Friday, June 29, 2007
Wet & Holy
I am so stoked! July 8th we are doing our very first water baptism at SouthPoint! It is going to be at Kevin McCandless' house at 6PM. We are going to do the whole finger food, hangout thing. And then BAPTIZE!!!! Yea! This is going to be an awesome event that will be a major line of demarcation in so many peoples lives. If you want to be baptized you can email me for more specifics, or you can sign up in the lobby Sunday at the welcome table. of course if you're reading this blog from a different state or city, well then, never mind. But I'm still stoked about Baptizing!!!! YEA!!!!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Why Am I Here Again?
‘Why am I here’ is a very popular question. So many people ask it and even more people think it. It’s like we get our life somewhat on track and then we get hit with the mother of all questions, ‘why am I here?’ I can answer that question in six hundred words or less!
To answer it we have to answer an even bigger question that will in turn answer our question. Confused yet? Probably not, you appear to be highly intelligent. The bigger question is why did God make man? Why did this omnipotent God choose to create man? In fact, why did He even take the time to create the Earth, and the garden of Eden so that man would have a place to live? Why?
When you look at the creation account you see that God not only created everything, by calling it into existence, He did it so that man would have a place not to just exist, but to live and flourish. God’s creation was established for man, so that man could thrive. Of course that still doesn’t answer the why question. Remember I said in six hundred words or less.
So God spoke all this good stuff into existence, then God changes His tactics and bends down and creates man. The book of Genesis says that God breathed life into Adam’s still form. Imagine, God did not just say, “Let there be man.” But He took His time to create, make, and mold, man; and then breath the very creative breathe into man. This is the same creative breath that went forth to create the land, the sun, the animals, and the leaves. This breath is what invaded Adam’s body and brought him to life.
The bible goes on to tell us that God created man on the sixth day. So what did God do on the seventh day? I’m sure you already know the answer since you probably went to Sunday School, I mean why else would you be reading this article? Yes! God rested. Man’s very first full day on planet earth was spent resting, hanging out with God, the creator. You might not realize it, but I am really close to answering your big question, and I have over a hundred words left!
God created man not to perform by jumping through hoops. He did not create man to have some sort of voodoo doll where he could inflict pain at will. No! God created man so that He could fellowship with him. God created the Earth so that He, God, could have an environment in which to walk and talk with man. Our existence is summed up in a relationship with God.
Why are we here you ask? It’s actually an easy answer. We are here to have a relationship with God. God desires it. It is why we were originally formed from the dust of the ground. Why the Triune God-head knelt down and formed the first mud pie was so that we could partake of the first human – divine relationship. Of course we struggle with this assessment some what because we all know that relationships are messy. They never go exactly like you planned, some times they are uncomfortable, and some times they are a blast. When you put the two extremes together, and all the stuff in between, you have the ingredients for a relationship. And that is exactly what God is looking for. Not perfection. Just simply a relationship and that is why you are here; In less than six hundred words.
To answer it we have to answer an even bigger question that will in turn answer our question. Confused yet? Probably not, you appear to be highly intelligent. The bigger question is why did God make man? Why did this omnipotent God choose to create man? In fact, why did He even take the time to create the Earth, and the garden of Eden so that man would have a place to live? Why?
When you look at the creation account you see that God not only created everything, by calling it into existence, He did it so that man would have a place not to just exist, but to live and flourish. God’s creation was established for man, so that man could thrive. Of course that still doesn’t answer the why question. Remember I said in six hundred words or less.
So God spoke all this good stuff into existence, then God changes His tactics and bends down and creates man. The book of Genesis says that God breathed life into Adam’s still form. Imagine, God did not just say, “Let there be man.” But He took His time to create, make, and mold, man; and then breath the very creative breathe into man. This is the same creative breath that went forth to create the land, the sun, the animals, and the leaves. This breath is what invaded Adam’s body and brought him to life.
The bible goes on to tell us that God created man on the sixth day. So what did God do on the seventh day? I’m sure you already know the answer since you probably went to Sunday School, I mean why else would you be reading this article? Yes! God rested. Man’s very first full day on planet earth was spent resting, hanging out with God, the creator. You might not realize it, but I am really close to answering your big question, and I have over a hundred words left!
God created man not to perform by jumping through hoops. He did not create man to have some sort of voodoo doll where he could inflict pain at will. No! God created man so that He could fellowship with him. God created the Earth so that He, God, could have an environment in which to walk and talk with man. Our existence is summed up in a relationship with God.
