Merry Christmas

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"- Luke 2:14.

Oh Christmas Trees

We have two Christmas trees up in our house. One is the "official" tree in our living room that Tonya decorated; it's symmetrical and very tastefully decorated with lots of silver and clear ornaments and grapevine serving as garland.

But the second tree is in the bonus room and the boys decorated it. The ornaments only go up so high on the tree (they couldn't reach any higher); the red ball ornaments are clustered in only a couple of areas; while the rest of the tree is decorated with a collection of random mini-Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ornaments. It wouldn't win any awards at the Fantasy of Trees but it may be the most beautiful Christmas tree ever.

The Santa Claus Dilemma

When it comes to the topic of Santa Claus, we have friends at the polar opposite ends of the spectrum. Some people see him as the embodiment of all things pagan and evil ("Santa is just Satan misspelled") to those who see him as a harmless "jolly old elf" who adds to the wonder and innocence of childhood. This much I know, he's hard to avoid.

But here's where it gets hard for us as parents. Tonya and I desire that our sons develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That they learn who He is and what He did. That they accept Him in childlike faith. But they can't see Him. However, Santa is everywhere at Christmastime, much more so than the Babe in the manger.

So we are left to try to explain that Jesus (who they can't see) is very real; while Santa (who they can see- they can even visit him and tell him their toy wishes) is not real. Therein lies the dilemma. We don't necessarily see Santa as being "bad" but if he ever distracts from the real meaning of Christmas, if he ever distracts from the Giver of all gifts, he will quickly be taking a one-way trip back to the North Pole.

Fortunately, I don't think our 5-year old buys it all anyway and our 2-year old could care less.

A couple of other (much more minor) things about Santa that bother me:
In most cases, we tell children not to talk to strangers.
Most men I know wouldn't be caught wearing a red suit.

Book Review- Mark Batterson's Primal

The Point was recently accepted to participate in the Primal Blog Tour. As I have heard Mark Batterson speak several times and read his first book, "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day", I was glad to receive an advance copy of his newest book, "Primal".

The premise for "Primal" is what Batterson calls the "Primal Commandment", Mark 12:30: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." To more effectively be "great at the Great Commandment", Batterson challenges his readers to focus on: the heart of Christianity (primal compassion); the soul of Christianity (primal wonder); the mind of Christianity (primal curiosity); and the strength of Christianity (primal energy).

While there are abundant references to scientific terminology- alpha waves, disuse syndrome, reticular activating system and many more that cause the book to drag at times (Batterson states that he is fascinated by the study of the mind and science), there are numerous pages of concepts and thoughts that are certainly challenging for one who desires to grow in his walk with Christ.

"Primal" is available from http://www.waterbrookmultnomah.com/ or http://www.randomhouse.com/. If you desire to be reminded of the things of first importance, I would encourage you to read "Primal".

Fun on Friday- Fun at Christmas

I've noticed two distinct camps when it comes to Christmas sweaters: one camp thinks they are a rite of the season; the second camp treats them more like Halloween costumes.

We have a manger scene on the coffee table in our living room. But I didn't anticipate ever hearing myself ask these questions: "Has anybody seen the Baby Jesus?" and "Why is there a tractor in the manger?"

Driving home a couple of nights ago, Parker (out of nowhere) asked, "why are people so much nicer at Christmas?" I'm glad he feels that way. But he's apparently not been to West Town Mall or Turkey Creek recently.

An unnecessary Christmas gift (http://www.snuggiefordogs.com/). Isn't this why God gave them fur?

Update on Matt Chandler

The link below was posted today on The Village Church website regarding Matt Chandler's condition. Please be in prayer for the Chandler family as well as The Village Church.

Pathology results revealed

Joy in the Journey

On Sunday, I taught through the verses in Luke 1 where Mary comes to grips with being "highly favored" as she was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. For a young, unmarried, virgin girl to have to explain what was happening to her and through her (being visited by the angel Gabriel- v. 26; how the Holy Spirit would come upon her- v. 35) was certainly a difficult circumstance. And yet, Mary found joy in her journey.

Mary goes from "how can this be" in verse 34 to "my soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior" in verses 46 and 47. As I read this passage, I am challenged by how Mary found joy even in her circumstance.

There is a lesson to be learned there.

Video from Matt Chandler

Matt Chandler (see the two previous posts) had a seizure over Thanksgiving weekend and has had subsequent brain surgery. He remains hospitalized following surgery. The video link below is to a video Chandler filmed prior to his operation.

I hope you will watch the video. You will be challenged.

Video from Matt

Please pray for Matt Chandler, his family and The Village Church.

Right Now Conference- Chandler (Part 2)

Chandler led a second session titled, "The Great Cause", focused out of Luke 24:

We know the resurrection of Christ happened but do we know what that means? The resurrection was a physical event not just a spiritual event. So much changed after the resurrection: the disciples were cowards, then weren't; Jesus' family changed their belief and worshipped Him; worship shifted from Saturday to Sunday; the sacraments were introduced; communion was instituted.

Christianity spread rapidly in the 1st century, and not by the sword.

We look at the law as being bad, but David praises it. The law was given to keep us in line with God's plan, but we couldn't meet the requirements.

The cross saves us from, the resurrection saves us to.

There is no hierarchy in the Trinity. There is selflessness in the Godhead.

Be proactive in being ministers of reconciliation.

When not following our calling, we get bored and fall into sin.

If we don't change the way we live now, one day we will be embarrassed.

Right Now Conference- Chandler (Part 1)

Matt Chandler is the Lead Pastor of The Village Church www.thevillagechurch.net. He shared two sessions at the conference. Here are my notes from a session titled, "Getting the Gospel Right" focused from 1 Corinthians 15:

You must preach sanctification in the light of the cross.

Our goodness is wicked; that's how holy God is. My good day is filthy rags (Isa. 64:6).

You leave the Gospel if you put a "defining" word in front of the Gospel (social Gospel; prosperity Gospel). The Gospel, the cross, must be our message.

Get the Gospel right; live in humility; preach the atonement.

The church meeting social issues goes back to the book of Acts (Acts 2).

Is church your niche or do you belong to Jesus?

May we spend our lives in radical generosity because of how Jesus has been to us.

Right Now Conference- Batterson (Part 2)

Batterson led a second session titled "God Ideas":

One God idea is better than 1000 good ideas.

Maybe "taking every thought captive" (2 Corinthians 10: 4, 5) means following through on those God-given thoughts.

When you pray, you'll see things other people don't see.

Right Now Conference- Batterson (Part 1)

Mark Batterson is the Lead Pastor of the National Community Church. His daily blog is http://www.evotional.com/. He shared a session titled, "Leading with Your Right Brain" and focused on a passage from Numbers 11:

Don't try to get out of situations; try to get something out of situations.

Sometimes as we age, we must continue to work to be creative.

Every person who enters a church has an agenda for the church; we must have a vision.

Filter arrows of criticism through Scripture. Rebuke, correction and exhortation should come from those close to you- stay humble. However, if you listen to every criticism, it will harden you- be discerning.

If the wrong person criticizes you, maybe it's a compliment. If the wrong person compliments you, maybe it's a negative thing.

When things don't add up, it may be a God moment.

If God has placed a dream or a vision on you, you must not let that die. Many visions die because we cannot answer the "how" question. Don't get stuck on "how".

Maturing in ministry means saying the things you don't want to say. We need to to stop answering questions that no one is asking. We must address difficult topics.

Have fresh eyes for Scripture. Read as if you don't know the outcome.

We get frustrated when it doesn't add up but we love it when God adds it up.

Right Now Conference- Chan (Part 2)

This is the second post of notes from sessions led by Francis Chan at the recent Right Now Conference:

From a session titled, "Redefining Church":
The church must emphasize "one another". Fellowship is important; the church body, the church family. Lego pieces aren't cool on their own. Legos are only cool when put together. That's the problem with the church; when the pieces are put together, they build a body, a family.

I can speak about Jesus but I can show Jesus only in community with other believers.

Jesus' pattern wasn't to change the "big thing" overnight.

Rather than complain, pray and set the example; humbly come under leadership.

Ten year plans seem great but daily walking in the Spirit is biblical.

From a session titled, "Setting the Pace in Love":
People live as if they are afraid they will starve to death. We're not concerned about living, we're concerned about our standard of living.

Today's church is so stoppable.

The church is a God thing; we can't create a movement.

God grants fruit to a man or woman who follows Him.

Right Now Conference- Chan (Part 1)

Chan is the Teaching Pastor of Cornerstone Community Church (http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/) in Simi Valley, CA and is the author of Crazy Love. He spoke multiple times at the Right Now Conference so I will be breaking my notes from his sessions into a couple of posts. Here are some notes from his first session. He had prepared to speak on a specific, pre-announced topic but once he arrived at the conference he felt led to share the following "from his heart":

People try to integrate Scripture and the American dream; a twisting of Scripture to create what we want and desire. We study Scripture to find support for what we want.

