BLeach

Home Sick

Sitting in terminal 3 at the Phoenix airport.  I got out of class early today and booked it over to the airport to try and fly standby on a flight that's gettig ready to leave.  Unless three people who have already checked in decide they want to stay in Airzona, I'm going to be here for awhile.  Eight hours to be exact.  The next flight is a red eye that gets me back to Detroit at 5.30 tomorrow morning:(

I guess I can use the time to find a Starbucks, plug my computer in, and write that paper that was due today.  But I'm not going to lie.

I miss my bride!

So, if you're in Phoenix and want to by dinner for a stranded preacher, now's your chance!

Stuck in Florida

Church Planter's School finished Saturday morning on a high note.  I had the privilege of teaching the last session for the week.  Then after my talk I joined the other presenters in praying over each of the students individually.

That's when things started getting crazy.  On our way to lunch I noticed that my wallet was missing.  So I started retracing my steps.  About three hours and 180 cell phone minutes later I realized it was gone.  That's when I started trying to figure out how I was going to get on the plane without a photo ID. 

Phil and Emily faxed me a copy of my passport, but Spirit Airlines told me over the phone that they wouldn't accept it.  I looked into renting a car but even driving all night wouldn't have put me back in Detroit in time for our Father's Day Service.  Not to mention I didn't have my driver's license.  I even looked into buying a last minute ticket with another airline in hopes that they would accept my fax.  Finally I just decided to pray and give Spirit a try.

As it turns out there are some pretty creative ways to get through airport security.  I think Jesus knows someone at Homeland:) 

I breathed a sigh of relief when I finally sat down near the gate with my caramel machiato.  I even had a full hour before boarding to finish my message for the morning. 

That's when word came that our flight was delayed due to mechanical problems.  We waited a few hours.  By 9.00 pm our plane still hadn't left Detroit and I prepared myself for a 3.00 am arrival.  Then David discovered online that our flight was cancelled.  He actually informed the gate attendants:) 

There were no other flights leaving Tampa for Detroit on any other airlines.  So I ended up stuck in Florida after-all.  We finally got home Sunday afternoon.

It felt strange to be sitting in the airport Sunday morning while our Father's Day service was beginning back home.  I was so grateful for our fantastic team of leaders who stepped up and did a great job.  Most of all I'm thankful that Jesus didn't depend on a plane in order to get to the service on time.  So glad He knows how to be in more than one place at a time:)

Philippines in Pictures

I just posted some pictures from my Philippines trip. 

Check them out here.

My Heroes

While in the Philippines last week, the leaders asked me to spend the majority of my teaching sessions casting vision for church planting.  No problem.  Who doesn't like talking about something they love? 

In the Philippines a church of 90 - 100 people would be considered a large church.  In their minds, our church is a mega-church.  The result is that most of the church planters don't have many models or examples of churches that have really grown.  One of primary goals was to challenge them to think big and inspire them to dream. 

For what it's worth, I believe that every church planter ought to go into his first service with a dream to reach his city.  Just like Ezekiel renamed Jerusalem The Lord is There, every city can be renamed.  We've got to identify the needs of our city, then pray, preach, and love people until those needs have been given a new name.

These guys have the stuff.  They don't all have internet access or libraries.  What they do have are the intangibles.

Faith

Determination

The willingness to risk

They will probably make about fifteen to twenty dollars a week.  They will also give most of it right back to Jesus and His church.

The picture above was a picture I took last Thursday with all the church planters.  The two guys in the blue shirts to my left are Bong and Jason.  The guy toward the right end in the red shirt is Noel.  They are all young men planting brand new churches.  All three of them will have their first service in April.

They are some of my unsung heroes.

My First Bottle of Wine

On my flight to Manilla last Sunday I had my first bottle of wine.  Jay, my new friend, informed me that it was White Wine.  I didn't order it.  I didn't even pay extra for it.  I guess you could say it found me.

I was sitting in the exit row, next to the small kitchenette where the stewardess was preparing the beverage cart.  She had to go to the back of the plane to get something, so she left the beverage cart in front of my row of seats.  Everything seemed normal until...the scream.

I was reading Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell, when suddenly I was interpreted by a loud shriek from the Japanese man sitting next to me.  I lifted my head, but it was too late.  A small bit of turbulence caused the beverage cart to tip, and it had landed in our laps.  It hit my exit row neighbor in both knees, and slammed into my shin.  The cart was heavy.  It took three of us to lift it up.  Milk, juice, Ginger Ale, and water were everywhere.  And yes, the White Wine, had soaked my stuff. 

