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Category: Golf Course Road Church (Page 5 of 26)

Net Fishing

March 18, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Carrie-Anne and I were blessed by God over Spring Break to travel with Travis and Donna McGraw and Bryan and Becky Gibbs to visit some of our GCR missions partners in Brazil. We took off and landed eight different times over the nine days, from DFW to Rio and Sao Paulo and from there to Foz do Iguacu and back, mixing in some incredible sight-seeing while meeting and getting to know some of God’s greatest servants.

Our first stop was in Niteroi, where we were privileged to worship and I was honored to preach with our brothers and sisters at Nathan and Sarah Zinck’s church. Carrie-Anne and I have known the Zincks since our days at Legacy when they were in the beginning stages of raising support for the mission in Niteroi. Nathan translated–paraphrased (?)–while I preached the groaning and glory from the middle of Romans 8. And we sang in Portuguese some of our favorite songs like Love Lifted Me, Because He Lives, Oceans, and You Are Holy. GCR provides financial support for the seasonal interns who work with the Zincks, and it was good to meet them and see where they live.

 

 

 

 

While we were in Niteroi / Rio, we took a train to the top of Mount Corcovado to see the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue that overlooks the city.  Nathan gave Carrie-Anne and me a personal tour of Sugarloaf Mountain, the 1,300-foot peak that rises straight out of Guanabara Bay and is accessed only by a series of cable cars. I also accidentally ate a grilled chicken heart. And we enjoyed a lot of really good Brazilian pizza.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From there it was off to Campo Grande and the Ser Cris Bible School that GCR has supported financially and spiritually since its establishment in 2001. I had met Zanatta, the school’s director, last fall when he visited us in Midland. But what a joy to hang out with his wonderful wife, Leila! And what a thrill to meet the talented professors and staff at this important school. I so enjoyed talking American football with Breno and Gabriela and listening to his deep thoughts on the damage digital media is doing to the Church’s witness and our Christian discipleship–kindred spirits! David was so generous and kind. Jose Luiz was so hospitable in hosting us. It was obvious to see the love these teachers have for one another and the great team they are together. And they merged us right into the jokes and the prayers, the planning and the ministry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ser Cris is an ecumenical training school for preachers, missionaries, and church planters and anyone wanting a good, solid theological education. A dozen different churches have been started by graduates of Ser Cris in eight different Brazilian states. And the numbers of students is finally on an upswing again after some COVID and post-COVID dips.

And I was diagnosed with pneumonia on Tuesday. I spent six-hours in a Campo Grande emergency room with Carrie-Anne, Becky, and Leila. Blood tests, a CT scan, two breathing treatments, and three prescriptions. Total cost for all of it: $330. Socialized medicine? Why not!

We added two days of sight-seeing to the end of our trip so we could visit Parque Nacional do Iguacu where Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay all come together at the incredible Iguassu Falls. It took all of both days to see the glorious canyons and hundreds of falls, from the tops of the cliffs on the Argentina side to the roaring and foaming pools on the Brazilian side. I have no words to adequately describe the beauty and the power of these waterfalls. And the hundreds of pictures and video I took don’t come near doing any of it justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We got home Saturday afternoon, thankfully, the day after one of the worst wind and dust storms Midland has seen in decades. And, yes, of course, I have already been to Whataburger and Abuelo’s.

There are tons of things to write regarding this extraordinary trip. There is so much I am still processing; our time in Brazil was significant on several levels. But let me attempt to share with you today a main takeaway. This is important.

When our Lord Jesus says we are fishers of people, I typically picture one guy–me–holding a rod and reel. Back when I used to fish around the Highland Lakes in Central Texas, I used a rod and reel from a friend’s boat or from the top of Wirtz or Starcke Dams. Fishing, to me, has always been experienced as a solo venture, just me and my line and hook.

But that is not how God sends us out. We’re not sent into the mission with a rod and reel, but with one giant net. Followers of Jesus are net-fishers. God is redeeming the world and restoring all of creation with one huge net and every single one of us has our hands on it. It takes all of us, in our own time and context, with our own gifts and abilities, to drag this soul-winning net all over the globe.

It’s not the size of a volleyball net, it spans the continents and centuries of human time and space. It takes disciples of all ages to hang onto it. And we all play a part in the net’s sweeps and dips. A song written by Charles Wesley here. A plane assembled by Boeing there. A pie baked by a widow in 1843. A sermon preached in the 6th century. An invitation to church. An encouraging word. A check sent. A GCR mission trip to Brazil in the 1980s. A baby adopted. A door knocked. A burden shared. A hospital visit. A Gospel meeting. A Vacation Bible School. A thank you note. An article in that biblical journal. The weaving together of all our individual and meager threads becomes God’s great net.

