The Dance

During the last three months I have had the privilege of stepping away from ministry to allow the Lord to minister to me. I am so blessed to have leadership around me that supported me and allowed God to use them to not only continue the vision but to be living proof that we are not the stars but we are living to shine the spotlight on the STAR!!!

The three months were known to others as a sabbatical, but to me I call them The Dance. I have been so blessed to meet so many wonderful people and to go to some many different parts of the country and world. During this time I have tried to take each day one at time and to enjoy each and every opportunity to get to know new people.

Recently I went to Honduras, (actually I spent a total of 23 days in this beautiful country), to be part of a crusade with Brother Harold Coomer, Jimmy Usher and Bishop Karockas Watkins. During our time there we held a crusade in Choloma, a growing city in Honduras. Both nights there were over 20,000 people who attended. I watched as they walked (many walked several miles), drove cars, rode bikes, took taxis and and the majority rode on one of the 60 buses that were used for the crusade. I witnessed many who came in wheelchairs or on crutches. I was amazed at the desire and determination they had to be a part of this crusade.

Once there they then stood for hours. They stood and waited. They stood and worshiped. They stood and prayed. They stood and Danced!! They had came for one purpose and one purpose only, they believed that Jesus was going to be at the crusade and they wanted to come and Dance with Him. They knew if they could just get close enough He would dance with them and that they could find healing in Him. They could find hope. And for at least a little while they could find happiness and joy in a place that offers very little of either. They just wanted to dance with the Lord Of The Dance.

Oh that we all would long to get that close. That we would be willing walk, drive, or crawl because we trust that He is able to bring wholeness into our live. That we would trust that the music is still playing and He is calling us to dance.

As the sabbatical comes to an end, I pray that I never forget the many people and places I encountered along the way. But the most important lesson I learned was we all need rest every once in a while, but we all called to come and DANCE.

Keep Dancing,

Pastor Ed

Life is A Story

During the past few weeks I have been reminded of how different and yet how alike each of us are. I have had the opportunity to meet with a few old friends and make a few new ones. In each conversation I am reminded that we all have a story to tell. Our lives are filled with with moments that when captured are full of potential.

I spent a week with a dear friend, Jimmy Usher. Jimmy is more than a friend he is more like my spiritual father. He helps to bring balance into my life. Jimmy is a storyteller and a master at putting just the right words together. Jimmy is currently writing the story of Charlie Smith's life. Charlie started Heart to Honduras and was a very interesting and challenging man. To listen to Jimmy tell stories of Charlie's life puts you right there as if you were sitting with Charlie. When you lose yourself in the life of a story you know that you are in the presence of a great storyteller.

This reminds me that Jesus was a great story teller. He had a way of taking the normal everyday object and using it to show you things about your life that you never knew. He could stoop down in the dirt and with his finger just write and let a lady, who others found despicable, feel as if her life was of value. That is what I love about Jesus, He wants us to know that we are of value. He wants us to know that our life and our story matter. That to tell our story helps to bring healing into our lives and let's others see how our lives can be redeemed.

God is not into the manufacturing business, He is in the masterpiece profession. The Bible tells us that we are "fearful and wonderfully made", and that we are "His workmanship (His poem, novel)". Each story or life is handcrafted and when we let Him, God shapes and forms and makes us into someone we never thought we could be. God has given each of us an opportunity to live out our story and in days to come to tell our story so that others will see where we were and where we are now. And as others see where we are we can tell them that we heard the Great Story and we let our story join His Story and the rest is history.

It has been said, "How fearful and wonderful are man's terrible and glorious capacities and possibilites...It is said that every man's life contains sufficient material for a great novel." May others read your story and find it filled with chapters of grace and mercy.

Mushrooms, Car Salesman and Angels

So the time of rest and travel has begun. I am so thankful for the leadership and people of CrossRoads for allowing me this time to be away. I believe that this time will be spent reconnecting, refreshing, and renewing my life.

What I am looking most forward too is meeting new people along the way. I believe that we all have a story that we are waiting to tell. Our story of where we have been, we are now and where we believe we are going. As we say at CrossRoads, we all have either been, are now or will be at at crossroads. A place where our story has converged. A place where we ask what is next and which road must I choose that will lead to life change.

Over the last week I have the opportunity to meet many people who have been at this crossroad. I have met a car salesman named Mac who has been blessed by God to bless others. He uses his business as a front for ministry. His office is more than a place to finalize a deal, it is a place intended on finalizing a decision to simply follow.

