Harvey

Growing up, my family would take frequent trips up into the woods of East Texas. For most of my childhood my granddaddy lived in the Kirbyville, Hemphill area near Lake Toledo Bend. My brother and I loved getting out of the city and going out into the woods. My granddaddy had an old bird dog named Sport and an old chevy truck named Old Blue. There were woods for squirrel hunting, the lake for fishing, pine cones for throwing at each other, and peas for shelling (I hated that job). Needless to say, the only dull moments at my granddaddy's house came at night. I think they went to bed somewhere around 6:00pm and the only thing ever on tv, remember this was pre-cable, was baseball or the news. We played a lot of cards and knee football in the living room.

One of our favorite things to do was to go visit Uncle Harvey. He was actually my great uncle, but everyone just called him Uncle Harvey. His family had kind of disappeared and my granddaddy was left to look out for his brother Harvey. The thing was, Harvey was a hermit. For real! He lived in an old cabin in the woods by himself. As long as you went out there with my granddaddy you were safe. I never tried going out there without him because every time we went, Harvey was sitting at the ragged old screen door that was his front door, with a double barrel shotgun....locked and loaded.

His truck, lawn mowers, air conditioner, garage and everything else within range of the shotgun had been blasted several times. Uncle Harvey had a problem with hallucinating that people were trying to steal his stuff. So I was not about to run the risk of mistaken identity.

Harvey had long gray hair, and a long gray beard and was always wearing some old overa

lls. There was a massive tree in his front yard with vines that had been growing for decades hanging from the top of the tree. My brother and I would climb up in this tree and swing out of it like Tarzan until Harvey started shooting at the people living in the tree that were trying to "get" me and my brother.

As a kid we never thought about it, but Harvey lived a completely lonely, isolated life. Outside of my granddaddy taking him into town occasionally for groceries, he never left his cabin. If he did the tree people would probably steal everything he owned. He had none of life's finer things, and really didn't care for any of it.

I thought of Uncle Harvey the other night at the movies when I saw the trailer for a new movie starring Robert Duvall and Bill Murray titled Get Low. Duvall looks exactly like I remember Uncle Harvey, and it triggered these memories. But as I thought about my old uncle and his reclusive, lonely life, it made me think of the people that I pass daily that are just as lonely.

Even in the midst of all that goes on around them..... loneliness. In spite of millions of people, and the ability to connect with people around the world....loneliness. Many people live in the same, reclusive, lonely place that Harvey lived. They are looking for connection. They desire interaction. They want to be used. They want to know that God created them for a purpose and for a reason. The question is....

What are we doing to put them in the position to find that connection? How are we helping people realize the gifts and abilities that God has given each of us and how those gifts can be used to love and minister to others?

When people feel that there is no place for them, or that they are useless, many of them look to the church for answers and help. Our responsibility is to help them find the path and direction that God has planned out for them, with the gifts that He gave them in the first place. People want to be used and needed. Some are sitting at their door right now guarding everything they have from the tree people. Our challenge is to get them to let down their guard long enough to venture out and put those gifts to use for the Kingdom.

I'm out....

Spring forward......

So my middle kid is about to start driving. She's had her permit now for about 5 months, so end of April she gets to take her drivers test. Here's the awesome thing about that. Recently, Texas law changed back to kids having to take the drivers test with a state trooper in the car with them. Greatness!!!

I remember taking my drivers test with Sergeant Paris in the car with me. It was so intimidating! Parallel parking between two cones with tennis balls perched on top of them.... you knock one off.... you're done. Talk about white knuckling the steering wheel.

Recently, she confused the gas pedal and brake pedal while backing out of a parking space at the mall. I'm not sure who was more scared, my wife or the person stopped and waiting for the spot. I'm really glad I wasn't with her.

My son has let me know that he's not nervous about learning how to drive because he's played a lot of Need for Speed on the xbox. I think he meant that to be comforting, but we'll see. He does seem to have the advantage sometimes in the common sense arena. My wife calls him our last great hope!

This time of year brings about the desire, and in some cases, the need for change. To get things in order.... tidy up a bit. This year is a little different around here because our oldest is graduating high school. I'm not sure I'm ready for it, even though I act like I am. She's my baby. And now there are days I look at her and wonder when she got so grown up.

