GuyMelton.com: What Were You Thinking?

The Most Controversial Post I have ever written............(Another of the most read Post of my 2 years of Blogging)

 

September 09, 2007

Boredom, Worship and Variety (Controversial Subjects)

This is the Same article I posted last week on Worship, but is cleaned up a bit.

Hopefully we can edit down some for those who would like to have this when they talk to friends who might not understand why we do what we do.

I hate controversial subjects! I don’t like confrontation!! However, I have learned over the years there is a time to confront and a time to discuss things that tend to be controversial. I try not to pick fights or debates. I think it is a waste of time and the devil loves to have Christians spend their time on debating their preferences and personal desires. When these things tend to come into the church and more specifically our church then I am going to take it on and confront it. I was called as the Pastor to start this church 16 years ago this month. It was a call of God, not a denomination or even a church. God gave me a very specific call and direction of what type of church He wanted me to start and Pastor. I am committed to that call more today than ever. With hundreds coming to Christ and joining our church over these many years, there are only a few that remember the beginning and our foundation from where we have come. I am very fortunate to be the founding pastor and so since day one, I understand the vision, philosophy and strategy God gave us. We have spent three weeks recently, discussing our Purpose “To be and Make Disciples”; by holding up, three core values, Worship, Community, and

Mission

. I won’t go into that. However, today’s post is about strategy of carrying out our

Mission

. We used to call it the Pembroke Strategy. It was done in an acrostic and the “R” stood for “Relevant Music and Worship” 

The most controversial area of any church is and has always seemed to be Music. That part of Worship has had more to do with Church splits and divisions than any other thing by far. Why not, it started in Heaven, when the chief musician Lucifer led a revolt of half the angelic host against God himself. I used to tell a joke when Churches had choirs. that when Satan fell he fell into the Choir. Of course, I was kidding but there is some thread of truth that I believe from the fall of Lucifer, music has been used to bring the greatest honor and worship to God. It has also brought the most pain. Not because it’s bad!!

Since the beginning of our church 16 years ago, I have brought a message at least once a year on Music and Worship and why we worship with the music and style we do. I did that up until two years ago. I actually told our staff not long ago how for the first time in the last two years we haven’t had to deal with Music church wide in a message.

That was just recently. Then all the sudden I began to get one or two connection cards each week with pretty much the same theme each time. They surfaced again this past weekend. This time 3 connection cards had them. ( I know its only 3 out of hundreds of cards, and most times it isn’t more than one in a week unless its from several who sit together and say about the same thing, its funny its like they talk about what they need to write)

Now before I go further I want to make it clear, I appreciate those who are willing to write a comment on a card and sign it. I respect that. I don’t expect anyone to agree with everything. We say it’s a connection card and it can be negative or positive, im fine with that as long as it’s signed. I don’t even read a whole note if it’s anonymous, it is torn up immediately and no one else sees it and I will never discuss it. I feel someone to write something critical anonymously is wrong, and cowardly, and we can’t follow up and help explain why we did what we did. So therefore, we don’t even consider it. However, when someone writes a comment, we take it seriously. We might not be able to do anything about it. A comment doesn’t mean we will make a change. However, we will definitely read it and always give it consideration. Over the years, we have had thousands of comments and some have been a great help to help us improve. However, we can’t always accommodate or change. Music is one of the things we get comments on from time to time. Most of the time we address it in a message.This Time Iam blogging so I can be on the record and in the future send those who need a clarification of why we do what we do to my blog.

Now I’m warning you this is long and if this isn’t a big deal to you or an issue don’t worry about reading it all. Back to the 3 connection cards, we received this week that sum up the concerns over the last 16 years and to some extent in a general way for hundreds of years.

1. The music is too loud!!
2. The music is boring!!
3. More variety and hymns that are traditional. (then sometimes someone will complain that they don’t want a new song, to learn, stick with what we know we cant win, you cant add variety and not learn new songs, at least I haven’t figured out how yet)

Now I did not type out the 3 cards from this past week exactly. One said we need more diversity in music, named 5 different styles. One mentioned diversity in the realm of I assume age, and culture.

Now before I attempt to clarify some things, let me mention some comments from the same services the prior complaints came from.

1. Thank you for providing a place for me and my family to come and Worship God

2. God bless you for all the Wonderful work that especially Chris (our worship pastor) and the young people are doing.

3. I enjoy the praise and worship

4. As always great job with worship, Chris (worship Pastor) you have a real gift

5. I’m thankful to be able to come to the safest place on earth, “spiritual community” Overall worship comment

6. Chris /Great Worship!!! (My mom, she is 76 years old) She hasn’t always liked our music whether loud or style. Understandable! She might kill me but she is the only name im revealing.

Now let’s discuss Worship in Music

.Worship Music Boring? That is assuming that Music should be entertaining. We don’t come to church for entertainment. Now don’t get me wrong, we don’t want to bore someone in anything, too many churches do that. However, if it’s boring then why? What is the expectation? Is it to please me? Is Worship all about me and making me feel good? Well we’ve already spent two weeks this year in messages about worship and music. You should be able to pick up a c.d. or listen online to those.

Wikipedia says boredom is: an unpleasant, transient affective state in which the individual feels a pervasive lack of interest in and difficulty concentration on the current activity.

If you come to our church and your bored, which means you cannot worship based on this definition, then either the church is the problem or the individual is the problem. I won’t say which one is which. That is for God to judge.

I would not attend nor be a part of any church or for that fact any organization if im bored. I would go where I could Worship. Music in our church is to lead us into worship and stimulate our worship of our God.

Wikipedia defines worship:  Specific acts of religious praise, honor or devotion, typically directed to a supernatural being such as God…………..

Other definitions I have read say “to ascribe worth to a supernatural being”

To worship God makes it impossible to be bored as a believer.

Now lets consider what this means.

We all like different styles. It goes back to our generation, might be cultural, or just taste. Don’t judge worship at any church based on preference of style.

Our church has a more contemporary style. We have never done many traditional hymns. That was decided early on. Most hymns many of us grew up with are hundreds of years old. They are not relevant in their words and their language to 21 century. They might be good; they might have a great message. I love the old hymns, but we have decided to sing new songs. Songs that have the same message but with today’s language and style. We can’t do all styles. We might do several different styles. We do some hymns and do them in a contemporary way. It is proven you do not reach this generation by singing songs 400 years old. We want to be relevant as Paul wanted to be relevant in the New Testament.

The Bible even says sing a new Song!!

Sometimes someone says give more variety, then someone says in the same service, why are you teaching us a new song, we don’t know the song. The bottom line is we can not please everyone. We are who we are and who we have been for 16 years.

We have had three primary worship leaders in that time. Each time there is a change, some folks miss the old way it was done, some love the new way, and personality. One is not wrong and one is not right. It is all part of life. Change happens.

Music is too loud. Well it might be for some of us. Sometimes it’s been too loud for me, and sometimes too soft. In the same service, one will say its too loud and one too soft. Obviously, there is no way to fix that one!!! Read Revelation 7:9-10 I think music in heaven and worship is going to be loud. We need to get used to it I guess.

For some, Maybe ear plugs. (im serious  it will help, maybe moving to a diff. part of the auditorium can help. )  I promise when it is overall too loud, we know and we work on it, it’s evident. However, we won’t be able to make it just right. Not possible. I wish I could please everyone but I can’t.

We have had some great music over the years and some lousy music, let’s face it. However, I can tell you our worship music right now is as good as I have ever heard it. It isn’t always, exactly like you or I want or Chris or the worship team wants. Are you always at your best everyday? Remember we are doing 12 services, and all but our worship pastors are volunteers. They are giving many hours of their time to lead us in worship. Chris and his team have in the matter of one year, added something like 50 new musicians. That is Phenomenal and might be more new musicians, bands and worship teams formed and trained in one year than any church in the

United States

.

In the past, we have been criticized for only having a few that could sing, and play. Now we have many involved, but they might not always be the look or age you like. When someone says, we need more diversity I imagine they mean in age and culture. We have both, we have lots of young people, and we have never had young people involved. They are the future of the church. At one juncture, we had all middle aged leading. I think its one of the greatest things I have ever seen in my 30 years. However, we also have some who have been around awhile. My wife Tonia has been singing with the praise teams since we started the church, she still is involved in the Pines praise team at least once or twice a month on weekends, as well as a few other mid lifers, wont mention them so they don’t get offended, they think they are still young.. However, she isn’t at all the services. There are others that are not 20 something’s. Diversity in culture is all over our church including our worship, our teaching team, and lay leadership. It was humorous I received a note this week in a service about more diversity and it was the service that Fish Figueroa spoke, which in case you don’t know, Fish is Latin and he is in his twenties. We have teachers in their twenties and then there are the old guys, myself, Pat and Wayman (sorry guys). We probably have more diversity not only in our church membership but our lay leadership than any church in

America (Since this was first written we also have a campus pastor who is Armeanian /West African, and another teaching pastor who is Jamaican)  (Our two primary Worship leaders in Pines are Latin and Jamaican)

.

Concluding remarks

1. Some say we need more variety. We have about 100 songs that are used in worship. That is about what y church in which I grew up in always did that hymns had. Do you know in my 30 years of singing out of a hymnal probably ¾ of the songs in the hymnal we never sang once? They are rotated at our church s as they were in my former church. . New ones are being added all the time. We like to sing familiar songs, but we also believe new ones are fresh and challenge us in their message. Some say, from time to time songs repeat them selves in newer songs. Well let me refer to Psalms 136, the writer seems bent on repeating, “His Love Endures Forever” Check that one out. In Revelation the Angels repeat themselves too “Holy, Holy, Holy”
2. New and Innovative Worship Music is not new. In my home church where I grew up our pastor introduced the orchestra in the late 70s, there were lots who didn’t like it im sure... Some churches split over orchestras. That was innovative and new. Go back in church history, the piano was introduced to bar room tunes (we now know them as hymns) and many were appalled since the piano was in the bars. Also find piano or organ in the bible, can’t find it. However, you will find those cymbals and drums!! Hmmm!!!
3. Different Strokes for different folks.

Dr. Morgan who was my mentor and friend was from a totally different generation and saw music and worship in music very differently. We had many heated discussions about our difference in Music. One time he said to me, almost everyone in our church wants hymns and traditional music. I said it can’t be, why would we have grown so much, and why would they stay around, since we have never sung the old traditional hymns much. Therefore, I decided maybe there were a lot who we might be able to reach and minister to with this type of music. I did a survey. I asked folks who were interested in a more traditional service with hymns to come to a meeting after each service to discuss and consider. This was just three years ago. We had 50 people show up following all the services combined. (including my mother) That was out of 1500 attending. Now over 2200 attend any given week our services. Of the 50, 12-15 wanted a traditional service, and of that only about 4 were willing to have that service at another time other than Sunday morning, since our Sunday morning services 10 and 1130 were already pretty full. I realized there were a few who did but not many. Dr. Morgan and I loved each other; I miss him so much and don’t mean this to reflect negatively on him, or me. We both respectfully disagreed and yet we loved each other and worshiped together until his death this past March.

A few of those who really wanted more traditional left our church and went to a church where they sung the traditional hymns. That is fine. There is nothing wrong if you can’t worship with one style, to go to the church where you can worship. Our competition as I told two believers today is not with the church down the street its. Satan. I refuse to battle anyone over style or music. Go where you can best worship. On the other hand, if God calls you here or somewhere else and you don’t like the style, ask God to change you or give you a new perspective to at least accept that it might be different but this is where God wants me. Certainly if you are bored, or feel you can’t worship in a church you shouldn’t be there. There might be some in our church that need to look for church that their style of worship fits them better. That is not bad. Its ok, to leave a church for that reason. It isn’t ok, to be bored, bitter or get angry. God wants us to Worship Him and not be distracted. I’m sorry even though I wish I could please everyone, I can’t, and that is just a fact.

What I will do is try to please my Heavenly father and my savior.

4. I have learned when someone says everyone, or many, or most, they really mean a few of the people I hang out with. I don’t ever take a general statement serious, unless they can provide a list. Usually they can give me a few. If our whole church didn’t like the music, why are we growing, by hundreds some years? WE have grown at least 250 this year since our 7Now started in late January... How could we have baptized 110 last week and have 20 + more and maybe even more this week to baptize? How in the world could someone have been bored last week in a service where we witnessed almost 4 minutes of baptisms back to back on a video from last weeks baptism? I have watched it five times now and I get choked up every time... The average church baptized 6 last year!!! I will not loose focus on Being disciples and making disciples, and I won’t let a few complaints on our music deter who we have been for 16 years and continue to be.

I hope if you have read this entire post, you understand while I might disagree with a group in our church as to preference and style of music, I don’t judge them or even say they are wrong. Different strokes for different folks. Please try to understand my heart. I have to continue to focus on what God called me to 16 years ago. "To be and Make Disciples. " I invite you to join me this week and let us put aside a difference or two and focus on Christ and the

Mission

he has led us to. (Oh and by the way if my mentor and beloved friend Dr. Morgan and my own mom could not get me to change the music, you’re not going to!!! Sorry!!)

As with anything I know I over killed this in explanation but it’s worth it if one person understands better why we do what we do.  

