Sunday Mind Dump

To say that God is still messing me up (check last blog post) big time would be an understatement. I think he's even doing a number on my wife over that same thought. She has said things over the last few days that she's never said....I think God is in the process of doing something huge in our ministry. I wish I could find words to describe how that feels:) So let's dump:

• Unplugged service today was cool. We'll try it agian in a few months and see how it goes.
• Murphy set up shop in our church today. Seemed like everything was breaking or on the fritz!
• Hard message today on communion. Had to give it.....I know some people were thinking and holding back while they allowed God to work in them.
• April and I had a very healthy dinner tonight. We went to Baskin Robbins!
• Couple new songs coming over the next few weeks. I am really excited about them!
• Played tennis again today.....feeling really good and getting in better shape!

Outta here.....a couch is calling my name!

Messing Me Up-Big Time

April, Tony, and I are involved in a leadership coaching network. As part of that network we meet ever month or so with a group of other leaders that are helping us grow as pastors and church leaders. Everyone needs someone to push them if they are going to become all that God desires them to be.

Last week. Last weekend, one of the leaders (Don)in our network mentally smacked me upside the head and it has been really doing a work on me since. He asked me two very pointed questions that a week later I am still trying to make sense of and process. One of the questions he asked was "Jeff would you be OK with it if God never sent a new person into your ministry here at Real Life?" For me, clearly the answer was no...we need to grow.

But at it's most core level that's a much deeper question than it seems. Because at it's core it means how would you treat those people already in your care. Would you devote your life to them and lead them fearlessly? Would you turn your focus and energy toward developing them? That is the one of the questions I think we are dealing with as a church. Are we as a church and as leaders willing to sell out to the people that we already have? Don made a major point to emphasize his point....he pointed out that Jesus was quite content with a church of 12. Those 12 followed him for 3 years and then he released them into a ministry that would change the world.

If I am being honest I personally struggle with that. Churches need to grow or they will slowly die...that is a simple fact. The question is how you are going to grow the church. Conventional wisdom says you grow the church through marketing and getting your name out there. Jesus wasn't concerned with that. He put his time into 12 guys. We need to put our time into developing those we have. If we do that we won't have to be concerned with changing the world. They will do it for us.

Sunday/Monday morning mind dump

A nice day at Real Life. Yesterday's message was probably one of the most important we have done. The simple fact is, whatever kind of bailout you need...whether it's physical, emotional, financial, or spiritual it's going to come by prayer. We all need to be better prayers. Not better in terms of the way we sound when we pray I mean better in how we ask....Maybe a better thing to say is we need to be authentic prayers.....So let's dump:

• The band was killer today. Aaron is a great worship leader. I love his humble spirit.
• Summer season kicked off today. That means smaller crowds and that is ok...remember the church exists for you. You don't exist for the church. Don't feel bad about enjoying time away with your family!
• Played tennis again last night. I am really digging being on a tennis team. It's great exercise and a lot of fun!
• Getting ready to get the food prep started today....potatoe salad....steaks on the grill...and a day with the family.....gotta like that :)
  

Sunday Mind Dump

What a great day today!

Seriously, I had a blast. I am dog tired but I had a lot of fund. This morning I sat in for our worship leader (he's on vacation in MX with his wife) which was fun. But even better than that. I got to play guitar while my boy played drums. How cool is that for a Dad?

After church the band headed over to the lodge at Strawberry park and played a 2 hour set for Amy Jo's graduation party. That was a lot of fun as well. Thanks to Scott & Steve (From HallowVox) for coming and siting in with the band. We really needed him to sing with Aaron being out and Steven did a good job getting the sound dialed in. If you're not a musician you really have no idea how hard it is to take your gear and set up in some rooms and get a good sound!

So Let's Dump:

• Week 2 of the bailout series. Stu did a good job talking about learning to be content. Nice to see him, his family, and a few friends today :)
• Next week we are talking about how we can get our bailout from God. Hopefully we can bring the series full circle.
• In two weeks we are going to do church a little different. We are doing something called Vintage Faith Sunday. We are going to turn the lights down. Unplug the guitars and drums and go acoustic. We are going to do a few more songs than normal, partake in communion, and have a message that talks about what communion is and why it's so important.
• If you're wanting to head to Celebrate Recovery next weekend make sure you let us know soon. Right now it looks like we are going to have 2 car loads full of people. After CR Real Life will take eveyone out for pizza and we'll talk about what we saw.
  
• One Prayer...coming in June!

Renner out.....dang....I think that only works for Ryan Seacrest.

Dang It.

So last night I was in bed and not really sleeping. Sometimes my mind just races but sometimes (and this isn's something I am proud of) God uses that time to speak to me (probably because I am too busy telling him stuff during the day.)

Any way...Last night God kept telling me that "I am not my own that I have been bought with a price."

