I am working hard on reworking my weekly routine. It seems the more that needs to be done, the less gets done, if your not super disciplined to stay on task.
With that said, Im working hard to be finished with all the weekend items by Wednesday. Its not a 100% success yet, but I'm trying.
I used to have a meeting day on Tuesday where, id try to stack as many things then as as possible. But I'm finding that Thursday works better. It allows me to get a head of the week instead of playing catch up in Friday, or worse on Saturday!
We are also praying so much more as church directly for our city and congregation. There are over 40+ people committed to pray 10 minutes a day -one hour a week for this city.
God is doing great things already. Keep praying.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Crazy week, to say the least
1. The first part of the week was a whirlwind. Im trying to switch my meeting day to Thursday fro Tuesday. Ana ended up sick on Tuesday, so I had to help with her, as Dara is still on this semi-bed rest gig with the pregnancy. So that moved things around.
2. My grandma died on Wednesday and we left on Thursday to be with the family and speak at the funeral on Saturday.
3. Thursday night my phone feel off the dash and into an open cup of tea in the cup holder. I didnt realize it happened for about 5 minutes. When I pulled my BlackBerry out of the cup the entire screen was full of tea. Not good. Yeah, it still doesnt power on...
4. The hotel we staye din was nice, and the kids loved being there, but the internet wouldnt work right. So i had no email access or phone service. I wasnt pleased as I'm too addicted to being connected.
5. Funeral was Saturday, and we didnt get to leave STL until late by the time we went to the grave and then back to the church to eat with everyone. It was great to see so many family members from far away. My grandma was a wonderful woman and loved by many. Thankfully she is now back with my Grandpa and rejoicing with Jesus.
6. I was honored to be able to say some things about my grandma today and read the letters the family wrote to and bout her. It was a moving time, but I held my composure. I lost it years ago today at my grandpas funeral, as my role was the same at his as well.
I loved them both dearly, and they will truly be missed. I have to say I still dream of Grandpa Brown. I cant wait to run with him some day again in Heaven as we rejoice about Jesus toegther, and sit on some porch and sip a soda out of can with a straw with my Grandma Anna Ruth Brown. My little girl Ana was named after her, and our great friend Anna Tucker...
Grandma and Grandpa Brown you both will always be near my heart. Longing to see you again...
2. My grandma died on Wednesday and we left on Thursday to be with the family and speak at the funeral on Saturday.
3. Thursday night my phone feel off the dash and into an open cup of tea in the cup holder. I didnt realize it happened for about 5 minutes. When I pulled my BlackBerry out of the cup the entire screen was full of tea. Not good. Yeah, it still doesnt power on...
4. The hotel we staye din was nice, and the kids loved being there, but the internet wouldnt work right. So i had no email access or phone service. I wasnt pleased as I'm too addicted to being connected.
5. Funeral was Saturday, and we didnt get to leave STL until late by the time we went to the grave and then back to the church to eat with everyone. It was great to see so many family members from far away. My grandma was a wonderful woman and loved by many. Thankfully she is now back with my Grandpa and rejoicing with Jesus.
6. I was honored to be able to say some things about my grandma today and read the letters the family wrote to and bout her. It was a moving time, but I held my composure. I lost it years ago today at my grandpas funeral, as my role was the same at his as well.
I loved them both dearly, and they will truly be missed. I have to say I still dream of Grandpa Brown. I cant wait to run with him some day again in Heaven as we rejoice about Jesus toegther, and sit on some porch and sip a soda out of can with a straw with my Grandma Anna Ruth Brown. My little girl Ana was named after her, and our great friend Anna Tucker...
Grandma and Grandpa Brown you both will always be near my heart. Longing to see you again...
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Great Post about Pastors Wives
Guys make sure you read this about pastor's wives. Whether you she is your wife or she's the wife of your pastor take this to heart!
Gary Lamb of Revolution church makes it plain today... or 3 years ago. Whichever, you'll get it if you link to it!
Read it here.
Gary Lamb of Revolution church makes it plain today... or 3 years ago. Whichever, you'll get it if you link to it!
Read it here.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
One hour a week prayer
We now have 40 committed to pray one hour a week for our city and church!
With all the prayer partners now praying for the Des Moines metro, we have about 2400 hours of prayer this year going up.
Des Moines watch out, God is about to do great things here!
Way to go, Jordan Creek. So Proud to be your pastor and on this journey with you!
With all the prayer partners now praying for the Des Moines metro, we have about 2400 hours of prayer this year going up.
Des Moines watch out, God is about to do great things here!
