Sunday Rewound

Today has been a great day! Over the past few weeks, life has been tough, but today is a day of freedom for me. Today I chose to live in expectation of what God has planed for me, my family, and the church he is allowing me to pastor. Being recklessly obedient is a terrifying yet very satisfying place to be, and by looking forward to what he has planned the bad days don’t compare to what He has on the other side. I have always believed that the obstacles you are facing are directly proportional to the blessing he has on the other side of them.

 

Sunday was another great day in the history of ECC…or should I say Genesischurch.tv West…here are some highlights:

·      We had new media and sound techs in place. Blake and Regeina had their first Sunday in the booth and they did a great job. They are relatively new to the church and seeing them serve God and the church is exciting for me. Great work you two!!

·      Arron and the band were down a musician, but they stepped up and God rewarded them for their sacrifice. The song “More” was heavily anointed and people were obviously being touched by God.

·      The average age of our congregation Sunday was about 30. Lots of young couples and kids. We are growing younger each week, and with young people comes lots of energy and passion. I hope I can keep up!

·      We started a new series – “Trailmix.” It is about the essentials you need for a faith journey. It is defining characteristics that prominent people in the bible had that kept them going through the tough times of faith. It is challenging but needed at this time in our history.

 

I want to encourage each of you to keep on praying for us as we follow God into uncharted territory. This is an amazing God moment that we are in and I want you to cherish this time. God is up to something big, and I am glad you are a part.

 

Choose to find the good in each day. I am…

My AC is out!

I am spoiled! I am not trying to hide it. I am a spoiled American. I am sitting in my living room burning up because my AC is out again. We are just about to go to a hotel for the night becasue Brenda is sick, my son is only a year old and let me say again…I am spoiled. I hate trying to sleep while I sweat. I know there are people that have it much worse than me, but right now the heat is miserable. I am having it fixed tomorrow but today has been long and HOT! Enough of my complaining for tonight…unless the heat gets worse!

Random Thoughts From A Rough Week

This week has been one of the longest and worst weeks of recent memory. I will not go into the details, because 1) What good what it do, and 2) I love you all and do not want to depress you. So instead I will tell you all the great things happening this week and what I have learned from them. So now another episode of random thoughts…

 

·      I hate painting. A lot. On my favorite things to do list, it comes in at 4,986, 321. This is right behind being hit in the groin with a shovel. But right before having my eyes gouged out Samson style.

·      Crawl on the floor some. It makes you appreciate walking. The other night I spent about an hour crawling around the floor playing with Gracen. It was great to hear him laugh and scream with fun. But boy did it hurt my knees!

·      I love being inside God moments. Becoming a multi-site church with Genesischurch.tv is one the most exciting things I have ever done. Cherish your God moments. Be ready to learn while you are in them.

·      Did I mention I hate painting?

·      Brenda got me a wiffle ball bat and ball set to play with Gracen. I do not care if he can’t walk yet. He will learn to swing sitting down.

·      My niece and nephew have been here this week. They make me laugh. Great kids that are growing up to be amazing people. Appreciate your family.

·      My daughters are crazy. Summer has kicked in and they are wild! Brenda is at home with them all day and I think she is ready for school to start.

·      My wife is unbelievable. She allows me to function and do whatever it takes to make this God moment a reality. Her faith still amazes me. She is sick, her dad is sick, and yet she keep on serving God recklessly. It is apparent she has now had God place in her heart a burning passion for the unchurched.

·      Osaka in Tallahassee rocks. Great meal and great service.

 

 

So why all these random thoughts this week. Because in the midst of what might seem to be a horrible week, God is there. In the middle of a week when nothing seems to work, and there is not enough time in a day, people are still attacking personally, sickness is everywhere, and loneliness fills you heart, God is there. I choose to find Him, I choose to serve Him, and in those choices I find the freedom I need to keep on going. Have a great weekend!

A Crazy Love Morning

I am reading the book “Crazy Love,” by Francis Chan. If you are mature in your faith you should read this book, but if you are just beginning your walk this is not the book to start with. If you have questions why, email me and I will explain.

