I am second: Red River Rivalry

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I honestly don’t know who won this year’s Red River Rivalry. I had to got to a flag football game before the game was over and didn’t have opportunity to watch SportsCenter to check the score this weekend.

However, I saw these videos and it began my mind racing about a friend of mine that went to be with Jesus on the way back home from the OU v. Texas game. ?He was in junior high and flying back from the game with his dad in a small plane. ?The plane crashed and both he and his father were killed. ?One of the great things that happened was another friend of mine came to know Christ at his funeral. ?Thank you Jesus! ?I know it is kind of wierd, but every time I see anything about this huge rivalry game, I remember both of my friends. ?I remember my friend that lost his life at such a young age. ?He was a soul winner in every sense of the word! I remember being with him on a mission trip when we were younger…his passion for people was amazing…his passion for sharing about Jesus was amazing! ?I also remember my friend that received Christ at the funeral. ?I remember his ministry that he continues to this day. ?I remember their passion for college football, the Red River Shootout…but most importantly his/their passion for Jesus Christ.

So, it really doesn’t matter who won this past Saturday in the Cotton Bowl. ?What matters more is that Jesus’ name would be made more and more famous around the world! ?Here are some video clips from iamsecond.com that speak of the importance of faith for quarterbacks Colt McCoy (Texas) and Sam Bradford (Oklahoma). ?Winning isn’t everything…Jesus is everything. ?I am second.

I guess I will go look up who won the Red River Rivalry now, even though it really doesn’t matter that much in the grand scheme of things…

Monday Morning “Sum Up”–10.19.2009

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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. Yes, I know it is Monday morning, but I was wiped out last night and didn’t feel like blogging!
  2. Wow, what a crazy couple of weekends!!
  3. Duathlon was awesome on last Sunday afternoon to kickoof Maple Leaf Week! ?See this post for details.
  4. Still getting some great “ataboys” from folks after we helped with the Duathlon.
  5. The Maple Leaf parade is done! Great job folks in getting a TON of cards out to people!
  6. Looking forward…we have a lot to do to get ready for the Trunk or Treat on Oct. 31st.
  7. Candy, candy, and more candy needed!
  8. Cars, cars, and more cars needed!
  9. Working on some great “Awakening Compassion” projects with the schools as well as wil some guys around here to help take care of “widows and orphans in their distress.” ?Really pumped about the opportunity to serve others!
  10. Group was absolutely CRAZY last night!! ?We had a bunch of random nonsense happen along the way! ?Matt D. was helping me with our radiator that was leaking all over the driveway when they arrived. ?Dogs+trash+kids=a huge mess…enough said. ?And this deserves it’s own number…amazing number 11!
  11. The kids were kicking the pool to “make waves” for the frog in there…kicked a hole in the liner…who knows how many gallons of water flooded out all over the back yard! ?Unbelievable.
  12. Pool liner broken–problem or answer to prayer? ?Jury still out on that one! ?Definately spend a whole lot less on pool chemicals without a pool this summer!
  13. Probably going to have to get our heat pump replaced. ?Our friend Terry is helping us and saving us a ton of money by doing it in “phases.” ?Air handler this winter and then the outside unit this spring (hopefully.) ?That thing is over 20 years old and the house was built around the air handler…our crawl space is less than 2 feet. ?What is the point in having a crawl space when it is that low?
  14. “And the hits just keep on comin’!” Daniel Caffey (Tom Cruise) on “A Few Good Men” to quote an appropriate phrase.
  15. Have a great week!

Maple Leaf Recap

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Another Maple Leaf Festival is in the books here in Carthage. ?Lots and lots of cards handed out in the parade to advertise the Trunk or Treat coming up on Halloween night. ?We also continue to get a lot of thanks from the Duathlon folks for a great job by our volunteers! ?Again, you FPCarthage people rock!!

Here is another example of a great email that Pastor John got this last week…

Yesterday, as Race Coordinator of the Maple Leaf 5k, all my volunteers showed up. Much to my delightful surprise, they were all Forest Park Carthage members. How fun was that to get to know my fellow members just east of us? I think they had a good time, protected the runners, stayed to the end, showed incredible positive attitudes, and exuded pure joy. Hats off to David Stone and his reaching out to the community emphasis!

Glad I could join in them in the mission field. There are truly no mere coincidences in this life.

Best

Cathleen

Taylor Orr took a bunch of pictures of the parade…you can take a look at them here.

Here are some of my favorites! ?A huge THANK YOU to all who helped us out this week of Maple Leaf!!

Sox H8r ? My Soul Friends

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Great post from one of my soul friends, Daryl Eldridge.? Got to hang out with him for a while this afternoon at an Emerging Leaders Group that meets each month.? Great conversation today and a great post here!

Sox H8r ? My Soul Friends.

Question: Much like an orange being squeezed produces orange juice, when life squeezes in on you, what comes out?

Making It ?Their? Church

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I came across this post from the Lifechurch.tv/Swerve folks and it made a lot of sense in regards to my recent post, and particularly John’s comment.

Interesting post.? I have had the same statements from people…especially when they are “checking us out.”? You can always tell when people have left their old church and are reluctantly looking for another place to worship–not necessarily a place to serve and sink their heart into for the long haul.? They have a lot of expressions like, “well at our old church, we did X…you ought to do that…that might be a good idea for you to do.”? I believe it was Rick Warren who said at a church planting conference I attended, “just respond back to those people, ‘Why don’t you just go back to your old church, be reconciled with them, and we will all be better for it.'” That takes courage to actually say that, but it is true.