Half of coach turned when my co-cart-catcher screamed, including the stewardess.  She ran to our aid, although she seemed more concerned for her job than if we could still walk.  "I can't believe they make us put so much stuff on these carts!  There's no way we can get them to stand up straight anymore!" 

As soon as she realized we could stand, and her job was safe, she switched to concern.  She insisted on finding me a new seat.  I thought this was surely my ticket to first class.  Wrong.  Then, when the lead stewardess came back from first class to write up the report I thought this was surely my ticket to a free ticket.  Wrong again. 

When she finished her report she asked me if she could get me anything to drink.  I said, "No."  She asked me if I was sure.  I said, "Yes."  She asked me if I wanted some free wine.  I laughed.  Then she did give me a voucher.  I waited until she left and opened it up.  It gave me two options:

A) 1500 Miles

B) A Free Beverage

Are you kidding me!

Incidentally, the seat that the stewardess moved me to was the seat God wanted me in.  I ended up talking with the new guy I was seated next to, Jay, for about 3 hours.  He was loaded with spiritual questions.  The Holy Spirit gave me great words.  I felt God all over our conversation.  He claims to be an agnostic, but he's really searching.

I'm reading through 1 Samuel right now.  Yesterday I read that the Lord closed Hannah's womb.  Then I read later in the same chapter that He opened it up again.  I'm still trying to get my hands around those two verses.  Why didn't God just leave it open to begin with?  Maybe for the same reason that He didn't just sit me down next to Jay at the beginning of the flight? 

I guess that sometimes falling beverage carts and closed wombs are a part of His grand plan.   

Jet Lag

I had a fantastic time in the Philippines last week.  A big "Thanks" to everyone who was praying.  I had prayers sent as emails, prayers left as voicemails, and many messages from people who said they were praying.  I felt each of them, as did the 100 plus pastors I got to spend the week with.  My plan this week is to post a picture album of the trip, as well as various memories from the week.

My immediate goal right now is to kick jet lag. 

My dad and I got home about 24 hours ago after some crazy travels.  I slept in the backseat of a truck Friday night, a couple hours in a bed, and then we left for the Manilla airport at 3.30 am on Saturday.  26 hours later I was home.  I went to bed last night at about 9.15 and was up early to speak in the morning services today.  Today I FORCED myself to stay awake. 

I popped some Melatonin about 5 minutes ago and am now just waiting for it to kick in.  In fact...I feel...that I could...fall asleep...any...

Wow, that was a close one.  These pills are powerful.  All natural, yet powerful.  I'll suck it up long enough to finish this post strong.  After all, Paul finished well, Judas didn't finish well, Jesus finished well.  My country didn't send me here to start this race, but to finish it.  Okay, now I'm trying too hard.

So, with that said, I'm out...literally.

This Week in the Philippines

I'm pumped about my trip to the Philippines.  Tomorrow I leave for the airport right after the second service.  If you're in the 11.00 service and feel like I've rushed out, it's not because I don't want to talk to you.  I don't want to miss my flight!

I'll actually arrive Monday night.  My dad is already there.  The two of us will be teaching at a gathering of ministers that starts Monday night (not much sleep for me)!

I'm posting our teaching schedule so that if you check into the blog this week you'll remember to pray for us. 

Sunday and Monday: Travel

Monday: Evening Service

Tuesday: AM Church Planting Session 1; Evening Service

Wednesday: AM Church Planting Session 2; Bible School Graduation Service

Thursday: AM Church Planting Session 3; Evening Service

Friday: Travel back to Manilla

Saturday: Travel back to Michigan

Sunday: Teach at the best church in the world (COTK)!  I've heard that jet-lag makes you preach better.  You're not going to want to miss this one!

If you're willing to pray for us, here are a few prayer points to remember:

• Pray for safe travel
• Pray for God to give us favor with each pastor and Bible College student
• Pray for our teaching to be simple, challenging and inspiring
• Pray for God to impart vision and faith into each person attending the services
• Pray for long-lasting results

Aside from the teaching (which I always love to do), and hanging with current and future church planters (which I also always love to do), I'm stoked to spend a week tag-teaming with my dad.  I expect to come away with some fantastic memories.