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Why Go to Church!

Our senior pastor at Crossroads Church in Loveland Colorado, @johnsmithcrsrds, has shared in a couple of leadership settings that statistics are showing that the average church attendere goes two out of every nine weeks.  Stating the obvious -- this is not good!

A few years ago in a leadership gathering with Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willowcreek Community Church Bill shared five reasons why it is important to go to church -- I trust this will resonate with you.

1. Jesus modeled it for us. He made it a practice of His.  Luke 4:16 "When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom."
2. A reminder that you are not alone -- that 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, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

 

"Thank Offerings"

"My vows to you I must perform, O God; I will render thank-offerings to you."  (Psalm 56:12 NRSV)

So we have been in Fort Collins Colorado for close to 10 weeks now – hard to believe I am saying this.  During this time I read Psalm 56:12 and have put into practice of regularly taking time to write in my journal what I am thankful for.

As many of you have been praying for our family during this season of transition here are some of things I most thankful for during the past 2 and ½ months.

Thankful  …

Both Rhett and Emersen have adjusted well to their new surroundings – making friends in the neighborhood and enjoying their new school.

Tara is enjoying her daily times with God as she has creation pathway and our neighborhood lends to this.

That some of the promptings I sensed God was leading me in has come to fruition in regards to Crossroads Church.

Our house in San Diego sold within 10 days of when we were scheduled to close on a purchase of a house here in Fort Collins.

For the countess amount of prayers offered up on our behalf during this season.

For the friends I have made in San Diego that will last a lifetime.

I am at a church that is allowing me to leverage my gifts to my fullest.

There is a Starbucks 6/10 of mile from my house.

There are rumors of a Costco coming to the Fort Collins area.

From day 1 of being in Colorado “unexpected friends” have been present that have made our settling into our new home easy.

My Lead Reads ... What's in My Kindle.

Our family has been in a season of transition this summer and one area that has suffered as a result of being in continual packing and getting my house ready for sale mode is my self leading practices -- in particular my reading efforts.  Reading daily is a part of my Life Plan replenishmnet cycle and is necessary for me to keep my thinking sharp and my mind active to be able to resource myself and others whom I lead and influence.

As we settle in our new life in Fort Collins I am eager to get back into this practice of reading daily.  On the right column "What's In My Kindle" is the books I have or will be downloading to read during the last four months of 2012. 

Some have asked me how I come with my list. Here is some ways I go about putting my list together.  And I highly prod you to have a pipeline of books ready to read so once you finish one book you don't meander trying to figure out what's next, but rather having the next one ready to go!

• The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) this two day leadership training event usually produces a couple of books that catches my attention because either one of the speakers references the book or it is a book the speaker has wrote. John Ortberg's Who Is This Man ... is an example of such a book.
• There are some people I simply read whatever they write such is the case with Jon Gordon -- his fast reading, yet highly impacting books -- gives me a great boost of leadership energy.  His latest book is The Positive Dog.  In addition Peter Drucker also in this category of trying to read whatever he has written hence Innovation and Entrepreneurship being on the list.
• By recommendation by a friend and/or colleague.  In this case Dennis Anderson, whom I work with at Crossroads, suggested N.T. Wright's How God Became King.
• Interest in the subject matter.  Such is the case with Cynthia Montgomery's The Strategist.  Strategic is one of my core strengths -- so anything on this topic will catch my attention.
• The rest usually comes from me browsing a bookstore's store leadership and management section.  Why do I go to a bookstore still when I download all my books.  The main reason is that if you search Amazon by topic you get literally tens of thousands of listings.  In addition it is still easier to pick up a hard copy to scan the table of contents and read a few pages, though for reading an entire book -- Kindle is the way to go for me.

I hope this will prod you to come up with your own book list.  I am still open to a couple of suggestions so please let me know what you are reading.

The Kaya Family Prayer Requests Part 2: The Transition

We arrived late Thursday night in Fort Collins Colorado covering 4 states, 18 hours and 1200 miles.  We want to thank all of you who have experessed various sentiments and lifted up many prayers on our behalf -- we ask that you please continue to pray.

So here is a few pictures giving you a glimpse of our new life ...

First with no cable service yet that means no wi-fi and if you know me this is like death.  Thankfully there is a Starbucks 6/10 of a mile away from our house.  This is an incredible help and also incredibly scary for my bank account.  Ironically the first time I visited Colorado this is the very first Starbucks I went to.

