Dave Willis: Faith, Fatherhood & Free Time

What Churches could learn from Disney

2010-05-27T15:06:00.004-05:00

This past week my family and I spent four "magical" days in the "happiest place on earth." As I took in all the sights and sounds of Walt Disney's creative masterpiece, I started to feel convicted. I realized that Disney World is actually doing a better job of carrying out certain aspects of the Church's G0d-given mission than most churches. Here were my takeaways. Most churches would do well to learn these lessons from Disney:

1.VALUE KIDS. Disney elevates the value of children to the highest levels, and while Jesus raised the value of children more than any person ever (including Walt Disney) most churches see kids as a burden and not as a gift.

2. VALUE CREATIVITY. God is the most creative force in the universe and His Body (the Church) should be the most creative force on earth. There was a time when churches were shaping the creative aspects of culture. Now, most churches are content to sit back and critique culture while not adding anything. Creativity is seen as an enemy of tradition, so most churches choose to worship their tradition in sterile facilities instead of taking risks and creating new things.

3. VALUE EXCELLENCE. Every detail at Disney is executed with excellence. In most churches, we put forth a half-hearted effort and expect God to bless it. Excellence honors God and inspires people.

4. VALUE CHANGE. Disney is always looking to the future while building on their past. Most church are attempting to recreate the past while hiding from the future. Churches should be constantly innovating and changing their methods in how they communicate the unchanging message.

5. VALUE DIVERSITY. God's Kingdom is made up of people from all nations, races and backgrounds; so is Disney World. Most churches are made up of people who act, look and talk alike. We need to value and work to achieve church demographics the represent our communities' demographics.

6. SMILE. If Disney World is the "Happiest Place on Earth" then our churches should be the "Most Joyful Places on Earth". Happiness is based on outward circumstances, but we have the joy of the LORD which nobody can take away. The tragedy is that most churches are filled with people who don't seem to have any joy at all. Maybe this is one of the many reasons why an unbelieving world feels so much more comfortable at Disney World than they do at Church.

Be Yourself

2010-04-26T15:16:00.002-05:00

We live in a world where we face constant pressure to look, dress, talk and act a certain way. It's easy to succomb to the social pressures and consequently lose our own unique, God-given identity in the process.

I love to story in 1 Samuel chapter 17 where a scrawny adolescent named David is preparing to go and fight a Giant named Goliath. The regal King Saul tried to persuade David to dress and prepare a certain way for the battle. In essence, Saul was saying, YOU can't win! Take MY armor, look, dress, and act like ME. David gave it an honest try, but ultimately he said, "I can't be you. I have to be myself."

That young shephard boy walked onto the battlefield without armor, but he defeated the giant. When God calls you to face an obstacle, He will never call you to be someone else to do it. Be the person He created you to be and know that you plus God is always enough for victory.

Choose your Advisors Carefully

2010-04-15T12:29:00.002-05:00

Every day, life throws many choices our way. To make wise choices (especially on big and difficult decisions) we should always seek wisdom from trusted advisors. The Bible says clearly that "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)" Obviously, having good "advisors" is important, but how do we go about finding trusted advisors?

1. Listen to those with AGE & EXPERIENCE: 1 Kings Chapter 12 tells the story of Rehoboam who succeeded his father Solomon as King of Israel. Rehoboam made the fatal mistake of only listening to his young peers and neglecting the wisdom of the elders. His defiance and poor leadership split the nation in two. His passion was misguided, because he neglected the wisdom of the generation that had gone before.

2. Listen to those with YOUTH & PASSION: You need the wisdom of the old, but you also need the passion of the young. Jesus spoke often about how God has exclusively revealed certain wisdom to "children". The perspective of those who are young and full of vision and vitality will often challenge you to leave your comfort zone and pursue new challenges. Wisdom without action is pointless and young advisors will often push you towards action.

3. Listen to ENCOURAGERS: We all need a "Barnabus" in our lives; we need someone to come alongside and encourage us on the journey. This world has a desperate shortage of encouragement, so be an encourager and surround yourself with people who will be an encouragement to you. They will be like Caffeine for your Soul.

4. Listen to CRITICS: Nobody wants to hear this, but we should listen to criticism. Give the most attention to constructive criticism from those who love and support you, but also consider the grain of truth that might be found in hostile criticism. As Rick Warren says, "Even a broken clock is right twice per day!" Abraham Lincoln surrounded himself with critical advisors who challenged him and very often disagreed with him, and that dynamic created one of the most successful presidencies in our nation's history.

5. Listen to those who LOVE YOU: The best advice will usually come from those who have no agenda other than loving you and wanting what is best for you. They're the ones praying for you and the ones there for you in life's ups and downs. Your spouse, parents, children, siblings and closest friends will usually hold this place of honor as your most trusted advisors.

Take all the advice you receive, pray over it, see how it lines up with the unchanging Truth of God's Word, and then take the best course of action. If you succeed, Great! If you fail, then you'll just have some good, hard-earned advice to share with someone someday!

The Power of "THANK YOU"

2010-03-29T13:39:00.002-05:00

Yesterday in church, we brought up several dozen of our several hundred stellar volunteers at Christ's Church just to say, "Thanks"! I was convicted by the fact that I don't say "Thank You" nearly enough. So often, I just assume that people know how much they mean to me and how much I appreciate all they do, but one thousand silent thoughts of appreciation aren't worth as much as one sincere "Thank You."

Gratitude has power and when we communicate our thanks, we will affirm, encourage and validate the faithful service of those around us. I want to be more intentional about voicing my appreciation and I encourage you to do the same. Let's never be too busy to stop and say, "Thanks." It always means a lot to those who hear it.

P.S. THANK YOU for reading this. :)

The Lost and Hurting

2010-03-25T10:47:00.003-05:00

Last Sunday, our church services ended powerfully as scores of people wrote down hundreds of names on the back wall of our auditorium. The wall simply says, "PRAY FOR THE LOST AND HURTING." I've walked past that wall every day this week and paused to pray for some of the names written there. It's humbling and overwhelming to think about the thousands of people right here in our own community (and even our own church) who are in pain. The good news is that we serve a God who is near to the brokenhearted and He is able to bring healing and peace in any situatin.

I'm proud of our church for thinking beyond ourselves. I am so thankful to be a part of a church that realizes that our mission cannot be contained by the church walls. We are called to be a light in the darkness and to bring hope and healing to the Lost and Hurting. We are the hands and feet of Jesus, so let us never lose sight of of our Mission. As we move forward as a church, I pray that we would be a community of faith that provides healing to the broken, hope to the hopeless and help to all who need it.

Checklist for Change

2010-03-10T13:20:00.003-05:00

CHANGE is a constant part of life and leadership. Any type of change can be tough, so we must always navigate the waters of change carefully. I'm in a new ministry and a new season of life, so "change" is all around me. As I'm making decisions that will impact the future of my family and my church, I'm relying on the process below to make the wisest choices possible.

Checklist for implementing a Change:

1. Get buy-in from those most directly impacted. The change you're making will be taken personally by someone, and getting their insight and buy-in before pulling the trigger on a decision could make all the difference.

2. Do what is in the best interests of the most people. The needs of the few can't outweigh the needs of the many (I think that may be a Star Trek quote from Spock). Remember that you can't always please everyone, but you can always value everyone.

3. Seek wise counsel. The Bible (particularly the Book of Proverbs) has great insight on how to make tough choices the right way and one of the most consistent Biblical lessons is that we should surround ourselves with wise and Godly people and seek their wisdom. As it says in Proverbs...Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors, you will succeed.

4. Pull the Trigger. One of the most important jobs of a leader is to make decisions. When you make a bad one, own up to it and then make it right, but don't let the "paralysis of analysis" keep you from pulling the trigger and making the call. In leadership, a bad decision is often better than indecision.

5. PRAY! I'm spending a lot of time begging God for wisdom and guidance. The more we seek Him and His Will, the better off we will be. Apart from Christ, no amount of "change" really changes anything.

The Adventure Begins!

2010-03-09T09:40:00.002-05:00

Things are in full swing here in Fleming Island, and I am so excited to see what God is going to do next! Christ's Church is a remarkable, loving and life-giving community of faith and I believe that God has HUGE things in store for us in the months and years ahead. It is my prayer that He uses this church to reach the thousands in our community who are disconnected from God. I pray that we would be a light in the darkness and a source of hope and healing to a world that so desperately needs the life-saving power of Jesus.

I believe that we will see marriages restored, addictions broken, souls saved, families strengthened and lives changed as we unite to love people and lift up the name of our Savior. I'm truly honored to have the opportunity to serve alongside such amazing people as we take our next steps towards Christ. It's going to be a great ride!

Thank You, Stevens Creek.

2010-02-21T19:29:00.002-05:00

My time in Augusta is quickly drawing to a close and as our departure to Florida nears, I find myself feeling a myriad of mixed emotions. I feel tremendous excitement for the door that God has opened for a new era of ministry and I feel humble thankfulness to God for all of the blessings in my life, but I also feel sadness as I reflect on the remarkable church and wonderful friends I will be leaving behind. I know that as Christians, no "goodbye" is ever final, but I still want to take this opportunity to thank God for three of the best years of my life and to thank my "Creekers" for what has been an an amazing adventure!

To my family and friends at The Creek, Thank You! Thank you for the prayers, encouragement, love, friendship and support you have shown to my family and me. I'm a better person and a better pastor because of our time together. It has truly been an honor to be your partner in ministry, and I wouldn't trade our time together for anything. I pray God's best for you as you continue to Love God, Love People and Serve the World!

Dangerous Church

2010-02-19T08:22:00.002-05:00

These past few weeks I have been reading through the Book of Acts, and feeling humbled, convicted, encouraged and inspired by the example of the early church and the first Believers in Christ. These were men and women so passionate about Jesus and so full of faith and the Holy Spirit that they were absolutely FEARLESS! Whether in prisons or in palaces, they were thankful; whether rich or poor they were generous; whether young or old they were on fire for God.

Fast forward two thousand years to churches in America. There are definitely still Believers with this same fearless passion for Christ, but as a whole, our churches have lost sight of the primary mission. Instead of making the name of Jesus famous in a lost and dying world, we argue instead over the style and volume of worship music or the color of the carpet in the sanctuary and we consistently place our own personal preferences over the unifying mission our Savior gave to us. We choose comfort over obedience and we play it safe when God has called us to be DANGEROUS. In short, we are missing the point!

In a few weeks, I will officially begin a new ministry as Senior Pastor of Christ's Church in Fleming Island, FL. I am absolutely ecstatic about serving at such a wonderful, grace-filled church. After much prayer about the my first sermons, I believe that God is leading me to preach a sermon series called "Dangerous Church" which will focus on carrying out the Great Commission and following the bold example of Jesus and His earliest followers. God has a huge adventure in store for us, and I can't wait to get started! For all the miraculous things He has done in ages past, I believe that He has even Greater Things in store for this generation!

Time

2010-02-16T21:11:00.002-05:00

We always make room for what is most important to us. For instance, I have never been so full at the dinner table that I would pass up warm, homemade apple pie. As soon as I smell it, it's like a whole separte "Dessert Stomach" opens up and I've got room for pie, ice cream and even some coffee.

It's the same in our schedules. We live in a fast-paced, hectic world where our schedules can easily push away the relationships that should matter most to us. We get "too busy" for God, for our spouse and even for our kids, but we must "make room" for the people who are most important. Nothing communicates our love like our time. In fact, I believe that Time is the Currency of Relationships. When we're investing our time into a relationship, it thrives, but when we're depriving a relationship of our time, it dies. Be intentional about how you invest every minute of your day, and make room for what matters most!

