Clayton’s Twitter!
The girl’s Aunt Leigh and Uncle Dan sent them Elmo live yesterday in the mail. I didn’t know what all of the fuss was about it but now I get it. It is a very cool toy and captures the attention of a 6 year old down to 5 months.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
I was just sitting on my bed thinking this morning and this verse popped into my head. I say popped but what happened is that God placed it there to remind me that the transition that me and my family are going through, the transition Saddleback is going through, and the transition FBC Coppell is going through is all initiated by God….and was initiated by God before I was even born. You see, God created me, He called me, He has prepared me, He has equipped me for this good work. He has done the same for Saddleback, FBCC and my family. We would not be making this transition if God had not been doing the same exact work in Allison’s life. It is amazing to realize that when Allison and I said “I Do,” God knit together two people to whom He had placed the sam future road…and all the twists and turns.
As we seek God daily, we enter in to those works which God planned in advance for us to do…and we WALK IN THEM. I think it’s pretty signigicant that God uses the word walk and not RUN! Life is a journey and we have to pace ourselves. Now as I write this I am so convicted because I live life as a series of sprints. In track growing up I was a sprinter. My goal was to finish the race as fast as I could, stand on the platform, and receive my medal. As I have grown in ministry over the past 14 years, I have realized that pace is so important…Pace allows me to listen to God and follow Him instead of getting out in front of Him.
The reason this has always been dificult for me is because of the urgency of the gospel and of time. We don’t know when Christ will return and we don’t know when our life or someone’s life we know will end. I want to be as diligent as I can so that one day I, and the people I lead, can stand before God and hear the words “Well Done.” This journey, even this tension, is a work in my life that God planned before I was born and desires for me to walk through it. And as I walk, its not the other side that is my focus, its God.
Change is Coming….And God Knows It so we will all walk in FAITH, knowing that the future is in God’s hand, knowing that there is excitement for the unknown, and great joy because we are witnessing God moving and stirring in an amazing way. We must all Walk Together!
I must admit that I am a Piper follower. I would even be categorized as “reformed” by many but non-divisive by most. This should be a great talk and hopefully it will end up on YouTube, Dailymotion, UStream or something in cyberspace. I love that fact that today’s greatest pastor/theologian gives mad props to Driscoll. Mark Driscoll is theologically sound, doesn’t just on trendy bandwagons, doesn’t back down from controversy, and did I say…theologically sound.
I have been going to a video feed venue for over 2 years now. It really doesn’t matter what you do, it is always going to be awkward…at least more awkward than a live speaker being awkward..which I can be at times. So many speakers feed off of the audience…I mean I do….and the audience feeds off of the speaker. One observation that I have made is that when a speaker tells a joke, people in the video venue seldom laugh unless they can hear the people in the main venue laughing. People in the venue rarely raise their hands if asked a question via video…because they know the speaker can’t see them anyway. People in a venue also rarely applaud because they know that no one can hear them…. it is just awkward..you know? Not bad or evil…just awkward…in my opinion….
This last week I heard a lot of conversation about video venues, most of the leadership implementing them spoke about some people having complaints about learning from video – but that was minimal. I didn’t hear any talk about how passive it makes the congregation, and potentially less mentally engaged. It just washes over them like tv – I don’t know how that builds into effectiveness of ones retention of the lessons, but it is something to consider.
I have been listening to the dialogue for a while now and understand that video venues are less risky, easy to launch, have a high level of control etc. etc. What I have noticed is that they lack an element and the worship music tends to take the spotlight. Of course…a lot has to do with the one communicating…..my opinion
Interviewed a pastor from North Carolina this week at PDC. He has multiple sites, each with a speaking pastor. They meet during the week to prep, then teach the same message with different personal illustrations. Still “one church, one message,” but a different execution.
I was just thinking of that concept. I really think that this is a model that can last and grow (with the right communicator) It takes the focus off of one person or personality but it is more expensive….and takes planning
It is a pass time of mine to find little “hole-in-the-walls” that are off of the beaten path. This fits my personality as an “anti-clone.” I don’t want to go where everyone else goes but would rather find the places where no-one else goes. There is a breakfast place that we love to go to…we even went there for Mother’s day…and the family loved it. It is little cafe named Jolanda’s and it is tucked back in a little strip mall off of El Torro in Lake Forest, CA. This particular cafe is known for its fresh baked croissants. Everything that they prepare is home-made and served hot. It’s like eating at home (if you are a good cook) but you don’t have to clean anything up….and its priced very fair. Each time we enter the glass doors we immediately lower the median age by 30 years….easy. The coffee is hot and the food is fresh! If you know where the Smart & Final is then you are very very close to your new favorite breakfast place!
Yeah Jolanda’s!
It seems like all of the “popular” guys right now are guys that have planted churches. Once the church has been in existence for a generation, they too will be experiencing exactly what “established” churches are experience or have experienced. Right now everyone is running around talking about how incredible it is to plant a church and how much easier it is…..that will change. There is an element to what is going on that to me resembles “re-marriage.” There is an element where you don’t like or can’t get along with what you have so instead of working through whatever the situation is, you leave and begin another relationship. I know that this is not an absolute…but something to consider. There is an art to going in to an established church and bringing it to a place of becoming relevant to that local context. It seems like that are many who want to be the next perry noble, mark batterson, Rick Warren, etc., etc…. I think the next “guy” will be the one who goes into a declining situation and turns it around…and can make it “reproducible.” I will be the first to tell you that it take churches of all kinds and it all has to do with what God is calling you to do…but one situation is not better than the other by any stretch of the imagination…we need more guys who are willing to go to an established church and move it to become relevant……just something to noodle on
yeidy, 
Clayton and one other person are discussing. 
cindi 12:19 pm on August 7, 2008 Permalink |
Thanks,Clayton, for the reminder that this journey is not a sprint, but a marathon. I have begun over the past few years to see the truth of “the journey” in my own life–the process of sanctification being accomplished in me. I still struggle with the “striving” to work to make it happen (that’s why Keith Green’s When I Hear the Praises Start is ever in my head). I am still learning to “be” and not just “do” as I live the journey. Expecting that my faith will be challenged and will also grow as we see God continue to work, we’re all walking with ya, Brother.
Clayton 1:26 pm on August 7, 2008 Permalink |
Good word Cindy! The end has already been determined as you have said, “YES” to Jesus. What’s left is all the stuff in the middle that is called “Life.” Life is fully of the tension between “already” and “not yet.” That tension is full of lessons in patience which lead to our maturity in Christ.
yeidy 8:43 pm on August 7, 2008 Permalink |
That is so beautifully said but it is still sad, no doubt about it. At least for me it is. I like how you discussed the fact that our path, for those of us sureendered to His will, it is established before we were born. It is our choice to live that “abundant” life by not being comfortable and following what He wants for us instead of what we want for ourselves.
God also says on His word I MAKE you lie down on the green pastures and I firmly believe that some of us have to be MADE to “lie down” wether that “lying down” is illness, unemployment seasons or whatever it is part of Him making us seat down before we WALK into the work he has already prepared for us.
We will miss you and your bautiful family so much.
Natalie 1:35 pm on August 8, 2008 Permalink |
Okay, I’m lost…(I know, what else is new?) but what I gather from this post is that you’re moving to Coppell and taking a position at FBCC? Did I deduce correctly?
Because if I did, yhen I’m thrilled…Because…My aunt and uncle live in Coppell and we are there ALL THE TIME! Granted, they are members of another church in Coppell but still…I could easily pop in at FBCC with the purpose of seeing you guys! That is, IF all of this is a correct guess…Either way, send me an e-mail and fill me in on what’s going on!