John Cremeans

Final Blogger Post

2008-04-01T09:22:00.001-04:00

Today is the final post for me on blogger. It was a great place to start. 204 posts later I am transitioning to a new look. You can go to Cremeansblog.com and see my new blog. I love it. I want to say a special thank you to Greg Davis for setting it up for me and also thank Ben Jones and Jon Snyder for all their help in making this happen. One of the things I love about my new blog is that you can subscribe via email. That’s right…no more logging on. Every time I post it will automatically be sent to your email account. Take a look and let me know what you think.

Cremeansblog.com

The Goat Life

2008-03-31T17:30:00.009-04:00

That’s right we are living the goat life at the Cremeans farm. Two Sunday’s ago our staff and elders gave Michelle her ultimate 40th birthday gift: Two baby Nubian goats. I have never seen her more excited. Part of her dream of moving out where we could have some acreage was so she could have some animals. We have dogs, cats, chickens, and ducks…now it was time to get something a little larger. These are actually dairy goats.

So here is where the story gets interesting. The initial place Michelle went to pick up her “babies” didn’t pan out so she began to put some other feelers out. Long story short, she ended up finding a family in our area that had three babies they were trying to find a home for. Apparently the “contraption” they used to milk the goats burned down (can you believe it!) so they were trying to get out of the entire “goat business.” Michelle called me at work to tell me we had hit the goat jackpot! Now we could get two momma goats, and the daddy along with the three babies! Can you feel the excitement building? This was Friday night. There was much to do. We would have to work on fencing some of our pastures and Michelle had to build the “contraption” for milking. In case you didn’t know it, I can’t build stuff. Michelle can. It’s all good. She is pretty amazing!

So we got everything ready and it was time to get the goats. Somehow I seemed to remember that they would deliver these goats but here I was in our Honda minivan driving home. The middle seats were out and my kids were holding two of the babies in the back with the two momma goats standing in my van. As I was driving I looked to my right and there was this big fat goat head staring at me from like six inches away. All I could say was … “hey goat”…kind of a surreal moment. This get’s better because a state cop pulled out behind me and I was trying to figure out what I would say if he pulled me over.

Anyway…we made it home finally. I want to say a special thanks to Kevin, Shari, Ray, and Jim for helping us get everything ready. That evening I saw Michelle get off the phone jumping up and down – she looked like she won the lottery. She had just heard from the owners and we could have their other three males for free! I didn’t know we were trying to get the other three …now we could be the proud owners of nine…that’s right, NINE goats.
I am such a city guy but God is helping me adjust. You know what? Goats were never in my dreams, but Michelle was. She is an amazing lady. Loving her like Jesus loves the church means making her dreams the priority in my life. She did that for me a long time ago and I am still learning. Here is the crazy part – I am loving being a goat owner. That is kind of how God works things I guess. Yes, they still freak me out and I don’t like it when they start biting on my jacket but it’s all good because I am living “the goat life.”

Sunday Reflections

2008-03-30T10:35:00.003-04:00

Today was a great day. I was really pleased to see so many newcomers back from Easter. It was great to get to meet so many new people today. I met one lady who came to Fellowship several years back and this is what she said, “All I can say is wow!” God is good. Our music was incredible today. Kathleen rocked “Living on a prayer.” It was our highest voted song yet. I want to say a special thank you to Bryan Giles our new sound engineer. Great job Bryan. Here are some other thoughts about the day…

We presented Lee White as our new Elder candidate. Lee and Jean have been such a blessing to Fellowship. He will be an incredible addition to our board and cause us to step up our game.
I’m really enjoying our “I Love” series…
Michelle did some great acting in our 80’s video…
I loved the new song “came to my rescue.” It is a powerful song.
The story of our new goats seemed to go over well. I will try to get some pictures on my blog tomorrow. I helped Emily get them fed and put them into barn tonight. Crazy. Emily, by the way, is like Dr Doolittle. She has a gift with animals.
I thought Davidson might take down Kansas today. I am a sucker for the underdog.
I can’t wait for baseball to start tomorrow. Go Phillies. Here’s to a better start this year and repeating as division winners again.

Chemistry

2008-03-28T22:45:00.000-04:00

I want to share some of the things I put before our team this week. God has given us an incredibly talented and focused staff at Fellowship. Nowhere was that more evident than our Easter service. They are committed to honoring God and serving people. Here are some of the things that I challenged them with this week. Maybe they will help you as well.

We must value people over tasks. This is more difficult for some personality types than others. Tasks are important, but Jesus died for people. People are image-bearers of a holy God. Reaching them is the mission but having God’s heart for them is the catalyst.
We must develop thicker skin. Criticism happens. Trust me. You can’t please everyone in the first place. We are called to please God not people.
Have the courage to confront one another. Don’t hold things inside or act like everything is okay when it is not.
Be nice. Speak the truth, but speak it in love.
Project joy. This is not optional. What we do is too difficult and takes too much emotional energy to be around moody or grumpy people.
Own your mistakes. So many times our reaction to conflict is to be defensive. We take risks and we are aggressive in our mission. Things run at a fast pace and mistakes will happen. Don’t waste time getting defensive and don’t delay the lessons that can be learned that only come from realizing your part.
Don’t gossip. It’s sin…even for staff.
Continue to identify and address your blind spots.
Don’t hold grudges. Forgiven people should forgive others. Grudges are the enemy’s playground.

Speed Traps

2008-03-26T22:58:00.000-04:00

I am still basking in the epic Sunday that God gave us for Easter. The final count that I received was 873! That is a record attendance for only two services! Way to go God and way to go Fellowship!

As I was taking Grace home yesterday I saw three highway patrol cars on the side of the road “waiting.” As I drove a little further and started to get off at my exit I saw where two other highway patrol cars had pulled people over. I dropped Grace off at the house and headed back to the office. On my way I looked at the state police cars and felt some mild sympathy for the people who got caught. As I drove past the “speed trap” I began to look for the “spotter” car. There it was at the next overpass tucked back where you could barely notice it. I guarantee I’ll be checking out that overpass for the next couple of weeks!

Peter told us to be on guard and to watch out for our adversary, the devil. He sets traps for us all the time. Peter knew that seeing warfare for what it is can be half the battle sometimes. Yesterday ended up being that kind of day for me. Spiritual warfare extraordinaire. The problem was that I didn’t see it for what it was at first. It just pulled me in. Warfare is much clearer in your rear-view mirror. I haven’t had a day quite like that in some time. By about 10:30 last night I was getting into one of those “I quit” modes that happens to pastors much more than most will admit. My first 4 years as a pastor I had those days at least once a week. Now they are more rare but this one came with a vengeance.

The timing wasn’t lost on me with Easter barely over. It is the nature of the beast. I’m glad for some good friends in Florida, New York, and Texas that helped me through. I share this with you as always to bring you into my crazy world but to also remind you of Peter’s warning. Where are you struggling right now? What relationships are out of whack? What traps are you about to step in? See the warfare for what it is and put up your guard.

Grace

2008-03-25T22:29:00.001-04:00

Today was my daughter Grace’s 9th birthday. She is our “baby.” I took off a half-day today and Gracie and I went to breakfast. She had the pancakes with chocolate chips…good stuff! I took her shopping after that to get her a couple of things. Mostly it was about having some special daddy time with her. Grace is mommy’s girl make no mistake about that. I’m totally good with that by the way. They have a special bond that I celebrate. I am so proud of Grace. She is a leader at age nine. Yesterday I was trying to “coach” her in a behavioral area and I suggested that someday she would probably run her own company. She started shaking her head no (not something I like when I am imparting my “wisdom”) and said, “I don’t want to run a company daddy.” Then she said with what might have been the sweetest look I have ever seen, “I want to sing in the praise team like mommy!” How sweet is that? I know, I know…she has me wrapped around her little finger. Happy Birthday Grace. Your daddy is very proud.

He Is Risen

2008-03-23T21:13:00.011-04:00

Today marks three years since we moved into the school and began our mission to redefine church in the Delaware Valley. All I can say is Wow! I have never seen so much excitement in our service. It was electric. Jeff Ream our worship pastor, has come into his own. I had so much fun watching Jeff today. He had such a good time “cranking it up” 80’s style. Jeff I love seeing you grow. You are setting the pace as you become one of the best worship leaders in the Northeast. I am your biggest fan.

From the parking lot to the auditorium I saw scores of new volunteers decked out in their “I love” shirts, smiling and welcoming our guests. I loved it! What a way to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior! He is alive and living through us. Here are some other things that stood out to me today…

Our media pastor Ben Jones delivered the goods today. I loved the all the videos. They are the “stained glass” of the contemporary church.
The props looked great. Thanks to Dan, Nancy, Trevor, and Daniel.
I had fun watching the expressions on your faces as I reached my hand into the Victoria’s Secret bag. Priceless!
It was a blast from the past as one of my high school teachers showed up. Thanks for sowing into my life Mr. Murphy!
Michelle had a great birthday. Our staff and elders blew her away with a very special birthday gift. More on that later this week…stay tuned.
This is the 200th post in my brief blogging career. Never saw this one coming. Every pastor should blog…hope to see some of you launch a blog this year. Let me know when you do. I am excited about my new blog that should debut later this week. It is going to look awesome!
Not sure how many people raised their hands for accepting Christ in both services. My best estimate was somewhere between 25-35! I could not keep up with all of them. Incredible! Pray for these new believers as they live their first week as part of the family of God.
It was encouraging to see so many of our leaders sitting toward the front today. You guys set the pace.
Hats off to our “Live” and KidVenture workers today. I heard you guys did a great job and the 11:00 service was packed. Thanks for leading our kids to Jesus.
Our band is incredible! You guys bring it every week.
I loved the 80’s music before and during the service. You gotta love somebody…can’t wait to see what song is going to be performed next week.
It was cool having friends from Russia in our 11:00 service. Welcome to the USA!

Happy Birthday Michelle

2008-03-22T20:23:00.002-04:00

We just finished watching Michelle open her birthday presents. Tomorrow (Easter) is her birthday so we decided to celebrate early. I think it is appropriate on a day like this to zoom out for a moment and realize the impact Michelle has had. She is an amazing Mother. It is her calling and her passion. Our kids are getting old enough to see just what they have. She let me read the birthday card from the kids - Alli called her “amazing” and Emmy called her “hot.”

This June will mark 20 years for Michelle and me. We have had quite a ride to this point. Proverbs 31:11 says …”she will greatly enrich his life”. I am a richer person for sharing this ride called life with Michelle. It occurred to me recently what a life-coach she has been to me. She has taught me to listen (still learn) and inspired me to be a more complete person. She calls me to be my best and gives me the respect that makes me believe I can do anything.

Michelle has redefined what it means to be a pastor’s wife. As Fellowship’s first lady she brings a joy and warmth to the Delaware Valley’s most friendly church. She has paid the price that comes from transitioning a church. It is a price that only God truly knows. She loves Fellowship and she loves the dream of reaching our region for Christ. I love seeing her worship…come to think of it…I just love seeing her.

So as we gear it up for a huge day tomorrow let me say it again…Happy Birthday Michelle! I love you.

God Paints

2008-03-21T17:12:00.003-04:00

The pace of this week has been incredibly high. That is great for productivity but dangerous for my heart. On my way in to work after a late night (1:45 AM) I called my brother. I am excited about collaborating with Buddy on our “I Love” series. As I left him a message I was doing a quick inventory in my mind of what we still needed to discuss for Sunday and I found myself asking him to pray for the condition of my “hurried” heart.

So here is the deal…God has used three phone calls today from three of my closest friends and colleagues to literally embrace me with his love and handiwork. God paints masterpieces on the canvas of our lives and to see the work he is doing in Buddy, Dale, and Greg brings me to my knees.

You see, God changes pastor’s lives too. We are probably the most broken, messed up people around. I’m reminded on this Good Friday when Jesus gave everything and suffered for me that God continues to give. Giving is his essence. He is giving to you right now. You might not see it but I know he is. He gives in the good times and the tough times. He is painting on the canvas of your life.

The story of Easter is about God’s pursuit of people. It’s crazy! We have this big, incredible God chasing a broken and flawed humankind. He desires us…he misses us…I can’t get my arms around that. If you have been chased and tackled by his grace, drop to your knees today and thank him for “catching” you. He is still tackling me.

You blow me away Father. How can I not give you more…how can I not give you my best today and every day. I love you

Good Times

2008-03-20T22:39:00.006-04:00

Yes there really is a town with “this name” in Lancaster County. My friends didn’t believe me! This is me and my good friend Greg Wagner…in case you didn’t know it was raining like crazy when we took this picture (hence the squinting). Now that I think about it…not so sure what message this sends…two guys in front of this sign with cheesy smiles…oh well. Michelle keeps telling me I need to put this post in my “draft” section and save it until tomorrow…Like I would have better discernment tomorrow…This is probably a great time to remind you that one of the main purposes behind my blog is to get to know me.

It has been awesome to have Greg and Kelly with us. Our friendship goes back about 18 years to our time in Fort Worth, Texas. They have two really cool sons Cody (17) and Ethan (14) who have hit it off with our kids. It’s great to see how these guys have grown up and how they love God. Cool stuff! Tonight we went over to the school and watched the rehearsal for Sunday. I was so stinkin' proud of our staff, singers, band, tech team, and volunteers! They are working so hard to make Sunday an unforgettable experience.

I just need to say one more thing about our staff. It occurred to me tonight just how far God has brought us. To see Jeff, Ben, Ryan, and Dan leading tonight was a huge encouragement to me. There was this huge production effort going on and I literally had nothing to do with it. They have great initiative, work their butts off, and they love Fellowship. I’m not sure they really get the respect and appreciation they deserve sometimes. Thanks guys…You inspired me tonight and challenged me to step it up for Sunday.

March Madness

2008-03-20T10:51:00.004-04:00

Watch Series Preview Here

Is it just me or does anybody remember the NCAA Tournament beginning on Easter weekend before? I love watching the games but it does bum me out that it is falling on this particular weekend. Seems like we will have some competition this weekend, but it’s all good… It will be fun to pull for our three Philly teams. I have been a Villanova fan since I was a kid but I will also be pulling for Temple and St Josephs to do well. I hope you have your brackets all filled out and ready to go. I love watching for upsets and seeing games come down to the wire.

Our team is gearing up for an incredible Easter Sunday as we kick off our “I Love” series. I promise you that you will be surprised with at least one song you hear on Sunday. We have had some great response from many of you submitting your favorite 80’s songs. It has brought back some great memories and reminded me of how old I am getting. Make sure you send in some of your crazy 80’s photos so we can all have a good laugh at your expense! I am trying to remember what got into me to get a perm back in the late 80’s. Any of you guys go through that ordeal? I think it was the belief that it would make me look like I had more hair. What is up with that?

I want to say a special thank you to all of you who volunteered to serve this Sunday. You guys are awesome. You will see church through different eyes when you serve. Serving gives you a sense of ownership that you don’t really get otherwise. God also has a way of blessing you when you exercise your spiritual muscles!

