When I was a very little kid I lived in Alvarado. I spent a few of my single digits in Burleson and then moved a few miles east of Joshua. That was about 35 years ago and I was not quite 9 years old. I have been here ever since.
Being a speaker and a Teacher, I have had the privilege of visiting 31 nations throughout the world and nearly all of them multiple times but for me, Johnson County feels the most like home.
Joshua was a 1 A school district when I was a 3rd grader, and H D Staples was not the name of the school building, it was the name of my principle. The reason the little street outside of that elementary school is called College street is because there used to actually be a college there. The remains of that three story building was still standing until I was a fifth grader.
Just two blocks north of HD Staples elementary school and in between College and Min street was the campus of First Baptist church. It was a church with great influence in our little town. In the 70’s and 80’s they were one of the only churches that hauled kids like me and my buddy Robert Copeland to Sunday School and the only church that was willing to put up with us.
In the sixth grade, they held some kind of kid’s crusade in the summertime, I think it was a vacation bible school. At the end of the week they asked me if I wanted to be baptized and since it was a hot day I was more than willing to get wet. I was so excited because I got to go swimming and go to heaven all on the same day.
All these years later I find my self typing this out from my new office on that same property. We just recently bought this building and this Sunday we are having our first service here. I have come back. Not as a little kid wanting to get wet or a teenager hiding my snuff can but as the guy who will be leading and doing the teaching.
This Sunday, when the praise band hits the first A chord and our 9 foot by 16 foot stage screen lights up like the 4th of July, look for a good looking fat man behind a Fender Strat with a custom, Texas flag paint job on it. I’ll be the guy with the bewildered look on his face wondering how in the world could I be on this stage and living the life I am living.
I will be the guy with no way to properly articulate how good God really is. I will be the one with no explanation as to why I get to be the one telling the stories instead of hearing about them. All I can say is that God is good and somehow that just doesn't do it.
My prayer and thought for you today is that you are so blessed you are unable to really define how it has all happened. I call that living an unexplainable life. I hope your blessing and your walk with God goes beyond what you are able to figure out.
The Miracle Mile
It has been a long haul for us but a glorious one. This coming sunday we will actually have one service instead of three and it will start at 10:00 am. We are holding off our grand opening until November 21st where we will have two identical services, 9:30 am and 11:00 am.
One of these days, I hope to see every one of you face to face. When I do, I hope we both look like dummies because we just cant find the words to describe how Good God has been to both of us.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us...
www.opendoorexperience.com
Friday, October 29, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
ARTFUL EXCUSES
Benjamin Franklin said a lot of things and one of the things he said was about the character of people. “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
In seven years of writing this column I have very seldom missed my deadline. In fact, I think I can count on one hand how many times I failed to deliver my finely written masterpiece of opinion, muse, yarns and Kingdom insight on anytime other than ontime. But this week is different I am typing this up late.
Yes I am moving my offices and my church to a whole new location. Yes a friend of mine died and it is also true we had a massive food outreach this week. While those things are as right as rain they are also just excuses when presented in terms of why I couldn't do this job right.
So I thought I might come up with some better ones. Way past the dog ate it I would say something like, “The dog ate my keys and I am having to hitch hike to the vet.”. Those kinds of things are excuses that I think show more intelligence than lack of character. If you are going to look stupid in giving excuses you might as well be smart about it.
If your late for something you can send a text and say things like
this. I am blocked by a presidential motorcade or I’m stuck in the blood pressure machine in HEB.
If you had to pull your kid out of school and your worried about truancy issues I suggest a note like this. Please excuse Mary, she was sick and I had her shot.
Maybe the teacher will think your an idiot and feel sorry enough for your kid to let her pass. Or maybe something like this, “Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.
If you get pulled over by a police officer that asks you where the fire is. Bat your eyelashes and say something like “Oh officer, in your eyes!”
One time a friend texted me and asked me if I could come over and pray for his house. I replied, “I don’t know, my stigmata is acting up.” Thank you I am here all night.
The bottom line is that there is no excuse for living a life of making excuses. I don’t want to be like that. I am as guilty as anybody I am afraid, but I am consciously fighting it.
Laziness is the lack of action or the lack of the will to act. The I-don’t-wannas and the blahs come from a lack of a priorities and vision. Here’s a big time word of encouragement to get your self moving and not to settle for an excuse when you can take advantage of what God has handed all of us.
Give us the grace Lord.
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20
In seven years of writing this column I have very seldom missed my deadline. In fact, I think I can count on one hand how many times I failed to deliver my finely written masterpiece of opinion, muse, yarns and Kingdom insight on anytime other than ontime. But this week is different I am typing this up late.