 

This is the Same article I posted last week on Worship, but is cleaned up a bit.

Hopefully we can edit down some for those who would like to have this when they talk to friends who might not understand why we do what we do.

I hate controversial subjects! I don’t like confrontation!! However, I have learned over the years there is a time to confront and a time to discuss things that tend to be controversial. I try not to pick fights or debates. I think it is a waste of time and the devil loves to have Christians spend their time on debating their preferences and personal desires. When these things tend to come into the church and more specifically our church then I am going to take it on and confront it. I was called as the Pastor to start this church 16 years ago this month. It was a call of God, not a denomination or even a church. God gave me a very specific call and direction of what type of church He wanted me to start and Pastor. I am committed to that call more today than ever. With hundreds coming to Christ and joining our church over these many years, there are only a few that remember the beginning and our foundation from where we have come. I am very fortunate to be the founding pastor and so since day one, I understand the vision, philosophy and strategy God gave us. We have spent three weeks recently, discussing our Purpose “To be and Make Disciples”; by holding up, three core values, Worship, Community, and

Mission

. I won’t go into that. However, today’s post is about strategy of carrying out our

Mission

. We used to call it the Pembroke Strategy. It was done in an acrostic and the “R” stood for “Relevant Music and Worship” 

The most controversial area of any church is and has always seemed to be Music. That part of Worship has had more to do with Church splits and divisions than any other thing by far. Why not, it started in Heaven, when the chief musician Lucifer led a revolt of half the angelic host against God himself. I used to tell a joke when Churches had choirs. that when Satan fell he fell into the Choir. Of course, I was kidding but there is some thread of truth that I believe from the fall of Lucifer, music has been used to bring the greatest honor and worship to God. It has also brought the most pain. Not because it’s bad!!

Since the beginning of our church 16 years ago, I have brought a message at least once a year on Music and Worship and why we worship with the music and style we do. I did that up until two years ago. I actually told our staff not long ago how for the first time in the last two years we haven’t had to deal with Music church wide in a message.

That was just recently. Then all the sudden I began to get one or two connection cards each week with pretty much the same theme each time. They surfaced again this past weekend. This time 3 connection cards had them. ( I know its only 3 out of hundreds of cards, and most times it isn’t more than one in a week unless its from several who sit together and say about the same thing, its funny its like they talk about what they need to write)

Now before I go further I want to make it clear, I appreciate those who are willing to write a comment on a card and sign it. I respect that. I don’t expect anyone to agree with everything. We say it’s a connection card and it can be negative or positive, im fine with that as long as it’s signed. I don’t even read a whole note if it’s anonymous, it is torn up immediately and no one else sees it and I will never discuss it. I feel someone to write something critical anonymously is wrong, and cowardly, and we can’t follow up and help explain why we did what we did. So therefore, we don’t even consider it. However, when someone writes a comment, we take it seriously. We might not be able to do anything about it. A comment doesn’t mean we will make a change. However, we will definitely read it and always give it consideration. Over the years, we have had thousands of comments and some have been a great help to help us improve. However, we can’t always accommodate or change. Music is one of the things we get comments on from time to time. Most of the time we address it in a message.This Time Iam blogging so I can be on the record and in the future send those who need a clarification of why we do what we do to my blog.

Now I’m warning you this is long and if this isn’t a big deal to you or an issue don’t worry about reading it all. Back to the 3 connection cards, we received this week that sum up the concerns over the last 16 years and to some extent in a general way for hundreds of years.

1. The music is too loud!!
2. The music is boring!!
3. More variety and hymns that are traditional. (then sometimes someone will complain that they don’t want a new song, to learn, stick with what we know we cant win, you cant add variety and not learn new songs, at least I haven’t figured out how yet)

Now I did not type out the 3 cards from this past week exactly. One said we need more diversity in music, named 5 different styles. One mentioned diversity in the realm of I assume age, and culture.

Now before I attempt to clarify some things, let me mention some comments from the same services the prior complaints came from.

1. Thank you for providing a place for me and my family to come and Worship God

2. God bless you for all the Wonderful work that especially Chris (our worship pastor) and the young people are doing.

3. I enjoy the praise and worship

4. As always great job with worship, Chris (worship Pastor) you have a real gift

5. I’m thankful to be able to come to the safest place on earth, “spiritual community” Overall worship comment

6. Chris /Great Worship!!! (My mom, she is 76 years old) She hasn’t always liked our music whether loud or style. Understandable! She might kill me but she is the only name im revealing.

Now let’s discuss Worship in Music

.Worship Music Boring? That is assuming that Music should be entertaining. We don’t come to church for entertainment. Now don’t get me wrong, we don’t want to bore someone in anything, too many churches do that. However, if it’s boring then why? What is the expectation? Is it to please me? Is Worship all about me and making me feel good? Well we’ve already spent two weeks this year in messages about worship and music. You should be able to pick up a c.d. or listen online to those.

Wikipedia says boredom is: an unpleasant, transient affective state in which the individual feels a pervasive lack of interest in and difficulty concentration on the current activity.

If you come to our church and your bored, which means you cannot worship based on this definition, then either the church is the problem or the individual is the problem. I won’t say which one is which. That is for God to judge.

I would not attend nor be a part of any church or for that fact any organization if im bored. I would go where I could Worship. Music in our church is to lead us into worship and stimulate our worship of our God.

Wikipedia defines worship:  Specific acts of religious praise, honor or devotion, typically directed to a supernatural being such as God…………..

Other definitions I have read say “to ascribe worth to a supernatural being”

To worship God makes it impossible to be bored as a believer.

Now lets consider what this means.

We all like different styles. It goes back to our generation, might be cultural, or just taste. Don’t judge worship at any church based on preference of style.

Our church has a more contemporary style. We have never done many traditional hymns. That was decided early on. Most hymns many of us grew up with are hundreds of years old. They are not relevant in their words and their language to 21 century. They might be good; they might have a great message. I love the old hymns, but we have decided to sing new songs. Songs that have the same message but with today’s language and style. We can’t do all styles. We might do several different styles. We do some hymns and do them in a contemporary way. It is proven you do not reach this generation by singing songs 400 years old. We want to be relevant as Paul wanted to be relevant in the New Testament.

The Bible even says sing a new Song!!

Sometimes someone says give more variety, then someone says in the same service, why are you teaching us a new song, we don’t know the song. The bottom line is we can not please everyone. We are who we are and who we have been for 16 years.

We have had three primary worship leaders in that time. Each time there is a change, some folks miss the old way it was done, some love the new way, and personality. One is not wrong and one is not right. It is all part of life. Change happens.

Music is too loud. Well it might be for some of us. Sometimes it’s been too loud for me, and sometimes too soft. In the same service, one will say its too loud and one too soft. Obviously, there is no way to fix that one!!! Read Revelation 7:9-10 I think music in heaven and worship is going to be loud. We need to get used to it I guess.

For some, Maybe ear plugs. (im serious  it will help, maybe moving to a diff. part of the auditorium can help. )  I promise when it is overall too loud, we know and we work on it, it’s evident. However, we won’t be able to make it just right. Not possible. I wish I could please everyone but I can’t.

We have had some great music over the years and some lousy music, let’s face it. However, I can tell you our worship music right now is as good as I have ever heard it. It isn’t always, exactly like you or I want or Chris or the worship team wants. Are you always at your best everyday? Remember we are doing 12 services, and all but our worship pastors are volunteers. They are giving many hours of their time to lead us in worship. Chris and his team have in the matter of one year, added something like 50 new musicians. That is Phenomenal and might be more new musicians, bands and worship teams formed and trained in one year than any church in the

United States

.

In the past, we have been criticized for only having a few that could sing, and play. Now we have many involved, but they might not always be the look or age you like. When someone says, we need more diversity I imagine they mean in age and culture. We have both, we have lots of young people, and we have never had young people involved. They are the future of the church. At one juncture, we had all middle aged leading. I think its one of the greatest things I have ever seen in my 30 years. However, we also have some who have been around awhile. My wife Tonia has been singing with the praise teams since we started the church, she still is involved in the Pines praise team at least once or twice a month on weekends, as well as a few other mid lifers, wont mention them so they don’t get offended, they think they are still young.. However, she isn’t at all the services. There are others that are not 20 something’s. Diversity in culture is all over our church including our worship, our teaching team, and lay leadership. It was humorous I received a note this week in a service about more diversity and it was the service that Fish Figueroa spoke, which in case you don’t know, Fish is Latin and he is in his twenties. We have teachers in their twenties and then there are the old guys, myself, Pat and Wayman (sorry guys). We probably have more diversity not only in our church membership but our lay leadership than any church in

America (Since this was first written we also have a campus pastor who is Armeanian /West African, and another teaching pastor who is Jamaican)  (Our two primary Worship leaders in Pines are Latin and Jamaican)

.

Concluding remarks

1. Some say we need more variety. We have about 100 songs that are used in worship. That is about what y church in which I grew up in always did that hymns had. Do you know in my 30 years of singing out of a hymnal probably ¾ of the songs in the hymnal we never sang once? They are rotated at our church s as they were in my former church. . New ones are being added all the time. We like to sing familiar songs, but we also believe new ones are fresh and challenge us in their message. Some say, from time to time songs repeat them selves in newer songs. Well let me refer to Psalms 136, the writer seems bent on repeating, “His Love Endures Forever” Check that one out. In Revelation the Angels repeat themselves too “Holy, Holy, Holy”
2. New and Innovative Worship Music is not new. In my home church where I grew up our pastor introduced the orchestra in the late 70s, there were lots who didn’t like it im sure... Some churches split over orchestras. That was innovative and new. Go back in church history, the piano was introduced to bar room tunes (we now know them as hymns) and many were appalled since the piano was in the bars. Also find piano or organ in the bible, can’t find it. However, you will find those cymbals and drums!! Hmmm!!!
3. Different Strokes for different folks.

Dr. Morgan who was my mentor and friend was from a totally different generation and saw music and worship in music very differently. We had many heated discussions about our difference in Music. One time he said to me, almost everyone in our church wants hymns and traditional music. I said it can’t be, why would we have grown so much, and why would they stay around, since we have never sung the old traditional hymns much. Therefore, I decided maybe there were a lot who we might be able to reach and minister to with this type of music. I did a survey. I asked folks who were interested in a more traditional service with hymns to come to a meeting after each service to discuss and consider. This was just three years ago. We had 50 people show up following all the services combined. (including my mother) That was out of 1500 attending. Now over 2200 attend any given week our services. Of the 50, 12-15 wanted a traditional service, and of that only about 4 were willing to have that service at another time other than Sunday morning, since our Sunday morning services 10 and 1130 were already pretty full. I realized there were a few who did but not many. Dr. Morgan and I loved each other; I miss him so much and don’t mean this to reflect negatively on him, or me. We both respectfully disagreed and yet we loved each other and worshiped together until his death this past March.

A few of those who really wanted more traditional left our church and went to a church where they sung the traditional hymns. That is fine. There is nothing wrong if you can’t worship with one style, to go to the church where you can worship. Our competition as I told two believers today is not with the church down the street its. Satan. I refuse to battle anyone over style or music. Go where you can best worship. On the other hand, if God calls you here or somewhere else and you don’t like the style, ask God to change you or give you a new perspective to at least accept that it might be different but this is where God wants me. Certainly if you are bored, or feel you can’t worship in a church you shouldn’t be there. There might be some in our church that need to look for church that their style of worship fits them better. That is not bad. Its ok, to leave a church for that reason. It isn’t ok, to be bored, bitter or get angry. God wants us to Worship Him and not be distracted. I’m sorry even though I wish I could please everyone, I can’t, and that is just a fact.

What I will do is try to please my Heavenly father and my savior.

4. I have learned when someone says everyone, or many, or most, they really mean a few of the people I hang out with. I don’t ever take a general statement serious, unless they can provide a list. Usually they can give me a few. If our whole church didn’t like the music, why are we growing, by hundreds some years? WE have grown at least 250 this year since our 7Now started in late January... How could we have baptized 110 last week and have 20 + more and maybe even more this week to baptize? How in the world could someone have been bored last week in a service where we witnessed almost 4 minutes of baptisms back to back on a video from last weeks baptism? I have watched it five times now and I get choked up every time... The average church baptized 6 last year!!! I will not loose focus on Being disciples and making disciples, and I won’t let a few complaints on our music deter who we have been for 16 years and continue to be.

I hope if you have read this entire post, you understand while I might disagree with a group in our church as to preference and style of music, I don’t judge them or even say they are wrong. Different strokes for different folks. Please try to understand my heart. I have to continue to focus on what God called me to 16 years ago. "To be and Make Disciples. " I invite you to join me this week and let us put aside a difference or two and focus on Christ and the

Mission

he has led us to. (Oh and by the way if my mentor and beloved friend Dr. Morgan and my own mom could not get me to change the music, you’re not going to!!! Sorry!!)

As with anything I know I over killed this in explanation but it’s worth it if one person understands better why we do what we do.  

Boredom, Worship and Variety (Controversial Subjects)

This is the Same article I posted last week on Worship, but is cleaned up a bit.

Hopefully we can edit down some for those who would like to have this when they talk to friends who might not understand why we do what we do.

