Just a week ago, I had the experience of a lifetime. Well, all “experiences of a lifetime” are not necessarily good.
 
Monday morning, I woke up with an incredible pain in my side and knew immediately that it was a different sort of pain.  I suspected kidney stones, and the doctor confirmed that a few hours later.  For a whole week I suffered, highly medicated almost beyond comprehension, and I tried my best to function but to no avail.  The fact is, I was in some intense pain!  But I also realized I have a lot of friends!  Some of you reading this blog have had kidney stones, and know exactly what I’m talking about.  I’ve heard it said by a number of people since that time that its more painful than delivering a baby.  (Thank goodness men don’t have to go through childbirth…that would bring the world as we know it to extinction!)
 
Fortunately, through the help of a wonderful doctor and a blessing from the Lord, I was able to pass that on Saturday and be at church on Sunday.  It was wonderful to have a super team to be able to lead in my inadequacy!  Kudos to those leaders!
 
I began to think about how feeble and fragile the human body is.  Something as small as a sesame seed can actually take a person down!  It’s really made me be so much more appreciative of good health.
 
I received quite a few texts and emails…one of which was Ike Reighard (an evangelist) who said “Carl, I’ve had kidney stones, and I’ll be praying for you.  But just remember, He rolled the stone away!”  Hahaha!  
 
So you’ll see me around the office drinking a little less coffee, not as many cokes, and downing a lot more water and cranberry juice.
 
I look forward to seeing you this week!  Remember to praise Him!  Don’t let the rocks cry out!

I sent my family to Florida, which consisted of my wife and three children just before Memorial Day Weekend.  At the same time, my oldest son went to Kenya for 2 weeks on a mission trip.  The family members who were away were having the time of their life…going to the beach everyday and enjoying the Florida sun was a well-deserved vacation/time away for them.  

 (Lauren giving her cousin a kiss…guess this is a new meaning on “kissing cousins”)

And Carl Brown’s experience in Kenya was just epic, as is any time that you are able to give part of yourself away.  (I can’t wait to hear how this is impacting his life…again!)

(Carl Brown with a Kenyan child)

The one thing I learned during these 2 weeks (that seemed like an eternity) is this…I was NEVER meant to be single!  I realized how important my immediate family is and how much I really rely on my wife and children.  Coming home every afternoon to a quiet house (when normally 7 are there) was an incredible shock to my system! 
 
It didn’t help that John Nick didn’t want to do a whole lot, but I did convince him to go to the Coca-Cola 600!  We had a great time!  We got to sit at the Nos section of the speedway, and coming off the elevator they were giving away free Nos.  John Nick, being the extrovert he is, told them how much he loved their product and how he wished he could have a whole case.  Sure enough, they gave him a whole case! If you’ve ever been to the Nascar speedway in Charlotte, you’ll realize that the walk to your car is longer than the track itself (especially when you’re lugging around a case of Nos)!  Needless to say, we were worn out, but it was a great chance for dad and son to be together, which is a rarity with our busy schedules.
 
Today as I write this blog, the last family member is coming back home.  I love having my family home.  I love the noise of a happy home.  Maybe that’s what God meant when He said “make a joyful noise unto the Lord…serve Him with gladness”.

This past weekend I had the unique privilege of a lifetime...actually a dream come true - one of the top things on my bucket list was realized. You might think it would be sky diving or being gifted with Super Bowl Tickets (which is on my list too), but it was something far more valuable than these experienced based events. Since I have been in Asheville, I have always desired to meet Dr. Billy Graham face-to-face. And you guessed it!!! I did!

I was invited to lead worship for a small group (25 or so) handpicked businessmen from around the nation at the Cove. To kick off the weekend, Dr. Graham, George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows were to be with us and talk about their ministries and field some questions from the men. Just to be a fly on the wall would have been enough for me...seriously!!!

Cliff Barrows, Dr. Billy Graham, and George Beverly Shea

Thirty minutes before the start, Cliff Barrows, the worship leader for Billy Graham, came into the empty room and just made me feel right at home.  He remembered coming to our church a few years ago for Global Focus, which was amazing to me...I can't remember what happened yesterday! We sang and talked for 15 minutes or so until Bev Shea, the featured soloist for the crusades, came into the room via a wheelchair in his usual fun loving, loud and jovial way.  He is 101 now, but can still sing like you would not believe. I knelt down next to him and reminded him that he was to come to our church a few years back but couldn't because of a sudden illness. (This was a surprise for our church that no one ever knew about!) He in turn reminded me that it was just over six years ago...WOW what a mind.

