Steve Eller Creative - Worship, Web Design - San Diego, CA

Here is a quick rundown of my day.

We opened up with worship led by Rick Muchow and had a student choir from Saddleback to back him up. It was then time for the students to lead, and they ROCKED THE HOUSE! Wow. Great to see so many young people passionate about their Lord. My fav was We Shine by Steve Fee.

The opening session was led by Buddy Owens who is a teaching pastor at Saddleback. His talk was on not worrying out of Matthew 6:25. Great talk. Hmm…he must have known I was going to be there. Another reminder for me. Don’t worry.

After the break Paul Baloche led some worship. Now I have heard a few of the typical Paul Baloche songs, but I have never seen him lead live. What a pleasant surprise. A powerfully intimate time with God.

For lunch I hung out with Matt Olds who I have gotten to know over the week. It was pretty cool because we had similar experiences in our ministry lives. Too bad he lives in Idaho. I could really hang out with this guy! There is always Twitter.

After lunch I went to the Small Church, Big Results workshop led by Tiago Costa. It was a good workshop, and even though most of the ideas he shared we have tried, or explored, he did recommend some resources I am going to check out later like Erwin McManus’ (Mosaic Church) blog for a constant stream of fresh ideas.

I went to the leading your team with social media workshop led by Carlos Whittaker and Rich Kirkpatrick. While I already use all the tools they shared, I really valued Carlos’ explanation of how he applies them to his team. I would like to employ some of these for our team, staff, etc…, but I am realizing it will take some education on my part before I can implement.

The day ended with the evening concerts by Big Daddy Weave and Kirk Franklin. You will have to check out the video on this page for what we experienced. They rocked!

Me, Bobby Marchessault, and Matt Olds

Got up to the O.C. at about 3:30 this afternoon which gave me enough time to get into my hotel room and head out to Saddleback for registration.

I was able to check out the exhibit hall even though they weren’t completely setup yet. While I was there I talked to the rep from Ultimate Ears about my in-ears. Really cool guy, and found out he lives in El Cajon. Small world. I also visited the planningcenteronline.com booth and spoke to Jeff Berg, one of the guys I bug when I have issue with their service. Great guy!

I need to get back to the exhibit hall again to check out the other booths and register to win some really nice prizes. This is some of what I WILL win: iPod Nano, 32gig iPod Touch, and drum roll please…. a Taylor guitar (like I really need another one)

The evening concert started with Adam Watts, Meredith, and Leeland. While I enjoyed them all, Leeland’s set particularly touched me. Wow, this guy is gifted!

Afterward I headed over to Denny’s to hang out and get to know some tweets: @bmarch, @rkweblog, @englishguy, among others, and witness the craziness that is the Sunridge Church Temecula worship ministry. These guys are hilarious! Thanks for letting me hang out.

The only snag of the day is that I forgot my firewire cable for my video camera, and my usb cable for my camera. So the uploads are going to have to wait until I get back home.

Update: I did borrow a firewire cable from Bobby so I will work on posting some video tonight.

17 years ago today I was blessed and honored to marry my high school sweetheart Candace. At that time we had already been dating six years. But if it weren’t for a few of my friends, this day that we celebrate may have never taken place.

During my junior year of high school I had seen Candace roaming the halls, and mentioned to a couple friends that I had seen this really cute girl. Of course they told me I should ask her out, or at the very least talk to her. Being somewhat of an introvert, I said “no way”. Six months passed and I came to find out that she was in my english class. Again I mentioned it to some friends, but I couldn’t work up the courage to talk to her. It was then I think my friends got tired of me talking about this girl.

So, one day before english class I was cornered by a few buddies who let me know that if I didn’t talk to her that day I would have to answer to them, and endure unknown pain! (Thank you John Serrano)

It took all that I had to muster up the nerve to talk to her. I asked her to lunch, and the rest is history. BTW: First official date: Going to see Beverly Hills Cop. Not two or three, one! Yes we are that old.

Needless to say getting married to Candace was one of the most important decisions I have ever made, and one of the best. I could pull the Jerry Maguire line and say she “completes me” (gag), but I would rather say she challenges me, calms me, loves me, supports me, and endures me in a way that is unique to Candace. She is unflappable, compassionate, thoughtful, loyal, and prayerful.

Candace, I am so grateful that God put us in each other’s lives. You are an awesome mom, loving wife, and a “walking the talk” Christian. I love you!!!

Last night I had the honor of going to the retirement of the first pastor I was ever on staff with. When I first realized the call God into vocational music ministry I was attending a Methodist Church in Rancho Bernardo, and Rob Calderhead was my pastor. It was awesome experience to be a part of the final chapter of his professional ministry life, and reminisce about the “old days”.

The retirement included about twenty other retiring Methodist pastors. Each only had a short period of time to share how God had touched their lives and ministry. I enjoyed hearing how each of them were called into the ministry, and the valley and mountaintop experiences along the way. But I particularly enjoyed hearing Rob pass the torch to the newly ordained pastors. He shared the importance of keeping the Gospel at center of their ministry, and finding any creative means to deliver it.

Congratulations Rob! I was proud to have you as my pastor and friend.

“Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff.” — Mariah Carey