JeremyHigdon.com

I am going to be busy this spring...

Now, I know you might be thinking I am talking about planting Oasis Church North Florida... but I am not...

Maybe you think I am referring to being a dad to two growing boys and a husband to Jeanine...nope...

Maybe, something else will be going on, like working another job, or getting involved in little league, or doing something that requires some activity...well, you are getting closer!

This spring, I will be getting ready to leave the fantasy ranks and play some real football for the Dallas Cowboys!

Ok, I just looked in the mirror...maybe not...But it is fun to dream...and I look forward to watching what happens...the Cowboys need all the help they can get!

Zachary turns 4!

I can't believe how fast time goes by! We celebrated Zachary being in our lives for the last 4 years today!

-I always try to relate and remember exactly what happened on this day in 2005

-we woke up that morning having no idea we would see our son for the first time that evening...

-Annette (Jeanine's sister) had flown into town to help but with three weeks to go, she flew back to ATL

-the doctor's visit on the 27th turned into "you need to go to the hospital today!"

-Annette landed and was BACK on an airplane a few hours later - (thanks again!!)

-went to the hospital and things were put into motion for a baby to be born on the 28th

-due to unexpected stuff, the doc made a decision about 10pm to come to the hospital and we were going to have a baby today!

-a little before 11pm, a very nervous man and the most amazing woman ever saw little Zachary for the first time...words still can't express all the emotion and energy of even the memory of that!

-And somehow, in spite of us openly confessing we have no idea what we are doing, Zach is now 4...do we need more proof that God is good? Hello??

-today Zach loves playing Monster Truck Jam on his Wii (which somehow went from "mine" to "his" in the last month or so), riding his bike, hitting a ball I pitch to him, tackling me and his brother, and anything having to do with cars, trucks, puppies and kitties...

-one of the most recent cute things he said was when I said something about "Miami"...and he said "what is yourami??" You can't make this stuff up!

-we celebrated by going to the zoo, eating cake (thanks Papa!), and spending the day together...it was great!

The ZOO! from Jeremy Higdon on Vimeo.

- one of his birthday cards says this... "since your last big birthday blast, a whole year just went speeding past..." I don't think it meant to be that profound, but that really struck me...Life flys by... so stop reading this and go hugs your kids or call your parents...whatever.... just go do it!

The last sneak preview service

We had our last preview service leading up to our official launch of Oasis Church this past Sunday. We had 54 people in attendance and it was great to see some returning guests as part of that number...

-one family saw our ad on facebook

-one saw our road signs

-one was given a free Starbucks coffee the day before

-one saw our listing on Craigslist

-several were invited by friends and co-workers

All that to say, all kinds of ways are needed to get the word out about a new church being started... and not only that, God uses all sorts of ways to guide and lead people as His church is built! Awesome!

We had Jesse Marks lead worship for us... he (and the band of friends he put together) are part of the youth group at FBC Jax... I am very grateful they were able to help us out and they did a great job!

I continued our "Thrill Ride" series on the book of Ecclesiastes... we went through the majority of chapters 3 & 4... I am loving teaching through this book... although, Solomon asks some tough questions!

Preview Service #3 from Jeremy Higdon on Vimeo.

Now, we are in the final days leading up to our official launch... in the next few days, we have a launch team meeting at our house, we are following up with new people, we are meeting other church planters, getting involved with the Baptist Association, planning a Family Fun Day at the theater, preparing for another team to come up from South Florida, the mailer will hit people's homes, andwe will keep trying to get the word out to as many people as possible... of course, we are praying and fasting for God to continue to do a mighty work and that we would be able to serve Him and see people follow Jesus for His glory....

Keep praying!

Rick Warren's Inauguration Prayer

I wanted to hear Rick's invocation prayer at the inauguration last week...but I turned it on too late. I came across this today and wanted to make sure you saw it, in case you, like me, missed it!

Here ya go.... http://www.rickwarrennews.com/video_player12.htm

I am going to continue to pray for wisdom and insight for all of our state and national leaders and obviously, this includes our President and Vice-president and their families. I am grateful we pray to the One Who hears us and is in control of every area of our lives and the entire universe! No matter what is passed or signed in the next few years, I am grateful that God is sovereign and that we can rest easy in Him.

1 Timothy 2: 1,2 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Gearing up for our last preview service

-It's been a crazy week leading up to our last preview service before we officially launch on February 8!

-I found out Monday that I needed to find a worship leader for this week...uh oh!

-I will blog about this later...but God uses a little website in a big way... and He provided a worship leader for us tomorrow!

-also on Monday, I met and had breakfast with the religion editor of the Florida Time Union... he and a photographer will be at the service tomorrow... his story is supposed to come out on February 4! 

-had a lunch and met the Director of the North East Baptist Asspociation.... will be joining them in the near future and will be getting some funding from them

-finalized the details and approved our mailing going out in the next two weeks... no perfect people allowed!

-studied and prepped for Eccles 3 & 4... our part two to the series Thrill Ride...

-seeing alot of view, impressions, and clicks from our marketing on facebook, google, and yahoo

-emailed several church partners about our wishlist of resource needs... some cool things are in the works!

