Momentum

A Weekful of Thankfulness

Most people are tuned in to thankfulness this week.  I made a quick list of the things I thought of this week alone that I'm thankful for:

God's mercy, my wife, kids home from college, children, cranberries, stuffing, high school basketball, running shoe stores, Psalm 67, lower gas prices, Twizzlers, the sports section and BackTalk in the newspaper, garage doors that work, shopping online, running partners, Bunn coffeemakers, 51 weeks of the year without a cold, Laurie and me busting each others' chops, no mosquitoes, our country, and hosting Thanksgiving.  Most of all, I'm thankful for God's grace.

Happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

A Real Authority Figure

This weekend we began a short series called The Calling looking at God's call for his followers.  The text was Matthew 28:16-20, and we explored two parts to God's call: the calling to Jesus, and the calling to be with Jesus to change the world.  I gave a list of things Jesus has authority over, and some friends asked me after the service for a copy of the list.  I thought I'd just post it here. 

Jesus, the risen Lord, says, "I have authority over..." -

Satan, demons, angels, nature, laws, stars, moons, galaxies, planets, water, matter, weather systems, stock markets, the Big 3 automakers, foreclosures, forest fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, tidal waves, tsunamis, nuclear bombs, gangs, atoms, neutrons, protons, science, quantum physics, genetic codes, DNA, chromosomes, animals, plants, giant whales, tiny minnows, parasites, germs, cells, blood vessels, our beating hearts, every nation, government, Congress, Presidents, town councils, pirates at sea, terrorists in the mountains, coaches, players, armies, employees, bosses, unemployed, fertile, infertile, currency, entertainment, the media, evil, good, floating tools in space, nuclear families, blended families, children in the womb, children in college, happy people, sad people, rich people, poor people, gas prices...

Jesus has authority over it all!  I'm sure I missed some.  Any suggestions?

Organic Outreach Event

On Saturday morning I spent a couple hours doing something I don't normally do.  It wasn't leaves, lawn, honey-do list, etc.  I went to Kevin Harney's evangelism seminar called Organic Outreach.  My heart going into it wasn't good.  My motives were poor.  I went because I wanted to bless Kevin since I'm his boss.  I went to support him.

In the end I did accomplish my original motive - I blessed Kevin.  However, Kevin also blessed me.  The seminar increased my outreach temperature, my awareness of the need in this world to talk, pray, and share the gospel of Jesus. 

It was a different Saturday - but a good one!

Oops

Last week when I was out of town I sent a text message to Ryan Matthysse on our staff.  It was a fun text, giving him a hard time.  He texted me back, playing dumb, like he didn't know what I was talking about.  We went back and forth in fun.  Then he played really dumb and pretended he didn't know who I was.  He said, "Is that you Mitch?"  I said, "No, it's Bob Bouwer, you dork!!"  "Who?" was the response.  Suddenly it dawned on me that I had not erased Ryan's old cell phone number.  Oops!  Dork!!

I think my text message "oops" is a pretty good lesson in discipleship.  What do our lives text message to the world?  Would they communicate who our Father is, who our Leader is, what our values are?  Let's recommit to checking our text messages of life.    -Mitch

On Purpose Driven 2

We are almost finished with Faith Church's second journey through Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life material.  Our first excursion was six years ago.  Now it's time to reflect.  Here are some of my observations:

1. It was a very wise move to do it again.
2. We may do a 40-Days type of experience every year.
3. It is the most effective way I know to get people connected and involved in mini-churches (small groups).
4. It's a very good way to help people align their lives for the first time through Jesus.  Or realign.
5. It gives the church a real focus that is clear and manageable.
6. We see and hear about lives being changed.
7. It gives the Worship Team a break from having to create 100% new material.
8. God gets more glory.
   

What can you add?  Any negatives?

A Historic Day

The votes have been cast and counted.  History was made in more than one way - our first African American president, record voter turnout, maybe even the warm temperature.  Faith Church in Dyer was a polling place and filled with voters all day long. 

One thing that will not change is that God is really the one in control.  God knows the details and the outcome of every event that will take place during Obama's presidency.  He plans everything for a purpose - and for His purpose.  Whether you voted for Obama or McCain, be assured that God's hand is in it, and we are called to support those placed in government leadership over us.

This video by John Piper gets at the heart of the issue, regardless of which side of the aisle you're on.

Fireproof

This weekend Laurie and I saw Fireproof.  What a great movie!  I encourage everyone to see it.  This movie has gotten a lot of good press - even Time Magazine had an article about it recently (click here to read).   It was among the top five when it opened over a month ago, and it's still in the theater.  If you need a little more encouragement, it's in the Five Buck Club at Showplace 16 in Schererville. 

Make this $10 investment in your marriage.  It will pay off far greater benefits than a couple of lattes!