Next...

I'm in the office today, and just needed to share what is going on. Turns out that what's happening in God's Kingdom and God's church doesn't stop for my vacation. Here's what I mean:

I'm here because I was meeting with a family about the funeral. Shortly after making it to Christmas, Kent made it home. I get the privilege of speaking at his service on Monday coming up, and because of parking and other considerations, the service will be held at an LDS stake center. That will be a first for me. I ask for your prayers as I prepare for that service.

After that meeting, I got a call from a friend who just finished cancer treatments, and now has some blood count issues. Doctors are working to figure it out, and they seem to be closing in on it, but my friend is tired, a little scared, and trying to make sense of it all. My proud moment came when she said something about getting closer to figuring out what God wanted to do through her because of all this she's been through. I got to tell her to be patient (me, telling someone else to be patient - that God, what a sense of humor!!), and it will be clear when the time comes to do it.

Before I could leave, I checked my e-mail - some friends from DC checking in and telling me how God has been blessing them, and how much they appreciated what we invested in them during the time they were at FBC. There's more news, but I'll save it for later.

Look at what God is doing! I'm so excited to share on Sunday what God has been putting in my heart for a couple of months now, and I hope it helps folks to see that God is wanting to do something, but like I said on Christmas Eve, we're not waiting on Him, God is waiting for us to decide how much we are willing to follow, how much we're willing to risk. Make plans to be there, I think God's got something to say.

Happy New Year, and All God's BEST Blessings!!

Make The Ask

I'm glad that the snow held off Sunday until after church, and I'm glad that my Seahawks won against the Jets, but that was not the best part of the day by far. Baptizing people never gets old!!

I wish you could see the looks on people's faces when they stand up in front of the church family and tell you what Jesus means to them. Every time, no matter how nervous they are, no matter what their life has been or how much they have to say about it in that moment, their eyes tell the whole story. They always shine with a sense of anticipation - God has done a work in my life, and He's not done yet, but I'm here now! It's why I end up blurting out: I Love My JOB! at each baptism. I never get tired of seeing lives change, and I never get tired of celebrating that new life with the folks who were there to make it possible - the First Baptist Church Family.

I love how folks clap and cheer for each person that gets baptized. I love how folks smile and enjoy watching someone share their new found hope in Jesus. I love how people give and serve and pray for the sake of other people coming to know Jesus like we know Jesus. I love how people come out of the water and the first thing their hear is the echo of Heaven's applause in the cheering of God's people. I love it! No doubt, when I'm not feeling my best, when I'm not feeling effective in my ministry, when I want to quit and go stack lumber at Home Depot, the memory of those moments keeps me coming back.

I especially loved Sunday, because both of the people being baptized have amazing stories of God's love and redemption. I hope you get to hear those stories soon, but the part of Misty's story I shared Sunday is important: she came to Christ because someone brought her to Christmas Eve service last year! Read that sentence again. Now, read it again.

Yes, inviting people to church is powerful and important ministry. That's why I do it, and that's why you need to do it. Wherever you are (this is a shout out to all the folks outside of Poky who read the Roof Crashers - thanks! You don't know how much that encourages me!), invite someone to church this week. We have three services to try to fit around people's schedules, so invite someone. You never know when you will be lighting a candle at a baptism because you cared enough to invite a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, a classmate, a client. Make the ask. Let God worry about the details, just make the ask.

I'm going to be a little hit and miss the next couple of weeks, because I'm taking some time off after Christmas to spend with my family, so in case I don't get the chance to say it later, Merry Christmas, and may the blessings of Jesus come into your heart and life in a fresh way this year!

Big Time Anticipation (Times Five!)

This is a crazy time of year, but God is doing so much and moving in the lives of so many people, it has me amped up for what I see coming. A few things that I'm looking forward to with great anticipation:

