John, Pick Up the Phone

So, I have left a lot of messages for John and he has not returned any of them. We are close, he and I, but he does not like to make that publicly known. I have many good ideas I would like to run past him, but his speaking schedule is quite full - so his aides keep telling me.
He did though, send me this one-of-a-kind photo of him and Governor Palin.
Just ignore the "Mr. Wiggins" stuff, he really does know my name.

Paul in Prague

I preached last night from I Cor 12. It was a simple introductory message on gifts. I guess you could call it topical motivational.
Before Kevin came to lead us, James and I where talking about doing a series on the gifts for the church. Kevin is currently examining "gifts" with us in our Deacon meetings and my small group, "Life After Sunday" is examining them also.

After my introduction, I introduced the folks to Paul Potts. Paul was an ordinary cell phone salesman with an extraordinary gift. He entered the reality show, Britain's Got Talent and won first place. He has sung for the Queen and now tours the world, as he has been signed by the Syco Music record label. He also enjoys the title, "The People's Pavarotti."
Paul used his voice everyday selling cell phones, then one day he decided to use his voice the way God intended. The lesson is obvious, how many of us are only speaking when we should be singing?
Enjoy Paul...living his dream.
..........

Most Excellent Daughter #1

Most Excellent Daughter # 1 is a joy. I found this picture recently and thought, "perfect".
This pic completely depicts what Ashley is to those of us that know her and truly love her.
She was born in 1986 to two "twenty-somethings" who had no idea how to grow a kid. She was the test case for every scenario Karen and I found ourselves in. She at times was inconsolable as an infant except she would sleep "like a baby" in her car seat. Even today, when she gets in a car, the sound of sawing wood soon follows. She plays two sports well, volleyball and softball, but would never be a cheerleader. She is a better musician, playing piano and guitar. She also composes her own music. The only thing she does poorly is drive. She takes after her mom. (Just kidding, dear). I can truly say I love all of my daughters equally and without reservation, but Ashley is away at college and I miss her.

The New Album Leaf

Try out the new music I posted this weekend. The solo act is called, "The Album Leaf" The lead musician is Jimmy La Valle. He founded the loose "group" of musicians in 1999 in San Diego. He is the one constant in the band as other musicians have come and gone.
Some useless information for you. If you sport a specific tattoo of "the Album leaf", you can get into all of their concerts for free.
Now that's a deal.
I wonder...Do you think if I tattooed a Chili Pepper on my stomach, I could get free Fajita Quesadillas?

The Pursuit of...What?

Kevin continued his theme, "Life in the Process" last Sunday morning in James.
It was a good sermon. Kevin talked about the dangers of independent planning.
As I listened to him preach, I began to think, "The problem is most of us plan without any thought given to God's involvement. If we believe we are truly God's creation. If we believe because of His redeeming work, we are God's children. If we are striving to become "adult sons", then why do we struggle to stay tuned to Him consistently during our day?
It must boil down to the nature of our relationship with Him.
I am not going to pull punches. I think it is hard to be close to a God we can't see...period. It is hard to consistently dwell on Him while sporting this "mortal coil". There is so much going on in our lives.
I will tell you though, we had better figure it out.
Kevin preached not planning with God's involvement leads to an independent arrogancy that in turn ultimately leads to blatant disobedience.
He then held up a picture of me...Just kidding.
Kevin ended with three great points on how to do it the right way. As he closed, I just kept thinking....relationship, relationship, relationship, Matt.
Did you notice I did not give you the last three points of Kevin's sermon?
Go listen for yourself...we are on itunes now.

Just Breathe, Matt

My job centers around sales in the commercial insurance industry and can be stressful at times. On even the best days, I can find it easy to slip out of touch with God. If you have been in a Christian bookstore lately, you might have seen DVDs for sale entitled "Nooma". The name is derived from the Greek word, "pneuma" which, as you know, means, "breath" or "air". The Chinese equivalent of "pneuma" would be, "Chi".
As I am driving between appointments, I have found these videos and audios help me to center my thinking back to where it should be. I also think they could be used as great conversation starters. Coincidentally, the name of this video is "Breathe". Enjoy Rob Bell.

...........