I'm sure two years from now when the next one graduates we'll be a little more ready in terms of time lines, preparation, etc...but I don't know that I'm ready for any of them to be on their own. I know that we've tried to prepare and teach them, but now we actually have to let them make decisions and stuff. That's hard.

Yes, these are changing times. Big changes. Life changes. Not so sure I'm ready for springing forward and such. Right now.... slowing down sounds real good.

I am gonna change her room to a man cave when she leaves though....

I'm out.

Coaches

The last two weekends I've had the opportunity to lead about 1,000 students in worship at FCA's Weekend of Champions. Both weekends were incredible!! Well over 200 kids came to know Christ! Others made came to a point of repentance and are trying, right now, to start a path with God in the lead. While there I also got the chance to speak some encouragement to the high school and college kids that were leading, and to the coaches that were there.

I love coaches! Having been one for so long I understand the good, the bad, and the ugly of their world. I also understand that these men and women have more influence on kids than just about anyone else in their lives during these crucial years. Partnering with coaches and schools is a must for anyone in student ministry, or for church in general.

Think about it. Coaches and teachers spend more time than any of us with our kids. More time than parents, youth pastors, bosses, etc.... To pour into our schools is to impact our teenagers at a kingdom level, regardless of numbers in any particular building or congregation. If I can encourage and empower the kids that are in our student ministry to live out the church on their campuses, and to do ministry where they are daily, I believe that way more effective than giving them another bible study they don't do anything with during the week.

We have to be efficient at what we teach, when we teach it, and when we give our people the opportunity to live out what we've taught. The wisdom to use the knowledge we have stored up is something we lack. God promises to give generously to those who ask Him for wisdom. I pray for our students daily that they will gain wisdom to use what they've been taught. I also pray that I will give them the opportunities to be the church, not just come to church.

I understand that there are always people that would rather sit and soak, rather than get up and be the church. I know that for some, sitting and listening to someone else's interpretation of the bible, Jesus, God's love and plan, etc... gives them what they need to check off their "went to church" box for the week. But to have even just a few that really get it....... that's where it's at. To have a few that want to get their hands dirty; that want to be the hands and feet; that want to serve....... those are numbers that have backing.

Coaches teach, and then on game night.... kids are given the opportunity to live out what they've been taught. When adjustments need to be made, they are made and implemented.... and guess what happens..... the kids respond. You find out rather quickly who you can go to battle with, and who is going to give it all they have and gather to celebrate, cry, re-evaluate, and start all over when needed, when the work is done. I think that is a pretty good model for the church.

Coaches.... thank you! Coach Bundy.... thank you for pouring into a 15 year old kid something other than just how to play the game of football, but how to do life. At a time when life sucked, you encouraged and built into what you knew would help later in life and I appreciate it.

What are we doing with what we know? And how are we encouraging those around us to use what they know? Build the kingdom..... regardless of where the bricks are laid.

I'm out.....

Schooled

The kids are out of school and Christmas is definitely in the air. I love this time of year!! It's even a little cold this year. Growing up on the gulf coast I don't ever remember a cold Christmas much less a white one. I do remember getting out of school and knowing that I had two weeks off. That was only topped when I got to college and realized I got a month off at Christmas. Incredible!!

I had a conversation about school with a friend the other day. He and his wife have chosen to put their kids in a private "christian" school after homeschooling for a few years. He made a statement that I have a problem with pertaining to public schools not being a good place for children to get their education.

I had a problem on a few levels....

1. my wife is a teacher in the public school system.
2. i taught and coached in public schools for 15 years before going into full-time vocational ministry
3. all of my kids are in public schools.

I guess my issue lies in the fact that I know that private "christian" schools have the same problems as the public schools, the kids there can just afford the private school tuition. I taught in several schools over my teaching career and saw my share of parents get upset with the system because of their kid's behavioral issues and just transferred them to a private school. I also had my share of kids that got kicked out of private schools for many of the reasons we were kicking kids out of public schools.

But on a spiritual level I just think that kids that have a relationship with Christ will have a bigger impact on their community if they are actually interacting with their community on a daily basis. To live out the life God calls us to in a public school, where all of society is represented can be huge. Obviously there are things that we don't want our kids exposed to, but is putting them in a bubble really helping. What happens when they get to college?

Don't say... well by that time they'll be mature enough to handle it. You're kidding yourself with that philosophy. Truth be told.... you risk them going stark raving wild when they get a glimpse at the world they've been "protected" from their whole life.

