Steve Alessi: Author of Alessi’s Angle, Pastor of Metro Life Church in Miami, Husband of World Renown Worship Leader Mary Alessi and Father of Four. All I Want For Christmas ... Hope
Kids always get asked this question at the holidays: "What do you want Santa to bring you this year?" They usually reply with answers like, a pony, a Barbie doll, a race car, Halo the video game, and on and on it goes. I remember one Christmas when one of my kids asked for a Chia pet! Strange gift I know, but it turned out surprisingly, to be a fun gift.
My husband Steve always asks me what I want for Christmas and depending upon how much money I've spent in November at Black Friday sales I know how to answer appropriately: "Oh, nothing in particular. I'm good." ;-) Clothes and jewelry, technology gadgets and iPhones don't really top my list as things I "have to have" this year.
In light of the tragic event last week in Newtown, Conn., we are all answering that question – "What do I want for Christmas" – a little less selfishly this year. I know for most of us it's hard to even celebrate when you know there are people who are suffering such devastating loss only miles away from us.
When I heard the news a thought jumped out at me. I began to think about when Jesus was born and how Pharaoh had issued a decree that all the children under two be killed. It was in an effort to intercept a messiah that had been prophesied that if born, he thought would end His rule. He not only killed precious children, he terrorized a nation. To think that hope was born in a time when there was so much fear is incredible. It shows us that no matter how dark or horrific things may be, there is still hope.
And that's what I want for Christmas. I want people to know, now more than ever, that there is hope for this world. Jesus' birth was because the Father desperately wanted us to have life and to enjoy it; not to live in fear and discouragement. That revelation energizes me and lets me see that Christmas is a celebration. So, celebrate big this year.
How do you make your Christmas Rock? Here are a few ways:
1. Invite someone you know to a Rockin’ Christmas service – there are a lot of them to choose from this year! (www.metrolifechurch.com)
2. Take your family to see Christmas lights and take pictures to share the fun.
3. Hug your kids a little tighter.
4. Be nicer to your in-laws ;-)
5. Take time to appreciate all that God has done for you this year.
What about you? What do you want for Christmas?
Happy 12/12/12 Day to You!
Before long she found herself surrounded by seven rambunctious German Shepherd puppies, and when those little mostly black puppies weren't so small anymore, they loved playing with and chasing the little white, four-legged chew toy all around the patio and into the house. Jill's only relief was jumping on the couch or into our arms. Sometimes, that little face of hers had the most puzzled look. If she could have spoken she probably would have just asked, "Why? Why have you done this to me?"
Then, we hit her with a move and she just didn't know what to do with the house filled with boxes and the garage packed with furniture. When we would let her out in the mornings you could just tell she was having a tough time with all this, as her whole doggy world had been turned upside down. At this point we thought it best to give Jill to a nice family that would be able to care for her in a better environment. Since we're moving to a new home anyway, maybe it would be best for her to also have her own new beginning in a more settled, less hectic home. The objector was my 21-year-old son Christopher. With all the transitions taking place this past year, he had moved Jill from the garage at night to sleep in his room and they now share a new bond.
That didn't, however, keep us from at least trying to give Jill a new beginning. While we were out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday, a wonderful dear family offered to "try out" Jill at their place. They already have a couple of very cute dogs and we thought this just might be the doggy heaven we were praying for, especially when we saw the pictures texted to us with Jill all dressed up in holiday garb. The only problem was, as little and cute as Jill can look, she's also a beast and can make life hell for you. Let's just say when my daughters were younger and wanted to know what the word B I _ C H meant, all I did was point to Jill and they fully understood that it’s not a nice word. So, home she came with all her cute little holiday clothes, and into the new house with us.
It didn't take long for her to settle into her old yapping, barking, whining self as she tried to make sense of the new scents, and she did it so loud and frequent that it actually made her hoarse. Now, a full week and a half into the new house, she's finally free from the hacking, and I just saw her jump up on the top of the back of the couch to her old comfortable place, stretch herself out, look at me, and with one big exhale close her eyes to take a nap. I guess she's letting me know she'll be just fine now ... thanks to the Beggin’ Strips (with real bacon) that help her cope with all the change.
As we're coming to the close of another year, let me encourage you to use this day of 12/12/12 to shift your focus towards the fun and excitement of the holidays. This is, as you know, a unique day with the calendar lining up the way it is, so take advantage of it and use it purposely. If it's been a tough year, it's time to exhale by emotionally and spiritually settling in for the fun of Hanukah, Christmas and New Years. We can always go back to the grind when January comes around.
Now for all those living in South Florida and looking for some fun ways to enjoy the holiday season, let me encourage you to come join us at Metro Life Church (www.metrolifechurch.com) and see how we're going to have A Rockin’ Christmas. It's starting tonight with a special 12/12/12 Service and then we kick off our "12 Days of Rockin Christmas" fun this Friday, Dec. 14, for Midnight Breakfast at several restaurants in Kendall, Doral and Hollywood/Pembroke Pines. We're the #FunChurch so come join us as we make Christmas Rock.
As you mentally set your sights on finishing 2012 strong with those you love, what fun things will you be doing this holiday season to make it memorable?
Larry the Compassion Guy
In the spirit of generosity, I've asked our dear friend Paola Roman to share her perspective on the benefits of serving others. As VP of Housing Development for the non-profit affordable housing developer, Carrfour Supportive Housing, she brings to her position a compassion that drives her to serve even beyond her hours on the job. Here is her inspiring outlook on serving:
Once a month for the last year, I have been volunteering with Metro Life’s Project Love Ministry. I’ve served at the Miami Rescue Mission, His House Children’s Home, and even an international mission trip. On my last service day, I asked others why they do it. A few students were very honest to say it was a class requirement and they’d rather be in bed. Others didn’t really know why they serve. I wondered, is service a trained response? Is it a natural human desire that requires awakening?