Yes I am moving my offices and my church to a whole new location. Yes a friend of mine died and it is also true we had a massive food outreach this week. While those things are as right as rain they are also just excuses when presented in terms of why I couldn't do this job right.
So I thought I might come up with some better ones. Way past the dog ate it I would say something like, “The dog ate my keys and I am having to hitch hike to the vet.”. Those kinds of things are excuses that I think show more intelligence than lack of character. If you are going to look stupid in giving excuses you might as well be smart about it.
If your late for something you can send a text and say things like
this. I am blocked by a presidential motorcade or I’m stuck in the blood pressure machine in HEB.
If you had to pull your kid out of school and your worried about truancy issues I suggest a note like this. Please excuse Mary, she was sick and I had her shot.
Maybe the teacher will think your an idiot and feel sorry enough for your kid to let her pass. Or maybe something like this, “Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.
If you get pulled over by a police officer that asks you where the fire is. Bat your eyelashes and say something like “Oh officer, in your eyes!”
One time a friend texted me and asked me if I could come over and pray for his house. I replied, “I don’t know, my stigmata is acting up.” Thank you I am here all night.
The bottom line is that there is no excuse for living a life of making excuses. I don’t want to be like that. I am as guilty as anybody I am afraid, but I am consciously fighting it.
Laziness is the lack of action or the lack of the will to act. The I-don’t-wannas and the blahs come from a lack of a priorities and vision. Here’s a big time word of encouragement to get your self moving and not to settle for an excuse when you can take advantage of what God has handed all of us.
Give us the grace Lord.
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20
Friday, October 15, 2010
WALKING ON WATER
Ten years ago, Leanna and I decided to do something really radical. It seems silly to me now that it was so far out of our box back back then but we decided to host a ladies conference on a five day cruise in the Caribbean. At that time we had never done the cruise thing and our Ladies meetings had been land locked. I had only been on the ocean a couple of times to fish and although I had caught a 9 foot 7 inch sailfish, I brought it on board while loosing my lunch. The Brewer tends to get sea sick.
So I wasn't sure if a long cruise would have me making a technicolor tribute to Disney or inspire me into talking to God on the big white telephone, but I was afraid it would. I hate to be sea sick.
Nearly a dozen cruises later, I can tell you, my fears were unwarranted and a big waist of valuable brain space.
CASTING BREAD
So we began to save up for that first big trip and the Lord put it on my heart to send another couple too. We were honored to have them with us and they would not have gone unless we had paid for them to go. They had a time and we had a time. The next year we did it again and again Leanna and I secretly paid for a couple to go the cruise. See, we started doing marriage retreats after that and every year Leanna and I would prayerfully consider a couple to sponsor for a week long cruise. We did this for at least seven trips without telling anybody. There is a reason I am telling you now.
About six months ago, a couple in our church Approached me and asked me I would be willing to remarry them for their 20th anniversary as the renewed their vows. When I told them I would, they then told me they wanted to get married in Greece on a twelve night cruise through the Mediterranean. They would pay for Leanna and I to go and even for the plane tickets to Rome and back. A few minutes later, I woke up to smelling sauce and yes it was a true. A dream come true.
SMOKE ON THE WATER
Two days ago, I returned from this trip and let me tell it, it was far better than any trip I had given to anyone else. We toured the colosseum in Rome and threw coins in the fountain. We saw mount Vesuvius and walked the ruins of Pompeii. I got my girls and my mom a Cameo near Naples. Went to the Isle of Capri and I’m not talking about the one in Shreveport.
I also went to Athens Greece, ancient Corinth and even Ephesus in Turkey. I married my friends in Lindos bay on the Isle of Rhodes where Paul also preached and where they filmed the guns of Navaron. I mean come on! Not only had Paul the apostle been there but Gregory Peck and David Niven too!
Leanna rode a camel at the Pyramids in Giza and I ate Pizza in Sicily. On top of all this, we had a balcony stateroom on the Navigator of the seas and perfect weather all the way. A hundred dreams came true for me on this trip because of the generosity and love of some very selfless friends and I tell you it all started with God hearts for us to give a trip to some of our friends.
You are not going to out give God. You can’t out God -God. You can’t be nicer than Him or more generous than Him. Take it from a guy that has tasted and seen the Lord is good, give in a radical way when he tells you too. And believe me when I tell you, It won’t make you sick like you are afraid that it will.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver
WWW.FRESHFROMTHEBREWER.COM
So I wasn't sure if a long cruise would have me making a technicolor tribute to Disney or inspire me into talking to God on the big white telephone, but I was afraid it would. I hate to be sea sick.
