Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Monday, December 29, 2014
3 Resolutions You Must Make This Year
What follows is yesterday's sermon in 10 statements...
1. Jesus provided three primary commands for those who wished to follow him. They were:
2. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind & strength. "All" is the key word.
3. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Here is the foundational principle for what would someday become the golden rule.
4. Love one another as I have loved you. Jesus' love for his followers was a sacrificial love. He said the greatest love of all is a man who lays down his life for his friends. Then He laid down his life for His friends.
5. Prioritizing these commands in our life requires us to DEMONSTRATE our love through ACTION.
6. Our love for God is demonstrated when we obey ALL his commands. If we choose to ignore certain of His expectations, we are demonstrating self-love rather than love for God.
7. Our love for our neighbor is demonstrated when we positively impact every person with whom we come into contact.
8. Our love for one another is demonstrated when we sacrifice our time, talents or treasures for the good of the body of Christ.
9. Our journey of character formation is made up of the whole of every "step" we take.
10. Each new year's resolution you make is a step toward something. Use your resolutions to form your character to match that of Jesus.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Tonight, My Heart is Full.
And not just because I’m hanging out on the couch with my honey watching a BeeGees tribute band (although that would usually be enough).
Two years ago, Marianne and I moved as far back in the auditorium as we could. We simply wanted to watch our daughter perform in the band and remain as anonymous as possible. We didn’t really know anyone around us, and that was okay.
For several years, we had struggled to move our children out of a dysfunctional school that was not good for them. Now they had started at a new school and were transitioning well, but we were yet a bit numb. We had lost friends; for integrity’s sake, I had left my job; we were making ends meet but had no idea what was around the corner. That night, we just wanted to get in, hear the music and get out.
Tonight was so different.
Tonight we sat with close friends and laughed with the people around us, the parents of our children’s classmates. We watched our daughter do something she loves, surrounded by people who love her. We enjoyed the performance of the children of our closest, life-long friends, people who had made this difficult journey with us.
As we stood to sing carols, surrounded by over 1000 parents, friends and grandparents, I looked over the edge of the balcony and swept my eyes across the crowd of people who used to be strangers but were now friends. There were soccer parent friends and volleyball parent friends, partners in the concession stand and co-chaperones from class trips and parties. I couldn’t help but think how fortunate we are to have been warmly welcomed into this community.
My children are loved by their teachers. They are mentored by coaches who care about every child. They have been positively influenced by older students, and now they are seizing the opportunities to build into the lives of those who follow them. They understand the power of servanthood. I could never have imagined a better environment for their education.
My mind wandered to my church family at The Gathering. Less than a month after that first concert, I received the initial call from a friend wondering if I might be interested in pastoring there. I am so fortunate to teach there every Sunday. I thought about how kind, gracious, generous and loving my church is. I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude that they have been so flexible to allow me to be their pastor and still be a father.
I couldn’t help but think of my friend John and the picture he posted on his Facebook page shortly before his death. He quoted C.S. Lewis, and those words which applied to John’s life certainly apply to mine.
There are far far better things ahead than anything we leave behind.
Indeed, there are.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
How do you deal with life's disappointments?
Some people face minor disappointments and some people face major disappointments. Some people deal with unspeakable disappointment.
But for the Christian, disappointment should never lead to despair. We all have different disappointments in our past, and we all share one common event in the past.
That event is the cross. Christ's work in the past brings peace to our present and gives us hope for the future!
Monday, November 10, 2014
10 Rules To Shape Your Life
- Be good
- Incentivize desired behavior
- Delay spending
- Seek a third solution
- Compliment effort and virtue
- Invest your energy in that which you can control
- Plan ahead
- Confront others lovingly & only for their benefit
- Do your best
- Give credit; claim blame
Monday, October 27, 2014
2 Easy Steps to Change Your Life
Life-Change made simple requires two steps.
2) Replace it with good stuff.
The part of Colossians 3 which you read was part two of our formula above. These were the things you are to bring into your life to facilitate spiritual Life-Change.
Consider this.
Today:
Friday, October 24, 2014
How to Avoid Feeding the Stomach But Losing the Soul
In our efforts to be "in the world", we face a constant temptation to become indistinguishable from the world.
A template for externally-focused living is found in 1 Peter 2:11,
Externally-Focused Christians:
- Understand their identity -- Aliens and Strangers Understand their identity
- Embrace their location -- in the world Embrace their location
- Live Appropriately -- abstain from sinful desires Live Appropriately
- For the sake of the Kingdom -- they may...glorify God on the day he visits us.
Today: Focus your energy on serving someone you don’t know. Imagine what Jesus would do for that person, then do it.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Sometimes You Just Need To End Things!
