Video from AB and Bolt

I just got a video from AB and Bolt!



*See more at www.youtube.com/IMNEWORLEANS

Sit and Wait

Our team has settled down in Covington, LA. Our host is Dr. Reggie Ogea's house. We arrived around 1pm and saw that a few gas stations and businesses were still open. After we refilled our gas tanks we found a local Chinese shop. I have never been so excited about General Tso's Chicken. When we got back to the house, it was extremely calm and pretty outside. We decided to play a little Ultimate Frisbee and jump in our hosts pool. Right after our swim, the rain started to pour down.

Here is the current status of Gustav: Cat 3 / 115mph / NW 18mph

The storm has diminished significantly, but it is still a major storm. The wind and rain has already begun to pick up quite a bit. There won't be a whole lot more for me to blog about over the next day and a half. Hopefully I will at least be able to keep people posted through twitter. There is no telling how long we will be without power.

For those who have contacted me about helping out in the relief work, we will keep everyone posted through this blog and our website as soon as we put the plan in place.

Keep praying for all who are affected by this storm.

Worship Podcast and 28 Days of Prayer

Greetings from New Orleans!

We just wrapped up our worship time @ Vintage Church. We had 7 people and 4 turtles. The full worship gathering will be available on our podcast. We will try and put in online before the storm. Click here for the podcast.

I will also post a video of the worship service @ www.youtube.com/IMNEWORLEANS.

28 DAYS OF PRAYER

We are going to stay united as the body of Christ through our 28 Days of Prayer. This was something that we were going to do to prepare our lives for the official public launch. God is leading us to pray now more than ever. Go to the following links to pray with us over this time. Print it out and put it on your fridge.

here's the link to the PDF http://vintagenola.org/storage/pdfs/Vintage28days.pdf

here's the link to the page on our site http://vintagenola.org/vintage-prayer/

LEAVING TOWN

Thanks for your prayers! Our relief team is going to ride out the storm in Covington (40 minutes north of NOLA). We will keep posting updates on our website as long as we can.

Vintage Family...please connect with us through our online community and let us know where you are at.

God is in control! May He receive all glory and praise!

Rob Wilton

Dinner Video

As I helped out some of my neighbors today, they gave me some of their frozen meat to cook. Tonight we had a feast and invited some of the friends that are still around from the community.



*see more videos @ www.youtube.com/IMNEWORLEANS

Plan for Sunday

After our cookout tonight at our house, our guys made a final plan for tomorrow. The city is going to set up a mandatory evacuation starting @ 12pm. The contraflow will begin @ 4am. Hopefully a lot of traffic will be gone by noon.

We are going to have a time of worship, prayer, and bible study in the morning. We will start @ 10am @ Vintage. Our team will be prepared to leave NOLA right after the service. We will podcast our service for our church members who have already left the city. If you are still in NOLA, come and worship with us. We want to encourage you to leave the city with us. This storm is no joke.

Our relief plan is to get to the northshore and ride out the storm. As soon as possible we will return to Uptown to begin relief work. This will be a great time to "Be the Church".

Vintage Church family and friends, stay positive and focused upon Christ.

Pics of the Day

Our home (we live on the left side)

Slim Goodies (my fav breakfast spot) still open

Mr. Abby and Mrs. Jule (my neighbors)

Bamboo Apothecary (where my wife works)

National Guard Rolling into Uptown

Funky Monkey (my fav clothes shop)

People waiting to be picked up by the government.

Waiting in line at Winn Dixie. Right before chaos broke out.

Today's front page

Here Gustav Comes!

8-30 Video Update

see more videos @ www.youtube.com/IMNEWORLEANS

Suffering & Rejoicing

Be encouraged by God's Word. I walk through the One-Year Bible each day and this was my New Testament text this morning. Although the outer nature is decaying we (who are followers of Christ) have hope through Christ. Our inner nature is renewed daily by Him who has surpassing power. The Christian life is filled with suffering and rejoicing. Stay focused upon Christ and His Word.

