After the Altar Community

The "After the Altar" Blog is not up yet, so I will be writing here until it's ready to go on the Southland Christian website.

Until then, enjoy getting to know me through past blogs

25th MLK Day

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day everyone. Today is the 25th Celebration of the National Holiday.

I fear there is still much work to do to really honor the day.
If I hear, on Thanksgiving, "we should be thankful EVERY day;" on Christmas, "We should celebrate the birth of Christ EVERY day;" on Easter, "We should celebrate our sins being covered by the blood of Christ EVERY day;" then what does it look like to celebrate the meaning of this holiday every day?

I think it looks like celebrating Hope.
I think it looks like celebrating Opportunity.

As an African-American, it's easy for me to happy today. I am a little disappointed that the holiday seems to be politicized. This is not a day only for members of any one political party! [I'm not a Democrat, a Republican, or any of those U.S. political party members. I am a child of God, and that means more than being a part of any political party. It means, on a day-to-day basis and for an eternity, I get to be a part of THE party - here on earth and for an eternity in heaven when my soul leaves this flawed body.]

No, this is a day for ALL of us. It's about Hope. It's about Opportunity. If African-Americans were not around, you can bet some other group would be the victim of discrimination this very day. We live in a fallen world. Yet, on this day we have the opportunity to celebrate.
Hope. Opportunity.

I have hope in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I have opportunity to impact this world through His power. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a flawed man like you or I, but he took advantage of his opportunity and shared hope.

I pray we all take advantage of our God-given hope. And opportunity.

If you agree (or disagree), holler!

2011 - New Things!

After over a year of not blogging, I have discovered reasons to take up writing again.
My family now lives in Lexington, KY and I currently serve at Southland Christian Church.
(www.southlandchristian.org)

I am looking forward, tonight, to beginning a class called "After the Altar" at Southland Christian Church. I pray for marriages everywhere, and for a blessing on the folks who will attend this class to strengthen their marital relationships.

In the class we will discuss Pain, Money, Sex, Power and Discipline. If you are in the area, I hope you can join us, for 5 weeks in Lexington beginning tonight, Wednesday, January 12 at 7 PM in Bldg. B.

Until then, stay warm!

Indescribable

Leading pre-service worship music on saxophone at Hill Country Bible Church - Northwest, Austin TX

Influence

Mi familia - as we began our 2009 family summer break

I've had the privilege of having my life touched by some wonderful people. I just returned from a trip designed to visit a few of them. I feel the Lord Jesus has really blessed me by the people He has placed in my life. I credit Him for the timing and order in which He has placed each and every person.

So here are some photos of my vacation. A few years ago, my wonderfully wise wife helped me realize I get "the summer blues" in ministry every year. I suppose when the summer rolls around and people are in and out of what I consider their "normal" places, this people-oriented pastor gets a little down. She has been instrumental in helping me take myself a little less seriously. I realize many of you only see the sunshiney-happy side of me, but she sees...a lot.

So, thank you God for the awesome people YOU have placed in my life, starting with my wonderful wife, Jen and including, but not limited to, others including (this is my way of signing off and saying "Enjoy the photos." I'll make a photo album in Facebook as well):

John & Wanda Strappazon with the kids and me.

John and Wanda had to deal with super-raw Adaryll.

John discipled me in the faith, leading to the re-commitment of my life to Jesus Christ which led to a call to pastoral ministry.

Young Adults of Traders Point Christian Church

God gave me the great privilege of ministering at this wonderful church for 5 1/2 years of my life right after leaving New Orleans Seminary.

Tom Nelson, the family and me
For 8 years of my life I was encouraged and challenged as a member of the Song of Solomon Conference team with Tommy. Tommy told Elena how Jen and I drug Elias around to some conferences with us beginning when Elias was ~ 3 months old!

I pray that whoever and wherever you are, God will place some fantastic influences in your life as well - that is, people who will help you grow more into the image of Christ Jesus. There's nothing like it!

Continuing On, Patriotically...

My last post being a day at the Texas State Senate, why not continue that patriotic spirit by presenting to you my performance of the National Anthem at the Round Rock Express baseball game? Round Rock (Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros) played against the New Orleans Zephyrs (Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets) that night, for you sports fans.

Big Day at the Texas State Senate

I had the privelege of opening the Texas State Senate with an invocation on April 15. It was an amazing experience. Thanks Tim (Hawks - lead pastor at HCBC Northwest) for the opportunity. There was way more activity going on there than I care to describe in a blog post. Here are a few things I found interesting about the day:

• I never saw the Governor that day, but I saw a lot of activity around his meeting rooms. I did not know until later he was speaking at the T.E.A. Party protests that day
• One of the senators had a bagpipe procession that day
• Colt McCoy visited the Senate that day
• The hallway behing the back part of the Senate chambers, where the food is served and near where I was to report, reminded me a lot of the 2nd floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly. I told my host it felt like deja vu
• Emmit Thomas, honored in the NFL Hall of Fame, was honored in the Senate that day
• There are 31 TX State Senators. They all seemed like they enjoyed each other's company...see, they are really GOOD politicians!
• Below, a photograph of my TX State Senator, Stephen Ogden and me.