I really hope Tropical Storm Noel goes away quickly so I can take my boys out for Halloween... I was really looking forward to see my lil cowboy and indian! I mean, we got the hat, the outfit, got some boots... we are ready!
In fact, we are gonna have to get the guns tonight...can you believe they did not come with the costume? So what did it have instead? A treasure map and a canteen!
I am sure both are really important to a cowboy. But no guns? What kind of world are we living in?
Speaking of Cowboys... GO COWBOYS! And, just so you know I have a little mercy, I am starting to feel sorry for the 'Fins... man, they are awful!
Yep, yesterday we had another birth! Now, before you panic, Jeanine is not the mother... and before you really panic, I am not the father! Ha!
Let me explain... yesterday was the first ever service of Oasis Church North Miami! A new campus is born! And that really is the best way to explain what is happening and to show how much of a process this will be... we need time to learn and turn over and then crawl and finally walk in just about every area of ministry as a baby campus (from KidsWorld to students and Oasis groups and even an area like greeting people...all our ministry focuses in and out of the church!). Along the way, it will be messy (think dirty diapers and spit up formula on your shoulder...ewww) and tiring (sleepless nights and cranky fussiness... can you tell I have an almost 6 week old?).
But, in the end, it is all worth it. And that is exactly what I talked about yesterday to our brand new baby church...
The Big Vision for North Miami
How big are our dreams?
Could our church have hundreds or thousands of people attending here one day?
Risk – taking a step of faith
God never calls us to play it safe.
It takes huge risks, steps of faith, to change the world!
Dream and troubles go together… still must follow the vision.
Great Commitment to the Great Commands and the Great Commission
Matthew 22: 36 – 40 – The Great Commands
Matthew 28: 18 – 20 – The Great Commission
Oasis Church – to be and make disciples - “Whatever it takes…”
Growth happens in a healthy church – worship, community, mission.
Growth is expected and Biblical – Acts 1 – 5
Growth requires change
Oasis Church will have excellence standards (no matter the size)
Church should be relevant – not a time warp…clothing, music, language
People will say “We have never done that before.”
Growth is people and people matter to God
Target audience – unchurched, unsaved people and families
Church should be like Jesus not the Pharisees
- not rejecting but accepting
- not made to feel guilty but forgiven and loved
- not pointing out sin but showing hope of salvation in Christ
“No Perfect People Allowed”
Church is to be a safe place where people can find and follow Jesus
An incident happened in North Miami on October 26. More details can be found at http://cbs4.com/local/local_story_298220631.html.
This shooting happened one block from our campus in North Miami. We spent time praying yesterday for the family of this young victim who are literally our neighbors. We prayed for our police officers who protect us and make tough decisions, day in and day out. We prayed for justice and truth to win out as this investigation goes forward. We prayed for peace for our community and city. And we asked that God would comfort and bring healing to the families who face brokeness and despair without Him.
The mission field is not only across the ocean... it is right here.
Prayer for NOMIOver the past few months, I have been following the journal of one of my friends, Shannon Dodd. I knew her in college and we have kept in touch over the years. She is married to Tom and together they have adopted Jakob and Tae. Needless, to say, I think the Dodd family is great and I love calling Shannon a friend!
Well, a few weeks ago, Shannon was diagnosed with cancer. They were able to take care of the stuff in her lungs but they found some more in her brain. She has gone through the first round of chemo and radiation and all that goes with it. I and so many others have been inspired as she journals about her journey through this.
She is waiting for a few weeks to do another MRI to see what is happening with the cancer in her brain. Will you join me in praying that God will heal her and allow the medicine to take away the cancer? Will you pray for a miracle for Shannon?
Also, there are significant medical expenses that have been incurred as a result of this. Will you pray for God to meet those? A friend of her's also opened a store online and all the profits go to the Dodd family for their medical expenses. You can go to http://www.cafepress.com/hoopladesigns and purchase all your Christmas gifts there!
Oh, and yes, I said I hate cancer... I really do.
- Seinfeld is still a great show after all these years!
- I am still tired
- Titi (Jeanine's sister Annette) flew back today after spending a week with our family...she was such a great help and we loved having her! Thanks for being with us... we miss you already! Thanks to Pia and Bubba and Uncle Travis for letting Titi be with her nephews for the last couple of days.
- Cowboys lost... but I actually feel good since they hung in there for 3 1/2 quarters... man, those Patriots look unstoppable...
- Canes are a joke! Feels like I want to win more than they do... tough to watch (but I still will!)
- I was supposed to lose to my brother this past week in fantasy football... but I smoked him! Before I brag to much, we are playing each other in another league this week... but I think I got his number this year!
- Tomorrow, Ryan turns 4 weeks old!
- This weekend, we have a celebrating the past day in North Miami... next week begins Oasis Church NoMi!
- I am proud of Jeanine... she amazes me!
- Zachary has one of the best giggles ever, it makes me laugh with him... and he is dribbling the soccer ball (when he wants to)!
