xamine
Really looking forward to this weekend. We are headed up to Owasso, OK, for a drama/worship conference at Lacey's dad's church. It should be really good for us and our students.
Reggie Dabbs is speaking tonight, and he is always incredible. It will be great to see him again. I would love to have him come to Sherman at some point to do some stuff with us.
I'm praying that this weekend will stretch our students' abilities and grow them in areas we've been working on the past few months. I also hope that it will stretch their paradigm to think bigger and dream bigger ministry for Thrive. There are thousands of students in Texoma Valley who need to know God.
This weekend is one of those times to visit places bigger than you to learn from them and be challenged by their level of ministry. I think the cool realization for our students is that OFA isn't much bigger than Harvest Time, they have just been faithful to reach the students of Owasso and worked really hard to do so. They weren't comfortable with 40-50 students when there are hundreds and even thousands of students in their schools who don't know God.
We will reach those we care most about. It will either be ourselves or those who have yet to find a relationship with Christ. Labels: thrive
creating opportunities
I've been at Harvest Time right at 5 months now. It's gone by extremely fast.
Wednesday nights happen so quickly, and every time I turn around it's Wednesday again. Good thing I'm pretty disciplined and plan ahead. Otherwise, I'd kill myself because I hate last minute planning.
With the speed of life and ministry, planning and preparing for Wednesdays can be just another part of my job that cycles through fast. I have to remind myself often that Wednesdays aren't just another day... it isn't just another service.
It is our time to create another meaningful opportunity for someone to find God. Every Wednesday is another day for me to create this chance and improve on everything from the past week to point students closer to God.
We are moving forward, improving our presentation to better create opportunities for students who don't know God to know Him and become fully committed to a relationship with Him.
Labels: leadership
every soul
A prevalent Christian mindset [albeit unChristlike] is to judge those who aren't just like everybody else. They walk down the same streets, shop at the same Wal-Mart, and walk in the doors of the same churches.Somehow Christ's love is separated from someone based upon social status or appearance. Instead of receiving the feeling of love, acceptance, and value, it is too often the case that they are looked over, unvalued, and forgotten.
Instead of helping them as they seek Christ, we are far too often guilty of helping seekers reject God and mark Christ off their list of spiritual options.
But...
Who are we to choose who gets to receive and accept God's love?
Who made us the ultimate judge?
Who are we to take the Great Commission that says to "go into all the world" and twist them around our own world and understanding?
God accepted us all when He gave His son. None are rejected for any reason. We all have access to God now because of Christ.
Remind yourself today that...
Every soul matters to God.
Labels: christianity
reflecting
I've been sitting at home the past couple of days recovering from my surgery.
It's hard for me because I love my job, I have a lot to do, and it's really hard for me to sit around.
A positive though has been the alone time to think, evaluate, and plan. I love this reflecting time, and I'm learning it's vitally important for me to do this often. I actually have time planned into my schedule to allow me to do this, but for different reasons over the past couple of weeks, it just hasn't happened.
Reflecting allows me to clear my mind, and it really is refreshing. As a leader, it's important to get tasks done because it represents work accomplished. But it's also important to set aside time to step back away from tasks and look at everything from above to assess, dream, and plan. Thinking at this 20,000 foot level allows a leader to see things that aren't normally seen if the time isn't taken.
To accurately assess, it's important to step out of the middle of where you are. You usually don't notice things you are used to.
Go ahead and make the time that no leader has. Step up the ladder to evaluate objectively and allow God to speak. It's refreshing and insightful.
Labels: leadership
hospital
Sunday night I took a visit to the ER. And I just got back home today from the hospital.
When I was 15 I was diagnosed with a kidney stone disease that basically produces kidney stones constantly. I had one major surgery then and a couple of minor ones, but I haven't had problems for the past 5 years.
There was a night in church about 5 years ago that I felt God touched my kidneys in such a real way. An intense heat filled my back only where my kidneys were at; it was incredible. I know it was God that night.
Sunday night I was in immense pain, and ibuprofen didn't do the trick at all.
It ended up being a good thing that I did go though because of the potential huge problems I can have. Both of my kidneys are filled with cystine stones that do not pass. They have to be surgically removed, and from what my doctors told me it's going to be a long road ahead.
