Sitting at FLL

I am sitting here in Fort Lauderdale airport, about to take off to Tennessee for a few days with a couple of the pastors... looking forward to some cooler weather, mini-putt-putt, walking on the Appalchian Trail, and chillin' in Gatlinburg...lots of coffee and late night conversations around the fireplace...sweet!

Jeanine and Papa (who literally just got here from Ga) will be tag-teaming the boys (along with help from my parents) so they are all in good hands...

When we find a hotspot, I will give an update...until then, see ya!

People God Uses - Part 3

I found a little booklet while cleaning out the old offices in North Miami. It is entitled "Why God Used D.L. Moody". I was interested in reading it as it was written by R.A. Torrey and is about (obviously) the reasons why this evangelist lived such a powerful life and seeks to find out if God can still work powerfully through people today. I am going to share a section of this book over the next few days....

The third reason God used D.L. Moody was the fact that he was a "deep and practical student of the Bible". Torrey writes that Moody would often rise early in the morning (before anyone else was up) and spend time reading and studying the Scriptures. He writes...

"...if you neglect the one Book that God has given you as the one instrument through which He imparts and exercises His power, you will not have it. You may read many books and go to many conventions....but unless you keep in constant and close association with the one Book, the Bible, you will not have power. And if you ever had power, you will not maintain it except by the daily, earnest, intense study of that Book. Ninety-nine Christians in every hundred are merely playing at Bible study; and therefore ninety-nine Christians in every hundred are mere weaklings, when they might be giants, both in their Christian life and in their service."

In talking about the crowds that came to hear Moody, even in the middle of the day during the work week, Torrey writes....

"Because though Mr. Moody knew little about science or philosophy or literature in general, he did know the one Book this old world is perishing to know and longing to know; and this old world will flock to hear men who know the Bible and preach the Bible as they will flock to hear nothing else on earth...oh, men and women, if you wish to get an audience and wish to do that audience some good after you get them, study, study, study the one Book, and preach, preach, preach the one Book, and teach, teach, teach the one Book, the Bible, the only Book that is God's Word, and the only Book that has power to gather and hold and bless the crowds for any great length of time."

Have you read and studied your Bible lately?

Weekend (and week) Update

Wow...I can't believe it has been so long since I blogged...lots of things have been happening!

- last Sunday, had our first Discover Oasis in North Miami...over 30 people stayed to connect and find out more about our church
- from Tuesday to Friday, my family and I were in Orlando at a conference...I love going away and hearing speakers and ideas as they teach me and give me a fresh perspective...although, I have never had my family there!! It was a good time and I will be blogging about some of what I heard in the future
- met some new people and heard some other church stories...no matter what I hear, nothing trumps my story of working for a church that has 7 Nights of Worship...people always kind of stop and stare with this far-away, dumbfounded look in their eyes...and yet, after having been part of it for over a year, it's not so strange anymore!
- the NBA and NHL playoffs are on right now... and I gotta tell ya, I am only mildly interested in one and could care less about the other
- after having limited internet access and even less time this past week, I am looking at transferring this blog to either wordpress.com or wordpress.org on a separate server... I want to be able to write some articles and timestamp so that it can go out, even if I can't get online... I want to continue to build and feed my readers! If (when) this happens, I will let you know so you can update your RSS feeds (come on, at least pretend you are with me!)
- on the other hand, the NFL draft was on this past weekend, and I was very interested in that...so, did your teams get better (at least on paper)? Dolphins fans, want to chime in?
- on Friday, the family went to Seaworld...a little different experience then last time when it was just Jeanine and I at our fifth anniversary...this time, we had Zachary, Ryan, and Grandma Colon (who none of them had ever been)...little hot and a lot crowded...but still had a good time...Shamu is still a hit...
- yesterday, spoke twice and had a dedication service to celebrate, be grateful, and pray over the property and campus of NoMi...it was good to be with so many who played a crucial part in our Re:NoMi project
- Joel Collins, our Tech/ Video guru at Oasis, ran a marathon this past weekend in under 5 hours...congrats! That is awesome...that is inspiring to me...although I hate to run... I wonder what physical challenge I can take on?
-speaking of physical, I have had a cough for the past month...went to the doctor today and the PA gave me some drugs...I hope they work.
-speaking of a PA, my brother's girlfriend was in town this weekend...it was great meeting you, Carissa!
- on Wednesday, the pastors are getting away for a few days... I am looking forward to that as we not only work together but get along pretty well too...I think we actually like each other!
- ok, the kids are asleep and I better do the same...at least one of them will be awake soon!

