Fully

On the back of every one of his business cards, one of the greatest mentors of my life had these words printed. This simple truth of God's love was an amazing open door for conversation with the world around him. You may not be interested in religion but how could you not be interested in this? Not only were these few words intriguing to the people who read them, but maybe even more intriguing was the way my mentor believed them. These few words have changed much in me - may they change much in you as you reflect on them today! The simple truth that you are...

Fully Known

Fully Loved

with

No Fear of Rejection

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angles nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)

The Great Monster

Pride.

It is the great monster that haunts us all. It hides in the caverns of our hearts coming out in the most unplanned, undesired, unexpected and inopportune ways. It is an ugliness living within us all that wrecks relationships, steals purity, and burns the bridges to our future. Wisely, it usually doesn't expose itself like the rock-star status - it's more subtle than that.

It's the person who refuses help from a friend because they think they can handle it on their own. It's the continual criticism (yes, even the criticism you think is justified) of people, places, and experiences you encounter. It's the quiet view of superiority that develops when you compare yourself to someone else and think you measure up better. It's anytime you, instead of God, are sitting on the throne of your heart.

There is only one way to eradicate the great monster of the deep - humility. With pride, we have one of two options - 1. Humble Ourselves 2. Let God humble us. Either way it's going to happen so you may as well choose to humble yourself. "God opposes the proud." God himself, not the Devil, opposes you and I when we are prideful - wrap your mind around that one. But, "He gives grace to the humble." The paradox is that when we humble ourselves he exalts us.

Humbling yourself isn't a lot of fun but, it is a whole lot better than being humbled! I would much rather humble myself like David than be humbled like Nebuchadnezzar (I'm not really interested in living like an animal for 7 years, are you?). Is there anywhere in your life where you need to kill the great monster? Let God give you the grace!

"God opposes the proud but he gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

The Same

This weekend, I had the privilege of talking to a Christian professional hunter/minister from Zimbabwe. You don't get to meet a guy like that every day. In one simple conversation, I heard stories of God's provision for his family and what hunting a giant elephant bull is like - gotta find a way to hang with this guy on his turf!

What struck me about my time with him was the reiteration that the Kingdom of God is not contained by any manmade boundaries, borders, or distinctions. The same God who rules Zimbabwe rules over Dallas. The same characteristics and attributes of God are "alive" in both my new friend's village and in Lewisville, TX. The same King and Kingdom are as relevant to the "bush" of Africa as they are to the concrete jungle of the metroplex.

The King and His Kingdom cannot be contained (Matt 13:31-32). The King and His Kingdom are advancing (Matt 11:12). The King and His Kingdom wants everyone to joyfully submit to His leadership (Matt 4:17). The King and His Kingdom belongs to those with childlike faith (Matt 18:3-4). The King and his Kingdom rule over every authority, power broker, ruler, judge - over everything that has been created in both heaven an on earth (Col 1:16).

What is the Kingdom of God? It is simply the rule and reign of God. It is where God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

The Kingdom stretches the entire universe, it is not contained within any boundaries. And yet, in the same way, Zimbabweans and Texans can reject it or embrace it in their heart - that is the mystery of the Kingdom of God. The King will never force anyone, in any village/city, in any nation to submit to his authority. He extends an invitation to all to come live within his reign and patiently waits to see who will accept his offer. Let me ask you, how big is the King and His Kingdom to you today?

"From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.'" (Matthew 4:17)

Connect Weekend

Valley Creek it's Connect Weekend! Our whole design and purpose for this weekend is to help you get connected to some new friends. We strive to create environments and experiences where you can encounter God through relationships - and that is what this weekend is all about!

Here are three thoughts about finding community in your life...

