Communion with Apple Juice and Bread

Today I had the privilege of being the minister at a small family memorial service for Violet Long, or Granny, as I was introduced to her.

Violet lived 92 beautiful years. She spent the first 17 years of her life in an orphanage. She was full of love and I enjoyed hearing all the stories from her family.

I first met Violet just over two weeks ago. Her family invited me over to see her and have communion...except I didn't know I would be having communion with them. Since I didn't show up prepared to lead in communion, we ended up taking the Lord's Supper using apple juice in dixie cups and a slice of bread cut into squares.

This communion experience reminded me that what matters most is the heart and not hte emblems. I don't want to get focused on making sure I do everything so right that I forget people in the process.

That is one lesson I learned from my time with Granny.

I Love My Church!

Any time you get a group of imperfect people together you will have moments in which you struggle. That is a fact of interpersonal dynamics.

Ideas will clash. Personalities won't match. There will be too many leaders sometimes and no leaders at other times.

Sometimes it feels like the "squeaky wheel" gets the attention while the "flat tire" works hard by itself to just keep rolling.

We have all experienced situations like that. If you haven't, then it is time to get out of your house!

What makes some groups thrive and others wither is how they handle those times.

I love the staff I serve with at Christ's Church. We are not a perfect group, but a passionate group with a God size desire to see people come to know Christ and grow in their relationship with him.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of that. That reminder came for me last week as we all put our programs, schedules, and to do list's aside to serve a family in our community of believers in a real and tangible way.

It has been called "Extreme Home Makeover: Christ's Church Edition!" Our staff took Thursday to gut out their home...which was in great need of some TLC...and then fix it up. Several of us went back on Friday and others went on Saturday. Basically we have had staff at this home everyday for the last week working on it to make sure it all gets done!

Here is a video we showed our church on Sunday morning about this event. We are doing a series called "Faith In Action."




Take a look at the video from my friend Daniel Decker. It is a "behind the scenes" look at our work on Thursday.

A Heartfelt Prayer Request

My good friend and one of the ministers at our church, Arron Chambers, posted on his blog about a friend of his in Myanmar.

Judah came with Arron and his wife, Rhonda, to one of our flag football games last March when he was visiting them. I remember watching him play flag football with the kids, even though he didn't really know much about the game. It was fun to watch.

I don't know Judah, but my heart breaks for the circumstance he, and so many other believers, find themselves in right now.

Please take time to read the story Arron placed in his website and then commit to pray for Judah.

Power of Positive Energy

I recently signed up to receive an e-newsletter from Jon Gordon, author of The Energy Bus. This is a book I have been looking for in our local bookstores, but they have been sold out...I think that is a sign of a good book! I guess I will have to order it online.

His e-newsletter today was something everyone needs to read...especially if you are involved in sports at any level. Here is an excerpt:

The Secret to Winning
This past Friday, Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio shocked the sports world by announcing that they were releasing Byron Leftwich, their starting quarterback, and replacing him with David Garrard. Coach Del Rio stated that he not only thought Garrard was the better quarterback but that he also brought more “positive energy” to the position and team. He said, “positive energy is something we covet.”

Del Rio, like all great leaders and coaches knows an important secret. If you want to win, ironically, you don’t focus on winning. You focus on the positive energy and attitude and development of your people and team.

John Wooden, the legendary UCLA Basketball Coach, never focused on winning. He focused on developing his players. He focused on improving their fundamentals, skills, character and team work. He focused on people instead of outcomes and as a result he won….a lot.

...Whether its football, basketball, work or life, winning doesn’t happen by focusing on the points on the scoreboard. It happens when we focus on the people, skills, positive energy and teamwork that generate the points.

You can check out the entire article at http://www.jongordon.com/newsletter-090307-SecretToWinning.html.

Lessons Learned From A Gator Game

Yesterday I had a 'Top 10' moment in life. I went to my first University of Florida football game.

