Grace

Today we are at Community Church of Joy, pastor Walt Killestad. I've heard of Walt for years... he was one of the first influences in my ministry early on. Again, really big church, but this morning I encountered God.

Today was the opposite of yesterday. No flash, no show... just Walt with a microphone and a message from God to me.

He began by reading from Matthew 7:13-29 (from the Message). He said some powerful things after that... but there is nothing more powerful than the Word. These words may not hit you like they did me... but I think they were meant for me and not for you. So I blog for me...and for my audience of One.

"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life--to God!-is vigorous and requires total attention.

"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character.

"Knowing the correct password--saying "Master, Master,' for instance--isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience--doing what my Father wills. I can see it now--at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, "Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? "You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'

"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit--but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.

"But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."

When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying--quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard."

Matthew 7:13-29
_________________________

God, I no longer want to be successful. Yes, I want to be faithful and fruitful. I want to be obedient. But I will no longer define my success by the world's standards. Thanks for today.

Celebrity Pastors

So I'm at a pastor's conference. It's at a very large church in AZ. The church has 11,000 people a weekend, it has a great facility, tons of programs, etc.

So honestly time: a lot of times when I go to these things I feel REALLY insignificant. I mean I pastor a church of 250+ in a small college town. I'm sitting at these tables with pastors of churches in the thousands. (It's funny how we know that early on... it is our way of putting people on the pecking order I guess). Our church building could fit in their worship center with ease.

And so we listen to these pastors talk about growing your church. (If I hear another, "when we planted our church we were 4 people in my living room and now we are running 8 bizzillion people a weekend" story I'm going to throw up.)

Now, I really am in awe to see God work. Really I am. And I must confess to some level of envy. In my mind, I would love to lead a church like this. So I realize that some of what I'm about to write is tainted with sin...

But I think it's really tempting to measure success by the world's standards. Yes, a local congregation must grow if it is being faithful to the gospel. But what that looks like is very different based on your cultural setting.

And I'm tired of celebrity pastors. If I ever write a book, if I put my face of the cover and my name in a bigger font than the title, would one of you come and track me down and tell me to get off my high horse and get a life? Thanks.

I want to do something significant for God. I want my life to have an impact. And honestly, I look at places like this and I don't feel like I'm doing all that much. Please understand, I'm not depressed as such... just wondering what faithfulness and fruitfulness looks like in my setting.

AZ

So I'm at a conference with a friend in Phoenix, Arizona. It was bright and sunny and well, the upgrade was only $40 for the week... so I'm driving a Mustang Convertible.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I'm not a car guy, but this is one great car.

Post Cruise Blog

I was going to title this the, "Post cruise, sitting in the airport, waiting for my flight" blog... but that was just way too long.

Well, I just got done with my first cruise and it was quite an experience. What they say about all the food is true... there is SO MUCH food it is almost, well it is, obscene. I didn't even eat all that was offered... we skipped meals, skipped courses... there is NO WAY a human being can consume that much food... but so many people did. I don't think I gained the 5-10 lbs people say you gain on a cruise, I actually worked out about 2 hours a day... I think I did pretty well in self control!

Some observations:

1. That is one honking big boat. Really. I'm serious. If you have never been on a cruise ship, you have no idea. It's like an 18 story building floating on water.

2. No matter how big the boat, God is bigger. It's amazing how small you feel as a speck in the vast ocean.

3. It would be tough to be an alcoholic and be on a cruise ship. They push alcohol really, really, hard. REALLY hard. I've never tasted the stuff, so it's not a temptation for me to abuse, but I'm an addict in so many ways this one could easily happen.

4. Never get an inside cabin if you like solitude (because it is one of the places you will spend time in solitude). A balcony rocks. My parents had one... we didn't. So we hung out in there room, but mornings were hard because there was no sun. Very dark. BUT, if you don't think you will spend time in your room and you are a party person... who cares, right?

5. Did I mention the food? Gosh.

6. People are really interesting... as much as there was beautiful scenery, I had much more fun shooting pictures of the locals and saying hi.



I will blog more later, they are calling my flight soon.

lonely

Now, I know my single friends won't have much sympathy, but I am really lonely right now. I dropped my wife off at the airport. She is at a training event in San Diego for work all this week. Honestly, I'm a wimp. I don't function well without her and this house seems so empty... even with a dog and a small child.

Now, I'm not asking any of you to fill my social calendar. I can't really go anywhere... I do have a child, and I have lots to do this week. But I'm just telling you because this is a blog and I'm supposed to do that I guess.

It would be hard to be a single parent. I'm not sure I believe the statement "It's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all." I can't imagine a pain more intense than "love lost," particularly to death.

I don't fear a lot. But I fear the death of my spouse. I guess I would "make it"-- it would be hard --but I doubt I would abandon my faith or anything stupid like that. (I'm not sure what that would look like. Even if I was pissed off at God, it's not like I could choose not to believe in Him.) But I can't imagine my life without her. My sense has always been that I would leave ministry... I'm not sure I'm strong enough to be in ministry and single. God bless those who can do it... I don't see it.