I met a pastor by the name of Jerry who God is using to bring life change to a small community in Alabama. He has seen the church grow from 60 to 2000 in a little over 8 years. His story of Life Change once again encouraged me and reminded me that God is going to use CrossRoads to make a difference in our city, county, state and around the world. God used Jerry to make sure that CrossRaods willingness to serve Haiti was accomplished. He personally saw too it that the gift Crossroads sent was in the hands of Operation Compassion. Thanks Jerry!

I met a number of waitresses that reminded once again that we are called to serve. I was graciously served by Erin, Samantha, Genise, Brittany and Mallory, as well as James at my favorite spot Starbucks. Each one reminded me that life takes us down different roads, but we get the most out of life when we put others before ourselves. Thanks to the angels that where sent to serve.

I believe in God meetings. The times when all you can say is, "This is a God thing!" That is what I felt when a met Mark and Diane Holman. The couple in the picture above. While eating at Chili's they overhead me mention Bardstown, KY and that led to a great conversation and a story of God's divine guidance and provision. They were from Bardstown but over the last year had moved to Alabama to work, Mark is a chemical plastic engineer and Diane had worked for the State tourism here in Kentucky. But while visiting the great city of Foley, AL, she came in contact with a pizza place called Mellow Mushroom. She fell in love with the pizza and the atmosphere and talk Mark into looking at the possibility of buying into the franchise. After a number of setbacks, they continued to wait on God's timing and while they waited they did not sit on their backsides, they put their faith in action and began to serve. They took their time of waiting an used it to serve the local body. One would prepare the meals and the other served the meals at the church. The body of Christ with flesh.

During this time God was at work, as He always is, preparing the right place for them to serve. So beginning last May the opened the one and only Mellow Mushroom Pizza place in Huntsville, AL. The place is amazing and the pizza is incredible. But pizza and other delicacies are only the resources that God is using to help Mark and Diane lead people to the one true Source. They are using the opportunity to serve pizza, as their way of serving their employees and their customers. God is using them big time to make His name known. Their story is amazing and is what I look forward to experiencing more of on this time away.

So today take a moment and look around you. You may see an angel dressed as a pizza delivery guy, a waitress or a car salesman. Take a moment and listen to their story, it might just make your day.

On Sabbatical to get Radical

Pastor Ed (TOGL)

A Time Of Refreshing

This week I am beginning my first ever Sabbatical. I am so blessed to have those in leadership around me who see the importance of this time away. 23 years of ministry have gone by pretty quick, as I know this time away will also, but I am looking forward to laying each day out before my Father and just saying whatever your will that is what I will do.

I have contemplated this time for a long while. Asking myself often what how I thought I would feel during this time away from the people I love and enjoy pastoring. I will say that I find myself a little nervous, not for the direction of the church or those left to serve, but because I know I will find myself wanting to drop by and say hello. I know for this to be productive for both me and the church I must find that temptation and find ways to rest.

So over the next 3 months I will be doing a little traveling. I am headed to Ohio, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. I am also going to be in Honduras and Nicaragua to be apart of a crusade in those to countries. I am also looking forward to spending some much needed time with my family. They truly are my first call in ministry.

I hope every person who reads this blog will also find the time to be still, to steal away to a quiet place and enter into His sabbath rest. Remember Sabbath was made for man not the other way around.

So now as the adventure begins please feel free to drop by anytime and check out the blog. See where God is taking me and also feel free to pray for me. I can always use prayer. May the refreshing begin.

Are You Ready To Rumble?

Today I am sitting in Morehead Kentucky preparing for the State General Assembly. The first one I have attended since moving back. I could state many reasons why I have not attended, but it will still come down to my lack of understanding of or wanting to participate in church politics.

How many people do you know that go to a hockey match to watch hockey? Aren't they secretly wanting a fight to break out. Or how many go to a Nascar event not hoping for a wreck, not that the wreck will hurt anyone, but will stir up the pot a little. That is how I feel coming to meetings like this.

In a place where we are suppose to be coming together to seek unity, not uniformity, it seems that some come looking for a fight or a wreck to happen. Is this really what we are called too? Aren't we called to look for every possible way to avoid a fight or a wreck? Are we not called to live at peace as much as it depends upon us? Are we not called to show that we are disciples by our love for one another?

I have often heard the statement made by those who were once in ministry, " I have gotten out of ministry so that I could be in ministry." They were tired of the fights and wrecks.