Treasure in Jars of Clay (II Cor 4:7-12)

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Vintage Online Community

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR VINTAGE FAMILY & FRIENDS

Vintage Church,

Continue to pray that God spares us two hurricanes in three years. However, in the event that Gustav does hit the New Orleans area, we at Vintage Church want to be prepared to stay in contact and continue to "be the church" wherever we are, and especially as we work toward being back in New Orleans. To this end, we have set up a way to keep up with each other using our Church Community Builder online database. "CCB" is how we organize and communicate within our LIFEGroups, service teams, etc. and we would greatly appreciate if everyone would take a few minutes and register with us on-line.

If you are already signed up through CCB:

1) Go to the "Entire Church Group" group
2) Under "messages" click on the thread titled "Gustav Evacuation"
3) Unver "Leave a comment..." put your name, where you are evacuating to, and how we can contact you

If you have not yet signed up with CCB:

1) Go to http://vintagenola.ccbchurch.com
2) On the left side of the page click "Sign up"
3) Type in your first and last name, email, and contact phone
4) Click "Submit." This will send a confirmation email to the system administrator. After he has confirmed you into the system, you will receive a confirmation email including a username and temporary password

5) In the text of the confirmation email, click on the link https://vintagenola.ccbchurch.com/app/login.php to take you to the login page
6) Type in the username and temporary password sent to you in the confirmation email. (After you are in the system you can change your password to something easier to remember)
7) Once you are logged in, follow the directions above to access the "Gustav Evacuation" thread.

I know that I am asking you to take a bit more time out of your already busy schedule. However, we truly believe that it is worth it to be able to keep in contact with everyone involved with Vintage Church regardless of what Gustav has in store for us.

Thank you for your time. Send me an email if you have any problems or questions.

Ben Northcutt
ben@vintagenola.org
(270) 493-1663

Proud to Swim Home

I just got home from a run with Mike. He is one of my church members and is sticking with me and the Vintage relief team. I have 5 studs sticking with me in New Orleans (Andrew, Adam, Travis, Mike, & Matt). I love these guys and I know God is going to use each of us for His Glory.

There was a wierd vibe in the air tonight. We ran about 5 miles covering most of the Uptown area of New Orleans. This is my home and where our church serves. My favorite part is running down St. Charles Ave, weaving in and out of the famous streetcars. The feeling that you get in Uptown is this weird mix of carefree attitude and major concern. One of the things that I love about this city is the variety of people.

Here are some of my experiences on the run:

Mile 1: We passed two girls with hurricanes (famous alcohol drink) in their hands. One started to run with us even though she was a little tipsy. We asked what she was doing as she could only reply with "let's party".
Mile 2: We came across a group of men sitting on their porch. You could tell they were in deep discussion. I yelled at them, "Be safe guys." They yelled back, "you guys be safe as well".
Mile 3: Man, it was quiet. Most of the homes are boarded up and there are very few people in this residential area.
Mile 4: Okay...I needed a 30 second break. We just made our way into the Audubon Park area. There was a group of people meeting on their porch having drinks. It didn't have the typical party vibe, very calm and relaxed.
Mile 5: Almost back at the church. We passed a couple of young adults who had flashlights and equipment to board up their house. They looked extremely tired and stressed out.

When we got back, I came across this sign.

The owner of this store is a friend of mine. It is a cigar shop, next to a candy shop. Both are boarded up and they are right next to our church. On the board my friend writes, "New Orleans, Proud to Swim Home". Honestly, I am not finding this much optimism in our city. Most of the people I am talking with and who are interviewed on the news are saying that if another Katrina happens...they are finished with the city. But my friend is "Proud to Swim Home". I want to be here when he gets back.

But once again, that is why I love this city. There is such a great variety of people and emotions. Some are partying right now, some are praying. Some are stubborn and not leaving, some have already left. Some are frozen with fear, some are working to save their home and business.

