I had the privilege of speaking at the Nines conference on the topic of health in ministry. That got me thinking that I needed to re-post something I wrote right after my surgery 4 months ago. My hope in re-posting this is that it may challenge someone to take a step toward physical health.
FROM MAY 17th, 2011
I want to thank all of you that have been praying for me. In case you were not aware, I had a recent physical (which I passed with flying colors), but kind of in passing, my Dr. suggested I have a Cardiac Calcium Score test done. I had never heard of this test before, but I figured, I may as well make an appointment. The test took 5 minutes and cost $99. The lower the score the better. Unfortunately for me, my score was high.
I was then sent to a cardiologist who scheduled me to have a heart cath done this past Monday. The idea was, if the cath showed no sign of any plaque build-up, I would be given a clear bill of health, if not they would install a stent in my arteries. Unfortunately I had 2 blockages (1 was 80% blocked, and the other was 75% blocked), so they put in 2 stents.
The surgery took about 3 hours, and other than me keep waking up and having to get more anesthesia, it was pretty easy. I stayed overnight at the hospital, and will have to take it easy for a week, but then I can resume my regular pace.
I am thankful that my Dr. recommended the test. Keep in mind that I am not overweight, don't smoke or drink and exercise regularly. My cholesterol is just slightly above normal, I don't have high blood pressure and eat pretty well. I had no symptoms of any sort. Not even during strenuous exercise. That's pretty scary.
Here is what I am hoping this post will do. I hope you ask your Dr. about scheduling to have this test done, and get it done. If everything is clear, you're only out $99, and you have some peace of mind. If not, then maybe you can catch a possible heart condition before something tragic happens.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
least likely
When you read the scripture, you notice a recurring theme; Jesus always gravitated towards the least likely people. One great example of this is found in John 4 when He encounters the Samaritan woman. Jesus broke through the cultural taboos by speaking to a woman, and not just any woman, but a Samaritan woman. In that culture this was totally unacceptable. In fact it surprised the woman when He struck up a conversation.
The woman had been divorced 5 times and was living with her boyfriend. She carried the social stigma of her past mistakes, and yet Jesus reached out to her and offered her living water. In verse 26 He tells her that He is the Messiah. She is so overwhelmed that she leaves her water jar, and goes into the town telling everyone about her encounter. The result..... Spiritual awakening happens throughout the city.
I believe that if the Church in America is ever going to see spiritual awakening like that, it's going to take all of us that have had encounters with Jesus to go back into our cities and introduce people to the Savior.
I am thankful every time I think that God would use a "least likely" like me to tell others about Jesus. Let's keep on proclaiming His name everywhere we go!
The woman had been divorced 5 times and was living with her boyfriend. She carried the social stigma of her past mistakes, and yet Jesus reached out to her and offered her living water. In verse 26 He tells her that He is the Messiah. She is so overwhelmed that she leaves her water jar, and goes into the town telling everyone about her encounter. The result..... Spiritual awakening happens throughout the city.
I believe that if the Church in America is ever going to see spiritual awakening like that, it's going to take all of us that have had encounters with Jesus to go back into our cities and introduce people to the Savior.
I am thankful every time I think that God would use a "least likely" like me to tell others about Jesus. Let's keep on proclaiming His name everywhere we go!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
random thoughts
* Sunday was phenomenal at Foothills Community Church. The best part was that 37 people at the Seneca campus and 2 people from the Toccoa campus gave their lives to Jesus!!
* It was great having Joy Hunnicut back with us.
* David Odom and his team brought it on Sunday (as usual). Seriously, we have the best worship team in the Country!
* We will be wrapping up the Stranger Than Fiction series this Sunday. It has been a lot of fun. This week we will talk about what to do when your world falls apart. You do not want to miss it.
* On October the 2nd we will start a brand new message series called, How To Avoid A Family Wipeout. This series will be the best time to invite someone to church. There will be topics that everyone will be able to relate to.
* I am excited about a conference next week called, The Nines. It has a unique format, with lots of speakers throughout the day, each given 5 minutes to talk. It's all free and it's all online. By the way, I will be one of the speakers!
* Don't forget about Party In The Pasture on October 2nd at our Seneca campus at 4:00pm. This is a community event with giant inflatables for the kids, Lawnmower races, food, a concert and Baptisms!! Invite EVERYONE!
* It was great having Joy Hunnicut back with us.
* David Odom and his team brought it on Sunday (as usual). Seriously, we have the best worship team in the Country!
* We will be wrapping up the Stranger Than Fiction series this Sunday. It has been a lot of fun. This week we will talk about what to do when your world falls apart. You do not want to miss it.
* On October the 2nd we will start a brand new message series called, How To Avoid A Family Wipeout. This series will be the best time to invite someone to church. There will be topics that everyone will be able to relate to.
* I am excited about a conference next week called, The Nines. It has a unique format, with lots of speakers throughout the day, each given 5 minutes to talk. It's all free and it's all online. By the way, I will be one of the speakers!
