Sunday Night “Sum Up”–3.8.2009

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Each Sunday night I will be summing up the previous week’s events in a “numbered” list, along with the “sum total” of our attendance for the week…even though “I’m not very good with numbers.”

  1. Had good services today.
  2. 242 in attendance in two services
  3. …Seems rather petty (the numbers) in light of Pastor Fred Winters passing today.
  4. Here is a link to CNN for what happened…http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/03/08/church.shooting/index.html
  5. Pastor John went to seminary with Fred Winters…Also, Fred’s brother, Zack is a member at Forest Park.
  6. Pray for that family.
  7. Pray for that church.
  8. I am reminded so vividly of the shooting at Wedgewood BC in Fort Worth when we were at Southwestern Seminary.
  9. May God be glorified in this tragedy as He has been in the past!
  10. I am still loving the Kindle 2!? Becoming quite the Kindle evangelist…in line at the store…at the dentist…etc.
  11. Pretty sad that I am an evangelist about a stupid device and not my Savior.
  12. I was able to turn the conversation to Christ and our church though at the dentist office.
  13. I had two wisdom teeth taken out…drugged out for a couple of days…but doing good now.
  14. Had a birthday celebration on Saturday afternoon after Taylor’s basketball game…Strawberry cake–my favorite!
  15. Katie helped us tear off wallpaper…we are gaining on it…but very slowly though!

Here is a gallary of pictures that I posted on twitter and from my phone this week…

The Week In TwitPics….

Basketball Season in the Books

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Taylor has been playing basketball for 3 years now. He absolutely loves sports and really lives basketball. This year, we decided to play YMCA basketball instead of Upward. Nothing really wrong with Upward, except it is a drive and I honestly want to be around people who aren’t “professional church goers.” It has been fun hanging out with people that don’t all have a church home or background. I love working with the kids too! Our guys (and girls) have really improved over the last 8 weeks! The time has sure flown by! We don’t keep score in the games…but our kids say that we are undefeated–don’t know how that works exactly!!

Here are some fuzzy pictures at the game this morning.

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Friday is for My Soul Friends…Daryl Eldridge

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One of my “soul friends” is Dr. Daryl Eldridge.? Actually, the idea for this category on my blog is based off of the name of his blog–“My Soul Friends.”

Dr. Eldridge is the Founder and President of Rockbridge Seminary, an online seminary based out of Springfield, MO. He was “my” dean while I was at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, TX.? Actually, I was a MDiv. guy and Daryl was the dean of the Religious Education School, but I still had my share of classes in his “school.”

I did not personally meet Daryl until a few years back when I began attending a Pastors Learning/Accountability Group that was started by Michael Haynes, the Director of Missions of the Greene County Baptist Association.? Michael and Daryl have a heart to pour into the lives of “young” pastors/church planters and have somewhat “tag teamed” the leadership of this group.

Honestly, Daryl and the rest of that group really helped me make it through a very dark, difficult time a couple of years back.? He has always been available to listen and give advice to me when I have needed it.

What I love about Daryl is his passion for the education process.? Rockbridge Seminary is set up to reflect those passions.? Each student that is enrolled must find a mentor for their classes that they can learn from a “practicioner,” not just a professor that isn’t “in the trenches.”? What is awesome about this mentoring process is that not only does the student learn from the process, the mentor learns as well!? Daryl calls it “cross mentoring.”? I believe that as I walk with a student through this process, I am probably learning just as much as them.

A huge thanks to my soul friend, Daryl Eldridge!? Thank you for pouring into students, pastors, and future leaders of His Church!

Who is one of your mentors?? What is your relationship like?? How often do you meet with your mentor(s)?

Sunday Night “Sum Up”–3.1.2009

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Each Sunday night I will be summing up the previous week’s events in a “numbered” list, along with the “sum total” of our attendance for the week…even though “I’m not very good with numbers.”

  1. Had a really good…busy week this week!
  2. Attendance was down a bit this week…probably the weather…sickness is going around too…232.
  3. LAUNCH is going to be a really good series!? We really need to get “unstuck” in our spiritual lives!
  4. Make sure you get your friends to this series!!
  5. We had a bunch of crazy technical difficulties that our team handled really well…I don’t think people noticed, though–GREAT JOB tech and worship guys!
  6. Kevin is the man with creating video stuff!? Our announcements are looking better and better each week.? Plus, we had the sultry, sweet, smooth sounds of his dad doing the voice over this week!!? Thanks Coach!
  7. Had an AWESOME Leadership meeting today after church!? I am excited about the future of our church because of this great group of people!? Beware…they may be “tapping on your shoulder” in the coming days to help join them in serving at FP Carthage!
  8. I love hearing the unbelievable stories that are told at those meetings!? That always fires me up!
  9. We got our children’s ministry packed away in less than 10 minutes…that needs to happen every week…and it can if a larger group of people give us 5-10 minutes before they leave for lunch!
  10. My new Kindle 2 came in the mail yesterday!!? I am really pumped about that thing!!? My back is already thanking me for lightening the book load!? Got an ESV version of the Scriptures for free…that is my first and only book so far.
  11. Had a crazy day on Saturday running from Basketball, to a birthday party at House of Bounce, to our monthly “birthday” dinner for the OBU Bunch (Stones, Clements, & Jones.)
  12. Great meeting in Springfield with Pelham-Philips (architect), A1 (sound and video), and Downhome Productions (lighting, etc.).? The building is going to be AWESOME!? Keep praying that we remain faithful in our giving in order to continue moving forward.
  13. Did I mention I am a Kindle owner??
  14. We are attacking the “wallpaper house” head on…in the foyer!? Wow, people in hell must have to strip wallpaper…what a whip!
  15. Put up some corkboards in the boys’ bedroom tonight…and a car clock to match the theme.? (We have a grouping of pictures of old cars that my Grandpa and Grandma Emack gave ME when I was a kid that is the “anchor” for the room.? My Grandpa made the frames (he was a carpenter).? The same grouping was in my room growing up!)
  16. The dumb dog (Pepper this time)? got into the neighbors trash again!!? Arrgg!!? Need to get another radio shock collar for Pepper I guess.? Henry’s collar is too small already for Pepper.? He is going to be a big dog!
  17. Going to try to get to bed sooner this week…obviously not starting the week off right, huh?? Good night!? Have a great week everyone!