SALUTE TO VETRANS GAVE ME CHILLS

Follow this link to video

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2953385971575885252&hl=en

God truly blessed Carlos Garcia (hope spelled right) with talent. As I stood listening I had goosebumps all over. What an Awesome tribute to our Veterans. I asked if he would allow me to post this video and he graciously allowed me to post it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

It was a true honor serving my country, I am very proud of my service in the United States Navy. I would like everyone to lift up the Men and Women who are sacrificing so much right now to keep us safe. If you never served you have no idea how much they give up to give us the freedom we so often take for granted. So please keep them in your prayers.

Sorry video a Little shaky as I walked down some steps.

AN AMAZING HONOR

Has anyone ever said to you when you get a minute we need to talk. Then when the moment comes and your sure you know what they were going to ask you. Then BANG they ask something way bigger than you could have ever imagined. That's what happened to me this weekend.

I was asked to step up and become the Director of the Usher Ministry. I felt so many emotions run through me as it sank in what was being asked of me. Honor is the one that sticks with me the most. I'm not sure if it's my military background or why this emotion hits me the hardest but that is the one feeling that returns the most. OK I'd be lying if I didn't admit fear is running a close second in the emotion race. I believe that is the enemy at work trying to place doubt in my head. I have the abilities I just don't want to let this calling down or those who believe in me.

If you go back in my blog to early October I blogged about a call to arms, my wife and I have been praying hard that God would show us where to help hold up Troy's arms and the vision of Flamingo Road. Sometimes when our VERY BIG GOD sends us a message it can be pretty strong. We just need to be willing to trust in him and go where he takes us. I truly feel blessed that God wants me to help out in this very important part of the First Impression Team. And feel so honored that the Leadership of FRC would ask me to do this.

Please remember to wave smile and acknowledge the Men and Women and children who give so freely of themselves serving in all the different ministries. Without them we are just another church going through the motions. With them we are making a kingdoms difference.

Hey my Blog friends another weekend is upon us and you know what that means for me... yup more time to work on the house and more time to spend at Flamingo Road. The plan for the weekend is to return to the upstairs bath and put in new vanity and sink.. I also have custom built a vanity for my wonderful bride that I hope to finish up this weekend.. We are all growing weary of trying to find things in boxes.. If the sink goes well I might even get to hang some more dura rock I really miss my upstairs shower. I have to get a few more walls up before I can finish putting in the shower and build the tub surround.

I was looking through some photos and came across some photos of Easter morning when Tami (my bride) and I were baptized on that cool cool (OK cold) Easter morning. One of many steps we have taken this year on our journey. It is so cool looking back to where we have been and where we are today... Unbelievable how much you can change in a 18 month period we have met so many great people and have made so many Awesome friends. If someone would have told me 2 years ago I would be where I am today I would never have believed them... But wow am I glad that we continue to take the steps to a much better life. So HI HO HI HO it's off to work I go..
Come on whistle with me..

My Brides Birthday

Hey everyone sing out for Tami it's her Birthday today. What a great women she is, I have been reflecting back to when I met her almost 9 years ago. What a lucky day it was for me. She is Beautiful, Smart, and an Awesome cook. A great MOM and a perfect friend.

I Love Ya Babe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KITCHEN OR BATHROOM?

The Enemy continues to try and hold me back but I continue to fight on. My stomach continues to be a HUGE distraction in my life. I'm trying to remodel our kitchen but seem to spend more time in the bathroom.

Update on remodel both sides of the sink now work. Dishwasher installed garbage disposal installed tried to finish electrical connections last night but the enemy decided to drain the battery on my work light before I could finish so hopefully today we will have a functional kitchen.

Just looked back I ended up in the ER on September 27 so I guess it's been almost a month since I tore out the old kitchen, the plan was 10 day's without a kitchen. To say I missed the mark is a severe understatement but my loving wife and child have taken the set back well. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful wife and TWO AWESOME children.

Really excited about attending my first Promise Keepers event I have been praying that GOD will bring a big turnout from FRC so we represent our Flamingo Road Church Family. And THE VISION Pastor Troy has for the church. Also my new friend Arnold is starting a ministry to help single women in need of handy man type services how cool is that, my hat goes of to Arnold for seeing the need and stepping up. I will help when ever I can and however I can. I hope and pray those in need will not be embarrassed to ask for the help this team will be able to bring them. Just think of the many talents we have in our church. Pastor Troy reminds us a lot that we think we picked Flamingo but on the contrary God brought us there for a purpose. So we can, if we choose, MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE in the world.

Trunk or Treat is right around the corner looking forward to seeing and hearing what GOD will do with the new taking it to the streets theme. Well blog world it's back to work on the Kitchen say a prayer for me and hope to see ya in church.

CONVENIENCE OR INCONVENIENCE

The enemy continues to try and remove my focus from GOD by not allowing the Doctors to find the cause of my problem. To say I'm tired of feeling like this is a HUGE understatement. I have my home torn apart and no strength to put it back together. GOD has blessed me with a loving wife who is being way cool about not having a kitchen sink for 3 weeks ( a big inconvenience I must admit). We don't appreciate what are fore founders endured to prosper in this great country until some of the conveniences we have are gone.