It was their first game back at The Swamp since winning the BCS National Championship in January.

I went to the game with my father-in-law. We received tickets to the game from Carrie's sister. They were in the Touchdown Terrace which is in the north end zone. Our seats were incredible!

Being my first college football game, I really had no idea what to expect. When I thought about the game in the days leading up to it, I would get anxious. It would be a lot of new experiences, like the crowd...the parking...the crowd...finding the seats...the campus...the crowd (there were about 90,000 people at the game!).

Have you thought about some of the thoughts going through the mind of those going to your church or ministry for the first time? Think about that in relation to what made my experience so great.

• First was the personal invitation. When my father-in-law called to invite me to the game I couldn't believe it.

• Kimmie, my sister-in-law, is awesome!! She took care of all the details. We knew exactly where to go to park (at her boyfriend's place for free!) and meet her. She waited behind on us instead of going with her boyfriend and other friends for some pre-game fun so that we would know exactly where to go.

• To make sure I got the full experience (her dad has been to games before), Kimmie walked us around to see some of the fun hot spots around the stadium. She introduced us to several people along the way.

• She took us to the spot where her friends were all at and introduced us to everyone. They gave us a bottle of water and made us feel welcome.

• David, Kimmie's boyfriend, made sure we knew exactly where to go for our seats. They were great seats...did I mention that! We had an indoor air conditioned area with food and drinks and the seats were covered.

Do your visitors have that type of experience? What about those who come to your program (sports or whatever) for the first time? Every now and then we need a check up to make sure we are making the best first impression.

Disciple or Citizen?

Would you consider yourself a disciple or a citizen of the church?

Our calling is to make disciples, yet at times we seem to be better at making citizens.

I was challenged by this quote in a book I am re-reading, Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America.

The churches have become so accommodated to the American way of life that they are now domesticated, and it is no longer obvious what justifies their existence as particular communities. The religious loyalties that churches seem to claim and the social functions that they actually perform are at odds with each other. Discipleship has been absorbed into citizenship.

Here is the difference according to http://www.dictionary.com/:

Citizen - A resident, especially one entitled to vote and enjoy other privileges there.

Disciple - Someone who believes and helps to spread the doctrine of another.

Without realizing it many churches have produced great citizens of their church. They have committed people who attend every week. They know what the church has to offer them and they enjoy taking full advantage of it. This church is only changing in ways that will make its members happier and more comfortable. It has been very cautious in the area of expectations out of fear of losing a 'tithing unit.'

A community that makes disciples in much different. They understand that the church is the people who gather each week. As those people leave the parking lot each weekend, they are still the church. Monday at work...they are the church. Tuesday at baseball practice...they are the church. Friday with the friends...they are the church.

A disciple making community is a risk taking community. It has expectations that are found in the Scripture. Expectations like membership, maturity, and real ministry that engages people where they are.

I am proud of the community of believers I am a part of. I love the mission we share to "Make Disciples: More Disciples and Better Disciples." We certainly have some citizens among us...but they are starting to wake up to the reality they were not called to dwell in one comfortable place, but to go into all the world with a mission of love and a message of hope.

Are you a citizen or disciple? There is a difference.

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!

BIG problems need BIG solutions

Last month I started getting this magazine in my box at work. I had no idea where it came from. I have to admit...I wasn't too impressed at first because the cover story was about Al Gore and I'm not much of a fan, so I didn't pay much attention to it.

I know, I know...you are not supposed to judge a book, or magazine, by it's cover. Lesson learned.

My friend Jason Cullum (www.TheFissionGroup.com/blog) signed me up for this magazine when he received a free subscription by renewing his. Once I learned who it came from, I knew it had to be a valuable magazine.

Jason is a business guy. He is a student of leadership. He is a great leader himself. He is the type of guy that if he is reading something, I want to read it.

Well, I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was challenged.

