GuyMelton.com: What Were You Thinking?

Oasis Weekly Newsletter/July 4, 2008

For those who are not on our Email list at Oasis, I am posting this so our Extended Oasis Family from around the Globe will know what is happening at Oasis Church, South Florida. I hope for those of you who reside outside South Florida have a wonderful July 4th . (The links on the Original email, do not work on this, but you can always go to our Visitoasis.org website or my blog site to find them.  (Unfortunately when I place my Email on the blog, it cuts a few words off the end of the sentence. Sorry) 

Pastor's Email
Dear Guy,   Are you experiencing the Dog Days of Summer yet?  The doldrums?  I hope not. But if you are, I want to share some exciting things happening at Oasis Church. We don't have time to experience the doldrums…too much work to do!!!! If you’re going on vacation or having some extra days off during the 4th of July Weekend, that is awesome!  I hope you will celebrate, relax and be safe. Please remember our soldiers who are stationed around the world, and especially in the war zones, during this Holiday Weekend. Just last night Tonia found out her nephew, Phil Gilmore arrived safely home from Iraq this week after his 3rd tour of duty there in 4 years. His two little girls had this big banner celebrating his return. I pray for the men and women who are there, that they will experience the same honor as they defend the Freedom of America and continue to protect our Independence that we will celebrate this weekend.   I want to share some exciting things with you about our church. Did you know?   Our long-awaited Baptistry Fountainis being gunited (blown concrete) as you read this.  If you are on the Pines Campus tonight or this weekend, you will see the new Baptistry with the roughed out concrete form!  PTL!  Pray for an August completion.  I hope we can baptize more on that first Sunday than ever before.  If you haven’t been baptized, you need to be!!   What an awesome time to do it. KidsWorld Director, Suzie McCord reported this week that their 140 volunteers serve 375 children every week in our services on 3 campuses and during 7NOW…you guys are awesome!!  You are doing a GREAT JOB!! Oasis Church baptized 207 new believers in 2007, who were obedient in following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This past week, the day before breaking ground for the new Fountain and Baptistry at our Pines Campus, I received a letter from our denominational office which congratulated Oasis Church for being the 19th ranked church out of almost 3000 churches in Florida, in total Baptisms in 2007.  God has been so good to us. As of this month the faithful givers to Oasis Church have given 2 million dollars toward the ministry of Oasis Church, for the Budget Year that ends on August 31.  I thank God for those who Tithe 10% to the Lord’s work here at Oasis.  You are a major reason God has used Oasis in such incredible ways this past year in North Miami, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and around the world. We do not count attendance very often, but in April the last count that was taken, there were 2,099 who attended our weekly services that week – 200 more than last year.  We will normally have between 2,100-2,300 on any given week worshiping at Oasis Church.  That is remarkable when you consider our limited parking and buildings at our Pines Campus.  Approx. 600-700 of those attending, attend our 7 Nights of Worship Services (7NOW).  Approx. 250 attend our Oasis NoMi and Oasis Hollywood Campuses. Joel Collins, our Tech Director, reported this week that 650 persons have listened to Podcaston our visitoasis.org website.  That is up from 480 last month, which was up almost 200 from the month prior.  There is an increasing thirst to hear God’s word taught in our church, and also, an awareness that it is as easy as clicking on our website and listening to any sermon we preach here at Oasis Church. Oasis Hollywood has a Picnic in the Arts Park scheduled for next Saturday…you’re invited! Oasis North Miamiis planning a BIG Vacation Bible School at the Campus in NoMi July 20-24  -- Sun through Thur evening from 6-9 p.m.   So many more things, but I don’t have time here.  You can go to my blog to check out the most popular Blog Post of the last month, and also to get an update on 3 Staff Members who have said, “So Longggg” to us this past week.  There is also information on lots of other things in my first-ever, Wednesday Dumpon my blog – guymelton.com.   See you this week, and have a happy, safe 4th of July!!  God bless you.  It is a privilege to serve you.   Guy Melton, Pastor Oasis Church
Hollywood Campus Pines Campus N. Miami Campus Prayer Requests www.visitoasis.org

tel 954.433.4838 | fax 954.433.2004 | info@visitoasis.org

Wednesday "What Were You Thinking?" Dump!!!

