Friday, June 22, 2012

Are you really looking for Christ?

When friends tell me they're coming over for dinner or to stay the night I (and more so my children) watch and look for them to arrive.  We don't know exactly when they will arrive, just that they will arrive.  When I'm taking my wife out for a date and looking for the turn to a restaurant or hotel that we've never been to, I watch the signs carefully knowing that eventually we'll find the one that we're supposed to turn at.  We're certain it's there, so we watch carefully.

That's the point of the final 3 feasts of the Jewish people.  These Feasts occurred in the 7th month of their religious calendar (catch the significance of the 7th month) and all look ahead prophetically to the second coming of Christ.  The first 3 Feasts were literally fulfilled in Jesus' first coming (all happening in the first month.)  The 4th Feast always occurred 50 days after the 3rd Feast which happened to be the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit (and commencement of the church age.)

Today we are living in that period between the 4th and 5th Feasts.  When the fulfillment of the 5th Feast happens it will be with the sound of the Shofar.  The name of the Feast, "Trumpets."  One time in the OT, God blew the Shofar...at his awesome revelation at Mt. Sinai.  One time God will blow it again in the future...when Christ comes again.  This time He will take his children to be with Him and he will begin to unleash judgement that is often referred to as the tribulation.  Because God's past prophecies have all taken place just as he said they would, we can have certainty in his future promises.

In the course of our lives we are called by God to look for His coming.  We know that it will happen, just not when it will occur.  So, we should anticipate his arrival and be prepared.  In other words let's expect it to happen each day and if it happens today let's get caught serving Him and living for Him.  Also, if you're struggling with life and you have problems that are bringing you down, remember that we can put our hope in Christ.  One day He will arrive and rescue us from the pain of this world!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Scheduling your priorities

I kicked off our new sermon series yesterday introducing the Feasts of the Jews.  What's interesting to me is that these feasts (parties) were appointed times BY GOD.  He required 7 scheduled parties each year (4 in the spring and 3 in the fall) all based on their agricultural growing seasons.  

We know that whatever makes it onto our calendars tends to be our priority and apparently God already knew that.  When I have something important to do I type it into my Outlook calendar.  In the same way that looking at last month's checking ledger (or credit card statement) will show our past priorities.  Looking at our calendar will show us our future priorities.

Do you have time with God and time with family on your summer calendar?  How about relationship building times with people in your Oikos.  Are you planning to serve this summer or to take a family vacation?  What about dates with your spouse?  Will you gather with your church family often?  The list goes on...working out,  chores, education, career, kid's activities.  

We live busy lives, so if you're not keeping a personal calendar, start today!  

Friday, May 11, 2012

My Bully Pulpit

You may remember that I talked about a story of me being bullied in JH as an illustration on Easter Sunday.  It was a fearful, troubling, and ongoing experience for me.  The good side of it was that I learned to trust God more and to appreciate my church youth group more!

Many of you can remember similarly difficult experiences from your JH and HS years.  Kids can be cruel and utterly insensitive.  For anyone who is different than most of the other kids... a quirky personality, a physical deformity, a different skin color, an accent, a strong faith in God, an alternative lifestyle, or simply not dressing right, a seeming growing number of kids are being picked on.

The Bible addresses this topic in different ways.  One way Scripture talks about this is when it talks about power.  I've been studying the Book of Ruth recently in my personal quiet times.  In this book we read about a man named Boaz who "had the power."  He was a wealthyland owner who chose to let Ruth "glean" from his field exactly as the Bible instructed him.  Yet during that same time many of the landowners were ignoring this command that was meant as a social entitlement for the working poor.

Another Godly response of Boaz was when he ordered his workers to allow Ruth to glean near them as they were working and to be sure that no one abused her in any way as she went about her honest labor.  To top it all off Boaz told his servants to help provide food and water for Ruth during the rest periods of the day.  You see, there was nothing during that time in Jewish history that could have kept Boaz from exercising his power to abuse or to simply ignore Ruth, yet he chose to use his power to protect and provide for her (eventually he married her...now there's a script for Hollywood!)

Christians, you have some level of power and ability in this world and we're to do the same as Boaz!  Because of my personal experience of being bullied and the power I have as a Pastor and community leader I'm working to see what I and my church can do to help provide for and protect kids from being bullied.



Monday, April 16, 2012

Training Kids

The most famous verse used on this topic is Proverbs 22:6.  Some translations say "train up a child" while the newest NIV says, "start children off."  The Hebrew verb in question here when used in other OT passages is always translated "dedicate" and carries the idea of "starting off" something right!