Whoever claims to know Him must walk as Jesus walked.

We play Simon says, but if Jesus says it, we just study and memorize it.

A new generation is coming that wants to embrace Scripture and actually do what it says.

In Scripture, suffering is expected. Why do we expect that our lives will be easy.

Is Jesus still your prize?

Going with the flow is another form of quitting.

Right Now Conference- Barna

George Barna is the President of the Barna Research Group. He shared the following:

"Why We Need Leaders to Step Up"
1. The more selfish our society becomes, the more important Godly leadership is
2. The more choices we have without a biblical worldview, the more confused our priorities become and the more crucial Godly vision and strategy are
3. In times of rapid cultural change, superior leadership must guide us
4. Recent poor decisions have ushered in skepticism; Godly leaders must restore trust
5. Focused leaders make sense of reality and promise vision in a culture that rejects absolute moral and spiritual truth
6. Team based leadership is needed in a culture of hyper-individualism
7. Churches have given lip service to leadership but there is a lack of real leadership

"Six Leadership Checkpoints"
1. Leaders can strategically change reality, but they cannot change people
2. Nobody is the complete "leadership package" so it's important to work in a leadership team
3. One of the most undervalued and lest common skills among leaders is listening
4. Leaders must master conflict and confrontation
5. Success is helping people achieve their potential
6. Do not accept a leadership position unless you're ready to pay a stiff price. The more significant the outcome you seek to achieve, the more substantial the price you can expect to pay

A few other thoughts from Barna:
People need to be led
Leadership is a calling, not a job
Commit yourself to others and a vision; the vision should be from God
Success is cooperating with God to facilitate life transformation

Right Now Conference- Ross, Danielson

Last month, I attended the Right Now Conference in Dallas, TX along with Tim Miller and Brad Damas. The goal of the Right Now Conference is to connect young adults to ministry because "The Mission of the Church Matters". With Tim leading our church's college ministry (http://www.insidethewalk.org/) and Brad serving as our church's student worship leader along with my involvement with young married couples, we each were challenged by the conference with regard to our different areas of ministry. On a side note, one blessing of the 3-day trip was that no one asked me if Brad (early 20's) was my son.

Over the next several posts, I will share some of my notes from the conference. Here are notes from a session by Tim Ross who serves as the Young Adult Pastor at The Potter's House in Dallas, TX:

If people follow me, will they get to Christ?

Young adults have seen and heard it all on TV; they can probably handle honesty. A lack of honesty is hard to handle.

The church cannot have matching alternatives to modern culture.

We must not desire to be cool for 5 years but rather to be effective for decades.

Alan Danielson, the Editor-at-Large for http://www.smallgroupexchange.com/, shared this thought:

We are so far educated above our level of obedience.

A Learning Experience

I've just begun coaching a basketball team comprised of kindergartners and 1st graders, and none of them has ever played basketball before. Everything is new. Where to stand, how to dribble, the concepts of offense and defense; it's all new. A major challenge is trying to explain what, to me, are long-ago learned concepts without using language the players on the team don't understand. Man-to-man defense, the lane, and posting up are phrases that might as well be spoken in a foreign language.

But then I remember that many of these children can't even read yet.

It's going to be a learning experience for both them and me.

Thomas Nelson Book Review Blogger

This week, The Point was accepted as a Thomas Nelson Book Review blog. What that means is I will receive books from Thomas Nelson Publishers, read them and then post a review on The Point as well as on a consumer retail website. Thanks to Matt Pickwell (www.mattpickwell.com) for information on this opportunity.

Remembering Jeremy Frye

It's hard to believe it's already been one year since my friend Jeremy Frye passed away following a hiking accident in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. An accomplished hiker, Jeremy was spending the day traversing the mountains and trails he loved so well.

Jeremy (I and many others just called him Frye) grew up with me. For most of his middle school and high school years, I was his Sunday School teacher. When our student choir ministry took summer mission trips, he and I always ended up loading and unloading equipment (Frye would do most anything so he didn't have to sing or "dance"). While he was in college, I hired him to work with me as a recreation assistant (since we lived near each other I offered to let him ride with me on his first day of orientation but when I got to his house he was still asleep). Eventually, we both ended up working at Sevier Heights together.

The last conversation I had with Jeremy was a phone call on Thursday evening that went something along the lines of:
Me: Hey Jeremy, can you make sure the wheelchairs get back in the rotunda after the wedding?
Frye: Sure, I've got a couple more things to get done and then I'll take care of them.
Me: Thanks a bunch. Have a great weekend.
Frye: You too, sir. You have a good evening.

He often called me "sir". Not because he had too. He spoke that way to lots of people. He was just a very well-mannered, likable guy. How many guys in their early 20's come by your house to see your first-born son and then willingly hold your newborn for a picture? Jeremy Frye did.

As I remember Jeremy Frye, I'm reminded of the following and so much more:

He loved his family

He smiled all the time

He loved the game of soccer (especially World Cup), hiking in the mountains and firearms

Man, could he sweat

He could prepare two softball fields for play faster than anybody I've ever known

Everyone liked him; if you didn't like Jeremy Frye, you were the one with the problem

He would have been a great husband and dad

He was one of my all-time favorite people (maybe you're not supposed to have favorites, but he was one of mine and he knew it)

On this day last year, I had the horrible privilege of being in Jeremy's room with his family and some other close friends as he breathed his last breath on this earth. It was a moment and an event I will never forget. But there was, and is, comfort in knowing that his eternity was secured.

And today is a great day to be remembering Jeremy Frye.

Where Life Is

This week as we were heading to meet some family for dinner, we drove over a dried-up creek bed. One of those creeks that flows freely in the spring and summer but does not sustain itself over the winter. As we passed over the dry creek bed, Tonya asked Parker if he knew where the fish went, the ones that were in the creek back in summer. "They died" he replied. "Could be, but what might be another option?" we asked. His answer: "They went where there was more water".

And that got me to thinking. People, as well as fish, go where life is. They want to, they need to, go to where things are happening.

Some examples:
1. When a sports team gets off to a slow start to its season, people stop attending games. There becomes a sense that, since the team is not good, the games are not worth attending and people stay away.

2. Shopping malls that once thrived with customers become relative ghost towns. Why? Because stores that once drew crowds no longer do and close their doors. The stores that replace the original stores are usually less effective than the originals. A downward spiral begins.

3. Young adults and young families are looking for churches that have ministries that meet their needs. The preaching and teaching of the Gospel must be foundational to who the church is but many churches do not offer opportunities to allow individuals to connect with one another in meaningful ways. People are looking to live life with others. A church must be more than just Sunday morning.

Here's The Point: Just as fish make the effort to avoid seasonally dry creek beds, so do people as they look to find life. Churches that do not help people connect in meaningful ways, outside simply Sunday morning, are destined to dry up. People want to be where life is happening.

The Last 15%

I'm learning that it's that last 15% that separates good from great. That separates good organizations from great ones. That separates good students from exceptional ones.

Running at 85% effectiveness is difficult for several reasons:
1. For some people, 85% is good enough. "We can't get much better than this. Why try harder?" is the response of some.
2. 85% looks really good to those on the outside. They compare your 85% effectiveness to the rate they perceive for their own organization and they think you look great. Outsiders tell you how great you are and your organization can begin to believe the hype. But in your heart, you know better.
3. In some areas of life, particularly sports, 85% is great. Teams that win games at a .850 clip win championships; a free throw shooting percentage of 85% means you're really good.

Here's The Point: For these reasons and more, improving above the 85% line is difficult for an organization. The incentive is not great because improvement is difficult and often taken via painstaking steps. But that does not mean it's not worth the effort. While difficult, slow and sometimes frustrating, moving even from 85% to 86% is a great achievement and well worth the effort.

Happy Thanksgiving

Ironic that last Sunday's Bible Fellowship lesson, part of a church-wide study focusing on Being The Church with an Open Hand, was about living through giving and came on the week of Thanksgiving. I was teaching on Sunday about treasure. The passage was from Matthew 6:21- "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".

In preparing the lesson, I made a list of the treasures I've been blessed with. My list is probably similar to yours: salvation, my wife and sons, family, health, my job. Each of these things are important to me as I spend time focusing on each of these areas in my life.

Similar to financial investing, the more emphasis I place on an area of my life, the more I deposit into a relationship, the greater the return. And the treasure grows. "For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also".

I have much to be thankful for. I'm sure you do as well. Happy Thanksgiving!

Plump and Juicy

A blog post from Tonya Williams:

While eating grapes today, I saw two teeny tiny, immature grapes. How cute I thought. But then it made me think about how they came to be. Once plucked from the grapevine with the others, they no longer had the ability to grow. They were destined to remain teeny tiny cute grapes when, if given the opportunity, they might have grown larger, juicier, better.

