Today was an awesome day. I met with Brad to finish the planning for an awesome first preview service and tonight I attended part of our children's equipping meeting. I love to see people willing to take a risk and walk with God. Moses, David, Samuel, the first disciples...all these people were pioneers and all of them saw God do some amazing things in and through them.
God seems to like to do big things when ordinary people are willing to step out as pioneers and risk something for the cause of Christ. That is what every volunteer of Piedmont Church is doing. They are steping up and being a pioneer for the cause of Christ...I believe that God is going to do something awesome through them individually and collectively.
They are all teammates with me as we work together to create some irresistible environments to help those who are far from God connect with Christ. TOGETHER we are going to build something big for the cause of Christ...I am convinced of that.
To those involved let me say thanks and get ready for God to give you purpose and use you in concert with others to change lives. If you are not, come join this team by finding your place to live beyond yourself by getting involved.
This is not about another church in Macon, to me it is the beginning of a movement of ordinary people who are not interested in doing Church, but want to connect with Christ and help others do the same.
Jun 28, 2007
Jun 26, 2007
how are you livin'
I have been thinking a lot these days about the power of living beyond yourself. Most people do not live beyond themselves. Even when they are doing something for someone else often they do it because it makes them feel good, look good, or because if they do not they are afraid they will not appear as caring. In the end, truly living beyond ourself is something that is not natural but expected by God if we are going to be Christ followers. It takes a lot of work.
I heard a minister say recently that God will not comfort you to make you comfortable but to help you learn how to be a comforter. I love that and I think that is so right. We tend to think that God is up there for us, doing things for us, so that we can have a great and comfortable life. We tend to see God as doing things in, around, and for us and the end of those things is a better life for us.
The theme of the New Testament is that God is at work in, around, and for you for the purpose of creating his character in you so that you can become an influence upon others. God's end goal is to prepare you to live beyond yourself, it is to make you an influence.
Everything you are in, a part of, every encounter you have, and every person you meet is something God will use to shape you if you let him. Being schooled by God is no easy task and the sign that you are progressing is not by the comfort you have but by the passion you have to live beyond yourself.
The best example of what living beyond yourself looks like at its best is found on a hill, 2000 years ago, on a wooden tree called a cross. That is not a picture of a comfortable life but of a life lived well.
I heard a minister say recently that God will not comfort you to make you comfortable but to help you learn how to be a comforter. I love that and I think that is so right. We tend to think that God is up there for us, doing things for us, so that we can have a great and comfortable life. We tend to see God as doing things in, around, and for us and the end of those things is a better life for us.
The theme of the New Testament is that God is at work in, around, and for you for the purpose of creating his character in you so that you can become an influence upon others. God's end goal is to prepare you to live beyond yourself, it is to make you an influence.
Everything you are in, a part of, every encounter you have, and every person you meet is something God will use to shape you if you let him. Being schooled by God is no easy task and the sign that you are progressing is not by the comfort you have but by the passion you have to live beyond yourself.
The best example of what living beyond yourself looks like at its best is found on a hill, 2000 years ago, on a wooden tree called a cross. That is not a picture of a comfortable life but of a life lived well.
Jun 25, 2007
my teeth
Before you read this blog make sure you read the one before it entitled Piedmont Church. That is one I would like all to read...especially the lyrics to the song for it is my prayer for Piedmont.
I had my wisdom teeth taken out this weekend. Not fun, especially at my age. The whole process reminded me of some of the adjustments that we need to make in life. I have known for some years that my wisdom teeth needed to be removed. I knew it, dentist have been telling me. I chose to ignore their advice because the teeth were not bothering me, no pain, no discomfort, no real issue. I even made my trips to the dentist less frequent because I don't like going and I didn't really want to hear again of how my wisdom teeth needed to be removed. It wasn't that I thought they were wrong, I think I knew all along that something needed to be done...I just didn't want to invest in the time and pain it would take.
Then came the day my dentist said that my wisdom teeth were beginning to cause problems with other teeth, so I decided to do what I knew all along needed to be done. This past Saturday I had them removed and today I look like Jerry the Chipmunk.