What, would I date? "Hey, want to go to dinner?" That seems so shallow. How do people who lose their spouse do it? Sure, I do think there would be enough grace to "go on" but I'm not sure what kind of "on" it would be.

Okay, now I'm really depressed.

First Step

This morning, my daughter took her first step. I could not have been more proud if she had won a gold medal in the olympics.

Quote of the month (maybe the year)

My friend mdog wrote this...

"This whole Jesus thing, i'm finding, is kind of hard to figure out. it's not shiny and neat. it's not packaged in a beautiful box with a gorgeous bow, unless you think wood, nails and blood are neat and beautiful..."

Go read what she has to say about walking.

My daughter

Sorry, but sometimes I just like to post pictures of her...

Send an atheist church on ebay

This is astounding...

Now, obviously there is a sermon illustration here, so some of you will hear this again...but this really is strange to me in that it's funny, challenging and yet sad at the same time. Interesting.

OU vs Miami Basketball

Didn't get to make the game today. Any of you OU fans want to tell Mdog, Rachel and me what the score was? Who won?

[Snicker Snicker]

Transformation

"The Christian gospel gospel insists that the transformation of the human personality is really possible. Never easy. Rarely quick. But possible." [John Ortberg]

I'm reading "The Life You've Always Wanted" again. For the 7th time. It is probably my all-time favorite book. If you have not read it, go and order it on Amazon.

Go ahead, I'll wait...

You got it? Great.

John speaks to me in profound ways. He is a Dallas Willard fan (as am I)...and BTW, if you haven't read "Spirit of the Disciplines" by Dallas you can oder that when you order, "Life." If you read these two books and "The Divine Conspiracy" [Dallas], you basically have heard ever sermon I have ever preached. Well, not literally (although I do tend to steal from them a LOT), but these two books contain my "life theology."

So I've seen a lot of transformation in my life. Both in me and in people around me. I know it is possible. But we want it quick and easy.

My media friends have taught me if you want a project done, there are three factors: quick, cheap and good. Choose 2. If you want it quick and good... it won't be cheap. If you want it cheap and quick, it won't be good. Rarely do you get all three. (They would say "never," but I think they do it all the time at Central...okay... so it isn't quick in that they spend many hours working on it but they often do it in the context of a couple of days.)

So the same thing can be said about transformation...

It's so funny how we in the modern day church understand the concept of grace. NEVER before in all of Christian history has grace been so cheap. We see grace as a passport to everything we want, when we want it. We REFUSE to "work" at our life with God as we cry out, "I don't want to be legalistic!"

But folks... NOBODY understood grace that way until the last 100 years.

Spiritual Disciplines are a lost art. "Denial," never heard of, except for something simple given up for Lent. Means of Grace? We take communion and never think of this amazing gift that Christians died for in the early church.

I guess I really believe I can become more "loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, self-controlled and gentle." And I don't think it's a passive thing. (Ten dollar term: "Cooperative Sanctification"). And I SO want transformation. I'm so amazing at how much growing I need to have in my life. Thankful for what has happened... but I still have so far to go.

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this. If you feel comfortable, is there an area you want to grow?

try this link...

Go to CNN Video... Alleged sex for salvation

Here is the drag and drop link but I'm not sure it works


http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=1166939772

This bothers me...

This bothers me on so many levels. How does something go this wrong? Who do you believe? What does this mean? I would appreciate your comments.

Yea I know...

I'm fasting. Yea, I know that you are "not supposed to tell people that" but the reason Jesus told people to do it in private was so they didn't brag about it as a sign of being holy. Trust me, after this post, you will certainly not think I'm holy. Or bragging.

I hate fasting. Yea, I know, people have had amazing experiences of God when fasting. Yada Yada. For me, it has always been a discipline. And Hebrews says (and I just echo it) "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful..."

Can I get an amen?

But when I fast I am so painfully aware of how stinkin' weak I am! How dependent I am on food. How food is my god. I celebrate by eating. I relax by eating. When I'm depressed I eat. When I fast, I can't turn to that fake god. I have to be aware of the real one. But the fake one is soooo enticing.

But I still can't stand this. I'm so weak.

See... you can't possibly interpret this as bragging or pride!

Love

Okay, so a lot of you chimed in on the idea of loving God and you wrestled with the question of, "what is love." Thanks. Great discussion. Love is decision, love is an action... love is not feeling... yep, you are all orthodox, good Christians who can quote the bible and could have a career in making Christian bumper stickers. :O)

Now, let me push back a bit.

I have said (and preached) for years that love is a decision. It is part of almost every wedding message I do. And yes, I know that "love is a verb." Love is action. Yes, I know that I choose to love my wife and that my feelings are not always the same. (Although I could debate that point.)

BUT COME ON NOW FOLKS... do you REALLY think that love is a "decision that leads to action?" Is that it? Thank GOD I didn't marry you! [Around dinner and candlelight] "Honey, I think I've decided to act in loving ways to you."

