Raising Boys

This was an email forward that I got from Jenni. We have been blessed with the opportunity to raise two boys, so I found this quite humorous.

RAISING BOYS
The following came from an anonymous Mother in Austin, Texas...

Things I've learned from my Boys (honest and not kidding):

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.

6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.

8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old man says they can only do it in the movies.

10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old Boy.

11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12.) Super glue is forever.

13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15.) VCR's do not eject "PB &J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20.) The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.

21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

The dissertation proposal hearing

A hearing sounds so ominous…but that is what it was. Yesterday was my proposal hearing at Asbury Seminary regarding my doctor of ministry dissertation. I have been writing and researching for 14 months on the subject of spirituality and leadership. The “proposal” was comprised of the first three chapters of my dissertation—85 pages worth. I am happy to report that the committee did approve my proposal and so I have the green light to proceed with my dissertation project, which will consist of interviewing pastors. The group gave me great feedback--including some areas of my dissertation that I need to expand. Their comments will only make my writing better. I shared with them that I have an idea for a popular book that I would like to write when the dissertation is done. They encouraged me to continue writing…

An email from Anne Rice

I emailed Anne Rice, the author of Christ the Lord, to tell her that I enjoyed her work. I wanted to encourage her because I did not think that she was doing violence to her career. I believe that God is going to bless her work. I have told other people that I think that Christ the Lord is the literary equivalent to Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Mel took a career risk in producing that film and God blessed him. I hope that God will bless Anne in the same way.

Anyway, here are the two email that I received from Anne:

From: Anne Rice [anneobrienrice@mac.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 9:08 PM
To: Derek Vreeland
Subject: Re: Thank you for risking "violence" to your career

Rev. Vreeland, that is a beautiful letter, and the sort of letter of which an author dreams. I'm working on a second book now, The Road to Cana. I figure it will take at least four books for me to do what I have determined to do. I deeply appreciate your positive words, your generosity and your encouragment. And will click on the review now. Take care and deepest thanks. Anne.


From: Anne Rice [anneobrienrice@mac.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2006 9:11 PM
To: Derek Vreeland
Subject: Just read the review. May we link from my website?

Thank you! That was wonderful. You don't know what you did for me. And I agree with you, no, Jesus did not sin at all in this novel, nor will He sin in any future novel written by me. As Mark says, "He felt the power go out of Him...." That's what happened. Take care and thank you so much, Anne Rice.

And yes, I gave her permission to link to my blog. How cool is that! Look for the link on her webage at www.annerice.com.

Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt (2005): A Review

While traveling to India and back, I had a chance to read Anne Rice’s Christ the Lord. I had first seen the book in our local Wal-Mart around Christmas time and I thought to myself, “Isn’t this the vampire woman?” I had remember of friend of mine in Oklahoma was a huge Anne Rice fan, but initially I dismissed her new work. I tend not to read much fiction because I reserve my reading time for books on spirituality and theology. (Little did I know that Christ the Lord fit into those categories!) Then I started to hear about Rice’s return to the Christian faith and the buzz surrounding this book. So I picked up a copy and decided to read it on my trip to India.

Rice says in her extended “Author’s Note” that she decided to write this book when she was ready to do “violence” to her career (309). I can understand where she was coming from because the audience of her very popular Vampire Chronicles may be different from the potential audience of this new series—but I think that this turn in her writing is not career suicide, but a “stepping in” to the purpose she was always created for.

Christ the Lord is a wonderfully-written and meticulously-researched novel on the boyhood life of Jesus. It is written in the first person with Jesus as the narrator. It chronicles the life of his family and their move from Egypt to Nazareth. It captures Jesus in his historical setting—that of a first century Jewish boy. Rice masterfully paints the picture of the first century world in which Jesus lived. In this historical context, Rice pursues the introspection of the young Jesus he comes into the awareness of who he is. She does this in vivid, and often humorous, dialogues between Jesus and his family and in thoughtfully-written inner monologues as Jesus begins to make sense of the unusual incidences and stories surrounding his birth and life. I greatly enjoyed Cleopas, Jesus’ uncle—who was a humorous instigator in Jesus’ journey of self awareness. I felt like I gained a new appreciation of Joseph’s quiet leadership. I was a bit disappointed that Mary was not developed in more detail. I expected to see her in a greater role, especially since Rice comes from a Catholic perspective.

I highly recommend Christ the Lord for it’s historical reliability and orthodox position that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed Christ the Lord, the son of the living God. Rice stretched me theologically especially as related to Jesus’ ability to perform miracles BEFORE his baptism in the river Jordon. The opening story left me with some questions about the sinlessness of Jesus. Did he sin in this opening story in chapter 1? I cannot go into detail, because I do not want to ruin Rice’s powerfully opening to the book, but I concluded that the boy Jesus did not sin in this opening act.

Finally, let me say thank you to Anne for her passion and diligence in researching and writing this book. I agree with Mike Morrell that her review of biblical and historical scholarship would “give a seminary student an inferiority complex” (Relevant March/April 2006). As a seminary student myself, I feel quite inferior and very much impressed with Anne's work. I am certainly a new fan. Thanks Anne for doing “violence” to your career...

For more an Anne Rice, go to her webpage at www.annerice.com.

Home from India

Rocky Russell and I returned from India yesterday and I decided to beat the jetlag by staying up until 9:30 pm last night. I got up this morning feeling great.



This was my second trip to India and it was another wonderful trip. My love for India has only grown from this second experience. I really do love India…the sites, the smells, the people, the food, Darjeeling tea, the ministry…I love it.