Teaching our students to stand for what they believe in the face of all the world has to throw at them is teaching them real, missional, Christianity. Life is gross and dirty at times and we can't protect them from everything, but we can show them what it looks like to overcome and stand for what is right. When you teach your kid to drive, you don't have them drive around a parking lot until the day they get their license. You get them out on the road and show them what it's like to navigate through traffic and obstacles. Life is no different..... they've got to see what it's like to take a stand when they're students, while they're still under our roof..... if they get away without that experience it could be trouble.

I'm out.....

Happy Thanksgiving

I love this time of year. There is so much to get excited about and reflect on. Later today this house will be filled with the smell of lots of food, and the sound of people having a good time. Football will be on tv pretty much all day with the Cowboys game being the feature game at 3. And then of course there is the fact that today ushers in the start of the Christmas season. Since I was a kid the Macy's Day Parade seemed to signal the start of Christmas. It's great.

One of the weird things about today is that all of the work that goes into preparing is laid to waste in a matter of minutes. By 1:00, the carcas of that turkey will be stripped to the bone. The dressing will be consumed in mass quantities and it will be time for a nap. By mid-afternoon many people will be making their shopping plans for Black Friday and the craziness that comes with the biggest shopping day of the year. Who started that crazy stuff anyway?

Then there's the reflective side of things. Thanksgiving..... should be a part of every day, but this time of year seems to make even the hardest of hearts sit and reflect on the good things of life. Even in the toughest of times there is much to be thankful for in life. Think on those things. Prayers of thanksgiving seem, sometimes, to get lost amongst all of the prayers of petition, but isn't there so much more to give thanks for than to ask for in our lives?

Nine years ago I lost my dad on Thanksgiving day to a heart attack. While the exact day only falls on Thanksgiving every once in a while, for obvious reasons it is Thanksgiving Day that marks that time of my life. I am thankful for the 33 years that I had with my dad and look forward to seeing him again someday.

Cliche as it may be.... take some tme today to reflect and be thankful for what you have, what you've had, and what we are sure to receive. Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm out.

Catalyst Stuff

The first day of labs/classes are done. I heard lots of good stuff today, but there is much to be processed. Here are a few of the notable notes from the day:

1. If you are leading.... people will get mad and leave. - Perry Noble
2. Inspiration will only take you so far. You must lead by revelation.- Perry Noble
3. If we hold too tightly to an ideal picture of family, we set up families to become disillusioned.
- Reggie Joiner
4. Influencing families is about teaching them to cooperate with God and His plan; not about
conforming to the picture of a model family.
5. The word of God has to be a part of our leadership in worship. -Aaron Keyes
6. When I invite people into my stuff, they invite me into theirs. -Jamie Tworkowski
7. How are we forming people into the image of Jesus? - Jon Tyson
8. Imagination has been taken captive by the world. -Darren Whitehead
9. People were not created to handle planetary suffering day-in day-out. -Shane Hipps
10. Church has missed the boat on teaching the gospel, and has taught moral theism.
-Matt Chandler

Well there you go. The top 10 nuggets of the day. I'll probably have much more to say tomorrow. Main sessions start up early and go all day. Can't wait...gonna be awesome!

I'm out.

Catalyst Day 1

Well... got to the ATL safely yesterday. One of my favorite restaurants anywhere is Daddy D'z BBQ Joynt in downtown Atlanta. If you are ever here you have got to get by there. The 4 bone plate with red beans and rice and fired okra can't be beat. The only problem..... I usually hurt myself before I leave and wind up miserable the rest of the day. I'm still hurtin' this morning. I don't even feel like eating breakfast. But for a once or twice a year visit to Daddy D'z.... it's worth it.

So the conference itself doesn't start till tomorrow. Today we'll be heading up to the Gwinnett Center to attend some labs (specialized, smaller venue discussions) with some key leadership figures from around the country. I like the labs because you get some good q&a time that you don't ever get in the main sessions.

Yesterday... we had some good staff time. I love sitting and talking with the guys I work with, trying to figure out what needs to be done to bring our body at Firewheel to the next level of spiritual growth and leadership. There is just so much to be done to reach the community that we live in daily. As a growing, mid-sized, church we have to make sure that we are constantly working to move ourselves, and our people to the next level and not get comfortable with where we are at in any part of the ministry.

