Being Remarkable

If you have the time, this is a great talk from Seth Godin about what makes ideas spread. It's called being remarkable. Worth watching. CLICK HERE.

Dizzyness..

I was sitting in my office chair the other day with Elizabeth Anne when this thought popped into my mind:

"Hey, I wonder if she would like it if I spun around in the chair?"

So, holding her upright facing me, we spun around one full circle. Her eyes got big and she made a funny face.

"So I thought, she likes this!"

We made another full circle, this time a little faster. Result: Another funny face.

This time, TWO full circles faster.

Elizabeth Anne looks up at me and smiles...then proceeds to spit up all over me and her.

I am such a dufus!

What a great church!

Today my church did something they really didn't have to do. They took some time with us to explain why it is they do the things they do. I thought it was pretty cool.

I attend the contemporary worship service at Frazer UMC. Click here for a link. As you know, contemporary worship is sometimes bashed in churches because of the music, drama, pop-culture references, casual atmosphere, etc.. that is present. Sometimes people just don't get it and assume the worst. They think any reference to pop-culture is from Satan, anyone wearing jeans to church is going to hell, and any rock and roll music is an abomination. Contemporary church leaders everywhere probably get at least one strong comment a week on what they are doing incorrectly.

Well, if you could have heard the passion and heart of John Schmidt and Rob Webster, the leaders of contemporary worship at Frazer, today...you would have to think otherwise. Here is a brief outline. I was proud of them! They opened up and explained why they create the atmosphere they do, from music choice to words on the screen. They covered it all. Ultimately, it is 100% about reaching people and doing everything they can to encourage all people, both believers and non-believers, to live out the principles of Scripture. The guys are absolutely passionate about it.

It's a privelige to worship at a place like that. Where they don't let the traditions of men get in the way of reaching people where they are. It reminds me of this passage in Romans 14:17-18, "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too."

Way to go John and Rob, truly doing work for the Kingdom of God and a couple of my real life heroes!

Bigger?

I woke up this morning at my now usual 4:30 AM time. Fed Elizabeth Anne, put her back in the crib, made some coffee, read my Bible, and ate breakfast.

Then at 6:00 AM, it's wake up time for everyone, including Chase.

I am not kidding when I say from 4:30 to 6:00, Elizabeth Anne grew! I am telling you her head was bigger!!

Or maybe it was the coffee...

Lesson Recap - Drift or Grow?

Today we discussed Mark 4:1-20

What do we do with God's message? The message that Jesus died for us so that we can know Him? Well, we either drift away or grow toward.

Jesus explains in a story about seed and soil how people sometimes respond when hearing God's message. They either drift or grow.

We talked about what causes someone to drift:

1) Unwillingness to give up things that you know are wrong. (footpath)
2) Hardships and/or being made fun of for your faith. (shallow soil)
3) Desire for things that won't last. (thorns)

All three things distract you and can result in you drifting from God. So how can we combat them? What helps us grow?

1) Confession and Obedience combats unwillingness to give up sin.
2) Nourishment combats the hardships. Reading the Bible and praying deepen your "roots" or relationship with God.
3) Generosity and Service combats unhealthy desires for things that won't last.

The question is....Are you drifting or growing? Are there things listed above you need to think about and/or do to stop drifting and start growing?

The ultimate result is a life of "fruit". A change in your character, and a change in the way you influence those around you.

Happy Easter!

SHOTS...

Elizabeth Anne got her 2 month shots yesterday... Just terrible. Most pain she has ever felt. Mom was crying too.

When I got home from work, both my girls were just pitiful. I looked into their eyes, you could just see the hurt.

Shots are bad!! : (

We had to have extra cuddling for them all night. That seemed to make the hurt go away.

I like Jesus...not the church

Eye catching title to an article recently published in Outreach Mag.

Here is the link

The article says that these are the top perceptions of how 20 & 30 somethings view the church today:

1) The Church is an organized religion with a political agenda.

2) The Church is judgmental and negative.

3) The Church is dominated by males and oppresses females.

4) The Church is homophobic.

5) The Church arrogantly claims all other religions are wrong.

6) The Church is full of fundamentalists who take the whole Bible literally


I wonder if people in my town have this same perception of my church?? I wonder what I could do to change that perception?? Are these perceptions legit?? Something to ponder huh...


The article, which I recommend reading, closes with this statement that I completely agree with:

"May those who like Jesus but not the Church understand the Jesus of the Bible and the full, wonderful life that His life, death and resurrection bring. And may they move from liking Jesus to loving Him, and from not liking the Church to loving it."

A first

Yesterday, Elizabeth Anne spent the afternoon at Day Care for the first time. Mom was not thrilled.

I picked her up anticipating the ladies to tell me how Elizabeth Anne wore them out and to please take her...

But she slept the whole time and was a perfect baby!

That's my girl!

Lesson Recap!

This morning was my first time back in Sunday School since the end of Jan. It felt good to be back and see everyone. Here is the lesson recap:

We discussed Luke 9:10-17.

Picture woodstock without the bands... this was the scene. There were probably 10,000 men, women, and children spread out all over the hillside just to see and hear Jesus.

Late in the day, they realized there was no food - and Jesus looked at his team of 12 and said, "You feed them!" Of all ways to feed the people, Jesus took that route. Why? He could have snapped his fingers and made everyone a Big Mac right then. But why say to his team.."You feed them"?

Well...maybe it's because he wanted them to participate in the work he was doing. He wanted them to serve, talk to, and feed all these people.

And nothing has changed. Jesus wants us to participate in his work. He could snap his fingers and serve, talk to, and feed everyone in this world if he wanted. But he doesn't take that route. He says to us...."You feed them."

The question is: Will we just sit there and say, "Impossible"??? Or will we try to serve, talk to, and feed others? Only one of these decisions allows you to participate in the work of God. Don't miss out!