Life is a lot like football. It’s got all the elements of the real deal. Conflict. Defeat. Teamwork. Preparation. Luck. Victory. Hard work. Patience. Faith. Yeah, that sounds like life to me.
    I’ve been following the Saints most of my life and that was very painful at times, especially the year we went 1-15. But we keep on believing…and believing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said ‘wait until next year’. Too many to remember. So I’m a little hesitant to talk about the Super Bowl and how this IS our year. But deep down I believe. I believe.
(I’m writing this blog entry right before the Saints-Patriots kickoff.)
   This may be the biggest game of the season. If we beat them, it will be a huge statement about our team. But no matter the outcome it has been a magical season thus far. And I hope there’s more magic to come. This could be our year. It will be nice to not have to say ‘wait until next year’.
    So I think I will just keep on believing. Go Saints.

   The title of this blog is the ‘tag line’ of this year’s Christmas Production at Journey. ‘Big things happen in the most unexpected places’. In the original Journey production, ‘Christmas Way’ the unexpected place is Bethlehem and the big thing is the Birth of the Messiah. The story follows the travels of four different groups who are all headed to Bethlehem.
   Bethlehem? Really? Is this the place that will be the center of the greatest change to ever come to the world? This small town will host the coming of the Creator of the Universe, in a manger. Big event indeed. I wonder why the Lord selected this little village?
    Before He was born, kings set off from the East to find Him. Angels were dispatched to announce His arrival. And His mother and father came to terms with his birth. The most unexpected guest at the Birth were lowly shepherds from a nearby field. This was such an odd collection of witnesses to the greatest  event in all of history. Yet each one played a crucial part in the arrival of the God-Man.
   But I think one important truth we can learn from this story of the original Christmas travelers is this, ‘Big things happen in the most unexpected places’.
    I hope you’ll come and see ‘Christmas Way’ at Journey this holiday season. It will be filled with music and drama and comedy and shepherds and kings and angels and a little baby born in a small town. Also before and after the show you can ride the Christmas Train, visit Granny’s Kitchen for fresh cookies, sit in Santa’s lap or witness the really cool magician Trigg performing in the cafe. 
                          CHRISTMAS WAY
      ‘Big Things Happen in the Most Unexpected Places’

                                     All seats free.

   It’s in our DNA as a church to serve those who cannot pay us back. Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, and one of the hardest hit areas was the Ninth Ward. While we were busy rebuilding the North Shore campus I believe the Lord challenged us to look beyond our pain and help another community recover. We chose the Ninth Ward. Journey bought an old Lutheran church with the purpose of planting a new church there. And that’s exactly what we did. In November 2009 we launched Journey Ninth Ward.
   It all began many years earlier. Before Katrina. Pastor Robert and Sherdren Burnside were in Oakland serving as church planters when they felt called to New Orleans to begin a new work. So they moved back to Louisiana to plant a new church. Well soon after the storm we were looking  for campus pastors to lead Journey’s new work in New Orleans and the Burnsides were looking for a sponsoring church for their vision. And somehow we found each other.
   After a year of planning and praying we had our first worship service in New Orleans in November 2009. 
   I spoke at the one year anniversary recently. It was a great day. Thanks to Pastors Robert and Sherdren and their wonderful staff and leadership team for the fine work they’re doing. We are so proud of you all.
   I believe J9 has grown to the level of autonomy as a local church. We the pastors and congregation of Journey North Shore are pleased to announce that Journey Ninth Ward will begin to be a self-governed local church in April 2010. Robert and Sherdren Burnside will serve as the Lead Pastors. Congratulations.
   In the past year J9 has served over 3,000 people through outreach. 174 people became Followers of Christ. Dozens of students are being reached through our tutoring ministry. And several families have been served through transitional housing. It’s been an awesome adventure, and while our relationship with Journey Ninth Ward is changing we are still family. We welcome J9 as a sister church in this Fellowship.
   Congratulations.

   Jesse Duplantis has been coming to Journey Fellowship Church for the last 10 years. He first came to our church when we were meeting in an old bowling alley. Our church was really small then and I was a bit surprised that Jesse would put us on his schedule. But he did. Jesse speaks to large overflow crowds around the globe as well as millions more on television. And for the last 10 years he’s been coming to Journey.
   It all started with a letter. I wrote Jesse in 1998 and invited him to come speak to our little church. I felt in my spirit that he would come, and he did. The opening paragraph said this,
  ‘Dear Jesse,
     My name is Doug McAllister and I pastor a church of 10,000 people, but 9,700 of them don’t know it yet….’

   He came and spoke to us the following year and has returned every year since then. Jesse and Cathy Duplantis have become good friends and spiritual mentors to Rachel and I. We owe them a debt of gratitude for all the things that they has taught us about faith.
   Jesse is the real deal. He is the same in person as he is on stage. He loves Jesus and the church. He always displays such passion for the unsaved. I’m glad to call him a friend. Thanks Jesse and Cathy. We love you.
   Come hear Jesse at Journey on November 22 at 9 am & 11 am.

  The bulldozer has landed ! Lake Journey is shaping up nicely. The dirt that was excavated from the west end of the lake is being spread to the low spots around the campus. And the walking path around Lake Journey is being developed. The Path is 1760 feet around the lake. Three complete trips will equal ONE mile. It will be a great place to exercise and pray.
    The bridge crossing the most narrow point of the lake is almost done too. We buried the conduit for the landscape lighting last Saturday, so the Journey Campus is going to shine at night.
   You’ll be able to enjoy the new playground in the near future. The fence is up and the turf is in. The next step for the playground will be the installation of the actual equipment. 
   I’m looking forward to finishing the outdoor portion of Phase 1. It will give Journey a nice finished look from Interstate 12. Plus it will give us plenty of space to decorate for Christmas. I can’t wait to make the Lake sparkle with Christmas colors.

   To add a little more life to Lake Journey, we adopted 15 Mallard Ducks. The truck rolled up around lunchtime today and the transaction was completed. With a bit of get acquainted time sprinkled in, we let the ducks go free. And boy did they ever go free. All 15 of them flew straight toward the lake, but not one of them stopped there.     
   They headed for the sky and I bet they are in Canada by now or maybe Capistrano or wherever it is newly freed ducks head for the winter. I bet some of them are in Mexico living it up with those little umbrella-shaped cold drinks.    Selfish ducks.
   We did spot a few of them around dusk flying near the lake. Maybe they’re thinking of moving  here permanently and they just want to check-out the neighborhood. How do you convince Mallards that your pond is up to their  standards? I hate ducks that look down their bills at me.   Holier-than-thou Ducks.
   As a last resort, I sprinkled duck food around the lake to entice them to return. So far it’s not working. I bet when we get the landscaping and lighting all done around the lake those Mallards will come crawling back begging us to take them in. Ha. I don’t think so Birds.  Two-Timing Ducks.
   So if you happen to see 15 or so ducks flying by, point them back to Journey.  I kinda miss them.
        Where are you, Mallard Ducks?
  

   Journey is introducing a brand new Worship schedule for 2010. Beginning on Sunday January 3, 2010 we will launch these NEW services times. Sundays at 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM. Three identical worship services will offer ministry for the whole family, incredible music and relevant messages. The Saturday night Experience is taking a break. We hope you will join us for worship on Sundays.