big spender stories

Living in the Graveyard

2012-01-26T19:46:00.007-05:00

Little Timothy stood beneath a willow tree staring blankly at the pale headstones that surrounded him. He was lost. The raven he had chased was perched in the branches above his head. Its caws rang like laughter as the sun began to set. Timothy snatched up a twig and hurled it defiantly at the big black bird. The raven, unconcerned, watched the twig pass helplessly several feet below. Timothy sank down in desperation against the tree and pulled his knees close to his chest. His heart beat rapidly with fear as he recalled what his older brother had told him.

“We are going to the place that holds dead people,” Richard had maniacally said. “You better be careful or they will come out of the ground and grab you.”

At the time he had not believed Richard, but now he was beginning to wonder. Timothy’s Uncle Fred had passed away; those were the grown up words for ‘he died.’ Timothy had a goldfish that had ‘passed away.’ Its burial consisted of a few words over the porcelain headstone, and pulling the lever down. His mother assured him that Goldfinner was going to a better place. Timothy knew what else was flushed down the toilet and did not believe her. Uncle Fred was supposedly going to a better place too. It had to be better than wherever Goldfinner ended up.

The raven cawed, and Timothy shivered. His eyes darted from tombstone to tombstone. So many names and words that Timothy could not read. The only legible word that seemed common among the stones was “RIP.” Timothy agreed. The cemetery was a ‘rip’. Your favorite people died, and were buried, and you never got to go with them on their fishing boat again. And just when you found something interesting to take your mind off of all the crying, you got lost. And you had to go to the bathroom.

“God,” Timothy muttered, “If you could get me out of this one, I’d be really thankful. I’d even admit to Mom and Dad that I let Richard’s gerbil out of his cage to play with the cat, and you know how that ended.”

“Caw!” Timothy glanced at the raven and noticed it was intent on his every move. “And I’d give you the ten dollars I found under Richard’s bed if you’d zap that crow once real good.” Timothy shouted at the raven. Its only response was another mocking ‘Caw!’

A shiver ran through Timothy, and he could feel the tears welling up inside. He was a big boy, but everyone has his or her limit, and Timothy had reached his. As the first salty droplet ran down his left cheek, Timothy heard a faint whistling. The tune was unrecognizable, but it sounded friendly. Timothy got to his knees and looked around the trunk of the tree. An old man wearing blue overalls and a red flannel shirt was coming up the path. In his left hand was a pair of gardening gloves. His right hand held a red and white handkerchief, which he used to wipe his wrinkled brow. He paused on the road and looked around. After a moment he called out, “Is there a little boy named Timmy around here?” Timothy’s hand rose involuntarily, and he looked at it in wonder. The man saw the movement out of the corner of his eye and smiled. “It’s alright,” he said. “Yer momma sent me to find ya’.”

Timothy swallowed hard and replied, “No offense mister, but I ain’t supposed to talk to strangers, unless they know the password.”

“Yer a wise lad, son. Your mother said ya’ might ask fer the password. She told me it was Goldfinner, though I can’t imagine what that means. If that don’t appease yer fears, I’ll walk several feet in front of ya’, and you can just follow behind ‘til we get back to yer parents.” At this the old man turned and walked back down the path.

Cautiously creeping from behind the willow, Timothy followed the old man. He had given the correct word, but Timothy figured he was better safe than sorry. The raven chattered loudly from behind him. Timothy turned and gave the bird one last glare, stuck out his tongue, and hurried after the old man.

After a while Timothy broke the silence, “Mister, what’s your name?”

“My friends call me Paul.” At this the old man chuckled, “Imagine that,” he called over his shoulder, “Paul leading Timothy.”

Timothy thought the old man was a bit goofy, of course Paul was leading Timothy. He decided to try another question. “How do you know where the exit is?”

“Well, do ya’ know how to get out of yer backyard?” the man quizzed.

“Sure do, that’s easy!”

“This is my backyard. I live in the house at the entrance to the cemetery.”

Timothy’s footsteps ceased, and Paul turned to see Timothy gaping in wonder. “Aren’t you frightened to live here? Bad things happen here. I’ve even seen dead people,” Timothy whispered.

Thinking a moment, Paul nodded, “Yep, bad things can happen here, and yeah there are dead people, but I reckon I’m not overscared none. Not everything that happens here is bad. There are many peaceful days when nothing goes by. Sometimes people come here and remember good things. But occasionally people do go through some pain and suffering here. I figure it’s my job to remind ‘em that they don’t have to stay here. I help people find their way out of the graveyard, even though it means I have to live here and see some bad things happen.”

“Why would you choose to stay here?” Timothy implored.