I hate controversial subjects! I don’t like confrontation!! However, I have learned over the years there is a time to confront and a time to discuss things that tend to be controversial. I try not to pick fights or debates. I think it is a waste of time and the devil loves to have Christians spend their time on debating their preferences and personal desires. When these things tend to come into the church and more specifically our church then I am going to take it on and confront it. I was called as the Pastor to start this church 16 years ago this month. It was a call of God, not a denomination or even a church. God gave me a very specific call and direction of what type of church He wanted me to start and Pastor. I am committed to that call more today than ever. With hundreds coming to Christ and joining our church over these many years, there are only a few that remember the beginning and our foundation from where we have come. I am very fortunate to be the founding pastor and so since day one, I understand the vision, philosophy and strategy God gave us. We have spent three weeks recently, discussing our Purpose “To be and Make Disciples”; by holding up, three core values, Worship, Community, and

Mission

. I won’t go into that. However, today’s post is about strategy of carrying out our

Mission

. We used to call it the Pembroke Strategy. It was done in an acrostic and the “R” stood for “Relevant Music and Worship” 

The most controversial area of any church is and has always seemed to be Music. That part of Worship has had more to do with Church splits and divisions than any other thing by far. Why not, it started in Heaven, when the chief musician Lucifer led a revolt of half the angelic host against God himself. I used to tell a joke when Churches had choirs. that when Satan fell he fell into the Choir. Of course, I was kidding but there is some thread of truth that I believe from the fall of Lucifer, music has been used to bring the greatest honor and worship to God. It has also brought the most pain. Not because it’s bad!!

Since the beginning of our church 16 years ago, I have brought a message at least once a year on Music and Worship and why we worship with the music and style we do. I did that up until two years ago. I actually told our staff not long ago how for the first time in the last two years we haven’t had to deal with Music church wide in a message.

That was just recently. Then all the sudden I began to get one or two connection cards each week with pretty much the same theme each time. They surfaced again this past weekend. This time 3 connection cards had them. ( I know its only 3 out of hundreds of cards, and most times it isn’t more than one in a week unless its from several who sit together and say about the same thing, its funny its like they talk about what they need to write)

Now before I go further I want to make it clear, I appreciate those who are willing to write a comment on a card and sign it. I respect that. I don’t expect anyone to agree with everything. We say it’s a connection card and it can be negative or positive, im fine with that as long as it’s signed. I don’t even read a whole note if it’s anonymous, it is torn up immediately and no one else sees it and I will never discuss it. I feel someone to write something critical anonymously is wrong, and cowardly, and we can’t follow up and help explain why we did what we did. So therefore, we don’t even consider it. However, when someone writes a comment, we take it seriously. We might not be able to do anything about it. A comment doesn’t mean we will make a change. However, we will definitely read it and always give it consideration. Over the years, we have had thousands of comments and some have been a great help to help us improve. However, we can’t always accommodate or change. Music is one of the things we get comments on from time to time. Most of the time we address it in a message.This Time Iam blogging so I can be on the record and in the future send those who need a clarification of why we do what we do to my blog.

Now I’m warning you this is long and if this isn’t a big deal to you or an issue don’t worry about reading it all. Back to the 3 connection cards, we received this week that sum up the concerns over the last 16 years and to some extent in a general way for hundreds of years.

1. The music is too loud!!
2. The music is boring!!
3. More variety and hymns that are traditional. (then sometimes someone will complain that they don’t want a new song, to learn, stick with what we know we cant win, you cant add variety and not learn new songs, at least I haven’t figured out how yet)

Now I did not type out the 3 cards from this past week exactly. One said we need more diversity in music, named 5 different styles. One mentioned diversity in the realm of I assume age, and culture.

Now before I attempt to clarify some things, let me mention some comments from the same services the prior complaints came from.

1. Thank you for providing a place for me and my family to come and Worship God

2. God bless you for all the Wonderful work that especially Chris (our worship pastor) and the young people are doing.

3. I enjoy the praise and worship

4. As always great job with worship, Chris (worship Pastor) you have a real gift

5. I’m thankful to be able to come to the safest place on earth, “spiritual community” Overall worship comment

6. Chris /Great Worship!!! (My mom, she is 76 years old) She hasn’t always liked our music whether loud or style. Understandable! She might kill me but she is the only name im revealing.

Now let’s discuss Worship in Music

.Worship Music Boring? That is assuming that Music should be entertaining. We don’t come to church for entertainment. Now don’t get me wrong, we don’t want to bore someone in anything, too many churches do that. However, if it’s boring then why? What is the expectation? Is it to please me? Is Worship all about me and making me feel good? Well we’ve already spent two weeks this year in messages about worship and music. You should be able to pick up a c.d. or listen online to those.

Wikipedia says boredom is: an unpleasant, transient affective state in which the individual feels a pervasive lack of interest in and difficulty concentration on the current activity.

If you come to our church and your bored, which means you cannot worship based on this definition, then either the church is the problem or the individual is the problem. I won’t say which one is which. That is for God to judge.

I would not attend nor be a part of any church or for that fact any organization if im bored. I would go where I could Worship. Music in our church is to lead us into worship and stimulate our worship of our God.

Wikipedia defines worship:  Specific acts of religious praise, honor or devotion, typically directed to a supernatural being such as God…………..

Other definitions I have read say “to ascribe worth to a supernatural being”

To worship God makes it impossible to be bored as a believer.

Now lets consider what this means.

We all like different styles. It goes back to our generation, might be cultural, or just taste. Don’t judge worship at any church based on preference of style.

Our church has a more contemporary style. We have never done many traditional hymns. That was decided early on. Most hymns many of us grew up with are hundreds of years old. They are not relevant in their words and their language to 21 century. They might be good; they might have a great message. I love the old hymns, but we have decided to sing new songs. Songs that have the same message but with today’s language and style. We can’t do all styles. We might do several different styles. We do some hymns and do them in a contemporary way. It is proven you do not reach this generation by singing songs 400 years old. We want to be relevant as Paul wanted to be relevant in the New Testament.

The Bible even says sing a new Song!!

Sometimes someone says give more variety, then someone says in the same service, why are you teaching us a new song, we don’t know the song. The bottom line is we can not please everyone. We are who we are and who we have been for 16 years.

We have had three primary worship leaders in that time. Each time there is a change, some folks miss the old way it was done, some love the new way, and personality. One is not wrong and one is not right. It is all part of life. Change happens.

Music is too loud. Well it might be for some of us. Sometimes it’s been too loud for me, and sometimes too soft. In the same service, one will say its too loud and one too soft. Obviously, there is no way to fix that one!!! Read Revelation 7:9-10 I think music in heaven and worship is going to be loud. We need to get used to it I guess.

For some, Maybe ear plugs. (im serious  it will help, maybe moving to a diff. part of the auditorium can help. )  I promise when it is overall too loud, we know and we work on it, it’s evident. However, we won’t be able to make it just right. Not possible. I wish I could please everyone but I can’t.

We have had some great music over the years and some lousy music, let’s face it. However, I can tell you our worship music right now is as good as I have ever heard it. It isn’t always, exactly like you or I want or Chris or the worship team wants. Are you always at your best everyday? Remember we are doing 12 services, and all but our worship pastors are volunteers. They are giving many hours of their time to lead us in worship. Chris and his team have in the matter of one year, added something like 50 new musicians. That is Phenomenal and might be more new musicians, bands and worship teams formed and trained in one year than any church in the

United States

.

In the past, we have been criticized for only having a few that could sing, and play. Now we have many involved, but they might not always be the look or age you like. When someone says, we need more diversity I imagine they mean in age and culture. We have both, we have lots of young people, and we have never had young people involved. They are the future of the church. At one juncture, we had all middle aged leading. I think its one of the greatest things I have ever seen in my 30 years. However, we also have some who have been around awhile. My wife Tonia has been singing with the praise teams since we started the church, she still is involved in the Pines praise team at least once or twice a month on weekends, as well as a few other mid lifers, wont mention them so they don’t get offended, they think they are still young.. However, she isn’t at all the services. There are others that are not 20 something’s. Diversity in culture is all over our church including our worship, our teaching team, and lay leadership. It was humorous I received a note this week in a service about more diversity and it was the service that Fish Figueroa spoke, which in case you don’t know, Fish is Latin and he is in his twenties. We have teachers in their twenties and then there are the old guys, myself, Pat and Wayman (sorry guys). We probably have more diversity not only in our church membership but our lay leadership than any church in

America (Since this was first written we also have a campus pastor who is Armeanian /West African, and another teaching pastor who is Jamaican)  (Our two primary Worship leaders in Pines are Latin and Jamaican)

.

Concluding remarks

1. Some say we need more variety. We have about 100 songs that are used in worship. That is about what y church in which I grew up in always did that hymns had. Do you know in my 30 years of singing out of a hymnal probably ¾ of the songs in the hymnal we never sang once? They are rotated at our church s as they were in my former church. . New ones are being added all the time. We like to sing familiar songs, but we also believe new ones are fresh and challenge us in their message. Some say, from time to time songs repeat them selves in newer songs. Well let me refer to Psalms 136, the writer seems bent on repeating, “His Love Endures Forever” Check that one out. In Revelation the Angels repeat themselves too “Holy, Holy, Holy”
2. New and Innovative Worship Music is not new. In my home church where I grew up our pastor introduced the orchestra in the late 70s, there were lots who didn’t like it im sure... Some churches split over orchestras. That was innovative and new. Go back in church history, the piano was introduced to bar room tunes (we now know them as hymns) and many were appalled since the piano was in the bars. Also find piano or organ in the bible, can’t find it. However, you will find those cymbals and drums!! Hmmm!!!
3. Different Strokes for different folks.

Dr. Morgan who was my mentor and friend was from a totally different generation and saw music and worship in music very differently. We had many heated discussions about our difference in Music. One time he said to me, almost everyone in our church wants hymns and traditional music. I said it can’t be, why would we have grown so much, and why would they stay around, since we have never sung the old traditional hymns much. Therefore, I decided maybe there were a lot who we might be able to reach and minister to with this type of music. I did a survey. I asked folks who were interested in a more traditional service with hymns to come to a meeting after each service to discuss and consider. This was just three years ago. We had 50 people show up following all the services combined. (including my mother) That was out of 1500 attending. Now over 2200 attend any given week our services. Of the 50, 12-15 wanted a traditional service, and of that only about 4 were willing to have that service at another time other than Sunday morning, since our Sunday morning services 10 and 1130 were already pretty full. I realized there were a few who did but not many. Dr. Morgan and I loved each other; I miss him so much and don’t mean this to reflect negatively on him, or me. We both respectfully disagreed and yet we loved each other and worshiped together until his death this past March.

A few of those who really wanted more traditional left our church and went to a church where they sung the traditional hymns. That is fine. There is nothing wrong if you can’t worship with one style, to go to the church where you can worship. Our competition as I told two believers today is not with the church down the street its. Satan. I refuse to battle anyone over style or music. Go where you can best worship. On the other hand, if God calls you here or somewhere else and you don’t like the style, ask God to change you or give you a new perspective to at least accept that it might be different but this is where God wants me. Certainly if you are bored, or feel you can’t worship in a church you shouldn’t be there. There might be some in our church that need to look for church that their style of worship fits them better. That is not bad. Its ok, to leave a church for that reason. It isn’t ok, to be bored, bitter or get angry. God wants us to Worship Him and not be distracted. I’m sorry even though I wish I could please everyone, I can’t, and that is just a fact.

What I will do is try to please my Heavenly father and my savior.

4. I have learned when someone says everyone, or many, or most, they really mean a few of the people I hang out with. I don’t ever take a general statement serious, unless they can provide a list. Usually they can give me a few. If our whole church didn’t like the music, why are we growing, by hundreds some years? WE have grown at least 250 this year since our 7Now started in late January... How could we have baptized 110 last week and have 20 + more and maybe even more this week to baptize? How in the world could someone have been bored last week in a service where we witnessed almost 4 minutes of baptisms back to back on a video from last weeks baptism? I have watched it five times now and I get choked up every time... The average church baptized 6 last year!!! I will not loose focus on Being disciples and making disciples, and I won’t let a few complaints on our music deter who we have been for 16 years and continue to be.

I hope if you have read this entire post, you understand while I might disagree with a group in our church as to preference and style of music, I don’t judge them or even say they are wrong. Different strokes for different folks. Please try to understand my heart. I have to continue to focus on what God called me to 16 years ago. "To be and Make Disciples. " I invite you to join me this week and let us put aside a difference or two and focus on Christ and the

Mission

he has led us to. (Oh and by the way if my mentor and beloved friend Dr. Morgan and my own mom could not get me to change the music, you’re not going to!!! Sorry!!)

As with anything I know I over killed this in explanation but it’s worth it if one person understands better why we do what we do.  

Happy 4th of July....... Weekly Email

Dear Extended Oasis Family:

This is the weekly email I sent to our local Oasis Family. Its been a while since Ive sent the email. 

Hope you have a great July 4th , Weekend.  

"Today I shared some thoughts on this weekend's July 4th, Independence Day holiday with our Pastor's Inner Circle Prayer partners as part of my weekly Prayer newsletter. I thought some of it might be of interest to our Oasis family globally. So, below along with some of the other things going on around Oasis Church I wanted to share it with you.
 
