There were tons of candy at the NorthShore Habor Center tonight. Journey hosted hundreds of children tonight ( parents and grandparents too ) for our Halloween outreach. Many of our guest were at a Journey event for the first time. And the rest of us call Journey home. But everybody had a bang of a time. From the Maze of Mystery to the Costume contest and all the games in between, it was FUN. I took a few pictures for the Blog. Good night.

   October is Pastors appreciation month. This passed weekend I asked Jay Jenkins to bring the message to honor our staff. His word was entitled “Get in the game”. Jay challenged everyone to get connected at Journey. His message was a brilliant call to support the vision of the house. Thank you Jay. You were amazing in style, delivery and content. Journey is blessed to have you and Cindy serving the Body of Christ.

   The first cool snap signals the start of a new season. And just like that things begin to change. We went into the attic to bring down our winter clothes. Not that we will need it right now but cold weather sneaks up on you in Louisiana. I do love sweat shirts and sweaters. Pulling on a pair of faded jeans and my favorite Dr. Martens kind of gets me ready for the change in temperature. It’s a psychological adjustment for change.  We all need to allow time for adjusting to change. Weather, life and just about everything else changes. It’s our choice if we make change happen or let it happen to us. But happen it will.
   It’s likely you’re facing some change today. Things are not as bad as they seem. You’ve probably prayed for God to change you. But this isn’t what you had in mind. Is it? So now what? Allow yourself some time to adjust to the changes but embrace them completely. If you can’t get out of it, get into it. Change is in the air.

   There is something supernatural about the quiet. I imagine on that first moment of creation when the Maker of time and space stared into the solitude of nothingness He relished the quiet. Then the Creator filled the universe with life and light with an explosion of His voice. And by His great power He unleashed the existence of energy and matter. But He punctuated each day with the quiet of the morning. The still of the day. I think maybe He weaved into the very DNA of man the longing for the quiet place. It’s like He seasoned this world with a cosmic pinch of peace. That is the solitude that compels us to get away from it all. To rest. To listen . To think. To be. That only happens in the quiet. And ironically it is there that we can best hear the voice of God.
   Adam walked with Him in the cool of the day. Abraham was His friend. Moses met with Him on a mountaintop. David sang to Him in the caves of Israel. Solomon wrote about His wisdom. Elijah heard the Still small voice. Jeremiah cried. John the Baptist prepared the way for his coming by living in the wilderness. And then the Almighty made His grand entrance into this world on a Quiet night in a little town. The sounds of a newborn baby filled the night air until the first visitors arrived. Who were His first visitors ? Shepherds working the midnight shift. Angels singing ‘Peace on Earth’. Joseph and Mary in speechless awe.
   I am compelled into the quiet. I am drawn to the pre-dawn hours of each new day. Every sunrise is an awesome sight. Even the birds sing to welcome the morning. And I quietly wait to hear His voice. Sometimes we just sit there and listen to each other think. Sometimes I can hear His Spirit whisper to my soul. Sometimes I talk to Him. But most of the time we wait in the quiet. Being. Together. 
   There is something supernatural about the quiet of the morning.

   I’m off on a new adventure in 2008. We are joining with John Maxwell and Equip to train pastors in the Far East. The trip takes place in February of next year. A businessman  from Journey and I attended Associate Trainers school last year in Atlanta in preparation for the Philippines. This will be our first trip working with Equip and I’m really excited. On the way home we are stopping in Los Angeles to visit the LA Dream Center and Matthew Barnett’s church. We are launching a new church in the inner-city of New Orleans next year and we want to learn from the best.
   I have been to the Far East on a number of Outreaches but this is my maiden voyage to the Philippines. 

   The roof is being installed on the new building today. Metal studs are being erected in the classrooms and the form is set to pour the first entrance. We are making good progress during this spell of dry weather. The campus is taking shape and it’s amazing to watch. We’re still on a Christmas completion schedule. I’m hoping to have our Grand Opening for Easter 2008. Here are few pictures……I love this church.