Brad Wilkerson // COC Metro

Play Ball

Last Thursday night was quite interesting for Ryder and me.  Ryder had to go to 9/10 year old kid pitch baseball tryouts.  There were approximately 45 boys trying out in front of coaches and assistant coaches that will lead 5 teams in our league.  So here is how it worked; Ryder, had to run a timed 30 yard dash, field 3 grounders from short stop and throw to first base, field three balls in center field and throw to home plate and finally do a little hitting in the cage.  Overall, he did great but what cracked me up was all these grown men with clip boards writing all this stuff down like these kids were at the NFL Combine.  I mean come on, he is 9, is it really going to make that big of a difference if he ran a 4.3 or a 4.4 30 yard dash?  I know that seeing them field, throw and hit is good but there is definitely a drive to win and draft the best of the best.

So here is what God said to me in those moments of waiting for Ryder’s turn to come up (it is a long wait when your last name starts with a W).  I am so glad that Jesus doesn’t pick me for eternity based on my performance.  I am so glad he doesn’t say, “I don’t know Brad, your sprint speed was a little slow today.  And then there was that one throw to home from center field, it was a little off line.”

My promise of an eternity with Jesus is not based on my performance but rather His.  My hope is built on the forgiveness He offers to me through His complete performance on the cross and in the resurrection.

I don’t know where Ryder went in the big draft but I know this, no matter how he does in everyone else’s eyes, he is a winner because he is mine.  That is how Christ sees you and me.  We are His and He has made a huge investment in you no matter what the world might have to say.

I am glad I am on His team and my position is secured. 

Star Struck

Now this week’s blog is going to be quite long but stick with me because it is really good. 

If you are not already aware, Sarah and I spent last Wednesday through Sunday at the Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.  We were there for the Connect 09 church planter’s conference.  Anyway, we had a great time together and connecting with other pastors and pastor’s wives who are in the same walk of life we are in.  The speakers were great and of course what time we got to spend at the parks was great too.

Now on Saturday they opened a new interactive ride at Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Grand Studios) called The American Idol Experience.  We didn’t get to take part in the new attraction but we were told that it involves someone singing in front of Simon, Paula and Randy trying to make it to Hollywood for the big finale.  Now Simon, Paula and Randy are either holograms or video images….Disney is known for this incredible interactive stuff.  You also compete against not only former Idol winners but some of the more famous ones that were in the top ten in previous seasons. 

So why do I tell you all this?  Because on Thursday night, February 12, most of the former American Idol winners and top contenders from years past had a huge party at Rix’s Lounge.  What is really cool about this is that Rix’s Lounge is in the Coronado Resort.  That’s right the Idols were in our resort and we got to see many of them as they got out of their limos and walked down the walkway into Rix’s.  Some of the famous folks we saw were, David Cook, David Archuletta, Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks, Buckey Covington, Jordan Sparks and Justin…the guy who was runner up to Kelly Clarkson.  Everything was going really great and it was really fun until the security guards ran us out and the only way we could see the people was by looking in from the outside of our resort through the glass in the doors.  You should have seen us.  We were like star struck little teens going stupid over a few people who have had their moment of fame as they sang their way into the hearts of Americans.

Anyway, I went back to my room that night thinking that was pretty cool but feeling like the main character in Foreigner’s song, “Juke Box Hero.”  I could hear the roar of the crowd but I couldn’t get a ticket because it was a sold out show.

Later that evening as I laid down to go to sleep I couldn’t help but think, wonder and dream of a day when people would literally press their faces against the glass to see inside the COC metro worship facility to catch a glimpse not of me…but of Jesus.  Wouldn’t it be cool if we were such a Christ proclaiming church that people would literally be star struck by the one who made the stars and put them into orbit?  That would be an awesome site to see!

Here is the cool thing…everyone can get a ticket…it’s not a show…and it is never sold out!  There is always room for one more.

Ok…ok…seeing David Cook was pretty cool but Jesus is the main attraction for me.  I hope you get star struck when you are in His presence.

