Are you new here?

I get the opportunity most weekends during worship to be on the corners watching and greeting new families and visitors that come in through our doors. It can be super overwhelming as you are trying to say hello to that family that was here 3-4 weeks ago, say hello to my friends, get that one fringe kid connected with the youth pastor, go up and comfort that nervous mother with a child who won’t stop crying to let them know everything is ok, all while keeping your eyes pealed for those new faces to say hello to and help in making them feel at home.

We have an incredible minister, Gloria, who coordinates all of our volunteers at our church. We have the door greeters, and the welcoming wagon, and the first impressions crew, we even have folks who call all our visitors to chat with them, and our senior pastor is great at remembering peoples names meeting those new faces, introducing them to the whole church, letting folks know who is who as well. We seem to have a lot of it in place.

But I can’t help but think about those ’1st timers’ and what their thoughts are when they walk in those doors for the 1st time. Are they overwhelmed? Underwhelmed, annoyed, excited, shy, frustrated, feeling of “These people don’t really care”.

I have visited a lot of churches where I feel like I was just greeted by the Walmart greeter. It is so cold, so unreal & unauthentic. I  know, I hope I know anyways, the sincerity of the heart behind it is to try & help people feel welcomed to your gathering. But something that hit me this weekend is the truth that if they don’t feel welcomed on Sunday do you think they will feel any more welcomed later on in the week by a mailer?

You can’t catch every new visitor, well you could actually & should but I’ll cut you some slack, but what are somethings that your ministry does that welcomes people authentically into your gathering? Do you have teams? What do they do? How do you gauge your effectiveness?

I think we do a good job at Faith Community. But I know we aren’t perfect. We are wanting to move beyond our staff being the greeters & face & better at equipping our entire gathering to be the smiling face, helping hand, & welcoming host for those who come through our doors. So what do you do?

Friday Five: People Who feed my soul!

As of late I have begun to realize and place a greater importance on my ‘soul’. That fuzzy, kinda hard to explain essence that is a part of who we are. Some say it directs us, some say it connects us with God, some say its the true essence of who we are called to be. I say… I’m figuring it out, but I know when my soul is out of whack and I need some help.

As I take time to figure out how to strengthen it, care for it more, I have come to the conclusion that my soul is fed by many interactions and thoughts I ‘ingest’ day in day out. I wanted to highlight 5 people who feed my soul in different ways, but all ways that help keep my soul nourished.

• Rick Lawrence Is editor and chief at Group Publishing in Loveland Colorado. He just authored Sifted, has another book coming out called Shrewd, leads an incredible track called Jesus Centered Youth Ministry at possibly one of the greatest youth ministry conferences in the world, Simply Youth Ministry Conference. Rick’s writings and teachings have been a huge blessing to me. Rick is a masterful story teller and ‘wordsmith’ of painting pictures that help you better understand attributes of God and situations. He is a man who is so transparent and open with what God is teaching him, through the hard things and the incredibly nourishing things. I get the pleasure of getting to have him speak into my life from time to time.

• Patrick Lencioni  Is the found of Table Group, a consulting firm and writes leadership fables to help illustrate great leadership points for successful business and life moves. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Patrick other than at the Leadership Summit this last year. Patrick’s ability to tell fables is so inspiring to me not only in that it teaches me how to be a better leader but to strive to be a better story teller to help people connect to a greater story.

• Steven Furtick Is the senior pastor of Elevation Church in North Carolina. He is 31 years old, author of Sun Stand Still, husband, father, pastor, and anointed child of God. I have never met Steven, but as a young pastor myself I am inspired by Steven, his heart, his vision, his drive, his ministry, his marriage, his staff, his boldness & humility. I have heard him preach several sermons, speak at conferences and read his book. Steven is the reminder of Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4.12 that let know one look down on you because of your youth. Steven encourages me in  my walk because he reminds me that God is looking for those whom He can burn brightly in to show the world His love.

• Henri Nouwen was a beloved priest, author, humanitarian and man of God. He wrote over 40 books on the spiritual life. His books are short little snippets of thought all revolving around knowing God more and knowing self in order to know Him that much more. His books and thoughts are a constant refresher and place of nourishment for my soul. A constant pull of growing closer to Christ.

• Ben Mason a seminary student, interning at Hope Des Moines,  best man in my wedding, and dear friend. Ben is a constant encourage in my leadership at Faith, in my marriage to stir me on to be a better husband, and to think beyond myself and grow closer to Christ. Ben is one of those life long friends that will do anything for you. He feeds my soul with friendship and accountability, as well as my belly as an amazing cook and ‘drink’ connoisseur.

