Chad Rowland

(Joshua Series) I Look Forward to Going Back

2012-02-15T07:51:00.001-08:00

After the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, God’s people did something pretty cool. A leader from each tribe took a stone and together they built an altar…

“...to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What does these stones mean?’ tell them (how God parted the waters and delivered you)…These stones will be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:6-7

God directed the people to leave behind a sign. As time passed and that day became a distant memory, God wanted His people to never forget. To never forget the day He proved His love and power.

I’m not one to look back. But there are some moments that I don’t want to forget. Times when God brought hope to my hopeless situation. When God forgave. When God understood. When God disciplined. When God proved how much He loved me.

Whether it is in he form of a letter. An email. A ticket stub. A picture. A blog. A scar. To me, they serve as altars. Memorials to God’s goodness. And when my children ask, “What do they mean?” I look forward to, well,…to going back.

Is Jesus Alone Enough?

2012-02-07T19:32:00.000-08:00

Simple Is Not Easy from Gcomchurch Sermons on Vimeo.

Joshua Series: Amaze Me

2012-02-07T13:42:00.001-08:00

Predictable. Ordinary. Common. Schedule. These concepts may ease my mind, but they do not inspire me. I want to be amazed. I want my faith to led to a new level!

In the 3rd chapter of Joshua, the people were heading into new territory. They were beginning the process of occupying a new land.

Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 3:5

The people did not realize it, but God was literally going to part the waters for them. The Jordan River was in their way…but not for long. God parted the waters and led them across.

Although there are no rivers I plan on crossing tomorrow, I do want to be amazed. I want to expect the amazing the take place!

Sometimes I wonder if the reason we do not see God do the amazing is that we are not ready for it. Maybe we’re not looking for it.

What if we closed each day by praying the following?...

“God, today was good. But prepare my heart for tomorrow. Do something amazing and let me be a part of it. I don’t want to miss it. You lead. I’ll follow.”

That’s going to be what I pray tonight. What about you?

"This Journey is Too Difficult for You"

2012-01-24T18:21:00.001-08:00

Elijah felt alone and isolated. He was ready to quit...on his job...and his life.

Lonely Faith from Gcomchurch Sermons on Vimeo.

Mercy Ministries is Changing Lives

2012-01-19T19:09:00.000-08:00

Of all the great causes worth fighting for, Mercy Ministries is at the top of my list. Check out this promo video and then go to www.mercyministries.org to find out how to help!

Amazing Story of Tragedy and Hope

2012-01-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, Pete Wilson and his team at Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee, conducted one of the most heart-wrenching interviews I have ever witnessed. Todd and Angie Smith have lived through tragedy and yet found hope and even gratitude. I watched it again the other day and thought I'd share it.

Smith Family Story from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

I'm speechless...

Naked and Need a Blanket?

2012-01-11T09:28:00.000-08:00

God saved Noah's life. He also saved his family. A flood of epic proportions had covered the earth, but Noah's family was spared.

Not long after that, Noah had his own private wine-tasting party. It is safe to say, he had a blast! In fact, he got so drunk that he passed out in his tent..without a stitch of clothes on his body.

One of Noah's sons went to visit his dad, only to discover his naked-drunk dad.

That son had a decision to make. Would he cover his dad with a blanket and let the story end there, or would he share the news with others?

He chose to tell his brothers of their father's little indiscretion.

As a result, there was division in the family that would never be resolved (see Genesis 9:18-29).

That story got me thinking about how I respond to peoples' struggles. Do I cover the person with a blanket and then when the time is appropriate have a heart to heart discussion? Or do I expose the indiscretion and add to the embarrassment and shame

When God uncovers sin in my life or the lives of those around me, I believe that is the time to grab a blanket. NOT TO COVER UP THE OFFENSE, but to COVER THE OFFENDER.

I wonder how differently things would have ended for Noah's family if his son had simply covered his dad with a blanket...and then (after ole dad had sobered up) confronted him with compassion, concern, truth, and mercy.

Why would we not want to keep the matter as private as possible? Is it because we like to see others struggle? Is it because it makes us feel better about our own junk?

Trust me. I've been the offender too many times to count. Having my sins exposed is painful and humiliating. But I thank God for the people He has sent in my life from time to time with blankets that were stitched out of compassion, concern, truth, and much mercy. I'm now ready and willing to return the favor.

Joshua Series: Unlikely Allies

2012-01-09T10:08:00.001-08:00

God’s people were at the beginning of what would be a long series of battles. At the end, their hope was that God would make good on His promise to give them the promised land.

Joshua, the leader, sent some men to spy out the first city on the hit list: Jericho. The men were not as discreet as perhaps they should have been. They needed a place to hide. So…they stayed at the home of lady named Rahab, who happened to be a prostitute.

Rahab not only allowed the men to hide out in her home. She was willing to lie to anyone who was looking for them!

So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) Joshua 2:4-6

Pretty slick. Why was she so willing to do this for Joshua’s spies? Read what she told them:

Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. Joshua 2:8-9

Rahab knew very little of God. But she had heard enough. She had a reverent fear of Him. And if there was going to be a war, she wanted to be on His side.

This was her plea…

“Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.” “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land.” So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.” Joshua 2:12-17

Rahab feared what God could do and wanted to save her family. AND she would not allow her reputation or fear stop her from making that happen.

Regardless of where you’ve been or what you’ve done, you can still make a difference.

You cannot change how your story began but you can still affect how it will end.

Joshua Series: Miles Before We Sleep

2012-01-06T13:29:00.000-08:00

Ever felt like rest was the one thing you needed but the most difficult thing to find? So exhausted that you just wanted to go home and fall apart? Too tired to take another step?

The Hebrew nation had followed Moses for over a generation! They were nomads. Wanderers. God had promised them a land of rest. A land to call their own. Home. But they were not there yet.

When Joshua took over, he told the people that it was time to occupy the land of rest. But it would have to be taken at a price. There would be many battles many sacrifices.

To complicate things, a few clans of Hebrew people had already found their place of rest. They didn’t need to conquer their land. They just needed their fellow countrymen to get out of the way so they could start making it their own.

Then Joshua spoke up and reminded these tribes at rest of something that God had commanded years earlier:

“Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you after he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.” Joshua 1:13-15

Even though some of the Israelites (Hebrew people) had found their rest, they were not permitted to enjoy the rest until everyone rested. NO ONE RESTS UNTIL WE ALL REST would be their battle cry.

Surprisingly (to me), the people agreed and lined up side by side with others who were still restless. Together they served, fought, and in some cases, died. Why? So that others could find rest.

Even though you may have found the answers in life you for which you were searching, your battle is not over. It is just beginning. Your soul may have found rest, but there are still others who are searching…fighting.

No one rests until we all rest.

Joshua Series: Starting a New Chapter in Life

2012-01-03T18:00:00.000-08:00

Starting a New Chapter

For generations, the Hebrew people were led by a man named Moses. After his death, the people were lost. The only leader these followers of God had ever known was gone…and not coming back. The people needed direction. They needed hope. They needed a seasoned leader.

Too bad.

They got Joshua instead.

As an assistant to Moses, Joshua had seen Moses’ strengths and weaknesses. Wins and losses. But he had never led at that level. He was in unchartered territory.

Ever been there before?

Like many of us, Joshua might have planned to blaze a new trail. Implement a new strategy. Make his own mark. Prove himself to everyone.

But before he could run off and start his own legacy, God spoke.

He reminded Joshua of some basic principles that needed to become the foundation for this new chapter in his life.

If you feel overwhelmed or are beginning a new chapter in your life, these same principles may be good reminders for you.

TRUST

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Joshua 1:3

God was telling Joshua to trust His promise…His Word. That from that point forward if Joshua was asked how he was certain the people would fulfill their mission the answer would not be found in his strength or leadership. The answer would be: Because God gave his Word. He promised. And He can be trusted.

COURAGE

No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Joshua 1:5-6

Because Joshua had placed his trust in God’s strength, he could now lead with confidence. It’s okay to be bold and courageous as long as the source of our confidence is God.

CHARACTER

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:7-8

No amount of changes can cover up a lack of character. Even when we appear successful, we will fail if we sacrifice our character in the process.

PERSEVERANCE

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

God knew that along the way Joshua would be tempted to give up. Even though God promised success, that success would come with a price. In those moments, perseverance would be necessary.

And so the new chapter in Joshua’s life began…with a strong foundation of trust, courage, character and perseverance.

Wonder Leads to Belief

2012-01-01T21:56:00.000-08:00

Belief. It is the essence of faith. It gives hope. It strengthens. It wins battles.

It is also unique.

Some people seem to arrive at belief through intellectual pursuits. Some on the heels of a miracle. Some even experience it in response to authority.

And some through wonder…imagination…hope.

There is one God. One Maker. One Savior. And yet that One is creative enough to chase after us in unique ways.

One Christmas Eve, my church family paused for a moment to respect that truth. To give people room to re-live the wonder of Christmas. How?

How else? Snow.

I know it sounds crazy. But, the Creator used some man-made snow to strengthen my belief. The power of wonder.

A Life in Transition

2012-01-01T21:26:00.000-08:00

New You - Old You from Gcomchurch Sermons on Vimeo.

Waiting Rooms Stink

2011-12-27T19:04:00.000-08:00

Many of life's answers seem to arrive a lot more slowly than we wish. Much of our existence is spent waiting. And we hate to wait. Hate it.

When will God answer? When will the pain stop? When will I get some relief? When will this part of my life be over?

Waiting stinks. And waiting often changes us. Want proof?

Go to a waiting room. People who are normally very happy and energetic, just sit and stare at the floor. Grown ups flip through the pages of Nickelodeon magazine. Kids amuse themselves with Reader's Digest. Friends and family members sit in complete silence...and wait on their names to be called. We act differently when we wait.

And that's the danger.

While we impatiently wait on life to make sense or for a miracle from Heaven, we are tempted to sacrifice our character. We make poor decisions and get frustrated when we have to face the consequences. We are tense, on edge, and easily offended, which leads to bitterness. We sacrifice our character in the same of "creating our own luck."

No one likes to wait. But the discomfort of waiting is never worth throwing away our integrity. And truth be told, the answer is usually just around the corner.

I don't know what you may be waiting on right now. And I won't pretend to know how bad the waiting may hurt. But I do know God has not forgotten you and what He is doing in your heart as you wait will be, well, worth the wait.

Jason Witten: Why I'm a Fan

2011-12-20T14:51:00.000-08:00

Giving My Kids a Healthy Dose of Reality

2011-12-07T07:33:00.000-08:00

It's not fair! It's not right! She was mean to me! He called me a name! That teacher made me cry. That coach doesn't like me.

At some point every parent is going to hear his/her child voice one of these complaints.

As the parent, how do I respond?

Instinct kicks in for most of us. We send nasty emails. We scream at people. We complain to supervisors. We blame everyone else. And in the process, I fear we create within our children a sense of entitlement. We do everything short of being a complete jerk...all in an effort to protect our child from emotions like sadness and disappointment. But is that always the right thing to do?

This week, I sat on the coach and listened to one of my children explain what a terrible day it had been. Honestly, my child had a reason for the tears. Everything in me wanted to make a phone call, send an email, and talk about how unfairly my child had been treated.

Instead, I took the opportunity to talk about how in the grand scheme of life, things like grades/playing time/being laughed at by other kids, are all so insignificant. I expressed how much I believed in my kid. How I was my child's biggest fan. How life often seems to take a dump on us and how our hard work sometimes goes unnoticed. Not just when you're a kid. But when you're an adult too.

And how does always protecting my kids from the hard times in life prepare them for the real world? There will always be someone who appears to be smarter, stronger, bigger, better looking, and more successful. That's part of life. What will my kids do when they are fired from a job? Wrongly accused? Ignored? Rejected?

We live in a broken world. Stuff happens. I don't want to be guilty of giving my kids a false sense of reality. And more than that, I want them to learn how to maintain hope and character even when life hurts.

At the end of the conversation the other night, I asked my child why the tears were still flowing? I'll never forget the answer I got. "Dad, now my tears are happy tears. If you're still proud of me, I'm okay."

I'm incredibly thankful I did not react the way I wanted to react that night. I would have missed a perfect opportunity to prepare my child for how challenging life can be. And the truth that even when it seems like everyone and everything has forsaken you. I'm still here.

