street preachin' and disciple makin'

I had lunch with a friend in downtown New Phila yesterday. The weather was gorgeous so we decided to eat outside. We were part-way in to a very enjoyable meal when the street-corner preachers showed up and began shouting the "good news" at the top of their voices.

I told my friend, "You know, those guys make my job as a pastor more difficult."

I couldn't help but see some irony in the scene. Here I am, sitting at the street corner, having lunch--and a spiritual conversation with someone who I care about...someone I'm investing in, because I want to see him grow in his relationship with Jesus. Guy on the corner thinks the best way to share the good news is to wear signs and yell at people as they go by.

My friend asked me, "Do you think these guys really believe they're doing the right thing?" I said, "Unfortunately, I think they really believe that."

Here's a question. Who do you supposed accomplished more for the kingdom of God on the street corner yesterday? Three street preachers who hollered at a few hundred people as they passed by, or one guy (me) who spent the hour investing in a guy who's trying to figure out what it means to live out his faith?

It reminds me of this Tim Sanders quote:

You will accomplish more in the next two months developing a sincere interest in two people than you'll accomplish in the next two years, trying to get two people interested in you.

I just think the street preachers are well-intended but severely misinformed.

Agree? Disagree?

i can't even think of a good title for this blog...just read it and rejoice

We just finished shooting five baptism videos this evening. Five incredible stories of life-change. Five people who love Jesus so much that they're making a public declaration of their new association with him.

We're going to be baptizing a whole bunch of people later this month and early next month. I love it.

Four of the people whose videos we shot today were in the Starting Pointe group I recently led. I can't tell you how proud I am of those guys. All four of them had concerns/reservations about doing the video and then being on stage in front of so many people on Sunday morning. But they each decided that baptism was something they absolutely needed to do. I'm pumped.

Mostly I pumped because I got to hear each of their stories first-hand tonight. Most people wouldn't know this but when the baptism candidates are talking on video, they're actually talking to me (I sit right next to the camera). Everyone else leaves the room and then it's usually just the two of us having a conversation about how Jesus has changed their life. I love my job!

Tonight I got to hear Paul and Sharon W.'s story. You can see the video on July 8 but here are some highlights:

They moved to our area a few years ago because Sharon has rheumatoid arthritis and M.S. and is confined to a wheelchair...and they just wanted to be closer to the Cleveland Clinic. Shortly thereafter they discovered NewPointe. What she had to say rocked me: She said (as she began to weep), that she considers her handicap a blessing...because if it weren't for that she would have never found NewPointe and wouldn't have met Jesus. All I can say is, "Wow!" Is that unbelievable or what?

Her husband, Paul, shared that Starting Pointe was the catalyst that caused him to become a Christ-follower.

Dave C. also shared his testimony with me. Dave came to NewPointe one Sunday in January and got in a Starting Pointe group the next week. Now he's getting baptized because, as he said, he wants the whole world to know that he loves Jesus. Dave was extremely reluctant to do the video and be baptized on stage but he's going through with it because of what Jesus did for him.

His sister, Cheryl W. is also being baptized. Cheryl was also in our SP group. She's one of the quietest, most reserved and unassuming people I know. She said she gets nervous around people, even just a few people. But when I asked her about how she met Jesus and what her life is like now, I couldn't get her to shut up! You can see her video and baptism on July 8 as well.

I can't wait.

sunday scud review (april 1, 2007)

Today we wrapped up the Elements message series. It's been great. Dwight closed it out in a strong way. Today's element: Personal Ministry.

