iman serna

Troyer Keane 1.0

Son, you turned 1 today. I'm still in disbelief that a whole year has already gone by. It seems like it was not too long ago that I first heard your heart beat when you were 15 weeks old...then at the same time found out that you were a boy all in one day!

I still feel overwhelmed.

I didn't know that my heart was capable of loving this much until you came...God gave me a completely different perspective, a totally different understanding of how unfathomable His love is...through you.

I feel so unworthy of having you and being your dad.

To be honest...I was extremely insecure and fearful of becoming a father to a son. You see I'm not a "Man's Man" or a "Guy's Guy"...
...I'm kind of athletic but not an athlete...
...I like sports but not a sports fanatic...
...I like souped up, tricked out cars but wouldn't know a lug nut from a wing nut...
...I have a huge appreciation for nature but would call staying at a motel 6 "roughing it"...
...I can't just "fix things" around the house...
So what kind of a dad can I be to you? What example will I be able to impart to you as a man?

God spoke to my heart and you know what He said? He said to be the BEST me I can possibly be. He told me that I am the best dad for you son...well, aside from Him of course.

So, a year has passed and I've seen you accomplish many things.
You are now walking (almost running), babbling and talking (saying mama, dada, mummum, duck instead of yuck, hi), eating "people" food, clapping, dancing, singing, blowing when we say "waffle", and many more.

You still like music, hearing instruments play, playing with guitars, piano and your drums, to laugh, playing "where's Troyer?", playing "I'm gonna get you", wrestling with dada, cuddling with mummum, being outside, are sweet and so much more.

Son, please know that I'm not perfect and I can guarantee that I will make a LOT of mistakes along the way. But I promise you that I will do my best to own up to my mistakes and say "sorry"...I will never be too big or too old not to be able to apologize.

I promise to always pray for you.

Like it or not I will ALWAYS be your dad and you will ALWAYS be my son.

I'll try to answer your questions...if I don't know the answer we'll find it out together.

You are amazingly smart, funny, sweet, playful, kind, tenderhearted, inquisitive, curious, adventurous, loving boy.

I'm proud of you and I'm honored to be your dad. You are a blessing from God!

Above all else...please know that I love you. I love you...I. LOVE. YOU...I will say I LOVE YOU to you always and often.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TROYER KEANE

Daniel 1:3-4 (paraphrased)
...You are from royal and noble lines. You have no blemish, well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge and understanding, and has the ability to stand in the king's palace...

"Pastor Iman" - back story

"I will never, EVER be a pastor" is a promise I made to myself a long time ago.

Ever since I could understand what it meant to be a pastor I knew that I did not want to be one.

...my dad is a church planter...

"I don't want my family to live in abject poverty!" is a promise I made to myself a long time ago.

He was called to be a church planter to some of the poorest parts of Quezon City, Philippines. Needless to say he wasn't compensated "very well". There were times that our meals would consist of only rice and coffee.

...my dad is a minister of the gospel...

"I want to be able to spend quality time with my family" is a promise I made to myself a long time ago.

Most people thought that he only worked on Sundays and Wednesdays. They never saw the numerous times he was called in all hours of the night to mediate because a husband is beating on his wife, a son went to jail or a loved one is sick. The numerous bible studies he conducted in different homes through out the week. The camps, retreats, conferences, evangelistic meetings and other special speaking engagements he spoke at. He kept pretty busy.

...my dad is a pastor...

"I will not be disrespected" is a promise I made to myself a long time ago.

I saw how the church members, who called him their "pastor", treated him...some with respect, others with contempt and disdain. I can't even begin to tell you the venom and poison that people spewed at him.

...my dad is a man - he IS human...

"I will never be like my dad" is a promise I made to myself a long time ago.

A very arrogant and self righteous statement...I know. But the older I get the more I understand that beyond being a pastor, my dad was and is just as human as I am. In my mind I tied a cape around his neck and drew a big "S" on his chest. Looking back at my child hood I can probably pinpoint all his faults and foibles as a father, husband, pastor...man. But that's just it...with Christ in his heart and a title to his name he still is a man.

Please understand that not all of my experiences growing up as a pastor's kid were bad. I do have fond memories. But I also know that the title "pastor" bear so much responsibility! I would never in a million years have guessed that I would willingly become one.

to be continued...

"Pastor Iman"

WOW...I STILL can't believe that I'm an "ordained minister".
...back story and story later...
I'm still trying to recover from this weekend.
All glory and honor and praise be to God and God alone.

How was your weekend?

Mind Melt

A few of my thoughts in bullet points A.K.A. "what's ruminating in my noggin at the moment".

• I get really tired after our creative meetings.
• I get really, REALLY tired after 5hrs of creative meeting.
• My wife never cease to surprise me...she likes "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium".
• I love peanut butter and home made strawberry jelly on toast.
• After all these years...ice cold Ovaltine still ROCKS!
• My son is still brootiful even when he's teething and cranky.
• I think "naps" are steadily taking over "sleep's" coveted spot.
• My wife's brootiful.

These are just my personal thoughts people...care to share yours?

Why?

This has just been a resounding question in my heart these past couple of days.

"Why do we insist on having church, on doing church instead of being the church?"

Pastor Mark posted a blog that touched on this...go read it.

how can we stop doing church and just BE the church?

i can feel it...

...it's coming...



...it's here...

brewing, churning air
winds of change is upon us
breathe it in and soar

Brilliant Mind

In my humble opinion I believe that David Crowder is a friggin' genius. Now add the vital components of the David Crowder Band in that mix and it makes for a savory oozing of wonderful gooeyness for your ears, minds and hearts.