Here's The Point: How many of us make a decision to change our lives by accepting Christ, only to then get caught up in our own personal dramas and ultimately separate ourselves from Him, from The Vine? When we separate from Him, we run the risk of stunting our own growth, remaining teeny tiny ("cute") Christians but never reaching our full potential.

I want to be a plump, juicy Christian. Don't you?

Questioning Myself

Last summer on our way home from a family beach vacation, we stopped at a McDonald's in Asheville. As we were leaving, I was approached by a man who I caught checking out our license plate "county" before he began sharing a story of how he and his sister (he motioned toward a woman sitting in a van at the edge of the parking lot) had just come from Knoxville and about his recent financial and vehicle-related difficulties. Then he asked for money to buy food. I hurriedly loaded my family in our van as I, as politely as possible, refused to give the man any money. And then I heard the question I was dreading, "Why didn't you help the man buy some food, Daddy?" I answered as best I could but questioned myself as I always do in these situations.

Fast forward a couple of months. My family was shopping in a local Target. As we worked our way through the boys' clothing section, out of nowhere pops up a woman claiming to be deaf, flashing a card in my face, which in effect, asked for money as she could not verbally ask. I shook my head "no, no" and began to walk away. And again, I was asked, "What did she want Daddy?" and I tried to explain. I answered as best I could but questioned myself as I always do in these situations.

Moments later, we walked to Kroger next door and, sitting outside the front entrance, is a man who is propped into a wheelchair and who is breathing with the assistance of machines. He obviously had significant health issues and was collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. I quickly reached in my pocket and handed Parker some money to place in the collection container. Why? Because the need was so obvious and I didn't have to question the validity of the cause.

Here's The Point: Some of the toughest moments for me as a parent have been ones like these when I've been instantly confronted with the opportunity to help a stranger or not. Moments requiring quick discernment and wisdom, knowing that an explanation for my actions will be quickly questioned. I hate that feeling I've had numerous times before when I felt I'd been "taken". But I also want to teach my sons to be givers, because Jesus loves people.

That's what makes causes like the Salvation Army and its holiday bellringing such a great opportunity for me as a Dad. I know the organization, the history and the destination of the monies being collected. And I'm able to teach my sons to be givers.

Just not every time in every situation. May God grant me wisdom in every situation.

Accepted for Primal Blog Tour

I received an email this afternoon from a publicist with Multnomah Books (a division of Random House) that this blog has been chosen as one to participate in the upcoming blog tour for Mark Batterson's soon-to-be-released new book, Primal. Batterson is best known as the Lead Pastor of the National Community Church in Washington, DC and as the author of In A Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.

Here's what that means. I'll receive a complimentary copy of the book, read it and then post my review of the book on this blog. If it's a great book, I'll tell you that. If it's not so great, I'll tell you that too.

I'm looking forward to the experience. It'll be something very new to me. Thanks to Matt Pickwell for suggesting that The Point apply to be considered for the blog tour.

Veterans Day

As I was thinking today about the men and women I know who have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces, I was surprised at how quickly the list became a long one. To the many veterans I know and to the millions more that I will never meet, your willingness and your service and your courage are greatly appreciated and should never be overlooked.

Thank you.

It Doesn't Take Much

Went to Dallas this week for a conference. Flew Delta (via Northwest) from Knoxville to Memphis to Dallas.

When leaving Knoxville, I checked no baggage. Since it was a short trip, I carried on a small bag and my laptop bag. But when I got to the gate, because it was a small plane, I had to get my carry-on bag tagged and then load it on a cart as I entered the plane.

By contrast, when leaving Memphis, a Northwest representative greeted me as I entered the plane with a "Good morning sir, how are you? Have a great day" as he placed my bag on the luggage cart.

As I sat down on the plane for the flight to Dallas, I realized that although the circumstances were similar, the boarding experience in Memphis was noticeably better. A brief "hello" and a smile made a significant difference in my boarding experience.

Here's The Point: It doesn't take much. It doesn't take much courtesy or effort or time to make a positive impression.

Fun on Friday- Why Minivans Are Cool

It's likely that some readers of this post abhor the idea of ever owning a minivan. Please understand, I grew up before the modern minivan was invented. There was no Dodge Caravan or Ford Windstar when I was young. For part of my adolescence, my family did have a van but it was more along the lines of the Mystery Machine that Scooby Doo and crew traveled around in. It was one of those old vans where the two middle seats were more like oversized recliners. I think we even had a "table" that could be installed if necessary. And I can't forget to mention the curtains. Yes, our old van had curtains. Please don't make fun of me. As crazy as it sounds now, back at the time it didn't seem so weird.

But here's why I think minivans are cool....the fact that we have a minivan means that God has blessed us with two super sons. It means we have space to carry soccer equipment and bicycles and grandparents and toys.

And while you may think your vehicle is cooler (and it's your vehicle, you should), that's okay with me. Because our minivan represents life and I'm a blessed man. And one more thing, we have way more cup holders than you.

Catalyst Conference- Ed Stetzer

Ed Stetzer is the President of Lifeway Research (www.edstetzer.com). He shared a session on mistakes he made in planting churches:

1. Forgetting the mission- get people to focus on God's glory and His people on mission; if you could have done it without God, then God was not in it

2. Being married to a church planting model- God's call is more important than the "how"

3. Not taking care- take care of yourself spiritually, physically, with family, relationally; people need a pastor who has been with God not just a pastor with great ideas; only your family will be with you in the end

4. Arrogance- everyone needs a mentor

5. Not taking believers deeper- people yearning for maturity are desiring what Christ desires

6. Ignoring hidden agendas- everyone in the church has a vision for your church but it may not be the vision that God has given for the church

7. Afraid of finances- you must talk about money, Jesus did

Catalyst Conference- Reggie McNeal

Reggie McNeal is the Missional Leadership Specialist for the Leadership Network (http://www.leadnet.org/). Below is some of what McNeal shared is a session titled "Missional Renaissance":

For centuries, the church has been a "what" but the New Testament does not teach us to "invite friends to church". We can be church wherever we are.

In missional thinking, we aren't the point. It's His mission, not ours.

The church doesn't have a mission, the mission has the church.

The Spirit was way ahead of the church in the book of Acts.

Airports are not destinations, they are connectors. At an airport, when everything is grounded, things are not good. The same holds true for the church. The church is a connector, a sending out station, not the destination point.

Catalyst Conference- Mark Batterson

Mark Batterson is the lead Pastor of the National Community Church in Washington, DC (www.theaterchurch.com) or (www.evotional.com). The following is some of what he shared:

The church is not good at the Great Commandment.

Leaders should build altars along the way to recognize what God has done. (I Samuel 14:35)

When you learn how, don't forget why.

When was the last time you cried out to God all night ?(I Samuel 15: 11)

Are we building altars to God or monuments to ourselves?

If you don't listen to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, you won't hear the leading voice of the Holy Spirit.

If you learn a lesson from it, you haven't really failed.

Catalyst Conference- Reggie Joiner

Reggie Joiner is the founder of the reThink Group (http://www.rethinkgroup.org/).

Joiner discussed the relational context of ministry in that more mentors help children process what is being taught by Christ-following parents:

1. We have all been influenced by family.
2. Somewhere along the way we develop pictures of what we think family looks like; however, the photo of the "stock family" in picture frames is not a real family.
3. If we hold on too tightly to an "ideal" picture, we set up families to become disillusioned.
4. God never really gives us a picture of an ideal family in Scripture.
5. My calling as a leader should not be to get families to conform to a common picture.
6. Two different approaches to influence the family:
a. Better picture- conform to a standard
b. Bigger story- God can use each families' story no matter what it is
7. Parents don't need a better picture, they need a bigger story.
8. God doesn't use perfect pictures, He uses broken people; He uses restoration and redemption to allow us to start from where we are and move forward.

A story of restoration and redemption is so much more effective than the "stock photography" family photo.

Children's and student ministry must shift from Sundays only to a daily focus.

An awkward, unpracticed prayer of a Dad who begins praying with his 7th grader is so much more effective than student ministry.

So many people wait until they are "fully equipped" before they begin to lead. But, as a parent, if I wait until I am fully equipped, it may take more time than I have before my sons grow up.

Catalyst Conference- Perry Noble

I recently attended the Catalyst Conference in Duluth, GA (www.catalystconference.com), a conference designed to help leaders impact the next generation. Since I work with young married adults and am the dad to two great little guys, I'm all for impacting the next generations. The next several posts will include my notes from some of the Catalyst sessions. First up was Perry Noble, the Pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC.

He shared Four Principles of Vision (from Acts 26):
1. Vision begins with an accurate view of Jesus- v. 15
We must buy into the person of Jesus before we buy into a plan.
2. Vision calls us to action- v. 16a
Don't use prayer as an excuse to action.
3. Vision will impact me personally- v. 16 b
There is a price of pain to achieve great gain.
4. Vision will lead to victory- v. 17, 18
People often ask what formula NewSpring Church has used that has led it to experience amazing growth and to consistently see life change occur. His response is that they use the following "formula": they worship passionately; they preach Jesus unapologetically; and they call people to repentance.

