2.21.2005
Salvation
Great weekend this weekend as we saw another salvation at Focal Point. Being a new church it's exciting to be a part of a place that draws people to Him.
2.18.2005
Ephphatha- To Be Opened
*Unsolicited Plug*
I wanted to take a moment and give a shout to my friends from Ephphatha. They're a great Christian band from Austin, TX. Matt Gideon is our web guru for Focal Point (he's a great web designer as well).
Ephphatha is releasing their first national album as we (I) speak (type). I want to encourage you around the globe (at least North America) to take a look at their site and listen to their music. If you are interested in helping them spread the word I'm sure Matt will send you a CD sample to give to any radio connections you may have. So go ahead, click now and check them out.
They are sincere believers with wonderful hearts. I had them in to minister to my youth ministry several years ago when I was a Youth Pastor and they did a fantastic job. They are genuine and passionate people who will bring value added to any ministry.
I wanted to take a moment and give a shout to my friends from Ephphatha. They're a great Christian band from Austin, TX. Matt Gideon is our web guru for Focal Point (he's a great web designer as well).
Ephphatha is releasing their first national album as we (I) speak (type). I want to encourage you around the globe (at least North America) to take a look at their site and listen to their music. If you are interested in helping them spread the word I'm sure Matt will send you a CD sample to give to any radio connections you may have. So go ahead, click now and check them out.
They are sincere believers with wonderful hearts. I had them in to minister to my youth ministry several years ago when I was a Youth Pastor and they did a fantastic job. They are genuine and passionate people who will bring value added to any ministry.
2.17.2005
2.16.2005
2 year Retro Thought
Below is a copy of a blog I wrote two years ago. I enjoy going back and seeing what God was teaching me and the experiences I had which helped bring me to where I am today.
Some of this answer actually can apply to answer my post from earlier this morning:
-------
Knowing God 2/27/03 [link]
After talking with someone today about 'legalism vs. Christian living', I spoke of brokeness and the fact that our lives shouldn't be spent wondering 'WWJD' and reacting...
The church spends time teaching rules, codes of conduct and what's 'proper' of a Christ-follower which distracts us from the fact that God desires a relationship with Him. So we teach people that if they 'read their bible' or 'go to church' that they are more spiritually mature. Spiritual maturity isn't what we do. Grace slaps legalistic teaching in the face. Spiritual Maturity is having such a deep relationship with your God that you quit 'fighting for the remote' of your life. You realize that the Holy Spirit lives in you and desires to be expressed through your life. He can only do that when you allow Him to act. He won't force your hand, you must be broken so that he can shine through.
Explaining that, I was asked "How do you stay broken then?" Awesome question!
Knowing God ultimately means knowing self in relation. As you know God more and more, you realize his awesomeness and soverignty, his power, his might and quality after quality that rocks your world. The more you 'Know God', the more you realize that self isn't all that great. We are to come to him like a Child. Children don't fully know 'self'. The are so willing to accept the hugeness of God and allow Him to 'show them the ropes'. As we become young men and women, we begin to 'know self' much more. Adults definately (think they) have the world figured out. God wants you to know Him because the more you know Him, the more you realize that you are like that Child. You too are simplistic and helpless. Understanding this, you then give up rights to yourself and give them to God. You realize that your 'doings' aren't the deal. Your surrender becomes your measure. Know God. Spend your life getting to know Him.
Some of this answer actually can apply to answer my post from earlier this morning:
-------
Knowing God 2/27/03 [link]
After talking with someone today about 'legalism vs. Christian living', I spoke of brokeness and the fact that our lives shouldn't be spent wondering 'WWJD' and reacting...
The church spends time teaching rules, codes of conduct and what's 'proper' of a Christ-follower which distracts us from the fact that God desires a relationship with Him. So we teach people that if they 'read their bible' or 'go to church' that they are more spiritually mature. Spiritual maturity isn't what we do. Grace slaps legalistic teaching in the face. Spiritual Maturity is having such a deep relationship with your God that you quit 'fighting for the remote' of your life. You realize that the Holy Spirit lives in you and desires to be expressed through your life. He can only do that when you allow Him to act. He won't force your hand, you must be broken so that he can shine through.
Explaining that, I was asked "How do you stay broken then?" Awesome question!
Knowing God ultimately means knowing self in relation. As you know God more and more, you realize his awesomeness and soverignty, his power, his might and quality after quality that rocks your world. The more you 'Know God', the more you realize that self isn't all that great. We are to come to him like a Child. Children don't fully know 'self'. The are so willing to accept the hugeness of God and allow Him to 'show them the ropes'. As we become young men and women, we begin to 'know self' much more. Adults definately (think they) have the world figured out. God wants you to know Him because the more you know Him, the more you realize that you are like that Child. You too are simplistic and helpless. Understanding this, you then give up rights to yourself and give them to God. You realize that your 'doings' aren't the deal. Your surrender becomes your measure. Know God. Spend your life getting to know Him.
