I know of a few who follow my blog and I appreciate your support. I just wanted to say thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family! I hope you are a great Christmas and a better New Year.
We are traveling to visit family. My parents live in Windsor, ON then we are going to see Tracey's side of the family in Cleavland, OH. Part of the reason we are traveling is because my brother is moving to FL and we wanted to see him and his family before they move. We will have a busy summer and will be unable to visit this year after they are settled.
See you all in the New Year and keep us in your prayers. We are only 6 months away from the big move to The Big TO!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
A Christmas Thought...
I wish I could pride myself as a deep thinker but most people who know me, know that I am not consistent. I will have deep thoughts from time to time then move along to the task at hand and the many opportunities I take in being a wise guy.
This weekend I had a deep thought! (Audience breaks into applause) Our pastor, David R. Stokes, www.davidrstokes.com, is speaking through a series entitled "Joe to the World." It is a 3 part series on the life of Joseph. This past Sunday was a great message and he pointed out the fact that Joesph did what God had asked him to do regardless of human reason and emotion. My deep thought was that he could have missed being a part of the entire plan. As pointed out in the message, he had to work through his human experience and emotions that could have crippled him. However, he followed through and was a part of the plan. The interesting thing is that God's plan would have continued regardless of Joseph's actions. Joseph could have missed it if he did the "human thing." It reminded me that God has plans and I need to jump on board.
It is interesting to think that Joseph followed God's plan in all of this but was not a witness of Jesus' earthly ministry. He did not have the satisfaction of seeing Jesus perform miracles or preach to thousands. It is believed that Joseph died sometime between Jesus' visit to the Temple at the age of 12 and the beginning of His earthly ministry around the age of 30. He continued to follow the Lord in commitment and obedience probably hoping, like many of his time, that the Messiah would be revealed...and it was his SON! He probably spent a lot of time thinking about when this would happen and how happy he would be to have his obedience satisfied in a great triumphant moment that he never would experience. (He would not experience it in his lifetime I should say because Joseph has been in heaven for years now...) It made me ask myself if I have that kind commitment in obedience? Will I be obedient even if I do not see "satisfaction" for in it? I hope I can be that guy.
Let me tie my thoughts about obedience to our plans in Toronto. I would love nothing more than to see a great church built in Toronto with many coming to Christ. My hope rests in that and I am following by faith. As a matter of fact, I heard another interesting statistic about Canadian churches. There are only 20 churches in all of Canada that have 2,500 members or more. Why? They are "the neighbor to the north" of the USA that have many churches 4 to 10 times more in membership and attendance. I shared this with a couple who is coming to help us get started. I said there is no mega church in Canada. Their reply was, "There is no mega church yet!" Man that made me laugh and made me think, "I am bringing a load of crazies with me to Canada if they think I am a mega church pastor!" BUT, maybe we are the catapult of that mega church. What if obedience is "satisfied" one day after I am off the scene and God takes Burlington Community Church to heights Canada has not yet experienced. All I can say is, cool! Use me Lord.
This weekend I had a deep thought! (Audience breaks into applause) Our pastor, David R. Stokes, www.davidrstokes.com, is speaking through a series entitled "Joe to the World." It is a 3 part series on the life of Joseph. This past Sunday was a great message and he pointed out the fact that Joesph did what God had asked him to do regardless of human reason and emotion. My deep thought was that he could have missed being a part of the entire plan. As pointed out in the message, he had to work through his human experience and emotions that could have crippled him. However, he followed through and was a part of the plan. The interesting thing is that God's plan would have continued regardless of Joseph's actions. Joseph could have missed it if he did the "human thing." It reminded me that God has plans and I need to jump on board.
It is interesting to think that Joseph followed God's plan in all of this but was not a witness of Jesus' earthly ministry. He did not have the satisfaction of seeing Jesus perform miracles or preach to thousands. It is believed that Joseph died sometime between Jesus' visit to the Temple at the age of 12 and the beginning of His earthly ministry around the age of 30. He continued to follow the Lord in commitment and obedience probably hoping, like many of his time, that the Messiah would be revealed...and it was his SON! He probably spent a lot of time thinking about when this would happen and how happy he would be to have his obedience satisfied in a great triumphant moment that he never would experience. (He would not experience it in his lifetime I should say because Joseph has been in heaven for years now...) It made me ask myself if I have that kind commitment in obedience? Will I be obedient even if I do not see "satisfaction" for in it? I hope I can be that guy.