Killer Instinct

Our son Parker just wrapped up his first season of Upward (www.upward.org) flag football. Our church offered flag football for the first time this fall and Mike Newman, our church's Director of Recreation Ministries (and the league director), has done a great job getting a new program off the ground.

Parker has had a great time playing this season and we've had a positive experience as a family. On Saturday, in the last game of the season, Parker had his best game of the season. On offense, he had a 40 yard run on a sweep around right end and on defense he tallied three "tackles".

Just as he's been coached to do, after each "tackle", Parker would hold the flag high in the air so the officials would know to blow their whistles and stop the play (and of course we would cheer). But what makes me most proud as a Dad is that after the play was stopped, he would walk the flag over to the player he had just "tackled" (often a friend of his) and help his friend, the opponent, reattach their flag.

Here's The Point: Parker may not have that "killer instinct" that is so often glorified in sports. He may never play big-time football. But his ability to play hard and yet recognize that there are things more important than the game will bode him well in life. To be able to keep competition in its proper perspective at the age of 5 puts him well ahead of lots of grown men that I know.

100th Blog Post

That this is blog post #100 is amazing to me.

When I started blogging at the first of this year, it was after much encouragement from my wife. For some time, she had been telling me that I needed to write down my thoughts. That I needed to compile the stories and ideas and thoughts that I had previously been sharing only with her, and on some limited occasions, as a story or illustration as I teach in our Bible Fellowship class. I doubted that anyone would read what I would write but Tonya thought otherwise. Based on what I hear from people, she was right.

If this blog is ever of any benefit to you (and I hope it is), you have Tonya to thank.

Thank you, Tonya, for your encouragement. I love you!

A Different Way to Do Small Group

Jesus made it pretty clear about what is really important in life: Love God, love others (Matthew 22:37-39).

As a result, we're trying a new concept in our small group this semester. Instead of meeting every week to go through the study "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan (a great study), we meet one week and then the following week, we go and serve and try to help someone in our church. On Wednesday, we had a crew that trimmed bushes and raked up acorns (a major fall hazard when you're in your 80's) at the home of a senior adult couple in our church while a couple more of us went to the home of another senior adult to clear out a clogged downspout. Not major projects, but certainly things that folks in their 70's and 80's shouldn't be attempting.

The idea to strategically add the service component to our small group came out of a desire by our guys to "do some good", to "help somebody", to "be the church"; to love God and love others. But some unexpected byproducts of this approach are taking place: the guys in the group are getting to know each other in a different context; needs are being meet; and intergenerational connections are being made as the guys in my small group (most in their mid-late 20's) are meeting senior adults in our church that they might otherwise have never had the opportunity to interact with.

School Lunch

Last Thursday, I enjoyed eating lunch with my son at his school. I had wanted to do this for some time but had worked to find a day when my schedule would allow me to eat a school lunch on Pizza Day.

Interesting thing. School pizza, rectangle and all, is just as you remember it. But pizza was just the main course of the meal. I enjoyed my rectangle cheese pizza with a side order of mashed potatoes, cheesy broccoli and cantaloupe. I topped it off with a chocolate milk. For the record, I usually would not eat mashed potatoes and broccoli with pizza. As it turns out, once you worked through the thin layer of film on the scoop of potatoes, they were actually quite tasty. Same goes for the broccoli.

Two other items of note:
1. School lunch for an adult now costs $3.75.
2. My son eats lunch each day at 10:35! But, hey, to eat lunch at school with my son and to get to eat rectangle-shaped school pizza, you do what you have to do.

With Honor

Last week, I attended the graveside service for the father of a member of our church. As a result of the man having honorably served as a member of the United States Armed Forces, he was given a funeral with full military honors. To honor the man, a local group of military veterans, the Volunteer State Veterans Honor Guard (www.milhonors.com), was in attendance at the graveside and provided a 21 gun salute along with the playing of taps while also offering a brief eulogy.

Several of the men in the Honor Guard who were in attendance that day were WWII and Korean War veterans. Older men. Some seemingly quite frail. But they were there to respectfully honor another veteran. A man, who like they, had bravely served our country.

The Honor Guard has provided this service to military veterans and their families on over 3800 occasions. With honor. Always with honor.

Five Years in Full-time Ministry

Yesterday was an anniversary of sorts as I completed my 5th year of serving in a full-time ministry position at Sevier Heights. And what an amazing journey the last five years have been! Originally brought on staff to coordinate recreation ministries, I've seen my job duties change significantly since September 2004.

But one thing that has not changed is that I am fortunate to work on a staff with individuals who truly love Christ. I'm blessed to work with people of integrity who desire to follow Him and serve Him with their lives. People who are the same in the office on Tuesdays or Thursdays that they are on Sundays when lots of people are around.

God is blessing our church and I am very fortunate to be a part of what He is doing.

Fun on Friday- Parking Lot Issues That Bother Me

1. When people without handicapped plates or tags park in handicapped parking spaces

2. When people carelessly park their car and take up two parking spaces

3. When people purposely park their car and take up three parking spaces because their vehicle either cost some ridiculous amount of money or because it's been tricked out

4. When people leave their shopping cart randomly in the parking lot; maybe worse yet is when people push their cart to the corral and then leave the cart on the outside of the corral

5. When "special" people park in the fire lane because they are just going to "run in the store" for a minute; because somehow them "running into" the store to get a gallon of milk is so very different from people like me who park in the parking lot and go in the store to buy some milk

Bezalel

In the Old Testament book of Exodus, reference is made to a little known man named Bezalel (chapter 31:1-11). There are several things that I find striking about Bezalel, the man he was as well as his relationship to Moses:

1. God gave the command and the direction for how the tabernacle should be built to Moses but He gave the skill and knowledge on how to actually build it to Bezalel (v.11).

2. Moses we've heard about, but Bezalel, not so much. Moses was a leader of people but he was not a builder as Bezalel was (v. 3). However, God used both of them, just in very different ways.

3. At the moment that Bezalel was selected by God for this special purpose (v. 2), it's very likely that Bezalel was simply going about his daily business. He probably never gave any thought that he might one day have his name included in Scripture. But he was living his life in such a way that God could, and did, use him.

Here's The Point: Bezalel was not known as a preacher, teacher or worship leader. But he was filled with "the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship" (v. 3). Each of us should use the skills that God has given us, whatever they may be, in His service.

Friends Becoming Parents

It's only been in the last three and a half years that Tonya and I have been connecting with young married and engaged couples through Bible Fellowship and Small Groups. Both have been wonderful experiences. But another super thing is beginning to happen. Some of the couples for whom I have conducted their pre-marital counseling are beginning to become parents. That is so cool!

To have played a small role in helping these couples try to get their marriage started well, and then to try to help encourage and mentor them and ultimately to see their marriages thrive, it's now doubly rewarding to see God bless them with children!!

Congratulations guys!!

In Times of Struggle

Taught through Romans chapter 7 on Sunday. In verses 13-25, Paul (the author of Acts) writes of the struggles that he continually faced in his daily life: v. 18 and 19 (NIV)- "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do- this I keep on doing". Paul's honesty is very encouraging. To think that the Apostle Paul, the author of much of the New Testament and the carrier of the Gospel to much of the world had struggles is, in many ways, very helpful. If Paul, a man of great faith and conviction, had struggles, it should come as no surprise that we will as well (I mean Paul is like a Major League Hall-of Famer; I often feel like I'm in the low minor leagues).

Here's The Point: We often think that everyone who attends church, reads their Bible, etc. has everything all figured out. With no struggles. No rough days. No difficult times. No spiritual battles. To know that Paul had struggles helps me realize that you and I are not alone. And the answer to Paul's struggles is the same answer for you and me: v. 24b and 25a- "Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God- through Jesus Christ our Lord".

Living Debt Free

Been teaching through the book of Romans recently. In studying through chapter 6, although I have read it many times before, verse 7 really jumped out to me: "For he who has died has been freed from sin". Couple that with verse 23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the (free) gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". Wow, to know that I can be free from my sin debt because of the payment of Christ on the cross. What an amazing thought that I am free!

Tonya and I work with lots of young married couples. Many of them are saddled with school loan debt and/or credit card debt. Last Sunday, I challenged them to think of how they would live if they were financially debt free. Some might buy matching furniture. Some would buy a house. Some might try to start a family. One couple just purchased a new washing machine and is done with the laundromat forever. Being financially debt free is a really good feeling.

But being spiritually debt free is an even better feeling!

Here's The Point: For those of us who are Christ followers, our sin debt has been paid. We are debt free!! But do we live as if we are free? Do we live in the joy that comes with freedom? Or are we held down by previous bad choices and poor decisions......ones that Christ paid for on the cross? If you've allowed Jesus Christ to take your sin debt upon Himself, you're free. Be thankful and live like it.

