Category: Uncategorized

i’ve had the opportunity to meet some amazing people over the last month…some of them have spoken into my life in crazy and unexpected ways.

last night, i had a conversation with a pastor who i really don’t know very well, but i wanted to hear some more of his story. by the end of the phone call, the objective of the call turned around and he had asked me about some of my story…and had me literally weeping as i sat in my car by my house. i was able to share some things with him that i rarely share…and he was able to speak into those things with truth, objectivity and love.

it’s weird, and maybe it shows how messed up i am [how messed up we are?] when it’s easier to share some of the most ugly, painful things with people we don’t know, but we keep those things hidden or tucked away from the people in our everyday lives. i’m not quite sure why that is. or if it’s bad. or good. or neutral.

all i know is i am really glad we never know how god can use someone regardless of how close they may be to us in either proximity or intimacy.

someone emailed me yesterday with this question and i thought hearing you guys discuss it would be a great way to provide a well rounded answer.

?When does someone become a Christ follower??

1-2-3, go.

i had another post scheduled to go up today (which i will in turn put up next week)…but after i woke up this morning felt the need to open up the comments for your prayer requests…

how can we pray for you? don’t forget to come back and pray for those who have posted after you…

i know, i know…blah blah blah catalyst, blah blah.? is anne ever going to write on her blog again?

yes!

i will still be tracking the events of catalyst at the backstage site, but am saving this dear blog for some more personal reflections, should i have any along the way.

i noticed the comments have slowed down died on here lately and i’m sorry for not inviting more conversation.

this opportunity that i have is like an IV push of those most influential in leadership (if you define influence as speaking to a large group of people in some medium or another).

everyone-all-at-once-wham!

me?

i am just a newbie author with a blog with flowers meeting these pastors, authors, and speakers for the very first time.?

it makes me nervous.

and i became obsessed with making the best first impression.

one author in particular, who i was extremely nervous and excited to meet, is william paul young, who wrote the shack (which as irony would have it, on amazon, our books are paired together for a great bargain!)?

now, in full disclosure, i have not actually read the shack yet.?

but i will.?

and in the mean time, i have highly regarded and admired mr. young’s ability to start discussion.? it’s nothing short of amazing.

tonight, as i pulled into the hotel (disheveled, sweaty, rained upon, and gross)…clothes over my arm, earrings falling out of my ear, as i attempted to press the elevator button with my elbow, a voice behind me says,

“i’ll get it.”

together, we hop on the elevator, he asks me what floor.

“two, please.”

i ask him if he is here for catalyst.? he says yes.

“my name is paul.”

“i’m anne jackson.? i’m hosting catalyst backstage.”

“oh,” he says.? “i’m the author of the book, the shack,” he continues, unassumingly.

he leans over to give me a hug (me – disheveled, sweaty, rained upon, and gross) and we talk about some of the upcoming events on our calendars. he graciously fills me in on his schedule.

we arrive at floor two, and i head to my room.

(disheveled, sweaty, rained upon, and gross).

my first catalyst first impression. it wasn’t what i had in mind.

but it was beautiful.

i’ve posted a couple of videos from the road over at catalystbackstage.com…you must see the massive car i am driving.? watch out, ATL! :)

hop on over and check ’em out!

back to I-24…almost to 75!

my friend matthew paul turner’s book comes out today!

check it out here.

MPT and i go to church together and i have so much to learn from him as an author.? he freaking rocks, and so does this book, so i urge you dear brethren, go get a copy for yourself!

i am out driving to atlanta today, so…i’ll have some fun videos to post later this evening!

see you then…

A free chapter download anyway.

Chapter 11.

Next to the last one.

All nice and pretty.

Download.? Share.? Repost.? Reprint.? Enjoy.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE.

i am a big fan of google alerts, but let’s face it — they aren’t always perfect.? and since i am officially a “twitter diva,” i really do want to know when someone is talking to me on twitter so i can respond if needed.

twitter replies are great for that, but only if that person starts their tweet with @flowerdust.

welcome to search.twitter.com.

let’s explore how it works:

this link will show you who is saying what about “flowerdust,”? i also have searches set up for mad church disease, and catalyst backstage at the moment, for example.

what’s great is there is an RSS feed for your unique searches…so now anytime someone says “flowerdust,” “mad church disease,” or “catalyst backstage” in their tweet, it comes straight to my google reader!

read some other twitter tips here and from my friend michael hyatt here.

and i start my crazy journey to catalyst tomorrow, so follow me on twitter here to get all the updates along the way.