San Diego Day 5

I am sitting at the airport now. I have learned so much and have so much to process it is almost overwhelming. I am still blown away from last nights message by Francis Chan. I need to order the cd and share it with a few people.

After the service we went to a dinner put on by Dave Ramsey and Financial Peach University. It was at the poolside Tiki Pavilion area. Picture this, we leave a holy ghost service, seeing people on their face before God, some have never been in an altar service and we are lead into a party area, with loud secular music playing. All the songs were about money. The were selling Ramsey's stuff. On any other day I would not have cared, but i really felt vulgar sitting there listening to this music. It was the wrong atmosphere.

At the airport i got the treatment. Having this metal in my spine opens doors for me to meet some new people. They feel you and touch you all over. Of course it is not very intimate. First they put me in a glass box and then made me stay there. Then I got put on this metal chair and was assaulted by a beeping stick. Then he gloved up and gave me the rub down. I think I need a shower.

Any who, I just ate some pizza and finally have found some diet coke. I have not had some in days. All the resort had was diet Pepsi. You can live on it, but it taste like crap.

I am on my 3rd big gulp size glass of it. AHH heaven must be like this. I am going to nose around a bit.

Oh, all the books cost me an extra fifty bucks at the airport for a heavy bag. When the guy picked it up he yelled, my God that is heavy. He said this thin is over weight. I can not tell a lie, I have about 25 books in it. I even put some in my back pack, but, they got me.

San Diego Day 4 part 2

More Books: On the way to the evening part, I past through the exhibit hall, and Zondervan was giving away a ton of stuff that they did not want to pack and carry back.

1. Creating a Prodigal Friendly church by Jeff Lucas
2. Surprising Insights from the unchurched and proven ways to reach them by Thom Ranier (I love his work)
3. The Unchurched Next Door: understanding faith stages as keys to sharing your faith by Thom Ranier
4. Crazy Love by Francis Chan
5. Compelled by Love: a journey to missional living by Ed Stetzer
6. The Multiplying Church: the new math for starting new churches by Bob Roberts
7. Should we use someone else's sermon: preaching in a cut and past world by Scott Gibson
8. The American Church In Crisis by David Olson
9. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Almost vulgar the number of books i have to read now. Guess I know what I am doing the next couple of days. HA

tonight with Francis Chan. I don't know what else to say other than wow. It was so powerful and so moving and then he gave an altar call at the end and Lincoln Brewster was playing in the background. It was so heavy and so deep I am not even at this time able to express it in to words. I never expected to see God do something like this here. My friend the Lutheran Pastor, Joseph was really blown away. We have had a lot of discussions about what our different churches did. He had never experienced an altar call where people are laying hands on people, and people were prostrate in the floor. even Lincoln Brewster said he did not know what to do at this time. I will talk more about it later.

Headed home tomorrow.

San Diego Day 4 part 1

wow what a day. Good stuff, good teaching and preaching and worship.

I just got out of a class about Ancient Faith, about reaching the lost the way the early believers did. I will blog more about this later.

More Books:

1. The Juggling Act: bringing balance to your faith, family and work by Pat Gelsinger
2. Making God Known: how to bring others to faith by Greg Laurie
3. The Faith: what Christians believe, why they believer it, and why it matters by Chuck Colson.
4. When Your Teen is Struggling: real hope and practical help for parents today by Mark Gregston (he is from Longview Texas.)
5. More Good News for Great Days by O.S. Hawkins (former pastor of FBC Dallas)
6. Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and the churches that reach them by Ed Stetzer.

I think my suitcase will be over the weight limit with all the books. they are just giving them away.

Francis Chan in next. Off to hear him.

San Diego Day 3 Part 2

More reading material.

I made a lot of great contacts. I also gathered some new reading material that I hope to learn from.

Here is the list of what they are.

1. Three Simple Rules - A Wesleyan Way of Living by Rueben P. Job
2. Women Married to men in ministry - breaking the sound barrier together by Teresa Flint-Borden (this looks really good, i think maybe the staff wives would enjoy it. Liz and I are going to review it.)
3. The Crisis of Younger Clergy - by Lovett Weems
4. Dirty Word: The vulgar, offensive language of the kingdom of God by Jim Walker
5. The Life: A Portrait of Jesus by J. John
6. An African Awakening: My Journey into Aids Activism by Valerie Bell
7. Preparing for Change Reaction: how to introduce change in your church by Bob Whitesel (i got to meet the author and talk with him a while, he is from Indiana Wesleyan University. He is the guy on all of the advertisements.)

I am back in my room relaxing for a bit before the comedy show.

San Diego Day 3 Part 1

Today so far has been great. Went to a couple of great classes on why people stay or go to a particular church. very good stuff.

