little words say alot

Yeah so there I was Sunday night sitting on my couch holding my daughter when something amazing happened. You see, we were supposed to have this wonderful BBQ out at Sandy Bottom Park that afternoon, but the beautiful weather decided to stop and the rain brought the afternoon temp to about 56 degrees. As I awoke that morning around 10:30am ( I love doing nightchurch) I realized that we had a situation. As I opened my front door I quickly imagined the stink of the smoke rising from the wet charcoal that wouldn't light as hungry children cried because their parents wouldn't put them down so they could go play on the soaking wet jungle gym, surrounded by a moat of sticky mulch and puddles. So I made some calls and then informed my wife that Plan B had been initiated. As I told her that Plan B involved moving the picnic to our house she shot me a smirk, and jumped from the bed to spring into action. You see we had been gone all week on vacation and the house hadn't been touched (except for when we got back and unloaded our stuff everywhere). Add a 7 month old and a 2 year old to the equation and you can imagine the panic she felt. So from 11:30- 1:30 my wife orchestrated the most amazing cleaning performance I have ever seen. She was like a general on the battlefield running and jumping and shouting orders that sprung the rest of us into action. Clothes flew into hampers, toys being flung across the house magically landed organized on shelves, dishes were whipped into the dishwasher, all while counters were straightened and shelves were dusted. Two hours later the first car arrived as she finished vacuuming the last bit of carpet. Then we had the joy of cramming 20 or so people into our living room and dining room. As cramped as this was, I actually do enjoy it. It was cozy and fun. That evening as the last car drove off, I laid there on the couch drained, yet satisfied that the things had turned out good and everyone enjoyed themselves (including us). I was, however, drained. At that moment my daughter Kaelin (who was sitting in my lap) began to babble. I decided to try something so I turned her towards me and said, "Kaelin, I want you to say 'Da Da' ". She stared at my mouth as I repeated it a few times. Then she smiled at me (as if on cue) and said her first words ever, "Da Da". I was so suprised and overwhelmed. Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke I told her to do it a few more times, and she gladly fulfilled my request. I was on cloud nine. Her first words...DADA! Today when I woke her up and took her into the living room, she looked at me and smiled and said that wonderful word again, "Dada".

refreshments anyone

I just got back from taking a few days of vaction with the family. I tell you what, this is the first time that I have ever taken a vacation where I actually felt refreshed when I got back, and not wiped out. We spent five days at a timeshare doing absolutely nothing but being a family. It was great. We didn't run to every local attraction. We didn't cram our days with "family friendly" activities. We just hung out. We watched a little television, wrestled in the living room, jammed the whole family into the two-person jacuzzi tub, pigged out on snacks at random times...you get the picture. Well anyway, it was awsome, and much needed. It is so neat the way that God provides in response to our faithfulness to Him. You see, planting a church hasn't been easy on the family. I must admit that (thanks to God's provision) it hasn't been as difficult as some of the horror stories I have heard other church-planting pastors tell, but it has taken it's tole on my whole family. Luckily, God gave me an amazing wife who stands beside me and has not wavered once in her commitment to me, our kids, or Freedom Life Church. She understood what it meant when I told her in May of 2004 that it was time to plant a church. When she confirmed that God was calling us to do this I told her that I would basically see her in September when I went ful time to Freedom Life. For the next four months I continued my job as a youth director of a local church, and spent both of my days off working at launching Freedom Life Church. I would see my wife and kids each morning and try to be home in time to tuck the kids in at night. Our relationship was strained, but God was definetly present and blessing the time that we did get to spend together. My wife is strong, and she managed very well. And my connection with my two year old son Elias was already very strong (he is a mini-me). But unfortunately, my bond with my daughter Kaelin (who was only 3 months old in May) had not yet been as solidified, and was not developed at all during those difficult months. Since going down to working only one position, this is something that I have tried to focus on. I know that the first couple of years of a childs life are crucial in their development, and I have desperately longed to have the same kind of connection with Kaelin that I have with my son. Well, this week that greatly improved. God has been giving me such a passion and love for her. It was amazing to how God blessed this week, and how greatly that bond was improved in just five short days of undivided attention. By the end of the week she was reaching out for me to take her from her mothers arms for the first time. She desired me and reached out for me with a smile. I thank God that He put it on someones heart to call us and offer us free use of their timeshare. I don't know that they will ever truely realize what this gift has done for my family. I am also thankful to serve in a church that values and respects my responsibility to my family. God is just so amazing. He never calls us to do something that doesn't require sacrifice, but He always blesses our obedience! I praise God everyday for my life, my family, and my wonderful church!

Second week, less nerves

Well, this past Saturday we had our second service. Luckily, the nervousness was mostly gone, and I was back to my old self (well mostly). Things felt much more like I am used to, and I quickly got so excited during my sermon that I ditched my outline and ran with the message that was spilling out of my mouth. I love it when God does that. When He just takes over and moves me (and my outline) right out of the way. Now I truely believe in preparing for a sermon through prayer, research, and study, but sometimes I just don't get it. I pray and seek God, and I think I know what He wants me to say, but I miss it somewhere. Luckily, He doesn't let that stop Him from getting what He wants out there. So anyway, it went great. God was doing some awsome stuff and people were feeling Him move. It was so awsome that I could have kept preaching for another hour, but for some reason I don't think the Nursery and Chidrens Church volunteers would have shared that excitement. Reminds me of a saying I once heard, "Don't be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good."
On a personal note, I broke down and bought some new sneakers yesterday (some nifty looking New Balances). My old ones (some busted up and stinky Adidas) were so disgusting that my wife made me get new ones. When we got home she made me put the old ones outside. My new ones feel so much more comfortable. And they still have that brand new smell (we won't talk about the smell of my old ones). My feet feel good and it makes me want to walk around or go play ball or something. It is amazing how much difference a little change can do to your day. Man, I should use this as a sermon illustration sometime. Oh well...see you later. Oh, and one last thing, I have updated my profile now, so read it if you want. And you can now post responses as well. Be blessed.

opening night jitters

Yeah, so Saturday night was our first public service. I cannot remember the last time I was that nervous about preaching. I am not talking about a little bit of nervousness. I'm talking about the kind of sweaty palm, dry mouth nervousness I got in the sixth grade when it was my turn to climb the rope in gym class. It should be a crime to make a short, chubby kid try to climb that rope in front of all of the girls. So anyway, somehow all the words found their way out of my mouth, but it was only by the hand of God. I know that I am not the one who makes a sermon good or not, but for some reason I wanted everything that night to be great. After years of preparing and preaching in other peoples churches, I was finally preaching my first public message to my congregation. As I looked out at the people I saw the smiling faces of the people that have come alongside of me to help birth the vision of Freedom Life Church. I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with emotion as they encouraged me on. They are my partners. My team. My people! Without them there would be no Freedom Life Church, but because of them our first public services was awsome. That night I couldn't sleep. My children fell asleep, and then my wife, but at 3 am I was still laying in my bed, smiling as I thought about the faces of the people who had been there. The core team- all serving their hearts out to make it happen, the visitors - many of whom told me they were excited about returning next week, and the well wishers- showing us their support by coming to see us off. Wow, what a night. What a priveldge. I can hardly wait for Wednesday night to come. I love my church and I love the people that make it happen. Maybe I won't be so nervous on Wednesday night...or maybe I will. Haha, who cares. God will make it happen regardless...
to be continued