Preaching @ Living Grace Church

I get the wonderful opportunity to preach several weeks at Living Grace Church here in Campbellsville. 

Living Grace is a 6 year old church.  While it is young in years, their ministry is far reaching in this community and to the surrounding counties.  They have a passion for thinking, creating, and bringing the message of Christ to this area, but doing so in methods that are out of the box.  Their worship is contemporary and fully embraces the creative arts, which I like. 

I am really looking forward to these four weeks (November 9, 16, 30, December 6).  There might be more in December, but we shall see how this first round goes.

Ethan Turns 1

Today, October 29, 2008, is Ethan Cade Garrison’s first birthday.  He was born Monday, October 29th, 2007, at the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Erlanger, KY.  He weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. (if my memory is right).  Here are two of his first pictures.

And here is our little E-bird now.

Happy 1st Birthday Little Son.  We are so thankful God gave you to us.

Teacher Training at PBC

I got the wonderful opportunity to teach some teachers on Saturday.  I was invited by Pastors Andrew Dyer and Brandon Carrier of Pioneer Baptist Church in Harrodsburg, KY, to come and lead a session for their Bible study teachers.  While our numbers were few, I believe the teachers in the group really learned more about their ministry within the church.

It is always great to get out into the local church and equip the saints for the work of ministry.

Speed Racers

While at Nana & Papaw’s, Isaac braved a whole new world of THE HILL.  Enjoy the videos of his courageous adventures.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Museum

Memorial Pool

Our second Atlanta family stop was the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Museum.  We visited the church where Dr. King served for 8 years as Associate Pastor, under his father Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr., the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. 

I learned he received his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology.  Wow!!!  We saw pictures of the other churches he served as a Baptist pastor. 

But more importantly, we saw the history of one of America’s greatest men.  His legacy is more than inspirational; it’s revolutionary.  His committment to Christ and to his fellow man led him to go farther than any other civil rights leader. 

What it would have been like to live in those days of hatred and segregation?  I am so thankful for men like Dr. King and so many others who fought hard to make America a better place for ALL PEOPLE.

Isaac for President…or Fire Chief

For President

For Fire Chief

The World of Coca Cola Museum

Our first Atlanta family spot: The World of Coca Cola Museum.  I visited the old museum back in 1996.  Last year they built a brand new building with much better exhibits.  Here are some pics.

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Watch Ethan dance to the Coca Cola music.

My Team Members

A few have asked me “Who works in the CU School of Theology?”  Well, here are my teammates.

http://www.campbellsville.edu/academics/theology/faculty.asp

Faculty Approved!!!

This afternoon the faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary approved my dissertation title!!!  Thank You Lord. This is the final hurdle (not huddle) to jump so that I can actually begin my research project.  There were no questions or alterations to my research proposal.  I got the green light.

I am very excited to get through this step, but now starts the REAL PART – getting 10 to 15 Baptist colleges to complete my survey.  Yikes.

Think Again – November 15

CU is hosting a youth ministry conference Saturday, November 15, called Think Again.  I will be one of the two speakers.   The day will include a 2 hour Youth Ministry conference, a tail gate party, ticket to the football game, and a free book.  If you are interested, you can go to www.kybaptist.org/thinkagain.

The event got some press this week:
http://www.campbellsville.edu/news/2008/10_21a.asp

Back from ATL

I am back from ATL and feeling great.  The NAPCE conference was outstanding.  I learned a ton.  We also got to do some fun family outings.  We went to the Coca-Cola Museum, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Museum, the Atlanta Underground and historic Grant Park.  I will be adding pictures later this week.  (Jennifer has the camera in Williamsburg.  She and the boys are staying with her parents for a few days.)

On Sunday, we worshipped with 3000 others at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA.  Great experience.  Amazing worship.  Great preaching by Jeff Henderson.

But I am back in the office with a pile of work to get through.  It is always nice to get away and be encouraged, but when you get back, you workload seems to be immense.  Get focused.  I must get focused.

NAPCE 2008

I will be attending the North American Professors of Christian Education (NAPCE) conference as part of my fall break.  This is the first time I get to hang out with others who are professional scholars in my discipline.  Many of them are my former teachers and professors from Southwestern and Southern.

I am very excited to get to learn and be challenged.  Also to learn more about the profession of professor. 

In hindsight, I am still surprised that I ended up teaching Christian Education.  Sure I have a bachelors, a masters and nearly a doctorate in Christian Education, but is still surprises me that God maneuvered me in this direction.  I always envisioned myself as a theologian and biblicist, working with the original languages, preaching and expositing God’s Word, but that isn’t what God had in store.  At every turn, God opened up another door in Christian education and practical ministry leadership.

