30 Days of Praise

I want to tell you about something I'm very excited about. In 2010 I am helping lead a movement called 30 Days of Praise. It is a movement of people who are beginning the new decade committing to do two things during the month of January: 1) To begin each day by praising God for who He is, and 2) To end each day by praising God for what He has done. I think this has huge potential for spiritual impact in those who participate. And I'd love to invite you to join me.

If you're interested, go to http://30daysofpraise.blogspot.com/ and sign up (all you do is enter your name and email).

You will find some resources there to support your commitment. For example, there's a daily devotional you can download if it is helpful. And you'll be able to listen to the podcasts of the messages I am preaching during the month of January through Psalms 145- 150 as they become available. Also, and, I'm super excited about this, our worship pastor, David Toney, is putting the final touches on a worship album with original songs he has written from Psalms 145 -150. These songs will soon be available as free downloads.

Mostly, I'm just hoping that lots of people make a commitment to praise God more in 2010. And that praise for each of us will become more than a few songs on Sunday, but a way of living life fully before a holy and loving God.

God's best to you in 2010,
Doug

PS If you're going to participate, let me know, but more importantly, invite someone else to join you.

Jesus is with you... really!

We grossly underestimate how much God longs for us to know and experience His presence daily. The reason I say this is because recently I decided to look at the final verse of each book in the New Testament. An overwhelming number of them are reminders that Jesus (or the grace of Jesus) is with you!

So, if you ever feel all alone, or doubt that God is intimately involved in your life, you might want to keep this list handy:

Matthew And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Mark Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them …
1 Corinthians The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
2 Corinthians May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Galatians The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit…
Philippians The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit…
Colossians Grace be with you.
1 Thessalonians …our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
2 Thessalonians …our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
1 Timothy Grace be with you.
2 Timothy The Lord be with your spirit.
Titus Grace be with you all.
Philemon ... the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Hebrews Grace be with you all.
Revelation The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.

Could God have made it more obvious!?!

A spirit of reconciliation

How often do we let unresolved conflict with another person keep us from doing things, going places, or being ourselves? Instead of dealing with things quickly, we let them simmer. Or talk to everyone else except the individual involves?

In Matthew 18, Jesus enumerates 4 steps to dealing with strained relationships.

1) If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.….. MATT 18:15
2) … if he will not listen, take one or two others along… MATT 18:16
3) … if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church … MATT 18:17a
4) … if he refuses to listen to them, treat him as you would (an unbeliever).… MATT 18:17b

But have you noticed how people can walk through these steps while, at the same time, violate the spirit behind the process? Many people see the above steps as permission to blast someone or be self-vindicating. For me, it is important to realize that there are several timeless principles behind the process.


· Approach with humility

The family language of brothers and sisters assumes a note of personal care. Remember to approach each other as peers who are journeying side by side.

· Keep it limited

Limit the exposure. Reduce the fallout. Avoid unnecessary rumors, the misunderstandings, and slander from multiplying. When we gossip to others instead of deal with the individual, it is always destructive.

· Aim reconciliation

Remember that the win in all this is a restored relationship. Our attitudes should not be that of a policeman out to arrest a criminal, but rather a physician seeking to heal a wound.

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Check out Video of our Recent Baptism

The Easy Life. Really?

Jesus offers to make our spiritual journey easy and light. Sounds pretty unrealistic, huh? To be honest, I’m usually skeptical whenever someone tells me that the Christian life is easy. I usually write that off as novice arrogance. How could the Christian life be light and easy? That sounds more like an oldies radio station than the spiritual journey I know. But that is, in fact, what Jesus said:

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matt 11:29-30

A yoke was a farming implement used to work the ground. Jesus uses it as a symbol for the demands and burdens of the true spiritual journey. It helps me to picture a modern backpack. Still how can He say it is easy or light? It turns out that the word “easy” does not imply that life will be smooth and trouble-free. The word “easy” is best translated well-fitted, or well-suited. That’s why The Message paraphrases this verse as “I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.” And the phrase “light burden” isn't meant to imply the believers somehow float through life lighter than air. The light burden is contrasted with the unrealistic burdens of religious leaders who loaded down their followers without any regard for their purpose or the journey they were meant to take.

