Part time Christian

I'm reading Confessions of a Pastor by Craig Groeschel right now. It is a really challenging read so far. I can identify with his struggles to win people's approval. He talks about the realization that he had become a full time pastor and a part time Christian. Boy, does that sting. It's so easy to get our eye off the ball. I'm just on chapter 3, so there is a lot more to devour and digest.

New Hire!

I'm real excited to tell you that God has blessed Highlands with Becky Kennedy. She is coming on board to help the LifeGroup ministry at Highlands. She has that knack for organization and planning that spontaneous, crazy people like me need to make life function. She started out as a Highlands volunteer in the pastoral care area and has stepped up her game in such a way that we felt we couldn't live any longer without her. You'll be seeing her around a lot on sundays. She'll be helping particularly with the Info/resource areas making sure that they have the tools that they need to be successful. We are fortunate to have her. This is a great place!

What Kind of General

For all my worship leading friends....


What kind of General?

Before you walk out to lead this rabble of kings and priests into worship consider this: What kind of general sends His musicians into battle first? You of course have seen this in old movies or read of it in history books. The rank and file of heavily armed troops is lead by, you guessed it, a drummer and a flute player. What kind of General would send His musicians into battle first? A General who is confident of victory. The message is clear. We are so confident in our ability to utterly destroy the enemy that we are playing instruments instead of loading weapons. Do not be dismayed that the guitar comes before the double edged sword. We are guaranteed victory.

big day!

Sunday the 9th is a big for Highlands. Pastor Jimmie will be sharing what he feels is God's vision for the next 40+ months here, we will be launching small groups, and the G3 conference begins. All all the same day! Whew! It's going to be a great day you are not going to want to miss. I would encourage you to invite your friends and come early to get a seat, it is going to be crowded. See you then.

First Impressions Dream Team

You read that right! Dream Team. Period. Very seldom does a new coach get to come new into a program that has just had a winning season. But here I am, exciting to be serving along side a group of dedicated volunteers that know how to win. Yes, we're going to make changes. Yes, we're going to step up our game. Yes, lives will be changed. Make no mistake...we are glad to have you on this team. Your time and energy are valued. We know you could sleep in on Sunday. We're glad you don't. I'm ready to see what this fire looks like with a little gasoline poured on...Let's join together in showing this region what Jesus looks like. Stop by here regularly for updates and encouragement. I'm looking forward to serving with you...

Trevor

Oldies

I love writing devotionals. Here is an old one for your enjoyment.



Fiasco

The making of Venetian glass is a difficult process. Everything must be perfect. If the glass blower detects just one flaw, then he uses the glass to make an everyday, ordinary flask. That type of flask is called, in Italian, a “fiasco.” In the realm of creation, our heavily flawed hearts could be described as a Dixie cup among fine china. And yet, from some odd reason God has poured His Holy Spirit into our cup. He has truly used the base things of this world to confound the mighty. As you worship today, let everyone drink freely from your flawed cup. You are a wonderfully made fiasco.

Rearranged

With a lot of help from really good friends, we completed our move to Abingdon this weekend. It was tiring but exciting. Isn't it funny how a house can look clean and "put together" until it is moving time. No matter how clean you are, or think you are, when you move your furniture, all of a sudden, you are humbled to find that you are just as nasty as everyone else. The house we moved from...nasty. The house we moved into...nasty. We are all good at "picking up" our spiritual house too so that everyone thinks we've got it "together". Maybe that's why tough times come. Maybe that's God's way of rearranging furniture so that we can clean.

Oh, The Guilt! (not really)

Wow. I haven't posted in a long time. I feel a deep sense of remorse that my two readers have gone so long without a quality blog installment (not really). Well, I'm hoping to kick it up a notch and at least blog three times a week. So get ready for some real rich material (not really). For those that are highlands volunteers, this blog is for you to stay connected, so give me a comment now and again. Peace.

Wedding

I'm officiating the Amy Tolley/ Blake Mellinger wedding tomorrow. I feel connected to this young couple although I haven't known them long. She was a swimmer/diver for Clemson (My wife is a grad, we grew up in the shadow of death valley). Blake's dad was my gym teacher at E.B. Stanley Elementary. Small world. Tonight at the rehearsal dinner, her dad Butch told the story of how hard it was dropping her off at Clemson. He was so unsure and worried about her a lot. On a trip to clemson to watch her dive, he checked her oil and when he looked at the odometer, he saw Phil. 4.13. He said he stopped worrying about her after that. Cool story. My Kate is 3.

small group, not so small

We had a great time at small group last night. We meet every Tuesday night 6:30pm at the church office in Johnson City. We'd love to see you this coming Tuesday. We had camp food last night complete with hot dogs and smores and talked about servant leadership. What's so amazing is that this group is experiencing explosive growth. At the rate we're growing we won't be able to stay in the office long! If you are not in a small group, get in one. Period. It is worth the effort and investment of time. "Where two or three are gathered..."

Bear Grills

You're probably not familiar with that name. It is unusual. I should say he is unusual. Bear is a former SAS member and is the host of Man vs. Wild. It's the only show on t.v. I watch on a regular basis now. This guy parachuts into the most remote places with a knife, flint, and a cup and finds his way out. Cool. Bear stopped me in my tracks tonight. He was in the rainforest in Ecuador or someplace like that, and was discouraged because he couldn't get fire going and it was raining. The next morning he talked about how hope was so important when trying to survive and sometimes the smallest things can give you the most hope. He looked up and saw a lone, purple, beautiful flower up in the trees. He said basically that that was an example of God's extravagance. God had no need to put that flower in that forest. No one would ever see that. Except Bear. That flower placed in that forest to give him hope to carry on. Dang.

Exciting Times Ahead

I'm coming to Abingdon! How exciting to be a part of a dynamic church that is moving, changing, adapting, and growing! As LifeGroups Pastor I'm going to be working with volunteers and staff to bring small groups and ministries under one umbrella. It's a challenge and I love challenges.