Service is more profound than what I can understand, perhaps because the heart of a servant is so complex and forever changing. I think it starts with the heart. For me it was a series of shocking realizations of injustices. Among the first was the stench of a human being laying on a cardboard box on a busy downtown street. They were always there, but one day I chose to see beyond my needs and was awakened to the pain around me. My confusion turned into anger, and with increased awareness of the hurt in this world, I eventually broke down into tears. I knew I could not stand by so I began to volunteer. To this day, my empathy does not allow me to live without taking action.
I believe this compassion for the suffering of others is the fundamental love that drives consistent service. While we may or may not fully understand the root of this love, the earnest desire to care for others grows as does our acceptance of His love. Serving can become overwhelming when you pour out love without refilling. But, God quickly showed me that we were never meant to carry the heavy burdens of this world. God taught me that His love is not only enough for me, but it is sufficient for others. His love truly is living water from a well that will never run dry. There is enough for my hurts and for that of my brethren. I can always go back and draw more of His great love to share with others for their time of trouble. I cannot describe the joy and satisfaction of seeing the power of love through service.
There is satisfaction in sharing this love with others, but my reward is found in Matthew 25:40 where Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least of these my brethren, you did it for Me.” Knowing that serving others in love is serving the God who first loved me is an immeasurable reward. To love another purely to the point of service is to sow a seed of love that reaps more love and great joy; it’s eternal.
So I urge you today to make a decision to serve, even train yourself if you have to. It may start off as work, but with time you’ll become addicted to the difference you will make as you love another with your service to them. Then, find a cause that you are passionate about. There is more need in our world than we know. Realize that when you serve with passion, it’s not work. And then align yourself with others who share the same love and interest. You would be surprised to learn you are not the only one concerned about this particular cause. And lastly, don’t wait for a “thank you” or an immediate impact. Just do it as an offering to God and know that your reward is an eternal treasure as consistent joyful service requires endless love.
Audio Blog -- Happy Thanksgiving!
As the Bible says, every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17). What are YOU thanking God for this Thanksgiving? Share your comments below.
Big Bird
What was that? Did I hear her right? "I Can't Do It"...Really? At first I was shocked, then stunned, as she stopped me dead in my tracks. I started to shake and convulse, immediately I could feel my blood pressure rise and hands sweat. She evidently saw my face turn red and began bowing in an act of apology saying, "No, that's not what I meant. You can do it...you can do anything!" Catastrophe averted!
How do you respond when someone says to you, "you can't do it"? Do you find it offensive and demeaning or do those words cause you to doubt self? Does it make you mad or do you find yourself in agreement with the sentiments? If words are just words, then why do those words in particular impact us like they do?
Greatness will always put us in the place where our talents and skills are in question. Many times throughout our day we will be faced with the "can't do" proposition and it's up to us to respond. The good news is we can do whatever we put our mind to doing. Sure, we'll have to think differently and work more diligently if we want to do the new, but that's what life should be about. You Can Do It!
The next time you are told you can't do something, let it make you mad so you'll be fueled with energy and passion to do it anyway. I didn't let that big bird keep me from being the man of my house. Sure it was dead and I outweighed it by about 200 lbs, but it put up a pretty good fight. However, it was my skill, brute strength, and quick reflexes that put that turkey in his rightful place.
I always like hearing from you, so tell me below how you deal with the "can't do's" and "big birds" in your life?
Enough
And that was the day I deleted Solitaire from my iPhone. Yes, I allowed a game to take precious time away from my family, my work, my creativity, and even my alone time. But, not anymore. I'm free from the addiction.
What time thieves are you struggling with? When you look at the 24 hours you have in your day, remember that every one of those hours and minutes are filled with opportunities that we either waste, or work to our advantage. Those that are wasted are lost and never found again. So, if you're needing to trim the fat, so to speak, here's a few things to remember.
Recognition: The first step is to see exactly what the thief is stealing that cannot be replaced. Whether it's time, self-respect or self-improvement, that which distracts us from what's important in life needs to be eliminated.
Decide: Don't negotiate any longer, but instead make the decision right now to move forward, so that you can begin distancing yourself from the behavior. Indecision keeps you from enjoying true freedom.
Act: Thinking without acting won't get it done. The fact that you've read this deep into this blog shows that you want to weed out the waste, so now it's time to act. Who needs to be deleted from your contact list? What habits need to be dropped? Do it right now! Don't waste any more time. Today is your day!
Focus: They say that the “why” is even more than the “what” – and that's what you must remember when you're tempted to give in to the voices that are calling you back to mediocrity. Clearly see how better life will be when you make the change.
The other night at dinner with my son and daughters, we were laughing over something one of my kids did, and it actually brought tears to our eyes because we were laughing so hard. I can't believe that I actually allowed Solitaire to steal some of those moments in the past. Promise to self … never again!
Since recognition is the beginning to ditching a habit, officially put the thief on notice by stating below what changes you would like to make in your life. If you think it, then ink it.
The Worst and The Best of Times
Though our government was doing its best to respond to the destruction caused by the storm, what most South Floridians recall is how neighbors reached out to help each other begin the rebuilding process. The instinct to survive gave way to a spirit of generosity and, what once was a cold and divided city, became a community of people whose spirit to work and fight through the insurmountable odds brought us all together through simple acts of kindness.
