Date:	2005-09-15 21:15
Subject:	Katrina Love Stories
Security:	Public
Mood:	thankful

Hurricane Katrina has come and gone, leaving many with nothing but with memories. Even those of us not directly affected by Katrina's fury will forever have memories of her passage. Living in Louisiana I am acutely aware of the power of hurricanes but I never realized hurricanes had the power of love. Here are a couple of Katrina love stories.

Darrell Jones (35) and Darlene Bordes (33) were brought together in a unique way by Hurricane Katrina. They had known each other for about 5 years before the storm and had even dated occasionally. Like so many other people without options they rode out the storm in New Orleans and thought the worst was past. Then the levees burst and they sought shelter in higher ground at a school. For several days they waited for help but help didn't come. Darrell and a friend found a boat and began ferrying the others to the Interstate, walking beside the boat in water that was sometimes over their heads. On their last trip Darrell had to convince Darlene to get in the boat because she was terrified of the water. She stood only 4'9" and couldn't swim. Darrell refused to leave her and eventually led her to higher ground. After they got to safety Darlene expressed to Darrell that he was her hero, that he had saved her life and that she loved him. Darrell first told her not to play with his emotions but eventually expressed his love for her as well. After getting settled in the Pineville shelter he proposed to her and they are getting married this Saturday in the shelter with all the components of the wedding being provided by generous donors from around the community. They want their ceremony to give hope to the other shelter residents, to say that God can cause good to come out of evil.

Now for Katrina Love Story #2. Wallace T. Patterson, Jr (50) and Subrena Simon (35+/- ) were engaged to be married in New Orleans on November 27. They had secured the location for the reception, paid the deposit for their cake, invitations, etc and had begun the exciting work of planning their wedding. Subrena's husband had died 10 years ago, leaving her to raise their three children and her younger sister alone. Wallace came into her life about 3 years ago and provided a stability her little family so desperately needed. All that stability was lost in the flooded streets and they found themselves in the Pineville shelter, wondering what would happen next. When they heard about Darrell and Darlene's wedding they asked if they could join in and be married as well. Their reasoning? After this experience they've learned that you don't know if you have tomorrow. And their November 27th wedding in New Orleans is definitely no longer an option so why wait another day? They will be married in a double ceremony this Saturday along with Darrell & Darlene.

I'm so honored to have been asked to officiate in these ceremonies. I've gotten to know these couples, heard their stories, seen their sorrows and joys and have been impressed by their resiliency. I pray God's special blessings on their future lives together. I've also been incredibly proud of our community and the way they've responded. Everything we've needed has been freely given, loaned, donated or provided with no questions asked. Thank you, Pineville, for truly being a "city on a hill" that glorifies the Father in heaven.

Blessings,
Nathan

Date:	2005-08-22 14:47
Subject:	The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot.
Security:	Public
Mood:	contemplative
Music:	David Crowder Band - O Praise Him (All This For A King)

Hard to believe it's been almost two months since I've updated this blog. Where does the time go? Of course, that's a question we all tend to ask ourselves from time to time. I know my children and the youth of our church are asking that since school just started again. It's a question that gets asked at the end of a vacation or missions trip. It seems that time flies by ... especially now that I'm older. I look back and see high school in the rear view mirror. Unfortunately objects in the rear view mirror are not closer than they appear! In fact, they're much further away ... high school was over 20 years ago!

What happens is that time slips away when we least are paying attention to it. When we're paying attention it crawls like a snail, its movement barely perceptible. When you have something to look forward to, something exciting, some concert or date or fun filled event, it seems like it never gets here quickly enough. And then ... POOF ... it's gone. Where did the time fly?

The Bible compares our life to that "poof". James, the brother of Jesus wrote, "How do you know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone." (James 4:14 NLT). Peter reaches back through to time to quote the prophet Isaiah: "As the prophet says,'People are like grass that dies away;their beauty fades as quickly as the beauty of wildflowers.The grass withers,and the flowers fall away. But the word of the Lord will last forever.'" (1 Pet 1:2-25a NLT)

It's hard for a 17 year old to grasp this concept but any 70 year old will quickly bear witness. Life is fleeting. Like the old saying, "Only one life will soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last!" I desire that my life have an impact for Jesus. On my old America Online account I had the following quote in my profile: "It's not dying that I'm afraid of. It's living without making an impact for Jesus."

There is so much hurt in the world around us. I can't change the world. But I can change one person's world. And if I do that in the name of Jesus, that will last ... far beyond my vapor of a life. That's worth living for.

Blessings,
Nathan

P.S. Here's a quote from Bill Cosby:
"Don't worry about senility," my grandfather used to say.
"When it hits you, you won't know it."

Date:	2005-06-27 15:22
Subject:	Back from Camp / Striptease in the Pulpit???
Security:	Public
Mood:	giggly

I haven't posted in awhile because I've been out of town. I returned Saturday afternoon from spending a week leading worship at the Red River Valley Awana Scholarship Camp in Wickes, Arkansas. We had an incredible week of awesome worship, great teaching/preaching and mind-blowing games. The youth really entered into worship and I made a lot of new friends. I'm excited that they've invited me back next year. Normally they have a "two year rule" that pastors and worship leaders could only be invited two years in a row. The committee voted to suspend that rule regarding me and invited me back!!! So next year I hope to be taking a lot of our youth to that camp.