Last but not least, let me encourage all of you to be early this Sunday. You can do it…I know you can. Guests are almost always here early or on time. Just think back to your first time here…it makes a difference when there is an energy and a sense of excitement in the auditorium. Again, be praying that God will show up in a huge way. Lives are going to be forever changed this Sunday!

2008-03-17T16:51:00.001-04:00

The biggest religious season of the year is on as we gear up for Easter this Sunday. Today I’m wondering who you will invite to church this Sunday. Let me ask you this question…are you a player or a spectator? Many of your friends and family are ONE INVITATION AWAY from coming to church this Easter and FINDING CHRIST! Think about the stakes…heaven verses hell…relationship instead of loneliness…grace instead of emptiness…mercy instead of judgment…peace where there is now anxiety…faith where fear exists… purpose instead of performance. Are you a player or a poser? Do you really believe in Jesus Christ? Has he made a difference in your life? Don’t you think he would make a difference in the life of your friends and family?

I am praying that God will give you the boldness and sense of urgency to get up off the bench and be a player this week. As my high school coach had to scream at me from time to time…”GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME!” The stakes are high. The payoff is amazing. God set the table with an amazing service last Sunday, but the best is right in front of us. I am praying for you today...praying that God will not leave you alone this week…praying that you will lose sleep over those who need to hear about the good news of Jesus Christ…praying that you will get off the bench and get in the game…someone’s eternity is depending on it.

When God Shows Up

2008-03-16T22:45:00.005-04:00

Things happen when God shows up. People change. Hearts melt and healing begins. God showed up today in a big way. Words seem inadequate as I try to describe what the Holy Spirit did in both of our services. Never before at the school have we had an “altar call” for people to come forward. To see what looked like 75% of those in attendance come forward just amazed me. God is amazing. You can see the people lining the front of the stage in the picture above. I had some fear about today…from the “goat story” (sorry, you just had to be there to get this part) to inviting people to come forward. I was so proud of God today and extremely proud of Fellowship. For some of you, coming forward today was the most courageous spiritual decision you have ever made. God can’t help but bless that in your life. I am sorry we forgot the tissues! I hated it for the people that missed today because of illness or travel. When Christians obey, the Holy Spirit is free to work in such a special way. I believe that today “set the table” for what is going to be an incredible Easter Sunday.

I want to say a big thanks to all that worked so hard at the design and implementation of our new stage set today. We now have the most “pimped out” stage of any portable church I know. It looks incredible! God upstaged it all but that is the way it should be. When we put forth our best for him he just has a way of giving his best right back! You can see Jeff rockin' it here...

Michelle had to miss today because Gracie was sick. When we got home she was upset over a hawk getting one of our chickens. Murderer. Looks like we will be shot-gun shopping later this week…gotta protect the “live-stock”. Our cat also got hit by a car…nothing fatal but I’m hoping we won’t get a huge vet bill.

Whenever God gets to working you run into spiritual warfare. One of my close friends called tonight to ask me for prayer. His wife told him she wants a divorce. My heart is hurting for both of them tonight. They are two of the nicest people you would ever meet. I had a chance to talk to both of them separately and pray with them on the phone tonight. I am trusting God to bring healing to their relationship and not to just restore their marriage, but give them a whole new marriage. I’m reminded tonight of how critical our upcoming “I love” series will be. Be praying... invite your friends this week.

A Tribute

2008-03-14T14:55:00.006-04:00

I come away from my recent trip with a keen awareness of a supernatural blessing on my life. I have been given a gift that few ever realize…a brother and a sister who share my dreams, accept my shortcomings, forgive my failures, love me without condition, and encourage me to be all that God created me to be. Our time together was a realization of a new phase in our lives. Gone are the labels of “older, middle, and younger, and in their place simply brothers and sister. This is significant because the labels come with expectations and baggage. I’ll never forget a Sunday night talk recently between the three of us that I believe will be the catalyst for an intimacy that exists between few siblings. God has given us something special. It has not been easy nor has it come naturally because the three of us have had to get crazy honest about our stuff with each other. There were lots and lots of tears and through it a kind of healing is emerging. This is a place that few families go. Things instead are left unsaid or just ignored. God has called us to something special…He gets the credit and we get the blessing. Kristin (I call her Kris) and Buddy are many things to many people but to me they are just my incredible siblings. How blessed am I?

Kristin is one of the bravest women I have ever known. Courage isn’t the absence of fear but instead moving forward in spite of your fear. She is a great daughter, wife, and mother but to me, she is first and foremost a great sister. She has a love for people (especially kids) that is unmatched. She battles fear and physical challenges…literally goes to war against them to be what God has called her to be. She blesses me like crazy. It’s almost embarrassing how proud she is of Buddy and me (but I still like it). Kris is a discerner. God has given her the gift to see through the facades that people project and see the truth. Most of all she is in love with Jesus. One of the things I admire most about her is the tender heart she has. With her “people radar” it would be easy to become cynical and jaded but she remains a “believer” that God’s best for you is still to come…I love you Sis.

Buddy is my brother. I get the privilege to know him like few others. He also is a great son, husband, and father but he was born to be a brother. He makes me believe in myself like no other person on this planet. He is so much to so many people, but to me he is just my bro. He continues to sharpen me and call me to be ALL that God created me to be. To think of how I would have just “settled” had God not created Buddy. My biggest dreams in life have taken shape out of long conversations with Bud. Buddy is the funniest member of our sibling trio. He keeps us all laughing. He is a gift to Kris and me. Buddy is a capital “L” leader, has a flare for the dramatic and is at his best when he is in “dreaming mode” (see Ephesians 3:20). With all the pain and betrayal that comes from running point at such a furious pace, Buddy continues to open his heart and life to others. I admire that. He is a daring innovator and a master communicator…I love you Bro.
For the rest of you let me ask you this…Do you work at the relationships you have with your siblings? Do you invest in them? Are you painfully honest with them? Don’t just settle for ordinary when extraordinary is possible.

Lessons Learned

2008-03-13T09:30:00.004-04:00

Here are some things I wrote in my journal during my recent trip that I want to share with you today. They are in no particular order and I will pose a question to you for each point. I hope you will enjoy…

Leadership principles transcend culture. We had a great time speaking into Jerry’s life regarding the power of vision and leadership. Whether it is with his business or his team, you have to take the reins of what God has placed in your heart and get out front to lead. People will unwittingly try to steer you away from the dreams placed in your heart. If you need people you can’t lead people. We all face the danger of settling for the good instead of God’s best. One of the highlights of my trip was the four of us discussing staffing and leadership.

Question: Are you being true to the calling and vision that God has placed on your life?

My faith has become so sophisticated that at times it is no longer faith at all but some misguided form of intellectualism that pushes back the glory and miracle working power of God. God showed me this, and it was neither comfortable nor pretty. This imprudent kind of belief attempts to box God in and push his wonder out. Because of this I have become more of a “religious cynic” than someone who rejoices at the miraculous hand of God in the lives of people. I will talk about this more on Sunday but God is looking for people who have the audacity to believe in his wonder working power. I want to be one of those people and I will need God’s help to change.

Question: Have you knowingly or unwittingly tried to fit God into the “box” of your human understanding?

Heaven’s Heroes serve in relative obscurity. I met a lady who has given 19 years of her life dedicated to God by following her calling to make a difference in the life of a minority people group. She is single and serves alone, doing what she can to make a difference in the life of others. As I listened to her life story I began to feel smaller and smaller. Things that seemed so important began to look trivial and self-absorbed. I wish I could share more details of her story with you. Truth be told there are hundreds and even thousands of people that serve in this way. They literally forsake all for the mission of Jesus Christ. No limelight or recognition in human terms but in God’s eyes they are his front-line heroes.

Question: Do you seek for human recognition or limelight or is can you serve for an audience of One?

Trip Surprises

2008-03-12T10:57:00.003-04:00

I’m home safe and sound. Because of all our recent travel with my Dad’s illness, Buddy and I felt like we should cut out trip short so we came home two days early. I surprised Michelle and the kids when I walked in last night. I tried but I couldn’t stay awake to watch American Idol with them. It is great to be home today. “There is no place like home” might be cliché but it is very true. I missed blogging while away and look forward to getting back into it this week. I plan to post everyday between now and Easter. By the way...comments are back on...I had them turned off while I was away. It will be good to hear from you...

Here are some trip takeaways that I would like to share:

What surprised me?

The Chinese people…they were very friendly and hospitable. For some reason I thought they would be more reserved or guarded. I could definitely live and work with the Chinese. Great folks!

I stink at chopsticks. Might be a good diet plan though…today, I am thankful for forks!

I like “American Chinese food” better.

Basketball is the favorite sports passion for Chinese. It’s everywhere. I’m so used to soccer being the dominate sport outside the U.S., but not in China.

I have never seen so many people. Talk about mass humanity.

The traffic is intense. You should see my sister Kristin drive in the crazy traffic. She is the bravest woman I know.

Hong Kong has the largest airport I have ever seen. Unbelievable.

China Part Two

2008-03-07T23:34:00.002-05:00

What an incredible last two days I have had. It is difficult to explain in words what I have experienced. Thursday we travelled to the most remote area I have ever been in my lifetime. The roads were incredibly bad as we travelled through the mountains. At one point I had the thought that the entire Cremeans clan could get wiped out here…but Jerry did a great job of driving and navigating.

We were introduced to some minority people who have their own distinct culture and customs. They have some incredible costumes and headdresses and their hospitality was off the hook. We could really learn hospitality from the people here. I believe it is becoming a lost art in the US as our lifestyles continue at a mad pace. To see the way these people live and work was humbling to say the least. I wish I could say that I was more adventurous in the area of culinary culture, but I just couldn’t do it. Jerry joked with us that we were going to have to eat Yak testicles! So far my stomach has held up well and I will probably gain some weight before this trip is over.

On the way back into town we saw some guys playing basketball and pulled off to play a little hoops. We ended up playing 3 on 6 and we represented our country well (we were also about 2 feet taller than the guys we played against). About 20 minutes into the game I asked Buddy and Jerry if either of them had the same burning lung sensation that I was experiencing and they didn’t reply (now I know it is because they couldn’t talk). The elevation was about 6500 (felt like 10,000) feet high. We gave high fives, thanked our hosts for losing, and headed home but the burning lung sensation turned into one of the worst coughing fits of my life. I went through 4 cough drops and a couple of bottles of water to get back to normal. Buddy is still coughing…says he has “red lung”…he can be a wuss at times…

Yesterday I toured a Buddhist temple and was invited in for lunch. Again, I politely declined but I sure did appreciate the hospitality. It was surreal to look through the temple and see their statues and altars. This was a new experience for me as well. On the way back into town we saw a giant (and I mean giant) Buddha statue on the side of a mountain. It had nineteen hundred and ninety nine steps leading up to it. After some serious consideration of getting a closer look I decided to just take a picture instead.

Last night we enjoyed dinner with some of Kristin and Jerry’s western friends in the city and had a great time. It’s cool to see how people adjust to the culture here. Speaking of culture…it seems like every other word I hear in Mandarin sounds like sh** or the N word. Crazy! I’m having the time of my life and can’t wait to get home to see you all.

I called home and found out that Michelle and Emmy are down with the flu. Alli is away for the weekend babysitting so that bummed me out a little. I hate for them to be struggling while I am away. I am really blessed to have a wife who supports me the way Michelle does.

New Baptism Video

2008-03-05T12:48:00.003-05:00

Here is the video compilation of our last three baptisms. It is so exciting to see the life change that has taken place in the last 12 months at Fellowship!

Watch Video Here

In China

2008-03-04T21:26:00.003-05:00

After 30 long hours of travel in trains, plains, and automobiles, I am in Kunming, China. What a beautiful country! I am travelling with my brother Buddy. We met at JFK and have enjoyed hanging as we flew half-way around the world. We are both joking (kind of) about getting the bird flu...a bunch of people on the plain were wearing surgical masks! Can I just say the obvious in that Buddy and I don't fit very well on airplanes. We have never made a trip overseas together but have always dreamed of it.

We are here visiting my sister Kristin and brother-in-law Jerry. They have lived here for over 5 years now and it is great to see their incredible life here. They both have learned the language and adjusted to the culture in an amazing way. To see them engage and interact with the people is amazing! The Chinese people are some of the most engaging and friendly people I have ever interacted with outside the US.

It is difficult to describe the feeling I get when I watch Kristin and Jerry here. My sis is speaking in Mandarin Chinese! She was trying to get me to use chop sticks at dinner last night but I went with the old faithful fork because I was ready to chow down. I'll work on the chopsticks some more today.

Buddy and I keep looking at each other and saying..."Can you believe we are in China"? It is surreal to say the least. To think of three kids growing up on Elmwood Avenue in West Chester being in China together is crazy!

We are headed out into the villages shortly. Kunming is a huge city of around 5 million people. People are everywhere here. The traffic was the most intense I have ever experienced between the cars, buses, mopeds, and bikes. Oh yea, and no bike helmets. I saw a dad, mom, and toddler on a moped with no helmets! Anyway, we are taking about a 2 hour drive out into a smaller city and then to villages an hour and a half further away. So more travel! l will keep you updated as I have access.

The Power Of One

2008-03-03T21:34:00.004-05:00

Preaching has three phases to it...you have the time and thought that goes into the preparation, then of course their is the delivery phase...that is the part that you guys see and hear each week. The part you rarely hear about is the post preaching second guessing that happens as I reflect and pray back through Sunday. This past Sunday I really wish I would have talked more about the power of one...

You see it is all about lives changing one heart at a time. It is about the one. The one that is far from God...the one who is down to their last attempt...the one who is desperate for a new start. Every week they come and every week they hear about the life changing love of Jesus Christ. Churches can dial into programs and numbers but it is, and must always be, about the one.

In a consumer dominated society it is difficult to sustain this kind of focus in the church. So many people walk in every Sunday with the focus on what church can do for them instead of how they can serve and reach that one person. How is the church meeting my needs and the needs of my family?

Fellowship is about redefining church in the Delaware Valley one heart at a time. That is why we greet...that is why we create environments that inspire and capture the imagination...that is why we leverage our culture in a way that relates to where people are living...that is why we will do anything short of sin to reach someone for Jesus!

There is power in reaching one person. There is a ripple effect because of the lives they touch...their friends, neighbors, coworkers, and family...the people that they interface with each and every day. Tomorrow, I hope to have the baptism video that we showed Sunday on my blog. It shows the power of one...over and over again!

Sunday Random Musings

2008-03-02T21:21:00.002-05:00

Had a great day today in church talking about Fellowship's Vision and our personal vision in life. Remember you have to be the keeper of your own vision. If it is easily explained we have to be asking ourselves whether or not it is a God-vision.

A quick update on my dad - He got his staples out this past Friday and is making small improvements every day. Thanks for praying for him. He still has a long road ahead of him.

Life on the farm update: We now have five baby ducks/ducklings/duckettes/small ducks/baby ducks (not sure what they're called). Sounds crazy, but it's pretty cool to watch. It's crazy that something as silly as a little duckling can remind me of what an incredible creator we serve.