The other one i went to was about visitor follow up. got some great ideas.

The general session was real good to. Lincoln Brewster lead worship. A guy I had never heard of before called J. John spoke. He is a Greek guy who lives in London. He preached a great message on taking personal responsibility in Evangelism. He was also hysterical.

The next class i am going to is on mystery visitors or secret shoppers. tonight we have a comedy show.

the weather is 68 degrees, I am poolside at a cafe waiting on my next class.

San Diego Day 2

San Diego – Day 2

This was the first official day of the conference. Today was called the pre-conference seminar. I had an option to choose from 4 different intensive classes. I chose one called Welcome to the Family. It was about visitors and assimilation. It was very interesting and I got some great ideas. I also heard that some of the things we are doing are good. Something’s we need to work on.

I got to spend some time with pastors from different traditions. I learned about a program called ALPHA. It is a discipleship / evangelism program where people who have not church background learn about the gospel over a 10 week, dinner discussion type format. It is not high pressure. It encourages dialogue and study. I got to meet with an Anglican Pastor and an Episcopal pastor who uses this. ALPHA had a booth in the exhibit hall. I went by and talked to them and got some information. I will spend some time studying more about it.

I picked up a bunch of books. Some were free and I bought some. My “too read” list has grown now, but I think it will be well worth it. Here is a list of what I got:
1. Children of Hope by Vernon Brewer
2. Why a Star by Bodie and Brock Thoene
3. The Tangible Kingdom: Creating Incarnational Community: The Posture and Practices of Ancient Church Now by Hugh Halter
4. Parenting Teens in a Confusing Culture: Answering Parent’s Most Challenging Questions by Mark Gregston
5. Identity: who you are in Christ by Eric Geiger
6. Choose Your Faith in a World of Spiritual Options by Mark Mittelberg
7. The Peace Maker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict by Ken Sande
8. No Perfect People Allowed: creating a come as you are culture in the church by John Burke
9. Essential Church: reclaiming a generation of dropouts by Thom S. Rainer
10. The Shape of Faith to Come: Spiritual Formation and The future of Discipleship by Brad J. Waggoner

Pretty good reading list huh?

I had lunch with a Lutheran Pastor from Nebraska. I had a great conversation with him about church and ministry. He is a very interesting guy who I hope to keep in contact with.
The general session tonight was with Lincoln Brewster leading worship. He is a great guitar player. I was pretty tired and did not feel like a concert.

Erwin McManus was next. He had an awesome sermon/talk about doing what is uncomfortable. It was very challenging. I think I will read more of this stuff.

Tonight they were showing the move Fire Proof, but Liz said I could not go and watch it without her.

Supper was interesting. I finally found a place that the price is normal. While sitting there drinking my diet Pepsi talking with Liz, a cock roach took a walk across my table….CHECK PLEASE!!!!! I wound eating supper in bar type place. I had a calamari wrap. It was good.
Back to the room. Relax, read, thing, process, blog, email check and all that. Tomorrow is a big day.

SanDiego Day 1 part 2

I took my life in my hands today. at the airport i could not find the shuttle to the resort where the convention is so i got a cab. It would be my luck that I would get a Jamaican Cab Driver who was smiling like he was stoned out of his gourd. I could not understand a word he said.

This place is so expensive. I just ate a 26 dollar sandwich. For lunch I had a 24 dollar burger. I am scared to see what breakfast will be like.

Yikes.

It is so cool (temperature wise) here. The sun went down and it got pretty cold. I sat outside for a while and talked to my grandmother. My dad had a ruff afternoon. The procedure did not work. I called him at home but he was already asleep. I really wished it would have worked.

SanDiego Day 1

Day One – somewhere over Texas..

Got an early start this morning. No problems at the Tyler Airport. I met a family that was sending their dog to Florida on a different plane. I thought that was odd.

Got in to Houston ok. Had to ride the shuttle bus to my terminal. I had some time to kill so I got my boots shined at one of those shoe shine stands. It was done by this Asian man wearing an old black cowboy hat that had seen its better days. He also was wearing a bow tie and white shirt. He did a real good job on my boots.

Sitting on the plane now as I type this. It is only about 80% full. There are several Marines on board. I know there is a large Marine base in San Diego. They look like they are new to the corps. No rank or badges on the uniform except for their rifle qualifying badge. The look like high school kids. There are also a lot of moms with little babies with them. Some of them are happy and some are not happy.


The flight is supposed to be a three hour flight. They are going to show a movie that I don’t think I want to see it. Looks boring. Just wanted to type out some thoughts. More LATER!

Got here. This place is beautiful. Cool temp, beautiful water, palm trees, roses, Spanish tile roofs...awesome.

