Tuesday, June 23, 2009
My identity and confidence
I will rest in what God has spoken over and about me rather than what others or even myself would say regarding who I am or where I am headed.
Monday, June 8, 2009
God's laws
Have you ever noticed how the people and prophets expressed delight in God's laws in the Old Testament? Not just the 10 Commandments, but all of God's laws. How could this be so? In our 21st century American mindset we would view all these laws as restrictive, choking, binding. What was it that these people saw that most of us would be unable to see?
I am pretty sure that they recognized that these laws were a gift given by God to set them apart as a people distinctly to be known as the people of God. This was a covenant of love...love from God to His people, love for God by His people, and love for one another. It was also meant to be a light for all peoples, as well as an indicator that God had set in plan a motion that would lead to the salvation of all who received it.
In the midst of the growing chaos in this world, where systems are breaking down, people are being confused by new found exposure to the world's other religions, and other things... this is a time where those who follow God's ways will stand out as a witness to God's love. Rediscover God's law; particularly in the new covenant setting. You will find not restriction and bondage, but rather freedom and joy!
I am pretty sure that they recognized that these laws were a gift given by God to set them apart as a people distinctly to be known as the people of God. This was a covenant of love...love from God to His people, love for God by His people, and love for one another. It was also meant to be a light for all peoples, as well as an indicator that God had set in plan a motion that would lead to the salvation of all who received it.
In the midst of the growing chaos in this world, where systems are breaking down, people are being confused by new found exposure to the world's other religions, and other things... this is a time where those who follow God's ways will stand out as a witness to God's love. Rediscover God's law; particularly in the new covenant setting. You will find not restriction and bondage, but rather freedom and joy!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Stupid Church Signs
I saw another stupid church sign the other day. As some of you know they are my pet peeves. You've seen them... "God reads 'knee-mail'" & "Wal-Mart's not the only saving place..."
I know, right?!!? retarded.
The one I recently saw was a permanent part of a sign...not just the letters you can put up and change periodically. What did it say? Well besides the name of the church it said...
"Systematically teaching the Word of God"
Ok...so the "stupidness" is not so obvious on this one. But tell me, what is a church sign for? Is it for church members already attending that church? Nope. Obviously they know where the church is should be able to remember what the building looks like.
Church signs are for "advertising" to people who do not already attend there. Ok..so with that goal in mind and this church's chosen signage...who do you think they are advertising to? Who would "Systematically teaching the Word of God" appeal to? One would think only seasoned mature Christians would find that appealing.
So what't the point? The point of my rant is this... This sign reveals a flaw in our thinking in the church today. We have given up reaching the unchurched and the lost! Oh we still talk about them, put them in our mission statements and bring them up in our prayers... But we are not willing to change what we do or how we think in order to build a bridge and reach them!
We spend out time and money marketing to other Christians when we should be devoting our efforts to making some.
We at West Shore are still a church, but we are doing soemthing different...attempting to fix what is broken.
I know, right?!!? retarded.
The one I recently saw was a permanent part of a sign...not just the letters you can put up and change periodically. What did it say? Well besides the name of the church it said...
"Systematically teaching the Word of God"
Ok...so the "stupidness" is not so obvious on this one. But tell me, what is a church sign for? Is it for church members already attending that church? Nope. Obviously they know where the church is should be able to remember what the building looks like.
Church signs are for "advertising" to people who do not already attend there. Ok..so with that goal in mind and this church's chosen signage...who do you think they are advertising to? Who would "Systematically teaching the Word of God" appeal to? One would think only seasoned mature Christians would find that appealing.
So what't the point? The point of my rant is this... This sign reveals a flaw in our thinking in the church today. We have given up reaching the unchurched and the lost! Oh we still talk about them, put them in our mission statements and bring them up in our prayers... But we are not willing to change what we do or how we think in order to build a bridge and reach them!
We spend out time and money marketing to other Christians when we should be devoting our efforts to making some.
We at West Shore are still a church, but we are doing soemthing different...attempting to fix what is broken.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Blessing of Legacy...
Last weekend I had the great privilege of performing another wedding for one of my Forerunner youth kids now-all-grown-up. Besides making me feel old(!!!), it was an awesome thing to be remembered with such affection that they asked me to be a part of their most special day.
I also had the opportunity to speak on Sunday morning at the church I used to be a youth pastor at. I founded the youth ministry there and I am sooo thrilled that not only is it still going, but from all reports it is going stronger than ever! It is not a self-centered pride that aggrandizes ones' self to say these things; for the very reason that it is still flourishing is because it was founded upon the Rock, Jesus Christ. Upon the Lord leading my family and I out of there, I was so grateful that the Senior Pastor turned the ministry over to one of my adult leaders on my team. I know it was a difficult thing for him to step into a position of heading a ministry founded and grown up by someone else, but he did so admirably and has put his own stamp of God-given uniqueness upon it all. I am sure if I attended a youth service it would be very different now than when I was there...and it should be! As long as it continues to be built upon the Rock, Forerunner will keep going strong in all of its various forms to come.
It makes me grateful for those who have come before me at West Shore Church. Though the church is very different now than it was in the past, I know that those faithful people laid a foundation that is sure and true. We are now building upon that Rock again. We are not only honoring the legacy of those that came before, but we are creating a new chapter of legacy all our own. We were put on this earth, in this place for such a time as this...and we too will be found faithful!