• Christmas Eve Services - Looking at the energy and response the last two weeks, and knowing this Sunday is going to be great, I just see the three Christmas Eve services being not just energizing, but life changing for some folks. Invite your friends, it's going to be great!
• Volunteer Appreciation Sunday - giving our hard working volunteers (75-80 each Sunday, minimum!!) a well deserved Sunday off. Thanks to our fantastic volunteers!!
• The ON MISSION series to start the year - we're going to look at what God has called us to be and do to be 'on mission' with Him. It's Jesus' church, so it's Jesus' call what we're about.
• THE FINANCIAL SERIES THIS YEAR WILL BE OFF THE HOOK!! - I've done a financial series every year for a while, but RESTRUCTURE, our series on money starting this January, will be amazing! God's been in my ear on this for a couple months already, and with the constant talk about the economy, recession, gas prices and credit crunch, the whole world is talking about money. What better time to share what God has to say about it!! We'll have our Financial Peace University crew up and running again, and a financial workshop to help folks start to get a handle on their finances, but here's what always makes me excited to preach on this subject: someone always gets saved during the financial series! I know, it's crazy, but it's true! God uses this material to challenge and draw people with His grace. How cool is it that God uses whatever He has to get our attention and change lives for eternity!?! I am in awe of His greatness right now!
• Mostly, I'm jacked about the momentum we have! - I see this next three to six months as the turning point in our ministry. As Student Ministries gets fired up for DC/LA, as the Creative Arts and Worship teams get closer to hosting a big worship training event, as our Children's Ministry continues to lead the way in reaching out and sharing Jesus, and as our Connection Groups grow, branch, grow, branch, repeat... I just see things picking up speed and carrying momentum into and thru the summer like never before.
  

So buckle your seat belts, ladies and gentlemen - the Jesus jet is go for take-off!!

Angel Tree Parties ROCK!

What a weekend! The Men's Breakfast we had Sunday was a great time of talking about what God is calling us to do as men in our church, and Saturday night there was a great meal served to the staff by one of the Connection Groups as a 'thank you' for all the hard work they do. Of course Sunday was amazing, with a bigger than expected 9 AM crowd battling the snow to come worship Jesus. I so love the 9 AM crowd!

But the biggest, best part of the weekend was Friday night. We held our first ever Angel Tree Party, and seven families of prisoners came to receive what God had put on our hearts to give them. There were presents that we got on behalf of incarcerated parents, and care-giver packs that included gift certificates and goodies galore. We had over 50 volunteers that night pulling out all the stops to bless these families who find themselves in a tough place. Here are just some of the highlights from that night:

• The first family to arrive got there at 6 pm for an event that started at 6:30. We were gathering for prayer and some last instructions, and they wandered over and joined in! They were also some of the last to leave, spending 2 hours talking, laughing, eating and enjoying themselves.
  
• The Student Ministry gang were excellent 'wait-persons' for the food and drinks. The teens were attentive and upbeat all night, and many pitched in to help with clean up afterward, too. We are seeing a glimpse of the future leaders of our church right now in Student Ministries - way to go!
• We didn't know how people would react to the idea of coming to a church they don't know, to a party with people they don't know, with any manner of agenda that they don't know about. So we told our folks to be prepared for two things: no shows, and people who come, get their gifts and leave. We had some no shows, but got one family's gifts delivered that night (the rest will be delivered soon, don't worry). But we were pleasantly surprised to see families stay for at least an hour, some as much as two!
• One family almost didn't take their coats off. They were ready to get in and get out! But when they saw food, warm drinks, and friendly faces, they sat down and relaxed. Soon, they were talking with their table hosts and having a great time. They even asked questions about FBC!
• We didn't do this to get people to come to our church, the point was to be a blessing, not to do marketing. But God stirred it up in people's hearts to start asking us questions about the church, and we had folks there who were excited to answer. I got called over to one table to talk to a family at length about who we are and what we do, all because they were curious. Two days later, there they were, walking into our 11 AM service! They felt comfortable enough to show up, and you made them feel at home during worship. Way to go 11 AM people, I love you!

The Angel Tree Party is one of the coolest, most openhearted, most wonderful events we've ever done. We've done bigger events, louder events, splashier events, but none more giving, loving and warm. I was so blessed to hear the feedback afterward from the folks who came to serve: it was great, and we can't wait to try this again!

Keep praying for the impact of that night to be felt in the lives of the families and their parents in jail this Christmas. God is on the move, and we are seeing Him use us to make a real and life changing difference! Can't wait to see what's next!!

I'll Be Back...

I'm having one of those days that keeps me coming back. Like golf, where I hack my way through 18 holes, but a couple times per round I'll hit a shot that feels good, looks good and lands where I want it. Exciting, effective, and enticing, those shots keep me coming back to golf. This is one of those days in ministry.

I was standing in the worship center, looking at the preparations for the Angel Tree Party tomorrow night, listening to two staffers talk about what they are learning in their leadership. I had just come from a great discipleship meeting and a great lunch meeting before that, and it hit me: God is really moving in this church family like I've always pictured it happening! It's been awhile since we had such a consistent string of wins, and now we're a part of a roll that is exciting and scary, fun and freaky all at once. So many pieces are rolling forward, connecting, moving together and showing fruit right now, as I stood in that room just now, it overwhelmed me - It's working!

