May 2007 Archives
Opening Ceremonies
Each year the Alert Team opens the conference with a rousing patriotic theme. They are an inspiring sight of what God can do when men give themselves fully to the service of God and mankind.
Singing in One Accord
One of my favorite parts of an ATI conference is when families sing together in harmony. I caught these two sisters singing together as they practiced and those of us who were backstage thought it was a CD that was being played. The glory of the Lord rests upon those who have a perfect heart, one that is fully yielded to Him.
Praying in One Accord
Families spent a day of delighting in the Lord which included:
- Asking God to open spiritual eyes.
- Enjoying a jewel from God’s Word.
- A search for wisdom from Proverbs.
- Turning scripture into prayer.
- Identifying their most pressing issue
- Outlining history’s greatest sermon.
- Sharing exhortations.
- Getting alone for personal study.
- Learning how to delight in God’s Word
- Delighting in Scripture more than in food
- Learning the rewards of waiting on God
- Develop the skill of waiting on God
- Enjoying the sweetness of silence.
Families were given the opportunity to have communion at the end of a day of delighting in the Lord. We were able to enjoy the power of one accord as we loved one another with a pure heart cleansed by God’s Word, a good conscience from experience forgiveness during communion, and a sincere faith that comes from removing hypocrissy form our lives.
General Sessions
We enjoyed many excellent messages that exhorted us in our faith. Anne and I shared on The 6 Barriers to being in One Accord We had the opportunity to put it into action an hour before our message. I had just purchased a new van and we figured out that we spilled raw milk in it on the way down to Big Sandy. The smell began to get stronger each day with the heat of the sun and the humidity of Texas. God motivated me to take the time to learn it at a deeper level before sharing this key message with others. I have been using this tool as a means to getting to the root lies with accuracy and speed so we can help people take their vain imaginations captive and rescue them from the ocean of emotion. Anne and I were able to come into one accord within 45 minutes and then speak to an audience without having time to practice, or even look at the power points together.
God’s Deliverance
Because the process includes crying out to God for Him to deliver us, God delivered us from the smell of raw putrified milk when a man came up to me afterwards and said at the prompting of his wife, “Would you like for me to professionally clean your carpet with a commercial machine and use enzymes to help eat up the protein that is causing that smell?” I was thrilled and he did it that night. The next morning I had to sit in my van to do a coaching session on the phone and I could only smell a hint of it and it was enough of a reminder to thank the Lord for His deliverance. Anne had her opportunity to practice when I took her through the process weeks earlier in a moment of crisis. I look forward to making this information available through an article. In the mean time you will be able to purchase it through IBLP’s website.
Gary Smalley
Gary shared from a life of experience the greatest key to success in life. He was a credible messenger who shared with great authenticity and transparency.
Alert Cadets
Childrens Institute
Pre-Excel
Fellowship Around the Campsites
Posted by Chris Hogan on May 10, 2007
Mobile Ministry Mindset
I Enjoyed the Variety of 13 Beds in 28 Days
April 11, 2007 I left my bed in Springfield, Illinois
April 11-12, 2007 I Spoke at the Dad’s Conference on “How To Go From Zero to Hero”
The meal times were as exciting as the sessions. God’s Spirit directed our coming and our going as we willingly allowed Him access into our each area of our lives.
Ken Pierpont enjoys the conference sessions with his sons. Many fathers brought their older sons to experience the power of men meeting together with God. This must be why God set up a system of gathering the men together on a regular basis throughout the Jewish year for men to be renewed in the worship of God and in their love for one another.
Bill Gothard taught on the history of the House of God going back to Genesis when Jacob experienced God at Beth El. The men experienced the power of being in one accord and enjoyed the presence of the Lord during our worship.
April 13-14 I Spoke at the MACHE (Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators) Conference
I was given the privilege of sharing three messages at the conference. It was a true joy to see all the men attending with their wives. The three messages I shared were chosen by Mrs. Watkins, an organizer of the conference. I started in a room of around 500 and it became standing room only, then they moved me into the grand ballroom of what I’m guessing was over 1,000 and it was standing room only. The next day I shared a message on Courageous Conversations to a crowd of around 2,500. I asked Mrs. Watkins her thoughts on why there was such an interest in the homeschool community on messages such as those I spoke on? She shared with me that people have focused on academics and have realized that their relationships are suffering due to a lack of balance.
