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The Invitation

February 20, 2012 in Life, The Church with 1 Comment

It’s not often I see a link on Twitter and just randomly follow it. But at the C3 Conference this year I decided to follow a guy named Steve Furtick. He’s the pastor of Elevation Church, and he posted this video on his blog this morning. It moved me to my core. I want to share it with you.

Fasha’s Story from Elevation Church on Vimeo.

I’m re-aquainted with the FACT that there are millions and millions of hurting and dying people on this planet, in our country, our states, our cities and even our churches. NEVER doubt the power of the invitation. You don’t have to use a fancy piece of paper; all you have to do is invite someone to come face to face with Jesus. Just a reminder today.

Marriage and Ministry: Lessons I’ve Learned

February 14, 2012 in Family, Life, The Church with 6 Comments

I’m a firm believer that God will not give you to bear that which you are not capable of bearing. That being said, my wife and I have often said that God must have inflated confidence in us. I say that tongue-in-cheek because God is never wrong.

I was raised a preacher’s kid.  It was expected that I would by default be in the ministry myself.  I never really resisted, but I felt the weight of knowing that I needed to build my life and family around a wife that was just as passionate about ministry as I was.  God’s greatest blessing in my life along with my children, is the woman He gave me. She is what I call my attractive opposite.  In almost every way she’s my balance.  I’m the emotional high energy one.  She’s the steady never-too-high and never-too-low rock and anchor I am tethered to.  I’m always in a hurry, always moving quick.  She slow and steady…but she’d agree with me that she wouldn’t win many races.  I don’t care.  She’s the balance for me, and I am for her.

Here are three big lessons WE have learned together about being a ministry family.

1.  My wife carries the burden of ministry with me.  It’s important that I remember that, and that those that I’m close to in life and in ministry are aware of that.  I give my life for what I do and those I serve, and she gives me to that task every day, without fail, faithfully and willingly.  She has to love and be steadfast in what God has called me to do in a way that so many others have no concept.  We have a large family, but she gives up the expectation and many times she never asks for the help she needs and stands tall in the shadows.  Do not underestimate or take advantage of that rock.  Remember, behind every man of God is a woman rolling her eyes at him.

2.  A thriving ministry does not a happy marriage make!  I almost lost my marriage 8 years ago because I foolishly believed that building a ministry and a church would ultimately lead to a better life for our family.  I worked way too much, she worked too hard.  It was such a dark time and  all I wanted was a better life.  It’s a trap, and it’s so easily sprung on us.  The creative side of us is such a sucker for the bliss found in the “what could be”.  Not that that is unimportant; on the contrary it’s what makes life worth living.  My mistake was living in what could be, and neglecting what was.  I hated coming home to a house that was chaotic and messy (at the time we had 4 children, two under the age of 4 all under the age of 10 and it was overwhelming to my wife). She hated me coming home and being stressful over petty things that just needed my energy and effort rather than a critical eye.  We moved further and further apart.  Thank God for a friend and pastor who patiently walked us thru, helped us mature and basically got my head back on straight. I’m called to be a husband and father first; not a minister.  As worship leaders we’re gifted people.  Thats how God made us.  We must remember to never allow our gifting to take precedence over our calling.

3.  I really like my wife.  Seriously.  I mean, if you asked me who I would like to spend time with more than anyone else on earth, it would be her.  I guess this isn’t a “lesson” so to speak, but for anyone who’s planning on being married at all, my advise is to marry someone you really like! I love my children love the time spent being with them.  But SHE is my best friend.  Nothing would make me happier than to be with her. We laugh together a lot and I know that is a key to a healthy marriage.  It’s a good thing she likes me, because I can be a real pain in the back side some times.  Actually…a lot.  But this woman has the patience of Job and the heart of a saint.  ”Love” and “like” are two different things and I think to have a successful marriage, ministry or not, you have just got to have both.  The real key of getting along is being able to be honest about frustration and perception, and we know that our perception is our reality.  It’s good to be able to keep it real with a person you both love and like very much, and this has been a key to our marriage.

There isn’t a perfect marriage.  There are usually lots of flaws that we all have to deal with in each other.  That is certain; but what I like best about a great marriage is grace.  A gracious person is hard to offend and easy to reconcile with.  May God continue to grant us the honor of serving Him together and with long life to love our children to love Him.  Thats our true calling and it goes beyond our gifting.