Haven't done this before but thought I might DUMP some things on you all in one post. I'll try to keep it relatively short. (That word Relatively, is Relative of course)

• Kids World Director, Suzie McCord reported this week their 140 volunteers serve 375 Children every week in our Services on 3 campuses and during 7NOW, YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!! YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB!!
• Oasis Church Baptized 207 new believers, who were obedient and followed the Example of our Lord Jesus Christ. I received a letter this past week the day before breaking ground for the new Fountain and Baptistry at our Pines campus, from our Denominational office which congratulated Oasis Church for being the 19th ranked church in total Baptisms in 2007 out of almost 3000 churches in Florida. God has been so good to us.
• As of this Month the Faithful Givers to Oasis Church have given 2 Million Dollars toward the ministry of Oasis Church for the Budget year that ends on August 31st.  I thank God for those who Tithe (10% ) to the Lord's work here at Oasis. You are a major reason God has used Oasis in such incredible ways this past year in North Miami, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines and around the World.
• We do not count attendance very often but in April the last count that was taken there were 2,099 who attended our weekly services that week. We will normally have between 2,100-2,300 on any given week worshiping at Oasis. That is remarkable when you consider our limited parking and buildings at our Pines Campus. Approx. 600-700 of those attending, attend our7 Nights of Worship Services. Approx. 250 attend our Oasis Nomi, and Hollywood Campuses.
• The most-read Blog Posts this past month in case you missed them are in order:  XXX Part 1  For Men Only Please and Part 2, The Secret is Out!!! , Thanks for the Memories, and The Day That Changed My Life FOREVER!!!
• One year of Blogging just passed last week!!!   I cannot believe it's been a year since my first blog post about my Mentor, Mr. Johnson.  400  Blog Postings later (399 to be exact as of this post)  and 54,000 Blog Page Views is something that I have a hard time getting my mind around. I know I bore lots of you in my long posts, but I have to be me!!!! Some I have made mad, but my Blog is named, What Were you Thinking?  I want to thank those of you who have commented (677 of you) even if you haven't agreed with me. When you do agree, the kind words you have written, the verbal encouragements to keep blogging and even the constructive criticism some of you give. Thanks for honoring me with the time you've taken to read my thoughts and sometimes my rantings. It's a privilege to have so many friends and family.  I especially want to thank my boys for their constant effort to keep me humble by their comments on the Blog, and then last but not least, Tonia and her perseverance with having to take the heat for some of the things I write and also the pictures of her I have posted. Tonia, I love you, and thank you for your patience. I love all you guys!!! I'm a blessed man!!

Is This Even Possible??????????

I just sent a simple 9 line email to two staff members. I know most that read my blogs, would say, No its not Possible for you to send a 9 line email!!! But that isn't what this post is about.

In the email I sent, before it went the Spell check came up with my misspelled words, or I should say Mistyped!!!! Is that a Word? oh, no spell check will scratch that one.

Anyway, the Spell check showed 30 mistyped words!!! yes, 30 in a 9 line email!! Not because I cant spell but I am a stinky typist.!!! Can you imagine if I had no spell check what my blogs and emails would look like??

Is this Even Possible??????? 30 in 9 lines!!! Yep, I can verify it!!!!!! 

HMMMM!!! THIS POST IS 9 LINES!!!!!!!!!!!  If I bought lotto tics it would be 9999!!

Fathers Day Tribute Video at Oasis

Today we showed a Fathers Day Video Tribute to Dads!!! Joel our Tech Director did a great job of taking some of our pics of the Pastoral team and our kids and put it into a tribute. If you are coming to one of the 7 Nights of Worship you'll see the Video .  (The Link is below)

Just a few notes to look for:

1. The only picture I have of my Father with one of my sons!!! Many of you have heard my stories of my dad. Here he and I am with my middle son Nathan. I think it was at my Grandfathers funeral, His father. Sad, only one picture with his granddad!!!  My dad past away 13 years ago. This fathers day reminded me how important it is I make lots of pics with my kids and even more with my Grandsons!!! 

