The Rising 2010

Kicking a little shout out to any college-aged students looking to be challenged by the Gospel in a very strategic multi-cultural, inner-city environment. “The Rising” is essentially a mission trip/conference hosted right in the heart of one of the most diverse urban centers in America… Memphis, TN. I had the privilege of taking our college ministry (back in Denton, TX) to The Rising last year. Truthfully, I’ve been to a lot of conferences and one-day events- but none that have exposed and challenged me with Gospel-centered paradigms & opportunities like this one.

Go. But be forewarned… it will mess with your junk.

www.liveloudmemphis.com

—

From The Website:

The Rising is a two-day, multi-cultural experience in the urban core of Memphis, TN designed to engage the mind, heart, and soul. Combining the best parts of a teaching conference with unique “hands-on” opportunities to experience and serve the city, The Rising exists to teach, encourage, model and facilitate gospel living fleshed out in every facet of life. The Rising 2010 includes 3 programs at The Orpheum Theatre (Friday Night, Saturday Morning and Saturday Night), 3 workshops (optional) and a ½ day of service at the Zion Cemetery.

Two options available…

The Rising ONE NIGHT is a one night concert and program featuring performances from Reach Records’ 116 Clique (Lecrae, Sho Baraka, Trip Lee, and Tedashi) along with worship from Integrity Music artist Carlos Whittaker. This experience is designed for a broader audience who is unable to take part in the entire Rising weekend. This is a ONE NIGHT experience you won’t want to miss! Join us Saturday, March 13th at 7pm in The Orpheum Theatre.

The Rising EXTENDED is a unique opportunity to invest in the city of Memphis before or after The Rising weekend. Designed to be flexible with your Spring Break, our team will help you craft meaningful experiences for your group, including trips to the National Civil Rights Museum, Stax Museum, Rock & Soul Museum, Slave Haven, etc. We have strategic relationships with a multitude of ministries and non-profits, serving a variety of needs in our city, that love to include visiting teams in their efforts. We would love to have you for an “Extended” visit to our city!

Update & Prayer for Pastor Matt Chandler

By now many have heard that Matt chandler (Pastor of the Village Church, Flower Mound, TX) had a seizure on Thanksgiving that sent him to the hospital. The doctors found a mass in his brain and an appointment was set up with a neurologist for today. The following is an update from the elders concerning his situation…

Update from our elders concerning Matt and his health:

Matt will undergo surgery Friday afternoon. Pastor Matt Chandler will have surgery Friday afternoon to remove a tumor located in the frontal lobe of his brain. The surgery will be performed by Dr. David Barnett. Dr. Barnett told Matt that he was positive about recovery but won’t know the full results until the surgery is performed. The doctor was uncertain about the malignancy of the tumor, and a biopsy will be performed as part of the surgery.

The outpouring of support and prayers from all over the world has been overwhelming to Matt and Lauren. Continue to pray and fast on behalf of the family. The church’s monthly prayer service will be Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Highland Village, Denton and Dallas Northway worship centers. We encourage you to fast throughout that day and join us to pray that evening. If you cannot join us, pray wherever you are.

We continue to rest in the knowledge that Matt is in the sovereign hand of our heavenly Father who loves him immensely more than we can comprehend, and He alone understands the reasons for this trial. Along with your prayers, continue to give Matt and Lauren and their family time and space for their continued rest.

I just wanted to send this out to continue to rally prayer support for Matt and his family during this time… More information and updates can be found at http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/

HALLOWEENies & BOOgers

It’s that time of year again… Time to grill up some HALLOWEENies & BOOgers!

Inspired by one of my mentors back in TX (Brent Bowen), HALLOWEENies & BOOgers is a chance to have some fun on Halloween with my family, meet & bless the neighborhood around me, and be a light for Christ in our community at the same time. For the past 5 year’s, my family and I have been celebrating Halloween by hosting this event on Halloween night- and it’s been a ton of fun to put on! Now we get the opportunity to do it here in Fresno!

Here’s how we roll… First, we invite all the neighbors around us to come on by for some free food on Halloween night (using the invite above). Over the past few years we’ve averaged over 300 trick-or-treaters, cooking up just as many burgers and hot dogs. Meanwhile we’re showing “The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” on our garage door (see below) & passing out bushels of candy.

In addition to just being a ton of fun, this event really hits on a few other levels as well…

1. Gives us an opportunity to meet TONS of neighbors we would have never otherwise have met & establish a connection with them (opening doors for dinners, birthday parties, & other individual or neighborhood gatherings…)
2. Allows me to BOTH take my kids Trick-or-Treating AND hand out candy at the same time
3. Involves my whole family in blessing others in our own community
4. Rather than taking the church (i.e.- my family and I) out of my community on the one night of the year the whole world is walking my street and coming to my door- it keeps us in our own neighborhood and allows us to make a missional investment right where we live

I’m not hating on Trunk-or-Treats or Church Fall Festivals (I’ve seen some churches really do an amazing job utilizing these venues to bless families & kids in the city)- but for my family and I, this has just been one unique opportunity for us to redeem one of the most festive nights of the year. Here’s some pics from last year…

So there’s just another idea for your arsenal, if you’re interested. If you happen to live in a neighborhood that isn’t very active for this kind of thing, you’re welcome to come help out at the Sumlin household this Halloween!

David Robinson’s Hall of Fame Speech

It always encourages me to see people who are in great places of influence, to use that influence to bring glory back to God. David Robinson is no exception.

However, I do find it interesting that right at the exact moment he starts to talk about Jesus, ESPN throws up a bunch of sound and logos on the screen… interesting timing…

Fun Halloween / Fall Festival Event Ideas…

As I do every year, here’s some fun event ideas for the upcoming holiday season, starting with Halloween & Fall Festivals… This year, I’m listing ideas for my new context: The Greater Fresno, Ca Area. (For those in Denton, TX – feel free to look at previous year’s posts for ideas). These are great ideas for family outings, date nights, or roommate/friend opportunities…

• Kerman Harvest Festival (Sept. 10th-13th)
• Atwater Fall Festival (Sept. 12th)
• Shaver Renaissance Festival (Sept. 12th-13th)
• Tulare County Festival (Sept. 16th-20th)
• ClovisFest (Sept. 19th-20th)
• Hobbs Grove Bluegrass Festival (Sept. 25th-27th)
• Pumpkin King Pumpkin Patch (Oct. 1st-31st)
• Harvest Acres Pumpkin Patch (Oct. 1st-31st)
• Single Palm Pumpkins (Oct. 1st-31st)
• re:Fuse Fest (Oct. 2nd-3rd)
• Civil War Revisited (Oct. 3rd-4th)
• Fresno Fair (Oct. 7th-18th)
• Farmer Hobb’s Pumpkin Grove (Oct. 9th-31st)
• Reedely Rail Fest (Oct. 10th-11th)
• Cobb Ranch (Oct. 10th-31st)
• Hillcrest Pumpkin Patch (Oct. 10th – Nov. 1st)
• Fresno Zoo Boo (Oct. 23rd-25th)
• Seven Sycamores Harvest Festival (Oct. 23rd-31st)
• Storyland’s Bippity Boppity Boo! (Oct. 25th)
• HALLOWEENies & BOOgers (Oct. 31st)
• Blackbeard’s (Oct. 31st)
• 1st Baptist Trunk-or-Treat (Oct. 31st)
• Adventure Park (Oct. 31st)
• Starbucks :: Pumpkin Spice Latte (Seasonal)
• And of course… Pumpkin Bowling! (Seasonal)

Thanksgiving & Christmas posts coming soon!