Life is Suite

Not a misspelling though it looks like it. I was a guest of a great pastor in Mandeville last night to the Saints-Titans game. Pastor Steve Robinson of Church of the King got me and some pastor friends tickets to the Clear Channel Communication Suite where we watched Kevin Mawae and the Titans destroy the Saints. Never mind the game, I got to see if from the suites. That is the way to see a football game. Food galore, people to take care of us and great seats with TV’s for replays included. I’m more of an LSU guy, but Steve really hooked us up. I am reminded of the blessing that I read over our church often from Numbers 6:24-26, “May the Lord show you His favor..” . I am convinced that favor is given not fair and that God wants to favor His people. I really sense God’s favor in our lives and desperately wish that for anyone reading this blog. I pray over you that God would bless you, and protect you, that He would smile on you and be gracious to you, that He would show you His favor and give you His peace.

The Forum

We hosted the candidate’s forum for parish president on Tuesday night and it went well. I’ll skip the political stuff because everyone sees that differently and talk about what really excited me. That was the team that pulled the event off. Our interns, both 1st and 2nd year, were incredible. We got great feedback from the community for providing the event and the interns impressed many. They did a great job and really helped us hit a homerun in our community. So many told us they appreciated the opportunity to hear each candidate and listen to the platforms from which they wish to lead. You can catch it on EATEL Ch. 4 as soon as our tech team gets it edited. I sensed that many people are undecided and don’t know the stands of each of the candidates because the nature of our parish is changing as we grow. Our heart is to provide a forum for the candidates to define themselves and their vision for parish government in a setting where people can listen and decide for themselves. I see it as another way to serve Ascension parish and that is our heart to serve.

Friends

I took a tour through the western portion of Louisiana last weekend speaking for two of my friends in the ministry. First stop was a camp ground north of DeRidder, LA. My friend Kennis Smith and his wife Sandy were hosting all of their leadership team to an overnight stay at a camp and then doing their Sunday service there the next day. They are a great bunch of people and I love their mission statement, to reach the unreachable, love the unlovable, teach the unteachable, and another one I can’t remember right now. Vanessa and I got to know Kennis and Sandy well in Washington D.C. this past spring and we love them so much. They are doing a great work for God in DeRidder.
Next, we drove to Leesville, LA just outside the gates of Fort Polk and were invited to speak for Bobby and Julia Ganaway’s 9th anniversary as pastors. It was also the church’s 25th anniversary and it was really fun to get to see them and speak to them. Bobby grew up in our church and they were missionaries to Russia for a time and now they pastor Christian Living Church. They have 3 grown boys and 2 of them are on the worship team and the other is in a ministry intern program in Texas.
I took one of our second year interns, Joey Evans, with me on the trip. He did a lot of the driving and we spent time talking ministry and getting to know one another. We got to catch most of the LSU demolition of VA Tech so that was good. I want to invest in those who have a call of God on their lives and I feel that Joey is a good investment. I know that God has big plans for him and we want to be a part of what God is doing.

Dave and Me at Rotary

It was my turn to schedule the program for our Rotary Club this past Tuesday morning and I couldn’t think of anyone better to speak to the group than Dave Ohlerking of Children’s Cup. Many of you remember him as the leader of the group we are partnering with to do the church/Care point in Masvingo, Zimbabwe. I set up the video, and we showed a video clip and then Dave spoke to the club. I really didn’t know how they would react, since HIV and orphans is a pretty heavy subject to address first thing in the morning. He did a good job outlining the problem and then talking about how we are partnering to be part of the solution. It was very quiet but several asked questions and I could tell that they were having a hard time getting their minds around cultural norms in Africa. Just as it’s hard for us to understand their culture, I’m sure they struggle with American culture. A few stayed after and talked to me and I could tell that they had been impacted. It was another way for the church to speak with actions rather than just words. I read in the gospel of John today where Jesus asked a question, “Do you understand what I was doing?” It is good to be doing things that need an explanation because they cut across the grain of “normal”. I need to get busy doing something. Later, I love you all.

Aliens in a foreign land.

I got the opportunity to attend the LSU opener in Starkville, MS last Thursday night with some friends of mine from TFC in Lafayette. Had a great time hanging out with them talking football and church and life. I was a guest of my friend Jay Miller. It was my first away LSU game to ever attend and I definitely had some thoughts about the experience. We were all decked out in our best LSU shirts and hats so we stood out in the midst of all the maroon and white and khaki. It made me think about the fact that we are really aliens here on earth once we’ve accepted Christ and become citizens of Heaven. We got funny looks and some funny comments because we were dressed in purple in a maroon world. I think that is pretty similar to what we find when we live “forgiven” in a “needy world”. How we conducted ourselves often determined how the maroon people felt about us. Most were gracious and kind as were we. There was some good-natured back and forth about fball, but that was to be expected. It is amazing how living the life of God makes one stand out to what is “normal”. I don’t want to be different because of what I wear or what team is my favorite but for how I love, how I believe, how I live life.