We are in some exciting times right now at The Journey Church. We are down to our last week as a church that meets in one location. As of February 8th (next Sunday) we will be a multi-site church. This is something we had envisioned from the day we opened three years ago, and now it is here. We went last night as a small group and put out close to 1000 door-knockers in neighborhoods surrounding Providence. The Campus Pastor of Providence, Shawn Allen, took a team out earlier in the day and distributed around 1000 as well. We still have 3000 more door-knockers we are going to distribute over the next several days. We are praying for people to be at the previews that God wants there. We believe if people know about what we do and experience it for themselves, we are going to have the opportunity to minister to a lot of people. We are 12 days from preview #1, please be in prayer that God would fill the building with the people He wants there and pray that we would continue to be diligent in our work of ministering to those who have needs.
Reminder: we finish our Re-Elect Jesus series this Sunday. You don't want to miss this last sermon of the series. If you have missed previous installments of the series, click here to watch any on video that you may have missed. Don't forget that this Sunday is the last day the service at West will be at 9:30am, we go back to 9am beginning February 8th.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Takin' it to the People
The above title is the title of the newspaper article that was written about the Journey in today's Lebanon Democrat. It is a feature story that was very well written by J.R. Lind. It was awesome to read the article and think about where God has taken us over the last three years. By the way, The Journey's three year anniversary is this Sunday. The article is coming out in the Mount Juliet News also. Go pick up a copy if you haven't seen it already; it will make you proud to say you are a part of The Journey - I sure am.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Quote
"Anyone who reduces the following of Jesus to an enterprise of the heart, the head, and private interpersonal relations restricts the following of Jesus and trivializes Jesus himself"
Jesus and the Hope of the Poor - (Schottroff and Stegemann)
Jesus and the Hope of the Poor - (Schottroff and Stegemann)
Monday, January 19, 2009
Doors of Opportunity
I have an amazing opportunity today to share the vision of The Journey with Lebanon Democrat & Mount Juliet News. I'm meeting a reporter this morning for a story that will be a feature story in the paper. We are going to be talking about our vision of multiple campuses and why we have chosen to go that direction. I'm excited about the chance to tell Wilson County about who we are and why we do what we do. I hope it reaches readers who can identify with us and would want to be a part of the movement. I believe there will be some doors opened through this article.
We also have our Informational Meeting about the Providence Campus tonight. It will be at Rutland Elementary School beginning at 6pm. I don't know how many people from the community will come, but we are doing our part to let them know what we are about and how they can be a part of The Journey.
Please pray for both of these opportunities today.
We also have our Informational Meeting about the Providence Campus tonight. It will be at Rutland Elementary School beginning at 6pm. I don't know how many people from the community will come, but we are doing our part to let them know what we are about and how they can be a part of The Journey.
Please pray for both of these opportunities today.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Important Providence Campus Dates
Hello all, I hope everyone has had a great week. I have some important dates to relay to everyone in regards to movements happening surrounding the Providence Campus.
* January 19th - 6pm @ Rutland Elementary there will be a community wide informational meeting to share about the new campus. There were adds that ran in the paper concerning this meeting and we hope many people from the church and outside the church will come.
* January 27th and 28th during the day there will be teams of people distributing door-knockers throughout the Providence neighborhoods concerning the Preview Services. **WE NEED WILLING PEOPLE TO HELP OR SUGGEST OTHER DAYS THEY COULD HELP DO THIS
* February 2nd - 5:30pm @ Rutland Elementary there is a Math Night for the school in which THEY NEED 10 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP (this can be a good chance to do some last minute inviting to the Previews, in addition to showing an attitude to serve)
* February 8th, 15th, and 22nd - 10:30am are the three Preview Service dates. This will be a chance for people to get a sneak-peak of what the Journey Church is all about and experience our community of faith
* March 1st - 10:30am is the Grand Opening of the Providence Campus. From this point on, we will have weekly services that will align with our West Campus. Both campuses will be identical services, children's ministry, and group structure
* January 19th - 6pm @ Rutland Elementary there will be a community wide informational meeting to share about the new campus. There were adds that ran in the paper concerning this meeting and we hope many people from the church and outside the church will come.
* January 27th and 28th during the day there will be teams of people distributing door-knockers throughout the Providence neighborhoods concerning the Preview Services. **WE NEED WILLING PEOPLE TO HELP OR SUGGEST OTHER DAYS THEY COULD HELP DO THIS
* February 2nd - 5:30pm @ Rutland Elementary there is a Math Night for the school in which THEY NEED 10 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP (this can be a good chance to do some last minute inviting to the Previews, in addition to showing an attitude to serve)
* February 8th, 15th, and 22nd - 10:30am are the three Preview Service dates. This will be a chance for people to get a sneak-peak of what the Journey Church is all about and experience our community of faith
* March 1st - 10:30am is the Grand Opening of the Providence Campus. From this point on, we will have weekly services that will align with our West Campus. Both campuses will be identical services, children's ministry, and group structure
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Mission
Just wanted to remind myself and all of us what the church and our lives as followers of Jesus are to be all about. We are not called to become better people. We are not called to be good Christians. The ultimate goal of a follower of Jesus is a transformation from self-serving individual to missionary. We are called to be missionaries. This is not the traditional idea of a missionary, who goes to live overseas amidst a population they seek to evangelize. Rather, this is a lifestyle of living on mission in whatever context you may find yourself. We are to live as daily missionaries in every environment we are in.
