Wednesday, February 27, 2008

ALTARS TO GOD OR MONUMENTS TO SELF?

On Tuesday, February 19 I got to hear Mark Batterson present a terrific message at the Evolve Church Planters Conference at Mountain Lake Church in Cumming. Mark is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. He launched the church in January, 1996. The church has exploded. Mark has distinguished himself as a fresh voice and innovative leader. In fact, Mark wrote one of my favorite books of the last year titled, “In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day.”

Mark had this post on his blog the morning of his lecture at the conference. I was challenged by his message and wanted to share his post with you.

Altars to God or Monuments to Self?
Mark Batterson

This morning I'm doing a session at the Evolve Conference titled The Secure Leader. I'm going to use Saul as a case study in insecurity. Two verses represent two defining moments in his life.

I Samuel 14:35: "And Saul built an altar to God; the first one he had ever built." So far so good. Saul is building altars to God. But fast-forward one chapter. I Samuel 15:12 says, "Saul went up to Carmel to build a monument to himself." Somewhere between those two verses, Saul stopped building altars to God and started building monuments to himself. There is a fine line between Thy Kingdom Come and My Kingdom Come. At some point, it was no longer about God. It was about Saul.

Here are seven habits of secure leaders:

1) Don't play the comparison game.

No one wins! Comparison either leads to pride or jealousy!

2) Success isn't numbers.

Saul got caught up in the numbers game. And David had better stats. Listen, if my children grow up to love God and everything else falls apart I'm successful. But if NCC grows to 50,000 people and I sell 10,000,000 books it means nothing if my family falls apart. Jesus was successful because he poured his life into twelve people!

3) Celebrate your failures.

Insecure people are afraid of failing. Secure people laugh at themselves. They celebrate failure because it accentuates what God can do in spite of us!

4) Don't panic.

Saul panics when his men start scattering so he makes a sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel. Insecure people get nervous. They give up. Secure leaders hang in there no matter what.

5) Don't get defensive.

How you handle criticism will make you or break you. You need tough skin and a soft heart. If you're insecure your defense mechanisms will get the best of you. So instead of leading out of imagination you'll lead out of insecurity.

6) Surround yourself with the right people.

Who was Saul's greatest asset? David. But if you are insecure, your greatest asset will become your greatest threat. And it will short-circuit your ability to surround yourself with a great team. And it will limit your influence.

7) Keep building altars to God.

God often uses us at our point of insecurity because then He gets all the credit. I pray for the favor of God as much as anything else because I want God to do things for me that I cannot do for myself. And every time we experience God's blessing we need to build an altar. That's why we named our coffeehouse Ebenezers: hitherto the Lord has helped me. The blessings of God either turn into pride or praise.

Are you building altars to God or monuments to yourself?

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

HELLO, MY NAME IS CHRIS...

I have a confession to make. I am a recovering obsessive, compulsive, sometimes hypocritical, sometimes judgmental, self-righteous, pharisaical, RELIGIOUS ADDICT.

I didn’t start out this way… My faith journey began approximately 35 years ago. When I started this journey it wasn’t about religion, it was about JESUS. Pure and simple. JESUS.

But somewhere along the journey, you gradually substitute stuff like rituals and rules for a dynamic relationship with Christ; or the predictability of forms and systems for the messiness of passion and sacrifice of devotion… Before you know it, the rituals, rules, forms and systems leave you completely exhausted and EMPTY.

Have you ever felt that way?

Here's the way Brennan Manning describes it in his classic, The Ragamuffin Gospel.

"The Christian community resembles a Wall Street exchange of works wherein the elite are honored and the ordinary ignored. Love is stifled, freedom shackled, and self-righteousness fastened. The institutional church has become a wounder of the healers rather than a healer of the wounded."

"Put bluntly, the American church today accepts grace in theory but denies it in practice. We say we believe that the fundamental structure of reality is grace, not works - but our lives refute our faith. By and large, the gospel of grace is neither proclaimed, understood, nor lived. Too many Christians are living in the house of fear and not in the house of love."
~ Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel


In Ephesians 3:14-18, Paul prayed this prayer for a group of believers in the church at Ephesus.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…

The word “grasp” means to “seize” or to “take hold.” It basically means, "Hey guys... I want you to experience this truth personally, not just theoretically."

Paul understood that some times it’s easy for people to believe that God loves people in GENERAL. I mean, after all that’s just what God does… But it’s tough for a lot of people to buy into the thought that GOD LOVES THEM in PARTICULAR. Why? Because I know my baggage, my past, my failures, my garbage...

Paul says, "Guys, I want you to get hold of and seize the love of Christ personally. I want it to be more to you than a lot of head knowledge. I want it to be something you believe in to the core of who you are."

So, are you like me, a recovering, obsessive, compulsive religious addict?

There's hope.

FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS. SIMPLY JESUS.

Several years before his death in 1968, the renowned Swiss theologian, Karl Barth came to the United States to deliver a series of lectures. A lot of people believe that Barth was one of the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century… At one of these lectures, after a real impressive talk, a student asked Dr. Barth this question, “Dr. Barth, what is the greatest thought that has ever passed through your mind?”

It's said that the aging professor paused for a long time as he obviously thought about his answer. Then he responded with great simplicity: “Jesus love me, This I know. For the Bible tells me so.”

You probably sang that little song when you were a kid. Why not begin to really believe the PROFOUND SIMPLICITY of this amazing truth in your heart? JESUS LOVES YOU. He will never love you any less than He loves you right now.

A recovering religious addict yourself?

Detox! FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS. HE IS ALREADY HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE WITH YOU!


