The Big D

Discipleship. A big word full of various preconceived connotations and stereotypes. But what does it really mean? What does a disciple look like? Who is a true disciple? Maybe even a harder question to answer is how do we grow disciples?

Today as a pastoral team we had a great all day staff gathering wrestling through those questions and more. If Jesus' command was for us to go into all the world to make disciples then we want to do that with urgency and effectiveness. We want to do whatever it takes and whatever we can to help people move forward on their spiritual journey.

But discipleship isn't a program. There is no 'one size fits all.' There isn't a class, coarse, or study you can take to become a disciple. Discipleship is a relational journey we go on with the Lord and others. It is through intentional relationships that we become all God wants us to be.

Relationships + Intentionality = Discipleship

So let me ask, like I typically like to do, are you growing as a disciple? And maybe even a harder question, who are you discipling? Are you intentionally building relationships with people to help lead them forward on their spiritual journey?

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."  (2 Timothy 2:2)

Your Place

After a long weekend that included a great Marriage Conference and preaching "The Words of a Happy Marriage," I was drained! It's Sunday night and I needed some time to refresh and recoup and I didn't want to just take a nap. So I decided to grab my lacrosse stick and head to the local school to play catch with a brick wall.

There are two places that always refresh me. Two places where I can connect with the Lord. Two places where I can get recharged. 

1. Tossing a lacrosse ball around
2. Hiking around the woods

For whatever reason the Lord has graced me with his presence in these two environments. They are the places where I can find encouragement, peace, perspective, and rest. They are "My Places."

I am sure your places aren't at the brick wall nor in the woods. But doesn't that make God amazing? It's incredible to me that God has created us all so uniquely. That he designed us to connect with him in such different ways and in such different environments.

So...where can you connect with the Lord? Where do you find rest and encouragement? When was the last time you went to "your place?"

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  (Psalm 91:1)

What Have You Been Saying?

Words.

Small little things that come out of our little (some times huge) mouths.

And yet what impact they can have.

Words can build up or tear down. They can give life or death. They can make you laugh or make you cry. They can heal or divide. Words have tremendous power - more than I think we will ever realize!

James compares our tongue to the rudder of the ship. Even though it is small it has the ability to make the ship go where it pleases. In the midst of a storm, a squall, a shower, or a sunny day a properly controlled rudder can make a ship go anywhere it pleases. The rudder determines the direction and trajectory of the entire journey. A properly controlled tongue has that same kind of power over the direction of our life.

Words create your future. They shape your destiny. They have the power to give life or death. Your words can literally control the course of your life. The Bible has much to say about the words you use. So let me ask you, what have you been saying? What kind of words have been coming out of your mouth lately?

Join me this weekend as we continue the Happy Marriage series. Part 2 is The Words of a Happy Marriage.

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness."  (James 3:9)

Discovered or Devoted?

What's your motive?

That is a profound question that we should constantly be asking ourselves in every situation of our lives. Why do we do what we do? Do we do it for ourselves, for others, for the kingdom, or for what? But regularly questioning our motives isn't an easy thing, is it? Often our motives are buried deep within our heart and don't reveal themselves at first glance.

But why do you do what you do? Why do you serve your community, church, marketplace, family? Why do you invest your resources, especially your time, where you do? Why do you sacrifice the things you do? Why do you serve your spouse? For peace at home, to be thanked and appreciated, or because you want to live a life of love? What is your motive?

I once heard someone say "Are you trying to be discovered or devoted?" That question has resonated with my soul for some time. Am I more concerned with being discovered than I am with being devoted to HIM? Is being rewarded, encouraged, affirmed, celebrated, sought out, appreciated, championed more important than simple obedience to Father?

I want to be devoted and yet at times I find my heart subtly sneaking from the devoted camp to the discovered camp. I mean who doesn't enjoy the feeling of being discovered - of being celebrated by those around you for the things you do? And yet being devoted has eternal significance while being discovered is, well, oh so temporary. The paradox of the kingdom is this, when we pursue being devoted - when that is our "One Thing" - God will bring about the discovery in his timing!

So how about you - are your motives to be discovered or devoted? Are you trying to win the approval of God or men?

"If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward."  (1 Corinthians 3:12-14)

It's Not Too late!

Miss California loses the Miss America pageant because she opposes same-sex marriage. A 22 year old woman sells her virginity to the highest on-line bidder to pay for grad school (the winner paid $3.7 million). More than 50% of Christian marriages end in divorce. Satan is attacking the family, marriage, and sexuality with an all out assault!

But don't lose hope - it is not too late to reclaim God's design for marriage in our country! God's heart is to see marriages restored, brokenness healed, and healthy sexuality (God's design) embraced. And He is authoring Only God Stories everywhere you look.

