A small world

June 28th will be our second annual Baptism/Potluck at Lake Anna State park.  I'm really excited about the fun we will have but also about the step that many will make in there commitment to Christ.  

Interestingly enough, I called the State Park to schedule this event.  The man I talked to had been perusing through youtube videos a couple of months ago and happened to stumble upon our video capturing last years baptism.  

He was more than willing to helps us this year and was even a little more lax in the policy.  The internet truly does make the world smaller. 

See you on June 28.

Pneuma: The Role: Comforter, Guide, Teacher

1) Paraclete

John 16: 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

The word “Counselor” is the greek word Parakaleo, or Paraclete. Paraclete also means: intercessor, helper, one who encourages and comforts;

John 14:15-17 says, "If you love me you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Comforter to be with you forever - the Spirit of Truth.  The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him for he lives with you and will be in you."

The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to comfort you and comfort me.  John in 14:16 goes on to describe the Comforter as one who will be with us “FOREVER.”  No matter how bad it gets we will never exhaust His comfort.

How does the Holy Spirit Comfort Us?
There are many ways.  One of them, and maybe the most common, is through worship.  Despite the events that have taken place, the good or the bad. When you choose to worship God it allows the Holy Spirit to comfort you.

Psa. 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and 6 my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon — from Mount Mizar. 

2) Guide Us

John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 

The Holy Spirit is a benefit in our lives because he is a guide. He wants to guide you in right decision making, and in right attitudes. He is the trail master who has walked the woods a thousand times before us. He knows what’s coming and he wants to help you through it.

3) Teacher
There is something extremely helpful knowing I’m not just following but I’m learning along the way.

John 14:25, 26:  "All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

How does the Holy Spirit teach us. I can’t see the Holy Spirit, I can’t hear the Holy Spirit, I can’t smell the Holy Spirit and now you expect me to learn from him. How does this work?

a) By Suggestion
There are times when you will have thoughts that are not your own. At times the Holy Spirit will give you idea, or thoughts, or be it suggestions that you would not have been thinking about if it wasn’t for the teaching of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit suggests a thought, and it’s your hearts job to follow it. To trust it. To trust the wisdom and inspiration, and leading of the Holy Spirit. It’s not always easy.

b) By Direction
There are times when the Holy Spirit will says, “Go down that thought” The Pneuma gives direction, and context and skin to an idea. Many times he isn’t suggesting a new idea but rather letting the current thought run it’s course.

You may not always know it at the time but typically hindsight allows us to see the directions of the Holy Spirit.

If your a 20-something, in a quarter-life crises. Don’t panic. If you submit to the guiding and teaching of the Holy Spirit you will discover that even now your life is being directed.  Don’t panic about what your life is going to look like in 3 years. Stay true to God and allow him to direct your life.

c) By Illumination
Perhaps the best way in which the Holy Spirit leads us is by illumination. He illuminates the Bible.

Previous post: Intro, The Person

Pneuma: The Person

Pneuma is the Greek word for "Breath" or "Spirit." 

John 16: 7  "The Holy Spirit is for our benefit."

Place in the Trinity
The Holy Spirit is a member of the trinity.

The concept of the Trinity is a hard concept to understand. The Bible states that there is only one God and then it goes on to tell you three of them.  The Trinity. Tri-Unity. Three parts unified together.

The Trinity was never created. The Trinity always existed. It was around even at the beginning. 

Genesis 1:26, Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 

“Let us make man.” US = plural. Not singular. It’s a first glimpse of the Holy Spirit found in the word “US” 

When Jesus was baptized we saw all three forms together.

Matt. 3:16  After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

The Person of the Spirit
Theologians refer to the Holy Spirit as the 3rd person in the trinity.  I find that fascinating.  The Holy Spirit as a person.  

I would suggest the Holy Spirt is more than just an etherial life force.  The Holy Spirit is a “person” equal in every way with God and Jesus. The Holy Spirit has a emotions and a will, wisdom and insight.

The Story of Nearness
God has always been concerned about Humanity. 

In Genesis 3:8 was read that God loved to takes walk in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. He loved being with his creation.

Well the Old Testament comes to an end and 400 years transpire where God is silent. There are no angels, there are no voices from God, there are no God inspired vision. Nothing. And you’ve got to image people wondering if God is still involved in there lives. By then the belief that God can or God will speak to humanity has just about diminished.

Jesus
But then out of nowhere and angle shows up to a young teenage and says that you are going to give birth to a boy and you are to name him, “Immanuel” meaning “God with Us”

400 years of silence have been broken and God speaks to humanity and says “I’m not going to be a God from afar. I’m going to be “God with You.”

A transition in God’s relationship with humanity took a drastic turn for the good. God comes in the flesh. And for 33 years Jesus lived on earth very much human. 

And then he’s gone. He ascends into heaven.  The disciples and those who followed can only fear the worst.  Before Jesus there was 400 years of silence. Is he no longer interested in us. Does he no longer want to be in relationships with humanity.

Holy Spirit
But just as Jesus is an upgrade in God’ presence. God is no longer far away. He can walk with us.  So when Jesus left this earth it was not a step back in God’s presence but rather a step forward. God’s presence was no longer bound in heaven. It was no longer bound the the presence of a physical human, but it has been upgraded to spirit status.

Just as near as your breath is to yourself so is the 3rd person in the Trinity. He’s that close.

Holy Spirit Aliveness
Powerful things happen because of the Pneuma.

Ezek. 37:4   Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

God says, “I will put my Pnuema in you and you will come to life.”

Let's embrace the Nearness of the Pneuma.  Let's embrace the aliveness of the Pneuma.

Series Post: Intro

Change the routine.