CURRENT WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY SERIES AND SCHEDULE
SIMPLY JESUS: Detox for Recovering Religious Addicts Like Me

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
TRUSSVILLE AREA
Will NOT Meet This Week, But Will Resume Next Wednesday, March 5
Same Channel. Same Location. Same Time.

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
Every Thursday Evening · 6:30 PM
Childcare is provided THURSDAY ONLY by reservation.
Contact Janet at 979.3633

LOCATION: Home of Chris and Janet Goins
328 Stone Brook Circle · Hoover, AL · 35226
205.979.3633

DINNER IS SERVED!
Both the Wednesday and Thursday Evening Studies include DINNER. Don’t worry about rushing home to prepare a meal and then rushing back out for Bible Study. We’ve got you covered.

This week Paul and Claire Yother (hopefully it’s mostly Claire), along with Ahntuan Bui are providing dinner. Thanks guys! Come HUNGRY…

Monday, February 25, 2008

U2 3D and Worship


Friday night Janet, myself and Caley (our 15 year old daughter) got a chance to check out U2 3D at the Rave. Wow! I’ve been to three live shows. The best being their Elevation Tour at United Airlines Arena in Miami. As a fan of more 20+ years, I’m amazed by their commitment to create relevant and moving “art.”

As you’ve probably already read, this is the first live action movie to be shot, produced and screened exclusively with 3-D technology. As a “work of art” it is amazing! Here are just a few of my thoughts.

• These guys are still passionate about what they do.

They’ve been together for a little more than 30 years. Most bands don’t make it past a few years and then egos get in the way or the road just wears them out… U2, on the other hand, formed in 1976 and they still seem as passionate today as they’ve ever been.

• Great song writing matters.

Sometimes you forget just how many GREAT SONGS these guys have written. Their catalog is incredible! The film covers some of their greats: Beautiful Day, Pride (In The Name of Love), Where The Streets Have No Name, With Or Without You, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, One, Bullet the Blue Sky and a few more…

• The audio mix in this film is unbelievable.

If you’re going to see U2 3D go to a great theatre. The mix is incredible. I’m already hoping that they release a CD version of the soundtrack to this film.

• The cinematography is amazing.

Leave it to U2 to take concert video to a whole new level. After the first song, I felt like I was such a part of the concert that I almost forgot and started to clap. It’s that good.

• Great music transcends culture and demographics.

I looked around the theatre Friday night and the age and ethnic diversity was amazing. You had your 40-something year old guys and gals like me, your twenty and thirty somethings and even some in their teens.

My 15-year old daughter went because her Dad really wanted to go… She left the film blown away, ready to go back.

• Why Can’t Worship Be Like This?

I left the film wondering, “Why can’t worship be like this?” I’m not talking about the extraordinary musicianship of The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr. and Adam Clayton… Okay, we all talk about The Edge, but Mullen and Clayton form one of the tightest rhythm sections ever… These guys are stinkin’ awesome.

I’m not even talking about the killer vocals by Bono. By the way, his voice is still one of the best voices in music. I’m talking about the passion these guys bring to the stage… The commitment to excellence… The commitment to creating art that honors God and inspires people… The response of the crowd… The electricity in the stadium… The way their music actually MOVES you and CREATES A MOMENT!

Garrison Keillor once wrote:

“If you can't go to church and at least for a moment be given transcendence, if you can't pass briefly from this life into the next, then I can't see why anyone should go. Just a brief moment of transcendence causes you to come out of church a changed person.”

He’s right. Friday night I sat watching a concert film and was “moved.” I experienced transcendence.

Check out the film while it’s still in the theatres. You’ll be glad you did. Then, think about how you can take the hour to hour and a half you have with your people every weekend and create moments of transcendence. God really is worthy. People really do need it.

PS: Don’t leave the film early… At the end of the credits U2 sings “Yahweh.” Kind of makes you wonder, “Maybe this really was worship, after all?”

Thursday, February 21, 2008

RELIGIOUS ADDICTS?


We kicked off a brand new Wednesday and Thursday PM teaching series this week titled SIMPLY JESUS: Detox For Recovering Religious Addicts Like Me.

Here's the gist. In his book, Divine Nobodies, author Jim Palmer makes a statement that nails me:

"Somehow, somewhere along the way, my Christianity had become a hamster’s squeaky wheel of dos and don’ts (which I commonly referred to as discipleship) that were wearing me out but not getting me anywhere. I wasn’t addicted to crack; I was addicted to religion in a vain attempt to get God to like me, bless me, or at least 2spare me from hell when it was all over. It’s funny how one can talk a good grace game, but for all practical purposes live by the law. I’ve learned that the “grace but…” mentality is as lethal as anything you can sniff, toke, or shoot up."

Have you ever felt like that? Aren't you ready to get off the treadmill of religious performance and just fall in love with Jesus?

A couple of weeks ago I heard Mark Driscoll talk about the difference between religion and Christianity. His thoughts put into words most of my feelings... I'll paraphrase:

Here’s what I’ve discovered about religion… Religion is about ME… It’s about MY good works… MY good deeds… MY personal effort…

Christianity, on the other hand, is about JESUS… Plain and simple... JESUS.

Here’s the problem with religion. IT DOESN’T WORK! IT JUST DOESN’T WORK. You can take it from a guy who has been doing the “religious thing” for most of my adult life...

Why doesn't it work?