The new beginnings are always great, but we often miss out on great beginnings because endings are often painful. Too often we choose to continue something we know should end, simply because we are afraid the ending might be too difficult. As a result, we often miss out on what could have been a fabulous beginning.
STOP! You don't need to keep doing that |
Sometimes the truth is uncomfortable, and for that reason people are often unwilling to face it. Almost always, this type of avoidance leads to an even more uncomfortable situation or truth.
Richard Nixon learned this lesson the hard way. When the watergate scandal first broke, he could have stepped in, apologized, and ended the wrong behavior. This would have been painful. He would have needed to swallow his pride, admit wrong-doing, and indict some of his clothes friends and trusted advisors. That pain was something he was unwilling to face, so he chose continued deception over a healthy ending. Eventually, he lost everything because he wasn't willing to lose a few things.
I know this runs contrary to most "wisdom" we hear or think. But according to Necessary Endings (by Henry Cloud), "sometimes the best thing a leader or anyone else can do is give up hope in what they are currently trying." Hope often is the only thing that keeps us going... Sometimes, that is a big problem. Your hope can keep you walking a path that may have been right at some time, but is not right now, and will never be right again. It might be your hope that is keeping you from getting back on the right path.
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Life is full of dead-ends. Recognize them, and move on. |
Of course, some will abuse this concept. We shouldn't always end things musts because they are hard. We should never break the covenants we have made with God or others simply because we have a hankering for something different. But consider this post an encouragement to look at your life. What are the the things that could end, that you could do without. How can you clean up your world to make room for some new beginnings which today are still beyond your comprehension?
Endings don't have to be bad. Sometimes, they are the best thing that could ever happen!
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Before You Yell, Play 90 Minutes in Their Cleats

The first happened while Liam was a footwork clinic (put on by Dan McAllister of FC Joga Bonita). On the opposite field a game was being played by two girls teams; I would guess they were U8 (maybe U10). One dad was standing directly behind the goal loudly admonishing his daughter, the goalie, to play "better". Actually, he was yelling and screaming at her "use your hands", "go out", "cut the angle", etc. When the other team scored, he would throw his hands up in disgust and walk away... not aware that she had turned to see if he would tell her that it was okay.
Most striking to me about this situation was that I was fairly confident, based on the size of this man, that he would not be able to play goalie at any level of soccer. Quite frankly, I think his daughter was making saves that he couldn't dream of making.
The second incident happened last night at my own soccer game. I didn't have my "A" game (by the way, my A game would be considered a low C by most). We lost the game, partly due to my poor play on defense. I can't account for why I played poorly. I was putting forth a good effort, I didn't give up on plays, I was concentrating on having good technique, I talked to my team-mates; in short, I did everything a coach would tell a player to do, but I was just off. My shots were poor, my passes were a bit long or a bit short, my long balls into the box were nowhere near my teammates heads. It was frustrating.
Sometimes that happens. Sometimes I play well, sometimes I play poorly.
It seems parents don't understand this, and I think it's because they have no idea what it is like to play a complete game within the context of a complete season.
My bad game won't bother me too much, because next week I'll have an opportunity to do better, and hopefully I will. My team-mates are always gracious with me, and so I'm comfortable knowing I wasn't great but maybe next time I'll be the one who picks the team up.
But if I was little Jimmy or little Suzie, and I had to hear my parents tell me how poorly I played after that game, I'm not sure I'd want to go back...
So there's this: PARENTS, BACK OFF!
but there's also this: Be really careful about drawing conclusions about someone (not just in soccer, but in all of life), until you've played 90 minutes in their cleats!
Friday, September 5, 2014
Don't Assume the Preview is Anything Like the Movie
Have you ever decided to not see a movie because you were so unimpressed by the preview?
Marianne and I like to get to movies early so we can see the previews, and as we watch them we will whisper to each other whether or not we want to see the actual movie.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Inclusive Christians Offer Grace to All
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. (James 2:1)
- You’ll no longer see people who have offended you; you’ll see people who need to be offered grace.
- You’ll no longer see people who are irritating; you’ll see people who need to be shown grace.
- You’ll no longer see people who drain your energy and resources; you’ll see people who are desperate for grace.
Today: Every time you interact with someone, ask yourself how Jesus would see this person. Then deal with them accordingly!
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
INCLUSIVE CHRISTIANS MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR OTHER'S FAULTS
Monday, August 18, 2014
Inclusive Christians Give Grace Because They Have Received Grace
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Why do you need grace?
Why do you need grace from God?
What do you think it means to be “dead in sins?”
“But God, being rich in mercy...by grace you have been saved.”
