It’s hard to believe that it has been an entire year since Woodland Hills moved into our new facility on Blkairstone Rd. So much has changed aesthetically about the facility since the day we moved in. We worked hard to create a warm and inviting space in which we could worship God together. Having the space has certainly made it more convenient for us to gather for worship by eliminating so much set-up and take down. For that I am thankful!
But on the other hand, just having a warm and inviting space that makes it convenient for us, was not the primary purpose for our move! The primary purpose for our move was to advance the mission God has given us of developing fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. So one year in, maybe the question we should be asking ourselves is has the time, effort, energy and resources we have invested into our facility enabled us to more effectively advance our God given mission? If it has, to God be the glory! If not, we must begin to take a long, hard look for the reasons why.
Beginning Sunday, the Elders and I will begin asking those questions. Please pray for us as we meet and seek the Lord together. It is vital that we are moving forward as a church. God has not called His church to be a monument or a museum; He has called His church to be a movement of His people who are passionately advancing the agenda of His kingdom. Last year’s theme of “Advancing the Mission” must continue to be on our minds, in our hearts and at the forefront our plans!
May we continue to Advance the Mission together and may God have mercy on us if we are satisfied for things to remain the same!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Happy Easter!
A great story by Paul Harvey…
He was 9--in a Sunday school class of 8-year olds. Eight-year-olds can be cruel. The third-graders did not welcome Phillip to their group. Not just because he was older. He was "different." He suffered from Down's Syndrome and its obvious manifestations: facial characteristics, slow responses, symptoms of retardation. One Sunday after Easter, the Sunday school teacher gathered some of those plastic eggs that pull apart in the middle -- the kind in which some ladies' pantyhose are packaged. The Sunday school teacher gave one of these plastic eggs to each child. On that beautiful spring day each child was to go outdoors and discover for himself some symbol of "new life" and place that symbolic seed or leaf or whatever inside his egg. They would then open their eggs one by one, and each youngster would explain how his find was a symbol of "new life." So ... The youngsters gathered 'round on the appointed day and put their eggs on a table, and the teacher began to open them.
One child had found a flower. All the children "oohed" and "aahed" at the lovely symbol of new life. In another was a butterfly. "Beautiful," the girls said. And it's not easy for an 8-year-old to say "beautiful". Another egg opened to reveal a rock. Some of the children laughed. "That's crazy!" one said. "How's a rock supposed to be like a new life?'". Immediately a little boy spoke up and said, "That's mine. I knew everybody would get flowers and leaves and butterflies and all that stuff, so I got a rock to be different." Everyone laughed. The teacher opened the last one, and there was nothing in it. "That's not fair," someone said. "That's stupid," said another. The teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Phillip. Looking up he said, "It's mine. I did it. It's empty. I have new life because the tomb is empty." The class fell silent. From that day on Phillip became part of the group. They welcomed him. Whatever had made him different was never mentioned again.
Phillip's family had known he would not live a long life; just too many things wrong with the tiny body. That summer, overcome with infection, Phillip died. On the day of his funeral nine 8-year-old boys and girls confronted the reality of death and marched up to the altar--not with flowers. Nine children with their Sunday school teacher placed on the casket of their friend their gift of love - an empty egg.
He was 9--in a Sunday school class of 8-year olds. Eight-year-olds can be cruel. The third-graders did not welcome Phillip to their group. Not just because he was older. He was "different." He suffered from Down's Syndrome and its obvious manifestations: facial characteristics, slow responses, symptoms of retardation. One Sunday after Easter, the Sunday school teacher gathered some of those plastic eggs that pull apart in the middle -- the kind in which some ladies' pantyhose are packaged. The Sunday school teacher gave one of these plastic eggs to each child. On that beautiful spring day each child was to go outdoors and discover for himself some symbol of "new life" and place that symbolic seed or leaf or whatever inside his egg. They would then open their eggs one by one, and each youngster would explain how his find was a symbol of "new life." So ... The youngsters gathered 'round on the appointed day and put their eggs on a table, and the teacher began to open them.
One child had found a flower. All the children "oohed" and "aahed" at the lovely symbol of new life. In another was a butterfly. "Beautiful," the girls said. And it's not easy for an 8-year-old to say "beautiful". Another egg opened to reveal a rock. Some of the children laughed. "That's crazy!" one said. "How's a rock supposed to be like a new life?'". Immediately a little boy spoke up and said, "That's mine. I knew everybody would get flowers and leaves and butterflies and all that stuff, so I got a rock to be different." Everyone laughed. The teacher opened the last one, and there was nothing in it. "That's not fair," someone said. "That's stupid," said another. The teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Phillip. Looking up he said, "It's mine. I did it. It's empty. I have new life because the tomb is empty." The class fell silent. From that day on Phillip became part of the group. They welcomed him. Whatever had made him different was never mentioned again.
Phillip's family had known he would not live a long life; just too many things wrong with the tiny body. That summer, overcome with infection, Phillip died. On the day of his funeral nine 8-year-old boys and girls confronted the reality of death and marched up to the altar--not with flowers. Nine children with their Sunday school teacher placed on the casket of their friend their gift of love - an empty egg.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Ready for the weekend!
