Living with a Servant's Heart in Phoenix, Arizona!

This has been a truly awesome week!  I have spent this week in hot Phoenix, AZ working at the Southern Baptist Convention as a page.  Being a page means you are responsible for having people fill out papers with their motions/amendments/points of order/etc. and delivering that motion/amendment/etc. to the platform.  The platform page is then responsible for delivering the motion/amendment/etc. to the page coordinator for editing and then to the Recording Secretary of the Convention for permanent record in the Convention books.  The platform page then makes copies of all the motions/amendments/etc. for delivery to The Committee on Order of Business, the press room, the Recording Secretary's office, and various other members of the platform.  I am the platform page and have been for the past 3 years.


I must confess, I love my job as a page.  It is so exciting as I get to experience everything from a birds-eye view.  Many of the other pages man microphones and thus only get to see what goes on at their particular microphone. Their job is not easy by any means!  Sometimes they have some pretty contentious people to deal with!  From where I stand on stage, I am able to see the entire convention floor and whether or not stations are covered, help is needed, or if meeting the page half-way might be better than having them walk the whole way.


According to the Recording Secretary, this year's convention has been historic:
1) It was the smallest convention since WW2
2) It was the first time a resolution was made and passed overwhelmingly (chosen resolutions are normally pre-determined and are not allowed to be discussed); however, the SBC body voted to vote this one through
3) It was the first time a person got up & nominated himself for president of the SBC (he didn't win)


I must admit, for a small convention, I thought it was quite busy.  There was a lot of back & forth among amendments and many questions for many of the convention entities.  But...I wouldn't trade that for the world...it kept me busy & completely engaged.  


All of this is to say...I love the Southern Baptist Convention...I love being a Southern Baptist, I love what the SBC stands for, & I love being able to work for the people who are the face of Southern Baptists.  If I could be a life-long page or a life-long convention worker, I would do it in a heart-beat.  Who knows, maybe I can?!?  


You see, I have dreamed of being able to work for the SBC or one of its entities.  I knew this time around, I had to network & market myself.  I was able to make some contacts and they gave me some great advice & encouragement.  They also said they would keep their ears & eyes open.  Some even offered to be references for me!  That's so affirming & I am so thankful!


Being a page helps me fulfill my life goal of being a servant for Christ & live with a servant's heart.  This week I have adhered to Colossians 3:23: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. God is the ultimate One that I want to please.  He is the source of my strength & the One I should praise, honor, magnify, & glorify with my life, actions, & service.


I thank you Lord for the gifts you have afforded to me and that you have allowed me to use them to follow you!  You have blessed me immensely this week by providing for me, allowing me to make key contacts, and by reaffirming the call you've placed in my life to serve you.  I desire nothing more than to live my life wholly and fully for you.  You are the One that I praise.  You are the One I adore.  I love you Lord.


A sidenote: for the record, it has been quite hot here in Phoenix!  Today's high was 107.  Arizona heat is dry, however, & so your hair doesn't do wacky things and it doesn't make you (or I guess me) sweat that much.  Phoenix is a very beautiful, clean city & I would love to return to sight-see someday.

Start Spreading the News...I'm Leaving for NYC (at First Baptist Church that is...)

So VBS (Vacation Bible School) starts this coming week.  Yay!  Boys and girls coming together to learn about, sing about, create things about, and run around for JESUS!  I L-U-V it!

VBS growing up for me was so much fun and I looked forward to it every year.  My earliest memories are of attending multiple VBS' at multiple churches each summer.  It was fun to do different themes throughout the summer.  My most favorite VBS' are the ones that I attended in Hong Kong and then the ones I taught in Hong Kong.  They are my favorite because they were the most unconventional.  Hearing the VBS message preached in English & translated in Chinese is definitely not something you'd hear in a normal church in America!

I really like the theme this year - Big Apple Adventure.  I think its one of the first VBS themes that meets kids where they are in life.  I know some probably have a negative look at it because of the negative NY connotations, but the music/atmosphere/look/media is so much more 2011-kid-friendly.  I am praying for this VBS that it will touch many lives.

I am missions director this year.  The missions theme is very local this year which is good.  I am looking forward to highlighting local missions and making the kids aware of what goes on as far as missions goes around my area.  One day we are learning about the ZOE Church in Brazil.  I am excited because I have a friend who is a missionary with the ZOE Church in Brazil; he has agreed to talk with the kids via Skype from Brazil.  I know they will think that is so cool.  Our mission project highlights that "We CAN help the homeless."  Any idea what kids will be bringing in?  Yup...cans...canned foods for our church food pantry & our local food kitchen - The Daily Bread.  It's a missions competition against the boys & girls again so I know it'll be OUT OF CONTROL...which is a tremendously awesome thing!

Later this month, I will be leading music for a Backyard Bible Club VBS...so this won't be the end of my Big Apple Adventure!  Sadly, I will not be going to Hong Kong this year to do VBS, but will be praying for the team that does go as they have a Big "Chinese" Apple Adventure.. :)

I'm sure that if Jesus were on the earth today, he would most definitely promote VBS.  In Matthew 19:14 he said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Lord Jesus, prepare the hearts of those children that come into your Father's house this coming week.  Help them be receptive to your word, seek to find answers to their questions, and find the love that only you can give.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen.