I'm dizzy from trying to keep up with all the banter back and forth about what the Scriptures say and don't say, how we are supposed to view passages and the ones that don't mean what they used to... I'm weary with fancy writing and pundits playing to the crowds of how their ideology is obviously way of the culture. 
I'm weary hearing who is for and who is against all the latest and greatest.  I know that there are really impassioned pleas and discussions taking place.  I'm all for dialogue.  But I'm just weary with the arguing and jockeying for position and power.  The body of Christ looks too much like the confused and weary culture it is supposed to be light to. 
I need to remind myself that my place in this is to sell out to Jesus and live his truth and mercy.  I can't love the people more than I love the will of God.  The will, mercy, heart, mind, grace, and passion of God has to be my motivation for loving others.  If I love people more than I love God, then my life is going to devolve into a circular movement of frustration and disappointment.  I will end up feeling lost in a sea of chaos. 
By focusing and getting back to loving the will of God it is possible to rightly and compassionately love others.  God has to be focus. God has to be prominent.  I die to self and take up his cross and daily follow.  As I follow, I love.  As I love I am obedient.  In being obedient I serve.  In serving I worship.  As I worship I follow.  And as I follow Him, I love others.... Look, I'm not dizzy anymore!

Absolutely crazy, insane four week run.  It is now, March, well almost April and the insanity is just heating up.  I have been on the campground, both in Alabama and Northern California, with over three hundred believers who were seeking God's healing and restoration in their lives.  I witnessed chains of guilt, shame, addiction, apathy, hurt, abuse, and more break off the hearts and minds of men and women.  I am witnessing marriages being restored, as well as marriages end.  I am seeing young men who have finished their Teen Challenge program pursue ministry as well as those who have chosen to go back to their former life.  So much joy and sadness in the lives of those all around us.  The truth is, however, that healing and new life is there for all.  Some choose to go back towards the pain of unhealthy behavior and others choose to live in freedom.  Choose wisely....

In the past two weeks, we have hosted two hundred people for a Seder (Passover) Meal led by my friend Mike Maher.  Incredible!  So many of our GCC friends served so graciously as we provided an atmosphere of worship and learning.  Tres Dias was, well, .... INCREDIBLE!  Now back to the normal craziness of five boys, a church, friends, life, ministry, and.....

In the course of all that, we were blessed with a visit by our daughter and grand baby.  So much joy having them with us and yet so much sadness watching them go back.  Life... Ah life.  What craziness has been part of your journey this past month?  Make sure in all the craziness you don't forget to live.  To choose life and freedom.  To enjoy those around you. To see the work of God in you and through you.  To live thankfully for all He has done, is doing, and will do. 

Have I mentioned next week is Easter?!!!......

I love re-connecting with friends that I haven't seen in years.  I love the fact that we picked up with conversation as though we have not been apart.  Those kind of friendships where you can share honestly to the point without awkwardness are the best.  What a great blessing to be blessed with good friends.  Oh I am a rich man because of my friends!

Don't take for granted those relationships.  Far too many don't have those kind of friends that they trust and value.  We are in a disconnected world that is starving for authentic relationships.  I am continuing to be reminded that it is paramount to our purpose as a Church to focus on connecting others in real relationships. 

How are your relationships?  Are you investing in and being invested in by others?  Are you seriously intent on seeing others enjoy committed, deep friendships?  Remember Jesus in his own words... "love your neighbor as yourself"!

In a return to my home state, I have enjoyed an amazing experience.  Working with the men of BTD #28 was absolutely amazing!  To witness leaders move more fully into who they have been called and gifted to be is always humbling.  The love and grace of God are remarkable, life transforming gifts.  I am always renewed by the way His love moves others to serve and share. 

Being here has allowed me to be with my daughter and grand baby as well as visiting my parents.  A great visit with my family.  Hearing the stories of painful church experiences here hurts my heart, but renews my resolve to continue working towards a life giving church built on the word of God that loves on people. 

I am listening to and studying the trends that continue occurring all around us in regards to loving people without feeding the frenzy of it doesn't matter how we live.  So many want to offer "love" to those away from Christ, but not help them find Christ.  If Jesus truly is the way, our love originates in Him and has to be revealing of Him.  Such a fine line to walk in regards to the culture, but so critically important. 

I am continuing to pray my favorite prayer.... "Lord, I have heard of your fame:  I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.  Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."  Habakkuk 3:2....  