The church is a missionary sending agency. Her mission is to be a missionary producer and community of faith, love, and hope. The missional role of the church is to reconcile people to God and to each other through the life of Jesus Christ. That is what the church is for. This is who we are supposed to be becoming.
Are you living as a missionary? Do you think the church of Jesus today is living its missional calling?
The church is a missionary sending agency. Her mission is to be a missionary producer and community of faith, love, and hope. The missional role of the church is to reconcile people to God and to each other through the life of Jesus Christ. That is what the church is for. This is who we are supposed to be becoming.
Are you living as a missionary? Do you think the church of Jesus today is living its missional calling?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Sad Reminder
On Sunday night I took some time to visit a church in Mount Juliet. This is a Baptist church. It has about a 100+ seat auditorium with a big fellowship hall and children Sunday school classrooms. I went to visit them because I wanted to see what is going on in other churches in our community. I got there 20 minutes before the evening service was to start and nobody was anywhere in sight. The parking lot was empty, the lights were off, and I assumed that service had been canceled without me knowing. I decided to stick around, just in case someone popped by. About 10 minutes before service was to start, a few cars trickled in, then another few. I decided to make my way in. When I went inside everyone looked at me with a look of confusion on there face. Someone even asked me, "are you kin to someone here or are you a just a visitor?" I told them I was a visitor and that I was the pastor of a local church who just wanted to fellowship with them for the night. They were so excited that I was there, I would later discover why.
The music we sang were old hymns, but they didn't have a piano player, so we sang along with a tape. We got up and down from the pew nearly 4-5 times as we would sing and sit, then get up to sing again. Several times the guy controlling the tape played the wrong song. The message finally came and it was a message about "laboring for the Lord." It wasn't a bad message, but it was a very scattered message. The entire time I sat in the building, I just wondered if they realized why they weren't reaching people. Their Sunday morning attendance had been 19 that morning, and the interim pastor who was preaching was telling them that God wasn't satisfied with that. However, I highly doubted that any of them were willing to change their patterns or traditions to reach lost people.
I enjoyed being with this small group of people. They were very kind and were very excited that I was there. They invited me to be with them again, and to bring a piano player if I could. I left that night reminded of why there has to be churches willing to make their priority and focus reaching the lost. To reach the lost means to set aside comfortable ways of doing things, it means creating environments in which they feel comfortable to explore faith, without being called out or chastised. I also left thinking about what habits and patterns we have gotten into that may seem find to me and others, but are working against our efforts of reaching people. It was a sad reminder that there are churches dying, and not enough thriving today in our community.
The music we sang were old hymns, but they didn't have a piano player, so we sang along with a tape. We got up and down from the pew nearly 4-5 times as we would sing and sit, then get up to sing again. Several times the guy controlling the tape played the wrong song. The message finally came and it was a message about "laboring for the Lord." It wasn't a bad message, but it was a very scattered message. The entire time I sat in the building, I just wondered if they realized why they weren't reaching people. Their Sunday morning attendance had been 19 that morning, and the interim pastor who was preaching was telling them that God wasn't satisfied with that. However, I highly doubted that any of them were willing to change their patterns or traditions to reach lost people.
I enjoyed being with this small group of people. They were very kind and were very excited that I was there. They invited me to be with them again, and to bring a piano player if I could. I left that night reminded of why there has to be churches willing to make their priority and focus reaching the lost. To reach the lost means to set aside comfortable ways of doing things, it means creating environments in which they feel comfortable to explore faith, without being called out or chastised. I also left thinking about what habits and patterns we have gotten into that may seem find to me and others, but are working against our efforts of reaching people. It was a sad reminder that there are churches dying, and not enough thriving today in our community.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday Evening Reflections
What a great day! We had a phenomenal crowd yesterday. We had every chair out and there were people still sitting in the bleachers. We kicked off the new series: Re-Elect Jesus. I look forward to really challenging our paradigm on our dependence on government over God in our culture and society. There are needs we expect the government to meet that are really the church's job to meet.
We spoke specifically about the fallout's that occur when we begin to compartmentalize our lives into the "spiritual life" and the "real world." We make God a segment of our life rather than the center of our life. This produces two things: 1. We divide the secular and spiritual. We start living as if every decision, conversation, and choice were absent of spiritual implications. 2. We become practical atheist. A practical atheist is someone who claims to believe in God, but lives as if he doesn't exist.
The question that was posed for everyone to reflect on as we closed was: Where is God in your life? Are you shutting Him out, is He a segment of it, or is He at the center?
I look forward to the next three weeks of this series, then we start Providence!
