my dreams
bleed
menstruation
no period
no period of time
space defeat
conjecture
could detour
me stop me
i believe
in these things
that seem
un
unbelievable
unrealistic
unimaginable
un me
undo the curse

i can hear
mayas caged
birds
can see
langstons
dream no longer
deferred
and can
hear robisons
voice
echoing in
my heart

transform
the song
in my head
optimist
im prime to
take over
a make over
you have
not won
only pushed
me off the
ledge the edge
the bridge
named fear
bleak it stood
weak i lay
at its mercy
rehearsing
excuses
perpetrating
abusive
religious
shadows
stood over me
freedom rang
freedom rang

i can hear
mayas caged
birds
can see
langstons
dream no longer
deferred
and can
hear robisons
voice
echoing in
my heart

i know its
time
its love
its time
to leave
to part
to give the
world my gift
to sing
to dream
to speak
to loose
the venom
this decision
unshakable
rhythm
insatiable
my giving
thank you
for leaving
for now
now
this time
i am living…

i can hear
mayas caged
birds
can see
langstons
dream no longer
deferred
and can
hear robisons
voice
echoing in
my heart

I’m so much
Larger than this
XXXXXX
XXXXXL
Exhale
Driven a
Hundred miles
Past hungry
I’m swollen
Bitter
Bowlin over
Any naysayer
Dream slayer
Including
Inner me
My worst
Enemy
I’m alive again…

i can hear
mayas caged
birds
can see
langstons
dream no longer
deferred
and can
hear robisons
voice
echoing in
my heart
*singing*
(i can see clearly now the pain is gone…)

im so glad that i know you understand
i done everything i know how to do
and as usual i end up crying out to you
i tried so hard to do my best
but i dont feel like i’ll make it through this test
i cant remember feeling so much pain
and my tears keep falling like the pouring rain
i try to force myself to wear a smile but its just not there
this pain im feeling deep inside my heart seems so unfair
it really feels like i wont make it through another day
so i stand before you with a broken heart and all i can say is
precious Lord please
take my hand
(do you know what im talking about out there)
(please Lord)
help me stand (help me to stand,please help me now)

see i cant front Lord standing here today

cause i stumbled here there along the way

im praying even as i sing this song Lord
for my breakthrough i hope it wont be to long
i try to force myself to wear a smile but its just not there
this pain im feeling deep down inside my heart seem so unfair
this time i feel like i wont make it through another day
so i come before you with a broken heart and all i can say is
precious Lord ehhh….
take my hand
(would you do that,would you please do that for me)
(lead me on,lead me on
help me stand (help me to stand,help me to stand)
deep down i know you will come through
thats why im reaching,reaching out to you

cause i need to feel your loving arms again

and when i feel your loving touch thats when
i’ll be ok,i will be ok i will make it it you take my hand
take my hand (repeat 3x’s)

Lead:
lead me on lead me on Lord
i wont make it without you Jesus
i wont make it without you

Choir:
hold me (repeat 2x’s)

Lead:
hold me (please hold me)
cause im standing here and i need your touch

Choir:
take my hand (repeat 3x’s)

Lead:
i wont make it another day
cause i tried it my way
but these tears keep falling
and this pain keeps growing
hold me

Choir:
hold me (repeat)

Lead:
and if i know your holding me then i can count on this
i know my breakthrough is on the way

Choir:
breakthrough

Lead:
i can rest assure
with tears in my eyes
i can stand my ground
and i can say hold me Jesus
help me Jesus
hear it is
say it like you mean it yeah like you mean it
my situation might still be the same
but im counting on you
i know you’ll come through i know you will
gotta say yes

Choir:
yes (repeat till end)

Lead:
my flesh will say yes
my tears will say yes
my heart will say yes
my change is on the way
and your change is on the way
breakthrough,breakthrough

Fred Hammond- “Take My Hand”, *emphasis mine

Seems like I’ve spent this whole life of mine
Searching and searching trying to find
A life filled with love that You already gave
Because of the searching, it pulled me away

I Found all the heartache, I found all the pain
I Found all the drama, I found all the shame

But my search will not end, no my search will not end
Till I find myself

Lost in You again, lost in You again
My search will not end, till I find myself

You said seek and I’ll find, ask and I’ll find, knock and the door will be open Lord

Lost in You again, lost in You again
My search will not end, till I find myself

Lost in You
Lost in You
Lost in You
Lost in You

The “plan” for us to make peculiarplace church a reality & more importantly the church that God is building to come along side & partner with the communities of Old Fourth Ward & Inman Park for transformation like never before!!