Life after Sunday

Our small group started a blog today. Larry Solano put it together and it is now active. To keep abreast of all the happenings of our small group. Click on Life After Sunday or go to the list of blogs I follow in the margin.

The Revolution!

James Schick is blogging! Associate/Youth pastor extraordinaire and all around good guy is going to grace us with his presence on-line. You can find his blog at The Revolution. I posted this most recent pic of James because I believe sometimes it helps to see a face when you read someone's thoughts....uh..sometimes.

Romans 8:28 (Revistied)

I have great friends.
James commented on a post I did with regards to Romans 8:28 and revealed some things that I was not aware of. Kevin, also spoke with me, and gave me the book, The Epistle on Romans by Douglas Moo. It is quite a tome.
As I have now read and talked to both of my seminary grads, I have this to comment.

Holy Moly!

The KJV does not have the word "God" as the subject.
The NIV adds the word "God" as the subject.

From what I now understand, the key to the verse is what you believe the subject is.
If you assume "God" is the subject, then "all things" becomes the object of the verb "sunergi"
The thought would then be: "God works all things together"

If you assume "all things" is the subject of the verse,
The thought would then be "all things work together.

From my reading I have discovered that the thought of some is that "all things" cannot work together without God's direct involvement. It does not just "magically come together". That was the reasoning for adding God as the subject. If you hold to that idea, then the verb "sunergi" can then be applied the way I did in an earlier post. But just so you know, Moo gives two other application renderings too!

If you stick by "all things" as the subject then you have to believe that the word "God" is implied. Especially in the context of the whole chapter. Paul describes our suffering as Christians earlier in the chapter (see James' comment on my post) and then comforts us in verse 28 by revealing to us that that all that suffering - "all things" works together to bring us good.

Like I said, Holy Moly.

Piper explains when he studies scripture, he finds the subject first, then the verb and objects, gets all of words defined, and then works outward in concentric circles from that verse as he attempts to ascertain the meaning of that verse. In other words, He would not go to Genesis first to interpret a verse in II Timothy. Kevin added that I should also look at what the author meant in other books or epistles too.
All of this fuels my hunger to dive into the scriptures deeper.

Another comment. It would be difficult to slip into theological error with a community around you. I also want to state that you, who are reading this post, are part of that community too. I hope you are growing with me.

So the million dollar question is, where am I now on this verse?....
Studying to show myself approved and I'll get back to you.

Technical Problems

I have been plagued by computer technical problems.
In the last three weeks I have lost:
1. My router (wireless)
2. Half of my drivers (how does that happen?)
3. My video card. (heat probably)
4. My monitor has a growing big black spot in the upper right corner.(terminal)

I apologize for the inconsistency in posting.

God Works For Me or Through Me?

Romans 8:28 says, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I am beginning to believe (after some study) that what I think this verse is saying is, "God works together with those who love him (who are called according to His purpose)...to bring about what is good."

The term, "works together" is the verb "sunergei". It can mean "making things fit together, or making things fall in place". But it can also mean, "two entities that are working as a team"

In conversations with Seminary grads - I have access to two - I have learned that when you try to understand what a portion of Scripture is saying, you not only have to examine the writer and his audience, but you can also look at how the word is used in other parts of the Bible.
"Sunergei" occurs four other times in the New Testament as a verb. (Mark 16:20, 1Cor 16:16, 2Cor 6:1, James 2:22). The first three instances describe partnerships - the idea of a team or folks working together. In the last instance (James 2:22) it describes how faith and works "work together".
What makes more sense?
I am foreknown, predestined, called, justified and glorified and am being transformed, to receive God's grace and that grace includes God working out everything for me for good?
OR
I am foreknown, predestined, called, justified and glorified and am being transformed, to receive God's grace and to be a conduit of God's grace to others!

Now, I have not attended Seminary, and I know there may be more points that I should have covered, more methodologies employed, but I am studying to show myself approved and this is the level I am at.

It's funny, when I was a young man, I read that verse and thought that all things just worked together, that God put some mechanism in place that worked things out for people like me who went to church.

Then I entered into a relationship with Christ, and I understood that verse to mean that God was working for me! Specifically! - To turn all things, (even bad things) into good...for me!

