Tulsa Workshop Thoughts

Just got in not long ago from the first day of the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop. Hmm, where shall I start.

Well first of all we awoke to a white Tulsa, Oklahoma. IT SNOWED!! IT'S SPRING!! Anyway it was really cool to see that at the end of March. Besides, I even got to throw a few snowballs. That is the second time I have seen it snow and neither time was I at home in West Point. Oh well, I'm used to that anyway.

I got to hear Rubel Shelly, Wade Hodges, Jeff Walling and Chuck Buer (not sure if I spelled that right). All were really good, as was expected, but the highlight for me was the evening service when Jeff Walling and Chuck Buer spoke as a team. it was really cool, especially since Chuck is a preacher in the Christian Church at Christ's Church for the Valley in California. This year the the workshop leaders decided to open up to the Christian church to build a bridge that was broken about 100 years ago when the Christian Church and the Churches of Christ split. Unity is the theme for this year and the fact that many Churches of Christ are opening up to the other brothers and sisters in their communities that don't have the name "Church of Christ" over their heads. It's a really cool thing and a really huge step for the Church of Christ to overcome the past and the reputation that that past has given us. Praise God for Unity.

Tomorrow night is also a special night as Max Lucado, probably the most well known Christian writer today, and Bob Russell, the senior minister at the Southeast Christian Church (25,000+ members strong) will speak together at 7pm. An overflow crowd is expected, and I mean an OVERFLOW CROWD. That place will be packed and with the Zoe Group leading worship the place should be rockin'. I cannot wait.

This trip is a much needed one for me as I try to get some spiritual renewal and take it back home with me. These things are great for us to get a shot in the arm. So often we need, yet we don't do the things we need to do to get it. Sometimes we just gotta step back and get the spiritual nourishment that we need so that we can jump back into the fire and get back to work spiritually healthy.

Have a great Friday, Everyone. Peace OOOOOOOOOOOOOUT!