Ambiguity Breeds Inefficiency

Ambiguity breeds inefficiency.

When an organization spends an exorbitant amount of time trying to determine who is supposed to be doing what, the what that needs to be done goes undone.

Fun on Friday- Fun in Englewood

A couple of fun pics from our Englewood trip:

This first picture is a great example of creative rednecktivity at work. The Gulf of Mexico was so calm during much of our stay that you could literally float in it like a swimming pool. This picture is of a $1.00 Dollar Tree noodle taped together with duct tape to make a floating ring. And, yes, it worked.

A close-up of the ring:

Oh, how I love cola Slurpees. Wish we had a 7-Eleven in Knoxville:

Flawed Shells

As mentioned in the previous post, the sea shelling in Englewood, Florida was the best we had ever experienced. There was a great diversity of styles, shapes and colors and the shells were plentiful and easily accessible. It was difficult to work through which shells we wanted to keep and bring home and which ones we would leave behind.

Walking along the beach and seeing all the shells, we were very selective and kept only the best shells. The rest we threw back or did not keep. Because they weren't good enough; they were flawed in some way.

Here's The Point: Aren't you glad that God is not like that? Thankfully, he sees His created beauty in each of us. He thinks we are extremely valuable (John 3:16). He doesn't throw us away or leave us behind just because we are flawed.

10th Wedding Anniversary Trip

Back in June, Tonya and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a dinner/date night at Ye Olde Steak House. We're not big steak eaters, but once in awhile, and only on special occasions because it's not the cheapest place ever, there's no better place for steak than Ye Olde.

But since 10 years is a big deal, a mark for which we are very thankful, we decided to go away for a long weekend, just the two of us. We checked our schedules, found a great deal with Allegiant Air and we stayed at a beach house some friends of ours have in Englewood, Florida. Englewood is not a major tourist attraction, it doesn't even make an inset map on the back of the AAA Florida state map. But it was perfect for us.

Summer in Englewood is the off-season. You can be on the beach and not have anyone within 100 yards of you (very different from a Myrtle Beach family vacation). Located on a thin strip of land between the Gulf of Mexico (with its peaceful waves and beautiful sunsets) and Manasota Key, Englewood is the home to Stump Pass State Park. While it may not have the most compelling name ever, Stump Pass was an awe-inspiring gem. It is also a great destination for those who enjoy seashelling. I'll write a bit about that in my next post. For now, here are a couple of photos:

What the Words Mean

A couple of days ago, I was called to go visit a family in our church who had to take their son to the ER at Children's Hospital. I waited at the check-in desk in the ER behind an Hispanic couple who had brought in their young son who was no more than two years old. The young boy was obviously not feeling well, was crying and his nose was running. The nurse trying to check them in could not understand their Spanish and the couple's English was very poor. She asked them to sit to the side until they could locate an interpreter. After I checked in and waited for the family from our church, I couldn't help but feel for the young Hispanic family. There they sat in the middle of a hospital waiting room surrounded by health-related posters and fliers that detailed hospital policy as well as common hygiene information. Cable news channels were broadcasting just over their shoulder, providing current health-related information as well as updates regarding the H1N1 virus. Yet none of this information was helpful to them. Because they didn't know what the words meant.

That same evening, Tonya and I were involved in a meeting for the parents of kindergarten students. The teacher explained how the children would be learning to read as the year progressed. As I looked around the room at all the display boards and posters and screens, I realized that for many kindergarten students, all these words were no more than slashes and marks and lines of ink on a page. Because they don't yet know what the words mean.

Here's The Point: If you are reading this post, you are obviously able to read. It's also likely if you are a reader of this blog that you are a Christ-follower. Wouldn't it be a travesty for us to have access to The Word (God's Word, the Bible) and not know what the words mean? To have access to a bound copy that we can carry (openly and publicly); to have access to online copies of multiple versions of scripture that we can study and compare; to have the ability to use numerous commentaries and Bible studies; and to still not know what the Word means, would be wasting a wonderful gift.

The NINES

If you are interested in learning insights from lots of church and ministry leaders, I'd encourage you to check out the attached link and register to attend the free online event "The NINES". It occurs on 9/9/09 beginning at 9:09 AM and is sponsored by Leadership Network.

http://www.thenines.eventbrite.com/

Be Our Guest (a $16.95 value)

In recent years, as a Christmas gift from Tonya's parents, our family has been blessed to receive a yearly membership to the Knoxville Zoo. If you don't have children, you're probably thinking "I went there once, that was enough. Why would anyone want an annual pass?" I used to think the same way. But with two young sons who are enamored with animals, it has been a great gift for our family.

This morning, we went to the zoo and arrived just as it was opening. There was a line out front at the ticket window as several people were waiting to purchase tickets and Tonya mentioned that we needed to "choose a guest". It was then that I remembered that we've been fortunate for the last couple of years to "add a guest" to our family membership. It costs only a little more but allows us to take a grandparent or one of the boys' friends to the zoo with us. Sometimes, Tonya takes a new mom and her young child with her as an encouragement to the mom (and because our boys love meeting babies). But on those days when we go to the zoo without a prearranged guest, Tonya is always thoughtful to find someone in line, a stranger, and offers to save them the price of admission by asking them to "be our guest". It costs us nothing, but saves our "guest" $16.95.

Here's The Point: It's always a good feeling to surprise someone with free zoo admission. Today, we asked a local grandmother to be our guest. As we walked her through the entrance gate, she shared that her grandchildren were in town for the weekend and that they had never been to the Knoxville Zoo. Maybe she spent some of the money she saved on slush puppies for her grandkids?

Fun on Friday- Types of Facebookers

If you're on Facebook, you're probably like one of the types of Facebookers described in the linked article (actually, you're probably like two or three of the types of people). But you will most certainly have a friend who is the Obscurist or the Town Crier.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/20/annoying.facebook.updaters/index.html

Dirty Laundry

Last night, the WALK, a main emphasis of our church's college ministry hosted the first WALK service on our church campus for the fall semester (last week the first WALK of the semester met on the World's Fair site in downtown Knoxville). To begin this semester, our College Pastor Tim Miller, is leading a series called Dirty Laundry, looking at things in our life that we try to ignore until we finally have to deal with them. To try to vividly attempt to help "change the way you view church" (a slogan our college ministry promotes to students), over 300 volunteers in our church had agreed to wash a bag of dirty laundry for a college student. For free. For a stranger. Just to help them.

Only 50 or so students actually brought bags to be washed. Some people may see that as a disappointment, as if the number of bags washed was somehow the measure of success or failure of the Dirty Laundry campaign. But I see Dirty Laundry as a huge success: over 300 people volunteered to help someone they didn't know, offering to help meet a need; two small groups and one bible fellowship class helped with processing the laundry from the students to the "washers" and then receiving the clean laundry back at the church; members of the church's disaster relief team set-up their laundry trailer and were prepared to wash laundry all night long if necessary and, while they weren't called into service, dozens of people toured the trailer and learned about this unique ministry; and 200 or so people showed up at church at 9:00 PM "ready and willing" to wash laundry but were able to go home and get to bed much earlier than they otherwise would have.

The best thing about Dirty Laundry: over 900 college students were worshipping together at the WALK last night.

A Picture in a Backpack

Last Friday, our son Parker began kindergarten. And while it may seem like an overstatement, both Tonya and I felt a sense that we had been preparing him all his life for that day. His first solo day. Granted, one of his best buddies was in class with him, he'd been on a couple of tours of the school and the kindergarten teachers are accustomed to helping children in their new environment. Still, we wondered, was he ready? How would he respond?

To help Parker feel as if were still "connected" to us, we placed a picture of our family in his backpack. So, in the event he needed to be reminded that we loved him, he could pull out the picture and we would, in effect, be there with him.

When last Friday came, we arrived at the school and took a few pictures with his good buddy who was coming in with his parents at the same time. We walked him to his classroom, briefly spoke to the teachers and then we kissed him and told him, "Bye. We love you. See you at Noon". And then we just left him there. But we left him with a piece of us. That picture in the backpack. And 5+ years of training.

At Noon, we arrived back at school to pick-up Parker. He hopped in the van and told us that he "loved it" and that he is "pumped". And we were thankful. Thankful for God's blessings. Thankful that Parker is off to a great start with school. And after a few minutes of listening to him share all the exciting details of Day One, we asked if he saw the family picture in his backpack. "I knew it was there", he said, "and I thought about it all day. But I didn't need to pull it out". "Well, good" was our reply as we reminded him that he can leave it in there for any time he might need it. "I don't think I'm gonna need it", he said. And that hurt......... for about a millisecond. And in that moment we realized that he is going to be fine. That we had done our part. That he was ready.