Because it inevitably ends in PRIDE or DEPAIR… It ends in pride when you make the list, try hard to please God, be a really good person, earn your salvation and then stand back and think to yourself, “Hey! I’ve done a stinkin' good job…” Unfortunately, what happens is that you usually end up becoming some kind of arrogant, self-righteous religious jerk…

I can only speak for myself… I hate to admit it, but there have been times when I’ve taken on this judgmental arrogance and looked at people with this kind of attitude that says, “I’m so glad I’m not like them…”

But the reality is, PRIDE IS A SIN… It’s the sin that caused Satan to get kicked out of heaven… And whenever I stand back, point fingers, take on the attitude that I’m holier than everyone else, look down my nose at people because I don’t believer their my peer morally, that's PRIDE… And it's wrong!

Religion doesn’t work because it ends up leading to PRIDE. If it doesn't end up leading to pride, then it ends up leading to DESPAIR…

DESPAIR because I try really, really hard… I want to read my Bible, but I end up falling asleep… I want to pray, but I get distracted… I mean to go to church, but I forgot to set the alarm clock… Or maybe I do all of this stuff, but still feel this gnawing in my gut that reminds me, "SOMETHING’S MISSING. You haven't done enough, given enough, prayed enough or read enough... You need to try harder..." But regardless of how hard you try, you never feel that you've tried hard enough... That’s DESPAIR…

Jesus, on the other hand, leads to HUMBLE, CONFIDENT JOY!

JOY because I understand, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS! It’s not about what I have to DO; it’s about what He has already DONE

There’s no room for PRIDE, because I understand that without the cross I would be completely hopeless…

And as for DESPAIR, it’s difficult to sink into despair when you realize that your relationship with God doesn’t depend on your efforts… It’s all about JESUS…

I've been on the religious treadmill! As jim Palmer writes, it just ended up making me tired. I'm ready to FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS.

SIMPLY JESUS!

STAYING HEALTHY

I’m still walking through the notes I took at the Evolve Church Planters Conference on Monday and Tuesday.

As I mentioned earlier this week, on Monday, Shawn Lovejoy opened up the conference with a talk on “The Healthy Leader.”

The gist of his talk: Healthy leaders / pastors create healthy churches… That’s why one of the BIG ISSUES every pastor must focus on is the DISCIPLINE required to sustain personal health in every area of life.

DISCIPLINE is almost a “bad word” in our culture… We avoid it… But it’s essential if we’re gong to be all that God has called us to be… But when it comes to leading, discipline is essential if we’re going to have “moral authority” with the people we lead…

There are at least four areas that require discipline…

1. My Spiritual Health

I’ve got to make certain that I make my time with God a major priority every day. For me, spiritual health requires at least three components:

(1) Getting into God’s Word… By that, I mean reading the Bible for all it’s worth… Right now I’m using a “through the Bible in a year” format produced by Christianity Today. I’m almost two months in and lovin’ it…

(2) Prayer… I need time to talk with God on a daily basis… It’s crucial that I spend time communicating with the Father…

(3) Journaling… I don’t have to write a lot, but I find the process of working through the S.O.A.P. acrostic to be very helpful each morning…

2. My Physical Health

Okay, I don’t like eating right… I much prefer Chicken and Dumplin’s and Pecan Pie… But it’s important that I eat right, exercise and get the proper amount of rest if I’m going to lead for the long haul… Furthermore, I just like the way it makes me feel when I’m eating right and exercising… I feel more alive… I think with greater clarity…

3. My Emotional Health

Carrying around baggage and junk like anger, unforgiveness, worry and anxiety will eat my lunch… I’ve got to release this junk and move on in my life with God.

4. My Relational Health

This is crucial… I can be a killer pastor and a great communicator, but be a lousy husband and father… Here’s my question: “What will it profit a man if I lead a church of thousands, but my own kids and wife don’t really like to be around me?”

I’ve got to make spending time with my wife and children a huge priority… That means it’s up to me to take responsibility for dating my wife… It’s up to me to take responsibility for finding out what’s going on in the lives of my three girls…

A lot of people can deliver really great messages, but only I can be a husband to my wife and a father to me three daughters…

Furthermore, I’ve got to make friendships a priority… I really thank God for the good friends He has placed in my life… In the last few months, I’ve discovered that I want to be a man who makes friendship a major priority… I need friends… I’ve also discovered: MY FRIENDS NEED ME.


So, how are YOU doing when it comes to PERSONAL HEALTH and SELF DISCIPLINE? Shawn closed his talk by giving us a set of questions to help us evaluate where we are… Here’s that set of questions… Take the time to read through them… Think through them…

If you’re really brave, ask your SPOUSE to evaluate your life based on these questions… It could hurt, so BE PREPARED…

Do I get up at the same time every morning?
Am I overweight?
Do I have any addictions (caffeine, sugar, porn, etc.) right now?
Do I take a day off every week?
Have I taken a vacation in the last year? That wasn’t mixed with work?
Is my email inbox near empty right now?
Is my office and car clean or a mess?
Am I usually on time or late for things?
If I tell someone I’ll call them, do I do it?
Do I spend time with God every day?
Do I have a consistent date night with my spouse?
Do I have a hobby I enjoy consistently?
How often do I exercise?
How much TV do I watch?
What does my appearance say about my level of discipline (hair, clothes, etc.)?
Do I eat right?
Do I have a lot of debt?
Do I ever say: “When things slow down, I’m going to_______”


If you’re like me, you’ve heard this kind of stuff before, but ever once in a while I can use a good kick in the seat of the pants to help get my life back on track…

Your assignment tomorrow:

Open THE BOOK. Hit your knees. Write in your journal. Go to the gym. Eat right. Pick up the phone. Call a friend. Spend time with your wife and kids. STAY HEALTHY.

Thanks Shawn for an important reminder..