God’s grace changes our life.
Today: Take five minutes and give thanks to God for His grace in your life. Consider how you can pass that grace along to others.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
The Source of Life (It's Not the Stork)
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Focusing on Jesus Means Inviting Him Into Your Stress
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Christian Persecution and the Christ-Centered Life

Monday, August 11, 2014
Without the Vine, A Branch is Just a Board
Thursday, May 29, 2014
10 Things You Won't Find in the New Testament's Description of Church
1. Weekly Sunday morning gatherings.
2. Weekly offerings @ said gatherings.
3. Voting.
4. Congregational Singing.
5. Exegetical preaching to a gathering of believers with spiritual transformation in mind.
6. Committees.
7. Youth Ministry.
8. Choirs.
9. Deacon Boards.
10. Buildings owned by the church body and dedicated to church usage.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE GATHERINGS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH, YOU WILL FIND:
- Prayer
- People Reporting About Ministry
- Group Discussions
- Prayer
- Discipline
- Reading Letters From Other Believers
- Did I Mention Prayer?
File this in the "for what it's worth" box. You can decide if you want to do anything further with it!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Emotional Health Is The Result of Following Christ's Agenda
Maybe you’ve experienced the sleeplessness that ensues when your mind becomes full of the cares of the day.
What do you think Jesus would say to you if you told him about your stress, and your anxiety? What would he tell you to do?
Living a life centered on Jesus means I must invite Him into my stress. Especially on the days I’m overwhelmed, I must find the time and make the effort to turn my focus away from my own issues and toward His agenda for my life. Whatever “important” things have grabbed my attention, they pale in comparison to what Jesus says is important. If I can learn to share his focus, I’ll quickly find my life to be far less stressful and far more purposeful.
Read and Contemplate 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
"And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."Paul was addressing a dysfunctional church full of people who had their own agendas and were therefore unable to get along. His solution was to focus on Christ.
There are days when my life resembles that church. I am pulled in so many different directions by the interests of life that I feel I can’t even get along with myself. I need to focus on Christ.
When I live by my own agenda, I demonstrate a belief that my wisdom is sufficient to get through the day. As Paul said, true faith is resting in the power of God rather than the wisdom of men.
It is scary to center your life around Jesus’ agenda. It feels like some really important things might not get done. But if I pursue Christ’s agenda and rest in God’s power, I can be sure that anything which does not get done, was not really important.
Today: Before you get too busy, ask yourself what Jesus would want you to do with your day. Center yourself on that goal, and let God take care of the rest.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Here Is A Simple Way You Can Be a Partner With Satan
I like it when people say nice things about me.
It makes me feel good about myself, and it makes me think that maybe I am doing something well. Sometimes people tell me I'm a good soccer coach. Sometimes they tell me I'm a good preacher. Sometimes people tell me I made a nice golf shot. Some people have told me I'm a fast runner. Once someone said I had above average intelligence.
These things make me happy.
I don't even realize that sometimes these people aren't telling me things for my own good. They may not even believe them, but they know I will. They're saying nice things about me because they have an agenda, or because they want something from me.
A few years ago I was reflecting on my week and realized that on three separate occasions, I had been paid compliments by people that initially made me feel very good about myself... then i started wondering if those compliments were truly sincere.
- One person told me what a great job I was doing in a particular area.
- One person referred to the positive influence I had on someone they knew.
- One person told me what a great fit I was for an upcoming project.
Later, it struck me that each of these instances had given me an opportunity to feed the monster that lies within me
(aside)... and then I realized that likely none of these people really believed what they were saying. They were flattering me.
i regularly point to the concepts of pride and autonomy as the root cause of virtually all sin. thus that which feeds my pride and autonomy is feeding my "sin monster"
(aside done)
Flattery is defined as "excessive or insincere praise."
Flattery is a powerful tool which causes us to gain a false view of ourselves and those around us, and if not recognized, will typically lead us into temptation by feeding our pride and distorting our view of reality and truth.
Flattery is manipulative. It is something we all do when we want to gain an ally or a partner. It is not something we do when we want to gain a friend.
By the way, this observation isn't original with me. Proverbs 29:5 says:
Whoever flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for his feet.
I've noticed a disturbing trend among many people who find it "appropriate" to use flattery as a tool for gaining influence, winning friends, gathering "buy-in", achieving promotions, etc... Sometimes this methodology is even encouraged and honored. I find it particularly disturbing when I sense that I am flattering someone in order to get them to see things my way. Ahh, the darkness that resides in us all.
No wonder Proverbs 28:23 says:
He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue.