The cover story of the latest issue of Fast Company Magazine is about Adam Werbach. He is an environmentalist who decided to go to work for the ultimate enemy of their movement... Walmart. In doing so, the guy who was the president of the Sierra Club at age 23 was cast out of the inner circle of the environment movement.

While I may not totally agree with all of his points, I was challenged by a quote he made.

He says the company (Walmart) offers him the organizational leverage to make change rapidly and on a scale that the traditional environmental establishment just
can't provide. The movement, he says, "is not willing to suggest solutions that are as big as the problems."

Did you catch that? He decided that being on the outside complaining about the corporate giant was not making an impact, so he took his 'movement' inside the company.

He came up with a solution that was as big as the problem.

Many churches could benefit from this 'big solution' type of thinking. Is our traditional movement having an impact on the huge problems facing society today? No.

The radical solution is not a new one. Jesus said we were to go in to all the world and make disciples. That means we get into the 'problem' where it is dirty and challenging. It is work. It is about people we don't like to be around. People who sin. People who hurt other people. People who just hurt. It may put us in danger at times. It will challenge our stereotypical beliefs on society. It will reveal our prejudices and hypocrisy. It will make us tired. It will make us stronger.

Too many traditional church 'movements' stand on the outside and complain.

They are not willing to suggust solutions that are as big as the problem.

I love my church. It is a great church. But it can be a lazy church. It can be a judgemental church. As a church leader I am often a part of the problem. I fear the backlash of engaging the world on such a level. Adam Werbach suffered great backlash from his traditional peers.

One person said about him,

"For you to believe that you and your little lonesome are changing something with a million-and-a-half employees, $350 billion of sales, well, there's a level of ego there that just is staggering."

One man 'and his little lonesome' is changing a corporate giant.

Imagine what you and God can do.

I Am Christ's Church

This Sunday we start a new series at our church called "I Am Christ's Church." It is one I am very excited about.

Below is a video we created for our members to pass out to share with friends and family about our church.

A Good Book...

I am reading the book Simple Church, by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger.

I would highly recommend it to anyone involved in church ministry...either volunteer or on staff.

Rainer has written many good books on evangelism and church growth. This book is different. It is based on research that revealed the most effective, healthy and growing churches are those that have simplified. He debunks the myth that more programs mean you are reaching more people and being more effective.

"Ironically people are hungry for simple because the world has become much more complex." (page 8). He then lists many companies who have grasped this concept.

• Google - Have you noticed who simple their search page is at http://www.google.com/.


• Apple - The have the entire iMac computer in one unit with the monitor. They started the whole 'plug and play' mantra.


• Southwest Airlines - Simple flights with no hubs (you don't have to fly to Atlanta to get from Dallas to LA!)


• Papa John's Pizza - They chose to just focus on pizza which allowed them to get better ingredients at better prices. They chose one thing and became experts at it.


• Designers - Simple is in. For example, check out http://www.realsimple.com/.

We all have a desire to have our life simplified. Why do we in church sometimes make that difficult with all we offer and expect.

As I have been looking at how to best help our leadership team at our Camden County campus, I have learned that simple is the answer. We want a simple process (this means it moves people along a journey of intentional growth) that allows individuals to connect to Christ, grow in Christ and serve Christ.

The Sunday morning service is our time to connect. Small Groups are how we grow in Christ while building relationships with others. Understand how God SHAPED and volunteering is how we serve him and our community.

This One Is Tough...Part 2

Last week I shared about Brad Meester's injury in the Jacksonville Jaguars spring training. I left that post with the question of what we do when we pray for something and God answer's it differently than the way we wanted.

We have all been there. It can be a confusing and frustrating time.

Beth Harkins (pictured standing in red shirt giving her testimony after a soccer game in Paraguay this summer) is one of my new friends. She plays in our adult coed flag football and attends our Sunday night service (The Well). Beth is also and assistant coach for Mandarin High School ladies soccer.

