Here’s a brief listing of where and when I’ll be speaking if you’re interested in stopping by, and more importantly if you wouldn’t mind praying for me and for the churches that I’ll be visiting.

Sunday, June 6th – The Journey Fellowship Ocala, Florida 10:30am

The Journey is kicking off their “Summer of Love” campaign and I’ll be there talking about how that they can easily share God’s love in practical ways!

June 9 – 11 – IGNITE at FBC Cary in Cary, NC every night at 6pm

I’ll be hanging out with FBC Cary’s Student Ministry, helping them get their summer started off right.  Illusionist Jared Hall will also be there one night.  I’m looking forward to doing ministry with him again, (if he even remembers me!)

Back at Crosspoint Church in Spring Hill, FL for the FIRED UP! Series June 13, 20, & 27

For the rest of the month, I’m glad to be back home at Crosspoint sharing the “FIRED UP!” series.  Fired Up is a “Guys Guide to Faith”, it’s all about encouraging guys, husbands, fathers, etc. to step up and be the men of God they are called to be.  This series is for those guys and the women who love them.

If you’re interested in having me come out and speak at your ministry/event you can click on the “contact” tab at the top of the site or simply click here. You can also hear messages by me and the rest of the Crosspoint Pastoral Staff at CrosspointLive.com

Traveling and speaking is a lot of fun for me, and like I said before, it’s very humbling to be invited somewhere to share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.  But I’ve also got to say that my favorite place to share about Jesus is right here at home at Crosspoint Church, there’s no place like home!

It’s another opportunity to share God’s love in a practical way.

The love of God sometimes isn’t practical though… Sometimes it’s weird. If “I” was God, I’m not so sure I would should up as a tiny baby. So fragile, so defenseless, so… “babyish”.

Instead of a throne, He got a manger. Instead of a castle, our King got a stable. Sometimes LOVE comes in a form where you least expect it.

Tomorrow on Christmas Eve, who are you bringing? Who have you been praying for who is going to meet face to face with a savior you’d never suspect?

See you tomorrow!

I am thankful for:

• God the father – He has blessed my family and given me so much to be thankful for.  It all starts with Him.  His love endures forever. (Psalms 107:1)
• Jesus Christ – My savior who died on the cross for my sins, and made me a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• The Holy Spirit – Who guides me.
• My wonderful wife Tina – She is my best friend, my partner, my Godsend.  She is my favorite person!
• My Mom – She gives me more than she’ll ever know.
• My Dad – There’s nothing like the love of a father. (After this crazy year, I’m glad that God has gifted me another year with him)
• My fantastic Brothers and Sister!
• My family – ALL OF THEM!  (My Aunts, Cousins, Uncles, etc… I love you all)
• My In-Laws – They are the best!
• My Crosspoint Family – I LOVE MY CHURCH!!
• The wonderful staff that I get to work with! – Paul, Brad, Cheryl, and Marion… I LOVE my job!
• My Dogs – Barkley and She-Ra bring lots of love & light into my life.  The Dynamic Duo are the best dogs ever!
• My home – the fact that I have a roof over my head is a blessing.
• My car – I love my Jeep and after Kip & Nick put my new top on, it feels like a brand new car! (It’s the little things)
• My computer – I’m a Mac.
• Facebook – yes Facebook, because it keeps me connected with my entire family. (Yes we’re ALL on it.)
• Pizza Villa – My favorite Spring Hill restaurant.  It’s cheap, it’s got great pizza, and I go there just about every Sunday.
• TiVo – I like TV, ok.

From the big things to the little things… what are you thankful for?

3 weeks ago I was in New York City.  Walking through those streets I would get lost in the cityscape.  My eyes would be fixated on the skyline.  It was tough for me to not keep looking up in the air at the beautiful architecture.  But for the residents of the city who have been there for a while… they seemed a bit jaded.  They didn’t look up anymore.  They either got used to it, or they’ve been there too long, or maybe they’ve seen enough.

In our relationship with God it’s the same thing.  Many who have been involved in the Christian culture for a long time let their relationship with God to grow stale.  They stop listening for Him, seeking the Lord in the small stuff, finding the beauty of Jesus in the everyday-ness of life.  They quit looking up.  They no longer see the God of the city at work.

