Giant Santa

Saw this last night at Cheddar's. I must say I was slightly freaked out!



- via iPhone

Shepherds Who Didn't Act Sheepish

Luke 2:8-20

These verses tell us about the encounter the shepherds had in the fields with God's messenger and their visit to see the baby Jesus.  The angel gave them specific instructions about Jesus - who he was and where he was.  The shepherds went out to find him.  Once they did, Scriptures tell us that "the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about his child.  All who heard the shepherds' story were astonished." (vs. 17-18).

There are a few things that stand out to me about the story of the shepherds.

1) when God spoke to the shepherds through the angel, the OBEYED.  Even though they were scared, unsure of where God was leading them, they still had FAITH that God was doing something great.

2) They left everything behind to find Jesus.  They were willing to leave their sheep behind to find the Savior of the world.

3) The Word says that they told EVERYONE what they had experienced.  They wanted everyone to know about their encounter with Jesus.  Their lives were forever changed and they wanted the world to know.

What did Jesus manger look like?

Found this picture today while I was researching for my sermon for this week.  

It's a stone manger that can be found in Bethlehem and its a reminder of Jesus' birth and the manger that served as his cradle.  Not your typical nativity scene manger!

HE leads the way

Sometimes we want to jump the gun when it comes to knowing what is in store for us.  We sometimes try to get ahead of God.  The Word tells us that "I will instruct you...in the way you should go."  Focusing on the "what if's" will only bring fear and dissapointment.  Allow God to lead you where He wants you to go.  He will put you in situations that allow you to share His goodness.  Following God's lead is about trust. 

Are you following Him or trying to lead Him?

Another post from Scott Williams...good stuff

I may be re-posting some leadership things from Scott...hope you enjoy!

Leadership is an art and it’s an art that anyone can learn.  The harsh reality is just because someone learns an art form doesn’t mean they will be good or effective at that particular craft.

Think about all of the painters, musicians, communicators, or artists of any sort; although they have learned an art very few get through the threshold of simply being an artist, to being an effective artist.  That same statement is true forThe Art Of Leadership. There are many leaders who never become effective leaders.

Becoming effective is about creating the desired results and then some.

Here are 6 Steps To Become An Effective Leader:

• 1. Recognize- Recognize that leadership is a gift, an art, a craft… that has to be continually developed.  Seek out and be willing to learn from effective leaders who have developed this craft we call leadership.
• 2. Realize- Realize the fact that although leadership is a craft, it is not rocket science. STOP MAKING IT SO DIFFICULT.  I repeat, unless you are a leader at NASA, your leadership role is not rocket science; chill-out and quit making things so hard on yourself and others.  BTW- If you are a leader at NASA or a rocket scientist, you should probably be asking the tough question: “Is what we do still necessary or relevant?”
• 3. Remember- Remember The Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you!”  Most leaders’ barley remember the bronze rule, let alone The Golden Rule.  As a leader it’s important to care about your people, to love your people, to care about their interests, care about their success… to treat them how you would want and expect someone to treat you.  Remember in order to become an effective leader you have to understand that ”Relationships Matter!”
• 4. Replicate- Replicate what works and don’t force things that don’t work.  Don’t try to be a replicate of another leader or simply replicate exactly everything you have read in a book, but rather replicate the effective “What Works” concept into an appropriate context of who you are and what you do!
• 5. Resurrect- Resurrect a dying team member; an effective leader has the ability to take a dying team member on the verge of being fired or giving up and help resurrect them into a story that begins with this sentence: “There was a time when so and so team member was on the verge of being fired and so and so leader believed in them… Wow, Look at how successful they are now!”
• 6. Reinvent- Reinvent the way leadership is carried out!  Break the box, find a new way, figure out what works for you, don’t be scared to be different, reinvent what might has been seen as irrefutable.  Reinvent out of hunger, creativity, thinking, believing, seeking etc.  Don’t reinvent for the sake of reinventing!  Remember the phrase,”Don’t reinvent the wheel” applies to those who reinvent for the sake of reinventing!

Have you seen any of these steps carried out?  Share your thoughts on these steps or what it means to be an Effective Leader!

It's been a while!