Nearly a dozen cruises later, I can tell you, my fears were unwarranted and a big waist of valuable brain space.
CASTING BREAD
So we began to save up for that first big trip and the Lord put it on my heart to send another couple too. We were honored to have them with us and they would not have gone unless we had paid for them to go. They had a time and we had a time. The next year we did it again and again Leanna and I secretly paid for a couple to go the cruise. See, we started doing marriage retreats after that and every year Leanna and I would prayerfully consider a couple to sponsor for a week long cruise. We did this for at least seven trips without telling anybody. There is a reason I am telling you now.
About six months ago, a couple in our church Approached me and asked me I would be willing to remarry them for their 20th anniversary as the renewed their vows. When I told them I would, they then told me they wanted to get married in Greece on a twelve night cruise through the Mediterranean. They would pay for Leanna and I to go and even for the plane tickets to Rome and back. A few minutes later, I woke up to smelling sauce and yes it was a true. A dream come true.
SMOKE ON THE WATER
Two days ago, I returned from this trip and let me tell it, it was far better than any trip I had given to anyone else. We toured the colosseum in Rome and threw coins in the fountain. We saw mount Vesuvius and walked the ruins of Pompeii. I got my girls and my mom a Cameo near Naples. Went to the Isle of Capri and I’m not talking about the one in Shreveport.
I also went to Athens Greece, ancient Corinth and even Ephesus in Turkey. I married my friends in Lindos bay on the Isle of Rhodes where Paul also preached and where they filmed the guns of Navaron. I mean come on! Not only had Paul the apostle been there but Gregory Peck and David Niven too!
Leanna rode a camel at the Pyramids in Giza and I ate Pizza in Sicily. On top of all this, we had a balcony stateroom on the Navigator of the seas and perfect weather all the way. A hundred dreams came true for me on this trip because of the generosity and love of some very selfless friends and I tell you it all started with God hearts for us to give a trip to some of our friends.
You are not going to out give God. You can’t out God -God. You can’t be nicer than Him or more generous than Him. Take it from a guy that has tasted and seen the Lord is good, give in a radical way when he tells you too. And believe me when I tell you, It won’t make you sick like you are afraid that it will.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver
WWW.FRESHFROMTHEBREWER.COM
Friday, October 8, 2010
TO BE FREE AND KNOT TO BE
The ability to tie knots can be a really big deal. When I was a kid, I was always amazed at how my step dad could tie knots — which he learned how to do in the Navy. I also remember Julius Reinach, an old German immigrant, teaching us Cub Scouts how to tie a slipknot. What a hard job that brother had!
I didn't learn how to tie my shoes until I was 34, so it took me a while to learn knots. I am still learning.
A Honda Knot is the knot all the cowboys use to form a lasso. It makes a nearly perfect circle. A Trucker’s Knot is one of those knots that, once you learn to use, you wonder how you ever got a long without it.
If you go to netknots.com there are animated videos of more than 50 knots, and step-by-step instructions. You can also download an iPhone app and take several thousand years of rope knowledge with you everywhere you go.
Last week, a friend of mine sent me a poem she had written and I thought it good enough to include in this week’s sip from the Carpenter’s cup. Rest is a weapon and anything we can do to help each other get untied and unbound is worth doing. Enjoy.
DEAR GOD,
Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and life.
Remove the have-nots, the can-nots and the do-nots that I hang on to.
Erase the will-nots, may-nots and might-nots that find a home in my heart. Release me from the could-nots, would-nots and should-nots that obstruct my life.
Most of all, Dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and all my life the am-nots that I have allowed to hold me back.
Especially that thought that I am not good enough to go forward. Untie me Lord.
Amen
Troy Brewer is the pastor of Open Door Ministries, and can be found on the web at www.freshfromthebrewer.com, www.troybrewer.com and www.opendoorministries.org.
I didn't learn how to tie my shoes until I was 34, so it took me a while to learn knots. I am still learning.
A Honda Knot is the knot all the cowboys use to form a lasso. It makes a nearly perfect circle. A Trucker’s Knot is one of those knots that, once you learn to use, you wonder how you ever got a long without it.
If you go to netknots.com there are animated videos of more than 50 knots, and step-by-step instructions. You can also download an iPhone app and take several thousand years of rope knowledge with you everywhere you go.
Last week, a friend of mine sent me a poem she had written and I thought it good enough to include in this week’s sip from the Carpenter’s cup. Rest is a weapon and anything we can do to help each other get untied and unbound is worth doing. Enjoy.
