JeremyHigdon.com

This is my last post....

2008-08-02T11:30:00.002-04:00

This post is #199 and is my last post as part of blogger.com. I will be changing over to a different blog platform at midnight tonight. If you subscribe to this blog through a feed, you will need to resubscribe through the new www.jeremyhigdon.com. If you simply come to this blog through the website (if you actually have jeremyhigdon.com saved in your favorites or you type in the address each time), you will not have to change anything that you are doing...

I will put a link on the new site so that you will be able to access everything that we have discussed over the last 199 posts... thanks as always for reading and I look forward to the changes to better provide info to you and better serve the vast audience of tens that read my blog...ha!

I love my Disney Bus!

2008-07-31T15:11:00.002-04:00

"I love all my cars but I really love this bus...I love to look at it up close...REAL close!

And, no, Ryan can NOT play with it!" - Zach, age 3

Such are the conversations around my house these days...and I would not trade this moment for the world (reminds me of this song).

But, back to the bus conversation, why is it that all of us have such a hard time learning to share??

Are you sharing any of your stuff today with anybody?

Studying = Laptop + Coffee + Trying to listen to God

2008-07-30T16:56:00.000-04:00

And not necessarily in that order...

Nuff said...

Pray for Shannon Lewis

2008-07-30T14:23:00.002-04:00

The next two weeks, Shannon will be in Africa on a missions trip...I believe she will spend most of her time in the country of Uganda...how amazing is that?? She said if she is able to get internet access, she will post some pics to her flickr account...so, check the link sometime over the next few days...oh, and of course, pray for her as she travels to meet with the missions team...

I am looking forward to some great stories when she returns...maybe have to do some guest blogs from her...

If you could go anywhere in the world on a mission trip, where would you go?

Do you know my follow-up question? Can you guess what it is?

Boyz N Da Pool

2008-07-30T11:42:00.003-04:00

Got some pictures from Ranelle of Zach and Ryan swimming in the pool...nothing like beating the heat of HOT South Florida...must be nice...they look like they are on vacation!

Not only are they awesome pool kids, but they have been sleeping really well (oops, just jinxed it)...today they slept in until almost 8:30am!

Weekend Update

2008-07-28T16:47:00.002-04:00

- preached at Oasis Hollywood yesterday morning...always good to get back to US 1 & Plunkett... they had a potluck supper after, but I could not stay...
- raced to Oasis NoMi as soon as I was done @ Hollywood. Got there in time to hear the SURGE youth band absolutely rock the house... they are getting better and better each time I hear them...REALLY glad they were able to come to NoMi
-everytime I hear them, I sorta get ticked that we never had a great youth band in my 8 years of student ministry...hey, I am just being honest!
-but then I get happy that we have a great student band now...and some of those guys have been in SURGE since I left...
-James Brown spoke in NoMi and did a good job before he left on vacation...it is hard to preach when you know you are leaving the next day...
-had a meeting with Host Pastors yesterday afternoon...good to get with the guys who lead our 7NOW...told them some big news that we will sharing publicly in the next few weeks...God is doing something BIG! Good to have these guys who are praying for our church...
-Spoke last night at the Sunday night service...didn't feel like our crowd was into it...felt like I kept hearing crickets...
- I hate hearing crickets...is this mic on??
- yesterday, my parents celebrated 40 years of marriage...HOLY COW! I am so excited and honored to have them as my example...mom and dad, I am proud of you and looking forward to the next 40 years!! Thanks for showing us kids how to love each other and hang in there and fight for your marriage...
-only 30 1/2 years until Jeanine and I get there... I love you baby!
-we are starting to plan for our 10th in January... I can't wait!
- got Guitar Heroes III for the Wii...my hands hurt!
-amazed at my kids...they are getting bigger and bigger
-that's about it for my weekend...more later...

I also went to a beach

2008-07-25T13:04:00.001-04:00

on my trip to Tampa, that our family went to many times on vacation...Indian Rocks Beach. We had a lot of good times during the summers between my high school and college years. If you haven't been, it is located between St Pete and Clearwater on the Gulf of Mexico...

It was stormy and raining but it was cool to go to...

This was across the street where we used to stay....

And this is where we used to stay...but the old houses we used to rent were torn down and this condo was put up instead...but they were right on the beach...it was always amazing to watch the sun go down right into the Gulf...good memories...

