Tag Archive - Faith

When Dreams Turn To Dust

May 6, 2010 in Faith, Friends, Ministry, Missions with 35 Comments

Sometimes things don’t turn out right.

You start out dreaming it. You start out expecting it.

I’m gonna marry Prince Charming!
We’re gonna build a ministry overseas from the ground up.
It’s gonna bless millions for God’s glory.

We all dream these dreams as kids. But the more time we spend on this earth, the quicker our dreams and expectations change. By the time you’re almost twenty years of age, your dreams may get just a smidge smaller.

I’m gonna get out of this place one day.
I’m gonna make it through this beating.
He can’t hold this gun to my head forever!

It’ll get better by the age of 30, right? But then you stare 30 in the face and your dreams sound like this:

He cheated on me and lied.
Did he EVER love me?
All I know is this ministry and life WITH him. How do I ever transition?

Problem: that’s not a dream. That’s reality.

Sometimes the dreams you dreamt as a child are squashed by the reality of… life. The older you get, the once HUGE window of your dreams becoming reality begins to shrink till it’s barely the size of a mousehole. The simple answer of “Have FAITH… God is in control!” seems trite and a lot like another impossible dream.

You try. You muster up the last bit of faith you have…
… but sometimes, our life here won’t end up with a happy ending.

Meet my two friends: Tammy & Alece.

Those dreams listed above were theirs. Both have overcome the most monstrous and impossible hurdles. One is still in the midst of survival mode at times… but BOTH have looked life’s dirty leftovers in the face and said, “You don’t GET to choose where my dreams end up!”

They’ve changed their dreams. They’ve taken their stories and have matched them up with GOD’S story FOR them. Their stories are no longer about them… they’re about God.

Which leads me to “Plan B” by my friend, Pete Wilson. I was gonna write about the release of his book this week… but it’s so much more than a book now.

I’ve watched my friends at CrossPoint step up this past week when their community in Nashville faced the most trying devastation their area has seen in the past 1000 years. I am watching them actually BE the church to their community instead of just TALKING about it. Like Pete says… “There is the direct correlation between crisis and spiritual transformation” and they are IN crisis right now.

For more information of how to help, CLICK HERE.

It’s our chance… to be like Tammy, Alece & CrossPoint. When Plan A isn’t working out and in the midst of crisis, let’s align ourselves with God’s story… where it’s ALL about Him…

… and less about us.

Exponential – Day Three

April 22, 2010 in Church Planting, Faith, Ministry with 8 Comments

First… this year’s intro for Francis Chan (by Eric Bramlet):

Now… this is LAST years intro for Francis:

Just thought you’d enjoy that before you read my notes!

Speaker: Francis Chan

  1. Amos 5 – “Woe to those who are comfortable.”
  2. God is calling ME out of my comfort. But what/where is OUT?
  3. What types of leaders would we be if we heard the voice of the Lord and did not obey?
  4. Biggest desire needs to be to hear “Well Done” from God, not people.
  5. All that matters is that we get ready to face God. There is SO much on loan.
  6. Why are we thinking about retirement when the END is in sight.
  7. We’ve got so many pastors that seem to be “called” to the rich people. LOL!
  8. No one wants to care for the poor because we would have to suffer.
  9. I don’t only want the resurrection, but I also want the fellowship of the suffering.
  10. Mark 8:34
  11. Luke 6:22
  12. 2 Corinthian 1:5
  13. Galatians 6:12
  14. Ephesians 6
  15. Philippians 1:29
  16. Colossians 1:24
  17. When people look at my life, how are they seeing Jesus?
  18. You will feel the Holy Spirit when you are put up against the authorities.
  19. … when YOU’RE in danger.
  20. If I’m not listening, what kind of Pastor am I?
  21. Between you and God: ARE YOU REALLY AT PEACE WITH HIM?
  22. Forget the rest of America… I just wanna do what YOU want me to do.
  23. If you were stuck on an Island with only the Bible for years, would your really come back and invest all your time on a Sunday service?

