i'm a good liar

I've become excellent at not being transparent but appearing to be so.

It is an art. 

It is taught at Pastors conference (maybe not directly, but it is).

It is the best way to become a successful pastor, leader, employee, spouse, parent.

Contemporary Churches have become environments where this is rewarded.  We love to hear some one's confession of  sin, some one's story of growth.  We don't actually want to investigate how they are doing today.  We don't want to look someone in the eye and sincerely ask them about sin.  It may involve more time, prayer, friendship.

We like the label of "authentic" without the work that comes with sincere authenticity.  

-will I truly be accepted if people know ____.  

-what will people think of the fact that I ____.

-I really don't want people to use ____ against me.

Let's what call it what it IS.

We are a culture of liars and typically we are a church of liars.

no more......excuses

I make them all the time.......

I'm really busy right now

I don't get enough sleep

God loves me regardless

It doesn't make me that bad

I am pretty good at it already

I am helping others

I don't want to be legalistic

i have the excuses and more.

all excuses.

excuses for why I do not devote myself to reading of the Word and prayer EVERY DAY.

but.......I'm done.

preachers

If your desire to preach is bigger than your desire to see lives changed, then the source of your desire to preach is not God.

weekend recap

Mosaic 5K

We had 247 participants in the 1st ever Mosaic 5k!!!!!!!!

The unofficial amount of money we raised is just under 5K dollars!

-all proceeds benefiting the Crestview Pregnancy Center and the building of  a well in Mali, Africa.

I am so proud of Kinetta (race director) and all of our volunteers that made it happen!

Worship

I think that week 2 of "no more christians" was the best overall worship service we have ever had!

It was cool to meet people who have been to church once or twice in the last 10 years! (It seems like this is starting to be a regular thing!)

1 year celebration

We had a great time of hanging out, eating good food, singing together, and sharing what God has done over the past year!

I am so excited about what God has done, is doing , and is going to do through our Church!

Cameron

His second tooth appeared this weekend.  It is so bittersweet to see him grow up!

I love my family so much!

God

Is so good and so real on a personal level!

MOSAIC'S 1ST ANNUAL RUN FOR A CAUSE

The first ever Mosaic 5k will be this saturday!

Time - 8:30am (show up early to register)

Where - Old Spanish Trail Park, Crestview.

What - 5k run/walk.  kids fun run.  raffle with ton's of amazing prizes (i;e resort getaways, para sailing, etc)

How much - $20 for the 5K, $10 for the kids fun run

Why - All proceeds will be split 50/50 between "The Crestview Pregnancy Center" and Building a well in Mali, Africa.

We already have over 170 registrations!  This is going to be an incredible time and all of the money is going towards some great causes!

I hope to see you there!

are we a Christian nation?

This week President Obama caused an uproar in the "christian community" by stating that "The United States of America is not a Christian nation." 

(quick note: He also said that we were not a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation)

It has been long debated whether or not the Bible should be a factor in decisions made by our leaders. 

I am sure that you have heard statements like the following:

"Our country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles"

"all men are created equal, by GOD"

"We've gotten to where we are because it was in God that we trusted"

You have probably also heard statements counter to the above.

Either way the question is ARE WE A CHRISTIAN NATION?

my answer: I DON'T CARE!

Jesus told His disciples in John 18 that His kingdom is not of this world.  Their mission was not to build a country that stands in God, but to make an impact on lives that will stand with God.  

The whole following Jesus thing isn't about winning or getting our way.  When Jesus changes our life we aren't called to force others to live out our opinions, we are called to show them truth; and leave it up to God to change their opinions.

(quick note 2:  My opinions are based on the Bible.  When my opinion is asked, I give it.  I view the opportunity to vote as giving my opinion.)

Whether we are or are not a Christian nation is in no way a factor on my desire to live out the love, hope, and peace that Jesus Christ has brought into my life.

As Christians, we are people who base our entire opinion on something that is eternal, why don't we live like it?  

Maybe if we started focusing on living what we believe instead of being a nation that "believes" then more people would be willing to believe.  

(quick note 3: go for it if this Jesus being alive thing really matters to you!)

 

  

love and hate

"there is nothing more polarizing than a situation that demands a reaction"  anonymous

On April 1st we began promoting our "no more Christians" teaching series that begins on Easter Sunday.  We expected to get some negative responses.  It did not take long to realize that the response would be far more than imagined. 

We were contacted by the police department to remove our signs within two hours of putting up the first one.  My inbox was flooded with emails.  People noticed them.  In fact our local paper is publishing an article to expose the truth about this series.  You can read it at http://www.crestviewbulletin.com.

I could write about many things, but what amazed me most was one of the forums on yahoo about the commercial.  It started with one person questioning why there was attack on Christianity which brings freedom to so many people.  Then began a series of exchanges between Christians and non-Christians debating whether or not Christianity should or should not be attacked, whether or not Christianity is a good thing.  The Christians just defended themselves and showed pity for themselves and as one of our church attenders (Angela Duckworth) stated could not see past thinking this was a sign of the end times or an attack on their religion. 

No one tried to communicate the message of Love through Jesus Christ.

no one.                     

This is the problem.  

Christianity in America is on the decline, it is undeniable.  Magazines, Newspapers, etc and writing articles about this like crazy.  There is an incredible opportunity for dialogue. 

Christians:

God doesn't need us to defend him.  The world doesn't need us to argue with them.  They need us to live out the radical faith that gives evidence to our Savior who gave his life as a ransom for many.  

"You can't get on to the darkness for be dark, but you can do something about the light not being bright enough" - Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis

Dangerous Churches: Craig Groeschel

check out this blog from Pastor Craig Groeschel, someone I hold in high esteem.

I was talking to a guy on a plane about God. When I asked him if he went to church, he explained politely that he wasn’t interested. I asked him why he wasn’t and he said matter of factly, “Because I’ve already been and nothing happened.”

Maybe he went to a “safe” church.
In a safe church:
The message makes you feel better.
You’re never confronted about your sin.
No one rocks the boat.
You don’t have to change.
You may never truly encounter our Holy and Life-giving God.

When I read about the New Testament Church, it was filled with people with a dangerous faith. While we certainly should make our environments welcoming, our message should remain dangerous.
We’re called to leave everything to follow Christ.
We’re invited to believe God for the impossible.
We’re told to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
We’re told that to find our life we have to lose it first.

There is nothing safe about that message. May our churches become a safe place to encounter a dangerous message.

What are some of the ways you offer a welcoming environment while presenting a dangerous message?