FusionLife

I’ve been thinking about what I learned about life and ministry in 2007 and now having completed 1 year at Christian Church at DeLeon Springs.

-More time allowing God to run my life. I can focus way to much on getting through life, ministry and the good times and the bad times with out asking God for help and direction. I need to spend more time in prayer seeking God’s direction and will in the things He puts me and the things I get myself into.

-Spending time with people in your first year of ministry is invaluable, especially to learn about your community, people and where they’ve been. We were better about this when we first moved to DeLand because we didn’t have a rent payment and now that we do it’s been a little harder. We need to have people over more in 2008 in stead of going out or not going out as the case has been.

-Figure out the best way to communicate with your people (ie. leaders, members, students, parents). Each church communicates differently, I’ve found this out the hard way a few times this year. If putting a blip in the bulletin worked at your last church it doesn’t mean it will at the new one. Communication also includes the words you choose to use and when and where you use them. This year I’m going to work harder at being a better communicator all the way around. One thing that works where I am is direct weekly emails to the parents covering upcoming events and info, what we’re teaching and even links to blog posts.

-Discipleship needs to be a higher priority and teaching private/ personal time with God is more important than anything we teach to our students. 2008 for me is a year of discipleship and that will work out in my conversations, time, energy, messages, small groups and service opportunities.

-Less time needs to be spent behind the desk and more time spent with people. It sounds like a no brainer but for a lot of youth guys its easier said than done. I’m building blocks into my schedule this year specifically for this. Time in the schools, time with leaders (both adult and students), time for volunteering and time to be around people in general.

-Less TV. TV is stifling my time with my family, my responsibilities around the house and my reading time. TV is just one distraction that I need to get rid of. I’m working on other distractions at work also: check my email less, less internet and blogs. More focused daily planning, setting my daily MITs (most important tasks), better organization of calendar and review times.

-Taking time monthly for Spiritual Retreat Days. Time away from people, distractions, computers, and phones. Specific time planned and spent connecting with God through prayer, fasting, meditation on Scripture and what He is revealing and teaching me and through reflections on my journaling.

-More Expression. I need to clear my head more often of the thoughts and ideas that run around in there. I need to blog more, journal more, keep a log of ideas, have more conversations and invest more into people the things that I’m learning and thinking.

What about you, what did you learn about life and ministry and God in 2007?

Next time I’ll share my goals and thoughts for 2008.

I’ve used this mind dump posting style before and sometimes I like it other times I don’t but for now it will do.

My wife left an article out of the paper for me on the table the other day and told me I’d like to read it, that it was about African Churches sending Missionaries to the US to reach the lost. I made some time to pick it up that night and read the whole article (click here to read it yourself). I was amazed but not really shocked that people around the world are worried about the declining number of Christians in America and the American church’s some what apathetic dealing with the issue. Sunday Adelaja a Nigerian born minister who planted a church in Kiev, Ukraine 13 years ago and has started planting churches all over the world including 20 here in the US says.
-”We are surprised that the Americans who preached to us, the passion they had is almost already gone.”
-”As America goes, so goes the world. We shouldn’t allow the Christian influence to diminish in this country.”
-”America is fast becoming a mission ground again.”

It saddens me that for the most part (the greatest percentage of churches in America) that American churches are not willing to change methods that they are comfortable with to reach lost people which is a principle of the Christian faith. We have a lot of focusing on God to do till we reflect the image of Him and His mission (to seek and save the lost) becomes our mission.

On another thought I got to help out with a benevolence call this afternoon which I don’t get to do much of but it is always an amazing feeling when you help someone who is need and it reminded me of a passage in Hebrews 13: 1&2 that talks about being helpful to strangers in need for you never know when you are entertaining angels.

My daughter is almost 5 (can’t believe that) and we’ve been teaching her about helping those in need as Jesus taught in Matthew 25: 31-46. So we look for ways to go out of our way to help when we see a need in front of the supermarket, or for a friend, or wherever. This month we started to keep a small bag of food in the car (nothing perishable) and I took her to Feed the Hungry with me at the Interfaith Kitchen this month to help. She was so helpful and did whatever she could the whole time we were their. It was really cool to see how some of the people interacted with her: smiling and waving, talking with her or telling me about their families and children or grandchildren. It was a great feeling to serve along side my daughter and I can’t wait to see her grow because of experiences like these throughout her formidable years and God lays the foundation for who she is going to be in Christ. I completely recommend this kind of experience to any parent.