Much like in a counseling setting; if you are not willing to work on it and put some of the things into practice, you are wasting the counselor’s and your time both!

I love this statement in the post:

I?m asking God to empower me to move people from ?going to church? to ?being the church.? When they stop going and start being, the church goes from yours to mine.

Lord, let that be our prayer as well!

Making It ?Their? Church – LifeChurch.tv : swerve.

Maple Leaf Duathlon Recap

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Man, what a great afternoon of helping with the Maple Leaf 5K and Duathlon!? We had a blast helping out racers from all over the area.? I am so proud of our church family who stepped up and volunteered their time and energy!? You guys ROCK!? I had a ton of the racers who were so thankful for the kind words and encouragement from our people.? Belinda Shores (#330 in the pic) is a triathlete and serves in our Kids City children’s ministry every Sunday? She did an amazing job in the Duathlon (5K run/15 mile bik/1 mile run). She is standing in-between Trisha Fisher and Jessica Ensz, two other Forest Park(ers)!? They decided to run the 5K together and did an awesome job too!

Check out an email that Jenny got this morning from Belinda…FP Carthage, you guys are awesome and it really shows!!!

Hey Stone Family and church family!

Just wanted to tell you how much your help was appreciated at the Maple Leaf Run and Duathlon.? What a great response from our church and what a unique way to reach out to our community!? You all did a wonderful job of protecting the racers from oncoming traffic and giving directions.? Thank you!? Those of you who were serving the water were a refreshment to the thirsty.? Thank you!

Matthew 10:42 “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”

Joyfully,
The Shores Family

By the way, Taylor your a great runner!? I could tell you trained hard, because you ROCKED the run!? Also, Patricia and Jessica what a great run!? Your run times were spectacular!? Way to go girls!

Thanks again to all of our FP Carthage folks who really made a difference yesterday in our community!? AWESOME!

Here are some pics from my iPhone…random, I know…forgot the “real” camera in the truck!

Risen Ranch Cowboy Church Launches!

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Please be praying for Pastor Steve Stafford and his congregation as they launch their Sunday morning service at 10:30 a.m. THIS Sunday! I am so excited about what God is doing and continues to do at Risen Ranch.

I got these in the mail last week and they reminded me to be praying for the work the God is doing at Risen Ranch Cowboy Church and Arena…

Facebook News Feed From Throughout History! ? The Mystery Hour

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Friday is for…FUNNY!

This post is really well worth the read from my friend and blood drive coordinator, Jeff Houghton.? This dude is hilarious!? He and his Skinny Improv crew came out and did an annual banquet for us at Finley Crossings and made me laugh so hard my side hurt!

Here is a bit of the post for an appetizer…Thanks for the laugh, Jeff!!

I started to wonder what it would be like if Facebook was around throughout history. What if they had all been friends? I wonder what their News Feed would be like? I?ve heard of a similar thing people have done with Twitter, so it?s not a totally original idea. But, this time it?s Facebook?totally different.

George Washington Just crossed the Potomac. Hellacold!

Alexander Hamilton likes this

Napolean Bonaparte Heading to Waterloo. Should be fun. When I get back I?m buying at Applebee?s.

Ghengis Khan took the quiz, Which Ruthless Leader From History Are You? The result was: Ghengis Khan

My personal favorite…

Richard Nixon This is going to be the party of the year! BYOB!

Ain?t No Party Like?a Republican Party

Location: Watergate

Time: 3 am-

Check out the main course on the link below…

Facebook News Feed From Throughout History! ? The Mystery Hour.

Maple Leaf Duathlon

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mapleleaf-duathlon

Our church family is helping serve at this event this weekend!? I am really exited about it! We have several of our members who are competing in the races as well as Taylor “might” run in the Kids run…and I “might” be running with him if he decides he wants to do the run.? That should be a lot of fun in itself (well worth the price of admission!)

We already have a whole bunch of folks signed up to serve, but you can jump in and serve with us on Sunday even if you haven’t signed up already.? I know that several of our groups are using this as a project to serve together as a group.? It is really going to be a good time and a great opportunity for us to serve our community as we kick off Maple Leaf week!

Andy Stanley on Leaving A Mark

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I have never been to the Catalyst Conference, but I would love to go sometime.? I had hoped to go this year, but as Chevy Chase says in Fletch, “I’ve been foolishly squandering my money of heat and rent!” Silly economy!

Andy Stanley from North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA) has been one of my “heroes in the faith” for a very long time.? (Probably came around the same time I began following Louie Giglio around the country at Student Life Camps!) He spoke at the first session at Catalyst and from what I have read on many blogs and tweets, it was really good!

Several of my good friends (and family) are there in ATL enjoying the conference.? But it sure is a whole lot cheaper to sit in my office and log in than to hop on a flight to ATL and hotel, and … you get the point.?? Enjoy it Becks, Daniel Mc, and several others!

For us “foolish people” who aren’t there…here is a great post synopsis of his first session talk.

Andy Stanley on Leaving A Mark | churchrelevance.com.

I absolutely love the last few paragraphs…(emphasis mine)

It is not about your mark. It is about His mark.
It is not about who is for or against you. It is about who you are for.
When God does His greatest work through you, you will have no idea what happened.

Our mark isn?t worth our life. Living to make my mark is too small a thing to give my life to, but to somehow be positioned in a place where God can work through me is something worth giving my life to.

Leaders are going to leave a mark. But the daily question for you is, ?Whose mark are you going to leave??

Let’s leave a mark today…HIS MARK!