Well the NBA draft is happening tomorrow. I am anxious to see what my team the Miami Heat are going to do. I've followed the Heat since Pat Riley arrived. For many years he built a contender in Miami, recently though they haven't fared so well. I would love to see a draft day miracle.
Speaking of drafts, wouldn't it be cool if church planters had a draft. We could have a lottery for the top ten worship leaders, and youth directors, for the top ten artists, or the top ten planners.
As we prepare to launch a new church community called Resonance next month we are counting on prayer to bring people into our draft. We are counting on God to do things that are beyond us as we faithfully attempt to serve Him.
I guess God is really our general manager and will make the choices for our draft. I kinda get excited thinking about it. Maybe he'll go for a foreign player, or the young draftee who will need some maturing.
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Monday, June 23, 2003
The Beauty of God: Random Thoughts
There is a sentence in the Bible that says "behold the beauty of the Lord". I'm thinking that people today are not too plugged in to that. I believe that needs to be imported into the code of being a Christ follower. Maybe its time for an upgrade.
I've been reading Mike Bickles book "The pleasures of loving God". He talks about Christ followers pursuing the superior pleasures of knowing Jesus and contrasts those with the inferior pleasures of the world. Beholding the beauty of God is one of those superior pleasures.
I am praying that God (the ultimate coder) will begin to import the correct code into my own DNA that helps me pursue looking at the beauty of God. It excites me to think of looking into the face of the creator and think of not being met with a harsh condemning look, but to be able to see the beauty of God.
When I think of natural beauty, I think of my wife. I think of a lush green national forest in Ireland that sits on the ocean. I can remember the crashing of the waves as we visited there two summer ago. I think of a sunset I saw in Tampa Florida last week where clouds and sky were streaked with a variety of orange hues. All these are a glimpse of beauty found in the creator God.
I've been reading Mike Bickles book "The pleasures of loving God". He talks about Christ followers pursuing the superior pleasures of knowing Jesus and contrasts those with the inferior pleasures of the world. Beholding the beauty of God is one of those superior pleasures.
I am praying that God (the ultimate coder) will begin to import the correct code into my own DNA that helps me pursue looking at the beauty of God. It excites me to think of looking into the face of the creator and think of not being met with a harsh condemning look, but to be able to see the beauty of God.
When I think of natural beauty, I think of my wife. I think of a lush green national forest in Ireland that sits on the ocean. I can remember the crashing of the waves as we visited there two summer ago. I think of a sunset I saw in Tampa Florida last week where clouds and sky were streaked with a variety of orange hues. All these are a glimpse of beauty found in the creator God.
Monday, June 16, 2003
Not religious stuff but THE REAL THING
My definition of religion is doing religious stuff but having no life, or love, or fun involved. Religion is stuffy and boring. I've know religious people in my life that reminded me of the Hulk when he gets angry. They are steeped in the art of intimidation to those who don't fit into small religious expectations. These folks and places pursue making others feel small.
Jesus really didn't like religious people. He said they were polished on the outside and a mess on the inside. This seems to be a challenge for us all, not to put on the polish that will win us kudos with other people, but to be who we really are.
I was in Tampa Florida this week for a church planters training. I saw things there that really appealed to me. There were a group of trainers who didn't expect to be treated as celebrities, but actually swept floors and helped move chairs after the teaching times. That says to me they weren't there for the kudos from those they taught or really those who they facilitated, but were there because of an inner relationship and conviction about planting churches. Those are examples I look forward to imitating.
Jesus really didn't like religious people. He said they were polished on the outside and a mess on the inside. This seems to be a challenge for us all, not to put on the polish that will win us kudos with other people, but to be who we really are.
I was in Tampa Florida this week for a church planters training. I saw things there that really appealed to me. There were a group of trainers who didn't expect to be treated as celebrities, but actually swept floors and helped move chairs after the teaching times. That says to me they weren't there for the kudos from those they taught or really those who they facilitated, but were there because of an inner relationship and conviction about planting churches. Those are examples I look forward to imitating.
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