The Miami Pursuit

Wishing I was There

Blogger: Matt

Just got off the phone with Brent Foulke, church planting guru and my coach, and he is attending the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta. I really wanted to go this year but couldn't justify spending the money nor the time with launch coming so rapidly. A few bloggers I read are also there and documenting their experience so I am going to live vicariously through them.

I am hoping they podcast the sessions so I can get some more benefit.

Sunday Morning @ the Beach

Posted by: Matt

That's right I said it. Janie and I were at the beach this morning. Yes, it's a Sunday (we hit a Saturday night service at a nearby church with some friends). Kind of sad to say this was only our second trip to the beach since we moved here and the first we spent considerable time there.

We had a blast. I spent some time in an outdoor cafe' and prepared more for tonight's Bible study and then we grabbed a great lunch at Cheeburger Cheeburger. I have never been a big fan of going to the beach and now I can put my finger on the reason. Every time I've gone to the beach in the past I've gone as a tourist and experienced the typical and literal "day at the beach." Today we got there at 11:00 a.m and left at 2:00. Perfect.

H.B. in HD & Why am I watching Nascar???

How cool is it to see our friend and hero in ministry, Howard Brammer, boldly praying in "Jesus' Name" on national television before the Brickyard 400?

On another note: I have never (and I want to strongly emphasize NEVER) been a race fan. It doesn't matter if it's Nascar, Indy car, or Formula One. I have lived near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the past 10 years and never went to a race. I could hear the cars from my house and I fought the race traffic. I went a couple times to time trials for the 500 where we had a suite in the pagoda but I was ready to leave as soon as we got there. Yet, now that I live 1200 miles away I find myself drawn to watch the race. I am starting to see a pattern here.

When I was in high school I hated country music (and still do) which was highly prevelant in Cambridge City, IN. However, when I went off to college in the city of Cincinnati I found myself listening to Garth Brooks, John Michael Montgomery, and Tim McGraw. It didn't last long because my ears started bleeding but it made me think of good times in the simple small town where I grew up.

So while I highly doubt I will become a race fan there is a small part of me that still wants to be connected to my roots in Indy. I just needed this race today as a quick fix before the NFL season starts up and I can watch my beloved Colts try to repeat their Super Bowl championship!

My Vow

Wednesday I met a guy from the northeast. My guess is mid to late 20's. Our conversation started with our love of sports and the New York Yankees and moved to our recent relocation to South Florida. He said as he was leaving, "Matt, don't let Miami get you down. It has that effect on a lot people who move down here." Minutes later he came back to let me know he and buddies get together to watch sports, go to Dolphins' games, and are in a fantasty football league. This guy is speaking my language (and I don't mean English)! He then said, "You are welcome anytime."

Then this thought struck me. I lived in Indianapolis for 10 years. How many times did I hang out with guys who weren't connections I made through the church? ZERO. How did I allow myself to become so consumed with working at a church that I lost focus on simply being with people? Now I'm living in a brand new place and in a week's time I'm doing what I should have been doing all along.

So this is my vow. I will not allow myself to get so focused on planting churches that I forget about Christ's call to me (and to all of us) to "be in the world." I will love people simply because Christ first loved me and not out of an agenda to get them to fill seats in a church service. I will not judge or expect people who are not Christ-followers to act like Christ-followers, but I will show them by my life that the way of Christ works and he alone offers unconditional love and uncensored grace.

Ecc. 5:4-5 says, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it."