Momentum

Leadership Summit 2009

Earlier this week I sat through a webcast for training and information about the 2009 Leadership Summit to be held August 7-9.  They revealed the faculty who will be speaking.  It was inspiring.  I want you to get this date on your calendar.  If you want a sneak peak, click here.

7 Words

I read the book Made to Stick a few years ago.  It's a book on leadership that explains how ideas stick in your memory.  It made a lot of sense to me.  It affected me in the area of preaching.  When I ask people what message they remember most, usually people remember ones that are personable and a single-phrase title. 

When I think of my most memorable ones, I find that to be true.  Last weekend, the 7 words in Luke 18:9-14 (the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector) will stick with me forever.  Those 7 words if prayed every day would change one's life.  It says "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."  If I could lock that prayer into my daily life, it would make me more like Jesus.  It is a confession of sin, a profession of our need for God, and the position we need to take before God that exalts Him and keeps us humble.  May it stick!

California Dreamin' (Part 2)

Actually, I'm back in Dyer, Indiana.  What fun!  I want to thank all of you for reading my blog.  I enjoy blogging, and I also enjoy reading the comments.  The California Dreamin' blog generated the most comments, so I must have hit on something we should be thinking about.

I want to focus on #9, about the e-community.  I think I'd drop the "very dangerous" to "concerning."  Let's try it this way: The e-comunity can be very concerning.  Facebook, MySpace, blogs and social internet networks can remove us from people sitting right next to us.

What are the pros?  It's a genuine source of connection.  One that the church should be using as a medium of information and dialogue, and what can be a place where people connect.  I love to hear stories of people who've met on the internet, fell in love, and got married.  My own brother and sister-in-law met online and have been married for 8 years.  Another pro is that we believe that all good and perfect gifts are from above.  The e-community is from God's wisdom and knowledge.  We are to be in the world, but not of the world.  We should not be anti-e-community, but we do need to examine what the pitfalls may be. 

That leads me to the cons.  We were designed at creation to be in relationship with God and others.  Adam and Eve walked and talked with God.  Adam and Eve were created to be face to face.  While the e-community is communication, the danger is its distance from face-to-face communication.  When I'm with people I can communicate through my face, my touch, my gestures, and my soul.  The e-community is words.  We can see, feel, touch and get the true sense of the soul.

How might you recognize if you're a "concerning" e-community person?

1. How much time do you spend on the internet?
2. Do people close to them feel a disconnect and complain?
3. Is Facebook, MySpace, etc. the first thing you do when you get home?
4. Is it affecting your work?  (that is an ethical issue.)
5. Is it a source of gossip?

I am pro-e-community.  I am even more pro-face-to-face relationships.  Those are truer, purer, and more authentic.  Comments??

I'm Going to Have a Good Weekend!

First, because my son has a big game tonight against their archrivals (Illiana Christian vs. Chicago Christian).  They lost to them earlier in the year by a few points, but without their leading scorer.  I just hope it's a good game and both schools have fun and behave well (there's history). 

Second, because it's going to snow.  It's just part of the deal.  I like its beauty.  If it's gonna be cold, it might as well snow. 

Third, because over 100 people are joining Faith Church this weekend.  Some are professions of faith, some are reaffirming, some transferring, and several being baptized.  Absolutely cool! 

You can see why I can say I'm going to have a great weekend.  I pray that all of you who read this have a great weekend as well!

California Dreamin'

A week and a half ago I was in California for a few days of meetings with Pastor Charlie, and as usual God taught me several things throughout the week.  I'd like to share some of them and see what you think.  These insights come from Dallas Williard, John Ortberg, Eric Parks and Mike Breaux.  Please feel free to comment.

1. We pray way more than we think we do.  We think that when we close our eyes, fold our hands, and call to God that that is prayer.  The insight is to become more aware of God's omnipresence and that He is with you all the time.  He is the Father nearby.  He is the Coach on your sidelines.  He is in you to cry out to all the time.

2. A few good formations questions to ponder: (a) what does God's best version of me look like?  (b) what are the barriers that keep me from getting there?  (c) what am I like when I am in the flow of the Spirit?

3. Discipleship barometers - you are growing in spiritual formation when you want to be with Jesus more than anyone else or anything!

4. Signs of a spiritually-formed Christian: (a) a joy-filled attitude and life vs. irritable and (b) a person who is encouraging in spirit vs. discouraging.

5. Good times of Bible meditation and prayer require warmups, just like an athlete.

6. Life is run by habits.  The problem is, we have bad habits.  Our will is devoted to habits without even thinking.

7. "We need to teach and re-teach people 'why you should go to church.'  We go to love and be loved, and occasionally worship breaks out."  -Dallas Willard

8. Performance defined for Christians: Do your best but don't trust your best.

9. The e-community can be very dangerous.  Facebook, MySpace, blogs and social internet networks can remove us from people sitting right next to us.

10. Leaders: Do not hide your flaws, sins, and failures. They are what makes you authentic and real.

Comments?

Weekend Worship

Since I wasn't preaching this past weekend, Laurie and I had to decide what service to attend.  We chose the 10:00 service at the Dyer campus and made some observations:

1. The music part of worship was amazing.
2. Dave Weemhoff's (campus pastor, Cedar Lake) message was outstanding.  I was so proud of him.  He hit a "home run" of a message, delivered with clarify and authority.
3. What part of 10:00 a.m. don't people get - the 10:00 or the a.m.??  I feel bad for latecomers.  They miss so much.
4. We have a space problem.  A good problem to have, but still a problem.
5. Hanging out in the Atrium after the service, without any responsibilities, is fun.  It felt so good to mingle without the pressure of getting back in for the next service.
6. I love God and I love His church.  We are so blessed!

I am excited to preach this coming weekend!

Great Guy, Great Church, Great Mission

I had breakfast today with Greg Lee, Lead Pastor of Suncrest Church in St. John, Indiana, and also a good friend.  We met to work on a project our two churches are going to do together called One Prayer.  We plan on doing it in late May or early June.  It has great potential for health, unity, mission and growth for both churches.

Greg also told me about his upcoming trip to Africa.  Greg, his wife Jenny, and 22 others are traveling to Liberia for 12 days.  They are leaving this Saturday.  I'm excited to hear about the wonderful trip upon his return.  Please take a moment to pray for Greg, Jenny and the rest of the team for safety, protection and a great mission.

What's a monvee?

Our Economic Panel

This past weekend we finished up a 4-week series on the economy.  We talked about the crisis around us and where our true security is; trusting God to provide for our needs; contentment with and sharing what we have with others; and what action steps we could take in our turbulent times.  At our services this weekend, we had a four-person panel fielding questions about topics like our national economy, investing, debt, and tithing.  We will have a

Thanks to Jeff Van Drunen, Kim Detmar, Marty Wondaal, and Mike Vander Zee for the time you spent preparing and being at all four services this weekend to help communicate some wisdom in these tough times.