I can also remember the outpouring of help that came from people and organizations we had never known. Fortunately, our church at that time, Grace Church, only sustained damage to the roof and a few of its surrounding buildings, as the facility held its own through the damaging winds. Grace Church stood out as a lighthouse to the area and a beacon of hope and help. The generosity of the nation and ministries across America had semi-tractor trailers full of food, clothes, bedding, baby supplies, and batteries delivered to our front door, and every room in the church was filled to capacity. That in turn allowed us to care for those in our church family and the surrounding neighbors. We also became the drop-off and pick-up location for other churches which were providing much needed supplies to their members and communities.
Yes, Hurricane Andrew brought us the worst of times, but it also allowed us to experience the best of times, because we learned as a people that no matter how hard and difficult the storm is, together, we can get through it.
Our prayers go out to the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Right now, it seems as though this is the worst of times for the East Coast, but I've got a feeling that the generosity of America is about to show love and support for the region in a way that will help rebuild homes and businesses in order to restore lives. I know the churches in the region already are feeding, caring and providing support and aid, as they're postured to be a first responder in times like this, just like Grace Church did 20 years ago. And that's why we, at Metro Life Church, are already in contact with a few of our dear friends in ministry to see where we can help.
We can all help by praying and giving, and that's why this weekend at all of our MLC services we'll be having a time of prayer, and will be taking a special offering to help the victims of Sandy. Please join us in being a beacon of hope and help.
To donate, click on the photo above or CLICK HERE.
Better Than Fine Wine
Recently, I spent a few days with my wife in Napa Valley, California, celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. We had a wonderful time just kicking back and enjoying the serenity of the vineyards and beautiful mountains surrounding the region and, to our fortune, we visited during harvest season when the vines are filled with beautiful clusters of grapes, creating a lot of buzz and activity around town.
On one of our stops, we visited the Beaulieu Vineyards, which is one of my favorite Napa wines, and our host Peter gave us the grand tour. Along the way, we were inspecting the vines from the vineyard and learned that the region was perfect for wine production due to the little rain fall in the area. That in turn causes the roots of the vine to dig deep into the hard, rocky soil of the earth, and fight through drought-like conditions in order to find a water source. Naturally, one would think that the lack of water would cause the vines to die, but that's not the case. The opposite occurs, in that the lack of water doesn't kill the vines, but instead strengthens them by causing the roots to fight harder and go deeper in order to find a water source.
Meanwhile, the vinedresser is happy to let the roots of the vine do all the fighting because he's hoping the fight in the roots translates back into the grapes. So in winemaking, one of the keys to producing an excellent wine begins in the root's ability to fight through seemingly unbearable circumstances. The greater the fight of the vine, the sweeter the grape … and the sweeter the grape, the better the wine.
That right there should make you look at the things you're going through a little differently. Instead of dreading the fight and trying to pray away the hard times, be thankful for them and try to find out what they're producing in you. It's not time to give up or give in – it's time to keep fighting and digging deeper so that you can stand strong, endure the hard times, and succeed. You are going to win, as long as you don't quit in the fight. Sure, your enemy is banking on you throwing in the towel because that's the only way he'll win. But not now, not tomorrow, not ever. There's no quitting. This fight is producing greatness in you!
So the next time someone asks you how you're doing, just simply answer, "I'm doing better than fine wine!"
I enjoy hearing from you so let me know how you've been able to starve your doubts and feed your faith.
Video Blog -- Pastor Appreciation Weekend is Here!
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. --
1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV)
How will YOU show DOUBLE HONOR to our great leaders, Pastor Steve and Pastor Mary? Share your thoughts and words of appreciation by commenting on today’s blog.
Audio Blog -- A Special Anniversary Greeting from Pastor Steve and Pastor Mary!
To listen, click on the picture to your left.
Don’t you feel incredibly blessed to have Pastor Steve and Mary at Metro Life Church?
Take this awesome opportunity to share your anniversary wishes for Pastor Steve and Mary by posting your comments!
Audio Blog -- Pastor Steve Speaks a Word on FEAR
FEAR – it’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of greatness. In today’s audio blog, Pastor Steve Alessi encourages YOU to step into your destiny. Put your trust in the Lord, and conquer your greatest fear – FACE it … and FIGHT it!To listen, click on the photo (left).
Has this audio blog sparked a desire to face and fight one of YOUR biggest fears? Share your story HERE so we can pray for you!
Mary's Reflection
Well, actually I'm more exhilarated about my life than ever. When Steve and I started contemplating stepping out and starting Metro Life Church, we had no way of knowing that we would be walking into an incredible season of our lives. It was scary and exciting all at the same time. The "should we or shouldn't we’s" quickly faded when God's voice became clear – all roads pointed in the "we have to" direction.
Although it has had its challenges, there's never been one day that we ever wondered if we'd made the right decision. God's grace reminded us that He had called us to pastoring; we hadn't called ourselves. We knew this because even when money was tight or when struggles came, we never asked what we were doing wrong. God kept us focused on the call.
Over the years people have asked us, "How did you know pastoring was for you?" and we would say, "It's a call you can't silence. If you don't do it, you know you're being disobedient."
Yes, there's a "knowing" but I would be lying to you if I told you Steve and I "just knew" and so, off we went to start a church. Yes, our spirits knew, but we also had a great desire to be faithful where we were. The reality was that God had to push us out. Working with family in ministry is a special calling all in its own. Steve's mom and dad had mentored us, cared for us and provided jobs for us. It would have caused great pain to just pick up roots and leave, in order to do what then would have been perceived as "our own thing."
I never understood that term anyway – "my own thing". Steve and I have never been on our own in anything. God will always use other people to help you fulfill what He's called you to fulfill. In our case it was a prophet, Kathy Lechner. Backing up just a little in this story, Steve and I battled with "the call" for three years before we moved forward. And then, a prophet came to our church and spoke a word that would change the course of history for our lives. Wait … what??? Thank you Jesus … this is it … the prophetic release! I just knew she was going to speak over our lives, the good news of “go start a church!” But, she didn't do that. No, she prophesied these words: "Steve and Mary, you've been faithful to this work and God sees it, but it's not time to go. You need to stay a little longer."