 

You hooked me with Coffee

September 13, 2011 in Life, The Church with 4 Comments

I want to share with you a testimony by a guy named Steven Conn. Sometimes we get so focused on the things we’re trying to change, teach, fix… This is a guy who’s life was changed. Just wanted to share.

Life on hold

August 4, 2011 in Life with 0 Comments

I strongly dislike (I hate using the word hate) having to be put on hold on the phone.  I’m just calling to talk about my account…seriously?   I’m waiting for ten minutes on hold?  It’s most definitely annoying.  So is life on hold.

I’m laughing inside because if anything, life for us is on overdrive!  But to a certain extent our lives are focused moving, and moving alone; which seems like anything BUT being on hold.  Painting.  I’ve painted so much trim, cleaned so many brushes and rollers that I’m having dreams about it at night!

This too shall pass.  So, please pardon the silence on the more journal.  I’ll be back…I don’t have any nauseating music for you to listen to, and aren’t you glad?

KILL IT or Start Over?

July 15, 2011 in Family, Life with 8 Comments

So we’ve bought a house this week. Needless to say we’re excited about having a house big enough for our clan, and in a community we love. After what seems like forever of being transients, we’ve laid some roots and couldn’t be any more excited.

As parents of 6 children who love the water, it was a thrill to have the bonus of a pool at the new place. There’s just a slight problem, as you can see here.

Yeah, it’s kinda gross. This picture, was actually taken a couple of weeks ago so it’s even more gross now. So me and the Mrs. are trying to GUESS what to do. I’ve never had a pool, and my dad only got a pool after we left the house…which I find hilarious.

We called in reinforcements. We called A POOL GUY.

His reaction was just as you might expect. It was the controlled “eewwwuuu…” look. After discovering that everything works (pumps, filters, etc…) he began to give us the options. It all came down to two choices; either KILL IT, or drain it and START OVER. So I said, “Whats the catch? Which is least expensive?” Yeah..I said it. I’m the man, I’m the budget guy, I’m the do-it-yourselfer. We decided that the best over all decision was to drain it and start all over.

yeah, it’s basically a Cement Pond. So we’re draining it and starting over with fresh water.

We’re doing a reboot. A do-over. Clear the boards. Wash it all off and start again.

I’m so glad we have a heavenly Father who is gracious and kind. He’s the author of starting again. There are so many things in life that you can’t do-over; there are many things that are permanent when we mess’em up. But the eyes of our Father see us in a new way each morning. See here; Lamentations 3:22-23

22 It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Thank God for His faithfulness!  Thank God for His mercy and limitless grace.  It goes way beyond my understanding, but without it we’re all still dead in sin.

Now.  I’m off to another day of cleaning, painting, fixing and smiling!

Social Media Revolution

June 23, 2011 in Life with 0 Comments

Interesting video, filled with statistics about social media.

Finding an “Updraft” Part 2

June 22, 2011 in Life, The Church with 3 Comments

Last post about “Updrafts” we looked at our personal relationship with God, and how to make sure we find those places that we’re truly carried by God’s love and energy and not our own. This time, think more in terms of how we minister out of our own strength in Christ.

I was talking with a great friend of mine a several months ago and he inspired me with the idea of finding updrafts in ministry. We were speaking about leadership and how the kingdom is being pushed and inspired by simple yet revolutionary thinking (Frances Chan, David Platt, etc…). We began talking about what God was doing in ministry in our church and how things were changing. We began talking in that term…”updraft” as a thing God was leading us to do, or pushing us to explore. We were finding that updraft in how we were leading and how our leadership was functioning to motivate and leverage our energy. It was a fascinating conversation because it opened my eyes to another method of God’s leadership in my life.

Personally I’m in an updraft right now in my songwriting. You may find yourself in a updraft in your prayer life, or in how you are leading your family. You may discover a new way to do something very old that leads to new energy and inspiration. Those are “updrafts”. Or rather, what I CALL updrafts. In God’s word He speaks of new things. Consider Isaiah 42:9 (NASB).

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

I think it’s important that we don’t always look for the “new thing”. Looking for the BBD (Bigger Better Deal) gets us in all kinds of trouble! There’s no bigger better deal in God’s plan; there’s only His plan.  Find it, and you’ll find that “new thing” or the “updraft” you’ve longed for.

