Pastorpreneur

Vacation in Maui

Just finished 5 days in Maui with two days of an AMAZING conference by Bob Harrison and the folks at Bob Harrison International (www.increase.org)   We had to stop attending the conference by mid day Thursday (we arrived late Tuesday night after a fairly intense travel day) in order to focus on rest.  We spent two glorious days of rest and had an unbelievable time.

We read, enjoyed the beauty of the creation, and just had huge relaxation time.  So thankful for our church (www.cvcwired.com) and the capable leadership there.  Our Executive Pastor, Craig Fuller, preached and kicked off our new series, "Living the Generous Life", and our student ministries band did worship and did greeting/ushering.  They were awesome!

Great to be back...

Beauty, Majesty, Humility, Awe...

Picked up my wife (Pam) from the San Jose airport on Monday around 1 p.m. (she had stayed in Virginia a couple of extra days) and we had a leisurely afternoon shopping and eating.  Arrived at the Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, CA for an awesome 2 1/2 day conference with our friends at EQUIP   The "Million Leader Mandate" is the reason I started going to Kenya, and ended up going there to teach leadership 7 times in 3 years.  I've taken about 18 months off, but will most likely be heading back to Nairobi in May of 2008.

The conference there was glorious...each night we heard from leaders representing leadership on 6 continents.  During the day, I played golf (or...actually, played "at" golf) with some amazingly talented people in majestic settings.  For you golf fans out there, I played the links at Spanish Bay and then got to play Pebble Beach on Wednesday.  The scenery was off the hook amazing...majestic, beautiful, and literally breathtaking.  It is very humbling to be in that kind of setting...our God is an amazing designer!

Came home on Thursday and got to reconnect with the kids.  Had an all day staff meeting on Friday where we ended with a powerful time of prayer and worship.  The contrast between the beauty of the Northern California coastline and the pain of loss with the Southern California fires was huge.  We prayed and are praying for our brothers and sisters who are being impacted and are being "Jesus with skin on" in their neighborhoods.

Many of our closest ministry friends are impacted by the fires and I covet your prayers for them.

Making me want to stay....

Just a quick thought before I hit the road this morning...

I got in to the Hampton Inn by the Milwaukee airport just before midnight Central time.  The counter clerk was perky, helpful, and glad to see me.  My room was comfortable and was designed with me in mind (e.g. I need a clean room, a nice bed, a good desk to work at, a tv and a decent bathroom).  I went to the quick breakfast this morning and it had variety but was nothing too fancy.  I came back to the room and worked for an hour and now I'll be hitting the road to get to my conference.  But I wish I could stay here and work all day.

Contrast that with what I've experienced at other motels in my 20+ years of travel...cheaper, dirtier, didn't feel safe, didn't feel welcomed, didn't feel like anyone had thought about me.  Couldn't wait to get out of them.

So...how does that compare with our churches and how first time guests feel about being at "our place"?  Were they safe, welcomed, and did we help them hear the gospel in a way that it could penetrate their heart?  We wouldn't think about doing "foreign" missions without asking those questions...

Just a thought...

Family Trip to Houston

Sorry for my absence from the blogging world.  Just coming back today (Wednesday evening) from a trip to Houston, TX to visit family and to enjoy a high school graduation for one of our nieces.  It was a great trip and all went well, except for some pain in the neck airlines issues.  I had us on 4 separate airlines to use frequent flyer miles, so I suppose it was bound to happen.  All of us except Jennifer (oldest daughter) were able to go to Houston.  Jennifer is preparing for the Pirate Queen role at a dinner theater in Orange County, CA.  More on that later, I’m sure!

Dena (daughter #2) ended up having her flight home cancelled…because of storms in Dallas preventing planes getting to Houston….same issue that kept Josh and I overnight in Denver on the way to Houston.

During our stay in Houston, we got to visit Lakewood Church (www.lakewoodchurch.cc).  We were able to take several family members with us, so that was great.  The music was awesome (led by Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff) and Joel Osteen had a great sermon.  I know many people attack him, but I’ve been with him in a smaller setting, and I believe he’s the real deal.  He’s certainly not the most theologically studied preacher, and I think his appearances on Larry King Live have not gone well…but I’m convinced he loves Jesus and is leading people to Jesus.  His teaching on Sunday was Jesus-centered and Biblically grounded.  I was personally ministered to by his teaching.

I arrive with Joshua(child #4, son #1)  at 7 p.m. tonight and Rachel (daughter #3) arrives 45 minutes later.  Pam and Harrison(child #5, son #2) come in at 11 p.m. tonight…yes, I’m sane…just not very. UPDATE...Pam's flight delayed 55 minutes...now picking her up at midnight...oy vey! 

Back on the blog attack soon…much happening!

Spent a month in Denver one day...

It's a long story, but 6 of our 7 immediate family (Jennifer's in CA preparing for a musical theatre show all summer) are heading to Houston for niece Chelsea's high school graduation.  I used all my free tickets...so 6 of us are flying on 4 separate airlines over 3 days for a total cost of $400.  I was pretty proud of myself.  Until today.

Pam, Dena, and Harrison left Tuesday and arrived safely.  Rachel will fly on Friday because she is finishing her last show with Madrigals.  Josh and I left today from Reno to fly to Denver and then on to Houston.  Supposedly.