But what a journey it has been.  Serving on 4 church staffs (never as the preaching pastor), Christian school administrator, training Bible study teachers, doing youth and children’s ministry, planning mission trips, organizing outreach events, developing visual arts and music, and trying to equip the saints for the work of ministry.  All in all, Christian education is a lot of fun.

Preaching @ CBC Pt. 2

It was a great honor to break God’s word yesterday at Campbellsville Baptist Church.  I shared with both services my story of going to JC Penney to buy a new sport coat.  They laughed loudly.  But then after both services, everyone kept coming up to me, looking at my coat asking if this was the JC Penney special.  Some asked if I was going to take the jacket back.  It was a big funny.

Everyone was so kind to me.  I had a lot of fun.  It was a bit nerve-racking preaching to folks I barely knew who are becoming our new church family, but God truly worked in our midst.

I think the message went well.  It will be available to watch and listen online in a few days.  I will post the link when it comes available.

Thanks CBC for making me feel so welcome.  Jennifer and I hope to join in a couple weeks.

Preaching @ CBC

My last post was about our new church home, Campbellsville Baptist Church.  Well, today the craziest thing happened.  I was watching marching bands at a local band competition (Taylor County Band Festival) when Jennifer came rushing up with the boys.  I had gone to the competition alone.  The family was going to join me for the finals later that evening.

She told me that our pastor, Dr. Skip Alexander, was stuck in San Jose, Costa Rica.  Pastor Skip has been on a week long mission trip in Costa Rica leading a pastor’s conference and now couldn’t get home to preach on Sunday.  He called to ask me if I could fill in on short notice.

So I left the band competition, came home, prepared my message, and waited to get another phone call from Pastor Skip.  While we were waiting, Jennifer says, “Do you have anything to wear tomorrow?”  Earlier in the week, she taken 15 of my shirts and 5 pairs of slacks to the dry cleaners.  They wouldn’t be finished until Monday.  I had one pair of khaki slacks and one dress shirt, but no suits.

Off to JC Penny we go to get a sport coat.  CBC has a contemporary and traditional worship service.  For the traditional service, a coat and tie are absolutely necessary.  With a new blazer in tow, I had everything I needed to be presentable for Sunday.

Here is the funny thing.  Jennifer and I were going to go forward tomorrow to join the church.  I guess we will wait a week till Pastor Skip returns.

Paul instructs us to be “always be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have in Christ Jesus” and to “preach in and out of season.”  I guess I will get that honor tomorrow for the first time at our new church.

SOT Houseboat Party 3

Part of the annual CU Homecoming events is the School of Theology (SOT) Houseboat Party on Green River Lake.  It is a gathering of alumni, faculty, and current students which eat, cruise, and mingle to meet one of our school core values: To Be Partners in Enduring Fellowship.  Here are some pics.

Houseboat Party

Our Dean, Dr. John Hurtgen and the SOT First Lady, Mrs. Pam

My job was to (1) take pictures of all the guests, (2) help with the little game show program we put together,  and (3) meet our great alumni, which I am one of.  I had a great time.

Three Steps to Mommy

Yes, I did it!!!

Ethan, our little son, our E-Bird, my Pumpkin, our soon-to-be 1 year old (whaaahhhhh), took his first steps last night. 

Jennifer and I were sitting across from each other on the floor and Ethan was crawling back in forth.  I picked him up and led him to go back to Jennifer. 

And then it happened.  He let go of my hands, steadied his 20 lb. body, and took three steps right into her arms.  Then we squealed and hugged him.  We are so proud.

Learning to walk could not have come at a better time.  He is starting to get really heavy.

Special Guests: Tims, Gaddis & Carrier

Rob Tims

My dear friend, colleague, and fellow cohort member, Mr. Rob Tims, came up from Nashville to teach my graduate youth ministry class yesterday.  It was great to see him in dialogue with my students and hear him share about the changes in youth ministry today.  I was challenged to reconsider how I need to prepare future youth ministers and pastors in regards to the youth culture.

Nathan & Bethany Gaddis

Next week Nathan and Bethany Gaddis will be special guests in my classes.  Nathan is my former roommate and long-time friend.  He currently serves as a the creative arts pastor at FBC Naples, FL.  I can’t wait to hear what he has to say to my students about megachurch ministry and the modern youth worship movement.

Brandon Carrier

Finally, later in October, my dearst and best friend (besides my wife) the good and right reverend Brandon Tiberius Carrier will be sharing with all my classes.  He is currently serving as the associate pastor of Pioneer Bapt. Church in Harrodsburg, KY.  He is going to teaching how to expositionally teach the bible to teenagers for my youth class and how to prepare discipleship material for my edu. ministry class.

The month of October is filled with special guests, friends, and great opportunities to learn new things.