Have you ever felt like you were beaten up, mugged even, by God’s incredible favor? I feel like I have been on a “God’s favor” hit list this week. It started at the rental car counter when the guy was going to give me a “PT Cruiser”. Michelle said, “they’re cute”…I said, Exactly!” The guy gave me an upgrade to a Hummer, baby! I think I might have been preordained before the foundations of the world to drive a Hummer! My apologies to Laurie C. and Alli B who work in our office and are very anti-Hummer…
When we arrived at our hotel I was checking to make sure we got a room with a King-sized bed and the guy said, “Sir I apologize that we are very short on rooms so I am going to have to upgrade you to a suite!” This is the nicest room we have ever stayed in. Robes, slippers, you know the deal…
Last night at the conference I got handed a back-stage pass for Michelle and I, by Lisa Young, to go back to the “Green Room” for pastors and speakers and friends of the Young’s. I got to meet Perry Noble and his wife and had a chance to hang out with Mac Richard and also talk to one of Fellowship’s campus pastors from Miami. Right before the service kicked off they escorted Michelle and I out to reserved seating on the front row! There are over 3,000 pastors and staff at this conference and I'm thinking maybe 30-40 of these passes handed out. I'm reminded that I am a nobody but that God my Father is something special...sometimes we get preferential treatment because he is our Father!
The service was off the chain! I’ll tell you more about their staging later, but suffice to say that their music was incredible and Ed Young preached his heart out. I took about 10 pages of notes. I’ll chime in with you guys tonight about our day. Our team is all hear safe and sound…some are still feeling the after effects of the flu. Keep praying for us today…we will be praying for you. You are the reason we are here. We will steal some ideas that can be used to reach people…ideas that will help us “redefine church in the Delaware Valley.”
Finally, here is the link to Craig Groeschel about the challenge of ministry friendships. I think he says it well. Think of Michelle and I and our staff as you read it. For those of you that love us and want insight into our world it will be meaningful and helpful.
When we arrived at our hotel I was checking to make sure we got a room with a King-sized bed and the guy said, “Sir I apologize that we are very short on rooms so I am going to have to upgrade you to a suite!” This is the nicest room we have ever stayed in. Robes, slippers, you know the deal…
Last night at the conference I got handed a back-stage pass for Michelle and I, by Lisa Young, to go back to the “Green Room” for pastors and speakers and friends of the Young’s. I got to meet Perry Noble and his wife and had a chance to hang out with Mac Richard and also talk to one of Fellowship’s campus pastors from Miami. Right before the service kicked off they escorted Michelle and I out to reserved seating on the front row! There are over 3,000 pastors and staff at this conference and I'm thinking maybe 30-40 of these passes handed out. I'm reminded that I am a nobody but that God my Father is something special...sometimes we get preferential treatment because he is our Father!
The service was off the chain! I’ll tell you more about their staging later, but suffice to say that their music was incredible and Ed Young preached his heart out. I took about 10 pages of notes. I’ll chime in with you guys tonight about our day. Our team is all hear safe and sound…some are still feeling the after effects of the flu. Keep praying for us today…we will be praying for you. You are the reason we are here. We will steal some ideas that can be used to reach people…ideas that will help us “redefine church in the Delaware Valley.”
Finally, here is the link to Craig Groeschel about the challenge of ministry friendships. I think he says it well. Think of Michelle and I and our staff as you read it. For those of you that love us and want insight into our world it will be meaningful and helpful.
3 comments:
John, I am glad you and Michelle are enjoying the conference and reconnecting with old friends. I did check out Craig Groeschel's blog yesterday. I was thinking of all those in our church that are in ministry, but especially you and Michelle. A little over a year ago, I found a message board site for pastors and their wives. Reading that gave me some insight to what some pastors and their families sacrifice. There was a time when I thought it was easy for pastors to walk the Christian life and I thought they always knew the right thing to say and never did anything wrong (does that fit you?). How could they relate to me and my life. Now I know you might not have done or seen everything in my life, but I am sure you are pretty close to "I have heard it all."
Praying for you all!
Betty
Thanks Betty. Thanks for praying for us and taking some time to look inside our world.
That is one great photograph...:-]
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