Join me! Will you?

So many good things happening but also a great many difficult things.  Walking with people through troubled marriages, addictions, pursuing faith, bitterness, and other difficulties, it doesn't allow a lot of time for writing, much less sharing what I'm learning as I experience life along side others.  There are days when it is truly overwhelming.  As those days press in, I find peace in being reminded that God is at work and I am just walking the journey He has for me.  It is a humbling reminder that as we love others,  He shines brightly and faithfully. 

I mentioned good things happening.  I'm studying and preaching a series with my good friend Pastor Cary Duckett of the Church on Cypress.  We are encouraging each other and have invited our faith families to pray over each church.  What a great way to inspire unity and be more aware of the Kingdom work of our friends from "down the hill".

In March, we are hosting a Seder Meal.  My friend Mike Maher will be coming from Alabama to lead our Passover feast and give instruction on the beauty of such a meal.  It will be a great time of worship, learning, welcoming, sharing, remembering, and serving. 

Not to jump ahead to much, but May will be incredible.  Margaret Feinberg, an incredible communicator, writer, disciple and woman of God will be speaking on Sunday May 5th.  She is in town participating in a conference Thursday and Friday and has graciously agreed to come share with GCC!  Among other things she has written, my two favorites are WONDERSTRUCK and SCOUTING THE DIVINE! 

So for now, we fix our eyes on Jesus!  He authored and perfected the faith we profess and pursue.  He endured the evil of mankind and overcame the cross and the grave.  He is sitting next to the Father, speaking on our behalf.  Whew....  I believe I can keep on going!

making disciples

I went to a Pastor's breakfast this morning with several hundred others to hear Francis Chan.  The host church is of the largest in the area.  I will start by saying I'm not opposed to large.  I have been there and was blessed in so many ways.  The opportunity to hear Chan address this type of crowd had my interest.  The morning was good and the host church was gracious.

As has become his style, he quickly confessed the problem with popularity and the impact it has on a person.  As he shared, the heart of his message zeroed in on discipleship.  That topic is often alluded to, but not so often lived.  It was a direct, honest, to the point message that gave me hope.  Here's why.

Too often the pursuit is in how big can we make it.  How much can we do, spend, get away with as well as how cool and cutting edge can we market it as has become the norm in church world marketing.  Chan's message was don't try and build the mega, just be faithful in making disciples.  Disciples make disciples is the true key.  We have to talk it, model it, invest in it, re-invest, ....  I think you get the point.

Too many want to go to the best show in town and leave inspired to come back the next week rather than challenged to go make disciples.  It isn't about our education, it is about our pursuit of the divine healer who came as a baby and left as a risen King.  It is about modeling his life.  It is about the next conversation with the next person.  It is about continuing to invest the lives of people.  It is about living out the truth of God's word as we walk this life with others.  It is about discipleship.

I did get a chuckle this morning as he was wrapping up his talk.  As I said, we were in an amazing facility with all the modern trimmings, and he point blank said "this won't last".  This isn't it. This can't be sustained.  He wasn't poor mouthing, but just speaking about the reality that the financial, physical, emotional pressure to maintain the big is wearing people out.  "Simplify"!  If he said it once he said it a bunch.  "Go and make disciples"... Jesus words, our command, pretty simple!  Let's do it!

weird the new normal

Getting ready for the third week in our new series, "weird the new normal".  Yesterday was a difficult day.  This past week was a difficult week of preparing to speak.  Preparing to speak involves so much more than reading bible, books, articles, etc....  It involves asking yourself tough questions about your own life.  It involves difficult introspection.  It involves confession of failure, repentance and accountability to move to a better place and it involves the willingness to be vulnerable with the people you are sharing life with.

As we discussed getting in to a healthy rhythm in our lives yesterday, I could see in Jennifer's eyes that look of love.  She knows it is my struggle to work too fast, too long, too....  But she loves me...  She has a kind and firm way of calling me back to a healthy rhythm.  She doesn't manipulate or demand, but rather out of her own love for God and desire for things to be in rhythm and healthy her way draws me back. 

Rhythm is key to being in balance.  It is not always easy to choose balance, but it is essential.  Let's keep moving our lives toward the rhythm of God's drum beat in our lives.  Walking in step with His Spirit and leading is always the right pace, the right direction, the right way.  What beat are you walking to?