Now, most prophets I know prophesy big houses, lands, territories, ministries to thousands of people, fame, fortune … “go out from here” kind of prophecies. But not Kathy Lechner. No, she prophesied a word that would put our obedience level to the test – “Stay, not go." We had to trust her, but more importantly we had to trust that this was a word from God.
She also prophesied that even though we were battling infertility, we would have more children, with ease this time. No more struggling. Her exact words were, "You've prayed to get started; now you'll pray to stop!" Boy was she right on the money with that one! She was also correct about staying. We stayed for two more years and were so grateful that we did. When we finally stepped out to start Metro Life Church it was perfect timing. All roads led to … go. Leaving any sooner would have been detrimental in our new beginning. I'm sure of that.
Maybe today you're in a place where you need God to confirm His word to you, and you wish you had a prophet that would walk into your life and prophecy over you. Well, the powerful truth is that the prophet Jeremiah has already spoken a prophetic word for you.
My favorite verse of scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 – "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you a hope and a future."
There it is. There's the word for you. Wait on Him and don't be in a hurry. Rushing into a new season isn't always the answer. Wait on Him and trust His timing for everything.
Why don't you take a moment right now, and let me know how has this spoken to you so that Steve and I can be praying for you.
UFO or GOD Encounter
I never really got into the whole aliens craze because I don't believe they exist and it seems like those who claim to have seen a UFO are people I don't think would be my friends. Mary says the real reason is because I'm a sissy and afraid. Whatever. All I can say is when I was in high school back in the '70's, I was not one of those standing in the long lines waiting to get into the UFO classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
From what I understand, the whole premise of the movie was based on system of classification started by an astronomer and UFO researcher, J. Allen Hyneck. Evidently, in UFO-ology, a close encounter is an event in which a person witnesses an unidentified flying object. Hyneck devised a classification for these sightings: First is the visual sightings of an unidentified flying object; second is the visual sightings plus physical effects on animate and inanimate objects; and third is the sightings of "occupants" in and around the UFO. (Really?) Can you guess what the fourth would be? You got it, abduction.
As odd as all this sounds to me, I'm fascinated that so much attention is given to this notion of humans having contact with an extraterrestrial being, yet when we speak of a person connecting with a loving God, the gloves come off and a fight ensues with an innuendo that's weird and claims of absurdity.
When I read stories in the Bible of people having an encounter with God, I'll admit that it can seem a bit odd. Yet, when I see the outcome of such events, I find those individuals have been impacted in a good way, which allows them to walk out their destiny, and at times even change the course of human history. And that makes me wish I had these characters in my friendship circle. Who wouldn't want a friend like David the Giant Killer, or Daniel the Lion Whisperer?
One story that really stands out to me is the encounter Moses has as an 80-year-old -- seemingly a washed up, wasting away fugitive tending to his father-in-law's sheep on the back side of a desert. He stumbles upon a bush that's on fire, and yet the bush isn't consumed. As he approaches the plant, suddenly a voice begins speaking to him out of the fire, and this encounter with God so radically changes him that he spends the next 40 years of his life leading millions of people out of slavery and into a national power house known as Israel.
Now you tell me, which classification of Hyneck's sightings system would you rank this encounter? From what I see it was definitely a four... abduction. And I would say it's the kind of encounter we all could use in life.
If you're ready for that kind of God encounter, then come join me tonight at Metro Life Church (www.metrolifechurch.com) as we kick off our 15th Anniversary Celebration Worship Encounter. For 15 years we've seen people's lives changed for the better. After all, having an encounter with the Almighty will have that affect on a person's life.
Fish On, Fish Off
It was nice getting up when the alarm clock went off at 5:15 AM. Knowing this was going to be a great day on the water, I didn't care that it was still dark outside. Within minutes I was up, dressed and loading the truck with the coolers and fishing rods. I could tell my buddy could hardly wait as well when he sent me a text at 5:55 AM letting me know I was late for our 6:00 AM rendezvous pick up. As I pulled into his driveway, there he was with his own cooler filled with week old sandwiches and cold water, and a fine collection of fishing rods. We both had that goofy, "we're going to have fun today fishing" smile on our faces and as soon as he jumped in the truck he was already talking it up..."Oh yeah, we're going to slaughter them today!"
We had a good laugh about the fishing rods because we had like twenty of them between the two of us, but we didn't care and figured we would need all of them just to haul in the mother load of fish. After we picked up the boat and almost went bankrupt filling it with gas, we were at the boat ramp in no time flat knowing the fish were waiting. Off we went, slapping high fives as we finally were able to do what we've wanted to do all summer and it was the perfect day. Waters were nice, boat's running great, and the croquets were especially tasty on this morning. Once we shot through the channel we were already feeling goose bumps and lots of water as the smooth bay gave way to some pretty choppy seas, but we didn't care and simply powered down to push through it. Before you knew it we were in 400 feet of water and there they were...the birds. OMG! The fish must have missed us!
So as not to disappoint the fish, we immediately threw out the trolling rods and within minutes had the nicest dolphin on the line. After pulling up the other line we had that baby up next to the boat and a huge school of dolphin who seemed to be so happy to see us. Now you need to know something about dolphin fishing. Since they run in schools, the goal is to get one on the line and keep him in the water up next to the boat while throwing other lines out to catch his friends. Sure enough, it was working like a charm. The fish frenzy was in full swing with one on the line and now we're tossing out more lines for the others. Only problem was, every time we would catch another dolphin the line would break. Either the drag was too tight or the line was brittle, either way our fish were not where they should be and that was in the boat. Instead they were swimming around the boat, snatching our lines and breaking them, and seemingly taunting us with a "is that all you've got" flash of their tail. Well, that first catch didn't end well and all we managed to do was get one in the boat. Off we went again and within minutes another hit. Fish frenzy all over again. Oh how we love second chances when it comes to fishing. But again, because we were so excited the first time the fish hit, we didn't pay attention to our rods and the same thing happened. Fish on, but no rods ready for the catch. And it was then that David turned to me and said; "Isn't that just like life? Here God wants to bless us and when He does, we're not ready for it."