I look at the incredible group of volunteers that I have in the student ministry and want to make sure that I am giving them every opportunity to follow God's call on their lives. If that means challenging them to raise their game, or moving people to different seats on the bus, raising my game, whatever...... we've got to do it. There are so many moving parts to ministry. What is it that needs to be done to make us move and not get complacent and comfortable? That's the question that I am constantly asking myself.

It's so easy to get comfortable. When things are familiar. When things are routine..... we can operate without even thinking about it sometimes. I remember when I was leading worship at camps and stuff week-in and week-out, it got real easy to just go through the motions sometimes. I would have to remove myself from things at times and really get my heart and mind focused on what we were there to do, because the music came easy.... it could've been easy to just wing it at times.

I don't want us to be "wingin' it." That's not the way to disciple and grow leaders in the church. One of my goals would be to train a team of leaders to do what I do. A team that is actively pursuing relationships with students and parents outside of the walls of Firewheel Church. One of the many things I learned about ministry when leading worship for so many different things is that about 90% of our ministry was always done off of the stage. It was about the relationships that were made at times off of the stage.

Well.... if the church building is our "stage." For each of us involved... it's about the relationships that are made off of the stage that will draw kids and parents into a closer relationship with Jesus. We've got to do whatever possible and whatever needed to lead students into a growing relationship with Jesus. What needs to be tweeked? What needs to be changed? What needs to be better? Hmmmmmm.... I'm sure I'll hear some insights this week while I'm here.

I always enjoy the time with the guys in this setting. We have a lot of fun. I like it when we challenge each other and talk ministry. Good week ahead.....

Stay tuned for pics, funny stories, updates, etc....... sure there will be plenty of that.....

I'm out.

Holding Patterns....

I was talking with my friend Earl last week about the state of the church body. Not just our church, but the church as a whole. As he spoke about some of the ruts we get in when we are not challenged in our leadership and spiritual development he used the term.. perpetual holding pattern.

If you've ever been on a plane that is put into a holding pattern, you know exactly what he means. Circling, flying, over and over...... no place to plant your feet, but a deep desire to just be home. When you look at what happens in churches all over the world today you see people fly in and fly out. Some stay a while...others not so much. Maybe they're in a holding pattern. Maybe they are just waiting to have a place to land. What is it that would make them want to land at your church, or mine? Are we challenging them to step out and be involved, or are we just giving them a place to touch and go?

I think people want to belong and be a part of something that is making a difference. I know there are those that just want to come in and get their weekly dose of God so that they can feel like they've done well....but I believe there are a lot of people we miss, because they want to make a difference and we may not give them the opportunity. It does make me wonder.... what am I doing to challenge the volunteers and partners in the ministry God's given me? What is it that makes my volunteers and students feel needed, wanted, and feel that they belong?

I think a big part of a church ministry has to be local missions. We have to be working and serving with our community in ways that give our people a tangible, visible reference to the impact they are having. Our people have to get their hands dirty in ministry. Growing ministries aren't always clean and pretty..... it's dirty sometimes. It can be a mess. Let's not be afraid of messiness.

The challenge is to get out of our holding patterns.... created by fear, apprehensiveness, comfort, etc...And let's help others get out of their holding patterns. No more church hopping when things get uncomfortable. No more searches for a place to land that is more fitting to our taste. But a desire to be challenged.... challenged to raise our level of commitment and service. What are we doing to reach our communities and people around the globe for Jesus?

On that note...school starts back in a week. One of the key ways we, as a church, impact our communities is by equipping our students to live out their faith in school. Be praying for our kids, teachers, administrators, coaches, etc..... This is a huge ministry for the whole church.

The overall challenge for us..... What are we doing to challenge each other and ourselves to get out of our holding patterns?

I'm out....

Closing thoughts on Barranquilla

Okay...so I've been home for almost a week now and I'm still trying to process everything from last week. Getting home on Saturday night has not left me much time to think about, much less write down, what I witnessed last week in Barranquilla, Colombia.

This was my second trip to Barranquilla and once again, it was incredible. It would take me a long time to write out the things I saw, felt, got to do, etc....so I've spent the last few days just trying to process a few of the major takeaways that God showed me on this trip. Of course there are the little things like being thankful that I live in a place where the bad traffic and crazy drivers are nothing compared to Barranquilla. They're not rude drivers or anything.....it's just that lanes do not matter, stop signs do not matter, tiny little taxis are everywhere, and people drive so close to each other that you could literally reach out and slap the person in or on the taxi/motorcycle next to you. But what are a couple of the bigger, spiritual takeaways?

