It may feel like old news to some, but we just want to let you know what God is doing through “The Give Project” at Lifehouse Church. Since you’ve already been getting the news stories, I won’t give you all the links, but here’s the latest one from Monday on ABC 7 (DC). If you’d like to read more, especially our site and the stories of how Lifehousers are helping others, go to www.thelifehouse.org/thegiveproject. I'm trying to use my blog to answer some of the "why" questions about this project.
We believe that God is using this as a “drop to tip the bucket of giving, generosity, and selflessness” in our church, community, and maybe across the region.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
IS THIS EFFECTIVENESS?
Since launching "The Give Project" this past Sunday by giving away $6,000 to everyone that was at Lifehouse Church, there has begun a buzz...
Here are two news stories- local NBC 25 and FOX 5 DC. Our local newspaper's reporting as well.
Now, 99% of the people at Lifehouse are out in our community serving and helping and sharing God's love by using money that was given to them for that purpose.
But don't think that we/ I consider this effectiveness. Is it cool? Yea. Neat to see how God has used this to spread His News and message of hope? Yep. But effective? NO!
Why?
Remember, I preached about "All for One" and how we are challenged biblically to "give to the One Cause" of sharing God's love with others.
So, news coverage is cool. Excitement among Lifehousers is electric. But the measure of effectiveness will be when...
-people start giving their own money to help others,
-we start looking for ways to meet needs every day,
-we start noticing the hurting, broken, needy, and lonely,
-others who hear the story begin giving and living selflessly,
-we begin to help others without the gift from the Church,
-when the entire world's perspective of the Church CHANGES,
-when they believe that we want to help more than we want to fill the church coffers,
-when the message of Jesus is relevantly modeled and preached to everyone,
YES, THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVENESS!
Until then, may this be a drop that tips this bucket of love, giving, and selfless living.
Since launching "The Give Project" this past Sunday by giving away $6,000 to everyone that was at Lifehouse Church, there has begun a buzz...
Here are two news stories- local NBC 25 and FOX 5 DC. Our local newspaper's reporting as well.
Now, 99% of the people at Lifehouse are out in our community serving and helping and sharing God's love by using money that was given to them for that purpose.
But don't think that we/ I consider this effectiveness. Is it cool? Yea. Neat to see how God has used this to spread His News and message of hope? Yep. But effective? NO!
Why?
Remember, I preached about "All for One" and how we are challenged biblically to "give to the One Cause" of sharing God's love with others.
So, news coverage is cool. Excitement among Lifehousers is electric. But the measure of effectiveness will be when...
-people start giving their own money to help others,
-we start looking for ways to meet needs every day,
-we start noticing the hurting, broken, needy, and lonely,
-others who hear the story begin giving and living selflessly,
-we begin to help others without the gift from the Church,
-when the entire world's perspective of the Church CHANGES,
-when they believe that we want to help more than we want to fill the church coffers,
-when the message of Jesus is relevantly modeled and preached to everyone,
YES, THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVENESS!
Until then, may this be a drop that tips this bucket of love, giving, and selfless living.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
THE SNOWBALL IS ROLLING AND GROWING...
you must know that our only intention for www.thelifehouse.org/thegiveproject was to help needy people in our community by empowering Lifehouse Church people with resource.
Already, people are being impacted and needy people are being helped and encouraged. Imagine the people of the Church rallying around sharing God's love through helping and serving others. We can change the world through a revolution of love and kindness.
And now the ball is rolling...
word is spreading and people are joining the cause of giving and living selflessly.
We can join together in this by abandoning our selfish ambitions, serving others (with money, time, kind words, whatever), looking for needs and meeting them, as well as giving to the one organism that God established to spread the message of His love and hope to the world- THE CHURCH. Not the greedy organization we so often despise, but the missional gathering of people who believe that they are ambassadors of hope to our community and needy world.
you must know that our only intention for www.thelifehouse.org/thegiveproject was to help needy people in our community by empowering Lifehouse Church people with resource.