The movers came yesterday, and there is much to do!  Need to get a washer and dryer, some stuff done around the house and if you know me -- I as a handyman makes Ed Noble look Bob Villa -- so please pray!!!

Here is an intial look at our new home -- please pray that our house in San Diego sells fast.

As for tonight the entire family will be meeting with the Creative Arts Team (Programming/Worship) after the Saturday night service.  Here is a view from my office.

My last picture for now ... If you got into talked to me in leading up to our coming to Fort Collins, I have made much about how there is no Costco in reasonable distance from where we live.  This is especially heightened by the fact there was a Costco less than 3 miles from Journey.

So in the spirit of We Bought a Zoo's "9-mile Target," today we will head out to our "50-mile Costco" in Denver. 

What I will miss ...

It is fairly obvious that I will miss this place.  This picture was taken yesterday driving away for the last time.  In fact my son Rhett said it best when he said, "Leaving Journey is like leaving home -- we pretty have come here everyday since I was born."

However, here are a couple of other daily go to spots that may not be as obvious that  I will definitely miss.  This Starbucks on Campo Road in the "77" is one where I received impecable customer service almost every day and sometimes more than once a day. I need to find "my" Starbucks in Fort Collins.

I have no doubt that if a 24-Hour Fitness would not have been a 3-mile drive away, I would be Biggest Loser material.  It was also great place to run into people from Journey and invite people to Journey.  Thankfully, there is a 24 Hour Fitness within a couple of miles of our new home.

For those of you have moved ...  What places did you miss?  Or if you were to leave what would you miss?

The Kaya Family Prayer Requests Part 1: The Trip to Fort Collins/Loveland

Our summer can be defined in two words: packing and boxes.

So many of you have been so gracious in praying for me and my family during this season of transition and you continually grace us by asking how you can continually pray for us.  So the time has finally come the moving truck has left and it is time for us to go.

With that being said here is how you can be praying for us as a family as we drive out today to Colorado.

This is the first of several posts specifically regarding how you can pray for us.  I thank you advance for all your support.

1. Safety in our travels as we will be making the 18-hour trek over two days arriving in Fort Collins on Friday.
2. That movers would get there on Schedule (Friday) and all of our stuff would be intact.
3. All the logistics and details of getting settled in would go smoothly -- getting utilities, cable and other amenities all set up.
4. Rhett & Emersen would love their new school and make great friends right away -- they start Tuesday Aug. 21
5. Our home in San Diego would sell quickly and at the optimum price.
6. God's continual grace, peace and favor.
7. That it would be a fun road trip.

A 16-Year Journey Comes to a Close

On February 25, 1993 being relatively new to San Diego (just 2 months) my roommate at the time, Clint Hardick, invited me to the first public gathering of Horizon Christian Fellowship Rancho San Diego.  It was there in Suite 160 on 2930 Jamacha Road where I heard founding pastor Mike Burns share the vision that he and his wife, Laurie, had to start the kind of church that could potentially reach the 400,000 plus unchurched in East County San Diego.  Though I was on staff at another church at time -- I remember leaving inspired by what I heard that evening -- I count it as such a privilege to have been amongst the first 40 that were there that evening.

It would be almost 3 and 1/2 years later on September 7, 1996 that I had the privilege of joining the staff of that church that we know now as Journey Community Church where I have been serving ever since. During this time I have held almost every pastoral role in the life of our church -- most recently serving as the connections pastor -- where I provided leadership to our small groups ministries.

Well last weekend, August 3 & 5, I shared with our church that my time at Journey was coming to a close.

The short of it is that after much prayer, fasting, counsel and the leading of God's Spirit I accepted the call to serve as the executive pastor of Crossroads Church in Loveland Colorado.  I cannot begin to tell you (in future posts I will) what an exciting opportunity this is for our family!

Our family -- my wife Tara, whom is the one I think most of you will really miss has served as a kids ministry director for several years, my son Rhett & daughter were recipients of gracious send off and heart-felt prayer.

Over the past 16 years I have had the incredible privilege of serving under two Godly leaders -- Mike Burns and Ed Noble respectively, worked with a great staff team and serving with some of the best volunteers in the world.  