Big Announcement

2010-02-03T10:41:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends and Family,
THANK YOU so much for your encouragement and prayer. You are truly a blessing to Ashley and me, and we're so grateful you're in our lives. As many of you know, we've been praying about the possibility of moving ot Florida where I would become the new Senior Pastor of "Christ's Church" in Fleming Island (www.ccflemingisland.com) which is just outside Jacksonville. We spent this past weekend there and I wanted to give you an update of our visit and the next steps...

The church enthusiastically welcomed us and actually broke an attendance record with more than 1000 people. They are a wonderful, loving and grace-filled congregation. I believe God used this visit to confirm in my mind and theirs that He is indeed calling me to Florida. Essentially, I have been offered the position and I have accepted it, but it won't be official until I return next weekend (Feb. 7) and the church follows its written bylaws and allows the congregation to vote on my candidacy. The bottom line is that unless God supernaturally slams the door, it's going to happen. We will most likely stay at The Creek through February, and make the move to Florida the first week in March. Now, we're just praying that God would allow the details to fall into place (which He's been doing all along and I'm sure He will continue to do).

Thanks again for your support, prayer and encouragement. This is a very exciting time for us, and we're honored to get to celebrate with you.
Dave

Prayer

2010-01-13T10:44:00.002-05:00

As I write this, the impoverished Island Nation of Haiti is experiencing the devastating effects of a major earthquake. The Haitians are in desperate need of help and hope. Many Christians are calling for prayer, which obviously is important, but I just read a facebook post from an agnostic friend of mine that truly convicted me. He wrote that Christians seem to be rallying to prayer as a way of feeling better about not doing anything. He suggested the practical alternative of sending money instead of sending prayers.

As a follower of Christ, I wholeheartedly believe in the world-changing power of prayer, but I must also admit that we Christians have too often used prayer as a substitute for rolling up our sleeves and making any form of real sacrafice. Our prayers should realign our minds with the mind of God and rally us to revolutionary action. Our prayers should chase away our selfish motives and replace them with Kingdom-minded agendas. Our prayers should open up our hearts (and our wallets) to the greatest needs in this broken world.

The world says show me action, not prayer. The Church says, show me prayer, not action. God says, "Show me BOTH!"

Homosexuality (I had to tackle it at some point)

2009-12-22T21:57:00.002-05:00

Homosexuality has become one of the most divisive issues in our culture and that division has also stormed into The Church. I believe it's important for all Believers to have a Grace-filled and Truth-filled understanding of this issue from a Biblical foundation. I will do my best to address it in a few paragraphs. This post will be far from comprehensive, but I'm hoping it will spark some healthy dialogue.

I believe that most churches have done a shameful thing by singling out the Gay Community as some sort of special breed of "Super Sinners" and the schism between Evangelicals and those living a homosexual lifestyle continues to grow. I do not believe that this is God's will or a Biblical expression of God's love and grace. With that being said, I also know that the Bible has very set guidelines for the powerful gift of Sex. It is to be used and enjoyed within the context of a marriage between a man and a woman. Any use beyond that will eventually cause emotional, spiritual, and possibly even physical devastation. Any form of homosexual sex would fall into this category of being outside the boundaries of God's plan or more specifically...sin.

If you're living a homosexual lifestyle, please know that God loves you. He is for you. This, however, does not mean that He is for your lifestyle. Anyone of us can fall into the trap of trying to justify any type of sin, but whatever the sin (whether sexual or otherwise), if we choose to continue in it without repentance, we will slowly become more calloused and blind towards the Truth of God in our lives and find ourselves in the dangerous trap of rewriting Scripture to fit our choices instead of rewriting our choices to fit with Scripture. I encourage you to trust God enough to seek His plan for all areas of your life. They are plans to prosper and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future (see Jeremiah 29:11).

So what is a "Deep" Church, anyways?

2009-11-11T11:34:00.003-05:00

I often hear people say that they want to go "deep" in their faith, but when I pry a bit, I've found that most folks don't have a good answer for what "deep" really means. I personally believe that a church's "depth" should be measured by the waters of baptism. Without Salvation, love for people and changed lives, a church becomes nothing but an institution of higher learning that no longer functions as a Biblical Church. The depth of your church shouldn't be measured entirely by what you learn on Sundays, but by how you treat people on Mondays.

I also believe a truly "deep" church should be unapologetically "seeker sensitive" on Sunday mornings. Life-giving, Christ-centered Churches should welcome the Prodigals home. If we're not careful, we can easily turn into the self-focused, self-righteous Elder Brother in the Prodigal Son Parable who was, ironically, just as lost as the younger brother. A church filled with very knowledgeable Pharisees can provide an attractive mirage for those who seek growth and "depth" but ultimately there is no real growth without a passion to reach the Lost. That's why the amazing depths of God's Love and Grace should always be the primary focus. Proclaim the Word of God with Boldness, Love God and People Passionately, Serve Selflessly & then you will experience true depth in Christ.

New Creation

2009-11-07T11:37:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday was a powerful day at The Creek. Many decisions were made for Christ and this song reminded us all that we are a NEW CREATION in Him. What a beautiful promise. I love being a part of a church that continues to find new ways to praise and celebrate our amazing God.

Lies

2009-10-03T13:55:00.002-05:00

I don't believe that there is any decision more signifcant that deciding what you will choose to believe. The world is filled with lies that sound true and truths that are falsely labeled as lies. The Bible gives us clear direction as to what we should believe and while this list is far from complete, I've listed some of the most wide-spread lies in our culture today:

1. Lie: "It's my life and I can do what I want!"
Truth: You were bought with a price (the blood of Jesus) and your life is not your own.

2. Lie: "It's my money and I can spend it however I like!"
Truth: You don't own anything. You are only a temporary manager of "your" possessions.

3. Lie: "My choices are nobody's business but my own."
Truth: Every decision you make has consequences on others.

4. Lie: "There's no point to my life."
Truth: God has plans and purposes for you beyond anything you can imagine.

5. Lie: "It's all about me!"
Truth: It's all about God.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

The Voice of Truth

2009-09-08T16:02:00.001-05:00

The one command that God gives in the Bible more often than any other command is simply, "Be Not Afraid". Our Creator realized that fear would be our biggest obstacle in acieving a courageous life fully-devoted to Him. There simply isn't enough room in our hearts for Fear and for Faith. We all must choose which voice we trust...the voice of fear or the voice of our Father.

In this video, my four-year-old son, Cooper, makes his actinig debut. I'm a little bit partial, but I think he deserves an Oscar! I believe this short video captures the essence of fear and the power of faith. Remember, your Father loves you more than you can imagine and He has not give you a spirit of fear.

Preaching Part 3: "The Mechanics of Preaching"

2009-09-07T13:52:00.003-05:00

Most preachers are terrible communicators. There, I said it. You know it's true. That's why it sounds offensive. The truth has always offended people! I wish it weren't the case. I wish that God-fearing, Gospel-preaching Pastors were the standard for excellence in communication, but sadly, this is not the case. This is also among the primary reasons why an unbelieving world finds the message of Jesus so unbelievable...they've never heard it communicated with clarity, excellence and passion. As a student of preaching and a teacher of the mechanics of public speaking, I've put together a checklist that I use and I believe these simple steps can be effective tools for other preachers as well:

1. Watch Yourself. You can't possibly know how you sound or look while you're preaching unless you go through the awkward process of self-evaluation. Record every sermon you preach and then meticulously watch and listen for ways you can improve.

2. Study Communicators other than preachers. Most preachers learn to communicate by watching other preachers who are also awful communicators which leads to a form of "Intellectual Inbreeding". Watch stellar preaching, but also intentionally seek out communicators outside the ministry who have mastered the art of timing and delivery. The best in the world tend to be stand-up comics, politicians, and actors who play lawyers on TV and in movies.

3. REHEARSE! Most preachers don't rehearse their sermons and it shows. People are entrusting you with their most valuable resource, their time, and if you don't put in the time to study, prepare and rehearse your message, you aren't worthy to stand before them. I don't always get this much time, but my best sermons are the result of 15-20 hours of preparation including 3-5 full run-throughs before I ever preach it to an actual audience. If you say, "How can the Holy Spirit move if it's rehearsed?" Then you obviously have no real understanding of either the Holy Spirit's power or your own responsibility as a messenger of the Gospel. Sorry, somebody had to say it.

4. Pray. If the first prayer you say about the message happens when you're in the pulpit before the congregation, you might as well just sit back down and let everybody go home early. Never underestimate the power of prayer and never overestimate your own ability. God will sometimes use ability, but God will always use prayer.

5. Give it your all. There is no higher calling than the calling to preach and teach so do it with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and God will do mighty things through you!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Preaching Part 2: "The Goals of Preaching"

2009-09-07T13:37:00.003-05:00

My family chipped in and bought me a GPS for my birthday last year. It's worth slightly more than my 94' Honda Civic, so I wanted to make sure I used it as much as possible. The key to maximizing the GPS is that you need to know your destination before you start the trip. If you don't know where you're going, then it can't possibly help you get there and you will just drive around aimlessly looking at the mesmerizing moving map on the GPS' screen.

I've heard many sermons that make me realize that a lot of pastors preach sermons with no clear destination (or "goals") in mind. It becomes painfully obvious early in the message that they don't know where they're going and they don't know where they're taking the audience. It's an uncomfortable experience for everyone involved.

It's imperative that a preacher be laser-focused on the goals of his sermon. Before he even starts preparation, he must ask himself, "What do I want these people to know and what do I want them to do?". The answers to that question represents the destination or "goals" of the sermon. Once you know where you are going, map out the most direct route possible (with a few scenic points of interest along the way to keep the passengers interested). Preachers must also remember that the ultimate goal of every sermon is to clearly and correctly lift up the Gospel and the name of Jesus Christ. If we will do that, He will do the rest.

"And when I (Jesus) am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” John 12:32 (NLT)

Preaching Part 1: "The Importance of Preaching"

2009-09-07T12:33:00.003-05:00

This is the first in a 3-part series of posts that will focus on Preaching. Specifically, the Importance of Preaching, The Goals of Preaching and The Mechanics of Preaching. This post will specifically address the importance of preaching.

We live in a world that has become hostile not only to the message of Christ but also to the medium by which that message is delivered. In many circles, "Preaching" has become a negative connotation that stirs up images of closed-minded hate mongers standing on soap boxes and condemning the world on behalf of a distant and judgmental God. Sadly, even in many modern churches, preaching has been downplayed or abandoned completely in lieu of services containing only worship music or experiential elements that exclude a formal sermon. While these other worship elements are good and beneficial, using them as an ongoing substitute and not a supplement to the sermon is irresponsible and completely unbiblical. There are even revisionists who claim that using sermons at all was a tradition borrowed by pagan religions and was never an intended part of God's plan for His Church.

The True History of Christian Preaching is one that dates back to Jesus Himself. Much of what we know of Jesus' Ministry in the Gospels comes directly from sermons delivered to large crowds proclaiming the goodness of God, the need for repentance and the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus commissioned His disciples to go out into the world and preach this same message. There has never been nor will there ever be a substitute for publicly proclaiming the Message. Nearly ever major positive shift in Western Culture can be traced in part or in whole to bold men who were unashamed to proclaim the Gospel, and Jesus is still using those who obey His command to be the salt and light of the world. In fact, there is no more powerful, revolutionary or life-changing force at our disposal than the public teaching of God's Word.

"I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching." 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NLT)

How do we respond to people who are hostile towards Jesus?

2009-08-28T21:29:00.003-05:00

The Truth has always had a way of offending people. Despite all the evidence that support the radical claims of Christ, most folks can't be "talked into" believing in Him. I suppose it's like trying to talk someone into falling in love with someone else. Skeptic's arguments usually mask deeper issues of either intellectual pride, emotional scars or a self-focused worldview where they don't want to be held accountable by anybody's set of absolute moral truths. Sadly, oftentimes their skepticism is a direct result of seeing hypocrisy or experiencing harsh judgment from so-called Christians.

