Ok, I know I don't usually do this, but you just have to see this video. It is a commercial that was rejected by NBC to be aired during the Super Bowl. I guess the creators of the ad bought Super Bowl air time, but were refused because of the obscene nature of the comercial. I suggest you watch it to find out what NBC considers offensive these days!
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Blog/Default.aspx?id=404524
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
A Bad Rap
Often, tithing gets a bad rap. How many times have you tried to witness and they bring up tithing and ruin the whole conversation. I just hears the best message on tithing I have ever listened to. I strongly encourage you to click the link and listen to this.
Aren't accountants great!
Aren't accountants great!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Compassion
I am reading through Mark this week and keep running over this word compassion. When I think that Jesus had compassion, I assume that there was suffering that provoked it. I began to think, where would that be most provoked in me?
Several years ago a friend of mine from high school was in an accident. One pound of black powder blew up in his face. His glasses saved his eyes. But, he was burned pretty bad. While visiting him in the burn unit I met some kids who had been burned. I don't know how. One boy had been nick-named Batman by the nurses because he needed to wear a black suit of Lycra or some similar material to act as his skin for a while and cover his bandages. They called him Batman because the suit looked like batman, he liked batman, and it was very painful to get on and off. They needed some motivation for him to go through the process of applying it and removing it when necessary. He liked being Batman.
Today we have so many accoutrements in life that cover up reality, ease our pain, and dull our senses. Could it be that all those pain relievers (not just medical pain relievers) have cause us to lose our ability to notice pain, and thus our ability to have compassion? In that burn unit I was thrown back by the suffering. Thrown back to the reality of life. Life has many pains that can not be completely erased by medication, drugs, parties, entertainment, and comedy routines. For those pains, Jesus is teaching me that I need more compassion.
Several years ago a friend of mine from high school was in an accident. One pound of black powder blew up in his face. His glasses saved his eyes. But, he was burned pretty bad. While visiting him in the burn unit I met some kids who had been burned. I don't know how. One boy had been nick-named Batman by the nurses because he needed to wear a black suit of Lycra or some similar material to act as his skin for a while and cover his bandages. They called him Batman because the suit looked like batman, he liked batman, and it was very painful to get on and off. They needed some motivation for him to go through the process of applying it and removing it when necessary. He liked being Batman.
Today we have so many accoutrements in life that cover up reality, ease our pain, and dull our senses. Could it be that all those pain relievers (not just medical pain relievers) have cause us to lose our ability to notice pain, and thus our ability to have compassion? In that burn unit I was thrown back by the suffering. Thrown back to the reality of life. Life has many pains that can not be completely erased by medication, drugs, parties, entertainment, and comedy routines. For those pains, Jesus is teaching me that I need more compassion.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
See One, Do One, Teach One
At our discipleship training last week a young woman in our church who is a Nurse Practitioner had a great thought that went along with the lessons we were walking through. One of the mantras at the hospital she works at is, See One, Do One, Teach One.
I have been witness to hundreds of blood draws at hospitals as a Pastor. I have to say a few of them were the, "do one." But, I love this concept as it applies to Christianity.
See another Christian pray, witness, encourage, serve, love, teach, study, raise their kids, tithe.
Do what they did.
Teach someone else what you just did.
Christians think that they have to have all the perfect conditions before they can do or teach something. I am not promoting sloppy, but if we always wait for perfect conditions, we will wait forever! I think we have been so conditioned to "follow God's peace," that we really are "taking the path of least resistance." If it is difficult, it must not be God.
Start applying this to your Christian experience today. See One, Do One, Teach One.
I have been witness to hundreds of blood draws at hospitals as a Pastor. I have to say a few of them were the, "do one." But, I love this concept as it applies to Christianity.
See another Christian pray, witness, encourage, serve, love, teach, study, raise their kids, tithe.
Do what they did.
Teach someone else what you just did.
Christians think that they have to have all the perfect conditions before they can do or teach something. I am not promoting sloppy, but if we always wait for perfect conditions, we will wait forever! I think we have been so conditioned to "follow God's peace," that we really are "taking the path of least resistance." If it is difficult, it must not be God.
