Worshiply

Yesterday was an incredible day at NorthWood. We have been implementing what we are calling the “Time of Obedience” for the last two months.  It finally feels like we are getting close to the sweet spot.

The Time of Obedience is where at the end of the service, we are giving time and space to let people respond to what God has been speaking to them.  We have Alter ministers positioned in 4 places around the room to lead someone to Christ and pray for them, we open the altar for people to  come pray by themselves or as a family, we have cards for people to sit and write what God has been doing in their lives, we sing, and yesterday we took communion. It is controlled chaos, but our people are responding to God, and I could not be happier!

If you go to NorthWood, What do you think of the changes?

I love to receive blessings from the Lord.

But when trials come, most of the time I do not see them as blessings.  I see them as stumbling blocks to what I think God wants for me.

God is teaching me that trials are blessings straight from his hands, and his plans are not thwarted by a set of circumstances on earth.

He is the king, and I am learning to trust him in new ways.

What is God teaching you?

There are two areas of my life God has been working on.  The constant message over both of these areas is “Be strong and courageous.”(Joshua 1:9)

I am usually a confident person, but in these two areas of my life, I have been scared like a boy at a middle school dance. The problem is my fear is starting to  hinder my obedience to what I KNOW God has called me to do.

Over the last two days, God has given me the grace to step out with courage and faith in both of these areas. I can’t tell you how good it feels to know that even though I have not arrived, or conquered my fears, I have trusted God and stepped when he said to step.

I am thankful for baby steps, and asking for grace to keep going.

One of the best books  I read in 2008 was Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, by Seth Godin.  Quite frankly, it was 1 of 3 books that created the perfect storm that helped me gear up to release  EXAMEN.me.

If you haven’t read the book, or don’t intend to, make sure you check out this video, a 20 minute TED talk summarizing the book..

Brilliant!!!

Your Church, your ministry is a tribe.  They need you to lead them.

Do you take Jesus literally when he says “Give to everyone who begs from you…” (Luke 6:30)?

What is your approach when you are sitting at a stop light and someone is begging with a cardboard sign?  What do you you when you are walking downtown and get hit up for some change?

Just Curious of your approach, and how you justify your approach.

What do you do?

A few weeks ago we did Cardboard testimonies at NorthWood.  The impact was massive for the congregation and those who gave their testimonies on cardboard.

God is Good!
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony… Rev 12:11

There is a HUGE difference between professionals and amateurs. Experiences over the last couple of weeks have reminded me of at least two.

• Professionals know how to recover. We all drop the ball, but the pro knows how to pick it up with grace and keep running.  An amateur looks like a deer caught in head lights.  Consequently, experience does matter.
• Professionals own the problem. No matter who is at fault when a professional sees a problem, they own it until it is solved.  An amateur say’s, “It is not my job to fix it.” and sweeps it under the rug.

Bottom line: Christ deserves our best.

The world is full of great ideas,  but great ideas don’t change the world.  Executing a great idea does.

I consider myself a “Creative Type.” In the past I have thought my perfect job would be to sit in a room and come up with creative solutions to problems.  That is what most creatives want to do.  However, sitting in an room and coming up with ideas is not being a Creative.  It is being a day dreamer.

If you want to be Creative rockstar – Get alone with God, listen to him.  What has he called you to do? Do it with excellence.

Creative genius is not about having the best ideas, it is about having the guts to follow Christ.

Ministry is built on volunteer leaders.  Chances are, if you lost one of your major volunteers, life would be hectic for a while.  Mike Reed, our Executive Pastor, just gave the NorthWood staff some wisdom I needed to hear.  I am sure you need to hear it as well.

Treat your current leaders like they are going to be a vital part of your ministry forever.

Recruit new leaders like your current leaders are going to be gone tomorrow.

Yesterday while going through a Gospel Examen at EXAMEN.me I read John 12:20-26. In the passage Jesus uses two metaphors for the Christian life; Die and Follow.

Jesus said that if we die, we bear much fruit.  But he also said, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me.”  These two metaphors seem mutually exclusive. You cannot follow if you you are dead.

But both of these metaphors speak volumes to me.  There are days I need to die to myself.  I have an agenda, I want to see my agenda accomplished, it is all about me.  I need to die.  But there are also days I need to get off my lazy butt and have the couraage to follow.  God is leading down a hard road, but I am hesitant to believe and follow.  I need to hear the message he gave Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” I need to follow.

Is it harder for you to die or follow?