Ticket Giveaway

I'm giving away three pairs of tickets this week through my radio show on KWFC and at my station page on kwfc.org for the Stained Glass Theatre's production of "The Christmas House." These ticket vouchers are good through November 28, 2009, and all winners will need to reserve their seats in advance by calling 417-581-9192. Winners will be announced Friday.

Simply click here and comment to the post to enter. Only one entry per household. You must enter your email address in the form to qualify. Winners will be selected at random and announced Friday at 4 p.m.

Monday's Ten

1. The great weather this weekend made for some awesome outdoor fun for the family.

2. It also prompted me to pull out the grill, hopefully not for the last time this year.

3. I went to church both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, I taught the kids. Sunday, I enjoyed an awesome worship service.

4. My church is renewing the ImpACT program which is the church's outreach vehicle.

5. ImpACT focuses on meeting four needs of the community: Poverty, Disease, Illiteracy and Spiritual Emptiness.

6. This current preaching series reminds me why we fell in love with North Point Church five years ago.

7. Last week was very stressful for me, which is very unusual. Normally, stress doesn't get to me. It did last week.

8. I realized last week that I have felt as though I have something to prove as a church leader and a radio program director.

9. I'm learning that trying to prove yourself to mankind is not what's important. Seeking God's favor is the important thing.

10. Galatians 1:10 is the game changer for Christians.

I'm a Sinner

Are any of us perfect?

That's the question I keep asking myself each time that religious crowd directs their boney fingers my direction. They're pointing out my imperfections.

I know I've made mistakes. I know what I've done. Some of it has been public. Most has been private. I don't need you to use me as an example of how great you are.

You know, I hear your loudly spoken prayers. I hear you thanking God you aren't like me. If only you knew my heart. If only you could know how desperate I am for God to fix my failures.

Fortunately, I have found a solution to the junk in my life. His name is Jesus.

I am His disciple.

I'm a Tax Collector

He spotted me through the crowd.

I was manning my post dutifully. Well, as dutifully as a tax collector can.

Rome would get theirs, and I would get mine. Just enough to ease the pain of selling myself to the emperor, enduring the hatred of my people, and overlooking how much I despise myself for this career I have chosen.

I was manning my post dutifully. As dutifully as a tax collector can, I assure you.

He spotted me through the crowd.

"Follow me and be my disciple," he said.

I am changed. I am no longer scum.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I'm a Tent Maker

Fishermen, tax collectors, shepherds, carpenters and tent makers all have one thing in common.

They're supposed to be ordinary.

They're supposed to go through life, and never create any trouble.

They're supposed to do their work dutifully, then go home and live a peaceful, quiet life.

Their primary duties in life are to make a living, raise a family and disappear quietly into the pages of history.

FISHERMEN. TAX COLLECTORS. SINNERS.

These did not go quietly into the night. These were changed people. They had met Him.

I have met Him.

I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ.

I'm a Fisherman

I'm a fisherman.

I'm a tax collector.

I'm a tent maker.

I'm a carpenter.

I'm a farmer.

I'm blue collar.

I'm white collar.

I'm not the kind of person you would expect Jesus to pick to spread the Gospel.

Three years ago, God called me out of the ordinary to use me for something extraordinary. Three years ago, I went from punching the clock to punching Satan in the throat.

I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Monday's Ten

1. I'm starting a new blog series today that should run through Friday. It's a bit abstract, and each day's entry is a short, easy read. I hope it makes us think.

2. I had a very interesting weekend of church. Halloween night, I taught the 4th and 5th grade boys and girls, then we all went on a hay ride. I came back Sunday morning to catch the message (on the advice of my wife who had heard it Saturday night).

3. North Point Church's ImpACT outreach program is one-year-old this month. The program seeks to combat four spiritual giants: Poverty, Illiteracy, Disease and Spiritual Emptiness.

4. Pastor Tommy announced that the next phase of expansion for NPC would be in the form of a video campus. I'm totally excited about this prospect. I believe video campuses are the best thing to hit churches in a long time.

5. I took a three-day weekend to spend with my wife and kids. We had a blast trick or treating Saturday night. Then, Sunday, I raked the leaves in our front yard into one big pile for the boys to jump and play in.

6. I almost jumped in myself, but didn't want to be picking leaf flakes out of my hair and clothing the rest of the day.

7. I entered the Sunday determined not to shave my face until the Kansas City Chiefs won another game. I aborted that plan when I realized they were on their bye week. I should've gone for the St. Louis Rams. They won...finally.

8. I am determining to become more disciplined.

9. My first step in becoming more disciplined is two-fold: a) re-organize my office (a recent staff change has thrown it into chaos), b) lose weight (I really need to get into shape. I'm okay, but that's not good enough).

10. My wife and I missed out on the time change's extra hour. We stayed up until after midnight (Daylight) talking.