Here are a few takeaways for me.

· Jesus’ yoke is easy and light because it is perfectly fitted for us. Unlike an ill-fitted backpack, it doesn’t chaff or rub. It is uniquely designed for our frame.

· Jesus’ yoke is easy and light because it is just what we need for our journey. He equips us with all we need.

· Jesus’ yoke is easy and light because it is transforming. As we wear it, we discover it not only fits it, but over time we are shaped by it as well. As we wear it, we become more like the One who gave it to us. We become more like Christ.

Jesus is willing

I love this simple request of Jesus:

A man with leprosy came and knelt before Jesus and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Matt 8:2

Having heard of Jesus’ wonder working power, the man basically said, “Jesus, I know you can heal me, but will you?”

Now, in some ways, this is the most honest prayer we will ever pray. Isn't that all we can ever say in our suffering? When we come to Jesus with our problems, our illnesses, our concerns, “Lord, I know you can, I just don’t know if it is your will.”

But at a deeper level this request was tainted with the man’s own experience and cultural baggage. It grew out of a world that forced him to feel estranged from God and isolated from community. He must have worried that Jesus wouldn't have the time, or interest, to enter his world. In other words, he didn’t question Jesus’ ability, but his willingness. He knew Jesus was able, he just didn’t know if he was available.

Sometimes it is easier to believe in God's power than in his mercy.

It was then that Jesus did something absolutely startling. Those who were close enough to see would have been horrified. He touched the man. He probably hadn’t been touched in years. And Jesus said, “I am willing.”

Never doubt that Jesus is willing. Jesus is ready to touch your life today.

The Only Question on Life’s Final Exam

It seems to me that there are a lot of endeavors that people pour their energy into, work on, and get consumed by, that won’t really matter a whole lot from Heaven’s hindsight. It is as if we are cramming for the wrong question on life’s final exam. For example, none of these questions will be on it:

· How hard did you work?
· How much money did you make?
· What was your GPA?
· How many people did you impress?
· How high did you climb up the corporate ladder?
· How many friends did you have on Facebook?

But there is one question. One question that matters supremely. And Jesus poses that question in Matt 16:15.

“What about you?" Jesus asked. "Who do you say I am?” (Matt 16:15)

Now, if you’ve ever been to Sunday School, probably somewhere rattling around your brain is Peter’s concise and profound answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:16). And because of that, many people feel like they are well prepared to nail that question, if it is ever posed at heaven’s gate.

But here’s a different twist on it. What if the final exam is an essay question?

Here’s what I mean. Some people treat Jesus’ query as if it were a fill-in-the-blank question. As if an intellectual endorsement of Jesus’ true identity is all that is required. But what if what Jesus really longs for is a growing, daily experience of learning who He is? And discovering all He wants to be to you every day?

Now, gratefully, I am convinced that the person who embraces Jesus, even on his deathbed, with just a glimpse of who Jesus is as Savior and Lord, will be welcomed into Heaven. But how much better to spend a lifetime getting to know Him? How much better to resist pursuing answers to question that don’t matter, and to daily seek to answer life’s most important question, “Who do you say that I am … today?”

How does God work through me?

The Bible clearly says that God works through His people, but how? How exactly does He do that? Do I just “Let go, and let God”? Or do I sweat it out hoping the Lord is somehow going to bless my efforts?

I had a catamaran for a few years during college. I worked hard on that boat, painting it, varnishing the wooden mast, getting it ready to sail. Here is something that all sailors know. They know that they don’t make the sailboat move through the water. Unless the wind blows, they are not going anywhere. They clearly understand that all they do is harness the wind.

But they also know that the harder the wind blows, the harder they work, trimming the sails, holding firm the rudder. Get this: it is not their energy that moves the sailboat, nevertheless their labor is required.

To be honest, something in me wishes being used by God was meant to be easy. There’s a part of me that hopes having God work through me would be effortless. Then I remember what Paul said:

To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. -- Col 1.29

Notice how Paul understood the blend between his labor and God’s. Paul said, “I labor” but it is with “God’s energy.” He also added, “I struggle” but it is “God who powerfully works.” And the terms Paul chooses to describe his own efforts referred to the kind of work that left a person weary, beat, and even to the point of exhaustion.

