by David Docusen | October 15, 2009 | Uncategorized
Tonight was absolutely unforgettable.
We gathered tonight in Uptown Charlotte with our group from Center City Church. It was absolutely amazing. We went to Will Morgan’s house and crammed into the living room. I taught an overview of the life of Christ and continued to speak to the central theme of Center City Church: the Gospel (the teaching and revelation of Christ). I did a 30,000 foot flyover of the promise of Christ in the Old Testament to the realization of Christ in the New Testament, his life, death and resurrection.
We ended our time, like we do every gathering, with a time of prayer. We all come to these meetings with names of people in our community that we have met throughout the week. We write those names on a 5’x3′ banner that we printed that has 1,200 blank spaces on it. Each week we write names on the wall and pray for them as we end our meetings.
We turned on some music and prayed for who-knows-how-long. I cried. A lot. I cried because these aren’t just names, and we’re not just praying for a city. Each name is connected to a story. Each name has value. Many of the names are friends. Many are acquaintances. More than a few make me delicious beverages at coffee shops around Charlotte. I cried because I desperately want each of those names to personally know the freedom that I have come to know through my relationship with Christ. It was so meaningful to me to hear the prayers of those around me.
Unforgettable night. God is doing something in Charlotte. So blessed to be a part of this amazing story.
by David Docusen | October 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
I found a quote today from an international leader named Flip Flippen (that absolutely HAS to be a pen name). Even though he has a very interesting name, the quote I found has me critically thinking about myself as a leader.
While speaking at the Hillsongs Europe Conference, Flippen said, “No organization will ever grow beyond the constraints of its leader.” Ouch.
This leads me straight to the mirror. What are my constraints? What are my limitations? What are my strengths? What are my weaknesses? What areas do I need people around me to supplement these areas in Center City Church? Asking these questions will help me to identify where I most need help and allow our organization (Center City) to grow healthy and strong.
I believe that God has given us a phenomenal team around us. It’s up to me to be humble enough to know where I need help and guts enough to ask.
by David Docusen | October 12, 2009 | Uncategorized
I had stated in an earlier blog that I would spend Monday morning with Dara processing through all that we had learned and been challenged by at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta. That was the plan. Insert detour here.
I spent all morning at the doctor’s office with Max only to find out that my little man (5 years old) has a confirmed case of the swine flu. Ugh.
There are so many times as a parent of four kids under the age of six that feel like constant detours. But it’s so worth it. We love our babies so much. We can process Catalyst another time, but today was all about taking care of Max.
When he found out that he would be held out of school for a week and have the Wii set up in Mom and Dad’s bedroom (our code for quarantining him off from the other three kids), he looked at me and said, “Dad, sick kids get special things!”
Thanks for your prayers for our family. The flu has a way of spreading rapidly through all six of us, so we’re praying that this ends with Max (quickly).
by David Docusen | October 10, 2009 | Uncategorized
Dara and I just got back from the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, GA last night. We are taking a couple of days to unwind and then are going to get up early Monday morning and process through each of the sessions and journal what we got out of each speaker. We’ll come together after we’ve done that and talk through what we feel God spoke to us and challenged us to implement into our lives individually, as a couple and for our ministry at Center City Church. I’ll post some of the highlights early next week.
One of the toughest things about going to conferences is actually sifting through a huge number of ideas and thoughts to see what we’re practically going to apply to our lives. We’ve never tried this approach before, but we’re hoping we’ll be able to really gain a ton from taking a step back before we move forward with what we learned.
by David Docusen | October 7, 2009 | Uncategorized
Three of my closest friends are in Atlanta tonight experiencing one of my items that’s on the “things to do before I die” list. Clark, Salina and Will are all at the U2 concert at the Georgia Dome as I type this. I’m not. Neither is Dara. Great for them. Not so great for us. But great for them.
I digress.
While they are experiencing one of the greatest concerts I can imagine, I was running an errand to Wal-Mart (which has U2 cd’s for sale, but it’s not quite the same effect). I was thinking about our group that God has given us at Center City Church. There’s so many talented musicians and singers. I started to think about the fact that the author of creativity lives in the hearts of those that have accepted Christ. The composer of all music inspires us to write and respond to his love and goodness.
The thought came to me that we have every ability to make music that matches or exceeds what my friends are experiencing tonight at the Georgia Dome. Not because of the fact that they are great musicians and singers, but because of the fact that our great God lives inside of them. Songs will rise as we respond to the amazing things that God is doing in our hearts and in our community at Center City Church.
I can’t wait to sing along.
