Last weekend a group of guys from the church went out to Y-Camp for a retreat. What happened there has given me a new fire in my belly and set our church on a whole new direction.
We concluded that the current four core value words that we have at The Fort (Influencing, Connecting, Devoting and Helping) were not something that anyone really knows, or understands for that matter. So we scrapped them for something much more simple and to the point.
Here it is...
Love God, Love People, Serve Everyone!
That's it. We love God through our worship services and classes where we learn about Him. We love people by getting involved in small groups and learning to share our faith. We serve everyone by getting involved in a ministry of some kind.
It is a simple plan for us to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ! Isn't that what we're supposed to be doing? We don't have church on Sunday morning just because that's what you do on Sundays...we are supposed to be taking people on a journey! We want them to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.
And we are adopting a posture where we want anyone and everyone who attends to know that it is entirely unacceptable for you to come and sit on Sundays with us and not go farther. We want people to be the church not just attend church!
This past weekend was awesome! I am so pumped about it! I am also beside myself with excitement about Easter 2008 as well! This is going to be the biggest, best Easter we have ever experienced! We are having an Easter egg hunt to kick everything off where kids will have a chance to win one of four iPods!
Then we'll have a big ol' breakfast followed up by our worship celebration where we will conclude the series VERDICT! That is going to ROCK! Don't miss it. Bring people with you!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Journey
I read this today and it has ROCKED me. I want to share it with you too. Here it is:
"Get used to the journey because the destination is a mirage."
That is so true! In our walk with Jesus it is not about reaching a goal. It is about who we become in the process!
So enjoy the journey!
"Get used to the journey because the destination is a mirage."
That is so true! In our walk with Jesus it is not about reaching a goal. It is about who we become in the process!
So enjoy the journey!
Dentists and God
I have been avoiding something. I am going to be making the call though. I haven't been to see my dentist for almost the same amount of time that I haven't been to see my doctor.
The last time I had an appointment they called to reschedule another appointment with me because the dentist had a conflict. I wasn't there to take the call so I just got the message on my answering machine. I figured if he was going to treat me like that then he could wait for a while before I found the time to go back and visit him! That was almost three years ago.
So I think I need to go back. I don't have any problems (at least none that I'm aware of). I just think I should get back and have a check-up.
But while I'm there, I'm going to ask him a question I've been thinking about. I wonder what it is like for him knowing that everyday as he gets up and goes to work that he is going to be the worst part of someone's day?
When people are thinking about what they are going to do in their day, facing the dentist is way low on their "exciting things" list.
I wonder if that's how God feels, kind of like my dentist? Think about how a lot of people approach going to church...
"We went last week. Do we have to go again? It might rain you know."
Or how about the way a lot of people approach reading the Bible...
"I just don't really have time for that, you know? Oh, did you see who got knocked out on American Idol last night?!"
I wonder if God feels like my dentist? I wonder if He see Himself as the last person most people want to see?
The last time I had an appointment they called to reschedule another appointment with me because the dentist had a conflict. I wasn't there to take the call so I just got the message on my answering machine. I figured if he was going to treat me like that then he could wait for a while before I found the time to go back and visit him! That was almost three years ago.
So I think I need to go back. I don't have any problems (at least none that I'm aware of). I just think I should get back and have a check-up.
But while I'm there, I'm going to ask him a question I've been thinking about. I wonder what it is like for him knowing that everyday as he gets up and goes to work that he is going to be the worst part of someone's day?
When people are thinking about what they are going to do in their day, facing the dentist is way low on their "exciting things" list.
I wonder if that's how God feels, kind of like my dentist? Think about how a lot of people approach going to church...
"We went last week. Do we have to go again? It might rain you know."
Or how about the way a lot of people approach reading the Bible...
"I just don't really have time for that, you know? Oh, did you see who got knocked out on American Idol last night?!"
I wonder if God feels like my dentist? I wonder if He see Himself as the last person most people want to see?
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day
Wow...whoever invented this day was seriously addicted to crack cocaine. Big fat floating men in diapers with a bow and arrow shooting people in the butt to have them fall in love! Come on!
Whiney women who want to overly sissify their men.
Husbands who grow lethargic and fat and don't pursue their women anymore because "they got her!"
I hate Valentine's Day.
But it can be a good make-up day for prior stupidity on my part of not being overly romantic...that's a bonus.
