Draw from the Well

Keep It Simple

I am totally intrigued by this troupe's approach to communicating deep true in simple ways.  PROFOUND.  (One litter of God's sweet goodness!)

The Power of Social Media

People will no longer be ignored.  3 days, almost a 1/2 a million views.  Power to the people!  Dave has promised to write two more songs and videos.  I mourn the loss of the Taylor guitar - they are sweet.

The Power of Influence

This weekend, Pastor Jon talked about influence.  He shared a story about Woodrow Wilson and DL Moody.  It was a great illustration yet I wondered how many young people connected to because of relevance. 

So here's another example of being salty as told by the atheist illusionist Penn of Penn & Teller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JHS8adO3hM

For some reason it won't embed. Sorry.

Vacation Time...Almost

Officially my vacation begins in 17 minutes.  That's when the clock rolls past midnight and it's Monday, June 15.  I am always torn when I have to get up early for a trip to the airport - do I just stay up or try to get a few hours sleep?

Well for now I still have a few things I need to finish for work, some laundry drying, and then it's off to dream land for a short three hours...maybe.

Before I head off to San Diego for 9 days of fun, I wanted to share something I felt the Lord has been speaking to me about this vacation...that I'm to go minimal technology this time.   Unlike some, I do not have a hard time turning work off...I'm a very much "what's in front of me now" kind of person. Therefore the technology deal hasn't been that big of one for me on past vacations.  I could take it or leave it.  As I've prepared for this vacation, I've felt the nudging of the Lord to "leave it behind."

First it was my laptop.  This is actually a relief because I hate carrying it through the security check.  And I don't really need it, since I have the nifty iphone (which Jesus has made no mention of yet!)  It did feel liberating to contemplate not bringing it...so this was an easy decision.

But then I realized I'd left my noise-canceling, little-slice-of-peace-and-quiet headphones at work.  These babies are a lifesaver on airplanes...they really do work.  And slapping those things on insures peace and quiet from my neighbors.  As I headed to work to retrieve them, I felt the Lord suggesting a better way.  While the laptop was easy, these are not...even a three hour airplane ride is enough to tip this poor introvert over the edge.  Nevertheless, I'm trusting Jesus' leading and leaving them behind.

What do I think is going on?  Not totally sure, but here are a few thoughts (only 6 minutes left I need to write fast!)  My new role at work is technology laden.  My own personal learning curve has been off the charts.  I do think I'm techno-tired.  I also know that I've really been asking the Lord to speak in new and fresh ways.  Clearing out some of the things that can clutter will help with my hearing.  Finally, it just feels good to be less burdened down with stuff.  This is one thing I really miss from China - life was much simpler and less filled with extras. 

All in all, I'm looking forward to it.  Just wanted to share a bit of my process with you.  I don't know if I will post much in the next two weeks...I can from my iphone, but much more than pictures are a pain.  Well see how it goes.  Later!

Cast the First Stone...or Not

...certainly I'm not qualified to do so.  Throughout life, I've learned many lessons in humility.  And a wise man keeps telling me to never overestimate the spirituality of the sheep...or perhaps the shepherds either.

I felt prompted to write this when I heard that a current pastor recently announced his relational sin. I'll spare you his name because most of you (who read my blog) don't know of him anyway.  One thing that strikes me is that this is the first leader of my "generation" [and by that I mean this "new" style of socially-connected, blog-writing, straight talking young church planter group that is in vogue now] to announce his fall from grace. 

This reminds me that we are all only steps from the wrong path (don't I know it!)  There is nothing new about sin nor the temptations which seek to snare us.  (For better thoughts on this than I can articulate see this article here.)

As I read his confession, I was pondering how it was that knew of him as I don't regularly read his blog when I remembered the incident of the stolen trailer and response to it. In it, this pastor shared about what he would do if and when he caught the thief of the trailer. [I'll pause while you read it for full effect.]