That's Amore - Finale

Today, we begin our last weekend of our "That's Amore" series. We will be looking at the life stage of singles who have never been married...and yet, what we are talking about is applicable to everybody (in fact, it is some of the core values of our church).

This past week, I came across some stuff about love and the church and specifically, a movement that began a few months ago and has caught on in a big way at myspace and beyond. It is a story about a girl and her struggles and the people in her life, and it is called, "To Write Love On Her Arms". How many people do we meet on a daily basis that need to hear hope and know love in our lives? If we want to truly live the Amore life, I believe it will require us to quit using being busy as an excuse and get involved in the tough stuff that people go through... I also believe, going forward, the church at large will need to change in order to continue to show to a hurting world filled with hurting people...

The question is...will we?

At the end of the day...Love wins.

My new outdoor office...

So, I did it... in my last post (Gor-Jus) I mentioned how beautiful it was outside and that it was ridiculous to waste it by working inside...

Thanks to wireless networking (and a green plastic table!), I was able to enjoy the potentially last low humidity day until December and still get things done...plus, if gas prices keep going up, check out my new ride in the back... think it will make it to NoMi on one charge?

Gor-Jus

No, definitely not me... the amazingly blue, cloud-free, sky behind me with a temperature of 69 degrees... the last cool morning until probably late November or December... notice I am sportin' a long sleeve shirt...last chance for that too!

I wish I could work outside today...hey, why can't I? I am gonna do it!

Now you know where to find me, in case you need me...

The Boys Like To Wrestle!

Well, at least one of them does... Ryan would rather gnaw on Zach but what do you expect when you only have two little teeth?

Will our family keep growing?

Had an interesting couple of bits of conversation last evening...

Over dinner with the Harris family (we love you guys!), it was discussed how we are NOT having any more kids and that a certain surgery was going to be done to me...for the record, this is the first time I have heard of this!! I am a little light headed just thinking about it (no, I did not faint... at least, not yet!).

Then, as we were getting Zach to bed, we (all but Ryan who was already asleep) said we were grateful for friends. Zach pipes up with "but we need more girls!" He had a great time playing with Madison, who is a year older then him...does this statement mean the fellas need a sister??

Jeanine would prefer to add to our family (maybe even a girl) by adding a dog. She is the big dog lover in the family...I like them too, but she is the one with the HUGE heart for pets and is instilling that in our boys...however, she HATES bugs (aren't they living creatures too, honey??) and is also instilling that in the boys...Zachary is a bug crushin' machine! I have tried to hold out in the past (we actually had a dog with us a few days in February, but we were not ready as a family) but, I know I will break down eventually and get a pup.

However, after reading this, maybe it's time for us to get a dog... or at least seriously talk about it in the near future ("near" is a synonym for "the next 3 - 5 years!).

April 15...

Does this day scare you?
Have you filed your taxes already?
Are you rushing to the Post Office today?
Will you be changing your name and moving to the woods in Montana?

Just wondering...

Oh, and if you need to think about something else today...the NFL schedule for 2008 was released today...if that doesn't excite you and get you out of the "tax day blues" I don't know what will!

Well, maybe this will help...by the way, I hope you find these funny! If we can't laugh at ourselves, then what's the point? (And you got to admit, our tribe is pretty silly sometimes...)

People God Uses - Part 2

I found a little booklet while cleaning out the old offices in North Miami. It is entitled "Why God Used D.L. Moody". I was interested in reading it as it was written by R.A. Torrey and is about (obviously) the reasons why this evangelist lived such a powerful life and seeks to find out if God can still work powerfully through people today. I am going to share a section of this book over the next few days....

The second reason Torrey writes that God used D.L. Moody because he was "in the deepest and most meaningful sense a man of prayer". Whenever difficult situations and/or needs would arise, Moody would spend time praying and urging others to join him in praying and fasting for God to come through. The way he prayed, it was noted, was simple, trustful, definite, direct, and mighty.

