We are in Phoenix. It looks like I have always imagined those fabulous places in California look minus the Pacific. Out of our hotel you can look against the flat city and see a lot of it and rocky mountains all around us. They call it the valley. It is a pretty place...from afar....but up close....let me explain. There is a light rail train that runs through Phoenix. It is a block away from the hotel so we got on the train to see the city. It looks cool and is cool (we are just looking for spots with A/C in Phoenix). We rode through the middle of the city and with all the stadiums and a brand new convention center it looked nice. So we thought we would stay on. It goes 13 more stops past the convention center until the driver gets out and gets in on the other end and drives it back through where the convention center and our hotel is. So I say, "Come on Family, lets see the city." Well, after stop number 10 (we are at 18 and the convention is at 14) things begin to go south and you don't need a compass to know it. All the airport people (we are close to the airport) and regular folk are gone. We are left with a bunch that are all on drugs, have all served time, and all staring at the touristy, preachery, looking little family with the lady with the chunky jewelry. A man gets mad at a woman for nosing in to his business and I am ready for him to pull out a weapon and lead us to make the news. There is a crazy dude running around from seat to seat. Now a dilemma. If we get off, we will be in this boarded up, chain linked fence, drug feasted street...alone. If we stay on, we are surrrounded by others, but all of them are....others. Don't misunderstand me. I try my best to help the down and out and the people that surround me in my community know that I have a heart for the hurting. However, I have never felt so insecure about the safety of my family in my life. An hour later it was over and we were back in the touristy part of the city and I pledged never to go below number 10 again.
The pastors conference started last night. Vance Pitman from Memphis, TN that now pastors a strong church plant in Las Vegas is the president. He has a black music man that is on fire. Not for the faint at heart. But I love the atmosphere because the choir is so diverse. Folks of every race. That is what God intended, I am convinced. A small touch of heaven in that sense. The first preacher we heard was from Zambia, Africa. Peter Ndhlovu started a church in a Chinese restaurant 10 years ago. Since that time his congregation has started a network of 236 churches in 12 African countries, 92 community schools and serve 13,000 students that otherwise would not have an education. All he preached about was the Gospel. Two presidents among those countries come to his churches...why do they come to his church? The Gospel. Absolutely a Gospel driven preacher. He was followed by Bob Pitman, Vance's father, who pastored at Kirby Woods in Memphis for 20 years. Bob is always solid and he preached on us preaching Jesus (2 Cor. 4:5). Johnny Hunt followed him. Johnny talked about winning people and doing missions.
He gave us a rundown on what Woodstock was doing. They do a lot. Today we will be hearing from John Piper, Louie Giglio,and Rick Warren. Ought to be a great day. No riding the train past 10 either.
I preached on Philippians 3 the other day. You cannot preach on a passage like that and not be stirred by it. Therefore when I read it this morning, the Lord hammered into me the same thing He did a couple of weeks ago. We are not done. Don't act like it. Don't let yesterday's defeats slow you down from doing it today- press on. We haven't got there yet. Keep moving. Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. -Phil.3:13-14. Don't be defeated or satisfied with anything in your yesterday. Press on for the cause of Christ. Tell someone of Jesus. Love your family in Jesus. Get busy in the work of the Lord to reach our goals in our tomorrow.
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