So how should we respond?
We should never respond to hostility with hostility. Jesus always responded with love. As Christians, the best thing we can do is live out our faith by loving and serving in a way that gets the attention and earns the respect of a very skeptical world. Once we have their attention, God will give us the words to say. Saint Francis of Assisi once said, "preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words."

When it is time to "use words," there are some great resources to equip you for these types of conversations. Start and end with the Bible of course, because it is the Living Word of God and the source of Truth. In addition, books such as "The Case for Christ" and "The Case for Faith" by atheist-turned-Christian, Lee Strobel are solid tools. Above all, pray for those who are far from God. Prayer changes our hearts and often the hearts of those for whom we pray.

What happens to people who never hear about Jesus?

2009-08-27T12:01:00.002-05:00

Will someone go to Hell just because they never heard about Jesus? The first two chapters of the book of Romans deals with this specifically and I encourage you to read that to get a Biblical explanation. There are different interpretations, but the way I see it, God's ultimate plan is for every human being to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and make a choice to respond to Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In Christ alone can we have the fullness and purpose God intends and it through Christ alone that God's wrath towards our sin is turned away.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the benefit of hearing the Gospel. For those folks, my understanding of Scripture is that they will be judged in accordance to how they responded to God based on what they knew of God and His Laws. This is a basic knowledge availalbe to every human being, so some have called this the "Universal Law". As creatures created in God's own image, we are made to recognize His existence and His natural laws. These things are a shadow of the fullness of His plan with is ultimately made known through Jesus. As Christians, it should be our goal to take the message of Jesus throughout all the world so that everyone may have the benefit of the Gospel. The bottom line is this...God is Loving, God is Just and God wants all the World to hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Romans 1:20 (NLT)

Why should we "fear" a loving God?

2009-08-25T08:00:00.002-05:00

There is often a confusing distinction between God being Love (1 John 4:8) and God being someone we are commanded to "fear". I don't think there's a clean, cookie-cutter answer to this because it deals with the nature of God which is something bigger than the mind can grasp. It helps me to think about it like this...the one command in the Bible given more than any other command is simply "be not afraid". We are told countless times and in countless ways that God has not given us a spirit of fear and that through Him, we can be courageous in all circumstances. Jesus Himself said that we should not fear man but God because God is the one who has power not only over this mortal life, but eternity.

It is as if God is telling us that the only healthy outlet for our fears is to direct them to Him alone. I also believe that a healthy fear can help mold our immature hearts towards a deeper love and faith. When I was very young, I had a healthy fear of my Dad. I knew that if I crossed the line, I would pay for it. I also knew that he loved me more than I could imagine. As I grew, there was much less need for fear as my heart and mind had matured under the loving guidlines he enforced and made possible in part by the "fear" I had of his wrath. I now see that even when I was punished, it was motivated solely out of his love for me.

No parent is perfect, so those parallels will always break down at some point, because God is perfect. His love is perfect. His mercy is perfect. I believe that even His wrath is perfect because it is an extension of His Holiness and it is used to bring us to Him where we ultimately discover his loving and tender Grace. The Bible has much to say about all this and philosophers and theologians much more qualified than me have discussed these thing for centuries, but I wanted to share a few thoughts I've had along the way. I hope it helps.

How to Make Good Choices

2009-08-14T13:45:00.001-05:00

When you come to a crossroads and you have to make a choice, please consider these instructions:

1. Trust God. Often we get into trouble because we think we know better than God how to run our lives. Trust your life and your choices to Him and He will guide you. (see Proverbs 3:5-6)

2. Be Wise. Wisdom is more than intelligence, education or even common sense. Wisdom comes from God. Seek it and you will find it. Godly wisdom can and should become the basis for all of your decisions. (see Proverbs 8:33-36)

3. Listen to Godly People. One of the main differences between wisdom and foolishness is that a wise person will consistently seek out and listen to wise counsel while a fool will do his (or her) own thing and resent anyone who tries to tell him what to do. Seek out wise people who can help you make the best decision possible. Once you’ve found some wise friends and advisors, listen to them. (see Proverbs 15:22)

4. Be Patient. In every major decision, realize that good discernment usually comes with time, thought, prayer and patience. In big decisions, your first instinct isn’t always the best option. (see Proverbs 16:32)

5. Check your Motives. Any choice made from an authentic heart to please God will ultimately lead to success. (see Proverbs 16:3)

6. Calm down. Never make a decision in anger. It will almost always be the wrong choice. (see Proverbs 29:11)

7. Be Courageous. The most consistent command in all the Bible is “Be not afraid”. As God’s child, fear should never be your motivation to make any decision. (see Proverbs 29:25)

8. Think it Through. Every wise choice will create future opportunities and every poor choice will limit future opportunities. With every choice, ask yourself how will I feel about this decision I’m making ten days or ten years down the road? Your choices today will either build or destroy your life tomorrow. (see Proverbs 19:3)

9. Listen to your Wife. All the other Proverbs have been for all people in all walks of life, but this one is just for the blessed men who have a Godly wife. Guys, when it comes to big decisions, listen to your wife! Trust me on this one. (see Proverbs 31:10-31)

10. Don’t second guess. Once you’ve gone through the process and made your decision, follow through and don’t look back. “What might have been” is a waste of time! (see Proverbs 4:25)

Christian Ambition

2009-07-06T13:38:00.004-05:00

When did "ambition" become a dirty word? On the surface, the term "Christian Ambition" might sound like an oxymoron, because somewhere along the line we adopt the notion that ambition is ungodly and prideful. The truth is that we are called to be boldly ambitious for God. Jesus said that "forceful" (ambitious) people lay hold of the Gospel. The trick is to not let wordly, self-focused ambition come in and choke out the Kindgom-minded drive that God has put inside the heart of every Believer. It's not about making our names great, but His Name great. The distinction is that we must remain always content, but never satisfied. We must always be thankful for what we have while also looking ahead to the even Greater Things God desires to do in and through us for His Glory. We must also realize that sometimes just being still in God's presence is the most productive thing we can be doing. Go ahead...be ambitious for Jesus.

Stevens Creek Grovetown

2009-07-02T14:21:00.001-05:00

I'm so proud to be a part of a church that continues to break outside the box to reach people for Jesus. This Fall, we're launching a new campus in Grovetown, GA which will allow us to reach thousands of people that we're not currently reaching. Every community in America needs life-giving churches, and I'm thrilled to know that one is coming to Grovetown! It's an exciting time @ The Creek.

Biggest Surprises from Parenthood

2009-06-29T14:25:00.002-05:00

In April of 2005, I became a father and life has been dramatically different ever since. I now have two little boys, and I haven't had one "dull" moment since I became their Daddy. It's been more than four years of constant adventure that's nothing at all like I would have expected, so I thought I'd share my "Top Ten" biggest surprises from parenthood:

10. The Chaos. I guess I imagined that "good genes" (from their mom) would make my kids behave perfectly and I would naturally know how to deal with any issues that arose. I was wrong on both counts. It has been beautiful chaos since day one.

9. The Demons. I wasn't sure how I felt about demonic possession in the modern era until I became the father of toddlers. Now I'm quite sure it still exists, because I've seen them both druel and scream scarier than any exorcism on tv.

8. The Smells. I had no idea, but small children are capable of creating foul and putrid scents so disgusting and repugnant that I've often felt like I'm trapped in a gas chamber dying a slow death.

7. The Volume. Bose Stereos used to advertise the amount of volume their tiny speakers could produce. I now know that their research must have been based on small children, because my kids can scream so loudly that my ears hurt for hours afterwards.

6. The Cuteness. I think God made kids so cute just so their parents wouldn't kill them. My kids could burn the house down, but then give me one of their cute looks and I wouldn't be able to stay mad.

5. The Diapers. I still can figure out how it is scientifically possible for a small child to consume 10 ounces of food and liquid and then produce 30 ounces of foul-smelling waste.

4. The Fighting. Kids who grow up without siblings aren't as tough because they never have to get into a fist fight over a teddy bear. Humans' selfish nature starts young, because our boys came out of the womb ready to fight for their toys.

3. The Grandparents. The day that I became a parent was the day that my parents became alien life-forms who are incapable of showing restraint when it comes to their grandbabies. I think my folks might actually go bankrupt buying Thomas the Tank Engine toys, Disney Movies and ice cream for the boys. So much for my inheritance.

2. The Sleep Deprivation. When my single friends tell me that they sleep ten hours a night and still need Starbucks to wake them up, I have to restrain myself from punching them in the face. Actually, I lack the strength to punch anyways because as the parent of small children, I don't sleep. I don't fantasize about sex or money or anything like that, but I fantasize all the time about sprawling out on a big comfy bed and sleeping. Oh, yeah.

1. The Love. I had no idea I was capable of loving anybody the way I love my boys and their hot mom. It has given me a beautiful insight into the immeasurable love that God has for each of His kids. I'm a lucky man.

Annoying Christians

2009-06-26T20:00:00.003-05:00

Jeff Foxworthy says that he can only joke about rednecks because he is a redneck and loves rednecks. I feel the same way about Christians. As a follower of Jesus, I love my fellow Christians, but sometimes they do stuff that just seems annoying to me, so out of love and honesty, I've posted a Top Ten list of some of my biggest pet peeves in all the Christian world.

10. Christians who pray loudly before their meal and then treat their waitress rudely and leave a cheap tip. If you can't afford to tip well, then you can't afford to eat out. If you can't treat your server with respect, you probably shouldn't leave your house much. You're the reason why servers hate working the Sunday lunch shift.

9. Christians who have poor personal hygiene. Just because you're "washed in the blood" it doesn't mean you get a pass on bathing daily.

8. Christians who say that Jesus' first miracle was turning water into grape juice. Saying that Jesus made "great wine" at a Jewish wedding with no alcohol would be like saying he made "great tea" at a South Carolina wedding with no sugar.

7. Christians who say they care deeply for "lost people" but they don't have one meaningful relationship with anybody outside the church.

6. Christians who make their political affiliation more sacred than their affiliation to Jesus.

5. Christians who like cats and/or dislike dogs. God made some animals superior to others.

4. Christians who use words like "fornication" in regular sentences. Just say sex, weirdo.

3. Christians who fall asleep during the service but then tell the pastor the sermon was good afterwards. I can see you from the stage and I know who you are.

2. Christians who refer to each other as Brother so and so or Sister so and so. I guess it's sweet and respectful on some level, but overall, it makes me feel like I'm in cult, so I'd much prefer to just be called Dave.

1. Hypocrites. This one annoys me the most because I fall into this category most days which makes me as annoying as anybody. Luckily, we serve a grace-filled and loving God.

Lazy Revolution

2009-06-23T15:31:00.003-05:00

It's remarkable to me just how lazy we have become as a society. When I hear about drive-by shootings on the news, I think, "wow...I remember a time when criminals had the courtesy to get out of their cars to shoot you." This new "Lazy Revolution" isn't confined to criminals; it has infected people from all walks of life and pastors as well. I don't have to spend time looking through my Bible for a passage, because my computer does it for me. I text in partial words, because "whole words" take way too long to write out, and I rarely write a "whole blog" because twitter has empowered me to record my thoughts in one sentence which makes writing a whole paragraph seem daunting. I have much more to say on this issue, but my fingers are getting very tired from all this typing so I'm going to have to take a break.

99 Balloons

2009-06-19T06:45:00.001-05:00

This is a very touching story that reminds me of the power of life. Life is always a precious gift from our good and faithful God. Take a few minutes to watch this video...it will be the most powerful thing you see all day.

