To Save a Life

Movies made by churches can often times be cheesy and just down right bad.  But if you notice there is an upward swing of movies made by church groups that are making them more appealing and hopefully, more life changing.

Last night I took our youth to see To Save a Life.  I have to say that I was impressed with this movie.  In fact, my head is still spinning on some of the thoughts that I learned from watching the movie.  From the ‘figuring life out’ teenagers to the over-the-top church member, to the non-parenting pastor/father, even to the renegade youth minister…I felt that there was a lesson for all of us.

This movie is more about how we value people in and around our lives.  I cannot begin to think about how many people that I have judged or deemed ‘not worth my time.’  I feel guilty and disappointed in myself as I think about that…from my days in high school, even my Baptist college days.  I think about the image that I felt that I had to have.  What I can see now is that in my trying to become ’somebody’, what I was doing was really ignoring people or not truly valuing them as individuals.  Who was I anyway?  And I look at some of the people that I wanted to date, be around, be seen with, be friends with…I put too much effort into situations that was unfulfilling.  Too bad that lesson comes years too late.

As I type, I thank God for the chances and opportunities that I have/had to work with teenagers.  I pray that our time together helps them feel valued as an individual, but also wanted as a part of our group.  I am challenged to teach my teenagers to value each other.  I see so many of them so desperate to be a part of something…even to the point of forsaking all else to be simply accepted.  I am so thankful to the team of adults that is gathering around our youth and beginning to pour their life (and stories) into our students.  I know that they will in turn…save a life!

Who knows what will come of this movie, but I feel that I have been given a glimpse into how I need to live, how I need to lead.  If you are a person that only looks at relationships to see what you can get out of them…stop.  What you are essentially setting yourself up for is disappointment and loneliness.  Love people for who they are…that will lead to greater fulfillment.  Jesus Christ loved people so much that he gave his life for them, for me.  The Bible tells me, ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.‘ (John 15:13).

How willing are you to lay your life (your habits, your reputation, your pride, your agenda) down for another person?  How willing am I?  Good food for thought today.

Your word is your bond…

If you didn’t how important your words are, just look at the world of sports.  Pete Carroll of USC and Lane Kiffin of Tennessee.  Both men had spent hours with the families of potential players romancing them to come to their school and play football and now they have both taken new jobs and left some families with broken promises that they would be their son’s coach.

Then take a look at the world of entertainment.  NBC’s handling of the Jay Leno/Conan O’Brien situation has been less than perfect.  They put a contract in place and 7 months later…’well let’s just change it a litte.’  What?  Now Conan will be embracing a new home soon!  And all the while David Letterman is laughing his head off!

This all reminds me that a long time ago my dad told me something that his dad taught him, “Son, your word is your bond.”  I am learning this phrase more everyday.  Truth be told, I should have learned this earlier in my adult life (even earlier than that – during the teenage years).  With my bills, with the promises I make to my family, even to the things that I promise God, my word is my bond.  Sure for the most part I keep my word, but if I am honest with you and myself…there have been too many times where I have broken my word.  I am so guilty of this sin…as so many are.  I have paid bills late, I have put off taken my kids for a bike ride like I said I would, and the list goes on and on.

Proverbs hit me with a ton a bricks this morning.  Proverbs 3 says, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.  Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow’- when you now have it with you.” (vs. 27-28)

Translation – If you say you are going to do it…DO IT!  If you can help someone in need…DO IT!  If you said you would pay it…DO IT!  And if you tell God that you would do it…DO IT!  Mark Batterson’s book Primal is affirming this.  In it he wrote about how we dont need to just listen to the word…we need to, you guessed it, DO IT!

My word is my bond.  I pray that my learning of this becomes me being living example of this!

The day that was…

Today was a special day for me.  I know for many pastors/leaders this ‘old hat’ but I was honored to be able to lead in the Lord’s Supper today and to lead in the baptism of four young men today.

I was nervous about leading the Lord’s Supper today.  Karl offered the chance and I took it.  It was the second time that I had done it and I would say that I dont do it the ‘traditional’ way.  I love to reflect on the meaning of the elements and make sure that I know what I am doing as I partake of them.  The bread=the broken body of Christ, the cup=the blood of Christ spilled on our behalf to pay for our sins.  It represents the new covenant between us and Christ.  It is such a special moment in worship and I was nervous because I didn’t want to screw it up.  I didn’t want to say the wrong thing.  My prayer is that as we reflected on the elements of the Lord’s supper that people could see that this is more than just a tradition…it was a worship experience…it is a covenant reminder/renewal.

Baptism…so much fun always.  I have been privileged to baptize a bunch of people and I pray this opportunity happens more frequently.  We had three of the dads up there with their sons, and the fourth guy had a close friend that is influential on his life with him.  I got to admit, I was so excited when I came out of the water, I felt like shouting after it was over.  It was just an adrenaline rush!  Seeing people come to know Christ is awesome.  Being there when family share in the experience makes it even better.  All four guys have the potential to lead our church in years to come.  Cannot wait to see how the future unfolds.

