memories in a box

Well, for the last few days I have been packing up my office. Wow, ten years worth of stuff. A bunch of memories that i will never let go of, well the good ones anyway :)

This weekend will be the end of the season as pastors of CPC. However, the seed, memories and lives that God touched. The memories that are in the box are...... books, pictures, plaque's, notes, meeting notes, seminar and conference notes, gifts that people gave me, etc...

Wow, I looked at that tangible stuff and began to think of the intangibles. Like the time the man walked up to me and said on my first Sunday as pastor, "Son, you have got your work cut out for ya here!" or the time that we did not have anyone to lead the "song service" so me Jimbo (on guitar), Lance (on the piano) and me (lead Singer) learned a new song or two and sang them to Jesus as he came into the place!

I remember the time a lady stood up put her fingers in her ears and said that she will NOT sing that new music!! LOL

Or the the time that Sister Helen lost her son to suicide. out of that tragedy came an amazing move of God as her whole family came to Christ.

I remember a bunch of ups and a few downs.

I remember when Jody Merrit (Evans) at the time, came into the Church with their whole family. Jody had lost her son in a tragic death. I witnessed her and her family come to Christ in a very powerful way!

I remember when I was running late for a funeral so pastor Brady and Pastor Jeff stalled until I got there in the nick of time!

Wow, I could go On and on.

How about you? Do you keep your memories in a box? I know, i know :if your memories are bigger than your vision" then you are in trouble.

I like to call the memories, "faith files".

How about you?

Do you have any faith files?

Dont keep them in a box.

A chapter Closes and begins

I have had the privlage of serving as pastor of CrossPoint in West Little Rock for ten years. Today, that chapter of our life closes. Below is the letter i read to them this morning. A day of laughter, crying, water baptism and celebration of a current deacon who has been sober for 6 years today! Needless to say, we leave with a sad heart yet fulfilled mission. It was a joy, and now CrossPoint Church will go to another more glorious level! I will still blog here, and preach where we are invited. I am also going to get my teachers certification to teach in our public schools. I am scared, nervous, excited and in wonder all at the same time! Please pray for CPC during this leadership transisition.

This is the Letter I read this morning.....


Change, youth and willing people.
That has been the journey for the past ten years at CrossPoint Church.
I stole a quote from former Arkansas District A/G Council Superintendent, Alton Garrison, several years ago, who said “Change is a process, NOT an event”. I have used that in messages, counseling, self reminder and just everyday conversation.

Ten years ago, When Tami (32) me (29) Luke (7) and Jacob (4) began our journey here at CPC (Ferndale A/G at the time) we were nervous, excited and passionate about winning the lost along side of a little Church in Ferndale. Wow! We saw it. Hundreds and hundreds of people have come through the doors of this Church to see their lives changed by the power of the Cross! Hundreds baptized in water, in the Holy Spirit and set free in various ways!
The people that have came and gone and you that are still here through the years have been the ones to do the ministry and my family has been blessed to be a part of that.
Wow, the memories would take for ever to tell. Revival services, Alter times, counseling times, weddings, funerals, missions trips, building, staff hired, Church growth, Church pruning, awesome times, hard times and each of you have your own memories as well…. And they are all so great!
The process of change has begun again. Me, Tami and the boys are entering another season (chapter) of our lives. Our time here at CPC has been invaluable yet tangible. Crosspoint Church is one of the most unique Assemblies of God Churches in the state of Arkansas, and will continue to be. However, at this season or chapter it is time for us to say goodbye. Effective next Sunday July 19th the season for us as pastors of CrossPoint Church comes to an end.
We are leaving on a VERY high note. You are the greatest people in the world that a pastor could ask to lead. The future for CPC is bigger and brighter than ever. The next person who comes here to pastor will take you with them to the next level. Who ever that person may be, please be as committed to CPC then as you are now. You are the Church, not just a pastor.
Our next steps? We will be involved in a Church somewhere but NOT as pastors. I will get to set with my family, ride in the same car (while Tami drives, Ha!) to Church. I will continue to work at Kroger this summer and I will continue to drive a school bus this fall. Beyond that we simply do not know. I will preach from time to time as Churches invite me, and I will help younger pastors/leaders as much as I can. My family is what will get me though. I am going to be spending a lot of time with them and walking through this change with them.
In the next few weeks you will have an interim pastor here (someone to fill in). Jimmy Lunsford will continue to lead the services as he has for the past several weeks. A pastoral search committee is being put together by the deacon board and they will be advised during the process by current superintendant, Larry Moore, of the Arkansas District Council of the Assemblies of God.
Tami, I and the boys will take with us some life long memories and friendships with us as we come to a close on this season. We will no longer be pastors of CrossPoint Church as of next Sunday, but we will always be your friends.
We love you, please know that.
On that note, I want to invite everyone back next Sunday as we say our final goodbye as pastors. Let’s have a service of celebration as we cry and laugh together!
After that, once again change will begin for CrossPoint Church. And the process of it will be exciting for you to be a part of.
We Love You,

Randy, Tami, Luke and Jacob

Mind Dump

Its Thursday

Mental challanges this week!