1. Admit that you need it. We were created for community - God designed us to need other people in our lives. You weren't meant to go it alone but before you can find friends to help you move forward on your spiritual journey, you have to admit to yourself that you need it. No one pursues something they don't think they need.
2. Make an effort. At the end of the day, finding community falls on you. We can create environments and experiences where you can meet new people but you have to be willing to make an effort. You have to go out of your way to engage with people. You have to take a risk. You have to push past old painful relational experiences. You have to be willing to "put yourself out there." No one can force you into relationships. To gain new friends you have to be willing to be a friend first.
3. Ask God for it. Since He designed you for community he will provide healthy relationships in your life. God already has mentors, friends, spiritual parents, small groups, great God-centered relationships prepared for you. You just have to ask him for it.

The best friends you will ever have are the people you have yet to meet. Don't miss your chance to take a step forward on your spiritual and relational journey this weekend @ VCC. Come early, stay late, and talk to some new people just like you!

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common." (Acts 2:42-44)

It's Not About The Leader

In the days since our ER visit, we have been telling people how great of an experience we had at the Children's Hospital in Plano. A scary situation became one of the best hospital experiences either of us have ever had. But here is the interesting thing - I have no idea who the CEO of the hospital is. I don't know who the daily supervisors are. I don't know who makes decisions and leads the day to day operations. To be honest, I don't even really care who they are. All I know, is that our two nurses, Fran and Laura, gave us one of the best health encounters we have ever had. It wasn't the so-called "leaders" who impacted us but rather the people who carry out the purpose and mission on a daily basis.

Wherever you are in your organization flow, you are the most important person to the people you encounter!

When you call a customer service number you don't care how wise the owner of that company is, you care about how helpful the person you're talking to is. When you go to your favorite restaurant you don't care who runs it, you care about how friendly your waiter/waitress is. When you go to a new church it doesn't really matter how much charisma the pastor has, what matters is how welcoming the people are. Each of us has a place in a variety of organizations and at any point in time, you are the most important person someone will encounter.

The way you engage, respond, and interact with these individuals will forever shape their view of your organization. Even the best leaders, cannot overcome the perception that their organizational members give to consumers. So how are you engaging the people in your organization - whether it's the organization of your workplace, family, church, social gathering, community, etc.? You may feel like your task or place in the organization flow is meager or meaningless but to someone today, you will be the most important person they encounter and you will forever shape their perception and experience.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Emma, the ER, and Encouragement

Yesterday, I got a call from Colleen that they were rushing Emma into the ER because she had stopped breathing with a respiratory virus. WOW - fun call to receive when you are at a funeral an hour away! After a long day and night we are now back home and Emma seems to be doing much better. As I sit here this morning there are about 20 different directions, lessons, thoughts, I could blog about from this experience - but here's my big idea from yesterday...

You be the difference!

As we were being discharged, I grabbed both our ER nurses and told them how much I appreciated them. That they did an incredible job of loving my daughter and wife through a scary situation. That they were full of joy, passion, and compassion in a difficult environment. That they made an anxious life moment a positive experience. As I sat there encouraging and celebrating them, their response was very interesting to me. Both of these ladies were visibly uncomfortable receiving our affirmation. It was almost as if this was the first time they had been thanked and appreciated. But by the end of the conversation you could see how our few meager words had breathed life into these two ladies and all it cost us was some intentionality.

You and I both know that our world is encouragement deprived. Most of us live our lives craving affirmation, encouragement, and appreciation because it is so few and far between. We wonder, "Am I good enough? Do I do a good job? How do I measure up? Am I making a difference?" We wait and hope that someone somewhere will speak some life into us. But unfortunately, the words we usually hear are words of death, despair, and discouragement. And when we do get encouraged, when those sweet moments arise, we honestly don't know how to receive them because they are such a rare commodity. So here's the thought...You be the difference. You be the encourager. You speak words of life. You go out of your way to thank, celebrate, and appreciate the people you encounter.

Too often, we think or say "Someone else will do it." No, someone else probably won't do it. So, if God prompts your heart to encourage someone, it's because he wants you to do it. The next time you feel an impression to encourage, spend a little effort and be the difference. You never know what kind of life will be released in that person's life!