Arrived in Houston at 2:45.  Flight to Houston was to leave at 4:47.  About 3:00 p.m. see that our flight is "delayed" until 7:15 (something that delayed should be more like--NOT GOING TO HAPPEN or something).  Anyway, we went and had a bite to eat...and then saw at around 3:45 that the flight had been cancelled!  UGH!  Supposedly a storm in Dallas (!) ended up cancelling our flight.

Based on previous air travel, I immediately called United and was told they could only put me on the morning flight for Friday.  Went to the Customer Service center for United (I'm smiling--or trying to) and waited for TWO FULL HOURS behind about 40 other pretty durn patient people...and had about 50 people behind me!  Got to the counter and the remaining flights on United, Frontier, Continental to Houston were all booked.  Got my tickets for 8 a.m. and a hotel room at Radisson for $48 (and since it was weather related, United would not cover the costs).

Felt really bad for Joshua because of the three hours in the airport...no luggage at the hotel...BUT...we had a great meal together and watched "Night at the Museum".  Tomorrow will be an early morning but we'll get to Houston and it will all be good..

Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel always used to say, "Blessed are the flexible..."

Amen.

Quick Trips and Great Memories

We live in a different time and space these days...

After arriving home very late Tuesday night from the family memorials for Aunt Sallie in Virginia, I started my very full Wednesday with my 6 a.m. prayer group and had staff meeting, several other meetings, and then ended with teaching Oasis that night and then a rather crisis oriented meeting at the end of the day.  On Thursday, had another full day, topped off with dinner at home and then working to catch up--BUT the boys and I watched the 3rd installment (again!) of Lord of the Rings...yes!

Left early Friday morning to fly to LAX to do a wedding reception in Oxnard for Jeff & Kim Cady (formerly Kim Bratberg) on behalf of them and Keith and Cindy Bratberg, Kim's parents.  I agreed to this several months ago and Pam was going to go with me...but with everything happening with Sallie and our 2nd daughter's wisdom teeth removal, this didn't seem like the best idea in the NOW.  However, the trip went great and I got to connect with several former Oxnard First Baptist (now Grace Bible Church) people like the Mummas (Ray/Kathry, Leroy/Vickie, Phillip/Rhonda) and the Blacks.  Was a really sweet time to re-connect....got to spend some great time with my mom and sister Tammy, brother in law Randy, and their children.

Ruby Black shared how as a young 20+ year old, I had shared words of sweet encouragement to her as her son Doug (roughly my age at the time) lay dying in the hospital.  I was humbled and in awe as I recalled that time and knew how scared I was to say the wrong thing...but apparently God worked in and through my fear.

My teaching preparation has been REALLY jumbled this week, but between Friday and Saturday I got everything done (I'm usually done with 80%+ by Tuesday night)...thankfully Jeanne, Steve, Laura, and others are all doing their roles to support....so I'm sitting in the San Jose airport now just praying for God to make this next flight on time so I can get home for about 30-40 minutes before leaving for our 2 Saturday services.

Pray for me....God is good!

A Good Day on the Airlines!

Two weeks ago several of us got stuck for 5 hours in Chicago while some tornadoes past through...then missed the final flight in Phoenix...so spent 4 hours in a hotel and back to the airport.

Today however, God smiled and intervened...each step of the way.  I was scheduled to leave at 4:30 p.m. from Raleigh-Durham and get home to Reno by 9:30 p.m. HOWEVER, I was able to arrange things for at least the possibility of getting an early flight home.  I got up at 4:30 a.m. EDT (1:30 a.m. PDT!), returned the rental car and got on a 6:00 flight to Charlotte....for flying through Phoenix and back to Reno by 3:30 p.m.  Instead, I knew there was an earlier flight in Charlotte...RAN to the gate upon arrival and asked if I could get on earlier flight..."maybe"...you'll have to standby.  So...I told the agent I'd be waiting for an exit/aisle (more leg room)...she told me she'd wake me up from my dream later...I told her I believed in the power of prayer.  15 minutes later she said, "You're not going to believe this...but an exit row aisle is available now!"...I told her again about the power of prayer.

Great flight to Phoenix....was able to standby on an earlier flight to Reno...got a window seat (I prefer aisles)...but got to Reno at noon!  Yea God...thank you Lord....

Back home safely and enjoying my boys (Pam and the girls are out at separate things tonight)....will sleep in my own bed tonight---yes!

Kenya Trip Details

Leaving in about 45 minutes from RNO, flying to Phoenix, then to NYC (JFK); 4 hour layover and then on Emirates Airlines to Dubai, then to Nairobi....arrive Nairobi about noon their time, then start teaching at 2 p.m for 3 hours...this is obviously the longest/roughest day of the trip....about 35 hours from my home to Nairobi.

Teach Million Leader Mandate (workbook #5) for 2 full days (my partner John Siebling will be teaching both days in September).  Have 3 straight days of CEO breakfasts with 25-30 VERY sharp folks who lead major business enterprises in Kenya.

Teach one day of business professionals training on book #4, one fully day of training small business owners.  Then, off to Kitale to see Bible College and preach over the weekend.  Back to Nairobi and speak to Kenyan Legal Society (group of about 40-50 top notch lawyers).

Leave Tuesday 3/14 from Nairobi and arrive back in Reno 3 p.m. on the 15th presuming all goes well...about 36 hours total trip.

THANK YOU for your prayer support...I feel it every day!