I am excited to love and serve our community tomorrow. I guarantee there are going to be some interesting stories. Keep praying.

Hurricane Gustav Update:
80mph winds moving NW 10mph / Projected arrival: west of NOLA on Mon Evening

Letter and Info to Vintage Church

Vintage Church Family & Friends,

Here we go again. We are praying for God to show His mercy and grace to our area during this time. To be honest, I have felt sick about the possibility of another major hurricane hitting our region. My wife and I took the journey through Katrina and I wouldn't wish that journey on anyone. I have been blown away by the city's progress physically and spiritually over the past three years. Our church is growing and people are coming to know Christ. During this time of concern and confusion, God encouraged me through His Word. This morning I continued my journey through the One-Year Bible and God brought me PSALM 43:5:

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him,
my salvation and my God.

Our hope is in Christ! He is in complete control. During this time, don't focus upon the wind and waves...focus on the one who created and controls the wind and waves. Find rest and peace in Him.

BE THE CHURCH.

Rob Wilton


IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Although there are no certainties with Hurricane Gustav, we want to encourage you to prepare and plan accordingly. In the event of a evacuation and landfall of Gustav near New Orleans please keep up with Vintage Church at our website for updates about our church and our city.

VINTAGE PLAN OF ACTION:

* Friday - Sunday
o Assist people in need and finish storm prep of home and church.
o Set Up relief center @ Vintage Church.
o Worship Gathering (10am @ Vintage Uptown)
o 2pm - Vintage Church Relief Team leaves for Covington
* Monday till whenever
o Ride out the storm in a safe place.
o Return to NOLA asap to set up relief center @ Vintage Uptown for our community.

*as you return to NOLA, please contact us so that we can minister to your needs.

NEED HELP: Vintage Church would like to offer any assistance that you might need during this time. We have had churches around the country offer accomodations and help to anyone that is in need. The Vintage Church staff and relief team will remain in New Orleans until Sunday afternoon if you need assistance in New Orleans. After the storm, our church will serve as a relief center for our community. Please email info@vintagenola.org if you need any help.

INFO NEEDED: Following the storm, our church community will stay connected through our website and online community. Please respond when we request certain information. It is our desire to remain connected as a community. Remember we don't go to church, we are the church.

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

FAMILY HURRICANE/EVACUATION PLAN AND DISASTER SUPPLY KIT

HURRICANE FACTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER CENTER

CONTRAFLOW MAPS - created by our very own, Mike Walker.

In the event of an evacuation and landfall of Gustav near New Orleans please continue to check the Vintage Church website for updates on our church and our city. We will post a link to a online network for members to keep in touch with each other.

Check out the changes to our calendar:
SEPTEMBER DATES

8 - Joint Life Group @ Vintage (7-9pm)
10 - Advice Series Ends
13 - Vintage Launch Mission Day
14&17 - Vintage Vision Gathering
21 - BBQ & Baptism
24 - Fall Life Groups Launch
28 - Vintage Sunday Launch (10am & 7pm)

email info@vintagenola.org for more details.
BE THE CHURCH

Goodbye Family. Hello Gustav.

Saying goodbye to Annabeth and Bolt as they leave for South Carolina. I am going to be staying in New Orleans with our Vintage Church relief team until Sunday afternoon helping people leave the city. Then we will go and ride the storm out in Covington. I will try and keep updates on my blog and twitter throughout this journey. Thanks for your prayers.



watch all the videos at www.youtube.com/IMNEWORLEANS

NOLA Pilgrims

Last night at church I made two new friends. There names are Jeremy and Allie. They are part of a group called NOLA Pilgrims. I enjoyed meeting them and hearing a little about their mission in New Orleans. Here is a little description of what they are about.

We are a gypsy tribe/nomadic church/pilgrim band/blog seeking diverse Christian worship experiences in and around New Orleans. No congregation is too conservative or too liberal, too big or too small for us to consider visiting and blogging about.