Way to go, Jordan Creek. So Proud to be your pastor and on this journey with you!
Monday, March 02, 2009
Identifying Crazy People
At C3 last week, Ed Young gave a whole list of how to spot crazy people.
We all know crazy people, and how they drain us emotionally.
Read the list and you'll think of someone. If you dont think of anyone, then maybe your the cra....
Never mind.
Here it is!
Ed Youngs' How you know if People are Crazy
1. They have crazy eyes ~eyes are the window to the soul
2. They are always playing the God card. ~"oh brother God told me.... or God showed me..."
3. They name drop. ~They are always telling you about some celebrity they know or met
4. They are always "one upping you" - They have always done it bigger and better than you
5. They Blow up your phone
6. They dont take any advice, even after they ask you for it
7. They always talk about themselves
8. They dont have any kind of filter. ~ They say whatever comes to mind whenever.
9. They are one issue people. ~ALWAYS stuck on that one thing
10. They are space invaders. ~They dont have any personal space. Right up in your grille all the time.
11. They dress in full uniform of the team that they are cheering. face paint and all...
12. They enjoy their dysfunction.
13. They have crazy pets. ~It goes along with them being crazy
14. They answer their phone, "Mmmmeyellow"
15. They usually are the first to come up to you and they are the last to talk with you....
We all know crazy people, and how they drain us emotionally.
Read the list and you'll think of someone. If you dont think of anyone, then maybe your the cra....
Never mind.
Here it is!
Ed Youngs' How you know if People are Crazy
1. They have crazy eyes ~eyes are the window to the soul
2. They are always playing the God card. ~"oh brother God told me.... or God showed me..."
3. They name drop. ~They are always telling you about some celebrity they know or met
4. They are always "one upping you" - They have always done it bigger and better than you
5. They Blow up your phone
6. They dont take any advice, even after they ask you for it
7. They always talk about themselves
8. They dont have any kind of filter. ~ They say whatever comes to mind whenever.
9. They are one issue people. ~ALWAYS stuck on that one thing
10. They are space invaders. ~They dont have any personal space. Right up in your grille all the time.
11. They dress in full uniform of the team that they are cheering. face paint and all...
12. They enjoy their dysfunction.
13. They have crazy pets. ~It goes along with them being crazy
14. They answer their phone, "Mmmmeyellow"
15. They usually are the first to come up to you and they are the last to talk with you....
Hospitality
One of the greatest take aways from the C3 conference for me was the hospitality that was shown. Somehow we got connected with Pace Hartfield from Fellowship Church.
Pace is the Worship Leader there and directs the entire service structure front to back. He is an amazing guy, who after the time at C3 I now consider a friend. He was assigned to us for the few days we had there, since we had access to the backstage area. His term was he was "hosting us." Each of the pastors who had access to the green room, had a host.
I was privileged to be back there. All the pastors there were very successful and doing a great job at leading people to the kingdom as well as leading a great church. I sat with notebook in hand scribbling down notes, when the other pastors invested time with Dara and myself.
It was a great time to soak up some great leadership as well as make some new friends.
Pace Thanks for connecting with us, and forming a new friendship.
Guys check out his blog, you'll be blessed.
Pace is the Worship Leader there and directs the entire service structure front to back. He is an amazing guy, who after the time at C3 I now consider a friend. He was assigned to us for the few days we had there, since we had access to the backstage area. His term was he was "hosting us." Each of the pastors who had access to the green room, had a host.
I was privileged to be back there. All the pastors there were very successful and doing a great job at leading people to the kingdom as well as leading a great church. I sat with notebook in hand scribbling down notes, when the other pastors invested time with Dara and myself.
It was a great time to soak up some great leadership as well as make some new friends.
Pace Thanks for connecting with us, and forming a new friendship.
Guys check out his blog, you'll be blessed.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
5 Powerful questions
These 5 questions are taken from Craig Groeschels Book IT.
If you havent read it yet, you should. You can order it here.
1. Why does your organization exist?
2. Wat can your organization be the best in the world at?
3. If you could do only one thing, what would it be?
4. If you left your organization tomorrow, what would you hope would continue forever?
5. What breaks your heart, keeps you up at night, and wrecks you?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday
Today is supposed to be my day off, but I'm not very good at that...
I have mens fraternity over the lunch hour and it was awesome. Then worked on a few emails and checked a couple things, went over things for Sunday and next week.
Now I'm wrapping up and going to meet Dara and the kids at the mall in a few minutes!
I have mens fraternity over the lunch hour and it was awesome. Then worked on a few emails and checked a couple things, went over things for Sunday and next week.