We spoke specifically about the fallout's that occur when we begin to compartmentalize our lives into the "spiritual life" and the "real world." We make God a segment of our life rather than the center of our life. This produces two things: 1. We divide the secular and spiritual. We start living as if every decision, conversation, and choice were absent of spiritual implications. 2. We become practical atheist. A practical atheist is someone who claims to believe in God, but lives as if he doesn't exist.
The question that was posed for everyone to reflect on as we closed was: Where is God in your life? Are you shutting Him out, is He a segment of it, or is He at the center?
I look forward to the next three weeks of this series, then we start Providence!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Preach It Brother!
I had to post this quote that I read this morning from the book I'm reading, Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton. In his chapter, Theology of the Devil, Merton is talking about the prevailing theology of only talking about sin, punishment, and people who seem to love discussing this. He says,
Wow! Now that is well said and extremely insightful. I agree with his assessment of preachers who only seem to focus on the sin of men and describing to others the punishment forthcoming. Does this mean to avoid all such conversation? No. It does mean that you should not derive pleasure, nor revolve your entire preaching ministry around this topic.
Just thought I would share that today. I love that quote.
It sometimes happens that men who preach most vehemently about evil and the punishment of evil, so that they seem to have practically nothing else on their minds except sin, are really unconscious haters of other men. They think the world does not appreciate them, and this is their way of getting even.
Wow! Now that is well said and extremely insightful. I agree with his assessment of preachers who only seem to focus on the sin of men and describing to others the punishment forthcoming. Does this mean to avoid all such conversation? No. It does mean that you should not derive pleasure, nor revolve your entire preaching ministry around this topic.
Just thought I would share that today. I love that quote.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Sunday Evening Reflections
What a great day today! It was a lot of fun laying out why we want to "ignite a movement" at The Journey. We had a great crowd and great response to the message. I believe we are more and more beginning to see our role and what God has in store for us in the future. It was also a privilege to baptize two people today to start the new year off. We plan and pray to see many more in 2009.
We also had a great lunch after church regarding the Providence campus launch. We gave them some pertinent dates that are coming up and challenged them to see themselves as the leadership cadre that would move the Providence campus forward. We had nearly 20 plus people at the meeting, very exciting!
I cannot wait to see what happens in 2009. It will be the greatest year in Journey history. Thank you everyone who plays such a pivotal role in making our mission happen, you are the heroes of the Journey. As we sang today, God, "We'll run with you, Lead On, We'll run with you, our God."
We also had a great lunch after church regarding the Providence campus launch. We gave them some pertinent dates that are coming up and challenged them to see themselves as the leadership cadre that would move the Providence campus forward. We had nearly 20 plus people at the meeting, very exciting!
I cannot wait to see what happens in 2009. It will be the greatest year in Journey history. Thank you everyone who plays such a pivotal role in making our mission happen, you are the heroes of the Journey. As we sang today, God, "We'll run with you, Lead On, We'll run with you, our God."
Thursday, January 1, 2009
This Weekend @ The Journey
I'm boiling over inside to preach the message I have for Sunday. I knew what I was going to talk about in general for weeks, but earlier in the week God really laid out some things for me to say. I went to bed around 9:30pm (an all-time early for me), but I could not go to sleep. I was praising God for His blessings in my life. I was praying for people in my life and the for the church. I was praying that God would give me a deeper hunger for Him than I've ever had before in 2009. During all that time of prayer, God began to lay some specific things out for me to share this Sunday. I got out of bed to write things God was speaking to me twice during the night. The last time it happened was around 2am in the morning (yeah, five hours after I went to bed!).
Make every effort to be there this Sunday. I'm excited about sharing this message God has put on my heart. I'm excited about baptizing people and celebrating the lives that have been changed. It is 2009, and it will be a year that will surpass any we have had before.
Make every effort to be there this Sunday. I'm excited about sharing this message God has put on my heart. I'm excited about baptizing people and celebrating the lives that have been changed. It is 2009, and it will be a year that will surpass any we have had before.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
26.2
Well I'm doing it. Call me crazy, but I'm going to run the full marathon this coming April in Nashville. Alex Perry and I are going to take the challenge. It is 26.2 miles. I'm a fairly consistent runner and don't really have much problem running distances, but I have never ran that kind of distance. I'm going to begin an "Army style" training regiment early in the mornings to start getting prepared for it.
My biggest reason for running the marathon is that it is one of my life goal's. I have a list of about 100 life goals that I want to accomplish before I die. Others include: learning to speak Spanish fluently, become a skilled guitar player, be baptized in the Jordan River, write a book, etc. I hope in 2009 I can mark several off the list, but this one I will do for sure. Wish me luck, and if you're brave enough, join me.
My biggest reason for running the marathon is that it is one of my life goal's. I have a list of about 100 life goals that I want to accomplish before I die. Others include: learning to speak Spanish fluently, become a skilled guitar player, be baptized in the Jordan River, write a book, etc. I hope in 2009 I can mark several off the list, but this one I will do for sure. Wish me luck, and if you're brave enough, join me.
Monday, December 29, 2008
End of Year
I can't believe 2008 is days from being over. This year has been unbelievable in my personal life and in the church. I think it is fun to look back over the year and point out the highlights and the lessons learned. I had the leadership team at church do this as we opened our meeting. I asked: what is your favorite moment in 2008 in the church, and what is the biggest lesson you have learned in 2008? The stories and lessons shared were insightful, and they reminded me again of how good God has been to us this year.
Me personally, this has been a year of learning to please God more than I want to please others. God has challenged me to love others, but live to please Him alone. This means I have to be willing to make decisions that are not popular, if God is leading it. It means I have to be willing to preach messages that could step on toes, if that is what God wants me to say. It means I have to quit living to make others happy, and live to solely please my Father in heaven. Have I mastered this? No. However, I feel I have made strides in this direction.
What has been some of your favorite moments from 2008? What has been the biggest lesson you have learned?
I look forward to an incredible 2009 with God, my family, and The Journey!
Me personally, this has been a year of learning to please God more than I want to please others. God has challenged me to love others, but live to please Him alone. This means I have to be willing to make decisions that are not popular, if God is leading it. It means I have to be willing to preach messages that could step on toes, if that is what God wants me to say. It means I have to quit living to make others happy, and live to solely please my Father in heaven. Have I mastered this? No. However, I feel I have made strides in this direction.
What has been some of your favorite moments from 2008? What has been the biggest lesson you have learned?
I look forward to an incredible 2009 with God, my family, and The Journey!
Friday, December 12, 2008
First Semester in the Books
Well, I finished my last exam this morning. It was a three hour, mack-daddy size exam. It was tough semester but I think when the final grades come in I'll be happy. I worried at first if Vanderbilt didn't make a huge mistake in admitting me to the school, but once school started, I quickly felt that I would be able to do it. It has been a good semester. I met some great people and have even recruited a guy to the church. I look forward to next semester, but I'm excited to have a month to breathe.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Spiritual Formation...In the Marriage
Most Christians have a focus and desire to grow spiritually. Everyone will grow at a different pace, but to some degree, most Christians want to be closer to God and grow as believers. One of the major things I see developing in Christianity is a very individualistic approach to faith. We have our eyes set on our own spiritual development. We have "my" relationship with Jesus. In the ancient days, being a Christian was a very communal thing. Your faith was lived out openly with others. Your growth as a believer was spawned on and shared by others. The major problem that has developed from individualistic faith is that we don't know how to have a relationship with God with our spouse.
When the Scriptures talk about the two people becoming one in the marriage relationship, I believe this includes our relationships with Jesus. We are to be growing as a couple in our relationship with God. How do we do this? Why are we so uncomfortable with this? I have listed five questions that serve as a litmus test to your relationship with God as a couple. See how you do:
1. Do you pray together daily?
2. Do you pray and ask God for guidance and then wait for an answer in regards to major decisions as a family/couple?
3. Do you read the Bible together regularly?
4. Do you share regular conversations about the things that God is teaching you in your walk with Him?
5. Do you confess sin to one another and pray for each other through those things?
We can think we are mature Christians, but we may be baby Christians in our walk with God as a couple. See how you shape up on these questions. Commit to begin the process of spiritual formation and growth as a couple. I believe it holds the key to a more vibrant marriage and a more fruitful walk with Christ.
When the Scriptures talk about the two people becoming one in the marriage relationship, I believe this includes our relationships with Jesus. We are to be growing as a couple in our relationship with God. How do we do this? Why are we so uncomfortable with this? I have listed five questions that serve as a litmus test to your relationship with God as a couple. See how you do:
1. Do you pray together daily?
2. Do you pray and ask God for guidance and then wait for an answer in regards to major decisions as a family/couple?
3. Do you read the Bible together regularly?
4. Do you share regular conversations about the things that God is teaching you in your walk with Him?
5. Do you confess sin to one another and pray for each other through those things?
We can think we are mature Christians, but we may be baby Christians in our walk with God as a couple. See how you shape up on these questions. Commit to begin the process of spiritual formation and growth as a couple. I believe it holds the key to a more vibrant marriage and a more fruitful walk with Christ.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sunday Evening Reflections
It has been a great today! We had an incredible service today at church. It was amazing to see all the people in one service...wow! There was a ton of energy in the room. We wrapped up the Love Sick series today. I personally believe it has been one of the best series we have ever done at The Journey. We finished it off with a bang today. It was awesome to take communion together as an entire church. It was an even more amazing sight to see all the people signing the cross as couples. I'm excited about what is coming for us a church in the weeks ahead.
On a personal note, I went to the Titans game today. A very generous person in the church gave me tickets as a Christmas gift. I usually don't have a chance to go to Titans games because of preaching on Sunday's and the because we have had two services on Sunday's. Having one service today allowed for me to that. It was cold, but a ton of fun. Titans won and clinched their division.
Pray for me this week. I have my finals at school and then I get to have about a month long break. It has been a challenging first semester of graduate school, but I'm learning some neat stuff and meeting some cool people.
Journeying forward!
On a personal note, I went to the Titans game today. A very generous person in the church gave me tickets as a Christmas gift. I usually don't have a chance to go to Titans games because of preaching on Sunday's and the because we have had two services on Sunday's. Having one service today allowed for me to that. It was cold, but a ton of fun. Titans won and clinched their division.
Pray for me this week. I have my finals at school and then I get to have about a month long break. It has been a challenging first semester of graduate school, but I'm learning some neat stuff and meeting some cool people.
Journeying forward!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Catching Up
Well, I have been without internet access for nearly a week. I'm still recovering from the side-effects. I got my internet working again today and feel like I've missed everything going on in the world, though I haven't really missed anything. I feel like a have a ton of catching up to do. Couple of things going right now:
* Small group game night at my house tonight for all those interested (leave a comment if you need the address)
* I can't believe the Love Sick series is on Week 3 of 4 this week, it has went by fast
* We are going to be making the Love Sick series into a DVD set that can be purchased. The cost is $20 for the entire series on DVD; the proceeds go toward purchasing Catalyst equipment for our current and future campuses
* We are going to be making the following series available for purchase as well: War Zone, DNA, Shattered -- these are all $20 for an entire series
* This Sunday is our last week at 2 services, we are prepping for our move to Providence on February 8th -- service on December 7th is at 9:30am
Lots of great things going on right now in the life of The Journey. I will be sending a newsletter out in the next week outlining some of the focuses for the 2009 and recapping some of where we have been for 2008.
* Small group game night at my house tonight for all those interested (leave a comment if you need the address)
* I can't believe the Love Sick series is on Week 3 of 4 this week, it has went by fast
* We are going to be making the Love Sick series into a DVD set that can be purchased. The cost is $20 for the entire series on DVD; the proceeds go toward purchasing Catalyst equipment for our current and future campuses
* We are going to be making the following series available for purchase as well: War Zone, DNA, Shattered -- these are all $20 for an entire series
* This Sunday is our last week at 2 services, we are prepping for our move to Providence on February 8th -- service on December 7th is at 9:30am
Lots of great things going on right now in the life of The Journey. I will be sending a newsletter out in the next week outlining some of the focuses for the 2009 and recapping some of where we have been for 2008.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
This Sunday @ The Journey
This weekend at The Journey we are going to be talking about what things poison our relationships. We are continuing our Love Sick series. Last week we had great crowds and a lot of fun. This week will be no different. If you have friends and family you have been wanting to invite, this week would be a great weekend to extend the invitation. Once again, you do not want to be late, the opening song will be incredible. Also, you never know when a surprise interruption and dance could break out (had to have been there last week to get that one or go watch the video at www.thejourneytn.org).
I'm looking forward to what God is going to do this weekend in the lives of people and in the relationships represented every weekend. Don't be late: 9am and 11am. Reminder: December 7th begins our move to one service at 9:30am. This will be until February 8th 2009 when we begin our preview services at Providence. Service times for services when we begin Providence campus will be: West Campus 9am and Providence Campus 10:30am. Both campuses will offer the same service, with the same music, and the same teaching/teacher.
I'm looking forward to what God is going to do this weekend in the lives of people and in the relationships represented every weekend. Don't be late: 9am and 11am. Reminder: December 7th begins our move to one service at 9:30am. This will be until February 8th 2009 when we begin our preview services at Providence. Service times for services when we begin Providence campus will be: West Campus 9am and Providence Campus 10:30am. Both campuses will offer the same service, with the same music, and the same teaching/teacher.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Everything
A question that has been stirring in my spirit the last month or two is: Am I saying EVERYTHING God wants me to say? It seems like an easy question, but it is not. Am I willing to say things that I know will upset people? Am I willing to say things that will step on some toes? Am I willing to say the whole truth and call people to be transformed by it? My mind tells me yes. Sure I'm willing to say everything. Then my spirit asks me again, Are you saying EVERYTHING God wants you to say?
I have a few people in my life who I trust to share words from God with me. Some people love to claim to have the gift of prophecy, but it is just another way of saying they want to tell you what to do. The individuals I trust with this have shared encouraging things with me and challenging things. At the Sunday night event, one of those individuals whispered into my ear during worship, "God wants to pour so much more into you, but you have to quit holding back. He's going to bless what you are doing, but don't hold back." What I kept hearing was, "everything," give Him everything. Say everything.
I wanted to give you a little something that I'm praying through in my life and that perhaps you could join me in. I want to please God, not man. Pray I would say EVERYTHING God wants me to say and that He would open the floodgates as a result. Ask the question for yourself. Are you giving God everything?
I have a few people in my life who I trust to share words from God with me. Some people love to claim to have the gift of prophecy, but it is just another way of saying they want to tell you what to do. The individuals I trust with this have shared encouraging things with me and challenging things. At the Sunday night event, one of those individuals whispered into my ear during worship, "God wants to pour so much more into you, but you have to quit holding back. He's going to bless what you are doing, but don't hold back." What I kept hearing was, "everything," give Him everything. Say everything.
I wanted to give you a little something that I'm praying through in my life and that perhaps you could join me in. I want to please God, not man. Pray I would say EVERYTHING God wants me to say and that He would open the floodgates as a result. Ask the question for yourself. Are you giving God everything?
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday Evening Reflections
Today was one of the greatest days in Journey history, no question about it! We started our new series: Love Sick and had over 200 people at church. That is single-handily the largest crowd outside of Easter we have ever had. Both services were packed to the gills and it was an amazing day. Highlights from this morning:
* The praise band opening service by singing "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis
* Our worship time was incredible, "Glory to God" and "Jesus is Alive" was amazing
* The electricity in the room today was second to none, you could sense God was moving
* Jeff Bode and Alex Perry interrupting my sermon introduction by dancing to "What is Love" ...by the way, neither can dance :-)
* Seeing people praying with other people all over the building today - awesome!
Tonight we had our Volunteer/Journey Awards celebration, it was so much fun. This was the largest attended event we have ever had outside of Sunday morning. As we were leaving and dismissing all people could talk about was how much fun that was. Highlights from the night:
* the 1,000 pots of chili people made (okay, it wasn't that many, but seriously)
* giving awards for the best pot of chili, congratulations: Jeff Bode, Amber Burton, and Robbie Cheuvront (first place)
* getting to tell all the volunteers how much they mean to us and show them by raffling off some cool prizes and sending everyone home with a Journey hoodie
* watching Todd Bates and Shawn Allen give out the Journey awards, it gets better every year to watch people's reactions
* our winners: Brewington's (Spirit award), Andrea Vickers (Unsung Hero), Jay Spice (Rising Star), Kelly Piercy (Special Recognition), and Jeff Bode (Journeymen of the Year) -- Jeff's speech was both stirring and inspiring, unbelievable
* Seeing Amy Jordan's vision of participating in Samaritans Purse and setting a goal of 50 boxes get doubled (over 100) and praying for the kids who would get them
* Sharing the statistics that the Journey is in the 4% of churches in America that qualify for being considered an "effective evangelistic church" -- at least 26 conversions in a year and a 20:1 conversion ration (The Journey's conversion ratio is 5:1)
* As always, praise and worship at the end was stellar and second to none; however, THE KIDS TOOK THE NIGHT by playing with the band during "Sing, Sing, Sing" to close the night -- best moment for sure!
It was great. I love this church. You are the best. We march forward toward the mission God has birthed us to accomplish.
* The praise band opening service by singing "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis
* Our worship time was incredible, "Glory to God" and "Jesus is Alive" was amazing
* The electricity in the room today was second to none, you could sense God was moving
* Jeff Bode and Alex Perry interrupting my sermon introduction by dancing to "What is Love" ...by the way, neither can dance :-)
* Seeing people praying with other people all over the building today - awesome!
Tonight we had our Volunteer/Journey Awards celebration, it was so much fun. This was the largest attended event we have ever had outside of Sunday morning. As we were leaving and dismissing all people could talk about was how much fun that was. Highlights from the night:
* the 1,000 pots of chili people made (okay, it wasn't that many, but seriously)
* giving awards for the best pot of chili, congratulations: Jeff Bode, Amber Burton, and Robbie Cheuvront (first place)
* getting to tell all the volunteers how much they mean to us and show them by raffling off some cool prizes and sending everyone home with a Journey hoodie
* watching Todd Bates and Shawn Allen give out the Journey awards, it gets better every year to watch people's reactions
* our winners: Brewington's (Spirit award), Andrea Vickers (Unsung Hero), Jay Spice (Rising Star), Kelly Piercy (Special Recognition), and Jeff Bode (Journeymen of the Year) -- Jeff's speech was both stirring and inspiring, unbelievable
* Seeing Amy Jordan's vision of participating in Samaritans Purse and setting a goal of 50 boxes get doubled (over 100) and praying for the kids who would get them
* Sharing the statistics that the Journey is in the 4% of churches in America that qualify for being considered an "effective evangelistic church" -- at least 26 conversions in a year and a 20:1 conversion ration (The Journey's conversion ratio is 5:1)
* As always, praise and worship at the end was stellar and second to none; however, THE KIDS TOOK THE NIGHT by playing with the band during "Sing, Sing, Sing" to close the night -- best moment for sure!
It was great. I love this church. You are the best. We march forward toward the mission God has birthed us to accomplish.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Three Questions to Ask Yourself
Could there be more than three...sure, but then it wouldn't have that catchy little title. Plus, all you people who love the three steps to _________________ lists wouldn't keep reading. So to save all of us the trouble, I've listed three questions each of us would be well serve to ask ourselves regularly.