Let me tie my thoughts about obedience to our plans in Toronto. I would love nothing more than to see a great church built in Toronto with many coming to Christ. My hope rests in that and I am following by faith. As a matter of fact, I heard another interesting statistic about Canadian churches. There are only 20 churches in all of Canada that have 2,500 members or more. Why? They are "the neighbor to the north" of the USA that have many churches 4 to 10 times more in membership and attendance. I shared this with a couple who is coming to help us get started. I said there is no mega church in Canada. Their reply was, "There is no mega church yet!" Man that made me laugh and made me think, "I am bringing a load of crazies with me to Canada if they think I am a mega church pastor!" BUT, maybe we are the catapult of that mega church. What if obedience is "satisfied" one day after I am off the scene and God takes Burlington Community Church to heights Canada has not yet experienced. All I can say is, cool! Use me Lord.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Catching A Break
My wife and I were on our way into the office today and discussing our plans for the future in Toronto and what we needed to do this week at Fair Oaks Church. We have gone through a very busy fall and began talking about a break this Christmas. Since the end of August, I have pushed our family into a busy season. Much of it was my own design of what I felt was necessary. Because of that, I have not been myself in many ways. I am a very happy content person but I have been very busy, very tense and very frustrated at times this fall. It was getting to the point that my wife and daughters were concerned about what mood I was in or what small thing could throw me into a fit. This is not like me at all. I stretched myself to the limits and can confidently say I know I will not frustrate my family this way again.
Tracey and I got a little break this weekend. During the snow storm on Saturday, we spent most of the day in the house with no kids! We watched the snow fall, enjoyed the fireplace and even watched the movie It's A Wonderful Life together. I decided to make time for my wife and I am very glad I did. It gave us an opportunity to talk and for me to get the wake up call about the type of person I had been lately. Tracey told me that it was great to have me back. This was rough to hear but I completely understood. I kept telling myself that it was just a busy time and it will all change. Do you know what I needed to ask myself? What if it doesn't change? I am going to Toronto to start a church and that is a lot of work! I will be as busy as I am now so I need to learn to deal with it.
Has much changed? No, I am still pretty busy but I am giving my family a break so we can "serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with singing." This happens when I change who I am because I can only change me. You know what I am saying?
If you have found yourself busy and frustrated like I have been, catch a break. Decide to change the person only you can change and watch the difference it makes in your life and those around you.
Tracey and I got a little break this weekend. During the snow storm on Saturday, we spent most of the day in the house with no kids! We watched the snow fall, enjoyed the fireplace and even watched the movie It's A Wonderful Life together. I decided to make time for my wife and I am very glad I did. It gave us an opportunity to talk and for me to get the wake up call about the type of person I had been lately. Tracey told me that it was great to have me back. This was rough to hear but I completely understood. I kept telling myself that it was just a busy time and it will all change. Do you know what I needed to ask myself? What if it doesn't change? I am going to Toronto to start a church and that is a lot of work! I will be as busy as I am now so I need to learn to deal with it.
Has much changed? No, I am still pretty busy but I am giving my family a break so we can "serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with singing." This happens when I change who I am because I can only change me. You know what I am saying?
If you have found yourself busy and frustrated like I have been, catch a break. Decide to change the person only you can change and watch the difference it makes in your life and those around you.
Monday, November 30, 2009
We're Back in VA
Yes, the Dowdy's have returned from their trip to Burlington, Ontario last week and have a few answers. The interesting thing is that we have a few more questions too...funny how that works.
We did find the right neighborhood for the Dowdy family and accompanying schools. We are going to a newer community of young families and professionals in the northern area of Burlington. Many in this area travel daily into the city for work. (Sound familiar Fair Oaks Church?) This is exactly what we were looking for and there are great possibilities all around the area for a church plant.
We were hoping to get some information and paper work to file for our church name but the church planting group we are working with did not offer these items on this visit. I am not the "Maverick Type" but I am sure now that I just need to make it happen. It would be nice to have some assistance in this area and it may still come but I am not holding my breath on that. The conflict of interest is that I am all about what I can get out of them, period. So... :-)
One great discovery for our missions endeavor in August is that we found a great location for the short term missions group coming to help us get started. A sales manager from the Hilton Garden Inn in Burlington is putting together some prices and packages. The hotel is right across the street from a movie theater, restaurants and outlet shopping. It will be a great place to stay and plenty of leisure activity during the down times of the missions week, not to mention the downtown Toronto sites only 30 min. away.
Another positive adventure in Burlington was our visit to the radio station JOY in Oakville. The sales manager there is putting together a package for radio opportunities. This may be a great way to promote the Burlington Community Chruch through a program from Pastor Stokes and a connection for the future. Keep this matter in prayer. We know a church that started in Oakville with a radio support of an American pastor and the church is growing strong. It would also be great to have a on-site visit from this station on Sunday, August 22nd when we are all up there.