On another note, I'm excited about the Eagles two new pickups so far.

Hope you have a great week.

New Stage Look Is On The Way

2008-02-28T14:44:00.003-05:00

I am really excited about our stage makeover that is in the process. Here are the trusses that came in today. Lights and some cool fabric cutouts are on the way. The truss that you see will have different shapes of fabric stretched across. The fabric is specially designed to absorb lighting. As you can see we have two sets of trusses. The screen will be in the middle with a section of truss on either side. We also got a platform to raise our drums and give a little more depth to our stage. Lighting is an area we have just been getting killed in...the black curtains on the stage now make it very difficult to change the environment with lighting...well, not any more! We hope to have these up and running by Sunday March 9th. It is going to give us a great "look" for Easter!

2008-02-28T09:07:00.002-05:00

The ducks are coming! I thought I would give all you nature lovers an update on life down on the farm. I told you a couple of weeks back that Michelle had some duck eggs in an incubator…well, they are doing great. Several of the eggs are moving (how freaky is that?) and you could actually hear a chirping noise coming from one of them. Twenty-eight days Michelle has invested in these things…I’m hoping all goes well and I will have some new pictures for you soon.

Random Musings From A Sleepy Pastor

2008-02-27T03:15:00.000-05:00

I am battling the flu right now…as my Mom used to say, “I have my days and nights mixed up.” It is 3:00 AM and I can't sleep so I might as well blog since I will probably be sleeping when most of you read this later today.

I spent a couple of hours on e-mail tonight…not sure if that is the best use of my time. Thanks for not forwarding me stuff... my favorite closing line in emails is “you don’t need to respond to this”. I am really hoping that blogging can be my way of staying in touch and I can transition away from so much e-mail.

I could watch our baptism videos over and over again…I smile so much watching them that my face starts to hurt by the end of the video…please no "does your face hurt"…"well it’s killing me jokes here!"

I want you to check out this blog link for Pastor Gary Lamb. I don’t know Gary yet but he is a blogging freak! One of the best pastor bloggers you will read. Gary pastors Revolution Church in Canton, Georgia and he is kicking it! He recently wrote a post entitled “Eliminating the portability excuse” that I want you to check out. It is a must read if you are part of Fellowship or planting a church.

One thing that keeps me awake at night is what is next for Fellowship…a second campus at a Delaware location or build a building on our campus. Either way I think we need to be somewhere between the 800-1000 range before we do either.

I do know we are called to build people not necessarily buildings. Moving into the school almost 3 years ago really launched our church as we know it today.

Cremeans Couch is starting back up on Buddy’s blog…you should check it out every Monday.

Buddy lost one of heaven’s heroes last week at Northway. Check out his post and remember to pray for his team. Heaven’s gain was their loss.

Still having C3 spiritual afterglow!

American Idol Update: I forget his name but I am predicting that the 17 year old dude that blew away the John Lennon song tonight will win it all. That kid is sick. All my girls (Michelle included I think) have a crush on him.

Going Public!

2008-02-26T17:10:00.007-05:00

You have to love seeing people go public in their faith by being baptized. If you missed it Sunday check it out. If you are like me, I can watch this over and over...it is why we exist. People are identifying their lives with Jesus! It is all about God changing lives one heart at a time...it is Fellowship redefining church in the Delaware Valley! Great job putting this together Ben! Get your friends and family to check this out!

Watch Video Here

More Top Quotes

2008-02-25T00:41:00.001-05:00

Here are some of the top quotes and questions I took away from C3...

Honor the old and promote the new.
You can’t lead out of the negative experiences of your life.
Practice taking second place (Rom 12 – The Message)
The enemy wants us to believe that want we do doesn’t matter.
God is preparing you for what he has prepared for you.
The enemy doesn’t want the church to take “turf” for the kingdom.
The loudest boos come from the cheapest seats.
Pit happens…It happens.
God allows us to break down so we can break out!
Betrayal separates the “players” from the “posers.”
You can’t institutionalize accountability…it is born out of love.
(leadership) If you love people you will measure their performance.
The cost of leadership is conflict.
You can’t lead people who aren’t thirsty.
God never gives bread that hasn’t been broken.
God is bigger than your background.

Questions:
Are you praying high risk prayers?
What are the barriers that are keeping our church from being unleashed on this world?

The Big Day

2008-02-24T01:43:00.003-05:00

This is a big day for the Cremeans family. Allison Nicole Cremeans turns eighteen years old today. Unbelievable! I love all my kids deeply but today is Alli’s day and I want to brag on her. She is my pride and my joy. I call her my “honey-bunny”. Even at 18 the “little girl” in her smiles through when she hears me call her by her “special name.” Some of you might not get this part but it is all good either way because she is Daddy’s girl. For the record…Emily is my “princess” and Gracie is my “angel”.
One of the things that makes Alli so endearing to me is all of our marriage junk she has had to live through. God has been so good to Michelle and I to say the least, but I can think of two distinct seasons where we were in a crisis and detached mode…maybe a better term would be the survival mode. There wasn’t a lot of emotional energy left over at times. I remember when Alli was about 4 years old and Michelle and I were going through a 9-month separation. We would take turns like divorced people do at spending quality time with Alli. As personally devastating as that season was for me I will always treasure my time with Alli. I would pick her up late in the evening after I got off work and we would make a taco bell run and head home to watch David Letterman. The next morning we would make waffles and then go swimming.

One of the tragedies of marriage struggles is that our kids suffer. One of the blessings of God is that his grace can cover so much. The joy that that little 4 year old injected into my life while I tried so desperately to grow up and be at least part of the man God wanted me to be, will never leave me. I can still see her chubby cheeks and her squinty eyes (the eyes were due in part to my limited hair dressing skills – I am told that I pulled her pony tail way too tight) and the giggle in her voice. It puts a lump in my throat as I write this. I hate it that she had to go through that.
I love Alli’s smile and I love her heart. I saw her grow up in Russia as she learned for the first time that God could use her to make a difference in the lives of children. She has been making a difference ever since. I got to watch her sing with Donny at Fusion last week while Emily played the guitar. I am glad to see her finishing up her youth group days strong! I love watching her working at guest services, seeing her smile, joking with Shari, helping and greeting newcomers. I love taking her out on dates.
I love her loving her God. One thing I have tried to drive home to her is that if statistics hold true she will spend more time on this earth with her heavenly Father than her earthly Father. He will love her and never fail her. Pray for Alli as she searches for what to do next in her life. I think I would love to have her end up in the “family business” at some point but that is in God’s hand.

Alli, I am so proud of you honey. I couldn’t imagine having anyone but you to be my introduction to being a Daddy. I will always love and support you in whatever endeavor God has for you. Keep dreaming big dreams Alli. I believe that God will use you in a way that goes far beyond what your mom and I have done. I believe in you…I think you are beautiful and I am moved by your spirit…and I see God’s hand all over you. Remember, you are God’s masterpiece that is still being completed. You have done it…EIGHTEEN YEARS! Can you believe it? You are on your way baby. Give your best for your master because he gave everything for you.

Still Downloading

2008-02-23T23:00:00.000-05:00

I was scheduled to speak at Northway Church in Malta, NY tonight but my flight was cancelled due to the weather we had yesterday. I was really looking forward to sharing with Northway but the alternative is that I get to be home with my family and our Fellowship family. I am still soaking in everything from the Creative Church Conference. I had the blessing of listening to nine messages in two days and I needed to hear every single one of them.

I am humbled by the opportunities that God gave me to meet some great leaders of churches that are getting it done for the God’s Kingdom. It really was God’s favor that opened up the door for me. Today I was looking at some of their church web sites and I’m in awe of what God is doing through these guys. They were just gracious and humble guys that treated me like one of the group even though most of their churches were so many times larger than ours. To see what God is doing through them inspires and encourages me for the future of Fellowship.

This was the third year in a row for Michelle and me to attend C3 and it just seems to get better every year. Ed Young is one of the most kind and gracious pastors you will ever meet.

I come home more burdened than ever for the Delaware Valley and the Northeast. The best is yet to come for what God is going to do through Fellowship Church. We have so far to go but make no mistake about it…we are on our way. God’s hand is on us…and remember, He is a mighty God…He is mighty to save!

Insights from C3

2008-02-22T01:15:00.003-05:00

One of the facts of life for pastors is that most of the time we get to listen to ourselves talk when it comes to the preaching. Thankfully we can listen to other pastors via podcast and video-casts which is great but it is still awesome to see them in person. Today I listened to five different sermons. These guys are the best of the best when it comes to communicating God’s truth. I sit here tonight (actually its morning now) and I am still downloading the things that God challenged me with.

I am blessed to do what I do…there is nothing more important than leading people to Jesus…it is the greatest news out there. One hundred years from now the only thing that will matter is a person’s relationship with Jesus Christ. Here are some of the takeaways from today for me…my notes are in the car so this will be from memory.

Empowering people is one of the most important things I do. It needs to be about people seeing Jesus not me. I can get in the way of people seeing Jesus when it becomes about me or my pride gets in the way.
Passion in the church starts with me and it should be white-hot because of what Jesus has done for me.
It is not the churches job to be “anti-anything.” Too many churches today are getting caught up in politics or various causes instead of being “pro-Jesus.” Jesus is that answer. Period.
When you work with people you will always deal with betrayal. You are either coming out of it, in the midst of it, or it is in your future. It has happened more than I like to think or talk about. 2006 will be remembered as our most difficult year. We have moved past it and God is blessing like crazy…
Betrayal is eventually followed by God’s blessing. He has a way of taking (see the story of Joseph) what the enemy means for evil in our lives and using it for good.
As a leader it is my responsibility to set the bar high for my staff. I then need to keep it set high on a consistent basis while I challenge them to perform with excellence. Too many times leaders lower the bar to keep peace on the team or to avoid confrontation. Set the bar high and then hold people accountable.
Don’t ever hire someone who is not joyful. This was a great reminder to all of us. It is amazing what we get to do for a living. I need to set the pace here and again, hold people accountable.

God's Favor - Live From C3

2008-02-21T06:48:00.007-05:00

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.

Friendships

2008-02-20T17:19:00.004-05:00

One of the cool things about being out of town at a pastor's conference is the chance to connect with other pastors. Guys that do what I do (many of them better and more experienced) and share the same passion for reaching people. Michelle is seeing the benefit of this as well. I'm praying that God will help us develop some new friendships this week and strengthen some that already exist.

Craig Groeschel has a great series of posts this week on friendships for pastors. He says it much better than I can. Check out his post.

Reunion

2008-02-20T16:41:00.004-05:00

Michelle and I had a great chance to reconnect with some great friends from our past last night. Fifteen years ago (They are getting old) Michelle and I led a student ministry in Fort Worth, Texas. Greg and Kelly Wagner and Daryl and Terry MacDonald were our leaders that worked with us. Last night was the first time we were able to be together as a group since we left Texas. We had a blast! I really love these guys. Too bad they are Cowboy fans (nobody is perfect). We laughed and had a great time reminiscing about some of the crazy things we did back in our “twenties”. It was encouraging to see how they have grown and developed as leaders in their church. We hope to make this an annual event when Michelle and I come out to Texas for the C3 conference.

Half of our team has made it in and the rest will be here in a couple of hours. I am really looking forward to tonight’s kick-off! Please, please, please, be praying for us and for our families that we left behind. I can’t overstate how huge this week can be for Fellowship Church as our team is challenged. God has given me a fabulous group to work with. One of my responsibilities as a leader is to make sure they are developed and stretched to be all that God would have them to be. I hope to lead the way this week as God stretches and challenges me. I have been praying big-time for a supernatural outpouring of his spirit on our group.

On a side note my Dad is having his most difficult recovery day since his surgery. His medication that he takes is all messed up because of his surgery and that is taking its toll on him, plus they took him off a lot of the pain meds today. Please continue to pray for his recovery.

Manna

2008-02-19T14:31:00.003-05:00

I have been in a trustee meeting for Manna today – Manna is a faith based organization that started a little over five years ago that helps connect churches, organizations, and individuals with starving kids all over the world. There is nothing like being in a room filled with pastors, businessmen, and missionaries that are passionate about hungry and hurting children. Proverbs 22:9 says, “Blessed are those who are generous because they feed the poor.” God cares about the poor. For too many years, churches shied away from this kind of endeavor as some kind of “social gospel.” What a crock! Jesus was all about meeting peoples physical and emotional needs as a way to reach their heart. I don’t believe we should feed hungry kids as a means to an end, but that we should feed kids simply because they are hungry. St Francis said to tell everyone about Jesus and if necessary use words. That is one of my favorite all-time quotes!

I find myself dialing out of the meeting as I try to think of more ways I can raise funds to feed kids. It’s out there…the resources are there…we just need to get the word out. Where there is vision God will bring the provision.

My good friend Tim Chambers from Shore Fellowship, is here with me. We have this text thing going on while people are talking. This is one of the reasons we became pastors... we struggle listening for long periods of time...

I pick up Michelle and in a couple of hours…I have been missing her with all our travel. We just love coming to C3 together! It is like youth-camp for pastors…

All Skate

2008-02-18T14:06:00.003-05:00

I am headed to Dallas today for a trustee meeting with Manna Worldwide on Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednesday night our staff is heading to Dallas for the C3 Conference. Michelle and I have gone the last two years and it just plain rocks. Ed Young of the other Fellowship Church is the real deal. Spiritually, it has been the highlight of our year. We are making a big investment in taking a group of 13 people this year, but it will pay huge dividends in their lives and at Fellowship. We are going to learn everything we can and be challenged. It is so easy to get stale in ministry and conferences like these keep you sharp and growing. Pray for our team this week that God will challenge us big-time to keep giving him our best and that our hearts will be inspired with the calling God has given us to reinvent church in the Delaware Valley.

We had Bailey’s birthday party at a skating rink today. It was awesome seeing my kids out there having a great time to some of the same songs I grew up with. I was having flashbacks to Buddy and I skating to the Eagles song “Heartache Tonight”. We thought we were so cool! We still argue over who was the better skater…Buddy lies sometimes. I think he got that from my sister…

I loved church yesterday – nothing new there. I must say that 11:00 service is the high energy mark right now…time for the 9:30 group to step it up! Remember, words are powerful…so encourage and empower someone today with the things you say!

Miracles

2008-02-17T08:12:00.001-05:00

Here is the note I received from Brian...

Hey John,

What a great phone call to receive. It always blows me away when God answers prayers - I guess it shows how I don’t always trust that He will answer our prayers. With Chuck’s cancer, the probability of it being cancer after all the tests was in the neighborhood of 99%. There was no expert from the East Coast to the Midwest that would have doubted the diagnosis or prognosis based on all the tests done. He had stage II T1-N1-M0 non-small cell lung cancer. With really good treatment his general prognosis was a 40-70% chance of survival at 5 years.

