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Favorite Websites and Blogs

When I have free time I like to go on the internet.  I have favorite stops that I like to make.  I start with my own blog to see if there are any comments on what I've posted, and then I go to links from my blog like Faith Church Cedar Lake, Unique Chairs, Dave Ferguson, etc.  Then I go to Kevin De Young's blog called De Young, Restless and Reformed. 

Some of my favorite websites and blogs are Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Mark Biesen, Perry Noble, Monday Morning Insight, Mark Driscoll, weather.com, just to name a few.

What are your favorites?  Where do you go when you turn on your computer and search the net? 

Impressive Crew

I had the privilege of opening up the Treasureland children's ministry leadership meeting yesterday.  To be with such amazing Christian servants was overwhelming to me.  My spirit was rejoicing for them.  I read to them from Genesis 33:5, where Esau asked, "Who are these with you?  Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant."  This is the spirit of the leaders, staff and volunteers in our Treasureland ministry.  They believe that these are the children God has graciously given them to train.  When you read this blog, please pause and offer a prayer for the Treasureland ministry: the leaders, staff, volunteers and the children God has given us here.  Impressive crew!

Forgiveness Hangover

I am still pondering the Erasable sermon.  I studied and preached this past weekend.  The preacher/teacher always learns more than the listener.  Forgiveness should be preached annually at all churches.  It should be a mandatory series.  We all need it and need to give it. 

My text was Colossians 3:13: "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you."  If you ponder that verse long enough, it will really challenge you.  I shared four key words as to how God forgives us.  He forgives us completely, costly, continually, and clearly.  God says that's how we should forgive one another.  Completely means without any ifs, ands, or buts.  Costly means to swallow your pride, your revengeful, retaliatory spirit, and forgive.  Continually, because we are all continual mess-ups.  Clearly, which means using Matthew 18:15-17 and nothing more or less. 

At the conclusion of the message, we listened to Jordan Gibson's powerful testimony of how he forgave the man who stabbed him seven times and nearly killed him.  You can find a podcast of the message and Jordan's testimony here.  (because of the holiday it should be posted by Tuesday evening.)

Who have you forgiven?  Who do you need to seek forgiveness from?  The happiest and most blessed people in the world live out Clossians 3:13 - forgiving as the Lord has forgiven them.  The forgiveness hangover is one you don't want to go away.

May this prepare you for the true spirit of this weekend.

Great Worship at Cedar Lake

Had the opportunity to worship at the Cedar Lake campus yesterday. These are some of the thoughts that went through my mind.

1. The Band was amazing; Ryan Flipse is a gifted leader of worship.
2. Dave Weemhoff is a genuine campus pastor with a very good presence on the platform.
3. Catalyst video was very good and Jordan Gibson was a delight to hear.
4. The set up team and all the volunteers are beyond fantastic.
5. Charlie’s message was right on. (Video venue is almost better than live)
6. I wish more people from Dyer would check it out and maybe continue.
7. I pray more people from Cedar Lake are saved by Jesus.
8. The Auditorium will be cool.
9. People say "Hi" to me like they know me. I love it, but it feels weird.
10. It motivated me to prepare for next week’s message.
11. Jesus gets all the glory!

Wake Up Call

Our house has been hit by the cycle of health bugs.  Laurie is now experiencing her second ear infection and the doctor thinks she found the cause: the onslaught of allergies.  I've had a cough and scratchy throat for weeks; turns out I have allergy-induced asthma.  Carley and Grant are both cross-pollinating colds back and forth to each other. 

All that may seem difficult but it only takes a few wandering thoughts to to give me a wake up call.  Two weeks ago I performed a marriage vow renewal for Ben and Kathy Rodriguez.  They are a  beautiful couple with two adorable children.  He is in hospice care for cancer.  They are amazing to me.  Amazing in their trust and love for God.  Amazing in the lot they must carry.  Amazing in their joy in the midst of tragedy.  Please pray for them.  Please receive a wakeup call, like I did, when thinking about our ailments, complaints and minor bugs in life.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6

A Fruitful Day

Wednesday I spent the day at a conference called Blue Sky.  From 8:30 am to 4:00 pm I sat under the teaching of Patrick Lencioni in the study of running organizations from visioning, running meetings, handling conflict, and much more.  I was one of those who thought, "Boy, I wish I would have had this training 15 years ago!"  I believe Faith Church will see the fruit of this conference today.  The best part is, now I know how to run better, faster, and more efficient meetings!

The two moms that have impacted my life the most are my mom, Barb and my wife, Laurie, the mom of our four children.  This side of heaven, I will not know the total impact these two have had on my life, but I do thank them and love them for their impact on me. 

As I wrote, taught and preached the Mother’s Day message this weekend, I can say that God’s word spoke to me the most.  The “five things moms need to hear from God” helped me.  I hope they spoke to moms and all who heard them.

 

The Five Things Moms Need to Hear from God

1.     God is Spirit – He is not male or female.  Exodus 3:14

2.     Moms are made in God’s image.  Genesis 1:27-28

3.     Moms, you are equal to all men and women in value, personhood, worth, and importance.  Acts 2:17-18

4.     Moms, when you are acting out of your natural image of God, you are God-like.  Psalm 131:1-2

5.     Moms, when you mess up, screw up and fail, God will fill in the gap.  Philippians 4:19

 

So, after a busy weekend where both of the two high-impact moms were out of town, I want to give a big shout-out to Mom (Barb) and Mom (Laurie).  I love you and thank you.  I can see aspects of God reflected in you.  Thanks.

Reaching the Disconnected

I am in Holland, Michigan at a Words of Hope trustee meeting.  Words of Hope is a great radio ministry whose ministry for more than 50 years has been "to proclaim Jesus Christ through broadcasting in the languages of the world's peoples, seeking with our partners in ministry to build the church by winning the uncommitted to faith in Christ and by encouraging Christians in the life of discipleship."  That is living out the Great Commission. 

To learn more about Words of Hope, watch this short video.

Faith Church LaSalle County IL?

One of the coolest organic church movements I may ever witness in my life may be happening as I write this blog. Greg and Sally Firrantello, members of Faith Church, are teaming up with some friends who they’ve gotten to know through Greg’s work to launch an organic multisite of Faith Church in Sheridan, Illinois, near Ottawa. They meet in the loft of a barn and worship God through videos from the prior week at Faith, Dyer. They’ve been doing this for a few weeks already with about 25 adults and 15 children. I stand in awe of God.  

I thank the Firrantellos and the Stewarts for their passion to see God glorified and people get connected to Jesus.  Please join me in prayer for God's blessing on such an amazing possibility. May God's Kingdom come and His will be done in greater Sheridan, Illinois.