We also visited the Crossroads Christian Broadcasting Ministry while we were there. This is a big step for Canada because for the longest time, Christian media was not allowed. Now they have radio and television. It was neat to see how God is working in broader areas of Christianity up there.
More details of the church will unfold by January and we are happy with the progress. We look forward to training and working with anyone coming to help us plant the church. As you know, Fair Oaks Church is our home church and supporting pastor David R. Stokes. We cannot thank the Lord enough for our pastor, church and this opportunity to plant a church in the GTA.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
We did find the right neighborhood for the Dowdy family and accompanying schools. We are going to a newer community of young families and professionals in the northern area of Burlington. Many in this area travel daily into the city for work. (Sound familiar Fair Oaks Church?) This is exactly what we were looking for and there are great possibilities all around the area for a church plant.
We were hoping to get some information and paper work to file for our church name but the church planting group we are working with did not offer these items on this visit. I am not the "Maverick Type" but I am sure now that I just need to make it happen. It would be nice to have some assistance in this area and it may still come but I am not holding my breath on that. The conflict of interest is that I am all about what I can get out of them, period. So... :-)
One great discovery for our missions endeavor in August is that we found a great location for the short term missions group coming to help us get started. A sales manager from the Hilton Garden Inn in Burlington is putting together some prices and packages. The hotel is right across the street from a movie theater, restaurants and outlet shopping. It will be a great place to stay and plenty of leisure activity during the down times of the missions week, not to mention the downtown Toronto sites only 30 min. away.
Another positive adventure in Burlington was our visit to the radio station JOY in Oakville. The sales manager there is putting together a package for radio opportunities. This may be a great way to promote the Burlington Community Chruch through a program from Pastor Stokes and a connection for the future. Keep this matter in prayer. We know a church that started in Oakville with a radio support of an American pastor and the church is growing strong. It would also be great to have a on-site visit from this station on Sunday, August 22nd when we are all up there.
We also visited the Crossroads Christian Broadcasting Ministry while we were there. This is a big step for Canada because for the longest time, Christian media was not allowed. Now they have radio and television. It was neat to see how God is working in broader areas of Christianity up there.
More details of the church will unfold by January and we are happy with the progress. We look forward to training and working with anyone coming to help us plant the church. As you know, Fair Oaks Church is our home church and supporting pastor David R. Stokes. We cannot thank the Lord enough for our pastor, church and this opportunity to plant a church in the GTA.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Getting clear, solid details for my wife and kids
Do you know what it's like to lead something that you are not an expert in, trying to learn and lead your family as you "explore together?" It is a challenge I will tell you that. As we press forward in establishing a life in Burlington, Ontario just outside Toronto, we have had a few moments along the way. If you know my wife, she is a delightful, energetic person who holds back no punches. What she always says is that she doesn't have to be in charge but she needs to know someone is in charge and that there is a plan. For the last year, I could give her nothing but "living by faith." :-) I would tell her my thoughts, what to expect and some of the plans for the church and its government structure...very comforting, right! :-) Though these were good conversations, I know her frustration is in wanting to know all the where, when and how answers. God has been giving us that as we go. It is one of those things you would love for God to just snap His fingers and everything is in place.
Next week, we are going to get some clear solid plans in order. We are going with a realtor to find the right neighborhood to live in, visit the high school my daughters will attend, meet with a school administrator about a rental possibility for the church, line up some great rates for hotel and sightseeing, and get the paper work and details for securing the name Burlington Community Church. We are also going to be asked to be pulled over at the Canadian border. Yes, you heard that right. We want to talk face to face with an immigration officer to find out exactly what we need to to to bring me over the border. Tracey is Canadian and the paper work is in for my daughters to be Canadian as well. This will give them dual citizenship. We just need to find out what to do with me. This is a question my wife and daughters have been asking for years! :-)
We have also been learning from a couple different church planting sources. One has great resources and the other has a network of Canadians. We are learning a lot and gathering materials for the our home church, Fair Oaks Church, and putting together some cultural, missions and evangelism tools for training this spring. I am using these ministries for training, network and development because my biggest fear, yes (vivid, heart pounding, loss of sleep, high blood pressure) FEAR, is that I get up there and suck! I know I can get all the materials and planning together and still fail but at least I'll know why! :-) You know what I mean... And here it is for my family, I am just as anxious about not knowing fully what to do but lets DO IT! With all our heart, soul and mind.
As always, we are very humbled and comforted by all the encouragement and support of our church. Your continued trust in what we are getting ready to do is like saying "go get em!" And how could we not feel that charge ahead spirit when our church will be completely supporting us financially and through prayer, many workers, details, and short term missions trips along the way. This will be an incredible journey together!
