MAKE WAR

Prepping for an upcoming series for Revolution, our Student worship service...A friend of mine, Spencer Arnold told me about a song by a Christian hip hop artist named Tedashi called MAKE WAR...this song kinda got my creative juices going and sparked some inspriration. The song can be seen in the video typography below... Looking forward to preaching the series and decking out stage with camo and war type decor....we are going to MAKE WAR against sin.

Check out the video below if you like...those not into hip-hop/rap you have been warned...

Questioning God when bad things happen...

I read this today and thought it was an intresting point and one I had not heard before...Thought I'd share it...

"Maybe the reason we question God's moral character when bad things happen is that we live our lives largely independent from Him. In other words, we struggle to trust God in times of trouble because we do not really trust Him when things are going well. Maybe we struggle with suffering so much in the West because we are so comfortable most of the time that we feel we don't need God. We do not rely on Him on a daily basis, and so we do not really know Him. When suffering comes along, therefore, it is not so much that it takes us away from God, but that it reveals to us that we have not really been close to God in the first place.

-Michael Ramsden, European director of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

2010

I dont really know if I'm totally sold on New Year's resolutions... They seem to trail off and get forgotten by mid February or maybe sooner. But I do think the first of the year is a good time to look, plan, pray and think about what we need to get done this year...Here are some resolutions, commitments, goals or whatever you'd like to call them for me personally in 2010...

• Finish up reading the Bible cover to cover...
• Run/Jog 300 or more miles
• Take every advantage of every chance I get to be a daddy
• Date my wife more...
• Read 24 or more books
• Fast more...
• Encourage people...

Nothing earth shattering, I know...No hiking to the peak Mt. Everest...but it my list...What's on yours?

Last time you hit the gym?

When was it? Many people hit the gym three times a week, some as many 5 or 6 times. Some spend big bucks to get fit... people get in shape at home gyms, some pay monthly dues at the club, some even hire a personal trainer to get better, faster, and professional expertise. Disciplining themselves, training, and getting stronger.

How many workouts did you get in this week? Before you answer...know this...I'm asking about the spiritual gym.

I have a few questions about your "work out" regimen...

How many spiritual workouts do you get in this week? Three days or are you a spiritual gym rat maybe 5 or 6 days? Did you get three sets of Bible, a super set of prayer, a circuit of fasting, or maybe you did some cross training and combined a few this week?

Where do you usually work out? Home, at a club (the church), do you hire a personal trainer those being a mentor, small group, or accountability partner.

When is the last time you seriously hit the spiritual gym?

It's time we get in shape...

Time to hit the gym...

Grapple: to engage in a struggle or close encounter.

We just finished a 13 week series on James called "Rooted" @ Revolution our worship service for middle and high school students. We took it apart verse by verse, but I wonder where many of us are in our thinking about it or doing something about what we have studied. What made me think think about this was what I read the following in this old bible commentary...

"The Book of James can polarize those who grapple with it, leaving groups pulling in opposite directions. Which way do you find yourself leaning:

• Guilty or inspired?
• Resistant or repentant?
• Wavering or single-minded?
• Passing the buck to the rich or passing out bucks to the poor?

Are you grappling with it at all? I know I have...I'd love to hear your thoughts or comments if you traveled through James with us.

When is the last time you have grappled with scripture?

My challenge to you...Get in the ring, octogon, street corner, or wherever you engage in struggles or close encounters and...grapple.

For years we have been asking the wrong question...

What would Jesus do? That's it...that is the wrong question. The braclets, the bumper stickers, the t-shirts, (add in any trinket here) they are all wrong in my opinion. Asking that question only helps us for that moment that we need guidance or direction, then it's over and we don't need Jesus till next time we have an issue.

So what is the right question? So glad you asked...

What did Jesus do?

I know it's similiar. I know it's one word difference, but it makes a huge difference. As I'm getting ready for our next Revolution preaching series "Ripened: The Spiritual Disciplines" I'm realizing that if we would do what Jesus did then when we have an issue or questionable call to make it would be easy. A few examples...