Smiling, Paul replied, “Well if I weren’t here to remind living folks like yerself that they can leave the graveyard, and show ‘em the way out, then where would you be?”

The wheels in Timothy’s head turned, “Still sitting under that tree praying that God would zap that old crow.”

“Yep. And soon it would get dark and cold, and you’d miss yer mam and pap. Old Paul is here to show ya’ the way out so ya’ don’t have to stay here forever. Now come on before they overworry.”

They walked in silence, Paul a few steps ahead. When they came over the last hill, Timothy saw his mom and dad at the gate of the cemetery. “Hey Paul. Thanks for living in the graveyard and helping me find my way out.”

“That’s what I’m here for Timothy, now run along.”

As Timothy ran down the hill towards his mom and dad, he realized that he was now going to have to hold up his end of the bargain. As his mom embraced him, Timothy said, “Mom, I need to tell you about Richard’s gerbil…”

Sometimes we have to live in the graveyard, telling the world that they need not stay dead. God bless.

What's God doing in your life?

2010-10-31T23:28:00.005-04:00

I have the unique opportunity to lead a small group Bible study with my colleagues. We are using a Women of Faith study entitled: Imagine - God Can Do More Than You Ever Dreamed. This week we were challenged to share our faith online. What better place to do so than on this blog.

God calls us to faith - to believe in the impossible. Following Him requires us to continually grow in faith and trust Him for the miraculous.

Even if you are not part of our small group, share with us what God is doing in your life.

Leslie

God Stamps

2010-01-15T09:27:00.003-05:00

I recently reunited with a dear friend whose wife died of recurring breast cancer. At her memorial service, he shared events from their lives and introduced me to a new term - God Stamp. A God Stamp is when the Lord very obviously places his hand on a person's life to confirm his direction, presence, guidance, love, and/or grace.

He told a great story of how God placed a unique stamp on his life and you can read about it by clicking here. I am fascinated by the ways that God chooses to touch our lives. I had a conversation with another friend this week about times when God miraculously provided for our family financially. Not being someone who normally goes in for that sort of thing, he was a bit skeptical, but I sensed him opening up as the conversation progressed.

There is simply no substitution for the feeling of inspiration that comes from hearing someone else's God stories. There's nothing like telling them either.

Be God's

Greg

Gathering Is A Success

2010-01-11T08:06:00.007-05:00

The first Storytellers Gathering was last night and it was awesome! There were 10 people, great conversation, and some pretty good food. It was decided that the Gathering will meet weekly, so the next one is this Sunday, January 17, 2010. Food is at 5 pm with Bible study from 6-7 pm. This will be the first week of our study on the fruit of the spirit - we will be discussing love.

As always, you are welcome to join in. All I ask is that you let me know ahead of time so that I can plan for enough food. See you Sunday!

Be God's

Greg

Directions to the Storyteller's Gathering

2010-01-07T14:26:00.002-05:00

Here's how to get to my house:

From the North

South on Rt. 4
Right on Boymel Rd. (McDonald's on corner)
Left on Kohn Dr. (First street on left)
Right on Olde Station Ct. (First street on right)
Second House on the Right

From the South

North on Rt. 4
Left on Seward Rd. (Arby's on the corner)
Right on Kohn Drive (First street on the right)
Left on Olde Station Ct. (First street on the left)
Second House on the Right

Remember food is at 5 pm with Bible study from 6-7. See you Sunday!

You're Invited!

2010-01-05T16:39:00.012-05:00

It's finally here! The first Storytellers Gathering will be held at my house this Sunday.

I'm cooking! Food will be served at 5 pm and Bible Study will be from 6-7 pm.

I will be sharing all that Sound of the Trumpet Ministries has planned for 2010 and I would love for you to join in as we work to impact our community with the love of Christ. The goal of this gathering will be to assemble a group of people who can "do life together" as we grow and mature in our faith.

A Very Special Gathering

2009-12-05T20:39:00.005-05:00

Since the beginning, we have planned to do things through Sound of the Trumpet Ministries like host a Bible study, get involved in local schools, and pull off events that impact our community. Well, I'm thrilled to announce that, after three years of laying ground work, we are ready to take the next step toward accomplishing some of these ambitious goals.

The first step will be to launch a Bible study called the Storytellers Gathering. It will be held at my home in Fairfield on Sunday nights from 5 to 7:00 pm. The first one will be on January 9, 2010.

Here is how the evening is structured:

5:00 pm Food & Hang Out Time

5:30 pm "What's Your Story?"

