Friday, April 29, 2011

God Told You and You're Responsible

Today's blog post is exclusively for Christians.

Have you ever had a moment in life when you felt burdened for someone you know? What did you do with that burden?

There are typically only three things that you can do: Chase after that person and meet their need, ignore it and hope it goes away, or ask someone else to help them. Which do you think is the right choice to make?

The last two are what most Christians, especially in America, do. I'll admit, I've done all three to varying degrees. And, that would make me wrong about 2/3 of the time.

I've been involved in the church for nearly two decades, and one of the most consistent themes I have witnessed is the reluctance of believers to tell their friends about Jesus. Instead, the tendancy for believers is to hide behind the excuse of prayer (more on this in a moment), or pass their burden on to their church leaders.

Now, on the "excuse of prayer," don't misunderstand, praying for people is a vital part of reaching them for Jesus. However, if all we do is pray for them, but never actually tell them about Jesus, we are defeating the purpose. Sometimes, without meaning to, we make prayer the excuse for not physically telling our friends about Christ.

In the end, we either ignore or pray the burden away.

At other times, because sharing Christ can be tense and nerve-wracking, we tend to revert to the other other option of passing our burden to the church professionals.

We'll go to the pastor, youth pastor or small group leader and tell them about this person we know who needs Jesus. When we do this, we're essentially asking the "church professional" to take our burden from us and make it theirs. Typically, this is done by asking the pastor (or others) to go visit our friend.

I say all of that to lead up to pointing out that these two approaches are the wrong way to go about it. God burdens us with the people he was US to witness to. It is our burden and our duty to share Christ, not just ignore it until it goes away or hope our pastor will win them over.

Romans 10:14 says, "how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?"

Monday, April 25, 2011

Monday Ten

1. Today, I have Post-Easter Fatigue. PEF occurs when an individual volunteers a lot to help make the Easter services at his/her church happen.

2. I can only imagine what pastors go though.

3. Speaking of Easter...services at North Point Church were tremendous. Over 9800 people attended the 13 services at our two campuses. More than 200 people gave their lives to Jesus. That never gets old.

4. The Easter services put me in a volunteer area I had never been before...the parking lot. Hundreds of cars loaded with church-goers passed by as my team and I directed them to their parking spots.

5. I only almost got run over once. That was by a friend who was just teasing. I told him he was the wrong kind of person to come to NPC.

6. That was an inside joke based on an actual event that happened earlier in the week at the church.

7. Someone called the church office to complain about a mailer that had gone out promoting our Easter services. The caller warned the church that the stuff we do will attract the wrong kind of people.

8. The wrong kind of people...that made me laugh and cry. Laugh, because it's funny that someone would tell a church that. Cry, because it's very sad that someone would think that the church should exclude certain types of people.

9. Jesus died on a cross for EVERYONE, not just those who fit a certain mold. He rose from the grave to demonstrate the power of God, and to win the battle over death, Hell and the grave.

10. Yes, our band did perform an Ozzy Osbourne song as part of the Easter performance. Let's just say, it was included as part of the demonstration of Christ's crucifixion. BTW, in the end, God won, Satan lost.

Friday, April 22, 2011

The Day God Died

Today is Good Friday. For the Christian, this is the day we mark the death of Jesus on the cross. His death was such a terrible event that Christians for the first few hundred years of Christianity were repulsed by the cross.

Today, we use the cross as a symbol of Christianity. Today, we create pageants to focus on Christ's glorious resurrection three days later. But, often I think we forget the terrible horror of the crucifixion.

Listen to Rick Gamache from Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Bloomington, Minnesota, or download the mp3 here.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Easter at NPC Will be AWESOME

Last night, I and several other volunteer leaders at North Point Church got a preview of this weekend's Easter services. Now, while we didn't get to see the whole presentation, we got samples and details on how things will shake down.

If you're planning on attending, you MUST arrive early and get your seat. We will be closing the doors and not allowing people to enter or exit for the first five minutes of the service. This is because there will be things happening in the isle that could get roaming people hurt.

Plus, because of the nature of some of the events going on, we recommend children through 5th grade go to KidPoint for service. We'll have lots of exciting things going on for them, and it will open up seats in the main auditorium for guests.

Come expecting God to do something amazing in your life.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Tuesday Ten

Ok, so procrastination got the better of me yesterday, and you get this week's Ten on Tuesday. But, you'll see by #1 that it was ok.

1. My youngest boy, Malachi, asked Jesus into his heart last night! All three of my kids are now Christ-followers. I can die a happy man.

2. What's cool is that my boy is a Christian just in time to celebrate Easter. So cool!!!

3. I love Easter. This is my favorite time of the year.

4. Each Easter, my church does something spectacular to draw people to church, and then leave them with an awesome impression about God.

5. For the first time ever, my church is having Good Friday services. All told, between both campuses, there will be 13 services.

6. That requires a lot of volunteers. And, sometimes those volunteers will be in unfamiliar places.

7. I will be in the parking lot directing traffic Saturday afternoon and evening. First time ever! Should be fun.

8. I'll be leading the usher team for one service and working another on Sunday. That should also be fun.

9. Kids will have a blast at our church for Easter. After hearing the plans for those areas, I kind of miss teaching the kiddos.

10. BTW, if you are in the Springfield, Missouri area and don't have a church home, visit North Point Church for Easter.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Hope by Fire

It is a given that each one of us will experience some type of hardship in our lives. It might be a period of time spent in poverty or deep debt. Perhaps it's an illness such as cancer. Maybe it's a divorce or death of a loved one. Whatever the case, we know that each one of us will be hit with trials from time to time.


