Archive for November, 2008
Husbands…Want To Have More Sex With Your Wife? November 24, 2008
Sex is on everyone’s mind…ESPECIALLY if you are a man! UNFORTUNATELY…the church hasn’t had the stones to address the issue…thus resulting in a lot of confusion and false teaching about the subject.
One of the things that people seem to forget was that sex was God’s idea! He created it to be enjoyed frequently and to be viewed as special between a HUSBAND and HIS WIFE!
(There IS an entire book of the Bible dedicated to the subject of sex!!! Song of Solomon! And PLEASE do not send me your stupid emails about how that is a metaphor talking about Christ and His love for the church. That idea is ridiculous…AND SICK! Seriously, how in the world do you explain Song of Solomon 7:1-8 thinking like that? WEIRDO!!!)
However, the world has taken it and ran with its own ideas…and so in today’s society, when it comes to sex…people have a “whatever” attitude!
Recently, my friend Ed Young challenged the married couples in the congregation at Fellowship Church to have sex for seven days in a row! (Their church membership increased 1,293 %–just kidding!)
I thought that was an incredible idea. I love what he said about regular and intimate sex between a husband and a wife is the best way for a couple to combat sexual temptation in a marriage.
BUT…I started thinking…what happens when the seven days are over?
SO…I sat down and made up a list of five things I really believe a husband can do in order to have a consistent, healthy, vibrant and exciting sex life WITHIN marriage!
And I will post about it…tomorrow! :-)
Five Reasons For Pastors To NOT Quit! November 24, 2008
If a pastor is ever tempted to resign/drop out of the ministry…it happens on either Sunday night or Monday morning!
So…if you are that pastor…let me give you five reasons not to quit!
#1 – God Called You!
Whenever I am going through a rough time in ministry…I think back to where I was when He found me. It blows me away that He called me! His promises in Isaiah 43:1-6 are PRICELESS to me!!!
#2 – I’ve Often Found That The Enemy Works Overtime on Discouragement Right Before God Does Something Awesome!
#3 – Philippians 1:6!!!
He didn’t bring you this far to let you down or watch you fail!
#4 – The Example Of Jesus!
I never will forget being at a conference and a pastor saying, “I once had a man stand in front of me and say, ‘Give me one reason that I should not quit right now.’”
The pastor replied, “Because one day both you and I are going to stand in front of One whose assignment was much tougher than ours and He didn’t quit! Neither should we!!!”
DANG!
#5 – There ARE People Who Believe In The Vision God Has Given You!
I used to allow myself to think that the one or two idiots/bloggers out there who were attacking me were the majority!
I used to allow myself to think that the two or three negative emails I would get were the opinions of the masses.
I was wrong!
When you cast a compelling vision…it will fire some people up and piss some people off…
And the ones that are pissed are usually the most vocal.
But you can’t allow the pissed to trump the passion God has placed inside of you!
AND…you’ve got to understand that there are people ON BOARD! People DO BELIEVE in the vision God has placed IN you…the one like Jeremiah 20:9 describes!
Don’t focus on the critics and skeptics…focus on the ones who buy in, who ask the right questions and focus on the right issues…and who will charge hell with you!
They are IN YOUR CHURCH! Find them…pour into them…and begin a revolution!!!
DON’T QUIT!!!
Just felt like someone needed to hear that today!
Sunday Night Reflections November 23, 2008
Several thoughts from today before heading off to bed…
- We complete the “Beautiful” series next week…I think has been one of the best series we’ve ever done.
- Remember, God is ALWAYS speaking…the problem isn’t the absence of His voice but rather the hardness of our hearts!
- Red Lobster is NOT known for their seafood but rather their garlic cheese biscuits…you KNOW it’s true! (Had to be there!)
- Christians OFTEN use prayer as an excuse for inactivity! Remember, Sarah did not get pregnant by “praying about it!” She took action!!!