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

SIMPLY JESUS


Okay. Here's the graphic my friend Stephen Burton - the CREATIVE GENIUS - who resides in Dallas, Georgia came up with for the new teaching series...

I love this guy. He's amazing. Thanks Stephen.

UPDATE AND NEWS

Evolve Church Planters Conference
Mountain Lake Church • Cumming, Georgia

Just finished two life-changing days at Shawn Lovejoy’s church in Cumming, Georgia.

What a refreshing conference! This may be the first conference that I ever felt specifically “prompted” by the Holy Spirit to attend. During Monday morning’s pre-conference session, God used a guy named David Putman to confirm His calling upon my life to plant a church… I’m still not certain “where,” but I do KNOW beyond the shadow of a doubt, “what” God has called me to do… For the first time in a few months, I feel excited about the future and can’t wait to see what God is going to accomplish. I’ll keep you updated as the details become clear…

Today, I probably heard the most powerful message I’ve heard in years. The message was by a guy named Darrin Patrick, Lead Pastor of Journey Church in St. Louis. Wow!

Patrick began his message on repentance with an incredible quote from Reformed Minister, D. Martin Lloyd Jones… This statement nailed me…

Jones was writing about idolatry and defined an idol as “anything in our lives that occupies the place that should be occupied by God alone… An idol is anything that holds such a controlling position in my life that it moves and rouses and attracts me so easily that I give my time, my attention, my energy and my money to it effortlessly."

Holy Cow! Did you read that? All of a sudden idolatry gets really personal… It’s not just something a group of ancient people struggled with in the Old Testament. It’s something that I struggle with… It’s something YOU struggle with…because you and I regularly give our time, attention, energy and money effortlessly to stuff that doesn’t really matter…

In light of this, Patrick talked about the need for deep repentance… Repentance that moves beyond moralizing and regret, and goes to the core of my motives and attitudes… Repentance that causes me to see my sin, own my sin and TURN from my sin… Repentance that realizes, “I am a bigger sinner than I want to believe, but Jesus is a bigger Savior than I could ever imagine…”

I left this conference touched, moved, inspired and hopefully CHANGED.

Thanks to the incredible leadership and staff of Mountain Lake Church for a great conference.


Here’s the OTHER STUFF you may want to be aware of:


New Teaching Series

SIMPLY JESUS:
Detox for Recovering Obsessive Compulsive Religious Addicts Like Me

Jesus said, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life…” (Matthew 11:28 MSG)

What happens when you get off the treadmill of religious performance and just decide to fall in love with Jesus? FREEDOM!

I am pumped about this series! Don’t miss the kickoff! This Wednesday and Thursday.


WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
Every Wednesday Evening • 6:30 PM
TRUSSVILLE AREA

WEDNESDAY LOCATION: Home of Ron and Deborah Wiggins
7931 Wynwood Road • Trussville, AL • 35173

THURSDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY
Every Thursday Evening • 6:30 PM
Childcare is provided THURSDAY ONLY by reservation. Contact Janet at 979.3633

THURSDAY LOCATION: Home of Chris and Janet Goins
328 Stone Brook Circle • Hoover, AL • 35226
205.979.3633


UPDATE ON MY DAD: Pastor Ken Goins
This makes the second week in a row that Dad has made it to church! Yea, God! Today he finished the third week of cancer therapy. Every Tuesday he goes in for a treatment with a drug called Rituxan, a monoclonal antibody that targets B-cells. So far, his body has responded well to the treatments.

After next week’s treatment, Dad will begin radiation treatments for approximately six weeks. This will be followed by another MRI to check the status of the cancer.

We are praying for complete healing! Thanks so much for your partnership in prayer and faith.


MINISTRY SCHEDULE

Sale Creek Church
Sunday Morning, February 24, 11 AM
Sale Creek, Tennessee
Lead Pastor: Terry Bolton

Lee University U Church 234
Sunday Evening, February 24, 7:30 PM
Cleveland, Tennessee
President: Dr. Paul Conn

Life Pointe Church
Sunday, March 2, 9 and 10:30 AM
Monday, March 3
Flagship Cinemas
2250 NE Campbell Drive
Homestead, Florida
Lead Pastor: Travis Johnson

Exponential ‘08
National New Church Conference (ATTENDING)
Orlando, Florida
April 21-24, 2008


ABOVE AND BEYOND!

If you would have asked me six months ago what it would be like to go back out on the road as an itinerant speaker, I would have looked at you as if you were out of your ever-loving mind… But it is becoming more and more apparent that God is using this time to shape and change my life…

First of all, Janet and I have met some incredibly beautiful people who have given us a new perspective on what it means to do church and be the church. The believers at Coram Deo in Knoxville, Tennessee are amazing! Thanks guys! The Wednesday PM Bible Study in Trussville is filled with new friends that we’ve just had the opportunity to meet… Thanks Ron and Deborah. The Thursday PM Bible Study is starting to get in a groove…

Almost daily it seems that God is bringing Janet and myself into contact with really cool people. Some of them need Jesus. Some of them inspire us to believe God. Some of them seem to be divine appointments. We regularly sense God saying, “Enjoy the journey… Don’t miss out on this moment. This is crucial… Open your heart… Open your eyes… I’m at work in your world…”

Second, God has been teaching us to TRUST and OBEY. Every week, God has been supplying our need through totally unexpected sources. I marvel at His incredible faithfulness and wonder why I’m so prone to doubt, get stressed or become anxious… In a little more than a week we will have went two months without a “salary,” but GOD has met EVERY NEED! Can I get another, “Yea, God!”?