Eve fell prey to a flattering tongue. The serpent tickled her ears with ideas of being god-like. He fed her monster by suggesting she was being treated unfairly, that someone with her gifts and abilities certainly deserved more privilege and responsibility than God was giving her.
His flattery distorted her perception of reality and truth.
This is what I must remember when I find myself flattering someone. I have become the serpent. I am appealing to their pride and autonomy so that they will do something to benefit me. In reality, I have become the tempter. I've become the serpent. I've led my neighbor into the wrath of God.
Scary.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
The Definitive to Guide to "Keeping It Real"
However, everyone hates a hypocrite.
Perhaps "hate" is a strong word, but the point is that very few people want to be friends with someone who acts hypocritically. Hypocrisy can be simply defined as "pretending to be what one is not." How many of us fit that definition sometimes?
Think about this question for a moment, "which is worse: someone who pretends to be religious at church or someone who pretends to be worldly in the world?"
Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good pleasing and perfect will." Conforming means to change outwardly, or to change the shape but not the properties of something. A Christian who conforms to the pattern of the world is someone who is living in the world and whose lifestyle looks exactly like the lifestyle of the world.
Conforming to the pattern of the world might mean chasing wealth and success by trampling other people. It might be adopting the world's standards of sexual morality. It could be a choice to willingly sin because it "feels good" or it "looks good." The world's pattern exalts pleasure, self-centeredness, lust, uncontrolled passion upward mobility and more. It is very easy for any Christian to get caught up in these pursuits.

Are you conforming? You are either:
1. A Christian who acts like a Christian.Everyone want to be a person who is "keeping it real." Keeping it real means we might look a little different than those around us. In fact, if we aren't noticeably different, maybe we aren't keeping it real at all. Maybe we're actually hypocrites?
2. A Christian who is a hypocrite (acts like the world).
3. Not a hypocrite, but not a Christian.
Friday, April 18, 2014
6 Reasons Good Friday Is Good
Take time to read the passage for each question, and then for each word, answer the four questions below:
- How would you define this word? What is an example of this from every day life?
- How does this word apply to the relationship between God and humanity?
- Did this happen immediately (at the cross), later (sometime after the cross), or is it a future event?
- How does this effect me personally?
THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS
Restoration. (Revelation 21:5-6)
Redemption. (Ephesians 1:7-14)
Regeneration. (Ephesians 2:1-6)
Reconciliation. (Romans 5:10-11)
Ransom (Mark 10:45)
Restitution (1 John 2:2; 4:10)
Once you've finished, spend time in worshipful prayer thanking God for His grace as demonstrated through His Son.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
5 Things I'm Communicating To My Church Family To Prepare For Easter Guests
I send an email to my church family every other week. This is one way I can communicate to them and invite them to communicate back to me. This week I did not have an all-church email scheduled, but I sent one instead. I wanted to be sure we had done everything to be prepared for this Sunday. God may bless us with many guests this week, and my desire is that we will be excellent hosts. This email is one way I'm trying to foster that.
If you haven't prepared your church for Easter guests, there is still lots of time for you to send an email!
Sunday is Easter! This is often the most crowded day of the year in American churches, so I wanted to take a moment and send a few suggestions your way.
This Sunday morning, we have a great celebration planned. I hope you are planning to be a part of it. I want you to know that right at 10:30 we'll be launching into some creative and meaningful pieces of the Easter service. If you aren't there at 10:30, you'll definitely be missing out! This is a great week to get into the worship center on time...
More importantly, we will likely have many guests this Sunday. This is the only week of the year when many people come to church. We want to do everything we can to warmly embrace all our guests and demonstrate the love of Jesus to them! Remember, we are called to serve, not to be served... even on Easter Sunday!
Over the past year, I have been impressed over and over again with the incredibly friendly spirit that exists at The Gathering. I hear from many people who visit how welcomed they felt (some of you who are reading this have experienced that warmth!) Please think about these ideas to help us create a welcoming environment this Sunday:
- Try to arrive early and sit near the front or in the middle of a row. We want to leave plenty of easily accessible seats for any late-coming guests.
- If you see someone who looks lost, ask them if you can help them out.
- During our connection time, meet someone you've never met.
- Don’t race out. Enjoy a conversation or two before you leave.
- Fill out your connection card. If everyone is writing on their card at the same time, we create "positive peer pressure"
Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day we commemorate Jesus' death. We are reminded of the great price He paid so that we could be the recipient of God's rich blessings. But He didn't remain dead! He rose again, and by doing so, He launched a brand new day in human history. I'm looking forward to celebrating our NEW DAY this Sunday! See you then.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
If You Are Asking What God Will Permit, You're Asking the Wrong Question
How far is too far?You’re asking the wrong question.