"This being the 4th of July holiday weekend approaching, I thought I would mention something that has been on my heart lately and also very much in the news. While we celebrate our freedom in so many areas of life along with the freedom to worship as we please, there are so many around the world that have none of the basic freedoms we take for granted each day. While thousands have given their lives over the last 200 years so that we could have the enormous freedoms we enjoy as Americans, there are thousands giving their lives today around the world trying to fight for the freedom we hardly even acknowledge. That is why I feel July 4th is so important to remember.

For the many, and I mean hundreds, in our church who were not born here in the USA, you might not really take July 4th the same way someone born here does. You might take it more serious since many come from countries that do not have the freedoms many of us were born into and inherited. So many of you chose to come here; you wanted to enjoy what a blessed land we have. At the same time, some might think it's only for native Americans to celebrate. I'll leave it to you as to how you celebrate, but one thing we can all do is to pray for those around the world that do not yet enjoy and may never experience the Freedom we have.
 
This week we have seen the realities of oppression, dictatorial regimes and evil leaders. From Honduras to Venezuela to Iran, where the people are crying out for individual freedoms. The human heart cries out to be free. Please pray for those in countries around the world this Independence Day weekend that are being oppressed, jailed and martyred for their faith. We can't even imagine what it would be like to have no freedoms as a woman. It is unimaginable what is going on in the Muslim world today to women. Please pray that God will release the oppressed and persecuted around the world. In China the Christian church has to worship underground, in homes, and wherever else they can find to meet. In places like Vietnam and North Korea, Christians can be jailed for their faith, beaten and even killed. 

Are you starting to get the picture of how great it is to live in a free country? We have missionaries that minister under these conditions around the world. Please remember them also. We will also have a young lady here this weekend, (Pines Campus) who will sing with our Praise team, who is going to China this year to teach as an underground missionary. You'll hear Jen Brown sing this weekend."

Summer of Love continues this weekend and all week at our 7 Nights of Worship. The title is FREE LOVE and the LAW of LIBERTY.  Please take the time to read I Corinthians 8-10 before coming to church this week. We won't be able to read the entire passage during the service, so if you do it now, it will help prepare you for the message this week. Appropriately, on July 4th Weekend, we will discuss the Liberty we have as a Christian and the Freedom we have in Christ. I hope you will be here. The first two messages, "Love Will Keep Us Together" and "Making Love", are on our website. You can listen to them, or watch the video podcast here. 

Truth Trek is coming to our Oasis North Miami Campus on July 19. If you are a parent of a preschool or elementary child at our NoMi campus, you will want to get your children signed up for our annual Vacation Bible School. If you desire more info and need to sign them up, go HERE. Get them signed up now while there are still spaces. 

Community Group Leader training. If you would like to check out the possibility of becoming a Community Group Leader, you need to come to our next training. For more info go here.

Two Incredibly Awesome People You Need to Meet!!! You really need to go HERE and meet them.

Have a wonderful and safe Independence Day. I am looking forward to seeing you this weekend. I am also looking forward to speaking at our North Miami Campus this Sunday at 11 a.m. If you go to Pines, I invite you to come down. Same great worship in music, same message in the Summer of Love series. I'VE GOT ANOTHER NEW T-SHIRT FOR THE SUMMER OF LOVE. BUT YOU GOTTA COME SUNDAY TO SEE WHAT IT IS!!!  

God bless you and thanks for being such a wonderful church family. It's a privilege to serve you and this church family.

Guy Melton
Pastor
Oasis Church
http://www.guymelton.com
http://www.visitoasis.org

Why do I love Thee, Let me count the ways!!!!!!!!!

The day that changed my LIFE FOREVER was 34 years ago Today...June 26, 1975, the day I married my high school Sweetheart. There are two blog posts I would love to share with you that take us back to when we were just 19 years old and full of hope, and anticipation for the future. Some beautiful pictures of my young bride and wife.  CLICK HERE  

This past week we were having breakfast, and it was one of those days that you seem to wake up on the wrong side of the bed. There were these little jabs going on, and all of a sudden I realized, this is crazy. I love this woman more than anything. She is so awesome, and I need to remind myself of that, and forget the little things that can distract me. So I decided for the rest of the day I was going to think of the things I think are awesome about my lovely wife of 34 years. When I was with her I told her, when I wasn't, I just thought of them and made a note of what a lucky guy I am. Here are some of the things that came to mind last week on that day.  Some of the things I appreciate about Tonia: (not in this particular order)

• She loves God deeply and it shows. It grows each year. She puts HIM first. This is not just your expected platitude, she is deeply spiritual, and it shows at home and in the private times.
• Tonia is so organized, and disciplined
• She is deeply committed to her friends. One of the most loyal friends I have ever seen. She has been at the side of a number of friends on their dying bed and walked through deep days with them. She is at her best when standing with friends going through tough times.
• A model mother, who always put her children and their needs before her desires. The sacrifices she has made are phenomenal.
• The Perfect grandmother. (her grandmother name is Ta-Ta, you'll  have to ask her how she got that name, it actually goes back to one of those friends she stood with in death)
• I cant speak for my daughters-in-law, but I think they would also agree, that Tonia is an amazing mother- in- law. She works incredibly hard to be a support, and friend and to try to not get in the way. She loves her daughters-in-law, I really believe, as if they were her own daughters. Which they are!!!!  
• She has been a faithful wife to her vows  for 34 years.  She and I both are able to look each other in the eyes, and truthfully say we have never had sex with any other person, before or after we were married. This might seem TMI, and I had to think about it before saying it, but in a day like ours, I think it's important for our young people to know it can still be true in our day. It is!!! 
• Tonia has always loved my mom and been a wonderful daughter-in-law. She is also a great sister in-law, aunt, and great-aunt.  
• Years ago she made a commitment to keeping her body fit and to take care of it. She eats right, and takes care of herself. I honestly think she is more beautiful today than ever...and Healthy. 
• Her work ethic is incredible.
• Authentic is the word for my wife.
• A Pastor's wife who models for all who see and know her, what it means to be yourself, and do what God calls you to do and not try to be something you aren't. She is real!!!!
• Selfless to the point, she volunteers at a Homeless ministry in downtown Fort Lauderdale each week, and no one knows that until now. She did it because God led her to do it.
• Always on Time!! I mean, Ladies come on, many of you are known to be late for everything and your husbands are always waiting on you. But not Her, she is always on time and even early. (and sometimes waits on me!!)
• Incredible Daughter, even today.  She loves her parents and shows it. They are so proud of her as well!!  A loving sister.
• Patient, long suffering and willing to be flexible. This should not have to be explained but all of this shows in just having lived with me for 34 years. Can you even imagine what she has to deal with?
• Loves to mentor younger women, love them, and encourage them.
• Has given up much to be a Pastor's wife. Still drives a 12 year old car, and has never complained about what we don't have. (well, except the VW Bug she wants, but won't get for a while..sorry, Babe)
• Has a gift of giving and loves to do it.
• Frugal, and while she loves to shop, is very good at shopping on the cheap, my word not hers. I am amazed how she can shop all day and spend $7.00 and enjoy it.
• Loves Oasis Church and has made sacrifices no one but God and I would ever know, in the 17 years since we started the church. I will always be grateful. She has never begrudged the time, and energy I have spent pastoring this church. She has made great sacrifice, and honestly I don't think I've ever heard her complain, except the year I almost missed Christmas doing something at the church when we were new, which I felt was needed but she didn't. One exception!
• She loves Missions and if she hadn't married a Pastor would have probably been a Missionary.
• One of the most smooth, genuine singers I have ever heard. she is still my favorite singer.  What I love is that I know she lives what she sings.  Has a lifetime of  proof.
• These are just a few, from cooking to cleaning, loving, supporting, giving, praying. Tonia is all and more than any man could ever hope for in a wife. I am so thankful that God has allowed me 34 years with her. (She did burn down a field when she was little and would beat up her brother, and lie about one brother so he would get a spanking, so you won't think she is perfect. No, she is not)
• How  does the saying go? How many ways do I love Thee?  Many, many ways my Love!!! I have counted but a few. 
• Happy Birthday Babe, and Happy Anniversary!!!!! I'm so proud of you.  

The Day that Changed my life Forever!!!!!!

This Post was written last year on our Anniversary. I thought it was definitely worth re-posting. I am married to my high school sweetheart 34 years later. I love her more today than ever. Happy Birthday Babe and Happy 34 Anniversary. 

June 26, 2008 

The Day that Changed my Life Forever!!!!

 Thursday, June 26, 1975, was the day that changed my life forever. For that I am grateful!!! 33 years ago tonight, Tonia and I were married in our home church First Baptist Church of West Hollywood, at the corner of Taft St. and 441. We stayed just 4 miles from our present downtown Hollywood home, for the first night of our Honeymoon. It was and still is the Marco Polo in Sunny Isles. Just south of Hollywood. Today as I drive by it is definitely dated and not the contemporary high rise it was in that day. But it was the beginning of a journey that has been nothing less than phenomenal. That night, as this young 19 year old, college student opened all the envelopes with the anticipation of enough gift money to take us to Disney World the next day for our Honeymoon; I would have never imagined that 33 years later, I would be more in love with my high school sweetheart than on my wedding  night. I would have never dreamed I would think she is more beautiful today than that day at the age of 19. But I really do!!!  Actually even more so.  I didn't dream, I would be pastoring a church like Oasis, in 3 locations, every night of the week, 70 countries from around the world. I had grown up in a very conservative, legalistic church  background, in a South Florida that was more deep south. Nothing like today. But I love it and even more I love Tonia for being willing to take this journey with me and not just support me in it, but has had so much to do with what God has done here. She has been an awesome Pastor's wife and help mate/soul mate. I would have never dreamed I would have 3 grown sons, and two grandsons. You just can't think that far ahead when you're 19 years old on your wedding night. I would have never dreamed, we would have traveled to the Mediterranean, Italy, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada, practically every state in the USA and Israel two times. This was a kid who grew up in a 2 bedroom house in old Miramar, with 5 other family members, one bath and about 899 sq. feet. Never saw a mountain till my senior year. Never left Florida till I was 18 years old. I didn't see snow until my freshman year of College.

We have had our ups and downs like any couple. We have our disagreements, and our moments. We get irritated at each other. Our sons were normal (are) boys who got into trouble and didn't always live up to what some people felt the Pastor's Kids should be. As if Pastor's kids chose that role. But I am so proud of them and the men they have become. Who would have dreamed one would live in New York City, one in Indian Harbor Beach and one just a mile away in downtown Hollywood. We have had family disappoint us, friends let us down, watched other pastor friends and their families fall apart. We have journeyed through the dark days like anyone's family. 

But 33 years later tonight, I would not trade the vows I made on June 26,1975 to Tonia Felice Gilmore. I would do it all over again. I said, "Till death do us part"...I hope to continue to live out that vow. That day in June, changed my life forever and I am so glad it did. I LOVE YOU BABE, MORE THAN EVER !!!!!!! THANKS FOR YOUR LOVE FOR ME, OUR BOYS, OUR GRANDSONS, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND SO MANY OTHERS YOU HAVE SHARED YOURSELF WITH, THESE 33 YEARS. YOU'RE A SAINT!!!! 

CLICK HERE  TO SEE THE OTHER POST THAT GOES WITH THIS AND SOME GREAT PICS OF MY LOVELY WIFE OF 33 YEARS .

Comments

Now that was beautiful. Well written, passionate and honest. Thanks for sharing your heart with us Pastor Guy. Also...thanks for being such a great model of how to love, cherish & protect your wife...just as Christ said we should model how He loves the church. I pray your love for each other only grows & in another 33 years we'll be in awe of your relationship yet still. Blessings 2 u both!!!

Posted by: Warren C | June 27, 2008 at 01:47 PM

That's what i am talking about! That's a story worth telling you guys are great God bless you both! and hoping you have another 33yrs...(you can do it my grandparents did or came pretty close(66)) and they were one of those "until death do us part" couple.

Posted by: Sophia | June 28, 2008 at 09:27 PM

 

 Thursday, June 26, 1975, was the day that changed my life forever. For that I am grateful!!! 33 years ago tonight, Tonia and I were married in our home church First Baptist Church of West Hollywood, at the corner of Taft St. and 441. We stayed just 4 miles from our present downtown Hollywood home, for the first night of our Honeymoon. It was and still is the Marco Polo in Sunny Isles. Just south of Hollywood. Today as I drive by it is definitely dated and not the contemporary high rise it was in that day. But it was the beginning of a journey that has been nothing less than phenomenal. That night, as this young 19 year old, college student opened all the envelopes with the anticipation of enough gift money to take us to Disney World the next day for our Honeymoon; I would have never imagined that 33 years later, I would be more in love with my high school sweetheart than on my wedding  night. I would have never dreamed I would think she is more beautiful today than that day at the age of 19. But I really do!!!  Actually even more so.  I didn't dream, I would be pastoring a church like Oasis, in 3 locations, every night of the week, 70 countries from around the world. I had grown up in a very conservative, legalistic church  background, in a South Florida that was more deep south. Nothing like today. But I love it and even more I love Tonia for being willing to take this journey with me and not just support me in it, but has had so much to do with what God has done here. She has been an awesome Pastor's wife and help mate/soul mate. I would have never dreamed I would have 3 grown sons, and two grandsons. You just can't think that far ahead when you're 19 years old on your wedding night. I would have never dreamed, we would have traveled to the Mediterranean, Italy, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada, practically every state in the USA and Israel two times. This was a kid who grew up in a 2 bedroom house in old Miramar, with 5 other family members, one bath and about 899 sq. feet. Never saw a mountain till my senior year. Never left Florida till I was 18 years old. I didn't see snow until my freshman year of College.

