Blend Conference

You don't want to miss this! (I'll be doing a breakout on discipleship for college students too)

Weekend review

- The Patriotic Service went great! The altars were full of people
making decisions for Christ!

- Fireworks tent saw some decent buisnesa

- did a lot of swimming with my boys. So cool to step off the back
porch and step into the pool.

- E. Money held it down at Next Level. I'm so thankful for our team

- This week will be all about the Fireworks

Sent from my iPhone

Paper Clips

Tonight @6pm

Clarksville First A/G

1186 Ft Campbell Blvd 37042

Getting it done

Gotta give a shout out to Sean and James for keeping the fireworks tent running. These guys are putting in some serious work! My wife is also doing a great job managing the business side of the tent. What do I do? Let's just say I'm the Sergeant Major who makes sure the "troops" are okay. A bad manager/leader does all of the work. A good leader/manager trains others to do the work with and for them. We have trained a good team. Big THANKS to Ben, Sergio and Gloribel, Josh, Monica, and anyone else who has or will help the guys out with food and drinks! We couldn't do it without such great support from our church family.

Bike for the Light in Bama

Michael

Michael Jackson is dead. For people my age you could say that our "Elvis" has died. Listen, I know he was a secular artist. I know his songs didn't necessarily exalt God (some had great Biblical themes). That being said, what MJ did for music is unprecedented. A big piece of American history died today. Like him or not you can't deny that. On a personal note, the soundtrack of my early childhood was MJ records. So many memories. Yet, with all of the achievements and fame, none of it means anything if MJ didn't know Christ as his personal savior. I pray that the King of Pop had a relationship with the King of Kings. We are not promised the next 30 seconds. I'm sure MJ didn't wake up this morning with the knowledge that he would be dead before the sunset. Don't wait. Surrender your life to Jesus while you have the breath. Live for Him everyday while you have the time. Life is indeed short. Use it for His glory!

Buy our fireworks!!!

Duty or Devotion

I watched a webcast of Tom Trask yesterday before church. He asked a question that had been ringing in my heart. Do we serve God our of the discipline of duty or the delight of devotion? Discipline is not bad. But we can't serve God out a false sense of "I have to". Instead we should be delighted to serve Him because we are devoted to Him. If we love Him and appreciate who He is and what He does for us, then we will have a "get to" attitude. I'm not talking about feelings. Of course there are days when we don't feel like going to church or praying. It should be devotion...not duty that gets us through times like that. What parent feels like cleaning up vomit at 3am? We clean it up because we are devoted to the kids we love...not out of duty. So what is it for you when it comes to your walk with God? Duty or devotion?

MCC Setting up

Fireworks Time

Some prayer requests

-Pray for our MC Fireworks tent: protection, provision, and people!

-Pray for Bro. Mac: Great prayer warrior who needs a miracle in his body

-Pray for our nation: nuff' said

iPhone so far

I've been Blackberry guy for a couple of years. Here's my take on the iPhone so far:

INCREDIBLE! I know this is nothing new to you current users of the iPhone. But I am amazed at how smooth the phone is. I was using entourage for email but have now moved to mail. I love how this phone is literally like carrying around a mini version of my macbook. I don't think I'll get a mobileme account...yet. I don't see why I would need one yet. 3.0 definitely brought some much needed changes (cut copy paste, push notifications, etc.), and with MMS coming soon to the US this phone will be perfect.

If you are on the fence or looking for a new phone, you must get an iPhone. It's not about being cool or trendy. It's about being smart.

Weekend Review

What a great Father's Day weekend! It started with picking up James from Nashville. That was a crazy trip to the airport! Then my wife shocked me with an early Father's Day gift...a new iPhone! Saturday we had a great time with the Next Level crew at Ben's. We had a bonfire and a cooking fire. Blew up lots of fireworks. We watched in horror as James shot bottle rockets from...everywhere. Good times! Sunday was a chill day at church for me. I enjoyed some wings and Cosby Show after church. All in all it was a great weekend. Things get crazy for the next 10 days as we start our fireworks tent for MCC.