Here is something I found today that I thought I'd share:

Scott Williams, thebigisthenewsmall.com:

I’m currently in Memphis, Tennessee leading a Micro-Conference for Executive Ministry Leaders.  There are some amazing leaders here, with some very sharp minds.  I love the fact that anytime I go to speak somewhere, I’m always challenged and always learn.

Last night over dinner there was a nice spirited debate over video teaching and then it moved to the fact that an Internet church or Church Online Service or Experience is not real community.  I emphatically disagreed and we debated on and on and back and forth.  It was a great discussion and I’m the kinda guy that says, “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.”  I invited them to check out LifeChurch.tv church On-line.

In the past I have always made the below 9 Points About Why On-line Relationships are Real and I would think these same points apply to on-line church.  Especially if the on-line church is set up in the manner that LifeChurch.tv Church Online is set up.  There is a dedication to that community that is very similar to a physical campus and the relationships and life change is real.

9 Reasons Online Community and Relationships are Real

• 1. When someone visits/comments on your Blog, Facebook, Myspace, Twitter etc., that interaction is as meaningful as you interacting with someone at your office, the coffee shop, the gym…
• 2. People are sometimes more authentic and vulnerable in Social Media than in person.  Sometimes you will be sitting right next to someone and not even know that they’re having a bad day.  On the other hand, that same person is blogging and twittering about the bad day they’re having.
• 3. It’s easier to connect with people of similar interests in an online environment than in a offline environment.  Everyone is one click or one search away.
• 4. A person has the ability to overcome interpersonal struggles, as they can be an online extrovert, even though they may be an offline introvert.
• 5. You can evaluate individuals daily interaction, lifestream, thoughts, dreams, perceptions, struggles etc. through Social Media in a short amount of time.  It may take twice as much time to capture the same information In Person.
• 6. Candor is acceptable and encouraged in the Social Media world and that is not always the case In Person.
• 7. It’s much easier to overcome demographic barriers in the Social Media World.
• 8. Online Relationships are more convenient, which is a huge benefit in our fast-paced microwave world.
• 9. You can positively impact the lives of others daily through Social Media without ever knowing you had an impact.  Your posts, tweets, comments, blogs, chats and overall online presence truly make a difference in the lives of others.

It's FRIDAY!

Greatest Expression of Love

Interesting thought I would like to present to you.  Jesus said that the greatest expression of love can be shown when you are willing to lay down your life for your friends.  Now, we can see a very clear example of this in Jonathan (King Saul's son) and David (giant killer).  Jonathan was heir to the throne and of high class and David was a common guy, son of a herdsman.  Logically, these two should not have been friends.  However, they were BFFs!  David became a threat to the throne and Saul wanted him dead.  Jonathan decided that the call on David's life was much more important than his future as king.  He was willing to give up his royal aspirations to see David's God-ordained destiny fulfilled.  That's true love! 

True love can be identified when a person is willing to surrender oneself.  I've never been in the position to sacrifice my life for someone else.  But what I've learned from this story of love is that we need to be willing to put our needs second and the needs of others around us first.  I know that's easier said than done.  However, we are called to be like Christ and show the love that Christ has for us to those around us.  Love God and love people. 


Just something I'm thinking on.  I'm going to preach this on Wednesday.  God bless.

The Story of Faith

Faith is something that we all have. It is woven into our lives in many different ways. We have faith that our car will carry us safely to our destination. We have faith that the chair we sit in will hold us up or that our lungs will work properly to allow us to breathe.

So what exactly is faith? God's Word illustrates it beautifully. "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." (Heb. 11:1, NLT)

Basically, it is believing that God is who He says he is and that He will do ALL that he promised to do! We base our foundation of faith on Jesus Christ. Psalms says that "they will declare...HE is my Rock!"

Just a small reminder of who we put our hope, faith, and trust in! Have a blessed night!


- via iPhone

Foundation for Honor

When we talk about having a culture of honor, we must understand the foundation on which the culture must be built on.

It is built on love. Love for God and love for each other.

Acts 2:42-47


- via iPhone

Mr. Tyrone

Matthew 22:37-39 says " 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important.  'Love your neighbor as yourself.' "

The two greatest commandments listed in the Bible are simply put as: love God and love people.