So I sit here wandering which should I do, go and sit and watch grown men and women wait in anticipation of a wreck or a fight or stay in my room and watch a Nascar race or a hockey match?

Not Created To Be A Cookie Cutter!

Today I have the opportunity to watch, listen and gain from some of the most gifted leaders in the nation. The Nines a project from Catalyst, an avenue for leaders.

I have been captivated with this statement, " To reach people no else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing." The thought continues to run through my mind, who are those not being reached and how can we reach them? I do not want to pastor a church that is cookie cutter. Why did Christ establish the Church? Are we called to feed one another or focus on those on are experiencing hunger pains? I believe that we are here to create a place, an environment where people are allowed to belong before they believe.

So how do we develop this culture? How do we approach those who have never heard of Jesus or experienced the church? If we serve the God of Creation, then we need to seek Him for creativity. I want a God idea not a good idea.

May we look to the God of uniqueness and creativity and not get boxed into the world of cookie cutters>

Another Year Begins

2009!!! How did you get here so quickly? Today I am at Asbury Seminary with Jimmy Usher on a retreat. I find that the word retreat is an interesting word. A word that means to fall back, to regroup. As Joanne and I finish our 7th year at CrossRoads I find myself wanting to regroup. I want to be clear on the direction of my life and the life of CrossRoads. I mean I know that I can't predict the future, but I want to be sure that I am headed in the right direction. I want to make sure that I am not a "hireling" but an "owner". An owner of what I say I believe, not someone who goes along with what others say they believe. I want to know what I believe.

2009 has so many uncertainties attached to it, an yet isn't that the way that all life is? I know that my thoughts are rambling, but I just have questions and I am searching. This past year has made me question some things I thought were stable/solid only to find out that sometimes what appears to be real can many time be an illusion. I see the lives of people around me, people I love changing. Please understand that I know change can be good and that change is healthy and inevitable, but some of the change is unnecessary and can and will bring pain that could be avoided. Why do we say we don't like pain and then do things that cause so much pain? 

Sometimes when you are playing a sport, whatever the sport may be, you lose the passion, the desire, the drive to keep playing or you just can't understand why you aren't succeeding the way you use to or want to now. When this happens it is time to retreat.  You have to stop and ask why did I begin to start playing in the first place? The answer: because it was fun, because I would spend time with those who were close to me, because I wanted to become better and help others enjoy the game, I just wanted to learn the basics of the game.  You have to find your center again.

2009 is my year of retreat, my year to step back and find my center again, to remember why I love this game so much, to redefine my skills, to pass on the knowledge of the game to the next generation, to find my center again, to allow the compass of my soul to direct me.

My favorite movie of all time is Mr. Holland's Opus. As he said in the movie, "I never signed up for this gig, but I love it." This year I don't want to star in my own movie, but to be a supporting cast member in the movies around me. Maybe this year is the year that I become more Coach and less player. May this year be filled with reflection, redirection, re dedication, renewal, retreating and revival.

It Has Been Awhile

Hard to believe it has been almost a year since I last posted a blog, how time flies. So much has happened and yet somethings stay the same. I find myself looking back at 22 years of being married to the love of my life and look in expectancy towards the coming years together. I have truly been blessed beyond what I could ever imagine. I know that to find a good wife is to make a man very blessed. I have realized in this last year that I have found my soul mate, my helpmate, and my checkmate. Thanks Jimmy for helping see this truth.

The past 18 years have gone by a little to quickly. I find it so hard to believe that Kassidee is 18 years old and six weeks from now will be stepping into a whole new way of life. She has had a great senior year. She had terrific season in basketball. She had two articles written about her in the local papers and even made the All-District Tournament Team and was named to Honorable Mention All-Region. She is playing softball, and even as I write this we are in Knoxville getting ready to watch her play in a tournament. She continues to play the bass in the church worship band and she thoroughly enjoys using her talents for the Lord. I know that the days are full of promise and I pray that as I look forward to the future that Kass will continue to grow in her walk.

And then there is Kristin Jo. Oh how she has grown! How she keeps becoming a very unique young lady whom I believe that God has His hand on and is going to use in amazing ways. This past year she too has excelled on the basketball court and the softball field. She started every game for her freshman team and led the team in scoring and she also started a few of the Junior Varsity and played in every game. I am so proud of her and I love her compassion. She is known as the church nanny. She loves little ones and they love her. She is doing so well in school and the teachers speak so highly of her. I affectionately call her "my favorite fifteen year old." I am truly blessed.

