SUMMER FUN

Here are some pictures from the week...

Alex had her 11th Birthday Celebration Sunday at the Mexican Restaurant... they sang their special spanish song and put the hat on!!!

Kylie and Madelynn finished their two week swim lessons this morning and here are some Cell Phone Pictures... Pretty funny kids!!!

Kylie's BackFloat...

Kylie's BackStroke...
Maddy's BackFloat...

Maddy's BackStroke...Here is our NEW CHURCH SIGN that was a long time in the waiting...
NOTICE WAL-MART in the background...

Have a great day!

Vacation seems so long ago...

Well... finally... here are some pictures from our vacation a few weeks back!

We did not get any at Evangel :( and the Forerunner reunion. No one brought their cameras.... and some people were rude and just didn't even show up... (cough cough) but we have a few from WOO!

HERE IS OUR OLD FARM HOUSE ON OLD SHREVE ROAD... YOU KNOW THE ONE THAT EVERYONE THOUGHT WAS HAUNTED! IT BRINGS BACK SO MANY MEMORIES, ONE OF WHICH WAS TRYING TO MOW THE SIDE OF THAT HILL!!!

KENZIE WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE HER OLD SCHOOL... SHREVE ELEMENTARY! SHE EVEN TOOK US TO THE WALL THAT YOU HAD TO STAND BY WHEN YOU WERE BAD AT RECESS!THE NEXT PORTION OF OUR TRIP WAS TO POLARIS... AWESOME! THE GIRLS EACH GOT MONEY TO SHOP AT THE MALL, OLD NAVY, ETC... IT WAS TWO DAYS OF MALL MADNESS!NO VACATION IS COMPLETE WITHOUT A TRIP TO P.F. CHANGS!!! WE HAD 2 ORDERS OF CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS, 2 ORDERS OF MONGOLIAN BEEF, CHANG'S SPICY CHICKEN, AND DOUBLE PAN FRIED NOODLES WITH SHRIMP! OH MY! I AM GETTING HUNGRY... YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO EAT HERE IF YOU EVER GET THE CHANCE!HERE ARE ALL THE "COOL" GIRLS... SORRY I DIDN'T SHIFT THE PICTURE... DON'T LET THEM FOOL YOU... THERE WASN'T ONE BITE OF FOOD LEFT ON ANY PLATES! THEY LOOK INNOCENT AND SKINNY AND ALL OF THAT, BUT THEY CAN PACK IT AWAY!SAW THIS ON THE WAY TO KALAHARI... I THINK IT IS IN ASHLAND AND THEY HAD A BAJILLION SIGNS! THIS GRANDPA'S CHEESEBARN MUST BE SOMETHING SPECIAL? IF YOU LIVE IN WOOSTER PLEASE GO AND GIVE US A REPORT!THIS IS ONE CORNER OF THE INDOOR WATERPARK... 173,000 SQ. FEET OF INDOOR WATER MADNESS! THE BIGGEST ONE (UNTIL THEY COMPLETE THE ONE IN VIRGINIA NEXT YEAR). KENZIE AND CASSIE ON THE SQUIRT GUN TEETER TOTTER. IT WAS KIND OF GROSS TO WATCH REALLY?
HOW CUTE IS THAT?
I HAD JUST WOKEN UP FROM A NAP, THE DRINK IS NOT MINE (IT IS A PINA COLADA na ANYWAYS)... AND NO! MY BROTHER DOES NOT LOOK LIKE ME!

DAWN TRIED TAKING A PICTURE OF KENZ AND I ON THE CHEETAH RACER, THIS WAS THE THIRD AND BEST ATTEMPT, I WAS TOO TIRED TO GO BACK UP THE STAIRS AGAIN! BTW, SHE BEAT ME BECAUSE SHE HAD A FALSE START AT THE BEGINNING!

BY FAR THE GREATEST SLIDE THERE! YOU PRETTY MUCH FEEL LIKE YOU ARE BEING FLUSHED DOWN A TOILET WITHOUT THE MESSYNESS! KENZIE AND I RODE THIS ABOUT 5 TIMES IN A ROW ONE NIGHT WHEN HARDLY ANYONE WAS THERE! AWESOME!

IT DID THIS A LOT!!! BECAUSE OF THIS I DID NOT GET TO PLAY SOFTBALL WITH THE HART'S IN WOOSTER:(



WE WERE BACK HOME FOR THESE IN RICHMOND. FIREWORKS THERE LASTED ABOUT 40 MINUTES... 2-20 MINUTE SESSIONS WITH A 20 MIN. BREAK.
THEY HAD THESE GAS BOMBS (DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT TERM) THAT THEY SET OFF AS GROUND DISPLAY... NEVER SEEN, HEARD, OR FELT ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE... ONCE I GATHERED MYSELF, I WAS LOVING THOSE!

