Foolish & Stupid

Paul warns young Pastor Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:23-24 to avoid "foolish and stupid" arguments that produce quarrels because quarrels end up making us resentful, instead of kind.  This is good advice for me personally because I tend to be competitive and want to "win" arguments."  However, I'm not sure an argument can actuall be "won." 

I think Paul's advice is also applicable to the church as whole who unfortunately is know more for what it is against, than what it is for.  Christians appear not to be unified and certainly loving when we waste time arguing.  Here's stupid and foolish arguments I've gotten into:

• The King James Version of the Bible vs. every other translation


• Predestination vs. free will


• Which style of worship is the "best" (God never says!! He wants a type of worshipper, not a type of worship.)


• Elders vs. Deacons vs. Congregational votes vs. Committees


• Why church in a movie theatre is okay :)

In 1917 while the Communist Revolution was literally occuring in the streets of Russia, the Orthodox Church was inside debating the color of choir robes!!  When the church and when we as Christians get into "stupid" arguments people around us are headed for hell.  We must remember our mission to reach, redeem, restore, rebuild, and reclaim. 

At Rock Bridge we've intentionally decided to major on the majors and simply be who we are and do what God created us to do.  Here's a saying that has helped me:  You never have to defend obedience to God!

God's Working On Me

God's work on me never stops.  At times it's painful and at times its exciting but it is always moving me closer to being who He created me to be.  Lately, in my journaling and quiet times, I've tried to be more alert and aware of where God is working so I can cooperate more with Him.  Bill Hybels even goes so far as ending his prayer time by writing a big 'L' on the page of his journal and the writing out MY CHARACTER, MY MARRIAGE, MY FAMILY, MY MINISTRY.  He then just lets God speak to him about those areas of his life.

Here's some glimpses of God's words to me about cooperating with His work on me:

• To work on patience.  I'm a high results person (just ask our staff :) and sometimes I can be impulsive and force things when I should wait. And of course, waiting on God is biblical and sign of trust.  But God is patient with me ... which is such an act of grace on His part.


• Purity is proportional to God's presence and God's presence is proportional to my purpose.  In other words, I was created to live in, walk in and experience God's manifest presence.  Sin disrupts all of that. Purity is the return path to intimacy with God.  Think about it: in the OT they built temples for God's manifest presence.  In the NT, we are that temple!! God needs a temple ... us!!  2 Timothy 2:21 is my theme verse for this work of God on me.


• God really want to speak to me in personal ways about personal things!!  The book Walking With God is unbelievable about the subject of listening to God ... it has absolutely take my relationship with God to a whole new level.

Stretching Questions

I think there is nothing like the power of a good question ... and sometimes it is revealing to ask, "What am I NOT asking?"  God has used questions to challenge, convict, and comfort me at times.  Here are some questions that have really stretched me, my faith, and my leadership:

• There is a difference between believing in and trusting in God.  Is my relationship with God based on belief or trust?


• What decision have been putting off and why?


• Who do I need to ask forgiveness from?


• If Rock Bridge went away, would it be missed in our community? Why or why not?


• What one thing could I do/we do that costs nothing but a little time and effort, but would yield big results? (So many times we only think of big, costly improvements while ignoring the simple, obvious, and effective things we could do immediately.)


• What is God working on in my life right now?

Weekly Rundown (1.25.2009)

• We got through the "freaky" stuff in Ruth 3 today.  Great services ... God is moving in our midst.


• I'm hearing more and more stories of our small groups actually practicing what we call "Acts 2" community, based on this passage.  Nothing beats real community and real fellowship with God's people!!


• Big time construction work resumes tomorrow as part of our Next Step campus exapansion!!


• The Super Bowl is NEXT Sunday and I'm struggling with who to cheer for: I love the underdog, no respect story of the Cardinals & their QB Kurt Warner is committed Christian; but I also respect the Steelers storied history and classy organization and like their head coach.  Should be a great game either way.


• I got to hang out last week with a group of pastors to discuss how the recession is affecting churches.  Casey Graham of Rethink Money sponsored the luncheon ... Casey's a great guy and leader who has a heart to see churches reach their full potential.


• Also got to spend some time with the awesome staff of Oak Leaf Church in Cartersville, GA.  This church is 2 and a half years old and running 1100-1200 people in worship!! They are rocking Cartersville for Christ.  Michael, the pastor, is a great communicator and leader.  Rock Bridge, pray for this church and their staff!!


• We are working to take the level of prayer in our church to a whole new level!!  I love this statement that I read the other day: Pray your church to its potential!!  Rock Bridge, we need to be praying for God to move and work and redeem in our midst.  Every Sunday, every small group, every youth group event, every children's service, every contact is a divine transaction with souls at stake and WE MUST HAVE GOD'S POWER & PRESENCE TO FULFILL HIS PURPOSE!!