I’m pretty exhausted right now… and I’m still processing all of this.

The reality is my heart is stirring right now, in ways I’m not sure I can really put into words yet… but I’m hoping soon I’ll be able to communicate it.

Aslan is on the move.

Exponential – Day Two:Part Two

April 21, 2010 in Church Planting, Faith, Ministry with 4 Comments

Again… pardon my “dumping”. I’m just posting all my notes on here. This conference has been mind-blowing and it’s stirring up a lot of “stuff” in me. I’ll write about that later when I’ve got it a bit more sorted… but for now, here you go. Please feel free to ask questions if you’re confused about something.

Speaker: Reggie McNeal

  1. Missional Church: The people of God partnering with Him in His redemptive mission in the world.
  2. Church was an “it”. We grew up with church being a “what”.
  3. Church is a “who”.
  4. How do we be THE church.
  5. Plant THE church… don’t plant A church.
  6. Release people to BE the church where they already are.
  7. Be the church where you are already assigned.
  8. Church is not a destination…
  9. Why are there students who can’t read past a 4th grade level when our church is FULL of people who can?
  10. How are we doing at blessing the world?

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Speakers: Alan Hirsch, Ed Stetzer – interviewed by Dave Ferguson

Ed Stetzer:

  1. We are to reflect His glory and be transformed
  2. You cannot LEAD what you do not LIVE.
  3. Churches too often are holy merry-go-rounds. Lights, bells, whistles, attraction… but just goes round in circles.
  4. We celebrate what we become.
  5. You cannot love Jesus and ignore or marginalize His bride (the church).
  6. The gospel isn’t something you get over… it’s something you live in.

Alan Hirsch:

  1. How we measure something shows WHAT we value.
  2. When we play it safe with the church, we aren’t being like Jesus.
  3. We become insecure. We begin to fear each other within the church.
  4. Love is to risk.
  5. The only place where you can be safe from the disturbances of love is hell.
  6. You cannot lead where you will not go. You cannot teach what you do not know.
  7. You must risk failure to become a stakeholder in the outcome.
  8. If we stay where we are, we will only produce what we’ve produced in the past.

———————————

Speaker: Efrem Smith

Matthew 25 (starting at verse 31)

  1. We are to have Kingdom URGENCY. This is evangelism.
  2. We are to be ready. There is preparation work.
  3. We are to be the bridesmaids of Jesus. To prepare the bride.
  4. KNOW YOUR ROLE!!!
  5. We need to be about Kingdom MULTIPLICATION. This is about discipleship.
  6. We have separated compassion, mercy & justice… but God hasn’t.

—————————–

Speaker: Shane Claiborne

  1. We’re not just told to make believers, but make DISCIPLES.
  2. What we can learn from both liberals and conservatives is no matter what your ideology is, you can be mean.
  3. Mother Theresa didn’t wear a shirt that said “Abortion is Murder” but she came alongside pregnant women and said, “we can do this together!”
  4. Transformation takes more than just a good vision.
  5. “Everybody wants a revolution, but no one wants to wash the dishes.”
  6. The mega-church thing is so 1980’s. It was a good thing, but often-times, God does His work in the small things in your neighborhood.
  7. Virtual communities: FB & twitter is good… but if you eat ONLY virtual food, you’re gonna die.
  8. Transformation takes imagination.
  9. We cannot truly recover ourselves until we help the community that made us sick recover too.
  10. We’re just the asses that get to bring Jesus in.

—————————–

Speaker: Dave Gibbons

  1. Transformation starts in the mind and is honed in GOOD community.
  2. If Satan was smart, he’d put us all in a group and let us talk about the bible, then let us call it a small group. Then he’d let us go even deeper and let us call it community. When in reality, it’s just a farm.
  3. Are we captured by movements because it’s the next big thing.
  4. Movement of the masses vs. the movement of the Holy Spirit.
  5. You don’t need the answers. You need the tools.