"The tongue has the power of life and death." (Proverbs 18:21)

Yes, I Wore a Pink Bedazzled Shirt!

That's right - and here is the unfortunate proof. Dainyell Wilson, happened to snap this "lovely" photo of me at Soul Sisters last week. Not sure how I ended up wearing it though?

You see, all fall Pastor Laurie and I had a friendly little bet going on. The deal was, whoever got more people to come regularly to Merge (for me) or Soul Sisters (for her) would be the winner. If I lost, I agreed to wear a pink bedazzled shirt and talk at SS. If Laurie lost, she was going to wear camo and talk at Merge. Well...I won. Merge had more attendance than SS and yet somehow I still ended up talking at SS in this shirt. And not only was it pink but it was bedazzled.

So I guess I lost even though I really won. Hate it when that happens - Laurie you're a tricky one. Anyways, just had to clear the air in case you happen to see a pic floating around of me in that shirt.

Guys come on out to Merge tomorrow at 6:30 and ladies check out the Sisters at 9:00. If nothing else - we have a lot of fun!

Now just to regain my masculinity here is a picture of me with a dead animal. Ahhhhhhh much better!

Colleen's New Blog

Ok, so if you want to read a really good blog, by an actual really good author, then check out my wife's new blog. She is a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and an incredible follower of Jesus. She has a gift for seeing God in the midst of daily life and will bring encouragement, challenge, and life to the posts she writes.

Check it out...A Life in Process or www.colleenstickl.com

This is cool for the first time in our lives I beat her to using a new technological advance =)

Passionate Ownership

Communication intrigues me.

I love listening to teachers, speakers, preachers, and orators of all arenas of life. Maybe even more so, I love watching their listeners. I love trying to figure out why some communicators have the ability to keep the audience hooked and engaged while others, lose their listeners before they even begin.

I believe that effective communication often boils down to passionate ownership. When a communicator passionately owns their message, when they have allowed it to churn over and over again in their heart, mind, soul, they typically breathe life into their hearers. There is something about passionate ownership of a message that makes it almost irresistible to an audience. It's this facet of communication that creates the bridge of genuineness, authenticity, and relevancy from the communicator to the hearer. Why would anyone want to listen to a communicator who didn't authentically believe in what they were saying? This passionate ownership is what often separates good communicators from great ones. It's what "wins" the ears and more importantly the heart of the listener.

Martin Luther King Jr. was such a communicator. His passionate ownership of equality hooked and compelled his listeners. It has been said that even those who believed in segregation still were drawn to Jr's messages because the message truly lived inside of him. Today we honor a man who communicated God's truth with a passionate ownership!

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)

Your Vision

Here is a great question for you, what is your vision for your marriage? What are you hoping your marriage will achieve, accomplish, become? What do you want your journey with your spouse to be like? What do you want your marriage relationship to look like one year, five years, twenty years from now?

What's your vision for your marriage?

If you are like most of us, you probably don't really have one. Typically, we are really good at having visions for our companies, teams, churches, organizations but somehow we rarely get around to having visions for the most important aspects of our lives.

Instead of pursuing life we often just kind of let life happen to us.

When Colleen and I got married we did the "trendy do your own vows" thing. And I am so grateful that God gave us a vision that day for our marriage. Our wedding vow, our vision, was that we promised to...abide in Christ, in order to live an abundant life, which positively impacts the kingdom of God together. I realize that may sound a bit "churchy" but it is the heart of our vision for our marriage and, it keeps us constrained to move forward toward that goal. We say yes to the things that help us accomplish that vision and no to the things that pull us away from it.

If you are looking for a great resource this year to grow in your marriage, to find a vision for your marriage, I want to encourage you to check out Real Life Ministries. Tim and Anne Evans (yes, they are my in-laws and I am not doing this for brownie points) have one of the best marriage books and marriage group discussion guides out there. If your looking for an investment into your marriage, let this tool help you uncover God's design - his vision - for your marriage!

