Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it! July 17, 2008

This past Saturday my wife and I packed up our girls (ok mostly… entirely, my wife) and headed north to visit some friends.  We were going to spend the day at a local lake swimming and eating and just enjoying each other. 

But while we were eating we noticed a small group gathering around a few picnic tables.  Then slowly the group grew to about 50-60 people.  Then a man dressed entirely in black appeared… The pastor had arrived.  He stood in the center and above the rest of the noise around us I could hear him praying.  Moving in and out of English and Spanish like only a true master of both languages could do. 

Some people round him nodded there heads in agreement, some lifted there face and hands to heaven, and some even played the congas to the rhythm of his prayer.

By this time we had finished eating and made our way back down to the water… Yes we totally ignored the one hour rule.  We played and swam for awhile and then we noticed the group had congregated (no pun intended) on the shore line and the pastor made his way out into the water. 

People were looking around wondering what this guy was doing walking into the water fully dressed and why there were 20 or so people standing around in choir robes on the shore.  Even the lifeguard was a little unnerved.  My friend, my wife and I stood in the water and watched the first few people enter the water, pray, and get baptized.  When they came up there church family would clap and we would join them.  Both of us were in awe of this public display of faith and commitment.  I exited the water and snapped a few pictures.  (I was acctually thinking “wow this will be great to blog about”)

The two best things I took away from this experience were 1. the conversation I had with my 2 girls about what these people were doing and how they wanted everyone to know that they were committing themselves to God.  They joined my friend and I clapping for each person as they came out.  I don’t know that they fully understood what was happening but how cool to have thier lazy Saturday afternoon interrupted with a real life God Lesson.  2. My friend and I were approached by a guy who was completely and utterly clueless, and we got to tell him about what was going on.  this is a brief list of some of his quotes.  “are they Muslim or something?”, “no they must be islanders cause they have those island drums?”, “why wouldn’t they do that somewhere private so people aren’t starring at them?”, “Are you sure they aren’t Muslims?”

I leave you now with some pictures…

Oh by the way other heads you see are swimmers… they did it right in the middle of the swimming area.  How cool?

Pray for “Paul” July 8, 2008

Today at work I had an opportunity to pray for a guy we will call “Paul.”  He came in looking for a book on diet and mental illness… it’s OK to re-read that line a couple of times… I’ll wait…

Paul was diagnosed with schizo affective disorder, and was looking for a diet that would help him to get off his meds and clean out his system.  He wants to clear himself of all the toxins that he says have invaded his body through the years of “drug testing and therapy.”

PLEASE NOTE: I know I can tend to be sarcastic and you may in fact be reading that into this post.  But please know that I am being very sincere and just trying to convey to you what has been tugging on my heart today.

Paul seemed very clear and thoughtful of his desire to rid himself of the heavy metals that are currently coursing through his veins.  He was also very sincere with his desire to seek God’s will through this battle.  He told me he had recently begun going back to church and has tried to begin regularly reading his bible with his wife.  Although he like most of us struggle with finding the time.

Among all of that and I am sure more that went un-talked about.  Paul mentioned that he and his wife were in the midst of filing for bankruptcy.

I know there are a lot of views out there about mental illness and medication and that gets even more confusing when you bring in a “christian” perspective.  So lets put that aside for now.  please just join with me in praying for Paul and his wife.

What does she see in me? June 17, 2008

My daughter drew this picture of me and I wanted to share it.

You tell me.  How accurate is she?

 

Billy

please be patient June 16, 2008

I have about 3 or 4 posts in various stages of undone… I just can’t seem to get them right.  Be patient you will here from me soon enough.

A little bit about me June 12, 2008

The other day I asked for some help writing a bio for a submission to wreckedfortheordinary.com.  Well, Jeff was the only one that offered some lines and I used a few.  Bellow is the bio and picture I submitted. 

 

Billy:

Is Director of 1^st Impressions for Fellowship Church in Holden, Ma. 

He attempts to live life in a way that brings together being incredibly, selflessly loving with occasional forays into juvenile obnoxiousness. 

Is the only source of testosterone in his house that is inhabited by his incredibly loving wife Colleen, his 2 beautiful girls Emilie, and Erynne, and a cross eyed, deaf cat named Parsley.

He even manages to maintain a Christian faith DESPITE a job in Christian retail sales.

More than anything he is passionate about breaking down the barriers that keep people from growing in there relationship with Jesus Christ…  That and the Red Sox!

 

Big thanks to Jeff

Billy

 

 

I am about to get wrecked… June 10, 2008

Wreckedfortheordinary.com contacted me late last week and wants to use one of my blogs.  This is quite exciting.  They are looking for a bio and a picture.  The picture I have, the bio is a bit of a problem for me.  I hate to “qualify” my self to people.  No matter how pure my intentions it always feels like boasting.

So I thought I would reach out to the 11 or so of you that read this and ask you to write a short bio for me.  They can be funny, sincere, whatever, they just need to be truthful. 

I will probably merge them together and submit a collective work.

One catch it needs to be done quickly.  I am going to e-mail them tomorrow evening.