That is what we all tend to do about adjustments that God calls on us to make, especially adjustments that may be uncomfortable, that require a sacrifice, that are risky, or that require some time. Adjustments like stopping an unhealthy habit, ending a relationship, changing a lifestyle, forgiving someone who doesn't deserve it, going to church, tithing, the list could go on. Often we know deep down that these adjustment need to take place. We just don't want to face what it will take to make the adjustments, so we do nothing.
Our response is to ignore it because it doesn't seem to impact our daily life. We stop going to church as regular because we do not want to hear about it, sometime we write it off as our little vice, bad habit, or something that "I need to change someday." But the days go by and nothing changes. The problem is that God is an amazing spiritual "dentist" that is able to use life's circumstances to bring us to a point where we are eager to make that adjustment needed...the circumstance he uses the most is pain. The longer we get settled with living with an attitude, habit, emotion, sin that needs to change the more pain it takes to get us willing to change.
God is committed to shaping you into the best you, so committed that he will use that pain in life if that is what is needed.
So what are the spiritual, emotional, or relational adjustments that God has been asking you to make for a while? What is one small tangible step you can make this week to begin the process of making that needed adjustment? Now is that time for action!
I had my wisdom teeth taken out this weekend. Not fun, especially at my age. The whole process reminded me of some of the adjustments that we need to make in life. I have known for some years that my wisdom teeth needed to be removed. I knew it, dentist have been telling me. I chose to ignore their advice because the teeth were not bothering me, no pain, no discomfort, no real issue. I even made my trips to the dentist less frequent because I don't like going and I didn't really want to hear again of how my wisdom teeth needed to be removed. It wasn't that I thought they were wrong, I think I knew all along that something needed to be done...I just didn't want to invest in the time and pain it would take.
Then came the day my dentist said that my wisdom teeth were beginning to cause problems with other teeth, so I decided to do what I knew all along needed to be done. This past Saturday I had them removed and today I look like Jerry the Chipmunk.
That is what we all tend to do about adjustments that God calls on us to make, especially adjustments that may be uncomfortable, that require a sacrifice, that are risky, or that require some time. Adjustments like stopping an unhealthy habit, ending a relationship, changing a lifestyle, forgiving someone who doesn't deserve it, going to church, tithing, the list could go on. Often we know deep down that these adjustment need to take place. We just don't want to face what it will take to make the adjustments, so we do nothing.
Our response is to ignore it because it doesn't seem to impact our daily life. We stop going to church as regular because we do not want to hear about it, sometime we write it off as our little vice, bad habit, or something that "I need to change someday." But the days go by and nothing changes. The problem is that God is an amazing spiritual "dentist" that is able to use life's circumstances to bring us to a point where we are eager to make that adjustment needed...the circumstance he uses the most is pain. The longer we get settled with living with an attitude, habit, emotion, sin that needs to change the more pain it takes to get us willing to change.
God is committed to shaping you into the best you, so committed that he will use that pain in life if that is what is needed.
So what are the spiritual, emotional, or relational adjustments that God has been asking you to make for a while? What is one small tangible step you can make this week to begin the process of making that needed adjustment? Now is that time for action!
Jun 19, 2007
Piedmont Church
Things are going well for Piedmont Church. It humbles me to see God at work. The opportunity to meet at Stratford is a huge thing and the facility is perfect for what we want to do. I believe that we will be a value to Stratford and I look to working with them.
Brad is in the process of getting the band and tech guys in place. If you have a great interest in this contact him at brad@piedmontchurch.net. He is very busy these days and so do not be afraid to be persistent. Brad, me, and several of the Children's leaders met and walked through Stratford this morning and I am so excited about the environment we are going to create. Anyone who attends will be encouraged and challenged. If you are a Christ follower you will want to bring someone with you who is far from God. I am pumped.
We are trying to get our first preview (July 15) moved to Sunday evening. This will give us more time to get stuff set up and correct any problems we have. We have not gotten word about that yet. We will let everyone know soon.
I want to thank all who are praying for Piedmont Church, the amazing things that are happening are a result of your praying - THANKS.