Now I am starting to see it as a partnership. I get to co-labor along with God to bring about good in the lives of others. That fits to me!
Just like a team-mate, just like a help-meet, just like a yoke-fellow. I get to work along with Christ, being His eyes, His ears, His mouth, His hands. Christ touches my neighbors and work-mates and church family through me.
Thanks God, for giving me a spot on your team.

The Ruckus, Reality, and Remedy

This morning's sermon was hard to listen to. Kevin started by asking us not to make the mistake of listening to him, and to not make the mistake of not listening to what God was telling us directly. He then proceeded to read from James chapter four.
Ouch.
His three points were relevant (look at the title of this post to get them).
James is talking to born again Jewish Christians with "baggage" (as I have stated before). He is rough on them, and they obviously deserve it. They are quarreling and fighting, killing and coveting. They are selfish and not connected to God the Father because they insist on an attitude that screams, "me, me, me!"
I want to be careful about my own walk as I encounter resistance to the changes I am helping to implement in our church, and I desperately do not want to be disconnected.
Kevin's remedy for our situation can be found in verses seven through twelve. They include a humble submission to God and a change in our actions toward each other.
There is a lot of good stuff in this sermon. Check it out by subscribing to our feed or go to our website and listen.
Have a great rest of the weekend.

Assumptions

I have begun to listen to Andy Stanley's podcasts on leadership. WOW!
His thoughts are organized, concise, and current; and I appreciate the passionate way in which he presents his leadership themes. For purposes of this podcast, Andy is driving conversations at North Point Community by asking two questions,
- "What is in decline?
- Where are we just manufacturing energy?"
He then encourages his leaders to look at the underlying assumptions with respect to the first two questions.
Points covered include money, emotion, perceptions, and an exhortation to look at the ministry with "fresh eyes".
This is twenty-one minutes worth listening to.
Assumptions Podcast by Andy Stanley

My God?....No way...

I was in Psalms this morning and I read this:

Psalm 103:13-14
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

I really think God understands my struggle with sin and tries to help me with my struggle. I also do not believe He is angry with me.

Follow along with my reasoning:
Let's say that I was in charge of a flock of sheep and one of the little guys wandered off. Let's go on and say the little guy wandered off on purpose because he was mad at me (the shepherd) for leading him into a meadow he did not like.
Let's also say that that little guy wandered himself right into a thicket and could not get out. And let's say, I walked and found that little guy stuck in the brambles of that thicket.
What do you think I would do?
Do you think I would walk over and kick the little guy?
Well Matt, "Of course not". You would say.

But I think that is how some of us think God would react toward us.

I sometimes think we live our lives thinking, "If I wander away and get caught up in something, and I cry to God for help; He'll answer, but it will be a swift kick you know where".

Here's a thought, the next time you get caught up in sin, don't look for the pain in your backside. Look instead for His embrace of love.

I know some of you may read this and mistake this for shallowness.
Matt is providing an excuse for sin in my life.
If I realize God will love me no matter what... well then, I have a blank check!

I guess I would respond, "Is that how your other relationships work"?

When I came to the realization that God loves me no matter what, I found a viable solution for my sin.
I really do not want to offend Him. I am in a growing relationship with God and I want to get closer to Him because I am realizing how much He really is into our relationship.
Another thing, isn't it also true that as long as you think God is not pleased with you, it creates a distance?
Do you enjoy talking to people (whom you know) do not like you?
Do you feel close to people (whom you know) do not like you?
I would not feel comfortable going to a God (whom I knew) did not like me.

Let's look at the passage again.
"As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
For he knows we are formed, he remembers we are dust.
That is comforting to me.

I am not just God's creation; I am also His child. I became His child when I realized that I was a sinner and realized that Jesus sacrificed Himself - became sin and died. - That He rose again and is seated at the right hand of the Father - and based on my belief of my own hopelessness, and that finished work I am saved.

So, as His child I respect Him, I love Him, but most of all,
I know I am loved BY Him.

Who's Your Provider?