Jesus practiced solitude...
Jesus fasted for a month and a half...
Jesus served the disciples and those in need...

If we would do what Jesus did...pray...fast...serve...love...practice solitude...then the "what would Jesus do?" questions would be null and void. Because we would know what He would do.

Simply a rambling in my brain the last 24 hours..but thought I'd share it.

Read the Gospels again and see what He did and do it.

"Dropping like Stars" by Rob Bell book review

I pretty much read everything Rob Bell writes, so when I stumbled on his new book "Dropping like Stars" in Barnes and Noble, I did a double-take. For one I didn't know it was coming out and two it's an over-sized book, not your normal book shelf-type or size. So I grabbed it up found a comfy chair in the corner and thought I'd check it out. We'll about 30-45 minutes later it was finished. Not sure if I owe Mr. Bell or Barnes and Noble or Zondervan some money or not?

Here are a few things I took away from the book and a few things that stick out

• Whenever I read Bell I can hear him say certain lines, maybe from NOOMA videos, maybe listening to him on podcasts. Does any one else hear an author speak? (That last sentence really makes me look crazy,but I'm leaving it in.)
• The book is about the topic of suffering, so right away Bell captures you, cause you have been there.
• Opening illlustration of a hospital hallway...some hallways in a hospital are filled with joy, while others arer filled with tears and pain.
• Suffering unities us. We hear a story of suffering similar to ours and we thinkon say,"I've been there."
• Suffering eleminates the unesscessary and shows us what matters.
• God wastes nothing.

I took home this that we need to look at suffering differently. Rain looks like dropping stars to a little boy, and Bell says he never saw it that way....much like suffering when we realize it unities, elemintes the unesscessary, and shows us what matters.

Overall it was a good stuff, a nooma video put into words and art, but too pricey at $34.95. B+, not for content, but for the price of the book.

Are you Hungry?

I was talking to a good friend of mine just yesterday who was dealing with a person saying the excuse "I'm not being fed at church." Mark Batterson is pastor in DC that I follow had this to say about the subject and I think he nailed it.

"Permission to speak frankly?

One of the common complaints people make when leaving a church is this: I’m not being fed. As a preacher, my goal is to nourish our congregation via a well-rounded diet of sermons. And I try to preach every sermon like it’s my last, but let me push back. My kids learned to feed themselves when they were toddlers. If you’re not being fed, that’s your fault. I’m afraid we’ve unintentionally fostered a subtle form of spiritual codependency in our churches. It is so easy to let others take responsibility for what should be our responsibility. So we let our pastors study the Bible for us. Here’s a news flash: the Bible was unchained from the pulpit nearly five hundred years ago during an era of history called the Middle Ages.

If you are relying on a preacher to be fed, I fear for you. Listening to a sermon is second-hand knowledge. It is learning based on someone else’s words or experiences. A sermon is no replacement for first-hand knowledge. You’ve got to see it and hear it and experience it for yourself. It’s not enough to hear the truth. You have to own it. Or more accurately, it has to own you. Honestly, I’d rather have people hear one word from the Lord than a thousand of my sermons. And that happens when you open your Bible and start reading.

Mark Batterson is the pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC. He also the author of Wild Goose Chase, and In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. Check-out his blog at www.evotional.com."

Friends, you can't just eat on Sunday mornings, and maybe a meal on Wed. nights spiritually speaking. The question is....Are you hungry?

TEXT idea

I tried something new this past week in Revolution our student worship service...We are going through the book of James and one thing about James is it's very much like a Text message or like Twitter. He hits a topic then, BAM.! He hits another topic, very short and concise.