Now I'm wrapping up and going to meet Dara and the kids at the mall in a few minutes!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Quick Update
I cant believe that its almost March!
We challenged everyone at church this weekend to pray 1 hour a week for our city and our church. I committed to pray one hour a day for the same. Man it has been great so far.
So far I'm really having to restructure my time and priorities. Thee next two weeks are probably the busiest Ive had in 2 months! HA But i realize I'm just too busy not to pray!
So I ask you to take up the challenge and pray with me. So far 32 people have committed to pray along side me for the health of our church and for the some 400,000 people in this city who are not connected to a local church.
I believe 100% that the Holy Spirit working through the local church is the hope of the world.
Wont you join me?
We challenged everyone at church this weekend to pray 1 hour a week for our city and our church. I committed to pray one hour a day for the same. Man it has been great so far.
So far I'm really having to restructure my time and priorities. Thee next two weeks are probably the busiest Ive had in 2 months! HA But i realize I'm just too busy not to pray!
So I ask you to take up the challenge and pray with me. So far 32 people have committed to pray along side me for the health of our church and for the some 400,000 people in this city who are not connected to a local church.
I believe 100% that the Holy Spirit working through the local church is the hope of the world.
Wont you join me?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
C3 Quotable quotes
"Ministry is Brutiful" ~Ed Young
"Cannibals arent the only ones who get fed up with people" ~Ed Young
"Some one has been dealt cards worse than you in life, and they are winning with them" ~Bill Cornelius
"Before God fills the house with people, He wants to fill it with His Glory" ~Bill Cornelius
"Nothing is more humorous than a preaching relativist" ~GK Chersterton via Ben Young
"Are we addicted to what Jesus died for?" ~Jentzen Franlin
"Cannibals arent the only ones who get fed up with people" ~Ed Young
"Some one has been dealt cards worse than you in life, and they are winning with them" ~Bill Cornelius
"Before God fills the house with people, He wants to fill it with His Glory" ~Bill Cornelius
"Nothing is more humorous than a preaching relativist" ~GK Chersterton via Ben Young
"Are we addicted to what Jesus died for?" ~Jentzen Franlin
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Blogging Integrity crisis
Apparently I have one. My last post I said I'd update the next day and I didn't... as you know I didn't for a long time.
So here's the story that rocked me last week.
Tom Jacob's was speaking at a leadership meeting last week. During his talk he told a story of when he was pastoring a church in Sioux City. He had a board member (I think that's how the story went) that was one of the early guys in Gateway computers. The guy oozed leadership. He retired at 31. Tom asked him to meet with him once a week to just pour some of his leadership knowledge into Tom in a mentorship sort of way.
They meet weekly for quite some time, until one day the guy asked to meet in a different location. Tom quickly agreed. They sat down and the guy says to Tom, "Tom what I want to talk about today is something pretty personal I've noticed. Tom, you have an integrity issue."
Most pastors. as Tom did began to play back anything that could be considered and issue. At a loss he asked what?
The mentor looked at him and said, "Its not big things, its the little things. You say by next Thursday you'll do this or that. Its a small trivial thing, but you dont always accomplish it."
That is an integrity issue. Its not just the major things, its all those little things left unchecked, that begins the crack in the dam.
So I have a blogging integrity issue, im going to resolve!
Im in Dallas right now at C3, so I'm not promising a post tomorrow...
Under promise and over deliver.
So here's the story that rocked me last week.
Tom Jacob's was speaking at a leadership meeting last week. During his talk he told a story of when he was pastoring a church in Sioux City. He had a board member (I think that's how the story went) that was one of the early guys in Gateway computers. The guy oozed leadership. He retired at 31. Tom asked him to meet with him once a week to just pour some of his leadership knowledge into Tom in a mentorship sort of way.
They meet weekly for quite some time, until one day the guy asked to meet in a different location. Tom quickly agreed. They sat down and the guy says to Tom, "Tom what I want to talk about today is something pretty personal I've noticed. Tom, you have an integrity issue."
Most pastors. as Tom did began to play back anything that could be considered and issue. At a loss he asked what?
The mentor looked at him and said, "Its not big things, its the little things. You say by next Thursday you'll do this or that. Its a small trivial thing, but you dont always accomplish it."
That is an integrity issue. Its not just the major things, its all those little things left unchecked, that begins the crack in the dam.
So I have a blogging integrity issue, im going to resolve!
Im in Dallas right now at C3, so I'm not promising a post tomorrow...
Under promise and over deliver.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Blogging
We'll its been quite some time since i have posted here. I wont make excuses, but I do want to jump back in regularly.
