We just returned from Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL. We took a road trip this weekend to get some ideas for phase 2 of our campus. COTH just dedicated there new building, so we went to steal some ideas. Their new campus is on 128 acres right off the interstate. Does that sound familiar ? We are building on 140 acres right on the interstate. We call it the 138 because the initial survey underestimated the tract by 2 acres, But the name stuck.
    We got some good ideas and really enjoyed the services. We made it to two of the three services. 8AM and 11.15AM. We ate breakfast during the 9.30AM. My host was Pastor Steve Blair. He’s the small group pastor at Highlands. We went to China together in 1999 with Dick Bastha. It was good to see him again. Here are some pics of Highlands….

    Don’t just go to church. BE the church. That’s the title of my series in August. Going to church is awesome. It’s usually the highlight of my week but what about the other six days.
How can weekend worship translate into weekday action ? Can the love of God that I feel at church be transferred to the people I see in the world. Can one person make a difference ?
YES.
   This month at Journey we are going to challenge ourselves to make a difference in another person’s life. Influence. One life. You. Me. We can change the world. How ?

   Don’t just go to church. Be the church.

   There is something so sweet about growing up in the South. I love the laid back atmosphere, the hospitality, the food and even the sweltering heat. Yesterday (Saturday) we were driving through Alabama on our way, as a family, to visit Church of the Highlands in Birmingham. We met the pastor, Chris Hodges, in Phoenix earlier this year at the Mission of Mercy conference. This great church just completed a new campus located right off Interstate 459 and Rachel and I came over to learn from them and pick up some new ideas for Phase 2 of the Journey campus. We will be in Birmingham all weekend. I plan on attending all three services on Sunday morning. We will post some pictures of our visit later.
    Somewhere along the way to Birmingham we crossed over a river where a group of young people were swimming and playing on a tiny sand-bar near the river’s edge. They were in view for only a few seconds. I was doing 65 and caught a glimpse through the passengers window. But that was enough. It reminded me of those innocent days of summer so many years ago when I was a boy. It’s amazing how a fleeting image through the window of a speeding vehicle can carry you away. I got carried away. My memory was flooded with the images of my boyhood in southern Louisiana. For the rest of the drive up to Birmingham I could think of nothing but.
   So here I am up at 4 AM on Sunday telling you the story. Here’s a short list of some of the sweet things that I love about the south. About being a boy. About the innocence of childhood. About sweet southern comfort.

   The swimming hole. That’s what we called the bend in Tickfaw River in rural Tangipohoa Parish that served as our summer cool off spot. I learned how to swim there. Nearly drowned a time or two. One summer I cut my leg near my right knee on an underwater hazard. It took eleven stitches to close up the wound. And it left a scar in the shape of the letter “C”. After I got saved I told people the C stood for Christ.
   The clothes line. That’s where momma hung our clothes out to dry. We didn’t own a clothes dryer until I was in high school. So on ‘wash day’ she would hang our clothes out in the sunshine for a few hours. While I played outside with my brother and cousins, we would run around those white sheets blowing in the wind. They always smelled so good hanging there in the sun.
    The barber shop. That’s where Pop took us to get a haircut. And an education. Max (the barber) would put a little board across the arms of the barber-chair for me to sit on while he cut my hair. The shop was usually full of local men waiting in line to see Max. And while they waited they talked. Politics and religion. Work and family. Fishing and hunting. I learned alot about living in that little corner of the world.
    Blackberry picking. Not the hand-held electronic version. I’m talking about those sweet berries that grew wild out in the country side. Our family would go blackberry picking and everyone had a bowl in hand. We would usually walk to a thicket of briars near the roadside and fill up every container we brought. Momma let us eat a hand full on the walk home. Then the rest she would turn into Blackberry Cobbler. The sweetest dessert.
    Chasing fireflies. Okay we never called them fireflies. They were known in our town as “lightning bugs”. During the summer those wonderful creatures provided hours of free entertainment. On Friday and Saturday night, me and my cousins would chase fireflies all over the yard. Every week our families would gather to listen to music and dance. And the kids would play outside. Chasing lightning bugs. The Nintendo of 1969.
    The list goes on. So we can continue this conversation on another day. I’m stopping now to get ready for church. I love living in the south. Sweet southern comfort….
    