Do you see it?

The net sweeps across the whole world and back. It turns and dips to snag one more soul, to start one more chain reaction you and I never could have planned or seen coming. While you and I were sleeping last night, the net was moving by the power of God’s salvation Spirit. Maybe there is a soldier in Ukraine or a single mom in Vermont or a taxi driver in Tokyo or a school teacher in Kenya who’s been swept up into the net by the love of Christ since you went to bed last night.

I’m holding the same net that’s being held by Zanatta and Breno, which is the same net still being held by the apostles Peter and Paul. You are working the same holy net that’s being held by Nathan and Sarah Zinck and Eugene Goudeau and Jack McGraw. You think you cover an insignificant amount of square footage in God’s Kingdom. But you really cover the whole earth with our God’s glorious net.

Peace,

Allan

Groovy Gala 2025

March 3, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Mike Houston’s wig and headband at GCR’s annual Groovy Gala last night was a shockingly hilarious surprise. But not nearly as funny as the way Mike walked around with that fake (I’m pretty sure) doobie between his fingers. Mike joined Kathy Futrell and Jerry and Lisa Pullen as the top winners in the costume contest in what has become one of my favorite yearly events at our church.

Our amazing youth group puts on a ’70s themed shindig for everyone in the congregation over the age of 60. The teenagers serve the dinner, they refill our drinks, and they sit with us and ask us questions about the music of our youth, first generation video games, and how much a gallon of gasoline cost when we got our drivers licenses. Of course, Carrie-Anne and I are a LONG way from 60, but we get invited every year on some kind of special preacher card. And we’re thrilled to do it. Carrie-Anne always buys the perfect accessory for her outfit like two months in advance and I always throw on the same “peace sign” T-shirt, while some of these cats merely go to the backs of their closets. And, yeah, I know one or two just wear whatever they wore to church that morning.

We were delighted last night to be hosted by Gabby and Finley at their table, along with Peggy Geer and Herman and Patty Kincaide. Peggy openly defied the rules of the trivia game and I’m not sure all of Herman’s stories about Army life from 1969-1971 were accurate, but we had a ton of fun. Singing the songs together with our GCR house band, Faces in the Crowd; learning and practicing disco dance moves to the Bee Gees and the Village People; remembering the great movies from the ’70s; and explaining to the young people what the numbers 33-1/3 and 45 mean in the middle of a vinyl record–it’s a blast! I was reluctant–no, completely opposed–to joining the folks on the floor for one particular dance. But what do you do when the kids are chanting your name?!?!

This youth group, man. They are something else. I love these young men and women and they love us and our church. They’re personally engaged with what God is doing in them and through them, they’re totally locked in with each other, and they are a critically important part of our congregation. They are demonstrating divine joy and sacrificial service, they are leading us in worship and  teaching us about unity, and they are showing us what it looks like to be changed by God to love like Jesus.

I am so thankful to belong to a church where the youth group WANTS to be a part of the larger congregation and where the congregation delights to encourage the youth group. It’s a mutual thing, a heavenly inter-generational thing. It’s much more rare than it should be. And I don’t ever take it for granted.

Peace,

Allan

Partners with Emerson

February 14, 2025 / / 0 Comments

The Golf Course Road Church was honored by the Midland School District last night as one of their outstanding Partners in Education. Our work with Emerson Elementary is just one part of our recently renewed focus on doing ministry right here in the community where God has placed us. But it’s certainly the one that gets the most attention and energy from our congregation. Dozens of our church family are on the Emerson campus every month fist-bumping on Monday mornings, reading to kids at lunch, and encouraging teachers and staff with meals and gifts. We’ve also completely remodeled two courtyards so that parents can eat lunch with their kids in a comfortable setting. And when there’s a special need for a student or an Emerson family, the counselors there call GCR first.

Several of our GCR family attended the dinner last night to receive the. award, including Gordon, seen above shaking hands with one of the MISD school board members, followed by J.E. and Jim. Ryan, Kristin, and April were also there to represent Golf Course Road.

It’s not a competition, of course, but we’re winning.

I attend a quarterly “Pastors for MISD” meeting with Dr. Howard and several other school district administrators, and three times they have singled out GCR for our work with Emerson as an example for the other churches. Golf Course Road Church has been featured on the back of the past two handouts for these pastors meetings and it’s kind of become a little joke.