6:00 pm "Digging In" (Bible Study)

6:20 pm "Drive It Home" (Activity/Discussion)

6:40 pm "Sharing & Prayer"

7:00 pm Head for Home

Now to answer some of your questions:

No, this is not a church.
Yes, I will be cooking the food
Yes, it's free
No, there is no organized child care. If you need to bring children, let me know and we'll do what we can to accomodate them
Yes you have to let me know you are coming so I know how much food to make
Yes, you can bring friends, just let me know ahead of time how many are coming
Yes, anyone is welcome regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey
No, this is not a church
No, it is not affiliated with any certain church or denomination
No, I will not ask you to abide by a big list of rules or sign any covenant forms
Yes, you will probably want to bring a Bible
No, it doesn't matter what version and that won't be an issue
No, I won't embarrass you by asking you to read or pray out loud unless you want to
Did I mention that this is not a church? Good

Now, I know that there will be other questions, so feel free to contact me and ask whatever you like. We have 2010 planned up with tons of really cool ministry events, so seriously pray about giving us a try. Any of you who have heard me in concert or seen Mike and I perform drama know that we are serious about changing the world; and we believe wholeheartedly that wold change begins right here at home. So make plans now to join us in January at the very first Storytellers Gathering on January 9, 2010 at 5:00 pm. All you have to do is click the link at the left of this page that takes you to the Big Spender Stories Facebook page. Then click the Events tab and RSVP.

Be God's

Greg

Hang In There

2009-10-08T20:08:00.003-04:00

I stop at Starbucks Coffee nearly every day on my way to work. I have had dozens of conversations with the people who work there. This may sound a bit weird, but they get to be kind of like family after a while. Anyway, the conversation I had yesterday will be one I'll remember for a long time. It went something like this:

"Can I get a tall cafe Estima with room for cream?"

"Sure, are you working today? What do you do?"

"I'm a graphic designer. I work across the street."

"Oh...my husband designs websites. We used to be on staff at a church, but it was really hard."

"I know what you mean. I'm ordained. I have been in ministry in one form or another for 20
years. I was a youth pastor, a music minister, an interim pastor...you name it."

"We were on staff at two church plants in Michigan before we came here."

"And let me guess, people who were supposed to love Jesus beat your brains in."

"Yeah, I couldn't believe the way they acted. We just wanted to be a part of a church that was doing something. Our life is so much better now that we work outside of the church. I almost hate to say that - I feel guilty."

"Don't feel guilty. Let me ask you something. Have you ever heard the term "outreach?" Where are your feet when you're reaching for something?"

"Planted in one spot?"

"Yes, at a safe distance from what your reaching for. There's a difference between reaching and going. Jesus never reached, he went, and when you're outside the walls, it makes it easier to go."

"Thanks, I needed to hear that."

"I needed to say it. Have a good day!"

"You too!"

The thing is...she'll never know how much I needed to say that to someone. "Thanks, God for the opportunity and the story. It feels good to be back on track."

Reaching is Different Than Going

2009-09-27T17:07:00.002-04:00

"How full is your schedule this fall?" he asked. "Not nearly as full as I would like," I said, "The economy is still biting us pretty hard." "I guess some churches don't set money aside for outreach like we do" he told me. "I guess not," I said.

All the way home that term haunted my thoughts. "Outreach" is a word I have heard all my life. It is a part of the American church vocabulary. Referring to ways in which the church leans outside its walls to touch the world, "outreach" is generally a positive term to the Christian. However, as the miles rolled beneath me, the taste of it grew increasingly bitter.

"Where are your feet if you're reaching?" I heard the Holy Spirit speak to my heart. "Firmly planted in one spot," I answered. "Where is that spot?" said the Spirit. "A safe distance away," was my reply. With that statement, I understood the point of the conversation and when I arrived home I opened my Bible to Matthew chapter 28 where I read these words. "Go into all the world and make disciples..."

There it was typed definitively in those blood-red words. I actually said it out loud to myself, "Reaching is different than going." I went on to read chapter after chapter full of examples of how Jesus never reached. He went. Over and over again, he placed himself smack in the middle of the people he was trying to reach with his love, his mercy, and his grace. He didn't stand in the temple, resplendent with its wealth, its community, and its resources. He didn't use programs or budgets from a safe distance. He got dirty in the mess of the lives of those who needed him. It didn't matter what they looked like, what they said, or where they lived. He showed up in the flesh and met them where they were. This is what I want to do. How about you?

Be God's
Greg

On the Road Again

2009-08-25T19:24:00.002-04:00

I was fortunate to spend some time in Springfield, Ohio this past weekend. I was hosted by the Lagonda and Story-Hypes United Methodist Churches. My thanks to pastors Dan Held and Bruce Gischel for their kind hospitality. We had a great time and one fantastic carry-in dinner. I have to admit, it felt good to get back on the road and spend some time sharing my stories with folks.