This summer she was able to participate in a trip with Athletes in Action. She went to Paraguay to play in a soccer tournament, do soccer clinics, and share God's love with the locals using soccer to build relationships.

In her words, here is a story that shares how God can work...even when we don't understand what he is doing.

“From the beginning in Canada, we experienced some trials that tested our trust in God. The day we were leaving for Paraguay, we had a training session in the morning. With about a minute left our keeper, Jamie, dove left and her knee stayed right. The doctor told Jamie she would not be able to play and that sitting on a plane for 10 hours would not be very comfortable. So Jamie flew home; the rest of us flew to Paraguay unsure of why this happened now and who was going to be our keeper.

On the seventh night is when we began to understand why Jamie, our original goalkeeper, was not on our trip with us. Two of my teammates had shared their testimonies. Then Anna, our goalkeeper from Paraguay, began to tell us through our translator about her story. That night Anna prayed to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior! This was such an amazing night for all of us. It reminded me of the verse in Genesis that says "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."

I pray that in every circumstance you will allow God to work in your life. You never know who's life will be changed because of what God is doing in you!

A Child's Prayer

Last night in our youth soccer (Which has been going great! I love indoor soccer in July!), I asked the K-1 grade players if any of them wanted to pray for us before we played the game. A couple of hands went up, and I chose a young girl to step up and pray while I held the microphone.

"Dear God, thank you for letting us be able to play soccer today. Help everyone have fun. Please don't let my mom and dad be separated anymore. Let us have fun. Amen."

I have to admit...I was at a loss for words. I don't know that child's particular situation...and if I did I would not write about it here.

All I know is that there is some situation that caused this young girl to pray for her family.

Coming from a home that was rocked by divorce, I understand that child's prayer. It just served to remind me that in our sports we are "more than just a game." We are a community that can come together and pray for and with one another.

Will you say a prayer for that child today? God knows exactly who she is and what her situation needs.

Haunted by Pink Flamingos!

So...I was standing in line for lunch today when a couple of kids came up behind me and started singing this "Pink Flamingo" chant/song/cheer/thingy.

If you were at Bible Boot Camp last month, or had kids go, you have probably heard about the 'pink flamingo' cheer. One of the cabins called themselves that and came up with the cheer. By the end of the camp everyone else was singing the cheer.

I was a bit surprised to have the kids standing behind me today singing it. They saw me come in, got up from their table, and came over and started singing it.

After going to my table, I had another boy walk up to me with his Christ's Church flag football shirt on. We talked for a few minutes about the season.

This lunch served as a reminder that we are to be authentic and real everywhere we go. You never know who is watching and what they will learn from your actions.

Never Say Never

Last Friday night I did something I said I would never do.

Carrie and I took a ball room dance lesson.

It was "Dancing With The Stiff" (for Carrie, anyway)

Actually...this is hard to say...I had fun. It was a private lesson with us and two other couples who are great friends or ours. One of the couples have dancing experience (they have won competitions together) and the other was a beginning couple like me and Carrie.

We learned the basics of the Cha Cha and the Fox Trot.

Several people have asked me if I would do it again...and I think I would. I grew up being told that dancing is bad. While I certainly agree that it can lead to improper behavior...and dress as far as that goes...what Carrie and I did was a great couples time. We learned something new together. We laughed together. We moved around a floor to music while staring into each other's eyes with smiles on our faces.

It was a great time.

So...what have you said you would never do? You may be missing out on something fun!

The Drum Major Instinct

This morning was the funeral of JD Hall. It was a celebration of a man who understood his role in life was to make others better.

It was a very diverse crowd in attendance. The crowd of about 2500 (according to the Florida Times Union) heard both moving and humorous stories about Coach Hall. Everyone reflected on his character and integrity and how his desire was to instill those values in his players and all he was in relationship with.

His uncle was one of those who paid tribute to him. His method for doing so was to recite portions of The Drum Major Instinct, a sermon delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr. (I highly recommend taking time to read it...click here for the text.)

