Baptism and Bar B Que

Just finished up the Baptism and BBQ video.

I think this is a great piece, and I want to say thank you to everyone who helped make this a success. The videographers to photographers to those being baptized and all the family that came to support the event.

Awesome.

Just so you know, this is the short version. There is going to be one on the DVD that has all the great still pics that were taken as well as the version you see here. Everyone that was Baptized will get a DVD copy and anyone else who wants one, you can purchase one for $7.

Just let us know, and we will get one too you.

Isnt God great!

Stream Lining

I am passionate about working in my strengths. I fully realize that my gifts are what God has blessed me with. The weaknesses I have are ok too. I am not less of a person or a believer if I dont have organizational giftings. ( Amy Main claims her spiritual gift is paper! Angela Sustala loves to organize and handle data.) Me on the other hand, not so much.

I love to dream, and to look forward and build and be challenged to climb even higher. But in those gifts I have that are strengths, I am consciously improving on some of my weaker areas. I have tried to surround myself with organizers, and detail people. In the past years that has began to rub off my in some areas.

I am working to streamline what I do and what I dont do. I have this conviction, that you cant do a hundred things well. I am working at delegating and empowering others around me so that the gifts I do have can be utilized 100%.

It breaks down like this for most people. The things you naturally do well, (your gifts) often get back burnered. So that you can focus on strengthening your weak areas. This model though can only make you average at best. You will never excel in your weaknesses. But if you put the majority of your time growing your giftings... Then you can give your best to God.

I firmly believe that excellence honors God. Excellence is simply our best. By now means is that perfection, but the best we can do with God's help.

Men

We had our first Mens Fraternity meeting today. We are having them at 12.15 at the office. I highly suggest men, if you can make it, to put this hour on your calendar. We are looking at the Quest for Authentic Manhood.

Too often men struggle to be really men. Our society has confused ideas about what a man says and does. Dont get me wrong, I am not try to say we ahve to be cavemen, in the least. But too often grown men are running around with boyish ideas and thoughts.

It is time the boy inside the men dies, and we become the noble men God intended us to be.

Ladies, I challenge you to help make this happen for your husbands. Men I challenge you to become a real man.

Join us next Thursday for Mens Fraternity.

The contender

I am So excited! I randomly found The Contender tonight on ESPN 2.

Not only is it a great boxing show, it is on with an uncut version of the fight! I am super stoked!

I love boxing, and Sugar Ray Leonard is still a great guy!

I am not a real sportsy kind of guy, but I love boxing and Mixed Martial arts. I think Paul did too, he was always referencing boxing and fighting. Hmm.

My Dads new revelation

My dad who has had a really nice Dell for a couple years now, yesterday found Google.

You would have to know him to really understand the significance of the find. He called me today, so excited. He was saying things like I cant believe how great this is. Why didnt I know about this before? It is so amazing, I was so frustrated before, now I can relax. I have found the things I was looking for.

Should I make a spiritual application comparing Google's connection the web to life when we find Je....

Nah.

Prayer Walks

Well after the conference last night my friend Brians and his family came over as chatted up ministry and dreams and ministry philosophy until too early into the morning.

I had a short 9 AM meeting this morning. After that I just took some time to walk and pray on the property we are wanting to purchase for the church. Joshua chapter one talks about God blessing and giving every place that Joshua and his soldiers place their feet.

I know hermeneutically that doesn't quite apply to Iowa soil, but I made the prayer and took the walk in faith. ( my name is Joshua, so maybe we can cover it that way.... Isn't that what a lot of christians do anyways...) Any way.

I spent about a half hour or more praying for God's leading and direction, and just dreamed some dreams. I built multiple phases and a sweet coffee shop, and a built in Baptismal lake circa Fellowship Church's campus. Hmmm.

I do love to dream out loud. It is those kinds of dreams we can begin to put feet to and see come to pass.

What are you dreaming about? Do you still dream?

Mark Batterson

Just wanted to give a shout out to Mark Batterson. Just finished a two day conference here in Des Moines where Mark spoke. I was able to pick him up from the airport and have lunch with him yesterday. It was nice to get in his brain a bit about how the do church at NCC. He is a great guy and loved hearing his vision or DC our nations capital.

I will post a weekend update later tonight.

Saturday

We got our new copier in and it works. If I can keep from breaking it, we will be in good shape. It is a very nice machine, and I am pumped to be able to use it on a regular basis.

I know some of you have asked about my camping trip with the kids. It didnt go quite as planned. I am telling the story in the morning in the sermon Embracing Uncertainty. You'll need to be there to hear it. Not only does it involve camping, but a homecoming football game, lack of blankets and trip to the wrong place...

BTY, I have a 2 drawer oak filing cabinet at the office, that is free to a good home. If no one claims in the next couple days, we will be "filing" the filing cabinet!

Getting ready for lunch

The past couple days have been a blur. We are doing our quarterly team leader evaluations right now. I know most companies only do them once or twice a year. But for us in the growth phase we have been in it is super helpful to at least shoot for doing them quarterly. It takes work on everyones part to make them happen, but the communication is key to growth.

