Going to Vegas!

It's been a while since I have blogged but life has been a little crazy for the last couple of months. Along with learning to be parents we are still in a ministrial transition. Exactly tomorrow morning I'm flying out to Las Vegas to attend a Pastor's conference at The Church of South Las Vegas. The Senior Pastor, Benny Perez, is an amazing man. He and his team are doing some awesome things in Vegas. They are truely changing the culture in Vegas. Other than attending the conference I have the honor of having lunch with Pastor Benny on Friday. I can't wait to sit down and hear what Pastor Benny has on his mind regarding church planting, networking, and pastoring in Vegas. I'll let you know what happens in Vegas when I get back!

Fall Back!!!

Don't forget the time-change tonight and to set your clocks BACK an hour! Enjoy your extra hour of sleep!!!

Transitions

Webster dictionary defines TRANSITION as; 1 a : passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another : b : a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another.

So transition sounds like it's a great thing. Then why do we sometimes...okay most of the time label transitional times in our lives as seasons of hardship and frustration or a waste of time? The reason I ask this question is because lately it's felt like my life as been in a state of constant transition. We do everything in our ability to avoid transitional seasons?The reality is transition has to happen for us to move forward to our God ordained destiny.

It up to us if we are going to allow the season of transition that you and I are in to be a time of frustration, stress, and depression or a time of discovery, renewal, and joy.

Just a thought I had to get out of my head.

Am I Called?

Let me be transparent with ya'll. Laterly I have been really struggling whether or not I am called to plant a church. After I left the church that I was at for 4 1/2 years I wasn't sure what was going to happen but I knew that God was going to do something that I had never experience in my life.

Several months into this new season I find myself questioning my calling. I don't know if any one else has ever found themselves asking these questions;

• Will I be a successful church planter?


• Am I ready for this kind of responsible?


• Will people have faith in me and my wife?


• Will I be able to motivate the people around me?


• Will I be able to raise the money for this vision?


• Will our vision ever happen?
• Do I need more time?
• Do I need more training?
• Will people connect to the vision?
• Should I work with a church plant or another church for a season?

Pretty sad I know...the thing is that I know that God has called me and my wife into full time ministry. In the last couple of weeks I have had two conversations with people looking for a youth pastor. I love youth ministry...I love teenagers discovering their God ordained destiny but I sense in my spirit that I need to prepare for leading a church.

I know I shouldn't ask questions like these. I know it sounds like I don't have faith right now. But that's where I'm at...but earlier tonight I read this great blog called Be Secure in Your Calling written by Gary Lamb. It really made me remember how God called me into ministry as a teenager and reminded me that ministry has many seasons and one of them is where I am currently but I must remain faithful and secure in my calling. If you are questioning your calling YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BLOG. Thanks Gary for writing this blog it ministered to me and challenged me. For the rest of ya'll let me know what you think?

his first "official"cold:(

For the last couple of days our son has been feeling a little icky. All night my little man coughed and had a stuffy nose. Around 2:00am he woke up crying and trying to breathe. It kind of freaked me out. Because it sounded like he was choking on his own snot. I quickly picked him up and he looked at me with his big brown eyes and smiled as if he was thanking me for not letting me choke on his snot. As I feed him he struggled to drink his bottle because of his stuffy nose. It was so hard seeing my little man struggle like that. Around 3:00am little man finally fell asleep...actually we both fell asleep on the rocking chair. I laid him down in his bed...thought out the night he moved so much. It seemed like he was so miserable there were times when he struggled to breathe which made me jump out of bed and make sure he was breathing. So we had a long night last night

On Tuesday morning we took little man to the doctors. We had a great visit but it was "official" little man's first cold. When we went to the docs he didn't have a fever the only symptoms he had was a bad cough and a stuffy but later that night the fever came and it was another long night. Anyway please pray for our son and for us to recover from a week of very little sleep.

is it a JOB or MINISTRY? pt.1

Easter 2007 I resigned from my full-time ministry position. Honestly, this was one of the hardest decision that I have ever made but I knew that it was the right move not just because it was the healthiest move for my family but it was definitely a God move. So the following week I found myself in position that I hadn't been in a long time...JOBLESS! Reality slapped me in the face...jobless, no income, a baby on the way, my wife on bed rest, and somewhat directionless.

I knew that God was for us and that He had our situation already worked out but when you are literally living one day at a time it's hard to remember that our destiny is already written. The one thing I was sure of was that I didn't want to walk into something because of fear or pressure. Whether a secular job or a ministry position I wanted to know that God Himself moved mountains to put me there and if I didn't see and sense that in my spirit I didn't want any part of it. Sounds impressive and strong but try telling that to a eight month first time mommy. SHE GIVE ME THE LOOK! Guys you know what I am talking about...the LOOK!

Although this was a very crazy time in our lives I knew that God was going to show up in a BIG way. After my son was born once again reality slapped me again. Not only did I have to provide for my wife but now we had a baby that was depending on us. Daddy mode went into over drive. I started to freak out...it had been one month with no job which means no income. But every time we had a bill it was paid, not once were we late on our house payment, we never missed a meal not even my dogs. God is so good and faithful.

During the months of June and July I was applying for different jobs and speaking when I got the opportunity. Honestly, I was getting frustrated and a little depress. I knew that God was in control but when every door that you try to open gets slammed in your face you begin to question anything.

Now it's the middle of July. I was searching the Internet for jobs at this point I was willing to do anything...well almost anything. I saw that Buckle at a mall near us was hiring. It looked great and promising so I got up dress and drove to the mall. This certain mall was familiar to me because five years before I worked there as a security officer. Anyway I met the manager had a great interview he wanted to hire me but he couldn't promise me the pay I needed and the hours I needed. I walked away a little disappointed but I knew God was doing something. After I left Buckles I went to visit a friend from my security days at the mall. I started to share my situation with my friend she looked at me and told me that American Girl was hiring for security. I had know idea who in the world American Girl was all I knew it sounded girly so I wasn't really interested. After I found out it was a doll company I really didn't want to work there, but my friend encouraged me to check it out. So I started to walk to the store space where they were hiring people but I bumped into another friend that worked on the maintenance staff. He asked me what I was up to, I told him that I was looking for a job. Suddenly he screams out "you got to work at American Girl". I told me that he would take to me to the manager so I jumped into his golf cart and we headed to the American Girl store.

I KNOW THIS IS LONG BUT I AM ALSO AT THE END!!!

So my friend introduce me to the manager. Let me put it in the simplest way I can say it...3 months my way...1 hour God's way. In one hour I got a job that I was not looking for but God knew that I needed. My new employer gave me the pay that I asked for, they gave me the days I wanted to work, and they worked with my schedule so I could teach at a Christian school during the morning. In one hour I went from jobless to gainfully employed. The question now is was this just a job or something more?

how do you measure success?

I have been thinking about this question alot lately. The thought of being successful makes people do crazy things some times. Usually when people think of success they think of arriving at some kind of status in their career. Attaining the corner office with windows, making serious money, having a title, and even getting a parking space with your name on it. In short power, money, and position.

Now being successful isn't a sinful thing or something we should run away from but I believe it's how we view and define success that will determines if we TRULY become successful in life

Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well".

This is the blue print to a successful life. Jesus made it very clear if we want a truly successful life we must be kingdom seekers. In other words when God's priorities become our priorities we will see success in every area of our lives in our marriages, in our families, in our relationships, in our ministries, and even in our basic needs.

It's time to measure success differently so stop measuring yourself to the church down the street or to that Pastor across town and start becoming kingdom seekers.