Weekly Rundown (1.18.09)

• I hate being sick!! I get behind at work, bummed out, and ungodly (just ask my wife).


• I've started studying and praying at home a day and a half each week.  It has been awesome and has increased my personal productivity and Holy Spirit sensitivity.  I've learned over the past 6+ years that I have to guard my focus and protect time in prayer & study.  As our church has grown, I've had to constantly evaluate whether or not I am giving God my best time to hear from Him and get a "Word" from Him to give to our church. 


• I'm really proud of our staff ... they are working hard, working together, and working for God!!


• This is the first time I've preached through an entire book of the Bible, verse by verse, since 2004.  The preparation is a different ... more study and analysis of the culture, context, and characters.  And I know the messages are running a little longer ... hope ya'll don't mind :)


• Last Sunday we had a TON of first time guests!!  That gets me pumped up that people are coming to Rock Bridge to meet, hear from, and experience God!!  We can NEVER forget the amazing opportunity we have every single Sunday to impact and bless people.


• The most challenging thing in today's message for me personally was the word "EXPECTANT" -- that everyday is a divine appointment to make and not miss!


• This Sunday we're in Ruth 3 ... get ready for some freaky stuff!!

Weekly Rundown (1.11.09)

• First Wednesday was off the charts and simply a beautiful time of worship and prayer.


• As part of the 1st Wednesday service, I confessed my need for lots of prayer to pastor this church.  Our church needs lots of prayer to reach the true potential God has for us (Ephesians 3:20-21).  Here are some things you can always pray for:  wisdom for our leadrship, anointing of our services, salvation for the lost, the unity of our church, and God's glory to be increased through Christ in His church.


• Great day today at both our campuses!!  Can't wait to see what God does in 2009!!


• I'm really excited about our current series, Woven.  It's been awhile since I preaching through one entire book of the Bible but I've really enjoyed preparing for this.  Some big time spiritual truths are revealed in the Book of Ruth.


• 24 starts back TONIGHT!!


• Dawgs lost Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno.  Lots of ?'s heading into Spring and the '09 season.  Hard to see any team dethroning the Gators in the SEC next year.


• I'm out to watch the Steelers - Chargers.

Who over What

We put a lot of attention on what we do.  What do you for a living? What do you do at church? What do you do for fun?  The emphasis is on activity, tasks, projects, and assignments. As a Type A personality, high D (DISC profile) temperament, this emphasis suits me well ... maybe too well.

God has really challenged me that His emphasis is not on what we do, but who we are and who we are becoming.  His emphasis is on our heart, our character, our integrity ... after all, we are human being not human doings.

• When God picked David to be the King, he rejected the older brothers saying that He doesn't look at outer appearances but at the heart.  How much attention do I put on my heart condition over my hair, face, and body condition?


• When Paul wrote his letters to Timothy he told him to train himself to be godly and to pay attention to his character & teachings carefully.  What am I training for and what gets my attention?


• Paul tells Timothy to simply set an example in 5 areas:  speech, life, love, faith, & purity.  What example am I setting?

The focus here is clear:  who you are is more important than what you do; and ultimately, who you are affects everything about you, including what you do.

I've committed to memorizing this verse in the next few weeks: 

2 Timothy 2:21 (NLT) -- If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for His purpose.  Your life will be clean and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

New Message Series: Woven

We kick-off a brand new series this Sunday, called Woven.  (click here for the web link).  We're going to be talking about how God can work through everything that happens in our lives ... both good and bad:  Does everything happen for a reason? Did God cause the bad things that happened in my life? How do I handle tragedies and triumphs?  All these questions and more will get answered and we'll do it by studying the entire Book of Ruth for the next 4-5 weeks.  This short little book (4 chapters) packs a big punch.

Also, please think about WHO you know that needs to see God's hand at work in their life circumstances? Who needs to understand how a good God can work with bad things and bad decisions and bad circumstances? Who needs to know that God's blessings have a big purpose?

Pray for them right now and then call, email, or text them and invite them to Rock Bridge this Sunday!!

Separation Anxiety

My dogs, Bear & Sammie, get separation anxiety when Beth & I aren't at home.  Sometimes they get destructive, sometimes they get rebellious, and sometimes they just get down in the dumps.

I get separation anxiety too ... from my wife! We were around each other for almost 24/7 since right before Christmas which was wonderful and amazing to reconnect with her that way.  But on Sunday, it was back to work and back to reality.  I got a text from Beth saying, "I am having separation anxiety from you!!"  Made me feel great to be missed like that and it was how I felt too. 

Do you realize separation anxiety exists between us and God?  When we separate ourselves from God, we tend to get more anxious, rebellious, and sometimes destructive with our lives.  And God, sends us an amazing text message through His Word and His Son to tell us how much he misses us and hates being apart from us!! 

Don't be separated from God in 2009!!