I Keep Hoping...

I wait for it everyday.
I do Google searches for it.
When will it ever appear on my screen?
When will my dream finally be fulfilled?
What is he waiting for?
When will Steve Osborne start blogging?

Traveling Light

Dan Baker and I are heading to Vegas tomorrow morning for a whirlwind two days of networking, observing, and meetings. We leave tomorrow around 8:30am and will be returning on Thursday around 10:00pm. I'm traveling light... one change of clothes, a notebook, my Bible & journal, and my iPod.

I am really looking forward to learning once again from Jon, Chris, and some of the rest of the crew at Central Christian Church. And I get to stay at the Trethewey B&B and have some of Deanna's amazing biscuits-and-gravy!

Keep us in your prayers...

2008 NAMM Show

My good friend, Steve Osborne, is going to be working the 2008 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California this week. He is helping a friend who works for Seymour Duncan, one of the leading manufacturers of guitar pickups and stompboxes. (I have no idea what those things are...I just took that straight from their website.)

Why am I writing about this on my blog? Because one of the musicians who uses Seymour Duncan's gear is Slash from Guns N' Roses, and he is going to be at the NAMM Show this week! Steve is going to meet Slash!!!

I was (okay...still am) a huge Guns N' Roses fan. I know, I know...I'm a pastor, and the lyrics aren't always the best. But I grew up on 80's heavy metal before I became a Christian. It's hard to not think of the glory days in high school when Welcome to the Jungle or Paradise City come on the radio. And who doesn't love Sweet Child O' Mine and Patience?

I went with my older brother and sister to see Guns N' Roses and Skid Row in concert when I was sixteen. It was pretty memorable because I almost got in a fight with some drunk guy because he was becoming a little too enamored with my sister!

I can't wait to see if Steve is able to get a picture with Slash. I asked him to bring me back a signed guitar pick or something. We'll see if he is able to come through for me...

American Gladiators...again

Evidently my good friend and former ministry partner, Jim Clark, doesn't agree with my sentiment for the new American Gladiator show. Check out his comments here...

Going Back to FVCC

After spending 11 years in one church, you form a lot of strong relationships with people. So with the recent visits from Steve, Jim & Jackie...I've been wondering when I will be able to visit FVCC to see some other friends and check in on the church. It will be good to see everybody again; however, I'm sure it will be strange to go as a visitor rather than a staff member.

I'm thinking about either Thanksgiving weekend or Christmas Eve services. I'll let you know...

Another FVCC Visit

I had the pleasure of having dinner with some great friends from FVCC last night. Jim (FVCC Student Minister) & Jackie Clark are both pursuing Master's degrees at Lincoln Christian Seminary, so after class yesterday they popped over to Peoria to hang out for a while and see my new church.

We grabbed some Geo's Pizza (great BBQ Chicken pizza!) and then toured the church building. Unfortunately, we had to keep the evening short as they had to head back home since Jackie was opening at Starbucks this morning in Geneva.

Jim joined the staff of FVCC just under three years ago, and we formed a quick friendship. (Of course, my wife says I can make friends with a lamp post!) When he & Jackie first arrived on scene at FVCC, Karen and I would invite them out every Thursday night for Survivor. It was a great time of connection, and the last three years contain a lot of other great memories with them. Jim...did you ever get a call to be on a season of Survivor?!?

Jim & Jackie - thanks for making the trip over. It really meant a lot to me! Looking forward to spending more time together in the near future...

A Great Friend

I had the pleasure of spending the last couple of days with one of my best friends and fellow pastors - Steve Osborne.

Steve is the Worship Minister at Fox Valley Christian Church where I served and attended for the last 11 years. During our 8 years of working together, we became hard and fast friends who stuck together through some great times and some really tough times.

I've got to be honest - friends like Steve don't come around every day. He is someone that I can talk to about anything, and, even more important, I can just sit with and not say a word if I don't feel like it. (And if you know me very well, you know that I feel compelled to fill silence with conversation!)

