Ever wondered what makes me tick?

Many people say to me, "How do you do everything you do, Lana?"  When they pose that question to me I really don't know how to respond because it is just the way I am!  I have lived my life full-steam ahead since I came out of my mom's womb, or so she says :o)  I've tried to embrace every opportunity and suck as much as I could get out of every life experience, whether it be wonderful or awful!

Tonight, I have the opportunity of visiting my parents as I'm traveling for a 2-day period with my job and their home is in the middle of the two locations.  While we were having dinner, my Mom told my Daddy that he needed to share his "good Samaritan" story with me.  He began to explain how yesterday at his church there appeared to be a homeless man that was walking around the perimeter of the church building.  When Daddy drove up, he noticed several people trying to talk with the man while he went on inside the church.  Once he was inside he inquired as to whom the man was and several people shared that the man seemed disoriented and wouldn't really speak to anyone.  He just walked and nodded his head.  Knowing my Daddy as I do, that really got to him and just as I thought, he went outside to speak to the man, himself.  He introduced himself to the man and someone else said to my Daddy, "This is Mr. Johnny."  Daddy asked Mr. Johnny if he wanted to come inside and enjoy church with him.  Mr. Johnny shook his head to indicate that he didn't want to do that, but Daddy began to explain that he would be welcome just as he was and that it didn't matter how he was dressed or what was going on in his life.  Mr. Johnny still resisted.  When Daddy assured him that he would sit with him and not leave him, Mr. Johnny finally consented to go inside. 

Daddy found a seat four or five rows from the front and asked Mr. Johnny if that would be an okay place to sit.  He nodded his head to indicate he accepted that seat.  When Daddy tried to take his walking stick, Mr. Johnny grabbed the stick, obviously uncomfortable with being separated from his only possession.  After sitting there a while Daddy began thinking about contacting someone who could come and pick up Mr. Johnny or getting him some appropriate assistance.  He decided to find his Pastor and share the story to let him know about Mr. Johnny.  As Daddy stood up he explained to Mr. Johnny that he was going to step away for a moment and asked if that would be okay.  Mr. Johnny was agitated and upset that Daddy would leave but Daddy asked him to hold his Bible for him until he returned and that settled him because he knew Daddy would come back for that.  As he relayed the scenario to his Pastor, he assured Daddy that he would take care of Mr. Johnny after the service.

As the Pastor began his message, he began by introducing a friend who was joining him for the day.  As he asked his friend to come to the platform Daddy began to watch Mr. Johnny stir and eventually stand up.  He made his way to the platform and began to remove his hat, his tattered coat and began to wipe the dirt from his face.  As Mr. Johnny began to speak everyone realized that Mr. Johnny was actually a member of the church and no one even recognized him.  The Pastor had asked him to participate in that exercise to see if anyone would really be willing to step out of their comfort zone and sincerely seek to make a difference in the life of someone who was different and didn't look just like everyone else sitting in the church.  I think it was BRILLIANT!  Of course, it was my Daddy who jumped up to the task.  Mr. Johnny (not his real name) thanked my Daddy for not giving up when he refused to come inside, initially.  He thanked Daddy for pushing through his resistance in order to really impact his life.

After we had cried a while over the sweet story, I said to my Daddy, "I am the way I am because of you - you know that, right?"  He just smiled and drank some more sweet tea :o)

It doesn't take a lot to make a difference in someone's life but it does take you making a move towards them.  At Forest Park Church you'll hear us say, "In order to reach the people no one is reaching, you've got to do the things no one else is doing."  I'm so glad that I'm my Daddy's girl and I learned so much about doing the things no one else is doing from him.  Stuff like this - makes me tick!

Until next time,
Lana

Why I LOVE MY CHURCH!

You guys have all seen them; we have those cool shirts that say "I Love My Church!"  Well, today I finally understood what they mean!  It is kind of funny for me to say that since I wear that t-shirt all the time but today, when I drove up to that wonderful Forest Park Church building, I had the most overwhelming feeling of LOVE for all of my FPC family, past-present-future.  These are some of the reasons why I LOVE MY CHURCH, Forest Park Church, that is :o) http://www.fplive.org/