My Space, Subculture and the divide
Do you ever sit back and wonder... Why aren't we (large we) relevant in the setting of the local church?
To get your answer take a look at any "My Space" done by a person 16-25. I have a habit of checking AIM profiles for students in our ministry as well as students who are now in college. Today I stumbled on yet another "My Space". This program is pretty standard for which ever teen or young adult you visit. It has a catchy picture (usually seductive or showing as vulgar of an act as possible in hopes of getting a reaction), a catchy name (see quote above), and basic info. The basic info covers the traditional who and what's but then it gets out there. You see, the point of 'My Space' is for people to think you're cool (although many of the profiles will go out of their way to say 'I don't care if you think I'm cool' -- which is itself a cry for coolness) so you will find similar things like... What bands I like, the crazy party I went to where got wasted, the hot guy/girls out there and ohh yes the infamous "friends". You see, "My Space" offers a place where you can add other "My Space" friends. The more friends you have on your list, the cooler you are so at minimum you will see at least 50 "friends". Don't bother asking the definition of a friend b/c to most adults we wouldn't classify these people as acquaintances let alone friends... Basically if you've visited their site you call them "friend".
Where am I going? Here.
The church is answering questions at an intellectual (okay, some are) level and at a spiritual level. The world is networking at a flesh level. Nearly all of our passions are found at the flesh level. (I think the bible is good for some props here wouldn't ya say?) Anyway... We many times fail to be genuine on these areas. We spend so much time trying to cover up and ignore the passionate places of our DNA. The church is not a place where a person can figure out how to harness a person's passions or focus them on different things. The church shuns those parts of our being and says "say two hail mary's and call us next Sunday".
Our generation of leaders must rise to the task. We must not get comfy with our Bapticostal meeting rooms and our bloglines of other Pastors. [Brian Bailey had similar thoughts the other day but maybe it just took a few days for me to get ticked off enough about it.]
1. We have to get in contact with the "My Space" crowd and see what questions they are asking by their everyday actions.
2. Another thing... We have got to quit pacifying adults. Older adults usually don't have a clue as to what real life is like for a person in college or High School. Parents want to ignore it b/c they want to think they've done a great job up until now. Any defects they see in their child becomes a defect they see in themselves. We wouldn't want to know the "truth" would we? How about we get over ourselves enough to understand we may have kids who are in a battle with sin daily and get on the front lines with them feeding them ammo. Instead they're in the battle and we have tea while eating krimpets at the church discussing whom should be accountable to whom.
Now yes I hear you thinking " Well, this sounds like a college ministry or high school ministry problem." No. It's not. It's a future generation problem. (The very divisions we create are ignored in pop society--exibit A, my space) Where do you think those people who are experiencing High School and college today will be in 10 years when you finally care about their demographic?
Okay. I'm done. Much of this was an open thought with myself. I need to apply nearly all of it. I'd love to hear other thoughts. Where is the church falling short and where are some great examples of people making it happen?
To get your answer take a look at any "My Space" done by a person 16-25. I have a habit of checking AIM profiles for students in our ministry as well as students who are now in college. Today I stumbled on yet another "My Space". This program is pretty standard for which ever teen or young adult you visit. It has a catchy picture (usually seductive or showing as vulgar of an act as possible in hopes of getting a reaction), a catchy name (see quote above), and basic info. The basic info covers the traditional who and what's but then it gets out there. You see, the point of 'My Space' is for people to think you're cool (although many of the profiles will go out of their way to say 'I don't care if you think I'm cool' -- which is itself a cry for coolness) so you will find similar things like... What bands I like, the crazy party I went to where got wasted, the hot guy/girls out there and ohh yes the infamous "friends". You see, "My Space" offers a place where you can add other "My Space" friends. The more friends you have on your list, the cooler you are so at minimum you will see at least 50 "friends". Don't bother asking the definition of a friend b/c to most adults we wouldn't classify these people as acquaintances let alone friends... Basically if you've visited their site you call them "friend".
Where am I going? Here.
The church is answering questions at an intellectual (okay, some are) level and at a spiritual level. The world is networking at a flesh level. Nearly all of our passions are found at the flesh level. (I think the bible is good for some props here wouldn't ya say?) Anyway... We many times fail to be genuine on these areas. We spend so much time trying to cover up and ignore the passionate places of our DNA. The church is not a place where a person can figure out how to harness a person's passions or focus them on different things. The church shuns those parts of our being and says "say two hail mary's and call us next Sunday".