I just thought I would say one quick thing. After 17 years in the medical field, I have participated in working with some of the most incredible technological advances the world has ever seen. From Computers to Robots, our world of medicine has been changed. We do procedures and cure things today that we could only dream of curing just 5 years ago. However, there are still these cases that show up in our department every so often. They present with very little hope and a whole lot of worry. We work up the best, most technologically advanced treatment and prepare to battle the disease. But something happens - something unexpected. The disease is cured when it should not be, or it is not what it was suppose to be. There is no explanation - there is no technology that could solve the problem - and we do not have the knowledge to understand how things could result in such a good outcome. In medicine we stay away from the MIRACLE word. We just say it’s an unexplained thing. This, despite having no answers other than every single advanced test and procedure telling us exactly what we were dealing with. So with that, I have learned to see that God does perform MIRACLES today. We are scared to see them and admit them, but they are there. Many times they are small miracles, and every once in awhile he shows his true power and heals the sick, makes the blind see, and the deaf hear. His word tells us his GRACE is enough - we just have to believe.

May God Guide Your Steps, Brian

Home

2008-02-16T22:42:00.002-05:00

I just got home after a long day of travel and shopping. I’ll be out of town next week so I had to get ready for Alli’s birthday on the 24th and we are celebrating Bailey’s birthday (he was with Michelle in Springfield on his real birthday) on Monday before I head to the airport. I love buying the kids stuff! Right now Grace, Drew and I are watching the Celine Dion special (Joe Walsh from the Eagles is playing the guitar – love that dude!). Alli keeps walking by and making fun of me for watching this....Whenever I am away we always “break the rules” when I get home so we are staying up way past bedtime having some make-up Daddy time. I love breaking rules…even my own!

I’m still overwhelmed at God healing my Dad. He is still in ICU because of a high fever but he should be moved into a regular room tomorrow. I wish you could have seen him with me last night. You could tell he was in a lot of pain but he was happy – happy for us. I didn’t get to see him today but he somehow left me a voicemail telling me he missed me. What a trip I had. Being with Kristin and Buddy was awesome. We took Mom out and had a celebration dinner after seeing Dad in ICU.

Tomorrow I get to celebrate with my Fellowship family…Can’t wait! Tomorrow I want to post an email I received from Brian Hasson that deals with Dad’s surgery from a doctor’s perspective. It’s pretty cool. I hope you will throw some comments back Brian’s way whether you know him or not. He has been such a blessing to our family.

Oh I almost forgot…don’t be giving me grief for watching Celine…I know, I know…

Thumbs Up!

2008-02-15T19:05:00.002-05:00

It is starting to sink in! We are waiting to go in and tell Dad the good news! You should have heard my kids screaming in the background when I was talking to Michelle. I think I need to cry...what a wuss I am! Seeing my Dad going in for his surgery and giving us the big thumbs up. The more things change, the more they stay the same. He has been declaring for weeks that He believed God was going to heal him. What a lesson in faith. I stink at faith...but today God has showed me his strong hand. I called Dr.Brian Hasson because he has been such a great friend through this. Thanks Brian! Buddy has music blaring on his laptop right now about the enemy being defeated! I think we will be getting kicked out of the hospital soon...who cares. God kicked some serious butt today!

You should have seen the doctor's face. Not sure if he believed what he was telling us. He asked us to remember him in our prayers...God thanks for the skills you have blessed our doc with. I lift him up to you today. Not sure where he is on his journey but I pray that you would speak to him through this and draw him to you. I love you God. Not just because you healed my Dad...you continue to heal me everyday. I love you because you continue to reveal yourself to me. What a ride Jesus. I pray for the sweet family that shared the waiting room with us today. Their news was not good and they have a tough road ahead. I hate that for them but I know you love them. What a paradox today has been...

Wow GOD!

2008-02-15T18:16:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure what to say...The doc just left our room and he said Dad does NOT have cancer! They took the mass and a lymph node out and they were not cancer! What about all the tests that said it was cancer? I guess God hooked my Pops up. He isn't dying...no more than any of us are. I watched them wheel him away and honestly wondered if I was going to get to talk to him again. I am stunned...humbled...to be honest, I feel somewhat guilty because I watched others get really bad news today from their respective doctors.

Thank you so much for all your prayers. Again, I am at a loss for words. Thanks God...Thank You! I can't wait to see Dad get the good news. I think my Mom is going to dance in the hallway...that could be scary.

God is good.

More Waiting

2008-02-15T16:38:00.002-05:00

It is 4:45 (central time) and they just took Dad back for surgery…We thought he was already there. Three more hours and we should know more. Thanks for praying. I saw that I spelled waiting (wating) wrong. I really stink at spelling.

Surgery And Waiting

2008-02-15T14:53:00.004-05:00

They just took my Dad back for surgery. We prayed over him as a family…can I just say how awesome that was! He is in God’s hands now. The surgery should last about three hours. Thanks for praying. I’m sitting with my Mom in the waiting room and we are competing to see who can type the fastest…I’m losing. I’ll post later as soon as we know more.

Arrived

2008-02-15T03:26:00.003-05:00

I hopped a 6:00 AM flight out this morning to Springfield, Missouri via Chicago O’Hare. One of my great friends Kevin Short who is the lead pastor at Christ Community Church, picked me up and took me to my favorite eating establishment and then it was off to Dad and Mom’s house. I arrived about 2:30 at the same time Buddy and Kristin arrived. Most of us were going on very little sleep so after a few pleasantries we hit the sack. Dad has had a good week as far as pain management. He was even able to go out to dinner with us on Valentine’s Day. While we all missed our better half’s company, we had a great dinner together. It is very rare that we get the original Cremeans 5 back together. My dad sits higher in his seat for times like these as the great patriarch of it all. As my kids get older I am starting to get some of that myself. We came home and visited some more and then Mom and Dad headed off to bed.

What followed next was one of those rare sibling/God moments that are difficult to explain. We talked for hours. We shared burdens, fears, frustrations, dreams, and successes. As we were talking we knew implicitly that God was doing something very special. He was marrying our hearts together like only family understands. You see, the best part of our lives is right in front of us. We all serve in different ministries in different parts of the world. We know God has us teaming up in some way. Right now we are teaming up to support our parents. Soon we will be teaming up to support our Master’s call.

My sister Kristin is an amazing woman…let me tell you! It is not easy being the only sister but she does it with such grace and beauty that makes it seem natural. She has been one of my heroes my entire life. I always wanted to be her, (the male version) to be like her. In school she was great at all she did. She got straight A’s and was number one in her senior class. She goes off to college and does the same thing all over again. She can tear up a keyboard. I have noticed a passing of the guard that I really appreciate. You see now Buddy and I get to be the “big brothers”. She is learning to lean on us…to let us take care of her for a change. Jerry, her husband is perfect for her. He is like our third brother.

Tonight she was able to let us see into her heart and share some burdens she is working through. Wow. It was powerful. We joined hands and had a very powerful time of prayer together. We are all scared about Dad’s surgery tomorrow. We have to be at the hospital at 10:00 and the surgery is scheduled for 3:00 (it is a 3 hour surgery) All three of us plan to spend the next several days praying and fasting for my Dad. Please pray for him. We are not ready for him to leave. We know that he is in God’s loving hands.

Green Acres

2008-02-14T00:08:00.002-05:00

So check this out…Michelle brought home an egg incubator from Missouri on her recent trip. She has had seventeen duck eggs “cooking” in there for two weeks now. Tonight she made this contraption where she took a box and cut a small hole in the top (the egg rests on this hole). You then put a flash light under the box and place the egg on top of the hole. The room is dark so you can see if anything is happening inside the egg. I can’t tell you just how freaky it was to see something moving inside of the egg! It was disgusting and incredible at the same time. You could see veins and movement inside...again...very freaky! I swear one of them smiled at me…the kids think I am insane. So we have eight of the seventeen with something growing…nine duds in the lot. In two more weeks we should have some baby ducks (something tells me that is not the correct term). Michelle cracks me up. She is so into the “farm scene” and makes living here so much fun for all of us. I think we have some goats in our future. She has some goat lady “holding” three “dairy goats” (again…not the scientific name) for us. No milking the goats jokes needed here…just doesn’t seem very manly if you know what I mean. Anyway…Michelle keeps trying to sell me that these are really special goats…hence the $250.00 price tag per stinkin’ goat.

So I will keep you posted on our duck eggs and make some kind of duck birth announcement if they make it. I thought about starting this post with “we’re pregnant” or “we are having babies” but I didn’t want to freak out our Elders. No baby showers needed, but if you are interested in some ducks…

I'm headed to Missouri later today. I have a 6:00 AM flight...ouch! Buddy is going too so it will be cool to be together as a family. Thanks again for all your prayers and support. I'll see you Sunday as we continue our series on the "Power of Words."

Dad Update

2008-02-13T10:15:00.001-05:00

After what seems like endless doctor’s appointments and tests my Dad has been scheduled for surgery this Friday afternoon. They will be going in to remove the cancer in his lung. I don’t know a lot of the details other than it will be a very painful recovery time for him following the surgery. I am checking into available last minute flights today so I can be there if at all possible.

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for my Dad and my Mom. They are very resilient and have strong faith but I can tell this has taken a toll on them. Dad continues to have serious pain in his back and legs that is not related to the cancer or this surgical procedure. Please continue to lift them up in prayer this week. I will keep you posted as I get more information.

Russia

2008-02-12T23:50:00.005-05:00

This will mark our fifth summer working with children throughout the Smolensk region of Russia. Fellowship has been blessed to build playgrounds and establish feeding centers in some extremely poor villages. This is a picture of the feeding center we built in Desna last summer. I made my first trip to Russia back in 1997 when I was on staff at a church in Jacksonville, Florida. It was my first experience working in another culture. To be honest I never planned to go back. I thought it would be cool to travel to different countries all over the world and experience many different cultures. God had different plans for me.

This June, we will be taking a team of volunteers to Russia as we attempt to build our largest playground to date for needy children. God has led us to an orphanage with 240 children. Two swings. That’s it. That is what these kids have to play on when they go outside. This summer we are going to change that. We are going to make a difference in the lives of these children. Helping kids has a way of changing you forever. I remember singing a song when I was a kid about Jesus loving all the little children of the world – about how precious they are to him. James said that true religion is reaching out to help orphans and widows.

If you have never been on a mission trip let me encourage you to take the plunge. Live different. Live dangerous. Get outside your comfort zone. I promise you will never be the same. If your church isn't taking a trip this summer come with us. We would love to have you. You can contact our office if you would like more information on this year’s trip. We will be finalizing our roster in the next few weeks.

I Love Surprises

2008-02-10T15:52:00.000-05:00

I received my best surprise of the year when my niece Kristi came in today for a visit. Kristi is 23 and lives in Lynchburg Virginia. I love it when my nieces come to see me. They are amazing and my family adores them. Kristi is one of the sweetest and funniest girls I know. She reminds me of our kid’s pastor Kristi McInnes in her love for children and she makes our family laugh like crazy. It’s an awesome privilege to be an Uncle. To see my sister Kristin’s girls grow up to love Jesus the way they do has been one of the highlights of my life. In case you can’t tell…I’m very proud of them.

Today was a great Sunday. Jeff broke out some “golden oldies” during worship. Attendance seemed off some – lots of people are battling the flu right now. We also had around 25 of our middle school young people and their leaders at a ski retreat. It was good to kick off our new series on the “Power of Words”. Words come with responsibility and they are indicators of the condition of our heart. Remember that God holds us accountable for everything we say. If you have a problem with the things you say, God says it is a heart issue. We are never going to be perfect in the timing and choice of our words, but Christ followers should lead the way when it comes to encouraging others and speaking into their lives.

I want to thank Ryan and Jess along with our student leaders for investing this weekend in our Middle School kids. I hope you guys had fun and don’t come home with too many bruises!

I’m getting pumped up for our Russia trip this summer. I’ll try to blog about that some tomorrow.

Daddy's Girl

2008-02-08T19:24:00.000-05:00

I got to take my oldest daughter Alli out for a dinner date tonight. Nothing fancy but it was great to have one-on-one time with her. I believe Dad’s should take their daughters out on dates. It is a cool deal to spend time alone and let them talk about what is going on in their lives.

Alli is going to be 18 two weeks from tomorrow. I can’t believe how old she is getting…how old I am getting. I told her on the way home how proud I am of her. I love the woman she is growing to be. She is a testimony to God’s grace. Dads, we get an incredible opportunity to “bless” our kids. It is a responsibility…a stewardship. We don’t want to swing and miss at this one.

Have you told your kids that you are proud of them lately? Do you let them know you believe in them? Do you say “I love you” everyday? Do you hug them? When kids know that their dad is in their corner – that they believe in them – it gives them an incredible safety-net of confidence. It also gives them a better view of their Heavenly Father. Believe me, Alli knows how imperfect her Daddy is. That is a good thing. We keep it real. But Alli knows that I am her greatest fan as well and that’s a great thing.

The Power Of Words - From Kids

2008-02-07T08:56:00.000-05:00

I was reading over some cards that I received from “Upstreet” last week and was blessed by some of the words of our kids at Fellowship. They are learning the power of words at a very young age. Here are some that blessed me that I wanted to share with you…

Dear Pastor John – I hope that your parents are better. Hopefully your trip was safe. Love Sarah. P.S. I think you are doing a great job. P.P.S. Cowboys Rock! (Obviously we still have some teaching to do here on the Cowboys part)

To Mr. John …From Luke …thank you for Pastoring people about God.

To Pastor John – I think you have been doing a good job as Pastor. I hope you will stay Pastor for as long as I am here. Have a good day. From Robbie

Pastor John – Thanks for helping my daddy ask Jesus into his heart. He says church is funny and it helps him. Thank you for helping my family come to church together church and KidVenture is fun. You are nice. Matt.

Words have the power to bless and encourage. I hope to see you Sunday as we dive into the “Power of Words.”

The Power Of Words

2008-02-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

Sunday we are kicking off a two week series called the "power of words." Think about it. We grew up saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but names (words) will never hurt me.” Yeah right. How many of you still remember painful things you heard as a young person. I have counseled people who are still devastated by the words they heard or didn’t hear growing up. The Bible says that life and death are in the power of the tongue. I’m sure we have all been on the other side when we wished we could get back the words we have spoken. I have eaten some serious shoe leather in my life (I know that is of little surprise to those who know me well).

I’m looking forward to unpacking the power of words over the next couple of weeks. Are you satisfied with the way you speak? Do you wish you had the courage to say more in some areas and the self control to say less in other areas? Come check it out and bring a friend , coworker, or neighbor with you this Sunday.

Sunday Reflections

2008-02-04T10:58:00.000-05:00

Sunday was a great wrap up to our “live different” series. Intentionality is such an important kingdom dynamic. Think of how reactive we are in life. We run around putting out fires as we tend to the urgent rather than focusing in on the important. What part of the week will you plan with Jesus in mind? Is he on your mind at all or is it a compartmentalized “Sunday kind of thing” for you. He wants to permeate all the aspects of our lives. Be intentional this week!