Already, people are being impacted and needy people are being helped and encouraged. Imagine the people of the Church rallying around sharing God's love through helping and serving others. We can change the world through a revolution of love and kindness.
And now the ball is rolling...
word is spreading and people are joining the cause of giving and living selflessly.
We can join together in this by abandoning our selfish ambitions, serving others (with money, time, kind words, whatever), looking for needs and meeting them, as well as giving to the one organism that God established to spread the message of His love and hope to the world- THE CHURCH. Not the greedy organization we so often despise, but the missional gathering of people who believe that they are ambassadors of hope to our community and needy world.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
CHURCH IN A THEATER here we come...
We've moved to Hagerstown 10 Cinema. We love it. This past Sunday was our first at our new location, and it felt like HOME. It seemed like we'd been there for years. It's great when you can leverage your location rather than feeling like you have to hide it (such as at the school- no one wants to go back to school). We had a great service, and I genuinely believe that lives are being changed by God through Lifehouse.
I felt like I was watching myself preach on Sunday, you know, like third person. It was one of those moments that felt "once-in-a-lifetime". Here's the premise, church for too often has felt like one of the greediest places on earth, but biblically, it should be the most generous, serving, and loving place in all the world.
So, I preached about how in the Book of Acts, Jesus-followers willing gave to and care for each other and the growing Church (Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-35). We need to be willing to GIVE to the ONE CAUSE. What's the one cause? Sharing God's Love with the whole world. It's really that simple. And the Church is the organism God created to fulfill that cause.
Then, the clincher...
We're putting our money where our mouth is...
We ask people to give (tithes and offerings) out of their need. Saying, "we can't afford not to give" AND "we can't out-give God". So, my thought, "let's try as hard as we can to out-give Him and prove that it's not possible."
So, we've given the Church (that is the people) the funds to serve the community. What? Yea, we gave an envelope to every person that was their on Sunday (from 6yrs old and up) that had anywhere from $5 to $100 and one person got $1000. The gifts totaled $6,000. I believe that we, as people, are the church, and I also believe, that God is us is the HOPE of the world. We carry the love of God to all. So what?
The mission...
Everyone was challenged not to keep the money, but to use it to personally help someone one in our community with their needs.
Who needs what God can do with people who are willing to give and serve others.
Oh, and this wasn't tithe money others gave. Laura and I personally gave it.
We've moved to Hagerstown 10 Cinema. We love it. This past Sunday was our first at our new location, and it felt like HOME. It seemed like we'd been there for years. It's great when you can leverage your location rather than feeling like you have to hide it (such as at the school- no one wants to go back to school). We had a great service, and I genuinely believe that lives are being changed by God through Lifehouse.
I felt like I was watching myself preach on Sunday, you know, like third person. It was one of those moments that felt "once-in-a-lifetime". Here's the premise, church for too often has felt like one of the greediest places on earth, but biblically, it should be the most generous, serving, and loving place in all the world.
So, I preached about how in the Book of Acts, Jesus-followers willing gave to and care for each other and the growing Church (Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:32-35). We need to be willing to GIVE to the ONE CAUSE. What's the one cause? Sharing God's Love with the whole world. It's really that simple. And the Church is the organism God created to fulfill that cause.
Then, the clincher...
We're putting our money where our mouth is...
We ask people to give (tithes and offerings) out of their need. Saying, "we can't afford not to give" AND "we can't out-give God". So, my thought, "let's try as hard as we can to out-give Him and prove that it's not possible."
So, we've given the Church (that is the people) the funds to serve the community. What? Yea, we gave an envelope to every person that was their on Sunday (from 6yrs old and up) that had anywhere from $5 to $100 and one person got $1000. The gifts totaled $6,000. I believe that we, as people, are the church, and I also believe, that God is us is the HOPE of the world. We carry the love of God to all. So what?
The mission...
Everyone was challenged not to keep the money, but to use it to personally help someone one in our community with their needs.
Who needs what God can do with people who are willing to give and serve others.
