Monday . . .

The desk and email were muy full today after being away . . . and I'm trying to figure out what order I'm gonna read my 7 new books in!

Thanks to Nathan L. for bringing it home on Sunday (and yes, I listened this morning!) --- and I here that Steve & co. were rockin! Way to go guys!

The last few years - after listening to some wise counsel - I've tried to take 3-4 weeks off during the Summer to vacation with my family, rest, and also to prepare for the upcoming year. My first few years I went straight through without ever going to the bullpen and I almost didn't make it.
It also gives others an opportunity to use their gifts more than once or twice a year . . . and it let's Creekers hear other voices . . . a win in every direction!

And I tell you what I'm excited about getting back in the box this Sunday . . . It's going to be an incredible Fall!!

Steve's Serve

Steve Garcia - our fired up, passionate new Worship Pastor! - was telling me about an Encounter he had on Sunday and I asked him to give me a blurb so I could blog it. Here it is. Thanks Steve!


Serving Sunday! I arrived to "the building" with much anticipation! I could hardly wait to get out in the community and body slam somebody with the Word of God. I had visions of how I would do that and world peace would follow:) That's not what happened though.......something completely different happened actually. We went to house #1 and no one was home, #2 the same,#3 the bag and card were still on the door, #4 no answer, #5.....I was beginning to get a little worried and then someone answered the door. Here was my opportunity, body slam #1....she stopped me mid-sentence, closed the door and returned a couple of minutes later with some food. I said thanks, and she immediately shut the door. No body slam. That's ok I thought, there are plenty more houses! Well,the rest of our journey was pretty much the same.....nobody home, bag and card on the door, no answer. I was getting kind of bummed about the situation and then I met George. What a neat guy! I explained who we were and what we were doing and he honestly said that he didn't have any food to donate at the moment, but maybe we could come back another time. We struck up a conversation about his lawn and then all of a sudden he was Mr. Jabberjaw. Here we were, locked in conversation, and the lights were all green for my first body slam of the day! The body slam turned into a handshake and a gentle pat on my shoulder from George. I put him down as my first person to visit the next time we do this. I may even visit him again before that! We had made a simple connection with him about something he had a passion for, his lawn, and as I was about to lean in and give him the body slam I realized that getting to know George was the first step in our connection. Sure, it was a tiny conversation about his lawn, but it was also a door opening to his heart. I don't know all of George's story, but I do know he wanted to talk to someone and I'm glad that God put me there at the right place and the right time. Did you notice at the beginning of my story there were a lot of "I"'s? I this, and I that..... I, stepped out of the way, and God moved into our midst. He connected me and George. Serving Sunday has shown me that what we are doing out in the community is building relationships. Living in each others lives and really being the hands and feet of Jesus. Relationship is the first step.

"Anyone who welcomes you is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me. " MATTHEW 10:40

The Boy is Back in Town!

OK, he ain't a 'boy' - he's a man. But Steve Garcia will begin leading our music THIS Sunday and it is going to be awesome! I can't tell you how excited I am about having Steve and Lauren and Ben aboard at Oso Creek!

If you haven't met Steve, then come early or stay late on Sunday and give him a high five. And invite your friends and neighbors to come meet Steve and check it out!

We will also be continuing in the book of James going from Ideation to Implementation . . . . learning what it means to Stop Thinking and Start Living! I am pumped about this week, it's gonna be awesome! Don't miss it!

Missed It By a Boat!

Yesterday in my trek home from D.C. and Unplugged, I think the only form of transportation I didn't use was a boat.

I started off on the Metro (DC Subway) and rode it to the end, where I caught a public trans bus to the Baltimore Airport. I flew to Houston (and in Houston I even rode one of those long escalators through the airport!) - and then flew to San Antonio. In San Antonio I caught a little tram to where my car was, and then I drove a car home from SA! Subway-Bus-Airplane-Tram-Car! And it only took 13 hours!

The exciting news for today is that the Garcia's started getting moved into their new home in Corpus! Yes!
Thanks to Nathan Lindell for leading the moving team and for all of you who helped!

Praise God!

I am so thankful for the incredible group of leaders that God has gathered at Oso Creek!
Tonight many of them were at our leadership group. Just simple folks, like me and you, seeking to follow Jesus.

And I left that time so encouraged as I heard them sincerely pray for one another. . . humbly ask God for forgiveness . . . and ask God to give Oso Creek a united, humble, serving, passionate heart.

Steve and Lauren Garcia were also in town checking out a house and we got to spend some time praying for them before they left, it was awesome!
Please be praying for Steve and Lauren and Ben, as they will be transitioning from San Antonio at the end of this month and Steve will be a huge part of our staff beginning in July!!

GREAT NEWS!!!!

Great News Creekers and Corpus Christi! Steve Garcia (along with his beautiful wife Lauren and his son Ben) is coming to Corpus Christi to be our Worship Pastor!

God has blessed us way beyond what we could have asked or imagined with Steve's gifts, talents and most of all his passion for Jesus!

Steve is going to fulfill some commitments he has already made for the beginning of this Summer and they will be here sometime around the first week of July.

Be praying for their transition --- leaving their friends and church in San Antonio, finding a new home, schools, etc. Ask God to care for them and bless them like crazy as they come to join us on this great adventure!

What a Great Weekend!

The weather was perfect for Beach to Bay . . .

And then worship was rocking on Sunday! Great job Steve Garcia leading our team . . . and great job to the hot dog team!

And then Discovery Dessert was awesome last night as new Creeker families talked about how real and authentic you are, and how they have been incredibly blessed in so many ways in just a few weeks.

This weekend just reminded me of how gracious God is. How when we aren't even aware He is working behind the scenes to bless us. I went to sleep with a smile on my face . . . and even woke up with it on!

I pray that you are listening to the promptings of the Coach today (you can hear Sunday's message here if you don't have a clue!) ---- because He has a plan of greatness for your life!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Baseball, Hot Dogs . . .

This Sunday we're not only continuing our Major League Basics series (this will be a great one!) but some of our men are going for the 'real deal' ball park feel and are going to be tail gating after Celebration!

They're cooking hot dogs and gonna have some drinks. So bring your tail gate if you want, and an appetite. It will also be a chance for you to meet our guest worship artist -- Steve Garcia.





Don't miss the game!

Rockin' w/Steve

You don't want to miss Sunday morning as Steve Garcia from San Antonio will be rockin' the house leading our music during Celebration!

Steve is an extremely talented guy with a great heart . . . bring a friend who needs to be blessed!

Guest Artist - May 18th

For sure you don't want to miss Celebration this Sunday as we go deeper into talking about Major League Basics . . . What must happen in our lives if we are going to experience the full-on following Jesus life!
Who needs to come with you and hear about what this Christianity stuff all means?

And then the following Sunday -- May 18th -- we will have a guest artist leading us in worship! Steve Garcia from San Antonio will be here and you don't want to miss it!