Author: dustin@goteamhedrick.com

 

 

3/8/2008

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Dear Friends & Family,

 

As you all well know, I have been in Rockville, Maryland just outside Washington, DC for the last five years. Lori and I have been very blessed. She is currently working for First Potomac Realty Trust as Office Manager. I have been working for Burt Associates, Incorporated as Operations Manager. We have been working at these jobs so that we were able to not only start a new church but also fund it for the first years of its existence, not requiring any funds for salary and also affording ourselves a way to often times pay the bills to keep it going. The first six months to a year, Lori and I paid ALL THE BILLS to keep it running! And now, almost four years later, it is a growing self-sustained church! PRAISE GOD! We came as missionaries and we have sacrificed much to be here. But GOD has sustained us and blessed us so very much. We only give HIM PRAISE!

 

We planted the Tapestry Vineyard Church in June of 2004 and it has been the passion of our lives in Christ. It is growing, has two services and is in the process of securing a property to lease for a church facility.

 

The Lord blessed us with Anna Elizabeth, our daughter this past year. She was healed from a cyst on her brain. The doctor had encouraged us to have an abortion, however, we believed GOD, and still yet at the same time embraced the possibility of having a child with special needs. GOD came through and she was healed! We give Him all the praise.

 

As you all know, I have been very involved with missions and humanitarian work traveling to many nations around the world, doing work that GOD has gifted and allowed. The last time I actually took part in a mission myself was over three years ago before the church started. Now, I feel the LORD drawing back into the field. The Tapestry has sent teams to Cambodia, Mexico, India and Nepal. We have contacts in those countries and continue to send teams as the LORD allows.

 

For this trip, I have been invited by Johnny Crist, the pastor of the Atlanta Vineyard to join him on a journey to Tajikistan, a part of the former Soviet Union to minister with a team of pastors and leaders of Vineyard churches.

 

We will be traveling to various areas, ministering to the leaders, pastors and teams in the field that need encouragement. They have had a very tough winter and need prayers, finances, encouragement and ministry. We go in order to build relationships that will lead to our church further partnering with their churches for ongoing service, ministry, support and relationship. My personal heart is to network with the pastors and leaders, find ways we can finance various projects and entrepreneurs, and train leaders.

 

Tajikistan is a part of the 10/40 window, it is the area between the 10 degrees and 40 degrees North of the equator, and represents the largest population of non-Christians in the world. There are 62 nations from West Africa to East Asia. This region contains 97% of the un-reached people of the people groups with only 8% of all missionaries going there. This year they have suffered great loss with one of the coldest winters to date. Many have lost loved ones, homes and have lived without heat and power for many months. Our missionaries there have been in desperate situations and need our support and help.

 

I am writing this letter to you because I know that this is something I cannot do alone. As a team we are not able to do this work through our own efforts and strength. While overseas, it is absolutely important that my team and I have people supporting us through prayer and/or financial donations. I need committed individuals to pray daily for my team. As part of my going, I am to raise $1500 which will cover airfare and supplies. Any extra funds will go to ministry that we are able to provide the families and churches in Tajikistan.

 

If you decide to partner with me financially, Tapestry Church is a 501(c)3 organization in which all donations are tax-deductible. Please remember to include my name on the memo line or “Tajikistan.”

 

Mail Checks to:

Tapestry Church

PO Box 2394

Kensington, MD 20891

 

Or give online at: http://www.firstgiving.com/dustinhedrick (You can use Visa or Mastercard)

 

Please continue to pray for us in these areas:

–         Safety and unity for the mission team.

–         GOD to move in that region.

–         The Language Barrier.

–         Peace for our friends and family.

–         The Presence, Power & Authority of GOD.

–         Friendships.

 

Thank you so much for your support in reaching the un-reached people of the world. If you have any questions for me, please feel free to email or call. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

 

Blessings!

