NET Xtreme Camps is entering its third year of preparation. I've been asked to serve as the director for this second year. Personalities are in place, prices have been set and the work toward advertising, enlisting and laying out the fine tuning of daily planning are underway. Things are looking good; however, there is a feeling of restlessness in the planning.
I have to be honest it has been one of my dreams to build a great camp and watch God work. Camps have played a major role in my adult life. I've seen hundred of lives come to Christ, surrender to service, and grow spiritually how could I ever walk away from being the 'director' of my dream? However, due to conflict within the planning group my comfort zone was becoming uncomfortable and in the middle of the fall I stepped down as director.
Side note, God is still using the dream of NET Xtreme and I love that He allowed me to be a part of the process that put this great camp into place.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
The Process Begins
The summer has come to a close and school is just around the corner. Three weeks of youth camp, VBS, children's camp and a MASH trip plus family vacation have made the summer full. Once again we have experienced the power of God in the lives of children, teens and adults.
From my comfortable seat as Associate Pastor I prepare for another year of as usual ministry. Making plans to expand our home groups, keep Sunday school growing, expand the use of technology in worship, teach TeamKID, and MASH Trips are all in place. Ministry opportunities away from the campus with the Lakeview Board, NET Xtreme, Seminary Extension Instruction and volunteering at Pine Tree schools are all in place. Life is good.
In the midst of the comfort God is beginning to make things uncomfortable. The more I challenge folks to be agents of change, to live life on the edge, the more restless I get, the more obvious it becomes that I can't stay in my comfortable seat. But I continue to look for ways to be "edgie" in my comfortable position.
From my comfortable seat as Associate Pastor I prepare for another year of as usual ministry. Making plans to expand our home groups, keep Sunday school growing, expand the use of technology in worship, teach TeamKID, and MASH Trips are all in place. Ministry opportunities away from the campus with the Lakeview Board, NET Xtreme, Seminary Extension Instruction and volunteering at Pine Tree schools are all in place. Life is good.
In the midst of the comfort God is beginning to make things uncomfortable. The more I challenge folks to be agents of change, to live life on the edge, the more restless I get, the more obvious it becomes that I can't stay in my comfortable seat. But I continue to look for ways to be "edgie" in my comfortable position.
God's Blessings
The warmth of the afterglow of the "Purpose Driven Church" Campaign was in full shine. Members were excited, families were visting and becoming involved. Inactive members were becoming active and scarred relationships were healing. Everything was comfortable.
In life away from the church, my position with the Board of Trustees for Lakeview Baptist Encampment was also exciting. The debt for the worship center is almost gone, a new maintainance storage building has been built-debt free, attendance at the encampment is setting records and lives are being changed weekly through the use of the facility. Additionally God has blessed with $250,000 being donated thus allowing us to break ground on a $.5 million dining hall.
Another dream is also taking root as NET Xtreme Youth Camp kicks off uniting three weeks of camps for students 6-12 under one leadership group. This vision was born from a meeting of the Lakeview board and area youth camp directors to assist in combining both financial and volunteer resources. This first year would prove to be tremendous as one week sold out, a second almost filled and the third doubled the privious years attendance.
Who would have thought that in the midst of all this that factors were in place to move my life in a new direction in the year to come. God was blessing mightily and I was getting to be a part of it. Hallelujah.
In life away from the church, my position with the Board of Trustees for Lakeview Baptist Encampment was also exciting. The debt for the worship center is almost gone, a new maintainance storage building has been built-debt free, attendance at the encampment is setting records and lives are being changed weekly through the use of the facility. Additionally God has blessed with $250,000 being donated thus allowing us to break ground on a $.5 million dining hall.
Another dream is also taking root as NET Xtreme Youth Camp kicks off uniting three weeks of camps for students 6-12 under one leadership group. This vision was born from a meeting of the Lakeview board and area youth camp directors to assist in combining both financial and volunteer resources. This first year would prove to be tremendous as one week sold out, a second almost filled and the third doubled the privious years attendance.