*** PLEASE NOTE: If the issue involves abuse, we must do what we have to do to protect our children and other children who may be affected. I am not advocating silence or cowardice regarding any form of a tragic offense.

Change is Good

2011-11-16T10:28:00.000-08:00

I'm amazed at how many people are trying to live nice tidy lives with bows on top of every moment. Looking for sure things. Seeking can't miss opportunities.

Things that are completely predictable require no faith. What fun is that? Where is the adrenaline rush? The heart-pounding? The fall-on-your-face-before-God and needing a miracle moment?

It's why I love change. Not change for the sake of change. Not to escape boredom. Not to have something to do. But change that makes me live by faith.

I've never regretted taking a step of faith. But I have regretted not taking a step of faith.

When was the last time you put it on the line and took a step...not knowing for sure if it was going to work out?

Life is too short...

2011-11-03T07:38:00.000-07:00

Life is short. Much too short to never...

Pick up someone who has fallen down

Invest in someone who feels forgotten

Forgive someone who has burned you

Let go of the bitterness that has held you down

Stare into the eyes of an addiction and say, "I'm done with you."

Stare into the eyes of God and say, "I need you."

Find value in someone who is different

Find a cause worth fighting for

Find a love worth dying for

Private Battles

2011-10-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

On the bathroom floor at the gym today (great way to start a blog, huh!), I saw an empty package of that gum that is supposed to help people stop smoking, or at least aid in the fight. It may sound crazy but it made me think of all the private battles that people face.

Every day we work with, walk past, drive by, talk to, and argue with people who are going through private struggles. It may cause them to be a bit edgy. Or distant. Or cold. Or hateful.

Instead of being so defensive and quick to fight back, it might do us some good to consider that that there may be more going on than we realize. People who are hurting do hurtful things. When I'm not on my game, I say some stupid things. I do stupid stuff. I'm not a whole lot of fun to be around. I may point the blame at the people around me, but it's not really their fault. I've just got to work through the private battles in my life.

So, the next time you want to fire off and throw a punch, stop and consider that the person who is angering you may be walking through a private hell that you can not even begin to understand. Cut 'em some slack and/or walk away...and then go burn some stuff in a fire pit! Well, it works for me.

Yes, I Wear a Bracelet

2011-08-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

I was given a Power Balance bracelet last year by some kids on the football team that I coach. I had seen the infomercials claiming that it improves balance. Like most viewers, I was skeptical. Does it really work? I don't know.

(But for the record, I haven't tipped over since I put it on.)

In my heart, I have to have a Power Balance bracelet. It is a random act of kindness. It is taking a mission trip with my daughter. It is anonymously taking care of someone's needs. It is choosing to spend time with high-maintenance people.

It is finding a way to remind myself of what is important in life. In doing so, I keep myself from drifting off course, a.k.a. "losing my balance."

Next month, my church family is getting together to serve our community. We're not asking for anything in return. We have no hidden motives. We're just doing what matters most.

In the middle of busyness and business, this day of serving will serve as our balance bracelet.

I hope you'll find your balance for your family and your life. The alternative is to eventually fall down. And that's never fun.

Time to Re-Define

2011-08-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

Lately, I’ve been thinking about definitions. That may seem like a waste of time. But how we define life shapes how we live life.

I’m beginning to think that we have a lot of bad definitions floating around.

Failure. Success. Masculinity. Beauty. God. Church. Intimacy. Hypocrisy. Justice. Mercy.

The meaning of these words has changed through the years.

Take “failure” for instance. So many people around me label themselves “failures.” In reality, they simply came to grips with their brokenness and imperfection.

Is beauty truly the shape of a nose, or length of hair?

Is justice really taking what we deserve? And what is it that we deserve?

Definitions. They matter. And I hope to be part of a re-definition revolution.

Dependence

2011-08-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..."

Lately, I've been asking myself if I am really doing that.

Do I daily lean on God for strength and wisdom or do I trust in ME?

Do I say a quick prayer and then try to shoulder the burden myself?

Do I give God a quick fist bump and then play to my strengths?

I don't want to do it anymore. I want to know what it is to depend on God for strength, wisdom, and breath itself. I want to feel like I'm a clump of dirt that wouldn't know his right from his left without God's mercy.

Oh wait...That's actually pretty accurate.

"Some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."

Knowing That She's Loved

2011-07-14T07:23:00.001-07:00

My family spent all last week at the beach. After stopping by the grocery store a few hours after our arrival, we settled down for a lazy week. Seriously. We left the condo only one time in 7 days!

We just spent time playing games, enjoying the beach, talking about life, and applying a lot of sunscreen.

As well as I know my kids, there is always more to learn. Looking back on the week, I think more than ever I am seeing that my daughter is learning to be loved. Not by me. But by her Creator.

My girl is very confident in my love for her. But recently, she has truly shown that she is coming to grips with the fact that God loves her. That is the greatest thing I could ever pray for her.

As we were taking pictures, I told her to "get her worship on." She has my personality and is not very demonstrative in anything, including worship. So after some prodding, she finally understood what I was asking.

This picture has become one of my favorites.

She's learning what it means to be loved by her Maker. And that's all I've ever wanted for her.

What I Learned While On the Beach Today

2011-07-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

1) Contrary to popular belief, talking with a southern accent does not make people sound more intelligent. (FYI, I have a southern accent)

2) People who drink beverages from a can, while baking in the sun, tend to shout a lot.

3) The bigger the body, the bigger the swimsuit. That should be a law.

4) Everyone else has a different definition of personal space than me.

5) Seaweed does not belong on the inside of my shorts.

6) It is possible for a grown man to play on a boogie board non-stop for 2 hours (actually, that was me).

7) The violent sound of the waves crashing against the shore reminds me of God's jealous and violent love for us.

8) If my ashes can't be sprinkled on a football field, I want them sprinkled all over the beach.

9) I love my family!

10) Traveling to the ocean is what I live for each year!

Sight-Giver

2011-06-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

More than telling someone what to do or showing someone how to do something, I want to help people see what they have been missing. To see that there is still hope.

Most people are searching for hope. They ask advice because they need to believe there is still hope. They read books because they need to know where to find hope. They visit church gatherings because the people of God claim to have some measure of hope.

The opportunity I have as a follower of Jesus is to show people that there is still hope. That there is something beyond what they can see. That it's not over for them.

In 2 Kings, there is a story about a guy who was scared to death. Armies surrounded his house and he feared he was facing the end. He saw no hope!

But his friend and mentor was with him and could see there was still hope. Check out 2 Kings verse 6... His friend prayed that God would open his eyes. That was a life-changing moment!

Of all the things I could do for people, I think the most helpful would be to help them see hope.

Sincerely,

An Aspiring Sight Giver

Home Field Disadvantage

2011-06-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the home team does not have the advantage.

Our hometowns should be places of familiarity, comfort, rest, encouragement, and success. After all, we're surrounded by the people who love us the most and know use the best. Yet, when we are home we don't always feel like we have the advantage.

Why is it that living out our faith is sometimes the most difficult around the people who know us the best?

I think it's because we have so much invested in those relationships. It's because we can't pretend at home. They see right through us. It's because we're afraid of failing. What if we go public with our faith and then we fail?

I'm sure there are a lot of other reasons too, but I find hope in the fact that Jesus faced similar obstacles.

In the sixth chapter of the Book of Mark, the Bible tells us that Jesus' most difficult place to bring about change was his hometown. The people wouldn't give him a chance. They viewed him as an average guy. Why? He had a normal life. He had ordinary parents. His brothers and sisters had done nothing extraordinary. In the eyes of the people who had seen him the most and knew him the best, he was just average.

Maybe you're fighting against a reputation of be average. Maybe you have developed a reputation for lacking character or integrity. You may be in a bad place right now.

Regardless of the situation, DO NOT ALLOW WHAT PEOPLE REMEMBER OF YOU OR WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT OF YOU TO KEEP YOU DOING WHAT GOD DEMANDS OF YOU.

Don't worry about being known as PERFECT. Work on being known as someone who has CHANGED.

*** Mark 6:1- 6

Things Can Still Get Worse

2011-06-15T21:33:00.001-07:00

We all fall. We all fail. That’s part of living. That’s part of learning.

Recently, I have been reminded that after failing we tend to make things worse! The first step we take after we fail is often the most critical. It has the potential to prolong the agony or accelerate the healing.

Last week I watched two professional basketball players display a collective brain cramp when they disrespected a fellow competitor. Instead of owning the mistake and issuing an apology, they chose to blame the media and make up an excuse that no one believed.

But it’s not just them. It’s you. It’s me. We all do it. Instead of taking responsibility, we blame people, make up lies, try to manipulate the outcome, and attempt to remain in control.

Foolish? Yes. But it is usually the path we take. When will we learn that we are only making things worse for ourselves?

When we fail and it all falls apart, we have two choices:

1) We can make excuses, place blame, embrace lies, which will prolong the agony.

2) We can face the facts, accept responsibility, and embrace truth, which will start the healing.

We’re all going to fall. But what we do next will make all the difference.

Tell Your Story

2011-05-17T11:25:00.000-07:00

The 9th chapter of the Book of John is my favorite chapter in the Bible. There is so much honesty, passion, and ignorance (three of my favorite attributes).

As Jesus traveled, he saw a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus stopped and knelt down beside this stranger. He spit on the dirt, made a little mud, and wiped it on the blind man's eyes.

After the man washed his eyes in a pool of water, he was able to see. People started talking...and arguing. There were debates over whether or not it was possible for a blind man to see. There were debates concerning the supposed healer. Who was Jesus? Did he represent God? Was he evil? Why would he heal someone on the holy day of the week? No one from God would do that.

So the man who had been healed was interrogated by religious leaders in the town. Their main question? Who do you think Jesus is?

Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?” The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.” John 9:16-17

The religious leaders refused to believe that the man could be healed this way, so they questioned his parents.

"Ask him. He is old enough to speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue. That’s why they said, “He is old enough. Ask him. John 9:21-23

Those closest to him started distancing themselves.

So the religious leaders went back again to the man and warned him about associating with Jesus. They said, "Jesus is a sinner."

The healed man's response?

I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” John 9:25

When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.” “You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!” “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus. John 9:35-38

People don’t have to have perfect theology to believe. They just have to believe the Truth God has revealed to them. Maybe they don't understand the details of creation. Maybe they don't understand how the world is going to end. Maybe they don't understand holy wars or the differences between denominations. Maybe they don't know all about baptism or bible study. They can still believe! And that means they have a story to tell.

You willing to tell your story? It's not rocket science. Just...

1)Identify the person

2)Pick the day

3)Pray for the opportunity

4)Tell what you know

Open up the conversation and make yourself available if someone wants to talk about faith.

Here's the complete message from last Sunday...

http://www.truthcasting.com/player.aspx#showSermon=34182

Prayer

2011-05-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

In the book of 1 Samuel, Hannah was heartbroken. She was unable to have a child. So she prayed:

“O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime,"... When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her plea…1 Samuel 1:11, 19

3 Things I'm reminded of in Hannah's prayer

1) GOD KNOWS MY VOICE

No introductions are needed. There is not a waiting list.

2) GOD LISTENS WHEN I PRAY

Hannah knew God was listening. She didn't have to apologize for bothering God or beg him to listen.

3) GOD IS WILLING TO CHANGE HISTORY/MY STORY

God “remembered her plea.” There are things that we don't experience because we don't ask for them. God is in control but offers to respond if we will ask.

So, God responded to Hannah's prayer and gave her a son. She named him Samuel and made good on her promise to God. She took Samuel to the community pastor (Eli the Priest) when Samuel was a young boy. He would spend the rest of his life learning to lead people to follow God.

The 3rd chapter of 1 Samuel details the first time Samuel heard God's voice (prayed).

Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did. 1 Samuel 3:4-5

Three times, Samuel heard his name called. Each time he went to Eli and said, “Did you call me?” Each time Eli told him to go back to bed.

Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:8-10

3 Things about Samuel's prayer that challenge me

1) I MUST LEARN GOD’S VOICE

God speaks through Scripture, people, and opportunities. Note: God’s voice will never contradict God’s Word or God’s character

2) I MUST BE QUIET WHEN I PRAY

Prayer is not talking. Prayer is a conversation. It is talking and listening. The best conversationalists ask questions and then quietly listen. I must stop going to Him only when we have something to say.

3) I MUST BE WILLING TO CHANGE

In prayer, God reveals truth and exposes lies. It prepares, corrects, warns, and reminds us.