I have a garden bungalow. It has its own covered area with vines and flowers. Very nice.

It is lunch time so i went to one of the 5 restaurants here at the convention center. I had forgot about the "laid back" atmosphere of this state. The restaurant was nice, but waitresses do not get in a hurry. I am used to being called sugar and honey and they fall all over them selves to get to serve you. Oh well, being in a foreign land like this one must adapt to the surrounding areas.

Later tonight I am supposed to check in at one of the ball rooms here. I am going to take a nap now and rest.

incidentally, Dad's procedure did not work. He is very discouraged. So am I.

Going West - Dad

Tomorrow I leave for San Diego for a conference. I will fly out of Tyler at 7. Will be back Saturday night. I should be able to post every day on this and face book to keep up with what is going on.

One complication. Dad's heart procedure is tomorrow. He has to be at Mother Frances at 8 in the morning. They will shock him at 10. I hate not being here for this. Dad insisted I go on with my trip. He has the hard part. My grandmother will be with him.

My prayer is that this will work and will help dad.

A Walk In The Garden Lesson 3 Note

This is the final set of note from this study. I will be starting something new next week. I have enjoyed this study very much.

Lesson 3

The Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13

v. 1. Virgins – also translated bridesmaids. To be one is an honor. It is very insulting to the bride, if the bride’s maids are not prepared. To be shut out because you did not get ready could ruin a friendship.

Jewish Marriage Customs. 2 basic stages.

Betrothal (or engagement) – spouse is chosen. Usually with input of parents or full decision made by parents. Sometimes the young ones would make choice or preference known. This could happen anywhere from 13-18 years of age. Legal contract would be made with witnesses to this. They were to remain abstinent during this time. To break this contract would mean divorce. If one died, the other was a widow or widower.

The Wedding – formal ceremony would be a year after the betrothal. Special garments would be worn. The groom would leave the fathers house and go to the bride with his companions. They would go and get the bride and bring the bride back to the wedding supper. Could be in either place. Parents and friends would bless the couple. The father of the bride would then draw up a formal contact. Then they went to a special nuptial chamber and consummated the marriage. While everyone waited outside. No pressure. The virginity was established afterwards by the presence of blood on the *sheets*. Then there would be a party for a week or more.

*The presence of the blood – shows that the virgin was pure, that she belonged to the bridegroom – she had been preserved. (Deuteronomy 22:13-21)

Jesus is the Lion of Judah – the Lion of Judah has washed his clothes in blood. (Genesis 49:8-12)

God looks for the blood so that He can pass over and not punish – (Exodus 12:13)

Believers showed that they were His, but the presence of Blood on their clothes (Revelations 7:14)

The church overcame the devil by the blood of the Lamb. (Revelations 12:11)

Jesus is pictured as a the rider on the white horse, with his own clothes dipped in blood.

v. 2 – Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.

v. 3 – many have a lamp of profession in their hands. But few of them have settled the matter and have the oil of the spirit of salvation in their hearts. They have outward works, but the inside is dead.

v. 5 – all 10 slept. Waiting and Watching is OK. Sleep is OK, if you are prepared. Once you have everything ready, it is OK to lie down and rest.

The wise could enjoy a true peace.

The foolish a false peace.

The foolish were not prepared to wait. They could not handle a delay. They apparently wanted an instant fix. They could not endure a little wait.

Though Jesus tarries past our time He will come in due time.

v. 6 – a new day has started.

v. 8 – The oil lamp was made of clay, had a basin for the oil and a wick that was burned to produce the light. These outside torches could burn for hours if their was enough oil. Could have also been a torch with oil soaked rags.

Their faith was dead. At the time when it mattered the most, it was dead and no one could help them. No prep work. Trouble came and now they are scrambling.

They were not spiritually prepared. A delay cause what they had to burn up.

The virgins were to escort the groom to the bride. They had the procession to light the way to the bride.

If the bridesmaids tried to share oil, none would have enough.

v. 10 – they went to buy, what could not be bought. What was once free without price is now not available. Is. 55:1-3.

v. 11 – being outside in the dark while the marriage supper is going on is a picture of being in hell. Not known, and un-helpable. No way to change the disposition.

v. 12 – they had insulted the dignity of the host. They missed the procession. They missed the chance to be a part of the celebration, dancing and singing.

v. 13 – the oil they had was good, but it ran out. A new day had come, and they needed to be re-filled.

Closing Challenge:

We can not lean on a past experience. We need to have new and fresh encounters with God to lean upon.

Daily grace is needed for daily need.

We are fools if we seek to only get through a moment, with no thought to what might happen.

The wise will have a fresh supply of spiritual strength to get through the time of waiting.