I'm so pleased with how Student Ministries Vision Night went last night, Chris and his team did a phenomenal job of communicating the future of their ministry, and I'm so fired up about Angel Tree Party tomorrow and the blessing bonanza that will be for the families that come. I'm still pumped up about the news of one of our Connection Groups splitting into three groups for the expressed purpose of creating space for others to get connected. Right heart, right motives, right on! I did a 301 interview yesterday that got me fired up, and right this second there are students up stairs practicing to lead worship (really LOUD!)

I know there are lots of holes that need plugged, lots of hearts that need healing, and lots of work left to be done. I know we're far from perfect, and we're moving too fast for some, too slow for others. I know that tomorrow is another day of endless possibilities, both good and bad. But today is a day to celebrate the hand of God on FBC, so I'm celebrating. Yeah GOD!!

People ARE Getting Ready!!

I really am jacked about this message series for Christmas! "People Get Ready!" is a call and a challenge to all of us. Like the season of Advent, we need to prepare for the coming of the Messiah, and do what we need to do to be ready when He arrives. Like our real lives, we need to get ready for what God wants us to do, both now and the rest of the year. And for some, the greatest Christmas gift they've ever been given has been left unopened for all the Christmases of their lives because they haven't received the gift of Jesus Christ.

It has been fun connecting the Old Testament prophecies about Messiah to the New Testament reality of Jesus, and I can't wait for the rest of this series. I hope you will pray and invite folks to come hear the greatest news ever!

I'm about to go home and help my wife get ready for dinner. We're having the elder team and their wives over for dinner tonight, then a meeting to make sure we're tracking as we look to the new year and all the opportunities and challenges that will come our way. We have a dedicated and God-honoring group of guys on the elder team, and they could all use your prayers as they lead the church from the point position with me. I'm blessed to have them in my life, and I've been looking forward to this dinner for weeks.

If you were here for Sunday, I hope you heard that God has a plan for you. Not just for the pastor, not just for the church, but for you in particular. God has been planning your part for a long time, and I'm hoping you will step into it with joy and gusto this Christmas.

Riding the Rollercoaster

Christmas is coming, and the easy way to tell is not the snow on the ground this morning, nor the shoppers crammed into Costco every day. No, it's the roller coaster we get at church this time of year. We've been very intentional over the last few years to cut down on the number of nights out for people during Christmas, since this is the season for concerts, company parties, family get togethers, and all manner of other crazy. We as a church decided God didn't want us to be so busy coming to church that we didn't have any bandwidth left to invest in and invite other people. So we do less and pray for greater impact.

But one thing that hasn't changed in all these years is the way 'crazy cake' gets layered on during any holiday season (Easter is usually worse, believe it or not). The last 30 hours are a great example of what I mean when I say the roller coaster of up and down is at full speed.

Yesterday at staff meeting, we had a great discussion about all the great things going on in our ministry right now: 5 people just baptized, 10 more on the waiting list for next time, including three kids, one teen - the rest are adults! The I Saw the Lord campaign was a huge success, and we shared stories of how it touched people (by the way, if you have a story, e-mail me, PLEASE!!), and all the other great things God is doing. Then, we talked about the finances: things are not good. Whether the economy is good or not, the giving is not, and it's holding us back from some great opportunities we could be leveraging for God's kingdom.

Then last night, the Night of Prayer was good. Over 30 people there to pray, ready to praise God for the good, and some visibly stunned by the news that the finances are so far off. But in the end, a good time of prayer for our community and for our effectiveness as a church family this Christmas.

This morning we walked thru the Angel Tree party preparations, getting ready for next weekend's event, and things were good. Some folks came to see me after that, and I got to lead someone to Christ and talk to them about getting baptized. THAT WAS AWESOME!! Right after that, I got some news that disappointed and frustrated me to my core. I hate it when Satan draws people into the trap of separation; he's the father of lies, and his lies hurt people. It makes me mad.

Up. Down. Up. Down. Up. PARTY IN HEAVEN!! Deep downer down. That's the graph of my life right now. One of the things I'm learning in my life is how a leader needs to combat the roller coaster:

The first way is prayer: getting alone with God and dumping all this on Him. It's His church, His people, His sheep. He cares, He wants to make to His kingdom grow, and He sees the mess before it gets made. I'm about to go and sit with Jesus and tell Him how much I need His help to not be angry and ineffective because of the downs, and how thankful I am for the ups.