Here's The Point: Sometimes our goals are easily definable and attainable. Sometimes they are much less so. Some are concrete while others are obtuse. Some we may never reach. Some goals, like this one, are over 5 years in the making. But the joy in attaining a goal is well worth the patient, consistent effort required. What are you working toward?

Turning 40

Today, I turn 40. Lots of people seem to struggle with turning 40. I'm not there. At least not yet. Maybe it's because I've been amazingly blessed. A wonderful wife. Two super sons. I love my job (almost all the time). The future is bright. God is good. No, make that great.

And now that I'm 40, I'm a man. I've always loved this video. It means so much more today.

Watch video here.

Life Lessons From the Playground

Over the past several weeks, I've been able to visit several playgrounds and play areas with my sons. I've been there to provide the standard parental supervision while throwing in the occasional "be careful". But while I've been watching, my sons have been teaching me some things. Some life lessons. Because what I've learned applies to most areas of life. Here are some life lessons my sons have been teaching me:

1. My sons don't notice and use standard assessment tools that adults often notice. They're just looking for other kids to play with; they don't notice height, weight, gender, skin color, age or how someone is dressed.

2. Parker helps the smaller kids. He'll play with the big kids if they'll let him. If not, he has fun anyway.

3. If only one other child is playing on the playground, Parker and Turner make sure to meet them. No one should have to play alone unless they want to.

4. My sons continue to develop new and interesting ways to think and use things creatively. Even things they've used repeatedly.

5. When they see something new, possibly a new piece of playground equipment like a new slide or a rock wall, they'll assess it and then give it a try. They've learned that change can be good. New things can be okay, sometimes better than the old thing.

Here's The Point: I'm guessing you can apply some of these life lessons in your world too.

Big Guy Weekend

We began a new tradition a couple of weekends ago. It was our first ever "Big Guy Weekend" (when you say Big Guy Weekend, you have to use a booming announcer voice for best effect). Here's the premise: Parker turned five in February and begins kindergarten this month. He's a big guy now. So he and I took a Friday and Saturday road trip to Nashville to spend some time together (just us big guys, Tonya and Turner stayed home- Turner will be a big guy soon enough) and we did lots of things that Parker loves to do.

Early Friday morning we left home for Nashville- destination, the Nashville Zoo. After several hours there, it was on to the Tennessee State Museum with a quick tour of the State Capitol Building and then a drive-by of LP Field on our way to Rainforest Cafe for dinner. Saturday morning meant continental breakfast at our hotel (we love the small cereal packages) and then back to the Nashville Zoo and its amazing playground for a bit longer before heading home on Saturday afternoon.

The time spent one on one, with just Parker, was invaluable. We talked about all sorts of things and sang songs in the car as loud as we wanted to. He received my undivided attention for about 36 hours. Every son needs that sometimes. So does every Dad.

Here's The Point: In Ephesians 5:16, we are reminded to be wise and "redeem the time". Making priceless memories with my son falls into that category.

Planning for the Future

I read this Greek proverb a few days ago:

A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

As time goes on, I want to become one of those men.

More Than Just Paul

I've been reading and studying through the book of Acts for some time now. I've studied through it previously but I've noticed something recently that I've overlooked before. I usually think of Acts as having the following "outline":

Chapter 1: The Ascension of Jesus
Chapter 2: Day of Pentecost
Chapters 3-8: The Early Church
Chapters 9-28: Paul's Conversion and Ministry
I often think that Acts is basically a book about the ministry of the Apostle Paul.

But what I've seen clearly in recent days is that Acts is filled with many, mostly unknown, people (people you don't hear sermons or lessons about) who boldly and daily walked with God. These people served with, served in place of, walked with and suffered with Paul. Just in chapters 17-20 we learn of people like Jason, Dionysius, Damaris, Justus, Apollos, Crispus, Gaius, Aristarchus, Secundus, Tychicus, Trophimus and Erastus.

Here's The Point: Even though the ministry of Paul seems to be featured and much is written about him (of course he was also beaten, stoned, shipwrecked and in multiple other perilous situations- read 2 Corinthians 11) many other people contributed to the rapid, worldwide spread of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Maybe they didn't write letters to churches that became books of the New Testament but, nonetheless, God worked through them in amazing ways . How is He working through you?

Take a Look Around

Stop for just a moment. Right where you are. Right now.

You may be at a desk at work or at home in a comfy chair. Maybe you're watching TV or possibly you're at school or in the library. Wherever you are at this moment, take a look around.

Each of us has been abundantly blessed by God. Let's remember to be thankful.

If You're Going to Represent

If you are going to wear a Christian t-shirt or a t-shirt with your church's name on it to the mall or to the grocery store or to an amusement park, please watch what you say and how you say it. Be courteous. Don't be rude. Don't just stop in the middle of the aisle or the sidewalk and block the flow of people all around you. Don't scream at your children and slap them in anger (actually don't do that anywhere).

If you are going to have a Christian bumper sticker or an ichthus fish on your car , please obey all speed laws. Please use your turn signal. Drive courteously. Stop at the stop signs, don't just yield. Watch the road rage.

If you are going to advertise for Him, represent Him well.

Shopping at Publix

We have several friends who are transplanted Floridians. They all will talk about how wonderful the Publix grocery stores are in Florida. "Wish we had them here" or "I sure miss Publix" they'll say. So last week while in Florida for a few days, we decided to see for ourselves. Here are some things we noticed that make Publix appealing:

The stores are clean and quiet. Things look fresh and the stores are well-lit.

The color of the Publix logo is light green, like fresh new grass in the spring. Everybody loves spring.

Though the stores are not huge megastores, there's lots of variety.

They offer attractively designed informational brochures that are available as you enter the store and the display signage is easily readable. One store had a couple of well-done, handmade signs in the deli/meat department that made you feel at home, not a corporate feel at all.

Nobody asked us for our Publix customer card. Publix doesn't use them. As a customer service rep told us "if it's on sale, it's on sale". Love that concept.

They make GREAT deli sandwiches.

But maybe what makes Publix so likable are the people who work there. You get a sense that, for the most part, they really like their job. We didn't hear employees griping about the company or other customers. Nobody was discussing how long it was until they got off work. It seemed like a pleasant place to work and that made it a pleasant place to shop.

Here's The Point: The prices at Publix aren't necessarily any better than other grocery stores. They all sell basically the same items. But somehow it seemed a little different. Maybe the difference was in the employees' attitudes. Maybe their demeanor influenced ours.

Our shopping experience at Publix made me think. How is my attitude about my job? I love my job, but does anyone know that? Am I positive while on the clock as well as off of it? I'm realizing that people can make assumptions about the nature and culture and ministry of my church simply by how I discuss my job. I hope people see our church positively because they sense that from me. What about you and where you work?

Did I mention Publix has great deli sandwiches?

The Front

Why is it that people can't be more open? Why do we often put up a front? Think how many times you've known someone who moved to a new city or took a new job and this new thing was "going great" or was "wonderful". And then not long after that, they were looking for a new job or moving back because it really wasn't so great after all. Did it really turn from great to awful that quickly? Sometimes that is true but often that's not the case.

I have respect for people when they honestly say that they're "covered up" learning their new job or that it's been "a bit lonely" in their new city but that they are working to build relationships. That is much more open and honest than the false "I'm loving it" or "this is so much better than..." type of talk that many people offer out of pride or as a way to try to keep us from worrying.

It's okay to be open with people who care about you. They want the best for you. No matter what. Exchange the front.

If You Could......

If you could go back to school to get a degree in a totally different field of study (example- become a teacher); or if you could get a certification in an area of expertise (example- learning how to repair a vehicle engine); or if you could you could learn a skill or talent (example- become fluent in Spanish or learn to play piano), what would you choose to do?

For the sake of discussion, let's assume learning this new thing doesn't cost you any time or money to acquire.

Here's mine. Actually, I have two. First, I'd love to learn to shoot and edit video. Not looking to go Hollywood here or anything, I just think that, when done well, connecting images to music and the spoken word can have a huge impact. I'd also love to learn to play guitar.

What about you? I'd love to know what you'd choose and why.

A Day at Dollywood

On Saturday, my wife and I took our older son to Dollywood while little brother stayed with my parents. Our younger son doesn't get alot out of going yet and it's much easier to maneuver through the park and ride rides without pushing a stroller. It's the middle of KidsFest at Dollywood right now, and when you're with a five year old, there's alot to see and do. Here are some of my thoughts from the day:

Ever have one of those times when you think to yourself that if God would give you the last 15-20 minutes back, you'd use the time differently? I had one of those moments on Saturday after watching Skippyjon Jones, a book reenactment held in the Heartsong Theater as part of KidsFest. Not really sure what Skippyjon Jones is all about. We thought we did. But we don't. Still don't. Something about a Siamese cat who wants to be a chihuahua and, during a dream sequence, he breaks open a pinata that he thinks is a bee. No, I'm serious.

I was reminded that I don't like walking around for hours on end with wet socks and shoes.

