It is clear that a shift has taken place in the Christian World that I have known. This shift is still in process and I don't know when it will settle and then stabilize. The shift that I speak of is listed.
The vocabulary(use of words)of Christians is no longer considered. Terminology is no longer tempered and slang is now the norm for the family of faith. It seems that even sermons are peppered with words that at one time were deemed "worldly". Some of the young leaders in the church today are calling this shift into question and maybe we will see a move back to the middle for a balanced vernacular.
The embracing of a "whatever you believe is fine mentality" is taking the place of a firm Biblical based set of beliefs. This shift is causing believers to incorporate non Biblical doctrines into their own world views. In the "seeker driven" world of of church growth churches are now backtracking to a better follow up process for new believers. The question is how do we challenge the unfocused belief system of the Oprah Church.
more to come...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
When You Get Knocked Down, Get Up
How many times have you heard someone say, Life is not fair!? It is not about whether life is fair or not; it is about the reality of what has happened. Life may not be fair, but life is life. Things will happen without your permission. You will find yourself in situations you didn’t plan on being a part of. Yes, you will be handed a left turn when you had planned on going straight.
Reality is in life you will get knocked down. There will be times and situations where your life will take a left turn without your permission. When it happens, it will be a wake up call. You will open your eyes and find yourself standing in an emotional field you didn’t anticipate. Here are some principles to help you get back up when you get knocked down.
Principle #1: Don’t deny what is happening in your life.
Principle #2: Be honest about how you got knocked down.
Principle #3: Don’t be afraid to ask the right people for help.
Principle #4: Find the lesson that goes with the fall.
Being knocked down doesn’t mean being knocked out. It is simply a pause in your journey that provides you with a test of commitment, character and confidence.
Reality is in life you will get knocked down. There will be times and situations where your life will take a left turn without your permission. When it happens, it will be a wake up call. You will open your eyes and find yourself standing in an emotional field you didn’t anticipate. Here are some principles to help you get back up when you get knocked down.
Principle #1: Don’t deny what is happening in your life.
Principle #2: Be honest about how you got knocked down.
Principle #3: Don’t be afraid to ask the right people for help.
Principle #4: Find the lesson that goes with the fall.
Being knocked down doesn’t mean being knocked out. It is simply a pause in your journey that provides you with a test of commitment, character and confidence.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
It's Time Part 1
"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me- My personal walk, is life change happening, am I walking in empowerment, am I being used of the Lord.
Because He anointed me to preach the Gospel- The message, am I staying on message?
Tom Rainer writes: We have the greatest Hope in the world. We have the promise of the resurrection. We have Jesus. But we know the story. In too many churches minors become majors and focus is lost. Critics outnumber the messengers of hope. And “that’s the way we’ve always done it” becomes the death cry of too many congregations. People are looking for hope.
The Church must be the messenger of Hope. Time is too short. It’s time for hope.
Mark Batterson writes: The only applause we are meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands. It was so inspiring and so convicting. We care so much about our reputation. We care so much about our approval ratings. We care so much about what people think. But we need to die to those things. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but we don't really care for people until we don't care what they think. We can't really help them until we've been crucified to their opinions. Only then do we preach with an anointed boldness. Am I saying what God wants That is the only litmus test when it comes to preaching. Was God pleased with my message? Unfortunately, many of us measure our messages by human applause. May we be deafened to human applause. After all, the only applause we are meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands.
The poor…the captives…the blind…the oppressed- The people, finding ways to reach the people, having a heart for those in need.
An Alarming statistic- only 13 churches out of 300 hundred in our association grew in the last 10 years. Do we have a whatever it takes mentality?
To proclaim The Favorable Year of the Lord- Your decision, will you claim this to be your year. Will you
God didn’t put you hear to build a steeple,
God put you here to plant a cross.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me- My personal walk, is life change happening, am I walking in empowerment, am I being used of the Lord.
Because He anointed me to preach the Gospel- The message, am I staying on message?
Tom Rainer writes: We have the greatest Hope in the world. We have the promise of the resurrection. We have Jesus. But we know the story. In too many churches minors become majors and focus is lost. Critics outnumber the messengers of hope. And “that’s the way we’ve always done it” becomes the death cry of too many congregations. People are looking for hope.
The Church must be the messenger of Hope. Time is too short. It’s time for hope.
Mark Batterson writes: The only applause we are meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands. It was so inspiring and so convicting. We care so much about our reputation. We care so much about our approval ratings. We care so much about what people think. But we need to die to those things. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but we don't really care for people until we don't care what they think. We can't really help them until we've been crucified to their opinions. Only then do we preach with an anointed boldness. Am I saying what God wants That is the only litmus test when it comes to preaching. Was God pleased with my message? Unfortunately, many of us measure our messages by human applause. May we be deafened to human applause. After all, the only applause we are meant to seek is that of nail-scarred hands.
The poor…the captives…the blind…the oppressed- The people, finding ways to reach the people, having a heart for those in need.
An Alarming statistic- only 13 churches out of 300 hundred in our association grew in the last 10 years. Do we have a whatever it takes mentality?
To proclaim The Favorable Year of the Lord- Your decision, will you claim this to be your year. Will you
God didn’t put you hear to build a steeple,
God put you here to plant a cross.
Friday, January 15, 2010
I went to see the "The Book of Eli". Aside from some of the vulgarities this could have been a Christian Film. The message given to the importance of the Word and a life of faithfulness were very strong and vivid. All of the quotes give by Eli were Bible quotes that were accurate and powerful. The movie had great depictions of good and evil as well lesson on living life during difficult time. It made you think about what really matters in life. One big theme of the movie was "don't take things for granted". another theme that was very powerful was "Don't abort your mission in life"and "Living Word is the point of knowing the Word".
Friday, January 8, 2010
Great Site on Prayer
This is a great resource about prayer. Our church is going to enter into a 21 day season of prayer because we believe that prayer makes a difference. We believe prayer changes things. We believe that prayer moves the hands of God.
www.allaboutprayer.org
www.allaboutprayer.org
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
10 constant Growth Factors for 2010
As I look to leading our church into greater growth I am caught off guard because of all the change that people and our world are going through. Here are my conclusions.
The message is sacred not the method.(worn out statement, but true)
God is still in control
Prayer still changes things
Jesus is the head of His Church
Faithfulness still counts in Gods economy
The Word never returns void
Loving people is still the norm
Find a need and meet it
Some will plant and others will water but God causes the growth
It all about Jesus, only about Jesus, always about Jesus
The message is sacred not the method.(worn out statement, but true)
God is still in control
Prayer still changes things
Jesus is the head of His Church
Faithfulness still counts in Gods economy
The Word never returns void
Loving people is still the norm
Find a need and meet it
Some will plant and others will water but God causes the growth
It all about Jesus, only about Jesus, always about Jesus
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010 is Here!
Today is 01.01.10. 3 ones and 3 zeros. So what! This year is like every other year. It is the beginning. What will we do. How will we do it! When will we do it! New decade? The same questions remain.
Will I make a difference?
Will I make things better?
Will I change the world?
Will I make a difference?
Will I make things better?
Will I change the world?
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