I’m trying out various looks and feels for this website. I get bored easily and always like to try something new!!

My goal is to have this up, running, and to be somewhat “normal” by the end of September. I’m trying to do most of the work myself so I can learn how this stuff works!!

Thanx for your patience!!!
Dave

We came, we saw, we conquered.

enough said!!

Here are some pix of our vacation – Day 1

Boys swimming

Beth updating MY facebook status!

John eating his favorite cake!

Gram & Pop-pop

Beth and Josiah

The ole’ man

John starts the sax!

John’s Birthday

POOL TIME!

It’s been awhile! Bot lots has happened!

Like this….

And this…

And this…

And this…

And this…

And this…

I guess I just need to write about this stuff more.

My notes were pretty sparse for this session that Nancy led on Women in Ministry. Now, it’s not because the session wasn’t good, it’s just that I was that bad at taking notes. It happens.

Chad Swanzy did a super job of note-taking and have placed his notes on his blog. You can find it here:

Nancy Beach Session

I’m having some trouble with SCribble Live, but thought I’d try it again for the main session coming up. We’ll be trying it again

Morning Main Session – Francis Chan

Let me just say that I don’t like Francis. I mean I like him, but I don’t like what he has to say. But I do like it, but I don’t like what it does to me. He messes with my mind – A LOT. He just puts things so simply, so scripturally, so ….. And this morning’s session was no different.

I’ll attempt to put into words what I was feeling or thinking.

He started out by bringing his 14 yr. old daughter out on stage with him. He introduced her and then said she was going to play us a song. She began to play the piano and then she sang a song to God with an incredible voice. You could just see the pride that was on Francis’ face.

He mentioned that only a parent would understand how it would feel to have your child on stage with you singing songs of praise to God. I could just imagine myself with my two boys there doing the same thing. Being on stage, proclaiming the Gospel to thousands. A smile crossed my face as I imagined it with John twisting balloons and with Josiah singing praises.

He then went on to talk about his incredible love for her. And then he started talking about how 2 years ago, at this conference, he was able to have dinner with someone from the conference. The guy from the conference deals in human trafficking. Helping those teens, kids and adults who have been the object of being sold into slavery.

He went on to say that he couldn’t sleep that night as his mind wandered into what would he do if his daughter was stolen and then sold off into slavery. His mind filled with images of hands all over his daughter and how would he react. Who would he go to? the church? How much of a fuss he would make over it? How he would leverage anyone and everything he could to get his daughter back.

He then went on to say that God impressed upon him that he should think of the others as his daughters and sons. How he should have the same passion and put in the same energy to help others out too.

He was fired up to help! To do what he had to do! And then….
his friends started telling him that he was already doing enough
that he didn’t need to spend more time doing things
that they weren’t his kids

… and eventually, his fire for the human trafficking stopped.

He started to be “normal” again. For not being so passionate about this travesty.

His next story was about how he ran into a teenage girls at a summer camp. And how he heard she was sponsoring several children (thru Compassion International or a similar organization.) He got to meet her and asked her how many kids she was sponsoring. She said she just picked up another one so she was up to 14 children! That’s like at $30 a month! He asked her how she pays for it and she said she has a part-time job (she’s in High School) and in the summer she works 3 jobs! All to pay for these kids. She feels it’s more important to help these kids than to earn money for a car or extra clothes. Wow!

But, the question is… will “caring” people from her church or community tell her she should be using her money elsewhere. For something else. For her college fund. To by herself a car. Will people try to talk her out of her passion?!?

Do we as a church do this to people? Do we talk people out of being so passionate about Christ and serving Him, that we need to counsel them in being too radical. That we try to “teach” them not to do this?

Do we have seasoned Christians in our church that we would not want to be mentors over newer Christians who are on fire for God? Would we be afraid their fire would be put out by having to act normal?

Am I this? am i guilty of this? Of extinguishing someone’s flame with my words or actions or the way I treat them because they are passionately serving Christ and it looks different that makes me comfortable?

Is that me?

Or maybe I’m the one on fire, ready to serve others, care for their needs, live sacrificially so I can make an impact on those in need. Am I passionate?

Am I?

Or…….

Am I an even keel? Not wanting to rock the boat. Living my life, raising my boys, keeping us safe from harm, from hurts, from pain?

Or…..

Has God laid something on my heart that people/situations/my mind has tried to extinguish… to make me normal in my thinking? Has God laid something on my heart?

About Mexico?

About our neighborhood and community?

In Ephesians, Paul asked people to pray for him to have BOLDNESS. I think I am asking for people to do the same. That I will have the boldness to proclaim the love of God thru my actions, thru my thoughts, thru my words, thru my service, thru my love and acceptance of others.

Some random tidbits from my notes:
We never look more like Christ than when we are rescuing.

Will everyone try to talk you out of being radical for God’s Kingdom? For helping his children?

Deep breath, your next one could be beside Christ in Heaven – then what would you say?

Francis…… I hate you…… but I love you…… Thanx!

Overall, it was a great day. I’m exhausted and going to bed as soon as I post this!

PreCon Session # 1 – Jim Wideman – SERVING ANOTHER LEADER’S MINISTRY
Feed the flock that is under your care
God – “Why should I give you any more kids if you can’t manage the ones I already have given you?”
Make a list of the reasons someone can’t do something (serve), then fix them one by one.
Overseer’s CAN’T do everything!
the devil can mix us up by getting us to do things we don’t have to do.
We must be willing and eager to serve.
The best way to a mom and dad’s heart is to serve their children!
To grow a ministry in your community…
find a need & fill it
find a hurt & heal it
People have a need to be needed
Priorities
God
Family
Sr. Pastor’s vision
Leaders under me
We need to know who leads us (Sr. Pastor)
his vision
his heart
his desires & dreams
think the way he thinks and leads
carry yourself the way he does
treat me the way I treat my leader
helpers get a double anointing

PreCon Session # 2 – John Saddington – reTHINKING SOCIAL MEDIA
Blogs over facebook, twitter, myspace, etc…
you have control over your own blog, you are not limited to whatever changes someone else makes or the fads
you can change your blog as thinks change
How can we use a blog?
Limit info – get people to come back
get them to engage on the blog
Principle of anominity can help some open communication lines as they aren’t scared
tie info in what you communicate in your ministry. Can you communicate some info on the blog that isn’t communicated elsewhere?
BE WILLING TO EXPERIMENT!!

PreCon Session # 3 – Diane Runge – FINE-TUNIG YOUR SYSTEMS
Are we willing to do whatever it takes to impact the hearts of the next generation?
How do you measure things? Stats? Stories?
Make our OS a MAC, not a PC
What are we (the church) called to accomplish?
What do we want parents, students, and kids to become?
Are we willing to put everything on the table and be willing to change?
our programs
special events
camps
vbs
all our stuff?

Main Session # 1 – Reggie Joiner – Stock Family
there is no “standard / typical” family
People want to go back to bible times and have things be the way they were before all this divorce, etc…
Looking at the bible, try to find a “healthy / normal / ideal” family
pretty tough to do this
God is the God of restorations
if you want your kids to have an every-day kind of faith, you need to have one and lead them in this.