Kevin's text this morning was James 3:13-18. He introduced the concept with which we are all familiar. We choose providers. Cell phone providers, TV subscription providers, local phone providers, the list goes on and on. We as Americans recognize the concept of choosing providers. He then went on to explain that James exposes us to the idea that there are two providers of wisdom in the world. Two sources, One from above and one from below. Sitting there, it became painfully obvious where our source of wisdom comes from. We are man-centered, prideful and deceitful. We fight and claw and step on each other. We chew off the biggest pieces and then stomp on others who dare come close to our drippings. We follow - We embrace - the wisdom from below.

Kevin then encouraged us to switch providers. Switch them in our personal life, switch in who we follow and switch in how we lead.
What I like about Kevin's sermons is that they always come with a call to action. I love practicality and a sermon that exposes me for what I am and then shows me how to fix it is invaluable. That's why I post them.

Carl Wardlow is not gone...

He has just gone on ahead. Carl passed early this morning in the Veterans Hospital in Tampa. He contracted a blood infection that proved too much for a man in his physical condition to handle. MRSA they call it. It is a major hospital concern because decades ago, a strain of staph emerged that was resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics. MRSA infections kill hundreds of thousands of patients in hospitals every year.
Carl had diabetes and injured his foot. The staph infection got hold. He also had heart issues and the infection ran wild in his system. It just proved too much for this kind and gentle man.
"God is in control", I tell myself. I stopped wondering a long time ago why God brings us home in so many debilitating ways.
It is enough for me that He brings us home.
I met Carl almost three years ago when we joined Haven Baptist Church. I loved his heart. He used to be in charge of maintenance for the ministry until his physical condition became such that he had to quit that official role. He was retired from an electricians job in a large plant in Ohio. Carl served our nation in the United States Air Force.
I visited him in the hospital those last few weeks, and he really felt that he would get better because he needed to talk to his brother in-law. "He is a great guy", he said.
He wanted to share the Gospel with him. - Someone else will have to take up that task now.
Thanks Carl, for your spirit and your friendship. Thanks for the great talks and the encouragement you were to me personally.
I look forward to seeing you again.

Without Jesus...I suck.

...that is what his T-Shirt read. He was tall, early-twenties, corn rows, jeans baggy, t-shirt white - and very large, he had two little kids in tow and a pleasant and friendly looking wife bringing up the rear. She had an infant in her arms.
It is game time and they are walking single file in front of the stands in front of Courtney and myself. The kids are asking for popcorn and the young dad is dutifully ignoring them. He knows you cannot answer kids who exist three feet closer to sea-level than you are while walking through a noisy crowd.
The kids don't care. They smell popcorn, and they want that smell in their mouth. (Me too, by the way).
This is an American family.
I liked what his T-Shirt said. Courtney liked it too and smiled and using her Sidekick, immediately changed her Facebook status to that.
I wondered if that family would feel comfortable at Haven? Not that I do not think that our church would be friendly or helpful to that family, but are we, in essence, a church that would attract a family like that? He is ethnic, hip, counter-culturally relevant, young, and appears to be responsible. She fits with him, the kids fit with them and they all seem to fit here.
I am not saying anything more than this...I liked them superficially.
I wonder if they would like what I am helping to build at Haven?
I am not certain of what I want for my church exactly. I just know that I want it to be the best representation of our Savior that it can be...and I know with certainty ...it starts with me.
I will tell you something else I know for a certainty.
Without Jesus...I suck too.

Mission Accomplished Part Trois

With the sound of the ever present "Wicked" soundtrack reverberating in my car (and in my head), Exceedingly Delightful daughter #2 and I faced seven to eight more hours of driving. I looked at Courtney - "It is 3:00 PM CST with an ETA of 11:00 PM EST and we need to go through Indian territory again honey." Courtney looked back at me and raised her eyebrow in the way only she can do. "Yep" she said, Let's do this" So onto the on ramp we went.
Funny thing about driving a lot in one day.....It really stinks.
The mission was to get to the fabled gates before student worker meetings at 4:00 PM on Friday. The goal should have been to get back to the warm creme filled center of our state by 11:00 PM, because while it was true that we were driving home ....
We were not in any way driven.