Father's Day 09 Thoughts

Blessed. That's all I can really say. I'm thankful for my Heavenly Father who loved me enough that He gave His son that I might live. I was blessed with a wonderful father in Frank Serrano. He taught me how to love God and do the right thing. I sure do miss him. I thank god for the great men He has placed in my life down through the years. More than all of that I thank God for the opportunity that I have to raise the 2 greatest kids on planet earth. My prayer is that they would become great dad's who love God! Happy Father's Day

Saturday Stuff

Finish up vid ads

iPhone training

Call of duty

UFC

Next Level Bonfire

Great Father's Day weekend!
Sent from my iPhone

Early Father's Day Gift

I made a great deal with a friend to get my wife a new iPhone. She surprised me and gave the phone to me for Father's Day. BEST GIFT EVER!! What's better is she's getting one soon too. God has totally hooked us up with the friendships and connections to get these phones at more tan a steal in price. No way I could afford one. I am blessed beyond measure!

The Airport...delayed

So I'm at BNA waiting for Jamie to fly in. I am under the influence of Muay Thai and Red Bull. This is going to be a fun wait. If you've ever been to Nashville International then you are familiar with the piano next to SBUX. Well..it's being tuned...right now...as I type. I have never wanted to kick something more. Getting a tattoo wasn't this painful!

Thank God I found a place where I could buy something to drink. SBUX and the overpriced gift shops are closed. So I went to Tootsies bar and Grill and bought a Red Bull, apple juice, and water. There where 3 very drunk frat boys and an Ethiopian businessman at the bar. What a weird sight that was. I told you my life is great! Who gets to experience stuff like this! Gonna be a fun night!

Life with no Master's Commission

Tons of people keep asking me "How is it now that the students are gone?" They usually have a tone of pity in their voice as if I'm some lonely heart who's single-again. (no offense to all my single peeps). The reality of it is this: there is no off-season for an MC Director. Of course it is different not having the team around all of the time*. But as far as day to day ops...they are pretty much the same for me. Except for the quiet. The quiet is driving me crazy! I also have a world of stuff to do other than MC at our church, stuff that I was doing before we started Master's. So the bottom line is this:

Yes I miss the students.

Yes more are coming next year.

No I am not bored.

Yes there is TONS of work to do.

*Sean and Jamie come back this week to work the fireworks tent

I don't understand...

-why our national leaders make statements about being against the death of innocents...and then support the killing of innocents

-why Michael Vick got 23 months for dogfighting and conspiracy...yet Donte Stallworth only got 30 days for killing someone while driving drunk

-why AT&T won't get with the program and offer better service to iPhone users...who are keeping the company afloat

-why Fox News insists that they are fair and balanced...telling the "other" side of the news doesn't make you fair...it just makes you the other side

-why CNN insists on saying they are America's News...they clearly have European agenda

-why people who know what they should do....won't simply do it

The Ultimate Workout

Got my butt kicked at the gym yesterday. We normally start class at 5:30. At 5:30... there were no instructors in the striking room. One of the assistants/fighters came in and I thought she was going to teach the class. Cool. All of the sudden John Renken walks in and screams "Fighters get in the ring...boxers stay on the bags...Muay Thai students circle up". That's right "The Saint" was about to teach 3 classes at once! What followed was an old school smoke session. The rounds were hard. The pace was intense. Conditioning was painful. I have never left the gym that drained...never...not even the first time I did Muay Thai 9 months ago! Here are a few things I learned:

1. I can still push myself physically. It's been almost 5 years since I left the Army. Thank God I've still got it! We are never too old for a challenge.

2. Attitude is everything. We could have quit when John started teaching. His style is completely the opposite of our normal instructors. They are tough too...but they aren't "Drill Sergeants"! Bottom line- keep your head under pressure.

3. The gain is worth the pain. I ALWAYS feel better spiritually, emotionally, and physically after a hard workout. Am I sore? Sure. But knowing that I completed the session make it worth it. No matter how hard life is working you out...it will be worth it in the end...if you don't quit!

The Disappearance of God

This book will definitely give you something to think about. i don't agree with all of Dr. Mohler's ideas and opinions...but I love good debate and discussion. Get more info on the book here.

From the publisher's sumary:

More faulty information about God swirls around us today than ever before. No wonder so many followers of Christ are unsure of what they really believe in the face of the new spiritual openness attempting to alter unchanging truth.

For centuries the church has taught and guarded the core Christian beliefs that make up the essential foundations of the faith. But in our postmodern age, sloppy teaching and outright lies create rampant confusion, and many Christians are free-falling for “feel-good” theology.