-met and had a great time with 7 awesome friends who came up from South Florida to be with us this weekend... so amazing that we get to launch a church together!

  

-spent a few hours today passing out invites with free bottles of water, free Starbucks coffee, and free movie passes... weird that so many people were leery of the word "free"!

-looking forward to see what tomorrow has for us... we do our part but Jesus will build His church!

21 Days

As I write this after midnight, making right now Sunday the 18th of January, we are 21 days (3 short weeks) from officially launching Oasis Church North Florida! Wow! It has been amazing to see what God is doing and exciting to think about what He is preparing for us in the coming weeks and months. 

But this also, comes with a heavy burden and responsibility...things that can't be taken lightly. Instead of working harder and trying to run faster, it is my desire to live personally and as church in an ever-growing understanding and dependence on Jesus. It is my job to lead and live in the example of Jesus, who constantly showed us the importance of prayer and spending time with God, even in the midst of heavy demands and responsibility. 

So, this is where I find myself...will I depend on me or will I turn to Him? Will our church jump in the race and try to make a name for ourselves or will we, from before day one, live in such a way that proves our foundation is on Jesus? It is no coincidence that I came across a website called Awake 21 and found several churches who are participating together and seeking the Lord in a focused way through prayer and fasting over the next three weeks. I have signed Oasis Church North Florida up to join in and participate, and even though we are a week behind the official 21 days, it works out to be a perfect ramp to our launch day on February 8! I love how God's timing is always perfect...

So, will you join me in prayer and fasting and being part of Awake 21? You can find tools and helps on their website and I will also be posting stuff here and at Oasisnfl.org...

Thanks again for being part of launching a church... together. I look forward to seeing and hearing what God does in our lives as we seek His face over the next three weeks!

It's kinda chilly in Jacksonville!

Better bundle up boys!!

Our latest preview service...

We are under one month away from our church launch...amazing! We had our 2nd preview service this past weekend...things set up and ran smoothly and we had 27 people in attendance (including 2 returning from our first service...which is awesome!). We wanted to shoot a little behind the scenes footage so you could try to get a feel for what we are trying to begin in the theater...we get in at 8:30am, the service begins at 10:30am and we have to be out by 12:30pm...whew!

But when you have a good team, everything goes pretty smoothly...enjoy the video!

A Walking Tour Before The Service from Jeremy Higdon on Vimeo.

*this is also posted at oasisnfl.org.

Weekend Update

-Saturday was a great day here in Jax...beautiful weather, about 70 degrees...nice!

-Zachary and Ryan were playing outside with some of the kids from the neighborhood...actually Zach was playing (riding bike and hitting the ball off the tee) and Ryan was walking back and forth (eating crackers and trying to take the ball off the tee before his brother could hit it)

-went to the Pet Store to replace one of the three fish we have...we came back from our Christmas trip and one had not made it through the holidays...but it was weird because it (the fish) was found dead in the air tube for the filter...I suspect a cover-up...and the fish has been sent to forensics

-oh, we replaced the dead fish for 15 cents!

-I can't believe I actually paid the cashier a quarter and got change back...how great is that!??

-while we were there, we saw cats and puppies that were there to be adopted...I have the feeling a pet is in our future

-on the way home, Zachary asked if we could get a puppy...and we said we need to pray and see what Jesus would do...so Zach prayed right then! I love it...faith of a child...

-later he decided we need a puppy and a kitty...I definitely need a sign from God for that one!

-prepped for our second preview service by putting signs out with some helium ballons (Thanks for the idea Guy!) and finalized the order of songs and message...

-couldn't believe Arizona absolutely killed Carolina in the NFL playoffs...Kurt Warner is only one game from another Super Bowl...

-Sunday we got up and loaded the cars and went to the theater

-we were set-up and ready to go before 9:30am...woohoo!

-I found out the previous Tuesday that I needed to find another worship leader...God miraculously provided and even gave us another guitarist, singer, and drummer...great job Stephen and crew!

-sound went better due to a board I brought back from South Florida and making some adjustments on my mic...great job Billy and Wally!

-we had 27 people attend with us and we had two second time guests returning from our previous preview...very encouraging!

-my aunt and uncle surprised us at church...they came from the Orlando area...it was great seeing you Debbie and Rod!

-Charissa's (Jonathan's soon to be wife...next month!) parents were also there and took the team out to lunch...thanks alot!

- we got quite a few stares as we were all wearing the same t-shirts...and were able to tell others and invite them to Oasis Church!

-Looking forward to getting the marketing machine going...spent today getting the info needed for one (maybe two) mailings over the next few weeks...

-hard to believe we are under a month away from LAUNCHING Oasis Church NFL!

-woke up Monday and it is chilly...brrr...at least by Florida standards it is cold!

-can't believe Philly is in the NFC championship game...if Dallas had beat them a few weeks ago, that could be the Cowboys there! Yeah right....

Today is my birthday!

I am turning 35 today...woohoo! Or as I prefer to say, I am turning 21 for the 14th time...here is a video that I shot that actually turned into somewhat of an acceptance speech...thanks to all my family (in and outlaws) and friends for being part of my life...I am honored!

Happy Birthday to me! from Jeremy Higdon on Vimeo.