Oh, and this wasn't tithe money others gave. Laura and I personally gave it.
Friday, January 11, 2008
We're Moving!
Would love to hear feedback on how you think our move is going.
We’ve grown out of Eastern Elementary School.
We’ve been using every adult chair available at the school and were bringing in more from our mother and network church (Lifehouse- Bethel). And we were praying about what our next step was- move or go to 2 service.
In prayer, we felt led to pursue moving to a theater about 4 miles north of our current location. The same week we began the process, it became apparent that we wouldn't be able to stay at the school. I know this was a God-thing!
“WE’RE MOVING to a theater near you” is our new marketing message. Yep, God has opened a door for us to lease a huge theater, with about 3x the space, for the same cost as we’ve been paying the school ($450/ wk). Wow again! We’ll be using a 500-seat theater for our main service, and they’re allowing us to install lighting, sound equipment in a booth, a stage, and store everything on site. That means a lot when you’ve been portable for almost 2 ½ years+. We’ll also be using a large café area for serving breakfast and meals. We’ll have a theater for our KidzRock class (1st-5th grade), and set up 3 other kid’s classes. Our team has been awesome getting everything ready.
We’ve upgrade lots of equipment and marketing: we’ve just bought a new projector (to shoot 150 ft), and other gear that we badly need for this new venue. We’ve also been blessed by another church who is lending us a professional stage.
This all will cut our set up time down to about 45 min. That’s great!
Just thought I give everyone out in the blogosphere a heads-up and I'll wait for feedback.
Would love to hear feedback on how you think our move is going.
We’ve grown out of Eastern Elementary School.
We’ve been using every adult chair available at the school and were bringing in more from our mother and network church (Lifehouse- Bethel). And we were praying about what our next step was- move or go to 2 service.
In prayer, we felt led to pursue moving to a theater about 4 miles north of our current location. The same week we began the process, it became apparent that we wouldn't be able to stay at the school. I know this was a God-thing!
“WE’RE MOVING to a theater near you” is our new marketing message. Yep, God has opened a door for us to lease a huge theater, with about 3x the space, for the same cost as we’ve been paying the school ($450/ wk). Wow again! We’ll be using a 500-seat theater for our main service, and they’re allowing us to install lighting, sound equipment in a booth, a stage, and store everything on site. That means a lot when you’ve been portable for almost 2 ½ years+. We’ll also be using a large café area for serving breakfast and meals. We’ll have a theater for our KidzRock class (1st-5th grade), and set up 3 other kid’s classes. Our team has been awesome getting everything ready.
We’ve upgrade lots of equipment and marketing: we’ve just bought a new projector (to shoot 150 ft), and other gear that we badly need for this new venue. We’ve also been blessed by another church who is lending us a professional stage.
This all will cut our set up time down to about 45 min. That’s great!
Just thought I give everyone out in the blogosphere a heads-up and I'll wait for feedback.
Risk-taking
I believe faith is well placed in the God of all Creation, who loved us enough to become one of us. However, faith steps don't always feel like faith, sometimes they're scary. In business, we'd call them risks. Daring, bold moves that could end badly, but are necessary to advance the organization. The difference for us, we take risks based on our confidence that God is faithful.
Since I'm in the middle of leading Lifehouse through some exciting but "risky" faith-steps, thought I'd encourage you with this quote:
Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
I believe faith is well placed in the God of all Creation, who loved us enough to become one of us. However, faith steps don't always feel like faith, sometimes they're scary. In business, we'd call them risks. Daring, bold moves that could end badly, but are necessary to advance the organization. The difference for us, we take risks based on our confidence that God is faithful.
Since I'm in the middle of leading Lifehouse through some exciting but "risky" faith-steps, thought I'd encourage you with this quote:
Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
WELCOME TO 2008
I'm excited to be in a new year. '07 was great, but I love starting fresh, and invigorated for the "new". And this year is already certainly full of lots of "new". So, buckle up and hang on, this is going to be one heck of a ride.