In other words, Paul did not teach a “light-switch” theology that believes we just flip some switch and let God shine through us. Paul didn’t teach we should be passive and let God takes over. No, he poured all his energy into the lives of others, knowing that through his endeavors God was at work.

When the wind of the Spirit blows in your life, get on board and give it all you’ve got. God will work through you.

If I am weary and burdened I probably need to be more of a child

This afternoon, I was reflecting on the great message that Geoff Horn gave at our church today. It spurred these further thoughts:

The passage was Jesus' words in Matt 11:28-30.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

I was helped by reading two verses earlier:

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

I take the weary and burdened of vs 27 to be the self-deceived "wise and learned" of verse 25. Or those who were trying so hard to meet the religious demands of those who claimed to be the religious elite.

Jesus invites them (us) to become child-like and learn and rest. In other words, God invites us to see ourselves as we really are - children in need of a leader and father.

If I am weary and burdened it is probably an indicator that I have been leaning too hard on my own sense of wisdom and learning or complicating my walk with God into rules and duties. I probably need to be more of a child.

Still Jesus says come.

Lion-proof

My daughter must have been about three when we visited a zoo and there was this mountain lion in a cage. Of course, there was a fence between us and the lion. A double fence actually. But they had done a great job making it almost transparent. And as we walked by this lion locked eyes on our daughter and started to stalk in her direction. It was creepy.

Of course, I knew the lion couldn’t get her. I knew she was protected. I knew all he could do was roar. But the prowling, and the stalking, and locked eyes; it was still frightening.

You see, in this life, we have an enemy. The Bible compares him to a lying lion. The Bible puts it this way:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Here’s the good news about our spiritual enemy, the lion. We are protected. God has placed a wall between us and him. For the believer, he can no longer bite.

But here’s the bad news. He still roars. And when he roars, he lies. Intimidating lies, loud lies, terrifying lies, lies that devour.

Don’t listen to the lion’s lies. Tune into the Spirit’s whisper instead.

If you don’t listen to your wife, God won’t listen to you.

At least that’s what Peter says: Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect… so that nothing will hinder your prayers. 1 Peter 3:7

Many husbands have dreams and plans, yet wonder why achieving them is so frustrating. One of the reasons may be that they have neglected the most important relationship in their lives. God says that only as a husband considers his wife will He consider him. A husband’s ear with God is at risk if he doesn’t take his marriage seriously.

Why would God be so harsh about this?

Because God says that marriage and family are meant to be reflections of God’s relationship with us. Somehow the way a husband relates to his wife is supposed to mirror Jesus’ love for His bride, the church. More than that, what kids experience with their dads at home is supposed to be a helpful analogy of how God the Father wants to relate to them. That is, if a child grows up with an aggressive father they are often falsely inclined to think of God as a cop in sky. Or if a child grows up with an absent father often they are inclined to think of God as indifferent to their lives.

We will never reflect God perfectly, nevertheless a husband and dad can either make this heavenly transfer natural or difficult. No wonder God makes it such a high priority. Why would God honor a man’s other ambitions while the most important relationships remain neglected?

Wives & Husbands

I love the healthy example Peter gives us for marriage. Speaking of wives (next week I’ll cover husbands) Peter says they are to be like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master… (1 Peter 3:6).

Now let me just state for the record, that Cindy has never called me Master in all the years we've been married. So I’m wondering what is behind this allusion to Sarah calling Abraham her master.

It turns out it is from Genesis 18, where God appears to Abraham, apparently disguised as a traveler. As Sarah eavesdrops on their conversation, the traveler (God) predicts that Sarah, even though she is quite elderly, will have a baby within a year. Sarah bursts into laughter and says something very similar to, “Are you kidding me? Me and my master?” (Go ahead, look it up).

And this became a hallmark story in their family. How Sarah laughed. So much that when their son was born they called him Isaac, which means laughter. Three things stand out for me.

1. They had a relatable marriage. Abraham and Sarah exhibited both trust and doubt. They were real people trusting God when His plans weren’t all that clear.

