Catalyst Conference 2007

So, the past week Pastor Chris, myself and our two apprenticing pastors, Dale and Tommy, drove down to the ATL for a pastors training conference called Catalyst. It was great. There were many amazing speakers and many ministries represented. Beyond all the craziness (and there was plenty), past the vendors, lights, and effects, several key things sunk deep into my heart as I heard these pastors and speakers share their heart.

The first thing that stood out to me was to always remember we are in ministry to LOVE PEOPE. Love people! Love people! Love people. I remember before I went into ministry I was so passionate about sharing the gospel with all my friends who didnt know Jesus. Now, after 16yrs of following Jesus and 5 yrs in vocational ministry, almost every one of my friends is a follower of Christ. I must be more intentional about developing close relationships with people who dont know Christ. So what did I do? Last night I went out to a bar to watch Monday night football with some folks who don't go to church. It was great! Once you get passed the smoky air and the occasional need to quickly divert the eyeballs, the experience was amazing and invigorating! The game was fun, but it was even more fun to intentionally invest myself into people I dont already know! Cant wait for next Monday night!

The second thing that stood out to me was in response to Rick Warren's speech. What hit me was to always remember to stay humble. Success will come when we are doing God's work, but we must never forget that it is His ability at work in us that leads to success in ministry. As Andy Stanely said pointed out, when Jesus was the "most powerful person in the room" he stood up, wrapped a towel around his waste and washed the disciples feet! Powerful stuff!

The third thing I came home with was something John Maxwell said. The heart of his message was to make the choice everyday to intentionally invest in the best interest of other people. Simple, yet profound!

Lastly, I realized that I need to focus my time on developing my strengths, and managing my weaknesses, not the classic "focus on your weaknesses" at the expense of your strengths approach. For me this means focusing on being a better communicator! I am going to intentionally invest my time into writing...hence the blog entry. I am going to invest even more time into my sermon preparations, and into training other leaders! This is what God is stirring in my heart.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit....

So, the roller coaster continues...I have been doing a lot of reflecting since we are about to do a sermon series on the movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness". I am not much of a philosopher, but if I were I think the study of tragedy and happiness could send me down some serious metaphysical rabbit holes.

It amazes me that God gives such simple instructions about joy in the midst of, well... life. Life happens, but our joy is complete in Christ. Life happens, but happiness is as simple as a choice. Taxes happen, flat tires happen, our metabolisms slow down (some of us start with slow ones as it is :), our bones get weaker, our memories fade, our wounds scar but heal, bad things happen to good people...but this is the amazing thing about how God made us; our ability to be happy is our choice. No one, nor anything on this planet has the ability or the right to make us feel happy or sad...ultimately, it is simply our choice.

I think that this is what Paul was talking about when he wrote, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. "(Philippians 4:12)

The secret...now that is a word that draws us in. I was watching Oprah one day (by accident I promise) and they had some lady on there with a book called, "The Secret", promising all of your dreams to come true, and the answer to perfect happiness on earth! That book is probably a best seller now, because everyone wants to know the secret to being happy. That is why our nation leads the world in the sales of anti-depressants and mood stabilizers (not something I researched, just a guestimation, hehe). We all want to be happy.

Happiness, or the Pursuit of it anyway, has led so many people down so many paths of emptiness, destruction, and despair. It has led some to addiction, chasing that moment where they can feel happy, if only for a short moment. It has led others to sexual sin...once again, momentary and never satisfied. It has led some to relationship, after relationship, after relationship, in hopes that one day the approval of another human would fill that void. It has led others to sacrifice all in pursuit of that little green paper that we are convinced can meet all needs. Yet it comes and it goes, and so does the happiness it can provide.

I could go on and on, but this is the bottom line...what is the secret Paul. How could you be so arrogant as to say that you can actually be content in any and every situations. But you don't understand my situation Paul. You haven't worn my shoes.

Then Paul leans over and whispers to me, "
I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches." (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)

Then I say, "Dang it! You really do know what you are talking about! O.k. Paul, what did you conclude...what is the secret? How did you still find contentment?"