Our generation of leaders must rise to the task. We must not get comfy with our Bapticostal meeting rooms and our bloglines of other Pastors. [Brian Bailey had similar thoughts the other day but maybe it just took a few days for me to get ticked off enough about it.]
1. We have to get in contact with the "My Space" crowd and see what questions they are asking by their everyday actions.
2. Another thing... We have got to quit pacifying adults. Older adults usually don't have a clue as to what real life is like for a person in college or High School. Parents want to ignore it b/c they want to think they've done a great job up until now. Any defects they see in their child becomes a defect they see in themselves. We wouldn't want to know the "truth" would we? How about we get over ourselves enough to understand we may have kids who are in a battle with sin daily and get on the front lines with them feeding them ammo. Instead they're in the battle and we have tea while eating krimpets at the church discussing whom should be accountable to whom.
Now yes I hear you thinking " Well, this sounds like a college ministry or high school ministry problem." No. It's not. It's a future generation problem. (The very divisions we create are ignored in pop society--exibit A, my space) Where do you think those people who are experiencing High School and college today will be in 10 years when you finally care about their demographic?
Okay. I'm done. Much of this was an open thought with myself. I need to apply nearly all of it. I'd love to hear other thoughts. Where is the church falling short and where are some great examples of people making it happen?
2.15.2005
God of the Mundane
My day today looks full but ordinary. As I look at what remains for me to do today nothing jumps out and screams "EXCITEMENT". In a time when we all are looking for the next eye-popping moment or creating the next "Wow" event we so often overlook the mundane, the ordinary, the everyday-life times.
Today I want to see God in the mundane. I don't want to acquire fire or x-treme my life. I want to notice God in the everyday average.
I have Cademon Call's CD in my car. Yesterday I heard a verse that I think is so incredible. He says "they say I can find you in a flower but I need you in my car."
You see, the flower is abstract and it takes some juices to get flowin' before you "see God" through his handy-work of the flower (which we all should be in to doing). There are however the mundane drives when we need to see God. There are the errands we run, the practices we take our kids to and the couch times we have with our families. These are the times we must see God. God is so amazing so huge and so powerful yet we limit him to big events or super spiritual quiet times.
I want to see the God of the mundane.
Today I want to see God in the mundane. I don't want to acquire fire or x-treme my life. I want to notice God in the everyday average.
I have Cademon Call's CD in my car. Yesterday I heard a verse that I think is so incredible. He says "they say I can find you in a flower but I need you in my car."
You see, the flower is abstract and it takes some juices to get flowin' before you "see God" through his handy-work of the flower (which we all should be in to doing). There are however the mundane drives when we need to see God. There are the errands we run, the practices we take our kids to and the couch times we have with our families. These are the times we must see God. God is so amazing so huge and so powerful yet we limit him to big events or super spiritual quiet times.
I want to see the God of the mundane.
2.14.2005
Amazing
Okay. I think I may have just seen the most powerful message in my life.
The church is North Point Community Church
The Series is called "Canvass"
The Message is the first in the series
The Speaker is Louie Giglio
The Title is "Glory"
Amazing. Absolutely amazing.
The church is North Point Community Church
The Series is called "Canvass"
The Message is the first in the series
The Speaker is Louie Giglio
The Title is "Glory"
Amazing. Absolutely amazing.
God is Huge
I was watching a message from Louie Giglio this morning from a series at North Point called Canvass. Louie starts the series off by talking about God's glory. Within that message he talked about the Milky Way. I paused the DVD and began to satisfy my curiosity.
My brain hurts.
My brain hurts.
Old Lesson w/ new meaning
As I prepare to become a father I am excited about all of the new lessons I'm sure God will teach through my child. Kristy is 17 weeks today.
I found this post from a site I maintained in 2003. It still speaks to me:
Matthew 18:1-4
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Bloggable Moment:
A 5 year old boy spoke a sermon to me in about 15 seconds.
Brian's mom and sister just stopped by our office to use some equipment. Our secretary is out of the office today so I came from my desk and greeted them and began talking to the children as mom got access to the things she needed. Brian had a book of clues and I peeked over his shoulder and searched the puzzle for the 'alien' to be found. Then a minute later he saw our name-tags pre-printed on a table and searched for his name. I pointed out his tag he will wear next week. Being the important youth guy that I am, I left Brian and family and came back to my desk and began working on my message (i'm about half way through). I hear "goodbye" as the door closes. About 30 seconds later I hear the door open and running footsteps. As I look up, I see little Brian with a shy look on his face. I smile and Brian runs up and jumps on my neck with a hug and says "Thank You". I'm thinking "For What?" But I smile and said "see ya later man".
Brian spoke a message to me today. He reminded me of my priorities and of my God. He reminded me that I am to come to God with the same level of grattitude and appreciation over the little things and not just when I get a sucker or an icecream or a pasaphire in my mouth. As a Christ-Follower, I'm excited to know that God can use a 5 year old boy as well or better than any preacher, website, conference, band or book to draw me near to Him!