2. Sarah was finally at the point to believe that God could work through her imperfect husband. Earlier she had tried to manipulate things by suggesting Abraham bear a son through her maidservant. That was a disaster.

3. Finally, and this is so important, they were light-hearted. I love that there was laughter. As I said, this became cherished family lore. Submission, when it works well in a marriage, is always light-hearted. Not some sober salute, but a joyful partnership of following the Lord’s unpredictable lead.

Taste and See

There is an old Hasidic tradition. The first time a Jewish child opens the scripture to read and study it, his parents or the Rabbi will place a large drop of honey on the first page. The child is instructed to lick the honey from the page, forever imprinting the mind of the child that God and His Word are sweet.

The Bible says, Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:3

God longs for us to not only taste, but that we crave the pleasurable goodness of His word. Just as infants instinctively, eagerly, and incessantly hunger for their mother’s milk, so we are to long for God and His goodness.

Go into Grace

Most of the time when we think of grace, if we think of it at all, we think of past grace. But the Bible also speaks of future grace.

1 Peter 1:13 says, …set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. We forget that grace not only initiates our relationship with God, but carries it every step of the way.

A lot of people live with the idea that they probably needed a whole lot of grace when they first became believers. For them, that was their big grace moment. They also adopt the myth that as time goes on they need less and less grace. And they conclude that if they live long enough, they will get this Christian-thing wired. Therefore when they meet Jesus, there will be no grace required.

Let me give you an example of how this really messes you up. Let’s say you accepted Christ as a four year old in Sunday School. You know, somewhere between the craft and the snack. And then, as you grew up, you were taught that you got all your grace at the front end of your journey with God. And I’m not saying that it doesn’t take a lot of grace for a four year old to be saved. We know it does. But c’mon! On a practical level, if I got all my grace when my biggest sin problem involved cookies …and calling my brother a booger … and ever since I’m just getting more and more like Jesus …it doesn’t leave a lot of room to experience and appreciate grace. A lot of people live that way. A lot of Christians believe that we get grace at the beginning, but from then on we need to “cowboy up” the rest of the way.

But if grace is something that is not only poured out on the front end, but if grace is something we enter into everyday, if grace is something we passionately look forward to receiving in abundance at the end of our lives, if that’s what grace is all about, then that is an incredible hope.

Go into grace.

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The Trinity of God

I admit the Trinity is a difficult concept to grasp. I don’t expect, in this life, to fully understand it. But one of the things that helps me is to think of each member of the Triune God in relation to their role in my life. Peter hinted at this when he said that we, as follower of Jesus Christ, have been …

… “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood” … 1 Peter 1:2

Notice each member of the Trinity is referenced:

• “the foreknowledge of God the Father” -- God the Father as the One who created us and knows us.
• “the sanctifying work of the Spirit” -- God the Spirit as the One who sanctifies and empowers us.
• “Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood” -- God the Son as the One who died for us and redeems us.

Think of it this way. One day a guy was eating his sack lunch on a park bench across street from a beautiful mansion. During that hour, he overheard three different men claiming that mansion was theirs. It turned out, each was telling the truth. The first man was the architect - the one who designed the house. The second was the owner - the one who bought it. The third was the tenant - the one who lived in the house and cared for it.

The Triune God has each of these roles in your life as well. God the Father created you and knows you inside out. Jesus bought you with His precious blood. And the Holy Spirit resides in you, empowering you to live according to the way you were designed and redeemed. God is with us every step of the way.

New website at church!

Check out our new website www.greenvalleychurch.com with some great new videos and features. Just launched today.

The Beatitiudes Backwards

I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on the Beatitudes lately and this morning it struck me that they also work backwards. This has been a transforming discovery for me. Here’s what I mean:

• If we really appreciate how amazing it is that we have been welcomed into the kingdom of heaven, it makes us poor in spirit (humble and empty of ourselves).
• If we know that God’s redeeming comfort is available, it allows us the therapeutic freedom to mourn.
• When we ponder how remarkable it is that we will one day inherit the earth, it produces a healthy meekness in us.
• When we experience God’s ability to satisfy us, it only makes us hungry and thirsty for more.
• If we have really know God’s mercy, we will show God’s mercy.
• When we take the time to gaze upon God, it purifies our heart.
• If we realize that we truly are God’s children, we will look for ways to promote peace around us.
• And if we are secure as citizens of heaven, we will even be able to face persecution, knowing that eternity is on our side.