- ANYTIME Marvin Gaye can be used in a church service to emphasize a point…it SHOULD be done! (Yes, we used “Let’s Get It On.” Watch the video!)
- Our Florence campus had a record attendance today – 217 people! WOW! We will begin meeting every week at that campus beginning in January…GREAT things are in store.
- Our internet campus will be up and running early next year…can’t wait to get that ball rolling.
- AND…we are SERIOUSLY praying about launching at least one more campus next year in…you’ll have to wait and see! :-) (It will be in the state of SC!)
- Anderson campus will be opening our youth building and our children’s building sometime in February or March of 09…God has given us incredible facilities…and we are going to see them filled with THOUSANDS of children and teens who are going to meet Jesus…AND change the world!
- I am REALLY looking forward to Thanksgiving food on Thursday! Seriously, I am going to DESTROY some of my wife’s cookin!
- Had this thought on the way to church this morning, “I need to go to San Diego in June and run the Rock & Roll marathon! It kicked my butt last time…I can’t go out like that.” Not sure if it was God or satan…but I am seriously praying about taking another crack at it!!!
- For those who don’t know the full story from above…I tried it in 2006 and…well…you can read the story here and here to see what happened!
- REALLY excited about what we have in store for next Sunday…I believe it is going to be one of those “Unforgettable weekends!” SERIOUSLY!
- As I said today at the end of the service…most of you are going to NEED church after hanging out at the family
rebellionreunion on Thursday! - I know I said this last week…but service planning for our Christmas services was AWESOME…and I believe the Gospel is going to be presented in one of the most creative and and powerful ways that God has ever led us to put together!
- Clemson versus South Carolina is Saturday…can’t wait!!!
- The BCS is HORRIBLE!
- I can’t out give God! II Corinthians 9:6-15!!!
I need to go to bed–good night!
Video Link From Hillsong Church…Can’t Believe I Did This! November 21, 2008
I said on this blog a couple of weeks ago that I sort of freaked out when I got to see Darlene Zschech for the first time…
I was on stage speaking to Brian & Bobbie Houston and thanking them for their ministry…when I looked to my left and she was standing there…so I just said what naturally came to mind…
Francis Chan Kicked My Butt! November 21, 2008
I don’t know if you have read “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan yet…but it’s AWESOME. I have had the privilege of hearing Francis speak and the dude is ON FIRE. Here are some quotes that stuck out to me…
- “His perfect holiness, by definition, assures us that our words cannot contain Him. Isn’t it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?” (DANG!!!)
- “Could it be your arrogance that makes you think God owes you an explanation?”
- “I quickly found that the American church is a difficult place to fit in if you want to live out New Testament Christianity. The goals of American Christianity are often a nice marriage, children who don’t swear, and good church attendance. Taking the words of Christ literally and seriously is rarely considered.”
- “Jesus’ call to commitment is clear: He wants all or nothing. The thought of a person calling himself a “Christian” without being a devoted follower of Christ is absurd.”
- “Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” (DANG!!!)
- “But we need to realize that how we spend our time, what our money goes towards, and where we will invest our energy is equivalent to choosing God or rejecting Him.”
- “…you have to stop loving and pursuing Christ in order to sin.”
- “Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy. Something is wrong when our lives make sense to other believers.”
- “We like finding refuge in what we already have rather than in what we hope God will provide.”
- “If a guy were dating my daughter but didn’t want to spend the gas money to come and pick her up or refused to buy her dinner because it cost too much, I would question whether he were really in love with her. In the same way, I question whether many American churchgoers are really in love with God because they are so hesitant to do anything for Him.”
I literally could go on and on…I would SERIOUSLY recommend this book…it’s AWESOME!
(By the way…Francis did not ask for a review on my blog! I would probably say he has no idea I even exist. I read the book…I liked it and then I blogged about it. Don’t do a lot of book endorsements here…unless God uses them to ROCK my world!!!)
Ten Things I’m Excited About… November 20, 2008
Here are a few things that have me absolutely PUMPED UP!
