Cornerstone Audio & Video Blog

2008 Nazarene Pastor’s Conference, San Diego, California

Though we stopped in Lubbock for several days on our way and again for almost a week in Edgewood, NM. on our return our first trip of the year was really about going to San Diego, California for the 2008 Nazarene Pastor’s Conference. We weren’t sure what to expect since this was the first Nazarene Pastor’s Conference. For several years we have started our year in San Diego doing K-Church Conferences for the Church of the Nazarene though that series has run it’s course.

This Nazarene Pastor’s Conference was one of the best conferences we have had the privilege to record. Kerry Willis, Reggie McNeal and Dan Spaite all presented excellent messages but Kerry’s message really stood out to us. Pastor of the Harrisonburg Church of the Nazarene, Kerry said his job description was, “Vision Pastor – to help others minimize future regrets.” He started things off with one of the best messages for pastors I have ever heard. In his two-part “The Ears-Wide-Open Encourager” Kerry said “Churches need a pastor who will be God’s friend on their behalf.”  Another of Kerry’s “eye openers” was, “We are tempted to forfeit His Holy presence for our human performance.” We feel every pastor should hear this message.

Reggie McNeal’s humor filled presentation at the M7 Conference in February of 2007 was one of our most popular recordings ever. Reggie’s four Pastor’s Conference sessions were titled “Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders” and were presented as only Reggie can do. “You’re the one who decides whether you will achieve greatness as a pastor” was Reggie’s lead-in to seven different areas for growth presented in this, as he put it, “drive-by shooting.”

Dr. Dan Spaite, Spiritual Formation Director and Executive Pastor for Discipleship at Crossroads Nazarene of Chandler, Arizona is also an emergency physician and a tenured professor of emergency medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Dan spoke on issues that are related to health and balance in the context of being called to be a missional leader. One of Dan’s wakeup calls was, “We always think that if I take a sabbatical or a day off the church is missing the benefit of having my strength. Did you know that while the church is missing your strength they are also gaining a reprieve from your weaknesses?”

Tom Nees reported that, “In the corporate world if you’re not benchmarking for best practices you’re likely to go bankrupt.” in his presentation “Best Practices of Growing Churches.”

And devotionals from Oliver Phillips and Roberto Hodgson are available on the same CD.

Around January 5th

Well 2008 is now underway. We started with a trip to Lubbock on January third for a dental appointment. Sharon had been having a problem with a tooth that had already had a root canal.  Due to complications Dr. Gregory had referred Sharon to a specialist. The finding was that the tooth needed to be removed so Dr. Gregory will see to that when we return to Lubbock.

While in Lubbock we were able to visit Dean and Mary Newsom. Our first evening with them we went out for dinner and while returning Sharon mentioned her blood pressure had been up. When she mentioned that it had been 157 the last time she had checked it I noticed we were about a block from Dr. Pena’s office, our family doctor for around 20 years. I thought we should have her checked out so we just did it.

Dean and Mary went home and prayed and called Greg and Martha White and they prayed.

Dr. Pena was not in but we were able to get right in to the doctor on call. Sharon’s pressure when they checked it was over 190. The clinic staff was noticeably concerned. The doctor provided samples of a new medication and recommended we return in the morning for a blood test and EKG.

In the morning Dr. Pena authorized the tests and recommended another medication in addition to Sharon’s original prescription. The EKG was good and they said they would notify us of any problems with the blood test. No news is good news!

Since the morning after Sharon began taking the new medication her blood pressure has been NORMAL! Any time she has checked it has not been over 130. Thank God for His answer to prayer.

We were also privileged to attend the wedding of Dale McJunkin and Jean Teeter. Dale and his family have been dear friends for many years. Dale, Jean, Phillip, Hunter and Zachery may the Lord bless and keep you, may He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, may He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.  

Also while visiting Lubbock we spent some time with Greg and Martha White. Greg mentioned he and a group of other ministry leaders from the Lubbock area were going to Honduras and Guatemala January 31 – February 8. I said if they needed someone to go along and document their trip I might be interested. Greg spoke to Mike Holly of Unchained Life Ministries the local coordinator and he invited me to go along.

 I thank the Lord for my first opportunity to serve this type of ministry outside the US. It is my prayer that my service to this ministry will prove to be valuable and that all our efforts will be blessing to the Kingdom.