More Than Just A Game!

Our sports ministry has a slogan that they use in their ministry: "More than just a game."

Our sports ministers want people to understand that when they are playing sports at Christ's Church that they are only playing a game and that--even though there are many benefits to athletics--there is so much more to life than sports.

This is the lesson that my boys learned while playing indoor soccer in our church league.

At the end of the season the children were asked to give up their brand new jerseys, cleats, and soccer balls for children in Honduras supported by one of our missions.

The response was overwhelming.

Last week, a team from Christ's Church, lead by my friend David Lawson, went to Honduras to serve and to deliver these gifts to the children.

On his blog, Purpose In Every Step, David posted a video of the children in Honduras playing soccer in the jerseys and cleats.

Check it out:


I can't wait for my boys to see this video and to see the joy on the faces of the two other little boys who are now wearing the jerseys that they donated last month.

I want my boys to see the joy that comes when we give.

I want my boys to see what can happen when we simply love people.

I want my boys to see that these children are just like them.

I want my boys to see that it is truly more than just a game.

Don't Go To Church, Be The Church

Last Sunday our church started an exciting new program called Faith in Action. It's a program that leads up to a Sunday on which the church is dismissed to go out and serve. This is going to be the highlight of the program. We will meet at the building for a short--very short--program and then we'll be dismissed to serve around our community.

Our project team has collected a list of 131 projects for our people to do. Some are for as few as 4 people with our largest job providing 800 people a chance to serve.

We have been working on this church-wide campaign for several months and we can't wait to see what God does through this dynamic program.

My wife and I are leading a small group which starts tonight. We are so excited for the opportunity to get to know the people in our new group and for the chance to serve others with them.

Ever Been Covered in Manure?

My friend Daniel Decker just wrote a great article which he posted on his blog.

In his post he asks:

Have you ever had one of those days (weeks, months or years) when everything seems to be stacked up against you?

He then continues:

Nothing appears to be going right despite your prayers, good intentions, hard work, and determination. It can be a very disheartening time. A time when doubt and insecurity can slowly creep in and make you feel as if you are stuck in a hole with no way out. Now imagine what it must be like to be a seed.

Now imagine what it must be like to be a seed.
One day Mr. Seed is just minding his own business, hanging out with the other seeds, dreaming about how they can’t wait to become mighty fruit trees one day.
Then all the sudden the Farmer reaches his hand into the bag and pulls out Mr. Seed, shoves him into a hole, covers him in manure, almost drowns him in water and then walks away to do the same thing to the next seed.

Can you imagine what Mr. Seed must be thinking? His nice little life, dreaming of becoming a mighty fruit tree has been ruined. “Why Farmer, Why,” he shouts! He’s lost in the dark, feeling scared, defeated, unsure of what is next, wondering why the Farmer would just leave him there and worst of all… he’s covered in MANURE!

I found this article both clever and enlightening.

Click here to read the rest of the story: Think. Be. Do. random thoughts from daniel decker

Leadership Lessons

I read Exodus 18 and 19 in my devotions this morning and I found some great leadership lessons.

Let me start with the 4 lessons I learned in Exodus 18.

From Jethro--Moses' Father-in-Law in Exodus 18:

Brief background--Jethro comes to visit Moses at his camp at the base of Mt. Sinai and while there witnesses the method that Moses is using to govern the affairs of the people. Jethro sees the people standing "around him from morning till evening" (18:13) and offers Moses some leadership "advice" (18:19).

Leadership Lesson #1--Delegate (Exodus 18:14,18,21-25)
Moses is trying to do God's work all by himself and--as Jethro so clearly puts it--that approach to ministry is "not good" (18:17) because Moses "cannot handle it alone" (18:18). I know too many people in ministry who could use a "Jethro" to remind them that trying to do the work of the church alone is a huge mistake.

Leadership Lesson #2--Take Criticism Well (Exodus 18:17)
I really struggle with this one . . . but I'm working on it. Jethro doesn't mince words telling Moses that his solution to the problem (helping the people to discern God's will) is problematic. "What you are doing is not good" (18:17). Moses didn't get his feelings hurt, try to make excuses, or get defensive. He simply listened and made the appropriate changes to his management strategy.

Leadership Lesson #3--Trust Your Team (Exodus 18:22)
I've always built a team of people I trust, not people I hope to trust. I don't expect my team to earn my trust; I expect them to keep it. There's a big difference between these approaches. Jethro encourages Moses to appoint judges to help him and entrust them with the responsibility of discerning which cases are "simple" and which are "difficult." Jethro advises Moses to let them handle the "simple" cases and only bring the cases that they deem too "difficult" to him. And that's exactly what Moses does (18:26). He chooses "capable men" (18:24), makes them leaders, and then he trusts them to do their jobs.

Leadership Lesson #4--Be Teachable (Exodus 18:24)
We learn that Moses "listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said" (18:24). No matter who we are (or think we are :)) or what we've accomplished none of us are beyond being able to benefit from wise counsel.

Can you call yourself a "Christian" this year?

Fellow blogger Mark Batterson and I have been corresponding about his first triathlon. On his Blog Mark writes about competing in his first triathlon last weekend.

Triathlon is an amazing and highly addictive sport, so I wasn't surprised when, after the race, Mark admitted, "I think I'm hooked. I can't imagine not running another triathlon."