The brother couldn't have said it any better, and there we were living it out on the open waters. Finally, we learned our lesson and took the time to prepare our rods for the fish, and after 30 minutes we were in search of more dolphin. But sadly we didn't see another dolphin all afternoon long. Tuna, yes, but no dolphin...which meant we didn't use the ready rods for the rest of the trip. Lesson learned.
Next time you ask God for something, allow your faith to prepare you for it. Because if He brings it to you as an answer to your prayer and you're not ready to receive it, you may miss out on your blessing. And maybe, just maybe, it may never come your way again.
Are you asking God for something? What are you doing to be prepared for when He answers your prayers?
BTW, If you're wanting to enhance your prayer life, then join us on Wednesday nights at Metro Life Church (www.metrolifechurch.com) for our #WWFmlc Study where we're looking at Mark Batterson's book, The Circle Maker.
The Night I Became A Man
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| Pastor Steve and Mary at MLC's First Service |
Have you ever been guilty of confusing special days and events on the calendar? That's been a problem I've had my entire life when it comes to the month of September. The confusion stems from two very special days; my Dad's birthday, and my parents wedding anniversary. For some odd reason, my brain just couldn't get it right and I would always flip the two days around. Even though I would put it on my calendar, when the reminder would come up I would second guess if it was right. "Now which one did my mom say was their anniversary?" There were some years when I would call my Dad to wish him a Happy Birthday and he would kindly accept my wish, but then let me know I was a day early. That was until my Mom made it real simple to remember which day was which with these words I'll never forget. "Son," she once said, "just remember it like this. We were married, September 7th, and then your Dad became a man the day after our wedding on September 8th...when he turned 21." Oh yeah, that sure helped me remember, but it's also left me with an image I can't forget.
On the other hand is an event in September I'll never confuse, as it marks the anniversary of our very first Metro Life Church Service. This year, as we celebrate our 15th year Anniversary, I'm remembering our humble beginnings at the AmeriSuites Hotel in Doral. It was a Friday night launch and we had close to 80 friends and family join our small start up group of about 20 that night. Some of those in the start up group remain our closest friends and co-workers today, and now along with many new co-laborers who have joined us in the journey we're looking forward to celebrating all that's been accomplished and experienced in a couple of weeks at Worship Encounter 2012 (#WE2012).
I didn't realize it at the moment, but I think something significant happened to me 15 years ago after that first night's service in the hotel room. I too became a man. Though I was 37 years old at the time, I thought I had a good grip on what ministry was about. For the 13 years prior, I had served alongside my family in ministry at Grace Church of Kendall and had the opportunity to learn and develop wonderful ministry skills through mentorship and hands-on training, but something shifted in me and my wife Mary the night Metro Life was birthed. I can't say I immediately recognized what that shift was then, but I can say that I noticed a difference in the way the guys on our team made me feel that night and ever since.
Understand this about me...I enjoy seeing people happy and making them feel special and unique. You can ask Mary and my girls what's the one question I constantly ask them when we're out and about. "Are you happy?" I guess my Love Language is action...meaning if I do something for you, that's my way of saying I love you. When I moved Mary into our two-bedroom townhouse after we were married, I promised her I would get her a bigger house in 5 years. Thankfully, Hurricane Andrew came through almost 5 years to the date and I was able to show her how much I loved her. To me, to serve another is saying I love you.
And that's what I heard that first night when I drove into the AmeriSuites parking lot, as the guys on the team immediately met me and unloaded the sound and music equipment from our car. And from that moment on, I've never had to set up a chair, light or sound system, as the team that God has so blessed us with at Metro Life Church, has been showing their love week in and week out for the last 15 years, to not only Mary and I, but to our entire Metro family. I guess that's the reason so many continue to make Metro their church family as well. The place is full of love!!
Thank you, Metro Life, for a great 15 years!! I'm looking forward to a wonderful future of Impacting Everyday Life, Everywhere!!
If you've felt the love around Metro, why don't you share your experience and who it was that showed you their love.
R-A-I-D
I've been experiencing a little irritation around the house lately that's driving me crazy. As I sit and write my blog it's becoming more and more clear to me that part of this issue is reality and part of it is in my head, because I'm not sure if I'm actually feeling the little suckers or if my brain is telling me that I'm feeling them when they're not really there. I'm talking about sugar ants, and it feels like they're crawling up my arms as I type.
It started about a month ago with all the rains flooding the area and the little microscopic runts looking for a new home since their living rooms were flooded out in the yard. Now they've taken up residence in and around our kitchen, so about the time we sit down for breakfast they come out and join us. Even though we wipe down the counters real good the night before and shoot a nice line of Raid Ant Killer 17 around the base and corners of our counters, these little annoying socialite new friends just keep showing up, like a new neighbor that's just moved in cross the street. Sometimes it even seems they just fly in from some high vantage point and land on my arms and the only way I know they're there is the tickling sensation they cause as they navigate through the hair on my arms. And that's where it gets so irritating because I can't tell if the little guys and gals are out to sting me or just try to tickle me to death.
The reality is, I have a lot of little sugar ants trying to irritate me in life that a little shot of Raid can't eliminate either. Yes, there will always be the big, huge problems that have the potential to get me off my game. At the same time there's the little, minor, irritating nuisances that also cause me big headaches. The big things I seem to handle better since they're so obvious and standing right in front of me. Not that it's an easy fight, but at least I know who the opponent is and I see what I'm up against. But the little guys are also quite beastly.
When I was in college, I worked in construction on the side to help pay my school bill. One day we were laying down the base board in a house and I was responsible for cutting the base. As my buddy shouted out the measurements, I lined up the board on the chop saw, fired up the blade and brought it down to make the cut. As I did, I felt my left hand shake and then a second later noticed a small piece of my finger laying on the ground between my feet. Sure enough, I had sliced off the tip of my index finger, and off we ran to the emergency room to have the finger stitched up. For the next few weeks, I couldn't believe the discomfort that little cut on the end of my finger caused me. It wasn't as though I lost my hand or even the entire finger, but that little sugar ant had the capacity to make my life hell.
If the small sugar ants are causing you undue stress and pain, then hit them with your own dose of RAID:
R - Release it and don't let it get you all upset. It may be part of life's little challenges, but it doesn't have to wreck your world.
A - Address it and make the adjustments. If you can do something about the matter, then let the irritation get your attention and do what needs to be done. You just might be the better for it.
I - Include God at all times. Thankfully, you don't have to handle everything in life on your own. Ask God for an assist and you'll find He's there to help.
D - Determine to succeed in spite of the irritation. Nothing, let me repeat that, nothing can keep you from succeeding once you put your mind to it, so keep fighting and don't quit.
The wisdom of Solomon tells us that it's the little foxes that have the potential of spoiling the vineyards, but not this time. We're ready with our can of RAID.
Anything irritating you lately? How are you handling it?
Cone of Uncertainty
If you
live in South Florida or the Gulf Coast, right about now is when you begin to
experience an eerie, uncomfortable, dreaded feeling in the pit of your stomach
that comes every time a Tropical Storm in the lower Caribbean gets named. This
year it's starting with Isaac and that feeling came upon all four of us in the
staff meeting about 4:00 PM on Tuesday, when one of the team members flipped
his iPad around and the familiar "cone of uncertainty", colored coded
showing wind speeds and potential direction, had the new storm directed right
towards Miami. Even though we have a few days to see if Isaac makes it our way,
the thoughts of worry immediately began circulating and got us off point for a
few minutes as the fear of another storm stated to impact each of us.
And
that's what storms do. Because we have experienced major storms in our past,
immediately we go into fear mode when we're about to face another. And I'm not
just talking about hurricanes like Andrew, Katrina, and Wilma, but other named
storms like sickness, bankruptcy, divorce, depression, rebellious children and
so on. The ones that have plagued our lives yesterday, and the thought of
another one hitting our life again causes us to assume the worst is about to
happen.
Most
times it's the fear, anxiety and stress of the storm that is worse than the
storm itself. Yes, the storm is painful, but the "what if's" are
paralyzing. Even this morning as I woke up I wanted to check the weather update
to hear what forecasters are saying about Isaac and see if by some chance the
storm has changed its course or lost its momentum since last checking at 11 PM
last night. The constant of the storm looming out there has already caused me
some measure of concern and can easily consume my life over the next few days.
There is
a story about John who lived across the river from his backwoods neighbor,
Clarence,
and the two feuded constantly. They never missed a chance to throw rocks and
yell insults over the water. One day the Army Corps of Engineers came to build
a bridge. John was elated and told his wife he was finally going to get his
hands on Clarence. When the bridge was finished, John headed off, but he
returned a few minutes later. "I never realized how big that guy is,"
John said sheepishly to his wife. "I headed for the bridge, and then I saw
the sign: 'Clarence - 8 feet, 4 inches.'"
Is a
storm out there causing you fear? If so, then understand how you prepare for
the storm will determine how you make it through the storm, so let me encourage
you today with the following. First know that storms happen in life. There's
nothing we can do about that, so be expecting the unexpected storm. Then
prepare for the storm ahead of time by staying connected with God all the time.
He promises to never leave you alone, even while you go through the storms of
life. You'll be surprised how faith helps dispel fear. Also, keep healthy,
happy people in your friendship circle. Who you hang with rubs off on you, so
find other strong people that can support and challenge you to be stronger so
you can outlast the storm. And lastly, just settle in for the long haul. As the
old saying goes, this too shall pass. Every storm you face has an expiration
date on it, so find yourself a comfortable place and hang on, because the storm
you're facing will pass and you're going to make it!
Since we
all know what it is to go through storms in life, can you share any nuggets
that have helped you through your own storms?
Making Every Drop Count
Today's blog was written by Yoshika Green, former public school educator for 13 years, literacy consultant for Scholastic, and currently serving as Children's Ministry Director at MLC.
I once conducted an experiment with my students to see which
plant would grow the best, depending on its water source. So we watered one
plant with distilled water, and the other was watered with distilled and tap
water. The plant that grew the strongest was the one that was watered with both
types of water. We concluded that sometimes one type of water, even if it’s a
“better” water source is not enough to produce the maximum results. We also
discovered that relying on everyone in the class to water the plants was better
than just a few because every drop counted for this plant’s growth.
The educational buzz that is sweeping the nation is all
about the Common Core Standards. These are the new learning goals that the
United States will align all that is taught to. Teachers, principals, kids and
parents are concerned about all the changes to national assessments and
learning in general. One major standard was left out in the rewrite of the
Common Core Initiative, God and Christian studies. We at Metro Life Church see
the gaping hole in our education system’s focus and that’s why we will be
focusing more on Early Christian Childhood Education (ECCE).