We need to know the truth to save ourselves from errors that will derail our faith.

As biblical scholar, author, and president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Albert Mohler, writes, “The entire structure of Christian truth is now under attack.” With wit and wisdom he tackles the most important aspects of these modern issues:
Is God changing His mind about sin?
Why is hell off limits for many pastors?
What’s good or bad about the “dangerous” emergent movement?
Have Christians stopped seeing God as God?
Is the social justice movement misguided?
Could the role of beauty be critical to our theology?
Is liberal faith any less destructive than atheism?
Are churches pandering to their members to survive?

In the age-old battle to preserve the foundations of faith, it's up to a new generation to confront and disarm the contemporary shams and fight for the truth. Dr. Mohler provides the scriptural answers to show you how.

Eyes Wide Open

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What a great book! Here is the publisher's summary:

I had it all backwards. The main thing was not my love for God, but his love for me. And from that love I respond to God as one deeply flawed, yet loved. I’m not looking to prove my worth. I’m not searching for acceptance. I’m living out of the worth God already declares I have. I’m embracing his view of me and in the process discovering the person he created me to be.

In Eyes Wide Open, Jud Wilhite invites you to discover the real you. Not the you who pretends to be perfect to satisfy everyone’s expectations. Not the you who always feels guilty before God. Not the you who secretly feels God forgives everyone else but only tolerates you. Not the you who looks in the mirror and sees a failure. The real you, loved and forgiven by God, living out of your identity in Christ.

A travel guide through real spirituality from one incomplete person to another, Eyes Wide Open is a book of stories about following God in the messes of life, about broken pasts and our lifelong need for grace. It is a book about seeing ourselves and God with new eyes–eyes wide open to a God of love.

">Click here for even more info

Top Ten Excuses

I was watching NFL Network Top Ten today and it inspired me. Here's my "Top Ten Reasons (Excuses) People Don't Go to Church"

10. It's boring

9. They (church folks) are hypocrites

8. The music is lame

7. Too much weird language (brother, sister, glory, sanctified, washed in the blood, etc)

6. Way too long

5. All they talk about is money

4. To much standing

3. I don't like the preacher

2. Too old fashioned

1. Can't I just worship at home?

Am I missing any?

Getting out of the bubble

Finally Friday

-Its been 14 days since my last day "off".

-Just a few errands to run

-Want to get a Muay Thai workout in

-Date night tonight!

-Lots of relaxing all day!

-TGIF...finally!

Is it Thursday?

Definitely doesn't fee like Thursday. No MC students. No team meeting. No coffee. No scripture tests. Very weird. Not that there isn't tons to do..it's just weird not having the team here too. I don't want to get used to this peace and quiet. Way too boring!

Bike for the Light in Clarksville

We had a blast with Johnny and Josh!

Do not be anxious...

You ever second guess a decision that you know is the right one? I'm definitely in that kind of place right now. One of my favorite verses says "Do not be anxious about anything but pray about everything". Easier said then done. Especially when praying about it can lead to more anxiety! Here's what I know: God is good, in control, and bigger. God honors those who do the right thing and his peace that blows our mind will guard my heart and mind.

Random Technobabble

I've been swamped in media stuff the last 2 days. I'm in no way a professional graphic/web/video designer or producer. I just use what I have and make it work. That being said, I love doing media for our church. I feel that every piece of print (which I RARELY DO), video, or web is my little legacy I can leave in our church. Its a way God has given me to help make things better. Everyday I find myself learning more and more. I'm swamped right now in the depths of Photoshop. A friend showed me how powerful the program is and I'm hooked. Lots to learn (also need someone to help buy the stupid thing!) Here's to redeeming technology.

I can't wait to get one!

What to do?

Now that MCC 0809 is in the books its time to....? Seriously, there is a ton to do to get ready for MCC 09-10, Next Level (XA) at APSU, and our summer fireworks tent. I always feel a little lost the first week after graduation. It will be very quite in the church halls for the next couple of months!

