insight and wasabi

Yesterday I was having lunch at a fantastic sushi restaurant in town with my friend Mark (whom I had a fantastic conversation with).  Just as I sat down a woman came up to me who attended mosaic off and on for a few months.  She exuded that awkward feeling of "i better say hey to him first".  We said our hello's and she asked how my family and I was doing and then I asked her how she was doing......... of course the response went immediately to why she hasn't come to mosaic in a while.  

She said that she loved what we were doing and loved the people at mosaic and that my preaching was incredible (she even said I spoke right to her) but that she was going to a bigger and more established church  (that i won't mention) because it was closer and all the stuff they have. 

TWO THINGS.

One, isn't crazy that someone will pick a church not by the fact that God is growing them but by the things that the church has.  I think having stuff is good, but completely secondary to communicating the truth of scripture in  a way that leads people to get it.  

Secondly, this shows that it is important to single moms for their to be a lot of opportunities for their kids to do stuff.  Our churches must always remember that as we seek to be relevant to families that good preaching and good worship is not enough for that family.   

I wanted to tell her how much better things are for children and students at mosaic, but I realized that she is a christian and is going to church (at least some times). 

mosaic update

Here is a snapshot of what is going on with mosaic right now.  

• God is being faithful to working in the lives of people.
  
• We have two people scheduled to be baptized next month.
  
• We have a couple of people who are so close to realizing what their life should be about.  
  
• Our attendance is in the 90's consistently. 
  
• Our childrens ministry is finally organized well.
  
• We are changing the layout of the Sunday experience to be more comfortable for guests.
  
• We are in a transition time as our worship leader's last Sunday was this past Sunday. Hoping for people that we already have to rise up or for God to bring someone to us.
  
• Finances have improved but are still a struggle, giving needs to increase!
• Our student ministry is doing great!
• We are about to start a new life group for married/engaged couples
• We have started podcasting!  Mosaic Church Crestview
• and much much more!

tripp battle

the right thing

Sometimes doing what is right does not make sense.

It is so easy to lean on our own understanding. We are comfortable with it. We are familiar with what the consequences are. We are in some sort of control of the situation. Even if it is bad there is not an element of surprise.

We don't like surprises; or better put we don't like the time leading up to the surprise. I want to know my choices:

If I am not the one picking where we go to dinner, I like to know beforehand so that I can prepare myself if I am going to be disappointed or eat less during the day if it going to be somewhere good. I do not like just showing up somewhere.

If someone is paying, I don't like rules on what to order. I want to have the freedom to choose. I want to be able to do what I want.

Why do I say all this? Because God asks us to follow him, to make decisions that are not based on our understanding but are leaps of faith.

I have to ask myself a question a lot? As a pastor, as a church planter, as a husband, as a friend, as a leader, as a father, as an individual

am I willing to follow God into the unknown?

accuracy

did you know that the king james version says that were unicorns?

that made me laugh!

It was in Job, so it is slightly possible that they didn't make it on the ark (but not likely).

steps

So, it is a new year and I have some goals. The date I have set to meet these goals varies from during this year to five years from now.

-Finish my Masters.
-Get back into the shape I was at our wedding.
-Pay off our car/have only our mortgage as debt and then save up to pay cash for the next car.
-Become a better husband.
-Lead our church to experience growth and no longer need outside support to carry out the vision God has given us.

Probably a few more to come!

You know what's crazy, people set goals without ever determining the steps to get there. I am setting the steps now! Pray for me as I work on all of these!

plans

GUEST BLOG: John Wise (friend o james and guy who helps at mosaic from time to time)

it's funny. as i look back there is only one question that seems to always come my mind. in fact it is probably the most overused question that is presented to every graduate whether they are graduating from college or high school.

"what do you plan to do next?"

sometimes when that question comes up around the parents, they usually try to answer it for you. am i wrong?for me, that question had to be the most annoying. every time i ran into someone with my parents that they knew, they had to tell them i was graduating. and every time i had to prepare myself for that dreaded question.in all honesty i had no idea what i was going to do. i still don't. if you even mentioned this to the person who asked you that question, they followed it up with even more questions. "well, what about this? or this? or how about this?"and then you get those who ask, "well what is God's will for you?"there it is. the question that leaves me speechless.

but why is it? it should be an easy question to answer. THIS is where God wants me to go. THIS is what God wants me to do. THIS is who God wants me to marry. and the list goes on.what is God's will for our lives? what is God's will for my life? what is His plan?

the verse that is quoted a lot when faced with this dilemma can be found in proverbs. it says: "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."paths. plural. not singular.

sometimes i think we view God's will as this small box that we have to stay in. and if we go here, or do this we break and step out of the box and out of God's will. it is as if we are limiting God. saying, "this is it. this is all You have for me." we change "paths" to "path." in essence, we are limiting God. saying this is all He can do.this thrill ride of abundant life. this journey that we are on can't be one of simplicity and singularity. i don't think that is what God intended for us. if that is what He indented then there would be things in this life and in the Bible that we would completely understand. but instead, the Bible leaves us with questions. it leaves wondering and wanting to know more. i don't see that as simple.look back at those verses and read the first part again. the writer says that we are to "trust" God with everything we have and acknowledge Him in everything we do. part of this complex, intimate relationship that God desires to have with us. He wants us to seek Him and Who He is.

there are numerous verses in the New Testament that show how we should live and act all saying, "it is God's will."for an example:1 Thes 4:3 - "it is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality."1 Thes 5:18 - "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."and the list goes on.it is all part of this complex relationship.once we sit down, take a deep breath and just focus on Who God is and get to know Him more and more "He will make our paths straight."He will present these "paths" to us. He will guide us. He will help us on this thrill ride. this journey. we just need to focus on Him and not get bogged down with worry about the decision.

later in that same chapter in proverbs the writer says, "then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared."meaning this God who wants you to get to know Him, who wants you to experience this thrill ride, this journey is going to be there, helping you. He is not just going to show up when needed, He is always going to be there, watching, helping, guiding. making our paths straight.

so i sit here on my parent's porch watching the sun set on another day. i still do not know what is going to happen in the months to come. i don't know where i will work or where i will live. what will i do?i will continue on this joy ride, this journey where i experience the love and joy of God and get to know Him more in a way i never have.opportunities will come. paths will appear in front of me and i will have to choose where to go and what to do. but if i just have to continue to grow and mature and experience the joy in this thrill ride of abundant life. and if i do that, God will make my paths straight and keep my foot from stumbling.how awesome is that?