Trying to be a dad, I am pretty dang good at it!

Trying to be a husband, uhhhhhhh. LOL

Trying to be a pastor, I am PERFECT at that (perfect in failure :)

Monday started at 4am ended at midnight

Tuesday started at 5:30 am, I do not remember when it ended

Wednesday started at 5am it ended around 11pm

Thursday, let me see....

Its lightly snowing

Its cold

Its warm where i am at

I met a former church leader (not from CPC) who was very impressive (he and his wife were and are VERY humble)

I have got to speak with two HUGE business leaders today and they feed my passion (not for money, but for people)

The guy behind me right now just called his daughter to tell her it was snowing. Apparently she has not taken time to look outside and her dad knew that

I am fed up with people who are "into their feelings ALL THE TIME") That was including me, i get sick of myself to before you might call it judging

The little old lady setting in front of me has a contagious laugh, I am gonna tell her thank you before i leave.

I get to go visit someone in the hospital in a moment. When I start working a "full time" job that wil not happen as often as people think it should for a "pastor" LOLOL

My son just called me and needs me to fix his headlight switch, uhhhh ok, now I am a mechanic? Well, I will try then I will call my bro in law to do it right :)

If you are reading this and.......

You are bored then......

Walk

Run

Sleep

Go out side and scream REALLY loud "Live from New York, it's Thursday afternoon!!!!"

Tell someone they made your day!

Smile

if you are reading this and say WOW RANDY YOU CANT SPELL!!

i agree

If you are down

stand up

if you are up

lookout!!!!!!

If you havnt dumped your mind as of late - then creat a blog and do it!!!

If you ahve a "plank in your eye", I bet that hurts, dont it?

If you are reading this and you havnt laughed yet then cry!

If you are reading this and are crying, then go grab a tissue and cry away!!

if i have ever hurt you, forgive me. i did not do it on purpose.

If you have a hard time believing in a God, its ok He believes in You.

If you are a pastor and are burned out, Its ok. you will be ok. 

If you are a follower of Jesus, isnt that great?!

If you are not a follower of Jesus, turn around.... He is following you.

Go right now.....

look in the mirror

and say this.

"Dang I am so fine!!!!!!!!!!"

Be humble about it though :)

If you gossip.... Shut up!

If you cant sing, then write a song.... its in you

If you like to sing, then sing the persons song who cant

If you are a people watcher, quit staring!

Ha!

Just a Thought.........

Romancing the past

Today God spoke to me loud and clear.

As I near the 40 mark in my life I find myself saying more and more, "remember when."

Wow, what is so intreaging about the past?

The good memories. Sure there are bad ones as well. But we stuff those in until we want to be the victim. (thats another post for another time).

We like to, in the words of Rob Bell, "Romance the past".

Dont we?

The time we did that........... This.......... and the other.

How the story went (no matter how sweet or sour it was) is not how it has to be... Or become.

I have been married for 20 years. Great years. Surly though the next 20 will be even better than the past 20, right?

Simply put, I hear God say in a very still, small, whispering voice. "Quit dancing with the past"

My dance partner is the now. I will "romance" the now and plan for the future - which will be better.

As a matter of fact I love to dance. However, if I try to dance like I did then, well haha, I think I will just dance how I do now.

Break dancing anyone? Just A Thought.....

Mind Dump

I saw another pastor do what is called "mind dump" on Twitter. Once a week he will just empty his thoughts onto paper. So, in the spirit of that pastor - here goes......

Time is short.

Rest is hard to get.

Its getting harder to be romantic.

My dog is my best friend.

I have to go, again??

My kids are my heros.

I wish I could scream very, very loud.

I love Jesus with all my heart, yet sometimes I just want a cold beer (but I don't - because those other "preachers" might gossip about it)

I hate religion

I wish we had carpet instead of hardwood floors at home.

I want to sky dive.

I am self centered.

I love Jesus with all my heart, why do I get road rage?

Frusteration is a flaw of mine.

I will NOT please everyone, so why do I try?

Do all people have Drama problems?

Its hard to be commited to people with the lack of commitment.

I need to loose 50 lbs.

I joined a gym two weeks ago and have not gone yet!!!!!!

I am a hypocrite

I cant spell!!!!!!

I love Jesus with all of my heart, why don't I trust him most of the time

ahhhhhhhhhh, that is much better. Just a Thought.....