It amazes me how much other junk we have to go through to afford ourselves the time and resources to work in ministry. It's worth it though, when you see people start to get it. When they realize that sharing the love of Christ is as simple as telling their stories and how powerful those stories can really be, I am filled with a sense of hope. I will be out and about in the weeks ahead and I look forward to seeing some of you and collecting some new stories to tell.

Several of you have asked about getting together in person. I am working on a plan to host a series of Storyteller Gatherings in the future. These would be informal times of hanging out and sharing some good food and stories with one another. Stay tuned for dates and times.

Be God's
Greg

Finding Freedom

2009-08-04T08:31:00.000-04:00

People often see me as someone who is confident and self-assured. Over the years, I have been known as opinionated, cocky, arrogant, and self-righteousness. I won't say that some of those monikers weren't deserved, because sometimes I have been those things - who hasn't? I will say this, though, much of what has been seen as self-absorption has truly been self-defense. Without going into a detailed account of my personal woes, I can honestly say that I have been on the business end of plenty of unprovoked ridicule, spite, and abuse. In fact, there have been many times when it truly felt as though I were the only one who believed in me. After all, someone had to. The only alternative was to give up and I never wanted to go out that way.

Over the course of my 36 years on this planet, I have developed a rather impenetrable shell to protect myself from as much damage as possible. The problem is that shells can work both ways and sometimes feel like prisons. This is one of the more personal reasons why I have created Big Spender Stories. I know that my story is not unique. Countless other people have experienced the same trials in life and worse. Through telling my stories, I have discovered freedom. Freedom from my judgmental opinions fueled by years of emotional abuse. Freedom from the judgmental opinions of others that I too often took to heart. Freedom to be open and honest about who I am, what I think, and where I find myself on my journey to follow Jesus.

I want Big Spender Stories to be a place where stories are shared, shells are cracked, prisons are shaken, and freedom is found. I'm crafting a platform upon which people can shout their stories and find healing, encouragement, and strength. Please join me, the world needs to hear your stories. You never know whose life will be touched.

I knew God was real when...

2009-07-29T15:50:00.002-04:00

Hey Guys, my friend Adrienne shared a great story on the Big Spender Stories Facebook page. I thought I would share it with all of you.

There have been many times when I knew God was real. I have been fortunate that way. But, the flip side of that coin is that I have also had to go through a lot of things to get me to the point that I could see what God was doing for, to and with me.

The time I am sharing here is when I finally understood that this journey begins with a very personal recognition and proclamation. See, I too grew up Catholic, and although I am not putting down the faith, I think that you sometimes miss that this walk with God is on a first name basis. It is a personal relationship, that you are called to share. It is not a generic God saving a generic world through a single act of crucifiction. I never questioned God, I never questioned Jesus, who He was or what He did. I never doubted that Heaven was real, Jesus would come back, Mary was a virgin, nor did I question the reality of Satan and hell. I knew these things were as true as the air I was breathing, but I also didn't get that whole "need to be born again" thing. I always thought that was for the people who didn't even know about Jesus. You see, I looked at it from the stand point that Jesus died for the sins of the world, which meant that whether I was here or not He would have died the same death for the same reason, when in reality, the truth I needed to see was that Jesus dies for the sins of Adrienne, and if I was the only one in the world he would have still done it. That my lies crowned his head, that my hatred drove the nails through his hands, that my greed nailed His feet to the tree. My life, my sins, my evil flesh did this to Him.

When that realization hit me, I for the first time, looked up and called upon the name of Jesus, I said it with the love and familiarity of a beloved friend, a family member, and I realized that when He called my name He knew me just as well. The knowledge of how I lived my life, what I had done to Him, who I really was and just what He died for hit me so hard that I had to pull the car off the side of the road until I could regain composure.

I wish I could say that I have gotten it right since then, but that would be a lie. But I can tell you that from that day forward, I have been walking a different path. Sometimes I get confused and step off, but thankfully my God is always there to grab me by the head and put me back on the path. ... Admittedly it is easier when I am listening to Him though. But then I would only have a short testimony, and well people like me don't have short testimonies.

So that is my first story of When I knew God was Real.

I knew God was real when...

2009-07-13T17:27:00.001-04:00

My friend Karen wrote a fantastic post for Big Spender Stories on Facebook. I thought I would post it here as well. Thanks, Karen for sharing your story!