"Yes, D.L. Moody was a man who believed in the God who answers prayer...he was a man who met every difficulty that stood in his way- by prayer. Everything he undertook was backed up by prayer, and in everything, his ultimate dependence was upon God."

Are we willing to be men and women of prayer? Are we living our lives depending on God to see us through, in every area of our life?

People God Uses - Part 1

I found a little booklet while cleaning out the old offices in North Miami. It is entitled "Why God Used D.L. Moody". I was interested in reading it as it was written by R.A. Torrey and is about (obviously) the reasons why this evangelist lived such a powerful life and seeks to find out if God can still work powerfully through people today. I am going to share a section of this book over the next few days....

The first thing (or reason) listed as why God used Moody is that he was fully surrendered to God. Torrey writes that Moody was not perfect but lived his life, willing to do and go and live whatever way God wanted him to live. In fact,

"if you and I are to be used in our sphere as D.L. Moody was used in his, we must put all that we have and all that we are in the hands of God, for Him to use as He will, to send us where He will, for God to do with us what He will, and we, on our part, to do everything God bids us to do."

So, what about us? Are we willing to be people that God uses? Are we willing to be fully surrendered to Him?

Weekend Update

Had a great time this weekend, teaching on In-laws as part of the "That's Amore!" series. I really enjoyed talking and laughing about all the possible in-law situations that we go through... I talked to one lady after service who shared the she had the perfect in-law situation...every single one of them live in another country besides the USA! I have to admit...that definitely makes it easier to get along with them or at least reduce the amount of potential conflict!

I was able to include my mother-in-law in the teaching by doing an inteview with her. It just so happened that Dolores (Grandma) Colon was in town and she was happy to be part of the service. I think it turned out great... you can watch it here...



I spoke at Saturday night, Hollywood, and the 11:30am at Pines. I was able to swing by NoMi on the way to Hollywood but it was actually the first time I was not there for the service in the last few months. However, being in Hollywood was great! Awesome to see some new faces and renew some friendships that I had not seen in awhile... really enjoyed connecting with them through the message as they were with me the whole way...I am proud of Ben and the team and what they are part of in Hollywood!

Back in Pines, I felt like I didn't connect as well I like in the last service...don't know if it's because I haven't taught there in a while, my voice was dragging, or if because the a/c wasn't working very good. Don't get me wrong, I think it went ok, I just felt it lacked a little connection (although, my parents and mother-in-law was there, along with my wife and kids, so I did have a pretty good cheering section!).

Always nice to take a good nap on Sunday afternoon...turn the a/c down, put the Marlins game on, put the kids to bed, and slowly close your eyes...I love it!

"Wake Up And Smell The Roses" Explained

Here is the story behind my tagline... I believe this is appropriate as it has to do with Oasis Hollywood and I will be speaking there tomorrow (this is actually my first time down there for a service in about six months... I am looking forward to it!).

About a year ago, I was working as the campus pastor in Hollywood. From time to time, we would be asked to help people with food and/or finances. Even though it is only about 10 miles from the Pembroke Pines campus, the needs are far greater on an individual level and many people have needs that so many of us take for granted. Well, at this time, I meet a girl (let's call her Wendy, I forget her name and would not use it anyway if I remembered) who stops by the church and asks for help. Her story is familiar, especially after being down there a few years...living in a hotel, needs some food and some money to stay in hotel, and she is expecting some money in a few days, and will give back to church when she gets it... how does everybody have the same story??

I offer her some canned goods and tell her that we don't give cash money as a policy and prepare myself to hear more of the story when she says, "I have a 8 month old baby boy." That gets my attention, so I make the decision that our church needs to do a little more. After wrapping up a few items after the service, I meet her a few blocks away in the lobby of the Beach motel and pay for a night for her and the baby with the church credit card. I was able to be part of meeting her need as well as meet the staff of the hotel... end of story, right?