Start applying this to your Christian experience today. See One, Do One, Teach One.
Cut and Paste
This entry is a cut and paste from my devotional journal for 2009.
Reading through Mark I noticed that evil spirits fell down, cried out and acted in other unusual ways in the presence of Jesus. If we really want to be like Jesus, should we expect this in the supermarket or the line at the DMV? We might just get in trouble, but we might do something great for God too! I don’t know any Christian who experiences this. Is our faith lacking? Is the presence of the Holy Spirit so weak in us?
I have to say, that for me and many people who attend our church, this kind of outburst would be completely unwelcome. We don’t like attention. We hide our faith in public. It would not fit into our schedule. If an evil spirit called out to us in a super market and pointed us out as a Christian and fell at our feet on the floor, we would run away or let the store security handle the miscreant.
Maybe we are not closer to Jesus for a reason. Jesus knows that if we get closer, we will reject the results of his presence in our lives.
Today's thankful thought: Today I am thankful that God has provided for us. When Stephanie and I look forward in our financial future and put pen to paper we always think, “we will never make it.” When we look back we seem to always think, “We have always had what we needed and been able to tithe and give to missions every month.” It never really makes sense! I am thankful that God will provide.
I am also thankful for the snow and ice melting properties of rock salt (snow day).
Reading through Mark I noticed that evil spirits fell down, cried out and acted in other unusual ways in the presence of Jesus. If we really want to be like Jesus, should we expect this in the supermarket or the line at the DMV? We might just get in trouble, but we might do something great for God too! I don’t know any Christian who experiences this. Is our faith lacking? Is the presence of the Holy Spirit so weak in us?
I have to say, that for me and many people who attend our church, this kind of outburst would be completely unwelcome. We don’t like attention. We hide our faith in public. It would not fit into our schedule. If an evil spirit called out to us in a super market and pointed us out as a Christian and fell at our feet on the floor, we would run away or let the store security handle the miscreant.
Maybe we are not closer to Jesus for a reason. Jesus knows that if we get closer, we will reject the results of his presence in our lives.
Today's thankful thought: Today I am thankful that God has provided for us. When Stephanie and I look forward in our financial future and put pen to paper we always think, “we will never make it.” When we look back we seem to always think, “We have always had what we needed and been able to tithe and give to missions every month.” It never really makes sense! I am thankful that God will provide.
I am also thankful for the snow and ice melting properties of rock salt (snow day).
Monday, January 26, 2009
Weekend Rewind
Sunday was a packed and tiring day.
Morning worship was really great. We had several visitors. Also, it was great to feel the energy of worship. In second service I could really hear the congregation singing. We run the sound system loud so that people will sing out loud and be enthusiastic (we don't want to hurt people's ears). In the second service, the congregation out-sang the worship team and sound system. I love it when that happens.
I went to lunch with Mark, Brent, and all our kids so the wives could hang out together. After lunch I had to rush over to Cedar Crest Nursing H0me for the 2:30 service. I got home just before 4:00 and sat and talked with Sylvia and Zelda till I had to leave for the business meeting. I arrived back home at 9:40.
In the second service four people responded to the opportunity to ask Jesus for forgiveness of sins. That is what being a Christian is all about. Get saved, then lead someone else to do the same.
Morning worship was really great. We had several visitors. Also, it was great to feel the energy of worship. In second service I could really hear the congregation singing. We run the sound system loud so that people will sing out loud and be enthusiastic (we don't want to hurt people's ears). In the second service, the congregation out-sang the worship team and sound system. I love it when that happens.
I went to lunch with Mark, Brent, and all our kids so the wives could hang out together. After lunch I had to rush over to Cedar Crest Nursing H0me for the 2:30 service. I got home just before 4:00 and sat and talked with Sylvia and Zelda till I had to leave for the business meeting. I arrived back home at 9:40.