Thank you in advance

Billy

I think I need to unplug June 10, 2008

So my girls where just playing and Emilie said “Erynne lets play house.”  I instantly assumed she meant Dr. House.  And I thought “this could be entertaining…

Billy

another thought on this weekends retreat May 30, 2008

I don’t know about everyone else that went but I have been home now for 5 days and I am still pumped.  I have yet to feel the typical “post retreat” let down.  And I think I have figured out way.

The typical “retreat” focuses on your relationship with God.  This is a great thing but typically it turns into a “what are you holding back from God, What haven’t you fully surrendered?”  They are usually very introspective and require a gut check.  This can be and is a very powerful experience.  It is impossible to tear down a piece of your wall and not have your life changed.  But it can leave you feeling vulnerable and raw.  Then you come home and reality hits.

 This weekend was different.  It focused on our dreams, and where God is leading us.  It was less about “dealing” with stuff, and more about opening up and dreaming.  I love to hear what God is birthing in others.  Seeing how excited they are gets me excited.  But I also got to share my dream.  And the absolute coolest thing is that they are all connected through Fellowship church.  A collection of 6 guys all dreaming about one thing, all adding specific details, all with a different angle but the same focus.  How awesome?!?

I have seriously been finding ways to talk about this weekend.  I have even steered conversations in that direction, just so I could tell someone else that God has given me a dream.

Ok I think I will stop there. 

Please feel free to add a lyric from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band here.

Billy

Pumped May 27, 2008

This weekend after an amazing service, the lead team at Fellowship Church headed North to Waterville Valley, NH.  I was excited to get away from home even for a night. 

On Sunday afternoon we had some free time.  Some napped, some read, some swam, other went for a walk.  We just relaxed.  We got together around 7:00 and ate and fellow shipped.  We had a time of prayer and focusing then we played.  The nerds played Boggle, the Geeks played on there computers.  I played on my laptop changing and customizing themes.   After that we played a few rounds of “imagine if” (this is a great game to see what others really think about you.) then headed off to bed.

The next morning the Guys woke up early and headed into a “meeting.”  I put that in quotes because it was less a meeting and more a dream session.  We were all allowed a time to dream out loud for our ministries.  We shared our goals, or ideas, our hopes.  It was great to hear from Al, Jeff, Marty, and Steve, what God is laying on there hearts for there areas of ministry, and to see what it may look like in the future. 

It was equally as great to share what God is doing in me and in my ministry.  To make clear what direction my teams are headed, and how I see them aiding in the mission of Fellowship Church “To lead people in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.” 

After a short break we were lead in a time of training (ironically) on training.  Derek (no blog or twitter… yet) did a great job of imparting wisdom from his years in the business world.  I loved every word he spoke.  And was in awe of his knack for hearing what every person was saying no matter how poorly we were conveying our dreams.

SIDE NOTE: Isn’t it funny and a little cool when your dreams are so big and wide that your words actually fail them?  I know I was only able to impart a small part of the grand image of my dream.  The smaller subtle nuances (some would argue the important pieces) were lost in the vastness of the dream.

After our meeting we met back up with our wives and (at least for me) spent some nice quality time just one on one with each other.

I know our wives had a great time of sharing and community building as well.  Unfortunately my wife didn’t share details.  But she did say it was great and she feels closer to all the wives as a result.

So, that’s what has me pumped.  What has you pumped?

 

Billy

appreciative of this heavy heart May 22, 2008

This morning I brought my daughters to the Dr’s office.  It was time for Emilie’s annual check up.  Although I think the Dr. we had is a complete doufus, things went well.  She is healthy and strong.  On the way out we were crossing the parking lot on our way to the car.  The following sequence takes place in about .0003 seconds.  Emilie darted out in front of a car,  I grabbed her and pulled her back to me by her arm.  I screamed, she cried. 

I was lost for words.  I was angry that she ran out without looking (very out of character), relieved she was ok, and thankful the driver stopped.  Emilie told me she thought it was ok because the car had stopped.  I told her that the car was completely stopped and she could have been really hurt.

After a quick Panera Bread lunch we came home.  I sat at the computer to read some e-mails and read this blog by my pastor and friend.  He shared this story about the loss that Stephen Curtis Chapman and his family suffered on Wednesday.  And I instantly began to cry.  So many thoughts filled my mind.  That could have been me.  I prayed and thanked God that it wasn’t me and said a casual “and be with that family amen”.  I’m just being honest.

I then click on another blog in an effort to escape the “negative feelings” so I click here.  Little did I know it was another blog about the same incident.  But after reading it I felt ashamed… I shouldn’t be so disconnected.  I shouldn’t feel so wrapped up in my own thing that all I can muster is a “and be with that family.” 

Now I too am pissed off, at my self. 

The thing about that post is that it reminded me of 2 things.  1. Our God allows us to wrestle with him.  He gives us the ability to call out to him and fight what is in our hearts.  In the moment and in the battle he is there to remind us that HE IS GOD.  and HE IS IN CONTROL.  and HE LOVES US.  and 2. I was reminded of this blog.  Matthew 5:4 says “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”  I like what it says in the Message “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. “

My Prayer is the The Chapman family is comforted, and that they find peace, and they know that Maria is comforted and in peace.

 

Billy