Prayers are empty if we have agendas or simply go through the emotions.

Before he stepped down as the leader, one of the last things Samuel said to the people he led was:

“As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. 1 Samuel 12:23

Wow!

Prayer is not a skill. It is a gift. It is an invitation to conversation.

God, please speak. I'm listening.

Guys Only

2011-05-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago, my daughter and I were in Guatemala on a mission trip. My son was excited that his sister and I had the opportunity, but he wanted some time alone with me too. As a result, I promised to take him anywhere he wanted to go (as long as it was no more than a 10 hour drive in a car).

Football and basketball are our sports. But recently my son, Brock, has expressed a desire to attend a baseball game. So our guys-only trip became a road trip to Cincinnati!

I surprised him and checked him out of school early on Thursday. We stopped off at the house to pick up our bags, and then we hit the road.

What was the agenda? Attend a Cincinnati Reds game and then do whatever we feel like doing the rest of the time. So...

1) We hit up Buffalo Wild Wings to eat and watch the NFL Draft

2) We saw a sign to the Zoo and headed there.

3) While at the Zoo, one of the animals was feeling frisky. So I decided to take advantage of the moment and tell my son where "babies come from." Memorable, to say the least!

4) We attended a Reds game and sat 6 rows behind the home teams's dugout.

5) We stayed up til midnight watching the NBA Playoffs in our hotel room.

6) We saw where it was opening day at King's Island, an amusement park known for its one-of-a-kind roller coasters. We couldn't pass up the opportunity. We rode coasters, bungee-jumped together, and laughed so hard we cried.

7) We enjoyed the 5 hour trip home.

Our road trip was epic. Neither of us will ever forget it.

I had no plan. There was no agenda. I did only one thing: I begged God to let me see what He saw and to take advantage of every second I had with him. That's what I did.

My name is Chad. My best friend is a 9 year old boy who looks a lot like me. That's cool to me.

This Is How I Spent My Easter Sunday

2011-04-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

We recently opened a second campus of Grace Community Church. Today was our first baptism!

Six awesome people stepped forward and went public with their faith. It was an Easter I will never forget!

Life Lesson from the Final Four

2011-04-07T05:56:00.000-07:00

Shaka Smart is 33 years old. He is passionate. Aggressive. Young. Hip. And has a friendship with the players he coaches. He led the men of Virginia Commonwealth University to the 2011 Final Four.

Brad Stevens is 34 years old. He is calm. Cool. Collected. A tactician. Well-spoken. And lets problems roll right off his back. He led the men of Butler University to the 2011 Final Four.

John Calipari is 52 years old. He is polished. A charmer. Could sell absolutely anything to anyone. Is underrated. Is criticized. But keeps smiling. And keeps wining. And defends his players at all times. He led the men of the University of Kentucky to the 2011 Final Four.

Jim Calhoun is 68 years old. He is crusty. Wears his feelings on his sleeves. Has a chip on his shoulder. Is difficult to work with (from a media perspective). Often wears a scowl. His players are fiercely loyal to him. He led the men of the University of Connecticut to the 2011 Final Four.

All four men are very different. They have different ways of approaching their jobs and their lives. Yet, they are all successful.

My take-away?

There is not one way to do your job. There is not one way to lead. We should be faithful to how God made us as we seize the opportunities He puts before us.

Don't try to be anyone you're not. And don't criticize others for being themselves.

I'm out.

Hola!

2011-03-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

I recently traveled to Guatemala with a group of people from my church family ( Grace Community Church, www.gcomchurch.com ) . We worked with some amazing ladies who care for 31 girls who, for varying reasons, do not or cannot live with their parents. These girls had been rescued from abuse, abandonment, neglect and/or trafficking.

Our team gave these girls with a playground, clotheslines, soccer goals and more.

These girls gave our team joy, happiness, peace, humility, gratitude, and love.

A pretty unfair exchange if you ask me. But I will forever be grateful for the ways in which these beautiful girls added to my life.

Maybe the most special part of the trip for me was the opportunity to travel alongside my daughter. At 11 years of age, she was definitely the youngest on the team. But she worked her tail off, loved on those girls, and then TOOK THEM TO SCHOOL on the basketball court. So proud of her. My daughter is quickly becoming my hero!

Here are some pics from our trip!

Mercy Ministries: Nice to Find You!

2011-02-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

Several years ago I found my cause. Many different helping agencies were appealing to me. But I had been praying I would find a cause, or that a cause would find me. I supported clean water initiatives, prison ministries, child sponsorships, and all sorts of other great causes. It was time to narrow my focus to one.

So when I became aware of war against sex-trafficking, I knew this was a fight I wanted to join.

Since that time I have spent dozens of hours on the phone with organizations that work to free fearfully and wonderfully girls from this nightmare. All the representatives from the various organizations were helpful. If nothing else, these conversations affirmed that this was the cause for which I had been searching. But for a variety of reasons, I had not yet made the move to become a partner.

Then a few weeks ago, I found it. Thanks to a couple in my church family and my co-pastor @ronedmondson , Mercy Ministries showed up in my city (Clarksville, TN). So I guess I should say, the cause found me.

I'm looking forward to seeing how God uses my small efforts to help Mercy Ministries as they come alongside young ladies who are victims of sex-trafficking, substance abuse, neglect, and eating disorders. These young ladies, no matter where they are, and what they've done, are still fearfully and wonderfully made.

Want to find out more. Check out www.mercyministries.org

If I can just help one girl or woman realize that no matter what she has done, or what has been done to her, she STILL melts God's heart...then it is worth it.

Chad

Who Every Team/Group/Family Needs

2011-02-10T11:44:00.001-08:00

Every team, group, and family is better off when five kinds of people are present:

* People willing to cry for another’s burden

* People willing to risk their comfort to protect others

* People willing to laugh at themselves

* People willing to fight another's fight

* People willing to sacrifice their wants to meet others’ needs

These people are hard to find. But when push comes to shove, this is who I want around me.

Great Start to 2011

2011-01-31T11:31:00.000-08:00

2011 in Review...so far:

SNOW - Lots of it. Too many years have passed in which we didn't have enough snow to matter, so I'm not complaining. The sledding has been fun and we've made a lot of memories. Not to mention that the snow reminds me of the complete forgiveness that God has offered us all.

Expansion - The church I help lead recently moved from one campus to two. The multi-site church model is nothing new. But it is new to us. Watching God birth the new campus has humbled me and grown my faith in Him. I can't wait to see what lies ahead.

Faith - My daughter and I are considering going on a mission trip together. This is a dream come true and I admire her desire to serve people. More details to come...

Evidence - I can't prove to you that God exists. All I can do is point you to people whose lives have been transformed before my every eyes. Don't ever give up on anyone!

Pain - Author and pastor, Dave Gibbons, once claimed that in any given crowd there is only one common denominator: pain. I believe he's right. We've all been hurt. We've all hurt others. I'm glad to know Jesus knows what pain truly is and offers to heal.

Disappointment - I'm a football nut and all my teams stink! Here I go again rooting for a teamI don't even like in the Super Bowl. Gimme a break.

February, bring it on!

Christmas Eve

2010-12-23T06:22:00.000-08:00

This Christmas Eve, our church is trying something new. It might not seem like much of a risk to others. After all, dozens of churches in our city are offering Christmas Eve services. But it's new to us. And we don't know who will attend. Or if anyone will attend. We're taking a step of faith. And isn't that what Christmas is all about? Faith.

So invite your friends, tell your co-workers, and have your neighbors join you. We're offering two times (5:00 and 7:00) to make it more convenient for you. Hope to see you there.

The Island of Mis-Fit Bibles

2010-12-06T07:26:00.000-08:00

At one point yesterday, this is what the lobby of GCC looked like. This Christmas, the people of Grace Community Church are working together to get a copy of the Bible to everyone in our community. This Sunday, people began bringing in extra Bibles they found in their homes. How cool is that!

Deciding What to Say

2010-11-18T07:55:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder how a pastor chooses the subject for his weekend talk? Everyone has his or her own planning method, but here are some questions @ronedmondson and I ask ourselves as we plan.

1) God, what do you want us to say?

2) What are the felt needs of the un-churched people in our community?

3) What are the primary needs of the people in our church family?

4) What are some things that all people need to know, but don't know they need to know it?

5) What are some basic truths of which every person needs to be routinely reminded?

6) How long has it been since we directly communicated our vision for our church?

7) What is the most memorable way of teaching this particular truth?

8) How can we lead people to be prepared for the next steps our church will be taking?

After answering these questions, we formulate a series of messages that are true to Scripture and then hope and pray we don't mess it up!

Notes from Ben Reed's talk at Right Now Conference 2010

2010-11-12T08:53:00.001-08:00

The following is my notes and quotes from Ben Reed's breakout session at the Right Now Conference, 2010.

Ben Reed is the Community Groups Pastor at Grace Community Church in Clarksville, TN. You can follow him via Twitter @benreed . He blogs at www.benreed.net

"Farmville is (stupid)."

"You would have to live for 1,000 years to watch all the videos that are currently uploaded on YouTube."

Why engage in social media?

1) Most of the world is living in social media! The culture is already there.

2) It connects the unconnected.

3) We need your ideas

How should/can we engage in social media?

1) It's not what we get but what we give

2) It's about what has our attention (Not merely what's happening or what we're doing).

3) Listen. Focus on a dialogue; not a monologue.

4) Start discussions (critique, evaluation, further dialogue). Dialogues build relationships with people.

5) Constant Beta. Don't wait until your ideas are complete and perfect.

6) Authenticity. Post the good things and the bad things about our lives.

"You will connect with people more quickly through pain than through victory."

7) Consistency

8) Make it part of your work. See kingdom-building as part of your responsibility and social media as an effective way of fulfilling this responsibility.

It will allow leaders to:

Cast vision, grab ideas, and invest in others

9) Figure out your voice

What are you passionate about? What is your current reality? Where are you headed in life? This is your voice!

10) Don't just sit there. Do something!

***Ben did an amazing job here. He also reminded me why I will always stink at social meda! So I'm thankful for guys like him who do very well what I will never do.

Notes and quotes from J.R. Vassar’s talk at Right Now Conference, 2010

2010-11-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

J.R. Vassar is the lead pastor of Apostles Church in New York City. You can follow him via Twitter @jrvassar

Experience the Holy Spirit as Jesus Did

Referred to Texas/the south as “the land of the SUV and free refill.” Funny.

“Do not settle for the results of the works of your flesh.” – spoken by his former pastor to J.R. at his ordination service

John 20:19ff

In the Gospels, the Holy Spirit is always credited with the prophetic, priestly, and kingly ministry of Jesus.

Jesus told His followers that it would be better that He leave so that the presence of God would be manifested in the people of God around the world.

What would it look like if we began to experience the Holy Spirit as Jesus did with similar effects/results?

“Don’t use people to build up your ministry. Use your ministry to build up people.”

The Holy Spirit is wooing the world to Jesus and He is doing this through the prompting and empowering of His people.

“You can not expect God to come into the occasional if you refuse Him in the continuous.” – quote from another author

Notes from Max Lucado's talk at the Right Now Conference, 2010

2010-11-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

The following are notes and quotes from Max Lucado's talk at the Right Now Conference, 2010. Max Lucado...needs no introduction. It's Max stinking Lucado!

"The first act of the newly crowned King will be to applaud our acts of compassion."

"God's solution for a hungry and hurting world is the compassion of the Church."

After referencing Acts 6, Max opened Luke 4. He stated that Luke 4 is the only place where Jesus looked up/selected a text in Scripture. It reads, "He found the place in the Scripture." Jesus chose to read Isaiah 61.

In the first sentence in the only sermon in which Jesus looked up a Scripture text, Jesus chose to talk about the poor and oppressed. He makes reference to the practice of Jubilee.

Jesus emphasized second chances. Jesus loved to see people get fresh starts.

Jubilee was like God shaking the "etch-a-sketch of social order." It was God pressing the reset button on social justice.

Why are 80% of the world's resources controlled by 20% of the people?

Bono may be right. Some of the poor are just "victims of latitude."

"Compassion is our finest apologetic."

Acts is not in the Bible to tell us what the Church did, but rather "what the Church can do."

"What if we got ticked off for Christ's sake?"

2,000 verses in the Bible tell us to care for the poor.

Notes from Todd Phillips' talk at the Right Now Conference, 2010

2010-11-11T14:10:00.001-08:00

Todd Phillips is the pastor of Frontline Church in Washington, DC.