1. Am I closer in my walk with Christ today than I was a month/year ago?
This question is a matter of progression versus regression. There are only three possible states of your relationship with God: stagnant, regressing, and progressing. This question must be asked regularly, because at any moment we can begin to slip from our walk with God or become neutral. We can't possibly lead the charge of a mighty movement of God's Spirit in a state of regressing or being stagnant. Cry out to God and ask Him to help you move forward.
2. Is my heart growing more skeptical or compassionate for people?
This question deals with our attitude toward people. A true sign as to the condition of our spiritual health is how we view and treat people. The reason I ask about your heart is because you can put up a front that pretends to like people, but you know whether or not you are growing more hardened or compassionate. Followers of Jesus who are on fire for him have a burning desire to love people, even those who are unlovable and undeserving. Pray for God to break your heart for the condition people are in.
3. What things in my life am I putting before God?
This is the hardest thing to ask ourselves. We don't ever admit to putting things before God. However, if you look under the microscope close enough, many things can begin to edge God out. Anything put before God is called an idol in the Scriptures. What are the idols of your life? Look at your checkbook, your calendar, and your desires and see if they balance out with God's dream and hope for your life and this world. Pray for God to reveal the things in your life that are coming before Him, repent, and put God in His rightful place in your life.
1. Am I closer in my walk with Christ today than I was a month/year ago?
This question is a matter of progression versus regression. There are only three possible states of your relationship with God: stagnant, regressing, and progressing. This question must be asked regularly, because at any moment we can begin to slip from our walk with God or become neutral. We can't possibly lead the charge of a mighty movement of God's Spirit in a state of regressing or being stagnant. Cry out to God and ask Him to help you move forward.
2. Is my heart growing more skeptical or compassionate for people?
This question deals with our attitude toward people. A true sign as to the condition of our spiritual health is how we view and treat people. The reason I ask about your heart is because you can put up a front that pretends to like people, but you know whether or not you are growing more hardened or compassionate. Followers of Jesus who are on fire for him have a burning desire to love people, even those who are unlovable and undeserving. Pray for God to break your heart for the condition people are in.
3. What things in my life am I putting before God?
This is the hardest thing to ask ourselves. We don't ever admit to putting things before God. However, if you look under the microscope close enough, many things can begin to edge God out. Anything put before God is called an idol in the Scriptures. What are the idols of your life? Look at your checkbook, your calendar, and your desires and see if they balance out with God's dream and hope for your life and this world. Pray for God to reveal the things in your life that are coming before Him, repent, and put God in His rightful place in your life.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sunday Night, November 16th
We have our blow event of the year coming this Sunday evening. We are going to have a blast together. We having a chili cook-off to kick the night off. If you think you can bring it, don't be scared. Even if you don't think you can win, bring a pot of chili so we can ensure everyone gets to eat :-). We are also going to have our volunteer celebration and Journey awards. This is going to be crazy! I'm dying to tell you what we are going to do for all the volunteers, but you will have to trust me when I say BIG. Our Journey awards is our annual recognition of some of the great stories of the year and people who were instrumental in our success. This will be the third year we have done these and they are special every time.
Following the awards, we are going to be praying over the shoe boxes everyone brings for Samaritan's Purse. If you have not got a shoe box and filled it with goodies yet, you need to...for real. It is an inexpensive way to help people who will have nothing this Christmas and the organization is amazing. After we have prayed for the children who will receive the shoe boxes we are going to go into a time of worship together. The band has an extended time of praise and worship planned to lead us in worship of our Lord.
Do not miss this event. If you miss, you are seriously in jeopardy of forfeiting your rights to some cool stuff. I can't say anything else about it or I will be tempted to let the cat out of the bag. We are going to laugh together and cry together. This is a great event for meeting people and drawing closer to those you already know. 5:30-7:30pm Sunday night at West Elementary. Be there or be square.
Following the awards, we are going to be praying over the shoe boxes everyone brings for Samaritan's Purse. If you have not got a shoe box and filled it with goodies yet, you need to...for real. It is an inexpensive way to help people who will have nothing this Christmas and the organization is amazing. After we have prayed for the children who will receive the shoe boxes we are going to go into a time of worship together. The band has an extended time of praise and worship planned to lead us in worship of our Lord.
Do not miss this event. If you miss, you are seriously in jeopardy of forfeiting your rights to some cool stuff. I can't say anything else about it or I will be tempted to let the cat out of the bag. We are going to laugh together and cry together. This is a great event for meeting people and drawing closer to those you already know. 5:30-7:30pm Sunday night at West Elementary. Be there or be square.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Turning Outward
There is a story of a pastor who was preaching about our role as individuals and as a church to reach the lost. He spoke to his church, "The problem is that people are dying all over the world and going to hell and you don't give a damn!" The crowd looked at each other stunned and in dead silence. The preacher continued, "The saddest part is that most of you are more upset that I used the word damn in church than you are that people are dying ad going to hell."
Wow! Isn't that the truth. What about us, what about The Journey? What do we care more about? Do you care about those who are without Christ? Here's some questions to help you answer the question honestly.
