Brad Wilkerson // COC Metro

Upward Awards!

I can't believe the Upward flag football/cheerleading season is already on its last week.  It seems like it was just yesterday that a group of dedicated COC guys were in Houston learning how to use a simple sports program to reach families for Christ.  And we've managed to do just that the last 3 months.  I'm so proud of how our church looked at something impossible and said "through God all things are possible" -- and with that attitude pulled off a great season!  

This Sunday we'll have our first Upward Awards Celebration.  The Upward Awards Celebration is not only a time to reward players and cheerleaders for their effort and participation, but also represents another opportunity to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to the children and their families.  

So make plans to come celebrate what God has done in our church and community this Sunday.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for Upward Soccer in the spring!  

Operation Generosity

Wow...Wow...Wow!!!  That is all I can say.  I was blown away by the generosity of the great COC family as we had well over 300 pairs of flip flops and right at about 30 blankets donated for the relief effort in the Philippines.  I emailed our missionary friend, Lance Gotcher, there in Manilla, on Monday telling him what we had already accomplished in just one week and he was blown away.  He shared with me that the shoes are really going to be a blessing as many of those who they are housing and feeding have no shoes.  We will collect flip flops (kids sizes - adult 11) and blankets one more Sunday and then ship the items to the Gotchers next week.  Please take the opportunity to use the resources the Lord has blessed you with to help those in such extreme need.  Remember, generosity is at the very heart of our being.  We serve a generous God who created us in His image.  I look forward to seeing what the stage looks like this Sunday!!!

U2 360 Tour

 

On my calendar, Oct. 12th, was a date that was scheduled with a lot of anticipation.  Me and my great buddy, Dane Blankenship, had tickets to go see our favorite band U2 at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium.  This was a two fold experience.  Not only were we going to get to see the new Stadium but get to see U2.  Well, being good stewards of our money we bought the cheapest tickets in the place which put us on the top row in top section of this massive structure.  This stadium holds 100,000 so as you can imagine Bono looked like an ant on the stage from our seats.  Not being able to see him very well didn't bother me because we went to here the music not look at them.  However, they didn't have enough sound to fill that enormous room and from where we were sitting we couldn't understand a word Bono was saying and there was a delay on all the sound.  We would see Larry Mullen hit the drums on the big screens but then hear the drum beat a second later.  All in all in made for a mess of noise that we were obviously too far from the action to hear it clearly.

Think for a minute about your life and your walk with the Lord.  Are there times where you cannot seem to hear Him clearly and it seems that it is all just a mess of noise?  Quick question, "Are you too far from the action?"  God wants you to draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.  My challenge for you, do whatever it takes to and go to whatever extreme you must to get closer to the action so that you can hear Him clearly.  

Yes, it was disappointing to anticipate this event for over 6 months and then not be able to hear it clearly.  What would be worse, would be to live your life, get to the end and realize that you could have done and experienced so much more with God but you were hanging out too far from the action.

It's October!

That's right folks...the MLB playoffs are here!!!!  I just love post season baseball and of course I love my Cardinals!!!!  Go Red Birds!!!!  The Birds open up the first round tomorrow night against Joe Torre and the mighty Dodgers.  It should be a great series and I honestly believe whoever comes out of that matchup will go to the World Series.  One thing that I love so much about the Cardinals and their manager Tony LaRussa is that he always builds a team of great balance.  They have great pitching with Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainright and of course the seasoned veteran, John Smoltz.  They have a decent bullpen, nothing spectacular but solid, and great defense at every position in the field.  Their hitting is solid with the ability to hit the long ball or just base hit a team to death.  Last, let us not forget that they have the greatest player on Earth in, Albert Pujols. Should be a great series and I hope they win it all again this year!!!  

When I think of the Cards and their balance in all areas of the game I am reminded of COC.  What a well balanced church!  We have with great pitching (Pastoral Staff), great defense (Prayer Warriors & Team) and great offense (Lay Leadership & Servant Volunteers).  All that is left for us to do now is go all the way and win the big one.  Let us go into each game (day) ready to win for Him.  Let us all play our parts and fulfill our roles on the greatest team every assembled.  TEAM COC!