At the Crossroads!

This was supposed to be the day that we closed on the sale of our church building.  That didn’t happen today as planned, but it’s all good.  It’s been rescheduled and the pieces that have been in place are beginning to move.  It’s interesting to see the future to begin to take shape at our church.  And how history comes to a close.  But will we embrace this time of our lives?  It’s funny how people embrace the same situation different.  While some celebrate how God is leading, others are looking inward to…basically…a world that once was.

I wonder how the people of Israel felt…those that would left to die in the desert?  Did they celebrate their children and future generations as they moved forward, or did they cry about opportunities lost?  Our church parallels their story so much.

Many will cry.  At one time our church was celebrated as ‘the place to be.’  People grew up in this church and vividly remember the glory days.  Young and old, people came from all over and built a great place to worship, but did they worship?  So many got caught up in the ’stuff’ of the church, that when trouble arose or ’stuff’ happened and they didn’t get their way, they left.   There is so much history here.  But so much of the history is not about what God did, but what people did.  When God gets taken out of the equation, He will surely leave.  Yep, I am sad to say there will be crying in the coming weeks and months as our church begins to make the ‘big changes.’

Still others will celebrate.  They know that their time has past, or is it?  They will look at the future generations of this church and celebrate what God is doing, and even in their old(er) age, they do what they can.  Sure this is not the outcome they wanted, but God is moving and that’s all that really matters to them!  They get their feet wet, dirty, scarred.  They will pray, beg, and wrestle with God so that he will make His plan perfectly clear.  And even if God doesn’t provide for them exactly what they asked, they still know….God provided.

And some are doing both.  They are crying because they loved this place.  They got married here, kids grew up here, spouses where memorialized here.  They remember the past, but the celebrate the future.  They want what they once had.  They want the younger generations to experience what they did years and years ago.  They want to worship God more holy and purely.  But they know that future comes with a cost.  The cost of comfort, security, even friends.  So for them with celebration comes tears.  Tears of joy.  There are a number of people that are/will be great pillars of faith in our congregation…that bled for people here, but they look forward to doing it again some where else!  For them, mixed emotions are being had.

No doubt, we will have trying days to come.  I am having trying days right now, but God is moving and I am along for the ride!  Should it be my turn to get off the ride some day WAY DOWN THE ROAD, God will let me know.  But right now…full speed ahead!  Am I sad for the people that feel that they are ‘losing’ their church…you bet!  But it is my hope that in the coming weeks, that they will find God and God will show them again exactly where they can minister to others and church isnt about buildings or Sunday School departments, but building relationships with a dying world that needs Jesus!

Great week at Camp!

Actually it’s been over for about a week now, but I am just now getting to write about it.

Me going was more out of necessity than desire.  I love camp, but with the craziness known as ’summer’, I wasn’t as thrilled to go.  But that all changed before we left.  I saw this as an opportunity to really connect with some kids I barely know.  After all, in just a few short years, they will become the youth…so what a chance it was to get a head start on some relationship building.

I was impacted a great deal by almost every phase of camp.  I really challenged myself to soak as much in as I could so that I would listen to what God had to say.  Some notes about what I heard:

• Don’t keep kids at arms (or rooms) length…Jesus welcomed kids, sometimes before he welcomed adults!
• Take every advantage and share Christ with someone…it will impact people more than you realize!
• Give thanks in EVERYTHING…and make some NOISE for Christ!

Some lessons learned from the kids that I sponsored:

• They dont like obnoxious songs at 7am…but they got up (and that’s what counted)!
• Giving kids what they want is dangerous…helping kids get to be where they need to be…rewarding!
• Kids watch parents more than parents watch kids!
• Boys can outclean girls with the right motivation (Cabin Clean – Excellent Rating: Boys 2, Girls 0).
• Kids can do more than parents give them credit for!
• Kids love golf carts!

Man I will be back at kids camp!  I loved my time!  I was DEAD TIRED after I got home, but well worth it.  I got to see one boy come to Christ and help another rededicate his life!  That was worth the sleepless nights and scrapes/bruises!  Love the kids of our church.  Great foundation for the future!

Bloggin’ Time again…

I know it’s been a while since I last posted ANYTHING, so I thought I would wet the appetite a little for things to come!

Here are some of the blogs that I have read recently that have caused my brain to stir…take a look!

From Wade Joye (via Steven Furtick) – Service Evaluation
From Tony Morgan – Leading vs. Managing
From Clayton King – Is it Possible to Stay Pure?
From Erwin McManus – The Cause Driven Church

Before I leave you for now, let me tell you what I am reading right now.  I am wrestling with a book from Erwin called, Chasing Daylight.  I taught a Sunday School lesson for young adults on one of the chapters and it really made me want to dig in more to this book/study.  I HIGHLY recommend this book to you.  I am no where close to finished with it yet, but am taking my time, as well as notes, so that I grasp the full message of this book.

Big week ahead for the church that I attend and serve!  God is up to something good…I just hope that I dont miss opportunities this week!

Kids Camp Here we come!