What is this thing?

So last week my cell phone, which is very old, finally gave up the ghost and died.  So I called our business to business Verizon sales representative and he says to me, “Hey you want to move up in the world?”  Now that to me is a loaded question because I am always teaching and proclaiming that moving up in the world is actually taking the attitude of a servant.  The way up is down.  Well the sales rep. quickly reminded me that we are talking about phones and technology…not spiritual matters.  So I said, “So, what did you have in mind?”  He tells me he can get me a flippin sweet deal on a new Blackberry Storm.  He even said, “President Obama, doesn’t even have this Blackberry.”  So, I took the deal…hook, line and sinker.  Well if you know much about me, you know that I am a tad bit technologically challenged (Our Exec. Pastor, Dane Blankenship, just said a good hearty, AMEN).  Anyway, I am now hip and cool like all the other young pastors carrying their I Phones and touch screen Blackberries.  That’s right, the pastor of COC metro is now in the flow and in the mix of the cool pastors group.  In the words of my teenage daughter, “My phone is TIGHT!”  What is funny is I don’t have a clue what it does or how it does it but I am really frustrated just trying to make a simple phone call.  But when I do figure it out, I am told I can place a call to the moon and even Mars.  Well maybe not that far but it is pretty cool.  I just hope before the newest and greatest next thing comes out that I can figure out why this one keeps beeping at me. 

You know, doing church in a school, can sometimes seem that way as well.  A lot of times we have to do things we don’t completely grasp just to make a simple worship service take place.  Thanks to all of you who week after week overcome obstacles that are always placed in our path in our journey to have church.  You all are really good and are really talented.  I thank God for each of you each Sunday when I walk into the school and look around at what you have accomplished.  Just one question, “If you all can do all that, week after week, can any of you help me with this phone?”

Have a great week!

Basic Training

We will be beginning a new message series this month at the Church of Celebration Metro, “Basic Training – What’s church all about anyway?  ”What we’d like to do is dismiss some misconceptions of church today and rediscover what the church’s purpose really is or was.  Sometimes we operate church under false pretenses such as… “If we build the perfect church, people will come, or…growing a church numerically automatically makes a difference in a community.”  As time has passed, the church really has failed to produce evidence of these such claims.

Reggie McNeal, in his book The Present Future writes, “We think we are headed toward the future.  The truth is, the future is headed toward us.  And it’s in a hurry (we know now the universe is speeding up, not slowing down).  We need to check our thinking.  The present makes clearest sense in light of the future.  We humans write history by looking at the past.  God creates history ahead of time.  He never forecasts.  God always backcasts.  He began with the end in mind.”  The Bible is not just of book of instruction;  it recalls and recounts the lives of people willing to be radically obedient to the direction of God for their lives.  The church was God’s designed plan for facilitating the message of hope, peace, and love to a world in dire need of a Savior!  That’s the basic thought that must be understood first when we talk about the church.

The truth about church is that church as we know it or knew it to be is actually passed.  It’s history!  People today appear to be turned off to church but they are still very much turned on to Jesus!  When our country faced tough times like 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina, people rushed to churches all across this country, searching for answers.  It was not because of the need they had for church, it was because they recognized their need for God!  When the church recognizes that it is to exist at all times, not just on Sunday’s or during natural or national disasters, it will then become the force it was intended to be.  See the church is not a foundation of wood, brick, and mortar.  It is the body of Christ, built to facilitate God’s love!  Anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ is a piece of the church. With that said, I would confidently suggest that the church should be in session or mission – Monday through Saturday in addition to Sunday, wouldn’t you agree?

Times have changed, and church as we know it has too.  Mr. McNeal offers this last insertion I’d like you think about until the next article which I hope will identify a little more about our purpose in this concept of church… “One thing is for sure.  God is not struggling with these changes.  None of this catches him off guard or ill prepared.  His purposes will be accomplished just as sure as you will finish reading this sentence.  The future for Him is already present.  He calls out from the future to His people.  He wants us to join Him where He is!”