2. Me with my perm, when i turned 30 years old!!!!! Im thinking of bringing it back, Any one want to vote for that??????????? leave me a comment!!

3. Great pastoral team , I love them and their kids!!! I know you do to!!

4. I hope you had a good day with your dad if he is living locally. I got a call from my boys. Tonia and I had a quiet day after church . Went to Padrinos, had some good cuban food. I came home , took a nap, and went back to 7NOW at Pines Campus.  All my boys are out of town, two live out of town, and  Jim the oldest called from Albany New york tonight. He is there moving his friend there from Hollywood. Jim might be the best friend to his friends of any one I have ever witnessed. Im proud of his loyalty to his friends.

ok, now for the video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6gTvvvvSqI 

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Leaders Development Dinner

 Tonight was one of those nights that are just special. I spent about 3 1/2 hours with our Leaders who lead our ministries. 90 Leaders and spouses met to have a great meal prepared by John Adams who leads our Kona Cafe on the Pines Campus.  All 3 Campuses were represented. We don't get to be together very often.

Following the Meal Rev. Bud McCord our Missionary to Brazil gave us an overview of his new book , "The Satisfying Life" which is what our new Series at Oasis Church is based on. Actually it is based on John 15. If your going to be at church this coming weekend or one   of our nightly services , you might want to read this passage. Speaking to our Staff, Deacons/Lay pastors, Church Council, Children's Directors , Worship leaders , Host Pastors , Womens ministry ,First Impressions Captains and Community group leaders Bud challenged us all to live the Abiding Life.  To realize Jesus is in me and I have all I need in life to be satisfied is within me , Jesus Christ. It was refreshing. It was  a time our Leaders who constantly give out , and serve others had a chance to be fed, spiritually as well as physically.

 What a privilege to serve with these great men and women. As I looked around the room, I was just awestruck at the wonderful servant leaders our church is blessed with . I am so blessed to serve as servant leader to this incredible church. I love Oasis Church. Cant wait to see you this coming weekend and week.

BUSTED AND THE SECRET IS OUT!!! Email Newsletter

For those who follow our Blog but are not in our Oasis Church Family here in South Florida, below is our newsletter I Sent out today . I get so many who like to keep up with Oasis, this is my way of keeping you in the loop. Just a reminder, the typepad format cuts off the end of the line, so you complete the sentence. The links on the email letter will not work from here. Sorry!!!

Pastor's Email
Dear Extended Oasis Family;   Happy Father’s Day out there to all the guys who are Dads!!! We salute you, and thank God for those Dads seeking to lead their families in a Godly Way. Father’s Day Weekend is the perfect time to kick off a new Series "The Satisfying life".Our Guest Speaker this weekend, the following weekend and in our 7NOW Services is Rev. Bud McCord our Missionary from Brazil. He has a newly released book on this subject and we are the first ones to have an opportunity to get it. Much more about Bud and the new Series on our Website!!    I love having a great church website and also a personal blog.  I could never get all the great things out about what's going on at Oasis without our website. And I would never be able to share from the pulpit with such limited time all that is going on in my life and in my MIND!!!! Hence, What Were You Thinking? Whether you want to know all I am thinking or not, it’s on my blog!!!! Some I could never mention from the pulpit, or should I say, would choose not to.  Here are just some of What I Have Been Thinking this week: The Secret is Out  I've been BUSTED!!!!!!!!!! The Satisfying Life!! XXX For Men ONLY!!!!! Waxing Nostalgic I am a Pack Rat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   So I invite you to go to www.guymelton.com and find out what I am thinking. You might like it, you might not…but it is what I am Thinking!! Oasis Church has some pretty phenomenal things happening you don’t want to miss, so check them out: Need to Cool off this Summer?  Check out Kona Father’s Day Fun and More at NoMi!!!  Revolution Summer Theater Camp for kids…3 Choices All the Way from Brazil Surge Youth are on the Road this summer KidsWorld Update and Mr. Eric!!!!! 7 Nights of Worship, and Free Pizza, Free Cappucinos and Lattes, only certain nights!!! Check it out!!! A story of Community Oasis Shirts for men and women still available online And so much more..................................... I am so excited about this weekend as we kick off The Satisfying Lifewith Rev. Bud McCord!! Come prepared to be blessed and challenged and get your Study Workbook at Kona while you’re here. For 7NOW services you will have the books available also. This week in preparation, I have been reading the key text for our Series every day. Let me encourage you to Read John 15 before coming this week to service. God bless you and have a great weekend, and once again to the Dads, Happy Father’s Day!!! I love you guys. It is a blast to do life with you at Oasis Church.  Guy Melton, Pastor Oasis Church
Hollywood Campus Pines Campus N. Miami Campus Prayer Requests www.visitoasis.org