And finally there is the my best buddy Kaleb. He is eleven years old and growing like a weed. He is in he fifth grade and on the honor roll. He loves LEGOS and by saying loves that is an understatement. I tell him all the time he is my retirement, because he says he wants to be an architect when he grows up. The way he builds around our house I believe he is not far off. He loves to play baseball and more importantly he loves just being a boy. I thank God almost daily for allowing me the opportunity to be his dad.

I don't want to wait so long to post again, but for now I feel like I have just kind of caught up. I want to learn to do as the Word says "make the most of each day." Jesus said I have came that you might have life (ZOE) a full life. May it be said when I have been tied back up, that he lived a full life.

It Is Time

Solomon wrote, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." As you can see from the photos above on our recent trip to Honduras there was a time for work. We spent one morning painting, screening windows and other touch up work on this "house." This is the dairy farm house for the ministry. There are currently 18 cows and one very lucky bull. The milk that is produce is currently given to 2 schools in the area. The group worked very hard and I believed felt very fulfilled with accomplishing this task.

There is another place in scripture that says "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you." Sometimes the breaking up of the hard ground can be hard work and it can also be painful. So it is also with our spiritual hard ground, better know as hardness of heart. We would rather throw seed out and hope it produces a harvest, than to prepare the ground for the seed and wait for the harvest. I am learning that it takes some time to reap the harvest and that I don't always like the breaking up of the hard ground. I remember watching my grandpa plow up his garden. It seemed to me it took forever. He went over and over the same spot. I didn't realize at the time that some places had gotten pretty hard so they took a little more attention, not less, a little more breaking up. But once those spots were broken they were ready for planting. Perhaps that what we need to remember, the places that need the most attention are usually the hard spots of our lives, the places we would rather avoid. But if we are ever going to produce a bountiful harvest these places are going to have to be broken up.

I didn't have the vision to see ripe tomatoes or full ears of corn in those hard spots, but my grandpa did. I know there are times when I don't see all that I can be, but I sure am glad that my Father does. So the time is now to allow the hard ground to be plowed by the Holy Spirit. So now is the time to seek the Master Gardener so that he can come and rain on me and the harvest can be abundant.

Days Of Refreshing

There is nothing like jumping into cold water on a hot day or a cool breeze that comes at just the right time. So it is with the Spirit of God. I am constantly amazed at how God sends those times of refreshing just when we need them the most. In the Book of Acts chapter 3:19-20 it says "Repent therefore and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord..." When I read this passage, I am confronted with the fact that perhaps there are times in my life that I am holding back the winds of refreshing. I am keeping myself from the presence of the Lord. He is so willing and ready to send the refreshing rains, so I must prepare myself to receive them by repenting and turning back to Him. The repentance is not always that of immorality, but of neglect. Neglect for the Word and Prayer, which in both cases keep me out of His presence and He out of mine. When I view this picture I know that it took some effort to get on top of this rock, but once I jumped in, it was refreshing to my flesh. I want to continually remind myself that the effort I exert to get into God's presence will be even more refreshing to my soul. I pray that each of you jump into God's presence today and that you experience a great time of refreshing.

Hello From Honduras

What a wonderful trip we had to Honduras. We experienced the power of God in many ways. The picture above is the waterfall at Pulapunsalk. We had an amazing experience as we went through and behind the falls. Each team member was amazed at the power of the falls and the cave that they encountered behind the falls. Truly an amazing work of God. We spent 4 days in Canchias painting and touring the village. We were able to be part of an awesome worship experience with the discipleship students. The students are truly a gift from God and I treasure the time we get to spend with them. We spent our final 3 days with our sister church in Siquatepeque. Pastor Arlin and his wife Linette are doing a great work there. They too are in the Barbarian Way. I hope to post more photos for you to see our experience. An experience that was filled with much laughter as well as many tears. Thank you to everyone who prayed for us, please know that you presence was felt. Blessings.

Another Day Closer

This beautiful young lady is my daughter Kass. I am continually amazed at how grown up she is. She is so excited about the upcoming trip. There is still much to do before we leave. Bags to pack, knick-knacks to buy, malaria pills to take, not mention 4 ballgames to play in. Not enough time to sit and rest.

Next week is my favorite week of the year. The Passion Week. To think that Jesus was so passionate about me that He would step into my world and show me what it is to love. Philippians 2 is my favorite chapter in all of scripture. The ultimate display of what it is to be a barbarian. To do what no one had done or will ever do again. To bridge a gap that only he could bridge. To give up his live that I might know life, what passion. I long to have the same kind of passion for him, as well as others. To understand what he meant when the scripture says, "that now he should them the full extent of his love for them." He came to show us what it is to passionately serve others. To have his mind.

