Our Purpose

Several weeks ago one of the central themes our Leadership Team retreat was the deep desire that we all have to see lives transformed. We agreed that bottom line, nothing else really matters.

So much so that we are changing how we express our purpose to this:

The PURPOSE of Fellowship of Oso Creek is to see lives transformed.

Spiritual transformation begins when we put our faith in Christ, and continues as we offer our lives to God as 'good soil' for Him to work in.
As this journey continues the trajectory of our lives take on a more and more of a 'Kingdom' orientation meaning that we are increasingly driven by seeing God's will done on earth.


Instead of worrying about the wrapper it's cloaked in, or the mode - or even the risk involved - how do we help see people more and more engaged with Jesus and impacting the world!

I read the rant below on a blog comment recently and I wonder how many people feel the same way?
Here is your chance to sound off . . . What are you seeking? And if your reading this on email go online and post your comments on the blog so everyone can see.


I for one am sick of hearing about the traditional v.s. contemporary approach. Speaking as a lay person, I left a church where many wanted desperately to transition to a contemporary style. The main problem as I see it is what I call the "leisure suit" scenario. Back in the 70's everyone wore leisure suits, they were all the rage. Wearing a leisure suit was what one did to be "hip" "relevant" and "cutting edge". Now, you wear a leisure suit if you are going to a costume party and even then you look pretty ridiculous! I see the modern day, purpose driven church as the leisure suit. I wanted something more than "Jesus is my buddy" and Livin' Venti. I needed someone who died for me because I'm a miserable sinner. I needed a transcendent, holy God who was something more than the latest "fad du jour". I didn't want to equate God with what's popular, because I'm old enough to know that's what is popular today will be placed on the trash heap of irrelevance tomorrow. I rejected everything associated with the modern day, entertainment, fad driven church . . . .

God Encounter

I had an awesome God-Encounter yesterday at lunch. I went to the Saigon Cafe with John Richerson and the owner - Tim - was working the counter. Tim immigrated to the US from Vietnam via Canada.

We immediately connected as I told him about my trip to Vietnam. Tim is a Christian and has a vision to start a Vietnamese church here in Corpus. Awesome! I told him that I would love to help him any way I can. We're gonna hang out sometime this week.

Pray for Tim and the Vietnamese community in Corpus. And go eat at Cafe Saigon and say 'hi' to Tim.

Parenting and Teens

For some reason I've been holding onto this post for some time . . . I'm taking a little bit of a risk writing it because I know that my kids will read it, but at the same time I know that they know my heart.

Tim Stevens (whose a blogger and pastor I really like) blogged about parenting teens and how he perceives that our influence as parents decreases greatly when our kids go into their teen years, while their peers influence increases greatly. You can read the entire blog here . . . his ultimate point was that the environment that we put our kids in matters immensely.

But I kind of fixated on the whole idea of how and when our influence with our kids decreases . . . he even had a chart based on his on informal survey which I copied . . .

Now, below is my comment that I wrote on his blog. What do you think? Do you think I'm off base? What does your experience and heart tell you? What about some of you who are teens or recently were teens, who influences you the most? Why?

And how does all this help us to love those we love the most?

Here was my comment:

I'm jumping in late here -- but I only have time to read my blogs about once a week because I've got 4 stinkin' teenagers :) (18,16,16,14)

Without a doubt - for me - it's now the hardest season of parenting. (Changing diapers seems like playing with Lincoln Logs about right now!)
Probably because I'm normally not near broken enough and it requires more humility than ever before. Humility to not always be the top person in their life. Humility to let them make mistakes. Humility to not respond with jealously every time some punk :) comes chasing after one of my beautiful daughters (oldest 3 are girls). Humility to engage them where they are.

At the same time I must also - from my experience - disagree with your chart (and agree some with the person who said that much of this is perceived) because I do know that my kids still deeply desire my presence and loving leadership in their lives. I know that I still influence them as much as anyone. I just have to do it differently than I have before. I must engage them more and more on an adult level. I must be sensitive to where they are emotionally and appeal to their heart and the consequences of right and wrong decisions, while allowing them to choose at appropriate levels.

I like you Tim am not sure how all of this is going to turn out . . . but I do know that I'm going to keep fighting for my kids lives!

