American Idol Church....

I'm not a fan. Don't ask why. I'm not even a causal watcher. But the last two weeks I have caught American Idol Gives Back on Wednesday nights. They actually have a full choir and "worship tunes" with megastars. It seems that they even take an offering. Actually listening to Shout to the Lord right now! Many mixed emotions here. Great songs, great message, great cause great theology.....except that the rest of messages they 'preach'. I hope that the message of the Gospel sticks and the message of dualistic lifestyle doesn't. However, if history means much, the dichotomy will win out. Jesus and blank you in the same show within two minutes, that's the message this world is preaching. It seems that everyone wants in on the power and mobilization of the message of love and giving. However, this hybrid message of Jesus and everything else will lead to death. This should challenge the church to know that we are not cutting it. We need re-evaluate how we are communicating and reaching out. The church must rise up and offer the pure Gospel without dumbing it down, reach the world and make a difference.

oh well, my thoughts.

Revolutionary Love.....

I am excited to announce that Revolutionary Love is coming soon. At TC we refuse to just show up on Sundays and play church. We have to be the church; not just go to church. The most powerful force on the earth is love. God is love and I think He's got the power thing locked up. He's the hands down favorite. If we have been touched and changed by His love then we should share it. The Bible even says that we have freely received and we should freely give. So I am encouraging us to share the revolution, the revolutionary love of God. Stay tuned for more info on this crazy opportunity.

Ten Questions Every Leader Should Ask....

The following is taken from Craig Groeschell's blog...swerve.

Ten Questions Every Leader Should Ask

1. What did I learn in God’s word this week?
2. Is my burden for prayer growing or diminishing?
3. Does my heart break for the things that break the heart of God?
4. Have I grown accustomed to or accepted sin in my life?
5. Am I doing ministry out of an overflow of God’s work in my heart or out of my own strength?
6. Has my teaching and ministry deepened, changed, or evolved in a positive way in the last year?
7. Do I have a sincere peace that I’m living an authentic life of spiritual integrity?
8. Is my heart growing larger for people and God or is it shrinking?
9. Am I closer to God today than I was a year ago?
10. Do others comment that they can clearly see evidence of God’s work in my life?

Which of these resonate with you? What else would you ask?

Man 2 Man....

Coming soon..... Man 2 Man, a monthly service designed to empower, mobilze and encourage men to be priests of their homes by being formed in the warrior image of God. Stayed tuned.....

Disciples or Christians....

I am really excited about starting this new series. Disciple: becoming fully devoted followers of Christ. A mentor, Craig, has preached this series and I really sense God's hand on this series. Too often our Christianity boils down to religious practices and looses intimacy with Christ. This series will help us recapture our distinctives, passions and callings. Are we concerned with obeying Christ with illogical obedience or blending in to the cultural landscape, not make too many waves and mind our own business and arrive in Heaven safely. Do we want to spend it all, leave it all on the field for Christ? This five week series will challenge us to meet weekly in homes as in Acts 2 and be the church not just go to church once a week. Its my prayer that we radically answer His call and fulfill our destiny. Join me for this exciting journey. I commit to being a lead-learner on this adventure.

Secret to doing Kingdom work....

God has placed His Hand on you to do mighty exploits for His Name. Be encouraged to not lean on your own understanding. Schooling, training and work experience teach us to figure it out, work through it, pull all-nighters and dig deeper. There comes a time that we as ministers must cast all our cares on Him and lean not on our own understanding. We allow His Spirit to refresh and restore (Acts 3) and we literally enter into His rest. His love, joy, peace and grace produce fruit that will remain. The funny thing about a fruit tree is that it doesn’t stress about producing fruit. If it rains enough and has adequate soil it will just bear fruit without trying. Worshipping and hearing God speak will cause the joy of the Lord to be our strength. We will hear His voice and another we will not follow. There’s a word in the Greek that means automatically, without human effort. It’s found in Mark 4:28 when Christ is speaking about earthly seeds automatically growing. He is sharing a powerful parable that illustrates the seeds of the Kingdom of God growing and producing fruit through our lives. As seeds grow and don’t show up in one day, so are the spiritual seeds growing in our hearts.

Mark 4:28
‎Automatee‎. By its own energy, without either the influence or industry of man.

Grace showed up….

God's grace showed up wonderfully today. Salvation, healing and deliverance. Through the blood of the Lamb and the word of Pastor Josh's testimony God moved us to pray and lay hands on the sick for healing. During prayer one received salvation. I thank God for His presence. God continue to help us preach Your grace so we receive Your finished work. Help us to rest in You; in Your finished work. The only thing that really works in the Christian walk is the finished work. Christ has already tasted death once and for all. He has paid it all and finished the work. The only thing that can stop God's grace and power in our lives is us. We hold the power to resist His grace, to operate in unbelief. If we will receive the Word of God at face value and allow God to work it through us, then we will receive all His benefits. Remember, God can't stay away from us, He loves us so much that He shows up and heals, delivers and saves.

 

God bless