I want to tell you about a man named Tyrone.  I'm not sure what Mr. Tyrone's last name is, but for the remainder of the story I'll refer to him as "Mr. T".  About a month ago, we were preparing for our young adult service as usual.  Food was set out on the counter, the band was rehearsing, and the few guests present were mingling amongst each other.  The weather was looking gloom outside and it began to rain which didn't give me much hope for more attendees.  I was preparing to gather everyone in the sanctuary when a stranger approached our building.  He was a tall, feeble man with a shoulder tote and a walking cane.  His worn clothes were damp from the rain and I knew he was just looking for money.

I found that one of our youth had already began speaking to Mr. T before I could get to him.  So, I walked outside prepared to tell the man we could not help because we didn't carry money at this location.  When I came close I sensed a very sweet spirit about him.  I introduced myself to the man as one of the youth pastors for the church.  He began to tell me who he was.  I listened intently as the faint smell of alcohol lingered around him. 

Mr. T is a war veteran who was exposed to chemicals during his term.  He suffers from a brain tumor which causes many pains and complications.  As he tells me this information, I sensed the Holy Spirit at work and invited the man in for food.  He tried to refuse, but I insisted.  We offered him a warm place to relax for a while and hot pizza and a drink.  Many in our group began to welcome him as if we waited all night for his arrival.  He quickly became our guest of honor!  I asked Mr. T if he would like to stay for our service.  I explained that the music was loud and probably not his style, but he didn't mind.  From that point forward, the Holy Spirit began to move on that man like never before.  He was in awe of how welcoming we were and loving towards a complete stranger.  He asked if he could come back and soon found his way to one of our Sunday morning services. 

Mr. T dropped by again last night during our Bible study and spoke to us a little on what God was doing in his life.  He told us that according to his doctors, he is dying.  He said that it's taken so long for him to realize what's important in life - that's an intimate relationship with God.  That all happened because of a seventeen year old willing to show the love of Christ to a complete stranger and a young (sometimes judgmental) youth pastor who was willing to listen to the Holy Spirit. 

I will forever remember Mr. Tyrone because the experience I've had with him is one that I think illustrates what Christ intended the church to be.  A place where anyone can come as they are and experience the goodness and love of God.  If we are ever going to see the world changed, we must humble ourselves and position ourselves to love.  Love is the mechanism which the church should function in - love for God and love for people. 

"Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is LOVE."  (1Cor. 13:13)

B90X

B90X is a revolutionary system of intense, truth-absorbing, brain-busting Bible reading that will transform your understanding of Scripture from intro to nitro in just 90 days!  Your personal trainer, Ruach "The Breath" Yahweh, will drag you through the most intense infusion of His vision that you have ever experienced and you won't believe the results!


Check out the B90X page for the workout list!

Lion Chaser's Manifesto

Saw this on a post from Mark Batterson:


Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.  Set God-sized goals.  Pursue God-ordained passions.  Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention.  Keep asking questions.  Keep making mistakes.  Keep seeking God.  Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution.  Stop repeating the past and start creating the future.  Stop playing it safe and start taking risks.  Expand your horizons.  Accumulate experiences.  Enjoy the journey.  Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can.  Live like today is the first day and last day of your life.  Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God.  Burn sinful bridges.  Blaze new trails.  Criticize by creating.  Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks.  Don't try to be who you're not.  Be yourself.  Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out.  Quit holding back.  Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

God is Speaking

God has given me a word tonight.  I hope it blesses you as much as it has me.

God is saying to me that I am His student.  I'm not placed where I am for no reason.  He has a plan and a purpose.  He told me that each and every moment of my life is part of my "class".  Each moment is an opportunity to learn something new so that I can apply it to the next moment.  He is telling me that His word is not just a collection of historical books, but rather His living, breathing Word!  I am to take hold of every moment - because He has given them to me to learn and to share with the world!


"For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end.  Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.  As the Scriptures say, 'People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field.  The grass withers and the flowers fades.  But the word of the Lord remains forever."  1 Peter 1:23-25

Giving God 112%

Matt 4:1 "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil."
Mark 1:12-13 "The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days."
Luke 4:1-2 "Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River.  He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days..."


Recently, we have experienced a great tragedy through the death of Reggie Garrett, Jr.  It is never easy to understand why things happen the way they do.  This past week has been full of death and sickness.  Two pastors suffer heart attacks, a player and coach died, and someone close to me suffered a stroke and died.  I'm seeing people's marriages, finances, etc. being put to tests everyday.  Someone recently said that after all of the bad things that are happening in Orange, they should probably move away.  However, I've come to a conclusion.  God is on the move! 

All of these events have reminded me of the story of the temptation of Jesus.  Mark says that the Spirit "compelled" Jesus to go in to the wilderness.  It seems like every time God begins to move and lead his people the enemy is right there waiting to attack.  Jesus was being led by the Spirit and the enemy came to attack.  I find this to be very true in our lives.  Whenever we start giving God 112% - putting ourselves on the front lines, we are more susceptible to attacks from the enemy! 

If we are going to live sold out for God, giving him all we have, then we must be prepared to stand against the schemes of the devil.  And when we do, Scripture says that if God is for us then who can be against us?  He is the most powerful, smartest, loving, compassionate Commander-in-Chief we have! 

Are you willing to live 112% for God?

Presidential Leadership vs. Pastoral Leadership

A thought popped in to my head: is there anything that the President has in common with the pastoral leadership of the church?  I'm sure someone has probably written a very elaborate book on this subject, but I turned to Yahoo Answers to see what others thought.  Someone asked how the President makes his decisions and this was the best answer given:

A president has a group of his closest advisers--his cabinet--who advise him on what to do, each having their own specialty, each an expert in his or her own field. However, the final decision ultimately rests with him. And you'd probably be surprised what little power actually rests in the President's hands. He can suggest a bill to Congress, but so can you. He can pass or veto a bill from Congress, but his veto can be overridden by Congress. He can control the movement of troops for about 2 months, then needs Congressional Approval. He can appoint people to the Supreme Court--with congressional approval.

Okay, so the President is surrounded by people who gives him advice and information to help him make decisions.  Then, he has to present that to Congress to get their approval as well.  When he makes decisions, it's not just based on his opinion or what he feels is right - he seeks council.  Now let's compare that to pastoral leadership.  A pastor (senior, associate, youth, etc.) are the leaders of a particular group of people which make up the Church or body of Christ.  One thing that I have learned over the few years I have been in one of those positions is that whenever you work with people, there is always going to be difficulties because we are all human.  Just like the President, the pastor faces tough decisions all of the time.  Some decisions are made in the public eye, while others are made privately. 

Each time a decision has to be made, the pastor consults others.  Usually it is other pastors or accountability partners, but most importantly the counsel of the Holy Spirit.  That have be anointed and appointed by God to serve the people just as the President was elected by man to serve man.  Hebrews 13:17 says "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.  They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.  Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."  Sometimes we don't understand why the President makes the decisions that he does and the same goes for the church leadership.  But if God has placed them in the position, we must trust that they are following His leading, even when they mess up and make mistakes. 

12 foundations of Christian leadership:
1. Relationship with God - your walk with God is your rock-solid foundation
2. Character - who you are is more important than what you do
3. Vision - you can only travel as far as you can see
4. Attitude - the mind you lead with will determine the distance you travel
5. Influence - you can only lead if people are following
6. Servanthood - the leader must serve before he is served
7. Multiplication - leadership with only one ripple is not leadership
8. Motives - the why of leadership is as important as the how of leadership
9. Maturity - your standard of leadership will result in respect for your leadership
10. Commitment - perseverance and consistency precede every great victory
11. Fruit - that which lasts the test of time is the true measure of leadership effectiveness
12. Eternal Significance - Significant leadership encompasses the significance of eternity

Following In The Footsteps of Jesus

 If you want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, observe the following things about Him: (1) He never acted in haste. He didn’t make decisions in response to the pressure tactics of others. Skilled negotiators know that waiting is a weapon; whoever is the most hurried usually ends up with the short end of the deal. Waiting reveals the weakness in any plan, plus the motives of those around you. Your greatest mistakes will often happen because of impatience, so think long term. (2) He knew when to work and when to rest. In the storm on the Sea of Galilee the disciples sweated, but Jesus slept. In the garden of Gethsemane the disciples slept, but Jesus sweated. That’s because He knew when to work and when to rest. Knowing when to act and when to trust, what to give your attention to and what to leave in God’s hands, is a secret you must learn if you’re to do God’s will and not burn out. Nobody was busier than Jesus. Everybody wanted something from Him. The more successful you are the more people will reach for you. Jesus separated Himself in order to receive. He understood that you can’t give what you don’t have. Work means giving; rest means receiving. Jesus understood the balance; that’s why He accomplished so much in three short years. When you’re rested you think more clearly, you make better decisions, you see life through confident eyes, you accomplish more in less time, and what you build is built to last. So stop your frantic rush. Following in the footsteps of Jesus means being led, not driven!


“You should follow His steps.” 1Pe 2:21 NKJV

Jesus knew He didn’t have to prove Himself. At the cross, skeptics said, “If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Mt 27:40). His reaction? He refused to let their comments intimidate Him or alter His plans. He didn’t need their approval; He already had His Father’s: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17). Jesus didn’t waste time answering His critics. “Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor” (Mt 27:14 NIV). Jesus responded to hunger, to need, to seekers, but not to people trying to trap Him. You owe nothing to a critic. “Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words” (Pr 23:9). Do you know why there’s never been a monument built to a critic? Because critics are spectators, not players! Jesus didn’t focus on the past, but the future. His mother was pregnant with Him before she was married. Only a few people knew the truth. Jesus grew up with this, yet He didn’t feel the need to explain it. Stop complaining that your family was poor, or talking about your limited education, or repeating stories of those who failed you, or advertising your pain, or meditating on your flaws. All of us are challenged in some way. “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing” (Isa 43:18-19). Satan discusses our yesterdays; apparently that’s the only information he has about us. Jesus discusses our tomorrows. So if you want to follow in His footsteps, focus on what’s ahead.


-taken from The Word For You Today, Community Church Devotional

Fastest Growing Plant on Earth

Did you know that bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth?  It's been recorded to grow over 48 inches in a 24 hour period.  That fast!  Bamboo is very tough and it has been around for a long time and will probably continue to be around until Jesus comes!  I want to relate these facts about bamboo to something that all of us on some level have dealt with in our lives.  That's gossip!

Just like the bamboo plant, gossip can spread fast between people.  Proverbs 16:28 tells us that "A troublemaker plants seeds of strife, gossip separates the best of friends."  According to these verses, gossip can come between best friends - the people you rely on most to keep your deep, intimate secrets.  Proverbs goes on to say that "Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops" (26:20). 

Let's be careful not cause division among our friendships and relationships over something like gossip.  Once you've gossiped about someone, you have destroyed the trust that was between you.  The enemy loves it when we give in to the small temptations, because they usually cause some of the greatest harm.

Community Church Devotional for August 31st

"Keep your [life] free from the love of money." Heb. 13:5 NIV

A lot of us think that the goal of work is to accumulate enough money so that we can quit working.  No, if your work is not fulfilling, eventually you'll resent it.  That's so, whether you make much or little.  Money alone is not worth giving your life to.

John Ortberg writes: "I have a friend.  He's a businessman.  He is in his seventies now.  Years ago I attended his church when he gave a terrific message.  We talked afterwards and he said to me, 'You know, when I was a young man I always felt that I ought to go into pastoral ministry.'  I asked him, 'Why didn't you?'  Well, when it came right down to it, it was just money.  He was doing well in the business world so he didn't follow what he sensed was God's calling on his life.  Now he was financially secure - but he was running out of time.  It's only money!  We get all twisted up in knots over it, stay awake at night thinking about it, stew, get anxious, scheme, trade away our integrity to get a little more of it. . .and we worry that someone else might get hold of it.  It's only money!  It's never a reason not to follow Christ.  It's never a reason not to do the thing that He has call you to do."

Billy Graham hit the bull's-eye when he said, "If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area of his life."  It's okay to make money, and enjoy money, but "Keep your [life] free from the love of money."

-taken from Daily Devotional, The Word for You Today

How do you experience true life?

I was just reading through 1 Timothy and discovered something great.  I have read this scripture many times and it has hit me a little different tonight after Brittney and I talked about tithing not only our money, but our time as well.