Here's a review of the scuds he fired:

• "I battle fear all the time. We have all had times in our lives when we wish we would have done something but we didn't because we were afraid."
• "Whenever we trust God in spite of our fears it honors him."
• "Are you going to give in to your fears or are you going to trust your Father?"
• "I'd rather have my kids trust me than obey me. Obedience will flow out of trust."
• "Faith grows when we get outside our comfort zones."
• "God wants to give you a story...of how he used you to make a difference."
• "God knows exactly what's going on in your life. He sees, he knows, he cares. Whatever you're going through...God cares."
• "God asks us, 'Yeah, you're busy alright...but are you productive?"
• "'What ifs' are zeal-quenchers. 'What ifs' are show-stoppers."
• "God will never ask you for something you don't have."
• "With God you are not inferior to anyone."
• "You don't need another Bible study. That's the safe way. God says that doesn't impress him. He wants to know when it is that you're going to set aside your fears and do something."
• "God + you = the majority. God + anybody = an overwhelming team."
• "It's not about your ability. It's about your availability."
• "If God were to die, is there anything you'd have to quit doing?"

Dwight refered to something written by Louie Giglio. In case you're like me and were thinking, wow that's good...wish I had that...here it is:

God was telling Moses: I AM the center of everything. I AM running the show. I AM the same every day, forever. I AM the owner of everything. I AM the Lord. I AM the Creator and Sustainer of Life. I AM the Savior. I AM more than enough. I AM inexhaustible and immeasurable. I AM God.

In a heartbeat, Moses knew God's name--and something more. He finallyknew his. For if God's name is I AM, Moses' name must be i am not. I am not the center of everything. I am not in control. I am not the solution. I am not all-powerful. I am not calling the shots. I am not the owner of everything. I am not the Lord. And that's your name and mine name too . . .I am not running anything. I am not the ahead of anything. I am not in charge of anything. I am not the maker. I am not the savior. I am not holding it all together. I am not all-knowing. I am not God. And God's name is still I AM."

first wednesday

I love First Wednesdays at NewPointe...and not just because I get to speak at them (although, I will admit, I do love to communicate in that setting). I think it's because God always seems to show up at my seat at First Wednesday. He speaks into my life. Sometimes I wonder if God led us to do First Wednesdays just for my spiritual benefit.

Based on the reaction I get from many of you, you like First Wednesdays as well. If you haven't been to a First Wednesday at NewPointe yet...what are you waiting for? It'll rock your world. Here's one of the emails I received after this week's edition of FW:

I’ve been meaning to send you a note – I wanted to mention that we attended our first 1st Wednesday Service this week – it was also the first time we’ve heard you “preach”. Might I just say “AWESOME”!!!!! Unbelievable experience!!!!

I've heard tons of great feedback from the latest FW. If you missed it...well, you missed it. In case you did, here's a quick recap (with photos):

The theme for the evening was "Deal or No Deal." And yes, we actually played the NewPointe edition of the game show with actual contestants and models selected from the audience. It was a hoot. And it set up where we were headed for the rest of the service. After the game show Dwight asked us all if we'd ever played "Deal or No Deal." He said, "Sure you have, we all have, we've played it with God...If you will then I will and if you won't then I won't..."

After some worship time I talked about how I have a tendency to try to "do deals" with God. My deal-making began as a kindergartener when my Sunday School teacher offered all of us kids a deal: "If you'll ask Jesus into your heart, then you'll get to go to heaven." Sounded like a good deal to me. And thus the beginning of my deal-making with the Father.

We looked at how the 12 disciples had basically the same attitude. In fact Peter just came right out and said it, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" (Matthew 19:27). The cool part is that even though the disciples started out with that kind of attitude, all of them (except for one) successfully made the transition from a "What's in it for me?" attitude to a "I don't care if anything's in it for me, what's in it for the kingdom?" attitude. That gives hope to a guy like me. The bottom line, we said, is that God's hand can't be forced and his will can't be thwarted. God is God...he's gonna do what he wants to do. The great news is that he invites us to be a part of it. We can get in on his gig. To do so, we have to fully surrender. (Enough of the sermon, you can just listen online here: http://www.newpointe.org/content.cfm?id=2006)

Thanks to all who came and especially to all who served (special thanks to Cindy, Dave M., DD, Teresa and Franscene--you guys are awesome!).

time, talents, treasure, and...(wait! you mean there's another 't'?)