This weekend we are blessed to have Real Life Ministries lead us to advance our marriages. It's also not too late for you to sign up or to sign up a friend! For more details or to register click here. Come and see God author an Only God Story in your marriage.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."  (Genesis 1:27)

What If?

• What would happen if we lived like the Acts 2 church?
  
• What would happen if we believed more in others than they believed in themselves?
• What would happen if we gave people a chance? And then a second chance?
• What would happen if we took God inspired risks?
• What would happen if we dreamed impossible dreams?
• What would happen if we lived by faith?
• What would happen if we believed and obeyed God?
• What would happen if we encouraged one another instead of speaking words of death?
• What would happen if we placed our emphasis on the supernatural instead of the natural?
• What would happen if we fixed our eyes on the unseen instead of the seen?
• What would happen if we forgave those who have hurt us?
• What would happen if we let go of bitterness, envy, and strife?
• What would happen if we lived with generosity?
• What would happen if we gave it all up to follow him?
• What would happen if...(you fill in the blank)?

Just some thoughts floating around in my head today. What would happen if we...

"Therefore, I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer believe that you have received it and it will be yours."  (Mark 11:24)

And

The journey with Christ certainly isn't an easy one is it? Often, I hear people trivialize and marginalize this spiritual journey we are on. But don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. To follow Jesus takes everything we have. He calls us to some hard truths...

• Leave it all and follow me
• Become childlike
• Eat my body and drink my blood
• Carry your cross
• Love your enemy
• Serve others at all costs

Everywhere Jesus went he shrunk the crowd because he asked for it all. Often, as we wrestle with what God asks us to do we weigh the costs of our obedience don't we? Is what I am about to give up, to sacrifice, to forfeit worth it? What gain or blessing will come my way if I do this? Our human nature wants to know what is in it for us.

We aren't the first to ask that question. In Matthew 19:27, Peter asks Jesus flat out "We have left it all to follow you what then will there be for us?" Jesus responds with a life-giving and gracious response...

"I tell you the truth...everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much AND will inherit eternal life." Not only will Jesus give us back a hundred times as much as we have given up here and now he will also give us eternal life. When we follow him we receive his blessings both now AND in the life to come.

What Jesus gives back may not always look like what you envision. If you give up your lucrative career for obedience you won't necessarily get back 100x's your salary (wouldn't that be nice). But he may grant you the peace you have been looking for. If you move away from your family to follow his leading it doesn't mean he will pay for them to move with you. But he may give you a new spiritual family. 

So, what is God asking you to do right now? What sacrifice is he asking you to make? What steps of obedience are you weighing the costs of? Remember his words to Peter - He will give you 100x's as much here AND eternal life! What blessings are you missing out on because you aren't willing to say YES?

So I am a follower!

Ok well I finished my last post and was bored and curious so I decided to give it a try. It only took a few seconds to get started and now I am a follower. So if you are interested in the Twitter revolution join me on this journey - you can follow me here (see doesn't that seem self-promoting - it feels self-promoting to even write it). My tweats are also linked to the right hand side of this blog.

As I thought about Twitter more last night I guess the real question I have about it is can you carry someone's mat through Twitter? More to come on this over the coming week(s).

"Great crowds came to him, bring him the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them."  (Matthew 15:30)

Twitter Wars

So Ashton Kutcher beat out CNN to become the Twitter champion. What is Twitter? It is a social media opportunity for you to instantly connect with others. Once you subscribe you begin to build followers and have the option to choose to follow other people. You communicate through "tweats" and each "tweat" has to be 140 characters or less. Think of it as a condensed FaceBook.

Hmmm...as a community guy I have been wrestling with the concept of Twitter for some time. Let's just say it how it is...Twitter is self-promoting. The competition to build up hundreds if not thousands of followers to follow you is a bit narcissistic. The thought that people are constantly interested in what you are doing is a bit, well interesting, isn't it? Like who really cares what I am doing during the day? To be honest I don't really care what you are doing let alone what I am doing at random times during the day. It makes me laugh!

But on the other hand Twitter is being called one of the greatest community builders of our generation. Its ability to instantly connect thousands of people is quite phenomenal. But is on-line community really community? Can authentic community really be built without face to face interaction. Am I really connected with someone because we exchange tweats? Has technology hindered or advanced the cause community?

I don't know. I am undecided. What I do know is that our world is constantly evolving. I had the same negative thoughts about blogging a few years back. Now I wish I would have been an early adaptor instead of a late adaptor because the world of blogging has been used for some great things. Is Twitter the same?

The only difference between a crowd and a community is authentic connection. Can Twitter create that kind of connection?

So...Should I embark on the journey of tweating? Are you Twittering? I would love to hear your thoughts.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Highway to Where?