You can listen to anyone as they talk about their life goals and dreams.  It all can be summed up to: everyone wants to live a happy life with plenty of money to supply their needs so that they can provide for their families.  It may not be true for everyone, but I'm sure for many.  And then comes the pursuit of happiness!  How do we experience this life where we don't have to worry about our needs or how we will financially support those needs?  Now we can look to Scripture. 

"Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable."  Wait.  If we can't rely on money then how can we have a secured future?  Keep reading.  "Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us ALL we need for our enjoyment.  Tell them to use their money to do good.  They should be rich in GOOD WORKS and GENEROUS to those in need, always being ready to SHARE with others.  By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience TRUE LIFE."  (1 Tim. 6:17-19)

Okay, so in order for me as a follower of Christ to experience blessings here on earth, I must not trust in money or earthly possessions to get me through.  I can't tell you the amount of people I have seen in my life who have been driven by the pursuit of money in order to gain happiness.  It looks many different ways.  But the bottom line is this - STOP WORRYING!  If you trust in the God who gave you your life on purpose, then it would make sense that God would also supply what you need to live - as any loving father would do!  Money can so easily take hold of our lives and begin to control our decisions.  Luke tells us that you can't serve God and serve money.  And verse 10 of 1 Timothy 6 says that the "love of money is the root of all evil". 

Here's what I've come away with:  to live life to the fullest, I must be generous in what God has graciously given to me.  I must be willing to give as God leads and trust that He will supply ALL, not some, of my needs!  Thank you Lord for being faithful and true.

Coming Up at Velocity Jr. High

Starting this week, I will be starting a new series for the junior high.  It focuses on developing healthy friendships.  It's name - The Table.  The "table" is our inner circle of close people.  The first week I will be raising the question "who is at your table?".  Sometimes in our lives we allow the "cool factor" to overcome what we stand for.  We take on the PERSONALITY over the PRINCIPLES on which we stand as believers. 

Jesus dealt with this issue among his table.  Matthew 26:20-25.  Judas is at the table (inner circle), but has PRINCIPLE PROBLEMS.  He betrayed his friend for money and he was confronted by Jesus over the issue.  Jesus didn't overlook that someone at His table was dealing with issues.  The most important thing to know about friendships is that our friends DETERMINE the DIRECTION and QUALITY of our lives!  We can't just let someone at our table because they are "cool".  Once that decision is made, you may have compromised your values and PRINCIPLES! 

Week One: Who's At Your Table - Principle Over Personality
Week Two: What Do You Bring To The Table? - Principle Of Exchange
Week Three: How Stable Is Your Table? - Make Sure Your Table Is Stable
Week Four: What If I'm At The Wrong Table? - Untie Yourself One "(K)Not Gonna. . ." At A Time


Stay tuned. . .

Community Church Orange Declarations

These are the first few declarations that Pastor Daniel talked about last night - I thought I would share them with you here:

1. My prayers are powerful and effective.  2 Cor. 5:21
2. God richly supplies all my financial needs.  Phil. 4:19
3. I am dead to sin and alive to obeying God.  Ro. 6:11
4. I walk in ever increasing health.  Isa. 53:3-5
5. I consistently bring God's goodness to others.  Mark 16:17-18; 19
6. Wherever I go I am expanding God's kingdom.  Matt. 16:18-19

Hijacked!

Tonight for youth, we are starting a two week series entitled "Hijacked".  We are going to present to the students how our lives, if we are not careful, can be taken over without us even knowing!  I wanted to give you a little insight on my sermon tonight.

The thing about our lives becoming hijacked is that no one plans for it to happen.  No one says "I want to be a (drug addict, homeless, etc.) when I grow up!"  But, if you look around, you can see people who lives are messed up and are entangled with sin.  So how do we become "hijacked"?  We position ourselves.  Every decision we make will determine the direction of our lives.  Sometimes we make decisions that allow the enemy to set up camp and before long, we find that he is winning battles.  Proverbs 4:23 says "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."  It's what I talked about in the 'Heart Examination' blog - what we allow to store up in our hearts will come out in our lives.