By the way, enjoyed my families transition into the New Year. We even stayed up late and watched a movie until about 2:30 in the morning. But I think this may be my last. When our girls woke me up at 6am, I was regretting the late night movie. Oh well...
Now on to our 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer. I'll be doing my best to regularly post prayer needs, testimonies, and devotions for this season at Lifehouse. We've started out the last few years with 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. It's NOT some religious thing we do. I genuinely believe it's one of the most powerful, meaningful, and life-transforming disciplines and challenges we have here at Lifehouse. Basically, we pray, seek God, and give up desired appetites for 21 days, and you've never seen anything impact a person, family, church, community as much as this. I dare you to try it. By the way, we invite everyone to join in fasting. You can do a "liquids only" fast, or give up meats and sweets, or just give up a particular thing that you're really consumed by, i.e. TV, video games, recreational internet, whatever. Then, every time you feel the urge/ appetite to consume that (whatever it is), just let that push you toward prayer and reading the Bible. Enjoy...
I'm excited to be in a new year. '07 was great, but I love starting fresh, and invigorated for the "new". And this year is already certainly full of lots of "new". So, buckle up and hang on, this is going to be one heck of a ride.
By the way, enjoyed my families transition into the New Year. We even stayed up late and watched a movie until about 2:30 in the morning. But I think this may be my last. When our girls woke me up at 6am, I was regretting the late night movie. Oh well...
Now on to our 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer. I'll be doing my best to regularly post prayer needs, testimonies, and devotions for this season at Lifehouse. We've started out the last few years with 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. It's NOT some religious thing we do. I genuinely believe it's one of the most powerful, meaningful, and life-transforming disciplines and challenges we have here at Lifehouse. Basically, we pray, seek God, and give up desired appetites for 21 days, and you've never seen anything impact a person, family, church, community as much as this. I dare you to try it. By the way, we invite everyone to join in fasting. You can do a "liquids only" fast, or give up meats and sweets, or just give up a particular thing that you're really consumed by, i.e. TV, video games, recreational internet, whatever. Then, every time you feel the urge/ appetite to consume that (whatever it is), just let that push you toward prayer and reading the Bible. Enjoy...
Thursday, December 27, 2007
A First
I'm posting this from my cell phone. That's right... after not getting to post for more than 6 weeks, I've found the answer. A phone that I can use to also edit my blog, answer my emails, log my calendar, etc. Thanks for welcoming me to the 21st Century. I also used a webcam for the first time ever today to talk to my brother in Eurasia. Wow.
Hope it's worth it to all who read.
BTW, Laura and I will be returning from our white Christmas in NY soon. We've enjoyed our time up here.
I'm posting this from my cell phone. That's right... after not getting to post for more than 6 weeks, I've found the answer. A phone that I can use to also edit my blog, answer my emails, log my calendar, etc. Thanks for welcoming me to the 21st Century. I also used a webcam for the first time ever today to talk to my brother in Eurasia. Wow.
Hope it's worth it to all who read.
BTW, Laura and I will be returning from our white Christmas in NY soon. We've enjoyed our time up here.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
LIGHT WEEK
Not bright, cheery, sunny...
As some know, I have continued training, after my first triathlon, for future races. While I won't race again until Spring '08, it requires this much time to get ready, especially for the BIG, CRAZY goals I set for myself.
However, this week is my light week. Basically, training is 3 steps forward, 2 steps back. The regimen is designed scientifically to allow your body to build both endurance and allow time to rest and rebuild to prevent muscle and tissue damage.
Imagine that! Our bodies can't go at 110 mph non-stop for days, weeks, months, like so many of us believe. So, while I'm still training at about 80% of what I did last week, my body appreciates the slow down and is in rebuild mode.
Have you ever thought that the best thing for you, your mind, spirit, family, business, whatever... was a light week. You know, 2 steps back from the hectic pace you've been keeping. Look at it like you've been going through life at break-neck speed and know it's time for a re-building season. So, take some time to slow down, pray, meditate, ask some "why" questions, take a walk, eat dinner as a family for several nights in a row, do a family devotion, take some time one evening for solitude and personal reflection. Better yet, stop trying to do anything, turn off the TV, and just go to bed early this week.