A Letter to Young Leaders:

Excelling Within the Boundaries God Has Placed Within Our Lives

* We are all under authority.

* We are not going to agree with every decision made by those in authority over us.

* We have been given a certain breadth of responsibility and authority that has an end.

How do we excel within the boundaries God has placed in our lives?

Joshua led Israel for a time and maximized his impact within the boundaries he was given.

"There is joy in the boundaries God has given us."

1) Excel where God has placed you

Joshua had to suffer for the choices made by those over him.

The key is not always results. It is how God shapes us as we endure the trial.

2) Simply refuse to let bitterness take root

Instead of resenting/bad-mouthing our leader, we must decide that this is an opportunity to learn how not to lead.

3) Young leaders...STAY A LITTLE LONGER

Don't run yet! Always ask God, "Should I stay a little longer?"

It could be that we are the "problem we're running from."

God is going to teach us what He's going to teach us.

Notes from Pete Briscoe at Right Now Conference, 2010

2010-11-11T07:44:00.000-08:00

Pete Briscoe is the pastor of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship in Dallas, TX. You can follow him at @petebriscoe . He's a tall man.

Text: Ephesians 3:1-21

Characteristics of a Trader (specifically, the New Testament writer, Paul)

1) Paul traded in the law of religion for Jesus the Christ.

He was a Christ-intoxicated man

2) Paul traded in the law of religion for the grace of Jesus

3) Paul traded in the law of religion for the mystery of Jesus

The mystery is cross-referenced in Colossians 1:27 and 2:2. "Christ in you the hope of glory."

The mystery is the union of Gentiles, Jews, and Christ Himself.

4) Paul traded the law of religion for the Church of Jesus

The Church is less than perfect but it is a completely unique group of people

"A para-Church organization works WITH the Church...not against."

5) Paul traded the law of religion for the ministry of Jesus

Ministry is not our gift to God. It is His gift to us.

Notes from Matt Carter's talk at Right Now Conference 2010

2010-11-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

Matt Carter is the pastor at The Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, TX. The following are notes from his talk at the Right Now Conference, 2010.

He began by referencing/reading Ephesians 4:11, 16

Although it is still very effective for many, the "attractional model of church" is not complete. He defined this "attractional model of church" as the one in which the starting point is the Sunday gathering. It's the engine that fuels the rest of the ministry. This "attractional model" alone can not address the spiritual needs of America.

* Even with the planting of thousands of mega-churches, "there are less people going to church now than there were ten years ago."

* "I am sensing a growing sense of restlessness in the laity of the American church."

18-30 year olds are not okay sitting on the sidelines of ministry.

"Jesus would make a horrible American mega-church pastor. He would just run them off!"

He recruited, taught, trained, and then released 12 men to change the world.

"Is it possible to attract people by the thousands...and release them by the thousands...?" Missional community is the answer.

Missional community can be accomplished by:

1) Changing the definition of success for community groups. It is now defined by asking, "Has the group moved beyond just gathering? Have they found a pocket of lostness or need? Are they engaging that pocket?"

2) Changing how leaders are trained and discipled. Help them to act like missionaries.

Train them in theology, scripture, and ministry, to the point that they can go out on their own and become a local church.

3) Raise the bar on what they can/should do.

Notes from Ben Reed's talk at Right Now Conference 2010

2010-11-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

Ben Reed is the Community Groups Pastor at Grace Community Church in Clarksville, TN (which means he's my small groups pastor). The following are notes from a breakout session he led at the Right Now Conference, 2010. You can follow him on Twitter via @benreed.

As long as the local church is growing, finding enough small group leaders will be a challenge.

If you have a leadership deficit, maybe you have an evangelism deficit.

Principles for Finding New Small Group Leaders

1) Lower the Bar

Take risks on unproven leaders. Do they love God and love people?

The higher you set the bar, the fewer leaders you will find.

You can structure for control or structure for growth...but you can't do both.

2) Work on your Vocabulary

Don't call group spaces "classrooms" or call your group leaders "teachers." That will just intimidate many potentially great leaders.

Use words that connect with the masses and provide comfort.

Know what the "win" is for your system

3) Your pastor must be your small group champion

The pastor must experience life change in the small group setting.

One word about group life in the weekend sermon is more powerful than all the videos we create to encourage small group involvement.

4) Remove the competition (competing systems)

People choose the path of least resistance.

Are other systems in the church keeping people from experiencing group life?

5) Define your win

What is the goal of your small group ministry?

Group leaders need to know your expectations

Practical Ways to Find New Leaders

1) Follow Me (the apprentice model)

Negatives? Leaders don't feel qualified to model for another. It takes too long.

2) -- I think I was texting when he mentioned this one. Oops.

3) Steal from other churches

I think he was joking here.

4) "There's not a group that works for me"

After hearing this, it might be worth asking if he/she has ever considered leading a group.

5) Start new types of groups

Short-term groups aimed at a particular mindset. Book club. Construction/service project group.

6) Shame people into new groups

Joking again???

7) Staff members

Staff members should be already leading/influencing others.

8) Avoid burnout

Let group leaders take a break for a season or two

Maybe allow groups to take off during summer and/or Thanksgiving-Christmas holidays

9) Gather around the table

Let the group leader naturally rise up after a meeting or two.

This is an example of structuring for growth; not control.

10) Alignment

It gives people a more manageable time frame for leading. The commitment is for the length of the sermon-series.

Potential leaders know exactly what to do from the beginning.

It lowers the bar. It shows that leading a group is as easy as inviting neighbors into biblical community.

Do something new. Do something different.

"The well-worn path never arrives at a new destination." - Mark Howell

Larry Osborne's talk at Right Now Conference 2010

2010-11-10T07:24:00.000-08:00

The following is taken from Larry Osborne's talk at the Right Now Conference...

Dr. Osborne is the Senior Pastor and Teaching Pastor at North Coast Church. Among others, he has authored the books Sticky Church and Sticky Teams.

* Too often, church speakers send subliminal messages that the worship room is filled with Christians who know the Bible stories and the language.

* North Coast's goal is that 80% of weekend service attendees experience small group each month.

* De-churched people have had a church experience but walked away

* Un-churched people have never really had any connection with a local church

* De-churched people may be attracted to excellence but Un-churched are attracted to the following:

1) Authenticity (is this genuine and real?)

2) Bono factor (what are you doing for someone else?)

* How do you mobilize a church congregation to leave the church building and make a difference?

1) All-church Events - Create motivation and a tilt in perception

2) Stealth Events - Small group based mission opportunities. Less publicity but greater impact.

* An account of "the first weekend of service" is found in Luke 10.

They meet needs for the purpose of being able to tell them about the Kingdom.

They provided credibility for Jesus' mission.

Principles found in Luke 10...

1) Before they went out to serve, Jesus thinned the herd (got it down to 72 who "understood")

2) They were not sent out just to do good deeds (heal and tell)

3) They were sent out as Jesus' advance-team (they set the foundation for Jesus to come).

4) They focused on those who were open to their message ("they went to hard places but stayed in open places").

5) Poverty, injustice, and disease, are not life's biggest problems. Eternity is the big issue!

* Practical advice in mobilizing small groups to be on mission...

1) Be sure you are asking "what is our purpose?" and "how will we measure success?"

2) How can we make this a great experience for everyone?

The Body of Christ is made of different parts. You have to triage how/where you're going to make a difference.

3) How can we institutionalize good intentions?

Important but not urgent things usually get put off. Putting small group (prayer, Bible study, fellowship) on the schedule moves it from non-urgent to urgent. Don't just tell small groups to do a service project. Hold them accountable to it. Help them find one. Call them the week before. Call them the night before. Otherwise, small groups will merely have good intentions.

Inspect what you expect!

4) Consider going at it alone.

Sometimes, when groups combine with other local churches or organizations, reached people "don't know where to go" the following weekend.

Though the Body of Christ is universal, it shows up in local settings.

5) Provide layers of missional events.

Some are weekly, some are monthly, some are quarterly, etc...

6) Don't rip on the rich.

Don't criticize those who are not using their money the way we think they should be using their money. Teach them not to be arrogant or to trust in it. Teach them to be generous. But don't criticize them. "The rich are not the ememy."

Lead the church to leave the building

Daddy's No Angel

2010-10-25T07:12:00.000-07:00

My children are still kids. But they're growing up fast. For the time being, I'm still perfect in their eyes. I'm the greatest. I make all the right moves. Blah, blah, blah. While I like having someone in my life who thinks I'm an angel, at some point I will have to break the news. I'm going to have to reveal my struggles. Admit my faults. Recall past mistakes. Share my failures.

It hit me yesterday that this revelation may be coming sooner than I realized. My daughter is sitting in worship gatherings listening to me! As I reveal my problems and disappointments to the crowd...she's a part of the crowd. I can honestly say I do not hide things from her. But there is a real possibility she will find out things about me in public settings. Not so sure I like that!

So today I'm thinking through how and when to share things with her. I dread the initial realization that "daddy" is not perfect. But even more than that, I dread giving her a false impression of who I am and what I expect of her. If she lives her life thinking her mom and dad are perfect, how will she feel about herself the first time she falls flat on her face? Will she hide all that from us out of shame? Will she grieve because she has damaged some legacy that doesn't really even exist?

So I think I've decided to let her clip my "angel's" wings now if it will help her learn to truly fly.

I don't have this figured out. I just know that the real angel is not me. It's her.

It's a Respect Thing

2010-10-05T06:57:00.000-07:00

What language is spoken? How do the people dress? What do the people eat? What are the customs? What are the stated and assumed expectations? What do the people value?

These are questions asked by everyone who leaves his home to live in a new country. Part of connecting with people is knowing people. If someone desires to have influence with a certain group of people, he will do his best to fit in, speak the language, and respect the values of those people.

It's amazing that the local church often ignores this principle. Before sending missionaries to a remote village on the other side of the world, churches make sure they know the language, have the appropriate dress, understand what to eat and what not to eat, are familiar with the customs, and know what the people value. It's just common sense.

Yet, when we desire to have the same influence with people in our own community, we often impose on them our language, our dress, and our traditions!

I'm not suggesting we betray our convictions, or water down our faith-message. And the people we want to serve don't want us to do that either. They want us to be genuine. Authentic. Honest. AND respectful of their context.

Over the last few years, I've identified the groups of people for whom I have a real burden and I'm learning more and more each day how to connect with them. We have a common language. We have similar interests. We listen to the same music. We eat the same stuff (or drink the same protein shakes). And in those moments when my convictions disagree with something, I respectfully explain my struggle but maintain the relationship.

When it comes down to it, its a respect thing. And everyone responds to that.

It's About Time

2010-10-04T12:15:00.000-07:00

The word is finally out. Grace Community Church is going multi-site. I have prayed for a long time that this day would happen. My gut told me that we would first build a permanent facility and then launch a new site. But God surprised us. And I'm glad I was wrong.

For those of you who don't live in the Clarksville area, or if you missed this past Sunday's gathering, here is a re-cap of what's happening:

* Some time in 2011, GCC will launch a new site. At that point, GCC will have two locations: Rossview High School and Kenwood High School. Both sites are a part of the SAME church family. That equals 3 services at Rossview and 1 at Kenwood.

* The GCC staff will be leading/overseeing both locations. At this time, there are no plans to assign specific staff members to a particular campus. We will be driving a lot on Sundays but it will be worth it!

* A launch team will eventually be formed. This team will be comprised of volunteers whose hearts are at Kenwood and are willing to serve the people of that community.

* We are moving forward with our plans to build a permanent facility for the Rossview campus. The land will be paid for in another month or so. After Kenwood is launched, the GCC family will be hearing a lot more about the facility.

My co-pastor www.ronedmondson.com will be blogging in more detail soon. You can also check out www.gcomchurch.com for answers. If we don't yet have the answers, we'll share what we do know.

After making this announcement Sunday, I was stopped by a 9th grader from Kenwood High School. What he told me fired me up! He said, "It's about time you came to my neighborhood. I've got a lot of friends. I'm telling them all. This thing's gonna blow up!"

Yep. It's about time.

The Unknown

2010-09-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and being certain of we don't see. On the surface that seems to be the worst thing a person of faith could ever hear. If we live by faith, we will live in a cloud of mystery. We will have to act on what we believe without knowing exactly how things will turn out. We will have to make purchases or sacrifices based on what we believe about God. We will have to begin some conversations and end some others based on what we believe to be right.