There a song on John Waller's CD that has become for me the theme song and my prayer for Piedmont Church. Here are the words:
I wanna see something I've not seen
Something so big
I wanna be a part of something great
Greater than me
It's time to dream big dreams
To see Your vision
Become reality
‘Cause it’s for You, by You, those who
Love You wanna do
Something so big
It’s destined to fail without You, Lord
It’s gonna fail without You, Lord
Something so great
It takes a miracle to do
We, Your children
Wanna do something big for You
We, yes, we are gonna sing a brand new song
Something so strong
We will be the sound that wakes the dawn
Something so loud
It’s time for breaking through
‘Cause there are no limits
For he who holds the truth
When it’s for You, and by You, and those who
Love You wanna do
Something bigger, something greater
For the glory of Your splendor
Something bigger, something greater
Tell the story of Your wondrous love
Your wondrous love
Those who love You wanna do
As long as we live, let us do something so big for You
That is my heart.
Brad is in the process of getting the band and tech guys in place. If you have a great interest in this contact him at brad@piedmontchurch.net. He is very busy these days and so do not be afraid to be persistent. Brad, me, and several of the Children's leaders met and walked through Stratford this morning and I am so excited about the environment we are going to create. Anyone who attends will be encouraged and challenged. If you are a Christ follower you will want to bring someone with you who is far from God. I am pumped.
We are trying to get our first preview (July 15) moved to Sunday evening. This will give us more time to get stuff set up and correct any problems we have. We have not gotten word about that yet. We will let everyone know soon.
I want to thank all who are praying for Piedmont Church, the amazing things that are happening are a result of your praying - THANKS.
There a song on John Waller's CD that has become for me the theme song and my prayer for Piedmont Church. Here are the words:
I wanna see something I've not seen
Something so big
I wanna be a part of something great
Greater than me
It's time to dream big dreams
To see Your vision
Become reality
‘Cause it’s for You, by You, those who
Love You wanna do
Something so big
It’s destined to fail without You, Lord
It’s gonna fail without You, Lord
Something so great
It takes a miracle to do
We, Your children
Wanna do something big for You
We, yes, we are gonna sing a brand new song
Something so strong
We will be the sound that wakes the dawn
Something so loud
It’s time for breaking through
‘Cause there are no limits
For he who holds the truth
When it’s for You, and by You, and those who
Love You wanna do
Something bigger, something greater
For the glory of Your splendor
Something bigger, something greater
Tell the story of Your wondrous love
Your wondrous love
Those who love You wanna do
As long as we live, let us do something so big for You
That is my heart.
Jun 18, 2007
heavily medicated
Last night I had a little headache and so I took some muscle relaxants. That is like turning on a fire hydrant to get a drink...a little overkill. As the medicine kicked-in I could tell and feel it's effects. I was not operating in a way that I knew I could and really wanted to...drugged up a little.
In many ways that is how people live everyday. The "medication" that many are "drugged up" on is not the pill kind. Nonetheless it causes us to be a little less of what we could be, we "take it" because it will make us feel good for a while.
For some the drug is making a lot of money, for others it may be spending a lot of money, or maybe its comfort, bitterness toward someone, living for ourself, an overactive schedule, impressing others with our looks, the list could go on and on. When we let our lives be focused on these things they keep us from functioning at the level in which God intends us to and we know it if we are brave enough to take an honest and prolonged inner search.
What is your drug that you tend to over medicated yourself with? Spend a little time this week asking God this question, I know that he is dying to reveal it to you if you seek diligently for it.
In many ways that is how people live everyday. The "medication" that many are "drugged up" on is not the pill kind. Nonetheless it causes us to be a little less of what we could be, we "take it" because it will make us feel good for a while.
For some the drug is making a lot of money, for others it may be spending a lot of money, or maybe its comfort, bitterness toward someone, living for ourself, an overactive schedule, impressing others with our looks, the list could go on and on. When we let our lives be focused on these things they keep us from functioning at the level in which God intends us to and we know it if we are brave enough to take an honest and prolonged inner search.
What is your drug that you tend to over medicated yourself with? Spend a little time this week asking God this question, I know that he is dying to reveal it to you if you seek diligently for it.
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