A few days later, I get a call from "Wendy" at our office, asking if we could pay for one more night. She got my number off the front door of the church and her money (that she was waiting for) had not come in yet. Remembering that there is a kid involved, I agree to meet her at the hotel and bring some food over for her and the baby. As I meet her, I tell her about Jesus and His love and implore her to get the help she needs to fight her addictions and be the mom she needs to be. I paid for another night and she says "do you want to see my son?". Immediately, two thoughts come to mind. 1. She wants me to follow her to her hotel room. This is potentially a BAD situation!! However, 2. I can see for myself if there really is a kid or if she just made the story up.



My curiosity of the story won out. I made sure the hotel staff knew what I was doing, and since the hotel rooms were all exterior doors on an outside hallway, I felt safer and more accountable to the people who were watching and hanging out at the hotel. On the way to the room, "Wendy" introduces me to this guy sitting in the exterior doorway. He is about 60 years old, rail thin with white hair, and he is smokin a cigarette while sportin a "I Love Hot Moms!" t-shirt (instead of the word love, there is a picture of a heart!...Hey, this is Hollywood...you don't have to make this stuff up!!). I go to the room with the bag of food and indeed, there is a cute 8 month old boy that is being raised in a hotel with his mom who is trying to get things together. I say "good-bye" and "we'd love to have you at church to worship with you" and make my way toward the hotel exit. As I walk by the guy I just met, he gives me this advice...



"wake up and smell the roses!"



Here is old, skinny, cigarette teeth,Hot Mom t-shirt guy telling me to wise up to what was really going on! I enjoyed the irony of the situation for a few moments and tryed to engage him in conversation, but he was over it...as I walked away, I thought, "this guy doesn't get it". I knew I was being used, I knew our help would only last a few meals, I knew she would tell her story to others and try to get them to help however she could...and yet, I had to do what I could because the gospel is real...when I am needy, Christ doesn't pat me on the back, He meets my needs. When I was lost, He didn't "pray" for me, He came and rescued me. How can we do any less for others, when the gospel is all that He did for me? If what we do seems foolish to those outside of Christ, then may God help us be fools so that we may live for and honor Him!

So, from now on, let's "wake up and smell the roses" together!

* By the way, I love a hot mom too! I love you, Jeanine!

A story about Zach and church

We have this pretty good kids music cd that is Jeanine's car that we listen to whenever we are driving somewhere. It has some decent versions of kid's songs (without the annoying, high pitched voices that seems to be on just about every kids oriented cd) with some modern twists. For instance, there is the song, "Five Little Monkeys" that features a dance track with even part of the song available for me to free-style (which you have not lived until you have heard me do that...I'm a lyrical gangsta! Ha!).

Anyway, track 10 is a rockin' version of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star". I mean it has a lead singer, drums, and distorted guitar...so it requires you to crank it up a little. Whenever this song comes on, here is what Zachary, our three year old says, "Hey! It's like church!".

Which makes me so proud of Oasis Church! We have some of the best, young worship leaders at our church who love to WORSHIP LOUD (and work hard at their talent to be able to do so with excellence) and it makes an impression on people. Plus, I think, after reading Revelations, the worship in heaven will be pretty loud as well...HE IS WORTHY!

So, when you come to Oasis, be prepared to worship, be prepared for it to be loud, and be prepared to meet Jesus...and look out for my sons as we teach them to WORSHIP LOUD the One who LIVES!

Spring Break Surge Guys

These guys did something that had not been done in a long, long time... they washed my car! Awesome! I forgot it was white! Thanks Jordan, Erik, Luis, and Steven!

Re:NoMi... the finished product!

Ok, I said last week that I would put the link to the pictures of the finished work of renovation the next day...I lied! However, I have included them here...it is amazing to look at all the pictures and see what was accomplished in just a few weeks at our campus in North Miami.

For our second Sunday, we had around 140 in the auditorium (in addition to this we had approximately 25 kids and KidsWorld leaders)...this is a great number to have for week 2 and was perfect for our building and campus...

The team is doing a great job as we grow in our areas...next week, I will put some pics up of the different things we are doing and learning as we take our first steps of an official Oasis Church campus.

One value that we are learning is "our guests are a gift of God...we must do whatever we can to honor His gift and help those He is bringing our way to connect with Him"....

That's Amore...God Loves Us!

Check out this video... I am loving this song!