Following this there is a Hebrew idiom literally translated "upon the mouth of."  Of course our translations help us with what that actually means to us today..."according to."  So, we start off our kids according to "the way."  Throughout scripture, "way" always has the idea of the proper path we should be on.

So, it is our job as parents to start our kids on the proper path.  Let me give you a simple plan for doing just that...
1. Love - unconditionally love your kids so that your relationship with them will endure through the hard times and so that they'll more readily accept your discipline.
2. Expectations - clarify your expectations with your kids.  Let them know the rules and be sure not to have so many that not even you can remember them all.
3. Affirmation - children need to be affirmed more than they need negative consequences.  They will learn the values and behaviors that you want for them, more quickly if you catch them doing good!
4. Discipline - the Bible doesn't equivocate on this.  We must bring appropriate pain to bear on our children when they get off the path.  We can't abuse or be angry in our discipline, but we also can't refuse to offer consistent correction to our children.  To do so is showing them hatred (Prov 13:24.)

Bear in mind that this is wisdom literature meaning that your efforts to train your kids to know, love, and serve God will usually result in them living what they've learned.  However, there are no promises or guarantees from God given here, so exceptions will happen.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Some results of your giving

I'm thrilled with the heart of generosity I'm seeing in our church as the 1Q of 2012 wraps up.  Our offerings have been trending in the positive direction and there have been some generous donations to our missions and outreach goals.  For the first time in some time we're not drawing on our reserves.
Recently, we've had some needs that if they had arisen just a few months ago we wouldn't have been able to do them.  
1.  Stacy wants to begin creating some fun backdrops for the children's ministry but we already are in a storage space crunch...so, we're able to get a second mobile mini and I was able to say Yes create away!
2.  Our worship service computer crashed a couple Sundays ago and Michelle wanted to upgrade it.  When she asked me a few months ago I had to say no...this time I could say Yes!
3. Tammy wants to do her usual classy set up for Easter Sunday (brunch, decor, updated signage)...I said yes! 
4.  Jon & I have been talking about re-doing our MVCC orientation for some time (Newcomer BBQ's became a "GPS Party.")  Sunday we were able to pull it off with quality...catered lunch for adults & pizza & bounce houses for the kids.
5.  I met wit Brian yesterday to dream a little about developing youth leadership and I didn't have to say...figure out how to do it with the 5 dollars in your pocket!
6.  When McKenzie came back from Haiti and talked to me about if we can begin to plan to adopt an orphanage, 3 months ago I would have said we have to get our own financial house in order before we can dream that dream...instead I said let's start praying!!
I could go on with other examples, but you see the impact of what happens when you make tithing a conviction in your life.  It's a win for you because you're learning to trust God and you're demonstrating Godly priorities in your life...and as a church we win because we begin to dream big!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Reaching out to broken people

Recently, I received an email from someone who had only attended our church a few times, but who appreciated the encouragement he had received from many at MVCC.  He also mentioned a comment that I had made that had really encouraged him.  That was yet again a reminder to me that we regularly have people coming to our church who are broken and needing God's grace.  I'm glad that I took the time to speak up since I don't always.  We all need to take every opportunity to share words of encouragement even with people we don't know...yet.

Last Sunday we held an important meeting to help people who want to be core players at our church to know who we are and where we're going.  It's my desire and vision that we continue to be a church that is reaching out to the broken and to the vulnerable around us.  Sometimes we meet people who are one or the other and sometimes people are both broken and vulnerable.  Sometimes these people are obvious to us, but sometimes they're quiet about their needs.  Sometimes these people are the obvious "down and outters."  However, sometimes they're even "up and inners."  So speak words of encouragement and pray for each other!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Learning from Tim Tebow

Every chance you get, watch and listen to Tim Tebow.  I don't advise you listen to what everyone else says about him...just listen to him.  There are a lot of people who want to give him too much credit and others who don't want him to get any credit for his NFL accomplishments.  However, when the camera is on him here's what you usually hear.
1) Genuine optimism
2) Positive comments about his organization & team mates (both past and present)
3) Giving credit to others
4) Confidence without arrogance
5) Appreciation for the opportunities he's been given
6) Lack of entitlement attitude - desires to earn respect
7) Is quick to share about his faith in Christ but usually waits to be asked

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Reading Ruth

I'm in the process of reading through the book of Ruth multiple times and then I'm going to go back and study it slowly.  If you are needing a Bible reading plan I invite you to study Ruth along with me.  Make it your goal to read it through at least once this next week.