Jeremy posted a couple of blogs @ http://nolapilgrims.wordpress.com/ about our church and their experience last night. This blog is not completely accurate (for example I preached for 50 min, not 20min...LOL), but I love there insights. It exposed some great things to me and our church. Thanks Jeremy and Allie.

You can click on the blog above or read the blog below:

Snapshot: Vintage Church

Vintage is a Bible-believing, contemporary “Bapticostal” church on Magazine Street in Uptown New Orleans. The crowd of 20-somethings sing praise songs and listen to Pastor Rob’s sermons that constantly reiterate Vintage’s laser-focused values and beliefs. The volunteers are enthusiastic and committed. The sometimes hard-line preaching is set against the relaxed brick interior of the bar they rent out on Wednesdays and Sundays.

The church: Vintage Church, 4523 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115 (above Temple Gym)
Denomination: Non-denominational (affiliated with Sovereign Grace Ministries)
The date & time: Wednesday, August 27 at 7 pm (they also started a Sunday morning service)

The building: Vintage meets in a temporary space that’s a bar the rest of the week. The upstairs bar has a worn brick interior, bar, and pool table. Vintage sets up folding chairs and a projection screen.
The church: Vintage is primarily 20-something college students, with a few Baptist seminarians mixed in. The crowd is often enthusiastic about worship, and the volunteer helpers are eager to know you personally.
The neighborhood: Uptown New Orleans, on Magazine Street
The cast: Pastor Rob Wilton, two musicians (Pastor Andrew and a drummer I didn’t meet), at least one greeter downstairs and one upstairs (maybe more? a few people hang around and greet, but they seem to just be members), two sound techs, and two servers for communion
What was the name of the service? Wednesday Night Worship
How full was the building? We had trouble finding two seats next to each other; mostly full at around 60ish
Did anyone welcome you personally? A bunch of people, at the door and after the service.
Was your pew comfortable? Plastic folding chair… not the greatest, but not terrible.
How would you describe the pre-service atmosphere? We got there right after it started.
What were the exact opening words of the service? Dunno.
What books did the congregation use during the service? There’s a space for notes in the bulletin (no order of worship), and they hand out copies of the New Testament if you want one. Otherwise, everything was on the screen (including the scripture reading).
What musical instruments were played? Guitar and box drum
Did anything distract you? A couple people came and went from a door behind the stage, but it wasn’t a big bother.
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what? Passionate, contemporary and engaging.
Exactly how long was the sermon? Curses, forgot to time it! Maybe 20 minutes?
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher? 8 - Rob doesn’t completely blow my mind, but he’s extremely engaging, combining easy-going language with hard-hitting messages.
In a nutshell, what was the sermon about? If you aren’t experiencing spiritual warfare, Rob doesn’t think you’re following Christ. I don’t totally agree, but it was compelling. Based on 2 Timothy 3.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven? The communion, although it almost always tends to be moving for me. They had you go to the back and be personally served, which made it much more intimate than the typical mass feedings.
And which part was like being in… er… the other place? The childcare moved! We lost at least 5 minutes off the beginning of worship going to the wrong place.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking lost? Our “pew” neighbor introduced himself, Andrew came right up and started a conversation and Rob stopped over to get to know us.
How would you describe the after-service coffee? We ducked out this time, but we’ve stayed before and it’s very social. They serve soft drinks and water, and members help tear down the seating and put the bar furnishings back to normal.
How would you feel about making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)? A 6 - my only troubles are distance and the fact that I’m not looking for a church home. If those weren’t true, 8 or 9 easily.
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian? Yes.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days’ time? Spiritual warfare is hardcore.
What’s the worship music like? (Contemporary, hymns, long, fast, loud etc?) Contemporary, but not the usual Christian radio pop.
What’s the speaking like? (Old school Bible, culturally relevant, by video etc?) New school Bible? Rob’s got a hardcore Baptist background, but uses a lot of everyday phrasing.
What’s the childcare like? Very nice! It’s about a block away from the rented space, but a greeter is happy to walk you over.
What’s your favorite thing? What would you change? I can’t decide a favorite between the music, Rob’s speaking or the very personable people (who manage it without being overbearing). I’d change the distance to childcare (or distance from my house).
Can I wear jeans? Jeans are about the most formal attire present, so yes.
Theology? “Bapticostal”
Clear congregational identity and purpose? Very clear. Example: visitors are told not to put in an offering. They keep the basket in the back for members only to make sure there’s no pressure.
Role of women in leadership? Sovereign Grace Ministries’ website says men only. They have women greeters, but that’s probably as far as it goes.
Use of gender neutral language? Their website’s statement of faith is kind of mannish, and I think their preferred Bible translation (ESV) is a bit masculine.
Midweek opportunities/other worship options? Considering we went to a Wednesday service, I know of one midweek worship option. They also have several large-group events (mostly for orientation into the church) and a small group ministry.

