Merry Christmas

The Fields Church : Little Drummer Boy

CLICK inside to watch on YouTube site. For some reason by blog only shows 1/3 of the screen.

Welcome aboard!

I'm excited to announce the addition of Elgin and Christina Combs to The Fields Church. Elgin will serve as a worship pastor who will coordinate all worship gatherings, develop musicians, and give leadership to our band as they encourage and inspire all of use to worship our amazing God.

His first weekend will be November 13/14.

We believe God continues to guide and lead us at The Fields Church. We will continue to share the powerful story of Jesus with our community. And we will continue to help people understand their need to follow Him in every aspect of their lives.

Meet Elgin and Christina

Introducing Elgin Combs from The Fields Church on Vimeo.

Speak Freely

Laughs. Tears. Silence. Worship. Confession. Compassion.

The Permission to Speak Freely tour was a powerful event hosted at The Fields Church Sunday night. Anne Jackson, Susan Isaacs and Sloveig Leithaug shared their personal stories in a way that gave absolute permission for anyone in the room to be open about their own lives--and they did.

It was an amazing night to be encouraged. It was a freeing night to share struggles. It was a humbling night as a pastor to hear how the church has been a blessing. It was an eye-opening night in how the church can be the problem. It was a wonderful night to watch God heal inner lives.

I'm thankful for three ladies willing to share. I'm hopeful it will be contagious.

See Photos

Anne's Blog

Multi-Generational Musicians

Here's a great example of musicians in the their 20s to late 60s (maybe 70s) having a lot of fun on stage. These guys may have been around the block a few times, but they still know how to put on a good show for the crowd.

Introducing.... Kool and the Gang

(EIU Oct 2, 2010)

Unbelievable Opportunity: Anne Jackson

We have the privilege of hosting Anne Jackson's tour.

This is a MUST ATTEND event. It really is.

Getting healthy

Since July 19 I've completed 32 workouts, went 249.96 miles through biking, walking and jogging, and lost 28 pounds.

And I feel good.

Mornings with My Boys

Dakota is in Second Grade.

Riley is in Kindergarten.

They are sponges.

This year I am doing my best to start every morning sharing some spiritual insight into their lives. At first you may think, these guys are young...what could they really understand?

I think they understand a lot. These are forming years. These are the huge opportunities to shape our kids into who they will become as adults.

So, every morning at the breakfast table we'll talk about God's Word and how it can apply to our lives. We talk, we read, we answer questions about life, and we pray.

And as a parent, I found a tool that made this VERY easy.

I use "My First Message: A Devotional Bible for Kids.

I love it.

Biggest Loser Update - Week 2

The Fields Church is one week into The Biggest Loser series.

Here's some highlights:

- I announced my goal os 20-25 pound in the six week time period. I lost 9.8 during the first week.

- The 13 people who were able to officially weigh in on Saturday lost 60 pounds in one week. We averaged about 2 percent loss of total body weight.

- We called and talked to Matt Hoover, Season 2 Biggest Loser winner, Saturday night at The Fields (Common Grounds location). What an inspiring phone call! THANKS Lisa Hardwick.

-Chicago Bears chaplain and new friend Ray McElroy tore it up this weekend preaching at The Fields. Awesome stuff! He spoke on "Losing Selfish Ambition" - POWERFUL

- Several new families joined us this weekend at The Fields. That's always exciting.

- Lives were challenged and changed this weekend--God is at work!

-Thankful for God direction and presence at The Fields.

Below: Joey Bright Photography

Excited for this weekend!

LINKS

Journal Gazette coverage

Mattoon Messenger coverage

The Fields Facebook

The Fields Website

Losing it

Sixteen people from The Fields have signed up to be a part of a seven-week health challenge.

Together, we'll encourage each other to lose weight, live healthy, and start a lifestyle change that will impact our health for a very long time.

My persona goal: lose 25 pounds by August 28.

See you this weekend!

www.thefieldslive.com

Let's Catch Up

Sometime you just have to sit with a cup of coffee an catch up.

Go grab your coffee.