In the second service four people responded to the opportunity to ask Jesus for forgiveness of sins. That is what being a Christian is all about. Get saved, then lead someone else to do the same.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Collateral
Yesterday I was thinking about collateral. Collateral has a huge impact on the health of a church. Often the first question about a church is, "what is the attendance?" That is an important indicator of church health, but not the only one. There are all kinds of collateral. Here are a few.
1. Longevity collateral
The longer a Pastor stays in a place, the more effective they should become. The same is true for volunteers in a church.
2. Doctrinal collateral
There are some people in our church who are in their 60s, who were born into Spirit filled Assembly of God families. Those folks have been studying and growing in the power of the Lord for six decades. That is and should be doctrinal collateral.
3. Social collateral
People like to be in a church where things are going right, but also where they have made meaningful friendships. Social collateral can be created in a short period of time, but is still huge.
4. Financial collateral
When a church is 42 years old it has a different outlook financially than a church that is 142 years old.
At the other two churches I served at there was collateral that I never recognized. It was there when I arrived. I just assumed that is the way things had always been. The church I did youth ministry in, is now 102 years old. The church I served in next is now close to 80 years old. The church I pastor is 42 years old. Just think, babies born in the first two churches when they were planted are likely dead, perhaps for decades. Those babies had children and they are in their late fifties or sixties today. Babies born in our church when it was planted are sending their kids to High School and grade school this morning.
I know of churches that are 150 and 160 years old who have an attendance of 45 or 50. I think to myself, "how do you survive?" The answer is collateral, and I don't just mean money. It is the other collateral that matters more in some situations. The more you think about this the more meaningful it is going to become.
So, as I work this week I have been telling myself, "We are building collateral, keep planting seeds, keep making steps forward."
1. Longevity collateral
The longer a Pastor stays in a place, the more effective they should become. The same is true for volunteers in a church.
2. Doctrinal collateral
There are some people in our church who are in their 60s, who were born into Spirit filled Assembly of God families. Those folks have been studying and growing in the power of the Lord for six decades. That is and should be doctrinal collateral.
3. Social collateral
People like to be in a church where things are going right, but also where they have made meaningful friendships. Social collateral can be created in a short period of time, but is still huge.
4. Financial collateral
When a church is 42 years old it has a different outlook financially than a church that is 142 years old.
At the other two churches I served at there was collateral that I never recognized. It was there when I arrived. I just assumed that is the way things had always been. The church I did youth ministry in, is now 102 years old. The church I served in next is now close to 80 years old. The church I pastor is 42 years old. Just think, babies born in the first two churches when they were planted are likely dead, perhaps for decades. Those babies had children and they are in their late fifties or sixties today. Babies born in our church when it was planted are sending their kids to High School and grade school this morning.
I know of churches that are 150 and 160 years old who have an attendance of 45 or 50. I think to myself, "how do you survive?" The answer is collateral, and I don't just mean money. It is the other collateral that matters more in some situations. The more you think about this the more meaningful it is going to become.
So, as I work this week I have been telling myself, "We are building collateral, keep planting seeds, keep making steps forward."
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Journal Enrty
Here is a portion cut and pasted from my 2009 devotional journal.
I have been reading Genesis to the kids at bedtime. I am currently reading the Noah story. I am reading from the New Living Translation. Even with a contemporary version, it is tough to read it to the kids who are six and four because it talks about murder, making babies, and I don’t know how I will read some of the other stuff. What really got me was Gen. 5.
The good thing is that the kids really do understand a lot of it. They ask all kinds of questions about murder, old age, and how deep the flood was. Ben asked, “Did the flood cover the whole world, or just Noah’s area? Wow, theologians and scientists are still trying to answer that one. Was the flood regional or global. Now my son is asking that question, and he came up with it on his own.
Today I am thankful for date nights with my wife.
I have been reading Genesis to the kids at bedtime. I am currently reading the Noah story. I am reading from the New Living Translation. Even with a contemporary version, it is tough to read it to the kids who are six and four because it talks about murder, making babies, and I don’t know how I will read some of the other stuff. What really got me was Gen. 5.