Grace Amazing

2009-06-08T20:34:00.003-05:00

A few nights ago, I was watching Saving Private Ryan on TV. It's a great film which reminds me of the unbelievable price so many soldiers paid for our freedom. I caught it just before the climactic final scene where Private Ryan has been rescued and the brave Captain who had given his life to protect the young man pulled him close and with his dying breath issued an impossible challenge..."Earn it"! The scene flashes forward to an elderly Ryan on the shores of Normandy at the graveside of that Captain. As he weeps at the tomb, we see the pain and guilt that has haunted him every day since he had been saved. Those words, "Earn it", replayed in his mind perpetually and he was haunted by the fear that he owed a debt he could never repay.

Sadly, many Christians choose to live in this type of guilt and hopelessness. The fact is, Christ paid a debt on our behalf that we could never possibly repay. In our pride and self-sufficiency, we're quick to trade in the freedom of grace for the treadmill of good works as we attempt to earn our salvation. We convince ourselves that God won't be pleased with us until He sees how good we are, but Jesus didn't die for us because we were good, He did it because He is good, and He didn't use his dying words to say "earn it". Instead, He said, "it is finished"! Stop trying to earn grace and start embracing the freedom of it. Our victory is not in our goodness, but in the goodness of our Savior.

Amazing Night

2009-05-23T08:30:00.003-05:00

This past Wednesday nights at the Creek was one of the most amazing nights I've experienced in ministry. We baptized almost FIFTY people! That's fifty people who were caught up in dead lives and heading towards an eternity without Christ who are now saved and empowered sons and daughters of God! Each person had a story of life-change after their encounter with Jesus. God is always moving and always working and always healing. Thank you LORD!

Sweaty Interview

2009-05-18T06:19:00.001-05:00

On Saturday morning, after a brutal, 10K race at Fort Gordon, my great pal Chris Rivers interviewed me during the car ride home. He asked some insightful questions that I've continued to ponder. I love Chris' innovative spirit and his love for Jesus, his family and life in general. Hanging out with him makes me more creative. I hope you guys enjoy this short in-the-car interview.

Thoughts

2009-05-04T21:45:00.002-05:00

On Facebook and Twitter (two of the most addictive things on the planet), I try to share one thought per day. Sometimes, one good thought per day is a stretch for me, but at least every few days, I post something. I've collected some of these thoughts together and posted them below. I hope you enjoy them (or at the very least...the make you think)!

I don’t know all the answers, but The Answer knows me.

Stay focused on what you do best. The world is rarely changed by "Well Rounded" people.

God works more through interruptions than itineraries.

God will always call you to do things that are impossible to do without Him. If you're doing something on your own strength, you're probably not making much of a difference.

Pride is the Enemy of Grace. Most folks that never find fullness in Christ resist not because of intellectual reservations, but simply because they're too proud to admit their own helplessness and need for a Savior.

If you want to be like Jesus, consistently show kindness to people who have no way to repay you.

In the history of the world, Jesus is the only "Self-Made Man".

Depending on your motives, "Hard Work" can be either a form of worshipping God or a form of playing God.

You have to be broken before you can truly be fixed.

What you DO will make a NAME, and what you OWN will make a FORTUNE, but it's what you GIVE that makes a DIFFERENCE.

Every decision you make will disappoint somebody, so be very intentional about whom you're trying to please.

A Husband's Love

2009-05-02T09:21:00.001-05:00

I've always been a fan of Civil War history, and this four-minute segment from a documentary on the war is one of the most touching things I've ever heard. It's a letter from a soldier to his wife describing his love for his country and his love for her. I don't typically post this sort of thing on my blog, but I believe thes words are so compelling and inpsiring that they transcend time and they should be shared.

Remarkable Faith

2009-04-20T15:11:00.001-05:00

Let me introduce you to the Asselin family. These folks are some great friends of mine and they graciously allowed me to interview them and share their story during a recent sermon. Their baby boy Lucas played Baby Jesus at our Christmas Eve Service and four days later, he was diagnosed with cancer. The faith of this family has been in inspiration to me and to countless others.

People Pleasing

2009-04-03T13:48:00.003-05:00

The worst job I ever had was refereeing flag football for pre-schoolers. I learned something very early on in my very first game...no matter what call you make, somebody is going to hate you! Any job that pays 5 bucks an hour and brings death threats is a lousy job. Those parents were brutal. For survival's sake, I had to make the decision to ignore the sidelines and just make the decision that I felt was the right decision regardless of who loved me or hated me for it.

This simple life lesson from flag football has been one of my greatest treasures. The most liberating discovery in the world is realizing that you don't have to live my life to please people (and it would be impossible even if you tried). All you have to do is live your life for an audience of one...God. And one day, the crowds will all be silent and you will stand before Him and hear the words, "Well done good and faithful servant"!

How to be Wise

2009-03-27T20:06:00.002-05:00

The Bible has a great deal to say about the importance of wisdom. The Book of Proverbs, in particular, is a treasure rich with insights into the attainment of Wisdom. I want to have as much wisdom as I can to do life and ministry the right way, so I try to read a chapter everyday out of Proverbs. There are 31 chapters, so I can do one a day and finish the book each month.

As the information has finally begun to penetrate my thick skull, a very simple path to Biblical Wisdom has emerged. Proverbs talks quite a bit about the importance of listening and holding your tongue. It seems that wisdom is attained through the ears and lost through the mouth, so if you want to become wiser, all you have to do is listen more and talk less! For more insights, I challenge you to read from Proverbs regularly. You'll get a little wiser every day!

Pain

2009-03-15T19:27:00.002-05:00

One of my sons has a painful wound that requires cleaning and applying ointment to bring about healing (ah, the joys of parenthood). The entire process is very painful for him (and much more painful for me), and the process is complicated by the fact that he is too young to understand what is happening. In his limited persepective, all he knows is that his daddy is hurting him. I know that the painful process of cleaning the wound and applying medicine is the only way to bring healing, but he can't see past the pain.

I think that we often look at God with the same, misguided persective that my son has. We blame Him for our pain, since He's the one who's in control. What we don't see is the pain that He endures as we suffer and how our pain is often the only way to bring spiritual healing and the development of wisdom and Christ-like character which is His ultimate goal for our life, but still, all we see is that our comfort has been taken away and replaced with pain. Next time life brings you pain, instead of blaming God, ask Him to use the experience to draw you closer to Jesus. That is a prayer that He will always answer!

That's my boy!

2009-03-10T07:02:00.003-05:00

I guess "silliness" is an inherited trait, because my oldest boy, Cooper, recently woke up from a nap and decided to entertain himself by invading his underwear drawer and making a hat from his underwear. He said, "Look, I'm silly like Daddy!" Ah, what a legacy I'm creating! I could keep writing the details, but "a picture is worth a thousand words," so enjoy this picture of Coop and his underwear hat.

Creek TIthe Rap

2009-03-02T19:58:00.001-05:00

Check out my first (and probably last) public rap performance. Todd, Kevin and "D-Money" (that's me) performed this at church on Sunday. Oh...the stuff I do for Jesus!

When Opportunity Knocks

2009-02-28T00:06:00.002-05:00

More than a series of events, life is really a series of opportunities. They come in various forms and present themselves in unexpected ways and how we respond to opportunities is a defining factor that sets the trajectory for our lives. Remember, Opportunity is a guest who arrives unannounced and never stays long. In other words, "opportunity knocks", but it rarely knocks twice! When a good one comes your way, seize it, because it might not come your way again.

Top Ten

2009-02-25T14:12:00.003-05:00

I know that we're supposed to love everybody (even the people who get on our nerves), but some people are just harder to love than others. Below is my "Dave's Top Ten" list of most annoying people. I'm praying that God gives me the grace to love these folks, because I know that He has loved me unconditionally as unloveable as I can be.

10. People who send Spam e-mails (I don't need any "Male Enhancement")
9. People who crunch loudly when they eat.
8. People who don’t wave when you let them over in traffic
7. Lazy People
6. People with more than 15 items in the Wal-Mart Express Lane
5. People who talk loudly on cell phones
4. People who gossip
3. People who brag
2. People who like cats
1. Rude People!

Singles and Sex

2009-02-20T08:19:00.002-05:00

This Sunday at the Creek, Pastor Marty will be wrapping up our current sex series by talking directly to single adults and students about the lies Satan is telling them in terms of their own sexuality. CNN recently ran a story about a college co-ed in Nevada (where prostitution is legal) who decided to auction off her virginity to help pay for college. She apparantly sees nothing wrong with this and sadly, her values are consistent with her generation ("my body...my choice"). We as followers of Jesus must remember that our bodies are not our own; we were bought with a price and must honor God with our bodies. God's regulations for our sexuality have nothing to do with taking away our "fun", but they have everything today with protecting us and elevating the value of sexual intimacy that should be enjoyed between a husband and a wife. It's going to be a great Sunday and I hope to see you at The Creek! (www.stevenscreek.net)

Hungry for Hope

2009-02-17T22:32:00.004-05:00

We're living in a time of unprecedented challenges and more than ever, people are hungry for hope. Today, I had the opportunity to record some brief, encouraging messages that will be broadcast on our local Christian radio station (www.wafj.com). I'm no Joel Osteen, but I'm honored to do whatever I can do to help bring a little bit of encouragement to people. Encouragement and hope are in short supply, so whenever, wherever and however you can, make the effort to spread a little hope around today. It's pretty easy to make someone smile if you make the effort (and it's always worth the effort)!

The Secret

2009-02-13T18:30:00.002-05:00

I've been asked recently, "What do you think is the 'Secret' behind the tremendous growth at Stevens Creek Church?" I had to think about it for a minute. On the surface, I believe there are many reasons including a strong, visionary leader (Pastor Marty), a dedicated staff team, a passionate congregation, an amazing new facility, good marketing, Pastor Todd's "Cool Factor", Pastor Kevin's rockin' youth program, great children's ministries, and dozens of other reasons. Any of these would have been a decent anwer to the question, but I don't believe that any of them are the "Secret".

The real reason for the explosive growth hasn't been anything that can be seen a stage, a website or a billboard. I strongly believe that the church has grown, because the church has prayed! Two decades of passionate prayer have yielded this current growth. God always moves through prayer and I believe that nothing great can ever be accomplished apart from prayer. Whatever you may be doing, whether growing a church or growing a family, make prayer your central focus and then watch God do greater things than you could ask or even Imagine.

Awards Announced!

2009-01-28T14:54:00.002-05:00

Awards Season is upon us, but with all the hype going to the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, etc. We have forgotten the most important awards of all..."The Daveys"! If you're unfamiliar with "The Davey Awards", it's because I just made it up, but I'm expecting this to get big. There are no committees, no ballots or sealed envelopes, just the winners I appoint based on my own criteria. So...here it goes...announcing The Davey Awards honoring the Best in Ministry, Culture, Politics and Entertainment over the past 12 Months (drumroll please)...

Best Show:
24 (We owe our very survival to Jack Bauer).

Worst Show:
The View (My estrogen levels are so high after watching it, that I actually start lactating).

Best Mini-Series:
John Adams (it made me want to go back in time and wear wooden teeth just for the privilege of fighting for my country. It's truly one of the best films of any genre in recent years).

Best Actor: It's a tie!
Barack Obama (very compelling performance trying to appear more moderate than liberal).
John McCain (very compelling performance trying to appear like he could raise his hands over his head).

Best Actress:
Hillary Clinton (trying to act excited for Obama when he won the election).

Best Book:
The Bible (it wins every year)
Axiom by Bill Hybels (personal development category)
The Shack (Fiction)
The Know-it-all (useless but interesting trivial knowledge category)

Best kids:
Cooper and Connor Willis (like I said...I'm the only one who votes on this!)

Hottest Lady:
Ashley Willis

Sweetest person:
Ashley Willis (congrats on winning two categories!)

Best Church:
Stevens Creek Church (www.stevenscreek.net)

Best Athletic Performance (Wheelchair Division):
Dick Cheney at the Inauguration (he also wins the Hunting Division Category)

Best Awards:
The Davey Awards

Well, that's it for the first annual awards! If your favorites weren't on the list, stay tuned for next year's which promises to be even bigger and better.