My three messages were:
- Becoming Somebody or Containing SomeOne? Three Things We Cannot Fail To Do As Parents Or All Our Efforts Will Be Rendered Inconsequential
- Fruits of a Balanced Early Education Devleoping Four Types of Intelligence
- Courageous Conversations Resolving Your Most Pressing Issues while Energizing Your Greatest Relationships”
I spoke on behalf of Noble Call Institute but enjoyed working in the Advanced Training Institute Booth explaining the joy of raising up Ambassadors for Christ. ATI is an organization that helps fathers disciple their families by using Wisdom Books which expound on the Sermon on the Mount. All learning is based around the Bible and the character of Jesus Christ. The vision of ATI is to build the foundations of many Godly generations by turning the hearts of fathers to the children and children to their fathers in order to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
April 15 I Spoke at Church with Pastor Watkins and his Family
It was a joy to equip families in the skill of having a courageous conversation. We focused on making sure your content was in agreement with your intent so you will experience fulfillment. The three elements of content and the associated importance on clarifying intent are:
- Words 7%
- Tone 39%
- Non-verbals 54%
April 16 Arrived at the South Campus of the Indianapolis Training Center
Our children get to experience a guerilla education opportunity. They learn about he fine art of milking goats and caring for their offspring. Josiah got the chance to work with Kim Whitten in the wood shop making bunk beds for the Institute in Basic Life Principles. Each child was able to participate in the life of the Shipley family who has graciously watched over our flock twice now when Anne and I have travelled for an extended period of time. Our great joy is to know that Mr. Shipley will lead them in morning devotions each morning keeping them focused on the main thing, Jesus. Mrs. Shipley works hard to keep them focused on homework in the morning and then they get to do the wonderful chores unique to a training center.
April 17-18 Anne and I stayed at Dan and Kathryn Pinkerton’s home
Dan taught me how to take my family devotions up a notch. He currently is having his family listen to a KJV Dramatized version of the Bible on tape and going following along as they go through the Bible in a year. He then reads a page from the Daily Success E-mails he receives on the 49 commands of Christ, and finishes up with a short reading about character from the Power of True Success book that describes the 49 character qualities of Christ. They have incorporated many wonderful scripture songs that they intermingle into their devotions.
April 19-21 Anne and I spoke at the Noble Partners Marriage Conference in Post Falls, ID
This conference was unique in the number of couples who were separated, contemplating separation or ready for divorce. We were amazed at God’s intervention that was due to the intercessors who volunteer to pray for those who attend the conferences. We introduced some new content that seemed a little disorganized and yet God moved in spite of our weaknesses. You can see more testimonies under the weblog entitled “Transforming into a Noble Partner”
April 22 We Returned to the Pinkerton’s
April 23 Trained Coaches at the Courageous Conversation Coach Training
This is becoming a favorite training workshop. One husband wrote, “The time was extremely valuable and to the point. You have really given me the tools to acccomplish what I’ve been spinning my wheels on for a long time – hearing one another’s heart. We are excited about the living this out in our own family and shariing this with other couples and families we minister to as well.”
April 24 We arrive back home to a Welcoming Party
April 24 Back Home for a Few Days
My brother sold my van for me so we had to quicly purchase a new van. I decided to finally purchase a trailer so we would have more room in the van. This also provides a back seat for me to lay down when we do all night drives and Anne relieves me during the hourse of 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Josiah got to come with me to pick out a trailer, our goal was to find what we needed and get the best quality for the best price. He learned about researching the best quality, and negotiating for a fair price. Josiah was in on every part of the process.
Josiah went with me to purchase the things we needed to outfit the trailer for our customized needs, like a hanging clothes bar.
We Enjoy our Noble Family Fellowship
The men at Noble Family Fellowship are a great support to my family. We hold each other accountable in our relationships with our wives and families and with God. Many of us meet on Monday mornings in my upper room which is above my garage for discipleship. Eddie King and his wife Diana have been a great joy to our fellowship this past year, he has taken over much of the teaching on Sundays with each of us adding a word of wisdom or a spiritual song. One of the conditions for joing Noble Family Fellowship is that a couple gives one another the freedom to call another couple of their choice to help them work through the stages of nobility in marriage. We also ask every man to lead his family in communion on a weekly basis during the fellowship time. Our men are growing mighty in the scriptures, fervent in spirit, and noble in character.
April 30 Stop in Springfield, MO. to Visit Our Mentors
Ginny and Alec Wade mentored us as a young couple and taught us how to turn our home into a ministry center. They now live in Springfield, MO. and have purchased the Finley River Ranch. They have started a 501C3 organization for the purpose of helping leaders be restored, renewed, and equipped. They are a true source of refreshing to our family.
May 2 The ATI Big Sandy Conference
Josiah enjoyed his days in the Alert Cadet program that is designed to teach character and life skills. It is a great joy to see Josiah becoming a man and getting the opportunity to try new things each year as he goes through this unique training.
