Just watched Sterling leave for DC camp with the rest of Jr. high. Hope they have a blast this weekend!
Speaking of this weekend, at both the Opelousas campus on Saturday and at the main campus on Sunday we're giving away TONS of free watermelons for our next S.Well outreach! And I mean TONS of watermelon! Make sure to pick up yours!
And starting next Sunday i'll be starting a sermon series called, "The 7 series." It will span 7 Sundays and 7 Wednesdays. We'll be talking about 7 Rules on the Sunday series and the 7 Decisions on the Wednesday series. I am very excited about this series and what God has in store for not only the rest of The Family Church, but myself as well.
I hope this hot weather calms down soon....triple digit temperatures are not fun...
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
No New Roads Here!
Last night, it was the Family Church's time to stand against the perverbial modern day Goliath.
As many of you know, the city zoning commity has been wanting to build a road connecting University to the train tracks. We understood their need for it and for years, we've had a slot of our own parking lot set aside for this road to be built.
However, when we purchased the land separating us from Moore Park, the zoning commity say what they believed to be an 'opportunity'. We also saw opportunity with the land WE purchased: Baseball diamonds, concession stands, playgrounds, and much more. We were ready to have LCA, the fastest growing private school today, to explode into new possibilities.
That is, until the commity told us they wanted to build a road straight through our land. On top of that, they wanted US to pay for it!
I met with them to see if their was other options for the road. Not many alternatives were given to us, but each one had us paying millions of dollars for a road we did not want. We tried to be reasonable, they didn't.
Yesterday, we went before the Lafayette Parish council. We went before them to appeal the totally unfair and unjust demands given to us. And when I say we, I don't mean Myself, Tessy, Bro. Dan and Mrs. Melissa. No, I mean WE, the Family Church, showed up in full force to stand against our Goliath. The room was filled with our church members. I believe I could only count a handful of empty chairs, but even THEN we had members standing in the back, too excited to sit.
After much waiting, it was our turn to talk. I went with God to our microphone and told the council what was occuring. With everything I said, the zoners tried to counter. But, they came ill prepared to deal with God's favor. Before the day was done, they were spinning their wheels and sweating in fear, knowing they were out of place.
It was unanimous. Nine out of nine council members voted in favor of the Family Church.
God was always on our side. This outcome was pre-ordained. However, it still felt amazing when I heard all nine say "yes" in favor of our appeal. That land is for our lives, our families and our futures, not for traffic.
I personally thank everyone who came out to help support us in our fight. You being there was not only a big encouragement for me, but you guys also opened the eyes of our council members. They see now, when you mess with the Family Church, you don't just go one on one with me. They go toe to toe with the entire Family. God Bless all of you.
As many of you know, the city zoning commity has been wanting to build a road connecting University to the train tracks. We understood their need for it and for years, we've had a slot of our own parking lot set aside for this road to be built.
However, when we purchased the land separating us from Moore Park, the zoning commity say what they believed to be an 'opportunity'. We also saw opportunity with the land WE purchased: Baseball diamonds, concession stands, playgrounds, and much more. We were ready to have LCA, the fastest growing private school today, to explode into new possibilities.
That is, until the commity told us they wanted to build a road straight through our land. On top of that, they wanted US to pay for it!
I met with them to see if their was other options for the road. Not many alternatives were given to us, but each one had us paying millions of dollars for a road we did not want. We tried to be reasonable, they didn't.
Yesterday, we went before the Lafayette Parish council. We went before them to appeal the totally unfair and unjust demands given to us. And when I say we, I don't mean Myself, Tessy, Bro. Dan and Mrs. Melissa. No, I mean WE, the Family Church, showed up in full force to stand against our Goliath. The room was filled with our church members. I believe I could only count a handful of empty chairs, but even THEN we had members standing in the back, too excited to sit.
After much waiting, it was our turn to talk. I went with God to our microphone and told the council what was occuring. With everything I said, the zoners tried to counter. But, they came ill prepared to deal with God's favor. Before the day was done, they were spinning their wheels and sweating in fear, knowing they were out of place.
It was unanimous. Nine out of nine council members voted in favor of the Family Church.
God was always on our side. This outcome was pre-ordained. However, it still felt amazing when I heard all nine say "yes" in favor of our appeal. That land is for our lives, our families and our futures, not for traffic.
I personally thank everyone who came out to help support us in our fight. You being there was not only a big encouragement for me, but you guys also opened the eyes of our council members. They see now, when you mess with the Family Church, you don't just go one on one with me. They go toe to toe with the entire Family. God Bless all of you.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Serve Fest Week
God has definitely called us to serve! And when we serve, it seems we all have a fun time doing it! Smiles were on everyone's faces as they went out into the community and served those who were out there.
The water bottle birgades quenched many thirsts these past couple of days. We had a good amount of water (at least 4 palletes stacked 5 foot high) to hand out. The water went away so fast, the teams actually left their spots earlier then expected. Some were out there for maybe and hour, some less then 30 minutes! It was truly awesome to hear of the people that thanked them for their giving.