Ways to Identify Updrafts in God’s Leading…

  • Do NOT Live In Fear – You will accomplish little when fear stands between you and what you see God leading you to do. If it’s bigger than you, fear not. Rejoice and find the updraft. 2 Tim 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
  • An Open Heart – Closed off to a limited way of functioning will hinder you. Where do you find inspiration? Joy? Peace and love? Let God lead you that way with an open heart and an open mind. The thing you’re passionate about is the thing God may be calling you to change.
  • Draw Near – A closeness with God and His word will always open doors. Don’t get so caught up in DOING the ministry or your job that you forget what you are called to do; to know Him and make Him known to others. You can’t lead people where you are not going yourself, or have already been.
  • Look For Other High Flyers – if you’re a song writer, what are they writing and how are they seeing success? If you’re a homeschooling mom, find a homeschooling mom who’s got it together and be inspired. If you’re a staff member of a church and you’re struggling, find one who’s moving and find out what they’re doing.

Know that God is in your searching. May God richly bless your day!

NEVER Give Up

June 20, 2011 in Life with 3 Comments

This past week was VBS week at Midway.  I’m still exhausted, but WOW what a week.

I was on the Squirrel Squad this week (our tech team at Midway is called “Squirrels” because at times we look like squirrels in a mad dash to find, store or fix something). It was a blast seeing kids grow in their faith and walk and make first time commitments to Christ.

One night one of our team members showed me this video and want to share it with you. All I can say is if God is in it, NEVER GIVE UP.

That girl has as much heart as any person I’ve ever seen. Just wanted to share!

Finding an “Updraft” Part 1

June 9, 2011 in Life, Worship with 7 Comments

Every believer finds themselves in times or places where they feel as if they’re stale or dry. It happens. So what changed to get us there, and what changes to get us out? Well, if you’ve had my experience in times like these, the answer usually presents itself in odd places or in strange timing.

My father and I have often talked about and marveled at people who fly gliders. I’m talking about those big, long winged aircraft that can’t get into the air on their own power. Yet in the right circumstances and in the right place they can stay up for hours just riding the updrafts. The interesting thing is that the most common place to find these kinds of updrafts is in desert terrain.

It’s sort of like us. We’d like to think theres some kinda power that we generate that gets us in the air, but in reality we’re under the power of someone else. We can mystify it, fake it until we make it and deflect it all we want but at the end of the day we are ultimately headed to the ground without an outside power. Consider Galatians 2:20.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I’m thinking about every time I’ve considered myself strong in a situation. It wasn’t my strength…per say. Yeah, I may have felt strong, but it was the life of Christ living and being strong IN me.

Are you in need of an updraft? Does the ground seem closer all of a sudden? There aren’t “solutions”. It’s just not a part of this life. But there are things we can do to put us in a position to find the joy and life in Christ that gives us strength, understanding that as the bible says “God’s joy gives strength.”

  • Always go to God’s word – If you’re not in it, you’re not living it. And if you’re not living it there’s no way you’ll be living in the strength of God. You may be faking it very well, but your strength will eventually fade. Find and make the time to spend filling yourself with the things that build strength in your life. Read it, listen to it, read about it or read from someone who’s living it.
  • Spend time around people who add to you, not take away from you – Don’t be a life sucker! Don’t dwell AROUND life suckers. Be one who adds life and learn from those who God has added life to. My pastor always says; “Scott, swim with the swimmers man.”
  • Never stop worshiping – you may not feel like it; but you gotta remember who you serve. It’s a trust thing, not a feeling thing and unfortunately many times we worship when we feel something. Gravity works no matter where or how you feel it. God is even more sure and constant.
  • Remove the stumbling blocks - resist the temptation to DO something radical or irrational. The most likely solution is addition by subtraction…in other words look for things you need to remove from your life.
  • Pray – And yes, there are many days we feel the prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling. I assure you they do not. Remember; feelings will lie to us. Our relationship with God is not based on how good you are or how bad you’ve been; it’s based on how much He loves you. God listens.

One final thing.  God ALWAYS makes a way.  I don’t ever believe there’s no way out of a situation.  Remember that even to those who are sick facing death in their faith; even in that place there is peace and reward.  God is the author of hope and is ever present.  Have a great week!

 

Go Ride Your Bike!

June 3, 2011 in Family, Life with 6 Comments

Thanks to Carlos Whittaker for sharing this priceless video!

Now. Go and ride your bike!

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