I just hate the forced feel of the day. Trying to impose romanticism by a calendar date. Wierd.
I will choose to try to be a romantic loveable little fuzzball on other days than this one.
Whiney women who want to overly sissify their men.
Husbands who grow lethargic and fat and don't pursue their women anymore because "they got her!"
I hate Valentine's Day.
But it can be a good make-up day for prior stupidity on my part of not being overly romantic...that's a bonus.
I just hate the forced feel of the day. Trying to impose romanticism by a calendar date. Wierd.
I will choose to try to be a romantic loveable little fuzzball on other days than this one.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Wake Up and Dream!
I want to dream again. I mean it. I'm tired of the way things are. I really want to be utterly dissatisfied with my church. Doesn't that sound wierd?
But I want God to put in me a holy discontent. I want a new direction. I want a new dream. (I know I kinda sound like Obama but I mean it.)
I was reading Acts 2:17 and it really makes me just want a new dream. I have been working out a lot and part of my workout routine lately, I have been running 10 laps on this indoor suspended track where we go (actually, I walk a lap and then run a lap and I do that ten times), and while I have been running I have been praying. The other day I was huffing and praying and not really paying a lot of attention to how loud I was speaking and when I noticed, there was someone below me in the gym just watching me run around talking to the ceiling (that's alright, they'll be sure to give me plenty of space when I come to workout).
While I have been praying during my workouts, I have been asking God to give me a new dream...to just fill my heart up with a restless desire for taking our church to the place he wants to take us.
I really want our church to wake up. To arise from our slumber. We have been sleepwalking. Sleepwalkers can function and even be involved in a surprising amount of activity but they are unaware of all that is really going on. That's us. Busy but asleep.
The alarms needs to ring. I want new passion, new fire, new zeal for the work that the Lord has called me to. I want our church to reach new levels we have never achieved. I'm not talking about adding more brick and mortar.
I'm talking about being serious about winning people from the clutches of hell. Being completely for real about sharing our faith courageously. We need to catch on fire...man, we need to be pumped up again!
But I want God to put in me a holy discontent. I want a new direction. I want a new dream. (I know I kinda sound like Obama but I mean it.)
I was reading Acts 2:17 and it really makes me just want a new dream. I have been working out a lot and part of my workout routine lately, I have been running 10 laps on this indoor suspended track where we go (actually, I walk a lap and then run a lap and I do that ten times), and while I have been running I have been praying. The other day I was huffing and praying and not really paying a lot of attention to how loud I was speaking and when I noticed, there was someone below me in the gym just watching me run around talking to the ceiling (that's alright, they'll be sure to give me plenty of space when I come to workout).
While I have been praying during my workouts, I have been asking God to give me a new dream...to just fill my heart up with a restless desire for taking our church to the place he wants to take us.
I really want our church to wake up. To arise from our slumber. We have been sleepwalking. Sleepwalkers can function and even be involved in a surprising amount of activity but they are unaware of all that is really going on. That's us. Busy but asleep.
The alarms needs to ring. I want new passion, new fire, new zeal for the work that the Lord has called me to. I want our church to reach new levels we have never achieved. I'm not talking about adding more brick and mortar.
I'm talking about being serious about winning people from the clutches of hell. Being completely for real about sharing our faith courageously. We need to catch on fire...man, we need to be pumped up again!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Perry Noble's view of heaven
I had to share this with you. The following is from a recent post from one of my favorite blogs...perrynoble.com . You will love this. Here it is:
I was reading through Revelation a couple of weeks ago and I had this thought, “I really think that some people might not like heaven!” Especially when I got to Revelation 7:9-12…seriously, take a second to read that passage and then come back here as I share a thought or two about it. If people apprach heaven the same way some approach church then here are my fears… :-)
#1 - For Some People Heaven Will Be “Too Big.”
We have people that say, from time to time, “I really do like your church–except that it’s too big.” My reply is always the same, “Heaven isn’t going to be a small group/house church!”
In Scripture John clearly says that “a great multitude that no one could count” were there! (I would dare say the majority of which were not American…we will be a minority in heaven!) Read that again…the reason that no one could count them wasn’t because people are illiterate there…but rather because there were SO MANY PEOPLE!
Heaven is going to be crowded…in fact, I am not sure that everyone will know everyone…BUT, everyone WILL know Jesus…isn’t that THE most important thing? (With some folks the answer is no–whether they admit it or not!)