One....I saw this last time, and even more so this time. These believers know what it looks like to come into a worship service with a heart of worship. In most cases there are no multi-media shows, air-conditioned classrooms, multi-million dollar buildings equipped with everything for our comfort and enjoyment. Some of them have bands, very good ones I might add, and sound systems, but for many it may be a singer, a conga, and nothing else....but it doesn't keep anyone from lifting their heart in worship. There is no attitude of, what are you
gonna do to impress me today? Or...I hope we're out on time. Or...what's in this for me. It's all about what I'm bringing into this service as a sacrifice and offering to God. And they just let it go. Whether it's in the street, inside a house, or wherever the "meeting place" may be......it is a place of worship and that is what is done.

There were some similarities in our church culture and the church culture there. My team was in an upscale neighborhood one day. The people in this certain area had much....nice houses, personal cars (which is much more a luxury there than here), nice things in their houses.......very comfortable lifestyles. What we found in these areas was an attitude of complacency and contentment. Many of the people saw no need for Christ because they already had everything they needed to make life comfortable. The pastor we were working with that particular day had been struggling to reach this neighborhood since he had moved there 7 months ago. We see this same attitude in our churches, if not in our own personal lives, here in the United States. It is much easier to depend on God when we have nothing than when we have much.

On that note....I heard several stories of healings and miraculous interventions of God from people in Barranquilla. Most of these stories came from people who had nothing to depend on but God for the needs in their lives. It made me wonder about the miracles of Jesus that we read about in the new testament. I would have to do a little study, but off the top of my head, many of Jesus' miracles were performed for people who had very little personal wealth to depend on for their rescue. How many times do we lean on our own abilities, personal wealth, etc..rather than place our faith in God for guidance and direction in life. So it was no surprise to find the people living in poor neighborhoods much more receptive to the message of Christ than the people who had the means to get what they "needed." That hits pretty close to home.

I am so proud of the students we had on this trip. They really stepped up, and many stepped way out of their comfort zones. The impact they had on people's lives is matched only by the impact the people of Barranquilla had on them. They learned a lot from the people we worked with, and the people they interacted with in the barrios.

It was a great trip! That's an understatement, but I don't know that there are words to describe what was seen and experienced. I'm hoping this trip becomes a staple of our student ministry summer for years to come. The relationships that were formed are key to continued ministry. This was not a trip in which a couple of humanitarian projects were started, completed, and then everyone goes home. There were relationships established between our people and the people of Barranquilla. Relationships with pastors, church members, new believers, etc...young and old, rich and poor. And relationships are a must if we hope for discipleship, and outreach to impact any community of people.

I'm happy to be home, but I look forward to my next visit with the people of Colombia. In the meantime.....taking what we learned from the churches of Barranquilla and working on my own personal attitude towards worship and keeping my heart and mind focused on Him will be how the people there continue to impact our lives here.

I'm out.....

Last Day in the Field

Today was our last day out in the field. We were back in the same barrio as yesterday, but this time we actually go to go into the "dangerous" areas. The principal of the school allowed their 7th graders to leave class and walk with us through the neighborhood. They were going to houses and getting the people in them to come and listen to us. It was great! This neighborhood was full of kids! It was crazy!

I had the chance to sit down with one family that was really funny. The mom has 3 kids..two teenage daughters and an 11 year old son. She said her teenage daughters drive her crazy because they are always going places and they think they know everything....sound familiar moms and dads? At that moment the grandmother spoke and said....but i carry a big stick....literally (you can see it in the pic below). !

The younger lady in the pic told me an interesting story about leakage from her breast that made things rather uncomfortable but my translator handled things very well. Yesterday I had a lady breast feeding in front of me as I spoke to her and her husband. Kind of strange but I just maintained lots of eye contact with the husband.

The school we have been basing out of the last two days has been great! Today one of the teachers, Carlos, took me on a brief motorcycle tour of the city. AWESOME!!
The traffic in Barranquilla is crazy and the drivers are even crazier. It's a place where lanes do not matter and everyone is just jockin' for position, ignoring stop signs, squeezing into spaces......crazy. Better than any roller coaster i have ever been on in my life.

This was a great barrio. We saw over 300 people give their lives to Christ in two days. Of course part of that is us getting to speak to an entire school, but still. These were some of the nicest people I have ever been around.