1. When is the last time you've had a lost person in your home? (The plumber who fixed the toliet doesn't count)
2. How many meaningful conversations did you have with non-Christians this week?
3. Who are the nonbelievers you prayed for today?
If you can't answer those questions with several names, chances are you're on the road to not caring. Scary. I'm praying for God to reignite my passion to reach lost people, not just in church on Sunday, but in my personal life.
You don't fail if the Spirit prompts you to ask someone to follow Christ and the person doesn't. You fail when the Spirit prompts you but you're afraid to ask. We can't blame ourselves if someone rejects Christ. That's putting ourselves in God's place. It is our job to share the story of Jesus with a world who is desperate for hope. Do we really believe Jesus is the answer for the hurt, brokenness, and emptiness in our world today? If so, why wouldn't we be sharing the message of his grace and love freely and without fear?
Howard Hendricks, a well-known preaching professor says, "In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering." Let it not be said of us.
God wreck us from our complacency and indifference with the fact that there are lost people dying and spending eternity separated from you. Help us to care more about people than our own egos. Disturb us for the things that disturb you.
Pray for me today, I have a chance to eat lunch with Ed Stetzer. He is a leading missiologist in the church world right now. He is an expert on how the church can live out what I just blogged about today. Pray I learn a lot and ask great questions.
Wow! Isn't that the truth. What about us, what about The Journey? What do we care more about? Do you care about those who are without Christ? Here's some questions to help you answer the question honestly.
1. When is the last time you've had a lost person in your home? (The plumber who fixed the toliet doesn't count)
2. How many meaningful conversations did you have with non-Christians this week?
3. Who are the nonbelievers you prayed for today?
If you can't answer those questions with several names, chances are you're on the road to not caring. Scary. I'm praying for God to reignite my passion to reach lost people, not just in church on Sunday, but in my personal life.
You don't fail if the Spirit prompts you to ask someone to follow Christ and the person doesn't. You fail when the Spirit prompts you but you're afraid to ask. We can't blame ourselves if someone rejects Christ. That's putting ourselves in God's place. It is our job to share the story of Jesus with a world who is desperate for hope. Do we really believe Jesus is the answer for the hurt, brokenness, and emptiness in our world today? If so, why wouldn't we be sharing the message of his grace and love freely and without fear?
Howard Hendricks, a well-known preaching professor says, "In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering." Let it not be said of us.
God wreck us from our complacency and indifference with the fact that there are lost people dying and spending eternity separated from you. Help us to care more about people than our own egos. Disturb us for the things that disturb you.
Pray for me today, I have a chance to eat lunch with Ed Stetzer. He is a leading missiologist in the church world right now. He is an expert on how the church can live out what I just blogged about today. Pray I learn a lot and ask great questions.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Acts 2 Community
Last night, the elders and campus pastors, along with our families, had the opportunity to visit the home of a couple from The Journey. They had requested that we come out and pray for their children and for their home. The kids had not been sleeping through the night and were having health issues. Their marriage was suffering as a result of the constant grind of sick kids, no sleep, and their own recent health issues. They suggested that we not only come to pray, but we could eat dinner together as an entire group.
We had a wonderful time. We cooked the meal together with everyone running around the kitchen. After we ate, we sat and talked about this year's political race and all the interesting things that transpired. We then moved into talking about the issues that had been going on. Elder James and myself read some Scripture and we all prayed over the couple. After we prayed for the couple, we went into the rooms of the kids and prayed for God's protection over the rooms and the entire house. Then we had each kid come downstairs and we prayed for them individually. It was an incredible night. I didn't know what to anticipate as we prepared to go to their home, but what happened is what you read about in the Scriptures. It was an example of the Kingdom God on Earth. It was what was described in Acts 2 when they broke break in homes and prayed for each other as they had need.
It took 1.) humility to ask for people to come pray and expose their insecurities 2.) faith that God answers prayers and that it was worth calling upon the church 3.) compassion for those who went out to empathize with the family and embrace their pain and hurts. The church in action looks like what happened last night. The more we are willing to follow Christ and humble ourselves, we will experience more amazing things.
We had a wonderful time. We cooked the meal together with everyone running around the kitchen. After we ate, we sat and talked about this year's political race and all the interesting things that transpired. We then moved into talking about the issues that had been going on. Elder James and myself read some Scripture and we all prayed over the couple. After we prayed for the couple, we went into the rooms of the kids and prayed for God's protection over the rooms and the entire house. Then we had each kid come downstairs and we prayed for them individually. It was an incredible night. I didn't know what to anticipate as we prepared to go to their home, but what happened is what you read about in the Scriptures. It was an example of the Kingdom God on Earth. It was what was described in Acts 2 when they broke break in homes and prayed for each other as they had need.
It took 1.) humility to ask for people to come pray and expose their insecurities 2.) faith that God answers prayers and that it was worth calling upon the church 3.) compassion for those who went out to empathize with the family and embrace their pain and hurts. The church in action looks like what happened last night. The more we are willing to follow Christ and humble ourselves, we will experience more amazing things.
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