This was so helpful for me. What do you think?

3 Phases of God's Involvment in Your Life

Three times Jesus invited Peter to be spiritually alert in the Garden of Gethsemane, and three times Peter fell asleep. A lot of ink is spent, and a lot of sermons preached, on how Peter denied knowing Jesus; but before Peter ever denied Jesus in big ways, he denied Him in small ways. (See Matt 26:36-46).

It seems to me there are three phases to God's involvment in our lives:

1) Invitation. God invites us into a new, deeper, perhaps stretching experience with Him. Perhaps we have never thought of this before. It is new. This can be exciting, but we are prone to get weary over time ... which leads to the second phase:

2) Correction. God patiently returns and challenges us back to his original call upon our lives. My experience has been that God is extremely patient and gracious in this phase. But it doesn't last forever. There is the 3rd phase:

3) Missed Opportunity. God will leave us slumbering if we ignore Him long enough. There are times when God wants to do things in our lives, but we are unavailable, so He will pass us by. And God still does what He has planned, but we miss out on the privilege of partnering with Him.

Makes me want to respond to His invitations, and corrections, quickly. How about you?

Well, Don... , Well Done!

Last Sunday, I'm sure, will stand as one of the most remarkable days of my life. I was invited to preach at my mentor pastor, Don Smith's, retirement celebration. He has served at Christ Community Church in Laguna Hills for 25 years. I am so grateful to have been able play a role in celebrating the faithfulness of God through the tenure of an amazing pastor. (It was also one of the rare occasions I ever preach in a suit!). Two of us gathered to pray with Don before the service. He looked at us and said, "It pays to persevere." We were speechless.

What do we do when we disappoint ourselves?

What do we do when we disappoint ourselves? Simon Peter learned the hard way just how far he could fall below his own standards. Confident he would never waver in his allegiance to Jesus, Simon Peter experienced a night of denials.

What do we do when we disappoint ourselves? It is then we must remember what Jesus told Simon Peter right before his denials:

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:32

Some quick takeaways for me:

· You will fail but it won’t be fatal

We usually don’t get the specific details ahead of time like Peter did, but we will fail somehow. Like Peter, the church has always been filled with people that are immature and broken, failing before they succeed. But, as a follower of Christ, your failures will not be fatal. This is known as God’s prevenient grace. That’s a big word, but it simply means, He gives us His grace ahead of time. There’s hope on the other side.

· Don’t get stuck there

God’s plan for you is to return. He knows this side of heaven will have its disappointments, but don’t let that cripple you. Remember Jesus is praying for you. Don’t get stuck focusing on your flaws.

· Look for ways to use what you’ve learned to strengthen others.

Embrace the grace that God offers you, utilize His strength to grow in that areas, and then help others to be victorious as well. Often the victory for us comes as we strengthen others.

Later You Will Understand

Peter didn’t get it. Why Jesus would stoop to wash Peter’s feet. Why the Messiah would mimic a slave. Peter didn’t get it.

It strikes me that we often don’t recognize what Jesus is up to in our lives. That’s why what Jesus told Peter is so applicable to me.

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." John 13:7

This is the real-life truth for those who choose to follow Jesus, captured in this passage: Later you will understand.

For whatever reason, God chooses to reveal his purposes to us on a need-to-know-basis. And often it is after the fact. In fact, some things we will only appreciate from Heaven’s balcony. Some events in our lives will only make sense in the rear view mirror. Faith means trust.

I suppose this makes you uncomfortable. It creates all kinds of Peter-like reactions. Like Peter we say to God, “You're going to do what?!? I need a little more information!”

And once again Jesus says, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand. Trust Me."

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With the Watoto kids choir from Uganda

The Watoto kid's choir was at our church last Sunday. I don't stand out at all, do I?

Photo with Watoto Leader

GVC families sponsored 26 new Watoto children (which brings our total to 80 for our church). We have sponsored the most children so far on their tour. They are blown away. Here's a photo of me with their leader.