Thanks Jason . . .

I so appreciate this man and his family.

You haven't seen Jason & Amanda and their children around Oso Creek in the last few weeks as Jason was offered a staff position at another church. A position where he could be challenged even more to use his incredible information technology gifts and talents - and be on paid staff.

Jason has so blessed us and I'm just praying that God will bless the heck out of him and his family.

I also want to praise God for how Jason finished well. He has continued to help us with technology since he left, and kept his commitment last week to help with the technology side of The Summit.

Thanks Jason for being a man of your word, and thanks for continuing to bless us!

Matt Beveridge Field

There was great news in the Caller Times today . . . the CCISD school board voted to name the King High School baseball field (where my son Luke will start playing this year) . . . Matt Beveridge Field.

You can check out the article here . . . http://www.caller.com/news/2009/aug/24/ccisd-names-king-high-diamond-after-former-player/

This is a cool part of a great legacy of a young man who was seeking to chase after God . . . When I think about Matt's life it always causes me to reflect on this question:
'Am I living my life for the Kingdom today, like there is no tomorrow?'

Roselands

I got to hang out with Richard Roseland yesterday and get caught up on what God is doing in their family.

Oso Creek has been helping to support Richard and Ximena (and now Santiago!) the past couple of years as they were on mission at Pad de Vida orphanage in Queretaro, Mexico.

You've been seeing them recently as they are back in the US to have a baby, and in the midst of transitioning to another orphanage, possibly one in Ecuador.

I really admire their heart and courage to go wherever God calls to care for 'the least of these' in hard places in the world.
Please pray with me for Richard & Ximena for God's direction and provision and for Oso Creek to be able to engage with them and their future mission in significant ways.

Lady Black Hawk Power . . . Ouch!

Sarah & Laura are playing on a club soccer team made up of some of the best players in our area.

They went to a tournament in Houston this past weekend and won their games 6-0, 11-0, 3-0 (game shortened) and 6-0 (game shortened again).

26-nil!

The opposing coach at the end of the last game said: 'Thanks for the clinic.'
They've got it going on!

A Last Day One and a First Day One . . .

Time runs quickly. . . .

Incredible that today Sarah & Laura begin their Senior year at King and Luke his Freshman year at King . . . and Emily is at Hardin-Simmons beginning here Junior year of college!!

They change quickly, checking out the post from last years first day of school (click here to see it) Luke has grown about a foot.

I know that God tells us that there is a 'time for everything' - it's just hard to believe that this time next year we will possibly only have one of our awesome kids at home . . .

This Week . . .

23 Above all else, guard your heart,

for it is the wellspring of life.

24 Put away perversity from your mouth;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,

fix your gaze directly before you.

26 Make levelOr Consider the

"> paths for your feet

and take only ways that are firm.

27 Do not swerve to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil.

(Proverbs 4)

Rites of Passage

We don't have many healthy rites of passage in our culture.

Luke enters high school next week . . . a big deal.

These guys who are my friends, and Luke's friends, helped me last night as we had a ceremony of sorts on the beach.

Each of them has had significant spiritual influence on Luke and they individually walked Luke down the beach about half a mile (and he didn't know about this prior to me dropping him off) and talked too him about a godly value/attribute and how they were expecting God to do great things in his life.

Then they handed him off to the next guy.

I was last and we talked about his unlimited future for the Kingdom and fulfilling the meaning of his name ('Bringer of Light').

Afterwards we all had some 'man food' at Rudy's . . . and talked about how we are all there for him.

My hope is that my son not only hears the wise counsel of his mentors, but also the affirmation of him as a man of God. We all need that blessing to move confidently into God's future.


"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others." (2 Timothy 2:1-2)

Nehemiah 6

"Your Word O' Lord is eternal, it stands firm in the heavens." (Psalm 119:89)

As we continue with the Make It Count series this Sunday I encourage you to prepare by reading Nehemiah chapter 6. We will continue to look under the hood of Nehemiah's life as we seek to make our lives count for eternity!

Hammer Power

Off the couch! :)

We're doing some minor remodeling in our children's area so that we can impact more kids and families!

And we need some of you dudes (or dudettes) who have carpentry skills to join the team this Saturday and help us put up a wall.

