Guest Blogger: Brandon’s Bout

I’m honored that Court would share the limelight with me and let me write on her magnificent blog today!  Isn’t she a fantastic writer?  She loves writing for you and making you guys happy!  Today is her birthday, so be sure and let her know how much you care about her!

I’ve had such a wonderful day so far and I wanted to share why.  I was at a conference a couple of months ago and I remember hearing Francis Chan say that we as Christ-followers need to be people who brag on GOD when he see him work.  Today has been one of those days and I need to brag on our GOD.

I’ve had a toothache for the past two-and-a-half weeks and I woke up this morning knowing that today was the day that I had to get a root canal.  I was tired of it hurting, but I definitely was not looking forward to my dentist drilling on one of my teeth for 2 hours. 

I made breakfast for Court and we got to enjoy some time together before she went to the Christmas Village with her mom, an annual tradition that I’m sure she’ll tell you about.  As she was getting ready, I got a text from a good friend of mine saying that he had some great news and he wanted to tell me over the phone.  So, I called him and he informed me that he had been studying scripture, seeking the heart of GOD, listening to GOD’s direction and he wanted to give his life to Christ and get baptized.  I’ve known this guy for almost 6 years- so you can imagine the excitement I was feeling as he told me.  I just kept thinking, “The angels in Heaven are rejoicing, Jesus is writing his name in the book of life and he will spend ETERNITY with GOD!”  I got down on my knees outside and just thanked GOD for his mercy and his pursuit of us.  He never stops pursuing us!

I came back inside and was scrolling through all of the updates my friends had posted on Twitter.  My favorite preacher, besides Dave of course, is Matt Chandler, who is the Senior Pastor at this huge church in Dallas, TX.  I had heard him speak before and to be honest, he just has a way of teaching the Bible that makes you want to obey and makes you want to live fully for GOD.  Anyways, last Thanksgiving Day, he had a seizure and passed out.  His family rushed him to the hospital and the doctors discovered that he had a malignant brain tumor, a very aggressive and dangerous one.  I’ve listened to his podcast all throughout the year and I’ve been amazed at his faith in GOD and in his divine plan.  Matt never publicly lashed out at GOD, he never shook his fist at GOD, he never he hung his head.  He kept preaching, week in and week out, that GOD is good.  So I watched his video update that he uploaded to Twitter this morning and his cancer is gone!!!  I sat on the couch and praised GOD!  What touched me the most was the fact that GOD does not need Matt to advance his Kingdom, to save his people, to teach his church, GOD alone can handle all of those departments.  But, for some reason, GOD spared him. 

It’s cool because I’ve been praying for him and it’s just so awesome when GOD answers us.

A couple of minutes later I got a call from this lady from around Murray, KY, which is my hometown.  To make a long story short, there is 2-year old boy who lives with his foster parents in a little town right outside of Murray.  They were bringing him to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and this woman was going to be sitting with him all day every day until, well, you know.  She had asked if people from our church would be willing to take her place and sit with this sweet little boy while she got some fresh air just for an hour a day.  Our incredible church lined up to help her.  So, I got a call from her and she said that she had fantastic news…..he was getting to go home.  I didn’t get to ask questions because the Dr. just walked into the room, but she said it was a miracle.  Again, I just thanked GOD.

So I go to the dentist thinking about how incredible GOD is and how much he is letting me see him do and to be honest, they could have pulled all my teeth out and I wouldn’t have cared.  I was just enjoying watching GOD work and nothing was going to steal my joy.

I got home around 2 and I got a call from my co-worker, Dave, who had just been to lunch with one of the ministers at one of the churches in Nashville.  I need to catch you up on some things: A couple of months ago, Courtney and I felt like GOD was leading me to leave the job that I loved at Lipscomb and give all of my time and energy to our church, Ethos.  So, we prayed and talked and we pulled the trigger.  One of the hardest things for us to do was to deal with the fact that we were leaving a steady paycheck and great benefits to go to a job that had neither.  But, we trusted that this is what GOD wanted for us.  This might be too much information, but it’s important for you to know the whole story.  We ended up taking out a personal insurance policy, which was fine, it just wasn’t nearly as good as the one we had at Lipscomb.  Here is where we were having a hang up; it didn’t have maternity, which was really scary for us.   Having a baby and not having insurance is really expensive.  We aren’t trying to have a baby but GOD has his own plans and we would of liked to have been ready just in case…But, we knew this was from GOD, and the thought of not taking this job just because we didn’t have maternity insurance was foolish.  So for the past two months this is what we’ve been doing.  So back to today and the phone call.  Dave told me that a certain church in Nashville decided they wanted to add us to their insurance policy, which if you don’t know anything about insurance, group insurance policies are always better and oh yeah….it has maternity too!  I called Courtney and I just sat in the floor and cried.  This was out of nowhere!  I mean, this wasn’t even on our radar.  Yet GOD, in all of his goodness, decided to give us this!

I don’t know what kind of a day you’re having, but hopefully this blog helps you see that our GOD is awesome!  He is good!  Take some time today and stop and think about all of the good things GOD has given you. 