In addition I cannot thank you enough for the countless prayers you have prayed on behalf Rhett over the past nine years because of his heart condition and I trust that I can count on you to continually be praying for him moving forward.

Also there been so many life moments that took place because of Journey most notably I met Tara here and both my kids were dedicated here.

However, perhaps what I am most grateful during my time here is how you, the people of Journey, allowing me the incredible opportunity to have a front row seat in your lives where I have been able to see God move in some amazing and miraculous ways that served to strengthen my own relationship with Him in ways you will never know this side of Heaven.

It has been incredible privilege and honor to have been a part of this team for so long, however the greater honor for me was to be apart of you in this church -- so with all this being said.

Thank You!

READING IS LEADING

I know there are different ways to learn, however for me reading is one of the best means.  So as we wrap up 2011 and move forward into 2012 -- I have laid out my first several reads for the new year.  This is one of the best ways for me to keep on track in my self-leading efforts.

I can feel the difference when I do not regularly seed my mind with good brain food.

So in the column on my right: What's In My Kindle I have laid out the several books I plan to read this year.

Simply put "READING IS LEADING!"

What are you reading as you enter this new year?

Merry Christmas from the Kaya's 2011

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To our online community of friends on Twitter and Facebook we want to thank you for staying connected with us and enriching our lives throughout this past year.  We want to wish a Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!

For a child has been born for us,
   a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
   and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Love,

Emersen, Rhett, Tara & Rod

My Second Grader's Telling of the Christmas Story

Before school let out for Christmas break my son Rhett's 2nd grade teacher asked each student in class what they thought Christmas is about.  Here is the response that he typed out.

The actual project he turned in is below and I have retyped verbatim what he wrote out.

The most important thing about Christmas is Jesus' Birthday and Jesus' being born its also about the wise men and Jesus' Mom and dad.. They had to sleep in a barn well Jesus was born.  When Jesus was born he had to sleep in some hay in the barn.  It smelld bad there was donkys and shee and maybe a cow.  Three wise men followed a star that took them to the new born king and the new born king is Jesus!  When the wise men go there they gave Jesus some stuff and that's what Christmas is all a bout.

By Rhett

Join Me in Going Barefoot Tomorrow!

Will join me in going barefoot tomorrow (Tuesday April 5) in support of One Day Without Shoes.

Many of us were inspired by TOMS and its chief shoe giver Blake Mycoskie after seeing him share at the 2010 Global Leadership Summit (GLS).  TOMS has an innovative  business model, "one for one" that is not only providing a quality product to consumers but is making a global impact by giving a pair of shoes to a child in need every time a pair is purchased.

  

Toward the end of last year I had a chance to visit the TOMS headquarters.  Click here to see what my experience was like.

Are you ready to ... "SHIFT!?"

This weekend we begin what could potentially be pivotal and life-changing series for us a church and as individual Christ Followers -- the series is called SHIFT.

At certain times, we need increased momentum in our lives. We feel like something is a little off, we are lugging a little too slow or somehow need a surge of juice. That¹s when it¹s time for a shift.

This isn¹t about going in the wrong direction, it isn¹t a U-turn, it¹s about executing a gear change, it¹s a about an adjustment that will give us momentum A SHIFT.

This series will look at five different shifts that we think are staring us in the face, five cultural shifts, five momentum changers for us as a community and you as an individual. We only have so much energy so let¹s use it wisely, let¹s make sure we¹re in the right gear. Let¹s shift!

February 25 + 27    SERVE SHIFT From Renters to Owners
March 4 + 6             STUFF SHIFT From Giving to Surrender
March 11 + 13         FAITH SHIFT From Wishing to Expecting
March 18 + 20         MISSION SHIFT  From Watching to Engaging
March 25 + 27         PRAYER SHIFT From Saying Prayers to The Center

Jesus Creed "The Series"

Jesus Creed the series will be launching this weekend at Journey.  The series based on the book The Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight will be a part of a church-wide initiative that will include an accompanying group study that all of our small groups will going through.   In additon there are supplemental learning materials --  McKnight's books the Jesus Creed and a devotional 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed.

If you are not in a small group and would like to join one.  New groups are starting in view of this current series.  The Jesus Creed small group study will begin the week of Jan. 17 and continue for the next 7 weeks to coincide with the series.  You can sign up for a group and/or purchase either of the Jesus Creed books at the Small Group Rally tonight 6:30pm at Journey Community Church or after the services this weekend.