Bible scribe for a day

Yesterday I wrote a verse by hand that will be used in a completely handwritten copy of the Bible (see www.bibleacrossamerica.com). It will be the first completely handwritten Bible in over 250 years. Displayed at the Smithsonian Institute, copies of it will be published at the end of this year. As I stood in line, I wondered what my random verse would be. It was Mark 15:21 which says...

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

Also I wrote the heading for the section, which is THE CRUCIFIXION.

I'm grateful. I want to reflect on that passage more. I want to reflect on that passage often. I'm glad to be a messenger of the CROSS in any manner possible.

Don't just go to church

Last summer I had a rare opportunity. For several weeks in a row, I was able to visit other churches on a Sunday morning. As a fulltime preacher, it was an unusual and cool experience.

But there was a part I didn’t like. I didn't like simply being an observer. I didn't like going in unknown and disconnected. And what bothered me the most was, because I was just visiting for that one Sunday, my church experience was limited to the hour and half between the time I got out of my car and the time I got back in. Church for me was over when I hit the parking lot.

And to be honest, I didn’t like it. Nevertheless, that is how many Americans do church. For them, it is a car door-to-car door experience. A lot of people have been raised with the notion that there’s going to be a reward in heaven for church attendance.

But nowhere does the Bible say that. Instead it teaches that God wants to use us, His people, to "spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him." 2 Cor. 2:14

Here's the way we framed it last Sunday: Don’t just go to church; be the church wherever you go.


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You are God's signature

You are meant to be God’s signature.

In the ancient book of Haggai, God told a man named Zerubbabel how He intended to use him. The Lord said, “and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you.” (Haggai 2.23)

A signet ring was a piece of metal jewelry with an etching of a seal on it. It was worn by royalty and when pressed into wax it would seal official pronouncements. You can probably picture it.

I love the analogy of the signet ring because it reminds me of what God wants to do with you. Just as a signet ring was worn on the king’s hand or around his neck, so God longs to keep you close to His hand and heart. More than that, if you are His child, He has given you His authority to leave His impression on this world. You are His autograph, His mark, His seal. Let me put it this way: When God wants to put His autograph on this planet, you are the pen He chooses. You are His signature.

And all you have to do is let God use you. Be a ring on his hand. Respond to His touch. So trust Him. Let Him work through you. Like a signet ring, you're the one who makes the impression, but God’s hand provides the weight.

(See the post below and photos of how our church put this into action last Sunday on our Reverse Bus Ministry Service Project)
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Reverse Bus Ministry

Imagine a hundred people arriving at church like any other Sunday completely unaware of the significant impact they would have on their community before lunch. That’s exactly what happened at this morning’s service. By the end of the morning, dozens of people had rolled up their sleeves to scrub windows, pick up trash, weed planters, and spread mulch at a local elementary school. (Photos below).


All this was a part of our current message series, “Living Outside Ourselves.” At the end of today’s message, a school bus pulled up in front of our church (unannounced beforehand) and I challenged our people to consider serving at one of our local elementary schools. Arrangements had been made with the school’s principal and custodial staff. Tools, gloves, and t-shirts were provided. Approximately 35 people participated after the first service. They served for an hour and the bus returned just in time to transport another 65 who volunteered after the second service. Overall, 100+ man-hours of labor were invested all before lunchtime.

Next week, a video of our day will be shown at church, and the principal has offered to attend to thank our folks.

Years ago, many churches had bus ministries. A fleet of buses would leave their parking lot early to bring people (usually kids) to church. Today we reversed that. A bus arrived to take our people into the community. After all, Jesus said, "Go into all the world ..."

For other ministry leaders: This idea is very transferable to any church. Feel free to duplicate it. I hope many do. Do me a favor and let me know if you do. I’d love to hear your stories.

Your Turning Point

One of the things I think is curious about the GPS unit in my car is that it zooms in closer and closer right before it is time to turn. For long periods of time she is silent (yes, our GPS is a “she,” we call her Emily), but then when it is time to turn she starts to speak; “Turn right in 1 mile.” As I get closer, she is more adamant, and a giant arrow appears on the screen. Suddenly, this is my turning point.