I want to leave you with this verse. 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever.  Ephesians 3:20,21

Brandon

Redefining Love as a Pirate

These past few years as I have journeyed with my church family, I have learned to personally redefine how I choose to love.  Love to me was often classified as something directed to people close to me or people with whom I share common interests.  It is all forms of kindness, compassion, empathy, care, and passion shown to those I LIKE...and supposedly to those I don't.  Although in all honesty, this is not often the case.

 All in all I think my view of love was a bit limited in scope, quality and depth.

One of the ways I have learned to refine my love is by refocusing my love to include not only those like me that I like but with those who I may share few common interests, I may not always like, and I might not usually even notice in my self-centered daily activities.  My church has helped me in this journey by encouraging me and holding me accountable.  I fail miserably at love everyday but I have learned so much about myself and about my God through this love journey he has called me to.  This weekend my church hosted a Trunk-or-Treat!  It was my first ever...I grew up a traditional trick-or-treater...So I was excited to try out this church phenomenon.  It was held in East Park where I had a fabulous time loving on some of God's most beautiful creations...kids! 

Each house church chose a theme and dressed up and decorated their trunk.  My ladies chose...PIRATES, Arrgh!  Thanks to the amazing artistic gifts some of the girls have our trunks were sure to shiver the timbers of all the little treaters!

I love these girls! They are teaching me so much!  Notice our adorable parrot in the back row!

Who is that shark swimming around in our treasure chest?

Why is Lofty Bear, of course!  The cutest shark around!

Looks like we've added some new members to our ship's crew.

The kids loved the eye patches and earrings they found in the treasure box!  Aren't they cute pirates?!

Mom, Dad, Cara, Camille & Erin brought a cotton candy and popcorn machine.  Needless to say they were one of the most popular trunks!  Carebear and Mom are in vintage clown costumes, Erin is just beautiful, and Camille is a pumpkin!

Four of my favorites!  Sydney was a tourist led by her Travelocity Gnome (Micah)!  What a cute idea!

B was a toy football player.  

Face Painting was a hit!

We were overwhelmed by the response of the community!  I am already looking forward to next year and I'm already thinking about how I can dress up!

Happy almost 1st Birthday Lofton!  B and Court love you!

I Will Follow You

**WARNING:  Serious post

--lots of words, minimal photos--

I have been so emotional in the last few weeks.  It all started with singing the song "Follow You" by Leeland featuring Brandon Heath at Ethos a couple of weeks ago.  

Then yesterday, I was shopping at TJMaxx with my favorite mom, Jackie.  We were stopped talking to an old friend when we noticed police officers moving briskly with intention toward our area of the store.  A man about 10 feet from us in the shoe department was their target.  They asked him to go with him and he complied without a scene as did the woman with him.  Soon another man was brought in from outside and he appeared to have been wrestled to ground as he was covered in grass.  About 20 minutes later they were each individually marched through the store in handcuffs.

And you guys, it broke my heart.  I nearly wept in the store as they took him.  There is no obvious need for me to cry for this man.  He was obviously involved in something serious...these were no mall security guard wannabees.  These were the real deal cops.  He was not a child who was helpless of the actions he as caught up in.  He was a grown 20-something.  He looked like a gangster...which I know is not politically correct and perhaps unkind to say but I merely say it allow you to picture him.  He had on the too-big, baggy shorts and long dreadlocks.  But for some reason to me, he looked like such a nice man.  

My heart just continues to cry out for him.  He obviously needed something...money, a family, attention, something.  Someone didn't teach him right from wrong or maybe the first time he needed something, he tried to go about it the right way, but someone, probably a Christian, turned him away.  So he did what people do in desperation without God.  He made a poor decision.  People aren't innately robbers or murderers.

On my way home from shopping, I heard the song from church, Follow You.  I just sobbed as I sang with my hands raised (driving with my knees...do not follow my example).  As I promised God that I would follow His calling.  I don't know what that calling is specifically or why God is moving in me but I know He has called me to love.  To love those you look like me and those who don't.  To love my enemies and my family.  To love the orphans and poor around the world and in my own backyard.

I am not good at it.

But God doesn't expect me to be perfect.  In fact, He knows I will fail.  He calls me to try.

Here is the song.  Take some time to just close your eyes and listen.

Side note:  Of course, Will makes this song a hundred times better...Its funny hearing a song at church and falling in love, then hearing it on the radio and going, "Man that is just not as good as Will does it."  Thank you for doing such an amazing job of leading worship Will!  We are so thankful for you!

I don't know if that song resonates with you, but it strikes me deep in my soul.  I am not usually an emotional person.  I think Brandon has seen me really cry a handful, maybe two handfuls, of times.  Sometimes I get teary and my eyes glisten but real tears for me are rare.  (if you are in grad school with me, don't count the tears shed during/after practicals...I do cry when I'm nervous and exhausted).  I have a hard time crying at those moments when they are practically mandatory like at funerals.  Thus the cold hearted labeled began.

So when Brandon looked down a couple of weeks ago at church and saw me in tears during this song, I'm sure he was confused.  Then last night, I came in after not seeing him for 3 days and started immediately into this story about a stranger being arrested and started bawling about God calling me to love this man.  God has just been moving in me through this song.  

"And I'll follow you into the homes of the broken.

Follow you into the world.

Meet the needs of the poor and the needy God.

Follow you into the world."

What is God calling you to?