 

 

Dustin Hedrick

301-251-4082

dustinhedrick@tapestrychurch.org

 

 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct your paths.”      -Proverbs 3:5-6

 

MAKE A DONATION NOW

 

Dustin Hedrick

Pastor of the Tapestry Church

 

 

Tapestry Church | PO Box 2394, Kensington, MD 20891 | 301.251.4082

www.tapestrychurch.com

 

 

Thought of the Week (Take 2) A Poem

 

 

The Art of Pondering

By J. Dillon

It is no small thing

this pondering

It cannot be

contained within

a space of 4×4

10 minute increments

while exacting

customers

beat on the

hard glass

doors

around

trying to get my

attention.

 

This pondering

is best

resurrected

in the circle

of pause

where all the clamoring

stands still

and scenes

rise like bubbles –

small vignettes

 

the small dove that

sat on the tree branch

just a foot away;

the poem

about the

conversation

between mountain

and sea,

the dimple on a baby’s face

just beginning to form,

the homesick girl

sharing wedding pictures

with her new found

friends,

the news of a fire

destroying 130 homes

of Butanese refugees

in Nepal

 

And suddenly

the room is full

the house is full

and I am

grounded

roots going deep

shoots beginning

to bud

in this womb

of

pulsating

life.

 

 

IT’S BY OUR OWN… JEANNE DILLON!!!!!

 

Sorry guys, I had to forward this as the second part of the Thought of the Week because…

1. Most people don’t read past the quote… HAHAHAHAHA
2. I just think it goes so well with the topic!

 

So, again, have a wonderful week!

 

Dustin Hedrick

Operations Manager

 

 

"Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it."

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

Without first seeding the thought, the fruit of your labors doesn’t exist. Yet, we are an "action-oriented" society. What we do and where we go has become more important than what we think about. Therefore, we’re always going, always doing, and rarely stopping to think, to explore, or even to live. Yet, if we get back to being a generation of thinkers, the fruit of our labor will be many times as magnificent.

 

Have you read any Emerson’s works lately?

Have you read any of the early fathers of our country’s works lately?

Or any of the great writers of the Victorian era?

 

People don’t write that way any longer. People don’t think that way any longer. People don’t act that way, believe that way or even have the passion that they did back then.

 

I believe it is related to the fact that we do not live our values and in essence, we are inconsistent with our beliefs, thus making ourselves lack in authority, integrity and dignity.

 

Maybe we should slow down, ponder our values. Live on purpose and our actions will follow. I mean, it’s one thing to say that we love our family and an entirely different thing to actually spend time with them showing them we do. Yet, many of us allow the every day distractions to take precedence over the things we really hold dear.

 

Take some time today and this week to meditate on your values. Ask yourself if you are living in relation to that which you hold most dear. Then, make a covenant with yourself to live in alignment with what you believe. Everything else that is simple urgent nonsense will have to wait as you press through into your new life of integrity!

 

Have a great week!

 

dh

 

Oh yeah,

 

DON’T forget that this Saturday and Sunday is Daylight Savings Time!!!!! Be prepared, don’t feel like you have lost one minute of life! HAHAHAHA!

 

Dustin Hedrick

Operations Manager

 

Burt Associates, Incorporated

 

 

Thought of the Week 2-26-2008

 

“Long after a deed is done, the trace or momentum of the intention left behind it remains as a seed, conditioning our future happiness or unhappiness.”

-Gil Fronsdal

Fact of the Day:
How do you explain the common experience of homemade soup tasting better than the same soup purchased at a restaurant or scooped out of a can? Proposed explanations range from the serious to the humorous. Among the serious reasons, one contributor is undoubtedly the nurturing association between home and food. Another might be an ingredient missing from both the restaurant and the soup can — the role of good intentions. Under placebo-controlled conditions, would intentions directed toward food be detectable by monitoring mood changes in people who consume that food? In a recent experiment, scientists used chocolate as the test substance. Their experiment investigated whether the known mood enhancements chocolate provides could be further elevated through the use of intention. This one-minute video shares more. [ more ]

Be The Change:
For one week as soon as you wake up and before getting out of bed, try this simple exercise: Spend five minutes bringing your attention to your deepest intention for the day — whatever that may be. At the end of the week evaluate what impact this has on your daily experience.