Toddlers and Terrorists

2009-01-24T11:55:00.002-05:00

I've been watching the show "24" recently which centers around controlling terrorists and my everyday life consists of controlling toddlers and I've noticed that toddlers and terrorists have a lot in common. First off, it's always a bad idea to negotiate with either group...it gives them a false sense of power and it never ends well. Secondly, it's not a good idea to take either one on an airplane. Both groups also tend to scream loudly in languages that don't resemble English. If I didn't love my toddlers so much, I think I would turn them into Jack Bauer and say they pose a threat to national security.

Accountability

2009-01-18T20:53:00.003-05:00

The funny thing about accountability is that we need it and we say we want it, but when we actually get it, we usually resent it. Let me give you an example...I recently wrote a blog post documenting my New Year's Resolutions and asking my friends to keep me accountable to follow through on them. Well, I'm only a few weeks into the New Year and I've already fallen off the wagon on at least one of the resolutions which was to consistently write at least two new blog posts per week. I've been called out already by multiple legalistic...urr...I mean "detail-oriented" friends who took my post literally, so I'm posting this to up my weekly average and also to thank my friends for their harassment...umm...I mean gentle encouragment.

Truly, for big things and small things, we need to encourage, protect, challenge, correct and uplift one another. I'm thankful to have jerks...I mean, great friends who do that for me!

"I Deserve it!"

2009-01-18T20:51:00.001-05:00

I believe these are the three most dangerous words in the English language. We have become a generation crippled by entitlement. We cling to our rights but shy away from our responsibilities. We fight for our comfort often at the expense of others’ basic necessities. Our Founding Fathers accidentally set the wheels of selfishness in motion with their revolutionary spirit and Bill of Rights. For our new generation, maybe we should revolt against self-focused complacency and draft a Bill of Responsibilities to shift our focus from selfish demands to our selfless duty. We should all be thankful to live in a nation that affords us the freedom to serve a God who offers us grace instead of the punishment we all truly “deserve”.

Run, Forrest, Run!

2009-01-08T12:12:00.002-05:00

I love the movie Forrest Gump. In the film, Forrest tells us that whenever he was going anywhere, he was "ruh-nning"! The more I think about it, the Christian "walk" is at times a sprint. When we repent, we're turning from our old messed up ways and sprinting in the opposite direction towards the arms of our Saviour. When we face temptation, we're not called to stand there and contemplate our options...we're supposed to run the other way! The Bible inspires us to "run the good race" and run in a way as to win the prize. In this New Year, be intentional about why you're running, what you're running towards and what your running away from. If you need some extra inpsiration, you can watch clips of Forrest running on YouTube.

New Year's Resolutions!

2009-01-01T14:32:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year! 2009 is upon us and today we can look forward to a year rich with possibilities and hope for better times. The new year always seems to bring with it the optimism that we can achieve any goal we set for ourselves. I ate at Waffle House at 1:00am this morning (which I won't do again in the new year) and my friendly-but-toothless waitress and I started talking about resolutions for the new year. She proudly told me that she planned on quitting smoking "right after I finish this pack." I smiled and thought about all the times I had "planned" on doing something good instead of actually doing it. Why wait to finish the pack...start now! So for me, here are a few goals I have for the new year. Note that I say "goals" instead of "resolutions" because goals are precise and measurable which makes fulfilling them more likely. If you'd like to comment, I would love to hear about your own goals so we can all encourage each other to keep them!

*Run a marathon (without dying afterwards).
*Do enough push-ups to firm up my "man boobs"
*Become proficient enough at Spanish that I could order at a Mexican Restaurant and make the server think that I might be his light-skinned, long-lost cousin.
*Spend a minimum of two hours of quality time per day interacting with my kids (I could just say spend "time", but if you don't measure it, then you typically don't follow through).
*Take Ashley out on a hot date every week...no exceptions!
*Read at least 25 books.
*Write a book.
*Post at least two new entries to this blog each week (hold me to it)!

Tension

2008-12-20T09:26:00.003-05:00

So many Christians seem obsessed with clearly defining and categorizing every aspect of God as if God were something small enough to fit into our own limited human capacity for understanding. Because of this obsession for explainable categories, we love to divide and define ourselves (Calvinist vs. Arminian, etc.). For me, I don't have a problem living in the tension between seemingly incompatible concepts, because I know that God is much bigger than my need for absolute clarity. Here are just a few of the most obvious "contradictions" in scripture that God doesn't seem to see as contradictions at all...

God is Three distinct beings (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and yet God is unmistakingly and inseparably One.

God is completley Sovereign over all things and yet man is completely responsible for his own actions and the consequences that our free will brings.

The Bible was written entirely by God and the Bible was written entirely by men.

God's gifts of Grace and Salvation are completely free, and yet they may cost you everything that you have.

I'm not trying to oversimplify these huge concepts; I'm simply want to encourage all of us to avoid wasting up all of our energy in the quest to completely understand things that we're incapable of fully comprehending until we get to the other side of eternity. Don't be afraid to live in the Tension. Life's too short to live anyplace else.

Man Boobs

2008-12-16T11:36:00.002-05:00

This past Sunday at church, I gave a message about making peace with our past and it was very well received, but not exactly in the way that I had intended. I had planned for the message to be a catalyst to set people free from the sin and shame of their past and to find freedom in Christ, and while there was some of that, the one part of the message that connected with the most people and brought the biggest response is when I spoke openly about "Man Boobs". Apparently, many men in our church finally felt free to flaunt their furry breasts. It just goes to show that you never know what's going to stick with folks.

A Message from God

2008-12-07T20:48:00.001-05:00

Today at church I spent a great deal of time talking with a remarkable man named Ron. He has travelled the world and accomplished much over the past six decades, and yet he maintains a quiet humility and a passion for helping others become all God created them to be. At the end of our conversation, he felt strongly that God had given him a short message to pass along to me. He said, “I don’t know what this means, but I feel strongly that God wants me to tell you to sharpen your drafting pencil. I’ll say that one more time, because I believe it’s very important...sharpen your drafting pencil.”

Now, this sort of thing never happens to me. God doesn’t give me specific messages to give to other people and He rarely delivers specific messages to me through other people, but this short, cryptic command was exactly what I needed to hear and I was left dumbfounded. What Ron didn’t know (he couldn’t have known) is that I’ve been fighting off promptings from my wife (and probably from God too) to begin a draft of a book that’s been on my mind for quite awhile. I’ve just lacked the words (and the motivation) to dive into the project. I believe today God used a great man of faith to erase my excuses and push me to take action and begin writing. I’m posting this publicly (in part) to keep me accountable to follow through on what God is prompting me to do. When you see me, feel free to ask me about my progress. I need all the help I can get to stay on track!

Thankful

2008-11-27T15:17:00.002-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Today is a day to give thanks for all God's goodness in our lives, so I thought I'd take a few minutes to record some often-forgotten blessings that I'm guilty of overlooking...

I'm thankful for dirty diapers, because I know that there are many people who would love the opportunity to change their baby's diaper, but for whatever reason, they're unable to have children.

I'm thankful for pain, because I know that there are many people who are physically paralyzed or emotionally numb who would give anything to feel any sensation (even pain) once more.

I'm thankful for financial struggles, because I know there are many poorer than me with more struggles and many richer than me with more complicated struggles.

I'm thankful for traffic, because it reminds me that I'm among the lucky 2% of the world's population who owns a car.

I'm thankful for taxes, because they remind me that I'm honored to be a part of the greatest, most generous nation in the history of the world.

I'm thankful for my love handles, because they remind me that my own physical self-image is so insignificant compared to the hunger endured by millions of people all over the world.

I'm thankful for rude people, because they give me an opportunity to extend the grace that God has constantly shown me.

I'm thankful for interruptions, because they remind me that life is so much bigger than my plans.

I'm thankful for my weakness, because it allows God's strength to shine more brightly through my life.

I'm thankful for Jesus. Because of His love, all other blessings are possible.

Gil's Story

2008-11-18T19:15:00.001-05:00

This video from my buddy Gil Allensworth is powerful and true. I greatly admire Gil for his authenticity. Gil, Thanks for sharing your testimony and reminding all of us that in good times and bad times, knowing and loving Jesus is what it's all about. I'm blessed to call you a friend!

Did God pick Obama or did we?

2008-11-10T11:49:00.003-05:00

I've been asked quite a bit lately about whether or not God chooses political leaders or if He leaves that up to us. Below is text from an email I sent last week to a friend at church who brought up a question like this...

You bring up a great question about God's control over the political process. When Obama visited Israel a few months ago, he wrote a prayer and put it in the cracks of the Wailing Wall as people have done for many centuries. Somebody actually plucked his prayer out of the wall and gave it to the media (which Rabbis condemned). His prayer was simply, "Lord, make me an instrument of your will." I have no doubt that God will answer that prayer one way or another.

What does the Bible say about all of this? As for specific passages that suggest God's sovereignty over those in political power, Jesus' encounter with Pilate is as good as any, but more than one passage or verse, it seems like the whole of Scripture points to this notion that God is sovereign over the affairs of men (including political powers). For example, God raised up a pagan pharoah and hardened his heart so that God's greatness could be shown. God allowed both righteous and unrighteous kings to rule over Israel. God promised David a royal lineage that would never be broken which showed God's power to choose kings for all generations. We see in Proverbs that "promotion comes from the Lord" and many other examples in both the Old and New Testaments that God has power over placing rulers in their roles.

The mystery in all of this is that there are also many passages which point to our free will and our personal responsibility to make decisions, to act justly, to fight for the oppressed, etc. Ultimately, I'm convinced that the epic debate to clearly define the balance between God's Sovereignty and our personal free will to set the course for our own lives and leaders is a mystery that we will never fully understand until we get to heaven. I am also confident that God is in control of the master plan and I'm certain that he wasn't (nor has He ever been) surprised by the results of the election. Right now, our focus should be on praying for our leaders and doing all we can to point this lost and broken world to Jesus Christ who is the only Savior capable of bringing the "Change" that we all so desperately need.

Healing

2008-11-06T11:06:00.003-05:00

Last night at the Creek, we had a service focused on the Healing Power of God and the response was tremendous! I had the opportunity to pray with people who are plagued with guilit, broken-hearted over abuse and molestation that shattered their innocence as children, burdened by the addictions and diseases of family members and exhausted from the trials of day-to-day life.

There is so much pain in the world that it often feels overwhelming, but there is still more hope than pain. We serve a God who not only saves...He Heals! The Bible says that when the sick came to Jesus, "...all who touched him were healed". God, I pray that you would give your healing touch to all who are broken and hurting at our church and around the globe. Thank you that you are still a God who loves and heals.

Under Attack

2008-11-03T20:53:00.002-05:00

I know when you read that heading you're thinking, "Oh no! Dave is under attack". Calm down Mom...I'm not talking about me. I'm referring to the state of marriages in our church and in our nation. I preached a sermon on marriage a few weeks ago and at the end of the message, I prayed and asked anyone who had a marriage in crisis to raise their hand. I was astounded when hands flew into the air all over the auditorium. Since then, I've had several crisis marriage counseling sessions and I've been humbled by the sobering reality of overall marital health in our own church.

I strongly believe that strong marriages are the foundation for strong churches which are the foundation for strong societies and if the Enemy can poison a marriage, he can devastate so many lives as a result. My prayer is that God would guard our hearts and our marriages and cause us to not only look after our own marriage, but to partner in prayer with each other and defend and sanctity of marriage while reaching out to those suffering through the loneliness and desperation of a marriage in crisis. Our marriages are Always worth fighting for!

