No Perfect People Allowed

My Daughter Has A New Last Name...

This past Saturday, my daughter took on a new last name.  And the event surrounding the love birthed in her heart from our awesome God for her new husband was truly celebrated beyond imagination!

The incredibly romantic backdrop of the James Lanier Mansion dissipated the 49degree weather, along with the sunshine dancing off the exploding fall colors majestically displayed on the dancing leaves. With the sounds of Frank Sinatra and sultry singers during that era, guests arrived in their warm coats to sit in white chairs carefully designed on a freshly manicured lawn facing the front entrance to this grand home built in 1844.

While the bridal party walked along the carefully laid brick path arm and arm, they created the atmosphere that the bride was about to arrive.

And with a song especially written for Sara by one of her good friends, we stepped from the car and around the sidewalk as if we had just stepped out of the massive front doors. 

My thoughts ran 1,000 MPH as we made our way toward the front.  My breath was actually taken away when I saw the beautiful woman that my daughter had turned into.  She reminded me so much of her mother, my incredible wife of 26 years.

When it came time for me to speak the words, "Her mother and I", I spoke them with assurance and pride as Kim and I were giving our daughter with our 100% blessing to this dashing young man standing next to me.

I reached to hug her... and I've heard of "flashbacks" but had never experienced one until that moment.  All of a sudden, Sara was 6, then 10, then 16, then 18 and then that day... People told me afterward that they thought that I would never let her go... And I was holding on as the flashback ended with that moment.  I released my hug to which Sara hugged me again as if to say, "I love you dad, it's okay." 

I turned and gave James a huge "Welcome to the family" hug.  It was another "Freeze Frame" moment.  I grabbed their hands and placed them together and sat down next to my wife.  It was a moment that you hear about from others, but you can't really explain it until you experience it.

I'll end here for there's so much more to say... but my daughter's new last name is Ramos!  And Kim and I couldn't be any more happier and blessed that it is!

Congratulations Sara and James!  And of course... pictures will follow! 

ineed2change

  Started off this series yesterday with a "moon-walk."  Okay.... not really, but I tried.  Nothing like trying to sing "Man in the Mirror" MJ style when you can't sing...

But this series is powerful!  There is no doubt that God created us for so much more than what we are experiencing now.  He loves us just the way we are... but He desires for us to transform into the likeness of His Son.  There are some changes that need to be made.

I challenged the NMCCers to answer the question, "If there is 1 thing that you'd like to change about yourself, what would it be?"  But here's an ever deeper question:  "Would God answer the same change for you?"  I think we would focus more on the physical, where God would go much deeper. 

So... what would you change?  Key truth:  I cannot change myself... but God can!

Romans 12:2

More to come this Sunday!

Meeting Needs & Loving On People

As I speak there are over 40 volunteers loving on the people in our community... and participating in the food-give-a-way.  It brings tears to my eyes as I see young and old alike... walking shoulder to shoulder, stopping to pray, filling food boxes, getting people connected to Jesus, sharing gently used coats and clothes... and in a sense, being Jesus!

• High school students left their classrooms.
• College students left their classes.
• Adults took off work...
• Retires didn't go to McDonalds today...

All because... there is a need! Thanks NMCC... your Jesus is being shown!

Ready For The Weekend...

I am pumped about this Sunday!  We are right in the middle of the series "Doors" and this Sunday we crack open Luke 11 where Jesus talks about asking, seeking, and knocking!  It's amazing how these challenging actions by Jesus have been taken out of context... re-worked... and re-applied to our prayer lives.

NMCCers: Read it and get ready for some interesting comments about this door that we cannot ignore!

Wow! Has It Really Been That Long?

Got an email from a friend who asked if I had left the blogging world... And in reality... didn't realize it has been over 2 months since I've blogged.  Wow!  (To my facebook friends who read this as "Notes"... you might be wondering... "Did Bob blog?")

I thought that I'd take a break just to enjoy the summer and... all of a sudden... we are in the middle of September... wow!  My last post.. July 9th! 

In a nutshell...

• We moved to a new house.  Crazy story... filled with God-gifted miracles!

• Moved my daughter to Knoxville, TN (she's teaching kindergarten there...)

• Helped her set up her classroom... so much fun!

• Moved my son back to Indy... (he's in his 2nd year at IUPUI)

• Got into the deep details of planning Sara's wedding... only 4 weeks away!

• Started a new Worship Experience on Sundays at 4:30... It's just awesome!

• Really getting into the book of Romans... my summer reading.

• Had a blast watching my son, Jacob play soccer... simply amazing goalie.  The Cubs are still playing and doing great! (Pictures will follow...ha)

• Falling deeper in love with my wife... (Promise... no pictures..)

• The NMCC staff is on fire for 2010... working with them is a blast!

Each of those could easily take a week to explain or more... but I'll save you the details! Ha. 

Needless to say... God has really blessed the Hicks' this summer!  It's been great and I know the best is yet to come!  Hopefully I'll be able to sit down long enough to share some thoughts, encouraging words and points to ponder, along the way.

Okay... Is The Bridge Closing?

Those of you who live in Madison, IN or across the river in Milton, KY have heard that they are closing the bridge (the next closest one is 25 miles upstream and then 25 miles back) for repairs on 3 weekends.  We were told that it would begin this weekend.  Now, we've been updated that it won't close until the last weekend in July and into August. 