Also toward the end  of the series we are excited to have Scot McKnight join us. For a complete breakdown of the series, see below.

Here is a complete breakdown of the weekend series:

“Spirituality”—most of us feel like we want it. We would like to think of ourselves as a “spiritual” person. But how are you suppose to figure out whatʼs real, whatʼs true, what actual spirituality looks like? Even if you are connected to a church, who do you ask? Even if you decide to read the Bible, where do you start? I mean itʼs a big book! Itʼs almost like we are suffering from information overload. It would be nice if someone who really knew what they were talking about could boil it down and just give us something
to work with. Enter Jesus, who did just that. 

“Love God. Love your neighbor.”This little ditty is something author and New Testament scholar Scot McKnight calls “The Jesus Creed.” Join us as we take a closer look at the center of Jesus Spirituality.

• January 14 & 16     Everything Life in a Line
• January 21 & 23     OneThe Lord is One…and that Changes Stuff!
• January 28 & 30     WhoThe Great and Very Wrong Question: Who is my Neighbor?
• February 4 & 6       Unlikely A Connection with God Where You Least Expect It
• February 11 &13   Scot McKnight Author of the best seller, The Jesus Creed
• February 18 & 20    Love Itʼs Not What You Think

No Bible Reading Plan in Place ... No Problem

So we are heading toward the half way mark of January and if you don't have some type of Bible reading plan in place?  No worries, but I would prod you to do something. 

In most years I have had something in place before the New Year has begun.  In the past of I have read through The One Year Bible (which we offer in different formats in our bookstore), The Chronilogical Bible in a Year, or a specific series of devotionals.  However, this year I find myself stuck, with no plan in a place.

Yet, there is a need to do something. We need a steady of diet of God's Word getting through us regularly. So in the mean time here is what I am doing and this is something you can dive in today if you find yourself stuck.  Because January is a 31 day month, read one chapter of Proverbs every day and read one Psalm each day corresponding to the date on the calendar.  I have found my first days of this year filled with great reminders of God's faithfulness and recementing of some foundational truths.

Now here are some places you can check out with potential plans:

• Our Daily Journey ministries has some great resources stop by their counter after services.
• The You Version provides over 50 different plans.
• The Discipleship Journal has some solid options.
• New Hope Christian Fellowship has some great plans.
• A customized reading plan for you via MONVEE

If you plan in place that is serving you well, I would love to hear about it.

"My Top 5 Movies of 2010" (God at the Movies 8 candidates?)

God at the Movies has been a series our church has done for 7 years running.  It has proven to be a series that stirs up great conversation and presents an incredible opportunity to bring spiritually seeking friends.  Now whether we present an 8th installment of this series this summer has yet to be decided.  However, as it is the beginning of the year and many are making lists of what their favorites and best of's the past year. 

Here are my top five movies of 2010 all of which, in my opinion, would be great candidates for God at the Movies 8 should we decide to do it.

1. The Social Network (for those of you missed it in theates, it comes out on Blu-Ray and DVD on January 11.  Aaron Sorkin proves again what an incredible writer he is.)
2. Inception (This is really more like 1b and a film you will need to see more than once)
3. Toy Story 3  (The best of the three. Whereas sequels never deliver like original, this one does!)
4. True Grit (Go see it now.  Who doesn't think Hailee Steinfield playing Mattie Ross gives a stellar performance!)
5. How to Train Your Dragon ( Very poignant learning moments for me as a parent and leader)

I hope you will be prodded to go and see some of these films. 

What were your favorites from last year?

Do any of these make your list?

Pray Who They Can Become

In a previous post I shared the first of two practices that I want to encourage us to engage in this coming year that will help keep God as the "one thing" in our lives.  This practice is one I have developed more recently and so I am gradually trying to make it a habit.  I hope you will be prodded to do the same.

PRAY WHO THEY CAN BECOME:

At the heart of this practice is simply lifting up a short silent prayer on behalf each person you come in contact with in the course of your day.  We don't need to know where they are at in their spiritual journey all we need to pray is that they would become all that God created them to me.  Ephesians 2:10 is a great verse that speaks to this notion,  "For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life."