Steve - thanks for making the trip down to see me. Can't wait to see you again!

New Setting

I have begun working at Great Oaks Community Church. It is somewhat surreal to actually be here after all of the weeks of interviewing and waiting. I don't think it has really sunk in yet!

My last Sunday at Fox Valley Christian Church was both encouraging and heartbreaking. The people at FVCC have played such a large and important part of my life for the past 11 years; it was difficult to leave them. We didn't say, "Goodbye" though...we agreed to say, "See 'ya later!"

I am looking forward to returning to FVCC in the future when we visit our family in Geneva/Elgin for holidays. It will be great to see all of the old faces. For now, though, I have a lot of new faces to get to know!

I spent most of today unpacking my office and getting to know where things are situated in the church. I still have some organizing to do, but it is coming together. I already have a preaching date (October 7) and some classroom teaching dates set. I have to become familiar with their core class curriculum this week and next for those classroom teaching dates.

I am partnering with existing staff members to host a two-Sunday small group kickoff these next two Sundays. I will also be meeting with my small group leaders in the coming days and weeks so that I can become familiar with them and their groups.

Things will be pretty busy for a while as I assimilate into the life of Great Oaks...keep checking back for regular updates!

An Open Letter to FVCC

The following is a letter that was mailed to the church late last week informing them of my recent resignation and my search for where God is calling me next...

Dear FVCC Friends & Family,

There are times in life when decisions need to be made that are neither easy nor enjoyable. Now is such a time…

I wanted to let you know that I recently submitted my resignation to our Elders. I realize that this may surprise most of you, but please know that this was not done lightly or quickly and only occurred after several months of prayer, reflection, conversations with mentors, and intense personal struggle. I love this church and the people in it, but it is time for me to move on to another phase in my ministry. I have not yet identified where God is calling me, but I wanted to be above reproach with the Elders and the church by informing you of my decision to pursue such a transition.

Every church and every pastor has a preferred style of ministry, and it is vital for the health and growth of the church that this style of ministry be shared by each. During the last few years, I have noticed a growing discrepancy between my preferred style and that of the church. Please understand that neither is better than the other; they are simply different. FVCC is pursuing some great ministry initiatives, and I pray that God will continue to bless this church, the leaders, and the members in the coming years.

It is with great sadness, and eager anticipation for the future, that I leave the only church I have ever served. FVCC is where I discovered my calling into ministry. It seems like it was just yesterday that the church took a risk and asked me to accept a staff position despite having a lack of experience and education. Since that time, I have discovered the joys and struggles inherent in being a pastor. I am who I am today because of my time here at FVCC.

For the past 11 years, my family and I have been blessed to be a part of this church family. We have spent time with you in countless worship services and small group gatherings. We have laughed together over meals and cried together over pain and suffering. We have celebrated the birth of children together and mourned the loss of loved ones together.

Along with the sadness, though, comes a great deal of peace in this decision. Karen and I understand it is the right decision, despite the pain and disappointment it may cause. The reality is that if I were to maintain my current position with everything I am experiencing, I would be dishonest to our God, to those around me, and to myself.

Please pray for Karen and me as we attempt to determine where God is calling us. It will be difficult to move away from the church and the Fox Valley area, but we are open to God’s leading. I look forward to the time we have remaining together, and I thank you from the depths of my heart and soul for allowing me to be your pastor.

iPhone Hype

This post is for all of you fans of the new iPhone, but it is primarily directed towards two of my closest friends and co-workers. You know who you are!

Here is the first paragraph of an article from tech-blog www.switch.com...

"Contrary to what the hype would have had you believe, Christ himself did not return to Earth this past Friday to render judgment. Apple simply released a cell phone. Now that the day of days has come and gone and the planet is recovering from its collective hangover, we think it's time to step back and ask ourselves just what the heck happened. What did we all get caught up in?"

For the full article, check out http://www.switched.com/2007/07/03/does-the-media-love-apple-too-much/