The midnight outreach team had a great time reaching the people working in dire and distraught circumstances, just trying to get by. Our team showed them the Love God has for them, no matter what season of life they might be in.
The Lawn care crews blessed many people as they ran through lawns like locusts through a crop of vegetables. They came, they saw, they weed eated! Grass was flying, grins were across the team's faces, and the thanks from the people we helped made it all worth while.
The road beautification teams did an amazing job cleaning out some our roads. They filled up many a trash bag, helping to keep the roads from turning into dumps. Instead of adopting a road or two, the team just came in and gave them a pick me up.
The food for schools and public service places went very well. An old adage once said, "the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach." I believe that also goes for anyone who needs an extra boost of energy to get them through the day. God bless everyone who cooked and baked for those guys.
Habitat for humanity was very grateful for all the guys that came out and helped them build. What might have taken them a lot longer was cut short by the hard work of our crew that went out.
I would like to thank everyone who helped out with Serve Fest week. You helped show that God's people are here to show His love through works of humbleness. God bless you and we look forward to our next outreach!
The water bottle birgades quenched many thirsts these past couple of days. We had a good amount of water (at least 4 palletes stacked 5 foot high) to hand out. The water went away so fast, the teams actually left their spots earlier then expected. Some were out there for maybe and hour, some less then 30 minutes! It was truly awesome to hear of the people that thanked them for their giving.
The midnight outreach team had a great time reaching the people working in dire and distraught circumstances, just trying to get by. Our team showed them the Love God has for them, no matter what season of life they might be in.
The Lawn care crews blessed many people as they ran through lawns like locusts through a crop of vegetables. They came, they saw, they weed eated! Grass was flying, grins were across the team's faces, and the thanks from the people we helped made it all worth while.
The road beautification teams did an amazing job cleaning out some our roads. They filled up many a trash bag, helping to keep the roads from turning into dumps. Instead of adopting a road or two, the team just came in and gave them a pick me up.
The food for schools and public service places went very well. An old adage once said, "the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach." I believe that also goes for anyone who needs an extra boost of energy to get them through the day. God bless everyone who cooked and baked for those guys.
Habitat for humanity was very grateful for all the guys that came out and helped them build. What might have taken them a lot longer was cut short by the hard work of our crew that went out.
I would like to thank everyone who helped out with Serve Fest week. You helped show that God's people are here to show His love through works of humbleness. God bless you and we look forward to our next outreach!
Christ Gospel
On March 29th, 2009, the gym at Christ Gospel officially became part of The Family Church. We see this as stage one of three in our process of getting this new land ready for future endeavors and future events.
The next stage of this process for Christ Gospel's gym is the renovation stage. We will go in there and give that place an extreme make over: Family Church-style. We will begin that in the upcoming months.
I am so excited at what's happening with the purchasing of the Christ Gospel land. God has shown me great things that will happen in those buildings. It's only a matter of time before those visions become a reality.
The next stage of this process for Christ Gospel's gym is the renovation stage. We will go in there and give that place an extreme make over: Family Church-style. We will begin that in the upcoming months.
I am so excited at what's happening with the purchasing of the Christ Gospel land. God has shown me great things that will happen in those buildings. It's only a matter of time before those visions become a reality.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday, as it is every year, was absolutely awesome. This year we had dramas, we had praise, we had testimonies, we had it all! I was so blessed to see all the faces, some familiar, some I was meeting for the first time. They were all there to witness the miracle that is the Easter holiday.
The Jr. High's drama was breath taking and awesome. The drama itself depicted God and Jesus through time. Jesus being chosen as God's son, the banishment of Adam and Eve, the beatings Jesus too and the defeat of the devil in the final scene. It's a blessing to see so many talented young people putting it out there to show their love for Christ.
Our amazing grace illustration moved many to tears that morning. It's one thing to hear that Jesus heals, that Jesus saves, that Jesus fixes the broken. However, it's a completely different, amazing thing, to see those who's lives have actually been healed, saved and fixed.
The church family grew that day, and as the days continue, we will continue to grow. God's hand is in everything we do. He loved us til the end, and is still loving us now.
The Jr. High's drama was breath taking and awesome. The drama itself depicted God and Jesus through time. Jesus being chosen as God's son, the banishment of Adam and Eve, the beatings Jesus too and the defeat of the devil in the final scene. It's a blessing to see so many talented young people putting it out there to show their love for Christ.
Our amazing grace illustration moved many to tears that morning. It's one thing to hear that Jesus heals, that Jesus saves, that Jesus fixes the broken. However, it's a completely different, amazing thing, to see those who's lives have actually been healed, saved and fixed.
The church family grew that day, and as the days continue, we will continue to grow. God's hand is in everything we do. He loved us til the end, and is still loving us now.
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