The book is very good. I am only through 4 chapters of the book, and Chan has already made me truly examine who I am in Christ. He has made me examine how I show my love for God, and the fact that it pales in comparison to how much He loves me. In a way, I feel awful after I read the book, because I feel like a child who has failed their Dad. Which is exactly the opposite of what Chan is trying to do, as he wants us to realize that God loves us regardless of our shortcomings. He challenges us to truly love God in a radical way that encompasses our entire life. As I finished chapter 4, I decided that I would share some highlights from this amazing chapter. Here we go…

 

• He challenges us to not assume that we are the “good soil,” Jesus spoke of. We might be the soil that has thorns that chokes out the seed. Our thorns could be busyness, wealth, or anything that keeps us from God…no matter how good they may be. Only God is good, remember?
• He then goes into a discussion about the traits of lukewarm Christians. (Again, if you are just beginning your faith walk be very careful with this book.) The most powerful trait for me was the following: “Lukewarm people don’t really want to be saved from their sin, they want to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and they aren’t truly sorry for it; there’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe this new life Jesus offers is better than the old one.” OUCH!!!!
• Chan tells the story of considering going into the marines, but he said it didn’t because he hates to run. (Running is a lifestyle in the Marines, in case you live on another planet!) He said he never considered asking the Marine Corp to modify the rules for his liking. He knew it was part of the deal. How often do we do the same thing with Christ? He calls us to give Him everything, including the things we don’t like.
• Finally on a lighter, yet still brutally harsh note, Chan discusses Luke 14:34-35. This is the passage that Jesus talks about salt that loses its flavor is not even fit for the manure pile. Chan then asks the question, “How would you like to hear the Son of God say, “You would ruin manure!” Okay that is brutal…but I like it.

 

Okay enough for today. Let me know what you think about this and I will keep you posted as I finish the book. Wish me luck!

 

Mindmanager 7

Okay so many of you that know me know that recently I became a huge fan of MindManager 7. I downloaded the 21 day trial and after using it I started recommending it to everyone I knew. All my pastor friends and anyone else who had an ear would hear about this software I had found. After my 21 days of glorious work had ended I was stuck without it and had to use a freeware version called Freemind. Freemind is not a bad version, but it is freeware it acts like one. Mindmanager 7 has some features that are much better than the freemind version. So here’s the kicker…

I recommended it to a friend of mine, Lance Crawford. He fell in love with it as well and even blogged about it. And you know what the great people at Mindmanager did? They contacted him and gave him a complimentary version!!! Am I jealous? YES I AM! I introduced him to the promise land of mindmapping and he gets a complimentary version while I use a freeware!!!! Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy for Lance, but I am upset that I did not blog first! So the moral of the story…

 

Mindjet, hook a brother up!!!!!!!!!!

The Aftermath of a Decision

So a week has gone by since the big announcement that ECC will be merging with Genesischurch.tv to become a multi-site church. This means that we will be one church that meets in two locations. We are not amalgamating the congregations, we are actually going to be meeting in two different locations, but we will share vision, values, process, and teaching via HD video broadcast. Last week was a great moment for our church, but it has not come without its share of conflict.

After the announcement Pastor Brian Hunter and I went to Tampa Fl for the Church of God Campmeeting. During this time I was bombarded with questions and comments, some very much against what we are doing, and some with great positive feedback. Where was the dividing line you ask? What made some get it and some not? I am not real sure. It had nothing to do with age because some of the “younger guys,” think it will not work. They can’t get past the fact I won’t preach each week. At the same time some of my more “aged, wisdom filled” friends tell me it is an amazing idea that will reach more unsaved people than ever before. Age had nothing to do with it. Traditional vs. Contemporary? Not the dividing line. The main thing I believe that made some get it and others not is a characteristic that can be easily identified by the eye. I believe that the people that understand the essence of Jesus’ teaching as opposed to just the words he used are the ones that get it. The fact that I am willing to do whatever it takes to reach ALL people that are currently in not in a relationship with Him, is because I have allowed Jesus to break me from all preconceived ideas of how the Great Commission is to be fulfilled. I am broken daily.