Do you got the skills (and you don't have to be a pro)? Are you willing?

Please email Audie by clicking here or call her at 960-9551.

For Today . . .

Thinking about:

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7)

Mind Boggling . . .

Wow the Summit was amazing! We just finished 2 days of incredible teaching and encouragement. I can't even begin to organize everything in my mind yet, but as I try to I will keep you informed.

I'm thankful for those of you who came and totally blessed by those of you who served. Wow! If you weren't able to go, all I can say is: I'm sorry. And it will come around again next year.

Now . . . back to Saturday :)

2 More Days!

Until Leadership Summit is live at Oso Creek!

Check the awesome schedule of speakers here! And more about them here.

It's my dream that every Creeker and every leader in town could go!

There are still tickets available for $75 . . . BUT if you want to go and cost is an issue at all, please let me know and we will make sure you get a seat . . . We do not want cost to be a barrier for anybody to be there!

Call the office - 993-4463 - or go by - on Wed or Thur to sign up!

Donald Parker

Meet Donald Parker. (He was kind of bummed about this picture I took as we met in Starbucks and he didn't have his cowboy hat on as he does most of the time.)

Donald's a new church planter in Sinton. He's planting a 'cowboy church.' And no that is NOT a church that watches the Dallas Cowboys together on Sundays :) [I saw the wheel's spinning . . . ]
It's a church whose target audience is the folks who live in rural areas - namely those whose way of life revolves farming, ranching and rodeoing.

One of the ways that we are seeking to be On Mission is to help start new churches. We are joining with several other churches to help Donald and his team reach the people of Sinton and the surrounding areas.

I have been meeting some with Donald and sharing with him our experiences - this coaching is one way we are pouring into them.
The Leadership Team also decided to give his church plant a small amount of money each month ($100) . . . currently there are about 10 churches helping them financially as they get off the ground.
And then I would ask you to pray for Donald and the Cowboy Fellowship Church in Sinton . . . and maybe get involved in some other way.

One invitation to check it out takes place on September 27 - the day they are launching their public services. That afternoon they will be having a Ranch Hand rodeo (which is a fun kind of rodeo for the entire family . . . by the way they will meet on Sundays at a rodeo arena!)

So that afternoon you could go out to Sinton and check it out . . . .

Thanks for being a part of spreading the Kingdom of God all over the world!

Exchange Student Experience

Earlier this week I blogged about the opportunity to host Vietnamese exchange students. Below is a blog post from Bob Roberts (Pastor of Northwood Church . . . which started GVI) about their experience with a Vietnamese exchange student seen 10 years down the road . . .

Spending the Day with Ti!!!

from glocalnet by Bob Roberts Jr.

Almost ten years ago - Ti Luu from Hanoi came as an exchange student to with live with Nikki, Ben, Jill and I. It was one the greatest things we ever did. With his coming from a nonreligious, Buddhist background country, where 80% worship their ancestors, it was always eventful living in a pastors home - but it was all good.

To see him grown, working with a great company, highly educated, and now engaged - I am really proud of him. I asked him what was the best thing about living with us. He told me, “I was forced to think about things I never would have thought about had I not lived with you.” He told me he liked it and it played a role in preparing him to be the man he is.

I encourage you - open your home to exchange students. There’s something about a family living their life together with someone from a totally opposite culture. There are several students headed to the US right now to begin their year as exchange students in the US from Vietnam. Are there challenges? Sure. Are they worth it? You bet.

Vietnamese Exchange Students

We have an awesome opportunity to connect with Vietnam via Vietnam coming here!

There are high school exchange students who are looking for homes to stay in for the 09-10 school year. (I included a pic of my college student interpreter friends from my trip)

The students come through The Center for Cultural Exchange (click here for their website). As a host you are responsible to provide a place to sleep and meals.

I connected to this opportunity through GVI and it would be incredible to have some Creekers hosting Vietnamese students and having them as part of our community!
If you're interested at all, you need to act quickly! It's only a few weeks until school begins and there is much paperwork that has to be done.

Renee Herndon is the local representative for CCE and you can contact her for further info. Her email is: renee_herndon@hotmail.com -- and her phone #'s are: 361.774.5804 (c) & 361.792.0156