Being out of town for a week is a good thing. As the old saying goes, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder". It was great to be back with my family and church. I got to see Hope, my youngest daughter, in the final production of King Artie and the Knights of the Rad Table. It was a hilarious contemporary retelling of the traditional story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, put on by the Family Playhouse. The next day we went to Sleeping Beauty which was great - those little kids did a great job of memorizing their lines, songs and movements. Hope has really enjoyed acting - I guess she gets it honestly!

We had a great time yesterday in church. First time I think there's ever been a strip-tease in the pulpit! (You had to be there! But you can view an archive of the service on our website for a week.) Basically I taught from Ephesians 4 and 5 about the things we're supposed to "put off" and "put on". So for each thing we're to "put off", I took off an article of clothing. (Don't worry, I had a t-shirt and my pajama pants on under my suit! ) Then when I talked about the the things we're to "put on" I put on another set of clothing I had previously hidden on the platform. It definitely got people talking! I don't think they'll forget that sermon for awhile!

Blessings,
Nathan

Date:	2005-06-10 17:12
Subject:	Shadow or Substance?
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

This morning during my quiet time I was reading Colossians chapter 2. Paul wrote these believers to correct a heresy that had crept into the church, sometimes called the "Colossian Heresy" by commentators. The problem was not that the Colossians had turned their backs on Christ. Rather, they had allowed their faith to be affected by pagan and Jewish ideas. Christ was dethroned in their thinking. It wasn't that He didn't have a place, He just didn't have the supreme place in their hearts.

So Paul writes to bring them back to an understanding of the pre-eminence of Christ in all things. And to remind them that Jesus was all they needed - not Jesus plus philosophy or Jesus plus Jewish tradition - Jesus plus nothing!

In 2:16-17 he urges them not to submit to human judgment on issues of food, drink, festivals, Sabbaths, etc. He goes on to say that previous teachings on these issues were helpful, they were like a shadow of something that you didn't see clearly yet. But, he said, "the substance belongs to Christ."

As I read these words I began to ask myself, "Are there things in my faith life that I'm clinging to that may be more shadow than substance?" I think it's easy for us to sometimes mistake the symbols that we use or the standards that we set for the real substance. Symbols and standards are good things - but they point to something else. How much better the substance is than a shadow!!! (I'd rather kiss my wife than her shadow any day! )

Blessings,
Nathan

Date:	2005-06-08 14:04
Subject:	Loser for Jesus
Security:	Public
Mood:	thoughtful

I came across a series of interesting websites today in the oddest way. I subscribe a couple of Kim Komando's newsletters and in today's "News of the Day" she recommended a product called Font Frenzy. Now I have a lot of fonts and sometimes find it difficult to manage them so I was interested, especially when I saw the price was "free". So I checked out the link to Font Frenzy. It was an interesting program but was was more interesting was that it is sponsored by "Sound Doctrine Ministries". That made me take a second look. Then I discovered on their links page links to Jesus Wallpapers, high-quality, royalty-free wallpapers and Cross Tunes, a site that hosts low-cost Christian MP3s. Very interesting stuff.

Now back to the subject at hand ... on the Jesus Wallpapers site was a link to something called Losers for Jesus. That sounded interesting so I took a look and it was a series of wallpapers using a logo they had designed around the theme "Loser for Jesus" - It's the typical hand with the first finger and thumb forming an L that is used to taunt people, but this logo references Mark 8:35 which says:

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it."

Interesting, no? Life is a valuable thing and all that a man has he will give for it. Self-preservation is a principle in nature. But Jesus calls us to lay down that which is in our nature, i.e., self-preservation, in the interest of furthering the Gospel. The one who "loses" his life by not "looking out for #1" is really the one who will gain everything. With that understanding I, too, am proud to proclaim myself a "Loser for Jesus"! And you?

Blessings,
Nathan

Date:	2005-06-01 15:56
Subject:	Book Thoughts - Leadership
Security:	Public
Mood:	contemplative

Lori and I got back last night from Costa Rica and are glad to be back. I've got a lot of catching up to do but I thought I'd share part of an email I sent to our worship team.

---BEGIN---
I took advantage of the long flights and layovers to catch up on some reading. I was very blessed and challenged by some of the things I read. One book I read was "The Next Generation Leader" by Andy Stanley. It was incredibly challenging and motivating. (Subtitle is "5 Essentials For Those Who Will SHAPE The Future.") Any of you involved in leadership would find it helpful. I was especially challenged by the areas of focus and delegation, issues that I was challenged with when I read the book "7 Practices of Effective Ministry" written by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner and Lane Jones. The Lord is shaping me ... or perhaps just telling me to "shape up!" <G> Nevertheless, I'm excited about the future and what God has for us. I look forward to working with you and hopefully living out some of these new things with you all. See you tonight!!!
---END---

Blessings,
Nathan

Date:	2005-05-30 22:52
Subject:	First Post
Security:	Public
Mood:	chipper

That's a terrific title, isn't it? "First Post" - So original! But this really is my first post! I've read many blogs and toyed with the idea but I've never 1)been brave enough, 2)had enough time, 3)considered myself interesting enough that others would care to read, 4)known how to limit my life to just one area to blog about. For example, do I blog about my life as ...

• a pastor,


• a businessman,


• a family man,


• a father,


• a politician,


• a civic-minded individual,


• a missionary


• or just an ordinary joe?