Having people to feed your soul, whether you know them in person or through the kingdom through other means is a must to keep you soul fresh and healthy. Who are the people that feed your soul and why? Maybe you should let them know…

Being Normal

A comment was made a few weeks back in youth group with our 8^th grade students that got me thinking. We asked the question how one would respond to being thrown in jail for their faith (Been reading through Acts). I responded with a stirring of saying that even though it wouldn’t be fun, I would count it an honor to suffer for God… I think. Some kids and leaders said…well you aren’t normal and one of those ‘radical’ Christians.

When we read the bible we see ‘radical’ stories of people as they follow God and His call in their life. But this thought has been hitting me lately.

We say that God and miracles and Jesus and all the things and stories of the Bible are super natural and sometimes seem very radical. That Jesus lived a ‘super natural’ life and his dying on a cross was radical, but when I stop and think about it there is nothing super natural or radical about God and Jesus.

Now hear me out! There is nothing super natural about God because He is the norm, He is all that is natural and right. God sets the standard of what is normal and natural. With that thought it hits me that we are the unnatural ones, the abnormal ones. It is through Christ and the Cross that God has given us THE WAY to return to Him, to return to normality.

I am reminded of King Solomon and his words from Proverbs 14 and 16. 14.12 ‘There is away that seems right to a person, but it ends in death‘ Chapter 16 states the same thing

Here is what is considered normal in an abnormal world. Read Isaiah 53. Isaiah 53 is considered the passage that speaks of the coming Messiah who is Christ (Jesus). We read in verse 2-3 that he wasn’t considered the norm because of ‘appearance’. What is abnormal to us is his appearance? It is his willingness to die and be a servant for us as it says in Isaiah. You see that’s abnormal to us, not natural. Why?

Because what is natural and normal for the Son of God and God Himself is by its very nature abnormal and unnatural for us. Head over to Romans 1.24-25, we even exchanged the truth of God, the normality of His will, for a lie and abnormal way of life.

Isaiah 55.6-11 Is the calling for normality.

‘Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked (the abnormal) forsake their way; let the unrighteous (unnatural, Remember we were made in Gods righteous and holy image, once sin entered into our lives we became unrighteous/unnatural) their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than earth, so are my ways and thoughts higher than yours. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return empty, but shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the things for which I sent it’

What is that word that has gone out from Gods mouth?

2 Corinthians 5.21 ‘For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God’ This is the essence of normality for God and for us.

I am convicted as of late with the life I live (as we all should who call our selves children of God) that Gods calling that life is to be a life of returning to normality and the natural things of God.

Here are some of the questions I have been wrestling with:

• Do I believe and therefore live the things I know to be true in God’s Word?
• Do I trust the power of the Holy Spirit to guide my life in ALL THINGS?
• How can let the Holy Spirit transform the abnormalities of my life and transform them into the normality of God’s Kingdom?
• How am I encouraging others to see God as that which is natural and normal? His life for us as natural and normal and to learn to trust His way’s  more than ours?

These are just a few of the things I have been wrestling with lately as I fall deeper and deeper in love with God. What about you? What are your thoughts about all that is normal and natural?

Incredible Mission Trip Offer

Mission trips are in incredible way of teaching your youth and adult leaders about the power of serving like Jesus and plunge your youth into some transformational life experiences. Our ministry is very heavily mission minded and for the past 11 years we have joined with Group Cares organization and participated in Workcamps all across the United States.

You can’t beat the excellence of the staff that run each camp, the program that is put together every morning and night that help prep you for the work ahead and wrap up the evening with Christ centered messages that challenge all the participants to grow deeper in their relationship with Him and others, and the overall experience of impacting a community with home repair and community outreach. My wife, Stacie Windel, has worked with Group Cares for 5 years now and has personally attended over 30 trips herself, as a participant, staff crew, and Group Staff.  This will be my personal 4th year of attending while our ministry has been on over 11. I highly recommend this mission trip experience to any and everyone.

Below is a incredible offer from the men and women of Group Care’s Workcamp and Week of Hope mission trips. Check it out and give them a call.

Dear Youth Leader,

We understand choosing your summer youth mission trip is a big decision – so many choices! We asked Workcamp veterans how our camps are different and they said “it’s awesome, but it’s something you have to experience to understand…” They also said, “Make it easier for first-timers to try a camp!”

We think that makes a lot of sense. So until February 28, bring your ADULT VOLUNTEERS to camp for FREE (you get one free adult registration for every five youth you bring to camp.)

Last year, 98% of kids said they connected to Jesus through serving others. Your youth can too… With 30 years experience and over 300,000 people served, you can count on an organized, life-changing mission camp for your kids…one that continues to impact them long after you return home.

Here’s what one youth told us after he returned from camp:
“I can honestly say that is was one of the best experiences of my life. I grew much closer to both God and everyone in my youth group and I worked the absolute hardest I ever have for free but the end result felt so good that I would do it a hundred times over. If you want to grow spiritually and help a lot of people along the way this is where you should be.”