I believe that is why I love Honduras and its people so much. Their first thought is to serve. To give. To love. All unconditionally. Even though they are poor in the material, they teach me every time what it is to be rich in the spirit. That is what I pray for Kass. That she will realize how blessed she is, but at the same time see in the Hondurans something that is missing and begin a search. Like the tracks that she is standing on I pray that the trax that she begins over the next few weeks will lead her into a deeper relationship with the one who, "being in the very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasp, but made himself nothing." May your relationship grow deeper as you track on. Be blessed barbarians!!!

Georgetown 96-UNC 84 The Basketball Season Comes To An End

First let me say thank you to all who called with there condolences. Hard to believe that a basketball team losing or winning would cause so many people to think of you. But win or lose Carolina is still on my mind. But thanks again to all of you who have kept me humble and remember you don't have to wait until the end of basketball season to call.

Hard to believe that we are less than two weeks from doing something that puts life in perspective. I, along with 11 others from CrossRoads will be heading to Honduras for a short term mission trip. I believe that this will be an eye opening adventure many who are going. I am especially excited that my oldest daughter, Kassidee, is going on the trip. She has heard so much about the people and the country, but now is the time that she gets to experience it for herself. Over the next few days I hope to keep this blog up to date on the where we are in the packing, planning, and the questions that come. This will be my 20th trip, but quite possibly my most anticipated. I look forward to seeing Kassidee move out into her own Barbarian Way. So for those of you reading along, please keep the team in your prayers. May your prayer be today "ANYONE, ANYWHERE!"

Welcome Luke Alexander Forgey To March Madness

Today Joanne and I had the opportunity to meet Luke Alexander Forgey, the newest member of CrossRoads Community. I am amazed at how God continues to grow the body. Welcome Luke!!! I am sure that Luke will become a Kansas Jayhawk fan in the coming years and he will be celebrating his birthday during the best time of the college basketball season. The Jayhawks are my second favorite team, only behind my Tarheels, who by the way got a scare last night, but prevailed in the end.

This coming week is a very busy one as the community will host the choir from Mid America Christian University on Tuesday and my family will be hosting Jimmy and Caroline Usher on Wednesday. The doors are always revolving at our home. I am so thankful for the many friendships and relationships that this life has allowed our family. The word around our house is
"zoe," which means to be full of life. It is the word that Christ used when he said, "I've come that you might have life (zoe), and have it to the full." I pray we all live life to full. Enjoy every moment and do your best to squeeze every ounce of life from each and live a zoe. Especially you Luke may yours be full.

21st Anniverisary

21 years!!! Hard to believe!!! Oh how the time has flown by. To think that 21 years ago today Joanne and I entered into this adventure called marriage. Neither of us had a clue, but our Dad did. He has literally taken us around the world. From the little trailer in Lynn to the Great Northwest back to the Bluegrass it has been an unbelievable and rewarding adventure. I can't imagine what how life would have been different if our paths had not crossed, but how thankful that I am. We have been blessed with three amazing younguns. They keep us busy and on the road a lot, but we wouldn't trade these years for anything. We know that these years will pass as quickly as the past 21 and we don't want to miss anything. So where will the next 21 takes us? As was the case in 1986 only Dad knows. So Joanne thank you, I love you and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with!!! Happy Anniversary.

Today is a special day in this adventure. My oldest daughter turns 17. Boy where has the time gone. She has grown into such a beautiful young woman. Just like her mom she is not only beautiful on the outside she is a beauty on the inside as well. She continues to amaze me with her wisdom and boldness. She is learning to become a woman of God and that thrills me. I look forward to spending time in Honduras with her. I believe that the trip is going to life changing for her. Perhaps she may even begin on her own, "barbarian way." Can't wait to see. Happy birthday Punk, you are loved. Dad

Erwin McManus wrote a book entitled "the barbarian way." In the book he talks about being being an innovator versus an early adopter. the innovator being the person who tries something and fails, sometmes failure leads to death. the early adopter sees where the innovator failed and learns from. i have come to realize that jesus has called many to be innovators. like him to take the risks that others are unwilling to take for the good of those to come. so that is what this blog is all about. writing down the journey and the opportunities i have to be an innovator. hopefully other barbarians will share their stories and we can help lead the genration to come in the barbarian way. barabrians love to live and live to love.

pastor ed