Admitting Something Here

This picture is from the 2007 Creative Arts Conference at Willow - for whatever reason I did not get one of her this year. Nancy Beach, one of the Teaching Pastors at Willow Creek and oversees the Creative Arts Ministry there was my favorite speaker of the week. From her text in Psalm 40 she took a moment to focus on "He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud" then proceeded to have us critically analyze where we were in our ministry and life. Though I do not always open myself up during messages I wrote and entire page of "stuff." Today as I took a moment to do some "reviewing" of our time I have once again been challenged from the conference. Our senior pastor often encourages us to journal and write down transformational moments in our life. I have to admit this is not a strong point for me - but as I review this page of my notes from the conference - the entire page rings true to me a week later. Getting honest with our self can be difficult as we often try to rationalize other's response to our words, work and life. You know what I mean, blaming my current state on others especially the failures. Letting God "lift me out of the ditch" as He did David might just be the ticket to something extra special He has for me. My pit may not be as severe as the struggles many are going through right now and I so do not want to minimize other's issues like cancer, separation, loneliness, emotional depression and the list could go on. I just want to let God do the work in me He wants to do and not get in the way.

She also made another "dead on" statement for ministers. We need to be careful not to do "ministry" out of "memory." Oops!

Get to See ALL My Kids

Well, I am excited! All my kids are going to be home this weekend-though not all of them for the entire weekend. It is kinda a belated Father's Day thing. Dexter told us that he has decided to save gas and drive only 60mph now. Jill started giggling on the phone when he told us this and then she proceeded to tell us of this car here in Brownwood that has big letters with green shoe polish on the back windshield some words with the driver's intent obviously to save fuel. The now infamous letters of shoe polish said (if you are "language-sensitive" skip the next line) "get off my ass, I'm saving gas!" How appropriate - now, I am gonna go have some Italian cuisine with my kids!

Just before I leave you - I must apologize! I was just re-reading some of my recent post and noticed many, many grammatical issues happening. I am a bit challenged on correcting these post and though mortified believe I might just have to live with this embarrassment. Oh well, off to the Italians!

Sometimes You Need a Parade!

I was writing this early in a post to my cousin-in-law whom is in the midst of a busy and emotionally difficult week. I lamented how I can relate at some level as my desk is completely covered in layers of paper and work to accomplish and is now spilling onto my floor as I rationalize this behavior as a means of compartmentalizing my life. Then as if a lightening bolt hit me in the head I received a phone call saying "Eric, are you coming to the parade?" I remembered that I was driving our little community train in the annually Juneteenth Celebration Parade and I was off. I'm back in the office now, still covered with all this "stuff" but feeling much better. I guess sometimes we just need a parade!

How is that for wisdom!?!

Success At Communication

On the last day of the conference in Chicago we had the opportunity to hear Dr. Richard Allen Farmer speak. I feel like it would take me days to write only his "high points" within a list of accomplishments so I will give you a couple, maybe three and have you Google his name if you would like more. He is a pianist (accomplished, I heard for myself), a twin and a teacher of teachers/communicators. During the conference I had the privilege of attending one of his break-out session on "Putting the Pieces Together" which was simply two hours of frantic note-taking from me on great ways to creatively get a "thought" across to one's audience. Here are some bullets from his message on the last day of the conference as he was speaking to 3,500+ mostly creative artists within church ministries from across the country.

• Refuse to narrowly define yourself


• Constantly welcome diversity in you life


• Work hard at being able to communicate what is in your heart


• Know when not to take "no" for an answer


• Don't be afraid to live in the cloud of the sweet mystery of art and love

This man knows how to communicate - what a treat it was to hear and learn from him.

Chicago Trip

I just love this opportunity that I along with some of our worship team members were able to attend the Creative Arts Conference this year at Willow Creek in Chicago. Willow Community Church is a dynamic group of people that average 26,000 each weekend and share Christ with a passion and work hard at helping those in need. I could go on here but that is enough of this church.

This conference started off with Nancy Beach, one of the teaching pastor's at the church speaking from Psalm 40:1-10 and just challenging us to recognize how blessed we are in our ministry and exhorting us in our worship to Christ. We also heard Brian McLaren (this was a very interesting interview) and then Gilles Ste-Croix of Circa de Soleil (hope I got that right.) For me it was very inspirational. Right now I am over-my-head in work to get accomplished but I'll blog about some of the sessions - most of them just marvelous, darling!

Father's Day!

It has been awhile! I did not realize how tired I would be during the trip to Chicago and as you noticed - updates were non-existent. I write about the trip tomorrow but today - it's Father's Day. The pic is of my dad at the dinner table - traditional Sunday lunch with Braised-Roasted Beef with mashed potatoes, corn, hot rolls and gravy - OOOOOH the gravy!! We finished it off with Jill making (from scratch) a fantastic German Chocolate cake. This thing apparently took 3 hours of prep in addition to the baking time. It was wonderful.

My dad - a man of integrity, love and humbleness. What more could a kid ask for? I love him and admire him as much if nor more than any man I know. I am blessed!

Relay for Life

To cap off an amazing week (and busy one too) Jill spent the entire night at Brownwood's Relay for life. Prior to heading to the stadium to walk laps raising money for cancer research we were at the Country Club to see over $90,000 donated to local charities from the Texas Bank Golf Classic. (Jill's company - Guardian Health Care was a major sponsor for the event.) There is just something that is very rewarding when one is able to invest in "things" like this. I am very proud of Jill and all she does to impact our community for the better! She's a keeper!

A Crazy Week

This week has been amazing and crazy all at once. My last blog was about Project Sweat and all the work the kids do during the week. Here is one of the videos that Dylon did for the evening service. Each day we went to each work site to video then show them during the evening worship time for the students. Here is day 1. Enjoy - hopefully I'll get back to the stuff on Friday!

Busy Week

This week our church youth along with several other churches in our fair city will be involved in an event called "Project Sweat." This is simply an opportunity for these teenagers and a few adults investing their time in the first week of their summer with helping those that need help. They will be roofing, painting and repairing homes for people that just physically and financially can not accomplish this need by themselves. One of our church members - Butch - is helping to oversee the work at a particular house. They always visit the house prior to the work starting and he had a quick deja vu as he realize that in his earlier days (Butch is now retired) he had dated the women's daughter. They bantered back and forth with just a touch of sarcasm that my friend Donna would have relished in listening too. Well, to make a long short palatable - Butch is just loving this opportunity to help this lady with a new roof, repair of siding and helping kids be the presence of Christ in her life. I'll try to have some pictures this week. I just have the logo today - but I am proud of our church kids and the kids in our community. Each night they will meet here at Southside for some worship and each morning for a hearty breakfast. Tomorrow's menu - Sausage Gravy and Fluffy Biscuits with a variety of whole grain Cereals, fresh fruit, milk and juice!