Guys for better or worse (usually for better) we are not our masters. Each of us have been bought with a price and we need to understand that there is a contract on our lives. Jesus Christ, in his mercy paid the price for our wrongs. When we accept that we inherit eternal live because the price had been paid for our wrongs. In a sense by accepting Jesus gift of eternal life, we enter into a contract with God in that our lives are no longer our own they belong to God.

Because our lives are no longer our own we need to seek God and discover our purpose and live with zeal and abandon toward that purpose. We can no longer chase after the desires of our hearts. God has invested too much in us to allow us to enter into a moral failure. It doesn't matter if people criticize (and they will), and it doesn't matter if we always understand it. We just need to be obedient.....Dang It!

That messes me up.

Sunday Mind Dump

Great day at Real Life Church. I had a blast playing guitar and singing with the band. It's rare that I get to do it. Kinda nice to actually play two weeks in a row, we'll miss you Aaron but have fun in MX. Ok...so let's dump:

• The first weekend of our Where's My Bailout series. Had a great time teaching today. Some of the stuff I said was a little hard to hear and I know that but it's still true. So let's have a few highlights.
• First off. I refuse to participate in fear.
• I refuse to focus on the negative.
• I refuse to worry about those things I cannot control.
• I cannot worry about that which God has removed from my life.....It's not that those things or people were not important to me. But the simple fact is, If God needed them in my life for his work in me they or it would still be there.
• We have to remember that our lives are full of times and seasons...recession is a season and it will pass.
• The band sounded killer today...we were very tight.
  
• Loved giving all the Bath and Body Works stuff out to the ladies for Mothers Day....we need all you Mothers and we appreciate every one of you :)
• I really dig the show Deadliest Catch....I am watching the marathon as I type this.
• Next week our old friend Stu is stopping by Real Life to give the message. Should be a really fun day!

I am out!

Link Love for Craig Groeschel Part 2

Here is the second part of the leadership post by Craig Groeschel.....enjoy :)

The Second “D”

To pursue your dream, at some point, you’ll likely have to take an aggressive step. Phase two is to make the decision to pursue your dream.

This sounds easier than it is.

A friend of mine who occasionally flies a small plane recreationally once described to me the point of no return on takeoffs. He explained that on the runway, there comes a point that the pilot must be absolutely committed to takeoff. If the pilot isn’t committed at full throttle, he’ll run out of runway and won’t get the plane off the ground.

The same is true of the dream. At some point, you’ll have to make a faith decision.

Your faith decision could be as bold as leaving a job or moving your family to another country. Or it could be as simple as going public with your dream, starting to raise money, or forming a 501c-3.

No matter what the decision, to step toward your destiny will often require a daring step away from your security. In other words, if you want to walk on water, you’re going to have to get out of the boat.

Remember, it is impossible to please God without faith.

When did you make a big faith decision toward your dream? Or… Do you have a decision to make?

Link Love for Craig Groeschel

Love this lesson in leadership taught by Craig Groeschel (www.lifechurch.tv) these are his words not mine.....enjoy!

The 4 D’s of Leadership

Years ago I did a study of Joseph. On his way to God’s ultimate plan, Joseph (as well as many other leaders) experienced four specific phases on the road to his destiny.

This week we’ll talk about the four phases (or D’s) most leaders experience.

The first phase is the dream.

Long before he had any credibility with others, God gave Joseph a dream.

It is noteworthy that those closest to him didn’t like or understand his dream. In fact, Joseph’s dream of future leadership incensed his brothers.

How do you uncover your dream, burden, or passion? It helps to wrestle with these statements and fill in the blanks.

I’ve always wanted to _________________________________.
I believe I was created to _______________________________.
My deepest passion is _________________________________.
I’ve never told anyone _________________________________.
I’ll regret this if I don’t try ______________________________.

Maybe God has planted a dream in your heart to start a different kind of church, or to fund water wells for those without clean drinking water, or to disciple 12 underprivileged kids, or to write intimate worship songs, or to create Christian movies for children, or to find a cure for AIDS, or something else.

When God gives you a dream, don’t be devastated if everyone around you doesn’t understand.

The Living Bible translates Eph. 3:20 like this, “God is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of –infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.”

If God gives you a dream, remember, He is able to bring it about.

What are you dreaming about?

Sunday Mind Dump

Very cool day at church today. Loved hearing all the cool stuff Springfield High Schools Campus Life program is doing! I am so happy God has allowed us to play a small part in that. So let's dump:

• Band sounded better today. They are still struggling in working out playing with a metronome but it's getting better:)
• Can I just say right here that I love my wife. She's been really great this week doing everything for me while am recovering from surgery. She's really cheap or I'd buy her something to say thank you!
• Got some great messages coming up that God has hit me with.....that's part of being laid up and unable to do much of anything.
  
• My grass really needs cut. I need to get my boy on that.
• I cannot believe my daughters graduation is a month away. That is flipping scary...yes....invites will go out this week.
• Make sure you let me know you want to come and be a part of our trip up to Allen Park MI to check out their celebrate recovery program.....email's will follow :)

I am outta hear!