Gary Smalley shared two wonderful messages about transforming scripture into beliefs by meditating daily on key passages of God’s Word. Bill and Gary pray together for the opportunity to spread this message of gaining success God’s way.
The little children learned new skills in the camp ground each night as families would enjoy a special fellowship at one another’s camp sites.
May 5 We visit the Wades for some more horseback riding lessons and gun safety training
The children enjoyed watching the saddle bred horse of John Whalen, who is a well known trainer throughout the U.S. He gave them lessons one evening from 10:30 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. and again in the morning. They truly enjoyed and appreciated the expertise of a true horse trainer.
Josiah and Emily got the chance to learn gun safety from Alec who is a fire-arms specialist. Alec is now retired from the F.B.I. and enjoys training children in the art and skill of fire-arms. They were able to hit the mark after taking the time to learn the basics.
May 7 Arrive Home Safely
Posted by Chris Hogan on May 10, 2007
Developing the Full Potential of Our Home
One of our goals as a family is to develop the full potential of our home. This includes developing five centers of the home: worship, learning, health, hospitality, and productivity. We want people to experience God’s design for a home when they visit us; this includes how we keep our home, both on the inside and outside. Since I have been travelling more in the past three years I was getting behind but I was able to experience the joy of getting outside once again to work the ground and do what Adam was first assigned by God, to keep the garden and dress it.
The Great Provocation
We bought our two-bedroom home twelve years ago and have had to steadily increase its size as our family has grown. Since purchasing the house, I have not had the time or resources to complete a landscaping project that has been on my mind from the day we bought the house. God tells us to count it all joy when we experience trials, and last year we had an opportunity to do this as a tornado came through and uprooted many trees and destroyed our garage and rear deck— but because God hears our prayers— the tornado miraculously jumped over our house.
During the night of the tornado, we found shelter in our basement and began asking God to place a hedge of protection around our home. I forgot that my garage and rear deck were not attached to the home, and consequently did not ask God to protect them. The tornado passed directly over our home, destroying much of what was surrounding the home. Our house was nearly unscathed; we only replaced a few screens! After the tornado, we rebuilt the garage with an upper room that is now used as a ministry center for couples in crisis. It is also used on a weekly basis for men’s discipleship and Friday night couples discipleship.
The Landscaping Project
After rebuilding the garage, I decided to tackle the landscaping project in the front of our home that used to be filled with ivy. I decided to make this a family project, teaching my children how to make a plan, research a design, contact professionals for advice, negotiate deals, and then do the layout and actual landscaping work. I contacted an owner of a landscaping company, Frank Mosdcardelli from Pleasant Nurseries, whom I met twenty-one years ago when I sold him his first Ford truck. He has since bought
many more vehicles from my father’s company and was glad to help me put together a design, giving me expert advice on each stage of the project.
Frank helped us pick out the tree, plants, and stones we would use in the project. He
is now in his eighties and is still a driving force in his family business. He enjoyed helping my family get involved in something that is very meaningful to him, and it was great to watch him pass on some of his experience and wisdom to another generation of children.
We began the project on a Wednesday afternoon and finished Thursday evening. The children learned how to level a wall and rebuild it on a rock foundation, and how to choose the best plants for sun and shade.
They also learned about spacing plants, choosing colors, and knowing what plants look best in the front and back of the garden. They learned about transplanting trees and plants and how to feed and water them.
Josiah and Ben became my helpers. They saw the inner workings of a nursery, and enjoyed seeing all the equipment, as well as watching the men load our truck with a Bobcat skid steer. They observed the many types of equipment necessary to run a business like Frank’s, and I asked Frank to tell them what he looks for in a good employee. Frank gave them a lot of insight into what he values in those who work for him and why others are let go. He pointed out those employees who were demonstrating good character and why this was essential to keeping his customers satisfied.
Children learning to work together as a team to prepare the area for landscapting.
Building a wall on a rock foundation.
Leveling the wall one stone at a time.
Working as a team.
Emily planting annuals to compliment the perrenials.
Learning how to use equipment.
Josiah shared with me how much he enjoyed working with his older cousin, TJ, who let him use his tools and wasn’t afraid that Josiah would break them or ruin the job. Josiah learned how to use a paint compressor, a air paint gun, and many other tools. I decided it was time for him to learn how to drive his grandpa’s tractor and learn how to use the bucket and box scraper. It is great to see Josiah grow in skilfullness of hand as well as integrity of heart. Boys become men as we their fathers confirm that they have what it takes in Christ. They look to us to say, “Son, I am well pleased, you are a fine young man.”
Some final shots of the project as we were nearing the end of it.
A before and after shot
Posted by Chris Hogan on May 22, 2007
Posted by Administrator on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 12:08 PM