Every now and then I stop and recap what I believe: That an invisible being I call God is responsible for everything. That I broke off my relationship to Him when I sinned (that's actually not too hard to accept). That He sent His Son to earth to die for us. That He was raised from the dead. That God's Spirit now leads people back to Him and that same Spirit lives inside of everyone who becomes a follower of Jesus.

When I think about all this, it sometimes sounds crazy to me. There is still so much that is hard to accept. So much that is beyond my understanding. So much that I don't like!

But I still believe.

And that means I will live my life embracing mystery and living in the unknown. Maybe the only comforting thought is that when I'm in control of the outcomes, I seem to screw stuff up. I'd rather trust God and live in the unknown than trust myself in the land of the familiar.

Personal but not Private

2010-09-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

Does it matter what other people think about us?

On one hand, no it doesn't. Ultimately, God is the Judge. No person on earth has the authority to condemn us. Being a people pleaser is not only a bad idea, it's something God explicitly tells us to avoid.

On the other hand, our personal faith was never meant to be private. OUR salvation connects us. To the extent that some writers in Scripture made choices to change their behaviors not because they were convicted but because it offended someone else.

There are some things that I believe I'm free to do but I stay away from them. Why? Because I know it will be completely offensive to someone else. Sometimes I just have to ask myself if it is worth it. Is exercising my freedom worth losing my influence with someone else? Is a particular behavior so great that I would be willing to make people doubt my faith just to experience it?

I've made so many mistakes in my life and offended so many people that I probably shouldn't even write this. But after learning this lesson the hard way, I'm choosing to make an attempt at making sure my personal faith does not wreck someone else's. There are some things I'll never get to do. Some places I'll never get to go. Some experiences I'll never have.

But if it preserves the influence I have in someone else's life, I'll just learn to live without it.

I'm not trying to tell you what to do...I'm just hoping you'll at least be willing to ask the following question before you make the decision:

"Is doing what I'm about to do worth the confusion it may cause someone else?"

Just don't tell me that my heavy metal music offends your faith. I just can't give that up.

What are you willing to give up for the sake of preserving your influence and protecting someone else's faith?

We Do What Matters

2010-08-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

I drove nine hours there on Friday. I drove nine hours back on Sunday. Why? So I could spend Saturday watching Emmitt Smith’s induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. I’m not complaining. It was awesome! I was in football heaven. Being up close and personal with legends like Darryl “Moose” Johnston, Gayle Sayers, Ronnie Lott, and others was worth it.

Now that I’m home, I’m faced with the harsh reality that I always find the will and a way to do what matters most to me. Like you, I have a busy life. Just as it is for you, money is always a factor for me. We all share life’s stresses. But when it involves our passions, we find a way to do it. Because it matters to us.

It’s true, you don’t have time to gather and worship with a group of people

It’s true, you don’t have the skills to eloquently communicate your faith story to your friends.

It’s true you don’t have time to meet with a group of people who keep you accountable for the decisions in your life.

It’s true you don’t have the money to meet others’ needs and support noble causes.

It’s true you don’t have the energy to carry others’ burdens.

It’s also true that all of us find the time and money to do what matters to us.

Maybe our problem is that the wrong things matter more to us than the stuff that should matter.

Think for Yourself

2010-07-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Today I’m considering why so many people who don’t want to be told what to do ACUTALLY DO want to be told what to believe.

I know some of it’s cultural. The preacher/teacher/pastor/priest is supposed to be an expert in “belief.”

Some of it is emotional. Even the most confident people fight insecurity in the realm of faith and they’re afraid to get it wrong.

Some of it is environmental. People often grow up in homes where faith-talk happens only on Sunday mornings and only by the church’s authority figures.

Regardless of why it’s true, the idea that people want to be told what to believe bothers me. And I think it’s pretty unhealthy in the long run.

I would much rather lead people to think for themselves and search for Truth than to tell people what to believe. Why?

* No one is truly an expert. Not even the preacher/teacher. Certainly not me. We’ve all been shaped by our own experiences and atmospheres of faith. As hard as we try to be objective, we are sometimes wrong.

* My own life-changing moments came about as a result of searching the Scriptures on my own…not someone telling me what to believe.

* Loving God with our minds is just as important as loving Him with our hearts. Even thinking is an act of worship when we think on Truth.

* When I struggle with doubts in my own faith, I need a stronger foundation than “Well, that’s what the reverend said in that one sermon that one day.” I want my beliefs to be grounded in Scripture…and then prayer…and then experience…and then the words of someone else.

Listen, I know God speaks to us through other people. I pray He speaks through me daily. But I would much rather lead you to discover some things on your own than to give you a list of things to do to make God happy. One day I’ll be long gone and out of your life. But the Truth you discover will change you for eternity.

Love God with your heart, your soul, your mind, and your strength (Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27),

Chad

Defeated by My Own Strengths

2010-07-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

Jephthah, although a lesser known figure in history, is the kind of guy our culture idolizes. He was an underdog who rose to prominence. Born out of an affair his dad had with a prostitute, he was run out of town by his self-righteous half-brothers and half-sisters. Homeless and penniless, he lived with a “group of adventurers” and became their leader (Judges 11:3).

During that time of his life, he developed his strengths. He was a natural born fighter. He was fearless. When he was in battle, he was in his sweet spot. As crude as it sounds, killing was what he did best.

Yet his strength brought about his own tragedy.

When his hometown was desperate for a hero and needed someone to come to its rescue, it turned to Jephthah. Jephthah returned with the promise that if he led them to victory, he would become leader of those who previously ran him out of town.

As confident as this fighting machine was in his strengths, he turned to God and begged for victory. In the heat of the moment, and in the midst of a desperate prayer, Jephthath promised to make a sacrifice to God if he won the battle. Not just any sacrifice. Jephthah would sacrifice whatever (or whoever) came out to greet him when he returned home (Judges 11:31).

After winning the battle, Jephthah returned home. Tragically, his daughter came out to greet him. What should have been an unparalleled legacy of military leadership, turned to a legacy of sorrow.

Here’s what this story teaches me: The thing that makes us great makes us dangerous.

Jephthah’s strength was his fighter spirit, his battle-ready mindset, and his win-at-all-costs attitude. Yet, his focus on defeating the enemy caused him to make an unnecessary vow and possibly cost him his only child.

Sometimes our greatest strengths can be out biggest weaknesses.

We are often most vulnerable at our point of strength.

Maybe your strength is your dynamic personality. Your outward beauty. Your strategic mind. Your brilliant ability to communicate. Your flawless pedigree. Your compassion. Your fighter spirit.

That strength also has the potential to bring about your downfall.

Most of us are fully aware of our weaknesses and limitations. We beg God to help us through those times. We know when we’re in over our head.

But with our strengths? Some of us are sleepwalking right into a snakepit.

* What are my strengths?

* How could those strengths become potential weaknesses?

* If I was the Enemy, how would I design an attack for me?

What about you?

Raising Aliens

2010-07-20T11:30:00.001-07:00

I haven’t been a dad for long. Just 11 years. Yet as I watch my two kids grow, I’m realizing more and more how strange they are. Like alien-strange. They are simply not the cookie-cutter kids I was told that all kids have to become.

In my first years of parenting, I just waited to be cracked upside the head with a can of soup. Or to have to throw away a couch due to Sharpie-graffiti. Or to one day round the corner in the local supermarket and find one of my kids on his face on the floor screaming because I wouldn’t buy some one-dollar toy.

Now, even as I write this I sense some of you saying, “Just wait. Your time is coming.” And maybe it is. My point is not to say I’ve figured this thing out. It’s simply to say I think I have discovered what has been my saving grace in my first decade of parenting: Respect.

Growing up as a follower of Jesus, I heard a lot about how God desires children to respect, honor, and obey, their parents. But few people championed the idea that parents should respect their children. I realize a blog may not be the best forum to share this thought, so I’ll try to make it brief.

* We never put our kids on the spot in public.

If my child needs to make a decision about anything from school to spending the night with a friend, I always step aside and talk privately first.

* We never talk to someone else about our children in front of our children.

No comment needed

* We rarely take time away from our children

A date night every now and then. Maybe a weekend getaway. But babysitting is not the norm. Heck, it’s not even common with us. We’re a package deal. A team. You get one of us, you get us all.

* We never shout or slam doors while our children are in the room

I’m not necessarily advocating shouting and slamming the doors when the kids aren’t around. The point is my kids do not witness outbursts in the home.

* We don’t always rescue our children

Sometimes a kid needs to bandage his own boo boo.

* We celebrate our kids’ character over their achievements.

I’m all about scoring touchdowns, shooting hoops, and making A’s. But we choose to celebrate moments when our child offers forgiveness, demonstrates humility, exhibits real joy, etc…

* We don’t talk to our kids as if they're teletubbies.

If you offer to pamper your child, he will let you do it. Just don’t make that kind of treatment an option. You’re leading the kids to become adults!

* We don’t make empty promises.

If our kids were acting up and I threatened to make them leave the party, we left the party! If I threatened to send them to bed…they went to bed! If I threatened to take away a toy, I took it away.

* We communicate!

We know our kids’ favorite songs, best friends, favorite clothes, teachers’ names, etc… My best friend is an 8 year old boy and that’s just the way I want it.

After another decade passes, I’ll write about all the mistakes I made. And maybe I’ll eat my words. But for now I’m raising aliens…and that’s cool.

Ten Things Every Guy Needs to Hear At Least Once

2010-07-15T19:09:00.000-07:00

10. You're Brave

9. I Couldn't Have Done It Without You

8. I'm glad you're here

7. You're a good friend

6. You've got the job

5. You were right. I was wrong

4. Sure. Eat all you want.

3. I want to be just like you

2. I'm proud of you

1. I believe in you

How Necessary is Jesus?

2010-06-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

"If we could be perfect on our own, we wouldn't need Jesus." I can't tell you how many times I've heard well-meaning people say something like that. While I understand that the bottom line truth they were trying to communicate is that Jesus saves, that quote is just not true.

Without Jesus everything falls apart. We can't breathe. We have no beginning. The stars fall out of the sky. Heck, there is no sky, much less a star. There is nothing to be saved without Jesus.

I fear that we've painted a picture of Jesus that makes him out to be a super-hero that finds His meaning when we mess up. He doesn't need us to have meaning. He is meaning. He is purpose. He is.

I was just reminded the other day how much bigger Jesus is than we make Him out to be.

Jesus is not a response to our failure. We are a response to Jesus' love.

Top 10 Most-Listened-To Songs On Our Recent Vacation

2010-06-21T18:53:00.000-07:00

Some of these are a little embarrassing. Some may need some explanation...but I'm not giving any. The four of us just had a blast singing along! Good times.

10. Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something

9. Mmmm Bop - Hanson

8. When It's Over - Sugar Ray

7. In Your Honor - Foo Fighters

6. Bye Bye Bye - NSYNC

5. No Rain - Blind Melon

4. So What - P!nk

3. Mr. Roboto - Styx

2. Awake and Alive - Skillet

1. Monster - Skillet

Can't wait til next year.

Unplug

2010-06-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

For the last 10 months, life for us has been like life is for all our friends: full. Five days a week, one or both of my kids have school and then some kind of ball practice. We get home at 7:00 or 7:30 and then get the homework done, eat a late meal, and put them to bed. Then my wife and I have about an hour to watch a television show, unwind, and go to sleep. Saturdays are game days. Sundays are, well, Sundays. With all the practicing, playing, studying, working, and meeting, it's easy to miss the small things. We're unplugging this week. The first evidence that this was needed break was hearing my son look at the vast ocean and say, "Man, it's amazing that God made all this. It's like He knew what we liked and made our favorite things for us."

So grateful for this moment.

You're not helping them...you're hurting them.

2010-06-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

We all like to be needed. Actually, we love to be needed. We need to be needed. Sometimes I wonder if that's why we often don't help people learn to take care of themselves. We want them to need us.

We don't train people to do our jobs. We don't lead people to discover things on their own. We run to the rescue! We spoon-feed people like babies! Why? We're afraid if they learn to fend for themselves, we won't be needed anymore. And we want to be needed.

But we're hurting them. Not helping them.