Sampson never intended on becoming subject to abuse and torture over a girl.  But, because he allowed temptation to 'hijack' his life, we sacrificed the ability God blessed him with.  Which led to his capture, blindness, and ultimately his death.

What happens when we become hijacked?  Someone else is in control.  The enemy takes over and influences you to make decisions that bring you further away from God.  That's why Peter said "I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends.  Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.  Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Next week I will follow up on the idea of "Hijacked" and talk about how we can prevent it from happening.


If the Lord should remind you, pray for the students who are apart of Drive Student Ministries and the staff and volunteers.

Heart Examination: Anger

In the past, I've let my anger control my actions.  Not a good idea!  I've had a tendency to say things or do things that does not produce good things for my life.  I guess that goes along with the theory "every action has an opposite or equal reaction".  I see it all the time.  I believe that when we let anger build up in our hearts, we give them enemy a win.  Does anger produce happiness?  When we deposit angry thoughts or desires in our hearts, it will come out in our actions and attitudes.  "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life" (Proverbs 4:23, NLT). 

It's very important that we constantly protect our hearts from the traps set by the enemy.  ". . .for anger gives a foothold to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27).  "Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool" (Eccl. 7:9).  "Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires" (James 1:20)

Imitate Me?

That's a pretty bold statement!  Imitate me!  Last night I spoke with the Junior High students about taking hold of every opportunity to live as an example to others so that those people might see Christ.  Most of the students (after raising their hands) said that they are living as an influencer, but that they are not influencing for Christ.  I think about the scripture when Paul says "So I urge you to imitate me" (1 Cor. 4:16).  How many of us live so that when others follow our actions and model our attitudes, it makes them more Christ-like?

I've heard my whole life: "You can't do ______ because you are too young!"  That used to frustrate me so much!  Paul, when he was mentoring Timothy, told him "don't let anyone think less of you because you are young.  Be an EXAMPLE to ALL believers in what you SAY, in the way you LIVE, in your LOVE, your FAITH, and your PURITY. . .focus on reading the SCRIPTURES to the church, ENCOURAGING the believers, and TEACHING them" (1 Tim. 4:12-13).  I know how difficult it is to be a Christian in our schools today.  But if we truly want to impact our friends and families, we have to live passionately for Christ.  Every aspect of our lives, every fiber of our being needs to be center around the One who brings everlasting life!  We can focus on our age or abilities, because we are destined for disappointment!  But, if we focus on what we can accomplish through Christ, we are bound for heavenly success!  Then we should be able to turn to others and say "Imitate me as I imitate Christ."

Hello August

WOW! July has come and gone and I am another year older!  Some things that I've learned:

1. Time NEVER stops
2. You always have to DEAL with disappointment
3. LOVE never fails
4. God's love is UNENDING

School's almost here - Back to School Bash 2010 is August 25th.  See ya there!

Arm Yourself

War can be a very scary thing.  Especially if you are not armed with the right weapons!  As Christians, our battle is against the father of lies, Satan.  It seems like God has been speaking to us at Drive Student Ministries about trust over the last month or so.  How do we learn to trust?  Simple.  Dive in to God's Word!  Our enemy wants nothing more than for you to view the Bible as a boring, old book with no value.  And we are not plugged in to His Word, we fail to recognize His voice and will.  Arm yourself with the Word - so that you can move on the offense for the Kingdom!


"The Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him." Ps. 32:10

The Lord's Favor

Sometimes the enemy will come at me with lies saying I'm not good enough to preach to my students. Or that I shouldn't care so much about felllowship with believers. But....God has favor on my life! He spoke to me today through His Word - "the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners..." (Isa. 61:1)

What Did You Say?

Our words are so, so powerful!  Each time you open your mouth - you have the power to change things!  Our words can be uplifting, encouraging, warm, gentle, powerful, etc. or they can be hateful, nasty, cold, bitter and angry.  The Gospel of Matthew tells us a very specific thing about our words:

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:33-37, NKJV)

It is basically saying that what we "treasure" or "deposit" into our hearts, will come out in our words!  In order to produce good things in our lives, we need to be receiving downloads from heaven and storing them in our hearts!  That doesn't mean that your life will be perfect if you say the right things.  It does mean, however, that if we choose to put the things of God in our hearts and minds, then we will see, think, and act the way He wants us to so that we can be even greater witnesses to the world!