The Firewheel students have been doing great! They have got lots of stories to share when we get home so just be ready. I'm going to let them talk Sunday night at Amp'd. They have each had the opportunity to speak in front of their churches along with speaking to individuals all week long. They have done an incredible job! I am really proud of the way that they have stepped out of their comfort zones and responded to this call. I am certain they will want to return the next time.

Tomorrow is our off day, so we're headin' out to a beach and a market place. And then we cap the day off with our Victory Service. Each barrio our team has been in is invited to attend so it should be pretty big.

It has been a great week, but I miss my family. Most of the others do too. I'm looking forward to the trip home and getting to tell all the stories from an incredible week.

Moment of the Day:

*has to be the look on my translator's (Laura) face when I asked her what the lady had just said when she was telling us about her breast leaking. She really didn't want to translate that info.

21 Days till Cowboys kickoff.....

I'm out

Day 5......

Day 5...another school! My team's day started in another school. This time it was a school run by a christian principal and a faculty made up of all christians. They put each of our team members in a classroom. By 10:30am we had seen over 130 kids give their life to Christ. We ended up seeing 269 people give their life today! Our team alone! Crazy!

The neighborhood we were in was a really bad barrio. We had to have a police escort and three local gang members (as pictured below) lead us around the neighborhood so that we didn't go into the "wrong" houses. Needless to say we stayed pretty close together. The people were incredibly receptive and generous. So different from the very upscale neighborhood we were in earlier this week. People who had nothing, willing to let us in and give up the best seat in the house for us to tell them about Jesus. People with everything...not even opening their gate for us. In some ways it sounds very similar to the culture we live in back home.

I'm learning that there are certain constants in this world. For instance...people who have much feel they need very little. People who have little are willing to give all for a glimmer of hope. McDonalds tastes the same wherever you may be in the world...and in this setting it has been a welcome site at times.

I'm hearing great stories from everyone else on the team, and we've got lots of pictures to share. You can look at a lot of them on my facebook page. Check them out.

Moment of the Day:

*Justin Spann got a marriage proposal from this little Colombian chica who thinks he looks like Harry Potter.

22 days...you know!

I'm out...

Day 4 in Barranquilla

It was a different day today in a much different barrio. After being in an upscale neighborhood yesterday where complacency had set in, we went to a mission of that church in a very poor barrio. Mary McElyea, 3 of our translators, and a team of nationals were in the neighborhood all morning and did an incredible job.

Thanks to the pastor's wife being a teacher....she got myself, Tye, Elizabeth, Justin, Maria (our translator), and the other Maria (a national) into a school. We were able to share the gospel with more than 150 kids and saw 137 of them give their life to Christ.....in class! It was awesome.

Each of the students shared with the students, Maria (our national) shared her testimony...Incredible! And kids were just zoned into every word out of our mouths. It was a great experience. The teacher sounded a lot like some teachers I know back home. She teaches religion and ethics, but cannot be biased because it is a government/catholic school. But she can bring people in as guests and they can teach about their specific beliefs. So we did... and they responded.

The afternoon was cut short by a huge thunderstorm but it gave us the opportunity to sit with the people of the church we were with and just hangout. We sang worship songs..they would teach us one is spanish ...and then we would teach them one of ours. Old classical guitars with cat gut strings...so awesome!

The pastor shared with us that his church needed encouragement, so we met and talked, prayed, and worshipped together for a while. It was great.

Tomorrow we go to a different church and start working a different barrio. This is a neighborhood that I was in back in October so I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends.

Moment of the Day:

*Lauren McElyea told a group that Jesus died for all of our fish. The word for fish and sins is very similar and she just got a little mixed up. Funny!!

22 days till Cowboys opener!!!

I'm out...

Barranquilla Day 3

First day in the field went well. The students were all pretty nervous, but they had a good day. My team was in kind of an upscale neighborhood which resulted in many people being quite unreceptive.

I guess things are much different than at home. When we get comfortable with our surroundings and situation it is much harder to see the need for God. The people here are such gracious, welcoming people, but in this neighborhood there was just a sense of complacency. We'll be in another barrio tomorrow and we'll see what happens.

That being said....we saw 50 people give their life to Christ in our group alone. The people at the church we were at today are awesome! My prayer is that they will be able to disciple and go forward with what is started. I want these new believers to get plugged in and find a church home that will teach them and disciple them as they start their new walk.