We used a FREE text message device http://www.txtdrop.com/ and sent the 4 verses for the sermon to students and when they recieved it they stood up and read it...My guy Ben sent the message from our tech computer so we could just copy and paste the scripture in. It was a great idea but cell reception is kinda bad there sometime. 3 out of the 4 went through. It's was a good idea and we may do it again but maybe send them the morning of instead of direct during the service. Maybe something to try for you youth/student ministers out there. Any other ideas?

Three reasons you’ll love the next series ROOTED: The book of James.

1. It’s intensely practical. The book of James is super clear and super direct.

2.. It’s like a text message or twitter tweet. James talks briefly about something then bam, he’s hitting something else. It’s short and sweet wisdom then James moves on to the next thing.

3. It’s full of metaphors, illustrations, and word pictures. He uses them to help us understand and remember. The waves in the sea, a withered flower, your face in the mirror, the bit in a horse’s mouth, the rudder of a ship, a destructiveness of a forest fire, pure spring water, arrogant business men, rusted metal, and moth eaten clothes. Everyday items that helps us remember everyday truths.

Beginning this week in Revolution 10:30 am in the Chapel.

2191 Galilee Chrsitian Church Jefferson, GA. 30549.

Summer 09 Student Ministry Calendar

Our Summer Calendar...Check it...

http://www.scribd.com/full/15855733?access_key=key-t2muf957l2ogoc3v5jv

The Original Social Network...

I saw a Coleman camping gear commercial this past weekend that claims they "gave birth to social networking" and it got me thinking. You know sitting around a campfire or camping was social networking. Social networking is a big deal from the old Myspace days, to Facebook and Twitter and who knows what is next. Millions of people connected everywhere they go by phone or computer.

But I believe Jesus gave birth to the greatest social networking tool, it's called the church. It was way before Coleman and Twitter. We connect today through status updates, texting, posts, blogs, and #(something-creative-here). Here is a few ways they networked and stayed connected.

• They meet together Acts 1:6


• Prayed together Acts 1:14
  
• Sold things to help the ones in need Acts 2:45


• Served together Acts 2:45


• Ate together Acts 2:46


• Hung out in each other homes Acts 2:46


• Praised together Acts 2:47


• One heart and mind Acts 4:36


• Shared everything they had Acts 4:33

Are you connected?

Book Review: Understanding God's Will by Kyle Lake

Understanding God's Will

This is the second book I have read by the late Kyle Lake, the first being Understanding Prayer which I loved. I feel much the same with this book, loved it. I picked it up for a few reasons, one as I said I loved the last book I read by him, two as research and study for a upcoming Revolution message, and finally understanding God's will is something I'm always trying to get my mind around. Students, friends, and probably the person reading this are always wondering and asking about His will. Kyle has a great way of making difficult theological truths seem like a conversation over a cup of coffee.

The main theme of the book is God's will is not some recipe, blueprint, formula,mantra, there's no 7 steps to knowing God's will for you life. So many pastors like myself give the recipe or blueprint; such as pray, seek wise counsel, listen, etc. etc. Lake states understanding God's will doesn't fit the recipe,blueprint, or formula.

He uses three illustrations to describe God's will...a disciple...a father...and a kingdom. They all expand to really explain God's will for our life through those lenses.

Random and final thoughts...

• The first part of the book is the strongest, great hooks.


• Quick read, easy read.


• Many great "That'll preach" illustrations that I'll preach someday.


• If your looking to crack the blueprint or find the recipe to understanding God's will grab this book.

Grade: A-

Leadership Retreat Mind Dump

I really love listening to leaders that are passionate, I got to sit with about 25 other NE GA ministers last week and here Cam HuxFord share with us. I love confrences and training because they alwasy spark new ideas, but the the down side is I forget them. I'm trying now to look back a week later and see what I'm still chewing on from the training or sharing time. Here is what stuck with me till now.

• Good chess players think multiple moves ahead. Cam said 8 steps ahead. Good churches and ministers should do the same. What are you next steps in your ministry?
• Visit churches double your size or the size you would like to be, then twice as large then, 5 times as large. See what they are doing, ask questions, watch learn. Take elders with you and women with you.
• Sometime you must re-invent yourself. Illustratoin: Tiger Woods has tweaked his swing every couple years to stay on top. Is your church? Are you?