Our words can reveal our spiritual condition and greatly impact our future and those around us!  James says that our words will direct our destiny! 


⁴ And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. ⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
   But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. (James 3:4-5, NLT)

We must choose to use our words wisely to speak life in to the world....not death!

Good Ol' Galatians

Good ol' Galatians give us some very nice insight on how to be free in Christ.  I was reading through our devotional today and the verses really spoke to me.  Galatians 5:16-25.  The last verse says "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives."  This made me think about the church (us).  If we (the church) don't live completely by the Spirit's leading, then we open a door for Satan to come in and grab that portion of our lives.  And we all know what happens when he gets his foot in the door!

If the church doesn't live fully by following the Spirit, then how does that look to the world.  They will not want to participate with a group of people who preach one thing and then live another!  His Spirit produces "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control".  That's what the world needs to see.  The church being lead by the Spirit, producing it's fruit so that they world can experience the goodness of God!  So the question that I will ask you is: Are you following the Spirit's leading?

Experiencing His Goodness

"The Father loves the Son extravagantly.  He turned everything over to him so he could give it away - a lavish distribution of gifts.  That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!  And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn't see life.  All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that." Jn 3:34-36 (MSG)

Wow!  I'm not sure that I need to write anything to accompany those verses.  God loved Jesus, gave Him everything so He could give it away to us, only if we trust and accept Him fully and by doing so we receive all He has to offer in this life and the anticipation of the greatness of the eternal life to come.

The part that has really stuck out to me is the last two sentences.  It says if we don't trust Christ, we don't "see life".  We miss so much of what God wants us to experience while we are here on earth when we choose not to trust Him.  All of our experiences about God is just darkness - just a void.  How much more joyful, pleasant, extravagant will our lives be if we just simply trust God.  Pastor David Berkheimer said last week that "We don't have to understand everything, we just need to trust God."  Our promise is not that life will be easy but, that if we can trust Him, we can experience everything He has to give to us!

Are you trusting Him?

Finding God Moments

While spending a great time with my wife on our anniversary trip in San Antonio, I've discovered an amazing thing. It seemed like every time we would go somewhere we would get the best parking spots or be positioned in the right place to find what we needed. I attribute all of that to God's goodness! Whenever you walk with God, He provides for all of your needs, even the small ones you may think are important to Him. I call those God moments - the times when He reveals Himself to us in really cool ways.

We have God moments all around us, but sometimes we forget to look for His goodness or we forget to thank Him for those moments.

Just a thought...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

What's The Plan?

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11)

This is a well-known verse that speaks to our hearts about our future and how we can rest assured that God is in control and cares for us and our future. We hear this verse quoted so many times during sermons, devotionals, etc. But as I read this, I think about all of my junior high students. They will understand the concept that there is a God who loves them and has a plan for them. But what they struggle with is understanding what that plan is! So how do we know?

The next verse opens a door of knowledge that will help us in the journey to seek direction for our lives. "In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." (Jer. 29:12-13) I believe that in order for us to really understand what God has for us, we need to know God! His voice, character, personality, etc. will be easily recognizable in our lives and in situations so that we can know what direction He is taking us in. We communicate with Him through prayer. He says that if we talk to Him, open our hearts (concerns, doubts, fears, joys) in an intimate, daily conversation that we will "find" Him and His will for us.

So how do we know God's plan for our lives? We must first seek him - with our whole heart! And He promises to listen and respond!

I'm back!

So I haven't updated this thing in a while. That is going to change! I will be updating on regular basis now to let you in on my life, thoughts, ministry, etc.!

Hey everyone! Tomorrow we are going to continue our talk on "The Ultimate Treasure". Our subtopic tomorrow will be "making a Kingdom impact".

No matter who we are, God has called each of us to make a difference. For most of us, when we think of that calling, we tend to think about the big things we can do for God. The refreshing truth is that what God is looking for are the small acts of obedience that can change a single life. Our talk will explode the myth that making a Kingdom impact is about changing the world single-handedly and focuses attention on daily differences.

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40


See you tomorrow night!

-MC