The good thing is that the kids really do understand a lot of it. They ask all kinds of questions about murder, old age, and how deep the flood was. Ben asked, “Did the flood cover the whole world, or just Noah’s area? Wow, theologians and scientists are still trying to answer that one. Was the flood regional or global. Now my son is asking that question, and he came up with it on his own.
Today I am thankful for date nights with my wife.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Weekend Rewind
I loved Sunday morning. In both services there was a beautiful attitude of worship. When people worship, God moves and it was great to follow the Lord spontaneously in the service. It made church go a little long each service, but extending worship and prayer time is often a very good thing, especially if it is the leading of the Holy Spirit. I am looking forward to testimonies this week of what God was doing.
I am still a bit amused at how strongly the Lord struck my mind with the one empty cup in the communion tray in the first service. I still can't believe that I even noticed it. It was like that one empty cup triggered a landslide of thoughts in the middle of serving communion. I think that the landslide of thoughts were not really my thoughts at all, but the Lord speaking to my mind about what to say at that moment. The Lord's cup of forgiveness is never empty. His blood is sufficient.
I am still a bit amused at how strongly the Lord struck my mind with the one empty cup in the communion tray in the first service. I still can't believe that I even noticed it. It was like that one empty cup triggered a landslide of thoughts in the middle of serving communion. I think that the landslide of thoughts were not really my thoughts at all, but the Lord speaking to my mind about what to say at that moment. The Lord's cup of forgiveness is never empty. His blood is sufficient.
Good For The Soul
They say that confession is good for the soul and I have a confession/retraction that I want to make.
Sunday in the message about the millennium I used a scripture from Isaiah that was not supposed to be in this weeks message, but was for next week's message. Isaiah 11:4-9 says, "The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox." That is not likely to be in the millennium, but it will more likely be the case in the new heavens and new earth. Revelation says there will be no more death in the new earth. However, during the millennium, there will be death.
Well, occasionally I mess up in my preaching and here is one example. Isaiah 11:4-9 more accurately fit in the New Heavens and New Earth message than the millennium message.
Also, I am working on a time line to hand out next week so that this series will be a little more easy to follow for those who have no background on the subject.
Sunday in the message about the millennium I used a scripture from Isaiah that was not supposed to be in this weeks message, but was for next week's message. Isaiah 11:4-9 says, "The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox." That is not likely to be in the millennium, but it will more likely be the case in the new heavens and new earth. Revelation says there will be no more death in the new earth. However, during the millennium, there will be death.
Well, occasionally I mess up in my preaching and here is one example. Isaiah 11:4-9 more accurately fit in the New Heavens and New Earth message than the millennium message.
Also, I am working on a time line to hand out next week so that this series will be a little more easy to follow for those who have no background on the subject.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Thankful Note
Today I am thankful for great Pastor’s wives. All the other ladies backed out of taking down the Christmas stuff for various reasons and troubles. So, Stephanie and Stephanie did it all by themselves, plus they cleaned out the storage area upstairs! Thank you!!!
Give It Up
We are seven days into our 15 days of prayer and fasting. I am fasting my noon hour. I get a bit of a headache at the end of the day by not eating. But, I get some good exercise by prayer walking for a portion of the time. It is really good to change your prayer location. I find myself being drawn to pray for aspects of Washington that I have not been praying for as I walk past them physically. Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective.
I am interested in hearing from some of you about your prayer and fasting. I would love to share some testimonies on Sunday's from our prayer times. The testimonies don't need to be miracles of healing and the like, but miracles of closeness to God through extra prayer. Any testimony is welcome. I am also interested in sharing some of the creative ways that people are fasting. Be ready to share on Sunday, I will be asking.