It’s not enough to leave the education of our children to
just teachers, the community, or educational programming. It’s too great of a
responsibility to not all be a part of. So we will be innovatively learning
about God’s Common Core Standards that His word provides. We’ll simply take
what’s being learned in school, while using cutting-edge teaching trends and
combine it with biblical truths.
The education experts are saying that our kids need more
science, technology, engineering, and math education. Research says that we
need more exploration of the arts because it aides all other forms of learning
and creativity. We hold the drops of water that will cause our children to
really flourish, we have the Biblical understanding, the God-given creativity
and giftings from heaven that pour out the knowledge of the Lord in the
greatest way. Then all other initiatives float upstream in the waters of all
our God-focused drops. We have the answer, the living water, Jesus that will
quench the thirst like nothing the world could offer. Then with Jesus at the
helm we can teach our children in church and in our homes about their Creator,
who is the ultimate scientist, inventor, mathematician (whose multiplication
system cannot be duplicated). We can point them to God, the matchless artist of
all time who paints a new sky for us every morning. These are the most
important pieces that are missing from many of our children’s lessons.
Here at Metro Life Church, we are bringing it back to the drops of water that are missing from our education system. As our kids go back to school this fall, we are remembering the forgotten element in our public school system, the Christian education focus where the bible is the basis for all learning. Early Christian Childhood Education (ECCE) will be our focus, ensuring that are children get an education here at church, that is rich in biblical knowledge and Godly principles from the earliest ages until they are older and ready to live out the purpose that God has destined for their lives. We are the drops of water that will collectively produce the flood of waters that will nourish growth now and for their lifetime.
Here at Metro Life Church, we are bringing it back to the drops of water that are missing from our education system. As our kids go back to school this fall, we are remembering the forgotten element in our public school system, the Christian education focus where the bible is the basis for all learning. Early Christian Childhood Education (ECCE) will be our focus, ensuring that are children get an education here at church, that is rich in biblical knowledge and Godly principles from the earliest ages until they are older and ready to live out the purpose that God has destined for their lives. We are the drops of water that will collectively produce the flood of waters that will nourish growth now and for their lifetime.
As we send our children back to school, let’s remember to
make every drop count of what we have to offer our children as we prepare them
for all that they face in life. We will
start by praying over them this weekend during our worship services. We will make every drop count so that our
children know what’s right and what’s not, despite what they may see and hear.
You may want to be a part of our Jamz production or creative
program, it may be in the form of mentoring a child, or teaching our children
how to play an instrument, or build something amazing with their hands, maybe
you will help a child plan for their future. There’s something you have to
offer that we want to share with our kids. When you see me at church feel free
to share what your ideas are as to how you too can make your drops count. After
all, we are all the varied water sources that when poured into the lives of our
children produce the maximum growth.
Who dropped something amazing into your life as a child, and
what did that deposit grow into?
The Joy of Perseverance
My first
introduction to Cuba was walking out of the Jose Marti Airport and seeing an
older lady in the crowd of people waiting outside of arrivals, holding a young
man tight in her arms as she wept and would not let him go. I wondered how long
it had been since she last saw her loved one and how many years did she pray
for this reunion?
Do you
remember the first time someone told you to be happy when things go wrong? We
probably hear it more often than we take note of and in different ways such as “don’t’
worry, be happy” or “think
positive”. Over the
years, I've tried to keep that kind of bright outlook about life. I could call it the fighter in me, yet I know
it’s the faith in me that makes
me a fighter. Every day I DECIDE to
stand by the truth in the Word of God regardless of my situation or
feelings.
Yes, that’s
easier said than done; especially when you read verses such as this in the
Bible; “consider it
pure joy whenever we face trials, because you know that the testing of your
faith produces perseverance” (James
1:2-3). Whaaat!? I'm having a hard enough time with the trials
coming and having to persevere through them, but how could God test me?
Especially when He knows what a test does to me! I’m
sorry, but God would not put me through that kind of torture. He knows I get
super nervous when I have to take a test. He knows that my heart races crazy
fast, to the point that it feels like it’s
going to jump out of my chest, causing my face to heat up and grow red blotches
around my neck. No, I can’t believe
God would be the one to give me a test. I just can’t
wrap my human mind around that one, and that's why these verses really disturb
me. I prefer to believe my trials come from the enemy. But, because I am
certain that God loves me and has a plan
for my life, in obedience, I have set out to consider my test “pure
joy” even if I am having to
preserve longer than I ever thought I would. I'm confident He will see me
through to victory so I can pass the test, because I believe what is written in
Scripture.
These words
in James came back to my mind while I was ministering in Cuba. The Cuban people
have learned to persevere and the ones we were able to minister to choose to do
so with pure joy. I thought the 7 years of trying to have a baby with my
husband has been a long, long time, until I met a farmer whose Christian wife
has been asking him to go to church with her and their children for about 10
years. That is long time to love and serve God without her spouse. This wife
has been praying for his salvation for years and probably never expected some
Americans to end up on their farm in December 2010 to share God’s
love with him. This past week, Metro Life returned to visit the same farmer
with a brand new Bible for him and his persevering wife. I was so blessed to
see God’s hand at
work, as her long prayed petition was being answered through us, and she
probably never imagined God sending an Italian Pastor with his mob from Miami
to do so. Nevertheless, she’s lived out
James 1:2-3 because she had not given up hope. Her prayers, love and actions
have been preparing Osvaldo’s heart for
our second visit and for his glorious surrender to our loving Savior.
A decade is
a long time, but think about the pain of the woman with the issue of blood –
she suffered with that for twelve years. Yet, she did not give up faith. She
prepared to turn her faith into action when she decided to go into the crowd.
She gave it another try and pushed through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’
cloak. After twelve years of trial, she
heard the Lord say “Take heart,
daughter, your faith has healed you.”