NewSpring Church, a multi-site church in the Carolina's, kicked off their Easter services with AC/DC's song "Highway to Hell" (watch it here). I smile as I picture the faces of many "church going" folk as that first cord rang out Sunday morning. I smile as I picture your face reading this! 

"How dare they?" "This is the house of God?" "Why would they play something 'of the world' in our 'shelter from the world'?" The religious are easily offended aren't they? Maybe better stated...WE are easily offended aren't we?

While that method of ministry wouldn't work in every church (nor should it be tried in every church) - it certainly does at NewSpring. They know their target audience and church culture. The song was simply a reminder and a connection point. It reminded the attenders that we are all on the "highway to hell" until we encounter the cross.

If this ministry method is still bothering you - think about it for a moment. The "church" isn't for us - but rather we are the church. Any time you don't like something or any time something bothers you in a worship service, remember that it reached someone else. Not everyone likes the same things you do. Not everyone prefers the music, sermons, videos, etc. that you prefer. So celebrate that the thing you don't like connected to the heart of someone else! The church isn't for us but rather we are the church.

Our job is to make disciples. To seek and save the lost. To be on mission with Jesus. And sometimes that means we use methods that will attract and engage those who have yet to meet Christ - those who may be different than us. I bet there were a lot of first time guests who will come back to NewSpring this coming weekend because the church engaged them where they were at on their spiritual journey. Because the church related to them. Because the church seemed relevant to their lives. Because they connected with NewSpring!

Praise God that Jesus came to this earth, humbled himself, and endured the cross for the joy set before Him! He rescued us from the highway to hell!

"You can enter God's kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."  (Matthew 7:13-14)

Deliberate Simplicity

Just started a new book called Deliberate Simplicity. Haven't formed my opinion about the book yet but, I typically like anything that talks about making life and ministry simpler! I really appreciated something the author says in his introduction.

There are only four different things you can do to deliberately improve the quality of your life...

1.  You can do more of certain things.

2.  You can do less of certain things.

3.  You can start doing things you aren't doing today.

4.  You can stop doing things you are doing today.

So what deliberate simplicity do you need to embrace? What choices do you need to make? What is God asking you to do today to follow after Him?

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple."  (Psalm 19:7)

The Right Question

After a great celebration day yesterday I let myself sleep in a bit later than normal this morning. I woke up to the sound of matchbox cars crashing around in the kitchen. As I sat and listened to my son play (he just learned how to get out of his toddler bed by himself this week) I smiled as I heard him start calling "dadda, dadda, where r u?" After a few min of searching around the entire house and looking in every room he wandered into our bedroom and found me quietly in bed. The moment he saw me, a huge smile came across his face - he was ecstatic to find me and screamed "dadda's home!"

There is a Psalm that says, "My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek." Whether you realize it or not, the Bible tells us that this is the constant cry of our heart - To seek His face!

I want to search for Father the way Trey searched for me this morning - At all costs, embracing sacrifice, with passion and anticipation. I want to fulfill the cry of my heart and seek His face. I want to be full of awe and wonder when I find Him - even if He is waiting for me in the last place I look. 

God doesn't hide from you and I. In fact, it is just the opposite - he is constantly revealing himself to us in everything we do. And yet, we often get frustrated don't we? We tend to believe that God doesn't want us to ever really find him. But that is contrary to His nature. It is contrary to who He is. God wants us to discover Him. He wants to be found. 

Maybe the right question isn't "Why is God hiding from me?" but rather, "Am I seeking His face?"

"He also set eternity in the hearts of men."  (Ecc 3:11)

It's Not About Me

Marriage. It is the second most important relationship that most of us will ever have. And yet how often do we really invest into it? How often do we take extended time to grow this relationship? The book stores, air waves, church services are all filled with marriage advice/tips and yet few of us ever really take the time and effort to maximize this God ordained relationship.

So on April 24-25 join us for VCC's Marriage Conference. Maybe better said, a Marriage Advance! This isn't a wimpy retreat - it is an advance where you can advance your intimacy and relationship with your spouse. Whether you are dating or engaged, newly married or have 50 years of marriage under your belt, in a great place or about to call it quits this Marriage Conference is for you. Tim and Anne Evans of Real Life Ministries will be here leading us through what a Real Life Marriage is all about! Their tag line is "marriage is not about me!" Ladies that alone should get you to drag your husbands in - Men step up and be a leader and show your wife that your marriage isn't about you!

Let me ask you this question and if you can answer it you can have a pastor's free pass to skip...

What is God's purpose for marriage? 

Anyone? Anyone? Well, sorry, I guess you need to be there with us! 

Celebration Day

What an awesome weekend! Services were packed, volunteers served with open hearts and hands, guests were welcomed, and God was worshipped. This weekend we experience "church!"