Then he smiles and say, "Freddy, it is actually not very complicated....
I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

He smiles again and says, "So stop feeling sorry for yourself and get over it"

So that is what I find at the bottom of this rabbit hole...something so simple yet so complex...letting Christ be my strength...letting Him carry me through "everything". Sounds like such a "churchy" thing to say...too simple for problems that are so complicated...so the answer is simple...but really, besides Christ, what else do I need?

The pursuit continues...

The Greatest Movie of All Times

I just sat down about ten minutes ago and turned on my t.v. I checked to see what was on, and I turned it to TNT HD. As I turned to the channel, the end of Forrest Gump was on. Every time I watch this movie I am blown away all over again! I believe that this movie has to be the greatest movie ever written. I am not sure if I can pinpoint why this movie is so great, but there are probably many reasons! It is a love story. It is an adventure. It is a comedy. It is a drama. It just is. It is the story of a guy who, though simple, faces lifes challenges with extreme optimism and unexplainable joy. He changes lives, changes hearts, and changes situations! Whether standing in the rain in Vietnam, staring at the horizon on a shrimp boat, or running beside the mountain lakes of the midwest, Forest Gump saw the world in a way that most people only dream of. Maybe that is why I believe it is the greatest movie of all times. Because it is the fictional story of a man who encompasses so many of our dreams. The dream to experience something new, the dream to be loved, the dream to live an adventure, the dream to make a difference.

I am not sure how many times I have seen the movie, but I will always remember the first time I saw it. I was 16 years old and lived in Havelock, N.C. I was with my parents and two brothers. It was the night before my older brother and I would leave to drive 27 hours to the great state of Texas. In a way, I guess it was a glimpse into the adventure I would begin the next day. That trip to Texas was the start of my adult life, as it was the day that I moved out of my house, and moved back to Texas to pursue God's calling in my life. My brother had signed up for the Air Force and was supposed to report to Lackland AFB in San Antonio three days later. I was moving back to Victoria, TX to rejoin the church where I had been saved and discipled for my first year as a Christian. I left my house at the age of 16 because I knew that going back to Texas was the only way that I would be able to grow into who God wanted me to be. If I hadn't ever made that drive, I don't believe that I ever would have ended up in Virginia pastoring Freedom Life Church today. It is amazing how the choices we make can impact the future in ways we will never know!

When I got back to Texas I jumped back into my involvement in the youth ministry at First Baptist Church, Victoria. After graduating from high school I went to Victoria College and became a college intern for the youth group. Because I was an intern I was asked to help chaperone a two week mission trip to Newport News, VA, in the summer of 1996. While on that mission trip God called me to move here and be part of the church plant we were here to help start, Hope Community Church. The rest is HIStory.

Where were you the first time you saw Forest Gump?

Missing the Mission Trip

Yeah, so right now I am sitting on my recliner in my living room watching some reality show about Grease, The Musical. I just got off the phone with Pastor Amilcar Martinez, my Honduran counterpart. My heart is grieving, because as I sit here in my living room, staring at my plasma tv that is mounted on the wall, that features overly feminine men singing Grease songs with perfectly tuned voices that spill through my Sony surround system...I am supposed to be sitting in Pastor Amilcar's little living room...in his little, un-airconditioned house, with the windows open so it doesn't get too hot, as one of his daughters brings me a glass of juice or soda that he bought that day, even though he really didn't have enough money too, just because he knew we would be coming over and couldn't drink his tap water.
But things happen...life happens, and at the end of the day, I am sitting in my living room because I chose to back out of the trip. "Why would you have done that?" you might be wondering...because of the son I just laid down for the night after his bath...because of the other son who is laying on the couch watching this reality show (he loves this show, American Idol, and the Food Network, and of course, anything Disney), and because of the amazing little girl who has snuggled up with me in the recliner, pushing herself right past my laptop to claim her spot at my side on a recliner that I have no problem filling up by myself. She says she wants to see what I am doing, but she isn't...she really just wants to sit next to me...and that is all the excuse she will ever need to have...
As the days before the trip ticked away, I was torn as the excitement I had about hitting the mission field and visiting the church that Freedom Life has helped start in a little mountain village of Honduras once more, slowly began to be replaced by the anxiety of the thought that I might be leaving for a week at a time when my children really need me to be there for them. The more I prayed for peace, the more anxiety I got when I thought about pushing forward with going on the trip...until finally, the only thought that gave me any peace was skipping this trip and staying here to focus on my first ministry calling...my family!
There is really only one thing that gets me more excited then leading people to Christ...and that is leading my children to Christ, and raising them in a way that they will lead more people to Christ than I ever could have imagined impacting in my life. (Sorry had to take a quick break there, the guy who made it to the next round of the show started singing, "Fools Rush In", so I stopped and sung it to Kaelin, as she attempted to sing it back to me complete with hand motions she made up) Yeah, it was the right choice!
I hear so many horror stories about kids who grew up with ministers or deacons as parents, about how there parents were so busy at church that they got left right out of the equation. And that was there first impression of God. I can't think of a greater tragedy. So anyway, things have been tough on them lately, and I am here...on my first mission field...leading three little children to Christ...not just because it's the right thing to do...but because it is what I choose to do.