It has made me reflect on how often we take for granted the gifts GOD has given us. The awesome technology he has placed at our finger tips I think back upon my childhood remembering black and white television no such thing as cable we received our signal with antennas. Growing up in a very rural mountainous area of Northeastern Pennsylvania that was not always easy. I remember an entire extended family and friends gathering around my Aunt and Uncles living room to watch the first color TV in the family. I remember thinking then how cool what else will they think of. Never thinking I would be sitting here typing on a wireless laptop, listening to music from a CD.

I say all that to say how proud I am of FRC for harnessing some of these tools to reach out to people that may otherwise never find Christ. I can't wait to see what vision Pastor Brian has for the new and improved Internet Campus. I invite my Sister from Pennsylvania all the time to visit and see the cool things GOD is doing in South Florida.

CALL TO ARMS

Wow Octobers First Wednesday was incredible. If someone was there and was not moved we need to call fire rescue to come check them for a pulse. Pastor Troy once again spelled out the FRC vision and challenged each and every person to come on board. What raw courage he showed telling the doubters they need to get on board or step aside, and let those warriors who believe in the vision march on. I wanted so badly to run to his side grab his hand and hold the staff as high as I could. (after all he is a tall man)

50 CAMPUSES

100,000 MEMBERS

$150,000,000 BUDGET

No small feat he has asked us to help him accomplish. But I believe it can and will be done. I hope and pray that people get up and become apart of this. I wonder what the faint of heart who run away from this challenge will say to themselves a few years from now when WE are doing so many cool things and getting closer and closer to the AWESOME goal God has given US.

The Naked Pastor Series has proven over and over if you have watched it. This is not about Pastor Troy he has made me so proud so many times but during the first conference when he could have boasted about things, when others criticized his style. He sat there humble and I hope proud knowing in his heart the cool things he is doing for people week in and week out. If your out there reading this consider First Impressions it is such a great experience to meet the new people coming in and make them feel at home. Cause ya know what? SO MANY TIMES they have sought me out after to say WOW THIS IS A GREAT PLACE AND I FEEL GREAT!!!!!!!!! And all I did was give them a smile help them find a seat and welcome them to FLAMINGO. Some times you get too interact more. I have a great story that happened to me a few weeks ago I'll post tomorrow.

SO PLEASE HELP and let all of us run after this goal and make a Kingdom difference ONE CHURCH (UNITED) WHERE YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!! With everyone running in the same direction we can't and won't go wrong. Pastor Troy just point the way with your staff.

Back In Action

Well after a few day's of rest I am back in the busines of life. But WOW what a week. Made it home from the hospital Sunday in time to hear Pastor Troy Sunday. Got a good dose of the holy spirit Monday from the Men Of Iron. Then last night was our Small group where I got to connect with another new couple to our group. And tonight First Wednesday with the opening of the baptismal courtyard. God continues to bless me in so many ways being able to do life with so many cool and different (in a good way) people. I am so looking forward to making the leap into working with the Saturday night Ushers even if the enemy kept me away from my first weekend with them. I hope they all know I was with them in spirit. So go forward with our eye's open and look for the soul in need of a warm smile and a friendly word. And do his will not ours.

Home and So Blessed

I can't tell you how great it is to be home. I got to sleep in my own bed again ahhhhh so nice. The trip to the hospital leaves me once again frustrated as none of the three doctors treating me can tell us what happened. Further adding to the frustration no one can explain why I had such bad pain on Saturday all tests were normal.

But the ray of sunshine in this whole thing is the love we received from so many people. Had this happened even a year ago we would have faced it alone. Instead the love of FRC and others just flowed. I can't tell you how cool it was to have a total stranger leave his ill wife to come to the ER to check on us. He only knew us from the morning devotional but felt the nudge to come check on us I am so in awe of how God has blessed us since joining the church and becoming involved in First Impressions.

For the longest time we have done life alone. Pastor Troy is so right about not doing life alone the love that poured out from our church is sooooo cool. The church just continues to fill us in so many way's the more we get involved the better our life is. Sometimes I just wonder where this journey will take us.

Healing

With God's help and the Love of people that I'm doing life with, a much better day today. The Doctors inform me it looks like it's only an infection. So with the Love of God and my Wife, and some wonderful folks from FRC and the wonderful care from Memorial West I am healing. I have been trying to lose weight and the Docs think a clear liquid diet is a good idea. Here we differ I am going to tell ya all A NAKED TRUTH I WANT REAL FOOD!!!!

I may need someone to come rescue me (Stan Ron you listening) so I can serve this weekend. As I lay here I am devising some different escape plans.

Really looking forward to hearing Troy today. I have looked all over the hospital room trying to find a do not disturb sign, I have some fears that the enemy will choose the very time Troy is speaking to send in Doctors or caregivers to distract me.

So you had a bad day

Sitting in the ER awaiting a bed. Still no answer to the real problem waiting for a consult with a surgeon and gastric. being a slow typist has it's advantages. Surgeon just here no surgery needed. Appears to be a infection. they will keep me overnight for pain management and IV antibiotic's.

Gotta love the Flamingo Family already had my first visit from Arnold. **Warning I am not recommending this as a way to meet your Flamingo family.**