I loved our service yesterday. Jeff continues to deliver as he brings us into God’s presence. I wish he would quit holding back on “Glorious One” though, don’t you? The Lord’s Supper was great. I look forward to sharing it more on Sundays with you guys in 2008. Let me also congratulate the nineteen people we had get baptized. What a thrill to share in you going pubic with your faith in Jesus!

Last night might have been the best Super Bowl I remember watching. I have to admit for one three hour stretch I was a Giants fan. Maybe it was the whole “brother dynamic” of Payton and Eli – I’m a sucker for that one since I have a younger brother for a best friend – but I loved it. I am not a big fan of dynasties unless it is a Philadelphia dynasty…so I guess you could say I am not a fan of them at all since Philly has never had a dynasty in my lifetime let alone a championship in the last twenty five years.

My sister Kristin is home from East Asia and should be at my parent’s house by late tonight. She has an open ended ticket so she will be helping out for at least a couple of weeks. One of the blessings of my Dad’s cancer has been the unity that it has brought to an already close family. Thanks Kristin for making the long trip home – it will be a huge blessing for Mom and Dad.

I just heard that Michelle’s stepdad might have to have open heart surgery. YIKES! It seems like it comes in waves doesn’t it. He is an awesome guy – and one of the best cooks I know. Pray for Doc and Michelle’s Mother Kay. I will keep you posted.

Tim Chambers

2008-02-01T16:40:00.000-05:00

I want to introduce you to a friend of mine today…his name is Tim Chambers. Tim pastors one of the great churches in the Northeast called Shore Fellowship Church. They are located in Egg Harbor, New Jersey. For those of you who vacation in Ocean City, New Jersey (most of our church) you should check it out. Tim and I went to school together a long time ago back in Missouri. Things have changed a lot since then. Tim is a Michigan guy and a huge Detroit everything fan. Don’t hold that against him because he is just staying true to his roots (I still think he should become part of the culture here and switch over to Philly as his second team).

I read on Tim’s blog this week that his church is going to be featured in an upcoming book on twenty of the most innovative churches in America. How cool is that. Those of you who like to read blogs should check Tim’s blog out. Tim has a passion for his relationship with God and and incredible burden to reach the Northeast with the love of Jesus Christ. I hope to have him come speak at Fellowship sometime in 2008.

Missions Giving

2008-02-01T10:57:00.000-05:00

I am really excited about a number that I want to share with you today. In 2007 we had $238,000 come in towards missions. This included Faith Promise (regular missions giving above your tithe), our Christmas offering, Manna giving (helping feed children), missions trips, and some designated gifts. That works out to an incredible percentage as 26% of everything that came in for 2007 went towards some type of missions work! God is using Fellowship to support missionaries, build and fund feeding centers, feed and evangelize hungry children, and to take people where they can experience missions work up close whether it is in Camden or Russia. To give a little perspective on this number – it is more than the total income of Fellowship Church when we came back in 2000. How cool is that? As my sister likes to say…this is a “Yea God Moment”! I have heard it said that if you want to see where a church’s heart is than look at how they spend their money! Thank you Fellowship Church for investing in the lives of people who need to hear the good news of Jesus and thank you God for using those resources for your kingdom.

Home

2008-01-30T16:46:00.000-05:00

They're back! Michelle and the kids are home safe and sound! They ended up getting a hotel because of some bad weather last night and drove the last 4 hours of the trip today. I am really looking forward to a noisy house again. Thank you to all of you who prayed for their safe return!

And yes…I found out that I spelled vows (vowels) wrong two days ago (thanks Jennifer)…remember what I said about being distracted when I was in school?

Great News

2008-01-29T17:08:00.000-05:00

I just received news from my parents that a second biopsy that my Dad had came back as negative to any cancer in the lymph nodes outside of his lungs. They had the procedure done last Friday to clear the way for surgery on his lung so we are rejoicing at that news today. Thanks God!

Also, after eleven long days, Michelle and the kids are on their way home. They left at 5:00 this morning and are anxious to get home. It sounds like they had a great time visiting with her family and my parents. I’m not sure if she will try to push through or break the 18-hour trip into two days. The dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, guinea pig and I are very happy! One of my friends even offered to help me with a ticket to fly out and drive them back…how cool is that! I am rich in friends.

Live Dangerous

2008-01-29T11:29:00.001-05:00

I have already received some great feedback of people stepping out of the “cycle of sameness” this week. Way to go God! Saturday night was a tremendously meaningful night for me as I was privileged to participate in the renewal of marriage vows with Gail and JoAnne Oxley. What an incredible couple and an amazing story of God’s grace intersecting with people in a tough situation. I just want to say what a blessing they have been to me and thank them for letting God use their story to touch so many of us in our “live different” series. They have inspired and challenged me in many ways. Thank you Gail and JoAnne!

Quiet House

2008-01-27T00:41:00.000-05:00

I just go off the phone with Michelle and wined (yes I am a real wuss from time to time)to her about how much I miss her and my beautiful kids. My house is SO QUIET! Looks like they will be staying the better part of next week as well to help out with my parents.

My dad had to have another surgical procedure on Friday to get a biopsy on the nodes on the outside of his lungs before the surgeon would agree to surgery. He is resting up from that latest episode today. Many props to Michelle for driving them to and from the doctors and hospitals. She has been a huge help.

I went over to Gus and Laurie’s tonight and watched a romantic comedy…now I really miss Michelle! Thanks Gus!

One highlight of my evening was to stop by the clubhouse at the Village Creek and officiate the renewal of vowels for JoAnne and Gail Oxley. It was awesome! To know what these people have been through and to understand how Gail’s illness will progress made their remarks to each other priceless.

Dreaming Big

2008-01-25T13:04:00.000-05:00

My brother Buddy is the best I know of when it comes to dreaming big. Sometimes I think I am dreaming big until I hear his dreams. He always pushes and sharpens me here. I want to be like him when I grow up. Anyway…here is my thought today…do you dream big? Do you dream at all? What are some things you want to do before you die? Do you have a list? Have you ever written them down? I still want to jump out of an airplane (with a parachute) …I want to go to Hawaii (never been) and I want to go to Italy (never been). I want to go to the parade when the Eagles win the Super Bowl (need some divine intervention here). And I think I would like to go on one of those fishing trips in Alaska where they fly you in and pick you up 5 days later.

Spiritually, I am living one of my dreams right now. I might tell you more about it later this year if God let’s me. What kind of spiritual goals do you have? What is something you want to be a part of? Maybe it’s to read your Bible through in one year or go on a mission’s trip to Russia. I still dream of 10 feeding centers in Russia. I’d like to see a building for the feeding center in Moldova. I’d like to baptize over 100 people this year. I’d like to see my neighbors follow Jesus. I dream of Fellowship reaching THOUSANDS in the Delaware Valley for Christ. What are some of your dreams that you need to dust off today?

Accessible

2008-01-24T12:28:00.000-05:00

I was noticing today while reading the story of Jesus and Nicodemus in John chapter three that Nicodemus sought Jesus out after dark…in private. Nicodemus was well known and respected as Jesus himself indicates. The thing that struck me about this story was not the theology behind salvation but the fact that Jesus was comfortable sharing with someone in the “dark”. He respected Nicodemus’s privacy and search for the truth.

Some people still need to talk about Jesus in private…maybe sitting on your front porch with you or at your dinner table…maybe over a cup of coffee at Starbucks or even the break room at the office. Not everyone will come out to the Sunday morning service – and those that do might need to be “anonymous” while they check Jesus out. Questions are a good thing. They indicate that someone is thinking about their spiritual life. Other peoples’ questions have a way of sharpening me in my faith and keeping me in touch with those that are still outside God’s family.

Motives

2008-01-23T19:06:00.000-05:00

I was reading in John 2:24-25 today where John makes the point that Jesus didn’t get too excited over some of his new followers/fan club because he understood “human nature.” It took me back to a conversation I had earlier in the day with a friend about motives. He was concerned that his motives weren’t pure in something that he was doing for someone else. I told him there was no way his motives were pure, but do it anyway. Think about it…if we have to wait until our motives are pure to obey God, or do an act of kindness for someone we will never get off the starting line.

Hello! We are sinful people. We all fall short. ALL OF US! In heaven I will have pure motives – I can’t wait. For now, God is teaching me and redeeming my thoughts and motives as I go forward in this journey. Sure we can absolutely do something with the wrong motive – I get that. I am learning to give my “twisted motives” to Jesus. Just put it out there for him because he knows my nature anyway. It is not as if I am explaining to him something he doesn’t already know. It is amazing how the peace comes after I give it over to Jesus. When we remind Jesus of our weakness he has a way of reminding us of his strength.

Dad Update Part Two

2008-01-23T14:51:00.000-05:00

We got the news back on my dad’s spine and it is NEGATIVE for cancer! It is awesome news for our family and we thank you for your prayers and concern. Michelle and the kids are having a great time visiting with their Grandparents this week! God is good!

Dad Update

2008-01-21T22:01:00.000-05:00

I thought I would give you an update on my Dad’s health situation today. He had a spinal tap procedure on Friday to check for any cancer cells in his spine. Obviously that would not be good news but the doctors are doing this procedure more as a cautionary test…they don’t expect to find cancer there. As for his lungs there was some positive news…the results of his biopsy lead them to think that the cancer in his lungs might not have spread as much as first thought. Dad is meeting with a surgeon this Thursday to see about surgery to remove the “mass” and lymph nodes in the lung. It is a serious surgery where they take out a rib (yes, Dad thinks he is cool like Adam now) to get to the lung. He would be in the hospital for about 10 days. We will see what happens next…I will keep you updated. Michelle and the kids are in Missouri for the week trying to help out anyway they can. Yesterday was Bailey’s birthday (12) and I hated being away from him but I am glad he gets to see his Grandparents. Michelle’s mom is also in the same town so it will be a good time for her and the kids.

Thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement. I was particularly touched Sunday by the kindness of one of our families that lost their daughter/wife/mom to lung cancer. I was humbled and moved by their compassion for me at what must have been a very difficult topic to discuss. Church was awesome, but their concern and love for me and our family was the highlight of my day.

Living Generous

2008-01-19T14:37:00.000-05:00

This morning nine of Fellowship’s finest went to Camden to be Jesus to people in the community. They have been blessed to be a blessing. Lee White and our Men of I.C.E. men’s group decided to “be the church” instead of just “going to church” this weekend. Lee and I met to pray a couple hours ago and he was telling me about what a great time he had…nine white suburban guys living out their faith in one of America’s poorest cities. I love it. God loves it. Satan despises it. That works for me. I’m inspired by you guys today. Thanks for “Living Generous”…we will talk more about living out a life of generosity tomorrow…see you then!

Random Musings From A Twisted Pastor

2008-01-18T07:19:00.000-05:00

It took me 90 minutes to get home last night because of the snow! What is up with that?

We/I got some criticism from another local church this week …seems like the pastor told one of his members who is friends with someone from Fellowship to “stay away from people like her who go to churches where they wear jeans, play contemporary music and only care about numbers.”

I beg to differ…we don’t play contemporary music anymore…we flat out ROCK IT BABY! I take offense at someone calling our music contemporary…and our jeans aren’t plain old jeans…they have cool holes in them …and don’t even get me started on the numbers (see Wednesday’s post)…by the way…criticism is a great thing…Jesus got it all the time from traditionalists.

I got an email from my 8 year old Gracie today (I think she needed it for Webkins…I know she is too young for email…don’t start with me) and this is what it said… “hi dad”. I sat here and just stared at it smiling like crazy. I couldn’t help but think that is how God feels when I write in my journal to Him.

I’m loving the new McDonalds commercial…I love nuggets y’all …I love my nuggets y’all…ketchup and mayo…ketchup and mayo…

Thanks to my brother Buddy for taking care of my folks this week in Springfield, MO. He bought them a new TV (he thinks I’m splitting it with him) for my parents that they can actually see. How cool is that? He is a great example of “living generous”. We will talk about living generous this Sunday.

Have you done anything spontaneous yet this week?

Spontaneous

2008-01-17T02:54:00.000-05:00

Michelle and I kicked it up a notch and went to Sullivans Steak House tonight. Nothing like a little sponaneity and a gift card (thanks Giffords) to get us going. Our kids were like...where you going? OUT! But what about us? What about you? Bla bla bla...you get the point. In all seriousness I believe our kids are supportive of our time alone. They realize how important it is. We are living life different this week and I am staying up way too late!

Thankful

2008-01-16T14:06:00.000-05:00

Call it a wave, a surge, a bump, momentum, or just God’s Spirit moving…whatever you want to call it, Fellowship is experiencing it. It sure is fun. God is trusting us with more. In November, Fellowship broke the 600 barrier for the first time ever on a non-holiday…pretty cool for a “young” church in the Northeast. Well, this past Sunday 701 people came out to worship! A “homeless” church with over 700 people! In just over 7 weeks another 100 people showed up! People are giving their lives to Christ, volunteering to serve, and joining Life Groups! This month it looks like we will have over 300 adults participate in Life Groups. That is an astounding percentage for a church our size. 26 people came out to our Newcomers class last night and we are looking for a great turnout for people going public with their faith at our baptism on February 3rd. God is up to something (I wish you could see the smile on my face right now) and I love it. I’m going to do my best to stay out of His way and ride this wave.

Thanks for using Fellowship Father…thanks for trusting us with the message of hope and love…thanks for expanding our territory…You are redefining what church can and should be for so many…It is all about You and for You!

The Main Thing

2008-01-15T08:50:00.000-05:00

I wanted to give you and update on my Dad. He had a surgical procedure yesterday to biopsy two lymph nodes in his lungs. They are trying to find out what kind of cancer he has and the extent to which it has spread. His brain scan came back negative for cancer which was big. They should hear back on the biopsy tomorrow and are in the process of choosing an oncologist and a neurologist. Buddy (my brother) arrived in Springfield last night and he will be there for the entire week. Michelle will probably head out next week with the kids for a visit and then my sister Kristin is coming home from East Asia for a couple of weeks.

Emotions are very unpredictable. I did great while I was with my parents but the tears seem to have come freely since I returned home…the realization that my Pops is sick and my time with him limited has hit me hard. I really love and admire my Dad…on top of that I like him a lot as well…he is one of my closest friends. I hate that we live so far away. One thing Buddy shared with me in 2007 is that depression is the "inability to express loss". When we keep the emotions bottled up we end up depressed. Michelle has been good to let me express what I need to express. Church went great Sunday. I prayed and prayed that God would help me keep it together. Lack of sleep, emotions, and the fact that I knew lots of people would be asking me about my dad made me consider “hiding out” until it was time to speak. Trust me, it’s much easier for the tears to come when the adrenaline is pumping and you are in front of people (see T.O.’s press conference). But God was good and got me through my talk.