Anyone who is interested in learning and talking about the mission of the church I encourage to read and study Acts in the New Testament and Ruth in the Old Testament.  I'm moved every time I read in the Bible examples of loving redemption or when I hear similar stories happening in our world today.

As you're reading Ruth, think about who has the power and who doesn't.  How is that power wielded?

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Negative church people

I recently received a rude email from a person who had attended our church a handful of times and doesn't understand why we would care about orphans in Haiti or about doing anything outside of our immediate community for that matter. The tone of her email was very negative and she took the opportunity to throw in a couple backhanded slams at one of our church leaders who in my opinion is the epitome of the type of person I'm trying to develop at Mountain Vista...loves God, loves his family, serves his community and serves the church family. 

Normally I let these types of emails simply disappear without the dignity of even a response and I pray that the sender will find the peace they obviously are missing in their life. Then, I move on with the job God has called me to do. In this case, because of the comment about one of our Spiritual Leaders I responded.  I don't apologize or back down in the face of misguided criticism that is directed at one of our leaders. I'm OK if people have an honest difference of opinion or different priorities, but I'm not OK when they say things that disparage the people I respect and care about. 

The reality is that people choose to join with our church or to leave as a regular occurrence due to whether they do or don't feel connected to our mission and vision. That's a good thing...we don't want people hanging around who are fundamentally opposed to what God has called us to accomplish as a church. We do want a growing number who are getting on board the bus and joining us in this amazing journey to know God and serve him in ways that matter!




Monday, March 12, 2012

What should we do about Joseph Kony - part 2

I have yet to take an official position on the "Cover The Night" campaign which is is the by-product of the Joseph Kony 2012 viral video international sensation.  From my first exposure my gut has been saying this isn't a good idea.  Instead of feeling the exuberance of "we together have the power" that so many felt after watching the film, I felt hesitation.


1.  Is it wise to make someone who is running and hiding and who has lost much of his power and influence into a bigger celebrity than he's ever been before?  Will that rally others to his cause? 
2.  Is this group partnering with other groups who are in the trenches...who really know the people and the culture?  Are their objectives well conceived and thought through?
3.   Should I be focusing on the perpetrator or on his victims? or both? 


At this point for all I know this could be a good idea or a bad idea.  In either case it's an idea that has legs and won't stop until it's run it's course.  According to Vimeo, four people viewed this video on March 3rd,  eight watched it on March 4th, and 58,000 viewed the video on March 5th.  Then, the following day it had 2.7 million views and on the 7th,  8.2 million views.  It's a powerful and influential media piece that is accomplishing it's producers' primary objective, to raise awareness of a real problem in central Africa.  Unfortunately, stories like this, of extreme evil perpetrated against the people of Africa aren't uncommon nor confined to Joseph Kony.


If greater awareness does bring this heinous man to justice I'll be jumping for joy.  In the mean time I'm allowing this heightened awareness of the plight of many in Africa to reignite my focus on their needs.  So there is good that is coming from this.  I'm going to focus as much as I can on the African victims of father-lessness, of disease, of malnutrition, and of anarchy.


If you would like to also focus on the victims to tell them that God hasn't forgotten them, please visit and pray about partnering with - 








Saturday, March 10, 2012

What should we do about Joseph Kony?

If you've been a part of Mountain Vista for some time you've heard me speak of Uganda and a ministry there that I believe in.

In case you've been swept up in the current Joseph Kony craze, let he help you see a bigger picture.  I was in Kampala Uganda (and some of it's surrounding villages) in the summer of 2004 with a team of young adults.  That was the time when a campaign of awareness and activism against Joseph Kony was needed.  In many respects the affected communities have moved on after Joseph Kony exited the country years ago.  However, the problems of disease and parent-less families remains.

The catalyst for this tidal wave of support is a viral video put out by Invisible Children.  Everything I've read about this NGO is that they're being opportunistic, using a noble idea that has little relevance today.  Their motive...you'll have to be the judge of that.