THAT'S JUST A FEW OF THEM... SO THERE YOU GO!!!

CATALYST

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
cat·a·lyst
–noun
1.
Chemistry. a substance that causes or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected.
2.
something that causes activity between two or more persons or forces without itself being affected.
3.
a person or thing that precipitates an event or change: 'His imprisonment by the government served as the catalyst that helped transform social unrest into revolution.'
4.
a person whose talk, enthusiasm, or energy causes others to be more friendly, enthusiastic, or energetic.

Ok... here is what I am onto now! Sorry for the length in time between BLOGS (for all 5 or 6 of you that actually read this) vacation was good... didn't want it to end. Will have some photos and updates on how it went. I will say it was a great time, but spent a lot of time with people (WHICH IS GOOD) but made it kind of over stimulating when that is our lives! Anyways, don't want to complain!

Catalyst... that is the word that the Lord has had me chew on lately... so, I searched this definition looked up some cool pic files and have started to think this over. I am getting ready to talk about the CIRCLE of CHURCH LIFE (and involvement). I introduced it about 3 weeks ago and now will develop it. I believe that people generally fall into the following categories (if you can imagine a concentric circle starting with the outside and heading into the core... that is what these categories are:

OUTSIDE RING (1st ring): COMMUNITY

2nd ring : CURIOUS

3rd ring : CROWD

4th ring : COMMITTED

5th ring : CORE/COVENANTED

Each of these people you can find in the Bible, especially in the Gospels and in following Jesus. In the church the difficulty is to convince COMMUNITY (which represents EVERYONE in your sphere of potential influence) to become CURIOUS. The CURIOUS are the SEEKERS... those who realize that something is missing and they are genuinely open to the things of God, although it may not be so easy to convince to follow God. Then there is the CROWD... maybe they have made the decision to follow Christ but that is about it... they feel fine being a part of the CROWD and having an occasional "dating" relationship with the LORD. If they get to church once a month they feel as though they have fulfilled their "duty". Then the COMMITTED, which are those people who understand and have begun the process of plugging into all that God has. Unfortunately, this is a great place to be, but too many have stopped here. If we are going to be truly about KINGDOM mindsets, we must move to the MIDDLE... to the CORE, and to be people of COVENANT! That level are those that have made a determination to sell out and be a part of something great! (so many other things I can say about this level...) Suffice it to say that of all the layers/levels, the COVENANT/CORE are the people that you can change the world with!

So, where does CATALYST come in? This word like the others have no BIBLE mention and yet as the 5 levels I just listed, the WORD OF GOD is full of people that played the role of CATALYST! The church today is full of CATALYSTS!!! Too often people have not fulfilled their role to be a CATALYST in what God has called them to do!

I could share with you what the Lord is showing me about being a CATALYST, and I will in the future, but more importantly I would like to hear what you think about being a CATALYST? In fact, what are your thoughts about all 5 levels of Church Involvement. I would appreciate thought out, even Scriptural context for these things. I truly believe this is an area our fellowship MUST FOCUS ON! And MUST GET BETTER AT. Our goal for the next few months is to get people to make the push... the PUSH TO THE CORE!

Are you at the CORE of what the Lord is doing? Why or why not? Is it just easier being a "COMMITTED" Believer and stop there? Maybe the comfort and anonymity of being a part of the CROWD just seems to be your fit?

You cannot be a CATALYST just being a part of the CROWD!

I can't wait to hear some of your thoughts? Could you spread the word and get some insights here... the future of FREEDOM LIFE depends on us working this out!

Have a good evening and take some time to give me some good examples and thoughts!

Thanks and KEEP REACHING!

PJ

Vacation...

It is about time!

We are leaving tomorrow morning to be gone for ONE WEEK! I realized the other day that we have not been out of Winchester forever! I have not missed a Sunday since November... whew... not burned out, but kinda close!

I'm not sure if it qualifies as a FULL VACATION, because we will be in Wooster with so many people we love and have shared our lives with in ministry! Plus, I will be preaching on Sunday Morning... figure that?

Anyways, it will be great as we have the opportunity to dedicate Tony and Beth Hart's new baby "ANDON"... how fun!

