It’s Christmas morning and I’m still pondering the impact of our last Preview service. It was Saturday night and we had a great Christmas gathering. It was also our last preview meeting in our home. Wow! This coming Sunday is New Years Eve and we are doing “Party With a Purpose.” Then the 7th is our first practice service in the movie theatre. Yea that’s the schedule but its neat to see us move into the next phase of this church plant. We had a lot of people gone for the holiday weekend and still had a room full of people. I remember when it was just me and a couple of people only a few months ago. Now…..When we ALL gather, we no longer fit. Nice.
Each phase of planting is so different and I’m really enjoying each step. Each step is planned, yet full of surprises. It never goes exactly like we plan, but it always ends up with God’s hand in it. I like the last verse of Proverbs chapter 21. In the Message it says,
“Do all you can, prepare for the worst, and trust God to bring the victory.”
Yea now that’s what I’m talking about! So here we are. A church plant that is moving from one venue to the next. A church plant that is moving from “building a team, to launch a church.” To “Working the Team Make a Church.”
Yup next phase. It’s time to kick it into 4 low and climb the mountain that’s before us. I hope everyone has a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Oh by the way……Launch team…….We start our fast on January 6th. Eat well this Christmas.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Be inspired
I can't believe it has been so long since I've blogged. I enjoy it so much it's wierd that it's been so long. You can probably tell though that I've been slightly busy. Okay, Xtremely busy. But in the busyness I've been having a blast.
The other day I was listening to a podcast and I heard about this guy named Kevin Caroll. He was inspiring. And then he told about a book he wrote called, "Rules of the Red Rubber Ball." I bought it.
It is not like any other book I've read. You can sit and read the whole thing in about 20 minutes, but it will take you months to digest it. It is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. The podcast is even more inspiring. Check it out at Catalyst on itunes.
So if you get a chance to read a little book in the next few weeks, give the red rubber ball a go!
The other day I was listening to a podcast and I heard about this guy named Kevin Caroll. He was inspiring. And then he told about a book he wrote called, "Rules of the Red Rubber Ball." I bought it.
It is not like any other book I've read. You can sit and read the whole thing in about 20 minutes, but it will take you months to digest it. It is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read. The podcast is even more inspiring. Check it out at Catalyst on itunes.
So if you get a chance to read a little book in the next few weeks, give the red rubber ball a go!
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Our Mailer
Check out our cool mailer that will be going to print soon. Leave a comment. Tell me what you think!
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Committed
The summer of 1999 I found myself in the Central American Rain Forest climbing an indistinguishable mountain in 100+ temperatures. It s was tough. But I had with me some of my closest friends, and a trusty Honduran guide. It was an adventure that I will never forget. Although we were all panting, sweating, scratching, and mosquito slapping, we were having a blast. The friendship and the adventure ahead motivated us through the tough parts.
This week in Bible study we have been covering Matthew chapter 5. As I read it I was captured by one simple statement. Now before I tell you, let me preface it by saying that I read it in the Message translation. So if you are from certain parts of the U.S. of A and belong to a certain undisclosed denomination, you will immediately discount me as a Bible believer. If this is the case then you really have not read my previous posts now have you? So anyway, I read in the Message translation in Matthew 5:2
“the committed climbed with him.”
WOW! That statement is as strong as 10 acres of garlic! Think about it. Jesus was climbing the mountain to a secluded place. We know he was gonna give the great diatribe that we now call the beatitudes. But if you wanted to hear the deep nuggets of truth you had to be committed. He didn’t speak in parables on the mountain [one of the few times that he did not], but he spoke plainly. But you had to be committed to hear it.
As I am climbing this mountain of church panting I find that it is not always easy. Wait…….it is NEVER easy! In fact this is the hardest I have worked, in my entire life. I have invested every ounce of every thing I have in this puppy. And When I look around I smile. I smile b/c God has entrusted me with a team of INCREDIBLE people that are committed, and the committed climb with me. NO I’m not saying I’m Jesus Christ! There is no red Kool-Aid, and there is no compound, just a growing group of top-notch people that have committed themselves to making a difference.
Anybody can follow.
Any moron can follow somebody else, that’s easy. Give me a break! I mean my 2 year old can follow me down the street, but he can’t climb…..not yet.
Climbing takes skill.
Climbing takes dedication.
Climbing takes patience.
Climbing takes desire.
Climbing takes commitment.
Don’t tell me who you are following. Tell me if you’re climbing.
This week in Bible study we have been covering Matthew chapter 5. As I read it I was captured by one simple statement. Now before I tell you, let me preface it by saying that I read it in the Message translation. So if you are from certain parts of the U.S. of A and belong to a certain undisclosed denomination, you will immediately discount me as a Bible believer. If this is the case then you really have not read my previous posts now have you? So anyway, I read in the Message translation in Matthew 5:2
“the committed climbed with him.”
WOW! That statement is as strong as 10 acres of garlic! Think about it. Jesus was climbing the mountain to a secluded place. We know he was gonna give the great diatribe that we now call the beatitudes. But if you wanted to hear the deep nuggets of truth you had to be committed. He didn’t speak in parables on the mountain [one of the few times that he did not], but he spoke plainly. But you had to be committed to hear it.
As I am climbing this mountain of church panting I find that it is not always easy. Wait…….it is NEVER easy! In fact this is the hardest I have worked, in my entire life. I have invested every ounce of every thing I have in this puppy. And When I look around I smile. I smile b/c God has entrusted me with a team of INCREDIBLE people that are committed, and the committed climb with me. NO I’m not saying I’m Jesus Christ! There is no red Kool-Aid, and there is no compound, just a growing group of top-notch people that have committed themselves to making a difference.
Anybody can follow.
Any moron can follow somebody else, that’s easy. Give me a break! I mean my 2 year old can follow me down the street, but he can’t climb…..not yet.
Climbing takes skill.
Climbing takes dedication.
Climbing takes patience.
Climbing takes desire.
Climbing takes commitment.
Don’t tell me who you are following. Tell me if you’re climbing.
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