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C3 On the Road - Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach has always held a special place in my heart. It's where Lisa and I used to go with our friends during high school. I remember the big time was "First Week at the Beach."  We always spent the first week of summer break there, and we have some special memories from those years.

Well, we're heading back to Myrtle Beach on April 28! And this time I think it's going to be even better, because we're going for C3 On the Road.

In a way, I like these On the Road deals better than our international conference because of the personal interaction and the opportunity to talk with so many people who couldn't make it to our conference in February. And this year C3 On the Road has a whole new feel with a new set up and new information.

So whatever leadership role you're in, join us this Monday at Barefoot Community Church, an awesome church pastored by Clay NeSmith that is just blowing up! You don't want to miss it.

I know I'm excited and I can't wait to see you in Myrtle Beach!

'Go To' Phrases

Have you ever noticed how certain people are remembered for their 'go to' phrases? Take Dick Vitale, the college basketball guru. He always says, "Yeah, baby!" Well one of the things I love to do is observe different speakers and leaders in the church. And it's fascinating to me to see how often these guys go to their 'go to' phrases.

     Rob Bell - "Um...um...um..." and "Are we trackin'?
     Andy Stanley says, "Isn't it true...?"
     Charles Stanley always says, "Watch this...watch this...watch this...."
     My dad - "Let me tell you...let me tell you...."
     Bill Hybels - "Sort of...sort of...sort of..." and "Friends...."
     Tommy Barnett - "Amen...amen...amen...."
     Perry Noble - "Dude!"
     Brian Houston - "Ah, church! Ah, church! The best is yet to come...."
     Bishop T.D. Jakes - Nah. He's too good. He doesn't even need a 'go to' phrase!

But it's even more humorous to look at my own. Lisa and the kids sat down one day and listed my 'go to' phrases (during one of my messages!) So here are a few of those phrases I may have overused a time or two:

"Bling-bling, ca-ching, ca-ching."
"Off the chain!"
"Over and over on the rotisserie grill of your mind."
"Don't tell me what you're doing; tell me what you're not doing."
And of course...

"'Hole 'Nutha Level!"

Wave After Wave

Our leadership team is still recovering from the loss of Vanessa Whitwell, who served our staff for nearly a decade. Wherever you turn at Fellowship you see her thumbprint on something.

During her funeral last week I shared a story about a time her and her husband Andy travelled with Lisa and me to Hawaii. One afternoon we were swimming on this beach. And the waves crashing in were tsunami size. Only in Hawaii can you get waves the size that we saw. Most of us were standing about waist deep in the water. But all of a sudden, I looked out to my right and I saw Vanessa swimming out toward these giant waves. And to my amazement, she began to body surf on these towering, powerful, Hawaii 5-0 type waves.

In John 10:10 Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly."

The word "abundantly" in the original language is a picture of waves crashing upon the seashore. That picture of Vanessa riding those waves is a microcosm of her life.

Amazingly, Buddy Cremeans, a dear friend of mine, called a few days ago and left a message and a prayer for Vanessa's husband Andy and our staff. And during his prayer he said, "God, I pray that your waves of grace would surround all of the friends, family and staff who loved Vanessa dearly."

Just coincidence? I'm not buying that.

You know, when you ride the waves with people in ministry; when you're being tossed around on the rough seas or even when it's smooth sailing, you don't realize how close you get to someone until their snatched from you.

This tragedy has brought our team closer. It's made us realize the camaraderie and the loyalty and the love that we have for each other. I hear people talk about missing the camaraderie that they experienced with a certain battalion or in boot camp. And they talk about the closeness that they felt.

Well, as we are involved in this faith fight; as we're involved in rowing this craft, this ship, to where God wants us to go, let's take time to appreciate others, to love one another and to rise above our petty differences. Let's look at the bigger picture. Because we're a team. We're a fellowship. We're a bunch of men and women rowing a ship to take turf and to conquer new lands for the kingdom of God.

Vanessa, we'll miss you. We thank you for the legacy that you left. And for the unbridled, offensive energy that you put into riding wave and wave for the kingdom of God. 

One Prayer

Over the past several days, we’ve all been dealt a serious dose of reality. And one thing that has helped me stay tethered to hope is prayer.

But not only is prayer something that has helped us through the last week, it’s also the topic of a revolutionary movement our church and many other churches will experience this summer through One Prayer.

Everyone is talking these days about video venues. That’s the buzz around the nation and the world. In reality, though, this “new school” of thought is really old school; as old as the early church.

As you read about the emerging church in the New Testament, so often one of the speakers, for example Simon Peter or the Apostle Paul, would speak and various other people would record what they were saying; they would “download” their messages. Then, they would circulate these sermons throughout the area and the world.

This summer, we’re taking a page from the New Testament and bringing it to 2008. Our churches have an opportunity to go back several thousand years and experience the teaching of some phenomenal leaders, including Craig Groeschel, Jentzen Franklin and Perry Noble. And I’m thrilled just to be a part of this unity in diversity.

This really will be a picture of the body of Christ coming together and learning from a kaleidoscopic range of speakers. And as we download the timeless truths found in these messages, I’m confident that so many people will discover another level of living!

She Will Be Missed

Last night one of the key leaders of Fellowship Church graduated from this life to the next. And she has gone home to be with the Lord.

Vanessa Whitwell was a dear friend and a phenomenally talented young woman. It's staggering to think of all the lives she touched and influenced.

As I think about Vanessa's life, she definitely had a larger than life personality. I think about John 10:10 where Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly." Vanessa attacked life with a huge amount of offensive energy. Every moment was an adventure for her.

Over the last decade, she played a major role in the development of our worship, was an outstanding singer and actress and did so much with the children's ministry and our women's ministry at Fellowship. And on top of all that, she coordinated our conferences and so many leadership events for us.

Knowing Vanessa as well as I did, her heart for the hurting was definitely the thing that drove her. She truly felt a calling to be at Fellowship Church. She's one of the few people that you come in contact with who actually lived their dream. She did what God called her to do; she lived the dream and loved every moment.

But Vanessa was more than a coworker in the ministry. Lisa and I have had the unique priviledge of having her and her husband as some of our closest friends. They have looked after our children. We've shared meals together. We have literally travelled the world with them. And over the years, they became like a part of our family.

It's interesting in the ministry, because you don't often realize how close you are to the people around you. We don't realize how tightly connected we are until someone is gone.

These are definitely difficult days for us. But even more so, I pray for her husband, Andy, who is such a great guy and a wonderful person. These are dark days that he will have to negotiate. But we know that God will give him the strength to come through.

Vanessa will be greatly missed. One of our twin daughters said this weekend, "Dad, our church just seemed to be incomplete because Vanessa isn't here." You know what? She's not here anymore. But she is in heaven. She is truly living the dream of being home with Jesus.

C3 Regional POSTPONED

Because of a medical emergency involving one of my close friends, I have decided to postpone the C3 Regional in Arizona until a later date. Please take a minute to pray for Vanessa Whitwell and her family.

The Perfect Shot

You know me; you know I love espresso. Thought I'd share the love!