A chance encounter

Yeah, so this week has been an interesting one. I took the kids to the circus on Wed. (I know I missed church, but their grandma bought tickets for us, and they were on Wed. night). About ten minutes after it started I noticed this guy walking in with a group of people following him. He was about 6' tall, sporting a jumpsuit, blue hat, and cornrows...something about his swagger drew my attention. Even though it was very dark and I couldn't really see him too well, I immediately guessed that he was a pro athlete. Then deductive reasoning kicked in...we are in Hampton, where there are no pro teams...he must be a local athlete...it is basketball season, so it couldn't be Allen Iverson, and the guy is too thick anyway...it is the off-season in football...that leaves Ronald Curry, Aaron Brooks, or one of the Vick brothers. As he walked past (we were on the third row slightly off to the right of the center ring), I saw in his silhouette that he had a goatee. That was all I needed to make my final conclusion...Michael Vick.

I knew what he looked like for two reasons...one, he is one of Eli's favorite players (Eli has been know to sport his little Vick Jersey on game day and sprint around the couches), and because several years ago, just weeks before his professional career started with the Falcons, my wife almost ran him over, and I got a very close look at him. That is another story, but here is the Readers Digest version...he and all his buddies are hanging out at his mom's old house, just off of Harpersville in Newport News. They are hanging in her driveway, not really paying attention to the fact that they have drifted into the road. Guess they assume that the cars can go around...well, my wife decides she is not going to go around, but show these guys, whoever they are, that they shouldn't hang out in the street. At the last second, when he realizes she isn't swerving, he leaps out of the way shouting, as the car misses him by inches. Then I say, "ohhmmmyyygossshhh Jessi, you just almost ran over Michael Vick!" To which she replies, "Who is Michael Vick?" not realizing that she almost just hit a $60,000,000 man to prove a point.

So anyway, back to the circus...he ends up sitting two sections to the left of us and when the lights come up my guess is confirmed. He has this hoodie on though, and he keeps it up over his head most of the time...he has a little girl with him, so I guess that is probably his daughter and he is trying to maintain a low profile. So, the debate starts..."Elias is here, and it would be awesome to get a picture of him with Michael Vick, his favorite football player....Michael Vick is here, low profile, holding his daughter and watching the circus....to ask or not to ask, that is the question.

By intermission, my football fan side has overruled my "considerate of others" side and I ask Eli if he wants to go ask Michael Vick for a picture. Of course he says yes, so there we go, hand in hand, approaching a guy I haven't seen in person since my wife almost ran him over 5 years ago. As I walk up I start to get uncomfortable, as he is holding his daughter in his lap and having family time. I almost chicken out but Eli nudges me forward. So I ask, "Hey there Mr. Vick, I know you are just trying to have a good time, but you are my son's favorite player. If it isn't too much trouble would you mind letting me snap a picture of you two. He smiles and kinds shakes his head no, then replies, "Hey man, I'm just chilling right now", then he looks down at Eli and smiles and then says, "tell you what, catch me on the way out, alright." I shake my head with a nod of appreciation and take Eli back to our seats.

I spent the second half of the circus feeling like a jerk that had bothered some guy that was just trying to have a good time with his kids. I guess I just felt like if it was me, it wouldn't bother me, and therefor, it shouldn't bother him ;)

After the circus I debated about whether or not I should just avoid him and leave him be. But as he was leaving (with his entire entourage), he saw me and slowed down. I gave him a "thumbs up/ thumbs down" sign and he gave me a big smile and nodded his head. He walked up to Elias and introduced himself and then he took a picture with us. When it was over he patted Eli on the head and I thanked him, saying, "Mr. Vick, I really appreciate you taking the time for my boy. It means a lot to me." He smiled and said, "Ah man, it's cool. No problem." I wished him a healthy season and we left.