What we need from you, yes you: pray, review, see what, if any, role you can play, pray, spread the word, GIVE, volunteer, help us brainstorm & stay true to the vision of “making Jesus famous through the way we LIVE, LOVE, & GIVE, then PRAY that God’s perfect Will will be done in these two communities through His church!

LET’S GO!!

March-April
Enlist 9 additional core team members (25 Total)
• Possible core team friends
• Spending more time in neighborhood gathering places
• Initiating intentional conversations with neighbors
• Continue to meet on Sunday evenings
• Launch 20forone.com as a portal for people to partner w ppc in prayer & finances.
• Open ppc bank account

May
Prepare for summer activities
• Community leader development
• Promotion of events
• Finalize event venues
• Secure event material and equipment

June-July
Enlist 25 additional core team members (50 Total)
• Intentionally converse with summer event participants
• Redesign and redefine communication portals
• Introduce ministry and communication portals to participants
• Request feedback from participants
• Follow up on feedback
Facilitate Summer Events
• Manage and strategically use power plant and splash teams
• Lead teams to conduct surveys
• Lead teams to prayer walk
• Lead teams to perform clean-ups
• Lead teams to minister to nursing home residents
• Lead splash team to create a dog celebration
• Offer summer movies for community

June-August
Prepare for launch service
• Finalize use of facility for church services
• Secure all decorations for nursery
• Purchase tunnel prop for children service
• Construct a divider for the children area
• Request 75 chairs from churches
• Enlist musicians
• Secure $1000 for first month’s rent and launch service expenses
• Design materials for launch service
• Advertize launch service
• Worship rehearsals
• Conduct a preview service on August 29th

LAUNCH SUNDAY: SEPTEMBER 12

Personal Goals
• Locate less expensive place to live
• Complete assessment
• Complete basic training
• Prepare to preach weekly
• Meet financial commitments
• Stop worrying and don’t give into fear

Possibly because it is often a one way street. Right? When someone needs something from you, no matter how NOBLE the cause, you just want them to STOP, DROP & ROLL AWAY before they ever even think about asking you.

The economy being as UGLY as it is doesn’t help, but that is often an excuse or better translated as I don’t WANT to give to your cause. I say that because Walmart is still packed, sporting events and concerts are still sold out, and well BIG LCD TVs are still being sold everywhere.

But seriously, this is not about spending habits or priorities, this is simply about me needing you and you, whether you know it or not, needing me. This is about your prayer time, you pleas before God, your effectual fervent praying that bring forth much fruit! This is about you praying for me, my family and peculiarplace church.

I have created a new page on my blog specifically for you. A page outlining our desire for YOU to partner with us & be a part of our prayer team.

THIS IS SERIOUS!! I CANNOT STRESS HOW SERIOUS THIS IS!

the spiritual warfare that we, and anyone seeking to take territory BACK for the Kingdom, face is REAL. And simply put, we cannot remain a Christ like family, plant this church, offer the gospel to all for the transformation of the kingdom without YOUR prayers.

Go here NOW and sign up. I’m pleading with you, if you fit the criteria, then sign up. There is nothing to think about, pray about or talk about. Just do it!

We made some incredible new friendships that i pray last a lifetime. Our host family, The Collins, were the most gracious host. We laughed, we ate, we cried, we shared, we received and we gave. They have two teenage boys, David and Kevin who are on FIRE for God. Two dogs who had me wrapped around their paws. They have set the bar really high for us the next time we have to serve or have anyone spending any time with us.

We also had the priviledge of sharing lunch with a pastor and soul-winner whose ministry and church is single handedly responsible for transforming Downtown, inner city-the hood, Memphis, Tenn. Over the last 23+ years they have seen over 45,000 people accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. He, Pastor Ronnie, is responsible for several Gangsta Disciple leaders giving their life to Christ. We sat at the dining table of the Collins family as he shared his heart, passion and wisdom about inner city ministry and how it is our responsibility to share Christ with those who are far from God.I am truly greatful for his desire to spend time with us, and to want to impart and share with us. For that I am truly greatful!