In Disguise

2008-10-30T14:53:00.002-05:00

Today at lunch, I went to my boys' preschool for a fall festival. I got to watch toddlers dressed as pirates and princesses running wild all hyped up on candy and kool-aid. I was reminded that the power of imagination is so important. On some level, all of us (even the "Yoda Dog" in the picture) desire to put on a costume that will allow us to live out the adventurous spirit that too-often lies dorment within us. I need to be reminded that I don't need a costume or an alter-ego to live the adventure God has called me to (and neither do you). I just have to cast off the fear and restraint that holds me back. We all need to let our inner child (and inner Yoda and inner princess and inner pirate) loose more than just one day a year! Live the advenute...whether you're wearing a costume or not.

Busy...

2008-10-20T18:42:00.002-05:00

It's been awhile since my last post and technically my last two posts were just silly YouTube videos, so you can safely say that I have been slacking as a blogger lately. I admit that my consistency in posting has not been stellar as of late, but I've been pretty busy. Here's an abridged list of what has been keeping me away from my blog...

*I started a facebook page and immediately became addicted.
*My family came into town and surprised me for my 30th birthday (which isn't actually until Oct. 26). It was an awesome night (thanks Ashley)!
*I preached a PG-13 sermon on marriage with a bed on the stage (and a couple in it).
*I've been trying to run off my love handles by training for a half-marathon this weekend which will be the longests distance I've ever run (or walked) at once.
*The USA network has been running reruns of House and I've become more addicted to that show than I have to facebook.

This short list is just the tip of the iceberg. There have been plenty of other trivial things that have kept me busy as well, but I'm going to do better to keep fresh content for you (my 3 loyal readers). I think House is getting ready to start...gotta run!

Hungry Eyes

2008-10-08T10:24:00.001-05:00

Ahh...the Eighties were a beautiful decade! Check out the second promo video for this Sunday's "Spice Up Your Marriage" Message. You'll laugh...you'll cry...you're want to grow a mullet!

Let's Get It On!

2008-09-29T13:00:00.001-05:00

I'm thrilled to be a part of a church that will go to ridiculous lengths to get people to make their marriage a top priority. We made this 30-second video as a promo for an upcoming sermon on "How to Spice Up your Marriage". After filming this, there's no chance I'll ever be able to run for public office in the future, because this video would surface and I'd be ruined! I hope you enjoy it.

Battle Wound

2008-09-25T14:49:00.003-05:00

Parenthood can be dangerous. This morning for instance I was operating a highly complex piece of dangerous machinery (our toaster) and preparing some delicious cuisine (a pop tart) for our boys. The setting was set too hot and the icing on the breakfast pastry was partially melted to the temperature of the magma inside of active volcanoes. When it finally popped out, I grabbed it and the icing became seared to my flesh causing me to shriek like a frightened schoolgirl. My boys thought I was playing and starting imititating "Daddy's Silly Scream" which added a kick to my pride to go along with the second degree burns and blisters on my hand. I spent the morning with a paper towel wrapped around my neosporin-covered palm and now, I am on the road to recovery. We'll be eating cold cereal at the Willis house every morning for the forseeable future!

I'm tired

2008-09-11T19:20:00.003-05:00

My last post was on the huge adrenaline rush I was feeling because of all the incredible stuff that God is doing at our church. I'm still flying high, but the adrenaline has worn off and a busy pace has set in leaving me pretty exhausted (which is the main reason why I haven't posted anything in over a week). Now I'm praying that God keeps rockin' our world while giving us the strength and endurance to keep up with Him!

A New Era at the Creek

2008-08-26T18:53:00.004-05:00

This past Sunday at the Creek was the grand opening of our new facility and I don't think I've ever experienced such an energetic, high-energy, God-inspired day of worship in my life! I'm fully expecting to see lives changed and decision made ever time we gather together for worship and God will get all glory. We're heading into the most exciting season of ministry in the history of our church so hold on and get ready for a wild ride! It's gonna rock!

The Space Between

2008-08-18T19:15:00.003-05:00

I’ve heard it said that life is what happens while we’re busy making other plans. I know that’s been true in my own life. The most life-changing and course-redirecting moments in my life were brought about in the intervals in between my carefully chosen course. In other words, the great moments I have experienced have consistently come in spite of (not because of) my own agenda.

The Bible says that there are many plans in our hearts, but ultimately, it's God who guides our steps. I'm firmly convinced that when we make ourselves available to God and His purposes, He will guide us to destinations more incredible than anyplace we could ever dream up on our own. It just takes the decision to pry our fingers off the steering wheel of our own life and putting our life into the hands of the only One who is capable of making the most of it.

Kids will say anything!

2008-08-14T19:43:00.001-05:00

Kids are bold. They will say anything and we love them for it. Be honest, deep down you’ve envied the freedom kids have to say whatever is on their mind. Like the classic scene from Austin Powers where he temporarily lost his power to have “inner monologue, Baby” and said anything and everything that came to his mind, kids do it everyday and get away with it. Here are just a few classic one-liners I’ve heard uttered from the mouths of babes over the years...

“My mommy says she can’t believe you’re wearing a white wedding dress!”
“How did you get to be so fat?”
“Why does your face look that way?”
“My mommy and daddy like to wrestle in their bed.”
“You smell funny.”

Ah, to be a kid again. Of course we have to act shocked and offended when one of our own children says something this, but deep down we smile, because we realize that God gives us children (at least in part) to say the things out loud that we only wish we could say out loud.

How to make Friends

2008-08-10T18:53:00.002-05:00

“The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend” –Abraham Lincoln

Kids know how to be friends. They just do. Sure, they’re horrible at sharing and they’re likely to steal each others dolls or monster trucks, because all of us are born selfish, but even still, kids seem to have the friendship thing down pretty well. A big reason why kids are so friendly is that they see every human being as a potential friend. My boys will play with any person of any age or ethnicity or political affiliation, and it has nothing to do with their upbringing. They simply haven’t had time to learn the ignorant, friendship-limiting biases that we adults know all too well. To be a great friend, simply start by being friendly to everybody. It’s simple (and Biblical) and you might just make a new friend!

Leadership Summit

2008-08-07T19:33:00.002-05:00

Our church is a satellite location for Willow Creek's annual Leadership Summit. Today, our church joined forces with tens of thousands of Christian leaders all over North America and we were challenged and inspired by some of the most courageous and innovative leaders in the world. My head is still spinning from the wealth of knowledge that I'm trying to process and there's way too much good stuff to try to condense it here, but if I had to share just one "take away" from the entire day, it would be the reality that God wants us (His Children, His Church) to take action! I think that we too often wait for God to move instead of realizing that He's always moving and we're the ones who are sitting still. Not even God can guide a stationary object. Whatever good work or vision God has placed on your heart, go for it! In the grand scheme of things, the only way you can fail is to not try at all.

Vintage Jesus

2008-07-31T18:48:00.002-05:00

I'm reading a book right now called "Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscoll. The last book I recommended on this blog was unChristian and I still strongly recommend that you pick it up, but I am endorsing Vintage Jesus even more. If you've never heard of Mark Driscoll, he's a hard-hitting, beer drinking, Jesus loving, Bible preaching, in-your-face pastor who has become one of the most influential young Christian leaders in the country. On top of all that, he's hilarious and although the book has some pretty deep theology, Driscoll is one of the funniest authors around and his humor and wit make for an incredibly engaging read. This is a great book for a seasoned Christ-follower or just for somebody who wants to learn more about who Jesus really is. I strongly suggest that you pick it up, read it, and then pass it along to a friend. Just to give you a sneak preview, here's some of the content...

Chapter 1 Is Jesus the Only God?
Chapter 2 How Human Was Jesus?
Chapter 3 How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?
Chapter 4 Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?
Chapter 5 Why Did Jesus' Mom Need to Be a Virgin?
Chapter 6 What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?
Chapter 7 Did Jesus Rise from Death?
Chapter 8 Where Is Jesus Today?
Chapter 9 Why Should We Worship Jesus?
Chapter 10 What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?
Chapter 11 What Difference Has Jesus Made in History?
Chapter 12 What Will Jesus Do upon His Return?

Hilton Head

2008-07-27T21:24:00.002-05:00

We're heading to the beach! As summer starts winding down and we get geared up for the fall, we're taking a family trip to Hilton Head to catch last few lazy, Summer rays before the pace of life gets hectic again. This will be the first time Connor has ever seen the ocean. I can't wait to see his reaction! I love the feeling of standing on the shore and looking out at the horizon and realizing just how BIG God really is. It is an awesome and humbling feeling. It's going to be a great week.

What did we ever do before cell phones?

2008-07-20T17:58:00.002-05:00

I've become so attached to my cell phone that I often wonder what I ever did before owning one. I'm now getting to experience my life in the B.C. (Before Cell) years, because last week, I accidently left my phone in Honduras. At first I felt naked, but after a few days, I found myself greatly enjoying the peace. It's been amazing! I've felt much more relaxed and focused without the contstant interruptions brought on by my phone. Now, I'm actually dreading going back to the world of the wireless. Don't get me wrong, I love being in contact with my friends and family, but if you ever find yourself feeling stressed, I would strongly suggest taking a voluntary holiday from cell phone use. Believe it or not, I've found that the world actually keeps spinning even without cell phones. Maybe those Amish folks had it right after all! My next step is trading in my car for a horse and buggy.

Honduras on my Mind

2008-07-19T10:02:00.006-05:00

I've been home from Honduras for a week, but the world seems different now. My eyes were opened to the fact that God's children live in all kinds of different circumstances. My heart was opened by the love and generosity of the Hondurans who despite a language barrier, spoke the language of love and laughter which I understood perfectly. I realized that contentment was a choice and not dependent on material possessions. I was moved by their faith, their sense of community and the love they showed towards each other and towards our team. I'm very grateful that I had the opportunity to go and the tiny village of "Dos Rios" will be in my thoughts and prayers until I have the opportunity to return.

We're heading out

2008-07-01T08:29:00.003-05:00

Right now, I'm in the midst of loading up the car, checking my e-mail one last time, making sure I didn't forget anything vital like toothpaste and trusting Thomas the Tank Engine to entertain my kids for a few minutes while I write this post. We're heading to Kentucky to attend my brother's wedding this Friday and then I'm leaving early Saturday morning for a missions trip to Honduras, so this will be a whirlwind.

The wedding should be interesting because it's on the 4th of July and it's a ceremony that I will be co-officiating with a retired Catholic priest. Yeah...this should definitely be a memorable wedding. My brother Drew is marrying an awesome girl named Erin and we can't wait to offiicially welcome her into the family.

Please be praying for us this week that I don't kill my children on the perilous 9-hour voyage today and that I would make the most of my opportunity at the wedding to share the Good News of Jesus in a respectful way that honors the couple and captures the imagination of any unsaved folks in attendance. It's going to be a great week!

Heart Transplant

2008-06-24T19:21:00.001-05:00

Stories can be powerful. Jesus used stories more than any other teaching method, and I've found that stories can connect a message to an audience better than any other method. Of all the true stories I have ever told in sermons, this one might be the most powerful one of all. It's all about a new heart.

Party Time!

2008-06-19T19:04:00.003-05:00

I attended a birthday party today that was unlike any that I have ever attended. It was held at a nearby nursing home simply called "The Place" that's located less than a mile from our church. The party was held in honor of all the residents with a June birthday, but ironically, both residents with a June birthday were out of the home in a hospital receiving treatment. We partied anyway. If you've never seen a 90-year-old do a kegstand, you haven't lived! (That was a joke...she was actually only 80).

Truly, this experience was very eye-opening for me. I've been to this home several times now, and each time, I walk away with a feeling of hopeful humility. I'm astounded by the faith and perseverance of many of the residents who have been confined to beds or wheelchairs for many years. I'm heartbroken for the young residents whose vibrance has been stripped away by a permanent health crisis. I am ashamed of all the petty things that I find myself complaining about when I see someone whose whole month is made by a tiny serving of ice cream or a brief visit from a stranger. Jesus definitely taught me a lot today.