I thank God for our leadership at GCR and our whole church as we invest Christ’s love and grace into our local schools. And I praise the Lord for the work he is doing in and with these Emerson kids and their families.

Peace,

Allan

Core Scriptures

January 20, 2025 / / 0 Comments

We all know that some Bible passages are more important than others.

Oh! Scandalous! What did he say?!

No, you can’t freak out about that.

But all Scripture is the same!

No, it’s not. Not all the verses in the Bible are on the same level. It’s not flat. And we know this. It’s not controversial. We all know this about Scripture.

Our Lord Jesus taught us this. He pointed us to what he calls the weightier matters, the parts of Scripture that are closest to the heart and will of the Father. He clearly believed and taught that some biblical commands are more important than others–he ranked them!

Plus, think about our own experiences within our churches. You probably spend a lot more time in the Gospels than in Haggai. You likely have more Bible classes on Exodus and Acts than you do in Jude. And you don’t think you’re preacher is bad because he hasn’t preached through 2 Thessalonians or Nahum. We all know and practice the fact that some Scripture is more important than others.

So how do we get those Scriptures inside us? How do we make the most important sections of the Bible part of who we are?

Our shepherds and ministers worked together for two months last fall to identify what we are calling our “Core Scriptures.” There are ten of them–the nature of God, his character and his mission, how we’re saved and why, how we treat others, where all this is headed–and we’re going to read one of them every single Sunday during our morning worship assembly. Over and over again, a different core Scripture every week. Regardless of the day’s sermon, the season of the year, or the theme for the week, we’re going to read the next core Scripture. And when we read the tenth one ten Sundays from now, we’re going to start all over at the top of the list and keep going. We’re not going to be afraid of repetition; we’re going to embrace it, because we think it’s critical that we get these foundational, essential passages inside us.

We believe these passages can change us. We believe if we’ll view the whole Bible through the lens of these key verses, we’ll be better interpreters. We believe we’ll have a more perfect understanding of the heart and will of our God and that it’ll lead to more Christ-likeness for our whole congregation.

Here are GCR’s ten “Core Scriptures:”

Matthew 22:37-40
1 John 4:7-12
Romans 8:28, 31b-35, 37-39
Matthew 28:18-20
Exodus 34:5-7a
Ephesians 2:4-10
Colossians 3:12-15
Philippians 2:1-11
Micah 6:6-8
Revelation 21:1-7

These are the passages that just soar. These are the verses that cultivate a love and adoration for God’s Word. Through these Scriptures, we see how large and splendid and magnificent life really is as a beloved child of God, redeemed by the blood of his Son, and restored by the power of his Holy Spirit.

Instead of reading through the whole Bible this year, it might be better to dig into a few core passages and really get them inside your soul. Memorize them, meditate on them, read them and recite them out loud, pray them, journal them, make them a part of who you are. Just try it. And see if you don’t have more strength and stability and better balance. Who you are and everything you do is connected to and extends from your core.

Peace,

Allan

Of Course He Called Deion First!

January 14, 2025 / / 0 Comments

In the immediate wake of Jerry’s parting with Mike McCarthy and the somehow believable news that the Cowboys owner has contacted Deion Sanders about filling his head coaching vacancy, there are many more questions out there than answers. The unknowns will all be revealed in due time–after a year or two of sitting on his couch, McCarthy will get around to writing his book. For now, amid all the speculation and guessing, there are a few truths we already know:

~ Jerry went into the final week of the season having no coaching plan for 2025. He denied the Bears an interview with McCarthy, missed the first round bye window to interview anyone with the Chiefs or Lions, and then four days later lost McCarthy and his entire coaching staff. If he’s going to contact any assistants with Detroit or K.C., he has to wait now until those teams are eliminated, possibly another month. If he wanted Vrabel or Belichick, he waited too long. If he really wanted McCarthy to stay, he should have determined a month ago if he could get him for the minimum wage one-year contract that was reportedly offered. That’s a man without a plan.

~ Jerry tried to sign McCarthy to another one-year deal. The exact terms haven’t been verified by McCarthy or the Cowboys organization, so that may not be absolute truth. What is indisputable truth is that Jerry went into the 2024 season with a head coach in whom he had no confidence–McCarthy and every assistant were on the final year of their deals. And Jerry’s plan was to do it again in 2025. He tried to sign McCarthy to another one-year contract! Who does that? And why would you hire a guy who would take it? And how would you ever sell that as exciting news to Cowboys fans?