‘Building’ a dream…

I spent the day at Irving Bible Church in support of my wife and the company that she works for.  While there I sat and soaked the atmosphere that is IBC.  Let me tell you.  What I saw when I walked around was what it looks like when church dreams.  That is more than a church.  It was a community center!  If I wanted coffee in the morning…I could go there.  If I wanted to take my kids to play at 11:34 am I could go there…ANY DAY!  If I wanted to ignite my visual senses…I could go there (wonderful art displays).

As we get ready to build our own church I hope that we stop and dream!  I think about what we could do and what our church could mean to the community if we would build more than a church!  It would take money…yes.  But it’s takes a dream first!

Time to Dream, and Dream Big!!!

Before I go…Some blogs that I think that you should see.  Check ‘em out!

Steven Furtick – Creating a Culture of Generosity
Perry Noble – Questions Leadership Teams Should Ask

Just Words?

I wonder how many of you are like me…how often are our words just that…words?  No action…just talk.  No reaction…just idle conversation.

A couple of weeks ago, I was hit like a ton of bricks by some words that I believe need not only be in my vocabulary, but rather become the backbone of my existence.  They are words that I hope define my life and my ministry from this point forward.  You will see, these aren’t hard or difficult words to know by definition, but they are challenging to live out (well, some of them).

They are:

consistent
intentional
excellence
generosity
leadership
courageous

What are the words that are challenging you?

My kids…

This is our birthday week!  Lilah turned 7 on Monday and Luke 4 on Wednesday.

Lilah Gean was our surprise.  Kallie and I didnt plan on having kids so soon into our marriage.  Our ‘5 year’ plan as we called it was trumped by God’s ‘6 months in – Guess what, you’re pregnant!’  I wouldnt go back and do anything different.  Lilah teaches me so much about faith and God.  She looks at everything as possible.  She can do anything and if she can’t then someone can.  I need to look at God the same way.  I try to do so much, but instead of me doing it all, start relying on God, cause he can!

Lilah got ‘A’ honor roll on her first report card this year.  I am so proud of her.  She’s worked very hard and I know that she loves her school and her teacher!

Luke Gaines…well he’s just a mess!  So kidding!  I love my boy!  Luke will always be a reminder of my grandmother.  Gaines was her family name and it’s an honor to have it as a part of my son’s name.  I hope he feels the same way years from now.  Luke is so full of energy.  When it’s bed time, he always has that little bit of extra juice left to keep me up for another hour!  He love Bumblebee (Transformers) and sees every yellow car as BumbleBee!  It’s funny.  But like Lilah, Luke knows that God is around.  The other night we took the dog out for the bathroom and it was chilly.  Luke asks, ‘why it is so cold?’ My response was, ‘God wanted it to be like that today.’  His response was to pray…he said, ‘God why did you have to make it so cold…it’s freezing out here!’

Crazy to think about how fast kids grow up.  My kids seem older than they should be.  Or maybe it’s just that I have loved them so much during this time of their lives I don’t want it to end.  Are a few pictures from their special days.

Happy Birthday you Two!

God thank you for great kids.  It certainly wasnt in my plans to have kids so young and so early in my marriage, but WOW…what a tremendous blessing they are to me and to my wife.  Help me be the best daddy possible for them.  I celebrate them, I celebrate your awesomeness for creating such great kids.  Thank you for the gift of being a dad!  I pray that I dont screw it up!  In Jesus Name…Amen

9-11-01

Tragedy … Helpless … Insecurity … Loss for Word

Those four words pretty much describe the day that was…9-11.  I remember Kallie just left for work that day.  I sat on the end of the bed and just turned on the Today show and they were just getting the breaking news that a plane had hit the first tower.  At the time it was thought that it was nothing more than an accident.

But I remember sitting back watching the second plane fly into view thinking, “OH MY HOLY GOD!!!”  I sat in total disbelief that anything was happening.  This was a major TRAGEDY.  I felt HELPLESS.  I felt INSECURE.  I was at a LOSS FOR WORDS.

You know we are fortunate.  This was our ONE day of terrorist attacks.  But there are so many places where terrorist attacks are everyday occurrences.  How it must be for those people to live this way…everyday.

I can’t help but think about it from another angle:

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8

There is a terrorist that is out there to get me everyday.  He comes in different forms, from different angles (sometimes good angles), and attacks me when I begin to get closer to God than he wants me to…that’s the devil in a nut shell.

9-11 was horrific, I will never forget.  But it also reminds me that the devil attacks me everyday…not just once in a blue moon.  I don’t for sure how many attacks Homeland Security, FBI, CIA, other foreign governments/agencies have stopped.  I am grateful for their dedication to keeping me safe! I am also grateful to my Lord Jesus Christ that has probably stopped the devil more times on my behalf than I realize.

My thought this morning was that I take my salvation for granted.  I know on 9-11 I did my freedom!  Thank you Jesus for always being there for me, even when I didnt know about it or even want it.  Thank you to all the men and women that served on 9-11 to save lives and continue to save lives!

Gone, but never forgotten!

And so it begins…

We started youth back up tonight.  After hearing that many were coming, we only ended up with 13, but I was still excited.  It was great to see everyone and get back on the saddle tonight!