The Fields

Both Mother's Day and Father's Day were great gatherings this year. These two weekends have become very meaningful weekends at The Fields. We intentionally invest, inspire, and incorporate family activity in these weekends. Special thanks to Ashley West who spoke on Mother's Day, and a HUGE thanks to all those who worked hard to make Father's Day a great day.

Our graduating high school seniors had a great connecting time via a 2-day retreat that led them to a high-ropes course, camping, biking along a river (and getting scared in the middle of the night by an evil water fountain.)

Ten people served in San Jeronimo, Honduras las week as part of our 1814 Project. We are partnering with a great little community and church to help make transformational impact in people's lives.

Family

Dakota and Riley have been busy with t-ball and baseball this summer. Both are doing great. Dakota is at an interesting age where he can play both t-ball and machine pitch. So, he's a stud on the t-ball field and a rookie in machine pitch. It's been a really fin summer of baseball. I've help out coaching on both teams. (Don't let anyone know I never made it past jaycee league as a kid.)

Cooper is talking a lot. And we actually are starting to understand him. He loves to swim and watch the boys play baseball.

Since our family vacation was in April, Joy and I are feeling a weird "no summer vacation" emptiness. We may try to get away for a few days in July as a family.

Just Me

I'm in my sixth and final month of an online coaching community for pastor's leading their church through transition and change. It's been a very positive experience. And a great time to meet and connect with other pastors.

Thanks for letting me catch up after the kick-off of a busy summer.

Drop me a note and let me know how you're doing.

Better yet, let's have a real cup of coffee someday.

- Travis

Because it's World Cup Time

Let's celebrate some amazing hand art.

Futbol!

Art by Mario Mariotti.

See more here.

Donate Your Summer Kids Clothes

Contact us if you want to donate.

Graduation night

Congrats Riley!

We can't believe you are heading into kindergarden.

Game Ball

To a seven-year-old, getting the game ball is like winning the lottery.

Dakota, this week, anxiously waited to see who the coach would give the game ball to.

Actually, each game he hopes it's him...no mater how well he played.

This week, his name was called.

And our great friend Sam was there with his camera to capture the moment.

Congratulations Dakota.

We're proud of you.

Gift in the mail

Thanks Scott Hodge Coaching Community for the new book.

The SHCC is designed for pastors leading their church through transition and change.

Highly recommend the coaching community if you fit in that category.

You can go to Scott's blog HERE.

Where to buy the book

Another Proud Parent Moment

This is a portion of Dakota's birthday invitation going out to his classmates.

As a parent, we couldn't be any prouder.

We didn't ask him to do this. In fact, we asked THREE TIMES if he is sure this is what he wants to do.

Blessings, Dakota. We're proud of you!

Can I rewind 18 months back...

I knew we had an integration problem.

I knew we needed to work on assimilation.

I knew we needed to help people connect.

The Solution: Welcome to the Fields.

It's a three-week gathering in someone's home where we share a meal, and then have a discussion about The Fields Church.

Week 1: The mission, vision and values of The Fields Church

Week 2: The beliefs and spiritual truths of The Fields Church

Week 3: The connecting and serving opportunities at The Fields Church

We're two weeks into this.

My only regret.... we should have started this 18 months ago when I became lead pastor.

It may possibly be the healthiest thing we have done in 18 months.

California

Vacation Day 1: San Francisco.

Golden Gate Bridge, Giant Jr. T-Ball Field outside of the Giants stadium, Pier 39, and an incredible children's park near Haight & Ashbury.

I've posted all my pics on my Face Book.

http://www.facebook.com/travis.spencer

April 4

No pretty bonnets.

No new suits or spring dresses.

No new tie.

No sunrise service.

No big breakfast.

Why have we taken a different approach to Easter? Because it's not about us.

Easter is the story of power: Power to bring the dead to life. Power to change lives. Power to transform. Power to revive. Power to heal. Power to restore.

We want to keep things laser focussed on the story. We want to tell the story of an Almighty Father who resurrected His son. And then tell the next part.