I’m watching a theme come out of my devotions the last couple of weeks. Whether I’m reading about taking up my cross, forgiving those who sin against me, or the rich young ruler and all in between. God has been teaching me about total reliance. Its not that I’ve naught thought about total reliance before but never consistently lived it out. Which bums me out. What have I missed? What did I go through that could have been easier had I relied completely on God? What have other’s missed or gone through because talking about and living the example has not been a consistent part of my life as a leader in the church? Thank God for His patients! It feels like I’m starting a whole new chapter in life which is exciting and scary at the same time. I’ll let you how its going from time to time.

Now playing: Newsboys - Entertaing Angels via FoxyTunes

I just wanted everyone to know what a great weekend we had at FCYC (Florida Christian Youth Convention). I’ve been amazed this year at how opened our students eyes have been this year through the two major conference we’ve been to ‘07 (CIY and FCYC). The theme was out of Revelation 7:9 about the Multitude before the throne. The whole conference was focused on what the Multitude is and how we can be it now as we await the return of Christ. One girl came out talking about what it means to BE the church not just going to church. Another talked about how the multitude was multi-ethnic and how most churches aren’t and that she needed to be more open to people who are different than her. WOW! Others were making connections and strengthening bonds that were already there. It was a first trip with the whole youth ministry for our 7th graders and to see how good of a time they had was great. It was a really good time overall for everyone that went but we sorely missed those who couldn’t make it.

Here are a few photos from the trip.

The Challenge- On Sunday morning we started a new 3 week study called Retro looking at different aspects of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s for ways we can better align our lives with God. So for the 60’s we talk about how that generation is marked by rebellion against authority and talked about two songs that came out of the 60’s, “I fought the law” by the Bobby Fuller Four in ‘65 and “I did it my way” by Frank Sinatra in ‘68 and how do we respond to Jesus as our ultimate authority in life. At the end of the large group teaching time I challenged the 7th - 12th graders to give their complete life to God for the rest of December (which at that point was 29 days) by connecting with God daily through reading His word and praying and also to look at each situation that they are presented with and ask themselves how would God handle this. If they don’t know the answer they are to ask some that might (parent, some one they trust at church, their small group leader, or me) and then decide how to deal with it. As an example and encouragement I decided to start a blog just for my time with God called “My Day W/ Jesus”. You can follow along if you like and I’m hoping to get some of the teens to send me something from their time with God and post it up there also.

http://mydaywithjesus.voxtropolis.com

I am teaching a workshop for guys tomorrow at the Florida Christian Youth Convention on 2 Samuel 23: 8-39 on David’s Mighty Men. I found this great post that breaks down this passage and breaks down the definition of mighty in Hebrew.

“As David grew into this position of leadership, we see him surrounded by MIGHTY MEN. These men are honorable, loyal men who had proved themselves and their loyalty to God, the king, and their country on the battle field. The word translated as MIGHTY MEN literally means that they were manly, strong, vigorous, brave, and mighty.”

I am going to talk about being the men/ guys that God has called us to be based on being MANLY, STRONG (and self-controled), VIGOROUS, BRAVE and MIGHTY. What great attributes for a Christian guy start working toward.

I wanted to share something from my Bible time the other morning. I am reading through a 30 day guide of Jesus’ life and ministry. The other morning I was reading from Matthew 8 and Luke 7 and in Luke 7: 11-15 is says, “When Jesus saw this His heart overflowed with compassion.”

We have been teaching our daughter about compassion lately. There is a Publix in town that pretty much always has someone with a sign in need of help around. Usually we will run through Taco Bell or Sonic (which are close by) and get them something or a gift card to get something they like to eat. We talk with her about the fact that when we see people in need whether on a street corner or a friend or family member we need to do something about it (that’s having and showing compassion).

As I was thinking about that verse and praying about it that morning, it dawned on me that to live out Philippians 2: 1-11, and to have the same attitude that Jesus had and tie that into the compassion He had on the widow who lost her only son, I should be living my life always on the watch for people in need of compassion.