It’s Sunday night…the washer is in full effect…the dryer is trying to be in full effect…it must be camp time!

I know it’s been a while since my last post.  It’s been quite a busy few weeks.  So much has happened.  But there is no rest this week for me…it’s camp time.  I am excited about heading out for 5 days with 17 kids….really I am!  I think there’s nothing greater than to hang out with kids at camp and getting to see them engage Christ for the first or twenty-first time. I know that my week will include little to no sleep, camp food, testing of patience, but also great worship, fun games, and hopefully getting to lead some kids to Christ!

I will miss the comforts of my bed, my wife, my own space, but I know that spending time with these kids could mean the difference between heaven and hell for them…and that is worth it! I dont know all of the kids going.  I am guaranteeing some testing times, but know that God will be bigger than anything I face.

When you think of me, pray for the kids.  Jesus Christ needs to be a part of their lives!  And I cannot wait to see what all He does this week through games, worship, the WORD!  It’s going to be awesome!

Happy Birthday Pops!

Today, June 4th, well it’s my dad’s birthday!  Happy Birthday POPS!  I couldn’t have picked a better father for myself!  He really was that great of a dad!  As he turns another year older, I hope that I turn another year wiser.  Here are some things about my dad that make him special to me:

• He married my mom…I mean after all…when you think about it, without my parents I wouldn’t be here!
• He always let me make my own mistakes and live my life.  Sure, he disciplined me when necessary and even made a decision here or there for me…but over all, he let me live…and when I made a mistake…he made sure I learned the lesson!
• He always supported me.  I remember a time when I was in trouble at school…he fully supported the school’s discipline of me, but he also stood up for me with the teacher…long story.
• He rides a Harley…I just think that’s cool!
• When I needed it, he provided for me.  Dad was a great example of what God wants to be in all our lives…when you need him the most…he’s got it!  When you needed something to lift you…he’s got it!  And when you need a little money to do this/that…he’s got it!
• He believes in me.  When he introduces me to other people he builds me up.  Not because of a “I’m better than you” thing, but because he believes there’s always more for me out there.
• And really…going to hospitals, watching from the back, listening in to conversations…and just watching his every move, I learned long before committing, that I wanted to become a minister…just like my dad!

So dad, on your %&th Birthday…Know that your son loves you a great deal!  Thanks for all you’ve done for me, my family, and my future!  I only hope that  I have made you proud!

You’re an awesome man, follower of Christ, great husband, and most of all…the best Dad I ever had!

Love you Daddy!

Willing to do whatever it takes?

I was listening to a guy on the radio talking about how men will skip church at a moments notice, but when it comes to their kids baseball game, they will cancel the world to be there!  This also applies to NASCAR, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Grey’s Anatomy, shopping, eating, and so much more.  It got me thinking…isn’t it interesting how we easily put up barriers/road blocks when it comes to God, but when it comes to us and doing things that please us…we’ll do anything…go anywhere…spend anything.

Right now we are in the midst of a church transition.  It’s been one of the toughest things I have EVER gone through.  And to be in a leadership role as a part of this…that just increased the toughness.  It’s even at a point that I am not even sure if I will be able to keep my job in a few months.  That can’t stop me from continuing to lead people and help lead this church.  But it gets tougher.

I was watching a podcast from Mosaic Church in Los Angeles and one of the members was giving a testimony and he quoted half of a verse that just made me go…”WOW, no kidding.”  That verse is:

Malachi 3:6 – “I the LORD do not change.”

WOW…I mean come on.  Isn’t AWESOME!  The God of the universe in all of His creativity…HE doesn’t change.  Thank you God for being…well…GOD!

Some thoughts for I have on this:

• In the coming days, months, years God will ask you to do something.  Are you willing to do it?
• God hasn’t changed…He loves you, will provide for you, and always has your best interest at heart.  Which, by the way, often times will not match up with what you want…but will be what you will love!
• Changing locations, jobs, ministries…that doesn’t change who God is and what he wants to become inside of us!
• No matter what may change around you, GOD DOESN’T CHANGE!
• There’s NOTHING that God cannot do.

The question is now…”Are you willing to do what it takes to make the changes you need, so that you can be more fulfilled, successful, closer to God, more stable in your relationships, and growing in Christ?”

No “if’s,” “but’s,” simply yes or no!

I have noticed that in the recent days, my friends on facebook, myspace, twitter have changed a little.  Not everyone believes the same way I do.  That’s a good thing…but wow…if we would all know God…our lives would change forever!

Blogs worth your time this week!

Just thought that I would give you a glimpse into what I check out from time to time.  Here are some of the ones I recently looked at:

Ed Young – Change, Change, Change

Ed Stetzer – Conversation with Andy Stanley

Tim Stevens – Funny Video – From the Mouths of Babes

Enjoy!

Lead, follow, or get out of the way!

Call this a rant, call it being _______ , whatever.  But it’s my blog…so it’s my thoughts!