It's Friday night and I am at our church facility printing bulletins and sermon outlines. It's a weekly ritual that signals the end of another week and the realization that another Sunday is very close. As a pastor, Sunday's are work days...not my only work day by the way. But more than work, it's a privilege because it is the primary way I flesh out God's vocational calling on my life.
This Sunday we begin a new teaching series called, "No One: The Gospel According to Jesus." Over the next 6 weeks, leading up to Easter, we will focus on 6 statements from the Gospel of John where Jesus used the words, "No One." I am excited about this series because it will allow us the opportunity to focus in on our hope and message, the gospel. The gospel is so much more than a door we walk through to get saved, it is also our hope for becoming like Christ as we remember and rely upon all that God has accomplished for us in Christ.
Because of the gospel, we are forgiven and free!
Because of the gospel, we are justified and sanctified!
Because of the gospel, we have hope!
Lord may we grow to understand, appreciate and cling to the hope found in the beautiful story of Your gospel!
This Sunday we begin a new teaching series called, "No One: The Gospel According to Jesus." Over the next 6 weeks, leading up to Easter, we will focus on 6 statements from the Gospel of John where Jesus used the words, "No One." I am excited about this series because it will allow us the opportunity to focus in on our hope and message, the gospel. The gospel is so much more than a door we walk through to get saved, it is also our hope for becoming like Christ as we remember and rely upon all that God has accomplished for us in Christ.
Because of the gospel, we are forgiven and free!
Because of the gospel, we are justified and sanctified!
Because of the gospel, we have hope!
Lord may we grow to understand, appreciate and cling to the hope found in the beautiful story of Your gospel!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Extreme Home Makeover
Extreme Home Makeover (EHM) came to good ole' Tallahassee last week and Tallahassee went crazy as a result. There is no doubt that the work that EHM does is meaningful and significant, not only to the families that recieve the new home, but also to the communities that partner with EHM to make it all happen. I love to watch the show, admire the servant spirit demonstrated by the EHM crew and am touched by the grateful hearts of those who recieve a fresh start. But here is what I sometimes wonder...
- What if all of the Christ Followers in Tallahassee that were so fired up about EHM, channelled a fraction of that interest, enthusiasm and passion into the eternally significant and meaningful work of God's Kingdom?
- What if we passionately and sacrificially sought to meet the spiritual needs in peoples lives, not just the physical? (Though I do understand that a pathway to meeting spiritual needs is to first meet the physical needs)
-What if we were as excited about being near or seeing Jesus as we are about being near or seeing Ty Pennington or Michael Maloney?
- What if Tallahassee saw the work of the local church as so meaningful, significant and compelling that people would show up in droves, just to see it in action?
"Lord may we be people that are so in touch with You and Your heart for hurting people, that we launch a revolution by Your grace and for Your glory that will change Tallahassee for eternity!"
Just a few random thoughts on a cold Tuesday morning...
- What if all of the Christ Followers in Tallahassee that were so fired up about EHM, channelled a fraction of that interest, enthusiasm and passion into the eternally significant and meaningful work of God's Kingdom?
- What if we passionately and sacrificially sought to meet the spiritual needs in peoples lives, not just the physical? (Though I do understand that a pathway to meeting spiritual needs is to first meet the physical needs)
-What if we were as excited about being near or seeing Jesus as we are about being near or seeing Ty Pennington or Michael Maloney?
- What if Tallahassee saw the work of the local church as so meaningful, significant and compelling that people would show up in droves, just to see it in action?
"Lord may we be people that are so in touch with You and Your heart for hurting people, that we launch a revolution by Your grace and for Your glory that will change Tallahassee for eternity!"
Just a few random thoughts on a cold Tuesday morning...
Friday, February 27, 2009
A first time for everything.
Today I turned 38. Hard to believe I am that old, but it is true. I am looking forward to the day and spending time with my family and having a great dinner tonight! My wife and my boys will make sure I have a great day. They are the best!
But today will be the first time in my life that my mom is not here to wish me a Happy Birthday. In the grand scheme of life it is a little thing, but it is weird nonetheless. I was born at 3:17 am on 2/27/1971. My mom used to swear that she woke up at precisely that time on every February 27th since my birth. It was always fun to joke with her and doubt her about this, but knowing her, it was probably true. She loved my sister and I very much. It was evident in her words and actions. She was a great mom and she is missed.
So as I reflect on my 38 years of life, I have much to be thankful for, my life in Christ, my wife, my boys and my mom, who made every effort to make my life as sweet as possible!
But today will be the first time in my life that my mom is not here to wish me a Happy Birthday. In the grand scheme of life it is a little thing, but it is weird nonetheless. I was born at 3:17 am on 2/27/1971. My mom used to swear that she woke up at precisely that time on every February 27th since my birth. It was always fun to joke with her and doubt her about this, but knowing her, it was probably true. She loved my sister and I very much. It was evident in her words and actions. She was a great mom and she is missed.
So as I reflect on my 38 years of life, I have much to be thankful for, my life in Christ, my wife, my boys and my mom, who made every effort to make my life as sweet as possible!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Bloggin' Again!
OK, so I am going to take up blogging again after recieving much encouragement from multiple sources. Stay tuned. More posts with substance to follow...DB
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