Dealing with all this again is a little frustrating honestly. I don't understand why I'm going through all this. But I know this: all this does not change who God is. He is still faithful; he is still loving; he is still strength; he is still sovereign; and he is still healer.
God doesn't change, nor will he ever. He still is God and will always be.
I'm thankful for God's faithfulness and strength. I can't make it without him. Labels: christianity, personal
big requests
In January I started praying and asking God for some big things... they are things that I can't control and they would only be answered if God did it.
One of the things I started praying for was thousands of dollars for ministry costs
to be able to do some things we really need to do. We need to upgrade current equipment and take some of the equipment to the next level.
Last night, God provided thousands of dollars for us with a fundraiser that we were able to work. I don't know the exact amount yet, but I'm so thankful for God's faithfulness.
Naturally, our tendency is to ask God for the small things in our lives. Truth be told, these small things normally take care of themselves. Our time should be spent praying big and asking God to supernaturally provide. We should ask God for the big things and see him really answer prayers.
Labels: christianity, leadership, thrive
following god
While I was in Mexico last week, we met with one of the pastors we will be working with this summer, Pastor Zapata.
He is such an incredible man. His heart for God challenged me so much.
He has been the pastor in Allende for 40 years now and has yet to see many results. Allende is a very poor town with a very predominate Catholic influence, so the Protestant churches haven't seen a lot of success.
Pastor Zapata started his church 40 years ago and was basically told by all his friends and family he would starve to death and he was making the worst decision of his life. He was offered the position of National Youth Director in Mexico, after holding that position on a state level, so he had a lot going for him materially speaking.
But God spoke.
It's so easy to forget everything we do is all about God and not about ourselves or our personal satisfaction. God directs our steps... everyone of them. But they are for his Kingdom and not our own. He places us where we can most benefit the people we are called to reach. I'm learning this in my own life right now, and it really is rewarding.
God may ask us to do things we normally wouldn't do, but that's the beauty of serving God. It doesn't get old; it's always an adventure.
The adventure ends very quickly, though, when we stop following God.
His plan is best, even when everyone else, including ourselves, thinks otherwise.
Labels: leadership
mexico
I'm off bright and early tomorrow morning to the city of Allende in Mexico. Our student ministry is taking a missions trip there this summer to work with the local pastors and churches. We are going to be doing Vacation Bible Schools, repair work, and night services. It should be pretty incredible.
I'm leaving in the morning to go to the city for some prep work and to meet with the local pastors. It should be a good trip, and we'll be back on Wednesday just in time for Thrive.
Hopefully, I'll cross my fingers that I won't forget my birth certificate to get across the border. How sorry would that be.
Labels: personal, thrive
only god
Wednesday night at Thrive was incredible. It was by far our best service since we have been in Sherman. It was really refreshing for me personally as well.
The energy in the room was a little bit more than normal, but other than that it wasn't too much different than the past few weeks.
We began a new series called Jesus, the Greatest Hits and looked at the model Jesus set before us to follow when he became man. I felt like I did well, but by no means did I light it up.
But for whatever reason, the majority of the students responded to the message. We've never had more than two respond before, if anyone at all. What was so awesome was to see the students really going after God and worshipping, and even some relationships being restored. There was just a sense of God in the room. It was incredible.
God just reminded me that it really does depend on him. Everything does. So often as leaders, we make it all about what we can do. But there are things we can never do. God can do the supernatural and completely change hearts, desires, and lives. We can't ever afford to forget this fact. We must work like everything depends on us, but pray like everything depends on God. It's a both/and thing.
It's so awesome to see how great God is. He is good and can accomplish more than I could imagine.
Only God.
Labels: christianity, leadership, thrive
god unexpected
It's funny how God works at the most unexpected times.
A student came in my office last night before church and told me he wanted to change his life... he wanted to give his life to God and live for him.
I wasn't really expected this happen... there hadn't been a service, an alter call, or anything spiritual happen. God has just been slowly working in his heart over the past several weeks, and I knew God was doing something in his heart. I just didn't know how or how long.
Last night was really cool to see God's grace and love come to someone who hadn't really experienced a lot of it before from anyone else.
It was so awesome.
Labels: christianity, leadership
