Brad Wilkerson // COC Metro

Memories

Last week Ryder and I had the awesome opportunity to take in the first round of the HP Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC at the 4 Seasons Resort in Las Colinas.  Thanks Pastor Dane for the free tickets.  It pays to have friends who are in high places!  Anyway, I usually go to the Nelson every year and I am always impressed at how easy the pros make golf look.  If you have ever played golf, you know there is nothing easy about it.  It is probably one of the most complex sports that men and women try to master.  So with that thought in mind, the pros are simply freaks of nature.  It makes no sense, the easier they swing the further the ball goes.  No doubt golf on their side of the ropes is a game that I am not familiar with.  Even Ryder, only 9, noticed that those guys didn't struggle as much with the game as his Dad does.  He was like, "Hey Dad, why don't you hit it that far and how come you don't putt that good."  To which, I simply told him, "Son, if I could do what they do, I wouldn't be sitting here with you bro...you'd be carrying my bag."  What I was actually thinking was, maybe someday you will be out there and I'll be carrying your bag.  What a great time just having some father/son time and watching some great golf.  By the way, he got 6 golf balls thrown to him by various golfers.  He was so excited.  Thanks again Pastor Dane for the tickets!

Catalyst One Day

Yesterday Dane, COC's Executive Pastor, and I attended the Catalyst One Day Conference at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrolton.  Wow...what a great day we had and what great things we heard and learned.  It was such a joy to see men like Craig Groeschel and Andy Stanley, who are pastoring two of this nation's largest churches be so real and authentic.  For me it was a lot of great material and advice but it was really more of an octane boost.  All of our fuel tanks get pretty low from time to time and I was running on fumes.  The Lord really spoke to me through Craig when he stated that a church congregation will not be broken before the Lord unless their leader is broken.  He challenged me to not fall back in love with the church or the work of the ministry but to fall back in love with Jesus.  Let Jesus love the church, it's His bride not mine, and focus on loving my Him and my family.  We do a great job of church at COC Metro and for that I am proud.  But in the midst of all our creativity and unique ministry style may we seek to stay broken and humble before the Lord.  I tell you...the sky is the limit for this church if we will keep that spirit.  We have only began to scratch the service of what is in store for us.
 
See you Sunday!

We're Back!!

Hello everyone...I'm back.  Thanks for waiting patiently for this blog as last week my wife, Sarah, and I had a wonderful time on The Music Boat Cruise to the Bahamas.  Now I know all of you are really feeling bad for me but if it makes you feel any better...I got sun burned really bad!  I am now in the process of shedding a layer of peeling skin but at least the pain of the burn is finally gone.
 
We had a great time reconnecting with God and with each other.  Thanks to all those who kept COC Metro going while we were gone.  You all are awesome.
 
I am glad that the threat of the Swine Flu seems to have faded away for now.  We are very thankful to Midway Church for allowing us to use their Student Center for our worship facility the past two weeks but we are very exited to be headed back to Paloma Creek Elementary School this Sunday.  We look forward to getting back into the COC routine of things and seeing folks that we have missed the past couple of weeks.
 
As we approach the end of the school year let me encourage you to take in the many great things COC has planned this summer and continue to make your weekly worship with us a priority.  Have a great week and see you Sunday at Paloma Creek!