Don't worry, there's always next week, when we'll be amping back up by 10% increments, then this time next month, it's another LIGHT WEEK. Maybe that's why God established that whole once-a-week Sabbath thing. We need REST!
Not bright, cheery, sunny...
As some know, I have continued training, after my first triathlon, for future races. While I won't race again until Spring '08, it requires this much time to get ready, especially for the BIG, CRAZY goals I set for myself.
However, this week is my light week. Basically, training is 3 steps forward, 2 steps back. The regimen is designed scientifically to allow your body to build both endurance and allow time to rest and rebuild to prevent muscle and tissue damage.
Imagine that! Our bodies can't go at 110 mph non-stop for days, weeks, months, like so many of us believe. So, while I'm still training at about 80% of what I did last week, my body appreciates the slow down and is in rebuild mode.
Have you ever thought that the best thing for you, your mind, spirit, family, business, whatever... was a light week. You know, 2 steps back from the hectic pace you've been keeping. Look at it like you've been going through life at break-neck speed and know it's time for a re-building season. So, take some time to slow down, pray, meditate, ask some "why" questions, take a walk, eat dinner as a family for several nights in a row, do a family devotion, take some time one evening for solitude and personal reflection. Better yet, stop trying to do anything, turn off the TV, and just go to bed early this week.
Don't worry, there's always next week, when we'll be amping back up by 10% increments, then this time next month, it's another LIGHT WEEK. Maybe that's why God established that whole once-a-week Sabbath thing. We need REST!
Friday, November 02, 2007
Did you know...
Quiet time, devotions, prayer time... whatever you want to call it, is not a religious formula.
Your time alone with God should be as unique as your fingertips. You may incorporate the same elements as I do- prayer, meditation, Bible reading, and personal solitude. But that's really where the similarities end.
Much like a romantic relationship, there are elements that everyone of us enjoy in romance. But how we interact with the one we love is very unique. Each couple has a special love language and enjoy very different experiences than others. View time with God the same way!
Maybe you prefer to walk outside in the wood (like I do). You feel most connected with God out in nature.
OR you get excited reading books (any book), and can see God in everything you read.
OR when you are serving or giving, that's the highlight of your experience with God. God speaks to you most when you're giving to others.
OR you feel strengthened and encouraged when you pray and talk about God with someone else. It's not that you can't pray alone, you just feel more deeply connected to God when you're journeying together with someone else.
I could go on. The point, whatever pathways fit your personality best, veer into that sacred pathway more often so that you are connecting with God in your personal and unique way.
Quiet time, devotions, prayer time... whatever you want to call it, is not a religious formula.
Your time alone with God should be as unique as your fingertips. You may incorporate the same elements as I do- prayer, meditation, Bible reading, and personal solitude. But that's really where the similarities end.
Much like a romantic relationship, there are elements that everyone of us enjoy in romance. But how we interact with the one we love is very unique. Each couple has a special love language and enjoy very different experiences than others. View time with God the same way!
Maybe you prefer to walk outside in the wood (like I do). You feel most connected with God out in nature.
OR you get excited reading books (any book), and can see God in everything you read.
OR when you are serving or giving, that's the highlight of your experience with God. God speaks to you most when you're giving to others.
OR you feel strengthened and encouraged when you pray and talk about God with someone else. It's not that you can't pray alone, you just feel more deeply connected to God when you're journeying together with someone else.
I could go on. The point, whatever pathways fit your personality best, veer into that sacred pathway more often so that you are connecting with God in your personal and unique way.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Too busy to pray?
Yesterday in life group, the topic of being busy and hurried and working non-stop in the 24-7, rat-race of life...
who has time to set aside time to pray, read the Bible, and do all the things we're supposed to do as Jesus-followers.