The kids are doin' great. They are all excited about tomorrow now that they have a day under their belt.

Random Moment of the Day:

*why did the guy serving breakfast have a chef's uniform on (including the really tall hat) when they were just serving corn flakes?

23 days till Cowboys v. Raiders....

I'm out....

Day 2 of Barranquilla

Today was long...but productive. Just a lot of meetings and stuff that have to be done to cover everything that needs to be covered before heading to the barrios tomorrow.

We went to church this morning and my team was actually in one of the churches I was with when I was here in October. Pastor Edwin and his wife Rosy are great....and what a great group of people. The encouraging thing was that back in October there was probably about 50-75 people in their church. This morning they had apprx. 150 people there. Incredible!!

Their band was slammin'! Last time we were there...they had one speaker and the piano, guitar, and vocal mic were all plugged into it. They rocked it out this morning!

You know....the thing that still amazes me about church here is that the people are there to worship and there is nothing that is drawing them in except for the desire to meet with God. No fancy buildings, no "creative elements," no a/c, no multimedia presentations......just worship! and a lot of it!

We met our translators and nationals that we will be working with this week and they are great. I love our translators.....funny group of kids that are pumped about being here! We'll have more on them later.

Taxi rides are still the thrill of the day.....lanes don't matter and horns are used a lot! It's great.

Well.....no random thoughts but I thought I would share what is perhaps the funniest door hanger sign in the history of mankind. And yes...I'm bringin' it home with me.








I'm out!

Back in Colombia

Well....we're back in Barranquilla. Last time I was here was October and we had a team of about 70 people from all over the country. This time I'm here with team of 29 from Firewheel, half of which are students. We arrived safely around 5pm after a long day of waiting and walking through airports in Dallas, Miami, and Barranquilla.

The students are excited to be here and loved the bus ride from the airport to the Hotel Majestic where we will be staying this week. Riding through the streets of Barrnaquilla can be a thrill ride like none other. Lanes don't matter, horns are used constantly, while driving next to a Ford F150 there may be a donkey and cart on the othe side and a cow running down the road. All of them dodging the countless number of jaywalkers. CRAZY!!!!

We will be in church tomorrow morning with some of the pastors and nationals that we will be working with throughout the week. Then it's a little training and prep time tomorrow evening before hitting the field on Monday morning.

Everything today went very smooth and the kids are beat. Excited.....but beat. I don't think they'll have any problems going to sleep tonight.

I'm rooming with Tye Polk. That should provide some interesting updates as we move through the week.

We are going to have a great week and I am excited to see what God has planned for us here in Barranquilla. Lives will be changed forever.......ours inlcuded.

Moment of the Day:

I say to the students......don't try to use your phone unless you want to pay thousands of dollars in roamin' charges. To which Madi Polk replies...how much is that in american?

25 days till Cowboys v. Raiders...How bout them Cowboys?!

I'm out!

Control

Wow!! Summer is half over! It's crazy to think that school starts back up in just over a month. My oldest will be a senior this year! She makes sure to remind me of that every chance she gets.

I remember my senior year. Baytown Sterling High School...Class of '86! Seems like forever ago, but yet seems like yesterday. There's no way we can all be this old.....41 use to sound ancient. It doesn't sound so old now.

Where does time go? What is it we do with our time here? How do we impact lives around us? Things change so fast and our window for influence is small sometimes.

I'm afraid I spend too much time worrying about things due to my attempts at controlling stuff that God should be in control of anyway. Or getting ticked at people for mistakes that I have made myself many times before. You know...the kid at Taco Bell is just trying to earn a few bucks to put giant wheels on his Honda Civic....he didn't screw up my tacos on purpose. He's just got other things on his mind.

What is it that I really do control? I think if I start with controlling my relationship with Christ, and prioritizing His direction and influence, then perhaps the need to control everything else would begin to subside.

Jacob tried to control things his entire life. It wasn't until he wrestled with God and realized who he was that God was able to start a work in Him and do great things.

My prayer....that God would continue to help me realize who I am in Him and all of the other Dougs would take a back seat. Some things just push my buttons, and life happens daily. Control is part of our selfish nature and surrendering it is part of a growing, mature relationship with Christ.

Well....lots of stuff goin' on this week. VBS up here at church, leaving for Colombia, student minstry stuff......our children's pastor has me wearing a crocodile suit all week, walkin' around vbs. My name is Croc O'Dile...pretty funny.