So what is my purpose in this blog? Please pray for us as we travel next week to get all the solid, clear details we need so the rest of our work this year has a good target to hit. We want to start seeing all the details so we have a plan, a list we can start checking off as God provides.
Next week, we are going to get some clear solid plans in order. We are going with a realtor to find the right neighborhood to live in, visit the high school my daughters will attend, meet with a school administrator about a rental possibility for the church, line up some great rates for hotel and sightseeing, and get the paper work and details for securing the name Burlington Community Church. We are also going to be asked to be pulled over at the Canadian border. Yes, you heard that right. We want to talk face to face with an immigration officer to find out exactly what we need to to to bring me over the border. Tracey is Canadian and the paper work is in for my daughters to be Canadian as well. This will give them dual citizenship. We just need to find out what to do with me. This is a question my wife and daughters have been asking for years! :-)
We have also been learning from a couple different church planting sources. One has great resources and the other has a network of Canadians. We are learning a lot and gathering materials for the our home church, Fair Oaks Church, and putting together some cultural, missions and evangelism tools for training this spring. I am using these ministries for training, network and development because my biggest fear, yes (vivid, heart pounding, loss of sleep, high blood pressure) FEAR, is that I get up there and suck! I know I can get all the materials and planning together and still fail but at least I'll know why! :-) You know what I mean... And here it is for my family, I am just as anxious about not knowing fully what to do but lets DO IT! With all our heart, soul and mind.
As always, we are very humbled and comforted by all the encouragement and support of our church. Your continued trust in what we are getting ready to do is like saying "go get em!" And how could we not feel that charge ahead spirit when our church will be completely supporting us financially and through prayer, many workers, details, and short term missions trips along the way. This will be an incredible journey together!
So what is my purpose in this blog? Please pray for us as we travel next week to get all the solid, clear details we need so the rest of our work this year has a good target to hit. We want to start seeing all the details so we have a plan, a list we can start checking off as God provides.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
We're not dead yet!
I just looked at the last time I blogged and noticed that I haven't done a thing since October 5th! People must be thinking we died but "we're not dead yet." :-) There has been a lot of ground covered since then and we are pressing forward with plans for Toronto.
Since my blog on the 5th, we had Thanksgiving. Canadian Thanksgiving was the second Monday in October and we had a crew over to celebrate. There are 3 couples who joined us for dinner who are interested in helping us in Toronto. They are all on different levels of commitment. One couple is coming for as long as they are able, another is coming for the summer and the last couple is coming for the missions trip and short term trips beyond that. This is very exciting for us because we are planning a full week of ministry for the 100 or more coming from Fairfax, VA. This is all happening August 16 - 22, 2010.
Pray for us and our next visit to TO this November. We are lining up a few details for our move and I am praying God will give us a free place for one of these couples to stay for the summer. I am also praying that God will give us some free or relatively cheap office space and use of equipment. A few things are lining up and we just need to see what God has in store for us.
Also, pray that we are able to secure the name of our church, Burlington Community Church. We have already bought the websites and Phil Bassham (Media Pastor at Fair Oaks Church) should have something for us soon.
Pastor Stokes also has an opportunity to develop a live radio show in Oakville, Ontario. Oakville is the next town over from Burlington. If God is in that, there will be a good opportunity to promote the ministry and give a daily voice to the ministry there as we take Loud On Purpose to Toronto.
Since my blog on the 5th, we had Thanksgiving. Canadian Thanksgiving was the second Monday in October and we had a crew over to celebrate. There are 3 couples who joined us for dinner who are interested in helping us in Toronto. They are all on different levels of commitment. One couple is coming for as long as they are able, another is coming for the summer and the last couple is coming for the missions trip and short term trips beyond that. This is very exciting for us because we are planning a full week of ministry for the 100 or more coming from Fairfax, VA. This is all happening August 16 - 22, 2010.
Pray for us and our next visit to TO this November. We are lining up a few details for our move and I am praying God will give us a free place for one of these couples to stay for the summer. I am also praying that God will give us some free or relatively cheap office space and use of equipment. A few things are lining up and we just need to see what God has in store for us.
Also, pray that we are able to secure the name of our church, Burlington Community Church. We have already bought the websites and Phil Bassham (Media Pastor at Fair Oaks Church) should have something for us soon.
Pastor Stokes also has an opportunity to develop a live radio show in Oakville, Ontario. Oakville is the next town over from Burlington. If God is in that, there will be a good opportunity to promote the ministry and give a daily voice to the ministry there as we take Loud On Purpose to Toronto.
Monday, October 5, 2009
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