When did I know God was real? Being born and raised in an all Catholic family, one never questioned if God was real. You just knew it and accepted it. You went to church faithfully every week. Said your prayers. Went to confession to confess your sins. Of course I thought I was a sinner as a child. I said and thought mean things. Didn't say the rosary every night like I should. So you probably aren't surprised that I feared God. I experienced my first panic attack in church when I was ten. Not knowing what was happening to me a fear cycle began to occur. I had to go to church every week with my class. Every week I experienced yet another panic attack. This cycle lasted until I was in my thirties. When I became old enough I stopped going to church due to this fear. I later recovered from anxiety and panic disorder. Knowing it was caused by perfectionism, guilt, high expectations, everything the Catholic Church fostered in me. It was how I reacted to the Catholic faith. I am not blaming this type of worship.
Once I stopped going to mass, a new spiritual journey began for me. I began to receive God's word through other medians, such as Sunday morning worship shows, a walk in a snowy park, looking at a clear blue sky, reading books about angels and people who experienced moments in the after life, only to come back and share these stories. I talked to people who had some really cool spiritual encounters, visions, etc. I began to know God in another way. I do not fear him anymore but put all of my trust in Him. I joined a Lutheran church. I love the Message I receive there. The people are one loving community. I have also had spiritual encounters that I will not go into now. It was a blessing to have panic attacks in church. If I never did, I never would have known the loving, forgiving God. So when did I know God was real? Well when I deviated from what was expected of me and began my own spiritual journey.

A Calling to Teach

2009-07-09T17:58:00.002-04:00

My good friend Rene Gabbard shared this post on the Big Spender Stories Facebook page and I thought it was so good that I would share it here as well. The discussion topic was "I knew God was real when..." Thanks, Rene for telling your story.

I knew God was real when he answered prayer in a very specific way. It was at the very beginning of my teaching career and I was so frustrated. All my life I had wanted to be a teacher and truly felt that God had called me to teach, but I was so unhappy. Every Sunday afternoon, I would get a horrible headache and my stomach would ache as I faced the reality of going back to school on Monday. One Monday morning, I was stopped at the intersection of Tylersville Road and By-pass 4, waiting to cross the highway when I just started sobbing. I was angry and exasperated and yelling and crying. I'm certain that passers-by thought I was crazy. I just kept thinking, "I can't do this anymore! I can't!!" Then, it hit me. That's right, YOU can't. I had tried to compartmentalize my life and, in my foolishness, I had tried to teach on my own. So, right there at that intersection, I surrendered my students and my career to the Lord. I admitted that I couldn't do it on my own and, more importantly, I didn't want to do it on my own anymore. I realized my teaching for what it truly was--my mission field and I answered the call to be a missionary in the public school system. My goal was to teach for 5 years and then move on. The longer I taught, the more I wanted to teach. And, the more I taught, the more opportunities God gave me to witness to my kids and my colleagues and the parents and, well...the list goes on and on. Nothing that I accomplished in 30 years as a teacher was my doing. It was all God's working through me. I knew God was real when He kept on blessing me and blessing me as a teacher. I learned that all my life belongs to Him and when I try to handle things on my own, the result is disastrous.

Interesting Things

2009-07-07T12:27:00.004-04:00

I have several things to mention today. First of all, many of you may have noticed that I created a Facebook page for big spender stories. This will give all of you the opportunity to share your stories with the world. You can leave a short post on the Wall or write a longer entry using the Discussion Board. All you have to do to join is be a member of Facebook and become a fan of big spender stories. Click here to visit the page.

Secondly, I'm doing some research for some things that I'm writing these days. Part of this information depends on you. There will be a series of polls on www.bigspenderstories.com in coming weeks. They will be short and easy to complete, but your answers will be pivotal to my future writings, so please take a minute and help out if you can.

Finally, I have booked some concerts this fall! I am excited that the drought is over, and that I will be able to once again hit the road. Some of these dates will be with my good friend and drama partner, Mike Massie and some of them will be solo music dates. I look forward to seeing many of you this fall at these much anticipated bookings.

As always, thanks for your continued support, prayers, and participation.

Be God's
Greg

Regrouping Again

2009-06-30T23:26:00.006-04:00

Ministry seems to be a constant balance between charging ahead and falling back, then again that's how wars are won right? Some of you may have noticed that, for a time I had an icon on the landing page of the website for something called The Jesus Experiment. This was an idea that Mike and I conceived last year for a program that would integrate music, theater, story-telling and some killer audience participation in an effort to help people think outside the box about the ways in which we could reach our world for Christ.