Good questions and thoughts that I'm thinking through at the moment.

TXT more than Talk

This caught my eye this morning.

  For the second quarter of 2008, U.S. mobile subscribers sent and received on average 357 text messages per month, compared with making and receiving 204 phone calls a month, according to Nielsen. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10048257-94.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

What do you think this says about our culture? Sure we like to stay connected, but how connected do we really want to be. Don't get me wrong I'll text till my fingers turn blue. But I thought it was an interesting item.

Olympic Youth Ministry Event

Every time the Olympics come around I get more and more sucked in, it's like a tractor beam, that pulls me to my couch and TV. I began to last night think what makes the Olympics so special, engaging, powerful, and exciting? I believe because it's not so mundane, it does not happen every summer, or every year. It's something you look forward to, something you wait for four years.

I then thought what if we did something in ministry that evokes that type of mountain top event. Not a sporting event. Something that is not CIY Move, CIY Believe, Summer Camp, VBS, Winter Retreat, Mission Trips, an every year type of thing. Don't get me wrong these are awesome events that I promote and love and I think a super important. But what if we did something that students would look forward to and prepare for every four years.

What could this event be? I have some ideas but I'll keep them to myself right now.

Question to comment on or ponder? What could this "Olympic" youth ministry event be?

Couch Wars

Our first Momentum last week we did Couch Wars! One of my all time favorite scavenger hunt events. We had 43 that night, which blew my mind. I had tons of sponsor help also, it was a fun night. Here are some of the pic's.

Tebow again...

I think this week should be Tim Tebow week on my blog. Tebow in this article http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-07-30-tebow-playboy_N.htm says no to being on an All American College Football team. He says no to Playboy's annual All American team because it conflicts with his christian beliefs.

I may have to buy his jersey now, but I really can't wear a gator emblem, that would conflict with my Flordia State beliefs. All jokes aside Tebow is a great witness, I hope he has a good, injury free season.

Question to comment on or ponder: What do you need to say no to because it conflicts with your beliefs

Not a Gators fan, but Tebow is my favorite college player

I have loved the Florida State Seminoles for years since they were dominating collegiate football. Now they aren't but, it's all good and I believe they'll turn things around. So being a Noles fan means the Gators are not liked well, or at all. I can't stand the gators..at all.

But I really have watched the gators QB Tim Tebow the past few years and how he is not shy about his faith and what he stands for. I also like that he plays QB like a fullback and punishes the other team. But back to my first reason I read this in the Athens Banner Herald this past week....

Tebow's hectic off season schedule included three overseas missionary trips to Thailand, Croatia and the Philippines. Those came on his breaks from school and between-season conditioning for one of the challengers for the SEC East title.

"Doing those things is more important that football to me," Tebow said. "I can take what I do and take football as a game and change people's lives, that's what's important. Doing things like that are much more important than beating Georgia or Florida State. It doesn't come close to having the ability to put a smile on a kid's face or to go to a high school and see a girl who's about to die and see her smile because you're there to see her. You can't put a price on what that does for me. It does more for me than what I did for that person."

Here is a guy who knows whats important. I don't think I'll get his jersey(it has a gator on it) but I will be pulling for him.

If you want to read the rest of this article http://onlineathens.com/stories/072408/football_2008072400347.shtml

T-Shirt Design

Every year for the past few years I have let the seniors design the shirt we all wear one night @ CIY. Mostly it's pretty normal, a little catchy, and nothing to amazing. This year will be different. It is the craziest, random, and creative I had to design. Here are the word and images they wanted.

Triceratops, an Island on and island, taco .89 double cheesy beef burrito, ping pong table, rock band, Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, a rock band, acoustic guitar, and on the back Don't Stop Believin'.

Here is what we will have....