Tulsa Workshop: Day 1

It has been a couple of years since we were last here at the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop. So here are some notable things we did/saw/heard.

Saw John W. Smith

Talked with Jon Smith at the SIBI booth – He is new at a church in North Carolina, Told me about the lawn-mower race track in the town where he is now preaching- yes it is in the south – deep south.

Visited with friends Ben & Jackie Merenes, who are now working with Eastern European Missions.

Bought a book: Praise Hymnal – so we can have some contemporary praise songs with notes.

Looked at “Christian Camo” apparel – as if Christians need to blend in and hide among our communities more. (By-the-way Billy, you can get a Christian Camo Hand Gun or Rifle Carrying Case. Wrap your mind around that notion.)

Went to the Mall – shopping and to get something to eat.

Went back to the Schroeder’s (our good friends and class-mate from Sunset, with whom we are staying) to take a nap before dinner.

Fed a Donkey.

Heard Patrick Mead & His Son-In-Law, Josh Graves speak on; “Praying with Courage.”

Noteable Quotes:

“I believe Jesus was a Pacifist” – Josh Graves
“But his Daddy Wasn’t!” – Patrick Mead

“Jesus didn’t call us to take up your comfortable chairs and follow me.” – Patrick Mead

“Some churches need to change their sign to read, “The Church of Keeping the ‘Smiths’ Happy for 37 years.”- Patrick Mead

Patrick Mead is a funny little Scotsman - who reminded us that following Christ takes real courage.

Enjoy Life With Your Wife!

Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love,
all the days of this meaningless life
that God has given you under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:9

Monday nights are Shepherd-Minister Meeting Nights. For those of you who know the experience; nothing more need be said. For those of you who don't; let me just say, "Don't try this at home kids. Leave it to the professionals!"

They're really not that bad, and every now and then, they can be real good: like last night. Good discussion about some important things. And then the bonus: The ministers got to leave early, so the Shepherds could enjoy the meeting even more on their own.

Anyway, I went straight home, plugged the iPod in the portable player, and hopped in the Hot Tub with Leisa. Let me tell you, there's nothing like sitting in 100 degree water with all the jets doing their magic, sipping on a home made ice-cream/coffee frappacinos, listening to some good music, looking up at the brilliant Arizona stars (we have our own stars out here you know) and enjoying life with Leisa.

I've made a lot of bone-head decisions in my life. But marrying Leisa wasn't one of them. Marrying her is the best thing I've ever done in this life under the sun.

And getting a hot-tub rates pretty high up there too.

Is There a Cure?

"Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony."

Psalm 6:2

I hate the conflict that goes with being a preacher. I love preaching, teaching & ministry. But sometimes I really hate being a preacher. I wish there was a cure.

12 Hours

I can't remember the last time I enjoyed sleep so much. Thursday night, Leisa and I slept 10 hours at Canyon View - even though we are both suffering with some congestion and a cough, we slept great. Then last night, in our own bed - I slept from 10 pm to 10 am - what glorious rest. I hope you are getting enough rest - cause today, I feel fully rested and ready to go. Have a great weekend.

7 Random Things

You're lucky Billy, I'm getting ready to leave the office with my wife and go spend the night at Canyon View Resort, so I'm in a good mood. Otherwise, I might have blown this off the same way I do most emails that say, "send this off to 10 people and you'll have good luck" or something similarly inane.

Anyway, here are 7 Random Things:

1. I've Lived in 7 Different States (TX, NM, MA, CA, MO, NJ, AZ) and 2 Foreign Countries (Canada & Scotland).

2. I Fell in Love with my wife, Leisa in Scotland and tried to get her to elope with me. But noooo, she had to be reasonable and wait till we got back to the states. But even after 25+ years it has still been worth the pursuit.

3. I'm recently allergic (within the past 5 years) to Peaches & Apples, and maybe Orange Juice.

4. I still have Billy & Ashley's Wedding Ceremony in my Journal. - One of the more interesting (in a fun way) weddings I've done - I have to admit.

5. If I could be a professional athlete (at the top of my game) I would want to be a Pitcher (They're a lot like preachers; they only work once every 7 days).

6. In High School, I played the character 'Jimmy the Greek' in the musical Guys & Dolls.

7. In 7 minutes, I'm out 'a here and heading for a 1 night stand with the Southwest Christian School's secretary. Did I happen to mention that she's my wife. How great is this job, where I can carry on an affair with one of the secretaries - and God smiles the whole time.

It's Called Ministry! Hello?!

I had a rough day yesterday. At the NFL Experience. With Jennifer Lopez and 4 of her friends. Not that Jennifer Lopez - THE JLo is about to pop, I've been told. This Jennifer Lopez is a 9 year old 4th grader. One of our parents here at Southwest asked if I could chaperon their daughter's class trip to the NFL Experience. O what we do and call it 'ministry.' I had fun though.

Spanked!

Abraham and I have a lot in common. Not the “Father of the Faithful” kind of stuff, but like him, I’ve moved around a lot. Like him I’ve tried to help God fulfill his promises to me too many times, instead of letting Him do what He does best. And like Abraham, I have sorely underestimated the character of my neighbors.

A couple of months ago a family moved into the vacant house next to ours. They are a big family; grandparents, parents, 4 kids, 2 cats, 1 yapping dog, and 4 or 5 cars. We met some of them a week after they moved in when we had a yard sale; they seemed nice enough, but I was a little worried.

It didn’t take long for that worry to be realized. Their kids beganto take a short cut from their front door to the corner by cutting across our front yard. Now for those of you who don’t live in Arizona, our front yard is gravel, which means they’re not killing the grass or anything, but it was leaving visible tire ruts in the gravel. I started to get a little aggravated and wasn’t looking forward to having a confrontation with my neighbors about their kids beating a trail through my front yard.

Yesterday afternoon, when Leisa and I came home from work their 3 younger children were out in their driveway playing. I waved. I sprayed some weed killer on the weeds growing up through the gravel. I went inside to take a quick power nap before heading back to church. The door bell rang.

It was the 3 kids from next door; Leslie about 12, Christian, about 10, and Ashley maybe 8 years old. “Yes,” I said. Then I got spanked! Leslie, holding a broom, said, “We’re sorry for making a mess of your gravel, we’ll clean it up.” I of course lied and said, “Don’t worry about it. It’s Ok.” I did encourage them to use their youthful energy and keep their bikes on the sidewalk; which they said they would.

I went inside, lay down but couldn’t sleep.

I wondered how I was ever going to show them Christ more powerfully than they had just shown Him to me. I know God was speaking to me about my own heart and attitude, and until I get that more in tune with Him, I would continue to be a pretty weak witness of His love and grace.

I'm still a little sore from that spanking.