Again, i am still unpacking all that I got from this trip. I am seeking God for direction and for our next step. But what I know and don’t have to pray about is that the Gospel transforms lives, communities and cities if shared properly!!!

The family at FBCFM were the MOST gracious and loving people we may have ever spent time with. From the moment we arrived we were welcomed with open arms. We were loved on and made to feel loved all weekend.

We were one of two church planter families there. There were also missionaries there from Brazil, Nicaragua, Africa, Asia, Indonesia and so many other places.

We made some new friends, which we pray become partners!

I just want to thank everyone involved in getting us involved in this adventure, and our new friends and family at FBCFM!! We look forward to big things in the very near future!!!

Seriously, what are you waiting for? How many signs, how much “confirmation” do you need, how will you prove Him & His Word if you never ever get in the boat.

A carpenter tells a professional fishermen how, when & where to fish. The professional has just come from the lake & caught NOTHING! I mean he could catch a cold in the waters that this “carpenter” tell him to go back into & “cast His net”! The PRO, decides to listen, he is OBEDIENT, he DOES & GOES just where he is told to go.
And low and behold his nets cannot handle the weight of the “catch”!!! He is overwhelmed with the ABUNDANCE of his “catch”….

Great story right!

Now take a moment & think about “where” this same Carpenter, Jesus, has told you to cast your net. Did you? Or did you say that it’s too hard? I don’t have the right equipment, I’m not ready, I’m a PROFESSIONAL & there are NO “fish” in that lake. I’ve fished here a thousand times & have not even gotten a nibble! This lake(city) is not like the lake(suburbs) you fish in, your bait won’t work here.

Whether the Carpenter has commanded you to “fish” at your job, on your block, at your church or to start a new church get in the freakin boat and fish!!!!

He said I WILL MAKE YOU fishers of MEN! PERIOD! It’s His responsibility to MAKE you & I fishers, but it’s OUR responsibility to OBEY! No excuse is worthy of even being breathed in the context of HIS COMMAND!

So, now what are you waiting for? Oh wait let me guess, you don’t have a boat? Right! If that EXCUSE works for you, then cool. But for me & my house… We will obey!!!

For me, well it means that if it were not for an encounter with Christ I would STILL be lost, STILL on my way to plundering my future, STILL stuck in sin, STILL living for me & not Him & STILL alone.

“I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken..”, writes King David. Jesus prayed that you & I would be one with Him as He was one with THE Father. How much more could we ask for. What else should we pray for. Will you allow THIS prayer to go unanswered? We do everyday, that we do not sit, listen & bask in His presence!

Apart from God, I am NOTHING! No, not just lip service, not just guilt speaking through the lens of redemption, but I am NOTHING without Him! In other words, I encourage YOU to spend quality time IN HIS PRESENCE!!

We are still in need of your prayers. Yesterday we found out that my wife’s grandfather passed in Haiti. We are praying for her & her families peace & comfort.

We are still praying that a possible location for our launch in Sept will be made available to us.

We are still praying for Esther to get a great job & for me to find a better job so that Esther & I are able to be both sustainable & be the givers to the Kingdom business that God has called us to!

Love you!

The reality is that I have fallen & am fortunate to say that I was able to get up.

I fell victim to not trusting God, I fell victim to the idea that my dreams & vision was contingent on “where” I was planting His church, I allowed the fear & excuses of others to become my own & lastly I believed that “the city” was larger than my God.

Today is a new day! I have decided that God can… It’s as simple as that & God will!! As large as my faith, He will deliver, as much trust as I put in Him He will provide!

Peculiarplace church WILL NOT be bound by the perceptions, fear or history of church planting in “the city”, nor will I make another excuse for me not trusting Him to be bigger than any city, community, any circumstance, situation or problem!

God IS! He is alive and well! He is the king of kings & the lord of lords! Period!!!

He called us to be fishers of men, not make excuses about why men weren’t accepting of the bait or why the lake was not producing a “catch”. We cannot drop our nets if we won’t even get in the boat!!!!!

September 12th of 2010 is the date set aside & asigned to the launch of peculiarplace church!! PERIOD!!

Love ya!!