We have had our ups and downs like any couple. We have our disagreements, and our moments. We get irritated at each other. Our sons were normal (are) boys who got into trouble and didn't always live up to what some people felt the Pastor's Kids should be. As if Pastor's kids chose that role. But I am so proud of them and the men they have become. Who would have dreamed one would live in New York City, one in Indian Harbor Beach and one just a mile away in downtown Hollywood. We have had family disappoint us, friends let us down, watched other pastor friends and their families fall apart. We have journeyed through the dark days like anyone's family. 

But 33 years later tonight, I would not trade the vows I made on June 26,1975 to Tonia Felice Gilmore. I would do it all over again. I said, "Till death do us part"...I hope to continue to live out that vow. That day in June, changed my life forever and I am so glad it did. I LOVE YOU BABE, MORE THAN EVER !!!!!!! THANKS FOR YOUR LOVE FOR ME, OUR BOYS, OUR GRANDSONS, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND SO MANY OTHERS YOU HAVE SHARED YOURSELF WITH, THESE 33 YEARS. YOU'RE A SAINT!!!! 

CLICK HERE  TO SEE THE OTHER POST THAT GOES WITH THIS AND SOME GREAT PICS OF MY LOVELY WIFE OF 33 YEARS .

Comments

The Day that Changed my Life Forever!!!!

 Thursday, June 26, 1975, was the day that changed my life forever. For that I am grateful!!! 33 years ago tonight, Tonia and I were married in our home church First Baptist Church of West Hollywood, at the corner of Taft St. and 441. We stayed just 4 miles from our present downtown Hollywood home, for the first night of our Honeymoon. It was and still is the Marco Polo in Sunny Isles. Just south of Hollywood. Today as I drive by it is definitely dated and not the contemporary high rise it was in that day. But it was the beginning of a journey that has been nothing less than phenomenal. That night, as this young 19 year old, college student opened all the envelopes with the anticipation of enough gift money to take us to Disney World the next day for our Honeymoon; I would have never imagined that 33 years later, I would be more in love with my high school sweetheart than on my wedding  night. I would have never dreamed I would think she is more beautiful today than that day at the age of 19. But I really do!!!  Actually even more so.  I didn't dream, I would be pastoring a church like Oasis, in 3 locations, every night of the week, 70 countries from around the world. I had grown up in a very conservative, legalistic church  background, in a South Florida that was more deep south. Nothing like today. But I love it and even more I love Tonia for being willing to take this journey with me and not just support me in it, but has had so much to do with what God has done here. She has been an awesome Pastor's wife and help mate/soul mate. I would have never dreamed I would have 3 grown sons, and two grandsons. You just can't think that far ahead when you're 19 years old on your wedding night. I would have never dreamed, we would have traveled to the Mediterranean, Italy, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada, practically every state in the USA and Israel two times. This was a kid who grew up in a 2 bedroom house in old Miramar, with 5 other family members, one bath and about 899 sq. feet. Never saw a mountain till my senior year. Never left Florida till I was 18 years old. I didn't see snow until my freshman year of College.

We have had our ups and downs like any couple. We have our disagreements, and our moments. We get irritated at each other. Our sons were normal (are) boys who got into trouble and didn't always live up to what some people felt the Pastor's Kids should be. As if Pastor's kids chose that role. But I am so proud of them and the men they have become. Who would have dreamed one would live in New York City, one in Indian Harbor Beach and one just a mile away in downtown Hollywood. We have had family disappoint us, friends let us down, watched other pastor friends and their families fall apart. We have journeyed through the dark days like anyone's family. 

But 33 years later tonight, I would not trade the vows I made on June 26,1975 to Tonia Felice Gilmore. I would do it all over again. I said, "Till death do us part"...I hope to continue to live out that vow. That day in June, changed my life forever and I am so glad it did. I LOVE YOU BABE, MORE THAN EVER !!!!!!! THANKS FOR YOUR LOVE FOR ME, OUR BOYS, OUR GRANDSONS, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND SO MANY OTHERS YOU HAVE SHARED YOURSELF WITH, THESE 33 YEARS. YOU'RE A SAINT!!!! 

CLICK HERE  TO SEE THE OTHER POST THAT GOES WITH THIS AND SOME GREAT PICS OF MY LOVELY WIFE OF 33 YEARS .

Comments

Who is this HUNK??????????

 

This post was simple and short but very popular. Most of our old church members will remember little Corey. Now he is married , living in New York City, and serving as the Administrative Assistant to the Executive Pastor. He loves his job , his boss, his pastor, and his new adoptive city of New York.

Originally posted on May 08, 2008

Who is This HUNK???????????

Corey(our youngest son) in Central Park, New York City. One Block from his Church!! Strong Resemblence, HMMMMMM!!!!! Of course, without the guitar!!!!!

Posted at 01:34 AM in Family/Personal | Permalink

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can i not do ANYTHING without you putting it on your blog?!?!?! Oh, well... good thing only 10 people look at it

Posted by: Corey | May 08, 2008 at 12:25 PM

Hey, Corey...Make that 11! I just looked at it. Nice shot, by the way!!

Posted by: Ranelle | May 08, 2008 at 12:31 PM

Huh!!! You love it!!!
By the way, in the next 24 hours there will be between 500 and a 1000 people read my blog!!! Or should I say see your pic!!! After all Im proud , you look just like me!!!! Love you
Dad

Posted by: guy | May 08, 2008 at 12:49 PM

Actually Ranelle, you were already included in the 10. And Ranelle, let me thank you again for visiting my dads blog so many hundreds of times throughout the day everyday to make him feel like people really go on his site. : ) HAHa

Posted by: Corey | May 08, 2008 at 02:31 PM

Hey, what am I? Shopped liver? I visit at least a couple hundred times a day...

Nice pic Corey.

Too bad my family/friends feel that way about me too. I hang all their business out to dry.

Posted by: Jen | May 08, 2008 at 04:23 PM

hey Corey! i read ur dad's blog 2!!!

Posted by: David B | May 08, 2008 at 05:18 PM

Hey Corey - great pic! Your Dad makes me, uh invites me to read his blog too. Hope you're doing well.

Posted by: gabi | May 08, 2008 at 08:45 PM

Shopped, chopped. Dang it! Were did that com frum. Im usally a grate speler.

Posted by: Jen | May 10, 2008 at 08:55 AM

Core, you know you love the attention! Always have....

Posted by: Jim | May 11, 2008 at 06:56 PM

Central Park?! That's awesome!!

He needs to visit surge next time he's down!!!!!

Posted by: Gaby | May 12, 2008 at 06:30 PM

 

Corey(our youngest son) in Central Park, New York City. One Block from his Church!! Strong Resemblence, HMMMMMM!!!!! Of course, without the guitar!!!!!

Originally posted on May 08, 2008

Corey(our youngest son) in Central Park, New York City. One Block from his Church!! Strong Resemblence, HMMMMMM!!!!! Of course, without the guitar!!!!!

Tonia Emptied the Mikes Hard Lemonade.............

 

Once again I am sharing one of the most read Blog Post's of the past two years .  Its ironic the most read blog post's have for the most part been personal in nature. Yesterdays was not , but the next couple are as I continue to remember my first two years of blogging.

  

November 30, 2008

Mike's Hard Lemonade Case Broken out by Tonia Again!!!

  Well, Tonia did it again this past week. She broke out the Mike's Hard Lemonade case again!!!! For the scoop on Mike's see my Blog post from Last year below!!!

Tonight, 5 minutes after the grandsons were packed into the van and headed back to Indian Harbor Beach after 4 days of a great family Thanksgiving, Tonia had me in the garage pulling the Fall/Thanksgiving boxes down. 

Then the boxes with all the Christmas decorations were brought down. All 157 of them. OK, it seemed like that many. All the plan was tonight was to pack away the Thanksgiving. Christmas is Monday. NOT!!! 

Two hours later, many boxes are unloaded, candles, Reindeer singing "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" are set up. Nativities, trees, china, you name it!!! If it's Christmas, red or green it's out!!! Oh, boy, hold on!!!! It's going to be a late night!!!!

November 09, 2007

Tonia Emptied the Mike's Hard Lemonade Case

I came home this week and found a case of "Mike's Hard Lemonade" empty!! My first thought was, "Why is Mike's Hard Lemonade even in my living room?"  Neither Tonia nor I drink any alcoholic beverages. Well, as soon as I looked inside, I realized she had broken open Christmas!!! Yes, Thanksgiving is still all over our house, and we love the fall decor. But, she is getting the Christmas spirit!! It's about time!!! I've been playing Christmas C.D.s for two months. The entire box, is full of Christmas C.D.s, and she had taken her favorites out and put them in her car, and another stack in the kitchen to give to me as the leftovers.

My favorite is on the stack in the picture. It's from Alabama!! Yes, it's country. If you know me, you know I NEVER listen to Country music. Now, I don't like it less than Classical, but I don't like it. Just a preference. But at Christmas, the Alabama C.D. is my favorite. I have listened to it for years. I listen to it from here to Tennessee every year, and every trip I take from October through January. My fav's on the C.D...Thistlehair the Christmas Bear, and Tennessee Christmas. That gives me all the country I need for the rest of the year!!

Thanks, Tonia for breaking out the Christmas. (But, can we use another box, next year?)

  Well, Tonia did it again this past week. She broke out the Mike's Hard Lemonade case again!!!! For the scoop on Mike's see my Blog post from Last year below!!!

Tonight, 5 minutes after the grandsons were packed into the van and headed back to Indian Harbor Beach after 4 days of a great family Thanksgiving, Tonia had me in the garage pulling the Fall/Thanksgiving boxes down. 

Then the boxes with all the Christmas decorations were brought down. All 157 of them. OK, it seemed like that many. All the plan was tonight was to pack away the Thanksgiving. Christmas is Monday. NOT!!! 

Two hours later, many boxes are unloaded, candles, Reindeer singing "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" are set up. Nativities, trees, china, you name it!!! If it's Christmas, red or green it's out!!! Oh, boy, hold on!!!! It's going to be a late night!!!!

November 09, 2007

Tonia Emptied the Mike's Hard Lemonade Case

I came home this week and found a case of "Mike's Hard Lemonade" empty!! My first thought was, "Why is Mike's Hard Lemonade even in my living room?"  Neither Tonia nor I drink any alcoholic beverages. Well, as soon as I looked inside, I realized she had broken open Christmas!!! Yes, Thanksgiving is still all over our house, and we love the fall decor. But, she is getting the Christmas spirit!! It's about time!!! I've been playing Christmas C.D.s for two months. The entire box, is full of Christmas C.D.s, and she had taken her favorites out and put them in her car, and another stack in the kitchen to give to me as the leftovers.

My favorite is on the stack in the picture. It's from Alabama!! Yes, it's country. If you know me, you know I NEVER listen to Country music. Now, I don't like it less than Classical, but I don't like it. Just a preference. But at Christmas, the Alabama C.D. is my favorite. I have listened to it for years. I listen to it from here to Tennessee every year, and every trip I take from October through January. My fav's on the C.D...Thistlehair the Christmas Bear, and Tennessee Christmas. That gives me all the country I need for the rest of the year!!

Thanks, Tonia for breaking out the Christmas. (But, can we use another box, next year?)

I came home this week and found a case of "Mike's Hard Lemonade" empty!! My first thought was, "Why is Mike's Hard Lemonade even in my living room?"  Neither Tonia nor I drink any alcoholic beverages. Well, as soon as I looked inside, I realized she had broken open Christmas!!! Yes, Thanksgiving is still all over our house, and we love the fall decor. But, she is getting the Christmas spirit!! It's about time!!! I've been playing Christmas C.D.s for two months. The entire box, is full of Christmas C.D.s, and she had taken her favorites out and put them in her car, and another stack in the kitchen to give to me as the leftovers.

My favorite is on the stack in the picture. It's from Alabama!! Yes, it's country. If you know me, you know I NEVER listen to Country music. Now, I don't like it less than Classical, but I don't like it. Just a preference. But at Christmas, the Alabama C.D. is my favorite. I have listened to it for years. I listen to it from here to Tennessee every year, and every trip I take from October through January. My fav's on the C.D...Thistlehair the Christmas Bear, and Tennessee Christmas. That gives me all the country I need for the rest of the year!!

Thanks, Tonia for breaking out the Christmas. (But, can we use another box, next year?)

Mike's Hard Lemonade Case Broken out by Tonia Again!!!

