It's Been Too Long

Hey Everyone...

WOW …it has been way too long since I have posted anything on my blog! For that I want to sincerely apologize.

It is has been a fun and crazy summer. I spent two weeks on a mission trip to Juarez, MX with 26 wonderful people. It was an awesome experience that challenged us beyond our wildest imaginations. But God is so great! He saw us through every step and enabled us to accomplish one of the toughest builds that Lone Tree Missions has ever attempted.

At Journey we are about to wrap up our Summer Worship Experience. It was a great success and we are going to celebrate it with worship around a campfire, a BBQ and lots and lots of S’mores! That’s tomorrow night and I can’t wait!

There is so much more that I want to share with you, lots of exciting stuff on the horizon for Journey. So…that should help me blog more often. Thanks for not giving up on me.

…Bob

Still Buzzing

God really rocked my world at Buzz 07. It's been just 24 hours since I returned from Washington, DC and I'm still "Buzzing". This conference was jam packed with gems that stretched me professionally and personally. I have to say that Buzz was even better than I anticipated and I know that Matthew and I will be digesting it for some time.
I was totally blessed by the the Buzz staff from NCC, what an amazing group of people, they really made us feel at home. In fact, the staff at NCC and their volunteers are one of the highlights of my visit to DC. Thanks Everyone!
I'll be sure to share more later as I digest all that God is doing in me through this life changing experience.

His agent for change,

Bob

Transformers

What an awesome day! On Sunday, June 24th, Journey concluded it's Transformers series by making an impact on our community. We began the day with praise and worship and ended with shopping and a BBQ.
The focus of the day was to live the message we had been hearing and the people of Journey really came through. They were challenged to go shopping at a local grocery store to buy food for the John Knox food bank. They were dismissed from "church" at the time that I would normally preach a 23 - 30 min message and were sent out to "be the church and live the sermon" instead.
The results were beyond our expectation. As people began to return we saw waves and waves of food being brought, sorted and ready to be delivered. We were able to fill a 6 x 12 trailer, front to back and about 3 feet high with nonperishable food and personal items for those in need within our community. We delivered the trailer full of goodies on Monday morning and were greeted with smiling faces and many thanks for Cindy and Shirley, the directors of the John Knox food pantry.

Way to Go Journey! You have been Transformed and have become Transformers!

Bob

Juarez is Just Around the Corner

Hey Everyone...

I'm sorry it has been so long between blogs. I have been busy getting Journey ready for their next mission trip. That's right, I said next! We are still a young church and I am so proud to say that we are about to embark on our second mission trip. Our first was last January when we sent several people to New Orleans to help with the rebuilding effort.

Now, we are just 3 weeks away from sending 28 people (students and adults) to Juarez to build a house for a needy family. We have been real busy raising the $21,000 dollars that it takes to accomplish this 2 week trip. And the end is in sight!

Please keep this team in your prayers as they make the final preparations for this Journey of a Life Time!

Happy to be back in the blogospher,

Bob

Refreshing

Last week was totally amazing! Matthew Starner (Journey's Director of Worship and Arts) and I attend a leadership retreat with some old friends (and new) who are part of a youth ministry network. The topic of discussion focused on staying relevant in ministry. The reality is it doesn't matter if you are a youth pastor or a lead pastor, a director of worship or kids ministry, we can learn from one another and encourage each other as we strive to help others take their next step toward Christ.

The discussions we shared as a whole group and the individual conversations were refreshing, vitalizing and just down right fun. It is so great to be among a group of people who share your passion and encourage you to think outside the box and believe that no dream is impossible for God.

The company and topic of the retreat were not the only thing that was great. We stayed at an amazing place called "The Rock of Ages" This incredible 13 bedroom home right on Lake Eire is incredible. Just being there made it possible to relax and enjoy a few days to recoup and re-energize for ministry. I totally understand why Jesus would take his disciples away from time to time and why Peter, James and John wanted to stay on that mountain with Jesus. It was a lot nicer than a tent at Rock of Ages, and I could have just stayed awhile.

I pray that you and your family have a chance to get some mountain top time this summer. Time to relax, recoup and get energized for ministry. Expect that in the midst of your moment...Jesus will show up and encourage you as you live for him.

Journey On!

Bob

Seize the Moment

Most of us live as if we have all the time in the world. We let days, weeks and months go by without a second thought. We often put off until tomorrow that opportunity to visit family or a friend. We have been meaning to pick up the phone and call someone we love but we figure it can wait another day.

If there is anything that I have learned from the events of the last few months in my life or the events of this last week at Virgina Tech, it is this:

“Make the most of every opportunity, because we really never know how much time we have to enjoy the family and friends that God has blessed us with. Make the most of every opportunity to touch someone’s life and heart with the love of Christ. Always be willing and ready to help someone take their next step toward Jesus!

The time is now, today, this moment! Seize it and make it last!

Making the most of every moment with you,

Bob

In Loving Memory of Wayne Hughes

Sorry it has been so long since my last post. Things have been a little out of balance for me and my family since my Nephew Wayne was killed. Bellow is a poem that my Nephew David wrote in memory of Wayne. He shared this at Wayne's memorial and I thought that I would post it here for everyone to enjoy.

<Dear Heavenly Father,

Today were here to celebrate the life of our beloved brother,
You made only one, he’s not like another

A smile from cheek to cheek, with a Mohawk to go
God were going to miss him, take care of our bro

Please let him know that we’ll miss him so dear
But were doing alright, we’ll be OK. Down here

Show him around in your heavenly glory,
I’m sure he’ll tell you 5 or 6 stories

I'm sure He’ll love to see his dad,
And walk and talk where nothing is bad

And get a chance to be like father and son
Where every moment he fills like he’s won

A perfect place where there,s no more pain
Where there's nothing to lose and everything to gain

I’m a little jealous God that he gets to see you first
But I'm glad he lives in a world with no anger or hurt

Lord can I ask you just a little favor
Give him a mansion with Ferrari of his flavor

He lived in a small place his entire life
Give his something big, to imaginable for sight

But don’t let him get too spoiled peeling out on your streets of gold
If he get to careless give him a beat up olds

No I'm just kidding God, give him the best
And let him know we’ll see him someday, as we lay him down to rest

Thank you God for hearing our prayer
Take care of our bro up there

Wayne we all love you and miss you lots
You ll never be forgotten
Your legacy runs through your daughter
Give your dad Walter a great big hug for us
Till we see you heaven

Amen