What's In A Number?

6,701.

125.

There is a big difference between those numbers.

I have been thinking about those two numbers all week.

Over Easter weekend, we had 6,701 people in our worship services. They piled into our comfortable, yet crowded, sanctuary to hear a message and sink what were, for most, familiar songs. There was ministry provided for kids from birth to 4th grade which was incredible. It was all about making everyone feel welcome and "at home" at Christ's Church.

Then there were the approximately 125 people. This is the team that has kept me challenged all week. This team of individuals from Christ's Church...mostly from our Celebrate Recovery ministry...chose to spend their Easter Sunday in a not so comfortable environment. They were ministering to the homeless of Jacksonville at the City Rescue Mission in a tent set up outside their downtown building. Christ's Church was asked provide the service. We took it a step further by providing socks for everyone as they were leaving and lunch.

6,701 people attending and 125 ministering to about 100 homeless.

In my head I want to try and compare those numbers and ask which was better. I believe in my heart, however, that God is pleased we where both in the church and outside the church.

I am proud of my church, but the real challenge is to rest on this act of service, but to continually seek ways to make it a way of life.

Out of the church and into the community where people are hurt and broken.

Are You Up For A Challenge?

OK...I've been struggling with something that I know a lot of others struggle with. Especially if you have ever been on a mission trip.

How do you keep the same excitement and closeness to God in your everyday life that you have on a mission trip or camp or (you fill in the blank for a time you were closest to God)?

As I have been praying, reading, and talking to others about this, I've come up with several principles you can put into practice. After all, this blog was started on the mindset of "running straight to the goal with purpose in every step." These are steps we must purposefully take to reach that goal.

1. This is not just a cliche. You have to pray. Think about this. On my recent trip to Honduras I spent hours in prayer leading up to the trip asking God to make me a servant, to keep the team safe, to help me lead, to open our eyes to what He wants us to see. Our team had hundreds of people around the world praying for us. On the trip, we began every morning with prayer and devotion time together as a team. What would my life look like if I approached every week of my life with that much intense and purposeful prayer?



2. "The civilized Christian has a routine; the barbarian disciple has a mission." (From The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus...a must read for every believer!) Every successful organization clearly understands their mission. They place it in front of them at all times. Every decision they make is held up against that mission to see if it falls in line or not. They are evaluating their results to see if they match the mission. Are you getting the point? What is your mission? My mission was clear on my trip. I knew I was there to serve and love people the way God would. I had no routine to get in the way.



3. "May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and receive power that comes from God." Ephesians 3:16, NLT On my recent trip I was truly filled with the fullness of life. I don't always feel that in my everyday life. The difference is that I do not always seek to experience the love of Christ. On this trip I expected to experience the love of Christ...was that my first thought when I woke up this morning? Unfortunately not. I started thinking through my day and how much rain we had last night (12 inches in 24 hours!) So, ask yourself, "How can I experience the love of Christ?" I've learned it comes from serving and spending time with God and other Christians who are in love with God.

Pray on purpose. Live on mission. Love always.

They don't sound so difficult. Will you accept the challenge to follow these steps and see how they change your life?

Expectations

I have been thinking about this word a lot lately. Expectations.

A couple of weeks ago my sister (Angel) called me to share that she is 'expecting' her third child.

Yesterday, my brother (Jimmy) called me to share that his wife (Sarah) is 'expecting' their second child.

Expectations can be exciting! I am so happy for Jimmy & Sarah and Angel & David for their expectation of a new child in their life. They are great parents who love God and their family. They deserve all the best God has for them.

One the other hand, expectations can also bring disappointment. Carrie and I want to be 'expecting' a child of our own.

WARNING: This makes me vulnerable. Please handle with care!

Let's face it...we don't always get what we want. Some times it is that we don't ever get it and other times it just doesn't happen on our timeline.

After a couple of intentional years of trying to have a child, Carrie (who I love more today than I ever have!) and I have had some of our expectations vanish. I'm 33 and I 'expected' to be a dad by now.

So what do we do with that type of reality in our life. The kind that we don't want anyone to know about or even acknowledge. After all, I don't know anyone, Christian or not, that doesn't face that type of reality at some point in their life. We all have expectations that are taken away or not revealed when we want them to be.

When I get wrapped up in thinking about it, I can get down. It upsets me. I realize how weak I am. I sometimes get frustrated and disappointed at the same time.

Here are the standard phrases I have used with others going through their tough 'reality' in the past. "Hang in there." "Keep praying about it." "Praise God anyway." "God is in control." "This will only make you stronger."

Sometimes these can sound so shallow. They are not meant that way, but they can come across that way.

Here is the question that helps me get perspective again. It is what was going through my mind yesterday when I was running on the treadmill at the YMCA.

Do I still love God no matter what?

Yes...and I know he loves me and Carrie no matter what as well. Sometimes that is the only thing you can accept...and that is OK. I may never be able to explain all that is going on around me, but I love God...no matter what.

By the way, we are not giving up on having children. Don't take this that we are in dire circumstances. It is just taking longer than we would like.

And we are extremely excited about my brother and sister. We can't wait to see you guys at Thanksgiving!