• We have room for EVERYONE!  It doesn't matter what your past looks like or what kind of mess you're making of your present, we have a place for you.  We are not perfect people and we don't expect you to be either.  Today, there was a kid in my 10:00 Adventure Park service who ran to meet his Dad at the end of the service.  One year ago, this Dad was struggling with substance abuse and wouldn't have greeted that sweet little person with the biggest bear hug known to man...but today, because of the influence of FPC, he did!
• Coffee.  It isn't important to everyone, but it is to me!  I'm so happy that Kate makes such great coffee and there is always a cup waiting for me when I show up.  AND the rebellious side of me really wants to take it into the auditorium.  I've tried every trick I know to slip in my bag but the guilt is always too much with the Pastor's Wife breaking the rules.  Confession is good for me and it's the small things, like coffee, that make life great, right?!?!
• ECUADOR!  Obviously, this list is in no random order because anyone who knows me knows I'm a missionary and that would be #1.  For Scott and me, leading this amazing trip each Summer, has completely changed how we pastor, how we perceive and live life, even how we parent our own kids!  It has been such an honor to see our children fall in love with a country that they heard about their entire lives and now to be able to travel there to love on our Ecuador family - INCREDIBLE!  This year, we are taking our 10th trip to Ecuador with our FPC family.  Some of you have been with us nearly all of those 10 years and how great it is to see Ecuador through the eyes of a 1st time missionary - LOVE IT!  (July 9 - 17, 2011) wanna go ;o)
• Cindy Britt.  This chica has revolutionized our Check-In process for kids, Birth through Age 5.  For those of you who have kids that age, you know what I mean!  We get you through that kiosk ASAP and get you into that very packed auditorium.  As the Director of Children's Ministries at FPC, I couldn't do what I do without volunteers, like Cindy.  She observed a need, found the solution, trained herself and her team and now we have a more efficient plan. As I was driving up today, I knew Cindy and her team were there and I wasn't worried about a thing.  LOVE IT!
• Our Rocking Music!  These guys work so hard to find music that is relevant for today's generation, rehearse like crazy, show up at 7:15 am on Sunday and stay through the end of the 3rd service, for one purpose - to lead YOU and ME in worship.  I love them and I'm honored to sing alongside of them!
• Kids.  I love KIDS!  When we came to FPC 9 years ago to pastor this local church, my goal was to build a children's ministry where kids really wanted to be.  A mom said to me this morning, "When we drove past FPC this week on the way to a basketball game, both of my boys pointed to the church and said THAT IS THE BEST CHURCH IN THE WORLD!"  Thank you, Conner and Carter for the massive compliment and thank you to their Mom, Tara Stevenson, for sharing that with me - that one sentence made my heart smile, today!
• Our Messages.  You may think that Scott shares everything with me BEFORE he shares is on Sunday but he rarely does.  The only time he tells me what he is going to say is to ask my permission to say something about me - that could be very tricky!  I am completely blown away that my husband, Pastor Scott Neal, consistently brings a fresh and God-touched word, each and every Sunday.  I told my Dad this week that it seems like his brain would eventually run out of stuff to say but he never will.  As long as he continues to share about the never-ending, all consuming love of Christ, there will always be something for him to share.  He's cool - love him!
• YOU.  You are why we do what we do.  You are the reason how we do what we do.  You are behind every heartbeat of what goes on at Forest Park Church on a Sunday morning.  Our purpose for being here is to introduce you to the love of Christ in an environment where you don't feel condemned, ridiculed or rejected.  Scripture never describes the behavior of Jesus in that manner and we REFUSE to do that to anyone.  Once you encounter the love of Jesus, you'll change - everyone does.  It is just who HE is!

Talk soon - until next time,
Lana

I'm focused on the future! 2011

I've been reluctant to blog because I just didn't think I had that much to say but after experiencing 2010, I've had a change of heart!  It has been a hard year but a year that has allowed me to see the authenticity of love when love is needed most and most challenged.

As you are reading this blog, please keep in mind that it is the world as I, Lana, sees it.  The views and opinions of Forest Park Church may be a little different :o)  Seeing as my husband pastors that great church, FPC is a huge part of my thoughts but a lot of what you will read is just me being real!

This year began with incredible anticipation for Ecuador 2010!  We welcomed our precious Dr. Leo and his wife, Rina, to be with us at Forest Park Church in January.  It was an honor to share our vision for Global Outreach as this couple sat in our church to share what Forest Park Church and our involvement meant for them, personally.  Amazing!  It is amazing what you can accomplish when you join together with one purpose, one dream, and one plan:  you can change the direction of an entire community.

Easter was a highlight for FPC!  We had our largest attendance, ever, in the history of this local body - more than 800 as our team served, loved and gave in (4) services.  The message was one of the most spectacular that Scott has ever shared and I've heard a ton of messages over these 20 years of marriage!  The one word that describes him best as he shares his passion for God and for people is transparency.  He is completely open with his pain, his struggle and his love for YOU!