Ever felt that way? You have the spiritual obligations that must be fulfilled, a card that must be punched?
Allow me some candor with a hint of challenge.
It's tough for me too. I don't find it easy to pray. To focus my attention on God while I know that there are a pile of other things I'm supposed to be doing.
But here's the challenge: we NEED to stop and give some quiet time to God. This isn't a luxury for the "non-busy" among us, but a necessity for the ADHD, adreline-filled, no-time-to-slow-down-and-take-a-potty-breakers among us. We absolutely need our time with God- time to devote our life to him. Time to express our love to him. Time to get refueled. Time to get our priorities in order. Time to glean wisdom from the author of all wisdom. Time to ask the Creator what the purpose of the creature is all about. Time to be reminded of who we are and why we're here.
It's not easy but it's vital. Go too long without and we'll begin to feel depleted and emaciated. Go even longer and we become spiritually destitute.
So, pause, take a moment and quiet your heart before God. Trust me, we all need it.
Yesterday in life group, the topic of being busy and hurried and working non-stop in the 24-7, rat-race of life...
who has time to set aside time to pray, read the Bible, and do all the things we're supposed to do as Jesus-followers.
Ever felt that way? You have the spiritual obligations that must be fulfilled, a card that must be punched?
Allow me some candor with a hint of challenge.
It's tough for me too. I don't find it easy to pray. To focus my attention on God while I know that there are a pile of other things I'm supposed to be doing.
But here's the challenge: we NEED to stop and give some quiet time to God. This isn't a luxury for the "non-busy" among us, but a necessity for the ADHD, adreline-filled, no-time-to-slow-down-and-take-a-potty-breakers among us. We absolutely need our time with God- time to devote our life to him. Time to express our love to him. Time to get refueled. Time to get our priorities in order. Time to glean wisdom from the author of all wisdom. Time to ask the Creator what the purpose of the creature is all about. Time to be reminded of who we are and why we're here.
It's not easy but it's vital. Go too long without and we'll begin to feel depleted and emaciated. Go even longer and we become spiritually destitute.
So, pause, take a moment and quiet your heart before God. Trust me, we all need it.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Who's Our Primary Teacher?
Here's what I've learned at the gym recently while listening in on a variety of conversations:
Maybe I'm just cynical. Maybe I have reason to be cynical. How do I know what is true and what is manipulation or laced with an agenda. I suspect most carries at least an undertone of agenda.
So, who's my primary teacher or source for education on the plethora of topics that confront me in life on a daily basis? Great question!
My first and primary resource for TRUTH is the Bible. I consult it regarding any and all topics. I want to discover God's principles, laws, and standards regarding everything that I deal with in life.
I'm not suggesting that every answer to every question in life is there. But it's certainly got the answers I need, and points me in the right direction. It keeps me grounded in truth. It centers me on what's most important. It keeps me ask the RIGHT questions. God's Word guides me into ALL truth.
So, just as a thought, before calling, asking, consulting, or tuning into any other source for information or guidance, make sure your life is founded on the TRUTH of God's Word and your reading and applying the principles of the Bible.
Here's what I've learned at the gym recently while listening in on a variety of conversations:
- Ohio St will sweep through the Big Ten and win the BCS.
- The health care crisis in America is unsolvable. Why? We are a capitalist society, therefore, health care is a money-making industry AND people do not take personal responsibility for their health BUT expect every resource that money-making business can discover/ create/ produce. THEREFORE, what people want is more than what they can have. Politicians say this is unfair. No, it's reality.
- Steelers will beat the Pats in the playoffs.
- Steelers won't even make the playoffs.
- the Redskins will upset the Pats this weekend.
Maybe I'm just cynical. Maybe I have reason to be cynical. How do I know what is true and what is manipulation or laced with an agenda. I suspect most carries at least an undertone of agenda.
So, who's my primary teacher or source for education on the plethora of topics that confront me in life on a daily basis? Great question!
My first and primary resource for TRUTH is the Bible. I consult it regarding any and all topics. I want to discover God's principles, laws, and standards regarding everything that I deal with in life.