I am interested in hearing from some of you about your prayer and fasting. I would love to share some testimonies on Sunday's from our prayer times. The testimonies don't need to be miracles of healing and the like, but miracles of closeness to God through extra prayer. Any testimony is welcome. I am also interested in sharing some of the creative ways that people are fasting. Be ready to share on Sunday, I will be asking.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Another Thankful Entry
Today I am thankful for friends, (better than being thankful for dirt I guess) new and old! Yesterday we had dinner and games with Dan and Christina Smith, new friends of ours. We got home at 1:25 a.m.! Today we spent all afternoon with Michael and Stacie Ramos. We made pizzas together. They are back in town for a few days. Tomorrow we will be celebrating their baby dedication in the 10:15 service. Thursday we spent the afternoon with Joe and Terri Burch. Wednesday night we went to Laura and Kaler's Small Group New Years party and brought in the new year with some wonderful unplugged acoustic worship. Great setting.
Now, we need to get our kids back on the school schedule in the next 36 hours! Batten down the hatches!
Now, we need to get our kids back on the school schedule in the next 36 hours! Batten down the hatches!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Small Group Discipleship Training
On January 17th we will meet at 1:00 p.m. for discipleship training with Jim Hall. It will run from 1 to 5 p.m. I want to provide a meal with the training, and would like it to follow at 5:00 p.m. This training is for every person in our church! Especially for Small Group Leaders and potential leaders, but equally, it is for everyone who wants to be a fruitful Christian.
I have been wrestling with a problem for most of a year. How do I disciple new believers and those who are new to our church? I have considered starting my own Small Group just for new believers. It would meet for a set time and then graduate new believers on to another Small Group. That scenario has several problems, first of which is my schedule. It is also difficult to get people to graduate from one group to another as we have found already.
I have considered having someone else teach the new disciples small group, but again, it is tough to graduate people out of a group into another. It could also be tough on the Small Group leader's ability to fellowship properly if his group was always gaining members, but rotating them out.
I have considered dropping out of my Small Group to do discipleship, but I have found, that is not going to be healthy for my family. We need to all be in a group together at this time. My kids love our Small Group and when child care is done creatively and with some effort, they learn invaluable Bible truths from the kids Small Group time.
What we need is this. Every Small Group is disciplining new people in our church and new believers. Every member of every Small Group is learning to be a disciple maker. This is why this training is so important. It is not new, it is the same thing that I presented to you two years ago, we just have not been successful in it to the point that I desire to be successful in our Small Groups.
Think of it like this. The church is a body. The body has parts that do certain things. But, there are some systems in the body that all the parts are using and doing all the time. The circulatory system is in every part of the body. The nervous system is in every part of the body. Thus, the discipleship system is in every part of the body and the outreach system is in every part of the body. Who does the disciple making? Every believer. Who does evangelism? Every believer. Where does it happen? Every meeting, every Sunday, every activity.
So, who is the training for on January 17th? It is for every person in our church. Every person needs to be in a Small Group and understand what our discipleship goals are in the groups. You are either making disciples, or you are in need of discipling. Who did you disciple or win last year? The answer to that question determines your position right now. You are a missionary or you are still a part of the mission field that I am trying to reach. I don't care if you are on the board, a ministry leader, on the worship team, a teacher, or Small Group leader, the answer to that question determines your personal discipleship progress.
Because some work in hard soil and because others use fruitfulness as a rule for their relationship with God, we have removed our fruitfulness from our criteria for assessing our Christian walk. Like we learned in 40 Days of Purpose, your fruitfulness is your faithfulness, and real faithfulness is bearing fruit.
I have been wrestling with a problem for most of a year. How do I disciple new believers and those who are new to our church? I have considered starting my own Small Group just for new believers. It would meet for a set time and then graduate new believers on to another Small Group. That scenario has several problems, first of which is my schedule. It is also difficult to get people to graduate from one group to another as we have found already.
I have considered having someone else teach the new disciples small group, but again, it is tough to graduate people out of a group into another. It could also be tough on the Small Group leader's ability to fellowship properly if his group was always gaining members, but rotating them out.
I have considered dropping out of my Small Group to do discipleship, but I have found, that is not going to be healthy for my family. We need to all be in a group together at this time. My kids love our Small Group and when child care is done creatively and with some effort, they learn invaluable Bible truths from the kids Small Group time.