"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children..."
I found this post from a site I maintained in 2003. It still speaks to me:
Matthew 18:1-4
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Bloggable Moment:
A 5 year old boy spoke a sermon to me in about 15 seconds.
Brian's mom and sister just stopped by our office to use some equipment. Our secretary is out of the office today so I came from my desk and greeted them and began talking to the children as mom got access to the things she needed. Brian had a book of clues and I peeked over his shoulder and searched the puzzle for the 'alien' to be found. Then a minute later he saw our name-tags pre-printed on a table and searched for his name. I pointed out his tag he will wear next week. Being the important youth guy that I am, I left Brian and family and came back to my desk and began working on my message (i'm about half way through). I hear "goodbye" as the door closes. About 30 seconds later I hear the door open and running footsteps. As I look up, I see little Brian with a shy look on his face. I smile and Brian runs up and jumps on my neck with a hug and says "Thank You". I'm thinking "For What?" But I smile and said "see ya later man".
Brian spoke a message to me today. He reminded me of my priorities and of my God. He reminded me that I am to come to God with the same level of grattitude and appreciation over the little things and not just when I get a sucker or an icecream or a pasaphire in my mouth. As a Christ-Follower, I'm excited to know that God can use a 5 year old boy as well or better than any preacher, website, conference, band or book to draw me near to Him!
"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children..."
Same Store, Different Experience
Last week my laptop called it quits. Actually my laptop was okay but the power source to it had been worn down enough to where it began to spark (not good).
After finding out that most stores don't carry an ac adapter for a Compaq Armada 7400 (old machine), I traveled to Best Buy to buy a new computer.
The experience I had at the Best Buy closest to my home was pleasant. I was able to speak with a sales rep who actually knew something about computers and he was quite helpful for me. Several times he let me look at a machine after he answered the questions I had and each time he walked away so as not to be 'over my shoulder'. (It helps that they do not get commission).
Unfortunately when I decided upon the computer I wanted, I was informed that it was not in stock. I took the 20 minute trip down the road to the next Best Buy where I was assured my product awaited me.
This experience was completely different. The store was the same. The layout was the same. The employees were dressed the same and the same type of music was played in the background... But my experience was poor.
Unlike the last location, I couldn't get an employee to talk with me at all. It seems that this store is more crowded and has less staff. Even the manager of the computer department looked at me as if to say "Crud... He sees me." He then came over and said "How may we help you?" I explained my need and he said "Well I'm on my way to lunch but I'll see if this guy can help." That was nice except for the fact that "this guy" had a line of other customers. So again I wait.
Finally when I get to speak with "this guy" he quickly makes me wish the other store had my product. He carried himself in a very disinterested way as he talked to other employees about people I don't care to know about and he strolled along at a rate that would make a snail yawn. Ultimately though I got my machine. After turning down the extra $1,000 in junk they wanted to offer I finally made my way out of the store all too thankful that the good Best Buy was in my back yard.
Lesson:
You can spend tons of money to make satellite campuses or franchised locations look identical but in the end a customers willingness to come back to your building depends on your people.
After finding out that most stores don't carry an ac adapter for a Compaq Armada 7400 (old machine), I traveled to Best Buy to buy a new computer.
The experience I had at the Best Buy closest to my home was pleasant. I was able to speak with a sales rep who actually knew something about computers and he was quite helpful for me. Several times he let me look at a machine after he answered the questions I had and each time he walked away so as not to be 'over my shoulder'. (It helps that they do not get commission).
Unfortunately when I decided upon the computer I wanted, I was informed that it was not in stock. I took the 20 minute trip down the road to the next Best Buy where I was assured my product awaited me.
This experience was completely different. The store was the same. The layout was the same. The employees were dressed the same and the same type of music was played in the background... But my experience was poor.
Unlike the last location, I couldn't get an employee to talk with me at all. It seems that this store is more crowded and has less staff. Even the manager of the computer department looked at me as if to say "Crud... He sees me." He then came over and said "How may we help you?" I explained my need and he said "Well I'm on my way to lunch but I'll see if this guy can help." That was nice except for the fact that "this guy" had a line of other customers. So again I wait.
Finally when I get to speak with "this guy" he quickly makes me wish the other store had my product. He carried himself in a very disinterested way as he talked to other employees about people I don't care to know about and he strolled along at a rate that would make a snail yawn. Ultimately though I got my machine. After turning down the extra $1,000 in junk they wanted to offer I finally made my way out of the store all too thankful that the good Best Buy was in my back yard.
Lesson:
You can spend tons of money to make satellite campuses or franchised locations look identical but in the end a customers willingness to come back to your building depends on your people.
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