The pastors’ conference in Siliguri went well. I taught six of the ten sessions on various leadership themes. Approximately 100-125 Bible college students and pastors from Northeast India, Nepal & Bhutan attended the conference. I am overwhelmed to think that I was able to touch three nations through this one conference. It was also a good opportunity for me to work through some of my leadership/spirituality thoughts in a different culture.

We spent two days in Gantok, Sikkim in the Himalayan mountains. Sikkim boarders West Bengal to the South, Nepal to the East, Tibet/China to the North and Bhutan to the East. Rocky preached in an IET church there. He preached a great message on the Holy Spirit and the Spirit moved powerfully that night. We stayed in Pastor Kishan’s brother’s house. “Bathing” at their house in an Indian bathroom in the mountains was quite an experience it.

We returned to Delhi and I was surprised by a visit from my friend Aby Kallimel, the son of IET founder P.G. Vargis. I preached in an IET church there in Delhi and Aby translated. I was honored that P.G., his family and IET President Joy Thomas were with us during the service. P.G. introduced me to the congregation in his humorous way by sharing that while “India” was in the Bible, “USA” was not. He got a laugh from the congregation. He believed this until he found “USA” in the bible – in the word JerUSAlem. P.G. also thank me for introducing him to Brian Zahnd, who has become somewhat of a “rock star” among the people with IET…even our driver spoke highly of Pastor Brian. Aby did a great job translating. I preached on the spirit of faith and encouraged them to press on during times of suffering and persecution.

God did an awesome work in my heart that morning.

I did a staff devotional for the IET staff on Monday and we headed home Monday night. It was another great experience. My love and admiration for IET has grown. They have planted nearly 6,000 churches and have raised up approximately 2,300 pastors and missionaries. I believe in the vision and leadership of IET. God has put IET and India in my heart and I think this is the beginning of a long friendship.

Check out the India Trip 2006 photo gallery

Hello from India

Rocky and I made it to India Monday night (India time – Monday morning US time.) After an overnight stay in Delhi, we headed to Siliguri for the pastor’s conference. I spoke during the first session last night and it went well. Rocky and I are staying in a hotel near the IET mission base here in Siliguri. The hotel is right across the street from a Buddhist monastery. The hotel has a Chinese restaurant on the top floor. Only in India can you drink Indian tea in a Chinese restaurant across the street from a Buddhist temple.

Things a going well here. Rocky spoke twice this morning and I will speak during the afternoon meeting and evening meeting today. Thanks for the prayers! (And moopie, I miss you!!!)

Derek

Dissertation Chapters 1-3

In the midst of preparing for my India trip, coaching Wesley's tee ball team, and keeping up with my work at the church, I have been finishing the first three chapters of my dissertation...and I am finally finished!!! The long and rather academic title is "The Relationship Between Spiritual Transformation and Leadership Growth in a Pentecostal/Charismatic Context." It is basiclly trying to understand the problem in ministry with leaders who a empowered by the Spirit for ministry, but end up in moral failure. My theory is that these leaders are Spirit-empowered by not Spirit-transformed.

You can read it online at:

http://www.derekvreeland.com/vreeland%20dissertation%20chapters%201-3.pdf

The week after I get back from India, I will head up to Asbury for my "Proposal Hearing." The first three chapters of my dissertation (there will be five chapters in all) is call the dissertation proposal. I have to defend my work so far before a comittee at the seminary and then they will approve my project. The project is rather simple: I will interview about twenty pastors and ask them questions related to how their spiritual formation relates to their growth as a leader. That is all that I'm going to say in this blog...if you want to know more click the link above....it is a pdf file.

Hopefully my next post will be from India.....

Preparing for India

I just finished hammering out the notes to the messages I will preach while in India. I always type out more notes than I need, but I like to have all my thinking laid out before me when I preach. I will do five messages/lectures in the Pastor's conference next week in Siliguri and then I will speak in an IET church on Sunday morning. Growing out of my dissertation research on spiritual transformation, I will preach the following messages:

"Spiritual Leadership"

"Spiritual Transformation Part 1:
Introduction, trinitarian definition & the work of the Spirit"

"Spiritual Transformation Part 2:
Jesus' example, the Father's glory, and the role of spiritual disciplines"

"Raising Up the Joushua Generation"

(a message on leadership development)

"The Church that Jesus is Building"

I plan on preaching on the spirit of faith in the IET church on Sunday, but I am not sure yet.

I am going to try to update my blog while I am in India--check back for updates. I am taking Jenni's digital camera, so I should have some good pictures to post. I am looking forward to getting to India in 15 hours--verses the 36 hours it took me to get there last time. We are taking a non-stop flight from Newark, NJ to Delhi. You can check out the flight plan here. I am really looking forward to joining God in his adventure. (Check out my MP3 sermon from last Sunday to understand the reference to adventure.) I am also glad that Pastor Rocky Russell from River of Life Church is going with me to share in the adventure.

I am humbled to have the opportunity to speak into the lives of pastors from three nations--pastors who are planting churches in areas where there has NEVER been a church. Thank you for your prayers for both Rocky and myself.If you are interested....I will be reading (and listening to) the following while in India:

Christ the Lord by anne rice
Velvet Elvis by rob bell
Ministry in the Image of God by steve seamands
Something by john grisham

Face Down -- matt redman
All to You...Live -- lincoln brewster
Come Away with Me -- norah jones

My Sermons

Scroll through the sermons to listen to the messages that I have preached at our home church, Cornerstone Church in Americus, Georgia.

Note: The most current sermon will begin to play automatically and you should be able to listen at dial-up and broadband speeds.