As we were leaving I saw him getting into an old beat up Jeep with his daughter and a woman that I am assuming is his wife (this guy just signed a 10 yr $130M contract with a $37M signing bonus, making him the highest paid player in NFL history!). He had the hoody pulled up still and was doing a very good job of not being noticed. That is when I realized just how much time he actually spent trying to have a normal night out with his family. My first thought was that I ruined in, but my second thought was that this guy really did something nice for my son. He was trying to be so secretive, but was willing to stop and take a picture with a kid! That said a lot to me! I started thinking through this and found myself really respecting him more and more. He has been in the news a lot lately, but unfortunately, this little story won't make the news...the burdens and blessings of being famous I guess.

Which started me thinking about our society, and media, and how everything you hear about is always bad. This is why I don't even watch the news...ever. People are always surprised that I haven't heard about some crazy world altering situation that everyone else is talking about. I guess my thing is that the world is going to be the world. It is fallen, it is sinful, and it is going to get worse. I don't have to give ratings to a show that is going to continue to focus on the worse parts of humanity. Really, I think the news and media even promote things like racism. For example, if you were watching the news and were to hear that a story was about to come on about something that happened at 9pm that involved a 25 yr old black man with a sweatsuit, hoody, and a platinum chain , what would be your first thought? Would it be that the story was about a man who stopped and made a 4-year-old's day? How he patted the little boy on the head and took a picture with him when he had every reason not to? Probably not.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Phil. 4:8

P.S. I didn't post the picture because the little girl who I assumed was Michael Vick's daughter was also in it, and I would never put a picture of someone else's kid on the Internet without their permission.

Out of blogger retirement

Wow, it has been a while...so much has happened and I haven't even know where to start writing, if I did sit down a visit my old friend, the "Inner Current". Well, it has been a long year, but things are still moving...the church is still growing...peoples lives are still being changed...which serves as a beautiful reminder to me about the most important rule of ministry, "It's not about you and me, it's about Him!"

This past year I have found myself very refreshed by Paul's simple words of wisdom as he wrote his first letter to the struggling and discouraged church at Corinth..."But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. "- 1 Cor. 1:27-29

LOL, that dude wasn't kidding! But praise God that he has surrounded me with so many other crackpots to help me along the way. Guess we compliment each other well ;)

One of the great sources of encouragement for me has been the folks in my Life Group. They have truly become some of my best friends, as they have been there for me and my family no matter what. Whether it was a timely prayer, a night out to dinner, or an evening of funny stories over a bottle of wine, our Life Group has grown far beyond the actual times we are scheduled to meet every other weekend! So thank you John and Yvonne, Pamela (we miss you), Fred and Liz, and Steve and Joni. You have meant the world to us this past year. Here's to "this show I saw on the discovery channel about Noah's Arc". LOL.

Doing life together...that's what it's all about!

Crunch time

I often seem to find myself in this situation. Major project due in a few days, cramming it in. Usually, for me, this has to do with college. I always intend to do it in advance, but then something comes up- like having a baby, or planting a church etc., that is just enough distraction for me to end up "not having enough time" to finish my class. Then, here I sit locked in my office from early in the morning (8am) till early in the morning (3:30am), for a few days playing catch-up. When I am done, I feel like I have climbed a mountain, and it feels great. I feel like I have accomplished the impossible. What frustrates me is that this great feeling I get reinforces this behavior. So then, I feel like I can keep staying super busy because, "I work best under pressure." The problem with that though, is that I am realizing more and more, how that mentality effects others. For example, my kids. I saw them for about 30 minutes yesterday morning, 10 minutes last night, and then 10 minutes again this morning. I wont see them again until tonight. Why? Because my wife has been gracious enough to give me the space/ time I will need in the isolation of my office to get this class done. So, it is costing her. It is costing my kids. But I will get it done...and then I can take them all to Chuck-E-Cheese to make up for it...that doesn't seem like "I work best" after all. Something I need to focus on....