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Sunday Evening Thoughts

I've been looking forward to beginning this series for quite some time.  I really believe that the message of the woman at the well has HUGE significance for every person.  If you didn't hear the message today, you can find it on the website in the next day or two.  Some of my highlights from the weekend:

• First, Cody and Dan were really, really good!  Cody sang, "I will rise" by Chris Tomlin.  I heard it 5 times and it got better each time.  I've known Cody for 5 years and I'm so proud of the husband and leader he has become.  If you've got J Highers, get them plugged in!
• I pray that every Christian (I know I am) was convicted to evaluate their willingness to "go where the harvest is" even if it moves us outside of our religious preferences.
• Fawn and I were reacquainted with a gal who started coming to church 10 years ago when we were the college leaders.  We love that she's getting plugged in again!
• Don't believe the lie that your past failure disqualifies you from His abundance!
• Jesus wants to deal with our spiritual problems, then our physical problems. 
• When you encounter Jesus face to face, someone else's testimony can become your EXPERIENCE.
• Literally DOZENS of people responded to the call to release something to Jesus that they've been holding back and embrace His abundance.

I love you church!  It's an honor to serve and get to be a part of what God is doing.  Don't hold anything back from Jesus this week.  Let His abundance overflow and impact the people you encounter.

Sunday Evening Thoughts

Today was an amazing day at Living Water.  Not only did we celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus, but dozens, that's right, dozens of people gave their lives to Christ.  Here are some of my highlights:

• The Youth Choir was really, really good!  Props to Daniel, Cody and Pastor Shane for discipling young people to worship!  The church loved it and I think Jesus was pleased as well.
• As we studied the beginning of this Historically and Spiritually significant week, we saw how Jesus accomplished not only living a sinless life, but also a life lived under and with AUTHORITY.
• I heard a story of someone who had recently lost their job and was discouraged coming to church on Saturday.  After hearing that Jesus doesn't always take the PATH we desire but He will 

Getting DEEPER...

 Last week I spent 4 1/2 days with 25 other pastors from around the world.  Our motivation to be together was to sit under the teaching of Dr. Jack Hayford at the college and seminary he founded in Van Nuys CA.  Pastor Jack consistently sets aside weeks throughout the year to mentor pastors of all ages and backgrounds.  Someone asked me, "Isn't he kind of old to be giving advice about the contemporary church?"  My response, "The church isn't anything new, nor are the principals and TRUTHS that make her the most powerful community on the planet."

What Pastor Jack brings to the table does not fall into the categories of trend or style.  Because of his vast experience and fruitful ministry, he focuses on the theology and experience that he has gained over 50+ years.  

Some of my take-aways:

• I love that he still LOVES and HONORS his

Sunday Evening Thoughts

A few thoughts about the weekend at Living Water:

• It was awesome to celebrate with the church what JESUS did last week at Repossess.  I love how our church celebrates the WIN!
• Andy put together a GREAT Repossess recap video.  If you haven’t seen it, view it here.
• I walked in on the Usher’s pre-service meeting before the 9.  I love those people.
• I love worship and today we saw what a GIFT worship is to all of us.
• The thing that the Father is looking for in a worshiper is spirit and truth, not the quality of our voice!  Thank God for that.
• Worship flows from the OVERFLOW of what Jesus is doing in our life.
• Form and Substance are important in worship, but only as they serve to LIFT UP JESUS.
• HUSBANDS - we need to lead our families in worship.
• The Holy Spirit will always direct us to reconcile relationships that are out of alignment BEFORE we come to the altar of worship.
• Worshiping in preference will block you from worshiping in power.
• My heart goes out to the hurting people we were able to pray with and minister to today.  JESUS is the HEALER.
• I LOVE seeing people come to the altar for prayer.
• To every spouse that is contending for their husband or wife - you are not alone, we stand with you in prayer and faith-DON’T GIVE UP.
• Don’t come to church to EVALUATE, come to PARTICIPATE

I love you church family!  God is up to BIG things in the LW family.  Pray this week for something miraculous to happen and for God to open a door that no man can.

An unplanned "dad" moment...

Expecting...

 This year has already been an exciting year at Living Water.  The word to our church, "Expect an Encounter" has prompted all of us to ready our hearts for whatever God wants to do.  I've talked to several people who are struggling with feeling like they don't deserve to "expect" anything from God.   

If you've been thinking this way or have friends that are, this will encourage you.

When I grow up, I want to be a...

 Tonight we got updated, "What I want to be when I grow up" from the kids...  Here they are:

Sam: Not sure (He's tends towards the perfectionist side of life.  Doesn't want to commit too early.)

Andrew: An archeologist - A pastor - An artist (He said that way he'll be rich.  I hate to break his heart.)

Levi: A cowboy - A worker cowboy - A guitar player - a karate guy

As parents some of the most important things we pray for is that they'll grow up and love Jesus, live faithfully and passionately.  

My prayer for parents out there is that you would know that God has not called you to determine your child's destiny, nor has He given you the choice to pick what raw material your child comes with.  He has called you to train your child to embrace the unique shape that God has for her/him.  

It's a big job, but they never said parenting was for wimps.  You can do it, by the grace of God.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Jon

Aristotle said...

 "Meekness is the mean between anger and indifference" - Aristotle

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." - Jesus 

Defining Missional...

Alan Hirsch considers himself a "missional activist".  This article from LeadershipJournal.net is a helpful read aimed at bringing definition to what being missional really means.  I think it's a good reminder that churches that use an "attractional" weekend service are becoming less and less effective as the pace of cultural change increases.  Do you have any examples of churches that prove or disprove the theory?  Love to hear your thoughts.  Follow the link for the full article.

Defining Missional | LeadershipJournal.net.

The attractional model, which has dominated the church in the West, seeks to reach out to the culture and draw people into the church—what I call outreach and in-grab. But this model only works where no significant cultural shift is required when moving from outside to inside the church. And as Western culture has become increasingly post-Christian, the attractional model has lost its effectiveness. The West looks more like a cross-cultural missionary context in which attractional church models are self-defeating. The process of extracting people from the culture and assimilating them into the church diminishes their ability to speak to those outside. People cease to be missional and instead leave that work to the clergy.

Trash or Treasure?

For those of us involved with the Uturn HS Winter Camp, join the conversation at the Uturn Ning Network.  Check out the latest topic, "Trash or Treasure", posted today.