~ Jerry called Deion Sanders the moment McCarthy walked. Coach Prime has already confirmed the phone call and the conversation–he can’t help it. We know that the Cowboys owner contacted his former shut-down corner within just a few minutes of negotiations breaking down with McCarthy. This is the way Jerry Wayne rolls. This is how he thinks and how he operates.

Hiring Deion would be the most Jerry thing Jerry could do. Has there ever been an owner in any sport who hogs the spotlight like Jerry? Has there ever been a player in any sport who self-promotes like Sanders? These two are made for each other. It’s happening. It’s the only thing that could have ever happened. You think the Cowboys thing is a crazy spectacle now? You think the Cowboys are focused solely on grabbing headlines and being culturally relevant and making money? You think what happens on the field always takes a back seat to what happens with Jerry’s endless promotions and marketing experiments and roster and playbook meddling? Well, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The circus is just beginning.

Three rings. That used to mean Super Bowls to Jerry. Now it means a big top and a car full of clowns.

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I said the Longhorns would have to play a perfect game against Ohio State Friday to advance to the college football national championship game and I outlined six things that had to happen. Four of the six things did not.

Instead of Texas scoring first, Ohio State got the game’s first points on a touchdown. Instead of zero turnovers, Texas had three. Instead of combining for 130 yards rushing, Wisner and Blue ran for 62. Instead of Ewers attempting fewer than 35 passes, he made 39 throws. The only things that went the Longhorns’ way was that they committed less than six penalties (5), and they held Jeremiah Smith to under 110-yards receiving (one catch for three yards–remarkable).

I know Quinn has the passion and the work ethic, I know he has the pedigree and the history, and I know he has grown as a quarterback and as a person. But I think we’re all ready for the Arch Manning era to begin in Austin.

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With the Longhorns loss, our annual GCR Staff Bowl Challenge is over. I am pleased to announce that Ashlee Hill, one of our supremely gifted children’s ministers, ran away with the top prize. Ashlee correctly picked the winner of 14 of the 17 selected bowl games and had Texas and Penn State in the Final Four. Jim Tuttle, our experienced and wise Spiritual Formation Minister, finished a distant runner-up, a full 23-points behind Ashlee. The rest of us finished somewhere between them and Cory Legg, our talented Worship Minister, who, I think, has figured out a way to intentionally finish in last place. It wasn’t even close!

Peace,

Allan

Chili Today. And Tomorrow.

January 9, 2025 / / 0 Comments

I’ve been here long enough to know that it’s not going to snow. They definitely want it to snow–the local weather people. Shoot, I think most of us want it to snow. The forecast this week was calling for temperatures in the middle 20s, with a 40-60% chance of snow–maybe one to three inches!–to start falling Wednesday and last most of the day Thursday. But I’ve been here long enough. It doesn’t rain in Midland, much less snow.

I was confident to stand in the pulpit Sunday and guarantee our church at GCR that our annual Chili Cookoff set for Wednesday night would not be canceled or even postponed. If the snow stays in the forecast, we’re still having the chili cookoff. If it starts misting or spitting tiny little ice pellets, don’t call the church building asking about the chili cookoff. We’re having it. The colder it gets, the more chili we’re going to eat and the more fun we’re going to have.

Well, it threatened all afternoon. It was cloudy and cold, It was still in the forecast. At about 1:00pm, Jim and I noticed half a dozen microscopic pellets bouncing off my windshield. And then nothing. It happened again at about 6:00pm. A little rain and about 15-seconds of sleet. And then nothing.

Some were afraid that would be enough to keep people at home. We’re not quite the hardy West Texas folks we like to think we are. I experienced a fleeting moment of doubt at about 6:15pm. And then all the cars showed up and the people with crockpots began rushing in.

We had 35 pots of chili, everything from classic Texas red (no beans!) and white chicken to venison and exotic nilgai, from mild to ghost pepper scorch, and everything in between. We had to set up extra tables just to hold all the chili! I don’t know how many people showed up (200? preacher count?), but we were packed and it was a blast. Patrice McKinney took the top prize and was encouraged to wear her championship apron to church Sunday. Caitlin Landry was voted the runner-up and Linda Bomar took third.

Carrie-Anne made so much of her awesome chili that we’ve got enough left over for us to eat tonight while we watch Notre Dame and Penn State. It would be nice to eat Frito Pie in front of the fireplace and a college football playoff game with a decent snow falling outside. But it’s not happening. We’re getting beautiful pictures and videos from Valerie in Tulsa and Carley in Flower Mound where it’s been snowing all day. Not here. We got nothing. Zero. Not one flurry or flake. Stupid desert.

Peace,

Allan

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