Reflecting on God’s provision

Waking up on the ocean

so we are back in the O.C. to do a wedding this weekend. There is a sweet couple, John and Amy, who were in the single’s ministry at Saddleback. They met one another through mutual friends in a small group and the rest will soon be history. They were so gracious to put us up in a suit overlooking the pacific ocean….WOW!- so cool. We love it out here and it brings back so many memories. We use to hang out at the beach quite a bit our first year hear that is directly across the street. I saw many beach baptisms over there…..

I am changing my sermon this Sunday (and yes, we hop on a 12:00 am flight to land at DFW by 5:00 am to preach). I am in the middle of a series titled “healthy church,” but will address the current huge need in our culture as a result of the financial markets. God is ever present in time of need…but how did we get here? Proverbs has a TON to say about it…we need to get back to reading God’s word!

Time with Tatum

What every workspace needs! :)

I could not help but to take a quick snapshot of what I found in our copy room this past week. I hadn’t seen these devices in a very long time……what’s amazing is that I purchased a car in 2007 and it didn’t even come with a tape player. But, hey, that’s just me. I am sure there are many people out there who still have cassettes…I’ll introduce you to my brother. If you don’t remember him, he is the one in this post: <a href=”“>

Fresh idea for Youth Ministry

I haven’t heard any ideas that are new in a long while…I may write a book entitled “stale church?” I have had an idea for youth ministry that I have shared with a few guys that I believe may be the solution to the attrition problem that plagues every youth ministry in the nation. 

My concept is pretty simple…maybe even overly simple. The method is this. Train Jr and Sr high students the PD model of small groups. They begin to Host the small group their senior year. This small group can meet wherever and whenever they choose. They could even meet during lunch at school, maybe even become a school sponsored small group. The Sr’s mentor Jr’s to take over when they graduate. The Youth ministry mentors the graduating Sr’s when they go off to college. The local youth ministry supports, guides, equips those new freshmen to launch small groups on the college campus that too meet whenever and wherever. These groups are tracked like any other church small group. When the next graduating class goes off to college, they are able to see the active small groups and search for them from the local church’s website….just like any small group search. 

All of the studies find that it is “relationship” that carries an individual through the college years. Studies find that it is through Christian relationships that students make it through college with the least amount of “regrets.” 

This is something that I am going to have our youth guy try at FBC Coppell. I truly believe that with everything I have seen over the past 14 years of youth and singles ministry that this could go a long with the solving a very old problem….are there any thoughts out there? 

And yes….these small groups would both attach themselves to a local church, attend virtually, and be populated and tracked locally….

I told a youth pastor at a very large church this method about 2 years ago and he continued to focus on the program side of a big, entertaining student ministry and not on relationships that are way bigger than the biggest of event!

New haircut

So today was the day for me to finally get my mop cut. I really don’t know how Allison let me continue on with that mop….but I guess it wasn’t the worst haircut I have had…..that and she is simply captivated by my charm!…or not

 

haircut

Simple Message this morning (trying U-Stream)

The message this morning is part 2 in a 3 part series titled “Building Together.” Today we are talking about building relationships of love with God and with others. We are going to look at several passages and I just remembered that I made some changes and need to get those to the right people…boy- I will have to cut this one short. 

We are also trying U-stream this morning to see if that may be a solution to something that I am trying to do. We shall see…..

C

Now this is BBQ Texas style

I had lunch with a new old friend at a place right around the corner from my new church….I’m staying for sure now!!!! Check it out! This is the serving line…We say that things are bigger and better in Texas and this is just another example of the truth behind that statement! 

Time for lunch

I have been getting away foe lunch later and later. I am trying to get into a rhythem but it is proving dificult. I look forward to moving closer very soon!…Allison desired that as well. I got away from the office to eat some lunch and think/process/ dream…if I don’t do this I will perish!!!!

First Sunday teaching at my new chruch

It is literally moments before I get up to teach at my new church. I cannot begin to tell you how the past 14 almost 15 years have prepared me for this moment. I am humbled and in total amazement as to how wonderfully and perfectly God works. God says that He planned good works for me to do before the foundations of the earth…..for this point in time in history…this is that work!

This morning, I am beginning a series entitled “building together.” The key text is Luke 6:46-49 which is appropriate based on the events of this past weekend…but obviously I had nothing to do with the Hurricanes - 

There are 5 values that we will be a part of our foundation:

1. We will value reading God’s word
2. We will value doing what God says
3. We will value togetherness
4. We will value God’s grace to us and to others
5. We will value holding things loosely

This list of values is in no way exhausted but a list that God lead me to while studying….I know that this is the bare minimum as we move ahead together at 1 body of Christ.