Aladdin with my kids today & kept waiting for Jafar to break in to “Purple Rain” or “Little Red Corvette”. #
• Tea. Eye. Are. Ee. Dee. #
• This is unacceptable!
  Legitimate orphanages in Haiti have empty beds while UNICEF relegates orphans to tents. http://is.gd/8YYdI #

• Marisa & I had a great time reconnecting with our fav prof, Dr. Monica Ganas at APU today. “Love ya, shugs!” #
• Off to the APU/Biola basketball game where the brotherly love of the kingdom of God will be on display.

  P.S. DIE EAGLES, DIE! #

• Tonight APU took the “humble road”.
  The last shall be first, guys.
  The last shall be first. #
• “If I have a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the explanation is- I was made for another world.” -C.S. Lewis #
• Man gives entire fortune away because “money makes him unhappy.” http://bit.ly/acJKQE #
• My favorite part of the “Pirates of the Carribean” ride at Disneyland is the smell. #
• If they bottled the smell of “The Pirates of the Carribean” ride at Disneyland, I would buy it. #
• Thx for a wonderful week, Cali! Sad to leave my So Cal fam, but glad to be headed home. Seattle here we come. #
• Flew Virgin Airlines for the 1st time. There’s an obvious joke here, but I shall refrain. #
• Happiness is kids in bed, a belly full of Pho, & catching up on LOST with my bride. It’s good to be home. #
• Today I choose an attitude of gratitude. I am grateful that the boys finally slept past 5:30am & made it all the way to 6:17! #
• “The idea is to die young as late as possible.” -Ashley Montagu #
• This is me recreating my reaction when I saw a bald eagle flying over the 520 bridge. http://yfrog.com/1yni5ej #
• Just cutting a nipple off of a pork belly. You know… business as usual. http://yfrog.com/33n9swj #
• Celebrating Chinese New Years in style. http://yfrog.com/373hhqj #
• Looking forward to hearing Ryan Meeks tomorrow @Overlake as we continue our “Body By James” series! See you there. http://OCC.org #
• Ryan Meeks knocked it out of the park this am @Overlake. If you missed it, check out our 6pm service tonight or online tmrw. Http://OCC.org #
• Speaking my wife’s love language by watching “Twilight” with her for V-day. (I’m on Team Whatever It Takes To Get Some) #
• Spent a couple’a hours under the house fixing the cable.
  Definitely the most manly thing I’ve done all day…besides straightening my bangs. #

• I’m pretty sure that Hurley is actually Jimmy Hoffa. #LOST #
• I’m hosting the NW Worship Leader gathering @Overlake this Thursday @ 8:30am. All worship leaders/musicians welcome. Hope to see you there! #
• Dr says I suffer from migraines & should avoid bright lights, loud noises & expending my energy all at once. In other words: unemployment. #
• Bummed to miss the 1st Wednesday service tonight, but special thanks to the talented Mr. Kyle Frank for covering for me last minute. #
• Adoption application is officially in the mail! Somewhere in Ethiopia, a beautiful little girl will soon (in 12-18 mos) be a Butterworth! #
• After singing love songs with my wife @ the “Married Life Live” event, I am astutely aware just how far I married out of my league. #
• Butterworth’s will be rockin Disneyland on Wed. Any Cali friends care to join us?(& by “join us” I mean buy our character balloons). #
• Housesitter is all set & the Butterworth’s are off to Cali! We’re in Pasadena/Newport Beach until Thurs & would love to see you! #
• As of Feb 1st, your support has helped us provide care & treatment for an estimated 4,000 Haitians.-Medical Teams Intl http://j.mp/9mylYe #
• This is soooooo not P.C. The proper term is cafe. http://yfrog.com/3imy3pj #
• “If you wanna buy a car go see Cal!” Just saw Cal Worthington is still alive & kickin & selling cars in L.A. He’s gotta be like 112 yrs old. #
• Bummed to be missing “Body By James- Tonguemaster” today @Overlake. Enjoying a rare Sunday off in So Cal with the fam, though. #
• Liam: how much further?

  Marisa: about 400 ft

  Liam: that’s a lot of shoes! #

• My Super Bowl prediction: Roger Daltrey. Wardrobe malfunction. #
• Antacid sales increase 20% today because of all the junk food intake yesterday. Thankful for all of the brave ants who gave of their acid. #
• Do I contradict myself?
  Very well then I contradict myself,
  (I am large, I contain multitudes.)
  Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself” #
• Bluetooth headsets are making it more & more difficult to tell who’s having a phone conversation and who’s just plain crazy. #