The answer to the previous blog...

2008-07-24T20:50:00.002-04:00

I got up early to battle the crowds at FTL (I did not realize so many people get up so early!) to fly to Tampa for the day. I was able to meet with Hal Mayer the lead pastor for Church at the Bay. My family has known Hal since his days on staff at Sheridan Hills and Flamingo Road, and I really appreciate his offer of giving me the afternoon...he allowed me to spend nearly 5 hours picking his mind and asking questions...awesome! Thanks Hal!

I also was able to have lunch with Carl Stutzman, a pastor in Lutz, Fl and an old friend from Word of Life, a school we went to in '92-'93...man, it was really good to talk with him...and if you don't have a facebook, it is simply the greatest tool ever! I have been able to reconnect with so many old friends...

So I am sitting here in the Tampa airport and I am tired and ready to go home...gotta a ton to think about and looking forward to kissing my wife and kids...gotta go...Spirit Air is boarding!

Ok i got up @

2008-07-24T06:49:00.001-04:00

Ok i got up @ 5am today... But i am not going fishing! What am i doing today?

Need a vacation from my vacation...

2008-07-21T20:22:00.001-04:00

Ah, back in the office...why does the vacation week go by so much quicker then a regular week? That being said, had a great time this past week in St. Augustine. Really enjoyed being with the family (including my in-laws!) and loved getting to see something new...in fact, discovered that Jeanine and I both enjoy historical stuff...that is one thing I do not like about South Florida (or at least where I live and hang out)... there is not a lot of history (architecture, oddities, etc...) around.

We spent a little time on the train (22 stops!), spent some time at the fort, ate some good food with some good friends at the Columbia (of course I went back... I love it!), finally caught the Key West store when they were open and had a chocolate dipped- Key Lime Pie- on a stick...woohoo!
If only I had an 8mm projector and could invite everyone over for home movies...oh, well, I guess this is the next best thing!

VBS in North Miami!

2008-07-21T15:39:00.003-04:00

Last night, we kicked off our VBS in North Miami...for pics and more info about how you can join in the fun, check out http://www.visitoasis.org/north-miami-campus.

I have said it before, I will say it again...we simply have the BEST leaders and workers in the world at Oasis Church NoMi...I was on vacation all last week and literally walked in last night and did nothing...except watch our team hit a HOMERUN out of the park... they are awesome and have some great team leaders in Luann Willix and the Dunnes...

I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of this week has in store!

Good and Bad News

2008-07-18T23:44:00.003-04:00

When it comes to the Starbucks store closings...got some news...both good and bad.

The good...there are no stores closing in Hollywood or Pembroke Pines...woohoo! My seven plus stores within 5 miles of my house are safe...

The bad...we are losing our one store in North Miami...4 blocks from the church...uh oh...

Although, that means when we start serving it again in August at Oasis Church in North Miami, we will be the only Starbucks around for miles...wow!

My kids will kill me for this in the future...

2008-07-17T08:54:00.000-04:00

but they are just too cute...I love being their dad!

So why was I up so early on Friday?

2008-07-15T22:16:00.003-04:00

Jeanine got me a Father's Day present that I was able to finally experience...a day of fishing! I went with some guys from the church (thanks Jim and Richard!) and headed down to the tip of Florida to a place called "Flamingo"... I think we actually were in the Gulf of Mexico. We got in the water a little after 9 am and fished all the way until about 6pm... it was a great day with great weather and the fish were biting...I think we caught about 80 fish combined...awesome!

About 5:30pm, we were getting ready to call it a day. I had my bait in the water when I felt a tug and I set the hook...for the next 15 minutes or so, I knew I had something BIG on the line. After fighting and working it, I was able to bring it to the surface and right up to the boat... a 5-6ft nurse shark! We got a pic and it shook it's head, broke the line, and swam away...wow!

I get up early for fishing, hunting, and golf...and not much else... I am looking forward to getting back on the water soon!

Weekend Update

2008-07-14T22:36:00.002-04:00

I am sitting here on the front porch (awesome...when is the last time I could say that?) of a cool, old house we have rented in St. Augustine for a relaxing week of vacation...gonna spend some time tomorrow driving around North Jacksonville and then spend some time at the beach and enjoy some of the Old City area here...after spending a few days here for the Growick wedding, I am really glad to be here with the family for the week! Oh, and an added bonus, we have some guests from Ga who are here with us...gotta love some Papa and Grandma!!