God did not call His followers to start country clubs…we are called to be the CHURCH! If the disciples had approached church back then the way that some small minded people approach it today–we’d all burn in hell because NO ONE would have cared enough to REACH OUT…they’d all be engrossed in their Bible studies and wound licking!
Thank God for a church back in 1990 that cared enough about people far from God to reach out to me!
Uh…one more thing…I’ve been reading in the book of Genesis…and if one will carefully read chapter one it is OBVIOUS to ANYONE with a three digit IQ as to what God desires to ANYTHING He creates! What did He command the plants, animals and ultimately Adam and Eve? “Be fruitful and INCREASE in NUMBER!!!” (See Genesis 1:22 and Genesis 1:28) God desires for things HE creates to grow…and the church is NOT an exception!
#2 - The Focus Will Be On Jesus…And That’s It!
Apparently the music in heaven is going to be loud…and will not be sang out of the Baptist hymnal. (See verse 10–they cried in a LOUD voice…apparently they didn’t get the “reverence” memo!)
No one will be asked in heaven, “Did you like the music? Was the sound too loud? Were you totally comfortable?” Nope–the focus will be on Jesus Christ…NOT consumeristic ego maniacs who church hop because they think everything exists for them. :-)
Church should ultimately exist for one reason…to make the name of Jesus famous. AND…a church cannot focus on making that happen if the leadership is obsessively concerned with making sure that everyone is leaving feeling happy and satisfied.
A church has TWO main responsibilities when it comes to operating…LISTENING to Jesus and then FOLLOWING His direction! That’s it…after all, it is HIS Church! At the end of the day it is supposed to be all about Him! And if a church is doing this then I can promise people will get upset…they always have!
There are some people in the world who have a problem with a church growing and adding people because, quite frankly, it takes the focus and attention off of them. As I’ve said hundreds of times…the church isn’t supposed to be about ANYONE other than Jesus!
I was reading through Revelation a couple of weeks ago and I had this thought, “I really think that some people might not like heaven!” Especially when I got to Revelation 7:9-12…seriously, take a second to read that passage and then come back here as I share a thought or two about it. If people apprach heaven the same way some approach church then here are my fears… :-)
#1 - For Some People Heaven Will Be “Too Big.”
We have people that say, from time to time, “I really do like your church–except that it’s too big.” My reply is always the same, “Heaven isn’t going to be a small group/house church!”
In Scripture John clearly says that “a great multitude that no one could count” were there! (I would dare say the majority of which were not American…we will be a minority in heaven!) Read that again…the reason that no one could count them wasn’t because people are illiterate there…but rather because there were SO MANY PEOPLE!
Heaven is going to be crowded…in fact, I am not sure that everyone will know everyone…BUT, everyone WILL know Jesus…isn’t that THE most important thing? (With some folks the answer is no–whether they admit it or not!)
God did not call His followers to start country clubs…we are called to be the CHURCH! If the disciples had approached church back then the way that some small minded people approach it today–we’d all burn in hell because NO ONE would have cared enough to REACH OUT…they’d all be engrossed in their Bible studies and wound licking!
Thank God for a church back in 1990 that cared enough about people far from God to reach out to me!
Uh…one more thing…I’ve been reading in the book of Genesis…and if one will carefully read chapter one it is OBVIOUS to ANYONE with a three digit IQ as to what God desires to ANYTHING He creates! What did He command the plants, animals and ultimately Adam and Eve? “Be fruitful and INCREASE in NUMBER!!!” (See Genesis 1:22 and Genesis 1:28) God desires for things HE creates to grow…and the church is NOT an exception!
#2 - The Focus Will Be On Jesus…And That’s It!
Apparently the music in heaven is going to be loud…and will not be sang out of the Baptist hymnal. (See verse 10–they cried in a LOUD voice…apparently they didn’t get the “reverence” memo!)
No one will be asked in heaven, “Did you like the music? Was the sound too loud? Were you totally comfortable?” Nope–the focus will be on Jesus Christ…NOT consumeristic ego maniacs who church hop because they think everything exists for them. :-)
Church should ultimately exist for one reason…to make the name of Jesus famous. AND…a church cannot focus on making that happen if the leadership is obsessively concerned with making sure that everyone is leaving feeling happy and satisfied.