 Me and Cliff Barrows

I had met and spent some time with these men in the past and that would have been totally enough....but the moment I had waited for was just about to unfold. Dr. Graham was wheeled in the room and again there were just 4-5 others in there at the time. I walked over to him. David Bruce, his personal assistant and church member, asked me if I had met Dr. Graham and then introduced me. The time I had been anticipating was occurring. I, of course, had no wisdom or profound words but a fervent respect and awe of a man who has done so much for the kingdom of God. He said to me, "You have a great church and I hear you are doing great things there...I see so much on the television about your church. It is so good to meet you." I can't remember what I said...only the impression that was left...then he was reacquainted with his 2 friends.

Me and George Beverly Shea

For the next hour and a half, I heard the three heroes of our faith (who have been together for 65 years) tell stories and lessons learned for the closed door session...who knows, maybe this would be the last time they would all be together. What I learned in that time is indescribable....thousands would have loved to be in my shoes...and I was honored. Here are a few realizations that God said to me that night:

• Be humble
• Have fun...be 18 years old in your heart.
• Dream big
• Integrity is priceless and fragile...guard it.
• Keep in touch with friends
• Expect great things
• Love and cherish your wife...and say it out loud and often!
• Love God with all your heart...you will be with Him for a long time.
• Die trying...live everyday yielded to God...there is no retirement.

Dr. Graham said this..."I am asking God to give me one more sermon...for the strength to preach just once more." One gentleman asked him, "Dr. Graham, where will you preach this sermon?" To which the weakened Dr. Graham said boldly, "To the world, of course!" May all who come behind us, find us faithful...

I look forward to seeing you this week!  Have a great one!  Look for some way to give your life away this week!
 

Love Loud Spring 2010 Recap from Biltmore Baptist Church on Vimeo.

The onset of spring brings so many different enjoyments… hot dogs, apple pie, baseball….you know all those obvious ones.  My son, John Nick, is a freshman this year at Reynolds and recently had the opportunity to play on the varsity baseball team.  Just last week while playing arch-rival TC Roberson, he cranked a home run over the left field fence…the highlight of the game for him.  Well we lost the game, but the fact is that his confidence was boosted tremendously.  I love to see my boys have a passion for something and go after it with all their heart.
 

I remember playing sports and ball…watching through the fence and being a very good backseat driver/armchair quarterback/wannabe ref and umpire.  We always have the best perspective from afar.   However when I got on the field, my perspective always changed.  The same is true in our walk with Christ, and how we participate in our worship opportunities on Sundays.  We have the choice to look at it, or to be a part of it.  So many times in worship, people come in as a spectator or onlooker of the experience and not as a participator.  My prayer is today, tomorrow, and every day, that Biltmore Baptist Church would be a church of people desiring to seek after God and praise Him, and to not just see it done by others.
 
I challenge you to be an active part of worshiping the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with a VERY loud voice!
Scripture says “make a joyful noise”….that’s exactly what God has called each one of us to do.  So let’s do it loud this Sunday!

Needless-to-say, out of the 75-100 eggs that we had, she probably only made her way to about 10 of them since she would take the time to eat the candy inside of each egg she came across before moving on to the next (unlike what my older kids used to do, and even myself…I’d go grab as many eggs as I could find and then eat them later).
It’s just fun to be around kids at Easter.  

All this to say that Easter should be a joyous time for us in so many different ways.  Let us always learn from the simplicity of a child, knowing that when God gives us blessings, let us not run so quickly by them that we miss them.  We all need to take the time to sit and open up the gift and enjoy it, one blessing at a time.  I hope you have a blessed week.  Let’s live in the strength of our Risen Savior, Jesus!

I came into the office after seeing Scott in the hospital getting ready to go home.  The first clue was that the receptionist gave me a real big smile, which is kind of unusual for a normal day.  I walked down the hall, and people waved and smiled.  I thought, “wow, everyone’s being really cordial today!”.   I got to my office door, and there were about 3 or 4 people gathered in the hall, and 3 or 4 people gathered in Jesse’s office, all of whom were smiling amidst the blaring music being played.  When I opened my office door, I was met with one of the biggest obstructions of my life...a massive inflatable from the children’s ministry inside my office.

Needless to say, I am writing this blog from Jesse’s desk as mine is still uninhabitable!  So I guess my office can really be a place of ultra creativity with this new addition….hahaha…they got me good here!
I love having jokes!
 
But in all seriousness, I am so thankful for Scott and his ministry here at our church.  I’m also so thankful that he’s back at home resting.  It helps me to remember to look behind me and see where God has given me victory, so it will give me confidence and faith in knowing that he will give victory again in the challenges that face us in the days ahead.  God is an awesome God!  “The same power that conquered the grave lives in me!”