Summer brought great excitement as our FPC Children's Ministries Leadership Team led High Seas Expedition VBS!  I love my team :o)  They give and give and give each and every Sunday to create environments where children feel welcome, have fun, are safe and experience Jesus on their level.  People tell me that the way we do VBS at Forest Park is just all together different.  They describe it as adults going back to childhood in order to allow the "kids" to have a great time and fall in love with Jesus.  I'm okay with that description!  We will continue to do it just that way, every Summer!

Ecuador 2010:  what an adventure!  We carried the largest team that we've ever had the privilege of leading to Guayaquil, Ecuador:  92 Summer Missionaries.  More than 8,000 children were served in local schools, more than 1,500 people were served in our free Medical Clinic and we completed the building requested by Dr. Leo for his ministry in El Recreo.  Our 2010 Team was focused on one purpose, one dream, one plan and the lives of the communities where we ministered were changed but none more so than our own!  I'm so thankful that each of these encounters was chronicled by the videography skills of our friend, Charlie White.

Charlie was a little uncertain about Ecuador and 2010 was to be the first trip for him and his Holly.  He believed that it was a good thing that we were doing but he had a hard time believing that there was a place for him, his skills, and his talents.  Charlie was a "computer guy" - that's what I called him - and had joined our FPC Tech Team.  When we realized that some of our regular "video" people couldn't go with us for 2010, we realized that Charlie was our answer.  This "computer guy" would be the person to carry the Ecuador 2010 experience back to Forest Park Church.  If you didn't go to Ecuador in 2010 you would see this amazing adventure through Charlie's eyes.  The video that was shot by Charlie and edited by Nate Carroll was the most accurate depiction anything that we've ever created.  For those of us who dream about Ecuador all year and dream in Spanish, the video was priceless.  In a few short weeks, I would begin to realize just how priceless that it really was...

August 18th was an average day for us - just work, school and Scott being at church with his staff.  But all that changed when we received a call around 11:00 pm that Charlie had been injured.  It was relayed to Scott that the injury could be serious so he left to go be with Holly and Charlie's family.  What was so amazing to Scott was that when he arrived there was already a large portion of our Community Group that had made it to the hospital before him!  Over the next 3 days we witnessed a group of people who were so much in love with one another because of their love for God.  Holly was never alone, not one moment, as we eventually had to say "goodbye" to Charlie as we sang him into the arms of Jesus on Friday, August 20th. 

Many people have talked about Holly's strength throughout this year.  She is remarkable and has left me speechless many times with her calm, steadfast demeanor.  After all, Holly lost her Daddy in June and I just didn't know how we were going to make it after losing Charlie...but we are making it, day by day.  Her Forest Park friends and community group have rallied around her and she doesn't have to do it alone; she never will!

It has been really difficult for me to make sense of Holly's journey and the pain that so many of our FPC family have experienced over 2010.  To begin to describe it all would take a book rather than a blog and that's not my purpose here.  I just want YOU to know that there is hope and there is a future after the pain.  YOU don't have to live in pain forever and neither do I!

The Fall and Winter months have been filled with OUTREACH!  Our FPC Family Fun Fest on October 31 brought out more than 700 people to enjoy a great event for families.  Our FPC Global and Community Outreach Team served more than 300 meals on Thanksgiving Day!  Adventure Park Gives Back shared a delicious dinner with families and blessed kids with Christmas gifts.  Our annual Angel Project also brought in hundreds of Christmas gifts for the boys and girls in the Elizabeth City Public Schools who wouldn't have enjoyed Christmas!  We concluded 2010 with Christmas at the Park and it was one of the most special events we've ever hosted.  I hope that we will continue to do it each Christmas as we slowed down, enjoyed one another and shared in the true spirit of Christmas, our God.

As I was enjoying the massive "snow storm" of the last week I reflected on 2010 and all that had occurred in the lives of our FPC family and the pain in my friends.  As I watched the snow cover the ground, the trees, the cars, the ROADS, I thought about how the snow just seemed to make everything so fresh and clean.  However, in my pragmatic manner of thinking, I just couldn't get away from the fact that under that entire blanket of white there was a dirty, ugly, ground that would be nothing but mud as the snow melted.  I felt God just nudge me with this thought...Life can be dirty and messy and sometimes, life is just plain ugly.  However, when it is covered with the love of Christ and the beauty of friendship, it makes the messy a little easier to walk through.  I'm glad I'm walking with YOU! 

Until next time...
Lana

Life is a journey, not a destination!: I'm focused on the future: 2011!

Life is a journey, not a destination!: I'm focused on the future: 2011!: "I've been reluctant to blog because I just didn't think I had that much to say but after experiencing 2010, I've had a change of heart!..."