Why are we here you ask? It’s actually an easy answer. We are here to have a relationship with God. God desires it. It is why we were originally formed from the dust of the ground. Why the Triune God-head knelt down and formed the first mud pie was so that we could partake of the first human – divine relationship. Of course we struggle with this assessment some what because we all know that relationships are messy. They never go exactly like you planned, some times they are uncomfortable, and some times they are a blast. When you put the two extremes together, and all the stuff in between, you have the ingredients for a relationship. And that is exactly what God is looking for. Not perfection. Just simply a relationship and that is why you are here; In less than six hundred words.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Clean or Funky?
In Acts 10:15 we find this neat little phrase,
But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”
It comes from the vision that Peter received while on the roof on Acts. If you want the whole story then crack your bible and read it. I read it this morning and I thought to myself, wow. I wonder how many things in my own life am i calling unclean when God is calling clean? How many things am I saying is unclean just because I was taught it was unclean? And vise versa. How many things am I saying is clean when it is really unclean?
It is so important in life to hear from God not tradition. It is so vital to continually have an open and contrite heart, that allows God to speak into our lives in a powerful way. Of course just like Peter on the roof, God may speak, but we are so deeply rooted in our traditions that we think God is crazy because surely he wouldn't be telling us to do that! But like God said in Isaiah, "I am doing a new thing."
Last time I checked a new thing means......NEW! No previous track record! No pre-established form! Simply NEW!
Yea I like new. I enjoy new, don't you? That shinny sparkly thing that makes everyone oooo and aaaaahhhhh!
So today I'm gonna try and figure out the things in my life that I am holding on to just because I always have. I think it's time to not only hear from God, but apply what we hear.
But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”
It comes from the vision that Peter received while on the roof on Acts. If you want the whole story then crack your bible and read it. I read it this morning and I thought to myself, wow. I wonder how many things in my own life am i calling unclean when God is calling clean? How many things am I saying is unclean just because I was taught it was unclean? And vise versa. How many things am I saying is clean when it is really unclean?
It is so important in life to hear from God not tradition. It is so vital to continually have an open and contrite heart, that allows God to speak into our lives in a powerful way. Of course just like Peter on the roof, God may speak, but we are so deeply rooted in our traditions that we think God is crazy because surely he wouldn't be telling us to do that! But like God said in Isaiah, "I am doing a new thing."
Last time I checked a new thing means......NEW! No previous track record! No pre-established form! Simply NEW!
Yea I like new. I enjoy new, don't you? That shinny sparkly thing that makes everyone oooo and aaaaahhhhh!
So today I'm gonna try and figure out the things in my life that I am holding on to just because I always have. I think it's time to not only hear from God, but apply what we hear.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Man Notes - (not flatulence)
I realized just the other day that boys are different than girls. Have you ever noticed that, or am I the first person to receive this revelation? I’m sure everyone has noticed a minor difference or two if you’ve ever raised children, or if you have children, especially one of each variety, then you have undoubtedly noticed the differences as well. My girls like shiny things and my boy likes dirty things. My girls smell sweet and my son has a fragrance all his own. The most noticeable difference is that my girls are fearful to do daring things, yet my son, will jump before you even notice. He’s a maniac, all afterburner, and no rudder. Of course, those boys then grow up and become men who have children all their own.
All throughout the Bible we see example after example of powerful men leading others. Sometimes they lead them into battle, other times a revolution, but always into precarious situations. Men were created to be pioneers, Warriors, Volatile pieces of humanity. Let’s face it; boys are just different than girls.
With the subduing of the modern world, we also find the organized church trying to subdue the revolutionary spirit that is in a man. We expect men to come into our differing religious camps, get transformed, and then don the sweater vest and loafers and be nice! Above all, just be nice. After all isn’t that what Jesus would do? Actually no. Jesus was all man, and He was all God. Complete divinity in complete human form, and yet we see Him as a complete non-conformist. He didn’t do it Buddha’s way, nor did He do it Confucius’ way, He did it the Creator’s way. Through that window of time we can see not only how Jesus lived, but as men we can see how we should live.
Living life to the hilt is not just an expression; it really is a way of life. Jesus has shown men the way to live. It is not through conforming, but leading. Not jumping on the same well-worn paths of history, but forging into new areas, new ideas, and new adventures. Pushing the limits in areas that have been stagnant for decades. The primal initiative of man is to lead.