I also had the opportunity to speak on Sunday morning at the church I used to be a youth pastor at. I founded the youth ministry there and I am sooo thrilled that not only is it still going, but from all reports it is going stronger than ever! It is not a self-centered pride that aggrandizes ones' self to say these things; for the very reason that it is still flourishing is because it was founded upon the Rock, Jesus Christ. Upon the Lord leading my family and I out of there, I was so grateful that the Senior Pastor turned the ministry over to one of my adult leaders on my team. I know it was a difficult thing for him to step into a position of heading a ministry founded and grown up by someone else, but he did so admirably and has put his own stamp of God-given uniqueness upon it all. I am sure if I attended a youth service it would be very different now than when I was there...and it should be! As long as it continues to be built upon the Rock, Forerunner will keep going strong in all of its various forms to come.
It makes me grateful for those who have come before me at West Shore Church. Though the church is very different now than it was in the past, I know that those faithful people laid a foundation that is sure and true. We are now building upon that Rock again. We are not only honoring the legacy of those that came before, but we are creating a new chapter of legacy all our own. We were put on this earth, in this place for such a time as this...and we too will be found faithful!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
(Retweet)
Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington D.C., put this up on his blog (evotional.com) and it was too good for me not copy and share. As I face some uncertainties and growing responsibilities, this was a breath of fresh air:
Andy Stanley shared some priceless thoughts on certainty in his session at Catalyst West. He said, "The more leadership you assume the less certainty and more complexity you'll experience." Andy just says it like it is: "I will always be uncertain. I am certain of it."
Let me share one principle I shared in my lab yesterday. It was a defining moment. We were preparing to launch our second location and I was filled with uncertainly. I was reading a book titled The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley. One sentence changed my approach to leadership. It set me free.
"You'll never be more than 80% certain."
Andy Stanley shared some priceless thoughts on certainty in his session at Catalyst West. He said, "The more leadership you assume the less certainty and more complexity you'll experience." Andy just says it like it is: "I will always be uncertain. I am certain of it."
Let me share one principle I shared in my lab yesterday. It was a defining moment. We were preparing to launch our second location and I was filled with uncertainly. I was reading a book titled The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley. One sentence changed my approach to leadership. It set me free.
"You'll never be more than 80% certain."
He has torn us to pieces...
I am tired. I feel like I have been shredded. It's too much sometimes. Ever feel like that? The weight and worry of everything is too much to carry. I believe that our nation that I love is under judgment. The experts are at a loss to explain the rapid evaporation of wealth and have no clue what to do. Everyone is watching for signs of life. In our beloved country, a recent court ruling has stated plainly what has been mostly unsaid. A judge ruled that the over-the-counter abortion pill (or morning after pill) cannot be restricted to 18+ women only. In part of the judges ruling he essentially says that science is our foundation in this country. When the Bible is removed as a foundation for a country or a person, all sense of right is suddenly relative. This of course has been going on for decades now..but we are seeing the fruit of being our own gods.
Can I tell you that I believe that our churches are being judged as well? When church becomes about something other than Jesus it ceases to be His Body. He will reclaim us. "For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household..." 1 Peter 4:17 (TNIV) People are turning away from God, hearts are growing cold, churches are shrinking as people are tired of lifeless liturgy and lukewarm faith.
And yet there is cause for great hope! God is not done yet! Not only is the empowered church of Jesus exploding in the global South and East, but God is not done with our country...not yet! If the remnant will rise up; if the people of God will repent and truly pray, then God will hear and will forgive and heal our land. (2 Chron 7.14) He will come. He will come like the Mighty Warrior. He will come and heal and restore. The people of God will once again be the light that they are called to be. For what is God's purpose in judgement, if not to restore? If not to turn us from our own self-destruction?
Hosea 6:1-3 (TNIV) “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Can I tell you that I believe that our churches are being judged as well? When church becomes about something other than Jesus it ceases to be His Body. He will reclaim us. "For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household..." 1 Peter 4:17 (TNIV) People are turning away from God, hearts are growing cold, churches are shrinking as people are tired of lifeless liturgy and lukewarm faith.
And yet there is cause for great hope! God is not done yet! Not only is the empowered church of Jesus exploding in the global South and East, but God is not done with our country...not yet! If the remnant will rise up; if the people of God will repent and truly pray, then God will hear and will forgive and heal our land. (2 Chron 7.14) He will come. He will come like the Mighty Warrior. He will come and heal and restore. The people of God will once again be the light that they are called to be. For what is God's purpose in judgement, if not to restore? If not to turn us from our own self-destruction?
Hosea 6:1-3 (TNIV) “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Friday, April 17, 2009
Guidance for my misguided ways
Well, I was totally eavesdropping on the patio at Panera yesterday (cuz that's how I roll), and listened to this one lady talking. She was conveying various aspects of her life, most of which were totally jacked, and then she says "well, I'm just praying for guidance."
I found myself wondering, "How often do we ask for guidance in our misguided ways?" In other words, after we craft our own way and make a mess of things, how often do we ask God to work things out for us in our messes? Often the request is for God to make our messes a little more manageable rather than asking for forgiveness and adopting God's ways instead of our ways. We love being our own god even though we totally screw things up.
"God, I'd really like it if you would rearrange my mess pile a little, but don't get rid of it...I've grown attached to the stench of garbage"
Just give it up. Trust me, I'm a great mess maker. But I learned (and am learning) to follow God's ways in my "new life." The air is great out here!
(Thank God for His grace, but stop clinging to your garbage!)
I found myself wondering, "How often do we ask for guidance in our misguided ways?" In other words, after we craft our own way and make a mess of things, how often do we ask God to work things out for us in our messes? Often the request is for God to make our messes a little more manageable rather than asking for forgiveness and adopting God's ways instead of our ways. We love being our own god even though we totally screw things up.
"God, I'd really like it if you would rearrange my mess pile a little, but don't get rid of it...I've grown attached to the stench of garbage"
Just give it up. Trust me, I'm a great mess maker. But I learned (and am learning) to follow God's ways in my "new life." The air is great out here!
(Thank God for His grace, but stop clinging to your garbage!)
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