-Ryan is getting ready to eat again and then I am going to bed... good night!
Today, Joel Collins and I were spending some time in North Miami getting things ready for this weekend. For those who do not know, our church is expanding to a third campus as First Baptist Church of North Miami has decided to become an Oasis Church campus. This is a going to take some time and process as this transition is going on (hint- I am asking for prayer as I am the point person for leading this campus! But I am excited to see what will happen in the next few months...)
So Joel and I are in the 305 and we are figuring out the sound system and trying to clean the stage a little. While we are there, we discover 28 microphone cables that are plugged in on only one side... however, they were not connected to anything! They were lying on or near the stage, looking like something was happening, and yet they were unplugged. Useless and yet, so much potential!
What a picture of so many in the church in America! Plugged in to a source, looking like something could happen through them, yet so many are uplugged on the other end. Unplugged from ministry in the church (even though we are saved to serve). Unplugged from community with other Christ-followers (even though we are supposed to journey together as one body). Unplugged from people who don't know Christ (hello, our (co)mission given to us from Christ!).
This week, where do you need to get plugged in? If you don't get plugged in, you are causing more work for somebody else and sooner or later, we all will know it! So, stop being unplugged!
Wow... I have a three week old and a 2 1/2 year old... I need some sleep!
Since it has been a week (!) since I last posted, here is a recap of some of the happenings of the past couple of days...
- Zachary has been getting into soccer! We have kicked the ball and ran and laughed for about an hour for three evenings this week...
- Ryan has pooped big time in the last few days...in fact on Tuesday, he got some on my shirt! Gross! But this is my life... also the kid is like old-faithful. If his diaper is off for 1.7 seconds, the kid is peeing all over his clothes, my clothes, the drapes, his crib and changing table, his new diaper, the floor...but he's my boy!
- Ode to my mother-in-law...on Tuesday I took her back to airport after she spent a few weeks with us...she was awesome! I loved having her here and physically supporting us as Jeanine recovered and we adjusted to a new baby...thank you so much Grandma! We will miss you!
-also on Tuesday, Jeanine's sister flew into town to help for the next week..."TiTi" is loved by all and we are grateful she has come to be with us.
-Sunday I preached in Hollywood and then traveled to North Miami for that service...even on Sunday am I-95 was a parking lot! Are you kidding me?
-Saturday the Canes stunk it up at UNC...we need a quarterback! Might not solve all the problems but it would help!
-Monday the Cowboys pulled a miracle out of their hat and beat the Bills...my boy Romo threw 5 picks (two for tds) and yet, the team pulled through...in fact, for 59 minutes and 58 seconds, the Boys never led in the game...however, the final 2 seconds included a 53 yard field goal (kicked twice and made twice) saved the day... wow! (this by the way, did not help me go to bed early!)
-my fantasy teams were bad this week and I still managed to win 2 out of three... this week is not looking good as I am projected to get blown out in one (by my brother) and lose by a point in the other two... I love this time of year!
-The Office has been great two weeks in a row!
- I like what I see of the show "Pushing Up Daisies"
-Had a deacon meeting last night at North Miami... I am excited about the stuff that will be happening down there in the near future!
I think that is it for now... until then here is quote from Michael Scott..."I am not superstitious... just stitious."
I came across something interesting the other day...
A man was having some issues in his life in the the physical sense. He was having trouble remembering things and was having memory loss. The doctor told him them would have to operate on his brain but there was considerable risk. In fact, the doctor explained that the patient had the real possibility of going blind, due to the fact that the nerves were so close together in the brain. If the doctor touched or cut the wrong nerve, the patient might lose his eyesight.
The patient responded by saying no to the surgery and no to regaining his memory. He said, "I would rather see where I am going then remember where I have been."
I know, I am not a good storyteller! But the quote is what got me... and I would have to say I totally agree with him. What about you? Would you do the same thing or would you do something different?
Every month, we have one Tuesday for a whole staff lunch together. These are always a fun time being together and catching up on the friendship side of working together (really, if you are not friends with those you minister and serve with, what is the point?).
Guy brought a challenge to us from a cd he has listened to. Actually, he brought the cd to us! While it was fun "eavesdropping" on a phone call, the information brought by Henry Blackaby was really good... here is what I got in regards to building and having a growing relationship with God.
1. Look forward to it. Do I really anticipate time alone with God? Does it excite me? Is it a "have to" or a "get to"?
2. Set aside time and everything else (activity) - if I don't schedule it, it will not happen!
3. Focus on the relationship not a formula - really what is happening is friendship, two way communication not something I add or follow like a recipe
4. Can't fit God into our schedule - "ok God, I got five minutes for you to speak to me before my next agenda item...and, go!" Not how it works...
5. When God is in relationship with you, ordinary becomes extraordinary! Ok God, that is how I want my life and ministry to be...beyond ordinary... I need your friendship and love and time with You! Help me live this out!
