Friday, April 16, 2004
SHORT TERM FOCUS AND FRESH PIX
4-17-04
First let us thank God that the April rent is paid.
God made a way again, praise His name
The short term focus is to begin a new web site.
This will center on the launching of the ministry.
The intercessors, advisors and donors will track from there unto Launch Day.
This initial phase is important because the basic navigation is designed first.
I took a class on web design at the community college.
They said to start a site think wide and shallow.
Consider the needs of the visitors.
This becomes the basic skeleton.
Later come back and drill deep into the menu options.
Focus is my frequent challenge.
May I keep it as simple as possible yet cover the basic bases.
I ask for wisdom, insight and guidance from Jesus Christ.
At LONG last I can share audio over the web.
The final technical glitch was solved a few days ago.
It has been about a year to get to this point.
There are testimonies, interviews and teachings of others that will be shared.
The purpose of this site is to
· Cast the vision
· Enroll support of intercessors, advisors and donors
· Share some samples of what the full platform will have.
Saturdays and Mondays are my best days to concentrate on such projects.
May God grant grace to get into the Zone often and stay there LONG.
This relates to seeing 15 (and then more) people face-to-face.
When we meet I can just get them excited about what God is doing in my life.
I can share a diagram of the Big Picture without going into details.
I can leave then with my business card that points them to the new web site.
From the web site they can go to the areas of their interest.
Then as God leads them they can pray, give advise and donate.
Then the appointments go from a data dump to a thrilling invitation.
The pictures are from an annual event on the seminary campus.
It happened just a few hours ago.
Note that there are three pages in this album with 6 pix each.
You can click on the small ones to see them larger.
Follow this link to the Spring Fling for 2004 http://fellowpilgrim.photosite.com/SpringFling2004/
John 11:00 PM
Thursday, April 15, 2004
Update and Pix
4-15-04
The stress of this transition has led to more moaning.
There are times all that I can do is quietly moan.
Moaning mixes with prayer sometimes.
There have been feelings of churning in my gut.
Some kinds of stress I put in my shoulders and other kinds in my back.
This kind goes for my middle.
This birthing is NOT pleasant.
I have been eating and sleeping okay.
I have been stopping to rest fairly often.
Exercise could be increased.
Prayer can always use improvement.
What is need most is for God to grant me some special times of prayer.
I try to pray better multiple times each day and night.
But then there have been sweet times of prayer that were gifts from Him.
Thankfully the fog has been lifting.
I see more clearly what needs to be done.
The various projects are being better understood.
I am starting to sketch the projects unto Launch Day.
I will give a simple summary on the new web site.
From there the intercessors and advisors can work with me.
May God grant me the grace to overcome the fears and reluctance.
As I look at the list of prospects I want to desire to set the appointment.
May it become appealing to go to show and tell.
I really enjoy telling people after I get started.
I could never tell the whole story in a quick meeting.
I need to leave them wanting to visit the web site.
Let the money come due to how God works in their heart.
But they first must catch the vision and get my passion.
The Holy Spirit has reminded me that I will speak to groups too.
I have less fear of groups than of individuals.
Still the group will want it stated briefly.
I read a contemporary Christian magazine today.
It was full of tiny articles.
I need to learn to think, write and speak in those quick rhythmus.
This is a once in a lifetime transition.
It is like those graduates that are going to the mission field.
There will be a radial difference in my weekly routine within a year.
God has been preparing me for this for many years.
All the spiritual markers point in this direction.
After I have gotten to the other side I can help many others.
I just need help getting there.
I have been reminded of Jesus in the Garden.
He said O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me,
Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will (Matt 26:39)
I wish there was another easier way.
But God?s will be done.
Here is the link to the pictures of the flowers on the grounds of Baylor Hospital http://fellowpilgrim.photosite.com/3500GastonBaylorHospital4-04/
Here is the link to all the albums in case you missed any http://fellowpilgrim.photosite.com
John 11:12 PM
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
QUICK UPDATE and PIX
4-14-04
THANKS again for your prayers. God is doing wonderful things.
Today I made the 5th presentation. I felt anxious before.
I did not feel fully ready.
When I got into the middle of it I got into the zone and it was glass smooth.
Along the way I notice where it could be shorter.
Using the two-page diagram with the sequence of boxes helped to streamline things.
It was better to talk from brief illustrations then read each word off the Power Point slide.
I came home expecting to make many calls to set appointments.
I found that my list of prospects was too jumbled to work from smoothly.
I arranged the As together the Bs together and the Cs together.