I want to tell you what I told my Staff and Elders…it is very important to me and my Dad that Sunday’s at Fellowship be about Jesus and not what we are going through personally. If a guest was here Sunday, I would not want them to know anything is up. This isn’t about being fake…it’s about priorities and the priority in worship is to exalt Jesus. He promised that when we lift him up that he would draw people to him and that is why Fellowship exists. God has given me this incredible blogging format to share with those of you who want to get to know me what I am going through. Believe me, I will keep you posted. Your comments, emails, and support have meant the world to me. My parents read many of them as well. We are in this together…

Don't Run

2008-01-14T11:32:00.000-05:00

I asked Michelle this morning what she wanted to do spontaneous and she said that she wanted to kill our dog (not what I was expecting). Apparently he has been getting out of our fenced in area and running away while I was gone. The kids end up leaving a barn door open and he is on his way. Then you have to get in the car and go after him. He thinks “come” means “run the other way”. His name is Bo…his days are numbered. He really is a sweet (code for stupid) dog. What makes you crazy is you get so close to catching him and he runs some more. If someone would like to rescue a yellow lab who really is nice (beast from HELL) let us know…So there really is a spiritual application here…We love this piece of crap dog…he just won’t come when we call and it makes me (apparently Michelle too) crazy mad. So I guess if God had a blog he might be writing about this pastor in PA who is really nice (code for prideful and stupid) who gets really close but then runs the other way…I really am working on it God…I’m learning that "come" doesn’t mean "run"…Thanks for being patient…

One other thing...I talked Michelle down...Bo lives to see another day (escape) and in stead we are going to lunch as our act of spontaneity...

Saying Yes

2008-01-13T07:30:00.000-05:00

I’m talking about spontaneity (I still spell this wrong – I’m thankful for the red squiggly underline) this morning…sounds like a weird topic (even to me) for a Sunday morning. Usually I would hit this topic from the “fun side”…in other words people learning to loosen up and color outside the lines a little bit. Live a little bit will you people! But it is really another side to this that God has been talking to me about…God speaks in the moment not just the season. I mean there are times when you can overlay his message over a season of your life for sure, but it’s the daily stuff where I need to obey in the moment…hence the spontaneity of it all.

Jesus told his disciples to “follow me”. He didn’t send them a three year contract to look over…they obeyed in the moment…in the instant. Think about it…in a moment, a spontaneous decision, their lives changed forever. What happens if they said they needed to think it over…I’ll get back to you Jesus…can we meet for lunch next Tuesday Jesus…or what is my “package” going to be Jesus? Today’s Christ-followers have more discreet forms of not living in the moment…I’ll pray about it and get back to you is what we say. “Let me pray about it” is easier than just saying no. Most times I forget about it and move on. I disobey…I withdrawal when I could embrace…I sin when I could be changed…people don’t get encouraged or challenged and I live in my self-absorbed world…I hoard instead of give…the salt loses its saltiness and a dark world is just a little bit darker. Living different means living in the moment…living different means being spontaneous…living different means saying yes!

Travel Day

2008-01-12T23:38:00.000-05:00

Today was a travel day for me. I said goodbye to my parents this morning at the airport and I find myself thinking about them a lot. Coming home has made my Dad’s cancer kind of sink in. So many people have been through what we are going through…this is our first, so it is difficult for me to explain. My brother Buddy is heading out to be with my parents on Monday and then Michelle will likely take the kids out the next week and my sister Kristin is hoping to come home from East Asia in a couple of weeks. Monday morning Dad has a surgical procedure to do a biopsy on the two of the lymph nodes in his lung. We should know a lot more about the chemo/radiation/surgery strategy after that procedure. Thanks again for all your prayers.

God continues to challenge me personally about some things in my life. He is really kicking my butt! I had some good prayer time with Him today. I have spent much more time this week thinking about being a disciple than I have being a leader. I don’t really feel much like leading right now, but I like the idea of being a follower…a disciple. How twisted is that? Someday I’ll get this figured out. I was reading today how Jesus prayed for us before He went to be with the Father and it touched me…Jesus lifting me up…asking God to protect us from the evil one. How cool is that? I love Jesus. I want to love him more. I wish I loved him most…and so the journey continues.

Starving Jesus

2008-01-11T23:57:00.000-05:00

I dove in to a new book last night called “Starving Jesus” by Craig Gross and J.R. Mahon. I ended up reading until about 3:00 AM. It is an inspiring read from a couple of guys that I can really relate to. One of the things that jumped out at me was this quote, “The biggest problem with Christians isn’t about filling the pews or worrying about the next big series campaign. Honesty- that’s the church’s number one struggle”. “The problem is, confession comes very slowly to the American church. We are only honest when we get caught”.

There is so much truth to that. Unfortunately, we don’t hear about stuff until is hits the fan and somebody is in trouble. Imagine a church where we can be real. We are getting there but have so far to go…myself included.

Spiritually this has been a good week for me. God was busting on me hard while I was reading this book. I needed a wake up call this week and I guess you could say I got it. How that translates next week we will see. I’m looking forward to being home with my family tomorrow and seeing you at Fellowship Sunday. For my pastor friends you guys have to get this book. It will rock you.

News

2008-01-10T11:41:00.000-05:00

My Pops has lung cancer. We found out yesterday and are still kind of processing it all. For what it is worth yesterday was a good day and it meant the world to me to be here with them when the news broke. The first round of news was that the “mass” was cancer and then several hours later we found that it is probably in one or two of the lymph nodes as well. Brian Hasson (a cancer doc in my church) has been a God-send through this to us. I know it stinks for him to deliver this kind of news to me but just having someone I trust who is answering my our questions has been huge. My time with my parents has meant the world to me this week.

One last thing…I had more hits on my blog yesterday than at any other time since I started this thing. That tells me that many of you were checking in to see what we found out. You guys blessed me and encouraged me in a huge way so please accept my heartfelt thanks. We are going to get through this. Our family is strong and our God is stronger. Thanks again for all your support and prayers.

Waiting Game

2008-01-08T23:34:00.000-05:00

Today was a surreal kind of day…Mom and I sat in the waiting room for almost 3 hours waiting on my Dad’s test. It was good Mom/Son time…at one point I think she needed to talk about the “C” word and what we would do if they find cancer. I think she needed to just get some things out there…it is a very human thing. We had some tears together and I just tried to assure her that we would get through this. It’s ironic but in some ways our entire family has spent the last 10-15 years coming along side of others who were going through difficult times and I just have this peace that we will come together as a family and get through this. God has blessed us with an incredibly close family. Buddy, Kristin, and I have the privilege of serving God vocationally, so we have lots in common. We synch up really well philosophically. Don’t mistake close for perfect…we have our issues…one of the secrets to our closeness in our sense of purpose, great spouses, and the fact that we all live far apart.

Michelle was a big help today…I just needed a break after Mom and I talked and I called home. She is great at times like these…her mercy is amazing…thanks Babe!

On a “yea God” note…I am pumped today to get a positive report from one of my best friends whose wife got a NEGATIVE biopsy report today. Sweet!

I want to encourage you to watch Gail and Joanne’s interview if you haven’t had a chance. They are awesome and it will bless you in a big way. Set aside some quiet time and take it in. God will bless you…Thanks again to all of you for your prayers and support…I feel it. For now we wait…

Live Different Interview

2008-01-08T18:09:00.002-05:00

Meet Gail and JoAnne Oxley. They have been coming to Fellowship now for about 9 months. This is a couple who have truly found what it means to Live Different! If you did not get a chance to see this interview in church on Sunday, take a few minutes and watch it...you will be inspired! The video is about 15 minutes long so be patient while it loads.

Watch Video here

Ben Jones
Media Pastor

Air Raid

2008-01-07T23:33:00.000-05:00

For those of you who have never lived in America’s heartland you would have thought you were in a WWII bombing raid tonight. I walked out of one of my favorite Springfield eating establishments to the sound of sirens wailing. Not police or ambulance sirens mind you but “Tornado Warning” sirens…we are talking really loud here. Trust me…they get your attention. How cool is that! Storm tracking Baby! Kevin and I headed towards my parents house with the pedal to the metal. That was about 5 hours ago and you can still hear the thunder outside.

Thanks for all you who took the time to comment and give words of encouragement. My parents got to read all of them tonight and I know it meant the world to them. My dad goes for his test at noon tomorrow so please continue to pray. Their spirits are good. Mom and I got out old pictures and looked at them tonight. I had way more hair as a baby than I do now. I also discovered that my Dad was quite the GQ guy in his younger days…I know where Buddy and I get our “metro” tendencies…

On The Road

2008-01-06T23:59:00.000-05:00

I am headed to Springfield, MO in the morning to give some much needed support to my parents. My Dad has a PET scan scheduled for Tuesday to check for cancer in one of his lungs and also to see if it is the cause of the pain he is presently experiencing. Positron emission tomography ( PET ) is a nuclear medicine medical imaging technique which produces a three-dimensional image or map of functional processes in the body…I looked it up…I am looking forward to seeing both my parents and just get to spend some time talking. I know my Dad is going through some tough pain and I’m not excited about seeing that to be honest with you. Please pray for my Dad as he goes in for his test.

Tomorrow is a travel day for me and then Tuesday we will go for his test. I hope to hear some kind of result by the end of the week. I know God has a plan for all of this and I am thankful the Michelle can hold down the home front and our great staff team can hold down the church front in my absence.

One of my very good friends Kevin Short is picking me up at the airport and taking me to dinner before I head over to my parents home. Kevin pastors Christ Community Church in Springfield and has been a great friend to me for 14 years. CCC just moved into their new building about 4 months ago, so I am going to get a VIP tour of that as well.

I watched American Gladiators with the kids tonight…so cheesy…but fun at the same time. Giants and the Cowboys next week…should be a good game.

Live Positive

2008-01-06T23:05:00.000-05:00

We had a great kick-off to our “Live Different” series this morning and our hearts were captivated by the inspirational story of Gail and JoAnne Oxley. We will have their video posted on our web site and on my blog later in a day or two. In case you missed it, Gail was diagnosed two years ago with A.L.S. and given 2-5 years to live. He and his wife JoAnne shared the rollercoaster of emotions they have been through. They showed us how to “live positive”. The video takes about 15 minutes, so set some time aside this week to watch it. My time with them was probably the most personally inspirational time I have ever experienced. Gail and JoAnne would want all the praise to go to God and it does…but the way they have allowed God to work in their life is nothing short of heroic. I’m a better man for my time with them and Fellowship is a better church because of them.

My Dad

2008-01-04T17:10:00.000-05:00

Most of you don’t have the privilege of knowing my Dad. He has always been my hero. He is larger than life. About a month ago he had some serious surgery on his back that did not go well. He is in far more pain after the surgery than before. Right now he has to use a walker to get around. He is getting some second opinions as they try to figure out what is causing him so much pain in his back and legs.

In the process of trying to find the source of his pain they located a “mass” in his lungs. I just found this out about 30 minutes ago when my Mom called. I might be blogging right now because I am delaying calling my “Pops” because I am not sure what to say. The words that come to mind aren’t words he likes me to say (yes, he still regularly corrects me and yes I still struggle with obeying).

I was eating lunch with our staff when I got the call from Mom. They knew something was up so I told them about the new finding. They all stopped what they were doing and prayed for my parents (thanks Jeff). Wow that felt good – prayer is an awesome thing!

I admire the way my Dad has handled all of this. Cremeans men aren’t famous for their pain tolerance! He has “manned up” and showed courage and dignity in a way that I hope I can when I am 68. So today I am asking you to pray for my parents, Chuck and Mary. They are going through a lot right now and unfortunately our family is pretty spread out so they have none of their children close for support. I guess I need to make a phone call now…thanks for your prayers.

Love My Kids

2008-01-04T02:42:00.000-05:00

So it’s 11:30 PM and I am staying up late tonight and watching a movie with Alli (my oldest daughter). I must admit I’m not feeling very “manly” since the movie we are watching is Music and Lyrics…but enough of my “issues”…the point is its awesome spending quality time with my kids. I’ll feel it tomorrow (we’re pulling out the midnight snacks – a Cremeans gene issue) but it will be well worth it. Thirty years from now Alli will never remember how much I worked or how well I preached…okay maybe she will remember that…but seriously, she will remember these kind of times…staying up late with her daddy watching stupid, funny movies, while we “stole” Mom’s food out of the refrigerator that she had planned for dinner this week. Good times with my girl…

Tomorrow is Drew’s 10th birthday! He is my “chili-cheese-tater” boy that likes to shoot at anything that moves. It’s hard to believe he is 10 years old (Michelle is getting old). He was 3 when we came to Fellowship…so tonight I am thankful for my kids. They bring the “magic” to my life…the energy and the passion they have already inspires and motivates me. Thank you God for my amazing kids!

Favorite Posts

2008-01-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a bell to bell meeting day for me followed by our Communion service and then one more meeting that finished a little after 10:00 PM. It is a rare thing for me to leave before the Michelle and the kids are up and then to return home after everyone has gone to bed…anyway, it was great to get going and I’m looking for great things this year.

I took the time this past week to go back and read over my blog for 2007. It was a great way to reflect on the past year and hopefully cement some awesome memories in my mind. Six different posts stood out to me over the last six months…here they are if you would like to go back and take a look…

Here We Go

2008-01-02T01:24:00.000-05:00

Some thoughts as I get ready to hit it tomorrow…This was my first go-round at blogging this year. I started back in June and ended up with 124 posts for the year. I was reluctant to get into it but I have to say I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It can be cathartic for me to write when I’m mad, burdened, and even depressed. Unfortunately I had lots of those kind of emotions in 2007 (I saw a church online today that is beginning a teaching series on depression called "Life Sucks"). I will remember 2007 as one of the toughest years for me professionally but one of the defining years for Fellowship Church. When I write I feel like I’m standing up front teaching or in the lobby visiting with friends at church. It gives me a chance to “promote” what is coming up as well as keeping the vision out in front of people. I want to thank those of you who read and chime in from time to time. Here are some interesting blog stats for this year….There were a total 9,791 visitors since June with a total of 17,771 pages viewed. It’s a start.

I am a firm believer in strategic breaks. Our staff shuts it down between Christmas and New Years. It has been a good break for me…it went really, really fast, which is a good indicator of the quality of the break. I spent a lot of time taking my kids to different stores to use their gift cards. Michelle and I went to our neighbor’s birthday party (we didn’t know anyone) and Sunday Emmy and I went to Elk Creek Church for a visit (great job Mike!). I got to take my girls to see the movie “I Am Legend” as well…crazy movie! Last night we were treated to a night of “Stomp” at the Merriam Theater in Philly by some of our best friends. You have to go see “Stomp” if you get the chance. I also did lots of lying around and reading. One last thing I never thought would happen…I actually rooted for the Giants against the Patriots and then the next day routed for the Redskins against the Cowboys…who would have believed it.
So here we go…I’m excited about 2008 and I’m chomping to get back at it tomorrow with my team. I hope to see some of you tomorrow night at our communion service (7:00 at the church campus).