 

So then came yesterday, and it seems that some of the people at ECC are not going to go on this journey with us. These people are wonderful, loyal, God loving people. They are to be commended for their faithfulness to this church and path they forged that has allowed us to make this venture happen. It is apparent that they are not against the idea of video venue or of Genesischurch.tv, they are against growth in a way they are unfamiliar with. It’s normal. It does not make them rebellious or bad Christians. I believe that they have a heart for this church, and want to see it prosper as long as it does not interfere with how they think it should look. I love them and will miss them.

 

So what have I learned this week?

1. Reckless obedience to Christ is not easily comprehended by those who are not used to seeing it lived out.
2. Reckless obedience to Christ will cost you something, but most of the time it is something you can live without.
3. Reckless obedience to Christ will bring personal attacks.
4. Reckless obedience to Christ will cause you to make decisions that many people will not like, or understand, and it may cost you some relationships.

 

But, even with all that…

                        …reckless obedience to Christ is the only way I want to live my life.

Monumental Day

Yesterday was a huge day for us as we announced that we will be merging with Genesischurch.tv and the two churches will become a multi-site church! Many of you are wondering what that means so here is a brief synopsis of how it plays out…

·      There will be two campuses. What is now the ECC campus will become the Genesischurch.tv West campus. Where GCTV meets now will become the GCTV Midtown campus. There will be separate places of worship, and more will be opened as this process grows.

·      The West campus will be known as a video venue. The worship band will be live, the kids experience will be live, and the teaching will be broadcast in High Definition on three screens. All facets except the teaching will be live. It will be an amazing experience.

·      I will be the West Campus pastor. As such I will be doing everything I am doing now with the exception of teaching every Sunday. There will be live teaching throughout the year and I will be teaching on those days. Also, our Wednesday nights will be revamped to allow for more live teaching and leadership development time.

·      Brian Hunter will be the Lead Pastor of Genesischurch.tv and will be the primary teaching pastor.

 

 

This is a historical event in the life of our church, in the Church of God, and the city of Tallahassee. We will truly be the first church doing what we are doing in Tallahassee and in the Church of God, at least as far as I can find out. I wish I had time to tell of all God moments that have happened to make this possible. This merge will be one that is about Kingdom advancement in the city of Tallahassee, as two churches join together not to get bigger, but to be influential. We want to influence the city of Tallahassee, and I hope you will join us in prayer and service as we go on this amazing journey of faith!

Random Day

Today is one of those rare days when I have a lot of things going without a clear deadline on any of them. They all have to get done, but none today. It makes my day very random and I do not have them very often. It makes my day feel fragmented, and my thoughts lose a stream of connection. So I have random thoughts, and I have decided to share some random thoughts with you…

 

• There is no Wednesday night gathering tonight. We are getting ready for Ryan and Jennifer’s Wedding on Saturday and there are people coming to decorate. If you want to help, contact Brenda and see what she needs. There is a lot to get done, so if you want to come help, call her up and grab a job.
• Weddings are crazy. Too often people fail to realize all that goes into a wedding. It would be much easier to just add water and BAM a wedding would happen. It takes a lot of work behind the scenes…kinda of like a marriage…
• My wife is stinkin awesome! She is a little crazy, but that is what I like about her. How do I know she is crazy? Look who she married!!!!!
• I’m still trying to figure out all the cool things this macbook pro can do. If you are a mac user, give me your greatest tip on using a mac.
• This Sunday is a huge announcement for ECC. It will change us forever. I am pulling the trigger on something that God has placed in my heart and while some will love it, others will hate it. Either way I have to live with a decision to follow God in a way that most people will not understand.
• Lost is the greatest show on T.V.
• Perry Noble is preaching a series called “Me and Jesus,” and it is really great. It is available on free podcast through itunes. Check it out. It is changing me…
• I am ready to finish my Doctorate. It is killing me and it has been on the back burner for the past 9 months since we moved, but I am now putting back on the front. I only have about 4 months worth of work to finish it and then it is over. Unless a Ph.D is coming…at least that is Brenda’s thought not mine.
• I love sashimi. Fresh, healthy, heavenly.
• I am thankful I have some of the greatest friends. Piney and Michelle, Arron and the band, Brian Hunter and all the gang at Genesischurch.tv (Scott, Jared and Lisa, Phil, Lance, Dana, Jeremy, Mike, Scott T.) My church family is great and I am glad God placed them in my life.
• I am glad to have great mentors. Thanks Dr. Kuschel, Rocky, Brian…