In the book of Mark, chapter 9, we find Jesus’ disciples arguing about who is going to be first. Your typical guy conversation, a little old school trash talk. You would think that Jesus would bring the heat and put them all in their place. But He doesn’t. Instead He tells them how to be first. He said, "If anyone wants to be first, He shall be last of all and servant of all."
As men we have an innate desire to be first, to be the leader, and to take other people on an incredible journey with us. We do that not by bullying our way over others, but through serving them. We lead our families by serving them not manipulating and controlling them. We serve our community not by complaining and yelling but by serving and becoming the catalyst for change.
All throughout the Bible we see example after example of powerful men leading others. Sometimes they lead them into battle, other times a revolution, but always into precarious situations. Men were created to be pioneers, Warriors, Volatile pieces of humanity. Let’s face it; boys are just different than girls.
With the subduing of the modern world, we also find the organized church trying to subdue the revolutionary spirit that is in a man. We expect men to come into our differing religious camps, get transformed, and then don the sweater vest and loafers and be nice! Above all, just be nice. After all isn’t that what Jesus would do? Actually no. Jesus was all man, and He was all God. Complete divinity in complete human form, and yet we see Him as a complete non-conformist. He didn’t do it Buddha’s way, nor did He do it Confucius’ way, He did it the Creator’s way. Through that window of time we can see not only how Jesus lived, but as men we can see how we should live.
Living life to the hilt is not just an expression; it really is a way of life. Jesus has shown men the way to live. It is not through conforming, but leading. Not jumping on the same well-worn paths of history, but forging into new areas, new ideas, and new adventures. Pushing the limits in areas that have been stagnant for decades. The primal initiative of man is to lead.
In the book of Mark, chapter 9, we find Jesus’ disciples arguing about who is going to be first. Your typical guy conversation, a little old school trash talk. You would think that Jesus would bring the heat and put them all in their place. But He doesn’t. Instead He tells them how to be first. He said, "If anyone wants to be first, He shall be last of all and servant of all."
As men we have an innate desire to be first, to be the leader, and to take other people on an incredible journey with us. We do that not by bullying our way over others, but through serving them. We lead our families by serving them not manipulating and controlling them. We serve our community not by complaining and yelling but by serving and becoming the catalyst for change.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
What an Incredible Time!
Today I went and watched two of our SouthPointers in action. We went to John Wade Karate and Day camp to teach a little Bible and have fun with the kids. It was such a great time. Crystal Thompson taught the kids, and Matt Souders played some mean electric guitar for them. It was great. The kids seemed to have a great time, and I know Crystal and Matt did as well. What an incredible opportunity to share the power of God with the next generation.
If you want to get involved in this we do it every Tuesday at 10:30, so just email me or give me a call and we will put you in the rotation. Let's role up our sleeves and get involved in our awesome community.
Monday, June 04, 2007
wanna see
If you wanna see the bassinet video just click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCN36mU5Zig
I was thinking.....
I was thinking that summer was when things slowed down. I thought when school got out you spent more time with the kids. Mowing the lawn, maybe even reading a nameless magazine that has no content to speak of.....yea like TIME.
Well summer is here but I' hav'nt slowed down one bit. In fact time seems a little bit crazy. Thus the reason for no blog entries in what, like a year? I'm hoping to get my feet under me again this week and be a little more proactive instead of feeling like i'm playing catchup all the time. Sunday afternoon I realized I might need to do something since I double booked 4 appointments! ouch! I think my brain is in slight overload.
But incredible things are happening. Sunday we did another newcomers reception and had over 20 new people join the ranks of SouthPoint! YEA! What an incredible group of people. More than just their talents and gifts (which are crazy out of this world) their hearts are golden. Precious people. I look forward to getting to know them better.
If you're interested my birthday party was awesome! We had almost 100 people over to our house and it was great! We rented the big boxing ring and the 22-foot slide.....Oh what fun it was to slide on hot rubberized plastic!
farewell to Dawn - Dawn Whittington has been a part of SouthPoint since we began. She moved here from Naples, FL to help us plant this vibrant church and she has done an awesome job! She has served in any and every capacity she was ever asked with a joyful heart. WOW what a servant. Lately she has been serving in a dual capacity : Nursery and Cafe'. She rocks! Unfortunately all good things eventually come to a close. Dawn is now moving back to Florida to finish up her degree. She is leaving this week to get settled and get everything situated before classes start. in the fall. Dawn we are gonna miss you :( thank you for everything you have done, are doing and will do for the Kingdom of God. You're an awesome lady!
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