Fun Facts

2008-06-11T12:31:00.002-05:00

Blog postings might be insightful, but they rarely ever teach me anything new. I have a strange obsession for trivial facts and I'm dedicating this post to sharing a few of them with you. I hope you learn something new!

1. The 4th largest city by population in the USA is Houston, TX (behind New York, LA & Chicago).
2. The human nose and ears never stop growing until death (bad news if you already think your nose and ears are too big).
3. President Bill Clinton's last name at birth was "Blythe" (he took the name "Clinton" from his step-father when he was in elementary school).
4. A marathon is exactly 26.2 miles long (or approximately 20 miles longer than I can currently run).
5. The continent of Australia has fewer residents than the state of California.
6. Civil War Fact: The Union's President (Abe Lincoln) and the Confederacy's President (Jefferson Davis) were born less than one year and one hundred miles apart in the same state (Kentucky...which is also God's favorite state).
7. The musical act that has performed most often on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno is...Country Music artist Dwight Yoakam (I know...I was surprised too).
8. A child is approximately 100 times more likely to drown at a neighbor's pool than to be accidently shot and killed by a neighbor's gun (and you thought guns were dangerous!)
9. There is only one black female billionaire in the entire world and her name is...Oprah.
10. Jesus loves you (this isn't trivial, but it is True, so I thought I would share it).

If you can disprove any of these facts or if you would like to add fun facts of your own, post them under "comments" below. Thanks!

Change of Plans

2008-06-07T09:56:00.002-05:00

At this very moment, I am supposed to be on a plane to Honduras for a weeklong mission, but instead, I'm sitting at my computer at home writing this blog. Through a myriad of circumstances out of our control, our flight was canceled and consequently, so was our trip. Our team is bummed, but I'm reminded that our plans aren't always God's plans and I'm sure He has a very good reason for closing this door at this time. So for this week, I want to make an extra effort to savor every moment of wrestling with my boys, holding hands with Ashley, watching Comedy Central, eating American food (with some burritos thrown in) and doing all the incredible things I would have had to miss by being away all week. There's no place like home!

90-Day Challenge

2008-06-03T09:01:00.002-05:00

What's the maximum possible life-change you could experience in a 90-day period of time?

I suppose you could lose a significant amount of weight or maybe pay off some debt during a 3-month window, but this past Sunday at church, I suggested that there is a challenge of more eternal significance that could be completed in 90 days. The challenge is the read through the entire Bible from start to finish over the next 3 months. I was blown away by the response as hundreds of folks seemed eager to make God's word a top priority this summer. My "Summer Reading List" has radically changed as a result of this challenge and I'm fully expecting to be radically changed by God's Word over the next three months. If you would like to join me and hundreds of others from our church this Summer in the great adventure of exploring God's Living Word, then click on the link below for the daily reading plan.

http://www.haventoday.org/schedule.pdf

The Baptism Controversy

2008-05-27T07:27:00.001-05:00

Baptism is one of the most beautiful and yet most controversial acts a Christ-follower will ever experience. Wes and I recently made this video to help explain the significance of baptism while also answering some of the questions that folks tend to have about it. I pray that this video will encourage people to step out and publicly declare their faith in Jesus through the beautiful act of baptism.

Never Stop Learning

2008-05-22T11:07:00.002-05:00

I'm taking a seminary course in Cincinnati this week and it's been an incredible experience so far. It's a condensed format where we meet Monday-Friday from 8:00-5:00 so my head is spinning right now as I try to gather my thoughts enough to write this post. I've learned so much over the last four days from very gifted teachers and my many pages of notes are way too long to try to condense into a few paragraphs here, so I'm listing the top "takeaways" that I have gained from this week's experience...

1. It's all about Jesus: No matter what I'm doing or how tough or great my situation may be, I'm reminded that it's by His strengh alone and for His glory alone that I do all things.

2. Never Stop Learning: We are always a work in progress and no matter how much we think we know, we really don't know much at all. God uses those with a teachable spirit who keep a "constant craving" (sorry about the K.D. Lang song reference) for learning and continued growth.

Well, that's all for now. I'm off to grab some lunch and learn some more. If my head doesn't exploed from all this new information, I'll look forward to being back at The Creek next week. Until then, keep learnin' and keep lovin' Jesus.

Closed Doors

2008-05-15T09:13:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning, Cooper (my 3-year-old), got a glimpse inside the refrigerator and decided that there was something in there that he just had to have. He grabbed the handle and pulled with all his might and I put my hand on the door and held it shut trying to reason with him that I would get him breakfast, but if I opened the door for him, all he would do is make a huge mess. My "wisdom" was wasted on him as he continued to pull and scream and squirm. He wanted the door opened right then and he didn't care about the consequences. He thought he knew better than me what he needed.

I shook my head and smiled at how immature and childish he was acting, but then God reminded me that I do the exact same door-yanking tantrum all the time. I get a glimpse of something I think I want and then I try to pry the door open pleading with God all the while while He gently holds the door shut knowing that I would just make a mess of things if He let me open it. Somedays I think that God uses my kids to teach me more than I teach them! Thank you Lord for reminding me what a loving Father you are and what a clueless child I can often be.

unChristian

2008-05-12T09:09:00.003-05:00

I've been reading a very compelling book called "unChristian" which used thousands of interviews to determine what young people outside the church really think about Christianity. The findings are pretty sobering. For the most part, young "Outsiders" feel that Christians are overly-political, gay-bashing, hypocritical, uptight, judgmental, cold and loveless human beings. That's a very tough pill to swallow, but the saddest part is that there's much truth in this outside perspective. We as followers of Jesus have not carried out our mission to bring hope, love, justice, peace and Christ-centered selflessness into this fallen world.

As I've read this, I've been haunted by the words of Ghandi who modeled his life after Jesus in many ways, but when he was asked why he was not a Christian, he simply said, "Because of the Christians." It is my prayer that each of us would use our lives to humbly live and love as Jesus did. I never want to be an obstacle for someone to overcome before they can reach Jesus.

God, please forgive us for not clearly representing you. As your hands and feet, we have failed our mission to reach and love the lost in countless ways. Please give us another chance to make things right in this broken world and use us to start a revolution of love and peace that will point this lost generation to you. Thank you Jesus for loving us as unloveable as we are. Amen.

MIghty to Save

2008-05-06T13:12:00.001-05:00

In this mixed-up, crazy world, I need to be reminded that our God is Mighty. This song reminds me of the reality that God is bigger than any trouble or trial this planet can throw my way. It also helps that this video ROCKS! Check it out and don't forget to give God the glory for loving us, saving us and creating rock n'roll worship music. Thanks to our amazing worship team here at The Creek for putting this together.

Band of Brothers

2008-04-27T13:40:00.002-05:00

I just got home from one of the most inspiring and life-changing weekends I've had in a long time. Our church's men's ministry (affectionately referred to as the "Band of Brothers") spent two days at Bennock Mill Lodge (which is a slice of paradise) for eating, hiking, fishing, shooting, burping, praying and challenging each other to step up our faith in all aspects of our lives. I'm so thankful to be surrounded by such Godly and encouraging men and I left today feeling prepared to take on whatever this world throws my way on Monday morning. I was also reminded that there's no such think as a "Lone Ranger Christian", and we were never meant to take this journey alone. Special thanks to Michael Valadez, Jerry Ashmore and all the guys who made this powerful weekend a success.

A Message to my Students

2008-04-23T20:54:00.002-05:00

I just wrapped up teaching 2 public speaking courses at USC Aiken and I've said goodbye to a very talented group of students who are moving on to the next chapter (or semester) in their lives. I taught them a great deal about Public Speaking, but because it is a secular institution, I was very limited as to what I could teach them about life and faith. Now that you (my students) are no longer in my classroom, I have the freedom to share one final lesson straight from the heart. Here are a few nuggets of "wisdom" to help you on your journey...

*Your life will be meaningless without Jesus Christ in the center of it.
*Don't make excuses.
*Don't blame life's circumstances for your failures. Just learn from your failures and build a foundation for success upon them.
*Never focus on your "limitations". They are only as real as you believe they are.
*Be nice to your friends. Be nicer to your enemies. Be nicest to your in-laws.
*When you're married and arguing with your spouse, sometimes you will have to decide between being "right" and being happy. This will make much more sense once you're married.
*Don't be in such a rush that you miss out on the beauty and opportunity of every moment.
*Hold doors open for old people. You'll be old someday (if you're lucky).
*Don't be an angry driver. You can cover more ground in your car in one day than pioneers covered in a lifetime, so you're already moving plenty fast enough without cutting people off in traffic.
*Don't be a crybaby. The world has too many already. Be something useful instead.
*Quit trying to get by on minimal effort and resolve to turn the world upside down by giving your best to something of significance.
*Use things and love people. Never use people and love things.
*Money is the greatest of servants but the poorest of masters. Don't become a slave to it.
*Whatever you are...be a good one.
*Don't expect something for nothing.
*Be the kind of person who makes things happen instead of waiting around for something to happen.
*Laugh everyday-especially when you don't feel like it.
*Be the kind of person you wanted to become when you were a kid.
*Drink more water. Eat more vegetables. Don't forget to splurge on ice cream sometimes or you'll go crazy.
*Remember that it only takes one moment to do something you will regret forever.
*Don't watch Oprah or Dr. Phil too often or you will find yourself writing cheesy, cliched, self-help blogs like I'm doing right now.
*Sing loud even if you're way off key. Imagine how quiet the forests would be if no birds sang except for the best.
*Don't die with any unused potential left. Exhaust every ounce of energy, ability and passion inside of you (most people never come close and never realize what they could have been).
*Never give up.

I wish you all the best and I pray that wherever you go, you go with God.

Patience

2008-04-21T21:00:00.003-05:00

I met with a great friend this afternoon at Starbucks to talk about life, work, family and coffee. We're both in the same "crazy" stage of life and we took turns lamenting the fact that it often seems like the days are dragging by as we sit in a "waiting room" waiting for God to finally reveal "the good stuff". I've come to realize that I'm an impatient person by nature and if I'm not careful, I could go through my whole life missing the beautiful "good stuff" that God grants me everyday because I'm so preoccupied looking ahead to the next big thing.
In my quest for that elusive "next thing" that I romanticize in my mind, I realize that I'm not letting myself be fully present in this moment and I'm taking for granted a beautiful season of life when my boys are discovering the world for the first time, my wife and I grow closer everyday, we have wonderful friends, God is growing me up more and more with every passing moment and each day brings new surprises. Sure, I'll be thrilled when I'm not changing diapers anymore and we're more financially set and all of that stuff that comes with age, but in the meantime, I don't want to miss another second of this incredible life that God has allowed me to live. I want to be fully present in every moment and not wish away one second ever again.

I'm headin' South

2008-04-17T18:53:00.004-05:00

I just found out that I will be accompanying a team of 15 other folks from our church to Honduras for a missions trip in June. I'm excited about the opportunity, but I'm also a little bit apprehensive about leaving Ashley here with the boys for a week without me. Please be praying for our team's safety and effectiveness as we do relief work in one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere. Please also be praying for the safety (and sanity) of my family while I'm gone. Thanks to Ashley for allowing me to be away.

Details about the trip...

I didn't know the first thing about Honduras up until a few days ago, but the more I'm learning, the more excited I am about this opportunity. Honduras is a fairly small country (roughly the size of Tennessee) and it's among the world's poorest nations. We will be partnering with an excellent, Christian organization called Honduras Outreach International (http://www.hoi.org/). For many years, this group has been empowering Hondurans by providing food, education, shelter, medical care and sharing the Gospel. We're honored to share in their ministry and we expect to return home with a humbled sense of awe at what God is doing all around our world.