Our goal was to offer it to churches, beginning with our home church, free of charge. In other words, Sound of the Trumpet Ministries would pay all expenses right down to the utilities and the custodians. We thought we couldn't loose. After all, who wouldn't like to have an effective and artistic program that challenged people to grow in their understanding of ministry dropped on their doorstep for free? The answer: evidently everyone. We shopped the idea first to our church and then to everyone on the Sound of the Trumpet email list and found no takers. Now granted, much of the known world has still never heard of this program and we remain firmly convinced that it is, not only a great idea, but one that God has called us to pursue.

Therefore we will continue to seek a venue for The Jesus Experiment - perhaps even one outside of the church itself. Now there's a novel idea. But, for now I have removed it from the website, because I think something else may happen first. Stay tuned, you never know where God will take us next. Like I said before, there's a time to charge forward and a time to fall back. I just wish Kenny Rogers were here to tell me when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em.

Be God's
Greg

Lakeside Part 2

2009-06-26T21:59:00.002-04:00

Playing in the opening worship service of this year's Lakeside Methodist Conference was incredible. I mean, it's not every day that you get to play to 3000 people, but it was more than that. I shared in part one that the African Children's choir was also part of the service. Along with the adorable and talented children that make up the choir, there are some extraordinary adults that travel with the group as well. One of them is a young man named Joshua. I had the opportunity to speak with Joshua at length and I shared with him what I believe to be the main reason that American Christians are blown away by these African kids.

"I think that American believers see the joy that flows so freely from the children and wish that they could have joy like that," I said. "They find themselves so encumbered by the weight of their cares, their fears, and their wealth that they can't fathom being that joyful in their faith." I told him that I firmly believe that, if American Christians could tapp into such joy, they could truly change the world. With eyes that looked at me from a world away, he said, "I believe that their minds are the only things stopping them."

I thought about that all the way home, and I think he's absolutely right. Our minds are the only things that stop us from truly changing the world. We have to believe it is possible. We have to cheer each other on. We have to share our stories without worrying about how much it costs, how tight our schedules are, or how we've done it or not done it before. When we get out of our own way, I believe that world change is just around the corner.

On Your Road to Anywhere

2009-06-17T13:12:00.007-04:00

Let me tell you a story...

There were two men walking a dirt road between a large city and a small village. They were not spectacular in appearance or status. They were simply two men that had witnessed one of the largest turn around scenarios the world has ever known. Jesus of Nazareth had gone from celebrated healer and miracle worker to a hated mad man in the course of a few days. They were deliberating and reasoning the events, trying to make sense of it all. They truly hoped that he was the deliverer of Israel, and his death and then the disappearance of his body had sent shock waves through them.

Suddenly a man appeared, clothed like another traveler on the way to Emmaus. "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk? Why are you so sad?"

These two men stopped and stared in astonishment. There was something odd about him, something vaguely familiar, but they could not put their finger on it. Suddenly his appearance mattered little as they spilled forth with information. "How can you not know what has happened? You must be the only person in Jerusalem to have missed this mobs and crowds and the crucifixion."

"Tell me about these things," the stranger replied.

"Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in deed and in word, was killed and now we are told that the angels have taken his body from the tomb. We had hoped he was the Messiah."

The rest of this story involves Jesus explaining the prophecies that were fulfilled, and how the death and resurrection were necessary. Then he breaks bread with the men and they realize who he is, only to have him vanish, leaving the men amazed.

What strikes me about this story is threefold. First, these men met a stranger that was on a journey with them and they told him all they knew of Jesus. This is what we here at Big Spender Stories have tried to encourage. On our daily journeys we run into people who need to hear the story or be reminded of its importance. Just as they told the stranger of the impact of Jesus on their lives, we too should seek opportunities to share with others. Second, the man they shared with happened to be Jesus in disguise. We should take time to tell Jesus our story, and how he has impacted our lives. In this manner we are reminded of his importance and bolstered by his presence when the time comes to share with others as well. Third, the men called Jesus a prophet mighty in deed and word. The first thing about Jesus' ministry that impressed them was his deeds, the second was his words. Take time to do good deeds in the name of Christ, they solidify your words and give credibility to your ministry. Those deeds can be as big as buying someone groceries that is in need, or as small as offering to help an older person load his or her groceries in the parking lot of your local grocery store. Think outside the box. Let Jesus experiment with your life and everyday opportunities so he may use you to tell his story on your road to anywhere.

God bless

Mike Massie

Lakeside Part 1

2009-06-07T21:48:00.002-04:00

I am sitting in Hoover Auditorium at the moment on the campus of Lakeside near Lake Erie. Tomorrow I will have the opportunity to play my trumpet for 3000 Methodists gathering for their state convention. This is an opportunity that I have prayed about for over a decade and I'm so excited to be here. Soon I will sound check, but for now I get to sit and listen to the African Children's Choir.