• Seriously considering a Daily Planet reunion record w/ the original crew (Seth, Danny & Bobby) Would anyone out there buy it if we made it? #
• Finding the iPad uninspiring? Do something inspiring! Invest in the life of a Child! Join Children’s Ministry @ OCC! email kids@occ.org #
• Bad Problem: Incontinence. Good Problem: OCC is growing so fast that we need to open more kid’s classes. Can you volunteer? kids@occ.org #
• Fulfill your Flannelgraph dreams. Invest in a child’s life @Overlake. Volunteer: kids@occ.org #
• Outlining a book with the illustrious Greg Swinehart. We will venture to write the story of what it’s really like to be in a working band. #
• Know what I’m prolly like the best at & stuff? Don’t wanna be all braggy & stuff, I’m just sayin I’m like really good at brevity & stuff. #
• Rockin the Grey Sabbath (that’s what I call a cloudy day off). #
• How will people remember you? By what you don’t do or what you do do. #
• “The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man.” G.K. Chesterton #
• Why is it so difficult for me to memorize scripture, but I can sing you the entire “Juicy Fruit” commercial from when I was 8 years old? #

• Sad news… Kate McGarrigle just died of liver cancer. A great artist, survived by 2 very talented children. http://bit.ly/73aIUi #
• Prepping to meet with the Overlake music team tonight. Anything you want me to pass on? #
• Marisa & I are working on our laptops late in to the evening so that we can enjoy an uninterrupted wknd away with our LifeGroup. Good times. #
• Medical Teams Intl in Haiti now unpacking 1st IEHK sent from Holland. This will help 1000s in next 3 months. Donate now @ http://OCC.org #
• Haitian orphans are back at the Embassy today trying to get visas. They were there all day yesterday to no avail. Please continue to pray. #
• You know what’s funny? Humor. #
• Leading a bunch of Children’s pastors in worship. Hope they’re up for a rousing set of “Father Abraham”&”Pharoah, Pharoah” w/ hand motions! #
• Best quote @ the Children’s Pastors Luncheon: “Natural beauty takes time and money.” I’m apparently short on both… #
• Not in a lifegroup @Overlake? Tonight’s “Let’s Connect” event is a low key way, no pressure way to check out LifeGroups. Http://OCC.org #
• New fav t-shirt slogan: If I were a veggie I’d be a radish. Because I’m only kind of rad. #
• Could you be more specific? http://yfrog.com/33eufxyj #
• GREAT NEWS! Kembert got his visa & is on a plane to Orlando to be with his family for good! Thx for your prayers and advocacy. It worked! #
• Friends, please continue to pray and advocate on behalf of the thousands of Haitian orphans. God is making beauty from ashes. #
• True religion is this: an army of Overlakers spent the day helping a widow fix up her house while others advocate for Haitian orphans. #
• Are you coming to Overlake tonight to hear John Eldredge? I’m considering streaking across the stage to prove that I’m wild at heart. #
• Just heard that I’m going to be on Conan tomorrow!!!! #
• Standing next to the phone display at the Verizon store testing my Jedi skills. “These are not the Droids you are looking for.” #
• Apparently my metachlorian count is low today, because people just keep buying the phone. #
• Liam’s prayer @ dinner tonight: “…& Lord please help our family to not get sick & die… (long pause) like Michael Jackson.” #
• “If the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness, then all of our efforts in the long run are hopeless.” C.S.Lewis #
• Join me in the “Shirts for Shoes” project. Buy a shirt and 100% of the proceeds go to buy an Ethiopian orphan shoes. http://bit.ly/bmJWqV #

• God, bring your healing to Haiti. #
• Body By James presents: 48 Hour Abs!! http://bit.ly/4YV31I You can’t argue with results. #
• Tracking strings for the talented Mr. Glenn Lavender of the illustrious rock and/or roll band Downhere. #
• Remember when James Blunt was hailed as the future of pop music? That was funny. #
• “When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”Jonathan Swift #
• Our first team has arrived safely in #haiti!! Please continue to keep them in your prayers. (www.medicalteams.org/haiti) #
• As Liam’s tee-ball coach, I take my responsibility of prepping him for the MLB very seriously. Anybody know where I can get some ‘roids? #
• Our friends are adopting from Haiti & NEED OUR HELP to get their son home! Please help them get humanitarian parole. http://bit.ly/6KaiJM #
• Two volunteer teams now on their way to Haiti. 3 orthopedic surgeons, 1 doctor, 1 anesthesiologist. http://MedicalTeams.org/Haiti #
• A Jets/Vikes Super Bowl? Youngest QB in SB history vs. Oldest QB in SB history. Could be a good story… probably not a good game, though. #
• Bring 1,000 Haitian Orphans home to be with their adopted families through Humanitarian Parole. Act now! http://www.TheHowertons.com #
• My wife is helping a woman who was a victim of human trafficking in Bellevue. Pls join us in praying for God’s comfort & healing for her. #
• “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”
  Martin Luther King, Jr. #
• “Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everyt (cont) http://tl.gd/4848n #
• Secretary Napolitano Announces Humanitarian Parole Policy for Certain Haitian Orphans. http://bit.ly/8fVzJn GREAT NEWS! #
• The Howerton’s son & 20 orphans from Heartline are at the US Embassy RIGHT NOW trying to get their VISAS!!! Pray that they all get a VISA. #

48 Hour Abs! Body By James from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.

OCC 2012 Stories: John Thomas and Living Hope from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.