Overheard the tram announcer as he escorted another group of guests into the park: "Make sure while you're here to stop by the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary. The eagles are flightless and are here because of sickness or injury. But they don't know they can't fly. They sit up there on the hill as proud as anybody".

Let me try to say this kindly. Some people make interesting "fashion" choices when they plan for their day at Dollywood.

Change

Change is constant. That fact is unchanging. But sometimes the changes in the world around us are more noticeable, seemingly more numerous or as if they are happening at a faster rate.

Health concerns. Career changes. Births. Unexpected deaths. Job relocations. Upcoming weddings. More babies on the way. So much change seems to be swirling about right now. It's enough to throw you off balance. Sometimes, there is so much change, it's easy to get distracted, to become anxious.

In times like these, I'm reminded of Philippians 4:6,7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus".

Happy Birthday U.S.A.

Today, our country celebrates its 233rd birthday. While not without periods of unrest and injustice, they are 233 years of relative peace. Years of democracy. Years of free and peaceful elections. Years of freedom of religion. Years of freedom of speech. 233 years of freedom.

In the midst of such freedoms, those same freedoms are easily, and often, overlooked. I hope you'll join me today and take some time to reflect on the costs that have been paid to secure our freedoms.

Thank you to my friends (and the millions and millions of others) who have served our country, whether in conflict or peacetime, and who have given so much to secure the freedoms we enjoy.

Fun on Friday- Random Thoughts

Saw an ad recently that detailed a promotion from Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express that if you stay 8 nights in one of their hotels you will receive two tickets to a Major League Baseball game. Wouldn't it be alot cheaper just to buy a couple of game tickets?

Not that gasoline is cheap this summer, but this time last year, gas prices were significantly higher. People everywhere were talking about hybrid vehicles and battery-powered vehicle options. Not so much right now. And while I'm sure auto engineers continue to work on more energy and environment friendly methods, it's amazing how our focus changes based on market conditions (or gasoline prices).

Glad to have low-cost air carriers (Allegiant and Air Tran) in Knoxville.

Was visiting a church member at UT Hospital this afternoon. As I was leaving her room on the 8th floor, I saw an oversized, extra-wide wheelchair at the end of the hallway. On the back of the blue vinyl seat, spray painted in white stenciled letters, was the word "BEAST". That seemed odd to me and fairly inappropriate that the hospital staff would give a nickname to a wheelchair for plus-sized patients. As I got closer to the chair, I realized the chair said "8EAST" not "BEAST".

One night this week during dinner, our 5 year old asked, "How can we use a fork and eat if we can't see our mouth?" Never really thought about that before.

Advance Conference- Ed Stetzer

Ed Stetzer, the President of Lifeway Research, spoke on "Keys to Understanding the Church and Kingdom". Here are some notes from his sermon taken from Matthew 16:13-20:

1. We Must Recognize the Centrality of Christ- v. 13-16
The Bible mentions details because details matter.
Too many churches are trusting in their stuff and not their Savior.
Make every message about Jesus, not just change. Don't preach anything that could be preached if Jesus never died.
Make Jesus the hero. Who is teaching or preaching should not affect attendance.
Make the cross more important than your church.

2. Peter's Confession is the Foundation of the Gospel- v. 17, 18
Peter's declaration of the person of Christ leads to Jesus' proclamation of Christ's plan.
The gates cannot hold back the power of the Gospel. It's not that the church cannot resist Hades advance but that the gates of Hades cannot resist the power of the Gospel, the power of the cross and the church. Gates are defensive not offensive.

3. The Church is God's Tool of Kingdom Mission- v. 19, 20
A kingdom-focused church matters (Eph. 3:7).

Advance Conference- Bryan Chapell

Bryan Chapell is the President of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO. He spoke on the topic of "Communicating the Gospel Through Preaching". Here are some notes from his session:

If Christ's teaching becomes secondary, something has taken its place.

We often let culture determine what grace means. Grace is the fuel of holiness.

All scripture can be classified into four categories:
1. Predicting the coming of Christ
2. Preparing the coming of Christ
3. Reflecting the coming of Christ
4. Results of the coming of Christ

Every passage should prompt us to ask "how does this show the grace of God through Jesus Christ?". Excavate grace from all the scripture.

Ask two questions of any text:
1. What does the text tell me about God?
2. What does the text tell me about me?

Advance Conference- Mark Driscoll (Part 2)

In a second session, Mark Driscoll spoke from Ezekiel 14 on the topic of idols. Here is some of what he shared:

Most people don't worship bad things. Rather people take a good thing, make it a God thing and that is a bad thing.

Idols lie and present themselves as things they are not: a false, functional savior (marriage, parenting); things that can mediate between us and God (pastor).

Idols lie in that people believe they can give identity or that they can make one righteous.

Demons don't care what you believe as long as it is not the trinitarian God of the Gospel.

The goal of the Gospel is for idolaters to become worshippers not just make behavioral changes.

Many people profess faith but do not possess it and practice it.

Advance Conference- Mark Driscoll (Part 1)

I recently attended the Advance Conference in Durham, NC, a conference that promoted the resurgence of the local church. Over the next several posts, I will share some of my notes from the conference. The first speaker was Mark Driscoll, the Preaching and Theology Pastor at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. Here are some notes from his message "What is the Church?":

The church is people doing what Jesus did.

Preaching is the first thing the church should do.

The Bible is full of commands not suggestions.

Proclaim facts nor perspectives.

Too many churches expect too little.

We must distinguish the difference between biblical principles and cultural methods.

Fun on Friday- Random Thoughts

Watched a few minutes of Jon & Kate Plus 8 this week for the first time ever. Those people look miserable.

Saw a new billboard along Alcoa Highway today advertising the services of a local palm reader. A phone number was given for those wishing to call and make an appointment. But really, wouldn't you think a palm reader would know to expect you? Shouldn't a palm reader just know that someone is coming?

Think back to when you first started to drive. 10 and 2. 10 and 2. You were taught to keep your hands safely on the wheel and 10 and 2. Now think to how fast you often currently drive one-handed at just 7 or just 3 or just 10 without the 2.

It bothers me to see irrigation systems working when it's raining.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

As a child, I was always fascinated by the story of the tortoise and the hare. I never could understand why the rabbit would race out to a lead, then get lazy and/or lose his competitive drive and ultimately end up losing the race to the tortoise. The tortoise, never flashy, maintained the slow and steady pace. His consistency, while unspectacular, was very effective.

Last night, as I was mowing, I found a turtle making its way through our backyard. He was a long way from home and heading the wrong direction. He had been making his way through the yard, unnoticed, for some time. In recent weeks, a few rabbits have made appearances in our yard. One friend on an adjacent street has even had horses (who had escaped from a nearby farm) and deer (roaming wildly through our subdivision) make appearances in her yard. In each case, these animals were noticeable. The turtle, not so much. But even though the turtle didn't generate much attention, it was still very productive and had accomplished a great deal.

Here's The Point: How many times in life are there celebrities or athletes or fashion trends that arrive on the scene in a blaze of glory only to fizzle away or flame out into obscurity? And yet, in every facet of society, there are people who carve out long, productive careers and styles are developed that are considered timeless. They endure and succeed. Slow and steady wins the race.

Thinking About It

My guess is there is something that has been on your heart and mind for awhile. Because that's just the way things happen. A thought or an idea that won't go away. And you've been thinking about it for a long time. Something like:

going back to school
making a charitable contribution
reading that book
donating blood
getting involved
starting an exercise program
volunteering to serve in some capacity
getting a medical check-up
training for a road race
going on a mission trip
getting more sleep

What are we waiting on? How much more do we need to think about it?

Give Me A J

"and they spoke the word of God with boldness"- Acts 4:31

One of my favorite points is just before the one minute mark.

Innovate Conference- Ed Stetzer

Ed Stetzer is the President of Lifeway Research and is currently the interim Teaching Pastor at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, TN. Here is some of what he shared:

Selfish ambition is as much sin as is murder (Eph. 5: 19-21).

Compromise is Satan's desire; if he can't compromise our beliefs, he is happy to compromise our character.

Secret sins are only that way for a short period of time (Numbers 12). If you won't come to repentance, God will bring you to repentance.

Private sin can deliver the community of faith into public defeat (Joshua 7). Faith gives strength to boldness; sin gives strength to weakness. Faith thrives in community.

The church's toleration of sin distracts from the mission God calls the church (1 Cor. 5). Tolerating open sin is naive; it should not be allowed in a covenant community.

A return to God's mission begins with a return to God's standard (1 Cor. 10).

John Calvin- "the human heart is an idol factory".

Sin grows and it becomes a big deal (James 1:15).

A repentant people is God's most powerful tool for ministry on earth.

The Gospel is not about the maintenance of sin.

The power in the Christian life is not in the absence of sin but rather in the joy of forgiveness.