...that same Almighty Father wants to restore and rescue us.

rescue us from sin

from shame

from loneliness

from depression

from emptiness

from deception

from apathy

from spiritual depravity

The story of resurrection is powerful.

So we are going to tell it...without trying to clutter it with "the extras" that have been attached to the celebration over the years.

Sunday, April 4

The Day of Rescue

The Fields Church

Steering Through Chaos

Steering Through Chaos is a new book written by Scott Wilson.

Scott's a pastor who has effectively steered his church through change, transition, and steady growth over the years in Texas.

I have a few friends on his church staff. They speak so highly of his leadership ability. Thus, I was really excited to hear he was releasing a book.

In his book, we get to learn what Scott has learned over the years. We get to benefit from his experiences. This book is inspirational, challenging, and applicable if you are ready to steer your organization in a new direction and through unknown waters.

The Chapters are full of great content. Each chapter has a guest author write a short personal story reflecting the content of the chapter. And to make this book become even more useful, there are great discussion starters at the end of each chapter. (This would be a great book for local pastors or church staffs to read together.)

If you're a church leader who knows it's time time to steer into unknown waters, you need to grab a copy of this book and give it a read. It may save you a lot of heartache.

Here's a brief video of Scott talking about his book:

NEEDED: HBO, couch, snacks.

Who has HBO, Sunday nights free, a couch, and snacks....?

Gold-Medal Moments

These water baptism moments never get old.

The Fields Church - Feb. 7, 2010

Living Like A Champion- Kelly Clark

From Bangledesh...with regret

I just got this email:

I regret to inform you that I've just gottn a spot of vomit on my treasured BK2 shirt. I think it'll come out, we shall see!

Don't know what I ate here in Bangladesh but it wasn't good for me...

I'll be ok...:-)

Matt

* * *

Matt Wilkie is a great friend and a great Convoy of Hope missionary. He wears The Original Burger King shirt from Mattoon, IL all over the world. And he has pics to prove it.

I guess the shirt now has some battle scars...now that a Bangladesh meal didn't like Matt.

Meet Matt Here

Here's Matt with Karl Rove in an airport.

He blogged about this story here.

SOLD

It was a total impromptu purchase in the San Pedro Sula, Honduras Airport.

It wasn't a flag, hat, soccer jersey, or machete. It was a book in a tiny airport bookstore.

And it was about a girl named Lakshmi from Nepal. And it was called, Sold.

"Lakshmi is a thirteen-year-old girl who lives with her family in a small hut in the mountains of Nepal. Her family is desperately poor, but her life is full of simple pleasures, like raising her black-and-white speckled goat, and having her mother brush her hair by the light of an oil lamp. But when the harsh Himalayan monsoons wash away all that remains of the family’s crops, Lakshmi’s stepfather says she must leave home and take a job to support her family."

My heart was gripped on every page I read. I finished the entire book on the plane.

I knew it existed. But I never read it in a free-verse, journal-like perspective as I did that day.

The sex slave industry is haunting. It's brutal. It's very real.

1 million – Number of children exploited by the global commercial sex trade, every year.

Read Sold.

Discuss it.

Pass it along.

Then realize we live in a world full of opportunities where we need to step in and make an impact in someone's life.

Acoustic Rock for Haiti

Let's raise some money for Haiti!

Let's listen to some great local musicians.

Let's drink some great coffee.

Check out the Facebook event site.

Thanks for giving toward Haiti

Thank you to all the people who gave to Haiti as part of my Facebook birthday wish.
You can still give through my Facebook birthday wish.

The link is HERE

All funds will be used by Convoy of Hope who has disaster relief teams on the ground now in Haiti.

Full-page coverage in the news

The Fields Church at Common Grounds made full-page coverage in a feature's section of The Journal Gazette. The feature's section is not available online, so here's an overview look at the coverage.

We meet every Saturday at 7:07PM at Common Grounds in Mattoon.

RIP Villa Pizza

photo By:Jim Filipiak

My favorite pizza place in Mattoon burnt down late last night.

Crazy fire in single-digit temperatures.