And I looked up phone numbers to put right there on the list.
I did make several calls but mostly left voice mail messages.
I did talk in person with a person and set an appointment for the coming Monday.
So 5 of the 15 presentations are done and 4 appointments are set.
After 15 I do not quit I just balance quality with quantity.
These are the baby steps to get things going.
The image is that of a steam locomotive.
Much energy is needed to get it going but less to keep it rolling.
Lord willing in a few weeks there will be some momentum that will increase.
Hopefully this weekend I will create a new web site that is JUST focused on the launch.
There will sections for intercessors, advisors and donors.
That will give me a new URL and email that I will put on business cards and flyers.
Keep praying and believing as you pray.
THANKS .
Note that you can click on the small pictures and they move to the large frame.
There are lovely flowers at 3600 Swiss Ave that is just down the street form the seminary and where I live. There is a nonprofit agency in a refurbished old home. http://fellowpilgrim.photosite.com/3600SwissAveFlowersApril2004/
Each Sunday morning SOUL Outreach Ministries serves the homeless in downtown Dallas. If you wish to join us then contact me for directions. http://fellowpilgrim.photosite.com/soul_outreach/
John 11:07 PM
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
TUESDAY BRIEFING from John S. Oliver on April 13, 2004
BLESSINGS
ALL glory to God in Jesus Name!
May God’s light dispel your darkness.
May you recognize the gifts from God and thank Him.
May you keep it simple daily.
Amen?
COMPLETED ·
Thanks to answered prayers the desktop computer is clicking less and a little quicker. Keep praying. I am reminded of the blind man that saw men as trees. Much improved but not one hundred percent.
CURRENT ·
Praying over the list of prospects and then setting priorities of A, B, and C. Wow the subtle fears show up even here.·
Need to pick up the two hundred pound phone to call for the appointment.·
Pray for the incorporation papers to process smoothly and quickly.·
Pray and believe for the April rent to be paid SOON. God guide my faith an actions.·
Changing from a crab that walks cautiously sideways to a bull that charges boldly forward.
UPCOMING ·
Setting my sights on presenting to the 15th person. ·
The appointment for the 5th and 6th are already set.·
If you ever wish to give then you can go to the Donate button on www.osuonline.org
RESOURCES
Learn about laughter www.worldlaughtertour.com/
Great resources for churches http://www.heartlight.org/powerpoint/
Learn about your blood by clicking the links above the term Blood Biology http://www.mybloodyourblood.org/biology_red.htm
Here are resources for Sunday school teachers and homeschool teachers. http://www.rose-publishing.com/
Learn about organ donation at these linkswww.donatelife.net Click the oval that says the brain http://www.transweb.org/
Amazing articles on Creationism and an entire eBook the Evolution of a Creationist. I have worker with the writer Jobe Martin to distribute hundreds of these in print for free. IF you are in the Dallas area then come by the Media Center to get a free copy for yourself and others.http://biblicaldiscipleship.org/Creation%20vs.%20Evolution/cve.htm
If you wish to unsubscribe then just let me know by reply email.
John 11:41 PM
PATH TO LAUNCH DAY AND BEYOND
4-13-04
Let me sketch out the path that is before me.
The two attachments offer a diagram this path.
Thus you can pray better.
LAUNCH DAY
If I were starting a Christian bookstore then there would be a Grand Opening.
On that Big Day the public would be invited to come inside.
Before that ribbon cutting event a million tasks had to be done.
Various projects would have been completed.
Obviously I am not opening a physical store.
Instead I am in the process of launching an innovative ministry.
This starts with a carefully designed web site.
This web platform will be used by God to impact the lives of people throughout DFW.
God will use it to bring together people, resources and opportunities in physical space.
Like my pastor said, this is not like anything else.
The mission of Our Metroplex Vision is to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ
by systematically facilitating more effective evangelism, discipleship and benevolence
throughout the DFW Metroplex.
Together we will pass along a healthy spiritual heritage to the next generation.
I am in the process of enrolling a Launch Team.
So instead of calling the first day Grand Opening I am calling it Launch Day.
These intercessors, advisors and donors will work toward the Launch Day.
After that the professionally designed web site will pay its own way.
There will be donations, product sales, memberships and ads to pay the bills.
During the coming weeks and months I will share tiny goals with the intercessors.
Some of those for now include the following.
1. Paperwork to form a nonprofit corporation with the state of Texas is completed soon.
2. God grant excellent communications with current and future Board of Director members.
3. Wisdom and insights in what prayer requests to make.
4. Get into motion to make the presentations.
5. Trim the current presentation down by half.
PRESENTATIONS
Stick with the three 15s until all are completed.