#1 – The meeting we had this morning to put the finishing touches on our Christmas services…tickets will be available beginning Thanksgiving weekend.
#2 – Thanksgiving weekend…there’s going to be a “special treat!”
#3 – This Sunday…I think some ladies will receive some encouragement AND be challenged.
#4 – Our night of worship on December 5th at the Anderson campus! Seriously, it is going to be incredible. It will begin at 7:00 and is going to be a time where our church can come together, sing and beg God to continue to do amazing things in our church.
#5 – Our Christmas services…in fact…the 7th, 14th, 21st are all going to be fun!
#6 – Our “Year in Review” service on the 28th of December. This has turned into sort of a “tradition” that we have a blast with.
#7 – Our shoe and school supply giveaway. In December we are giving shoes and school supplies to nearly every kid in four elementary schools in the upstate…trying our best to take the Gospel to our community by meeting needs in Jesus’ name.
#8 – The news that Gary is going to be sharing with his church on Sunday. Yes I know…and no, I’m NOT telling!!!
#9 – The next coaching network meeting…letting the guys bring their staff with them to our all staff meeting…band is going to jam, going to do some round tables…it MIGHT JUST BLOW UP! YES!
#10 – Clemson vs. South Carolina NEXT Saturday!
That’s all for now…
Leadership Questions From A Rugby Game – Part Three November 20, 2008
Here’s the third question in the series…
#3 – Am I Willing To Learn New Things?
One of the coolest things about the game of rugby is that as the game progressed I learned more and more about the philosophy of the game, asked a lot of questions…and by the time the game was over I had become a more effective player.
I didn’t walk on the field…ask for one explanation…get the basics and then try to figure the rest out. I was playing a game I hadn’t played before…and so I sought wisdom from those who had been playing much longer than me!
As a leader I MUST be about the business of trying my best to learn more and more about the role of leadership the Lord has called me to.
AND…I can’t assume that I have learned all that their is to know about what God has called me to do. In order to play the game more effectively…I’ve GOT to ask those who have been playing longer than me questions and SHUT UP and listen to them as they share wisdom.
One of the things I think I have always done well is try my best to place myself in environments where I can meet with people who I know I can learn from. I have always known that I am way over my head…that I am not smart enough to do this on my own…and that God has given me the opportunity to learn from others.
I had an intern ask me the other day about what blogs I read…and I told him that I am down to about 10 or so…mostly friends who I try to keep up with & see how their lives are going.
I hardly EVER read church planters blogs anymore because many of them are quickly becoming experts at making complete @$$e$ of themselves by attacking other pastors and ministries that are successful.
Let me be honest…I don’t have a lot of time to focus on what is WRONG with other churches…I am WAY TOO FOCUSED on what is wrong with the church that God has called me to lead. I do not pastor the perfect church…and when I do then maybe I can tell other churches and pastors how to be more like me…I just don’t see that happening any time soon!!
Leaders are learners…and…the best ones are willing to learn from other leaders who may not share the same theological convictions or hold to the same methodology…but in the end want to see the name of Jesus exalted!
I MUST BE in a constant state of learning if I am going to be an effective leader.
THAT IS WHY IT CRACKS ME UP when I hear other pastors accuse me of name dropping. Let me be straight up with you…I name drop like CRAZY…I will do it until the day I die because I want the church I lead to understand that I, as their leader, am trying to seek as much wisdom as I can get from those who have gone before me…and I could care less if other pastors get mad about it.
Can I be honest for just a second? I believe the only reason other pastors get jealous about “name dropping” is because…well…they don’t have any names to drop!!! They have simply surrounded themselves with other guys who think like them, look like them and believe like them for the purpose of affirming their dysfunction and criticizing success!!!
If you want to be a leader then you’ve GOT TO BREAK OUT of your normal circles and allow God to stretch you through the teaching of other leaders WHO ARE NOT LIKE YOU!
How about it…are you willing to learn new things?