2007 Highlights

2008-01-01T23:17:00.001-05:00

Here are some random highlights from 2007

My trip to Moldova and time in Germany with friends John Rhein and Gary Fields…
Hiring Ryan Geiger…He and Jessica have been a God-send…
Rebuilding our feeding center in Desna, Russia…
Moving into our new home…
Dan McGinnis joining our staff…Ava Lee joining our world…
Bailey’s first soccer goal – he crushed it!
Emily starting at sweeper for her school soccer team…
Blogging…
Alli’s homecoming from Russia…
My best friend, Dale Ward speaking at Fellowship
Sunday soccer games…Bailey, Drew, and Grace…
Nags Head with the Teals…
My Tuesday lunches with Gus…
The fulfillment of a 7-year dream with the adoption of our new Church Constitution!
Buddy, Debbie, Devon, and Natalie at our home for Thanksgiving…
Buddy speaking at our church…
My time at Amelia Island with the Whites…
The Phillies winning the Division…and the incredible choke of the NY Mets…
The Legacy video at my Grandfather’s graveside…
My phone calls with Buddy, Dale, John, and Greg…
Life Change and the many new additions to Fellowship…
All four Christmas services…
The advance of our Life Groups…
Our pimped out signage…

Afterthoughts and Updates

2007-12-29T11:49:00.000-05:00

I am still buzzing from our Christmas services. Our staff took Tuesday through Friday off so I haven’t seen the guest cards yet but here are a couple of numbers to thank God for. Remember, numbers are indicators of life change and God’s working.

We had a record high of 1174 people attend our four services! Wow! This topped our previous record of just over 700. Think about it…God used Fellowship to send the message of hope to almost 1200 people!

To date we have received $31,219 towards our Christmas missions offering. So far we have been able to invest in orphanages and feeding centers in Russia and Moldova. This year we also were able to help kids in the city of Camden. We have also been able to help a church planter in our area and numerous local families in need. What is incredible to me is that this number doesn’t even include the many gifts and gift cards that our life groups gave to families they “adopted” for the Christmas season. God blesses us to be a blessing and it is an awesome thing to see God using Fellowship to step in and help so many. I will keep you updated as we finish out our last week of giving. Remember, it’s never too late to be a part of this Christmas offering.

I heard 2 full rehearsals and 4 different services and I find myself a little sad that I won’t get to hear our Christmas music again…Hats off to Jeff and our vocal team, band, drama team, stage and lighting team, and tech and video team! You took it to a whole new level. A special thanks to our ushers, hospitality team, guest services and our kids workers…you made things go off without a hitch!

You Can Come Home

2007-12-25T19:03:00.000-05:00

Our Christmas services were an unforgettable worship experience this year. Four services for us was a new high. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of our Fellowship staff and volunteers for making this year happen. You guys were simply amazing! I also want to thank the many of you who invited and brought guests to one of our services.

Somewhere around (we are still working on our count) 1100 people came to our services with many giving their lives to Christ. It was a landmark day for me. I never guess right on which will be our most heavily attended service. This year it was the 5:30 service on Monday night. As I watched the people come in it was just one of those moments that help define what we do and why we do it.

It was great to have my friend Mike Silliman, pastor of Elk Creek Church, and his wife Naomi and their beautiful children with us Monday night. I see big things in store for them.

2008 is going to be a great year for Fellowship year. Our best days are right in front of us. As I watched the people pour in on Sunday and Monday I couldn’t help but wonder which ones would give their lives to Christ and go public in baptism this next year…which ones would get connected in a Life Group…and which ones would begin to volunteer and serve. Many of them will be back and they will bring friends. People will be talking about “the church that meets in the Middle School” as God establishes us as an emerging presence in the Delaware Valley. Remember, people won't go to a church they don't know exists. We need to continue to get the word out about Fellowship Church!

Thanks again to all of you who serve so faithfully…you all had a part in sharing heaven’s heartbeat with those who desperately needed to hear. Merry Christmas to all of you!

Blown Away

2007-12-21T16:14:00.000-05:00

Last night I had the privilege of listening to our worship team go through their sets for Sunday and Monday. I was blown away! They have improved exponentially over the last six months. The very first song I heard brought the tears. You see, I have always believed that our God deserves excellence. I would go away to conferences and hear the music in large churches and dream of the day when our band and vocalists would be on that level.

Things were so desperate here in the early days that I used to help lead our worship. YIKES! I have some funny stories about that but will save it for another day. The fact that God would trust us with the skill and talent that we have now is a testimony to his provision. Where there is vision…God will give provision. Two and a half years ago was our big step when God brought Jeff Ream here. Under Jeff’s leadership this team has continued to grow and improve to where they are today.

This is the kind of Christmas presentation that you will WANT to bring your friends to. Don't make the mistake of underestimating what God will do. You will be proud to say that you are part of what God is doing at Fellowship. They are working so hard to give their best in a season that celebrates God giving his best…Jesus. Now it is time to do our best…our best in the way we set up and decorate tonight…our best in the way that we pray for God to show up in a huge way…and our best in the way that we invest in and invite our friends this Sunday and Monday!

Home For The Holidays

2007-12-20T19:50:00.000-05:00

Coming home means so many different things to so many different people. This is a theme that has been marinating in my spirit for several months now. Today I had the honor of reconnecting with a good friend from high school named Wendy. Our families were very close “back in the day.” I have some fond memories of sharing a place at the beach with them. I remember Wendy showing up about 6 years ago when she heard that I was back in the area. She came by one of our church services and made a very sincere effort after the service to make me feel good about my talk (I really stunk up the place back then). Wendy has the heart of an encourager. I wanted to share a little about Wendy’s story to put some perspective on our Christmas weekend services.

Thirty-one months ago Wendy lost the love of her life, her husband Todd. Todd was a victim of cancer. Wendy’s loss was heaven’s gain. I didn’t have the privilege of knowing Todd, but reading Wendy’s blog gives you a lot of insight into what he was about. Wendy has 6 children ages 18 to 4. I can’t imagine trying to process that kind of loss and keeping it together for my kids. I had heard about Wendy’s loss from a distance, but recent events allowed God to have our paths cross. I know God had that happen so that the Cremeans family and the Fellowship family could encourage her.

My heart has been touched today by Wendy’s loss and her pain. Pain resonates. Pain stinks. Pain unites. It crosses all kinds of barriers that people set up. As I write this I have a tightness and pressure in my chest that only comes from stories like Wendy’s. You see, people all over our area are hurting. Their pain has caused them to lose their way. Think of all the things they have tried to numb that pain. Only God gets people through the pain…the promise of relationship with Him now and a home in heaven. Here is the catch…it is up to us to bring them…to reach out. Jesus left us here with this mission…to lead people home…home is where the Father is. That is the message of Christmas. I hope you are getting the word out.

Wendy, thank you for your courage…you are my hero. Heavenly Father, bless her and may she feel your Spirit close...

Five Days And Counting

2007-12-19T14:40:00.000-05:00

We did a really cool video shoot for our Christmas weekend services today. I think it will surprise you. I love it as God continues to grow us from a creative standpoint. We are doing a second shoot later today that we will be using in our first series of 2008 entitled Live Different.

Buddy Thigpen and I met with a local company that has invested heavily in the Russia ministry yesterday. I thought Buddy did awesome! Please pray that God will continue to open avenues of funding and provision as we partner with Buddy to make an impact in Russia. Did you know that Russia is so large that it actually covers eleven different time zones? There is much to do.

The government in Russia continues to make it difficult for foreigners to help in their country. A new law passed recently states that a missionary can get a 90 day visa and then must exit the country for 90 days before they can return. What is up with that?

Buddy is going back on January 3rd to prepare for their Christmas celebration. Russians celebrate Christmas in January. Pray for him as he continues to try and raise his personal funding. Things in Russia have become increasingly expensive.

Pray for our staff and their families as we put the finishing touches on this weekend. Things are getting particularly stressful for some of them as we get close. The enemy has his sights on them and their families. The ripple effect when one of our pastors or staff struggles is huge!

Christmas Offering Update

2007-12-18T09:06:00.001-05:00

I’m spending some time today with Buddy Thigpen, our missionary to Russia. He and his son Jeb are in town to meet with some Russia ministry partners. They got to spend some time with the Cremeans clan last night which is always a good thing. Pray for Buddy and his team as they spend the next several months trying to secure some much need support to move their ministry to the next level.

I want to give you a quick update on our Christmas offering. We had almost $15,000 come in Sunday. That is a fantastic start. I would like you to pray that God will double that amount before we are done. You still have 14 days to donate so we can do some incredible things for our missionaries and the children we love to help.

Be The Church

2007-12-16T07:48:00.000-05:00

We had a great time last night hosting our Staff, Elders, and their spouses at our home for our first annual Christmas party! We had close to 40 people crammed in our home. It was awesome…I felt like a proud parent watching them interact and laugh together. This year has really brought us closer together as a team. Our Staff is amazing and I am honored to serve with Godly and dedicated Elders. These people are my spiritual family and some of the best friends I have in the world. Michelle worked herself crazy trying to keep up with the food and making sure everything ran smoothly. I couldn’t help but think what a great “first lady” she has become for Fellowship. Our church is a better place because of her and her special spirit. No one loves Fellowship more than Michelle.

What made me most proud yesterday were the people of Fellowship being the church to the community. Two of our Life Groups, Common Ground (Young Singles) and Men of I.C.E., blessed the Camden community with over 250 Christmas gifts and even more food baskets. They partnered with Pastor Keith Davis and the Evangelism Today Christian Church. ETCC is an inner city church that is doing some amazing things to reach people with the good news of Jesus Christ. We were blessed to have Pastor Keith and his wife Linda at our home last night to meet our Staff and Elders. I’ll tell you more about them soon.
Here is the cool thing, the God-thing, about yesterday. Our vision for our Life Groups is to be entrepreneurial. They are equipped to reach out and care for those in their groups and also team up to make a difference in our community. This drive for Camden was totally Life Group driven. Our Staff or Leadership had nothing to do with it. Thanks to great leadership from Brian and Kathleen Hasson and Lee White, Fellowship made a difference yesterday in the Christmas season for hundreds of needy families in our back yard. Not Russia, Moldova, Panama, or China, but just about 30 minutes from our church campus. Can I get a witness here! This pumps me up!

I hope you will be praying about what you can do to help us help others this year by giving generously to our Christmas offering. We are taking it today. You will still be able to give to it until the end of the year. Giving on-line is a great way to give or you can drop your gift in the offering today or at one of our services next weekend. Be sure to designate on your check “Christmas Offering.” Our kids at Fellowship have already raised over $300. This offering is not for our church, but for others outside the walls of Fellowship. We will be able to help our missionaries, and children in Russia, Moldova, and Camden. Last year we sponsored over 300 children in Russia! Please pray about what God would have you do. You don’t have to be part of Fellowship to contribute and all your gifts are tax deductible. Live to Give and Give to Live.

A Princess

2007-12-14T11:51:00.000-05:00

Today is a big day in the Cremeans home. My Emily is THIRTEEN! We now have two teenagers now with three to go. I want to say a few things about Emily on her special day. We have a special connection that is difficult to explain. She is one of very few people who can make me laugh on a regular basis. I wish some of you could see her entertain our family with her “one-woman stand up routine”. There is always a lot to laugh about in our home. Emily is a hugger…and I am a Daddy that loves hugs. Emily loves children…she has a way with them. She was like a magnet for the kids at the feeding center in Russia this past summer. She has made a seamless transition from home education to public school. She made the honor roll and started on her soccer team.

The thing I love most about my Emmy is her heart. She loves her family, her friends, and is learning to love her God. As I push back today and reflect on who she is and where she is going I want to say thank you to some people who have made a lasting impact on Emily.

Michelle, first and foremost, deserves all the credit. The same things that make Emily special are the things that can make her difficult to manage. She knows how to push Mommy’s buttons let me tell you. Michelle has poured into her life like only a Godly Mother can. She has taught her to read, write, pray, and challenged her to excel. When I see Emily walking from far away I see her Mom. It’s fun to watch them “borrow” each other’s clothes. Michelle, you have made all the difference in my princess…thank you.

Allison has always set the pace. As long as I can remember Emmy has wanted to be her big sister! They really love each other and the almost 5 year gap between then diminishes more and more every day. They stay up late and talk (probably about the Jonas brothers) and they love to shop. The house shakes when they start to wrestle or chase each other through the house. Alli has really passed on a spiritual legacy to her sister. I see Emmy late at night reading her Bible and going through her Power Tool journal (Thanks Ryan). Alli, you are the best big sister I could ever imagine for Emily…thanks for setting the pace!

Kristi McInnes has been Emily’s pastor and mentor for the last 7 years. She has taught her through instruction and modeled the transition into married life and now motherhood. Kristi has impacted countless lives and Emily is one who will always look up to her. Kristi, I would be honored for Emily to grow up and be just like you!

Emmy is rich in friends. She has been blessed that way. But I think the richest and most biased man in the world today would be her Daddy. Emmy…you make my heart beat! I love you!

Freedom Of Expression

2007-12-13T12:31:00.000-05:00

I have heard depression defined as the “inability to express loss”. A fascinating definition if you think about it. How do people express loss? Emotions like crying and sadness are one way. I have witnessed quite a bit of that lately. Talking about how you feel and what you have lost is another legitimate expression. Counseling and life-on-life mentoring are a great way to bring out deep seated feelings. Writing your thoughts down on paper can be an effective way of articulating what is going on inside your heart. Personalizing these thoughts to God turns journaling into prayer.

I wonder if Paul was processing through some of this same kind of stuff when he said, “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him…I no longer count on my own righteousness …I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead”. Philippians 3:7-11 (NLT)

We have been talking about the dangers of comparing ourselves to others and how it can lead to discontent and resentment. Paul undoubtedly went through some tough transitions going from a Pharisee to a Christ follower. All that he had dreamed of his whole life changed in a moment. Imagine the criticism and ridicule that he went through. I wonder if he felt as if his time before Christ had just been wasted. You know he had many regrets and feelings of guilt for the way he had persecuted the church.

Following Christ changed Paul’s value system. He didn’t see things the same anymore. Things that used to hold value to him were now worthless…like garbage compared to what Jesus had done. Paul had learned to hold on to things loosely. Knowing Christ was of infinite value to him. In other words it was off the hook…incomparable…surpassing anything else in this world.

I wish I could say I am where Paul was. I’m not. I hope to be someday and would like to think I am pointed in that direction. This has been an extremely challenging year for me personally, a year of loss. Losing sucks. I am still in the process of expressing much of it. But with the loss comes gain…the gain of new and different values…of new dreams to replace those that have been shattered…the gain of knowing Christ more…of wanting to see him and be with him.

Good But Not Great

2007-12-12T09:37:00.000-05:00

What makes a church great? Clichés come to my mind…I hate clichés…they are so…cliché-ish! People and organizations can hide behind clever clichés. So really, what is it that makes a church great? What differentiates a great church from a good church, or an average church? There are many stylistic things that make churches different – things like music, dress, and preaching style, but they are not the things that make a church great. Here are some things that come to my mind…keep in mind this is a blog and not a thesis…

Leadership. How a church is structured, the system of government makes a difference. Are leaders permitted to do what they do best? Or are there countless meetings and red tape? The cliché here would be…everything rises and falls on leadership.