Some would think that this is a huge obstacle for our church since we have over 30 families who use that bridge every Sunday to worship with us.  But we're looking at it as another opportunity to do something different.

Our leaders have been praying about launching a satellite church in KY.  Could this be a surprise opportunity to test the "waters" so to speak?  Hmmmm....

What An Amazing Attitude...

I am reading through Paul's prison letters and something hit me today... In all his words, Paul never seeks sympathy from his readers.  He never wrote, "Woe is me... I can't believe God is allowing this to happen to me."  Read those letters.  He never did.  I can't find it. And if anyone had the opportunity to complain, blame God, get bitter... Paul did.  Chained to a guard, shipped wrecked on the journey to Rome, misunderstood, travel plans and missionary journeys taken away... yet, he wrote,

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ."  Ephesians 1:3

"I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God's ambassador."  Ephesians 6:20

"Always be full of joy in the Lord; I say it again, Rejoice!"  Philippians 4:4

No matter what happens, good, bad, indifferent... God loves me.  I don't want to have a "woe-is-me" attitude.  Jesus didn't die on the cross for our sympathy.  He died on the cross to save me from my sin and to bring glory to God. 

So as hard as life can be at times... God has my back.  He's got a plan and in that plan is His love for me!  I may not fully understand it... but He does!  Paul may have not fully understood God's plan for him to be in prison... but he knew God's love was wrapped all around him!  What an amazing attitude!

The Upside Down Way Of Jesus...

You can't get too far into the New Testament without realizing that the life and teachings of Jesus were not status quo.  Everything about His life seemed "Upside Down."  From His birth to His death and resurrection... everything seemed to turn the world's ideas, philosophies, and structure upside down!

And His teachings... if followed the way Jesus taught them to be followed would not only change culture, it would create a new culture.  His apostles proved that.  In the book of Acts, which is the history of the early church, Paul and Silas, 2 of Jesus' "Upside Down" followers came into the city of Thessalonica.  For 3 weeks Paul spoke about Jesus' suffering and resurrection.  He and Silas lived among the people sharing their "Upside Down" lifestyle.

Some of the citizens were really upset about this... so upset that they mobbed the house that Paul and Silas were staying at.  (I'm not making this up... it's in Acts 17)  They didn't find Paul or Silas so they literally dragged Jason (the owner of the house) and others before their city council.  (wonder if this has ever happened in Madison?)  Here's what they said...

"Paul and Silas have turned the rest of the world upside down, and now they are here disturbing our city..."  Acts 17:6

That makes me wonder... have we tried to "right-side up" the "upside down" way of Jesus so we won't be disturbing? Mmmmm...

By the way... for the next 2 weeks, NMCC is going to be looking at this closer...

God Is Able...

It is amazing what Paul wrote while in prison!  I'm not sure if Paul realized it or not while he was writing these letters what an impact they would make on the world for generations... but the inspiration of God is so evident in his writings.

Ephesians 3 to me could be summarized as "My God Is Able!"  You might ask, "Able to do what?"  Check it out...  My God is able...

• to draw everyone together... equally!  No favorites...
• to give us the privilege of serving Him... even when we don't deserve it.
• to use His church to display His wisdom in its rich varieties to the unseen elements of our world...
• to grant us access to His throne... into His very presence.. (He did this through Jesus)
• to give us unlimited resources to live while on earth... (like His awesome power!)
• to give Jesus a place to call home... in our hearts!
• to help me grow up and to grow deep... to withstand the "blows" of life...
• to help me experience His unbelievable and incredible love that He has for me...
• to fully complete me to be who I was created to be...

And if those were not enough... and if that doesn't bring me to my knees in worship and praise to bring Him glory...

My God is able to do infinitely more than I could ever imagine, dream, ask, or even think about asking!  That is just so awesome to me!  And that's how much God is able to accomplish in my life.  Wow!  My only question to myself is... "Why don't I let Him?"  God is so much more able to do so much more in my life if I'd just let Him!

Amazed At The Goodness Of God...

We just finished an incredible month with the "One Prayer" series looking at the attributes of God.  It was an awesome 4 weeks.  Through Louie Giglio we learned and were reminded about the greatness of God.  Through Francis Chanwe learned and were reminded about the strength of God.  I was privileged to share about the "Always" of God.  And Sunday we wrapped up the series by hearing from Craig Groeschel about the love of God.  Key phrases for me...

• If earth were the shape of a golf ball...
• This is God's universe.  He does things His way.  You may have a better way; but you don't have a universe...
• God is always... the beginning and the end always giving to and loving us...
• Love is not just what God does... it's what He is...

Coming off this month's series I've been reading the letters of Paul that he wrote while in prison and in Ephesians 2... just look at what this great, strong, always, full of love God has done...

• He raised me from the dead...
• He seated me with His Son Jesus...
• He united me with His Son Jesus...
• He made me a citizen... I'm not a stranger;
• He made me a member... I'm not a guest;
• He joined me with other believers... I'm not an outsider;
• He saved me... not to reward me for my deeds (couldn't measure up to that one) but to remind me that I am His masterpiece; and to reinforce the reason that He created me.

He did all of this because of love!  And now... I can be an example of His rich mercy toward others.  I love that.  Thank You God!  You are sooo good to me and I'm sorry that many days... I don't stop to realize just how good You are to me.