Ten Most Important Events of the Past Decade
10. Family Vacations
We've had some really great vacations this past decade. There was the summer Colorado vacation that followed the kids participation in National Fine Arts in Denver. There were the two Orlando vacations: One when the kids were younger and another when they were in their teens. There was the East Coast Vacation that included Washington DC, Williamsburg and Virginia Beach. There was the western vacation that included a trip to The Grand Canyon, our introduction to snow skiing and a Dude Ranch. There were two Caribbean cruises: The one Donna and I took to celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary and the Caribbean Cruise the church gave us for our ten year anniversary at Crossroads. And then the Colorado ski vacations that, for me personally, were the best. Those trips forever secured my LOVE for snow skiing and all things Colorado. God willing, I will visit Colorado every year for the rest of my life.
9. The DRIVE Campaign
One of the most challenging seasons of my life was spent casting vision for the expansion of our facilities, sitting down one-on-one with the top 100 givers of our church asking them to come on board with our fund-raising efforts and waiting out the two year campaign to see if the 4.9 million dollars pledged would come in. 3 million of it did, despite the worst financial recession since the Great Depression! We're confident the remainder will come in through The Over-Drive Campaign coming up in 2010. This season of my life stretched my faith like few things I've ever walked through.
8. Losing Jesse
Donna's brother died of colon cancer in 2004. He was way too young. Jesse was one of the most adventurous people I ever met. He played bass guitar in one of my first bands after I became a Christian and we spent a lot of time together. He loved life, loved to laugh and loved a challenge. I miss him greatly.
7. Ordination
I spent the better part of 27 years in ministry credentialed with The Assemblies of God as a Certified Minister. The Assemblies of God have three levels of credentials: Certified Minister, Licensed Minister and Ordained Minister. In 2008 I was finally ordained. It's ridiculous that I waited so long, but I'm very glad that I finally have my ordination. Since becoming ordained I've gotten more and more involved organizationally and I believe that will only increase as time goes on. I love our Fellowship and want to do my part to make it a better organization.
6. Disasters
All of us remember where we were when we first saw the images of those planes crashing into the World Trade Center. I was at home getting ready for work when my sister Holane called and told me to turn on the TV. Once in the office, I sat with employees glued to the television set, watching in horror with the rest of the world as life as we knew it changed forever.
Hurricane Katrina hit much closer to home. Going over to New Orleans with a team of men from Crossroads the day after the hurricane and pulling people off their roofs and off bridges and overpasses was an experience I'll never forget. I've never served in the Military, so I've never seen combat. Katrina was probably as close as I'll ever come. We had no idea what would happen to us. They were reporting murders and violence, but there was a need greater than our own safety and we saved lives that day.
5. Master's Commission
In 2004, for the second time, I launched a Master's Commission program at Crossroads Church. I am as proud of it today as anything I've ever done in ministry. Under the leadership of Shawn Marcell, a graduate of our first program here in 1991, Crossroads Master's Commission has become everything I dreamed it could be. It will continue to have an increasingly important role in our ministry in the days to come.
4. The C3 Conference
In February of 2004 Donna and I, along with our entire executive leadership team, attended the C3 Conference at Fellowship Church in Dallas, TX. It changed my life and ministry forever! Up until that point, I had enjoyed some success as a lead pastor but I was really a duck out of water. Ed Young and Andy Stanley showed us through that conference it is OK to be yourself. We came home, took off our ties, cranked up our amps and began to do church the way God created us to. A few months later we did a complete remodel of our facility that became known as the 6-day war and, as they say, the rest is history.
3. Losing Weight
After her brother Jesse died of colon cancer, Donna insisted I go get a thorough medical examination. My doctor had blood work and all the tests done and determined I was in mint condition with one exception: I was way overweight. I left his office determined to take it off and six months later I was 40 pounds lighter. I've put about 15 pounds back on since then, but for the most part, I have maintained my weight loss and at least some commitment to proper diet and exercise.
2. Buying the Farm
In 2002, after years of being renters, Donna and I became home-owners. We looked for 8 months for property to build on and just couldn't find it. We finally decided we would lookfor something already built and within a week found a farm out in Breaux Bridge. Our home was built in 1979 on 8 acres and it had never been remodeled. We bought it for a song, turned around and invested the equity we had in the home and have been working little by little each year to make it the place it is today. Last year we refinanced our mortgage and our home appraised for twice what we paid for it! (God is good) Our farm has also fulfilled the life-long dream for me of owning horses and now our little Springer Spaniel, Sophie. I am ready to become a breeder of fine Paint horses and bird dogs in the years to come!
1. Losing My Dad
In 2004 my dad died from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. Both of these diseases are extremely debilitating and we watched the life literally shrivel out the strongest man I've ever known. It was extremely difficult. My dad was my hero. I owe everything I am to him. No one has ever had a greater influenced on my life. I miss him every single day. There is only one thing that kept the loss of my father from completely overwhelming me: I know that in eternity, I will see him again!