My 8 year old stood in front of the pantry last night and said, "I'm hungry." My reply? "Buddy, why don't you pick something that sounds good. Reach out your hand and grab it. Take it to the table and then eat it." I may have just unleashed a monster. He may no longer need me to prepare meal for him. But I can promise you he'll find something new today that requires my help. And I'll be thrilled to help him! But not forever. He's got to learn to do some things for himself.

Are there any things you're doing right now to help people that are having the opposite effect?

When It's Time To Move On

2010-05-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

I spent a few hours this week talking with people who are wrestling with thoughts of quitting their jobs. Each person is in a "good" situation. No one is being forced into a corner. The compensation is not overwhelming but it is acceptable. I would never advise someone to quit a job. That's a decision that can only be made by that particular employee. But I believe that:

When you no longer have joy doing the things that once brought you fulfillment...it's time for a change.

Change doesn't necessarily mean a letter of resignation. In some businesses, one may have the opportunity to begin a new department or transition into a position of more responsibility. Heck, maybe your office just needs a window! But in some cases, it does mean moving on to something else. I firmly believe that God uses discontentment and frustration to move us to begin new chapters in our lives. If we were completely happy, most of us would not even consider changing jobs even if we thought God might be telling us to do so.

Whether or not you need to change jobs is something I don't know. What I do know is that life is short and that God created with the capacity to know fulfillment, purpose, and joy.

I wish my office had a window.

Chad

Serving Brings Criticism...But So What!

2010-05-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

My church family loves to help people. Seriously. It's like an addiction or something. Most of the people simply cannot relax knowing someone else is hurting. It makes no difference whether it's a local need or an international need: They want to meet the need. So we've become known as the church that gets down and dirty with those in need. We're the church for the black sheep of the family. People who get kicked out of other churches find a home with us. Not everyone comes with that kind of baggage, but most of us do (which includes me). People from all walks of life have joined us in serving others. Many who do not even consider themselves to be followers of Jesus work side by side with us to serve others. So we are criticized. We are supposedly too worldly. We supposedly have become a club of people who meet to have fun and then go help others. We have supposedly watered down the message of Jesus.

Well, here's the real deal. I understand the concern. Honestly, I do. It would be very easy to become a social ministry club that is united by a general belief in God. We could caught up in helping people and refrain from doing or saying anything that would offend them. We could just talk about morals and character and leave out a personal relationship with Jesus. We could. But we don't. And we won't.

Who we are is family of broken people united by the grace of God as revealed in the person of Jesus. And our response to discovering how much Jesus loves us is to go serve people. As we serve, we hope to find the opportunity to verbalize what we believe. But we may not. Maybe all we can do is love them and serve them. And doing so will bring criticism. The criticism will come from religious people. But those who need to be loved and need to be served won't care about the criticism. Neither will we.

Later,

Chad

Waiting and Trusting

2010-05-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in the distance there is a road, a row of businesses, cars, new developments, semi-historic landmarks, stability, comfort, financial security, and a lot more. It can't be seen, but somewhere under the water it is there.

All throughout Scripture, water symbolizes cleansing, answered prayers, new beginnings, and deliverance. Right now, to the people of my town, it symbolizes despair. We are experiencing some real tension between worshiping a God who is in control and sorting through the disaster that surrounds us. There are no answers right now. But even though I may question God and wonder "how" and "why" this happened, I will still worship. I will choose to keep following God even with my doubts and questions. Every time I have come to the end of myself and begged God for mercy, He shows up.

Well, Jesus we are at the end of ourselves. We'll wait for you now. And as we wait, we'll trust You.

Unlikely Messenger

2010-04-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

Anytime tragedy strikes, I start praying for God to use the tragedy to positively affect someone's life. It rarely seems possible or likely at the time, but I pray to that end. Yesterday I shared a story of tragedy with my church (well, not my church but you know what I mean). The quick version of the story is that last summer my closest friend from middle school and most of high school died in a car accident. That very day I prayed that somehow God would use that tragedy to somehow change someone else's life. Well, after sharing his story and some other truth principles yesterday, two people came up to me and said they had become followers of Jesus...AND it was my friends tragic story that opened them up to the truth.

It doesn't ease the pain of the loss (especially from the perspective of my friend's parents and family), but knowing God brought some good out of it is another reminder that God is in control. So to my friend who left this world way too early, thanks for pointing people to God. God used your story to change lives.

Peace!

Dream On

2010-04-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

Dream On

We all dream. Sometimes we remember our dreams the next morning. Sometimes we don't. But we all dream. And the one thing all our dreams have in common is that there are no limits. No rules. Anything and everything is possible. It's only when we wake up that we feel forced to live in a reality where we have limitations and restrictions.

I'm certainly not advocating that we abandon all moral codes or boundaries by which we are living, BUT maybe dreaming is not so bad. In fact, if it is only in our dreams that we feel the freedom to express our gifts, to take risks, to go on an adventure, to demonstrate courage, to rescue the helpless from injustice, to know what it is to be loved, to explore the depths of our emotions, then I hope we all dream a little more often. And who knows. Maybe one day God will provide an opportunity for us to stop sleep-walking through life and start making our dreams a reality.

So to everyone living in a cubicle of safety, comfort, and unwrinkled clothes: Close your eyes for a moment and DREAM ON. Anything is possible!

Too strong for words

2010-04-08T06:51:00.000-07:00

We often tell our stories when the ending is bubbly and everyone is happy. But you have to check out this story of real faith.

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

Maybe We've Been the Problem All Along

2010-04-06T17:46:00.000-07:00

Growing up, it seemed like every adult enjoyed bashing my generation. It was as if we were more immoral, godless, and aimless than the previous one-thousand generations. When discussing why my generation didn't attend church services or want to dialogue about faith, the answers given always seemed to go back to the hardness of our hearts and the selfishness of our dreams. Pardon me if now I'm starting to think that was a bunch of bologna.

I'm witnessing more changed lives now than I ever have. Every single week I hear people say things like, "I finally get it," or "I never thought I would be excited about faith-stuff." Maybe when Jesus said hearts were ready to be harvested, He was telling the truth. Maybe I'm not really witnessing a unique movement of God. Maybe if we had been communicating truth this whole time in a way that was transparent and accessible, people would have accepted it.

After all, wasn't Jesus merciful with the broken people outside the church and more harsh with the people inside the church? When and where did we get the idea that we were supposed to be judgmental towards the broken people on the outside and give a wink and a nod to the people inside the church? God forgive us!

I'm not claiming to have answers. I'm just wondering if we've been the problem all along. Maybe?

Quotes from Sunday

2010-03-22T12:34:00.000-07:00

Top 10 quotes I heard or read this past week:

10) "I was so against this (@Gcomchurch) for so long, but after 3 months I have to tell you I love it."

9) "I don't drink as much on Saturday nights so I can make it to church on time."

8) "I want you to know I support your vision and am with you on your quest (via text)."

7) "My husband came with me today for the first time."

6) "Today, the person I invited a few weeks ago brought some guests with him."

5) "Is Easter on Sunday this year?"

4) "Thanks for not looking down on me just because I choose to dress up each week."

3) "I haven't been able to be at church since before Christmas but I try not to ever miss." ???

2) "Today I'm bringing (to church) a friend I met on e-Harmony. It's our first date."

1) "My kid just became a follower of Jesus...like just a minute ago...in the hallway...can you baptize him today?"

My Name Is

2010-03-16T07:31:00.000-07:00

Nearly everyone I know who has attempted to do great things has, at some point along the way, fallen flat on his face. That includes me. Even though those failures may always be in the back of our minds, and even though they may one day produce great opportunities to help others in the healing process, I whole-heartedly believe that God wants us to move forward to new things.

To encourage people to move forward, Jesus inspired a man named John to write the following words:

"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name." Revelation 3:11-12

A new name! A new name! A new name! The work that God is doing in us is changing who we are. He's even changing our name! Maybe you've stolen, broken trust, cheated, or abused. Maybe you've been addicted, fired, embarrassed, humiliated, or broken. No matter what you have done or has been done to you, God is making all things new. Including your name.

It doesn't always make things easier, but I often need to be reminded that when God calls me into His presence, He DOES NOT yell, "Hey loser/cheater/abuser/thief/addict/ disappointment/etc... He calls me, "Hey my son, I'd love to spend some time with you."

SUMMARY: I don't care what others call you. If you have surrendered to Jesus, God calls you, "My child."

Win or Lose

2010-02-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

So I'm sitting here today with my eyes dancing between the television and my laptop. USA and Canada are duking it out in the gold medal hockey game of the 2010 Winter Olympics. A moment ago, I said to myself, 'Win or lose, this has been a great game and I'm proud of my country's team." It got me thinking how short-sighted it would be for me to think otherwise. Sure, winning is better than losing. But if we are only able to recognize the accomplishments of those who win, there are a lot of deserving people who never hear those golden words: I'm proud of you.

Whether it's a child playing a sport, a teenager trying to pass an exam, a young executive trying to climb the ladder of success, or an olympic athlete striving for gold, we all fall short of gold at some point. In those moments, God raises up people who know the pain of disappointment. When that opportunity presents itself, we have the chance to look into teary eyes and say with sincerity, "I'm proud of you." Who better to be that voice of encouragement than followers of Jesus who have been restored in spite of falling so short of God's own expectations.

Well, dang it! What do you know. Crosby just scored and Canada won. Bummed? You betcha. Proud of the silver medal that will soon be hung around the necks of my countrymen? Absolutely. Win or lose, they put it on the line and gave a max effort.

Congrats Canada. We almost had ya!

Stay

2010-02-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

The fear of being left alone or being left behind can make people do crazy things. I've seen it motivate people to say "Yes" to a marriage. I've seen it cause people to remain quiet and not express their feelings. It has redirected career paths. It has caused others to work hard to forget their lifelong dreams.

I was reading Psalm 119 today. The Message translation of verse eight says, "...don't ever walk off and leave me (God)." Even though God has promised to never do it, I often feel the need to remind Him that I'm here. To notice me. To never walk off and leave me. In spite of what I've done or been afraid to do...to stay.

Bringing Saxy Back

2010-02-14T14:49:00.000-08:00

My worship pastor and I worked on getting bagpipes into the weekend service. That was not working out as we had hoped, so we went to "plan b." We asked someone to play the sax! It was awesome. Started off our "non-traditional" services with a sax-rendition of "Blessed Assurance." Old school never felt so good!!!!! After my co-pastor's message, we took communion and heard an acoustic version of "The Lord's Prayer." Off the charts! We the closed the service with some more sax. So all in all, we went about as retro as we could this weekend, and it was awesome.

To top off the day, we met with a couple of hundred people at 2:00 this afternoon and baptized 20 people.

What a weekend. Now it's time to sit back and wait on more snow. Oh never mind. Just remembered I've got to strip the wallpaper off the walls of my kids' bathroom. Not even that chore can jack up this day. It's been a good one.

Lots to Love

2010-02-08T07:01:00.000-08:00

There was a lot about this weekend that was memorable.

- Spent Friday night on a date with my daughter. We've got to do that more often

- Kids' basketball games on Saturday morning. They rocked it!

- Finished tiling a shower on Saturday afternoon. I actually enjoy that stuff.

- Talked to dads and their high school daughters Saturday night about purity. What an opportunity.

- Sat in the garage for 15 minutes late Saturday and listened to APSU almost upset Murray. Haven't listened to basketball on the radio in a long time.

- Sunday at Grace was a great day all around. A few blips here and there but I believe people truly encountered God and that's the end goal.

- Spent Sunday afternoon on the couch with the kids.

- Sunday night...well...let's just skip that one and say that I'm already looking forward to next season. 6 and 1/2 more months til NFL Kickoff Weekend!!!!!

One Last Thought and a Cookie

2010-01-20T08:28:00.000-08:00

My last few blog entries have centered on principles that guide worship gatherings which I help lead. Today, is the last one...for now. Oddly enough, this principle has taken life in me thanks in part to my grandmother.

Perhaps the reason I am so cautious today with what I eat is because that as a child I ate everything! Everything! Bologna, cheese, peanut butter, and marshmallow cream (and that was just one of my favorite sandwiches). If it had sugar and butter, I ate it. My grandmother, whom I called "Nana" contributed greatly to my growing stomach. Every time I visited her house, I went directly to a special spot on the corner of her kitchen counter. It was there I would find a Cool Whip tub filled with chocolate, peanut butter, oatmeal, cookies. You know the ones that look terrible but taste out of this world? Yeah those. They were my favorites and Nana knew it.