I set up a new challenge for the students tonight (and really for myself).  I asked them to commit to spending time with God everyday, serving God in a ministry, giving to God’s kingdom, and bringing people with them.  Of the 13, I got three to step up and commit.  SO proud of them for doing it and look forward to keeping them accountable and encouraged through this.  One of my girls even was worried about weeks she couldn’t make it and if I would be mad at her if she didn’t make her commitment.  Knowing that she’s going to push herself to better her relationship with God…how in the world can I be upset with her?

I am excited about where we are heading.  Not sure what all God has planned, but we’re going to get after it!

Also so glad to have our worship band with us.  Guys, worship is going to be sweet this year!  Great start tonight (even with only part of the band there)!

Come on God!  Teach me so I can lead them!

“I smell Satan!”

Oh I used to love Dana Carvey as the ‘Church Lady.‘

Recently I started B90X.  It’s an intense cover to cover reading of the Bible.  I have been challenged to read the Bible multiple times all the way through.  The last time that I ‘tried’ I got about two months into the reading and well…got lazy.

Twitter has become a fascinating thing.  It has connected me with people from around the country that I otherwise would have never known about or even cared to read about.  But I find myself being challenged by their thoughts, their experiences.  Through a former staff member I worked with, I have become interested in following a group from North Carolina called Elevation Church.  Pastor Steven Furtick challenged his people to read the Bible in 90 days.  After seeing their comments on Twitter…I made the commitment.  I am 5 days in and already am seeing so much more than I did the last time that I read.

Why the Church Lady you ask?  Evey guest that would sit with her would mention something and she would say, “…that smells like Satan!!”  At almost every turn, I see Satan trying to ruin God’s plan.  From the outset in the Garden to (where I am at now) the Exodus, Satan has woven himself in to almost every situation, even though it was man’s choice to make certain decisions.  Such the situation with Joseph and his brothers.  They allowed sin to creep into their lives and it caused them to make a bad choice.  But at the end of this incredible journey, I love what Joseph said to his brothers…“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.“ (Genesis 50:20).

What I love about my reading of the Bible so far…if Satan invades my life…I don’t have to go back to the start…I just have to start moving again.  Adam…failed…redeemed by grace..life on earth goes on.  Noah…sinner…listened to God’s instruction…helped God start the world over again.  Abraham…liar…risk taker…became the father of all mankind.  Jacob…betrayed his brother…wrestled with God…blessed to start a nation.  Moses…murderer…picked to lead over a million people out of bondage.

All of these men are consider saints, patriarchs, pillars of faith.  But at their core, they were men that built a relationship with God.  I don’t think in my lifetime I will ever lead a million people out of slavery, but I can help a million being a slave to sin!  Who knows what all I will be able to accomplish in my lifetime, but I am convinced, unless I make this book a MAJOR part of my life (more than it is now), I will not succeed!

And in case you are wondering…I don’t say that because I am a pastor…I say that because I am a man that needs God to become more in me!

Stirring…

It’s 10:30 as I start this blog entry.  I am in Little Rock, AR and I feel that I should be sleeping the night away.  But there are questions/thoughts inside of my head that I just believe that I should write down…what better way to do that…than this blog.

When it comes to church…here are some questions that for whatever reason drive me crazy or comments that make me want to hit something (Some which I heard this morning):

• “People will get mad…”
• “Why did you do that?”
• “I’ve heard people say…”
• “How come we cannot…”
• “That’s not going to work…”
• “The way we’ve always done it…”

My responses:

• “People will get mad…” – So?  Pharisees got mad at Jesus!
• “Why did you do that?” – Because the Great Commission calls us to movement…let’s move!
• “I’ve heard people say…” – First, name the people…second, are they doing anything other than talking?
• “How come we cannot…” – Because the church has been in decline…time to switch it up!
• “That’s not going to work…” – How in the WORLD can you tell me that in less that a one-week trial period?
• “The way we’ve always done it…” – URRRGGG!
• “It’s best for me if…” – Church isn’t FOR YOU…it’s for GOD…and for people TO CONNECT WITH GOD!

I am growing tired and restless!  Seriously.  The church cannot be held down!  It’s time that we MOVE OUR FEET and reach out into the community and find people that need Jesus.  If we, the local church, are not willing ready or able to function (Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry, Worship, Evangelism) properly, then God will move on to the next group of willing/able/ready ‘at a moments notice’ people and use them to build the kingdom!

Please dear God dont pass me by…and please dont allow my church family to sit in Neutral or Park…let us be in OVERDRIVE!

Scotto

- Got share some love with Andrew today.  Comment of the day from him…”If Jesus would have sinned, it would have messed up God’s whole plan.”  I dont know about you…but that increased Jesus ‘AWESOME’ factor for me today!  So glad that Jesus knew how to make the RIGHT choices!

- Also…loved, loved, LOVED Andy Stanley’s recent podcast.  In it he said, ‘You are probably not the smartest person in your organization.’  I SOOOO have to be looking for the Einsteins of our church…we have some ideas rolling around…let’s see what they say!