If you would like to do something to help the children of Uganda I strongly recommend that you connect with a ministry called Hope Alive Africa.  I've visited their ministry in person.  I've met with and interviewed their leaders.  They were on the ground working with families and children displaced by Joseph Kony in the days when he WAS ravaging northern Uganda.  Today they remain committed to caring for and educating the children in Uganda who have little hope.


http://www.hopealiveafrica.org/              


Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  James 1:27








 

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Philosophy of small group discipleship



Small groups are the key to disciple development within the local church.  There are three primary means of spiritual growth in the life of a Christian and all three will effectively happen through a healthy, well-led, and purposeful small group.
1.   Spiritual growth happens through Christian community.  The Bible describes numerous “one anothers” that require active and mutual service among Christians living in community.  Proverbs (27:17) describes this as “iron sharpening iron.”  Small groups are a place where this sharpening happens.
2.   Spiritual growth happens through circumstances.  James chapter one tells us that trials are to be expected and embraced for the purpose of spiritual growth.  We will never attain maturity without trials and we will never attain maturity if we give up hope and faith in the middle of a trial.  Small groups provide the support that people need to endure through their trial with faith and hope intact.
3.   Spiritual growth happens through the study and application of God’s Word.  This is the sign of wisdom and maturity described in many places in the Bible.  Without knowing the Scriptures we can’t obey, but knowledge without obedience leads to pride.  The small group can be an effective place for learning God’s Word and a place where accountability leads to application and spiritual growth.

In some groups, one or two of these elements may be identified as the primary purpose of the group, but all three should be on the mind of the well–trained leader who wants to see spiritual growth in his group.  Regardless of the stated identity of a given small group, a qualified and trained leader can intentionally integrate the three elements of spiritual growth into any group of disciples. 

I tend to classify small groups into one of three categories based on their distinctive issue or purpose that identifies and gathers them…Cause Groups (missional, or ministry teams, or support groups, etc.), Community Groups (neighborhood, age or life-stage specific, sub-culture, etc.), and Content Groups (Bible studies, leadership training, theology classes, etc.)  In each of these groups, the leader looks beyond the stated purpose in order to optimize the teachable moments for his members along the way.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

For our leaders...Be Inclusive except for legalists


This past Saturday, I taught a seminar at a leadership training conference on being an “outward” focused church.  The reason I was invited to speak on this topic is because our church has become well known in our community (and among many of my peers) as a church that has been committed to being externally focused from our very beginning.  That being said, Mountain Vista Community Church has never been a “free-for-all,” or “the more the merrier” conglomeration of the masses.

As a leader at MVCC it’s important that you know that our openness and commitment to outreach stems from our desire to mimic the inclusive nature of Jesus Christ.  It was Jesus’ practice to take time to minister to those who were lost and knocked down by life.  However, don’t miss this very important next point. 

Jesus by his very choice of words “excluded” many.  He excluded all who were arrogant and self-sufficient.  That’s why he said it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom (Matthew 19:24.)  He wasn’t commenting on wealth per se as sinful, but the arrogance and self-sufficiency it often creates in us.

Wealth isn't required to make someone arrogant.  The overtly arrogant come in all shapes and sizes and they’re to be excluded from our fellowship by our choice of words…direct instead of passive, honest instead of accommodating, harsh instead of patronizing, anger instead of timidity.  At least that’s what Jesus did.  Now, Jesus’ intent was that his bold truthfulness would cause these people to realize their wrong attitude and come to him in humility and find grace.  However, many didn’t accept his harsh words and were subsequently excluded from fellowship by their own choice!

Did you know that there is only one unpardonable sin?  The Bible communicates amazing stories of grace and forgiveness extended by God to all who acknowledge their shortcomings and cry out to him for salvation...no matter how bad their moral failure.  That’s why our church has always been committed to reach out to people and welcome them in with whatever issues they have.  We know that Jesus will forgive them and redeem their life for his glory.  However, one sin He will not forgive. 

God will not and cannot forgive the kind of arrogance that rejects Jesus and the grace He offers to everyone (Mark 3:28-30.)  The Devil was the first to commit this sin…believing that he did not need God and that he could run his own life.  So, he became separated from God by his own choice.  In the same way, deep-seated arrogance in UNBELIEVERS is what keeps them from humbling themselves and asking God for forgiveness even though God offers every person multiple opportunities to repent and experience His peace.

If arrogance is at the root of the only unpardonable sin, what should be our attitude toward BELIEVERS who, although forgiven, continue to live with a overt disposition to this sin?  It’s to respond the way Jesus often did toward the religious elite – with brutal unapologetic honesty.  So, as a leader who has been raised up by God for a purpose, you are to love on those who humbly seek God and be brutally honest with those who arrogantly challenge your convictions, your motives, and your leadership.  If they leave your group that’s God's will but if they change, you’ve helped to save them.  In either case you've protected your ministry from being commandeered by legalists!