  Well, Tonia did it again this past week. She broke out the Mike's Hard Lemonade case again!!!! For the scoop on Mike's see my Blog post from Last year below!!!

Tonight, 5 minutes after the grandsons were packed into the van and headed back to Indian Harbor Beach after 4 days of a great family Thanksgiving, Tonia had me in the garage pulling the Fall/Thanksgiving boxes down. 

Then the boxes with all the Christmas decorations were brought down. All 157 of them. OK, it seemed like that many. All the plan was tonight was to pack away the Thanksgiving. Christmas is Monday. NOT!!! 

Two hours later, many boxes are unloaded, candles, Reindeer singing "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" are set up. Nativities, trees, china, you name it!!! If it's Christmas, red or green it's out!!! Oh, boy, hold on!!!! It's going to be a late night!!!!

November 09, 2007

Tonia Emptied the Mike's Hard Lemonade Case

I came home this week and found a case of "Mike's Hard Lemonade" empty!! My first thought was, "Why is Mike's Hard Lemonade even in my living room?"  Neither Tonia nor I drink any alcoholic beverages. Well, as soon as I looked inside, I realized she had broken open Christmas!!! Yes, Thanksgiving is still all over our house, and we love the fall decor. But, she is getting the Christmas spirit!! It's about time!!! I've been playing Christmas C.D.s for two months. The entire box, is full of Christmas C.D.s, and she had taken her favorites out and put them in her car, and another stack in the kitchen to give to me as the leftovers.

My favorite is on the stack in the picture. It's from Alabama!! Yes, it's country. If you know me, you know I NEVER listen to Country music. Now, I don't like it less than Classical, but I don't like it. Just a preference. But at Christmas, the Alabama C.D. is my favorite. I have listened to it for years. I listen to it from here to Tennessee every year, and every trip I take from October through January. My fav's on the C.D...Thistlehair the Christmas Bear, and Tennessee Christmas. That gives me all the country I need for the rest of the year!!

Thanks, Tonia for breaking out the Christmas. (But, can we use another box, next year?)

I came home this week and found a case of "Mike's Hard Lemonade" empty!! My first thought was, "Why is Mike's Hard Lemonade even in my living room?"  Neither Tonia nor I drink any alcoholic beverages. Well, as soon as I looked inside, I realized she had broken open Christmas!!! Yes, Thanksgiving is still all over our house, and we love the fall decor. But, she is getting the Christmas spirit!! It's about time!!! I've been playing Christmas C.D.s for two months. The entire box, is full of Christmas C.D.s, and she had taken her favorites out and put them in her car, and another stack in the kitchen to give to me as the leftovers.

My favorite is on the stack in the picture. It's from Alabama!! Yes, it's country. If you know me, you know I NEVER listen to Country music. Now, I don't like it less than Classical, but I don't like it. Just a preference. But at Christmas, the Alabama C.D. is my favorite. I have listened to it for years. I listen to it from here to Tennessee every year, and every trip I take from October through January. My fav's on the C.D...Thistlehair the Christmas Bear, and Tennessee Christmas. That gives me all the country I need for the rest of the year!!

Thanks, Tonia for breaking out the Christmas. (But, can we use another box, next year?)

Tonia Emptied the Mike's Hard Lemonade Case

I came home this week and found a case of "Mike's Hard Lemonade" empty!! My first thought was, "Why is Mike's Hard Lemonade even in my living room?"  Neither Tonia nor I drink any alcoholic beverages. Well, as soon as I looked inside, I realized she had broken open Christmas!!! Yes, Thanksgiving is still all over our house, and we love the fall decor. But, she is getting the Christmas spirit!! It's about time!!! I've been playing Christmas C.D.s for two months. The entire box, is full of Christmas C.D.s, and she had taken her favorites out and put them in her car, and another stack in the kitchen to give to me as the leftovers.

My favorite is on the stack in the picture. It's from Alabama!! Yes, it's country. If you know me, you know I NEVER listen to Country music. Now, I don't like it less than Classical, but I don't like it. Just a preference. But at Christmas, the Alabama C.D. is my favorite. I have listened to it for years. I listen to it from here to Tennessee every year, and every trip I take from October through January. My fav's on the C.D...Thistlehair the Christmas Bear, and Tennessee Christmas. That gives me all the country I need for the rest of the year!!

Thanks, Tonia for breaking out the Christmas. (But, can we use another box, next year?)

I Dont Need Oasis Church...................

For those who don't know what I am doing this week, let me give an explanation. This week I celebrated 2 years of blogging, and wanted to share the 10 most read Blog Post during the first 729 post. Each one has had over 1,000 visits and so it tells me  there must have been some interest.

So here is the third one. There are also follow up post at the bottom of this one which gives much more info. You can click on and read them. I do warn you these are the longest post's that I have written yet. If you are a slow reader or one that has a short attention span, you might have a problem. But go ahead and try.

April 19, 2008 

I DON'T NEED OASIS CHURCH

"I don't need Oasis Church!"  These must be the words of a disgruntled member or attender!!! Must be someone who is upset at Oasis! Someone who has left our church over a petty disagreement with style or music!!! No, It isn't. These are the words I spoke this morning about 12:30 A.M. as I was returning Friday, on my day off, from Melbourne.  You might be saying, "But Guy, you're the founding Pastor.  You've been here since the beginning. You were the one God gave the vision for Oasis." It can, and might be confusing to some of you to hear me to say this. But if Oasis Church never met again, I would be OK. I would thrive and I would be a happy man. If a hurricane demolished our buildings, or a fire burned them down, and we could never meet again as a church family -- Oasis Church, I would be fine with that!!!

I will share what made me say this in another post...maybe a few of them. I mean what I say, "I DON'T NEED OASIS CHURCH!!!!!!!"

(wHILE NOT ALL OF THE POST IN THIS SERIES HAD AS MANY READER'S AS THE FIRST ONE, THEY DEFINITELY ARE WORTH THE READ AND MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU EXPECT OR LIKE!!! 

Click Here, and Here and here and Here and one last one HERE

 

Comments

well father, id like to see how you get yourself out of this one...lol

Posted by: Corey | April 19, 2008 at 06:40 PM

Hmm...can't wait to hear this one.

Posted by: Jen | April 19, 2008 at 09:17 PM

Hmm...can't wait to hear this one.

Posted by: Jen | April 19, 2008 at 09:19 PM

hmmmm, I'm anxious too to hear about this! Guess that was the whole purpose of your TEASE.

Posted by: Gabrielle Q. Murray | April 20, 2008 at 09:13 AM

I have a strong feeling I know where this is going. I could be wrong, but just in case I'm right I won't say it, just so the suspense will built even more. :)

Posted by: Kendra | April 20, 2008 at 08:29 PM

like i said earlier...i'm waiting to see how you're going to follow up on this one! :)

Posted by: jenn | April 22, 2008 at 04:42 PM

You don't need Oasis Church, I don't need Oasis Church nobody needs Oasis Church! We need God! Is that where you are going?
I'll be listening. I can't wait for this one.

Posted by: Helen | April 25, 2008 at 11:02 PM

That is soooo true you don't need oasis I don't need oasis no one needs oasis because you know what Pastor Guy It's not about Oasis, it's all about GOD. Guess what we all need GOD and if that was the mouth part of the body of christ that spoke about our music has changed; well..... God will replace it with another mouth to sing more praise to him.

Posted by: Bridget | April 26, 2008 at 12:11 AM

 

"I don't need Oasis Church!"  These must be the words of a disgruntled member or attender!!! Must be someone who is upset at Oasis! Someone who has left our church over a petty disagreement with style or music!!! No, It isn't. These are the words I spoke this morning about 12:30 A.M. as I was returning Friday, on my day off, from Melbourne.  You might be saying, "But Guy, you're the founding Pastor.  You've been here since the beginning. You were the one God gave the vision for Oasis." It can, and might be confusing to some of you to hear me to say this. But if Oasis Church never met again, I would be OK. I would thrive and I would be a happy man. If a hurricane demolished our buildings, or a fire burned them down, and we could never meet again as a church family -- Oasis Church, I would be fine with that!!!

I will share what made me say this in another post...maybe a few of them. I mean what I say, "I DON'T NEED OASIS CHURCH!!!!!!!"

"I don't need Oasis Church!"  These must be the words of a disgruntled member or attender!!! Must be someone who is upset at Oasis! Someone who has left our church over a petty disagreement with style or music!!! No, It isn't. These are the words I spoke this morning about 12:30 A.M. as I was returning Friday, on my day off, from Melbourne.  You might be saying, "But Guy, you're the founding Pastor.  You've been here since the beginning. You were the one God gave the vision for Oasis." It can, and might be confusing to some of you to hear me to say this. But if Oasis Church never met again, I would be OK. I would thrive and I would be a happy man. If a hurricane demolished our buildings, or a fire burned them down, and we could never meet again as a church family -- Oasis Church, I would be fine with that!!!

I will share what made me say this in another post...maybe a few of them. I mean what I say, "I DON'T NEED OASIS CHURCH!!!!!!!"

30 Amazing Years.......................Part 2 and 3

December 12, 2007

This is the second of my Top Ten Favs of the last two years of blogging. I added the 3rd part of this as one of my post, incase your interested in my final thoughts on this BIG day in our lives. 

30 Amazing Years (#2)

Check out  30 Amazing Years #1 for more explanation of this one. It's been an amazing 3 Decades with James Alan Melton. Here are a few pic's to Chronicle it:

4 Months Old 7 months old with an Imangiomi on his eye ( I have no idea how to spell that and neither does my spell check!). He out-grew it at about a year and a half.

One Year old, Downtown Hollywood on Pierce Street and 25 Ave. Our first home in Hollywood out of College.              

First hair cut at Eddie's Barber Shop. Still there at 66th Avenue at Taft Street. Next to Sonny's Steak Hogie's...the best in the world!

                     

Jim has always loved sports. This is where it began. Our house behind my former home church originally named First Baptist Church of West Hollywood. 

  3 years old and he could humm the football. Lefty!!!!!   

Jim and Nate on their first Missions Trip to the Bahamas in 1982. Andros Island.

Colorado Ski Trip with the grandparents. His first time to ski.

Another Colorado ski trip.

Jim loves fishing with Pop's.    

Christmas with Santa. Santa is their grandfather. Tonia managed the Santa in the Mall that year and Pop's dressed up as Santa and none of them ever realized it!!! I don't think they know to this day!!      

                                                              He was  chosen Athlete of the year his 8th grade year, and I was out of town for the banquet. It was hard. I  mention more in the first update email on Jim.

Our Trip out west in 1993. What do you think he is thinking? Grand Canyon, and his little brother (Corey). It's a wonder he didn't push him over!  

Jim drew this at some point during high school for a class. It pretty much sums it up. No commentary!!

College Graduation 2001, Palm Beach Atlantic, with Tonia's Parents.

My Mom

  Celebration, it was a long haul, 5 years at PBA. I was a proud father and maybe the only time I have ever said, "Order anything you want"! We were at a very nice Restaurant in Palm Beach, and he ordered a 2 1/2 Lb Lobster. I'm still paying it off!               

January 1, 2000, we rang in the new Millennium in Jackson Hole Wyoming, snow skiing and snow boarding. Stayed in a youth Hostel, and it still was $100 a night. Yes...Tonia was with us. But not up on the Mountain. She stays by the fire and drinks hot apple cider. (Corey was with us, Nate had his own party in South Florida.)

Following graduation from college Jim and I took a road trip across the United States to Seattle where he spent the next year building homes for Habitat for Humanity. This was the development where he worked. He spent the next two years in Seattle working with troubled, incarcerated youth with Friends of Youth.

His adopted child while in Seattle.

All the Fam is together for Nathan's wedding in 2001.

Gil and Yvonne Gilmore's (Tonia's parents) 50th Wedding Anniversary. (Ma Maw and PaPa)

The boys and Jenni, the best daughter-in-law in the world, a few Christmases ago.

Jim Returns to South Florida, 2005 where he is in his second year of teaching at Hollywood Central in Downtown Hollywood. He loves teaching his 3rd graders.

Jim Sorry I had to include this one so you wouldn't forget your little brother!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                         While the #3 wasnt in the top 10 it finishes up my trip down memory lane. Click here and check it out.   

Check out  30 Amazing Years #1 for more explanation of this one. It's been an amazing 3 Decades with James Alan Melton. Here are a few pic's to Chronicle it:

4 Months Old 7 months old with an Imangiomi on his eye ( I have no idea how to spell that and neither does my spell check!). He out-grew it at about a year and a half.

One Year old, Downtown Hollywood on Pierce Street and 25 Ave. Our first home in Hollywood out of College.              

First hair cut at Eddie's Barber Shop. Still there at 66th Avenue at Taft Street. Next to Sonny's Steak Hogie's...the best in the world!

                     

Jim has always loved sports. This is where it began. Our house behind my former home church originally named First Baptist Church of West Hollywood. 

  3 years old and he could humm the football. Lefty!!!!!   

Jim and Nate on their first Missions Trip to the Bahamas in 1982. Andros Island.

Colorado Ski Trip with the grandparents. His first time to ski.

Another Colorado ski trip.

Jim loves fishing with Pop's.    