Now if we know the person, we may offer a specific request on their behalf, yet with the same spirit praying that they would become of who God intends for them to be.  Jesus gave us a great example in how he saw Peter when He said in Matthew 16:18  "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it."  When Jesus made this declaration hardly anyone could imagine Peter in this light, yet Jesus did not only see Peter as he was, but who he could become.

 

Adding "Angst" to Any Christmas Gathering

Now that  Christmas is becoming a memory  and in a few days we will be putting away the Christmas tree and packing away all the decorations, here is something I want to prod you to put in the vault for next Christmas.

Most of us attend several Christmas party/gatherings during the course of the season.  Some are highly anticipated, some are more of a commitment or obligatin, some you wish you could put more energy toward -- these are some of the ways we approach them.  Now with these gatherings there is not only a commitment of our time, but also, in a lot of instances, we are responsible to bring a dish (if it is potluck style) and some of you might have some type of gift to bring for a gift exchange.  So seemingly simple tasks are exaggerated because there are so many of them.  So in the midst of an already full schedule and season here is how you can angst to any of these Christmas Gatherings.

You can do so by adding this gesture.  Ask each person that attends to bring a gift for Jesus.  It is His birthday afterall that we are celebrating right?  And when I am invited to a friend's birthday party, I believe the understood norm is that you bring a wrapped gift.  So why would it not be any different for Jesus the King of King and Lord of Lords. 

Trust me when I say this will be met with angst.  Now why would I want to add angst to an already somewhat stressfull season?  I will explain in a moment. 

Up to the day of the party they are usually in a quandry as to what to bring..  When I have done this in the past, people usually have these type of responses:  "What?"  "I don't understand?"  "A gift for Jesus???"  "Do I get Him clothes, I don't get it?" 

And my answer to these questions is always the same, "It's a birthday party, have you not bought a birthday gift before?"  This usually does nothing for them, but add to their frustration.  So again why do this?

Because it can lead to one of the most meaningful Christmas gatherings you may have.  I speak from experience. 

20 years ago when I began following Christ.  I was invited to a Christmas party and when I asked what I should bring thinking it would be a food item, I was told simply bring a gift for Jesus.  And I went through all of the angst and frustration that people I have posed this question to.  I called others I knew who were attending the party, the host -- all who offered no help.

Yet, it proved to be the most meaningful Christmas.  When we sat in a circle to share our gifts I was incredibly moved to see the thought, creativity and heart that was put into each gift. 

This past Christmas that we just celebrated we did a birthday for Jesus in one of the gatherings  attended , and no fail it had a similar effect of adding angst but more important meaning.  The gift I brought for Jesus is in the picture above. You might think I that is an odd gift, but there is explanantion to the significance and the meaning.

Until next Christmas ..

"MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Kaya's"

MERRY CHRISTMAS

To all of you who enrich our lives through our on-line community.  Thank you for all the times  you made the effort to comment on our wall on Facebook or replied back to us on Twitter. And thank you for sharing your life aswell through these means.   Your friendship is a gift.

Wherever you may find yourself this Christmas may you celebrate well the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

"Why?" The Greatest Question

A quick thought ...

Last night while flipping through the channels I landed on watching a few minutes of Larry King's final show of Larry King Live. A show that started on CNN in 1985, that he was now calling it quits after 25 years.  The segment I caught had Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member Fred Armisen playing Larry King interviewing Larry King.

It was fun exchange of questions and one that was posed to the real Larry King that really piqued my interest was,  "What is the greatest question?" 

To which King replied "Why?"  He explained that asking this question (Why?) does two things: 1. it can not be answered in a single word and 2. it gets people to think.

 

 

What a Difference a Year Makes!

On November 9 at the Journey-Up Rally I had the privilege of interviewing four people whose lives have been linked by and radically changed by a series of promptings and invitiations.

One of the persons whom I interviewed was Marie Foster.  One year ago to the date of the rally Marie was confronted by the most devasting news of her entire life.  And now a year later she was sharing about how she had come to know Jesus in a personal way, was baptized and is being healed of past wounds.

What a difference a year makes! 

However, this interview was a bit of teaser.  There was much left in her journey we wish we could have heard and was left wanting.  That was by intention.  This weekend (Dec. 3 & 5) as we kick off a brand new series A LITTLE MORE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT we will get to hear her journey in its entirety.  The purpose of Marie and others on the panel sharing their journeys  during this series is to convey how critical a simple invite to a weekend service might change someone's life for eternity.