For me, and like so many others after the Christmas season, a new year brings the resolution of exercise, better health, and losing a few of those unwanted pounds that seemed to have attracted themselves to me. (My family is a little bit bake-happy during the Christmas season, making over 500 cookies, breads, and candy.  We could really start our own Christmas bakery!)

I think we all take a look at our spiritual condition. We see how we can start fresh again with a renewed spirit.

My hope as we begin the “ReStart" sermon series on January 10th is that you might better grasp that our God is a God of second chances, of third chances, of forth chances (I could go on here). Scripture tells us over and over again that He’s able to forgive if we just confess.  He wants us to be a new creature in Him!  What an amazing thought!  

My challenge to you:  Don’t just vow to change, but tell someone about your vow!  Be accountable and transparent!  Having someone else know your commitment helps in keeping you from breaking it.  At the end of the year, there seems to be some resolution that wasn’t fulfilled, but my prayer for you for 2010 is that you would be able to fulfill the commitment that God desires for you to make.  That you would be better for it...your family would be better for it...that your friends would be better for it.  That people would see your commitment, and be drawn to Christ because of YOU!  
Have a blessed 2010!
 
P.S.  I want to know what your New Year resolutions are!  Post what you are committed to doing in the year 2010!

I think Disney World holds a special place in any child’s heart.  Walking through the gates of the Magic Kingdom immediately took me back to my first trip there, shortly after it opened. I felt the same wonder and enchantment as I did when I went there as a teenager.  It really did bring back the child in me… don’t comment on that, please.

Obviously, because of my creative background, I have a tendency to analyze things, specifically production opportunities.  When I was young, the animated objects and sets in the Magic Kingdom seemed larger than life…they were so much bigger than they are today.  Much to my surprise, some of the original rides from decades ago were still being used but now with fresher, modern appearances.  The excellence Disney strives with every venue and ride throughout these thirty years ago still holds true today. There were creative areas added over the past few years to engage everyone from a seasoned Disney veteran to my one-year-old daughter.  I enjoyed some of the classic rides, while my boys couldn’t get enough of the Buzz Lighyear ride in Tomorrow Land.

(Lauren giving Minnie a peck on the cheek)

Disney World is intentional.  They are a well thought-out organization that understands how to engage each and every person that walks through their gates. What is the most important focus of Disney?  It is people…the individual and their experience.

My experience made me reflect on the life of our church, and I’m thrilled to be able to draw a parallel between Disney’s business philosophy, and our philosophy as a body of believers at BBC.  We as a church are continuing to change and evaluate what we do with ambition in order to be relevant to today’s society.  We are launching out in a continual effort to reach people…to bring Christ to every person in our sphere of influence.  We know that the most important aspect of our church is not its walls or its stuff, but the people.  I’m excited about being a part of a church that is willing to expand into a new adventure…Vertical Worship.  I cannot wait to see what God is going to do with us and through us as we continue to invest all our efforts into engaging people who so desperately need to know Jesus Christ.  

Our Vertical Worship Service>> is targeted at bringing passionate, authentic, and relevant worship to today’s generation for Christ.  It is a modern movement to teach an ancient message. I’m looking forward to this new service and to the effects of it with great excitement and anticipation.

Disney knows how to love people in a world of make-believe…
We will faithfully continue to love people in the reality that Jesus Christ came to save a dying world.

Here’s what you can do to help…
Invite your friends to follow us on Twitter, Vertical Fanpage and BBC Fanpage.

                      
@biltmore                Vertical                Biltmore

We’ve been seeking and praying fervently for several years now that we would be blessed with the Worship Associate that would be congruent with God’s plan for Biltmore Baptist Church.  We believe we’ve found that person in Kenny Kirksey.

Our church has been blessed with a wonderful team already, and I anxiously await the influence that Kenny will bring to our ministries. Additional leadership is always valuable in order to allow our church to grow. In the early years, our philosophy was that you grow a church with staff, and staff-lead laity.  That reasoning holds true today…that you bring in a leader, and that leader is able to lead our people to be leaders.  It is a intriguing model of what Christ has commanded us to do in Matthew 28:19-20, Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...

I’m looking forward to having the Kirksey family joining us as we follow Jesus’ commands.  You will see that they are both very effective worship leaders with a prodigious amount of talent. Kenny is proficient guitar player and vocalist, and Susanna has an astonishingly unique voice.  They are a great compliment to each other, and they’ll be a tremendous addition to our church as we move forward in the days ahead.

I’m really enthusiastic about what God’s going to do through the launching of our Vertical Worship Service.  I anticipate these kind of exciting days …we’re going to be on the front edge…pioneers.  I heard it said before at a conference that growing churches do what non-growing churches aren’t willing to do.  I always want to be a church that is willing to do whatever it takes to grow the kingdom of God and to reach people for His name.