Psalms 121 talks about looking up to the hills to realize that your help comes from the Lord.  Whether you’re looking up at a gorgeous skyline or if you’re looking a God’s beauty in creation, never quit looking up.  Don’t let it get stale, shake it up, and ultimately don’t forget what it’s all about – Love God, Love Others. (Matthew 22:34-40)

I’ve got to be honest… I knew 33 was coming but I didn’t realize it would come so soon.  I had a great celebration yesterday with lots of my friends and family from Crosspoint and throughout the community.

It’s was the Cordova Kickball Classic.  In my mind the best way to deal with getting older is by playing games that I played when I was younger.  We had a great time and I posted some of the pics below:

I have looked forward to many birthdays in the past:

• 13 – teens baby!
• 16 – driving
• 18 – vote
• 20 – no more teens
• 25 – I could rent a car!
• 30 – Finally old enough to be “old enough”

But 33 is different… 33 means “I should know better”.  So my goal for 33 is the know and learn the things I should “Know Better”.  I want to love God more, I want to serve more, I want to give more, I want to be a better husband, son, friend.

My verses for 33 are:

Micah 6:8

⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Psalm 19:14

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

James 1:19

¹⁹My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

James 1:22

²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Lord, help me to make year 33 a year that pleases you and one that impacts my community, my family, and my friends for eternity. Amen.

James 1:27 says:

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

There are a lot of causes out there, but Tina and I have a big heart for the children that are hurting in this world.

Compassion International is an organization and mission that we greatly believe in here at the Cordova house.

Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.

Founded by the Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training.

Today, Compassion helps more than 1 million children in 25 countries.

Meet Rafonzel. I first heard about this extraordinary young woman when I took a group of students from Crosspoint to a Student Life camp in Daytona beach. Her story touched me, and changed my life. Watch these videos and you’ll see why…

These are the kids that Tina and I sponsor:

This is Exvin and Lovely Rose. We’ve never met this kids before but we love them and pray for them on a regular basis. It’s amazing to think that a simple $64 a month has help clothes, feed, and educate them over the last few years. We love receiving their letters in the mail and we love to send them notes of encouragement as well. They have been a LARGE blessing in our lives.

So, I just wanted to post, and draw attention to this incredible organization and ask you, would you please consider sponsoring a child?

Get this widget! Compassion – Make a Donation – Sponsor a Child

You can follow Compassion on any of these social networks:

Here’s the newest video that moved me to repost this blog post from another blog I used to run.

Catalyst 2009 Compassion Moment from Catalyst on Vimeo.

Heaven is the Face is a beautiful song and hearing it reminds me to pray for a family that is still (and will always) deal with the pain of losing a child, while celebrating that she is with Jesus waiting for the rest of the family to come home.

The song and the lyrics are below, and if you want to find out more about the Chapman’s ministry Shoahannah’s Hope, just check out ShowHope.org

Post a comment about the song, Id love to hear what you think!

Heaven is the face of a little girl
With dark brown eyes
That disappear when she smiles.
Heaven is the place
Where she calls my name
Says, “Daddy please come play with me for awhile.”

Chorus:

God, I know, it’s all of this and so much more,
But God, You know, that this is what I’m aching for.
God, you know, I just can’t see beyond the door.
So right now…

Heaven is the sound of her breathing deep,
Lying on my chest, falling fast asleep while I sing.
And Heaven is the weight of her in my arms,
Being there to keep her safe from harm while she dreams

And God, I know, it’s all of this and so much more,
But God, You know, that this is what I’m longing for
God, you know, I just can’t see beyond the door.

Bridge:

But in my mind’s eye I can see a place
Where Your glory fills every empty space.
All the cancer is gone,
Every mouth is fed,
And there’s no one left in the orphans’ bed.
Every lonely heart finds their one true love,
And there’s no more goodbye,
And no more not enough,
And there’s no more enemy (no more).

Heaven is a sweet, maple syrup kiss
And a thousand other little things I miss with her gone.
Heaven is the place where she takes my hand
And leads me to You,
And we both run into Your arms.

Oh God, I know, it’s so much more than I can dream.
It’s far beyond anything I can conceive.
So God, You know, I’m trusting You until I see
Heaven in the face of my little girl,
Heaven in the face of my little girl.

Unfortunately, my desk looks a little more like former Vice-President Al Gore’s desk (minus the 3 monitors, and the scary frog.):

What does YOUR workspace looks like?

Michael Vick back in football, Squeaky Fromme out on parole, Pete Rose still not in the Hall of Fame.  What’s your stance on second chances?

Post a comment below and join the conversation.

Wayne