Innovate Conference- Francis Chan

Francis Chan is the Teaching Pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA. He challenged those attending the conference to "believe again", that we are called "believers" for a reason; that we should have the courage of Peter and John (Acts 4:13). Here is more of what he shared:

Often with more knowledge, boldness goes away.

It used to be that people who called themselves Christians looked and acted like Christ.

What are the absolute things you must have to have church? Are the things we have and use biblical or traditional?

In the book of Acts, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the church was unstoppable, not by any reason or anything.

Innovate Conference- Jonathan Falwell

Jonathan Falwell is the Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA. He spoke on "How to Keep Vision from Becoming a Victim".

Vision can become a victim of:
1. Pride- the desire to look successful is the first step toward failure
2. Jealousy
3. Stagnation
4. The opinions of others
5. Insecurity

God blessed the vision He gave to Joshua (Joshua 21: 43-45)

Falwell reminded us that "the uttermost parts of the earth" are not found within the walls of the church

Innovate Conference- Kerry Shook

Kerry Shook is the Pastor of Woodlands Church outside Houston, TX and the author of One Month to Live. He spoke on living each day to its fullest. Here is some of what he shared:

The size of the church is not important, it's the life of and in the church that is important

He asked two thought-provoking questions (Psalm 90:12):
1. What would you do if you knew you had only one month to live?
2. What would you do if you knew your church had one month to live?

He suggested we should:
1. Live passionately- John 10:10
2. Love completely- John 13
3. Learn humbly- Ephesians 2
4. Lead boldly- Luke 9:51

Not self-help, but self-helpless (allow God to work)

Little things have big impacts

Build permanence

Am I allowing God to do everything He wants to do in my life and in my ministry?

Innovate Conference- Eric Geiger

I recently attended the Innovate Conference at Thomas Road Baptist Church. In the next several posts, I'll share some of the notes I took during the conference.

The first speaker was Eric Geiger, Executive Pastor of Christ Fellowship Miami. He spoke on the concept of "Simple Church", that the modern day church has complicated what the original church in Acts was all about. Here is some of what was shared in his session:

"The church has drifted from its core message and mission. Clutter drowns out the essence of who we are. Drift never corrects itself- it must be addressed".

Two types of drift: drift toward complexity and a drift off mission.

Addressing the drift:

1. Clarify your discipleship process- is discipleship a brochure or a blueprint?; discipleship is transformation not information; not just knowledge but obedience

2. Be careful not to over-program early in your discipleship process- you can compete against yourself

3. Ensure missions is deeply embedded in your discipleship process- missions must be central to the purpose

4. Live your process- you must be able to do what you offer

5. Align people and departments around the same process- example of Google homepage vs. Yahoo homepage; is the entire church moving in the same direction or is it a bunch of sub-churches sharing the same space?

6. Remove the clutter- clutter takes resources (time, money ) from the essential things; read about Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18: 1-5

Beach Vacation

Just got back from a week at the beach with my family. Spent the week in a house in Surfside Beach, SC with no wireless access. And I made no effort to find any.

Here are a few observations I had as we vacationed:

As I took my pale body out to the beach every day (I even had a poor farmer's tan), I realized I'll never have a great tan. When you serve on the staff at a Baptist church, you'll never have a good, all over tan unless:
You have some color in your heritage, your ancestry- if so, that's a great thing.
You spend hours in a tanning bed- that's not the most manly thing ever.
You spend tons of time on the golf course or on a boat at the lake- you should be at work more often.

Those "Bridge Ices Before Road" signs throughout South Carolina make me smile when it's 85+ degrees in May.

I often think of all the cities and towns we pass through on our way to the beach (Columbia, Florence, Conway) as "near the beach" but the people who live there probably make it to the beach no more often than I make it to the mountains.

As always, there were several overgrown, beefy guys trying to attract girls at the beach. If they really wanted to meet girls they should hang out with our almost 2-year old son. He was very popular with the ladies.

This week, I'll post some of my notes from the recent Innovate Conference.

Happy Together

Join us on Sunday as we start a new series in Bible Fellowship about the relationships in our lives.

Fun on Friday- Questions About Sports

NBA- Why is it that every drive for Lebron James or Kobe Bryant ends up as an easy basket and/or with them going to the foul line for free throws? If your team is playing the Cavaliers or the Lakers and the game is close with only seconds left to play, if Lebron or Kobe have the ball in their hands, your team will lose.

NHL- I understand the reasoning behind the empty net at the end of a hockey game as the losing team wants an additional skater/potential scorer on the ice. But really, how many times have you seen this work?

MLB- Why don't they just release the names of the "clean" guys? Let us know who we can feel relatively comfortable cheering for.

On Display

This time of year, the window in my office has a different "look" to it. It's something about the way the light hits the window in the mornings, but the reflection often attracts some birds. Apparently, they must see their reflection and think they can stop by and visit with a friend. What they don't realize is that I can sit there and watch them. Every strut and preen and every puffed out chest is on display. I can watch their every move. And they have no idea.

The same holds true in our lives. The way we interact with our spouse and children, the thoughts and content of every Facebook post, how we treat the grumpy cashier at the grocery store, it's all out there for everyone to see.

Here's The Point: My life is on display. So is yours. However, we often don't realize it. People are watching us. We should conduct ourselves in such a way that others will see our "good works" and glorify our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).

Fun on Friday- Things I Wonder About

Why is the parking lot at McKay's book store always full? Always. Why is that?

Does the SPF number on sunscreen really matter or is it all about how often you apply the sunscreen, no matter the SPF number?

I like Coke Zero as well as the next guy but is there anybody out there who thinks Coke Zero really tastes like Coke?

Why is there never an umbrella in my car when I need one?

Why is it that I can never get my yard mowed and trimmed in the same day?

I wonder.

Anything you wonder about?

No Comparison

We all knew people like them. They were the people who seemed to be perfect at everything. Remember the guy in high school who excelled in 3 sports AND was a great singer AND he made good grades even though he never studied. Remember the girl who was homecoming queen AND played basketball AND was the valedictorian. You really wanted to not like her but she was so stinking nice that you couldn't help but like her. These seemingly "perfect" people appeared to have it all and many times you felt as if you didn't measure up.

Now, as adults, we still find it easy to want to compare ourselves to others. Many people want to find favorable comparisons (type of care they drive; where they live) to make themselves feel better. Sometimes people compare so that they can judge others (Jesus said not to do that in Matthew 7). When we learn to be happy where we are, being who we are, as God made us, we'll find true joy.

Here's The Point: The sooner we stop comparing ourselves to others, the healthier and happier we'll be.

Great Information for Prospective Home Buyers

If you are planning to buy a house or know someone who is, it would be worth your time to check out the link below to an article (12 Things to Know Before Buying a House) from Threads Media. Threads is the young adult arm of LifeWay Christian Resources.

http://threadsmedia.com/life/article/12-things-to-know-before-buying-a-house/

WER3

Over the past three years, God has been doing some amazing things in the lives of many young married couples in my church.

Back in 2006, Sevier Heights did not have an effort focused purposely on meeting the spiritual and community needs of young married couples (couples in their early and mid 20's and without children). This Sunday, from what originally began as a bible fellowship class for newlywed couples, we will celebrate 3 years of His blessing.

And, wow, does God bless those who seek after Him!! This year, what began as a small core is now three separate classes (one early, one late, one for couples with children). Many couples who were new to the church now serve and lead. Couples who, not long ago, did not know each other have become lifelong friends.

This Sunday morning, as we celebrate and look back on all God has done, we eagerly look forward to what the future holds and what He has planned for each of us.

More from Dr. Gary Smalley

Some more of my notes from this past weekend's conference:

92% of loving actions are non-verbal

Loving relationships occur when you feel safe with a person.

Four things causing divorce:
1. Withdrawing during confrontation causing separation
2. Trying to win an argument and escalating the situation
3. Belittling the other person during a discussion
4. Negative beliefs shared during an argument

Three ways for my family to succeed:
1. Hide God's Word in our hearts
2. Family discipleship
3. Community

6 Levels of Communication- Dr. Gary Smalley

My wife and I attended a Smalley Relationship Center conference this past weekend. During the conference, Dr. Gary Smalley mentioned that there are six levels of communication. As you go from the first to the sixth level, the amount of depth in a relationship greatly increases:

1. Cliches (good morning; how are you)

2. Facts (looks like it's going to rain)

3. Opinions- this is the level where most relationships stay; when we find people we disagree with, we often don't build a deeper relationship with them; when we find people we do agree with on many levels, we will often seek to deepen that relationship.

4. Feelings- once two people have worked through their opinions (similarities and differences), they are free to express how they "feel" about certain issues or aspects of life.

5. Needs- only when someone is completely comfortable with another person will they share their vulnerability and express their needs to that person; only after they know that person cares about them.

6. Beliefs- these are the deeply held principles that are the basis for the opinions you have, how you feel about issues and the needs you have in your life.