Archives for February 2009

Dave, God and Guns-N-Roses

February 17, 2009 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

Today I ate lunch with Aaron and Dave Draper, the President of Winebrenner Seminary, at TGI Fridays. Dave is an awesome, awesome man of God and any time he is in town I consider it a real honor to be able to spend time with him and soak up any words of wisdom he has to impart.

Let’s just say Aaron and I got fed in more than one way. Dave was hitting both of us square between the eyes on some pretty heavy stuff. While he said he was proud of us, he also let us know we were prime candidates for burn-out unless we learn to get some balance in our lives. He challenged us to make sure we’re getting not only a day off but a Sabbath day as well. He encouraged us that we’re in this for he long haul so take some time to slow down and enjoy the journey…not to be in such a rush.

As we were finishing up he said he wanted to pray for us. At first it was hard to hear is prayer because of the loud song in the background. But less than 15 seconds in, the song switched…to whistling…as Dave continues to pray I realize the song is Patience by Guns-N-Roses. It was all I could do to keep from busting out laughing…”Ok God I get it!” I couldn’t help but wonder if Aaron was feeling the same thing…as soon as Dave says amen we look at each other and bust out laughting…he had thought the same thing.

Funny how God will speak to you through a preacher and one of the most profane rock groups of all times. As I said heading out the door, “Even Elijah was fed by a dirty bird, so why can’t we”…hope Dave didn’t think I meant him :)

Happy Birthday Abe!

February 16, 2009 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

Saw this quote from Lincoln earlier today and thought I’d pass it along…

“If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how- the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what’s said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.”

Wow Abe, should have been a pastor. Here are a few thoughts that I try to apply and perhaps you can get smething out of it as well.

You will be critisized. If you’re not, you’re not pushing hard enough. Lincoln came to accept this but didn’t allow it to steal his passion.
He didn’t try to answer all his critics. I believe one of the schemes of the devil is to get us to do this. While we’re “arguing” with someone (whose mind we probably won’t change anyway), it is keeping us from doing what we are called to do.
He kept a great perspective. Lincoln said he was doing the very best he knew how. When it comes to criticism, as long as you know that you are doing what God has direcetd you to do and it in know way contradicts scripture, then keep doing what you’re doing. You wouldn’t believe some of the attacks we get at United, but I know that we’re doing what God has directed us to do, so I try to keep positive as you should as well when critisized.
He realized time would tell. Lincoln acknowledged that over time either he or his critics would be proven wrong, so there was no use wasting valuable time now arguing about it. It sort of reminds me of the story found in Acts 5:17-42. Jesus put it this way, “By their fruit you will know them”. Fruit doesn’t spring up over night, so you have to give it time.

One last thing to keep in mind. Not all criticism is bad…sometimes God is using it to get your attention. So always consider the source of the criticism (I’m much more likely to listen to my spouse than a complete stranger) and take at least a few seconds in your devotional time to ask God if there any truth to what is being said. If yes, change it…if no, move on and forget about it.

Inside Today’s Experiences

February 15, 2009 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

Had a great day today!

4 more people gave their lives to Christ!

I was really tired this morning…I had a call this morning at 1am saying I needed to come ot the hosptial because one of our members was about to die.

I went in and she did indeed pass away…please pray for the family of Belvia Chambers.

In any case, I was pumped for today and Brian and the team did a great job setting up the message with the song Undignified.

Sort of weird having two different Experiences in order to get everyone over to the baptism service.

9:15 had another record crowd…great job 9:15 in inviting new people in.

10:45 you guys better get busy inviting, or 9:15 is going to pass you by.

Awesome being able to baptism 14 people in front of such a huge crowd in the sanctuary.

Had to be a quick change artist today to keep chanigng clothes back and forth.

At 10:45 we had some friends in from out of town…all of them had heard of what we were doing but hadn’t yet experienced it for themselves…I think they liked it! :)

We all went out to eat at Red Robin…my 4th time there in the past week…Red Robin mmmmmm.

Time for a nap…have a great week!

Friday Thoughts

February 13, 2009 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

Turns out that not only did I lose a lot of sleep on Wednesday night, but we lost a bunch of our shutters as well.

Late Thursday morning I started finding them and kept chasing after them for quite a distance.

By the time I had collected them all, I had 7-8 under my arms, but I had to walk into the wind.

I might as well have been an airplane…for every 3 steps forward, I got blown back 2.

Now I’ve got to file insurance claims and all that good stuff…great…like I don’t have anything else to do.

Speaking of airplanes, I was a bit shaken up by the crash this morning in Buffalo.

I have flown into that airport at least 8-10 times, sometimes under icy conditions like they had today.

I’m quite thankful that in the hundreds of flights I’ve been on, only 1 ever had some sort of emergency.

Speaking of emergencies…attention guys reading this blog…tomorrow is Valentine’s Day…if you don’t want to be killed, make sure you’re doing something nice for your sweetie.

Had a great time speaking last night at the prison…about a dozen guys showed up and I shared with them the message from the Pursuit series on Overcoming Adversity. They really got into it and 2 guys got saved!

Ok…one final shout out asking you to please, please, please, invite someone to come with you this weekend. I believe this is going to be a very freeing message for so many and lives can truly be changed.

Also don’t forget that at 10am we will be doing baptisms in the sanctuary…this means the 9:15 United will be dismissed early and those that normally come at 10:45 should show up early.

Random Thoughts on a Thursday

February 12, 2009 by Gilbert Leave a Comment

Anyone else have trouble sleeping last night with all the high winds blowing through?

To put things into perspective…my mom when I was a kid could vacuum my room in the morning and I’d still be sound asleep.

So last night to be woken up by the winds making the house shake was rare for me.

Lisa and I kept moving to various rooms to find one that was quietier.

Finally I just put ear plugs in and went right off to sleep.

It’s 10:15 and she’s still in bed…don’t think she was so lucky.

The last few days have been great having Lamont in town to speak with us each night.

He’s the real deal and we were blessed to be able to have him here.

He asked me to call him last night at midnight to make sure he was still awake on his drive back home.

He sounded alert and was within 2 hours of seeing his “mother-in-laws favorite daughter”.

You know how almost all famous actors want to be singers and singers want to be in the movies? Well it’s like that sometimes for us as pastors…

I love Lamont’s style and quite honestly I’m jealous of it, but God keeps reminding me that He created me in a unique way and I just need to be the best Gilbert I can be…

So don’t expect this week as we wrap-up our Pursuit series to hear how Benaiah was big, bad, bold and brave. Or how in the midst of our situation he is an inspiration for our continuation.

Actually, I’m really excited about this final message in the series…invite someone to come with you as we’ll discover what it means to say Jesus came to free the fool that lives inside of you.

And we’ve got a free gift for everyone this week that I think you’ll find sort of cool.

No this isn’t Oprah…you’re not getting a car…sorry.

I’m speaking at the prison tonight so please be praying for that…I’m going to share with them some of Benaiah’s story and how we can never allow what’s wrong with us to keep us from worshipping what’s right with God.

I got quite a few more e-mails yesterday with potential questions for the “You Asked For It” series.

Remember if you have a question that you’ve always wondered about and you’d like to hear me preach a message on it, send them to me at gilbert@unitedworshipexperience.org. Or we’ll be collecting them again this week on inserts if you wish to remain anonymous. From there we will collect the top 8 or so then have you vote on which 4 make the final cut.