What a blast!

What a blast I had this weekend. I went to go preach at a church in Denton, TX that has been in the middle of a major change. The Pastor has stepped down and the congregation has been in a hard place. I was sent there to love on them and for the first time I experience a side of ministry that was so awesome. The Lord gave me direction to just be real with them so I let formality take a back seat and just speak to them like they were old friends that I had not seen in a while. I found it strange that they had certain things that the old pastor would not allow and when they told me about some of them I decided that it was time to so them something different. I got to walk the isle and even touch them as I walked by. I saw there hearts melt when I would stop by and and touch a man's shoulder or just spend time sharing with them the word that the lord had given for them.

It did not go exactly like I planned but I think it was better. I got them to laugh, some cried, some shouted back in rejoicing and praising the Lord. I asked them if they would be willing to be interactive in praising the Lord and they responded. It was fun and I am thankful I had they chance to see people respond to my antidotes of life. I was explaing that my wife and I were about to go to Nacogdoches and how I thought is was funny that the Lord would send a cowboy from High Springs, FL to start a cowboy church in Nacogdoches, TX and how I thought that was an oxy moron and they started laughing but agreed that God had a sence of humor as well.

I hated to leave because I think my 15 month old son found him a girl friend there, and it was great to watch him play with her. Any who all said and done it was awesome. Thanks Pastor David for the chance to share with them.

Blessings

Surprise

Impact Cowboy Church of Nacogdoches

Surprise, I have interesting news to share with you. After months of planning and trying to conceptualize the church I am going to start has some what changed into something a little different than I originally planned for, but it is awesome to watch God shape and mold something to bring about his plan to being reality. I started meet with people in Nacogdoches about starting our church and things started coming evident pretty quick. First I had always planned on having a church that was in the country side of life. For instance I was thinking about having praise and worship with the country and western sound and I had thought about rustic design for the church, but what everybody really wanted in the town was a Cowboy Church. The more I started thinking about it the more I started to see that they already have enough "church" on every corner but you usually want see many cowboys there because it is too much for them. They want a place where they belong and can feel like they can contribute with their unique gifts that are not in much demand at a normal church. At a cowboy church if you can rope you can easily lead someone to Jesus.

In Nacogdoches we have a coffee shop called Java Jacks and trust me they have some awesome coffee in you are ever in town they are better than Starbucks, but any how on their sign out front it says "Down the street from ordinary". Well that got me thinking and I had to ask my self did I really want to do something for God or did I just want to do something? I know that I want to do something for God! The closest Cowboy Church around is about thirty miles away. This way I am not trying to edge in on somebodies so called turf or their corner of the Kingdom.

Most Cowboy churches are usually Baptist and in fact it has become one of the fastest growing church planting concepts that they have, but I am not Baptist I consider myself practically Charismatic. I came across a church that changed my life called The Vine Fellowship and a Pastor named David Kerr who believed enough in me to allow me to serve with him. I have always been different than most people at our church but that was how God has made me and I love the fact that I grew up on farms and ranched for a time of my life and that I like hunting and have a passion for sharing it with others so they can learn to enjoy God's creation for themselves. I have been studying 1 Corinthians and in chapter 12 it talks about the Body of Christ, well although I am doing something just a Little different I am still in the same Body and I think that is the awesome ways of God how he uses different people to do the same work but yet in a different way.

A friend of mine named Rob is always excited in showing people how to discover and use their spiritual gifts. Well I am getting excited about the same thing except I am going to a different type of people.

I will keep you informed as I get information.

Blessings,

Stan

Strange days

I had meetings with two of the leading pastors here in Nacogdoches yesterday and they both asked me not to plant a church here because it is already strained in the area and they have had a downturn on finaces here in town. I thought it was funny thought how one of them wanted me to go start a church in Lufkin saying that it was more fertile ground and even offered finacial help in doing so. These were the same people who several months ago said that it would be great to have the help here in town.

Frustration is the word of the day around here, the job market is looking pretty rough and we will be leaning on the Lord to get us through. I am having to pick myself up and dust myself off and go on. Please pray for me and my family for wisdom and financial backing.

Blessings,
Stan

Rain rain go away come back another day.

Well friends, I am in Nacogdoches, TX where I want to move and we have been taking a few days to relax because of the rain and thought that a good couple of days down time would be awesome, but it has never quit raining yet and the extended forecast shows the next eight days with rain and thunder storms. I am in a coffee house here in Nacogdoches called Java Jacks and it is raining so hard it is going sideways.

I knew something was wrong when I heard a knock at the door and saw Noah, he wanted to borrow a can of coffee, it really bothered me when he asked if I thought it might last for 40 day's or not. What was that about? Sorry enough with the bad jokes. I am just a little sad because of the weather and wanted to see anyone felt the same way I do.

I am trying to make appointments with the local pastors here in town to get to know some of them better. I am also wanting to get hooked up with the ministry alliance in town.

Well that is what is going on with me today,
Blessings,
Stan