Exponential – Day Two:Part One

April 21, 2010 in Church Planting, Faith, Ministry, Worship with 0 Comments

Sorry if these notes are a bit scattered, but it’s what I took down during the day.

Speaker: Ken Blanchard

  1. Leadership: from direction to coaching
  2. Can’t teach people to change from the outside.
  3. Jesus wants to give us a heart attack… from the inside.
  4. Did you come to serve or BE served?
  5. QUESTION: ARE YOU A GOOD STEWARD???
  6. Servant leader: when you get constructive criticism, say “thank you”.
  7. Your position is on LOAN!
  8. Be a shepherd… go after the ONE.
  9. Be as SERVANT first… and a LEADER second.
  10. Servant Leadership:
  11. (1) Set the vision & direction (Jesus first, others second, me third)
  12. If you mention Jesus, he does all the marketing and all the work.
  13. (2) Serving = implementation.
  14. Serve, cheerlead, support, HANDS.
  15. “we can do it, you can help” vs. “YOU can do it, WE can help!”
  16. Habits
  17. Eternal life is not all that attractive to people who’s life isn’t working out right now.
  18. Anytime you’re not feeling joy, peace or righteousness, you’re detached from the vine.
  19. SOLITUDE
  20. PRAYER
  21. STUDY the scriptures.
  22. SUPPORT GROUP
  23. Do not forget the unconditional love of the Lord. Your performance is not greater.

——————————–

Speaker: Matt Chandler

  1. 2 Corinthians 3:18…
  2. Working for Jesus gets replaced by being WITH Jesus.
  3. Transformed from one degree of glory into another degree of glory by beholding Jesus.
  4. Constantly preach the gospel to yourself. It’s not an “entry point”
  5. Judgement: Your righteousness is a stench to God outside of Jesus Christ.
  6. Romans 15:13
  7. Jesus told his disciples the Holy Spirit will remind them of everything… but when he gets to the communion table, he says, “REMEMBER THIS!”
  8. God’s plan wasn’t only Israel… it was the ends of the earth.
  9. HE has reconciled us to the Creator God.
  10. Don’t just teach them about Jesus… but teach them to OBEY God’s commandments.
  11. Mistakes today are made because we forget God was at work LONG before Luther and Calvin showed up… and long before YOU.
  12. We have been invited in!
  13. Have a respect for what has been handed to you… and a sense of responsibility for what you will be handing off.
  14. The Church doesn’t need to be saved. It needs people to preach out of a pure heart.
  15. Be faithful, let Him transform us… not gadgets.
  16. Christ first… then His mission.
  17. My calling is NOT better than Jesus Christ.

——————————————

Building Worship Ministry from the Ground Up
Speaker: Mark Deymaz

  1. Ethnic diversity and financial diversity.
  2. If your church is going to make it in 10 years, you better be a diverse church.
  3. First thing: THIS SHOULD HUMBLE US. Humble ourselves.
  4. Humility is a conscious church.
  5. Everyone in your church should be uncomfortable… and that makes them comfortable.
  6. 1-The right theology of music: It’s not about you… your style of music.
  7. Align the church with Christ vision… not with YOUR vision.
  8. Go ahead and be an Acts 2 church, but you’re not done till you’re an Acts 11 church.
  9. You begin with the right attitude and the right perspective.
  10. How do you teach that to your team and others?
  11. It’s not about the food… it’s about the family.
  12. Phillipians 2 – “Thank God I have a seat at this table!”
  13. 2-Practically: SAVE MONEY
  14. Authentic worship is not about the hype… it’s all about the heart.
  15. Assimilation: THEY change to fit into you.
  16. Accommodation: YOU changing to include.
  17. Revelation 7
  18. If the kingdom of God isn’t segregated, why is the church?