I'm not suggesting that every answer to every question in life is there. But it's certainly got the answers I need, and points me in the right direction. It keeps me grounded in truth. It centers me on what's most important. It keeps me ask the RIGHT questions. God's Word guides me into ALL truth.
So, just as a thought, before calling, asking, consulting, or tuning into any other source for information or guidance, make sure your life is founded on the TRUTH of God's Word and your reading and applying the principles of the Bible.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Weekend in the Rear View Mirror
Wow! What a weekend.
Saturday kicked off with the Community Harvest Festival. Kudos to all who worked so hard to pull off the event. I'm convinced it was second-to-none. The games, candy, inflatable bounce games, pony rides, great band, FREE food and kids stuff, and the dunking. Oh, the dunking. Seemed like everyone was hitting their target when I was sitting in there. All for a great cause- CASA. I think we raised about $300. That's a lot of dunks.
Hope ya'll had a blast. It was exciting to see the cars lining Yale Rd since the parking lot was full. That's great! Our guestimates put us at over 500 guests. Hope our community knows that we're here to serve and love!
Then... it was waking up and off to Sunday morning LifeHouse. The plus was that all our stuff was nearly set-up. What a boost!
Wrapping up this "Let's Talk" campaign. Hope everyone is growing through this series. It's important and tough to talk, not only about sex, but also about overcoming the challenges and guilt from bad decision and abuse from the past.
GIVE WHAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN!
So far we've raised over $800 toward the abstinence education program of Washington County.
Wow! What a weekend.
Saturday kicked off with the Community Harvest Festival. Kudos to all who worked so hard to pull off the event. I'm convinced it was second-to-none. The games, candy, inflatable bounce games, pony rides, great band, FREE food and kids stuff, and the dunking. Oh, the dunking. Seemed like everyone was hitting their target when I was sitting in there. All for a great cause- CASA. I think we raised about $300. That's a lot of dunks.
Hope ya'll had a blast. It was exciting to see the cars lining Yale Rd since the parking lot was full. That's great! Our guestimates put us at over 500 guests. Hope our community knows that we're here to serve and love!
Then... it was waking up and off to Sunday morning LifeHouse. The plus was that all our stuff was nearly set-up. What a boost!
Wrapping up this "Let's Talk" campaign. Hope everyone is growing through this series. It's important and tough to talk, not only about sex, but also about overcoming the challenges and guilt from bad decision and abuse from the past.
GIVE WHAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN!
So far we've raised over $800 toward the abstinence education program of Washington County.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Conflict is an Opportunity for Growth
This could be considered one of my personal core beliefs. Anytime there's tension in a relationship, we have a these options:
This could be considered one of my personal core beliefs. Anytime there's tension in a relationship, we have a these options:
- if the issue isn't a big deal, let it go: people, even people we don't know well, are more important than petty issues.
- if the issue is a big deal, be proactive: that means dealing with the tension as soon as you notice it.
- give others the benefit of the doubt. Even when I think the tension or problem has developed because of the other person, I'll say something like, "I have felt some tension between us, have you been feeling the same thing?... What do you think is causing it?"
- deal with it quickly, don't let busyness delay you.
- deal with it in person: either over the phone or face-to-face, preferably the later. Never using email or texting or IMing.
- don't place blame, take personal responsibility for feelings: "I feel angry when you laugh at me every time I talk about my job."
- relationships are more important than winning a fight: be willing to meet in common ground and make an effort to see the situation through the others eyes.
- if resolution can't be found, set parameters to continue working on the issue.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Let's Talk...We're already talking about it anyway, why not hear what God has to say? Right? We've kicked off this new campaign called "Let's Talk Sex" during the month of October. It's in partnership with Washington County's coalition on teen pregnancy, addressing the need to communicate more openly and effectively with parents and teens about sex.
Check out our NEW website at www.letstalkmonth.com.