Third, God has been HEALING Janet and myself… The last few weeks we’ve experienced the Holy Spirit healing old hurts, reviving our Spirit and renewing in us a passion for God and His church.

Wow! I didn’t mean to write so much, but that’s what’s going on.

If you’re in the area, we would love for you to join us for one of our weekly Bible Studies.

As always, thanks so much for your FRIENDSHIP and PRAYERS. We love you. If there is ever a way we can serve you, please don’t hesitate to contact us… Love you.

Chris and Janet Goins
328 Stone Brook Circle
Birmingham, Alabama 35226
205.979.3633
cgoins1127@bellsouth.net

Monday, February 18, 2008

HOW HUNGRY ARE YOU?

Today I’m in Cumming, Georgia attending the Evolve Church Planters Conference at Mountain Lake Church. One word: WOW!

This morning in the PRE-CONFERENCE Seminar David Putman spoke on “Launching Large.” God used David to confirm his calling on my life to PLANT a church… I can’t wait… I’m not certain WHERE God wants me to plant, but I do know He has CALLED me to plant…

The conference officially kicked off in the afternoon with a message from Shawn Lovejoy on The Healthy Leader…

Key Thought: Healthy leaders create healthy organizations and healthy churches… Leaders must be relentless in the DISCIPLINE required to sustain personal health (physically, emotionally, relationally and spiritually).

In the afternoon I attended a breakout session with Steven Furtick… Okay, this guy turns 28 years old TOMORROW… He looks like he’s in a rock band… Bleached hair… Torn jeans… Rock star shirt… HEART FOR GOD!

The guy is ON FIRE! His journey into church planting began when he was sixteen years old and read Jim Cymbala’s book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire. One sentence in the book nailed him… Cymbala wrote: “I despaired that my life might pass me by without seeing God move mightily on my behalf.”

What a sentence! This sentence was catalytic in creating a hunger for God in Steven’s life… He knew he wanted to see God “move mightily” in his life via a church plant…

God has “moved mightily” on his behalf… After only 18 months, the church recently topped 3,000 in weekend worship attendance! Yea, God!

Steven speaks with passion. He is real… He is anointed… I was moved by this breakout session….

Steven spoke from 2 Kings 4 which contains the story of a widow who desperately needed God’s intervention in her life… A loan shark was going to collect on a personal debt by taking her two sons as slaves… She needed a financial miracle…

The prophet Elijah looked at her and asked, “What do you have in the house?”

GREAT THOUGHT: Steven talked about God using “what we have in ‘OUR’ house” as the platform for His activity…

NOTE TO SELF: Don’t minimize what God has placed in “your house”? Maybe it’s only a little bit of oil, but God may want to use it to do something completely beyond your abilities…

“What do you have in the house?”

The widow responded, “Nothing, except a little oil…”

This is when things get interesting, because Elijah commanded the widow, “Go up and down the street and borrow as many jars as you can get your hands on… Don’t just borrow a few, borrow as many as you can get… Then come home and lock the door…you and your sons... Then pour oil into each container…”

If you’ve read the story you know that the oil continued to POUR until the last jar was filled…

GREAT THOUGHT: Here Steven talked about the fact that our GROWTH BARRIERS are not a result of GOD’S CAPABILITY, but of our CAPACITY

God wants to blow our mind, but we must go out and get the jars…


Two Principles:

The Principle of OVER REACTION…

The widow only had a small container of oil, but she was commanded to go out and borrow all of the jars she possibly could… Her willingness to go out and borrow empty jars actually ended up setting the CEILING ON THIS MIRACLE…

How I desperately need to BELIEVE GOD for MAJOR BREAKTHROUGHS… My faith in God’s capability to act will probably be revealed in my willingness to PREPARE FOR THE MIRACLE…


Here’s the SECOND PRINCIPLE…

DRESS FOR THE WEDDING, NOT THE GAS STATION…

Steven talked about those odd times when we are decked out on our way to a wedding or formal engagement and have to stop and pump gas… We almost feel apologetic and want to explain ourselves to strangers and passersby, “Hey, I’m on my way to a wedding…”

Steven talked about how essential it is to PREPARE for where we WANT TO BE, not simply WHERE WE ARE as church planters… This will probably include the SYSTEMS, STAFF and STRUCTURES you develop for the church God has called you to plant…


Steven shared some of these same principles in the closing afternoon session…


Tonight, it’s late… I’m sitting here in bed and thinking about what God is doing in Charlotte, what God is doing through this 28-year-old rock and roller named Steven, what God has done for Shawn Lovejoy at Mountain Lake, what God has done for Chris Hodges at Church of the Highlands... Shoot! The list goes on…

All I can say is, “God, please do it again…”

“I despaired that my life might pass me by without seeing God move mightily on my behalf.”

Is this the way I really feel? Is it the way you feel? Are you so passionate about seeing God do something in your world that you will pray with passion, worship with abandon and believe with AUDACITY…

God is using a 28-year-old rocker to turn a city upside down! Why? Because the dude is HUNGRY for God to "move mightily."

I’M READY TO BE IN ON GOD ACTIVITY! How about you?

Well, it’s time to get some sleep… Tomorrow is DAY 2 of the Evolve Church Planters Conference… I’m looking forward to it already.

Friday, February 15, 2008

LEAVE US ALONE!

After 430 years of slavery, through a series of extraordinary miracles, God uses an unlikely leader who stumbles and stutters to lead Israel out of Egypt…

Pharaoh, like all bullies, is relentless… He won’t give up without a fight. So he pursues Israel and pens them down near the Red Sea.

Israel is terrified when they look up and see Pharaoh’s army coming after them in full body armor ready for a fight… They panic!