Christmas with Santa. Santa is their grandfather. Tonia managed the Santa in the Mall that year and Pop's dressed up as Santa and none of them ever realized it!!! I don't think they know to this day!!      

                                                              He was  chosen Athlete of the year his 8th grade year, and I was out of town for the banquet. It was hard. I  mention more in the first update email on Jim.

Our Trip out west in 1993. What do you think he is thinking? Grand Canyon, and his little brother (Corey). It's a wonder he didn't push him over!  

Jim drew this at some point during high school for a class. It pretty much sums it up. No commentary!!

College Graduation 2001, Palm Beach Atlantic, with Tonia's Parents.

My Mom

  Celebration, it was a long haul, 5 years at PBA. I was a proud father and maybe the only time I have ever said, "Order anything you want"! We were at a very nice Restaurant in Palm Beach, and he ordered a 2 1/2 Lb Lobster. I'm still paying it off!               

January 1, 2000, we rang in the new Millennium in Jackson Hole Wyoming, snow skiing and snow boarding. Stayed in a youth Hostel, and it still was $100 a night. Yes...Tonia was with us. But not up on the Mountain. She stays by the fire and drinks hot apple cider. (Corey was with us, Nate had his own party in South Florida.)

Following graduation from college Jim and I took a road trip across the United States to Seattle where he spent the next year building homes for Habitat for Humanity. This was the development where he worked. He spent the next two years in Seattle working with troubled, incarcerated youth with Friends of Youth.

His adopted child while in Seattle.

All the Fam is together for Nathan's wedding in 2001.

Gil and Yvonne Gilmore's (Tonia's parents) 50th Wedding Anniversary. (Ma Maw and PaPa)

The boys and Jenni, the best daughter-in-law in the world, a few Christmases ago.

Jim Returns to South Florida, 2005 where he is in his second year of teaching at Hollywood Central in Downtown Hollywood. He loves teaching his 3rd graders.

Jim Sorry I had to include this one so you wouldn't forget your little brother!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                         While the #3 wasnt in the top 10 it finishes up my trip down memory lane. Click here and check it out.   

Check out  30 Amazing Years #1 for more explanation of this one. It's been an amazing 3 Decades with James Alan Melton. Here are a few pic's to Chronicle it:

4 Months Old 7 months old with an Imangiomi on his eye ( I have no idea how to spell that and neither does my spell check!). He out-grew it at about a year and a half.

One Year old, Downtown Hollywood on Pierce Street and 25 Ave. Our first home in Hollywood out of College.              

First hair cut at Eddie's Barber Shop. Still there at 66th Avenue at Taft Street. Next to Sonny's Steak Hogie's...the best in the world!

                     

Jim has always loved sports. This is where it began. Our house behind my former home church originally named First Baptist Church of West Hollywood. 

  3 years old and he could humm the football. Lefty!!!!!   

Jim and Nate on their first Missions Trip to the Bahamas in 1982. Andros Island.

Colorado Ski Trip with the grandparents. His first time to ski.

Another Colorado ski trip.

Jim loves fishing with Pop's.    

Christmas with Santa. Santa is their grandfather. Tonia managed the Santa in the Mall that year and Pop's dressed up as Santa and none of them ever realized it!!! I don't think they know to this day!!      

                                                              He was  chosen Athlete of the year his 8th grade year, and I was out of town for the banquet. It was hard. I  mention more in the first update email on Jim.

Our Trip out west in 1993. What do you think he is thinking? Grand Canyon, and his little brother (Corey). It's a wonder he didn't push him over!  

Jim drew this at some point during high school for a class. It pretty much sums it up. No commentary!!

College Graduation 2001, Palm Beach Atlantic, with Tonia's Parents.

My Mom

  Celebration, it was a long haul, 5 years at PBA. I was a proud father and maybe the only time I have ever said, "Order anything you want"! We were at a very nice Restaurant in Palm Beach, and he ordered a 2 1/2 Lb Lobster. I'm still paying it off!               

January 1, 2000, we rang in the new Millennium in Jackson Hole Wyoming, snow skiing and snow boarding. Stayed in a youth Hostel, and it still was $100 a night. Yes...Tonia was with us. But not up on the Mountain. She stays by the fire and drinks hot apple cider. (Corey was with us, Nate had his own party in South Florida.)

Following graduation from college Jim and I took a road trip across the United States to Seattle where he spent the next year building homes for Habitat for Humanity. This was the development where he worked. He spent the next two years in Seattle working with troubled, incarcerated youth with Friends of Youth.

His adopted child while in Seattle.

All the Fam is together for Nathan's wedding in 2001.

Gil and Yvonne Gilmore's (Tonia's parents) 50th Wedding Anniversary. (Ma Maw and PaPa)

The boys and Jenni, the best daughter-in-law in the world, a few Christmases ago.

Jim Returns to South Florida, 2005 where he is in his second year of teaching at Hollywood Central in Downtown Hollywood. He loves teaching his 3rd graders.

Jim Sorry I had to include this one so you wouldn't forget your little brother!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                         While the #3 wasnt in the top 10 it finishes up my trip down memory lane. Click here and check it out.   

30 Amazing Years Part 1..............

December 12, 2007

Celebrating 2 years of blogging, I am sharing the 10 Top Post, or most read ones. They are not in order as most read. This is my first on the day I began blogging, June 20,2007!!!

30 Amazing Years (#1)

30 Years ago today, December 12,1977, I stood in Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia and waited anxiously to see my first born son. His name -- James Alan Melton. Since that day 30 years ago, my life has never been the same. Jim was the first of three sons. All special, but the first to pass this milestone!!

I remember when I turned 30 I had three boys, Jim was 8 years old and I went to a friend's house and got my hair permed. I almost gave everyone who knew me a heart attack. This conservative guy getting what I called an Afro. I had not given much thought to this birthday. Tonia has been bemoaning today for the past year or two. Jim and I spoke on the phone for about an hour last night about everything from the disintegration of the family in America, which he sees first hand as a 3rd grade teacher in our urban area of Downtown Hollywood; to old times, my perm at 30 which I had forgotten all the details of and which he reminded me of. We talked about family and we talked about this Christmas when we will all be together for the first time in many years in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I went to bed with nostalgic thoughts. When the sun rose I woke up with those same thoughts and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided I would blog some about Jim and what he means to me on this 30th birthday. Most of you will find this too long, but I don't care(!) I want to write it, and if he is the only one to read it, fine. He won't either since he doesn't like long blogs!

Jimmy and I had some great years together playing football, baseball and basketball. In my second blog you'll see some of his first pic's of that. Since he was two he would sit through 3 hour football games on t.v., full baseball games when I would get bored and give up. He couldn't remember half of what was on a test he learned the info. on yesterday, but he knew every sports statistic in Pro football and baseball. We attended some great Dolphin and Hurricanes games together over the years (obviously a long time ago, not many of those anymore for either team). We played a million B Ball (basketball for you non sport types) games in the driveway. He could never beat me until his Junior year in High School. He was a lot smarter, talented and better on the court than me but somehow I could psych him out and when he finally beat me his junior year, I gave up. He was too good! I went to so many games, traveled so many places to see him play. We went to the state finals with him in Tallahassee in his Junior year. His Senior year when their team lost in Regional's and didn't go to the State Finals, he and I drove up and watched the others together.

Jimmy was not just a son, but a friend. I loved spending time with him. When Tonia and I drove him to College in August of 1996 and dropped him off I thought I would die inside. I am tearing up now thinking about it. I wandered how in the world I would survive without him. Not, him without me!!!! It was the longest trip back home I have ever taken. (oh, it was only 50 miles, he went to Palm Beach Atlantic, in West Palm Beach.) He survived and thrived in College and I found a way to make it one more day. 5 years later he graduated and had become a fine young man and a great student and avid reader. He  had majored in Education and minored in Religion. He traveled to Mexico on Missions trips over spring break and spent two summers in Wyoming ministering to the Indian Kids. He would be there today I'm convinced if he could afford to live and survive out there. He has an incredible heart for those less fortunate...especially kids.

Probably one of the highlights of my entire life was after graduation when Jim asked me to take a week and drive with him out to Seattle, Washington where he had a job working for Habitat for Humanity, building houses for less fortunate families.  THAT TRIP ALONE I WILL NEVER FORGET.  OK, I'M GOING WAY TOO LONG, SO ILL END HERE AND POST SOME PIC'S AND THEN COME BACK LATER AND PICK UP THE ROAD TRIP IN HIS 30+ YEAR OLD CAR, WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING, WE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED MADAME BLUE BERRY.  ...... TO BE CONTINUED!!         

Posted at 06:35 PM in Family/Personal | Permalink

What a wonderful trip down memory lane, Guy. I have not had the privilege of meeting Jim but I feel like I know him through you.

I would pay for pictures of you in an Afro.

Gabi

Posted by: gabi | December 13, 2007 at 09:42 AM

Hey Pastor, I just love reading your stories and thank you for sharing so much of yourself with us. Don't ever stop.

I too would pay to see a picture of the Afro. My husband, Jorge also got an AFro in the late 70's, although being in law enforcement, he claimed it was for undercover work (Yeah, right) His very conservative family was in the state of shock for quite awhile.

Posted by: Jeanne R. | December 13, 2007 at 09:39 PM

I've only known Jim now for just over 6 years but he is probably the closest thing I'll ever have to a brother. It is a unique experience to read about someone so close to me through the eyes of his father. I can't think of a better birthday present you could have given him (except maybe another 2 1/2 lb lobster, which I'd be willing to chip in on this time).

Glad you had a good (and safe) trip out here to the NW, it was too bad we didn't meet up for at least some Seattle's Best Coffee or something. Maybe next time.

Happy holidays Guy!

Posted by: Taylor Leischman | December 14, 2007 at 12:19 AM

Man, I'm tearin' up too. Jonny is only 15 so we're right in the middle of the football/basketball thing. I don't EVEN want to think about him going off to college.

Posted by: securityman | December 17, 2007 at 01:32 PM

30 Years ago today, December 12,1977, I stood in Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia and waited anxiously to see my first born son. His name -- James Alan Melton. Since that day 30 years ago, my life has never been the same. Jim was the first of three sons. All special, but the first to pass this milestone!!

I remember when I turned 30 I had three boys, Jim was 8 years old and I went to a friend's house and got my hair permed. I almost gave everyone who knew me a heart attack. This conservative guy getting what I called an Afro. I had not given much thought to this birthday. Tonia has been bemoaning today for the past year or two. Jim and I spoke on the phone for about an hour last night about everything from the disintegration of the family in America, which he sees first hand as a 3rd grade teacher in our urban area of Downtown Hollywood; to old times, my perm at 30 which I had forgotten all the details of and which he reminded me of. We talked about family and we talked about this Christmas when we will all be together for the first time in many years in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I went to bed with nostalgic thoughts. When the sun rose I woke up with those same thoughts and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided I would blog some about Jim and what he means to me on this 30th birthday. Most of you will find this too long, but I don't care(!) I want to write it, and if he is the only one to read it, fine. He won't either since he doesn't like long blogs!

Jimmy and I had some great years together playing football, baseball and basketball. In my second blog you'll see some of his first pic's of that. Since he was two he would sit through 3 hour football games on t.v., full baseball games when I would get bored and give up. He couldn't remember half of what was on a test he learned the info. on yesterday, but he knew every sports statistic in Pro football and baseball. We attended some great Dolphin and Hurricanes games together over the years (obviously a long time ago, not many of those anymore for either team). We played a million B Ball (basketball for you non sport types) games in the driveway. He could never beat me until his Junior year in High School. He was a lot smarter, talented and better on the court than me but somehow I could psych him out and when he finally beat me his junior year, I gave up. He was too good! I went to so many games, traveled so many places to see him play. We went to the state finals with him in Tallahassee in his Junior year. His Senior year when their team lost in Regional's and didn't go to the State Finals, he and I drove up and watched the others together.

Jimmy was not just a son, but a friend. I loved spending time with him. When Tonia and I drove him to College in August of 1996 and dropped him off I thought I would die inside. I am tearing up now thinking about it. I wandered how in the world I would survive without him. Not, him without me!!!! It was the longest trip back home I have ever taken. (oh, it was only 50 miles, he went to Palm Beach Atlantic, in West Palm Beach.) He survived and thrived in College and I found a way to make it one more day. 5 years later he graduated and had become a fine young man and a great student and avid reader. He  had majored in Education and minored in Religion. He traveled to Mexico on Missions trips over spring break and spent two summers in Wyoming ministering to the Indian Kids. He would be there today I'm convinced if he could afford to live and survive out there. He has an incredible heart for those less fortunate...especially kids.

Probably one of the highlights of my entire life was after graduation when Jim asked me to take a week and drive with him out to Seattle, Washington where he had a job working for Habitat for Humanity, building houses for less fortunate families.  THAT TRIP ALONE I WILL NEVER FORGET.  OK, I'M GOING WAY TOO LONG, SO ILL END HERE AND POST SOME PIC'S AND THEN COME BACK LATER AND PICK UP THE ROAD TRIP IN HIS 30+ YEAR OLD CAR, WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING, WE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED MADAME BLUE BERRY.  ...... TO BE CONTINUED!!         