I think I understand better why some folks leave the ministry or why certain ministries fail or why certain projects in our churches fall apart.
It is about expectations set...
and missions defined...
and the ability to adjust when above two are incorrect or no longer correct...

Allow me to explain,
Doing that trip in one day...OK
Doing that trip in two days...OK
but planning to do the trip in one day and not defining the goal correctly...Not OK
This called for an adjustment!

So, three hours into the drive and right smack in the middle of Indian territory, Exceedingly delightful daughter and I were lured by the prospects of Friday Night Lights. "This will set us off our ETA, Courtney".
She raised that eyebrow again, "Let's do it, Popsicle".
"Wicked" has expanded her vocabulary.

So we paid the boosters the admittance fee and suddenly we were under the lights. High School Football!
North Florida Christian verses Eagles View Christian.
Eleven-man - full contact football, in a big high school stadium with popcorn and hot dogs and a high school band. The loudspeakers were playing the song, "Kryptonite" as the crowd grew louder. The parents of the players filed onto the stadium's turf and were standing on the field with the cheerleaders. They were forming a tunnel of support and enthusiasm for their boys.
Suddenly, fifty or sixty strong, the boys ran out of the field house, through the hand-crafted banner and amongst the lines of support and love formed by their parents. Are you ready for some football?
I just sat back and thanked my Lord for America, football, Karen and my daughters, my church, their church, everybody!
It is one of those moments in life when you are washed by emotion and filled with thankfulness for your life.
If I hadn't adjusted,
I would have missed it.
Thanks for the audible, Father.

Mission Accomplished Part Deux

We arrived at the fabled gates of the institution. After placing my hand on my heart and pledging allegiance to the KJV, We were allowed admittance. Most excellent daughter attended University of South Florida for two years and sincerely decided that she wanted a Christian school degree. So she transferred. The program for training teachers is excellent at this institution and the facilities are well, off the hook to be quite honest. Philosophy-wise though, I bristle a bit at the philosophy that considers the college as an extension of the Christian home and therefore feels control measures should be enacted to extend what said institution defines to be the "correct" Christian family model.
Do not get me wrong, I ran a Christian school for ten years and I was always upsetting somebody. So I know how hard it is to please everybody. "Chew the meat, and spit out the bones" a wise pastor named Bill told me once, so that is what I do.
Ashley loves the place. She can operate anywhere and thrive.
We went to the dorms, unpacked cars, paid bills, unpacked storage facilities and went back to the dorms again. Done! Courtney and I kissed most excellent daughter #1 shook and hugged current boyfriend of said daughter (he is starting to be comfortable around me.) and drove off the campus. Courtney and I looked at each other and high-fived.
Mission accomplished.

Mission Accomplished Part Un

Ashley (most excellent daughter #1) and Mason (current boyfriend of said daughter) needed a lift back to college. So Courtney (exceedingly delightful daughter #2) and I decided to take a road trip. I took Friday off and off we four went traversing the state of Florida from the warm soft middle section of our state, around the arm pit to the very edge of the appendage. In doing so, we left the beautiful oaks and rolling hills of God's own Gator country and ventured into the steep inclines and harsh pines of Indian territory. Exceedingly delightful daughter tried to hold her breath while going through Tallahassee and made it almost a whole twenty-five seconds. The means of conveyance was a Hyundai (blah), recently purchased after daughter (not exceedingly delightful on this day) destroyed the family's convertible Sebring that Dad kinda liked.
While Ashley and Mason slept in the back seat,(we left at 4:00AM) Courtney introduced me to the soundtrack of "Wicked".
It is a Broadway play.
Courtney loves Broadway musicals.
I love my daughter Courtney.
So I drove through enemy territory - speakers blaring,
" I'm Defying gravity!
I'm flying high, Defying gravity! And soon I'll match them in renown.
And nobody in all of Oz... No Wizard that there is or was...
Is ever gonna bring me down!"
I know what your thinking...
Yes, I really love my daughter Courtney.
The thing is - after seven or so hours of that soundtrack being played (albeit off and on), I started humming the tunes in my head, and now sadly...I need to report to you that I am irreparably damaged.
I think I like "Wicked" - the real story behind the story of the Wizard of Oz.
Mission Accomplished, Courtney.