What we need is this. Every Small Group is disciplining new people in our church and new believers. Every member of every Small Group is learning to be a disciple maker. This is why this training is so important. It is not new, it is the same thing that I presented to you two years ago, we just have not been successful in it to the point that I desire to be successful in our Small Groups.
Think of it like this. The church is a body. The body has parts that do certain things. But, there are some systems in the body that all the parts are using and doing all the time. The circulatory system is in every part of the body. The nervous system is in every part of the body. Thus, the discipleship system is in every part of the body and the outreach system is in every part of the body. Who does the disciple making? Every believer. Who does evangelism? Every believer. Where does it happen? Every meeting, every Sunday, every activity.
So, who is the training for on January 17th? It is for every person in our church. Every person needs to be in a Small Group and understand what our discipleship goals are in the groups. You are either making disciples, or you are in need of discipling. Who did you disciple or win last year? The answer to that question determines your position right now. You are a missionary or you are still a part of the mission field that I am trying to reach. I don't care if you are on the board, a ministry leader, on the worship team, a teacher, or Small Group leader, the answer to that question determines your personal discipleship progress.
Because some work in hard soil and because others use fruitfulness as a rule for their relationship with God, we have removed our fruitfulness from our criteria for assessing our Christian walk. Like we learned in 40 Days of Purpose, your fruitfulness is your faithfulness, and real faithfulness is bearing fruit.
Thankful Thoughts
This year I need to get serious about writing more in a journal. I always thought it was stupid to journal because the 12 disciples did not keep a journal in their discipleship with Jesus. But, later they did write down their experiences and thank the Lord for his inspiration for the writing of the Gospels.
So this year I am going to work on keeping a journal. I am pretty sure I am going to be really bad at this. One part that I need to work on is being thankful and writing down the things that I am thankful for will be good for me. So, here is the first one that came up in my prayer time over the noon hour today.
God thank you for dirt. I like how it can be mud, dust, clay, soil, or dry and hard. I love the way it provides minerals to plants so that my vegetables are good for me. I like that I can make pots out of it. Thank you for providing dirt to entertain my kids these past six years. The dirt in the yard has been their favorite toy by far. Finally, thank you Lord for forming us out of the dust of the earth, knowing that your body is made of dirt and will decompose back to dirt until the resurrection keeps us humble.
I know it sounds funny, but while I walked and prayed today I thanked the Lord for dirt.
So this year I am going to work on keeping a journal. I am pretty sure I am going to be really bad at this. One part that I need to work on is being thankful and writing down the things that I am thankful for will be good for me. So, here is the first one that came up in my prayer time over the noon hour today.
God thank you for dirt. I like how it can be mud, dust, clay, soil, or dry and hard. I love the way it provides minerals to plants so that my vegetables are good for me. I like that I can make pots out of it. Thank you for providing dirt to entertain my kids these past six years. The dirt in the yard has been their favorite toy by far. Finally, thank you Lord for forming us out of the dust of the earth, knowing that your body is made of dirt and will decompose back to dirt until the resurrection keeps us humble.
I know it sounds funny, but while I walked and prayed today I thanked the Lord for dirt.
Four Planets at One Time
New Years Eve I took the boys out to view Venus, Mars and Jupiter. It was a particularly good night to see all three planets at one time while the other stars had not appeared in the twilight sky. I asked the boys, "How many planets can you see at one time right now?" They waited a second and then Gabe shouted, "Four!" I see Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and the Earth! Then we went home and studied the planets on Wikipedia for about 45 minutes before the party.
It is amazing to think about how fast we are moving. The earth moves at something near 29.7 km/sec. through space around the Sun. That is 107,218 km/hr, that means we go 2,573,232 km per day in our orbit. And yet, I can sleep soundly at night, and feel at peace and rest with my friends over a cup of coffee, and not spill any (usually).
It is amazing to think about how fast we are moving. The earth moves at something near 29.7 km/sec. through space around the Sun. That is 107,218 km/hr, that means we go 2,573,232 km per day in our orbit. And yet, I can sleep soundly at night, and feel at peace and rest with my friends over a cup of coffee, and not spill any (usually).
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