This is what prompted me to write.  I don't glory or revel in sin.  Our sin means satan has won (in the short term.)  Our sin means that others and ourselves are going to be affected by consequences...hard ones.  I totally believe that God can and will bring good out of this situation and restore what the locusts have eaten.  Yet the way will be hard because something nasty has taken root, which must be ripped out and healed.  It's sad...so sad.

I don't point fingers or cast judgment because I understand the frailty of people who can do stupid things and make terrible mistakes from first hand knowledge. But it makes me think of Jacob when he wrestled with the angel.  After, he walked with a limp, broken and humbled...yet healed and blessed in spite of it all.

I read about this today and was sad and reminded to be more full of compassion.  I was humbled because I have no stones to cast...I too am a limping sinner saved by grace. 

I pause because just when I think I am righteous enough to get up on my high-horse...Jesus reminds me that, in fact, I'm so far from it.

Every week I am confronted by stories of the stupid, tragic choices people make.  They come broken and humbled, desperate...fired, in debt, relationally bankrupted..hurt by their choices and the choices of others. [Literally...those are just the stories I heard this passed week!]

This morning I'm reminded that if my patience is wearing thin...if my voice is growing condescending, if I am weary and leaning towards judgment or vengeancee...I need to pause, be humble and consider my limp.

HT: Todd Rhoades, MMI

Abraham - The Faith of A Father

We live in Insecure times.

Daily news tells us that God is up to something. We are living in prophetic times.

Lead with purpose.

- get connected to Jesus in a fresh way.
- get out of debt.
- get joined to the church in a deeper way.
- get living for jesus.

Abraham is the father of all who believed.

(insert brief history of Abraham)

Word of the Lord:

1. Don't ever write yourself out of the prophetic program of God.

2. Don't ever assume that doing God's will is for someone else.

3. Don't ever presume that you are too old.

4. Don't ever suppose that you are too young.

Genesis 12

How does the Spirit led?
There will always be a suddenly.

We need to ask if we are hearing the Lord.

"I will".

God will lead you away from the things you base your security on.

Follow Jesus and no know where we ate going.

Not follow Jesus and know where we are going.

God's call for commitment is mutual.

When God asks for faithfullness from you he's already promised faithfulness to you.

Your obedience to God affects more than just you.

When we don't obey other people pay the price.

When we do Gods will he will appear to us along the way.

Isaiah 30:21

God is more concerned with good finishes than good starts.

Changes To Our Website

Boaz and I have been making some changes to our church website...some of them big and some small.  At times it's hard to gauge how effective the changes are.  So here's the challenge - head over our website and check it out.  Then give me some feedback, not so much about style (we didn't really change that) but about functionality.  That would be very helpful - thanks.

 

The Cussing Pastor

Ed Young sounds off of his view of "scatology", i.e. the use of potty mouth when speaking (this is a real word...I thought he made it up!) 

He challenges leaders to rethink their chase of "cool" in these terms.  I especially appreciate his challenge not to be lazy. 

Brace yourself, he starts off with some words of his own for effect.  [I admit that I was a bit distracted by the fact that he was driving and talking, often with his hands.]

Is there ever a place for shock value in church?  How do we reconcile Jesus' use of contemporary strong words?  "You brood of vipers" wasn't a pet nickname!  Perhaps calling people stinking tombs is better?

What are your thoughts?

Amazing Grace

Get the kleenex ready.  Another amazing video by Central Christian Church in Las Vegas.

News About My Peeps

Two noteworthy issues about people whom you might know who read this blog.

First, my good friend Jeremy Nicks who works at Eastlake Church in San Diego told me that his church is featured in this month's Collide issue.  It's a fun little article about how they produce their services.  After visiting their church, I was very impressed by how "volunteer driven" they are.  They have really figured out how to take technical things and make them accessible to the non-tech group.  Read the article here.

Second, Cody Chapman, part of our NextGen staff has recently started blogging (again).  Check out what he's writing here.

Enjoy.