Vision. Where is the church headed? Do they exist to perpetuate and live in the past? Is there a clear direction that everyone knows and articulates? Is the church unified or is there a power struggle at work? Branding is something that gets overlooked here. Is it centralized and consistent throughout all the ministries? The cliché here could be…if you don’t aim at something you won’t hit it.

Spirit. Not the Holy Spirit though we will get to Him, but the church’s spirit. A friend of mine recently visited a church (they had a new building so you would think they had it going on) and no one…not ONE person acknowledged them or said hello. That ticks me off! You know what I’m talking about here…it’s the intangibles. Some churches are warm, some are cold. Forgiven people should be friendly…inviting…caring…accepting…hospitable…gracious. Get the point? The cliché here…people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Anointing. Jesus said that he would build his church and the gates of hell couldn’t stop it. He promised us that he would never abandon us. He said that he would send another comforter to us…The Holy Spirit. What kind of atmosphere do we have for God to work on Sunday? Sin hinders God’s blessing. Unconfessed and habitual sin in leadership will quench the Holy Spirit. Failure to pray and invitation to speak to our hearts will stifle effectiveness. The cliché here…When pride walks on the stage God walks off!

I believe Fellowship is a good church that is on its way to becoming great! Maybe that is a great church…who knows. Being great for God is a pursuit not a destination. Making excellence and authenticity part of our culture is a week to week thing. Our leadership can get better...I can get better...I must get better. Our vision, to lead people to Jesus by redefing church, can get sharper. Our spirit is awesome but it must continue to be outward focused. The pull is always internal here and sometimes I feel like I'm the only one that gets it. Sunday could be the last chance for someone to find Jesus! I can't say enough how huge this is! Desperation. Are we depending on the Holy Spirit to do something only he can do? Am I trying to impress or influence? Living dangerously…taking faith risks has to be part of our DNA. The larger we get the more we have to protect and the more we stand to lose. Buy you can't stop doing the things that got us to this point! God didn’t put us here to survive but to thrive…did I just make up a new cliché?

Enthusiasm

2007-12-07T11:05:00.000-05:00

I had an awesome time getting together for lunch with my friend Mike Silliman the pastor of Elk Creek Church in West Grove. Things really seem to be going well for them. He has an inspiring way about him. You can tell he has an entrepreneurial spirit which is so important for a church planter. Pray for Mike and his wife Naomi. Planting a church in the northeast is tough stuff. Mike is one of the most enthusiastic pastors I know.

I spoke to our team this week about enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the passionate interest in, or eagerness to do something. Enthusiasm is contagious. I think of all our volunteers that show up every Sunday to get things going. These guys meet at 6:45 for breakfast and then head over to join others as they unload our trailers for set-up. Our volunteers are some seriously enthusiastic people!

Have you given any thought lately to what kind of spirit you project? Paul warned us to not get “weary doing good things.” The truth is we all get tired. This is a stressful season for many of us. The good news is that we have someone that walks with us in our stress and fatigue. Every week we have people walking into our service who are spiritually alone. They are searching. They watch us to see what we are like…how weird are we? Are we into this thing or are we just going through the motions like other religions?

You see your enthusiasm on Sunday matters. The smile on your face and the energy that you display project something that is in your heart. A warm greeting and handshake send a message to someone who might be lost and looking for their way home. Your passion for following Jesus matters. Not the weirdo-hyper-fundamentalist-passion, I have seen enough of that to last a lifetime. I’m talking about the “I was lost and Jesus found me” passion…the “he accepted me and all my junk” passion…the “He is changing my life” passion. It will disarm people…people who don’t like church…people who have given up on religion but not given up on God.

So bring your passion with you Sunday, bring your enthusiasm! Remember it’s not about us, but about reaching out. It is the reason for this season!

Tuesday Stuff

2007-12-05T02:55:00.000-05:00

We had a great and productive day today as we continue to gear up for Christmas Eve. I wish you could see our team interact in our staff meetings. I am challenging them to take it up a notch as we pull out all of the stops for a great month! I want to challenge you as well to be praying for God to do something extraordinary during this series (LOST) and on our Christmas weekend services. Invite your friends! Ratchet up your boldness factor…you can do it!

I’m having a great time with my kids this week while Michelle is away. I was just thinking how stressful this kind of time used to be when they were younger. I am really proud of them. They are so “not-perfect” and I have to get after them like any other parent, but they are a lot of fun to be around. There is a lot of laughter in this house! A great friend, Jean, spoiled us with an awesome meal tonight. I think she thought we were living on Tombstone Pizza and cereal…

Thanks for praying for me yesterday as I spoke at a funeral. It was tough…a 45 year old husband/dad who leaves behind a wife and a two daughters (13 and 7). His death was a shock…no symptoms and very sudden. Rocky (a great name) was immensely popular. We had to delay the service over 2 hours so people could get through to pay their respects. Sometimes it seems to me that this kind of stuff comes in waves. This is going to be an incredibly difficult Christmas for lots of hurting people.

Tomorrow is my big study day for Sunday. I am seriously pumped about this weekend. You don’t want to miss it…God is up to something.

I got on some websites for some area churches tonight and was reminded at how different we are. We really are a church for people that don’t like church. I also was struck by how far God has brought us. Our web-site rocks! Our church is incredible! So exciting, vibrant, and full of energy…who wouldn’t love it? Remember, people can’t come to a church they don’t know exists! Let’s get the word out…pass out your invite cards…let’s get our posters up at area businesses!

Sunday Reflections

2007-12-03T03:33:00.000-05:00

I loved our kick-off today to our new series “Lost”. I have the privilege of collaborating on this series with my Bro! Buddy is such a gifted communicator and maybe even a better writer. He writes stuff and I am so blown away at the gift God has given him of articulating life. We have been kicking this topic back and forth since Thanksgiving. You should check out his message – you can watch it at his church web site and you can compare. God always uses our personal make-up for a unique spin.

I had a great time teaching today. You guys are and incredible audience. The whole "contentment" verses "discontent" resonates with me in a big way. The illustration of how God has blessed us with our own house really brought the emotion for me today. I want to really encourage you to focus in to where your heart is in this season where advertisers will be bombarding you. Remember, you are the only "you "that exists. You are God’s masterpiece…think about it! Don’t fall into the trap of comparing yourself to someone else. Paul gives us the answer…more Jesus in our life. It sounds simple but it is profound. It is an issue of the heart. More of Jesus in our life is a decision and a process…a life-long pursuit.

I am up early tomorrow as I take Michelle to the airport for a much deserved break as she spends some “girl-time “with a friend in a much warmer climate. Time for me to step up this week as I wear several hats around our home, but I am looking forward to the challenge. Michelle sets the bar very high.

Pray for me as I have another funeral later today at 11:00. The funeral is for a 45 year old man who leaves a wife and two young children. His death was sudden and unexpected. Tough stuff. Pray for this wife and her two children. This is going to be a difficult Christmas for them. Did you ever notice that this kind of stuff seems to come in waves? Pray that God will give me words of comfort and grace that will help this grieving family.

I want you to know that I am praying that God gives you a great week. Be praying about this series and our Christmas weekend services. Who are you inviting to hear the good news about finding the way home?

God, please use Fellowship in a big way. May you trust us even more with the incredible message of your beautiful son Jesus…

Friday Night – Life Night

2007-12-02T00:51:00.000-05:00

Michelle and I have the privilege to be a part of a “life group” that meets every other Friday night. Our group meets in conjunction with UpStreet, our ministry for K-5 children. That kind of settles any childcare issues that most of us have. Lee and Jean White lead our group and do a fantastic job of bringing us together in fellowship and pointing us upward as we learn biblical principles that help us grow our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are currently in a series by Andy Stanley called “taking it to the limit”. The series is all about making room for margin in our lives. We have talked about margin in our finances, relationships, work, and life routine. Talk about a timely series to be in with the holidays upon us.

There are lots of things I love about our group. I love the way we laugh together…it can get loud at times. I love the studies that Lee has chosen to date…he is a great spiritual shepherd. I love that we always have good food at group! I love the questions people ask as we unpack life together. I love it that we have had new people coming regularly…it keeps things fresh and exciting. I love our prayer time as people share the burdens of life…many times there will be tears as we do our best to carry the burdens of life together. Finally, I love the way I feel when I am on my way home. I am reminded that I am not alone on this journey called life. I have Michelle, and I have my group. They do their best to treat me as “normal” and not their pastor.

New Digs

2007-11-28T21:46:00.000-05:00

I am loving our new web-site banner! Ben (media pastor) did a great job. Our team is working hard on this...Jeff (worship pastor) looks like he is in a trance because he is so focused on our programming. We are pulling out all the stops to make this a "can't miss it" event. Don't miss out on inviting your friends to Fellowship this Christmas Eve weekend. Remember...FOUR SERVICES...Sunday the 23rd at 9:30 & 11:00 AM, and Monday the 24th at 5:30 & 7:00 PM.

Sunday we launch our new series "Lost". This one has been marinating inside my mind and heart for some time now and I can't wait to dive in. Don't miss this Sunday as we get started. Do you ever struggle with being content? Crazy question isn't it? I wonder what God has to say about contentment...getting curious? Our culture is driven by discontentment...it fuels most everything we see. How timely is this kind of topic for the holiday shopping season...

The Push Begins Today

2007-11-27T08:39:00.000-05:00

Actually it began yesterday as Buddy and I strategized for several hours on how to make this a break-through "Christmas weekend" year. Buddy loved our church and sees huge things happening in our immediate future as do I. Two weeks ago we broke the 600 barrier in attendance for the first time on a “normal” weekend. That is huge! There aren’t many churches over 600 in the Northeast.

We are going to be pulling out all the stops to get the word out about our 4 Christmas Eve weekend services. We will have two on Sunday (December 23) at 9:30AM and 11:00AM and two on Monday (December 24) at 5:30PM and 7:00PM.

Here are some things I know about Fellowship…

1. Fellowship Church is the best kept secret in Delaware Valley.

2. 100,000 people live within minutes of Fellowship. They NEED JESUS!

3. People can’t and won’t come to a church they don’t know exists!

4. Fellowship Church is the best place for people to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ.

5. We have the Best Student and Children’s Ministry team in the Delaware Valley.

6. Our Life Group ministry is on fire! We have added more people to our groups in the last 2 months than I can ever remember. Our Life Group had 8 new people last Friday night!

7. We have the Best music and worship in the Region!

8. It’s our turn to be used by God in and incredible way.

9. We are going to seize this moment!

10. You are the Key to it happening. God has you in a circle of influence so that you can invite your friends this Christmas Eve weekend. The secret is getting out! Let’s do our part and watch God do a miracle!

Questions

2007-11-26T09:37:00.000-05:00

What do you do when your faith doesn’t work? What do you do when your life doesn’t make sense? We all get there. We all have those kinds of tough times. Buddy Cremeans did such a great job of bringing clarity to those seasons of life.

Keep it real and learn how to express loss. Depression is the inability to express loss in our lives. Wow! I never thought of it in those terms before. I end up keeping it inside or trying my best to ignore it. I wonder if there are some areas that I have never expressed the loss that I feel. God is big enough to handle our questions.

We also need to have an “it’s all good God” kind of attitude. Learning to trust God that he really can do anything…miracles still happen, but if he chooses not to heal, he is still good. This was really good for me to remember. God’s goodness is not determined by my wishes. Sometimes the bigger picture warrants something else.

Keeping our eyes on God has a way of helping me keep an eternal perspective. We have lost a lot but God is still good. I have seen him do good out of the depths of tragedy already and I’m sure there is more to come.

I am so fortunate to have a brother like Buddy. We have had a great time together. From family time, to church, to watching the Eagles give the Patriots a run for their money, it has been a great visit. We have spent much of our time dreaming what God can do at Fellowship. We are poised for our greatest year ever…it’s easy to see.

Black Friday

2007-11-23T12:54:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all of you who posted comments for Bob and Jackie and the rest of the family to share. It is still not too late to post. Wendy, it was great to hear from a "blast from the past". Hope you are doing well...come check us out sometime...you won't believe it.

I had a great Thanksgiving yesterday with Buddy, Debbie, Devon, and Natalie. Two years in a row...we are starting a tradition. It was also our first Thanksgiving in our new home. Yea Baby! It was awesome. Michelle is out of control on Thanksgiving. It is by far her most favorite holiday (can you believe she is not big on Christmas?). She cooked up a storm and we did our best imitation of people who hadn't eaten in months.

I'm thankful for lots of things today. But today I want to say that I am thankful for you. Those of you I have had the privilege to connect with on my blog these last few months. I believe this is post 105 for me. Michelle doesn't get the whole blogging thing but for me it has given me a chance to connect with those inside our church and even some in other states. The things I get to post here have a way of helping me process what God is doing in my life. Thank you for reading...thank you for commenting. For those of you shopping today I hope you find some great values and stay away from the road rage.

A Time To Give Thanks

2007-11-22T07:06:00.000-05:00

Today is a day where we all begin the process of moving forward. We have so much for which to be thankful. God has blessed us in so many ways. Our funeral service yesterday went very well. We lost count of how many people showed up to pay their respect. High School students from Sun Valley, William Penn, and New Castle showed up. The Sun Valleuy ROTC program with about 45 cadets showed up and presented the Kilmers with two flags. Props to you guys and your commander! I am very proud of our growing relationship with the Aston Police Department. We have more of them than ever now attending Fellowship. They did an incredible job Wednesday of shwoing support and controlling traffic. Ryan and Ben, did a great job speaking at the funeral and at the gravesight.

Finally, I am stinking proud of our Fellowship family. You guys stepped up in the biggest way. Preparing food, helping with the family's kids, shuttling to the airport, parking support, moving furniture, and your incredible love and support to the family. You are what makes this the greatest church in the region!

A Time To Mourn

2007-11-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

Today we say goodbye to Aaron as the process of grieving inches forward as we gather together to remember and celebrate his life. I have never seen or experienced such a heavy cloud of sadness. I spent time with two of our men that went to Russia this summer and they are crushed with his loss. All of this speaks to Aaron’s vitality and infectious personality. One of our guys sent me this picture of Aaron digging the footers for our playground in Pervamaisk. He did most of the tough digging for us.

One of my memories of Aaron that I will never forget is him losing his passport on the way home. We had a layover in London. It is an incredibly large airport and we had to take a bus to the terminal. When we arrived at the terminal Aaron realized that he had misplaced his passport. I could see his fear. I think he thought for a moment he was going to be stuck in London by himself. There was no way I was coming home without him! Our group moved on to catch our connecting plane to Philly while Aaron and I waited and waited. We made small talk about the trip and what we would remember. After what seemed an eternity a man from the airline walked up and said he couldn’t find Aaron’s passport on the plane…our hearts sunk. A big smile appeared on his face and he reached into his back pocket and produced Aaron’s passport. I thought Aaron was going to hug him. We ran all the way to the gate and were able to rejoin our group!

Aaron touched many people. Fellowship has suffered an indescribable loss and we hurt for those he left behind. Pray for the events that will take place today. Pray for God’s comfort for Bob and Jackie and the rest of their family, and pray that God will use a horrible loss for his glory.