Great Morning

We had a great first Sun Morning service. Around 50 people came and Trey surrendered his life to Christ! We also had 18 people join us for our Gospel (Membership) Class. Thanks for praying. Here are a couple of clips from the morning. You can go to www.youtube.com/IMNEWORLEANS to check them out.

Wednesday Night Reflections

My friend Perry Noble does this after each Sunday. I think it is a great idea for my own journey as well as those who are part of Vintage. Here are a few thoughts before I crash:

• I love Vintage Church and can't believe how much we've grown. We had a second week over 100. I can't wait for our first Sunday morning. See ya at 10am.
  
• Andrew Ogea is the man. He brought the Word from II Timothy tonight. I loved the cow illustration. Powerful. I am so glad that God has yoked me with brothers like Andrew and Page. Get back quick Page!
• We had a guest worship leader tonight. His name is Ward Young and is the Music Pastor of East Bayou. Ward came to Christ 9 years ago and went from playing in bars to playing at church. Thanks Ward for leading us. We will be praying for you as you transition to Louisville. Everlasting was amazing.
• Dang it was hot in there tonight. Found out someone messed with the air. I might kill them.
  
• Met some fantastic people tonight. Met a few people who were with us at the beginning, strayed away spiritually, and now are back and ready to get involved. Met some other people who have just recently met Christ and are so excited to connect with a local body. I also got to talk with someone who is really intrigued by our church, but not ready to surrender. We are going to meet for coffee next week. I also got to meet someone who is eager to be baptized by immersion. Praise God.
• Gave some hard words at the end tonight. It really is because I love our church and I believe in our church. This isn't going to be easy and we need some people to sacrifice.
  
• Have I said that I love our members and volunteers! We have a crew that is just flat-out knocking it out.
• But don't let that get to your heads...remember the month that is ahead of us. Let's grind it out and get the job done. Sept 28 will be here before we know it.
• In the passage tonight, Christ really convicted me and urged me to flee temptation, not taunt it. I pray that I will continue to "flee youthful passions and pursue holy living".
• Looking forward to my lunch meeting with Rowan. He is from Australia and is planting a church in California. Great Mate!
  
• That's it for tonight. I have to get some Systematic Theology reading done. Grudem is the man. Class @ 8.
  

Night.

Bolt's New Hat

I love being at home!

LIFE Group Teaser

Here is a little look inside our Vintage Church LIFE Groups. This is what they are all about:

Learning God's Word - Bible
Interaction with God - Prayer
Fellowship with Each Other
Evangelism in the Community

We launched three LIFE Groups in Uptown this summer and we have had a blast. It is our prayer to launch 10-15 LIFE Groups all over New Orleans this fall. These groups will serve as the core focus of our discipleship strategy at Vintage. Here is our basic format for each night:

7:00-7:30 Food and Fellowship
7:30-8-15 Bible Study
8:15-8:30 Prayer and Announcements

Enjoy the video and if you are in New Orleans this fall come and get plugged in with our LIFE groups.

