Harvest Christian Fellowship

If you have been around Harvest long enough you probably remember hearing Pastor Paul speak on the Gap of Confrontation. Basically the teaching says:

1. It will take time for vision to become reality.

2. The gap between vision and reality will be filled with confrontation.

3. The resistance we experience from confrontation will help us develop the muscles we need to be successful when vision becomes reality.

I share all this because Michael Beasley and I were joking today about the gap of confrontation. Some of the things that I am responsible are not happening exactly like I thought they might. None of the problems are insurmountable; but, they can be stressful. I say this not to complain; but, to rejoice; because I faced resistance/confrontation today with a smile on my face. I know for sure that the vision God has given me us will come to pass. Therefore it is fun to overcome obstacles. I have to learn new skills and sharpen the ones I have already developed. I have to pray. I have to study. I have to work together with a lot of different people and we all have to do things that we have never done before. What an adventure!

Thank you God for allowing me to live the life I am living. I love it and I love You. Please, be with me and with every person who reads this blog. Help every reader to know that You are with them in tough times and that Your will is being done here on earth in the same way that it is done in heaven.

Brad Snellgrove, Justen Quebe and I went with Myles Sweeney and several men from the GMI network to do a Men's Retreat in Bulgaria. We left home on Sunday afternoon February 21, 2010 and returned today Monday March 1, 2010.

I do not know how to describe what all we did, or what all I received while on this trip. But, here are a few of the highlights:

1. Rome was beautiful. My favorite part was The Basicila di San Clemente. If you ever get a chance to go make sure you find it.

2. The men of Bulgaria have an incredible opportunity infront of them. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be to be in their shoes; but, I pray that God will give them the strength to endure.

3. Brad, Justen and I were able to have some incredible conversations while we were on this trip. I hope that I never forget the time we had in the Frankfurt, Germany airport.

4. I am extremely thankful for Curtis House teaching me the Weslean Quadralatral. Being on this trip helped me see that it can be an incredible tool and I will find ways to share it with the people at Harvest frequently in the future.

5. I am extremely thankfull for Gabe Moudy giving me a book that I was able to read while on the plane to Europe. I hope the principles taught in it will help us to disciple new believers in the future.

6. I am extremely thankful for Myles Sweeney giving us this opportunity. I really consider it an honor that he would invite us.

7. Finally, I am extremely thankful to be a member of Harvest Christian Fellowship. I can honestly say that God is doing something special with us. Thank you, Paul Cypert for being a man after God's heart.

If you are reading this post and have never been on a ministry trip; please, take the time to do it. I have been on trips like this now to enough places to know that everyone would benefit from experiences like these.

In November, 2009 I wrote a post titled: Father to Son. In that post, I referred to a DVD series I had recently purchaced/acquired. At the time I had only watched one of several DVDs; but, I wanted to encourage people to look into it. Today, almost 3 months later, I must tell you that this resource is well worth the money. I have still only watched the one DVD; but, I have also watched myself grow tremendously with regards to my relationship with Caleb. By watching the father/son relationships/conversations on that DVD, I have learned how to better communicate with my son. God is blessing our conversations and our relationship is growing much deeper.

Tonight Caleb and I went to the CORE meeting in Lubbock to hear Jim Gilbert speak. Caleb decided to go to the nursery instead of staying in the auditorium; but, our 100 mile road trip proved to be very beneficial. After we got back home we sat in the car in the drive way and had a 30 minute conversation about how much I love him and how proud I am of him. We would not have had this "Manly Conversation" tonight, if I had not watched that DVD in November.

Anyway, our conversation was great and you can learn how to talk to your kids too. Start by crying out to God that his promise in Malachi 4:5-6 would be fulfilled in your family. Give God your heart and ask Him to make you a man.

After you have done this, call me. I would love to walk with you and God as you become a better father.

The other day I had the privilege of spending some time with Curtis House. For those of you who do not know him, Curtis is a Methodist pastor in Wolforth.

Anyway, while we were talking Curtis referred to one of Jonathan Edward's resolutions. I had read his resolutions before; but, the reference to them caused me to want to read over them again.

Much to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed reading these resolutions. I have attached a copy of them for your enjoyment. If you read them, please, take the time to tell me which ones you appreciated most.

My favorite is #8, "Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failing promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God."

In other words, "I am resolved to consider myself the chief of all sinners. I will not think or act like I am better than anyone else. I will try to sympathize with people no matter what they are going thru and when I see their sin I will use it as a reminder of my own. I will not judge people; but, I will go to God and ask Him to help us all live holy lives."

Finally, as a result of reading these resolutions, I am resolved that I will make a list of my own resolutions. I encourage you to do the same. If you do, feel free to share them with me. i will share mine with you when I have completed them.

What a morning! I definately have something new to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

The other day I ordered a DVD series titled "Father to Son" from The Vision Forum. This series is a colection of father to son conversations recorded to model how to have "Manly Conversations" with your son. Caleb and I watched the first DVD together last night. This morning I had him read chapter one from Created For Work then we had a Manly Conversation about our role as men, husbands, fathers, workers, pastors, and leaders. It was great!

Thank you God for equip

ping me and other men to be better husbands, fathers, leaders, pastors: MEN!