As I grew older, I started to wonder how she knew to make the cookies. Three out of every four visits, I would find cookies waiting on me to devour them. They were always fresh. Often still warm. Yet, I rarely told her when I was coming to visit. Then it hit me. She made cookies for me in case I visited her. She was always ready! I can only imagine how many cookies went uneaten and had to be thrown away when I failed to go see her. But it was worth it to her. Whenever I did decide to drop in, she wanted to be ready!

When planning worship gatherings, it's easy to focus on those who are present every week. Those who work and plan with me have made a conscious effort to do the opposite. We plan the services for those who may not show up. But when they do, we will be ready. We don't compromise or water-down the Truth. We simply communicate it in a way that says to a first-time guest, "We're glad you're here. We've been expecting you."

We never known when that neighbor, spouse, child, friend, or co-worker, is going to finally accept our invitation and show up on a Sunday morning. Maybe it will be this week. Maybe it won't. But when they come, the cookies will be warm and waiting on them.

Thanks Nana.

For those of you who care to think about this some more, I encourage you to check out 1 Corinthians 14 (especially vv. 23-25).

Random Thoughts on Worship, part 3

2010-01-06T06:57:00.000-08:00

There are some truth principles that guide how www.gcomchurch.com plans its weekend gatherings. In the last few blog entries, I have tried to communicate these ideas as briefly as possible. Here's a rundown so far...

1) Informal Reverence - While we should always maintain a humble reverent attitude in worship, that does not mean we have to treat it like a black-tie affair. In fact, the last time I attended one one of those things I could not help but feel like everyone was fake! We can be ourselves in God's presence. He loves us as we are.

2) Biblical Teaching - Truth does not have to be confusing to be biblical. Calling something "deep" does not mean it is. We strive to communicate the truth of God's Word. All of it can change our lives. Even the "shallow" stuff.

3) Eliminate Distractions - When technical things go wrong, it is distracting. When people walk into a church gathering, why should they be exposed to mistakes and lack of preparation. God's Spirit is often unpredictable, but that's no excuse for not having our act together.

4) Embrace Questions - Our infatuation with facts and having answers often robs us of the joy of living in the mystery of God. Enough said!

Now, to the next one:

5) Celebrate Each Step

Worship is less about feeling God and more about following God. If it was all about a feeling, we would design our gatherings to manipulate emotions and give everyone a warm and fuzzy. Emotions may play a part in the process, but the end goal is to take steps in our journey with (and pursuit of) God. We all need to take steps. That usually happens one at a time.

In our gatherings, we celebrate any and every step. For some, the next step is just coming back the next week. For others, it is to confront an enemy and offer forgiveness. It may be an internal thing like choosing to pray or being honest with God about a pain or sin. Regardless of what step is taken, the step is significant.

When people leave the gathering, we want them to know that we are proud of them for taking a step. The call to live a holy life which is modeled after a holy God is a difficult one. We all need someone to believe in us and recognize that we are in the process. The journey may seemingly be slower than we would like for it to be for some people, but at least they're taking a step!

I have one final thought on the design of our worship gathering. I'l share it next time. Happy New Year everyone!

Random Thoughts on Worship, part 2

2009-12-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

Alright, here's some more of my thoughts on worship, and maybe insight into why I worship the way I worship. It would be helpful to read part 1 before reading this. I'm in the process of listing principles that guide worship planning at my local church gathering. You can find it on www.chadrowland.com Picking up with number...

3) Eliminate Distractions

It's embarrassing to admit, but many of us have the ability to lose focus and become distracted IN THE MIDDLE OF WORSHIP! How crazy is that? But it's true. In the presence of God, we wonder why the microphone keeps cutting out, why the transitions between worship elements are so awkward, and what the previous song had to do with the topic of the day. The message that God has for us today is so important, we want to make sure we have done everything to help people pay attention. So we give thought to every second of the service. Lights. Fresh batteries in the wireless mics. Video images. The font style on the screen. Transitions. Heck, we consider the vocal tone of the person giving the announcements. It's all important because if someone gets distracted, we have failed to do what we set out to do...which is to challenge followers of Jesus with the Truth in a way that a non-follower of Jesus can understand.

4) Embrace Questions

Jesus' method of teaching involved a lot of questions. He often answered questions with another question. We intentionally fight the urge to try and give complete answers to every question. Sometimes what we need more than anything is to embrace the mystery of God instead of attempting to figure Him out. At times, at the close or our services, people leave with something to chew on as opposed to something we have told them to believe. And we're okay with that.

Final two principles are coming sooooooon.

Random Thoughts on Worship, part 1

2009-12-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

Worship is certainly more than just what I do on weekends with my local church family. That will be the subject for another day. But here are my thoughts on that part of worship that takes place at what I call the gathering. Some refer to it as a service or mass. Maybe you give it a name that is more trendy or more traditional. Whatever you call it, in this post I'll be referring to that time when I get together with a group of people to focus our thoughts on the God who saves.

As a kid, worship took place in a large beautiful room, filled with stain-glass, wooden benches, a piano on the left and an organ on the right. My parents and about 30 others were dressed in silk robes. They sat behind the preacher's pulpit and formed the choir. All of us who were on the wooden benches wore pleated pants and button-downed shirts or dresses (for the record, I chose pants and a button-down shirt). My parents still worship in that setting. And their worship is sincere.

I now worship in a high school, filled with rows of theater seats. The instruments on stage are the same ones my favorite rock bands play. I wear jeans and a t-shirt most Sundays. So do my fellow worshipers (for the record, some of them still choose pleats and ties and that's fine with me). All in all, the way I worship now is not the same as it used to be. I still worship the same God. It just looks different these days. Not that anyone's really asking, but here are the six principles that guide how I worship:

1) Informal Reverence

When friends come over to my house, they don't hang out in the formal dining area. They come into my kitchen and living room, because they know that while they're in my house, they're home. Well, God calls us friends. I get to to worship in his den, not his dining room. That being the case, I still don't want to get so comfortable that I lose sight of God's holy nature. I never want to lose my sense of awe and wonder for Him. Each weekend, I do my best to encourage informal reverence at our gatherings. By that I mean being at home in God's presence but keeping in front of me the truth that it's only by His grace that I draw another breath.

2) Biblical Teaching

Each week, I'm aware that in the room there are those who do not yet have a relationship with the Living God. I never want them to leave confused or feel like knowing God is an impossibility for them. Yet, I'm aware that self-help strategies and ideas for moral living are hollow. In that same room are worshipers craving God's Word and ready to be challenged. Therefore, as a communicator, my desire is to challenge followers of Jesus with the truth of Scripture in a way that a not-yet-follower of Jesus can understand.

All right, I know you're tired of reading. I'll share the other 4 principles next time. But before I sign off, let me make clear one more thing. The way I choose to worship God is not a right or wrong issue. It's just me giving honor to God in a way that is faithful to the way He made me. If my parents' setting for worship is right for you, that's great! If not, that's fine too. I only know that each weekend, I seek God's face with an honest heart and He welcomes me into His living room every time.

Compassion

2009-12-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

About a year ago, my kids and I were driving to a local supermarket. We exited the interstate, arrived at the stoplight, and waited on the left turn signal. While waiting, the three of us noticed someone standing on the curb holding a piece of cardboard that read: “Hungry. Homeless. Please Help.” I was not planning on saying anything about the man with the sign. What was there to say? After all, I had taught my kids not to talk to strangers, much less approach them.

My son couldn’t resist. He read the sign and began to ask where I thought the man was born. And where he slept the night before. And who the man’s parents were. And where he went to the bathroom when he had to go. You know. The kinds of things a six year old asks about people who stand on street corners in dirty clothes, with frowns on their faces, holding messages that people like me try to ignore. To those questions, I had no answers. I just said, “I’m not sure. Why don’t you pray for him.”

My daughter, who is after my own heart, then began to ask me what specific groceries we were going to buy. Now that was a question I could answer! We were going to buy some bread. Not the cheap kind. The kind that is packaged twice. A wrapper within a wrapper. Then we would buy some peanut butter. Actually 3 jars of peanut butter. We each have a favorite brand. We would also buy some milk. Some cereal. Some frozen chicken breasts. Some steak. And then anything else that looked good while we walked the aisles.

As we pulled into the supermarket parking lot, my daughter and I talked about how hungry we were and what we would do if this particular store had only two kinds of peanut butter. My son was thinking of food too. He said, “I wonder what he likes to eat.” “Who?” I asked. “The man with the sign,” he replied.

In that moment, I think the three of us understood the difference between having compassion for someone and feeling sorry for someone. I felt sorry for the man on the curb. I really did. My son had compassion for him.

My daughter had a moment of clarity. She realized that her little brother was right and her dad was wrong. She then made this trip to the grocery a family mission: We would go shopping for the man with the sign.

Over the next 20 minutes, my kids shopped with a purpose. With passion. With heart. We put together what we hoped was the perfect meal. We loaded up the car and headed back to that special stoplight. The place where our pity turned to compassion. When we arrived, I allowed my daughter and son to get out of the car and deliver the meal to our new friend. He smiled and knelt down to thank them both. After a brief exchange of words, my children returned to the car.

As we headed home, I asked them both what we all learned that day. My son spoke first (as always) and said, “I learned that the man with the sign turned out to be a woman!” My kids’ hearts then exploded with laughter. But trust me. They were not laughing at the lady’s appearance. It just felt good to care about someone else. My kids reminded me that true compassion is not feeling sorry for someone else. It is caring enough to do something about it!

No More Fishing for You!

2009-11-05T06:50:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I have gone fishing. Granted, I was never Mr. Bassmaster but my dad took me fishing as a kid. In my teenage years, I had a pond in my front yard. Fishing was always relaxing for me and I kind of miss it. The only part that I didn't like about fishing was removing the hook. I usually just stood there with my Transformers fishing rod, watching my one pound fish dance his little fin off, waiting for my dad to take the line, and carefully take the hook out of the fish's mouth. There was just something about reaching out, grabbing the fish, and ripping the hook out of Nemo's mouth that didn't appeal to me.

Oddly enough, Jesus referred to His followers as fishers of men. The idea is that just as a fisherman gives his life to catching fish, we have the mission to pursue and lead people into a loving relationship with Jesus. In the last few years, I have purposefully spent a lot less time with other fishermen and a lot more time with other fish. As a result, I have developed a love for the one thing I always hated about fishing: removing the hook.

All around me are wounded fish. At some point each one swam near the action and investigated the bait. A little nibble here. A little nibble there. Gulp! They took a bite of what they hoped was Truth. Instead, they got a mouth full of hooks...and lies. They were hooked into thinking because they had an abortion, they were going to hell. Because they were divorced, they could never be valuable in ministry. Because they experienced an affair, they would always wear that label. Because they were angry with God, He was going to punish them. Because they were sprinkled, their baptism was a sin. Because they were an addict, they could not be a follower of Jesus. Because they were a victim of disease, there must be something wrong with their faith. Because they prayed a lot, they were supposed to be rich! All hooks! All lies!

What used to gross me out and make me dread going fishing, is now a great source of joy for me. Removing the hooks in wounded hearts and letting fish swim freely in the grace of God is more fun than I could ever imagine. So if you want to fish, fine. Come near the water, offer Truth to fish and see what God does. But if you're going to recklessly bait your hook with opinions, traditions, and lies, then I'm posting a new sign by the lake: NO MORE FISHING FOR YOU!

I pray today I have the chance to let one more off the hook. There's nothing like it.

Taxi Faith

2009-11-02T12:11:00.000-08:00

Last week, I spent a few days in Chi-Town. Maybe the best part of the trip was not the view from the top of the Hancock building. Nor was it the big city lights, the opportunity to enjoy a conference headlined by Don Miller (author of among others, "Blue Like Jazz."), or even attending the Bulls first game of the season. It was my encounter with a taxi cab driver, whose name I can not pronounce, much less write.

After watching the Bulls defeat the Spurs, I took a cab from the United Center back to the hotel. During that 10 minute ride, I texted back and forth with friends from back home. Upon arriving at the hotel, I paid the driver and got out of the taxi. Two seconds later I realized my phone was still taking a cab ride around the Windy City. I think I screamed "Poop!" to the top of my lungs and stood there feeling stupid beyond belief. I borrowed someone else's phone and called my phone hoping to leave a message persuasive enough to make any would-be thief reform his/her ways.