Good Deeds To-Go

The picture to the left was taken a couple of weeks ago by the local New Orleans paper. The picture shows our church friends passing out free cold waters to people at an Uptown intersection. The paper posted this picture with the title "Good Deeds To-Go". There was no article but the caption below the picture says, "Members of Vintage Church have a pleasant surprise for thirsty motorists passing through the intersection of Magazine St. and Louisiana Ave. on Wednesday afternoon. (Names of people) hand out free bottles of water while (another name) holds a sign telling drivers the good news".

One great thing about the picture is that many people came to our church because they saw this in the paper. Another cool thing is that the people highlighted in the picture aren't even members of our church. These are some friends from a church in Florida who came to New Orleans to help out our church. Chaz Churchwell has led mission teams all summer long as they have filled the streets of Uptown passing out waters, picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, conducting surveys, and sharing the Gospel. I would like to thank Chaz for all of his hard work and I would also like to thank all the churches that came this summer. All of my friends in Uptown now recognize that our church is the one that loves and serves the community. People are hearing the Good News through the hands and feet of the Body of Christ.

Fit Check (8/17)

Here is my accountability.

Week 1 (8/17/08) lost 4lbs. I am down to 206. Not too shabby.

Bolt (1mon) Video with Daddy

I am trying a new thing on my blog, "Video Blogging". Here is a video of me and Bolt hanging out at our favorite place, my "Father's Day" chair. Dude has a big sneeze right in the middle of it. His mama and I love this little man!



You can find our videos at www.youtube.com/IMNEWORLEANS

Tips for Getting in Shape (Part 2)

I came across another blog that is tackling this issue of staying in shape as an act of worship. My wife graduated from Anderson College in Anderson, SC. While she was there a guy named Perry Noble started a new church on the campus with a team of people. The name of the church is Newspring. 8 or 9 years later, the church has grown to around 9-10,000 people with two campuses (and this is in a little SC town). People are saved by the Gospel every week.

I got to spend some time with Perry this past fall. He is a very passionate, in your face, kind of communicator on stage and in person. Take some time to listen to his messages and read his blog. It will bless your life.

In one of his blogs he writes about his struggle to stay in shape and offers some advice. Check it out by clicking below.

http://www.perrynoble.com/2008/08/05/wrestling-with-weight-issues-part-two/

Tips for Getting in Shape

I came across this article online at relevantmagazine.com.

RESTORING THE TEMPLE: 6 Keys to Getting in Shape

So where should you begin when you finally desire to take better care of your body? Try these tips.

1. Pray for self-control in the area of eating and drinking. You can pray with confidence because God desires to give you self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

2. Confess your failure to God when you overindulge, just as you would any other sin-with humbleness, repentance, and with the knowledge that God will forgive (Ps. 86:5).

3. Realize that our culture's concept of the "ideal body" (i.e., unnaturally trim models and actors) is often detached from reality. God made our bodies all different shapes and sizes, and it pleases Him! Starving our bodies isn't any better than gorging them. The goal should be maintaining a healthy, fit lifestyle.

4. Exercise for 30 minutes at least four times per week. (Experts advise seeing a doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.) Find a friend who is willing to work out with you and keep you accountable. To keep it interesting, try a mixture of walking, jogging, swimming, aerobics, and weight lifting.

5. Eat a balanced diet: Stick to fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, grilled or baked meat, and low-fat dairy products. Visit a dietician or ask a health-conscious friend for advice if you need help getting started. (One easy rule: Make sure that everything on your plate isn't the same color).

6. Remember that your body is God's temple (1 Cor. 6:19), and "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

—Jenny Solomon

Get Healthy and Get in Shape!

Enough is Enough.