A church has TWO main responsibilities when it comes to operating…LISTENING to Jesus and then FOLLOWING His direction! That’s it…after all, it is HIS Church! At the end of the day it is supposed to be all about Him! And if a church is doing this then I can promise people will get upset…they always have!
There are some people in the world who have a problem with a church growing and adding people because, quite frankly, it takes the focus and attention off of them. As I’ve said hundreds of times…the church isn’t supposed to be about ANYONE other than Jesus!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Valuable Quote from a great source
"A real Christian is an odd number anyway.
He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen,
talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see,
expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another,
empties himself in order to be full,
admits he is wrong so he can be declared right,
goes down in order to get up,
is strongest when he is weakest,
richest when he is poorest,
and happiest when he feels worst.
He dies so he can live,
forsakes in order to have,
gives away so he can keep,
sees the invisible,
hears the inaudible,
and knows that which passes knowledge." - A. W. Tozer
He feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen,
talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see,
expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another,
empties himself in order to be full,
admits he is wrong so he can be declared right,
goes down in order to get up,
is strongest when he is weakest,
richest when he is poorest,
and happiest when he feels worst.
He dies so he can live,
forsakes in order to have,
gives away so he can keep,
sees the invisible,
hears the inaudible,
and knows that which passes knowledge." - A. W. Tozer
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Spurgeon was the man!
Okay...I know I have already posted quite a bit, but I have done a whole bunch of blog reading today and I came across this post from one blog I frequent and thought I would pass it along. It is a quote from a new book:
“Many hearers lose much blessing through criticizing too much, and meditating too little; and many more incur great sin by calumniating those who live for the good of others. True pastors have enough of care and travail without being burdened by undeserved and useless fault-finding. We have something better to do than to be for ever answering every malignant or frivolous slander which is set afloat to injure us….there are tender, loving spirits who feel the trial very keenly, and are sadly hindered in brave service by cruel assaults. The rougher and stronger among us laugh at those who ridicule us, but upon others the effect is very sorrowful…
As ministers we are very far from being perfect, but many of us are doing our best, and we are grieved that the minds of our people should be more directed to our personal imperfections than to our divine message….
Filled with the same spirit of contrariety, the men of this world still depreciate the ministers whom God sends them and profess that they would gladly listen if different preachers could be found. Nothing can please them, their cavils are dealt out with heedless universality. Cephas is too blunt, Apollos is too flowery, Paul is too argumentative, Timothy is too young, James is too severe, John is too gentle…
Well then, let each servant of God tell his message in his own way. To his own Master he shall stand or fall…
Judge the preacher if you like, but do remember that there is something better to be done than that, namely, to get all the good you can out of him, and pray his Master to put more good into him.”
- from Eccentric Preachers by C.H. Spurgeon via Mark Driscoll
“Many hearers lose much blessing through criticizing too much, and meditating too little; and many more incur great sin by calumniating those who live for the good of others. True pastors have enough of care and travail without being burdened by undeserved and useless fault-finding. We have something better to do than to be for ever answering every malignant or frivolous slander which is set afloat to injure us….there are tender, loving spirits who feel the trial very keenly, and are sadly hindered in brave service by cruel assaults. The rougher and stronger among us laugh at those who ridicule us, but upon others the effect is very sorrowful…
As ministers we are very far from being perfect, but many of us are doing our best, and we are grieved that the minds of our people should be more directed to our personal imperfections than to our divine message….
Filled with the same spirit of contrariety, the men of this world still depreciate the ministers whom God sends them and profess that they would gladly listen if different preachers could be found. Nothing can please them, their cavils are dealt out with heedless universality. Cephas is too blunt, Apollos is too flowery, Paul is too argumentative, Timothy is too young, James is too severe, John is too gentle…
Well then, let each servant of God tell his message in his own way. To his own Master he shall stand or fall…
Judge the preacher if you like, but do remember that there is something better to be done than that, namely, to get all the good you can out of him, and pray his Master to put more good into him.”
- from Eccentric Preachers by C.H. Spurgeon via Mark Driscoll
Ahh! Winter!
Man! This has certainly been a winter to remember. I keep hearing stories from folks telling me about the winters of yester-year and they sure seem reminiscent of this one. Take a look at this picture I took from my drive-way!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Take a short survey!