I was doing some reading during my "God time" this morning and a new thought occurred to me (well, it's really not a new thought, I've just never really put it in the context you're about to see it in). The thought is this: as Christians, we know that God has entrusted us to be faithful stewards of what he's given us. Most commonly, we refer to these things as our time, talents, and treasure. We would all agree that all three of these things are, in fact, on loan from God. We should use our time wisely...we should use our talents to glorify God, and we should use (spend) our resources as though they are God's and not our own. But I have another "T" word that I'm going to add to the equation: Truth. Because God has revealed truth to us, it becomes incumbent upon us to be good stewards of truth. We must share it. It's our responsibility as Christ-followers.

You know what I've found? Good stewards, faithful stewards, keep good records. They know where and exactly how rescources were used. If we're using time that's been given to us by God, talents that are on loan from him, treasure that belongs to him, and truth that has been revealed to us, isn't it the wise thing do to to track how we're investing each of those? Kick it around. E-mail me your thoughts.

good enough vs. spirit alive

Too often I'm willilng to settle for for a cut-rate version of Christianity. I hate that tendency in me. I call it "Good Enough Christianity." Good-enough Christianity, for me, mainly consists of belieiving the right things and keeping busy doing "churchy" things. The Good-enough version moves me toward focusing on the wrong things--even though they may be "good" things--ministry, for example, or at least some self-contrived, overrated idea of ministry...or worse, it usually causes me to lose focus of the most important thing: leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus.

It's such a rut, this Good-enough Christianity. The place I want to be, and I'm good at talking the talk (or even blogging about it)--but far too often I'm far from it, is what I call Spirit-Alive Christianity. Spirit-alive Christianity, I think, has three main components:

1. God-hunger. C.S. Lewis said, "Put first things first and second things are thrown in. Put second things first and you lose both first and second things." I put second things first way too much. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." That's where I want to be: so hungry for God that he is first--always.
2. Kingdom-hunger. This means that I long to reveal God to others no matter how they treat me. I've got a long way to go with this one.
3. Holiness-hunger. This means to hate sin more than loving the pleasure it brings. Ouch.

Yeah, I'm hungry. Maybe I'm just not hungry enough.

discipled through relationships

It occurs to me--more and more--that people are discipled through relationships. Have you stopped to think about this: the bulk of scriptures gives account of peoples' lives rather than a more systematic approach to biblical principles. Some examples are:

• David and Jonathan
• The disciples jockying for positions next to Jesus
• Jacob and Esau

Intrestingly, often times the Bible reads more like a novel than a holy book. I mean, the fact that God reavealed truth to humanity through the stories of people--their triumphs and failures, their joys and sorrows, their relationships--testifies to the value He places on being connected to us. The very nature of the the Trinity itself suggests to us that above all things God is relational.
Think about this: Jesus, if you read the Gospel accounts, seems seldom to have convened Bible study meetings and discipleship groups...but nearly everyone who was around him changed. He was intentional and directional. If we are intentional and directional in our relationships with one another, discipleship will happen.

got any secrets?

While at North Point Community Church a couple weeks ago, during the final Q & A session, one of the church leaders, Bill Willits, was asked, "What do you do as a leader to guard your heart?" In other words, what safeguards to you have in place to make sure you don't blow it morally?
Bill answered the question the way I'd expect a small groups guy to answer it: be a part of a small group have have people in your life that you've given permission to ask the tough questions. I've come to realize that saying it, doing it, and REALLY doing it are all very different things. You've gotta be serious about it. You've gotta really want it. I'm not even sure if I'm completely there yet.

Then Bill said this: "I'm always one bad decision away from blowing it all...for my family, for my church..." He said, "And if you have secrets, you're really close to that bad decision."
Wow! So I've been thinking...and searching. Are there any secrets in my life? Because I don't want to blow it. How 'bout you? Any secrets in your life?