Who would have thought that in the midst of all this that factors were in place to move my life in a new direction in the year to come. God was blessing mightily and I was getting to be a part of it. Hallelujah.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
FROM COMFORTABLE TO UNCOMFORTABLE TO CHANGE
The Process Begins
A New Direction
Discovering the Call
Unexpected Opportunity
The Process Continues
A New Direction
Discovering the Call
Unexpected Opportunity
The Process Continues
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Prologue
It's the winter of 2004, our church is in the midst of the "Purpose Driven Church" Campaign under the leadership of our pastor and myself, the director of the campaign. God is challenging many of the church family to step out and link up in ministry with a fresh start. From my 'comfortable' position as Associate Pastor of Education & Family I am anticipating great things from God with little change in my own life. After all I've been in ministry 22 years, 10 of it right here at this church, and it's 'safe.' I'm basking in the joy of it, being thrilled with the lives that are being changed, making grand plans to continue 'forever' in this life of 'spiritual comfort.' Enjoying the life of teaching teachers, working with children (especially 5th & 6th graders), driving senior adults around Texas to enjoy fellowship together in their retirement years while challenging our church to be 'Risk Takers' for the Kingdom of God.
In the middle of all this God was beginning to put events into place that would lead in a direction that at my age I really wasn't expecting. My comfortable world of ministry was headed for what those who put out the statistics on stress consider major stressors. My life is about to get "uncomfortable."
In the middle of all this God was beginning to put events into place that would lead in a direction that at my age I really wasn't expecting. My comfortable world of ministry was headed for what those who put out the statistics on stress consider major stressors. My life is about to get "uncomfortable."
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Haggai 2:1-9
"In a little while I will once again shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the desired of all the nations will come and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord almighty...The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house. And in this place I will grant peace."
Haggai's prophetic words from God given to encourage the people of Isreal as they restored the temple after its destruction. As they worked to restore it they were hammered with the stories of the former temple and perhaps bought into those who said that it would never return to its former glory. How often have we been involved in restoring something only to hear people who remember the way "it was before" and belittle our work because "it doesn't mearue up."
But in the midst of the encouragement to Isreal is an encouragement to all the generations to come. The promise of Christ's coming, His work of restoration of God's elect to right relationship with the Father and the promise of His return to bring the Kingdom of God to fullfilment.
As I read them today they became the words of a prayer for my church. 121 CC moved two weeks into a new facility, as we move forward "On Mission" I pray that this new "house" will be blessed to exceed the "former glory" of the "old house."
As I learn of the great work of God through the people of 121 CC to reach the mid-cities area I am amazed at how God has and is blessing. To come to this "family" at this time is such a personal blessing, but more I am so excited to be a small part of the greatness of God in this place. I can not help but sit and wonder what God is going to do in and through this House.
Haggai's prophetic words from God given to encourage the people of Isreal as they restored the temple after its destruction. As they worked to restore it they were hammered with the stories of the former temple and perhaps bought into those who said that it would never return to its former glory. How often have we been involved in restoring something only to hear people who remember the way "it was before" and belittle our work because "it doesn't mearue up."
But in the midst of the encouragement to Isreal is an encouragement to all the generations to come. The promise of Christ's coming, His work of restoration of God's elect to right relationship with the Father and the promise of His return to bring the Kingdom of God to fullfilment.
As I read them today they became the words of a prayer for my church. 121 CC moved two weeks into a new facility, as we move forward "On Mission" I pray that this new "house" will be blessed to exceed the "former glory" of the "old house."
As I learn of the great work of God through the people of 121 CC to reach the mid-cities area I am amazed at how God has and is blessing. To come to this "family" at this time is such a personal blessing, but more I am so excited to be a small part of the greatness of God in this place. I can not help but sit and wonder what God is going to do in and through this House.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Church Membership
After almost 4 months of praying and searching we have become members of 121 Community Church in Grapevine. I used to wonder why it took folks so long to decide where they should plant their spiritual roots, now after going to it for the first time without it being attached to a "job" I have a little better understanding.
By the way, church membership is an extremely important part of Christian growth. We are exhorted by God's Word to join with other believers for growth and spritual support.
Hopefully in the future this will be up and running full force.
By the way, church membership is an extremely important part of Christian growth. We are exhorted by God's Word to join with other believers for growth and spritual support.
Hopefully in the future this will be up and running full force.
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