Exodus 14:10-12 (MSG), As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them - Egyptians! Coming at them! 11 They told Moses, "Weren't the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? 12 Back in Egypt didn't we tell you this would happen? Didn't we tell you, 'Leave us alone here in Egypt - we're better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness.'"

This is usually what leadership looks like… One man or woman pointing to the future – leading towards an idea of what could be and what should be… Standing alone in the face of overwhelming odds with resilient faith.

Leadership always attracts critics, cynics, scoffers and doubters who for some reason prefer to the “known” reality of the past – even though the past may represent bondage… Bondage to archaic ideas that no longer work… Bondage to systems and structures that stifle freedom and creativity, that may put food on the table, but can’t put any fire in your soul or make a difference on the planet… For some reason the majority usually prefer the “known” reality of the past, the status quo, over all of the “unknown” aspects of the future… And since they don’t have a plan as to how to get out of the mess we’re in, they’re left to criticize, condemn and second guess the guy or gal who does have a plan...

But in the face of doubt, sometimes even extreme battles with self-doubt; in the face of unbelief, criticism, cynicism and pessimism, the leader is dauntless. He sees what the crowd and the critics can’t see…. He believes in ideas and dreams that they’ve never considered… So he leads, regardless…

Exodus 14:13-14 (MSG), Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you're never going to see them again. 14 God will fight the battle for you. And you? You keep your mouths shut!"

Somehow the leader finds the ability to stand with quite confidence and say, “Stand still! Open your eyes! Shuts your mouths! Now, move forward!”

And because the leader chose to stand in the face of criticism, to lead in spite of adversity, to ignore the whining of people saying, “Leave us alone… It would be better just to get by, than to blow it larger than life and have to live with the aftertaste of failure…”

The leader knows that that kind of life really isn’t a life… And because the leader chooses to lead, people experience the miraculous, achieve the incredible and do the impossible…

LEADERS, please DON’T “leave us alone!” Lead on! Despite all the crap the critics and cynics will throw at you! LEAD ON! We need you!

“Oh God, please make me that kind of leader!”

Saturday, February 9, 2008

THE WAITING MIRACLE

Here are the notes from this past Wedesday's and Thurday's Bible Study.

The Waiting Miracle
TRUE FAITH: A Study in the Book of James
James 5:7-12

I. WHEN To Wait?

A. When Circumstances Are Beyond Your Control.

James 5:7 (NIV), Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

B. When People Refuse To Change.

James 5:10, Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

C. When Your Problems Just Can't Be Explained.

James 5:11b, You have heard of Job's perseverance…


II. WHY Wait?

A. Because God Is In Control.

James 5:8, You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.

James 5:8 (PH), …you must be patient, resting your hearts on the ultimate certainty. The Lord’s coming is very near.

Three Reminders:
• My life may be out of my control, but it’s not out of God’s control!
• God’s purpose for my life is greater than my problems.
• God’s timing is perfect!

B. Because God Rewards Waiting.

James 5:11, As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.

The Profit Patience Brings;
• Patience builds character.
• Patience strengthens my faith.
• Patience deepens my dependence on God.
• Patience increase my eternal reward (Matthew 5:11-12).

C. Because God Is Working Things Out!

James 5:11b, You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Philippians 2:13, …it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.


III. WHAT DO I DO While I Wait?

A. Wait Expectantly.

James 5:7, See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.

Psalm 130:5 (LB), I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised. (See Matthew 9:29)

Isaiah 49:23 (GN), The Lord says… “No one who waits for My help will be disappointed.”

B. Wait Quietly.

James 5:9, Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

James 5:12, Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned. (Lamentations 3:26)

C. Wait Confidently.

Micah 7:7, I wait confidently for God. (See Exodus 14:13)

Friday, February 8, 2008

WHEN GOD WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES

Earlier this week my daily devotional time took me through the story of Joseph… Remember him? He was the original “cast off” of Survivor…

He grew up in a highly dysfunctional family. Because Joseph was the son born in Jacob’s old age, he was Jacob’s favorite. Joe was a “daddy’s boy.” Jake had twelve sons and he made no apology at all for the fact that out of all twelve boys, Joe was the one he loved more than them all…

The result? According to Genesis 37:4, Joe’s brothers “…hated Joseph because of their father’s partiality…” This sibling rivalry went so deep that Joe’s brothers wouldn’t even speak to him because of Jake’s favoritism…

Finally, one day this band of brothers got the opportunity they had been looking for… Jake sent Joe to check on his brothers… Genesis 37:18-20 says, “When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance and made plans to kill him. 19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they exclaimed.

They didn’t even call Joe by his first name… They just labeled him as “that dreamer.” “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into a deep pit…”

Ultimately, instead of killing Joe, they threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery for twenty pieces of silver, which was the going price for a handicapped slave…

Joe was taken to Egypt and sold to a guy named Potiphar… But one phrase keeps showing up again and again in the story of Joseph… It’s this phrase: “…the Lord was with Joseph…” “…the Lord was with Joseph…”

While working for Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife made several moves on Joe. Amazingly this twenty something year old stud resisted all of her advances. But you’ve heard the saying, “Hell hath no furry like a woman scorned…” Joe is about to catch a boat load...

Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of rape… Joe was unjustly arrested and imprisoned… His life was turned inside out, upside down… But somehow he continued to live with this incredible awareness, “God is with me…”

Eventually, Joseph became the second most powerful man in all of Egypt… Second only to Pharaoh. He was reunited with the same band of brothers that sold him into slavery… His brothers show up needing his help. They don’t recognize him, but he recognizes them. Payback is one breath away… Joe is in a place to make his brother’s pay dearly for the injustice they perpetrated on his life… Finally, he can settle the score. But instead of getting even, this was Joe’s response…

Genesis 45:5-8 (GN) ...do not be upset or blame yourselves because you sold me here. It was really God who sent me ahead of you to save people's lives. 6 This is only the second year of famine in the land; there will be five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor reaping. 7 God sent me ahead of you to rescue you in this amazing way and to make sure that you and your descendants survive. 8 So it was not really you who sent me here, but God. He has made me the king's highest official. I am in charge of his whole country; I am the ruler of all Egypt.

Wow! I’ve read this passage several times through the years, but earlier this week it stopped me dead in my tracks…

There’s one thought that shows up again and again in these four brief verses. Joseph keeps repeating this thought: “God sent me… God sent me… it was not really you, but God… God made me the king’s highest official…”

Somehow the passing of time gave Joe perspective on the purpose and plan of God… Looking back on his life he could see how God had orchestrated everything in his life to place him in a position so he could act as an agent of God on behalf of a whole lot of people… By the time Joe had the opportunity to get even, God had so worked in his heart that instead of getting even, he realized, “God was always working behind the scenes… Even through the actions of some really unscrupulous people…”

Think about that for just a minute… I thought about it earlier this week…

You can bet Joe was singing a different song the first night he spent alone in a slave trader’s caravan… I can guarantee you he wasn’t thinking, “God sent me… I’m so glad to be separated from Dad, his American Express Gold Card and be a part of this chain gang…”

You can bet Joe wasn’t nearly as faith filled and positive the first night he spent in prison on trumped up charges by a woman who probably auditioned for Egypt’s first “girls gone wild” video shoot… You can bet he wasn’t thinking, “Wow! I really like my new room mates… I’m so glad I’m here instead of in that cozy pad over at Potiphar’s place…”

If I believe anything at all, I’ve got to believe that Joseph probably struggled with the same kind of fear, doubt and questions we all struggle with… But somehow he chose to believe... “God has a purpose for whatever is going on in my life… I choose to trust Him…”

God finally exalted and vindicated Joseph… God finally set things straight… And when Joseph looked back on more than thirteen years of suffering, pain, questions and doubt, he could see the hand of God working behind the scenes the whole time…

Regardless of what's going on in my life or your life, this is something we desperately need to remember...


A few years ago, a guy by the name of Micheal Been wrote one of my all time favorite songs. It was eventually recorded by Russ Taff, one of the killer singers of all time... Don't believe it? Download his cover of this tune on I-tunes... Wow!

I’ll close this post with these lyrics… Maybe these lyrics represent the kind of tenacious faith that kept Joe going despite everything that occurred in his life… Maybe this is the kind of faith that you and I desperately need to get us through the next day, month of year…

I STILL BELIEVE
I've been in a cave
For forty days
Only a spark
To light my way
I want to give out
I want to give in
This is our crime
This is our sin
But I still believe
I still believe
Through the pain
And through the grief
Through the lies
And through the storms
Through the cries
And through the wars
I still believe

Flat on my back
Out at sea
Hoping these waves
Don't cover me
I'm turned and tossed
Upon the waves
When the darkness comes
I feel the grave
But I still believe
I still believe
Through the cold and through the heat
through the rain
And through the tears
Through the crowds
And through the cheers
I still believe

I'll march this road
I'll climb this hill
Upon my knees If I have to
I'll take my place
Upon this stage
I'll wait till the end of time
For You

For people like us
In places like this
We need all the hope
That we can get
I still believe
I still believe
Through the shame
And through the grief
Through the heartache
And through the tears
Through the waiting
And through the years
I still believe

Words and music by Michael Been and J. Goodwin
1986 Neeb/Tarka Music/Ascap, Tileface Music (BMI)

Sunday, February 3, 2008

HOW TO BE A REAL WISE GUY or WISE GAL

Some of you have asked for me to post the notes from our weekly Bible Study. Well, here they are...

These are the notes from this past Tuesday - Thursday (January 29-31). I love how practical and down to earth God's Word is... This week we studied James 3:13-18...

How To Be A REAL Wise Guy or Wise Gal
TRUE FAITH: A Study of the Book of James
James 3:13-18 • Chris Goins

James 3:13-14 (MSG), Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. 14 Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom.

James 3:15-18 (NLT), For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness.


ESSENTIAL TRUTH OF JAMES 3:13-18: Wisdom is a LIFESTYLE.


WHAT DOE THE WISDOM OF THIS WORLD LOOK LIKE?

James 3:14-16 (NLT),
But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don't brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil.

• Bitter Jealousy
• Selfish Ambition (Philippians 1:17; 2:3)
• Prideful Arrogance
• Self Deception


WHAT DOES REAL WISDOM LOOK LIKE?

James 3:17 (NLT), But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere.

1. If I’m Wise, I Will Walk In Purity and Integrity.

James 3:17 (NLT), But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure...

Proverbs 10:9 (NIV), The man of integrity walks securely…

2. If I’m Wise, I Will Cultivate PEACE.

James 3:17 (NLT), But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving...

Proverbs 20:3 (MSG), It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights.

The FUEL For Fights:
Comparing Condemning Contradicting

3. If I’m Wise, I Won’t Minimize Your FEELINGS.

James 3:17 (NLT), But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times...

4. If I’m Wise, I Will Learn How To YIELD.

James 3:17 (NLT), But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others...
Proverbs 12:15 (NLT), Fools think they need no advice, but the wise listen to others.