Some people blame God for the hard times in their lives, not understanding how a loving God would permit bad stuff to happen in this world. That's entirely understandable.


It's natural for humans to look for reasons why things happen. When an answer cannot be found, the next alternative seems to be blaming God. After all, God is supposed to be in control.


The assumption is that if God is in charge, then our lives should be smooth flowing and easy. There's only one problem with that line of thinking - Jesus was murdered. If good people should be allowed a pass in the suffering depart, how do you explain the crucifixion of Christ?


The reality is that our world is filled with sin. Death and decay are the result of sin. God is not responsible for bad things. That's sin's fault - sin that entered our world through the fall of Adam and Eve.


The Bible has God's answer for sin and for suffering. Jesus had to suffer death on the cross to pay the penalty for sin. Anyone who believes this in their heart and confesses it will their mouth becomes children of God. It is our faith in Jesus that saves us.


But, what about suffering? Romans 5:3-5 has the answer for this, too. Essentially God says that the trials we go through don't have to end badly. They are part of a process of growth that will make us better people, and more in line with God's heart if we allow it.


This passage essentially says that suffering produces endurance to survive the hard times. Surviving the hard times develops character within us. And, this creates hope.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Monday Ten

I turn 37 tomorrow. Here's the top ten things I hope to accomplish this year.


1. Lose weight. I would like to trim a pound a week from my physique.


2. Read more. I love to read. But, time schedules being what they are, it can be difficult to do sometimes.


3. Win an iPad. Ok, that one is probably not very realistic, but you can't accomplish a win without actually trying.


4. Write more. Not only do I love to read, I also love to write. Again, time schedules need to be freed up.


5. Get up earlier and go to bed earlier. I think that has to happen to accomplish #2 and #4.


6. Love my wife and kids more. There is never an end to the love.


7. Discover what God has in store. Ok, so this isn't so much an accomplishment for me as it is for God. I guess a better way to put this is....


8. Listen to God more.


9. Continue to grow as a leader. I love leadership. I enjoy leading people.


10. Celebrate birthday #38...in one year. The more birthdays you have, the longer you live.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Testing Out the Blogger App

I'm testing Blogger's new app for Android phones today. The jury is still out on how good or bad it is. I'll let you know.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Book Review: Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick

I just completed Steven Furtick's book "Sun Stand Still," which released last summer. I purchased the Kindle version of the book for a small group study (FTC disclaimer).

This book revolves around the concept of "audacious" prayer, which Furtick (pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina) says is missing among the Christian lifestyle in America today. His primary example is based on the story of the Israelite battle against the Amorites that is recorded in Joshua 10.


During the course of the battle, as the sun was beginning to set, and the enemy was getting away, Joshua prayed to God to hold the sun and moon in their places in the sky. God heard the prayer and did not allow the sun to set until the enemy had been destroyed.


Those types of bold prayers seem to be missing from Christian prayers today. Instead, we ask God for things that don't really tax the abilities of the creator of the universe. Things like generic protection, blessings, and the like.


Furtick does a good job encouraging the reader to be faithful in their prayers, and to pray expecting God to do something. He even addresses those situations when God says "no" to our audacious prayers.


The book has been a good read for the men in my small group, and I think you will enjoy it as well. But, as Furtick notes at the end, don't just read it to soak the information, then do nothing with it. He wants to see the reader change the way they approach God in prayer.


For the most part, I would give this book an above average rating. It cuts to the heart in some areas, and is very challenging. Definately a suggested read.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The Elephant in the Room

I'm sorry that I missed out on this opportunity to hear some of our nation's best church leaders talk about differing aspects of what they believe.


Fortunately, James MacDonald is posting several clips on his blog. Check them out.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Spin

It isn't even 2012 yet, but the election season has kicked off with yesterday's announcement that President Obama is starting his re-election campaign. Now, while it's no surprise that the president is seeking re-election, the fact that he's kicking off the campaign allows for a perfect discussion on "spin."


"Spin" is a term that has become popular over the past couple of decades. It is a term that is used to describe a person or group's take on a particular topic. Typically, people who "spin" a topic will take a few of the facts, leave out some of the other facts, and promote their agenda or view of the topic as it favors them.


Spin has become very popular among politicians. Any given day, the network news channels will feature politicians and pundits who paint a picture that serves only their agenda and no one else.


There is nothing wrong with giving a personal perspective on a topic. But, what has made spin so bad is that it ignores reality. By only taking self-serving facts and ignoring other truths that are involved, spin creates a lie and tries to pass it off as truth.


Reason and logic go out the window in the spin zone.


What are some ways that we can end the spin and bring back truth?

Monday, April 4, 2011

Monday Ten

1. KWFC kicks off our annual spring fundraiser today. Raising $49,000 for much needed improvements.


2. April is here. The month of my birth. Excited.


3. I'm finishing up Steven Furtick's book "Sun Stand Still." Expect a review later this week.


4. For those wanting an update, I'm still brainstorming the concept of writing a book this year. The pieces are swirling in my gray matter. Soon, they'll start to organize into coherent thoughts.


5. If I write a book, I'll give the first review of it. I promise to be brutal.


6. One of the cool things about being a reviewer is being able to give constructive criticism.


7. My day job has allowed me to constructively help several singing groups as they strive to get better at what they do.


8. That has translated into better music hitting the radio, which translates into better listenership.


9. Better music makes everybody happy...except for people who don't like music.


10. Tomorrow is election day in our community. We have initiative petition ballot items to restrict smoking in public and alcohol sales in theaters. Believe it or not, I'm against both measures. Both infringe on the rights of citizens and businesses. And, the smoking issue is next to impossible to enforce. It doesn't mean I support smoking or alcohol. It means that I don't support more government intrusion.