Christmas and News Years were great. It was wonderful to visit family and connect again. My Grandma Brown has colon cancer is is very ill. I was glad I got to spend some time with her. Everyone else is great, just busy, it seems.
2008 was quite the year, full of ups and downs. If I learned one thing, it really is to trust God in every area of my life.
He has moved in finances, in family, in relationships, in health. Over and over again, I see His hand of mercy and grace.
I am still human, and at times need those lessons driven home to me again.
More tomorrow about the Daniel Fast!
Christmas and News Years were great. It was wonderful to visit family and connect again. My Grandma Brown has colon cancer is is very ill. I was glad I got to spend some time with her. Everyone else is great, just busy, it seems.
2008 was quite the year, full of ups and downs. If I learned one thing, it really is to trust God in every area of my life.
He has moved in finances, in family, in relationships, in health. Over and over again, I see His hand of mercy and grace.
I am still human, and at times need those lessons driven home to me again.
More tomorrow about the Daniel Fast!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Turkey Day Give Away
I just have to say what an awesome group of volunteers we have at JCFC. From Jed Speras leading the whole deal, to Vaughn Van DeBoe organizing all 70 addresses into drive-able routes, to everyone that delivered and filled and carried boxes, you guys all rock.
We had hoped to be able to give away 50 boxes, but JCFC you guys far out did yourselves again. 70 families recieved boxes today with a complete Thanksgiving Day meal.
I am in awe of what God can do when people follow the leading of Christ and BE the church.
Tremendous.
We had hoped to be able to give away 50 boxes, but JCFC you guys far out did yourselves again. 70 families recieved boxes today with a complete Thanksgiving Day meal.
I am in awe of what God can do when people follow the leading of Christ and BE the church.
Tremendous.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Turkey day giveaway
Just wanted to say how thrilled I am at everyone serving on this Turkey Day GiveAway plan. Our goal was to raise enough money and food to give out 50 complete meals tomorrow.
Not only did JCFC raise enough for 50, we raised enough funds for 65 baskets! Awesome.
As we were collecting names though in our city of people who really need help, we came up with about 68 names.
So we are just abit short.
You can go here and donate 37 per basket is you are feeling that love do so.
Everyone is welcome to come and serve with us tomorrow at the church office at 10 AM. Its going to be a great morning!
Not only did JCFC raise enough for 50, we raised enough funds for 65 baskets! Awesome.
As we were collecting names though in our city of people who really need help, we came up with about 68 names.
So we are just abit short.
You can go here and donate 37 per basket is you are feeling that love do so.
Everyone is welcome to come and serve with us tomorrow at the church office at 10 AM. Its going to be a great morning!
Christmas Presents
We have an awesome surpise for our kids this year. A new puppy. They are going to freak. So no one breathe a word about it please.
But Colin has been asking a thousand questions about the present. He keeps grilling me about what it could be.
Finally I told Colin, listen I cant tell you, but its something you are going to have so much fun with, you will love it. Its completely awesome.
He cocked his head at me and said, "Dad, is it another one of me?"
too funny
But Colin has been asking a thousand questions about the present. He keeps grilling me about what it could be.
Finally I told Colin, listen I cant tell you, but its something you are going to have so much fun with, you will love it. Its completely awesome.
He cocked his head at me and said, "Dad, is it another one of me?"
too funny
Friday, November 14, 2008
Ruth Harbor Banquet
I was able to attend the Ruth Harbor Banquet last night. What an awesome night as Jessica Dunker told the story to about 400 people about how God drew her and two of her close friends to start this ministry. It was an amazing night as I saw God doing things in other lives, confirming in them their call to serve.
I am so excited about our church and direction God has blessed us with. I am truly humbled to see God stirring hearts, and our church becoming a church consumed with others.
Building Relationships, Encountering God, Serving Others
I am so excited about our church and direction God has blessed us with. I am truly humbled to see God stirring hearts, and our church becoming a church consumed with others.
Building Relationships, Encountering God, Serving Others
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Multiplicity
Anyone going to the Multiplicity conference in Dec in Houston? I am super excited about getting to here Dave Ferguson from New Thing Network. Its going to be great.
Let me know I would love to connect with you. Any potential church planters out there? I would love to buy you some dessert and get to know you on Thursday evening after the first sessions are completed.
Email me at joshuasatjordancreek.org and let me know if your going to be there.
Let me know I would love to connect with you. Any potential church planters out there? I would love to buy you some dessert and get to know you on Thursday evening after the first sessions are completed.
Email me at joshuasatjordancreek.org and let me know if your going to be there.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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