 

 

 

I thought this was a neat concept and decided to send it along.

 

I hope your week will be filled with FOCUS, Accomplishment, Life and Encouragement!

 

dh

 

Dustin Hedrick

Operations Manager

 

Burt Associates, Incorporated

6010 Executive Blvd., Suite 900

Rockville, MD 20852

 

Phone 301-770-9880 x23

Fax     301-770-9885

Email   dhedrick@burtassociates.com

Web   www.burtassociates.com

 

 

 

 

 

This message is intended only for the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited, and you are requested to please notify us immediately by telephone at (301) 770-9880, and delete this message from your computer.

To the extent that this message or any attachment concerns tax matters, it is not intended to be used and cannot be used by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law.

Please remember to contact BAI if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you want to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. A copy of our current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available for your review upon request.

Any e-mails that do not contain the signature and disclaimer above are not authentic Burt Associates, Inc. e-mails, and should be disregarded.

 

 

"The few things that work fantastically well should be identified, cultivated, nurtured, and multiplied."

– Richard Koch: Author, management consultant

 

Recently, Johnny Crist, (the man I consider my mentor/coach/pastor), called and spoke to me about what my goals were for the church this year. He then took some time helping me unlock my potential and embrace my unique calling and identity. He did this not in many words, but in a single sentence: “What is it that you are best at? What’s your biggest strength?” It dawned on me. I have spent over 10 years working on all the things I am NOT strong at, attempting to become a more well-rounded person and leader. Yet, we have been given strengths for a reason and if we spend so much time on those things that are simple the, “Good things” in life, we don’t have time to work on the “BEST things.” The question is no longer what is GOOD? But what is BEST?

 

I realized that day that I have spent so much time on my weaknesses that is has been to the detriment of my strengths. All of sudden, I could really SEE! This year, I WILL WORK ON MY KEY STRENGTHS!

 

So, how do we spend more time on the things that are our strengths?

 

Number 1 – Find your biggest STRENGTH. Take some time. Sit and meditate on this. Think about it as you drive down the road. What is the one thing about you, that if you cultivated it, would help you live your values and empower you to reach your goals?

 

Now, let’s make a plan to work on it by…

 

Number 2 – Do you find yourself persisting in unwanted habits, procrastinating, avoiding things that are good for you? If you could break through these obstacles, nothing would be impossible. The power of self-discipline holds the key to unlock the door to accomplishing anything. What is one habit you could create that would develop that strength.

 

For example, if my strength were learning foreign languages, (which if it were; I would be rich here in this area just translating for businesses and government! So, if you have this talent, you should probably read this), I would spend my car rides on listening to language tapes. This is a creative use of LOST time.

 

If I am a great sales person, but I need to develop relationships, I would make a meeting weekly at a networking luncheon, or dinner or attend events that my target audience attended and simply make FRIENDS. Sales are about talk. Learn to talk by developing your listening ear. If they are the ones that have needs, go to school on them by listening to their needs and learning to speak their language.

 

Number 3 – Simply your life. It’s a much-needed concept to combat the disorder and frenzy that so many of us face in our daily lives. We must discover how to bring more happiness into our lives by taking things we don’t want out of it.

 

We need to:

 

Identify and eliminate the major sources of complication in our lives. (This takes time to think and hear your inward self).

Rid your home of space-consuming clutter (This takes commitment to get rid of anything you don’t NEED or USE. My theory is anything that does not have story and hasn’t been used in over a month can go).

Simplify household tasks like cleaning, cooking, and laundry (Make them 15 minute routines along with anything that is simply a daily chore).