I am really wrestling with some thoughts right now and they may just hurt feelings.  And perhaps that’s the reason that I am wrestling with them so much because hurting feelings just isnt in my programming (at least to do it intentionally).  Anyway, here goes:

As a pastor/leader, am I:

1. playing to the crowd?
2. playing it safe?
3. leading people to where God have us go?

Recently I sat down and had a mental argument with myself about this.  I find that in our transition as a church, we are wanting to do number 3, but we are really leaning on doing 1 and 2.

Danger in playing to the crowd:

First off…how’d that work out for Jesus?  Playing to the crowd led him to the cross.  Playing to the crowd made the golden calf and was one of the many reasons that God left an entire people group dwell in the desert for 40 years.  And playing to the crowd will  destroy churches (new ones and existing ones).  And why is that?  Because MOST TIMES, the crowd doesn’t know what’s best…they just know what’s best for themselves!

Danger in playing it safe:

There’s no creativity in playing it safe.  Doing what you’ve always done is borderline insanity.  After all, the 8 last words of a dying church, “We have never done it that way before!”  Safety is great when driving a car, building a building, or cooking dinner, but safe when it comes to God is displaying a lack of faith.  Being in the middle of God’s will is a dangerous place that will cause you naturally to do things that are unsafe by world standards, like:

• selling your building with nothing to go to
• stop certain ministries that are popular, but not effective
• be willing to make changes to worship that will bring people in and make existing members uncomfortable
• not know where the next paycheck is coming from
• not know how much longer the church will last

Guess we better make everyday count.  And the longer God’s in it, the longer we’re in it!

Lead, follow, or get out of the way!

You and I have three choices in front of us…LEAD, FOLLOW, GET OUT OF THE WAY.  If you are called to lead, then LEAD!  Dont play to the crowds or play it safe…just lead.  Because when you lead faithfully the way God wants you to…then we’ll experience something so powerful…we’ll know it was straight from God’s playbook for us!

If you’re not a leader, cannot lead, or should not lead – STOP LEADING.  Try following.  There have been a number of times where I need to follow.   We all need to be followers of Christ.  But being a follower of Christ still means we are activity (and when necessary, forceably) advancing God’s Kingdom!  Stop thinking too much about yourself.  You like the power, not the position.  You like the status, not the responsibility.  You like the paycheck, not the opportunity to do something new and creative!

And if you just can’t lead or follow…then GET OUT OF THE WAY.  There are people ready to follow Christ without fail.  And if you are in the way, then you are holding yourselves more important than Christ, and thus…you are setting yourself up for judgment.  No good.  Get out of the way of the movement that God wants to start.  Open your place in leadership, your pew, your chair, even your church for people that want to advance God, not self.  The longer that you are in the way of people pursuing what God has for them, you are increasing the number of people that will not be going to heaven…because you cannot get over yourself.

We are getting ready to enter the promised land it feels…and I hope that when we do…leaders will lead, followers will follow, and the rest…wave at us as we move on down the road!

Memorial Day 2009

Today is a day that we celebrate and remember men and women  that have given their lives for freedom.  It amazes me how many people have paid the ultimate cost for me to be able to live in a free nation, where I have the freedom to make my own choices and live my life as I see fit.  From the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror, millions of men and women have fought and died.  I love war stories.  I recently heard of a man that lied about his age so that he could join The Great War early and fight for his country.  I am privileged to live in a place where people voluntarily join a military unit and fight enemies against freedom.  So whether you carried a musket or stood a post with pink boxer shorts on…Thank you!

But I am also mindful of others that have helped my spiritual freedom.  I cannot help but remember my Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his life as a ransom for everyone.  That anyone that should believe in him will receive the gift of eternal life.  Jesus fought a fight that I cannot dream of even fighting, let alone winning.  But he did.  He conquered sin, death, and Satan himself so that I would be with God forever!  Thank you Jesus!

But also there have been men and women that have advanced the spiritual freedoms that I enjoy.  Men and women like Martin Luther have advanced the Bible that I currently enjoy.  They went to the grave to advance the Gospel of Christ.  Men and women gave their lives on stakes, in the bottoms of rivers to make sure that I would have a fighting chance at knowing God and his son Christ.  Thank you Gospel advancers!

And still there are men like Hudson Taylor and women like Lottie Moon have gone to the ends of the world for others to experience freedom in Christ.  I remember them today as well.  They have sacrificed the comforts of our nation to go to third-world countries and give those people a chance to know Christ and the freedom that he offers through grace.  Thank you Missionaries around the world!

So to everyone that has enhanced my freedoms, “THANK YOU” from the bottom of my heart.  Because of you work, passion, and sacrifice, I get to do this…

My little graduate!

I am so proud of my little girl.  She graduated from Kindergarten yesterday and is on her way to 1st grade.  I love her so much.  It was a great night with her classmates and seeing how far they have come this year.  I can only imagine the lack of sleep and the amount of pain killers Ms. Lee had to take!  Just Kidding!

It amazes me how fast my girl has grown.  It feels like yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital and now we are about to send her to 1st grade.  Simply amazing.

Every time I think of last night I hear in my head Proverbs 22:6 that says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Congratulations Lilah.  You make me so proud as a dad!