tel 954.433.4838 | fax 954.433.2004 | info@visitoasis.org

Busted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesdays at noon is our Regular Ministry Leaders Luncheon. This is approximately 13 men and women who oversee or lead the ministries of our church. We eat lunch together, laugh together, cry together, plan and update each other on our ministries. Most Tuesdays as we eat we only talk personal things. Catch up on families, hobbies and whatever comes up. It's a great place to bond and let our hair down. For some reason, almost every Tuesday somehow the conversation comes around to me. But usually they are laughing at me and not with me. How could I provide this mainly young generation of leaders so much to laugh at? How do they  find so many crazy things I do? But they do. From my grammar, to my spelling, my hobbies, blog, family, hair, clothes, shoes...you name it, they Bust me on it!!!!

Well, a blog post by our Admin Pastor Kevin McCord really unleashed it this week. He had done a post that morning on "How Real Is Your Pastor?" . He pretty much exposed every area of my life, but used my blog posts over the last year to do it. He Busted me pretty good as only Kevin can do.   He said it was a compliment. I'll let you decide when you read them. I'll believe him, since I want to!!!!!  Well, this really set the team off. But one thing I am happy about, is that at least they are not afraid to laugh at the boss. Most of you laugh at your boss behind his/her back...they just do it to my face is all. Generally it's good natured and I love being around this mainly young staff. Some of them are younger than my boys. What a great group though. I Love them all and count it a privilege to serve with them. (BTW, my wife is usually the major instigator of the "pick on the ole guy" and then just sits there and watches!!!!!!!!!!)

Oh, well I usually tell them, I am glad I have given them something to laugh about !!!! Even if it's at me and not with me!!!!!!!!!! .

Shut Up!! Leave my Institutional Church Alone (Part One)

Now for those in Oasis Church, this blog is about you. You may not understand all I am about to say. But in reality it is a tribute to you. There is a lot of talk today about the church as we know it, being broken.   There are many buzz words out there being thrown around. One of them is the Institutional Church. This can be described in any number of ways, and is, by different folks depending on their background and bias. For me I will mention it in the most simple way I know. The church in America as 99% of us know it.

I get so sick and tired of hearing people criticize the church and all its shortcomings. They discuss adnausiam all the problems of the church. Why they don't attend, why they want to build a different kind of church, etc.  I'm weary with all the talk! It's like discussing Calvinism. It is pointless and a waste of everyone's time. The devil, I think, delights in all the discussions about the broken church. The more we debate our differences, the less time there is to do what God has called the church to be.

Most complainers about the Institutional Church whine, by writing books, blogs and magazine articles. If they don't have a platform, then they just go around and spread doom and gloom to those who will listen.  My question is what are you doing constructively to be the Church yourself. In almost all cases they are doing NOTHING!!! No answers!!! Just criticism. I want to just kick them in the BUTT and tell them, when you are doing something, then you earn the right to criticize. But until that time, just SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, don't get me wrong, the church has its warts. Most are doing far less than they are capable. Many have lost their way. We know that. It doesn't take a genius to recognize that.