With the new life in uptown, new baby, new church plant, camp pastor for MLab again, and taking summer classes...it has certainly been a far from normal summer. One of the main areas of my life that has slipped is my personal fitness. I have always been a pretty disciplined dude in this area of my life. Throughout high school and college I played competitive basketball, so that always kept me in shape. Since then, I feel like I have done a pretty good job staying in the gym...but then came this summer.

Stats tell us that 2 out of 3 adults in America are out of shape. When you take a look at most congregations and pulpits, you will confirm that the church is possibly even worse. I have always been aggravated by the majority of Christ-followers in our country (especially pastors) who take a stand against drinking, partying, and drugs but look like a beach whale. This is completely hypocritical. The sin of gluttony is as serious as the rest of sins we love to highlight. If you don't think this is serious, read Proverbs 23:2: "Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony". I believe God desires for us to engage in two activities. #1 Repent, #2 Eat & Get Healthy.


I just returned from the gym above. This is Temple Gym on Magazine St. The owner, Gus, has blessed Andrew and I with permission to work out here. Our church meets above his gym for worship. In the middle of my workout today I took a bathroom break. In the bathroom was a scale. Here is what I found out:


Right now I am 210lbs. I am not a freakin whale, but for me this is not good. In college I was a solid 185. This summer I have not taken care of my body and I repent for my irresponsibility with the body that Christ has given me. I refuse to be another fat husband/pastor/friend. Anytime that I have gotten serious about my physical health it has had a great impact upon my spiritual health. That is motivation enough. Now it is time to get healthy and get in shape.

Below is my plan until 2009. If you feel convicted about your health, I want to invite you and challenge you to take this journey with me. Don't worry about following my plan, find something that works for you. The main point is to get healthy and get in shape. My goal weight is to return to my college b-ball playing weight of 185lbs. That is 25lbs. I am going to post my weight each Sunday for accountability.

Strategy:

Get Healthy: 6 smaller, healthier meals a day for 6 days. (meal times: 7:30-8, 10-10:30, 12:30-1, 2:30-3, 4:30-5, 7-7:30) 1 free day (eat what I want) each week. (go to Body for Life for tips)
Work Out: 3 days of weightlifting with 15 minutes of cardio. 3 days of cardio (45-60 minutes). options: running, biking, crosstrainer, bball, tennis, rollerblading, etc. 1 day off.

There it is. Enough is enough. I would love for some of you to join me in this journey. Let me know how I can pray for you and encourage you to get in shape.

Pray for our Military

Over the past month, our Vintage community has been without one of our leaders. Page Brooks is serving up in South Carolina as a military chaplain. God is using him to do some great things for His glory as he serves our country. This past week, I launched into my message by having a live interview with my friend (thanks to Travis Manint and Skype). Click here to tune into our conversation. Please continue to pray for Page and especially those who are engaged in active duty for our country around the world.

Soldier, Athlete, Farmer?

This past month has been an amazing journey for our new church. People are coming to Christ each week, new locals are connecting and wanting to become members, our membership is stepping it up in their faithfulness, and our attendance has shot up to around 100 people each Wed Night. We are going to have to launch our Sunday morning service about a month early because we have run out of room. I am so humbled and excited to be a part of this movement in Uptown. Christ is amazing!

We have been journeying through the book of II Timothy this past month. Our text last night was II Tim 2:1-7. As I shared in the message last night, Paul encourages Timothy to have the focus of a soldier, commitment of an athlete, and hard-work of a farmer. As I went to bed last night after preaching this text, I was once again reminded of God's grace upon our new journey in New Orleans. I am so grateful that God has brought us a team of people who live and serve Christ and Vintage Church as soldiers, athletes, and farmers.

To all the faithful members and friends at Vintage Church, I love you and I thank God for you. To the soldiers...keep engaging the spiritual battle for souls. To the athletes...keep training and conditioning as you live out the Word. To the farmers...don't stop laboring and getting dirty for Christ. Continue to Be the Church. For those who are struggling in the battle, I offer you the wisdom of Paul in Philippians 3:12-14:

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Grace and Peace.