What about you?
Do you live your life looking for ways to show compassion?
Are you leaving a legacy to your children of being a compassionate person?

Parents and those who will be parents one day, you have the single biggest impact on your child’s spiritual development and they are watching you to see how you live out what the bible talks about. What better way to live it out in front of your children or those around you than this Christmas season to no matter where you are, what you are doing or how busy you might be than to look for ways to be compassionate to those in need?

Brian Houston - Preparing Future Generations (my title for his message) Ps 45:16- “Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons, Whom You shall make princes in all the earth.”

A prophesy of Jesus to the Israelites: you won’t always look to your fathers (Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David) but that you will one day honor the Son (Jesus) and make Him prince of all the earth (Ben Boles interpretation of this verse). But Brian used as a way of looking to honor future generations of the church to make sure we are preparing future leaders and reaching the lost in future generations.

Fathers= Proven and Predictable (not in a bad way) Sons= Unproven and Unpredictable (in a way that worries older leaders who want to go down proven and predictable paths for the church)

In the church we want to fall back on proven, tried and tested successes. But we Jesus who to the Jewish leaders was unpredictable and was leading the people in new ways that they didn’t approve. In John 4 we Jesus doing things that Jewish men didn’t do (1) talk to a woman who wasn’t their wife or relative (2) talk to a Samaritan.

Predictable in loyalty, reliability, what we believe, in our word, commitment is our friend. But predictability is an enemy to creativity, innovation and influence (of future generations).

So much of the church is not yet seen (in ways we haven’t done things and in people groups we haven’t had to adapt to reach (1 Cor (:19-22))

We as leaders cannot just read we have to think. He told a story about a guy putting together a piece of furniture and was having a hard time and a guy walked by and asked if he could help and after a few minutes began to arrange all the pieces and started putting it together. After he was finish the first man asked how did you get that from the directions and the guy answered I cannot read I just had to think about it.

You can only be experienced in the proven and predictable but leading into the future is going to take chances in the unproven and unpredictable.

Culture is our servant not our master. Keep the main thing the main thing.

We’ve got to step into what God has for the future of the church.

Better to be a history maker than a historian.

Saturday Night - Paul Andrew - When God Takes Over The Services

2 Chron. 5: 13-14- “Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.”

It came to pass…
1) Be As One- Do we understand meaning of unity? Jesus prayed that we one (Jh 17:21), He says that the world would believe that God sent Jesus because of our unity. At the heart of community is a true sense of unity: standing for the people around you.

2) Make one sound- end of vs. 13 they lifted up their voice (singular) not their voice(s) which happens when a group of singers and musicians get together normally you hear their differences in this vs. they were as one.

3) Lift Up One Voice- Ps 133- “A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.”

When we actually are as one (unified) the spirit of God will take over and His presence be such a cloud of witness that we won’t be able to do anything but stand in awe of Him.

What are you doing to contribute to being one voice in the body of Christ?

I wanted to share the things that were said at the conference that stuck out to me and really nailed home what they were talking about. We bought the CD’s of all the sessions and workshops so if you would like to barrow them let me know.

Friday Night - Phil Dooley - There’s A Breakthrough Coming In Your Life

Phil 3:12- “forgetting the past and pressing forward toward the goal” Eph 3:20- “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.”

Being obedient to God prepares you for the breakthrough He has planned for you.

1 Sam 17:17-21- “And Jesse said to David his son, Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them. Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.”

David the “little cheese boy” as Phil referred to him as was being obedient and diligent in his work, vs. 20 David rose early to do the work asked of him.

Breakthrough happens when in your heart you realize somethings not right and you want to do something about it. David heard the insults to God that Goliath and was tired of waiting for the Israelite army that had been on the battle line for 40 days and did something about. God used the culmination of all the experiences David had being obedient taking care of his father’s sheep to slay the giant. But it wasn’t about David.

Breakthrough is never really about you.

1 Chron. 20:4-8- ” And after this there arose war with the Philistines at Gezer. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the giants, and the Philistines were subdued. And there was again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David’s brother, struck him down. These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.”

Breakthrough is about glorifying God and when breakthrough happens in your life others step up and come along and do the same.

So my question is are you being obedient to God or are you solely looking for a moment where you do something great?

Tags: Hillsong United Conference, Phil Dooley