We also got out new copier today. They come to "set it up" at 2:30. Super stoked.

I am taking the kids camping tonight. They are so excited they can hardly wait! I love to be outside with them. They so love the outdoors.

So I guess this should be random thoughts, but I am focused on lunch, so that is the heading.

By the way, go to Herberts Blog and read his post from yesterday. Brilliant. (Coop I would have left you a comment saying that, but you dont allow them!)

Video from Sunday

I got a lot of positive feedback from the sermon opener this weekend. So I thought I'd post it for you. Be amazed at the passion this young man has, as well as his father.



Just click on the video to play it.

Acceptance vs Approval

I think there is a big dilemma in the church today. The debate on what is the difference between acceptance and approval.

The church is supposed to be a place of acceptance. A place where anyone can come from any background to a place that God has set apart to give glory to him. Of course any believer would say "I do agree with that."

The problem lies in when we have to put this in practice. Too many believers associate acceptance with approval. As a church we accept everyone from whatever background, to our church to be a part of it. Not just a fringe part of our church, but an active part of it.

I believe that one of the biggest passions of people, is the desire to belong. The church is a fantastic place to belong. I think, come, even if you dont believe what I believe or even teach, but belong.

Belonging happens most often before you believe.

As a church we need to accept everyone in love as they enter the door. As a church we need to love as Jesus loved. As a church we need to reach out to those around us. As a church we need to tear down our stereotypes of what "church" is. If we really study the New Testament church through a Hebrew mindset, we would see the vast difference between the western church and NT church we read about in the Bible.

We can accept people right were they are, without 100% approving of things they do. And that is perfectly OK. Because as the Holy Spirit begins to deal with them as they grow in a relationship with Christ.

I am glad I am not the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we try to take on his job though.

Blog, Blog Blog

Do you ever have those times when you just don't feel "profound?" I sometimes feel like I need to have something somewhat important to say when I blog. The last week has been hectic, fun, and stretching. I love what I do, and I love the growth that it prompts.

We are right in the middle of Chase the Lion. Which I think people are starting to really get a God idea about chasing the lions in their life. It is cool to see the lights come on so to speak in the hearts of people, realizing that there is power in who Jesus is. Awesome.

I also am gearing up for the Series in Galatians that is starting in October. I love Paul's epistles and I love Paul. He just says what he means. There is no doubt when you read Paul's writings that he is being very clear.

I challenge you to prepare your heart for Galatians as we look at the freedom we find in Christ. True freedom freedom from the law, and from sin. I really think people are going to get some help and grow in Christ as we break free from the chains of this life.

What binds you? Is it sin? Is it what someone told you was spiritual? Is it your own weaknesses? Is it your strengths? Is it the way you were told you had to do church? Is it religion you had forced on? Is it hypocritical Christians? I would argue that most of us, have something in our life that keeps us from being really free in Christ!

Read Galatians with me and grow in freedom.

Some staggering thoughts

I just watched Rob Bells "Rich" last night from the the Nooma series. Mind blowing. You should catch it sometime.

Get this the US about 6% of the worlds population but we consume some 40% of its resouces.

We are one of the richest places in the world. Think about this 92% of the world does not own a car. Any kind of car. Even that junky ride we are kinda saving for our kids to drive when the turn 16 to wreck!

Only 8% of the worldest richest own a car, I assume that includes you!

A huge portion of the world lives on less that a dollar a day. They live on less change than you have in your cars ash tray.

There are hundreds of thousands that will not eat a meal today or have clean drinking water. Some guys smarter than me, have figured that 20 billion would resolve the issue world wide of clean drinking water and starvation. The US spent 21.6 billion in 2005 on ice cream. (IDFA.org)

Hmm. makes you think about what we are doing... Think about being rich the next time you turn on the tap to fill a glass. Think about the perspective of wealth the next time you turn your car ignition on. Think about being rich the next time you run into Kum & Go to grab a $1.39 coke.

Its all about perspective.

Juice

I think the Good News out to make the news. In a random meeting, I meet a reporter a few months back at Jordan Creek Mall. She then linked me to Sophia Ahmed who wrote an article on what we do at JCFC on a weekend.

You can check it out here and tell me what you think. Hopefully some of the readers will check out the website and be a part of our Sunday morning worship experience!

Baptism and Bar B Que

Wow, what an evening. Sunday night we all gathered out at lake Panorama, and Mike and Diane Versackas lake house (the graciously let us use). The evening was amazing. Just a tad on the chilly side, but beautiful. There were at least 60 of us that meet for some good food and a baptismal service.

There were 18 people who were baptized. All I can say is that it is so great to see people who have committed themselves to Christ take the next step in baptism. It is by far my favorite thing to do. It is such a step of faith. People dont get baptized in September unless they really want to and believe its a part of our biblical heritage.

There will be video coming soon. The plan is to be finished by next Sunday.

We all could do better here...

Jesus said this in Matthew 12:34-37
…For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Think about what you have said today.