Exponential – Day One

April 20, 2010 in Church Planting, Faith, Ministry with 8 Comments

Just thought I’d post my notes from my experience Day ONE of Exponential.

——————————-

Speaker: Mark Batterson

Numbers 22 (starting at verse 20)

  1. If God can use a dumb donkey, He can use you!
  2. It’s never about where you are going, but who you are BECOMING.
  3. God may be getting in the way to keep us from getting there.
  4. We like the open doors… it’s the closed doors we don’t like.
  5. Thank God that sometimes He gets in the way.
  6. God may close the door over “here” so that you may knock over “there”.
  7. God wants you to get where He wants you to go more than YOU wanting to get where you want to go.

—————————

Speaker: Louie Giglio

  1. We really need power and we really need life. That comes from the WORDS of God.
  2. You cannot do ANYTHING without power
  3. You cannot do ANYTHING without being fully alive.
  4. Personally, I have ZERO power… and we’re all on cruise control.

ACTS 2

  1. The Acts 2 church didn’t KNOW they were an Acts 2 church.
  2. They had never seen a church before.
  3. They had the teachings of Jesus, the eye-witness of the resurrection & the POWER of the Holy Spirit.
  4. We have what they had!!! We actually have MORE!!!
  5. Invite the Holy Spirit and let HIM in… not “it”
  6. Are you a “revolving door” leader?
  7. Do you get your vocabulary from the latest book that came out?
  8. Get your vocabulary FROM the teachings of Jesus.
  9. If your church planting team doesn’t talk about the power of Jesus & the raising of the Holy Spirit, then you’re NOT raising the church in the right power.
  10. Do you speak and lead your team with the confidence of Jesus?
  11. Eradicate “Did I knock it out of the park today?” out of your vocabulary.
  12. Ask: Did I put the Word of God before people well? Did that assignment happen today?
  13. God… free me from walking by sight and help me walk by faith!
  14. Lead with the Resurrection.

——————————–

And here were some of my favorite quotes from the breakouts today. I wish I could have gotten more out, but the bandwidth at that facilities was over-capacity and too high maintenance to deal with. Anyway… on with the tweets:

“It’s not about being relevant because God is omni-relevant.” ~ @MarkBatterson

“You must BECOME the community instead of reaching OUT to the community.” ~ @markdeymaz

“Always ask ‘what’s the NEXT step forward’ and NOT jump 10 steps ahead.” ~ @markdeymaz

“We gotta be pro-life from womb to tomb in the church!” We need to fight for EVERYONE. ~ @efremsmith

“When we talk about ‘those people’, we are NOT talking about us anymore. thems is us.” ~ @markdeymaz

————————–

Today has been refreshing.

I can’t explain how it feels to just BE a part of something bigger. To be allowed to worship IN the congregation vs. LEADING the congregation. To take communion and reflect on where God has taken me the last few years. To just soak it all in.

I feel so blessed to be here…

… because this is the stuff that makes me a better leader when I return home.

Exponential Conference

April 18, 2010 in Church Planting, Faith, Ministry with 8 Comments

Once a year, our church leadership at Church! at Bethany flies to Florida and invests time and money into attending Exponential.

We want to continuously be learning how to be better leaders for our church and community. What better way than to connect with other church planters from all over the United States?

So, six hours of flying and three hours of time difference later… here we are:

ORLANDO, FLORIDA!

It’s been pouring down rain since we’ve been here. Like, DOWNPOUR… not Portland rain… but I have to say, I like it. It’s soothing.

I’ve already gotten to meet some really amazing people but I’m most looking forward to my time here to reconnect with God’s purpose for me, refocus ministry goals and just soaking it all in… whatever “ALL” is. The only downside is I already miss Brian and my boys DESPERATELY. It’s hasn’t even been two days yet. *sigh*

What’s the last conference you were at?
THOUGHTS?
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