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The Journey Holiday

This past weekend during our worship experiences and in a previous post -- I shared why it is important to go to church and with the holiday season going into full swing beginning with Thanksgiving I want to layout what the next six weeks will look like so you can set your calendars accordingly. 

So Here is the Holiday Schedule at Journey:

Friday Nov. 26         No Service in view of Thanksgiving Holiday

Sunday Nov. 28       Vintage Us part 11 (Communion Service) 9 & 11 am.

A Little More Christmas Spirit
'Tis the season...and it's going to be over before you know it. If you're over the age of 10, Christmas sneaks up on you too fast, and is gone before you have the chance to really enjoy it. Instead, let's imbibe deeply in what we've come to call "the Christmas Spirit." How about a little more this year? The following three weekends will be meeting at our regular times of Fri. 7pm and Sun. 9 & 11am.

Dec.  3 & 5     A Little More Sharing

Dec. 10 & 12  A Little More Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Dec. 17 & 19  A Little More Celebration

Christmas Services: A Little More Cheer
Thursday Dec. 23 (7pm)  & Friday 24 (2,4 & 6pm)

Sunday Dec. 26 one service only at 10am.

Friday Dec. 31 No Service in view New Year's Day holiday

Sunday Jan. 2, 2011 regular service times 9 & 11am.

Jan. 7 & 9, 2011 regular service schedule resumes

Journey Community Church meets at 8363 Center Drive La Mesa CA 91942.  619.464.4544

The Bible Going Through You

John Ortberg, author of The Me I Want to Be, shared in a previous work, "More important than going through the Bible, is the Bible going through you."

Along this same train of thought Dallas Willard when asked what spiritual practices were most helpful in communing with God?  He shared along with solitude, the memorizing of chunks of Scripture is most important,  suggesting a great place to start would be Colossians 3.

I have also found that immersing myself with certain chapters of the Bible to the point that I become so familair with it that interacting with it becomes like a second nature also has the same effect of getting the Bible through me.  When I say familiarizing myself with the text I am referring to being able to quote certain parts of the chapter, summarize the chapter's main points and simply retelling the overall story or lesson with your own words.

One such chapter that I have found important for me to familiarize myself with is Acts 10.  After reading and reading this chapter over and over again, here is a helpful outline to get grasp on this 48-verse chapter.  This is the chapter that I will speaking on this weekend.  Here is a basic summary of the book. Obviously this is not all to tell about this chapter, and at the same time if someone were to ask what is Acts 10 about you can answer with this basic over.

1:        God Speaks to Cornelius  (10:1-8)
2:        God Speaks to Peter  (10:9-20)
3:        Cornelius and Peter Speak to Each Other (10:21-33)
4:        Peter Speaks to the Gentiles (10:34-43-48)
5:        We Speak to the World

 

"5 Reasons Why You Should Make Going to Church a Priority"

Earlier this year at a small gathering of Global Leadership Summit (GLS) site pastors Pastor Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church lead a mentoring session where we could share recent learnings in the leading of our respective churches.  Through the course of dialogue Bill brought up the importance of reminding our  congregations why it is important to go to church.  What he shared gripped me and I have often referred back to my notes.

As we head into the holiday seasons and our schedules get a little fuller and a little less routine with various gatherings to attend and travel.  It can be real easy to de-prioritize church attendance.  So now is as good a time as any to remind ourselves why we need make going to church a priority.

So here my notes from that gathering.  The content below I will be presenting in my message this weekend.

1. Jesus modeled it for us. He made it a practice of His.  Luke 4:16 When he came to Nazareth, where he hadbeen brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom.

2. You are not in it alone -- you are not crazy.

3. Important for our children.  Your kids are depending on you, they cannot drive themselves.

4. The Power of the Manifest Presence of God.  Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."
   
5. Out of Discipline and Obedience. Hebrews 10:24, 25 "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

"Why Thanksgiving Always Comes Early for Me"

Next week around this time most of us will be experiencing a food coma to varied degrees as our Thanksgiving festivites start winding down.

However, since 2003 Thanksgiving has always come about a week early for me.  In 2003 on Nov. 17th my son survived open heart surgery to work on a heart defect  Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).  He had the surgery when he was exactly five months old. The months leading up to the operation were often an emotional roller coaster which involved numerous doctors appointments.  Yet through it all we (my wife Tara and I) were able to see the thread of God's faithfulness.

No one can prepare for that kind of journey.  Through my vocational experiences as a pastor of nearly 20 years I have had a front row seat to the depth of human tragedy.  Through the years I have watched many go through these trials courageously holding onto their faith and trusting in God during these seasons.  I would often say to myself "I do not know how they do it."  The second thing I would say to myself is "I could never bear what they are going through."  Yet I have learned when you are in it, God gets you through it.

One of the ways he got us through it was the thousands of prayers lifted up for our family from our friends, church and others whom we do not even know.  Yesterday marked 7 years since the operation.  Rhett is not completely out of the woods yet.  We have an annual echo-cardiogram that tracks the development of his heart valve.  So far every year we have been given a good report.

So as Thanksgiving will be celebrated as a nation next week I want to express my heart felt thanks to all of you who have prayed and continue to pray on my son's behalf.  Now you can understand why Thanksgiving always comes early for me.

The pictures were taken last Saturday at the Phoenix International Speedway as we took in our first NASCAR race together.

Learning from TOMS

Since its inception  as a footware company a friend and work colleague had been challenging me to take a look at TOMS Shoes.

After hearing Chief Shoe Giver Blake Mycoskie share the story of TOMS at The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) this past August I was definitely inspired by the TOMS story and was prodded to learn more about this company that is not only making a quality product, but having a global impact through it business model (One for One) that for every pair of shoes purchased gives away one pair of shoes to a child in need.

I love finding out what makes organization tick. So when I was given an opportunity to come visit their main offices in Santa Monica, I could not pass it up.  So yesterday I met with their Community Outreach Manager, Allie Tsavdarides,  and left encouraged by company's vision and story, but I also left encouraged with some great leadership learnings as well.

First -- the product. On the right is an example of a TOMS shoe you would purchase.  The shoe on the left is the one a child would receive.

In the United States, TOMS are worn primarily as casual wear.  However, in the countries that TOMS gives its shoes away, this is often a child's only pair.  Hence the color black because it matches most school uniforms.  Shoes are of the essence because these schools require a full uniform that includes shoes.  In addition because they are made for mutlifacated, daily use and they are often customized for that specific countries needs.

Again the shoe on the right is the one you would purchase, the one on the left is the one given.

Now my leadership take aways were invaluable! 

The first being the importance of keeping the mission of an organization clear, focussed and in front of the people.  The word "GIVE" (in reference to their innovative business model of giving a pair away for every pair purchased)  is displayed at various places throughout the warehouse and in some very creative ways. 

The other key leadership learning I took away was the importance of an organization's culture and having the right people on the team that contribute to the team's cultural DNA.  At TOMS skill, character and experience are give-ins in any employee.  What is also critical, is the expression of creativity whether you are in the finance, sales, design or any facet of the company.  And walking around the place, it oozes with creativity.

I hope you will be prodded to make a difference by buying a pair.