Things that make me Smile.

2008-04-14T19:18:00.004-05:00

A smile is a doorway to the soul.

Ashley has been reading my blog posts and she pointed out that most of my recent blogs have had a negative tone. It's true that I often use this medium to rant about whatever is irking me (everybody needs an outlet...I'm sure even Joel Osteen feels like punching people in the face every now and then), but I mostly want this forum to be positive, uplifting and encouraging, so I've decided to dedicate this post to a few of my favorite things. This is an abbreviated list of things that make me smile...

1. Jesus

2. My hot wife and two awesome little boys.

3. Will Ferrell movies.

4. Blizzards from Dairy Queen (particulary Cookie Doh & Cookies N'Cream).

5. Naps on Sunday afternoons.

6. That feeling you get after jogging (though jogging itself is NOT on the list).

7. Mexican food.

8. Old Saturday Night Live shows.

9. Wrestling with my boys.

10. Wrestling with my wife (yeah, I mean what you think I mean).

11. Living 8 hours away from my In-Laws (just kidding...but seriously...).

12. Sunsets.

13. Making people laugh.

14. Australian accents.

15. Good wine (or "juice" depending on your translation of Scripture).

16. Friendly people.

17. Good customer service.

18. Cheering for the Underdog.

19. Well-executed pranks.

20. Babies' laughter.

This is some of my list, but what I really want to know is YOUR list. Post some of your "smile list" under "Comments" for this post. The more we can make each other smile, the brighter this world will be. Remember, most smiles are started by other smiles, so smile more often today.

Too much caffeine

2008-04-08T09:29:00.002-05:00

Good morning friends. Actually...I'm not sure if it's morning or afternoon, because my internal clock has been dismantled by a two-day roadtrip with screaming toddlers, no sleep and way too much coffee. I performed a wedding on Sunday afternoon in the beautiful, North Georgia Mountains (Congrats Greg and Patti) and then our family connected with the Rivers (who may be the coolest family on Earth) and our combined gaggle of toddlers wrecked havoc on the quiet towns and cabins on North Georgia. Needless to say, this was a great adventure.

The trip was beautiful and we had a blast, but our boys just didn't want to sleep for some reason, so we left at midnight last night after two consecutive nights with little or no sleep and we hit the road for Kentucky. I was so tired and turned around in the dark mountains that I took a wrong turn which turned into an hourlong detour which led to a toddler-style tantrum of me hitting the steering wheel and saying at least one word that a pastor shouldn't say. I was also delirious and afraid that a crazy-eyed hitchhiker or serial killer was going to jump out of the dark side of the road and drag us into the woods at any moment. I was basically a big baby the whole way back.

Finally, with the help of large quantities of coffee and the support of my amazing, beautiful, encouraging wife (who ended up driving most the way after I wimped out) we finally made it to Kentucky (the Promise Land) this morning. I don't think I've ever been this tired, but the coffee still has me in some sort of weird, artifical awakeness so I thought I would take advantage of my last moments of lucid thought before I crashed for the next 12 hours by logging these details for your enjoyment.

I Stand Amazed

2008-04-01T19:43:00.001-05:00

This is one of my favorite songs of all time and I absolutely love this "Stevens Creek" version. Click and enjoy and wherever you are (whether in your office or in your underwear) be amazed by Jesus. When I die, somebody remember to sing this at my funeral!

April Fool's!

2008-04-01T08:06:00.002-05:00

Happy April Fool's Day! Today is the day when in offices, schools and homes all over our great nation, people will be pulling epic pranks on one another in the name of good fun. I'm a prankster at heart (I guess I never outgrew it), so I want to pass along some of my favorite pranks for you to pull on those you know and love best. Have fun and if you actually do any of these and live to tell about it, post a comment and tell the rest of us how you did it. Maybe we'll be able to use your tips for next year!

Here's my official 2008 April Fool's Day List:

1. Send a love note to someone in your office from someone else in your office.
2. Take a pictue of your boss's wife from his desk and place it prominently on the desk of one of your male co-workers.
3. Put fake rubber snakes in the office toilets and then put the top down, so that when someone raises the lid to sit on the seat, they'll be in for a big surprise!
4. Start a rumor that someone in your office is pregnant, but tell people to keep it a secret because "she isn't telling anyone yet". By the end of the day, everyone will know she is pregnant but her.
5. Put an ad in the newspaper selling your friend's house.
6. Pour a bunch of the invisible, powder fiber supplement into the office water cooler. By mid-afternoon, everyone will be running to the toilets (and then they'll see the rubber snakes)!
7. Put out a memo from your boss that the office will closed tomorrow in observance of "National Employee Appreciation Day".
8. Create an account on eHarmony for a shy single friend. You can list his interests as things like: "Navy Seal, former male model, fitness professional, self-made millionaire, etc."
9. Have a friend's car towed from office parking lot back to his house and then send out an email that there is an outbreak of car thefts happening in the area.
10. Start a rumor that your company is being bought out and everyone will have to relocate to China to keep their job.

I hope you got a kick out of these! Let me hear about your ideas. Have a great April 1st.

I have P.M.S.

2008-03-31T10:30:00.002-05:00

I preached yesterday about Jesus' invitation to each of us: "Follow Me". I love communicating and teaching, but it seems like every Monday morning after a sermon, I have some sort of spiritual hangover. I call it PMS (Post Message Syndrom). I'm not sure why it happens, but I suppose it makes sense. Whenever we pour ourselves into anything (whether it's a sermon or some other type of intense project), we're bound to be emotionally and physically drained after the task is completed and the adrenaline has worn off. Maybe this is one of the reasons why Jesus often secluded Himself after sermons and intensive times of teaching around large groups. I'm sure the physical and emotional sides of Him experienced fatigue just like the rest of us. I suppose it's just part of being human.

What I think about Joel Osteen

2008-03-27T14:18:00.002-05:00

For some reason, people ask me all the time what I think about Joel Osteen. "He has pretty teeth" is my most common response, but then they press me to critique his theology and approach since he has become the voice of Christianity to the masses and (in many ways) our ambassador to unchurched people everywhere. He has taken much criticism for his "health and wealth" style of preaching, but the fruits of him ministry are undeniable. I hate to presume to "critique" a fellow pastor (especially one whose impact is roughtly one trillion times that of my own), but in fairness to all of you who have questioned me on this, I now feel compelled to record a few thoughts on the issue. Here are my candid thoughts on Joel taken verbatim from an email I sent as a response to a question on Joel and his brand of preaching...

These are tough issues, because the message of “abundance/health/wealth” is so intoxicating and attractive. In some ways, I feel that God uses people like Joel (whom I believe to be sincere) to make Christianity attractive to unbelievers and baby Christians. In the same way, the reality that I create for my toddlers has more candy and fluff than real life will when they reach adulthood, but it’s all they can understand at the time so their sense of reality isn’t so much “untrue” as much as it’s just immature. In the Kingdom of Heaven, I see Joel as the Kindergarten teacher. We need good, uplifting, encouraging Kindergarten teachers (and Lord knows we have plenty of Kindergarten Christians). The problem arises when people stay in Kindergarten. We are called to continuous growth and the more we mature in Christ, the less we will be fueled by abundance for our own personal pleasure and the more we will become concerned about abundance for the sake of reaching others with the life-changing message of Christ who is greater than any material treasure we could ever imagine.

Toddlerhood

2008-03-24T18:43:00.003-05:00

As most of you know, I have two precious little boys who (along with their hot mother) are the light of my life. They can be such angels, BUT there is a dark side. I don't know how it happens or why it happens, but seemingly without provocation, these sweet little angels can become holy terrors. I wasn't 100% sure that demon possession still happened until I had a toddler. Now, I'm positive that it does-I've seen it first hand. It happens most often when we're exiting "Chucky Cheese", but it can also strike without warning anytime and anywhere.

The bad news is...I'm not much of an exorcist, because the episodes seem to continue. I guess the cliche is true: Pastors' kids are the worst! I have found that these tantrums can be controlled. Just as a bit advice to anyone who is in my same hectic season of life, I've found ice cream to be the toddler-exorcism-equivalent to holy water. It seems to work every time. Just make sure you've always got ice cream on hand and the toddler demons can be stopped. Sure, you might end up with a chubby toddler, but it beats the alternative (a demon-possessed toddler).

Old Dudes who could beat me up

2008-03-19T14:56:00.008-05:00

Have you heard about this guy? If not, let me introduce you to Buster Martin who is training to become the world's oldest marathon runner. He's 101-years-old and he still works as a plumber in London, England. On top of his running and toilet fixing, he's managed time to have 17 children. Yes my friends, generations of people will have Viagra to thank for their existence.

The world seems to be full of old guys who could beat me up. After watching the new Rambo movie ("Rambo Fights Arthritis"), I realized that even though Stallone has had a lot of work done and help from substances that would have gotten him banned from pro baseball, he's still darn close to a hundred years old and he could rip my arms off and beat me with them. These crazy buff old dudes are just making me feel pretty lazy, so I think I'm going to the gym.

I got ripped off...but I'm not that mad.

2008-03-18T11:53:00.003-05:00

Today was a really tough day. Ashley and I have been trying to reorganize our finances so that we can get completely out of debt which has caused some major changes. One of these changes was to sell my gas-guzzling old Ford Explorer and buy something more fuel-efficient. Last week, I did just that. I bought a 95 Toyata Corolla from a guy named Bob (his real name is Scott, but to protect his anonymity, we'll call him "Bob"). Bob and his wife seemed like nice folks and I'm a big fan of Toyotas ever since I worked two summers at the Toyota plant in Kentucky.

This seemed like a good deal until...the car exploded on me before I could even get it home. Literally, the engine was shooting out oil and smoke like a volcano. After a week of mechanics and carpooling, the prognosis finally came in and it was completely bleak. I had a lemon. I got in touch with Scott to tell him and at first he seemed very receptive to refunding my money (which we desperately need to purchase another vehicle). I found out just a few hours ago that he won't be refunding my money and I'm stuck with this car that I'm going to try to sell to a junk yard.

I've been through the whole range of emotions with this deal and I've had some extensive heart-to-heart conversations with God about this. My first response was sadness followed by rage followed by disappointment followed by confusion followed by that sick feeling in your stomach you get after you've been kicked in the testicles. After all of that, I just simply asked God what He was doing in all of this, and He gave me a good reply.

First of all, He reminded me that He is my provider and that I don't need to freak out over a couple thousand dollars (even if I don't know how in the world I'm going to ever buy another car). He also reminded me that He is in control even thought we live in a fallen, sin-stained world where all of us have a very selfish nature made pure only through Him. Finally, He reminded me how much He loves Scott and his wife and his precious little girl and how much He desires to have a relationship with them that will bring purpose to their lives and give them life for all eternity. My prayer in this is that through our collective prayers, God will draw this family to Himself. If that happens, then I would gladly pay $2000 many times over (even though I don't have it to pay) to see souls come to Christ. In the end, that's all that will matter.

Money: The Greatest of Servants. The Poorest of Masters..

2008-03-15T20:48:00.001-05:00

Money. Why has it become a dirty word in the church. I think that we Christians are so quick to forget that Jesus talked more about money than He did about Heaven and Hell combined. He knew (as He knew all things) that there was no greater indicator of a person's priorities than how they spend their money. We can be quick to give Jesus our heart as long as He keeps His hands off our wallets. We might think we know our priorities, but all we need to do to be sure is to look at our credit card statements and our checkbook registeries. The numbers don't lie. The are a very accurate indication of the condition of our hearts ("Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".)

Marty preached a powerful sermon on stewardship a few weeks ago and the CBS Early Show was there to do a story on it. Marty did a great job (as always) and I believe God was honored by the refreshing Truth that was shared on this very complex issue. Check out the video clip and decide for yourself.