And what a great opportunity is in front of us as this series leads up to four Christmas services we will be having on Dec. 23 & 24.  For a complete break down of the series and info on our Christmas series click here.

Be sure to pick up invitiation pieces at Guest Services.

 

 

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

"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.

Halloween Was a Real Treat!

In a post released earlier today, I answered a question that was posed at one of our town hall meetings this past week -- "Will we be bringing back the Family Fall Festival?

In that post I answered the question with the practical and stategic reasons why we wont do the event. At the same time there was strong spiritual conviction that was developing within me on why we should not do the event and this conviction was deepend after what I experienced last Halloween.  Not to sound to corny but Halloween was a real "treat" for me.

To read about it click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope this post will prod you in some way in how you approach the events of the evening and I hope you will share a similar experience this Halloween.

7/11 Vintage Us

This weekend Oct. 29 & 31 we will be presenting the 7th out of the 11 messages scheduled for the series Vintage Us.  Now that we are just past the half way point it gives me opportunity to try reinvision us for the rest of the series. Often times in a longer series (6 weeks or more) we can hit a lull in our inviting as well as our attending efforts.

So I hope these thoughts will stir some thought in you.

First, we have 5 great weekends left a list of those specific messages are below.  And if you are new t the series click here for a series description.

October 29 & 31:  Full Disclosure — Suffering and Persecution (Acts 5b, 7 & 8)
November 5 & 7:  Leaders-R-Us — God Invites You to Lead (Acts 6)
November 12 & 14:  The End of Exclusion, Part One — Godʼs Inclusive Vision (Acts 15)
November 19 & 21: The End of Exclusion, Part Two — Godʼs Expansive Community (Acts 15)
November 28:  The End of Exclusion, Part Three — The Core that Pulls Us In (Acts 15)

Second, I know that the programming team are prayerfully bringing their best efforts to craft services, that are fresh, Biblically relevant, creative and mindful of our spiritually seeking friends -- all this to say that services will be well done and you can be confident in your inviting efforts.

Third, we want to continue be mindful that lost people matter to God and that those around us need him more than ever.

All this to say hope to see you this weekend and be sure to bring someone with you!

Just Can't Be True of Me

On many occasions when friends make a Starbucks run, they graciously text or call me to see if I want anything.

And I am a cheap date -- no $5 barista-intensive drinks for me.  It is either drip coffee in the morning or ice coffee in the afternoon.

Yet people get a kick when I give these specifics regarding my order.  I usually say,  "I will have a grande coffee in a venti cup with enough half and half to the color of a tan M&M."  If an iced coffee I say, "Venti, unsweetened with enough half and half to the color of a tan M&M.  I thought my specificity was being helpful.

Now it has been brought to my attention how stressful this request is.  I guess they struggle trying figure out what color a tan M&M is?  

Recently when a friend picked up a cup of coffee for me, the following was written on the cup and it wasn't my name.  She swears she did not write it.  This just can't be true!

Journey "Community"

Today I began my 15th year on staff at Journey Community Church with an all-staff community outreach at San Miguel Elementary School in Lemon Grove.  We gave our time normally dedicated to our staff devotions and weekend programming meeting to clean out and organize a teachers resource center that has been needing some attention for 10 years.  Do to budget cuts, staff reductions and limited funding what we may consider normal operational tasks are now luxuries. 

This is a first of what will be many opportunities to serve our neighboring communities.  Specifically we are building a long-term relationship with this school under the great leadership Principal Heidi Bergerner (pictured below in the center) that you will be hearing more about in the near future.

 

And what is true in almost every instance where we live beyond ourselves and for others, that those serving not necessarily the recipients are the ones who benefit the most and are grateful for the experience.

Our team did an incredible job! And our team was incredibly energized, already asking when the next team outing will be.

San Miguel Elementary is considered at Title 1 school with a good portion of children coming from families of under-resourced means.

Why I Go to Church

Today I was reminded afresh of two simple learnings that have stuck with me for some time and has proven true,  time and time and again.  The first being the importance of going to church.  I told you they were simple, yet it is coupled with this thought -- "You never know how God may speak and that is no small thing."  The second being that the real ministry often takes place after the official and planned programming is over.