A weekend like this doesn't come together easily - it takes hours of work and preparation - it takes hundreds of volunteers - it takes focused energy and effort - it takes a willingness and availability to be used by God. To all of you who helped this weekend - thank you - we did it together.

I am proud to be a part of team that gets it! A team that gets that it isn't about us but about the Kingdom and reaching our city. So to celebrate what God did in us, among us, and through us we shut down our campus today to give our team a much needed rest!

What did you experience this weekend? What are you celebrating today?

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, The Lord Reigns."  (1 Chronicles 16:31)

The Amazing Savior

Join us this weekend Saturday at 5:30pm or Sunday at 8:00/9:30/11:00am for our Easter services - The Amazing Savior. It is still not too late to invite a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, an unchurched person to come with you. Easter is a time when the people are receptive to spiritual things. And remember everyone wants to be invited to something.

If you are a VCC regular please make room for the our city by attending Saturday at 5:30pm or Sunday at 8:00am. If you want to come at 9:30 or 11:00am please choose to sit in the overflow and serve our city by giving up your seat in the worship center! See you this weekend.

More on Faith

Last weekend I stood in the back of the worship center watching the church engage with the Lord. There was one couple that in particular stood out to me. They were worshipping! They were holding hands, raising their hands, singing loudly - their hearts were truly bowed before Father. When the music finished I looked for an end seat to quietly slip into.  The only chair I could find was right next to this couple who had caught my attention moments earlier. When I sat down I looked over at them and I was shocked to realize that it was a man from one of my small groups and his wife.

What was so amazing about that moment is that about 4 months prior, this man confessed to our group that he and his wife were about to divorce - that their marriage was over. And here just a few months later, they are worshipping together in an intimate moment with each other and the Lord.

As I thought about it later I wondered why was I so surprised? Shouldn't I have expected to see them together once again? Didn't I have faith that God can save marriages? Didn't I have faith that people's lives change when they join small groups? Didn't I have faith that God is bigger than any of our problems? Didn't I have faith that God would answer our group's prayers and restore our friends marriage? 

I want to live every day and every encounter with the kind of faith that God operates through. With the kind of faith that saves marriages, sees people receive healing, stimulates miraculous provision - the kind of faith that sees the Kingdom of God advance here in the earth.

How about you? Do you go to your small group gatherings believing that God wants to use you to encourage someone? Do you go to church knowing that God has someone for you to minister to? Do you pray for your family and others trusting that God will answer you? Do live every day and every encounter with faith that God will...(You fill in the blank)?

"For without faith it is impossible to please God!"  (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith or Fraud

There is a short story in the Bible that talks about a man whose son is demon possessed. In his desperation the dad takes his son to this new group of men who have the town all stirred up. These men - the disciples - do the ministry thing. They pray for the boy, they lay hands on him, they encourage him - they simply minister to him they way that ministers are suppose to. You can picture what I mean, right?

But the boy is not healed! They were a group of frauds!

Frustrated with this group of professional ministers, the dad takes the boy to their leader - Jesus. "I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him," says the broken man. And with a simple word and a touch, Jesus healed the boy.

Confused the disciples ask Jesus why they were unable to heal the boy. He replied, "Because you have so little faith."

Because you have so little faith. That story arrested me this morning. Here we have the disciples - the group with Jesus - the group who should have it all together - the group of professional ministers and yet they can't heal this boy. They do everything they normally do when the sick and broken come around. They pray, they encourage, they touch - they go through the motions. And yet they do it all without faith! I was struck today thinking about all the times we (I) do ministry in our (my)own strength, giftings, and talents - without faith. In those moments we (I) are like the disciples - frauds!

I don't know about you but I want to live and minister with faith.  More than faith to get to heaven but a faith that changes the world around me. I want to believe in the character of God, believe that God will do the things he says he will, and believe that the Kingdom of God is at hand. So today, I decided that the spiritual gift I want more than any other is the gift of faith! I wrote it in my journal, wrote it in my Bible, asked the Lord for it, and even asked my team to pray that the Lord would give me the gift of faith. 

I want my life to be characterized by faith. How about you?

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."  (Matthew 17:20-21)

I'm Back!

Ok I don't know what happened but I fell off the blog wagon. This being trendy & postmodern is harder for me than I thought it was going to be. I already broke blog commitment #7  two weeks in a row but I am determined to crest this hump and become a good blogger. To be honest I haven't fully liked my blog layout and look. I know its weird but it has subconsciously impacted my blogging excitement. The good news is that we are updating it this week so stay tuned for a new round of blogging. Hope you haven't given up on me yet!

If this sounds like I am making excuses for my lack of blogging...well it is! Thanks for your grace.

"He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding."  (Proverbs 15:32)