5. If I’m Wise, I Will Show Mercy When It Comes to Your Mistakes.

James 3:17 (NLT), But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds...

Proverbs 17:9 (NIV), He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

6. If I’m Wise, I Won’t Hide My Own Weaknesses.

James 3:17 (NLT), But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere.

2 Corinthians 1:12 (NLT), We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have been honest and sincere in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own earthly wisdom. That is how we have acted toward everyone, and especially toward you.


HOW CAN I CULTIVATE REAL WISDOM?

GOD FIRST (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10).

A Relationship With Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV), It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

The Word of God (Colossians 3:16).

Prayer (James 1:5).

BEST SUPER BOWL EVER?


What about it? Just finished watching Super Bowl 42 and it has to be the best Super Bowl I've ever watched! Congrats to Eli Manning and the New York Giants on an incredible game.

Eli's game winning drive with the catch by David Tyree... Come on! It doesn't get any better than that!

Wow! What a game!

I've already started counting down the weeks and months to the beginning of the next football season.

Whoo Hoo! Let me know what you thought about the game...

GETTING FED

Steven Furtick pastors a really cutting edge church in Charlotte, NC called Elevation Church. This church is "blowing up!" They're about to celebrate their 2nd birthday and God has already used them to touch thousands in the city of Charlotte. Yea, God!

Steven is "on fire." You can check his blog for yourself at Steven Furtick.

Some time ago Steven had this post on his blog. As a pastor of more than 20 years, it really resonated with me. It hits really hard. But if you're up to the Jack Nicholson challenge and you "can handle the truth," well, here's some challenging words from Steven Furtick.


GETTING FED

Proverbs 26:15, The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

What a great picture of nominal, noncommittal church attendees!

We all know that one of top 3 reasons people leave churches is the (infamous) claim: “I wasn’t getting fed there.”

Maybe you weren’t. Or maybe the church set the table, presented the bread of life, and you were too stinking lazy to bring it back to your mouth, chew it, swallow, and digest it, like a big boy.

You know, I don’t mind helping my 2 year old eat his Easy Mac. But if he can’t pick up a fork and bring the food to his mouth by age 20, we have a problem.

Churches are filled with those who have known Christ for decades, and still need a bib, a high chair, and want Daddy to do “open wide, here comes the airplane” tricks with the fork before shoving it into their mouths.

I try to serve up the Word, hot and fresh every single Sunday. But if you refuse to apply it, study your Bible and pray some during the week, join a small group and dig deeper with others… If you refuse to bring it back to your mouth, I can’t help you.

Get your own fork, and learn to feed yourself. Stop burying your hand in the dish and spitting out every thing that doesn’t give you a spiritual sugar high. Eat some vegetables. Serve. Pray. Practically apply the Bible to your life.

And I’ll keep cooking…
Steven Furtick, Elevation Church


Wow! Don't know about you, but I'm picking up my fork, spoon and knife and about to sit down and eat for myself!

Saturday, February 2, 2008

GOD IS WATCHING!

Psalm 33:13-15 (NLT), The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do.

God knows… Years ago we learned a big word to describe what this is all about… The books call it “omniscience.” It’s the idea that God knows it all… He knows the score… He knows the things that are actual, as well as all the stuff that’s possible… He knows everything and anything infinitely… Wow!

God knows my thoughts… Yeah, even that thought of vengeance that came flying out of nowhere and hit with such a massive force that I could feel the blood in my veins start to boil, and then started scheming what payback might look like…

God knows my thoughts… Even that thought of lust that causes me to stare or linger over a photo in a magazine, a picture on the Internet or some girl on TV…

He knows my motives… Not the ones I announce to the public that make me sound really good, but the actual, hidden stuff that drives me to work, succeed and do whatever…

“He knows my HEART and UNDERSTANDS everything I do…”

I’m not writing these words to induce in myself some kind of fear that “shames me” into obeying, because after all, “BIG BROTHER” or the “BIG MAN UPSTAIRS” is watching… That kind of motivation wears out real quick…

I’m writing because I need to remember that my whole life is lived under the gaze of an Almighty God…

GOD KNOWS ME – the good, the bad, the ugly… HE LOVES ME, regardless! And I desperately need God to help me discover the truth about myself and to live the kind of life that causes Him to smile while He watches this broken, fragile, feeble guy live out his faith in the middle of a fallen world…

A couple of decades ago a girl named Leslie Phillips wrote these words… After reading Psalm 33 this morning, the lyrics to this song came flooding back through my mind…

God is Watching You
When your life's about to start - God is watching you
When you have a shattered heart - God is watching you
When you're a slave and when you're freed - God is watching you
When what you call love's really need - God is watching you
God is watching you
God is watching you

When you wake up in the night - God is watching you
When you're dancing in the light - God is watching you
When you don't need to use force - God is watching you
When you don't ever feel remorse - God is watching you

When you're a hero to us all - God is watching you
When you take that fated fall - God is watching you
When you hide your head in the sand - God is watching you
When you find a brand new land - God is watching you

When out of fear you judge your friend - God is watching you
When you let a stranger in - God is watching you
When you always have to win - God is watching you
When love requires that you give in - God is watching you

When you play the cards you're dealt - God is watching you
When you won't reveal yourself - God is watching you
When you believe enough to die - God is watching you
When you say your last goodbye - God is watching you
by T Bone Burnett and Leslie Phillips

Amen!

Heavenly Father, help me live this single day “CORAM DEO” – UNDER THE GAZE OF GOD!

Note: With a “shout out” to a wonderful community of friends in Knoxville, Tennessee who choose to live “Coram Deo.” Love you guys.