 

Okay, I have to get to work now.

 

Grace to you…

The Next Stop In My Quest

Many of you know that I eat very healthy, that is except for Friday nights. I told you that we started a quest to find some great places to eat in Tally, and so I take Friday night off from my normal intake of veggies, protein, and fruits. This past Friday night we went to Momo’s Pizza on Wst Tennessee. When we first walked in, it was chaotic! We did not know where to sit or where to order. We figured it out pretty quickly as it is not a big place. Your typical college town pizza joint. That is until we got the pizza. WOW! It was great. We ordered a large pizza which was the biggest thing I had ever seen. I am glad we did not get an x-large. The pizza dough was fresh, the cheese was fresh, and it all tasted amazing. I am a pretty big eater when I am not eating healthy, but after two slices I was stuffed. My kids loved it and it was just a cool environment. Other that the cussing people sitting next to us the night was great. We will definitely be eating there again.

            Thanks for your suggestions, and now I am ready for some more. What is the best bbq in town? Remember the rules of this quest…if you have forgot check out my other post about the quest.

Sunday Rewound

I know that I missed writing last week (as so many of you have informed me) but it was with good reason. Last week was crazy. I will not go into all the details because I know that everyone thinks there life is the busiest, and I know mine will never compare with some of you (at least in your mind.) Do not get me wrong, I love my life! I have an amazing, HOT wife, three wonderful kids, and an unbelievable church family. And what makes a crazy week worth it is when it all comes together in a God ordained moment like this past Sunday. Here’s your weekly wrap-up…

            * This was the first Sunday with Brenda in charge of EncounterKIDS. She did a tremendous job. Nila, who has been directing since August, has become our nursery director, and this is something God has placed in her heart. She is amazing with babies, and it is great to watch her work in her calling. She did a good job of stabilizing EncounterKIDS and now we are seeing it take off.

            * Brenda and her team redesigned the layout and method of children’s church. It was very colorful and high energy. From the moment you walked in you saw games, inflatables, a media driven feel, and lots of kids. She had 15 kids on her first day! The kids seemed to love the changes and I am very excited about this new leadership role for her.

            * Back in the Sanctuary, we started slow with a lot of people getting there late, but by the time Arron and the guys were in their second song, it had filled up nicely. The music as usual was great. It is so easy to come and teach after an intense time of worship.

            * We started a new series called “One Prayer.” It is actually the brain Child of Craig Groeschel of Lifechurch.tv, and it centers on unifying the body of Christ. For the next four weeks churches will be hearing the same messages and themes based on what all the pastor believe God is speaking to the church at large. I preached this week, and for the next four weeks there will be a video broadcast from people across the country.

            * Next week we will be honored to have a message from Pastor Brian Hunter of Genesischurch.tv. I am excited as we get to hear from this passionate speaker.

            * We had the opportunity to celebrate communion at the close of my teaching as a way to solidify the commitment we are making to advance not just our church, but the Kingdom. Communion is emotional for me because I am always humbled by what it means.

 

Next week is the week many of us have been waiting for as I unveil the next phase of our ministry plan. It will be the most exciting thing this church has ever seen, and I am once again amazed at how God always has a plan! This will be something you do not want to miss!!!