In the Bible, the people of God found themselves exactly there. God was quite candid with them about why so many of their efforts were frustrating. And then God reveals the longing of His heart saying, “…yet you did not turn to me” (Haggai 2:17). That, of course, is the turning point God most desires in our lives. That we would turn to Him! As we read a few verses further in the Bible, we find God offering this promise, “From this day on I will bless you.” (Haggai 2:19). The connection is clear. The life God blesses hinges precisely on this one turning point.

Is there a place in your life where God is nudging you to change directions? If so, I’m trusting that God will zoom in on the screen of your life and reveal your turning point.

It’s time to turn. It’s time to turn to Him.

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Adding a new worship service

I thought I'd let my faithful blog readers and tweeps in on this early. Here's the letter our church family will get in the mail tomorrow or Friday:

Dear Green Valley Church Family,

I’m thrilled to announce that, on March 1st, we will be adding a new worship service option for you, and for the people of our community. Specifically, we will be adding an 8am worship service and adjusting our other two service start times accordingly. Each worship gathering will be identical.

Hopefully, like us, you are convinced that God is using Green Valley Church in powerful ways in the lives of those who attend. And as our current services fill up, we want to make sure we continue to provide that same opportunity for others. A third worship service provides an additional option for you, and also provides a new “door” for guests to enter into our church family. Our elders and staff have been discussing and preparing for this for a couple years and we believe this is the right time.

As we change, let me emphasize what will always remain the same. We are as passionate as ever about being an authentic, relational, and grace-filled community committed to Jesus Christ. God’s Word will always be at the core of what we do. As much as ever we value the kind of worship that engages both heart and mind and an approach to teaching that changes people both on the inside and the outside. We long to be a place where the isolated become connected, the busy become focused, and the broken become whole through the power of Jesus. We believe that adding an additional worship venue will only enhance this mission.

I’ve included some FAQs on the back of this letter. Also I will address this at Sunday’s service. The elders will also be available at the end of each of our services, in front of the auditorium, to answer questions and dialogue with you.

Thank you for being a part of our church community and our mission.

God’s best to you,

Doug Kyle
Lead Pastor

FAQs
What times will the services be? 8:00 am; 9:20 am; and 10:50 am.

Will each service be the same? Yes, identical.

Why these times? We wanted three good options for people. Whenever a church moves to three services the center one is likely to be the fullest. But we hope that the 8:00am and 10:50am services will also be attractive, and less crowded, options.

Will the service be shorter? A little. But the core of what we do in our services will not change. We are shaving off a little time in two ways. First, we will shorten our announcements. Second, we are replacing our opening song at the beginning (our call to worship) with a live music call to worship before the service begins (during the countdown). What you need to know is that everything we now do after the announcements will remain the same. The worship sets will be the same length, and my message will not be shorter.

Will there be Sunday School at all services? Yes. Sunday school classes for children nursery through 5th grade will be offered at all three worship gatherings.

What about youth group? When will they meet? This additional service also gives us the opportunity to enhance our youth ministry. Specifically we will get to do some things we were unable to do with just two services. Instead of just one offering for each age group, we now have two. Jr. Highers can choose to go to a Jr. High discipleship session during the second service or a Jr. High Worship & Teaching Session during the third service. High Schoolers can go to a High School discipleship session during the first service or a High School Worship & Teaching Session during the second service. Additionally, High Schoolers have the option to sit together with our youth leaders and their friends at our third service.


Will the break between services be shorter? Yes. And you will notice there is a longer break between the 2nd and 3rd services than the earlier break. This is because the busier middle service requires more time to get people in and out from a traffic flow standpoint. One of my favorite things about our church is the “lobby time.” You are encouraged to hang out as long as you like. This is one of the great measures of a healthy church. We will close the center doors to the auditorium when the next service begins, but open wide the back side doors to the auditorium. Also, we realize that it is sometimes difficult to get everyone together to come to church. You're always on time at Green Valley Church. Get here whenever you can.

Will our values and mission change? No. In fact, this helps us stay true to our values.

Is the church getting too big? Actually, adding an additional service venue allows us to maintain the “smaller church feel” we value. Rather than crowding people tightly into our worship space, this allows for more intimate services where people can connect more easily with others.

