2012

Ashamed By Grace

We live in a world where grace is of the premium. We are quick to ridicule, judge, and tear down. As much as we love a good comeback story we also love the dirt of a great fall. Especially one's where all the kings horses and men cannot put Lindsey Lohan back together again. We like grace when we receive it but it is tough for us to give. Or is it. Think for a moment of the past couple years. We have seen a many great fall. Brittney Spears Tiger Woods Michael Vick John and Kate Plus 8...well...maybe!!! Either way you get the point. We say that our world is graceless and we thrive off of trashing others, but I have had more conversations with people lately that said they love seeing these people beat the odds, receive grace, and rise to greatness again. As I thought about this, this is true. I have never met any of the above, but I longed to see each of them make it. Is it strange that I was always scared that I would turn on the TV and Brittney would be dead? Why? I have never met … [Read more...]

Rest…Replenish…ReEnergize (Thoughts from sabbatical)

by Trevor |

Here I sit... Week two of my sabbatical is coming to a close. I was really looking forward to this time, but even I did not realize how much I needed it. Let me back up though. Some of you hear the word sabbatical and you think a myriad of things. Some think... VACATION NOTHINGNESS TIME OFF LAZY Even though all those things seem to be what we would label "sabbatical" it is so much more than that. This is what I love about my church. At the ten-year mark they give each of our staff members a one month sabbatical. However, this is not a vacation. This is not nothingness. This is not "time off". It is rest, but is not laziness. This is a time to rest, replenish, and re-energize. In fact there are some requirements on our time of sabbatical. Not a list of rigid rules, but some guidelines in order to make us truly get the most of it. REQUIREMENTS OF SABBATICAL: Week 1: You must spend one week at another church simply serving. For me that was a trip to Nashville. Some … [Read more...]

Grace and Peace

by Trevor |

A few months ago, amidst going through some of the toughest moments of life, something stood out to me in scripture for the very first time. In fact is it not funny that you can read and see things over and over, yet never really see what is glaring right into your soul. I noticed right at the beginning of one of Paul's letters in the New Testament it started with the phrase "Grace and Peace to you in..." I am not sure why this struck such a chord with me but my interest was peeked. I turned to another book of Paul's and read the intro phrase "Grace and Peace to you in..." Sure enough, the more I turned the pages the more I learned that Paul started most his letters this way to the churches he was writing to. Then I had this thought... Could it be that simple? Could Paul have just unlocked an unspeakable truth to me that has always been right there in its simplest form? Honestly...Yes!!! It really was that simple. Now you may be asking the question of "What is that simple?" Well, … [Read more...]

I Got Shot And Was Ok With It

by Trevor |

I am NOT A FAN of needles. In fact if you know me, you know that I despise them. I will avoid them at all costs. In fact I hate them so much that I was able to take three international trips without having a single shot. I was willing to risk disease in order not to take a needle to the body. Then last week happened... It was Saturday a week ago. I woke up and started to feel that little scratch in my throat. As a preacher you notice every little twinge in the vocal region of your body. I began to take vitamin c, drink herbal tea, suck on cough drops filled with menthol and honey, drink pickle juice, gargle with Listerine, and any other home remedy I could find. However, to no avail. Sunday morning I woke up to a voice that was almost completely gone. Not only that but my ears hurt and my nose was dripping. I somehow managed to make it through two services and then went into an afternoon coma. Monday I decided to take to the couch and sleep it off. But then I realized really … [Read more...]

I Shot David Crowder…

by Trevor |

...with my camera last night. He put on an acoustic show at our church last night with singer/songwriter Seth Philpott, and it was amazing. Loved having the opportunity to take photos of such a humble and talented duo. If you missed it, then...well...you missed it... … [Read more...]

Fully Clothed And Soaking Wet

by Trevor |

As I made my way to the back of the tiled room I was able to follow these beautifully wet footprints left behind. As I walked I was literally in a daze of what had just happened. I even said to myself as I was leaving the stage that this was the single greatest service I have ever been in during my ministry life. Just a few moments earlier I had the privilege of watching people step from death to life, from wide path to narrow path, from fan to follower. We launched into week two of this series Not A Fan yesterday. This series is for sure not for the faint of heart. It is truth, and truth has a tendency to make people uncomfortable. For 25 minuets I literally watched some people squirm in their seats as we opened the truth about baptism and surrender to Christ. In fact if I am to be honest I was a little uncomfortable with some of the truth and I was the one preaching it. But then it happened... Now I have seen and been a part of literally hundreds of baptisms in my life as a … [Read more...]

Follow What?

by Trevor |

Starting last Thursday I got enthralled in what I usually get enthralled in this time of year. In fact being a follower of what I am it is tough not to get wrapped up in the hype. It starts mid week with watching the rehearsals and then really from Thursday to Sunday it is go time. The crowds pour in and there are more people than one person could really count. The atmosphere is electric and there is an anticipation of what will happen this year. I mean honestly every year is exciting, but you are wondering if this year can top last year. Last year seemed so spectacular. There was laughter, drama, and awe. But no matter the atmosphere the same thing is going to happen this year that happened last…someone is going to win!!! Now my guess is, is that you think I am talking about Easter. I will get to that in a second. But I am talking about the Masters. I love golf and I love this event. From the time I was a little kid till now it is my favorite major in golf. My dad was a local golf … [Read more...]