When I wrote to congratulate Mark I made sure that he knew that he was now officially a "triathlete." Which may seem obvious to you, but that's only because you don't know about the secret triathlete laws. Here are a few:

1. You can't wear a t-shirt from a race unless you've actually finished the race. It would be inappropriate for me to wear a "Ironman Florida" t-shirt if I haven't finished the race.
2. Finishing a triathlon is as good as winning.
3. No matter how bad you are "bonking" always smile and try to look "buff" as you pass the photographer on the race course.
4. It's o.k. to wash around the body-marking on your arms and legs for a couple of days. The numbers that are written on your body will be your personal souvenir.
And,
5. You can't call yourself a triathlete if you haven't completed a race in the last year.

Triathlon is a demanding sport which requires a lot of discipline, hard work, and commitment, so it's a big deal to be considered a "Triathlete." Since we've both finished triathlons this summer Mark and I can both call ourselves "Triathletes"--at least as long as we keep racing. Regardless of how busy I am, I love being a triathlete, so I make myself do at least one race each season. Now that I am one I always want to be one.

As I shared this information with Mark I started thinking . . . What if we had the same kind of rule in Christianity?

btw: I'm glad we don't, but what if you could only call yourself a "Christian" if you helped to fulfill the Great Commission in the past 12 months by leading someone to Christ? What kind of impact would that have on the Church? What kind of impact would that have on our evangelistic efforts?

I love being a Christian. I wasn't always a Christian, but now that I am one I always want to be one. I want to be the best Christ-follower I can be. I want to always be worthy of the name that is above all other names.

"I almost do not have fuel to follow"

I've been out sick for the past few days and not in any condition to blog, so pardon me as I try to catch up. Here's some random news on my writing ministry for those of you who might be interested (Hi Mom!):

• As I mentioned last month, Zondervan bought the foreign language rights to my first book Running on Empty and they are releasing it in Spanish in November. I wanted to let you know that they've changed the title to: Casi no tengo combustible para seguir, which in Spanish means, "I almost do not have fuel to follow." I can't put my finger on it, but--for some reason--I think I like this title better than Running on Empty. Maybe it's because it feels more personal to me . . . like it's being said by the very person for whom I wrote the book.
• I'm going to be doing a book-signing for Remember Who You Are at the LifeWay Christian Store in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, October 27th from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. If you're in the area please come by and say "Hello." I'd love to have the chance to meet you.
• The past year has been extremely busy, so I haven't written much at all, but recently I finished a proposal for a book that I'm calling "Defining Moments: Making Sense of the Moments That Make Us" and I'm almost done with a proposal for a book on evangelism that is yet-to-be-named. I'm especially excited about the evangelism book because I don't think it's going to be like any evangelism book you've ever seen. Stay tuned!

Blessings!

For All Who Thirst

Last night, I shared my vision for The Well--the young adult service I help to lead at Christ's Church.

I believe that the Well is going to become a dynamic and diverse ministry that will impact the lives of thousands of young adults every week.

My message was from Matthew 28:16-20 . . . a.k.a. the Great Commission. As we studied this passage I shared what I see as the keys to this vision becoming a reality. I used an acronym to help people to remember what we are expecting of every person involved with this ministry.

Here it is: WATER.

Worship--Matthew writes, "When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted" (Mt. 28:17). This worship was not planned, orchestrated, or accompanied by a snazzy media shout presentation. It was pure unadulterated worship . . . and exactly what should happen any time a Christ-follower encounters his/her savior.

Action--To his disciples Jesus said, "Go" (Mt. 28:19). We can't follow Jesus and stay where we are. Jesus expects us to leave our comfort zone and go throughout the world--and our home towns--with the message of his saving love. It's not rocket science. We must find something to do for God and start doing it.

Teamwork--Life was not meant to be lived alone, especially the Christian life. The idea of partnership is throughout the Great Commission. The Disciples are a team. They are commanded to team up with lost people in "all nations" and help them to become disciples and, before they are dismissed with their assignment, Jesus reminds them that he is going to be teamed with them always, "to the very end of the age" (Mt. 28:20). If the vision for The Well is to become a reality we must team up with a fellow Christian and with a small group for accountability and discipleship.

Equipping--Jesus commands his disciples to equip other people by making "disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Mt. 28:19,20). We must seek out opportunities to both be equipped and to equip others for the mission to which God has called us.

Relationships--The last words of Jesus--"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Mt. 28:20)--are his promise to be in a relationship with all of his disciples until the end of time. I define evangelism as: "An intentional relationship through which we introduce someone to Jesus Christ." I challenged the people at The Well last night to seek out relationships with other Christians, but also to seek out relationships with "sinners." Christians are not permitted to isolate themselves from this world. Isolation from "sinners" in this world is disobedience. Evangelism is not a problem of education, but of affection. We don't need more sermons on sharing our faith; we need more Christians who love lost people.

So, pray for us, as we seek to fulfill God's will for The Well and for young adults in Jacksonville by sharing living WATER with all who thirst.

An Amazing Story of the Love of a Father for his Son

I know that this story is a little old, but it's new to me.

My favorite quote comes toward the end of this clip. Patrick says, "God made me blind and unable to walk . . . big deal! He gave me the ability--the musical gifts I have and the great opportunity to meet new people."

This story is an incredible example of strength, commitment, partnership, and the power of a father's love.

Enjoy!