After finishing my hosting duties at the conclusion of the 9am service a woman, whom initially I did not recognize, asked for a few moments of my time.  She shared how this was her second week back at Journey and how she attended for a period of time 10 years ago.  She further requested to meet with our newly appointed senior pastor Ed Noble and myself in the future to share all that God has done in her life.  In addition she wanted to thank us for our role in the process.

Now I was curious.  I could understand Ed's impact through his messages and, though she had been living on the East Coast for the past  seven years she could easily be listening to the Journey podcast, but my role was unclear.  Then as she further shared her journey, my memory was coming back to me and now her face became recognizable.  

10 years ago this woman attended Journey for the first time and I prayed with her after the service.  She shared how being Jewish she could not reconcile who Christ claimed to be.  She sensed God's movement in her life, but Christ, His death on the cross and His resurrection was a stumbling block to her.  Yet she did not want to give up on the stirring that was taking place in her life.  At the time the songs we sang in service,though moving at times, when they mentioned Jesus she could not sing them.  She wanted some direction.  She mentioned that I encouraged her to read The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel and affirmed her desire to pursue God.  Long story short after successive weeks of attending Journey and her own personal study of who Chris was over time, she came to recognize Jesus Christ as her Messiah and she wanted me to know.

Wow!

This was the highlight of my day! -- on a day that there was much to celebrate and praise God for.  

Going back to my two simple learnings. Now, my vocational role predicates me being at church.  Nonetheless if I was not there I would not have had this connection.  In addition I would not have been able to hear through her story the affirmation that what we do through this local expression of a church matters and is making difference.  In addition it was not some planned element, but a chance occurrence, she ran into me as I was about to exit the worship center.

Psalm 122:1 says "I was glad when they said to me let us go to the house of the LORD."

The Best Type of Interruption

I tend to keep a pretty full schedule and I am completely lost without a watch (that is set at least 5 minutes ahead).  And within the time blocks I have I try to get the most of out of my minutes.   So as a general rule, I do not like interruptions of any type.  One setting where I try to keep particularly focused is during my workouts.  On occasion people may recognize me from a church and want to chat, which immediately I begin to look at the clock hoping the conversation can wrap up in between sets -- which is never the case. 

Sometimes I get lucky that Ed Noble, our teaching pastor, is working out at the same time and I usually say something like this, "You know Ed is working out at that station over there and I am sure he would love for you to say hi."  Which usually does the trick.  People gladly talk to the pastor instead of the occasional weekend host.

I always smile walking by Ed as he engages the other person still some 15-20 minutes later.

Yeah, I know I am a bad person.

Yet if there is an interruption that I welcome -- it is when someone "briefly" shares what God is doing in their life.  Now as much as I love hearing the big praise stories where we hear God do something miraculous or where God intervenes in some possible life-altering situation -- the best type of stories, for me, is when people share everyday life situations where they take seemingly simple steps of obedience or follow through on a gentle prompting of the Spirit.

In recent weeks, on a couple of occasions, I left 24 Hour Fitness (Temecula, where I normally workout : ) very encouraged as someone shared with me these two incidents:

1. After hearing the message on Sunday this person felt prompted to lead the Pop Warner football team he helps coach in prayer before the game.  He shared how nervous he felt about approaching the parents and coaches about praying for good sportsmanship and safety for the kids.  And when he did ask for permission how cool it was thatl the parents were so grateful that this gesture was being made.  Now they pray before every game!

2. After an altercation with a fellow coach, instead of going into a full blown argument, he decided to walk away recognizing that the outcomes might have taken him to place where he simply did want to go.  He shared that God has done so much in his life the last thing he wanted to do was go back to behavior reminiscent of old and just as well be forgotten lifestyle.  So though he may have lost the argument, he gained the knowledge of God's continual working in his life.

These two situations may not be earth shattering, but they are the situations where God is doing some of his most tranformative work.  I don't know about you, but I have a lot easier time trusting God with "big" things of life versus the everyday.  Jesus himself said that the process of following Him is an incremental, daily practice -- Luke 23 ESV says ... And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

3 Things I am Committed to Praying for Our Church

This morning during my quiet time I felt prompted to pray for these three things for the life the church members of Journey Community Church during this next season.

Praying that we will ...

1. Commit to being the best version of who God created us to be.
2. Lead where we are.
3. Have a heart for those outside the walls of our church.