The problem with church is that it's easy to get into a rut.  And when you're in a rut church becomes more of a punch in - punch out system.  We try to change things up every once in a while.  Throw people for a loop.  Get people out of their comfort zone.

A good example of that is in our small group kickoff sundays.  Different to say the least.  

We changed things up today.  We put the message on the front end of the morning and ended with about 25 minutes of responsive worship.  I think it was a great success.  We were really able to worship with new focus and application.  It was great to see the fashionably late people walk in during the message and look all confused like they already missed worship.

What I'm learning about church planting: The Front Door

Church Planting is all about redefining church. Church planting has an opportunity like non other to redefine what church looks like to it's community.

I hate to use the word "relevant" because it is over used and under delivered. Every church throws the word around or tags it at the end of an idea to make the appearance that they are culturally engaging...when there not. I'm not saying Crossings is hitting the mark or is the best description of relevant but a point needs to be made. But I don't want to talk about the hot topic of "relevant." I want to talk about the "front door."

I have discovered the biggest challenge in church planting is to get people in the front door. The perception of the church is still, even after years of "relevant" churches, irrelevant. The church is still old school.  And regardless how relevant you are if you can't get people in the front door you are hitting the mark.

I really feel one of the callings for church plants is to redefine "the church" for the next generation.

If your front door is small your community will not know if your relevant or not.  One of the ways Crossings tries to overcome this is by being relevant OUTSIDE the front door.  We are heavily active in our community in new and creative ways. 

All that to say.  I am discovering in church planting that I need to focus less on "relevance" and more on the "front door."   

Previous post in this series: managing emotions, volunteer placement, optimism,  

Do you get nervous talking about the Holy Spirit!!!!

I have been a christian for 23 years.  In my experience the Christian world is passionate about talking about God.  It's passionate in talking about Jesus.  But Christians get a little nervous talking about the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is the topics that has divided much of the church.  So in an effort to not divide the church we down play the Holy Spirit.  But is that the correct response?  Why do we get nervous?  

Jesus says in John 16:7 that the Holy Spirit is for our benefit...Not to increase heartburn.  

So, in the weeks to come I will explore the Holy Spirit.   A broad stroke.   A biblical stroke.  Everything from who the Holy Spirit is, to what he does, to how he can be a benefit in our lives.  

Abandoned and Surrendered

Let me post the lyrics of a song that have been in my spirit for the past week.  It's possibly my favorite worship song.  I find myself singing the chorus all the time.

So I'll stand

With arms high and heart abandoned

In awe of the one who gave it all

So I'll stand

My soul Lord to you surrendered

All I am is yours

It has become my prayer.  A "heart abandoned" and a "soul surrendered"

Enjoy!

The Boys

The boys had some pictures taken of themselves this past week.  I thought I show a few.  They turned out great.  It's amazing how fast they grow up.

Weddings

I was blessed to be able to officiate a wedding this afternoon of a couple in our church.  The great thing about the demographic and life stage of Crossings is that I do a lot of baby dedications and weddings and haven't been exposed to the challenge of a funeral.  The time will come.  

There are only a few things that are guaranteed in this life and death happens to be one of them. But until that time comes I'm going to enjoy wearing my suit for the fun events.

2009 - Screen on the Green

Just thought I'd put something on your radar.  Next month we kick off our 3rd annual "Screen on the Green."  Every year it gets bigger and better.  This year...4 movies...4 months.  We are mailing out a magnetic trifold that can stick to your fridge so you will never forget the summer schedule. Can't wait for the fun.

   

What I'm learning about church planting: Optimism

A lot of church planting is building culture. It really is one of the cool opportunities that church planters get that others don't or struggle with.

The Value of the Optimist

In church planting it is important to gather or disciple the right attitude. There are some people who see a cloud over the greatest event. They point out how this could go wrong or that could happen there. They highlight how you are in over your head. They walk with skepticism.

And then there are those who say "anything is possible". The most outlandish idea is answered with a "when" not a "how". And it is this attitude that every pastor loves and wants to groom. You love to throw success to the neighsayer.

Every church has these two men, but I'm learning in church planting that grooming the right attitude is so important. When your volunteer force is small it is important to have people rally your cause rather than inflict doubt. Doubt can be an infections disease. Whereas on the flip side, optimism can spread with excitement and anticipation. When you have a small team it is vitally important to have people believe the impossible rather than people say "It can't be done".

At Crossings we are blessed to have some of each. My word of advise would be, "Don't give your neighsayer a platform to speak from."

Previous post in this series: managing emotions, volunteer placement

Mother's Day Outreach

Our Mothers Day Oil Change was a fantastic success.   Yesterday about 15 volunteers showed up at a local daycare and change oil for the mom's that use the daycare.  

What I'm learning about church planting: Volunteerism

I periodically highlight some principles I am learning along the church planting journey. Some things I never knew until midway through the journey. I previously talked about managing your emotions.

Church planters many times wave the classic Uncle Sam picture.



No, not for the arm,y but for volunteers. Church planters have more dreams than they have people and funds. Church planters need people to serve, lead, invest, and dream. Many times this desperate need draws planters to put people into leadership too soon. I've heard dozens of stories of people put into leadership before they catch the vision of the church. And in 6 months they move on. And the planter feels hurt and burned. Worship leaders leave, small group leaders move on, and not only do you feel hurt, but now you have a volunteer hole to fill.

I have purposely kept people out of leadership for this reason. I would rather have ministries lacking than find people leaving because we really aren't the church for them.

But the temptation is great. "If only I had a person for this role we could..."

Resist the temptation. Please. It will be better for you in the long run.  NO MATTER HOW UBBER QUALIFIED THEY ARE!!