Then, we are heading to Kalahari in Sandusky for a few days. It is an indoor waterpark/hotel... NICE HOTEL! My sis, Pam and Tharra and Cass are coming as are my brother Doug and his son, Jordan... we will be missing his daughter Mikayla though :( The joys of a divorced household!

Anyways we got this VILLAGE SUITE it's called. $400 (+tax) per night and it is one main room with a full kitchen adjoined by two other rooms. It sleeps 12 and park admission is included. We are staying two nights, with tax it will be around $900. That breaks down to about $75-80 person... that is incredible! If you've been to the park you would agree! We are so excited!

Check out this ride it's called FLOWRIDER... it's supposed to be like surfing! I've ridden it before, can you imagine PJ riding this? I have to tie my swim suit a little tighter... ha ha...

Anyways, we'll post another blog here soon! I think I'm getting the hang of it!

Maturity...

...what is it really?

Is it an age that you reach? Is it a certain amount of experience or experiences that you obtain? Is it alway linked to knowledge and wisdom? What is it?

One of the frustrating things that I have been keenly aware of as I have ministered for 15 years now this month :) is that you can have highly immature adults and yet encounter amazingly mature children and teens.

Here is a Scripture that I have been chewing on for about a week or so... not necessarily for a sermon although that is what usually begins to happen whenever God is showing me things in my life and in following HIM... it turns into a sermon or a series... not for that right now... just because I am trying to figure this out! Here is the Scripture... Hebrew 5:11-14; 6:1-3

"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's Word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so."

The author of Hebrews is not known for certain... many say it was the Apostle Paul while still others say that stylistically (compared to the other epistles) it does not match. However, whether it is or is not Paul that wrote this... at least these few verses from this passage kind of sound like him huh?

What do you think about MATURITY? It is defined for me in this... doing the things and living the way you should already know to do based upon your amount of time accumulated on what you are doing (definitely my unpolished thoughts)...

Shouldn't there be a little more accomplished for people that have served God for 5 years over those that have served Him for 1? What about a lifetime of love and service for the Lord? Do you think this writer faced the same frustrations that we find ourselves facing with the plight among IMMATURITY in our Christian culture?

Remember how you once were dying to leave ELEMENTARY SCHOOL... Reminiscient of "Billy Madison"... the embarassment of not achieving what you were supposed to... How we longed to move into JR. HIGH... WOW!!! How can we "progress" in our lives without the desire and determination to move forward from the ELEMENTARY things... the MILK of what God has for us...

Maybe it's time we decide to focus on MATURITY once again?

I'm Getting Old

Wow... we spent the day at Kings Island yesterday... arrived about 10:15 and left about 10:00 and got home around 1 AM... Needless to say I am a little sore!


I rode two new rides yesterday that were totally cool and totally freaky at the same time! WHile I don't like King's Island even half as much as Cedar Point (which is KING) I have to admit I was impressed. After about 4 hours in the NICKELODEON LAND... (WOO HOO) we finally got to riding...

THIS WAS THE HIGHLIGHT... rode it once during the day and then for the last ride of the night, IN THE DARK! Incredible!

Here was one of my favorites that I took on my cell phone... a picture of Pete getting into a pink helicopter with Kylie... probably one of the more aggressive rides he rode during the day!

Here is a video of Maddy and Kylie on their first water ride... with Petey and Dawn... Can't see it very well, but it is cool! Also, please note the elephants spray that pauses... YES THEY DID GET WET!

Anyways, I am sore and hurting from all the riding and activity of the day. It's been a good recoup day!

Looking forward to a great weekend golfing, CHURCH, and then celebrating 17 years with Dawn on Sunday! Then, VACATION next week!

Later!

Jesus Videos

Yeah... I am not meaning to be sacreligious with all of these things, but I think they are funny mainly because of how people really think Jesus is so cheesy and stuff... especially these videos...

Just watch and enjoy and try not to think I'm "BAD PASTOR"!!! ha ha ha

Let's Get this Party Started!!!!

It's about time don't you think?

Not sure how and what I am doing with this, but as with MYSPACE and FACEBOOK, I guess I will get the hang of it!

These will be the ramblings and rants of a crazy, insane Pastor that is desparate and longing for a MOVE OF GOD!

It is our hope that through this means we can begin a healthy dialogue of what is facing FLC and the Church as a whole! Plus, a chance to share funny, everyday stories of the Bullard Clan! 6 Strong!

We are striving to link our Fellowship of Believers in a better way. Bringing our communication and updates to a greater place!
Give me some time to get some creativity happening here.

Feel free to add us to your blog page...

Later,
PJ