Watch our Home Repair video and our Week of Hope video to see youth in action serving others and connecting to Jesus. Then give us a call to get your group serving in 2010 2011!

Your friends in youth ministry,
Group Workcamps & Group Week of Hope

If you have any questions or want some more testimonials from our own ministry just shoot me a message. I would personally love to talk with you more about this incredible organization. So check out these videos, check out the website and give Group Care’s a call.

O You of Little Faith

We have all heard this phrase before. It is used all the time. Jesus actually used it quite a lot as well. Not to encourage his followers to trust him in some crazy stunt. But in most cases as a real powerful teaching moment to challenge them and move them from their possible sin. A Youth Pastor who is now working at my old home church posted this great reminder of what Jesus was meaning when he told people they had little faith.

What is little faith? The Greek word is Oligopistos and it means incredulous (unable or unwilling to believe something or be completely convinced), lacking confidence in Christ or little faith. There are four things laid out in the Gospel according to Matthew that are faith killers that cause us to be unable or unwilling to believe and have our full confidence in Jesus Christ. Let’s examine each one briefly.

Matthew 6:30-34, “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry…” What we see in this passage is that “little faith” is caused by WORRY. The word “worry” means to be anxious or take thought and the Bible tells us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” We have our God who is all-powerful, all loving and so much more what do we have to worry about?

Matthew 8:26, “But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” Here we see Jesus telling His disciples that being FEARful is a cause of “little faith”. The word fearful means timid, faithless and fearful. I like the word timid as it means demonstrating a lack of courage. We are not to be self courageous but those who trust in Jesus can be courageous in Him. I like the quote (though I can’t remember who said it) “He who fears God need fear nothing else.” When our trust is completely in God and the only one who holds our fear is God then we need not be fearful but faith filled.

Matthew 14:31, “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” In this passage we see Jesus identifying DOUBT as the cause of “little faith”. The word doubt here means to waver in opinion. When our trust is in Jesus our opinion of Him cannot waver for it is based on the truth of God’s Word. James speaks of the one who doubts this way, “…for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6. We are to doubt nothing when it comes to our relationship with Jesus.

Matthew 16:8, “But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason/talk/discuss among yourselves because you have brought no bread?” In the fourth and final passage that we will look at Jesus identifies reasoning among ourselves as the source of “little faith”. The word reason means to reckon thoroughly. So a cause of “little faith” is to try and figure it out for yourself instead of trusting in the Lord. Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” We don’t have to understand all of the “Why’s” we have to trust in the “Who”!                               ~Jason Starinieri

So the four sources of the “Little Faith” syndrome pointed out by Jesus in these four Scriptures; Worry, Fear, Doubt and Reason, all attributed by the Savior as faith killers, those things that make us ‘little faithers’. They all rob us and take the place of faith.

The word faith means – reliance  & complete trust in & upon someone/something. For us as Christians we put our faith in Christ Jesus. Our faith is placed in His promise, for new life, salvation, the New Heaven, New Earth… New Us. We are called to place a lot of faith and Trust In Jesus. When we worry we are not relying on Jesus, when we fear we are not relying on Jesus, when we doubt we are not relying on Jesus and when we look to our own reason we are not relying on Jesus. Faith trusts in Jesus no matter what, no matter the obstacle.

The Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” When we have faith in God it is the substance, more like the foundation of what we hope for. It is the evidence, the structure of what we do not see. Faith is what we stand on and what proves God will come through. Our Faith is the Home we build for Christ and Others to experience. Now our faith is not blind, we have the Word of God to give us guidance and comfort and to give this substance and evidence to our faith, the Bible even promises that by being in the Word our faith will increase (Romans 10:17). But we must avoid the faith killers.

Are you worried about the unknown or even about the things you can see? Trust that God can work in any situation that comes your way.

Are you afraid? Know that God’s love in Jesus will never forsake you and He is greater than anything you face. John from the Bible tells us that perfect love casts out all fears. You see Jesus is that perfect love that when we place our faith and trust in him we have nothing to fear.

Are you in doubt? Know that there is no need for our God is faithful and has proven so by sending His Son to die for us.

Do you insist upon your own reason? Isaiah 55 tells us a very powerful truth here that Gods ways our not our ways, our thoughts are not His. You see we can not fully grasp or reason anything about God or with God. To try and discuss it, make it make sense is 100% impossible when trying to be done by reason. But by Faith we see, by faith we know the truth and believe that God is the one worthy of putting our faith and hope and trust and love into.

Is Jesus a Liberal Democrat?

I  love Stephen Colbert. He is a great man who uses the gift of sarcasm and humor to share some powerful truths. this excerpt is just one example

Check out this video here from Colbert Report.