(I'm egging you on in case you don't know it by now.)

But seriously though, is that really what love is? Is that really how God loves me? Does God only love me because he chooses to? Is God's love for my ONLY revealed in his actions toward me?

Or does God passionately love me with such intense feelings I could not even begin to comprehend? Is it possible that God thinks about me every second of the day? Is it possible that God can't get me off His mind? Is it possible that God is so pre-occupied with me that He can't sleep at night so He just stays up watching me sleep?

Oh I know... that kind of love sounds almost scandalous.

But man, if I didn't believe this I would pack up this "Christian thing" and become a believer in some impersonal life force!

Yes, love is action. A decision. But love IS a feeling as well.

God loves you perfectly. He has incredibly strong feelings for you!

Yes, I love my wife. And yes, sometimes that love is a decision... but hey folks... I have incredibly strong feelings for my wife. I'm passionate about my wife. I long to be with her. I miss her when I'm not around her. I love my friends. Yea, they can get on my nerves (mdog, "when are you leaving again?") but I long to be around them.

So yes, let's not reduce love to just a feeling. BUT LET'S ALSO NOT reduce it to JUST a decision, or act of the will, or action.

Honestly, this is a huge thing to ponder... because then what does it mean for us to love our enemies?

Chew on that for a while.

The Walk..."I need a job."

This Saturday I did the Good Works Walk for the Homeless. As the focus of our trip we went to Wendys restaurant and all filled out job applications. We tried to put ourselves in the place of someone who was homeless and looking for a job.

It was humbling.

I work hard. I work long hours. My work is emotionally tough at times. But it's not physical labor and it actually is fulfilling. And, all things considered, I'm paid well. But that is not the case for everyone.

The state minimum wage is $4.25 an hour according to the government website. But let's say you make $5.50 an hour. And let's say you are really good and get 30 hours a week. That's $165 a week (before taxes). How do you live on that? Good Works pointed out that most people working their way out of being homeless don't have a car, so they walk to work. So that is another hour or so that you are not being paid, but it's tied up in work.

So I'm not sure what to do with this information. But it troubles me. And I prefer to live my life comfortably with no conviction... thank you very much.

So I've tried to post some pictures I took of the Walk... but they are on my new site...blogging pictures.

Yes, "Blogging Pictures."

I've never been really creative with names... my childhood stuffed frog was named, "ribbit" and my childhood dog was "brown dog." (You can guess his color.) So there it is, "Blogging pictures."

Also, pictures take forever to upload, so there are only a few. And now something is wrong with blogger... so I will add more later. My favorites are not up yet! (Note to self, always start with your favorites.)

Maybe I will figure out a better way to post pictures.

Oh my...

From an email that came to my church account...

Subject: "The Secret Weapon for Phenomenal Church Growth"

What is this secret weapon? Is it a new church program? Prayer? Starting a new service? Maybe a discipleship or evangelism program?

No... the secret weapon for phenomenal church growth is....

drum roll...

Church signs.

You know, church signs. Like the one out front of your church? What? Never noticed it? Well, if you had one of these church signs, you would. Thousands would flock to hear the dullest of sermons, the most lame, uninspired worship, the coldest of pew sitters... just because of the sign.

From there email: "A church sign is one of the most important investments you can make in your church. It’s hands down the most effective advertising tool you can have.

What can a new church sign do?
Bring in new members
Increase your financial resources
Communicate with your community
Portray and project your church image
Let people know who and where you are"

I wish I was making this up.

Help me Walk?

I'm Paul's daughter, and I'm at that stage where I'm trying really hard to walk...

But I can't.

And you really can't help me.

But you CAN help my daddy walk!

This Saturday he is participating in Good Works "Walk for the Homeless." Good Works is an amazing organization here in Athens that works to change the lives of many struggling with poverty in rural Appalachia. They provide "biblical hospitality" through The Timothy House (the only shelter for the rural homeless in the 9 counties of southeastern Ohio) and through the Hannah House (a long term residential care-community).

But they don't just provide housing. Good Works is involved in job programs, creative volunteer service opportunities, community development ministries... they are making a huge difference in this area.

As part of the Walk, Good Works is asking each walker to find 10 sponsors to contribute a minimum of $10 to help support the ministry of Good Works. My daddy would like to find 100 sponsors.

Would you consider sponsoring him for the walk?

You can donate by sending a $10 check (or more) to:

Good Works
P.O. Box 4
Athens, OH 45701

Or you can donate on line-by going to their web site and click on "Make a Donation." Also, take a second to surf their site and see what they are about. Please drop daddy a note and tell him if you are going to sponsor him.

Sentence order can be important...

So am I the only one who finds the sentence order here amusing?

This is from Princess Cruiseline's "Shore Excursions" book for the Eastern Caribbean. For the St. Barths excursion they are listing what we should and should not bring, stuff about passports, etc. and then they get to this line:

"Please be advised that partial nudity is allowed on the beaches. Those prone to seasickness should take adequate precautions."

Losing weight

Maybe I ought to try one of these.