Dramatically reduce your monthly expenses without sacrificing fun (Just spend more purposefully, set a day of the week for certain things like eating out and NEVER outspend your pre-decided amount).

Feel comfortable saying “no” to invitations and commitments you really don’t want to accept (I’ve said this before).

Make wiser choices about how, when, and where you spend your time and money (Never do anything unless it grows you, your relationships, your family or heads you toward your goals!)

 

“Nothing is worse than active ignorance.”

-Goethe

 

So, take the time to learn and then act. It’s time to study our own lives and then to move toward activity.

 

Have a great week!

 

dh

 

Dustin Hedrick

Operations Manager

 

Burt Associates, Incorporated

6010 Executive Blvd., Suite 900

Rockville, MD 20852

 

Phone 301-770-9880 x23

Fax     301-770-9885

Email   dhedrick@burtassociates.com

Web   www.burtassociates.com

 

 

 

 

 

This message is intended only for the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited, and you are requested to please notify us immediately by telephone at (301) 770-9880, and delete this message from your computer.

To the extent that this message or any attachment concerns tax matters, it is not intended to be used and cannot be used by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law.

Please remember to contact BAI if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you want to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. A copy of our current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available for your review upon request.

Any e-mails that do not contain the signature and disclaimer above are not authentic Burt Associates, Inc. e-mails, and should be disregarded.

 

Thought of the Week 1-23-2008

 

 

"It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action and discipline that enabled us to follow through."

 – Zig Ziglar

 

I just thought this was appropriate for the day! And on another side note, check out this quote that is above my desk:

 

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

 

These words are forgotten words today:

Character

Integrity

Devotion

Covenant

Passion

 

I want to remember these words today. The one I want to remark on at this point is integrity. Very simply put, integrity is, “living your values.” Today, let’s take a moment and reflect on exactly what our values are and them imagine what it must take for us to actually act on those values daily.

 

Will we need to make changes?

What changes do you need to make to live your values?

Could you devote 15 minutes of your day to planning your day to live those values?

 

Now, plan to speak words that lead you to those actions and there you are! You are set on a path toward your destiny!

 

Have a great week!

dh

 

 

 

Dustin Hedrick

Operations Manager

 

Burt Associates, Incorporated

6010 Executive Blvd., Suite 900

Rockville, MD 20852

 

Phone 301-770-9880 x23

Fax     301-770-9885

Email   dhedrick@burtassociates.com

Web   www.burtassociates.com

 

 

 

 

 

This message is intended only for the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited, and you are requested to please notify us immediately by telephone at (301) 770-9880, and delete this message from your computer.

To the extent that this message or any attachment concerns tax matters, it is not intended to be used and cannot be used by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law.

Please remember to contact BAI if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you want to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services. A copy of our current written disclosure statement discussing our advisory services and fees continues to remain available for your review upon request.

Any e-mails that do not contain the signature and disclaimer above are not authentic Burt Associates, Inc. e-mails, and should be disregarded.

 

 

“The Trick is not how much pain you feel – but how much joy you feel. Any idiot can feel pain. Life is full of excuses not to live, excuses, excuses, excuses.”

 – Erica Jong

 

GET READY TO LIVE THIS YEAR with no EXCUSES!

 

It’s time to LIVE!

 

And not for us to just barely live, scraping by every day with a meager amount of energy, enthusiasm and a weak pulse, but live on purpose as if we were not guaranteed our next breath or moment.

 

Friends, it’s time to live life to the fullest. Remember, Jesus’ life mission included coming to give us the fullest life possible: John 10:10

 

In just a few short weeks, the Tapestry will be releasing new information, resources, a new look and a new re-invigorated vision.

 

We encourage you to join with us in this new year to take time and smell the roses. Take some moments to reflect. Make memories and friends. Find life and hope. We at the Tapestry are purposing this year to help each one of connect with GOD and each other in ways as never seen before. This is the YEAR!

 

Let’s have fun together with all our family and friends…

 

Blessings!

pd