Bonus - Guys, this book isn't written in that same ole' wimpy marriage way. This book isn't just for your wife - it is written in a real life way that resonates with real men like you!

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become on flesh." (Genesis 2:24)

Growing & Increasing

Hey Valley Creek here is my prayer for us this year - 2010. May this verse become true of our lives and our community! Join me in praying this verse for your own journey and our church.

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing." (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

Tiger, Jesus, and Fox News

"And they took offense at him." (Matthew 13:57)

Jesus says hard things. And his words demand a response from our lives. Do you receive and respond to what he has to say, or take offense?

This clip is worth watching especially the last 30 seconds.

Leave Well

I had breakfast yesterday with a good friend of mine who is transitioning from being on staff at one church to another. As we sat and processed his journey I was reminded how important it is to leave well! Over the years, I have seen people like my friend leave extremely well, while at the same time seen others leave poorly. Here are some thoughts about transitioning from one church to another in a life-giving way whether you are staff, a leader, a member, or involved in some capacity...

• Leave well - you know what that means.
• Don't run from something - run to something. Don't run away from a conflict, issue, problem you have instead, run to the next assignment, season, calling that God has for you.
• Personally tell the pastor(s), leaders, volunteers, group members you have relationship with that you are transitioning. Don't just disappear. People love you - give them a chance to say good bye and pray for you. Don't get into details and specifics - just be positive and personable.
• Thank your pastor for the past season and share how you have grown on your spiritual journey while being a part of that church.
• Thank God for the friendships, relationships, and spiritual life he has given you during your time there.
• Don't gossip or slander in the church you are leaving or the church you are heading to. Every piece of trash you throw someone else will have to clean up. No one wants your garbage thrown up all over them anyways (yes I know it's harsh but it's true - the kingdom is too urgent and too important to be highjacked by criticisms and irritations you may have about a particular church).
• Don't carry offenses with you. Process your heart with the Lord and extend forgiveness. Every offense you carry with you will follow you into your next season/church and will hinder you from becoming all God wants you to be. Leave with freedom not bondage.
• Walk away with grace and relationships intact. Make a family commitment to only speak life about the church you are leaving. If you really have a heart to see His kingdom come and his will be done then how are you helping accomplish that by slandering Jesus' bride?
• Leave well - you know what that means!

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only for what is helpful for building others up." (Ephesians 4:29)

Awkward Weekends

What have your church experiences been like? Are you helping create a nonawkward, nonthreatening, friendly environment in your church?

Merge and the Sistas

Tomorrow morning Merge and Soul Sisters kick off. This is a call out to men and women to come join us. Each week there are around 100 men at Merge and 100 women at Soul Sisters. Together we engage the Scriptures allowing the Scriptures to work on us.

If you are looking for a new group, new friends, a place to connect, a place to experience and encounter God through relationships you won't want to miss this. No registration required just come on out!

Merge - 6:30-7:30am in the Flood Room

Soul Sisters - 9:00-11:00am in the Flood Room

By the way, last semester we had a friendly competition to see which group was more spiritual and could gather more people. Sorry Sistas but the Men were victorious! Let's see if they can repeat.

What do they say?

Do people know/remember you for your skill/ability or for your character/fruit of the Spirit?

When people think of you do they say, "Wow he/she is a gifted leader," "an incredible salesman," "an amazing organizer"? Do they instantly think of your skill and ability? Or, do they say "Wow he/she is a great friend," "full of integrity," "full of joy," "someone who knows God," "someone who makes me a better person"?

What do you want to be known/remembered for? No one controls that outcome but you! How you live your daily life will determine the legacy you leave in the minds of your peers, friends, kids, and spouse.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

Collect Experiences

Over the holidays I spent some time collecting and organizing my old hunting and fishing pictures. As I looked through boxes of old photos of my life at my parent's house, I was brought back to numerous life experiences. Each picture reminded me of a story. Some were funny. Some were serious. Some were accomplishments. Some were failures. But each photo somehow told me a story about my life. They reminded me of a time and place - they took me back to an experience.