You know how my mind works....so here are a few random thoughts:

1. so Bret Michaels of Poison and Rock of Love fame.....where did he find the people on this
seasons show that failed to realize that this is season 3 of finding his one true love? he's being
called a "romance revolutionary".......seriously?

2. why does my daughters summer school speech teacher require them to do current events on
colored, decorative paper? and by the way, the current events are not presented to the class
as a speech....go figure.

3. T.O. on the show Superstars....losing miserably to Julio Iglesias Jr......PRICELESS!

31 Days till Cowboys v. Raiders....how bout them Cowboys?!

I'm out.

Camp Reflections

Back in the office after a week of camp, a crazy weekend, and a Monday off.....lots to do but wanted to sit back for a bit and just reflect on some things from camp.

Brad Fogarty did a great job as camp pastor. I had never heard him before last week, and was impressed with his ability to communicate truth in a very up front, honest way but yet had the kids total attention. No gimmicks....just biblical teaching.

Crazy hot all week. I think Zephyr must be latin for equator. Free time was normally spent in the pool, pond, or cabins.

Of course, camp food is always one of the most scrutinized things of the week....and in this case...rightfully so. The portions were soooo small. I'm thinkin' weight watchers must use this facility for their annual conventions. Each meal could not have contained more than a dozen points. It was ridiculous!!

Our kids really enjoyed their family groups. I've heard them speaking about the relationships they formed with kids from the other churches there and I was really pleased they didn't just stick to each other the whole week.

Jeremy Lewis and his crew from Central Baptist College Station did a great job of organizing things. Being a camp director is a much harder job than most people know, and he did a great job.

Our kids are pretty incredible. This was the first time we had done
middle school and high school together at the same camp. I loved
watching the high school kids take on some leadership and mentorship roles with our middle schoolers. We also had some great chaperones with us that really made a huge difference in the camp experience.

Rental vans....$2,400
Snacks for the ride.....$20
Middle school boys going shirtless on the ride home.....Priceless!

The Man Game; Happy Butts; The Animal Game.....just ask the kids.

These are just a few things. You can check out a ton of pics on facebook, and the video will be coming soon. I could sit and write all day about the great week we had, but I have to get busy catching up and preparing for this weekend. Our senior pastor is actually giving his pulpit to the student pastor this weekend, so I'm preaching the main services. I'm really looking forward to that opportunity.

44 days till kickoff....Cowboys v. Raiders....How bout them Cowboys!!?

I'm out....

Talent Shows and such....

Camp talent shows....why? Every year...this event is placed as the headlining late nite activity. Not sure when that started, but I'd like to punch that guy in the throat.

Day 4 Highlights:

1. Our church group times have rocked all week.

2. Two foreign exchange students singin "don't stop believin'"....acoustic

3. The legendary happy butt has made it's return.

4. 3rd place finish in dodge ball tourney

5. Great message out of Colossians 2 tonite!

Looks like we're gonna be getting Brad for Focus this year. Pretty excited about that.....

I'm out.....

Hot!!!!

It is stupid hot down here! Rec time got messy with some great games, and most of the kids spent their freetime in the water. They're really liking Brad Fogarty (camp pastor). Day 4 is about to get underway so here are some highlights from day 3:

1. The message last night really struck a chord with the kids. They can't stop talkin about it.

2. So Daniel...one of the quietest kids here...shares that he doesn't like to talk in front of people, but then proceeds to preach a gospel message to the whole group, quoting scripture and all...it was great! The kids loved it!

3. Will's truffle shuffle dance at pool side followed by an award winning belly flop!

4. Tye screaming like a girl when I came out at him from between bunks, barking like a dog, in the dark....HILARIOUS!!

I'm sure day 4 has some great things in store...

I'm out

Gender Wars and other camp stuff...

Wired Camp '09

Day 2 Highlights.....

1. Great message from Brad Fogarty tonite. Expecting God to do great things instead of just anticipating...good word.

2. Chocolate milk game during rec....greatness!

3. Firewheel volleyball team 3rd place.

4. Gender Wars!! Boys win! Jonathan Dunham makes Firewheel proud by shooting a cocoa puff 12 feet.....out of his nose. Video footage
coming soon.

Day 2 in the books....great week so far!! Pics on facebook.

I'm out!