This past weekend I spoke three times on part 5 of our Satisfying Life series out of John 15. Our team spoke on the world (the system of thinking and living that is opposite God's rule) and the fact that Jesus said this system hated Him and would hate us as well.... I thought it went well and was well received...but I think those of us teaching really wrestled with the weight of Jesus's words and wanted to make sure we were accurately sharing it...NoMi had very good attendance and I really enjoy speaking there because that group is with you and they let you know it!! Great worship time (Jimmy even talked about progressive sanctification...how crazy awesome is that??) and overall, a great spirit for our young, Re:NoMi'd Oasis...

Please be in prayer for Guy and Tonia Melton as they leave early tomorrow for a week on the mission fields of Ecuador and Peru...I am looking forward to hearing about their experiences and what God is doing through our missionary partners down there...God is at work all around the globe...woohoo!

Now, come back tomorrow and I will finish the story of why I was up so early on Friday morning...

What in the world am

2008-07-11T05:57:00.001-04:00

What in the world am i doing up out of bed so early?

A good customer service story...

2008-07-10T12:12:00.000-04:00

In recent history, I have railed against bad customer service and how things need and should be different...how really, it should not be this hard to have a good experience when you are shopping at certain stores! For a reminder, feel free to read here, here, and here.

As I was leaving the Growick wedding in St. Augustine a few weeks ago, I had to stop and pick up my bible I had left at the church. Teresa, the wedding coordinator, had found it and took it with so I could pick it up at the Cracker Barrel on exit 318 of 95 (which saved me a good bit of time, thank Teresa!). I pick it up and am about to get going south when I decide to get a mountain dew. I whip into the Taco Bell drive-thru and order "a large mountain dew, that will do it thanks!"

I pull around to the window, the guy hands it to me and says, "No charge". Are you serious I reply (with my jaw hanging open). He says, 'yeah, have a good day'.

Now, I am trying to remember, but I don't think I have had that happen in here in South Florida and it has not happened to me anywhere in recent years. What that guy did probably cost Taco Bell about what, $o.25 tops? But how much is the ROI (return on investment) of a postive experience and good stories from a satisfied consumer? Way more than that!

So, if you are in customer service (which really is everyone who deals with people...including us pastors!), what can you do that will be unexpected (doesn't have to be free stuff) and lead to a positive impression of your company or organization?

Oasis NoMi Stuff

2008-07-09T19:03:00.000-04:00

Hey Oasis...we have a chance to help out our city in many different ways... we are seeking to be a church that goes outside of our property and seeks to make a difference by serving the city around us.

Here are two opps...

Last week, I met Joyce of the North Miami Library. She is looking for people to help with their annual book sale that helps raise funds for community programs. If you are interested and want to find out more about serving for this event, please email her at jpernicone@northmiamifl.gov.

Secondly, I came across a single mom named Melissa while I was dealing with something else with the City of NoMi. She has been cited for having a fence that needs repair and not taking care of it. I am going to go check it out and see what we can do to help. I will take some pics and want some guys to be ready after church on Sunday to either take care of it or put together a plan. From what I know, Melissa has a child and is recovering from some back issues...I think this a chance for us to serve her and help with a real need...and be the hands of Christ in this situation!

God has our church around people in the city of NoMi for a reason... we need to love by serving!

Last Week's Christmas Mtg

2008-07-09T11:50:00.004-04:00

Yep, we really do talk about Christmas in July here at Oasis!

Notice the amount of caffeine and bottled water...and the excitement and intesity all around!

When Santa speaks, people listen....

After these meetings, I feel like a deer in the headlights...I have no idea of the danger but I just can't look away...Light Up Oasis is less then 5 months away!

Marlins Game with the boyz...

2008-07-08T22:00:00.003-04:00

Last Monday, went to the Marlins game with Zachary and my brother...it was a last chance to hang out on his last night in town before Jonathan moved to Jax...oddly, I have not heard from him since!! I wonder if he reads the blog and if he will call me...ok, pity party over!!

Every time Jeanine drives the boys to church in NoMi, whenever they are going by Pro Robbie on the turnpike, Z asks if he can go see the Marlins...the very first time we took him, he was like 3 months old! This time we sat in the outfield and had our pick of seats...gotta love it!