   I think bringing the Good News to the nations is close to the center of God’s heart. It is the primary mission that Christ entrusted to the church.  So missions is second only to church planting in God’s kingdom. Journey is committed to short-term outreaches to the nations. Pastor Shawn and Dominique Glendenning carry that part of our vision. They do an amazing job coordinating our Missions ministry and outreaches. Think global and Act local.
   This morning we dropped off 15 short-termers at the New Orleans International Airport. They are headed to Jamaica for 7 days of ministry. Keep them in your prayers. The team consist of Pastor Shawn, Pastor Ryan, Nicole, Beth, Coco, Moo, Sarah, Ben, Megan, Zach, Andrew, Ashley, Julia, Deanna and Christian. They will return on August 4th and be in worship at Journey on the 5th. Here are a few pictures that I took at the airport this morning at 5.30 AM….

   I am in the church van right now with 9 teenagers and my Youth Pastor. We are on Interstate 10 near Breaux Bridge, LA. This road-trip started around noon today (it’s 10.30pm now)from the office when Ryan and I left for Alexandria to go hear our youth band lead worship for Tween Camp and our Children’s Pastor preach the message. There were over 500 pre-teenagers at the service tonight. I was so proud of our band and Pastor Sidney. They represented us well.  Our youth band were celebrities at the camp. It was an odd phenomenon to watch. They were mobbed by the kids as they were leaving the auditorium. Beatlemania struck youth camp.   
   Over 100 kids were filled with the Holy Spirit last night. Wow! It was an amazing week at camp. Thanks to Hutson and his team for a record breaking camp.
   We are getting home around 1 AM tonight. Shortly after that 15 Journey members will leave for the Jamaica Outreach. I am going to the airport with them. I won’t get much sleep. But who could sleep with all this going on ?
   The band consisted of Meagan, Christian, Kimberly, Jono, Mike, Nick, Brandon and Patrick.
On the drama team was Carol, Deanna, Jenks, and Carmen. And of course the legendary Sidney Hidalgo brought the word. I love this church….

   Dry weather. We have made real progress this week on the 138. They crew is digging the foundation for the slab. And the parking lot is coming right along. Our contractor is still working on a December 13, 2007 completion date. Journey should be moving to the new campus in January 2008. We should be able to hold weekend services then and we will plan the Grand Opening soon thereafter. I would like us to work out the details for a few weeks before we invite the general public. Keep praying and believing and Speak grace to the vision. And dry weather…..

   We are in the Smoky Mountains this week with 40 leaders from Momentum Students Ministries. Momentum is the youth ministry of Journey. I spoke to a room full of teenagers tonight. These guys are awesome leaders in our church. Rach and I are proud of you guys.
  My topic was Core Values. I have been looking for an opening story all week long. It’s tough to find the right story for this topic but the days adventure became great substance for my message. Pastor Ryan took them white water rafting over in North Carolina this morning and a great story was born.
  One of the boats hit some rough waters and lost control , spilling some of our teen leaders into the rapids. Ben Robert took the brunt of the spill and took a beating on his ankles. He resurfaced thirty seconds later and swam too safety. And the rest of the team came out unharmed. That will be a great memory those guys in the boat will share for a lifetime.
  Here’s the story Ben told me and how it relates to Core Values. I asked him what was on his mind after he fell out of the boat and was underwater. Your core values always become clear during a crisis. Ben answered my question like this. There was two things on his mind. “Number 1: I need air. Number 2: I must find the rest of my team.” That’s good stuff. I need oxygen. I need others.
   Jesus had two core values. Love God. Love Others.
 Your Core Values always become clear during a crisis. Oxygen. Others.
   
Here are some pictures from the retreat…

   One week until the Saints start training camp. After the phenomenal year they had last season, I can’t wait to see what happens now. I hope to make some games this fall. The Saints are playing a few night games. That works better for my schedule. I work most Sundays.

   The Senior Staff and I hosted the Newcomers Dinner tonight. We made many new friends over the meal. These dinners are designed to welcome new folks into our fellowship and tonight was awesome. Thanks to all of you who spent your Tuesday night with us. Also thanks to all of you who prepared and served our newcomers. You made it a special night indeed. It is amazing that so many new people are joining the Journey. And Nicole made stuffed porkchops to top it all off. I love this church…

  I was on the new campus today. And it’s still raining ! Are you guys praying ? Just kidding. I know you are. The crew is starting to build the forms for the slab but it’s a little too wet to pour. Maybe next week ? The parish was out there cleaning out the ditches to drain the 138. While I was standing there talking to the superintendent the black clouds rolled into Lacombe. And then it rained cats and dogs. I took a few pictures though for the scrap book. These photos were taken on July 17, 2007 at 10.30 AM.