If you've never seen this extraordinary ensemble, you should. The choir is made up of 25-30 children from about 6 to 12 years of age. They are from Africa and they tour the world giving concerts. For a group of children, they are one of the most professional groups I have ever seen. In between songs they are completely silent and they comply with every instruction their director gives. When the music starts, they sing and dance with all their hearts displaying a joy that most American Christians could only dream of. Tonight they have truly blessed my heart. Not only have they displayed unbounded spiritual enthusiasm, but they've done so with the utmost professionalism and musical excellence. It's nice to know that there is room for both in the church.

What's Been Going On?

2009-05-30T07:41:00.007-04:00

Wow! I can't believe that it's been a month since my last post. Here's what we've been up to.

Since last fall, Mike and I have been creating a program called The Jesus Experiment. It is designed to be a combination of all the things that we do packaged into an event designed to build community in the church and to help Christians think outside the box about ministry. It involves music, drama, audience participation, Bible teaching and more packed into six one-hour events. There is truly something for all ages and families are encouraged to participate together.

Our goal is to make this program available to local churches through the summer and fall. This is where you come in. You have the opportunity to be part of a great story by partnering with us to bring this ministry to your congregation. We're praying for four churches to participate.

Here's the really cool thing: It costs your church nothing, zero, nada, not one cent. The Jesus Experiment is entirely funded by Sound of the Trumpet Ministries. Think about it, awesome music, powerful drama, exciting learning for the whole family and it's free!

Click here to check out the details.
Here's my email if you want to know more: greg@soundofthetrumpet.net

Those are the Breaks

2009-04-27T08:33:00.002-04:00

Let me tell you a story. As you may know I have been working as a creative consultant in marketing and design for a local business since last November. This job has been a God-send for many reasons. I have had the opportunity to forge many wonderful new relationships, work on new and challenging projects, learn a ton about marketing, and (most importantly) pay the bills. This means that, for many weeks, I didn't have to pay myself out of Sound of the Trumpet and I was able to let the account grow a bit. Then it happened. The brakes finally gave out in my truck. After countless thousands of miles on the road all over the Midwest, the old boy needed some surgery.

If you've ever had a total break job (and I mean total - shoes, pads, rotors, disks, fluid, the works) you know that they don't come cheap. That fateful morning, I dropped my friend off at the shop and waited to here the diagnosis. The phone call came later that day - it wouldn't be cheap, but it was doable. I gave the go-ahead and nearly $700.00 later I drove it home. While I was glad to have my truck back in traveling shape, I was concerned that Sound of the Trumpet would have to postpone some of its future plans due to the financial drain.

That next week I received a call to perform a wedding for a dear friend I had known for years. I also received two funeral calls that week. Normally people pay you when you do those kinds of things and it's enough to cover your gas and maybe lunch. That week was a little different. When I counted up what I had been paid for these three services, I counted $700.00. In one week, the cost of my brake job that threatened to derail my plans for ministry was washed completely by God's provision. I continually marvel and the way that He provides for the ministries to which he calls us.

Thanks to all of you who came out to the Wesleyan Church in Sidney and New Carlisle Missionary these last couple of weeks. It's always great to see you and share my stories in person. I will be playing at the Faith Missionary Church in Hamilton, Ohio on Mother's Day. I'd love to see you there.

Be God's
Greg

My Friend, My Brother

2009-04-15T23:32:00.003-04:00

Nearly fifteen years ago, I joined up with three guys from college to form a Gospel quartet. We sang together for ten years and then called it quits to pursue other ministries. Out of that group I gained quite a bit of life experience, a veritable cornucopia of sound system parts, and a few decent songs that I still play in concert. The greatest thing that I gained from that group, though, was some truly dear friends. One of those friends (who also is a contributor to this blog) is Mike Massie.

Mike and I are very different people and, early on, our families were fairly sure those differences were going to get one of us killed. We fought over nearly everything, but, over time, we learned that those differences could be complimentary. It seemed that we would accomplish far more for the kingdom if we worked together. A decade and a half later, Mike and I are still teaming up to bring people closer to God. We've chosen to combine our talents in a two-man drama ministry. We sing, we act, we tell stories.

Tonight I had the privilege of watching some of Mike's work. You see, he teaches English at Fairfield High School and he also directs in the theater department. His production of Beauty and the Beast opens this weekend and I wholeheartedly recommend that you see it. His attention to detail and boundless creativity make this show a truly enjoyable experience for all ages. I am continually impressed with the ways in which he uses his God-given abilties for the betterment of others and this is no exception.