I have put together a real short survey on worship preferences. Help me out. Click Here to take survey
The Ten Commandments Review
My family and I watched the new DVD release of "The Ten Commandments" from Promenade Pictures. This movie was a pretty poor attempt to re-do the Biblical story of Moses and the deliverance of the people of God from Egypt. It wasn't poor in content, although the story line really tried to follow Cecil B. Demille's classic "The Ten Commandments" more than it did Scripture.
The movie was all CGI animation, but not very good CGI animation at that. Veggie Tales does a far better job. The movie felt forced in spots and we were close to turning it off at one point because it was just losing all of us. But we stuck it out and found it had a couple of redeeming spots.
The movie came nowhere near the 1998 Dreamwork's classic "The Prince of Egypt."
But it would be a good family movie night rental nonetheless. Just know that CGI animation isn't the greatest.
Super Tuesday
Okay, Super Tuesday is here (finally!) and we will be blessed with 24/7 TV coverage of every thing that voters are thinking, eating and wearing. Obama's middle name is Hussein...need I say more. Hillary is just scary. Romney is a mormon that was pro-choice about 8 months ago but now is vehemently pro-life (makes you wonder). McCain is a Republomat. Ron Paul was brought to earth by space aliens. And Mike Huckabee doesn't have a snowball's chance of winning.
At the end of the day...when it is all said and done...they're still politicians. All of them. They will all still disappoint us in some manner.
Not one of these candidates is perfect...no, not one. They all say, and promise things to get elected.
I will be glad when it is all over and we can get back to important things on TV. You know, things like watching people eat gross stuff and singing out of tune. That's what I really miss!
At the end of the day...when it is all said and done...they're still politicians. All of them. They will all still disappoint us in some manner.
Not one of these candidates is perfect...no, not one. They all say, and promise things to get elected.
I will be glad when it is all over and we can get back to important things on TV. You know, things like watching people eat gross stuff and singing out of tune. That's what I really miss!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Going to the Doctor
Okay...I've been working out at the gym now for quite a while...11 times to be exact. I have lost weight. I got an accurate scale today and it confirmed that it is indeed working. That's good, BUT, and it is a big but...I usually go grocery shopping with my wife on Monday evenings and this Monday evening I went to Wal Mart with her and while I was in Wal Mart's Pharmacy I went over to this machine they have where you can test your blood pressure.
So I sit down and put my arm in the machine (keep in mind I was wearing a sweater) and I push the button to do the test. When it was finished it said I was at Stage 2 Hypertension! I was floored.
Now there are lots of variables for me to consider...like this machine could be totally out of whack (how many people fiddle with it every day?) or I just didn't test well at that particular moment...plus, keep in mind I was wearing a sweater over my arm as I tested on this machine.
But it did have this affect, I am calling my Doctor tomorrow. Dr. Newland. She is a great doctor, but I haven't been to see her in over two years! Last time I went in to see her, I was supposed to come back for a scheduled blood test to see how my cholesterol levels were. I never showed up.
So I am a little nervous but that stupid little machine in Wal Mart scared me more. So I'll call her. I'll go see what state I am in physically.
I hate doctors though...even though mine is great. But the whole experience is a drag.
But, I don't want to end up being 38 and having a heart attack. I really do desire to be healthy. I have been making a pattern of good and healthy choices so I guess I'll just fall in line in all areas.
So I sit down and put my arm in the machine (keep in mind I was wearing a sweater) and I push the button to do the test. When it was finished it said I was at Stage 2 Hypertension! I was floored.
Now there are lots of variables for me to consider...like this machine could be totally out of whack (how many people fiddle with it every day?) or I just didn't test well at that particular moment...plus, keep in mind I was wearing a sweater over my arm as I tested on this machine.
But it did have this affect, I am calling my Doctor tomorrow. Dr. Newland. She is a great doctor, but I haven't been to see her in over two years! Last time I went in to see her, I was supposed to come back for a scheduled blood test to see how my cholesterol levels were. I never showed up.
So I am a little nervous but that stupid little machine in Wal Mart scared me more. So I'll call her. I'll go see what state I am in physically.
I hate doctors though...even though mine is great. But the whole experience is a drag.
But, I don't want to end up being 38 and having a heart attack. I really do desire to be healthy. I have been making a pattern of good and healthy choices so I guess I'll just fall in line in all areas.
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