I do know some who see the warts and are constructively doing something not to break the institutional church or to kill it but to do church the way they see it can be done. See, the church is so flexible, it can be the church in thousands of applications and ways. You name it. The commission that Jesus gave is simple.  Now, go do it the way God has gifted you to do it. Others I know are working alongside the institutional church and at the same time trying new ways to do church. Ken McCord, my friend, is a good example of that. I respect him in that while he wants to see the church be more than it is, he isn't willing to trash it and leave it. But he isn't content to just be a part of the present. That is why he moved his family to San Francisco some 7 years ago. There are plenty others like him.

Just this week there was a lady criticizing our downtown Church for not doing more in the community. She said she was leaving because she can't get us to do what God has called her to do. I told her if God called you, then go do it. Why wait on us?!!! Too many want the church to do what God has called and gifted them to do. Then I asked, "So, what are you doing?"  Asked a few more probing questions. Well, that ended the conversation pretty fast!!! Easy to cast stones! But my question is, "What are you doing?" Aren't we the Church??????? Yesssssssssssssss!!!!

Now that I have ranted some, I want to share a few stories in a few subsequent blogs of what is right about the Church, and challenge each of us to continue to be the Church!!!! Institutional or otherwise!!!!!!  I don't care how you do it!!! Do it!!!! But quit criticizing those giving their lives to change other lives through the healing love of Jesus Christ. (Now, what motivated this post is not a naysayer, but some who are doing some incredible things in our church to be the church.  I'll post about them later.) 

Giddy up Horsey!

Today our staff celebrated a very special event in the life of one of our Staff Members. Gabi Murray,  who has been our Facilities Director for the Last 3 1/2 years, is retiring this month. She and Don will move to Texas at the end of June. Yaa HOOOOO!!!!

They have been a tremendous blessing to our church as a couple. Don is one of our Lay Pastors/Deacons. He has given hundreds of hours in support of Gabi and her ministry. They are a special couple.  Oasis will miss them very much.

As our staff met today, we shared memories some funny, some tearful but all with heartfelt love. Gabi has not only been a Facilities Director, she has been a mom to some of our younger staff members. A grandmother to some of our kids. She has led our volunteers in the Levite Ministry who come and clean our buildings on a weekly basis. She has excelled in a behind-the- scenes ministry of working with Community Service workers, who are assigned by the courts to do community service. This has been a great ministry, and we have seen scores of lives touched as they came to our church, and Gabi ministered to them as they worked off their hours.

We will miss Gabi and Don, but we wish them well. They have been a wonderful ministry team. Thanks you guys. We love you.

P.S. And by the way, our staff will miss your great cooking at so many meetings!

Oasis Stories

I love sharing stories that folks send our way. Sometimes they are in person. Some times via email. The stories below came in on our website/info link where folks can share their story. Do you have a Story God has written in your life. We would love to hear it. To add yours go to www.visitoasis.org and click on "Add Story" on the right side  bar . 

Hi Pastor Guy,
I wanted to share with you about the difference in my life that regular tithing has made.
You asked all the members and regular attenders to commit to tithing 10%.
Although it stretched my budget I knew that it was what God wanted me to do.  You said many times that God would take my 90% and make it go farther than my 100% and you were right.
I just got a new job in January after leaving my old job of 26 years.  I took a pay cut and my husband hasn't had regular work since January and yet we still can pay
our bills.  And the funny thing is I don't worry about money at all because I know that my God shall supply all my needs.
Money is always a touchy subject with anyone
but I realize now that being faithful in tithing shows God that I depend on him
and not my weekly paycheck.
Thank you for letting me share my story.
God Bless you!!!
Mrs Deborah S.

 

Guy; we have not met although I've seen you for the past few months when we go to Oasis.  I wanted to thank you for founding this church because it has helped me get closer to God and to recognize that I am not in control but I am just a mere instrument to carry Gods will.  I've been in the Real Estate business for a while and must recognize that while the market was going well and deals were just too many to handle;  I never set time aside for God or if I did it was not as much as he required of me.  Now that the market has crashed I see things in a whole new way and a lot of people in the same business field are beginning to realize  that it is God who brings the wealth and prosperity.

 

I wanted to sincerely thank you for your efforts to convert not so good believers like I was into people who grow to love God and to accept that he is our supreme father. 

God bless you, your family, and church.

 

Sincerely;

 

Ivan C.