What service should I go to? Whichever one you like. Early birds will like the 8am service (rumor has it they will be serving bagels to these morning people). The 10:50am service accommodates families and others who have a little more to do in the morning. And the 9:20am service is a nice balance between the two.

More questions? Join the elders after the service this Sunday in the main auditorium or email me at doug@greenvalleychurch.com


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So I'm helping Cindy...

Occasionally I get to change roles and join Cindy on her photo shoots. I'm basically her equipment bag boy :) Last weekend I was with Cindy at the beach as she was photographing an engaged couple. I was trying to get creative and carve the couple's wedding date in the sand for a photo. As I did a wave came in and drenched my tennis shoes, socks and jeans bottoms. Afterwards she took me to dinner. I left a trail of sand and saltwater everywhere I stepped.

But we had the most amazing sunset that night. After a year of following sunsets (see blog below) this may have been the best.

Living Outside Ourselves

"Stop asking God to bless what you're doing. Get involved in what God is doing – because it's already blessed." - Rock legend Bono

God will not bless a self-absorbed life style. More than that, He has set up this world so that a self-focused lifestyle never satisfies. It's not that God doesn't care about our temporary and worldly projects. He absolutely does. It's simply that He loves us too much to allow those things to become the central focus of our lives because He's designed us for eternity.

The Bible describes what happens when our priorities get mixed up.

Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." Haggai 1:5-6

God says, "Give careful thought to your ways." This challenge reminds me of an expression I use a lot: "Play the movie." In other words, let's look at our priorities – the way we spend our time, energy, and resources – and ask these questions:

• How does this DVD end?
  
• If I keep going like this at this rate, all this work with this little return, where will I be?
  
• Five years from now?
  
• Ten years from now?
  
• Twenty years from now?
  
• How about 100 years from now?
  
• And are these the things that I want to define my life?
  
• How will I feel about my accomplishments from Heaven's balcony?
  

God asks each of us to think specifically about what kind of return we are getting on our self-absorbed focus. Is it paying off? All our worry, our concerns, what value do we get? Put it on a spread sheet. Make a profit-loss statement. How are we doing?

And then God calls us to a better way.

Seek first [God's] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt 6:33

God honors the Kingdom-centered life. It is the God-focused lifestyle that satisfies. For the next several weeks I will be challenging us all to Live Outside Ourselves as we get involved in what God is already blessing. Who can tell what could happen in a month?

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Planning

Many people begin the New Year by making new plans. But they never seem to last. And I think I know why. The problem is that plans aren't as strong as patterns.

Last weekend we went to the local mountains and found the perfect hill for sledding. It was pretty steep but safe with no real obstacles. Well, there was one obstacle. Some kids had built a four foot mogul for the thrill seeking sledder looking for airtime.

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As I prepared to sled down the hill, I made my plans. I set up as far as possible from the mogul to insure I wouldn't hit it. Then I took off down the hill. You know the rest of the story. I couldn't have planned to hit it more squarely. Apparently there was a groove in the snow that took me straight toward the launch pad. So much for my plans!

Plans aren't as strong as patterns.

In the same way, we can make all kinds of plans for change, only to discover as we take off that we have slid into old patterns.

The Bible says, Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:13-15

The problem is that we often make our plans as if we know what future holds. 2008 should have taught all of us that that is a risky bet. Instead we must change our pattern of self-reliance. We must begin to factor God into our plans because only He knows the future. More than that, even when our plans are made, we should hold onto them loosely, leaving room for God to work. He has a way of improving our plans if we let Him.

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My year in review

Just finished reading all my blog posts for 2008. One of the reasons I love blogging is the chance to capture what God has been doing in my life. What a difficult, incredible, and amazing year.

The tough things: Lost my father; sent my oldest son off to college; fire at my son's college (his dorm burnt done).

The amazing things: Europe with my family (the trip of a lifetime); my oldest son going off to Westmont College (yes, this is a good thing and a tough thing); sabbatical over the summer; some incredible times in God's Word; Kingdom Assignment project at church; the best wife and family ever.

God is good. God is very good. I can only imagine what He has in store for 09.