We may not
know when or how God will answer our long prayed petition. Cuban families are
still waiting to be reunited, they are still waiting to be free. We each have
lifted the desires of our hearts to our able God and we will pray without
ceasing as He says in His Word. But don’t
for a second think that a season of waiting is a season without joy. NOPE! “Consider
it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
James 1:2-3
So be
intentional about living that passage out in your life, and remember to “Take
delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
(Psalm 37:4) The beauty is that I find “pure
joy” every time I decide to
delight in the Lord, because I know He's giving me my heart’s
desire.
Mission: Cuba
We use the word scope
quite often in today’s vernacular in referring to the intention or objective
of what we are doing (i.e. “include this
in your scope of work”) It coincides with the Italian form of the word scopo which means purpose or goal.
However, it also refers to the extent or reach of something or
someone’s influence or activity; and this where the word scope and today’s blog intersect. See, we recently added
“Everywhere” to the mission statement of @MetroLifeChurch. It used to read “Impacting
Everyday Life” and although that mission has not changed in any way, the scope of that mission has... it is now, "Impacting Everyday Life, Everywhere"
It was towards the end of 2010 that Pastor
Steve felt led to sow and go into this island nation that’s so close
to our city and is now so much closer to our hearts. Through relationships that were
already in place with Churches in Covenant, we connected with a wonderful man
of God in Cuba, Pastor Faustino;
whose mission is to raise up, encourage and support other Godly men and women
so that the Gospel can be shared throughout the island that he loves.
And today, as you read this blog, Pastor
Steve and Mary and a team of Metro Life missionaries, that include Dave &
Paola Roman, David & Mory Martinez,
Dez, Faith Fredrick (Pastor Mary’s
mom) and several others, are in Cuba
ministering to that group of pastors. They are showing Pastor
Faustino that there is a family of believers 90 miles away that love them, pray
for them and support them. If that’s not Impacting Everyday Life EVERYWHERE, I
don’t know what is.
Yesterday, Pastor
Steve spoke to the congregation of pastors and their families about courage. Some had come to Pastor Faustino’s church after traveling six hours
just to be at this conference with their “friends from Miami”. Could you imagine the need for
courage in a nation like Cuba…
a nation where preaching the Gospel (the good news of Christ) and the freedom
that is inherent to all believers can actually be dangerous? Faith Fredrick (Pastor Mary’s mom) spoke about grace, the
unmerited favor of the Lord while David Roman
spoke about faith; being able to see what you can’t see; being able to
trust God for what you know but is not currently evident. They also prayed for
marriages, as Cuba
experiences a horrific 90% divorce rate and Pastor
Mary worshiped her heart out and led the congregation to their knees before
the presence of God. And that was just yesterday…
Today they are continuing to sow and share and love and
support. David and Mory Martinez will be sharing their personal testimonies and
Pastor Steve and Mary (along with the
team) will continue to equip the saints in Cuba; being the very hands and
feet of Jesus to these wonderful people of God and relying on the Holy Spirit
to do His work in their lives. It is so awesome to do the work of the Lord!!
Here's a statement that was shared in an email
from the team that was sent yesterday during a very short time with a WiFi connection, “Bottom line, we all felt that we came here
to impart but they are imparting so much in us.
There is desperation, desolation, and destruction but these people have
a hope that is truly amazing.” Who is able? GOD IS ABLE !!!
Our mission continues to be the same; but our scope has changed; this is true in YOUR life as well. You’ve
been given more territory, more purpose; your objective is greater. Will you
reach for it? Will you support it? Will you accomplish the mission? Impacting Everyday Life, Everywhere.
Thank you for your support and prayers
#CubaTripMLC
Every
Wednesday at Metro Life Church people of all ages come to experience Words with
Friends or WWF as we call it. And while
most churches experience a summer dip in attendance, our WWF nights continue to
attract growing numbers. Why? People
want to connect. People want to build
meaningful relationships. We thought it would be neat to show you a few
Instagrams of people who have plugged into WWF so that you could see the power
of connection in their lives.
Accepting
an invitation to attend church on Easter Sunday from their daughter's English
teacher, the Garmin family is now loving the relationships they are building at
WWF. Lillie has connected with the youth
at Hanging with Friends while her dad Bruce is being challenged "In the
Cage" with the Goodfellas and her mom Elisa is enjoying the Womanity group
"The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands". The entire family has made MLC part of their
everyday life. Click here to see their
Instagram at our recent Family on the Fourth event.
Both
Aisha and Hazel have been attending MLC for over a year but their friendship
was formed in a WWF small group. As they put it, they have a relationship
where they can share their hopes and strifes, encourage and pray for each other
and most of all laugh while referring to each other as two coconuts brought
together by God's love and MLC. Today
both ladies each lead a small group in the powerful Breaking Free Bible study
at WWF. Click here to see their Instagram heading to a lunch with other MLC friends this
past Saturday.
Ramani
and his wife Grisel were dropping off their son at a local school in Doral when
they drove past and noticed MLC for the first time. They had been looking for a church near home
and decided to give it a try. Since that initial visit, the entire family has
plugged into WWF where Ramani is loving "In the Cage" and the small
group connections he is making. It was
recently discovered that Ramani is a professional Salsa instructor and this
Saturday he will be giving lessons for the second time immediately following
our service. Click here to see his
Instagram of the first time he shared his gift of salsa dancing at MLC.
Life's
not meant to be done alone and WWF provides a great opportunity to connect,
build relationships and even use your gifts for others to enjoy. We hope you join us tonight at 7 pm as we
make more Instagram memories to be shared with family and friends.
Are you already attending WWF at Metro Life? Let us know how it has impacted your life...
Are you already attending WWF at Metro Life? Let us know how it has impacted your life...
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