30 Amazing Years (#1)

30 Years ago today, December 12,1977, I stood in Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia and waited anxiously to see my first born son. His name -- James Alan Melton. Since that day 30 years ago, my life has never been the same. Jim was the first of three sons. All special, but the first to pass this milestone!!

I remember when I turned 30 I had three boys, Jim was 8 years old and I went to a friend's house and got my hair permed. I almost gave everyone who knew me a heart attack. This conservative guy getting what I called an Afro. I had not given much thought to this birthday. Tonia has been bemoaning today for the past year or two. Jim and I spoke on the phone for about an hour last night about everything from the disintegration of the family in America, which he sees first hand as a 3rd grade teacher in our urban area of Downtown Hollywood; to old times, my perm at 30 which I had forgotten all the details of and which he reminded me of. We talked about family and we talked about this Christmas when we will all be together for the first time in many years in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I went to bed with nostalgic thoughts. When the sun rose I woke up with those same thoughts and couldn't go back to sleep so I decided I would blog some about Jim and what he means to me on this 30th birthday. Most of you will find this too long, but I don't care(!) I want to write it, and if he is the only one to read it, fine. He won't either since he doesn't like long blogs!

Jimmy and I had some great years together playing football, baseball and basketball. In my second blog you'll see some of his first pic's of that. Since he was two he would sit through 3 hour football games on t.v., full baseball games when I would get bored and give up. He couldn't remember half of what was on a test he learned the info. on yesterday, but he knew every sports statistic in Pro football and baseball. We attended some great Dolphin and Hurricanes games together over the years (obviously a long time ago, not many of those anymore for either team). We played a million B Ball (basketball for you non sport types) games in the driveway. He could never beat me until his Junior year in High School. He was a lot smarter, talented and better on the court than me but somehow I could psych him out and when he finally beat me his junior year, I gave up. He was too good! I went to so many games, traveled so many places to see him play. We went to the state finals with him in Tallahassee in his Junior year. His Senior year when their team lost in Regional's and didn't go to the State Finals, he and I drove up and watched the others together.

Jimmy was not just a son, but a friend. I loved spending time with him. When Tonia and I drove him to College in August of 1996 and dropped him off I thought I would die inside. I am tearing up now thinking about it. I wandered how in the world I would survive without him. Not, him without me!!!! It was the longest trip back home I have ever taken. (oh, it was only 50 miles, he went to Palm Beach Atlantic, in West Palm Beach.) He survived and thrived in College and I found a way to make it one more day. 5 years later he graduated and had become a fine young man and a great student and avid reader. He  had majored in Education and minored in Religion. He traveled to Mexico on Missions trips over spring break and spent two summers in Wyoming ministering to the Indian Kids. He would be there today I'm convinced if he could afford to live and survive out there. He has an incredible heart for those less fortunate...especially kids.

Probably one of the highlights of my entire life was after graduation when Jim asked me to take a week and drive with him out to Seattle, Washington where he had a job working for Habitat for Humanity, building houses for less fortunate families.  THAT TRIP ALONE I WILL NEVER FORGET.  OK, I'M GOING WAY TOO LONG, SO ILL END HERE AND POST SOME PIC'S AND THEN COME BACK LATER AND PICK UP THE ROAD TRIP IN HIS 30+ YEAR OLD CAR, WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING, WE AFFECTIONATELY CALLED MADAME BLUE BERRY.  ...... TO BE CONTINUED!!         

Why I Wont be Buying the New I-Phone Today..............

Ok, this is not one of the most read Blog Post of the last two years, but I found it today when I was working on the top 10 since June 20, 2007. I just wanted to throw it back to you, from two years ago on Friday , June 28th, 2007when the iphone was first introduced. 

Now I use one and love it. I wont be getting this new one today, but I did get the second generation one and love it. Cant wait to get this one since it also has video on it, and cut and paste.  So enjoy once again my Ignorance below.

June 28, 2007

5 Reasons I wont buy an I Phone Friday

Today on Yahoo there was a post of 5 reasons not to buy the I Phone on Friday.Now i must admit, Ii have heard for weeks of the I Phone and all the BUZZ surrounding its introduction Friday. So much Buzz the twisted among us will be standing in line, all night to be the first to purchase one. I wont be standing out all night, or in fact i wont be rushing to the store down the street or across the street Friday to buy an IPhone. I am making my own list of TOP 5 REASONS I WONT BE BUYING AN I- PHONE FRIDAY.

1. Its too big to be a phone. Who wants to carry around something that looks more like a small laptop computer than a phone. I want smaller not larger.
2. I am not an early adopter in technology, one reason is because i need someone to teach me how to use it and if I'm first no one can teach me how to turn it on. Secondly you have to pay the premium price. I'm waiting for the rebates, and the 50% off sale
3. I don't want to spend the $500. plus for a phone that will keep me from bringing the Lord His tithe this weekend.
4. I'm waiting until it can change my cats litter box for that price.
5. And the last but not the least reason I'm not buying the IPHONE this Friday is ...............I have no clue what an IPHONE is?
      

Hope you have a great weekend. God bless you !

See you this weekend or this coming week during one of our 7 Nights of worship. If your one of the geeks who buy the IPHONE this Friday, bring it (and your tithe)and show me what I just blogged about! Nothing Personal!!!

Posted at 11:51 PM | :

Comments

What do you mean it WON'T change the cat's litter box - I'm getting my $600 back from Apple!!!

Posted by: gabi | July 01, 2007 at 10:33 PM

I for one appreciate the people willing to fork over $600 who are leading the way in bringing the cost down!

I'll be jumping on the iPhone band-wagon in November when my contract with Verizon is up. Hopefully by then there will be some early Christmas sales!

Posted by: kevin | July 02, 2007 at 11:33 AM

this should say

"Top 5 Reasons I Wont Buy an iPhone Friday"

1. Im FAR too cheap
2. Im too impatient to learn
3. Im as technologically savy as a pumpkin squash
4. My hair isn't stylish enough to come that close into contact with an iPhone
5. Im FAR too cheap

Posted by: Corito | July 17, 2007 at 09:47 PM

Today on Yahoo there was a post of 5 reasons not to buy the I Phone on Friday.Now i must admit, Ii have heard for weeks of the I Phone and all the BUZZ surrounding its introduction Friday. So much Buzz the twisted among us will be standing in line, all night to be the first to purchase one. I wont be standing out all night, or in fact i wont be rushing to the store down the street or across the street Friday to buy an IPhone. I am making my own list of TOP 5 REASONS I WONT BE BUYING AN I- PHONE FRIDAY.

1. Its too big to be a phone. Who wants to carry around something that looks more like a small laptop computer than a phone. I want smaller not larger.
2. I am not an early adopter in technology, one reason is because i need someone to teach me how to use it and if I'm first no one can teach me how to turn it on. Secondly you have to pay the premium price. I'm waiting for the rebates, and the 50% off sale
3. I don't want to spend the $500. plus for a phone that will keep me from bringing the Lord His tithe this weekend.
4. I'm waiting until it can change my cats litter box for that price.
5. And the last but not the least reason I'm not buying the IPHONE this Friday is ...............I have no clue what an IPHONE is?
      

Hope you have a great weekend. God bless you !

See you this weekend or this coming week during one of our 7 Nights of worship. If your one of the geeks who buy the IPHONE this Friday, bring it (and your tithe)and show me what I just blogged about! Nothing Personal!!!

5 Reasons I wont buy an I Phone Friday

Today on Yahoo there was a post of 5 reasons not to buy the I Phone on Friday.Now i must admit, Ii have heard for weeks of the I Phone and all the BUZZ surrounding its introduction Friday. So much Buzz the twisted among us will be standing in line, all night to be the first to purchase one. I wont be standing out all night, or in fact i wont be rushing to the store down the street or across the street Friday to buy an IPhone. I am making my own list of TOP 5 REASONS I WONT BE BUYING AN I- PHONE FRIDAY.

1. Its too big to be a phone. Who wants to carry around something that looks more like a small laptop computer than a phone. I want smaller not larger.
2. I am not an early adopter in technology, one reason is because i need someone to teach me how to use it and if I'm first no one can teach me how to turn it on. Secondly you have to pay the premium price. I'm waiting for the rebates, and the 50% off sale
3. I don't want to spend the $500. plus for a phone that will keep me from bringing the Lord His tithe this weekend.
4. I'm waiting until it can change my cats litter box for that price.
5. And the last but not the least reason I'm not buying the IPHONE this Friday is ...............I have no clue what an IPHONE is?
      

Hope you have a great weekend. God bless you !

See you this weekend or this coming week during one of our 7 Nights of worship. If your one of the geeks who buy the IPHONE this Friday, bring it (and your tithe)and show me what I just blogged about! Nothing Personal!!!

Comments

[Warren C]

Now that was beautiful. Well written, passionate and honest. Thanks for sharing your heart with us Pastor Guy. Also...thanks for being such a great model of how to love, cherish & protect your wife...just as Christ said we should model how He loves the church. I pray your love for each other only grows & in another 33 years we'll be in awe of your relationship yet still. Blessings 2 u both!!!

[Sophia]

That's what i am talking about! That's a story worth telling you guys are great God bless you both! and hoping you have another 33yrs...(you can do it my grandparents did or came pretty close(66)) and they were one of those "until death do us part" couple.

[Corey]

can i not do ANYTHING without you putting it on your blog?!?!?! Oh, well... good thing only 10 people look at it

[Ranelle]

Hey, Corey...Make that 11! I just looked at it. Nice shot, by the way!!

[guy]

Huh!!! You love it!!!
By the way, in the next 24 hours there will be between 500 and a 1000 people read my blog!!! Or should I say see your pic!!! After all Im proud , you look just like me!!!! Love you
Dad

[Corey]

Actually Ranelle, you were already included in the 10. And Ranelle, let me thank you again for visiting my dads blog so many hundreds of times throughout the day everyday to make him feel like people really go on his site. : ) HAHa

[Jen]

Hey, what am I? Shopped liver? I visit at least a couple hundred times a day...

Nice pic Corey.

Too bad my family/friends feel that way about me too. I hang all their business out to dry.

[David B]

hey Corey! i read ur dad's blog 2!!!

[gabi]

Hey Corey - great pic! Your Dad makes me, uh invites me to read his blog too. Hope you're doing well.

[Jen]

Shopped, chopped. Dang it! Were did that com frum. Im usally a grate speler.

[Jim]

Core, you know you love the attention! Always have....

[Gaby]

Central Park?! That's awesome!!

He needs to visit surge next time he's down!!!!!

[Corey]

well father, id like to see how you get yourself out of this one...lol

[Jen]

Hmm...can't wait to hear this one.

[Jen]

Hmm...can't wait to hear this one.

[Gabrielle Q. Murray]

hmmmm, I'm anxious too to hear about this! Guess that was the whole purpose of your TEASE.

[Kendra]

I have a strong feeling I know where this is going. I could be wrong, but just in case I'm right I won't say it, just so the suspense will built even more. :)

[jenn]

like i said earlier...i'm waiting to see how you're going to follow up on this one! :)

[Helen]

You don't need Oasis Church, I don't need Oasis Church nobody needs Oasis Church! We need God! Is that where you are going?
I'll be listening. I can't wait for this one.

[Bridget]

That is soooo true you don't need oasis I don't need oasis no one needs oasis because you know what Pastor Guy It's not about Oasis, it's all about GOD. Guess what we all need GOD and if that was the mouth part of the body of christ that spoke about our music has changed; well..... God will replace it with another mouth to sing more praise to him.

[gabi]

I would pay for pictures of you in an Afro.

Gabi

[Jeanne R.]

Hey Pastor, I just love reading your stories and thank you for sharing so much of yourself with us. Don't ever stop.

I too would pay to see a picture of the Afro. My husband, Jorge also got an AFro in the late 70's, although being in law enforcement, he claimed it was for undercover work (Yeah, right) His very conservative family was in the state of shock for quite awhile.

[Taylor Leischman]

I've only known Jim now for just over 6 years but he is probably the closest thing I'll ever have to a brother. It is a unique experience to read about someone so close to me through the eyes of his father. I can't think of a better birthday present you could have given him (except maybe another 2 1/2 lb lobster, which I'd be willing to chip in on this time).

Glad you had a good (and safe) trip out here to the NW, it was too bad we didn't meet up for at least some Seattle's Best Coffee or something. Maybe next time.

Happy holidays Guy!

[securityman]

Man, I'm tearin' up too. Jonny is only 15 so we're right in the middle of the football/basketball thing. I don't EVEN want to think about him going off to college.

[gabi]

What do you mean it WON'T change the cat's litter box - I'm getting my $600 back from Apple!!!

[kevin]

I for one appreciate the people willing to fork over $600 who are leading the way in bringing the cost down!

I'll be jumping on the iPhone band-wagon in November when my contract with Verizon is up. Hopefully by then there will be some early Christmas sales!

[Corito]

this should say

"Top 5 Reasons I Wont Buy an iPhone Friday"

1. Im FAR too cheap
2. Im too impatient to learn
3. Im as technologically savy as a pumpkin squash
4. My hair isn't stylish enough to come that close into contact with an iPhone
5. Im FAR too cheap