Allan Paquette

You probably don’t remember me, but to this day I remember you. Well, I remember a few things about you. Your name’s Matt and you decided to spend a week with me and a bunch of other young nerds at Space Camp in Cape Canaveral, Florida back in the summer of 1995.

This won’t help you much, but I had just finished 5th grade and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was going to be an astronaut when I grew up. I was part of the Young Astronauts club in elementary school, I was an expert model rocket builder, and I had even watched Flight of the Navigator. I was positive that if there wasn’t an age restriction I would’ve gone up in the next shuttle launch. No joke.

Truth is, I never became an astronaut and I will probably never man a space flight. But I did learn about something even better than space travel and why people don’t throw up in one of these — the world of Dave Matthews Band. I remember those afternoons spent listening to your copy of Under The Table And Dreaming on my Discman and being blown away by it. That album marked a huge shift in my appreciation of music and musicians.

You’re probably wondering why I’m writing this to you some 15 years later. Well, here’s the deal. I married an amazing woman and it turns out that she really enjoys DMB
too. We are going to our first ever DMB concert tonight and I wanted to express to you my gratitude for sharing DMB with me. Know that there was one little kid who was grateful for the time you spent with them that week and that it is one of the most memorable parts of his childhood.

Sincerely,
Allan

P.S. – Thanks Mom & Dad for making Space Camp a reality for your young astronaut!

I’ve been thinking a lot about what corporate worship is and what it can/should be. Needless to say, I’m ending up with more questions than answers and that is a very, very good thing…I’m a better person when I’ve got more questions than answers.

I feel like there is something stirring not just inside of me but inside Christianity as a whole. It’s funny to write that though because I’m sure that believers throughout the ages have always felt like they were on the verge of something. Truth is, God is infinitely greater than we are and there is always something stirring around us. We just need the faith to believe that God is at work, the eyes to see how He is moving, and the willingness to go where He leads.

Lord, please give us the faith, eyes, and willingness to follow your lead. Let us trust in you with all that we are and not lean on our own understanding. May our worship of you be done in spirit and truth and may all the distractions of this world fade away as we fix our eyes on you.

A couple links worth checking out:

• Fence Painters or Culture Changers?
• Could Your Church Survive if There Were no Sermons?
• The Great Emergence

Every 2 weeks there is an event that never ceases to astound me. I fear the day that it ends. Hopefully, it never will because it always gives me great joy, surprise, and satisfaction. You may be thinking, “What could it be? What on earth could happen so regularly and always bring so much elation to Allan’s life?” Two words: magic drawers.

What!? You don’t know about magic drawers? I can’t believe it! Everyone should have the pleasure of experiencing this phenomenon! Let me explain with a story…

(more…)