As we look back on times in our lives, it is easy to second guess decisions we've made in light of what we know now. I used to do that a lot. Now I just try to accept my journey for what it has been and be thankful for the blessings along the way. One of these amazing blessings has and will always be my friend, my brother.

Be God's
Greg

Kevin, the Angel

2009-04-08T21:25:00.000-04:00

The night was uncomfortably warm and no air moved in the city that night. As I drove home to my apartment on north 20th street, Rich Mullins sang to me about the color green. The AC was on the fritz so I rolled down the window and the familiar smell of stale beer greeted me. It was the aftershave of downtown Milwaukee and I had grown used to it by now. I lived on the third floor of a old brick building. It wasn't much to look at, but it has a garage underneath where I could park my car and feel somewhat safe. I saw him standing near the driveway and, as I pulled up to enter the code for the garage door, he approached the car.

He was a young man, maybe 18 years old. He had a bird's nest of hair on his head and his clothes bore the fatigue of a couple days wear. "Excuse me, Sir," he said, "Are you a Christian?" I had lived long enough in the city to have endured my share of questions from strangers, but this was the first time anyone had asked me this. "Yes, I am," I said, "Why do you ask?" "I saw the cross hanging from your rear view mirror as you pulled up." I had completely forgotten about that little item (insert irony here). As he came closer to the care, the ambiant light from the garage revealed to me that he had been crying. These weren't fake tears either, this guy has been through something real and had paid dearly for the experience. "Are you OK?" I asked. "No, not really," he answered. "Hold on a minute," I said. I parked my car safely in the garage and came back outside. He was still standing right where I had left him.

We began to talk and in the next moments he revealed to me that several members of his family had been killed in an automobile accident. He had come to Milwaukee to go to school, but he needed to return to his home in Chicago. I kept expecting him to ask me for money like all the other hard-luck strangers I had met, but he didn't. After some time of sitting on the front steps of my building engrossed in conversation, I asked him if I could help him get home. He said that he would greatly appreciate any assistance. At that, I invited him to walk the five blocks to the nearest money machine. On the way I asked if he knew who Jesus was and he shared with me that his grandmother had taken him to church as a boy. As we walked I shared my testimony with him and he graciously listened to my story.

When we arrived at the bank I entered the secure booth that housed the ATM and took out $15.00. He had told me that all he needed was $11.35 to have enough for bus fare to Chicago. I gave him the money I had withdrawn so that he would have some for food as well. It was at this point that he shook my hand and hugged me. From the way he smelled, I could tell that he hadn't bathed in days, but somehow I knew that his embrace was genuine. I told him, "Goodbye," and turned to make sure I had closed the door to the bank booth. Not five seconds later I turned to where he had been standing, fully expecting to see him walking away, and he was gone. I immediately ran several yards in every direction. I checked in every store and restaurant, but he was nowhere to be found.

Scripture says that we are to show God's love to everyone, because we never know when we may be entertaining angels in disguise. I will always believe in my heart that Kevin was an angel. And I learned that night that I need to be available for God to use me at any point in time to show his love to this tired, hungry, smelly world. Let me encourage you to always be ready to share his love as well. You'll be glad you did.

Be God's
Greg

What happened to big spender stories?

2009-04-07T13:30:00.000-04:00

Many of you are wondering what happened to the stories. Well, here it is. Last year I made a living touring and ministering. I put out a new CD and played over 30 concerts. Life was cruising along and then the economy tanked. When that happened, bookings dried up almost immediately and we nearly lost everything. God provided some work just before Thanksgiving when I was contracted as a graphic designer in the marketing department of a local retirement community and I am still currently working there.

While this job has been, and continues to be, a blessing to our family financially, I have struggled to find time to write and post my stories. For a long time I just felt like a big failure while I fell more and more behind with regard to my ministry. However, I have regrouped and, with the help of some close friends and a little retooling of the site, I have risen to write again.

This is how bss will work from here on out. I will be posting on this blog along with a team of other folks. We are using a this approach to keep any one of us from having to post every week. The goal is to use a sufficient number of people to keep the content fresh. You can also get in on the action by sending your stories to us. You can email them to stories@bigspenderstories.com. Your submissions will be reviewed by a team member and posted for the world to read.

Please pray for us as we continue this ministry. I still believe with all my heart that when the people of God tell the stories of God the world will turn to God. Also please pray that bookings come in. As of now, they are still extremely scarce as you can see by the schedule on the website. The economy has many churches running behind budget with their members out of work. We are currently exploring new ideas for how to play out and you'll be the first to know what we come up with.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support.

Be God's
Greg