An Emotional Bag

MC Clarksville 2008-2009 is in the books. I have so many emotions going on right now. I'm excited because God blessed MCC in a BIG way with the 4 students we had. I'm sad because I don't know when I'll see Aaron again. I'll never have that team again. I'm anxious (in a good way) about what next year will bring. I'm concerned about everyone being safe over the summer. I'm bummed about some non-MCC stuff that went down. I'm hopeful that God will do bigger and better next year. I'm proud of the "Lion" Aaron is chasing, the faithfulness of Sean, the forward progress of Laura, and the faithfulness of James. I'm tired....physically and emotionally. I am a bag of emotions. I am an emotional bag. I want to cry, laugh, sing, dance, and sleep all at the same time. Thank God for tomorrow!

Beans and Bullets Ministry

As an associate pastor I can relate to anyone who work behind the scenes getting the day-to-day stuff done. I was also a logistician in the Army and I understand the importance of supply, transportation, and maintenance. You can't win the fight without beans and bullets. This past MC year we've had some great associates, partners, and "logisticians" help us. Without them we would NEVER be able to run a Master's Commission. I thank God for our home-openers: The Lerman, Porter, Truex, and Angell family! Gotta also give a shout out to Sergio and Gloribel, Julia, Karen, Jaybea, Carlos and Wanda, Hilary Lewis, and The Santanas for always making sure we were fed, supplied, and squared away. We love you guys! Thanks for helping us make disciples!

Graduation Day - Moving Forward

Congrats MC Clarksville 2008-2009!

The End and the Beginning

We have this board in our MC office that has a list of all of our upcoming events etc. I just erased the board. It is so crazy that tomorrow closes out our second year as MC Clarksville. Hard to put into words what I'm feeling so I won't try. I am fired up about what is to come. This list is getting longer for potential 09-10 students and I can't wait to keep on making changing the world...one life at a time.

Tomorrow is the big day!

2008-2009

MC Clarksville Graduation

Sunday June 7th 6pm

CFA

Late Night Blog

Had a great time at U-Turn youth with Johnny Kelley. This students where challenged, worship was great (even though the power kept going out), and we had fun. One great thing is that MCC wasn't preaching or doing human vids. We definitely needed a service where we could just relax and enjoy. Not that we don't enjoy other services...its just different when you aren't leading. Anyway, I'm up super late because I don't have to get up early for Kid's Crusade. I'm looking forward to sleeping in!

Tonight in Clarksville

Tonight at U-Turn Youth

First A/G Clarksville

7pm

Friday Rundown

- Last day of Kid's Crusade at CFA

-TONS of prep for graduation on Sunday

-U-Turn Youth service at 7pm w/Johnny Kelley

-Video stuff for Next Level this Saturday

-Some chicken and waffles?

T-Minus 3 days

Master's Commission Clarksville Graduation

Sunday June 7th 6pm

@CFA

Make it count

Last night was one of the hardest Muay Thai classes I've had. Not because of technique, my partner, or length. It was hard because of the heat. he gym was a sauna! 30 plus bodies in the room didn't help either. Every time I kicked it felt like I had on ankle weights! We could have easily coasted through the session to insure that no one injured themselves. Instead, our teacher pushed us hard and fast and made every drop of sweat count. There were times when I felt like hurling, passing out, and/or quitting. But I pushed through and felt great afterwards.

Life is like that some time. The heat of our lives, the stress of the unknown, or even the fatigue of our failures can make us want to tap out. We can't quit. Make every ounce of pain count for something good. Don't waste your experiences. Push through. Trust me, you will feel so much better in the end.

MCC 0809 Pics

Here are a couple of my favs from the year

Discipleship by design

Had a great time with my friend and mentor Mike Warren. It was great to catch up and share a little wisdom with 3 West Point Cadets. We talked Army, music, food, and of course discipleship. I believe that the reason we don't see a lot of authentic Biblical discipleship is because it cost too much. It cost time, effort, personal space, and emotional energy. Honestly, who lines up to give that stuff away? Nevertheless, it is what we are called to be and do. I'm so thankful to God for allowing me to live a life that is designed for discipleship and mentoring. Are you living the commission?

My Road Warrior Houseguests

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

The Final Countdown

I can't believe this is the last week of MCC 0809. What a year its been. Very surreal to see everything coming to an end. While we'll miss this team it is also exciting to look forward to the next crew of world-changers. I have something brewing for this summer regarding MCC. I think most people will love it. I'll be revealing it at graduation...maybe. Let the final week begin...