The three 15s are 15 minute Power Point show, 15 page overview, show 15 people.
That will give me momentum, feed back, confidence and funds.
After that I set new goals.
Then I will aim higher.
This course of actions will lead to large donations by business owners and the wealthy.
I am betting the ranch that God has people looking for a way to invest in the Kingdom.
May I soon break the ice and get into the habit of making face-to-face presentations.
Then gain and maintain momentum.
Revise and refine the presentation.
ADVISORS
God has given me a unique set of passions.
Over the years I have invested hundreds of hours into prayer, research and planning.
My web sites, files and mind are overflowing with ministry potential.
This is the season for birthing the vision that has developed inside of me.
During this birthing and from then on I will need many advisors.
I shall be adapting the ways that corporations use to collaborate.
Together we will develop a Blueprint to wisely use the seed capitol and beyond.
AIM HIGH
Today I know of key individuals and groups that I intend to contact.
I have been putting this off until I felt that the presentation was fully ready.
Practice will lead to improvement and confidence.
Focusing on the three 15s will get me moving in the right direction.
I will be asking the gatekeepers to help me get to the next phase.
The key people can open doors and introduce me to the real movers and shakers.
There are Christian millionaires and billionaires in DFW that seek to give wisely.
They are concerned about how the society has been going.
They know that Jesus Christ is the answer.
They know that the young generation in on the web.
Every generation after this will be more on the web.
PROGRESS
Here is the progress toward the Three 15s
I have made 4 of the 15 presentations already.
The last presentation was 30 minutes and I rambled far too much.
The two attachments are bend new today.
They will help to keep it simple.
I have written about 5 pages of the 15-page document.
Last night I sent a list of 60 names of people I know that could be among the 15.
During the coming weeks I will go to my friends and just practice.
At some point I will have the courage to approach the key people.
I do not need for everyone to instantly give his or her full support.
Along the way God will lead me to those few that will make a big difference.
When the right pieces are in place then the 40K seed capital will arrive.
This does not need to be a long time from now.
Those funds will be used to build the platform on the web.
From there the Blueprint will be followed.
Along the way adjustments will be made as needed.
After some beta testing of a prototype there will come an official Launch Day.
The Blueprint will include a wide range of ways to promote the site.
There are inexpensive public relations techniques.
There are various ways that those who come to the site will benefit.
The satisfied clients will be invited to invite five of their friends
We will adapt what has worked for other sites and experiment with new ways.
After the Launch Day there will be Charter Members and Initial Volunteer Teams.
God will use these to systematically facilitate more effective
evangelism, discipleship and benevolence throughout DFW.
INTERIM FINANCING
The prayer need now is for interim financing.
I need to get on the road.
The steps are Go, Show, Tell, Ask and Thank.
Along that way are the funds to launch the ministry.
Meanwhile I need grace and mercy as things get going.
April rent is still not paid and now I am not sure how it will.
I recall only one time that I was this far behind since I moved here in 1991.
That is amazing considering how closely I have lived to the edge.
Pray hard and believe God for divine provision right on time.
May this be the turning point.
May planning become practice.
May practice become improvements.
May improvements and prayers open doors.
Amy open doors lead to the seed capital.
May the seed capital lead to the web-based platform.
May the web-based platform lead to evangelism, discipleship and benevolence.
May we work together to leave the future generations a godly spiritual heritage.
Amen??
John 9:45 AM
Sunday, April 11, 2004
UNIQUE GIFT
4-11-04
Today I gave a very unique gift.
Friday I received a call from the Cater Blood Care Center.
I was told that my blood has the exact antigens that a patient needs.
The caller was urgent in her appeal for a patient in critical need.
She was very appreciate when I agreed to give.
Later another person called to confirm the appointment.
When I was there today the worker said that the lab is waiting for my blood.
This was the first time I have filled such a need.
It stands out even more because the day I gave was Easter Sunday.
Jesus gave His blood so I could have eternal life.
My blood was used to extend an anonymous patient’s natural life.
Then I looked up antigen on their web site and this is what I found.
Antigen - A substance that when introduced into the body stimulates an immune response.
Let me challenge you to pray about becoming a blood donor.
I have given when I see the mobile units and it fits my schedule.
You may never have such a dramatic phone call.
But there are always people that need your blood type.
If you wish to learn more then go here http://www.carterbloodcare.org
John 7:24 PM
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