* Don't forget about Party In The Pasture on October 2nd at our Seneca campus at 4:00pm. This is a community event with giant inflatables for the kids, Lawnmower races, food, a concert and Baptisms!! Invite EVERYONE!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Sunday review
Awesome day at Foothills Community church on Sunday. There were so many great moments, i don't have time to list them all, but here are few that come to mind:
* It was extremely moving to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. Bill Swindle did an incredible job on that song!
* The attendance once again on both campuses continues to climb.
* Our Toccoa campus had their highest non-holiday attendance of the year!!
* We continue to have so many first-time guests. Sometimes I wonder, where are all of these people coming from?
* Our Student ministry, Thrive has been seeing teenagers come to Christ every week. Wow, I love to hear that!
* We had 61 people attend our Get In The Game class on Sunday afternoon! Leading that class is one of my favorite things to do. There were several people that came to Foothills for the first time on Sunday and then came back for the class!!
* I am very excited about this Sunday. I cannot wait to share what God has laid on my heart.
* Joy Hunnicut will also be back with us singing with our Worship Team.
* The band will be doing a feature song that will bring the house down, so be ready!
* I love the staff I get to work with. These guys and gals are AWESOME!
* I am looking forward to the Party In The Pasture coming up on October 2nd. (see the video below) Let's invite every single person in the community to this event!
* On October 2nd we will also be starting a new series called Avoiding a Family Wipeout. INVITE everyone!
* It was extremely moving to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. Bill Swindle did an incredible job on that song!
* The attendance once again on both campuses continues to climb.
* Our Toccoa campus had their highest non-holiday attendance of the year!!
* We continue to have so many first-time guests. Sometimes I wonder, where are all of these people coming from?
* Our Student ministry, Thrive has been seeing teenagers come to Christ every week. Wow, I love to hear that!
* We had 61 people attend our Get In The Game class on Sunday afternoon! Leading that class is one of my favorite things to do. There were several people that came to Foothills for the first time on Sunday and then came back for the class!!
* I am very excited about this Sunday. I cannot wait to share what God has laid on my heart.
* Joy Hunnicut will also be back with us singing with our Worship Team.
* The band will be doing a feature song that will bring the house down, so be ready!
* I love the staff I get to work with. These guys and gals are AWESOME!
* I am looking forward to the Party In The Pasture coming up on October 2nd. (see the video below) Let's invite every single person in the community to this event!
* On October 2nd we will also be starting a new series called Avoiding a Family Wipeout. INVITE everyone!
Party in the Pasture! from Foothills Community Church on Vimeo.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Sunday review
Sunday was another fantastic day at Foothills Community Church. Just when it seems that it can't get any better, it does!
* Adam Courtney was back as our guest worship leader. Not only is he a great worship leader, he is a great guy.
* David Odom will be back leading worship this weekend. I can't wait to see what they have put together to remember 9/11.
* I can't remember having so many people connect with a message as they did on Sunday. We talked about breaking free from the things that hold us captive.
* As I was preparing for the message, God showed me some really cool things from the scripture that I think resonated with our folks.
* Both of our campuses are experiencing an incredible awakening! it is so much fun to be a part of that.
* Looking forward to catching up with some Pastor friends this week!
* College football season is in full swing. I am really happy about that.
* Archery season opens up in 9 days. I really like that too!
* This Sunday at Foothills it is going to be awesome. Start thinking about who you can bring with you.
* Our children's ministry aka Kidzone is exploding right now. I don't think most people really have a clue what goes on in the kids area while we are in the main auditorium. All most of us see are the game room or big playscape, but that is just a way to draw kids in. What really makes the difference is what is happening in each of the rooms. Kids are learning about Jesus in an age-appropriate environment. We hear stories ever single week from parents whose children come home and can share with them exactly what they learned, and begin to live it out.
* Don't forget about the next Get In The Game class THIS SUNDAY at 12:30pm in the small auditorium. There will be free food and childcare. We will have you out of there by 2:30pm. It's not too late to come. just go here and register.
* Adam Courtney was back as our guest worship leader. Not only is he a great worship leader, he is a great guy.
* David Odom will be back leading worship this weekend. I can't wait to see what they have put together to remember 9/11.
* I can't remember having so many people connect with a message as they did on Sunday. We talked about breaking free from the things that hold us captive.
* As I was preparing for the message, God showed me some really cool things from the scripture that I think resonated with our folks.
* Both of our campuses are experiencing an incredible awakening! it is so much fun to be a part of that.
* Looking forward to catching up with some Pastor friends this week!
* College football season is in full swing. I am really happy about that.
* Archery season opens up in 9 days. I really like that too!
* This Sunday at Foothills it is going to be awesome. Start thinking about who you can bring with you.
* Our children's ministry aka Kidzone is exploding right now. I don't think most people really have a clue what goes on in the kids area while we are in the main auditorium. All most of us see are the game room or big playscape, but that is just a way to draw kids in. What really makes the difference is what is happening in each of the rooms. Kids are learning about Jesus in an age-appropriate environment. We hear stories ever single week from parents whose children come home and can share with them exactly what they learned, and begin to live it out.
* Don't forget about the next Get In The Game class THIS SUNDAY at 12:30pm in the small auditorium. There will be free food and childcare. We will have you out of there by 2:30pm. It's not too late to come. just go here and register.
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