No doubt the Zoe Conference was a major encouragement to me, I feel so much better. It is interesting to me that the theme was Desperate, and I was "desperate" to be there. That just shows you how badly I needed to be refueled and renewed. I was, and here I am. It was really nice to meet some of the people face to face that I had met either through blogs or through worshipforum. I really appreciated Tim and Nena Castle and their beautiful kids, as well as Owen and Dorothy Burgess. These two families took me in like their own and encouraged me more than they will ever know, in addition to all the folks from Bakersfield. It is so awesome to know that family is everywhere. These people truly are like family to me. I am so thankful to God for this thing we call the church. It is when you are out of your element that you most feel the blessings of your brothers and sisters. My flights were great. Well, not in the sense of being comfortable on them, but great. For instance I was flying from Mobile to Fresno, so I had to fly through Atlanta and Salt Lake City. No treasure there, My flight out of Atlanta to Salt Lake was two hours behind which meant that I had to sit and wait for it. That wasn't so bad until I found out I would miss my connection and have to spend the night in Salt Lake. Not happy, but nonetheless they were great, even though on the four hour flight to Salt Lake (which was packed) I sat by a lady who really should have had two seats for herself, I found my sardined up next to the inside window of the plane for four hours, almost unable to move, I am not exaggerating here. It wa the most uncomfortable thing I have ever been though. It was still great. My fun in flight forced me to read. I desperatley needed some catch up time an I got some. I read two book over the weekend. 1- "A Generous Orthodoxy" - Brian McLaren, 2- "Do They Run When They See You Coming" - Jonathan McKee. Two books which helped me redefine my focus. That is is this: Love People as Jesus Did. Stop being about administration and programs and start being more about people. That is my new deal. I know most people think well when you are in ministry then you always are about people = well sorta, but not neccesarily. I have found myself more worried about doing a media presentation then going to a kids game. Or focused on set up so much for Wednesday nights that I forget to go and invite the kids. This is my new way of life more about people less about programs. I feel renewed and ready. I have some ideas and thoughts that are probably going to get me in trouble but, being somewhat radical in the eyes of our modern day pharisees would make me "more like Jesus" wouldn't it?
Yeah, for some reason I have just not felt like making blogging an important part of my life in recent days. Although I have been busy the last couple of weeks and it gets no better really ever. I am sure that if I really wanted to blog I could have made some time. I just haven't been feeling it lately, if you know what I mean. Regardless here I am.
I have been trying to nail some things down this week as I am leaving tomorrow for Fresno, CA, I am really excited to get to go the Zoe Conference, I feel like I have much to prepare for. While I am excited I am a little sad, I hate leaving my family, and it seems like I spend too much time away from them. My wife is an awesome woman and she is so beautiful and encouraging and loving, and my daughter Hayden - she has grown up so much and I love her so. I am thankful for a beautiful family that I want to be with. God has blessed me in so many ways. God is good!
On the other hand Wednesday's are so trying for me, I am always so excited for our Wednesday night gathering, but by the end of the night I am absolutely out of gas. Honestly, I have been out of gas for a few weeks, and have desperately been in need of some renewal and refueling. I need it for me, and for my family and our church. So, from that point of view I am looking forward to, as one of our shepherds said to me just "getting on a plane."
Thanks to John Dobbs for prodding me along a bit. Hopefully I will be back here soon. Blessings to all.
Nothing really, the new year I think for most people ushers in the same old thing. New Year's resolutions that are really just as old as last year, unfinished, incomplete. Some of which never get started. I am trying to take my resolutions seriously this year (I am sure I say that every year) really I am. My wife woke me up this morning to, "OK let's go excercise" Yipppeeee!!! Boy, I can't wait, ugh!
So I will begin, new years - snoo years. I'm kidding, there is just something about a fresh start, a fresh opportunity, in my mind and heart I feel the chance to begin again in many ways. And this year I have many "new" things in front of me already, I'm nervous about some of these and excited all at the same time, in time I will share more. I am pumped to see what God is going to use me to do next year, and which ways he will share His love with me.
In other news, I just registered for the Zoe Conference in Fresno in three weeks, I am kind of pumped about this. I was supposed to go to Nashvegas in September, but that didn't happen, so...here we are. Anyone want to go or going? Chime in.
I will ask you to please be in prayer for me this week, and forward, because I have some things that seem to be opening up and changing and opportunities that seem to be presenting themselves that I have no idea what to do with them. I hope that you have a safe and blessed new year, may God shine His face upon you and your families! God bless!