BTW, I enjoy watching it on tv (because I can change the channels) but it is incredibly boring to go to a baseball game...I can't wait for football...training camp is only a few weeks away!!

Oh, and something weird/ funny...Z and I went to the concession to buy some bottled water. After the ladies interact with Z, one of the ladies hands me the water and says what sounds like "joooiiissh". It was kind of loud so I say "what?". She says to me "are you Jewish?".

What do you say to that? Not only is that an incredibly random question to hear asked at a concession stand but... what was it about me that led her to say that? My long beard? My nose? The yamulke I was wearing at that time?? The way I said "Shalom!"?

Like I said... weird/ funny!

So, what would you have said to her?

Ryan @ 9 Months

2008-07-08T08:22:00.000-04:00

What a crazy awesome boys...he crawls like grease lightning, he "begs" food from the table (and has yet to be fed something he does not like), he is a "daddy" boy right now (I love it!), he loves to touch his brother and be around him, he loves and says "momma"... I am amazed by this little guy who was not even here a year ago...God is good!

Getting a close up of "Baby Einstein"!

"Yummy...my socks are tasty!"

Am I old enough to play with play-doh??

make up your own caption and leave it in the comments!

Super Fun Great Day

2008-07-07T23:55:00.004-04:00

Wow...today we had a lot of fun...and we didn't spend a lot of money!

- Zach and his TiTi and cousins went to the beach (I heard they saw someone riding his bike) & while they were there I did a little fishing and Jeanine and I bonded with Ryan...
- they came home and we all went to CB Smith for a photo shoot with Becaboo...I am looking forward to see how they come out... thanks Beca!

-next headed out to Fuddruckers (need to be careful I spelled it right!) for a great meal together...I have never been there before!

- Got the boys bathed and put to bed and then headed to a movie date with my beautiful bride (saw the Indiana Jones movie- all I have to say, it's not what they used to be!)

-looking forward to going to bed...grateful for all that happened today...

4th of July Weekend

2008-07-05T22:59:00.004-04:00

We've been having a good time over the holiday weekend with TiTi Annette and cousins Pia and Bubba Travis, who are down from Ga for the week. Yesterday, had a cook-out with everybody and my parents (yummy burgers and brats!). We (Bubba, Pia, Zach, and I) also caught a ton of fish in the canal behind our house. However, fireworks were rained out (although Zachary seem pretty relieved at this...he has been apprehensive about the fireworks lately).

Today, we went to the pool, played in the sprinkler, avoided raindrops (sorta), and went to Scrubys for dinner (which deserves a special post in the future). We also broke out the sno-cone machine...awesome!

Fun With Friends

2008-07-05T22:27:00.002-04:00

Ok, bear with me... I am trying to catch up!!

One of the things I really enjoyed about Jon and Cat’s wedding (last weekend in St Augustine) was the chance to catch up with some old friends. Jon was part of SURGE (our youth group) from Middle School all the way through High School. In his wedding party were Stephanie Becena, her dad Jose Becena, Justin Growick, and Jason Pratti…all of whom were part of SURGE. In the audience were Jon’s mom and dad, Nikki Becena, April Lovins, and Shannon Lewis…we have spent a lot of time together through SURGE and working on staff at Oasis! It was fun to catch up with friends.

We laughed about all the trips that the bus broke down or had a problem (which I think was every single trip) and we reminisced about Jon’s different habits and people we have not seen in a while. It was a lot of fun to realize that we don’t just go to the same church or just know each other; we have actually spent years of our lives together…I am grateful to continue to know and love people and look forward to seeing what the future continues to hold for all of us…

Funny quote from Mikayla Growick, who is now six years old and someone I had not seen for at least three years…in response to me saying, “I can’t believe how big you are! When I last saw you, you were this tall” (as I say it, I bend down have my hand near the floor). Her response?? She points to her shoes and says, “That’s because I have my heels on today!” Aren’t girls great? By the way, the other day Zach mentioned he wanted a little sister…uh oh!

The Third One

2008-07-03T10:05:00.002-04:00

I do not do a ton of weddings but when I do, it seems like they come all at once! Today I officiate the third wedding in less then a month...but it is our first one at Oasis NoMi! I am looking forward to being part of this day for Rosemary and Ricardo...two people who have meant and done a lot for our campus over the last 9 months...

Hey, at least my "marry and bury" suit has been worn for happier occasions lately!

Ok, gotta go...