Second, I get around 'up' people. I had lunch today with a perpetual 'up' person. I have a list of people that I need to be around regularly in order to keep my perspective in the positive zone. Without them in my life on a regular basis, I get depressed and stay down for long periods, so I don't let myself skip on those meetings.


Third, I remember what God has been doing. God has been blessing this church. Some folks, for whatever reason, can't always see that. I realized that I can't always see it, either. I get caught up in the 'crapola' and miss what God is doing if I don't remember to pay attention and intentionally call to mind God's goodness and faithfulness in the past. When the nation of Israel got to the other side of the Red Sea, it took all of three days to forget God's miracle and grumble about their lack of water. If God can part the sea, He can make a spring in the desert. I have to remember the miracles, the life change, the faithfulness of God, and be obedient to what He says, rather than always looking at what we don't have.

We're going to have another baptism service on Dec. 21, and we will get to celebrate the miracle of lives that have been changed by Jesus Christ. It's an answer to many prayers. People will cheer! God will provide the water. I need to obey and be there.

Not a Bad Monday

Did three things today that I feel great about, just wanted to share:

1. I worked out. Man, I need to keep on this. I forget how good I feel when I'm regularly in the gym. I sleep better, I manage my stress better, and I just have more energy. I forget that way too fast in my efforts to 'do more' in my life. I've got to stay on this, even through the meat of the Christmas season. Feel free to hold me accountable, I need it!
2. I met with my LLC. I have the privilege of leading a group of local pastors in a monthly Leadership Learning Community. We read a book, discuss it's implications for our ministries, and we dream, encourage each other and pray together once a month. Today was the day, and I'm hearing great things from each of the churches represented. I'm jacked to hear what God is up to in Blackfoot, Idaho Falls, Arco, Clearfield and Ogden. We have a big God, and He's doing big things. There are small group ministries starting, people being baptized, new ministries starting, and momentum building in these places. It gets me pumped to hear that stuff. I guess the lesson here is: make sure to include some positive input, some encouraging people in your life as often as possible, it's good for you!
3. I read a couple blogs. I read Perry Noble's blog, and he's great. He posted about a blog post from another author, and linked it. In it, Anne Jackson confesses that she had a problem with Perry, but that God challenged her to love more and criticize what's working less. I read Perry first, then Anne, then the comments. I was both encouraged and massively depressed. People were using her blog to vent about what they don't like in pastors; namely that some pastors are trying to connect to modern culture, and even might use other people's (effective) material to themselves be effective. I read it as much as I could before I got sick. People are far and away more willing to criticize what's working than do anything effective themselves. Having myself been capped on for learning from and using material from other pastors/churches, and having been criticized for trying to be relevant (the statement usually takes the form of a 'watering down the gospel' argument), I was sad to see so many people try to yell the loudest about how bad someone like Perry is. But here's what actually encouraged me: even someone as effective and resourceful as Perry Nobel gets his share of heat.

Okay, that's sick, I know, but it's true. Billy Graham has been criticized his whole career. Rick Warren has people hating on him all over the Internet. You can't name an effective leader in the church that hasn't taken a broadside of criticism here or there.

And that reminds me that if I'm going to be the leader God wants me to be, criticism comes with the territory. I don't like it, I don't enjoy getting it, and it's not always a good time. But two things happen when I get criticized, and I think they are both good. One is, I get to rethink what I've said/done to draw the criticism. Sometimes, I'm flat wrong, and I need to be called on it. Critics aren't always evil, and they aren't always wrong. And second, I get to look at the bigger picture: if what I did was okay, but it drew fire from someone anyway, was it worth it? I have to see criticism as a piece of what God is doing to grow me up, to force me to listen to Him over the other voices in my life, because ultimately, I'm going to stand before God and God alone for my accountability.

While I'm here on the Earth, I'm accountable to the Elders and others in my life, but ultimately, if I'm looking to other people for my affirmation and not focused on what God is calling me to do, I am asking for trouble. I get caught up in the 'chatter' way too easily, and it makes me fearful of what 'people are saying' way too often. Instead, I need to listen, learn, grow, and keep my eyes on Jesus, no matter what. And by "no matter what," I mean no matter what people might say about it. I need to learn from other pastors, even if people don't like it. I need to learn from other churches that are being effective, even if people criticize that. And I need to say what God puts on my heart, even if it gets me in trouble with some folks who don't like how I said it.

I know that I have the reputation of not listening to people. That's what some people think of me, and what they will say about me to others. But the truth is: I listen too much. God has been trying to break me of listening to - and then trying to please - everyone. This is me, trying to listen to the Master's voice and learn. So, Go Perry! Go Anne! Go Jesus!