King says the Drum Major Instinct is that desire in each person to want to be out front and receive praise. Here is a portion of what was read today. It is powerful.

If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. ...

¨ I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others.

¨ I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.

¨ I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question.

¨ I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry.

¨ And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked.

¨ I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison.

¨ I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. …

If I can help somebody as I pass along,

If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,

If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong,

Then my living will not be in vain.

If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,

If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought,

If I can spread the message as the master taught,

Then my living will not be in vain.

I was honored have a small role in this funeral. It was incredible to sit on the stage and watch the crowd respond to that which was being said.

Leaving A Legacy

The death of JD Hall, Mandarin High School football coach, friend and member of our church, has caused me to do a lot of thinking today.

For one thing, he was 35 and died suddenly of a massive heart attack. I am 33 and could be in much better shape and live a healthier life than I do now.

What I have thought about most, however, is Coach Hall's legacy.

A co-worker came in my office today and we started talking about how we answer the tough questions people are asking. You know..ones like "Why would God take the life of someone who is doing so much good?"

Perhaps God wants to use the life and legacy of Coach Hall to inspire and challenge the rest of us who knew him.

The one thing I have heard the most is how much he cared for the players on his team. His philosophy was to develop the character of the players first and to develop the skills of the player secondly.

Have you ever thought about what your legacy will be? Are you purposefully living a life so that you leave the legacy God wants of you?

I call this blog "Purpose In Every Step" because that is how I want to live my life.

The Highs and Lows of Life

This morning I have great mixed feelings.

Yesterday was an incredible day. I preached at our Camden County campus again. We had 50 people show up for services which is a milestone for the young congregation. After the service we had a great time of fellowship at Giligan's Island...a local park on a lake. It was incredible to look around and see all the people God has brought to this group and to think that just a few months ago they were 8 people meeting in a house. God is Good!

This morning is a low in life. I found out that our local high school football coach died of a heart attack on Saturday night. He was only 35. J.D. Hall was a great man and a friend. He was a member of our church and played in our flag football league. He was actually the MVP for this last season. I went to the school at his invitation this year for their signing day events. Seven of his graduating players received scholarships.

One thing that stuck out to me was his passion for his players. At the beginning of each season he would bring his entire team to one of our Sunday services. He wanted them to understand there was much more to life than football.

It is amazing to me how life can go from a high to a low in an instant with just one phone call. Now I am on my way to the high school to meet with some of the players and pray with them.

Pray for this team and the community. Pray that God will use this to change people's hearts for His sake.

Video of My Niece...Olivia

This is a video of my Olivia pics from vacation. Enjoy!

Uncle Sucker!

Well, we finally made it home about 1:30 this morning. Our flight from Detroit was changed (good thing we got to the airport early...we ended up taking a flight that left an hour earlier). Then our flight from Atlanta to Jacksonville was delayed for about 30 minutes. At least we made it home safe and sound.

Before we left Olivia....I mean Detroit...my brother, Jimmy, described the two of us perfectly. I was willing to get Olivia anything she wanted. That is when Jimmy described us as "Uncle Sucker...the brother of Daddy Sucker!"


If this picture is any indication, I think he is right. This is Olivia with the horse stuffed animal I bought her.

Carrie and I had a great time. This was one of the best vacations we have had together.

Basic Training Camp

Since Wednesday I have been at Epworth By The Sea for another youth camp. This time it was with 3-4 graders. It was great...especially since Carrie got to go along with me as a counselor. My role was to do the sports and recreation.

On Saturday afternoon I set up a 100 foot slip-n-slide!

Check out Afton and Jordan enjoying the it.

Carrie and I are on our way out of town tomorrow morning to visit my brother in Detroit for a week. It should be a great time.

I will put more pics...and hopefully a video or two...here by the time I return next weekend that are from this camp. I have over 1100 pics just from this 4 day camp!