DC is also an "ODDITY"...in a cool funky way. He's like 7 foot tall, weighs 110lbs. soaking wet, a goatee that has it's own voice, a fro-tastic doo and that impeccable taste for fashion.

Another glimpse of his "brilliance" is his desktop. I just HAD to share this when I saw it.

This is what his desktop looks like...on purpose...bwahahaha!BRILLIANT!!!

You can read his explanation in this post.

Quasi-Realistic But Totally Not Needed Wish List

The past couple of weeks I've been on a "I wanna..." kick. To the point of getting on my wife's last frail nerve. I know that we as a family have financial goals but the selfish pig in me wants toys, gadgets and more toys!

There's a part of me that says "I want to get my hands on all the cool toys I can get and I 'NEED' it!" But then there's this other side that says "What's the point of getting all that junk? As long as you have a roof over your head, food on the table, clothes on your back and a steady stream of income...that's ALL you need!"

The "Mother Teresa" side of me wants to just live off of what I already have (maybe even get rid of what I truly don't need) and not purchase another blessed thing. Be a minimalist. To give away my earthly possessions and cease being a purveyor of all things unnecessary.

Then there's the "Bratty" side that is never content and always wants more.

I know that there are better, more beneficial ways to spend the money God has entrusted me with. I know that there's the hungry, the poor, the indigent, the homeless, the needy...but...

*SIGH*

The purpose of making this wish list is...1)To be able to write down and see what I want versus what I need and...2)This is my odd way of releasing pressure from my "selfish pop off valve" if that even makes any sense. So here it goes.

• Cruiser - Used 1970'ish, 750cc, Honda or Kawasaki (Triumphs and Nortons are VERY much welcomed). [REASON: a more gas efficient mode of transportation for me.]
• Laptop - Preferably a 17" MacBook Pro with bells and whistles (PC's are acceptable if push comes to shove). [REASON: creativity recorded, edited and propagated on the go.]
• Mobile Phone - Smart phone (picture and video messaging with wifi capabilities...iPhones too). [REASON: creativity and connectivity in the palm of my hands.]
• Scion xB - 20" rims, bangin' system, iPod and blue tooth hook ups. [REASON: a more gas efficient mode of transportation for Karen, Troyer and Me.]
• Digital Camera - Canon SD1000 with a 4gb SD card( I currently have a big and bulky digi-cam). [REASON: creativity captured, recorded and propagated...expediently.]

Like I said...selfish.

Anyone ever feel this way or is it just me?

Easter Weekend

I don't know how to even begin to describe how it was this past weekend.

It rocked my world in more ways than I could have ever imagined.

Personally seeing people literally come to the foot of the cross and lay down whatever it is that was weighing them down messed me up so bad that I could barely hold back tears. In all 4 services I knew that there would be an altar call but every time we start singing "At The Cross" my voice still cracked and my eyes still welled up. From my perspective I saw people with tears in their eyes, some had their hands raised...some folded, on their knees, standing, holding their loved one/s...it was truly a sight to see.

Knowing the fact that countless hours were spent by both volunteers and staff...personal investments of money and talent were given...selfless acts of kindness and generosity were rampant...mercy and grace were poured on in heaps...battled physical illnesses left and right...emotional highs and lows...heavy spiritual warfare being fought ferociously...the enemy trying to cause strife but not prevailing...many tears sown...all this, all of this and more culminating within one crucial and vital point...people at the foot of the cross. Knowing all this made me appreciate my Saviour's love and that special moment when people came to their Saviour.

A celebration is what Easter is all about...it's not to commemorate Christ's death but to rejoice because He lives! We also celebrated lives changed, hearts renewed and people leaving and never being the same.

Without fanfare, mailers, TV or radio ads or gimmicks...a church that normally had 3 services on a regular weekend added a 4th one. A church with an average of 1500-1700 attendees a week had 2500 this week. All that to say that God showed up and showed off in a big way!

I am so proud of our church and for everyone who played a part in creating an environment that eliminated excuses. We as a church have definitely gone to another level. We can build on this momentum. We can never look back. The bar has been raised and it's set HIGH. Rock on destinychurch! Let's keep it going!

EDIT:

Pastor Mark, our most excellent associate pastor, posted these and some screen captures on his blog.

"Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"

"Lifehouse - Everything Drama"

"At The Cross"

"My Future Decided"

Ruminations

• Lately I've been thinking a lot about obedience, submission and walking in love.
• "Frustration" might as well be a 4 letter word!
• "Bad Attitude" will eat you alive.
• Our DVR is acting up and cox put me on hold for 10 friggin' minutes...we're thinking of cutting our cable.
• Caffeine is staving off my caffeine headaches...go figure.
• Nick and Amy should really start a blog...maybe even begin with twitter.
• My wife rocks sooo hard!!!
• Karen needs to start a blog or a twitter...or at the very least update her myspace.
• My "Durrtystache" is starting to get on my nerves. It itches. Besides, I didn't really get any direction from you guys...minus Los, Mocha and Lara of course. So I'm thinking of shaving it all off.
• Creativity rocks but without follow through or "wheels" it's only vapored thoughts.
• I love, love, L-O-V-E our son...he's growing way too fast.
• Why is Jason Castro still in the running?!?! I firmly believe that it's all a PR plot! He's got no personality, no originality, no charisma and he can't SING...but he's got blue eyes and dreads so he's staying!
• Anyone following MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew"? JabbawockeeZ and Kaba Modern...these crews are ILL! GO ASIAN...'nuff said.
• I desperately need some R&R...soon!
• More...

 

What's going through your noggin?