Me and Dad

Me and Dad (John Male)

This past weekend we visited our families in the Cincinnati Ohio area. We had Thanksgiving dinner with my family and then drove 5 miles to Judy's parent's house for dessert. We stayed with Judy's folks - they have a huge house. It was a wonderful opportunity to spend time with the people we love and for the grandchildren to see the grandparents.

Saturday, my father, John Male, was driving a shuttle to downtown Cincy so I went downtown to ride with him. It was great spending time with dad and cathing up on life stuff. You see, dad had been a meat cutter for almost 50 years. Since he has a bad leg from a motorcycle accident, retirement looked good at age 66, so he did just that.

Now, dad drives a bus for a major touring company. He has transported Michael Flatley and the Lord of the Dance Troupe. Driving a bus is what my dad was shaped by God to do - no doubt. He loves travel and people. Dad is having the time of his life and I couldn't be happier for him!

Is this what heaven will be like?

Mercedes & Morgan
(Click on photo for slide show)

This week we are in Cleveland seeing our friends again. It has already been a wonderful time of reunions as we get to see some very close friends we haven't seen in a few months. Pictured above is my daughter Morgan (12) and her friend Mercedes. It has already been wonderful to see my pastor Bill Cunningham and his wife Barb. What great friends!!!

But there's a catch - we have to say goodbye to them AGAIN! I really don't like goodbyes. On Wednesday morning we will pack up and head to our family's house in Cincinnati and again we will experience that sense of loss again.

The good news? One day we will all be reunited in heaven as believers in Jesus Christ and we will spend eternity together never having to say goodbye again. I am beginning to long for that day more than I ever have before. Are you? See you in heaven!

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2-3NIV

Traveling to Cleveland

Tom and Me

Yesterday we traveled to Cleveland Ohio to visit family and friends. We arrived at my best friend's (see pic!) around 9:15pm Sunday night and had a great time talking about life and catching up on what is going on with our families. Tom helped me through one of the worst times of my life giving me guidance, friendship, and a listening ear.

Everyone needs a friend like Tom. I hope you have one.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17NIV

Love in action

Tye, Tom, Jane, Christine, Ed

At NCBC we are wrapping up 7 weeks of our fall spiritual growth journey called Impact: Connecting Your Community to Christ. We learned that Jesus reached out to the down and out, the immoral, the unlovely. We had nearly 80 adult small groups and 20 high school groups meeting each week. Each group was encouraged to find someone to demonstrate the love of God to by loving on them, meeting a need, etc.

On Saturday our small group divided up and delivered two Thanksgiving baskets complete with all the fixins for a meal plus some stock items as well. The family was absolutely overwhelmed and we even had the opportunity to pray with them. It was such an encouragement both to her and to us as well!

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Jn 13:35NIV

Men's Retreat

The Amazing Race
(Click on picture for slideshow)

This past weekend we had our fall men's retreat at Camp Wyoming. It was a great time to be together as men and to talk about things men care about. I had the awesome privilege of sharing three talks with the men around the theme of the Amazing Race. Here's a brief overview:

Friday night we talked about Rejection and Redemption. We shared about how we may have been disqualified from the Christian race through unbelief or life circumstances.

On Saturday morning we talked about Reconciliation and Romance. What we need is a DIVORCE! Not a divorce from our mate, but our current marriage. I challenged the men to give thier wives a new husband and see if they would get a new marriage. We even shared practical ways to romance our wives and to love them as Christ loved the church and gave himself....

Saturday afternoon we wrapped up an incredible weekend with our last session Renewed and Refocused. Our goal is the prize of our heavenly calling. One day we will be rewarded in heaven for our work here on earth.

Thanks to Jeremy and Brian for putting together some fantastic challenge games which were a great hit!

Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave.... Eph. 5:25NIV

It's No Longer "PASTOR" Tye's Weekly Update

I don't have a doctor's degree - wish I did. But I am just a plain old pastor. But, that's PASTOR Tye. In fact, my friend Tom calls me PT to this day. Other's want to be called doctor. If you are my physician then I certainly don't mind calling you doctor, but why would I call my pastor "doctor"? If he (or she if that is your case) is a shepherd of God's flock, wouldn't you rather call him "servant"? Others sign their name and put "MBA" or "ESQ." Titles have their place, but not for servant leaders.

In Lead Like Jesus we are learning that in order to be great leaders, we must be great servants.

But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are brothers. - Quote from Jesus in Matt. 23:8 NIV

What is a Rabbi? Today it would be a professor, or Ph.D. Did you hear that? Jesus told us not to allow anyone to call us "Professor" or "Doctor." You might say to yourself, these titles are important to get people to listen to me when I teach. How can I get people to follow me without the credentials? (Lead Like Jesus, Ken Blanchard, p 59.) I want people to follow me for who I am, not what I have done or accomplished.

The greatest among you will be your servant. Quote from Jesus in Matt. 23:11 NIV

So, just call me Tye. If I ever get a doctor's degree, I hope you never find out! If you must call me by some title, then let it be "servant."

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30 NIV

A Benevolent Dictator?

Until today I was the benevolent dictator of my family, but no more. What do I mean by that? Well, I am 44 years old, married, and have worked hard for nearly everything I have. (can you detect a problem with that statement?) Therefore, I call the shots in my house because I deserve it! I'll be really nice and loving, but in the end I am in charge!

Are you all worked up by now? Well, first of all, I am NOT the benevolent dictator of my wife - just a partner and a servant to her. I am speaking about our children at this point. I get the best seat in the living room, the dining table, and the best bed when we travel. I figure that the children will someday have their own families and they can then be the benevolent dictators of their family.

NO MORE! Today is a NEW DAY! It's easy to be a servant leader at work, but it is not so easy at home. But, that is what Jesus did. He was a servant leader all the time.

So, on the way home from work I stopped at the music store and bought my daughter reeds for her saxophone that she asked for months ago. I'm planning on sitting on the floor a lot so my children can enjoy the better seats. I want to get hooked on serving my family. I truly want to lead like Jesus.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ...made himself nothing. Taking the form of a servant...humbled himself. Excerpts from Philippians 2:5-8 NIV