The idea: we should be talking in church about the things that everyone is talking about outside of church, and offering the God- biblical- perspective. Since nearly everyone wants to know about and needs to know about what God has to say on the topic, this is incredibly relevant and practical in our everyday lives.
Feel free to post your questions and comments.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
You know what's great about our kids? They make us appreciate the little things in life, that we often are moving to quickly... to preoccupied... to many more important things going on.Here are some things I've learned from my girls:
- killing bugs is great entertainment (even for girls)
- rock, paper, scissors is really fun right before bed
- they have a significantly longer attention span than I do, particularly when it's reading stories about princesses.
- their prayers are more honest, real, and spiritual than just about anything I've ever prayed. My favorite so far, at the end of one of the prayers a few days ago, "...and thank you Jesus that you didn't give us any brothers!"
- the best moment in the world is coming through the door, I get mobbed by 4 loving women in my life, it's like every teenage boys dream. Lot's of hugs and kisses and "I love yous."
- If I'm ever late for a meeting or anything, it's probably because I had to stop and kiss my girls one last time, okay, about 4 times. Every time one gets kissed, the others want another.
- Whatever you do, they will do. Yell, laugh, make glaring faces, or spend too much time in the facilities:)
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Doing a little survey or inquiry:
1. What are the walls that unchurched/ de-churched people have built in their lives against church?
2. What walls do they come into church with?
3. What are their attitudes or feelings about "church"?
This is the diagnosis. Next, we'll be talking about how to tear down these walls.
1. What are the walls that unchurched/ de-churched people have built in their lives against church?
2. What walls do they come into church with?
3. What are their attitudes or feelings about "church"?
This is the diagnosis. Next, we'll be talking about how to tear down these walls.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Ok, not very flattering, but frankly, after that humbling and arduous race, I don't feel a need to save-face. Thought you'd like to see my look after already going for about 2 hrs. This photo is of me running through the transition after just getting off the bike.The Olympic tri is a 1500m (almost a mile) swim, 40k (or 25m) bike, then finishing with a 10k (or 6.2m) run. Don't have much else to say except, "I finished... and I invite you to join me at the next race I'll enter in May '08. This time, I'll train a littler harder and actually be competitive. We'll see... aiming for 2:45, instead of my pitiful 3:17. But hey, I finished.
The race did make me think a lot about these passages:
1 Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (NIV)
Hebrews 12:1-4: Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" (The Message)
2 Timothy 4:7-8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now, a crown is being held for me—a crown for being right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give the crown to me on that day -not only to me but to all those who have waited with love for him to come again."
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
T minus 10
I'll be finishing up my sermon series called "T-10" this week. This is one of those series that can rock our world if we'll open our hearts up. Imagine how different our life would be if we lived as though we had ten days to live.
It challenges our priorities, our goals, our scheduling. It puts things in perspective. It makes us think about things we don't think about enough. Things like, "How will others remember?" "Do I really need to be spending my time and energy doing...?" "Is what I'm doing as important as my family, my faith, and sharing my life with others?"
Not a big country music fan at all, but I threw Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were dying" out there for those who do enjoy the style. You're welcome. But to be honest, I actually liked the song. And yes, it was edited. The theme is incredible, "I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying."
Here's the full video from youtube.com.
Let's live everyday at T-10. One day we'll actually be right!
I'll be finishing up my sermon series called "T-10" this week. This is one of those series that can rock our world if we'll open our hearts up. Imagine how different our life would be if we lived as though we had ten days to live.
It challenges our priorities, our goals, our scheduling. It puts things in perspective. It makes us think about things we don't think about enough. Things like, "How will others remember?" "Do I really need to be spending my time and energy doing...?" "Is what I'm doing as important as my family, my faith, and sharing my life with others?"
Not a big country music fan at all, but I threw Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were dying" out there for those who do enjoy the style. You're welcome. But to be honest, I actually liked the song. And yes, it was edited. The theme is incredible, "I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying."
Here's the full video from youtube.com.
Let's live everyday at T-10. One day we'll actually be right!
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