I love pictures because they tell stories about experiences. They tell stories about life.

As Colleen and I looked at these snap shots of my life before I met her, I told her story after story about experiences I have had. Like when I played lacrosse in Australia - when I bought my first motorcycle - when I went on a mission trip to Pakistan - when I shaved my head for the first time (yes I have recently done this again). Each photo was a marker of a life experience I had. What was interesting to me was that almost all of my pictures were photos of experiences. I didn't have pictures of my possessions, finances, or achievements but pictures of places I had been, things I had done, and people I loved.

So this year Colleen and I decided to add a new family value to our family. We want to be people who collect experiences not possessions. We don't want to live our lives trying to collect, hoard, and gather things but rather be people who pursue and collect life experiences. That won't happen without intentionality - but we are determined to experience this life God has for us. We are determined to proactively pursue a life full of experiences. To take risks, to try something new, to be intentional, to meet new people, to be good stewards of not only our finances but our time, to say YES to God when asks us to go, do, or be.

How about you - what are you collecting this year? Experiences won't just find you, they need to be pursued.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

Your Best Friends

Back in the office and the 2010 ministry season has officially kicked off - here we go! After all our planning, preparation, and prayer - after all our meetings, budgets, and calendaring we get to run with the dreams God has deposited in our hearts for this city.

It is great being back with my team. With my friends. With my MatCarriers! You see I believe ministry was meant to be done with people you love. With people who encourage you. Who inspire you. Who love you. With people you have divine flow relationships with. I haven't always been fortunate enough to have that blessing but I can honestly say that I do with this team. These mighty men and women of God are some of my best friends and I am honored to lock my shield of faith with theirs and move forward advancing the kingdom together.

Are you doing ministry with the people you love? Are you serving with your friends? Is your small group a group of people you genuinely enjoy being with (more to come on this later)? There is an old saying that says the "the best friends you will ever have are the people you have yet to meet." Maybe it's time to jump in and meet some new people - some new best friends. There is nothing more powerful than serving to join hearts and lives together. There is something about seeking God together that supernaturally unites you. What are you going to be doing with your friends this year?

"We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the Gospel of God but our lives as well because you had become so dear to us." (1 Thessalonians 2:8)

Timmy Ho's

Just for the record, my favorite coffee is not Dunkin Donuts! I know that is a pretty radical statement but it's true. My favorite coffee is hands down Tim Horton's. Oddly enough, it's the only coffee I don't drink black. So if you are ever up north and see one, pull off the road and go get a double double large coffee - they'll know what you mean and you'll enjoy every sip!

New Start

Birthdays. Anniversaries. Chronologically repeating events. The new year.

I don't know exactly why but most of us make a big deal about about the transitions of time. Sometimes we celebrate them, like a child's birthday. While at other times we mourn them, like the 9/11 anniversary. But like it or not, there is something significant about periods of time.

In Genesis chapter one, when God creates time, we see that he has plans and purposes for periods of time. On day one he created light. On day two he created water and sky. On day three he created land. For each period of time, for each day, he had a plan and a purpose. There was something he wanted to accomplish. That is why periods of time are significant. That is why there is something significant about the beginning of a new year - because God has significant things he wants to accomplish in your life.

If you think about it, New Year's resolutions are almost laughable - they are totally illogical. I mean why will you "all of the sudden" start working out when you haven't in the last 5 years? Why will you start being wiser with your finances? Why will you start developing healthier habits? Why will you make life changes? Just because it is a new year on the calendar? Just because it is now 2010?

Why? Because there is something significant about periods of time. So here it is 2010. A new period of time. There are things that God wants to accomplish in your life this year. Will you be open to it? Will you embrace the significance of a new start? Will you allow this transition of a period of time to give you the courage and the discipline to take your next step in becoming all God wants you to be? Ready or not here we go...

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)