The Coffee Crew

I wanted you to see a picture of an important group of people in my life. These are the ones that I meet with and pray with 3 mornings every week. We meet at 6 a.m. on Monday through Friday and you are invited to join us. We read the scripture and pray as we are led by the Spirit of God and agree together that God is answering the prayer needs of our congregation. I am so grateful to them because they are so faithful and committed to praying. It is with this group that I often get the “rev” that I end up preaching to all of you that attend HOF. It is with this group that I can share some of the personal and administrative struggles I’m facing that day. It’s with this group that I drink my first cup of coffee with and then feel saved. This group sees me in my workout clothes and still loves me. Jesus taught that where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, He would be there, and this is the group that I’ve experienced that truth on more days than I dare to remember. Thanks for praying.

Secrets to success

Pictured above is a family that came to HOF several years ago. What I remember is that Jennifer and Bob attended a Growing Kids God’s Way class Vanessa and I taught and they were all ears. They are a blended family and they were hungry to hear what God taught about just about anything. The thing that struck me was that we would teach and they would go home and implement what they heard. Jesus said that the ones who hear His words and do them are like the ones who build on a rock. As I look back, I now see why they have been so successful. Their time with us was too brief, work took them to several other states and churches and they are about to embark on another adventure of living in Singapore after spending some time in Japan. They have been involved and used in the local churches where they have served at each step. As I thought about why some people find success I couldn’t help but think of them. It was great to see them a few weeks ago and know they are still serving the Lord now it’s all over the world. I hope to visit them in Singapore and do some electronics shopping. Bob, Jen and kids, if you’re reading, we love you and know that the best is yet to come for you all.

Prayer is awesome

Jesus cleaned house in an infamous gospel account and said about his church, “My house shall be called a house of prayer….”. It’s been a great time of prayer each night for the 10 days of fasting and prayer as we are coming to the close of our fast. I feel like God has been doing some great things in my life as well as in the life of our church. To see the church getting together to pray is always a highlight of my life. We continue to have a morning prayer time on M-F from 6-7 a.m. in the sanctuary and you are invited to be a part of that. Praying is the best way that I know to learn to pray; it’s by hearing others pray and praying yourself that you develop a healthy and vibrant prayer life. It’s those times in the presence of God that revitalize and refocus us on being who God wants us to be and doing what He asks of us. I believe that we are going to see the answered prayers of these 10 days in the coming year. It may not look exactly like we thought, but I know that we will have because we have asked. It’s not too late to join us for the final few nights from 7 till 8 p.m.

New Leader

I just got back from attending several landmark events in our state, the Governor’s Inaugural Prayer Breakfast and the Inauguration itself on the steps of our state capital. I feel like I would look back on this day many years from now as a historical event and I wanted to be there in person. Gov. Jindal spoke about change; ethics reform is going to be his first agenda as he calls the legislature to a special session in Feb. He feels as though LA has been a victim of typical Louisiana politics where officials serve themselves first instead of serving the people they were elected to serve. The second part of his agenda will be transforming LA’s economy to be more job maker friendly. The third part has to do with improving our educational system so that business will have the needed labor force to prosper here. Gov. Jindal has always been open and candid about his salvation and faith and today was no different. You often hear references to “God” but his has a ring of authenticity not often experienced. I want to encourage you all to pray for all of our newly sworn in leaders at the state level as we step into a new chapter of life in LA.

Big Intern News

This week we hosted Dr. Stephen Anderson who is the president of Transworld Accrediting Commission International. We were connected by mutual friends and are looking into taking our Intern Program to the next level of being accredited. Dr. Stephen enjoyed watching LSU defeat the OSU at an intern party at Wade’s house and the next day gave our church/intern program a thorough evaluation. Dr. Anderson was impressed with the scope and curriculum of our intern program and we will soon be able to offer an Associate’s Degree in theology and Christian ministry to our second year intern grads. There is also the possibility of even more good news in the future regarding some possible financial aid. It’s exciting to see what God is doing as we train up the next generation of church leaders. Pastor Wade and Rob have done a great job of providing an avenue for our youth to be trained in the classroom but also trained in the field of real church. Too often our knowledge is limited to just what we’ve heard instead of what we’ve learned and DONE. Jesus taught in Matthew 7 that the ones who heard and did were like those who built their lives on the rock. It seems that we have a grace for education and we can’t wait to see what else develops as we work for God to see Him set the lonely in families, set them free and give them great joy.

The Two Become One

I had the privilege to marry these two great young people in our church this past Saturday. I know Derek and Heather through XG Youth Church and some premarital counseling we do with all couples who wish to be married at HOF. It was great to see two young people want to step into the commitment of marriage with Christ as their foundation. They had a beautiful ceremony and a lot of friends. Derek is a Tulane grad and Heather will graduate from SLU in a few short months. You could feel as though marriage is outdated according to the popular media, but where Jesus is preached, the desire to do things His way is alive and well. Our blessings and well wishes go to the new couple as they enjoy their honeymoon and step into a new season of life.

First Deer

This past Thursday and Friday I went hunting with two of my good friends, Jay Miller and Gene Mills. Jay took us to a hunting camp just outside Natchez, MS. I’ve only taken my two oldest boys deer hunting before, never been as a hunter myself so this was my first rodeo. I had to borrow a rifle as I don’t own one, and a gentleman named Mr. Millet volunteered his 30-06 to me. We hunted three times, Thursday afternoon and Friday morning and afternoon and saw probably 35 deer in all. Just before the sun set on Friday afternoon, I took the 8 point deer pictured above. I’m really not much of a hunter but I enjoyed spending time with my friends and the deer camp was plush. I didn’t make a very good shot, but I got my first buck. For those hunters wondering, NO, they did not smear me with blood, instead I suggested that after the deer sausage is made to smear some sausage grease on me.

New Years Eve

We did our version of a new years rocking eve at the Bledsoe’s house. It was a combo birthday party for me and staff get together with our families. We called in the expert gumbo cook; my mother-in-law, Aline Bertrand and all had plenty to eat. With a couple of fires to stand around, football on the TV and jumps for the kids there was a little something for everyone. It was all capped off by fireworks done by Jimmy Bordelon and his wife, Rachel. There is really nothing better than doing life with people who share vision, passion, and mission. I didn’t stay up to see the new year, but I did watch Auburn win in OT then went to sleep. I’m a morning guy, not a late night person. I left my wife and a few of her friends sitting outside around a fire. Looking forward to 2008, it’s gonna be great.