DEAR GOD,
Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and life.
Remove the have-nots, the can-nots and the do-nots that I hang on to.
Erase the will-nots, may-nots and might-nots that find a home in my heart. Release me from the could-nots, would-nots and should-nots that obstruct my life.
Most of all, Dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and all my life the am-nots that I have allowed to hold me back.
Especially that thought that I am not good enough to go forward. Untie me Lord.
Amen
Troy Brewer is the pastor of Open Door Ministries, and can be found on the web at www.freshfromthebrewer.com, www.troybrewer.com and www.opendoorministries.org.
Friday, October 1, 2010
THE ART OF CELEBRATION
Godly people celebrate things. The creation story of Genesis not only gives us a glimpse of how things got started, but also of the heart of the Creator Himself. At the end of every day, even though things were not finished being made, God celebrated each accomplishment. Without a group of friends and family to help Him, He still put on a little party hat, threw some confetti in the air, and said, “It is good.”
God celebrates accomplishment. God celebrates life, even though it is a long way from being perfect. It doesn't have to be perfect, it merely has to be good for God to stop and throw a party at the end of the day.
I was thinking about this principle last week. So I decided to list some little things in life worth celebrating, things that make me do a little dance and say, “It is good.”
Last week I sent out a list of the Top 15 things I had learned in 15 years of pastoring a three ring church circus. People like lists, but more that that, people like good lists. There are things I love about life and I have listed some them because my list may help you make your own list. It’s a good day to be happy.
THINGS I LOVE TO CELEBRATE
I love to sing the guitar solos of my favorite songs.
I love to drive on hot summer nights with my windows down.
I love to scratch my back with BBQ utensils while cooking.
I love to correctly guess if the door is a push or a pull and just go right through . It confirms that I have a prophetic gift.
I love an upgrade--any kind of upgrade or comp thrown in. It convinces me I am still God’s favorite.
I love it when the Cowboys play on Monday Night Football.
I love it when the weather changes drastically, especially when a cold front blows in.
I love getting all the way through customs at DFW and hearing the officer say, “Welcome home.”
I love it when it rains right after I, or preferably one of my boys, have cut the grass.
I love to let go of the gas pump and see it land on exactly the dollar amount I wanted it to. It means that I still have cat like reflexes.
I love making fun of the picture on your driver’s license.
I love eating the cookie dough instead of waiting for it to be baked.
I love different accents and the way people talk.
I love climbing into a warm bed on a cold night.
Once I start making this list, I can’t stop. I didn't even get into boat docks, sunsets or puppy breath. The bottom line is that there are things in all of our lives worth celebrating. I think when we fail to make a big deal out of the right things, we make an even bigger deal out of the wrong things.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Collosians 2:6-8
God celebrates accomplishment. God celebrates life, even though it is a long way from being perfect. It doesn't have to be perfect, it merely has to be good for God to stop and throw a party at the end of the day.
I was thinking about this principle last week. So I decided to list some little things in life worth celebrating, things that make me do a little dance and say, “It is good.”
Last week I sent out a list of the Top 15 things I had learned in 15 years of pastoring a three ring church circus. People like lists, but more that that, people like good lists. There are things I love about life and I have listed some them because my list may help you make your own list. It’s a good day to be happy.
THINGS I LOVE TO CELEBRATE
I love to sing the guitar solos of my favorite songs.
I love to drive on hot summer nights with my windows down.
I love to scratch my back with BBQ utensils while cooking.
I love to correctly guess if the door is a push or a pull and just go right through . It confirms that I have a prophetic gift.
I love an upgrade--any kind of upgrade or comp thrown in. It convinces me I am still God’s favorite.
I love it when the Cowboys play on Monday Night Football.
I love it when the weather changes drastically, especially when a cold front blows in.
I love getting all the way through customs at DFW and hearing the officer say, “Welcome home.”
I love it when it rains right after I, or preferably one of my boys, have cut the grass.
I love to let go of the gas pump and see it land on exactly the dollar amount I wanted it to. It means that I still have cat like reflexes.
I love making fun of the picture on your driver’s license.
I love eating the cookie dough instead of waiting for it to be baked.
I love different accents and the way people talk.
I love climbing into a warm bed on a cold night.
Once I start making this list, I can’t stop. I didn't even get into boat docks, sunsets or puppy breath. The bottom line is that there are things in all of our lives worth celebrating. I think when we fail to make a big deal out of the right things, we make an even bigger deal out of the wrong things.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Collosians 2:6-8
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