Two minutes later a cab came to a screeching halt in front of the hotel (where I was still standing with that stupid beyond belief look on my face). The window rolled down and a not-that-familiar face said, "You lose you phone?" I emptied my wallet and gave the driver all I had. He smiled and said, "Have good night."

Mr. I Can't Pronounce His Name went out of his way to make my day! The way I see it, there is convenient faith and then there is taxi faith. Maybe it's not a big deal to you, but it is to me. And so let the Taxi Faith revolution begin!

Four is Enough?

2009-10-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

My two children have made it absolutely clear that our family of 4 is big enough! No more! Then..."little man" came for a visit last night. Some friends of ours have taken a trip and we agreed to take care of their little guy. So last night he arrived. He slept great woke up with a smile. The five of us spent about an hour playing with baby toys and feeding him sliced bananas.

When it was time for school, my two reluctantly got in the car with me. On the way to school, I said, "Are you guys still sure you don't want any additions to our family?" Their response? You guessed it. Both of them referenced a newfound love of babies and would like another. Over the next 5 nights and after the next 1,081 diapers, we'll see if they feel the same.

Stay tuned...

Yes I Can Read!

2009-10-06T11:40:00.001-07:00

To the surprise of many of my friends, yes, I can read. While it is true that I prefer watching football and movies, and listening to music, I do discipline myself to read on occasion. After Sunday's message, a good friend asked me if I had read "This Present Darkness." Yes, I've read it. It was one of the only fiction books I've ever enjoyed. So, without further rambling, here is my list of 13 books you MUST read before you die:

1) The Book of Joshua...yes, the one in the Bible

2) The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning

3) Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

4) Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus

5) Crazy Love by Francis Chan

6) Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell

7) The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus

8) Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

9) Visioneering by Andy Stanley

10) The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

11) The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

12) Now, Discover Your Strengths, by Marcus Buckingham

13) Mad Church Disease, by Anne Jackson

Looks like a trip to www.amazon.com is in your near future!

Sincerely,

"Book-Worm"

Jesus and Imagination

2009-09-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was what my church calls Operation Serve. Over 1,000 of us hit the streets of our city and served. We built stuff, baked stuff, painted stuff, trashed stuff, sold stuff, bought stuff, replaced stuff, planted stuff, and made a difference in our little corner of the world. The only thing that was missing for many of the volunteers was the opportunity to see how our service was received. Some did. But most of us worked all weekend and could only imagine the smiles we were able to bring to peoples' faces. Made me think about Jesus (imagine that!).

As He was being tried, convicted, and ultimately executed, I believe Jesus knew that one day a guy like me would be forever grateful. I believe He knew that churches like the one I call home would come together and serve their community in the name of remembering Him. I believe that He knew someone like you may choose to follow Him. But we weren't there. In fact, from what I read in the Bible, it seems very few people were there to say, "Thanks. I will never be the same." As He served us, most everyone there was indifferent or cheered on His executioners.

I wonder if in His last moments, Jesus fought to imagine the humble smiles on the faces of those who would one day receive His act of service and say, "Thank you." Maybe He just fought to imagine the affirming look of His Father in Heaven saying again, "Well done." I'm not sure.

What I am sure of is the next time I have the privilege of serving people who are not there to say, "Thanks," I will fight to imagine the looks of gratitude they will soon display as they see what I've done for them. And more importantly, I will fight to imaging the affirming look of my Father in Heaven saying to me, "Well done." I know I don't always make God proud so I'm going to cherish that thought.

Jesus said He did not come to be served but to serve! What a great idea. Imagine that!

This is Me Every 2 Hours

2009-09-23T09:22:00.001-07:00

Church, Metal, and Benadryl

2009-09-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

What a great week it's been. Busy but great. The church I'm a part of went to 3 services on Sunday and it was a rush! Only 30 minutes between services so there was very little down time. That same day, I attended a baby dedication that and performed a wedding. Somewhere in between I found time to watch football...and I mean a lot of it! Thank goodness for my DVR and for friends who love me enough to NOT tell me who won the game until after I can get home and watch it.

Monday was a bucket list day. Saw the masters of metal live...finally! Metallica put on a great show at the Sommet Center in Nashville. I can't express how much I enjoyed watching those dudes rock. Hey Metallica! If you're reading this, call me. I can be your tour chaplain next time around!

A combo of allergy junk and staying up all night Monday did a number on me. Took a little medicine on Tuesday. BAD IDEA. Felt worse.

In between watching football and blowing my nose, I've had some time to reflect on the week. The sense of anticipation I had as Metallica prepared to take the stage was staggering. I was so jacked up to see these guys perform. It made me wonder where my sense of anticipation is as I get ready to pray each morning. Then last night the small group that meets in my home started talking about that same thing. Anticipation. Awe. Wonder. Humility. Silence.

Seeing the true Master of the Universe, the Creator of Music and Art, and Redeemer of my life, face to face as I prayed this morning took on a new meaning. In fact, I'm pretty stoked about spending time with Him again. Yes, I know God is always with me and I can pray anytime and all the time. But for me, I know what God wants. He wants me to carve out some time to see Him each day. He wants me to be as excited about seeing Him as I was to see my metal heroes on Monday. He wants my worship.

Rock on and pray on!

The Best is Yet to Come

2009-09-09T09:38:00.001-07:00

GCC will be 4 years old this Sunday. Can't believe how far God has taken us. I realize numbers are not the end goal but hearing story after story of how people are turning to Jesus fires me up! Now, we're adding a third service. This Sunday will be the first time I've spoken 3 times in 3 hours. May trade in my water for a little caffeine this weekend.

Top 10 - Underrated Experiences

2009-09-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

10. Mowing my lawn

Instant gratification! Quick sun-tan. Takes no thinking!

9. Discovering a pimple on my face

As a husband and father of two, it makes me feel like a teenager again and I love that!

8. Finding a new way to grill chicken

For a food snob like me, this is like Christmas morning.

7. Taking a sip of cold orange juice in the middle of the night.

There's just something about that burn. Helps me go back to sleep happy!

6. Sitting on the beach staring out at the ocean after sundown

I pray the Heaven has a beach.

5. Working out til I'm drenched with sweat and jumping into the pool.

Well, after I take off my shoes.

4. Attending a football playoff game

No words here. Can't even explain how cool it is.

3. Hearing my kids say, "Daddy."

It just never gets old.

2. Going to T.G.I. Friday's in Arlington, Texas.

The restaurant overlooks a baseball field. Just flat cool.

1. Sitting on the back porch and watching a storm roll in.

Love the balance between fear and awe.

Maybe next time, I'll write the Top 10 Overrated Experiences... Number #7 will probably be reading this blog. Later.

P.S. All you Facebook people, my website keeps my thoughts archived. It's www.chadrowland.com

Evidence

2009-09-01T12:11:00.000-07:00

Proof. That's what we want. Proof that God is real. That it even matters that He's real. That He knows we're here. That He believes in us...as in He believes in spite of our flaws that we still have value and potential. We want evidence that God is not a good idea but rather a real being.

Last weekend, God gave that to me in strange ways. First it was a memorial service. Lives were lost. Futures were stripped away. Belief was challenged. Yet in the midst of that tragedy, I heard widows talk of hope, comfort, and peace. In that, I saw God.

Next, it was a wedding. A beautiful bride spent two decades waiting on her groom. Her road was not always straight. Many obstacles threatened to derail her trip to the altar. But after a lot of patience, perseverance, and a spiritual awakening of sorts, there she stood in front of her groom. What did she hear him say? "I promise to remain faithful to you in success and disappointment, sickness and heatlth, joy and sadness, for the rest of our lives." In that, I saw God.

Then, it was a church. Not so much a church service. But the post-service stuff. People hanging around in the lobby talking about peoples' lives that had been changed. Dreaming about new opportunities to serve the people of their city. Saying things like, "I haven't been to church in years but I'm coming back to this one." And, "I'm not sure if I can call myself a Christian yet but I may be on my way." In that, I saw God.

Finally, it was a practice field. Two dozen 7-8 year olds dressed in football pads pretending to like the feel of getting knocked nearly unconscious. After practice, one of the kids who has no dad at home overheard me compliment one of the other players. He approached me and said, "Coach. What about me?" You know, all boys need to hear their dads tell them how great they are. I'm certainly not worthy to be a stand-in dad. But I told him, "You did great. I'm proud of you." He walked away with a confidence that is hard to express. In that, I saw God.

In the last 4 days, God showed up in my life as a Comforter, a Groom, a persistent Pursuer, and a Father. That's all the evidence I need for now. To all my friends who have yet to believe, let me remind you that evidence is not just in the stars. It's in the moments that make up your day.

Fresh Air

2009-08-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a big fat stinkin breath of fresh air for me. My co-pastor recommended I hit up a roundtable discussion of finances and ministry, led by www.rethinkmoney.org

Turned out to be a very good idea (thanks Ron). Made me think about some stuff about which I rarely think. Made some friends in the process.

Afterwards www.crosspoint.tv hosted a webcast preview for www.storychicago.com

I stuck around. And I am glad I did. A dozen artists (photographers, musicians, authors, etc...) gathered for 2 hours to discuss how to tell the story of Jesus to a changing generation. I know that subject doesn't fire up everyone, but I was absolutely glued in. Could have lasted another 2 hours from my perspective.

My ambition in life is to find ways to tell the story of redemption in new fresh ways. I was surrounded by people who share that dream. Very cool.

When was the last time you found yourself surrounded by people with a common dream? I would highly recommend you do that soon. It was a great day. Now I'm back in the office and it's raining. Oh well. Back to life...back to reality.

I'm Back

2009-08-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

So I've pretty much ignored Facebook, my blog, and my Twitter account for the last 2 months. Yeah, pretty irresponsible. But it's been one of those summers. We moved to a new house and that should explain it all. Selling and buying a home can be nuts at times. First we sold (thanks to Brian and Josh). Then we bought (thanks to Jason and Bob). Then we moved (thanks to my man Horace, and my movers, Jason, Jay, and Jonathan...and MY WIFE!). So we were in the home but without tv, internet, or gaming (our Wii broke). Then my wife's car broke. Well, the tv is fixed and the car is no longer broken, so I guess you can say things are looking up for us.

I'm now back in the world wide web and hope to remain a little more current. Here's what's up with us:

* My daughter is learning to jam on her new electric guitar. By the time she hits middle school, she's going to be amazing!

* My son's football is about to start practicing. I think the season is harder on his coach (me) than it is for him.

* My wife is dreading the fall schedule (football games and practices, soccer matches and practices, guitar practice, homework, 5 weddings in 8 weeks, etc...) so I keep telling her that we're doing it all for her. Not sure what that means, but it buys me some time.

* My co-pastor is taking his youngest son to college today. Man, that's got to be a tough.

* Brett Favre is coming out of retirement again? Are you kidding?

So anyway, life is back to its normal hectic self. Gonna try and keep my internet life a little more up to date.

Also, for those of you who follow me online, here's last week's talk...

http://www.truthcasting.com/TruthcastingPlayer.html#vString=9717,100000273,346

Later...and by that I mean...sooner than 2 months later,

I Just Like the Beat Mom

2009-07-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

I have been a music guy since I was a toddler. When I was around 3 years old, my mom said I would walk around the house singing the songs she listened to on the radio. As a kid, I would hang out in the living room of our house with my headphones on listening to my parents music.

I actually remember discovering a cassette of Neil Diamond's Greatest Hits. By the time I graduated from high school and left home, I spent thousands of hours listening to everything from Neil Diamond to Vince Neil. My mom would often question my choice of music. She would hear some borderline language or suggestive stuff and tell me to turn it off. My reply? Mom, I'm just listening to the beat.

Think about it. As a kid I walked around the house singing these famous lines...

"We'll be the drive-in. In the old man's Ford. Behind the bushes. Til I'm screamin for me...Baby, talk dirty to me."

Or "She's only seventeen..." (We miss you Kip Winger)

Later I sang, "I like big butts and I can not lie."

Seriously? Did I mean those words? Heck. I had no idea what the songs meant. I was just enjoying the music.

I even know the words to "Ice Ice Baby." Is it because they move my heart? Are you kidding?

I'm a follower of Jesus and have been for much of my life. That means I have sung a lot of church-songs too. I used to stand in church and sing things like...

"Wherever He leads I'll go."

"I surrender all."

"As the deer pants for water so my soul longs for You."

"Because He lives I can face tomorrow."

Seriously? Did I mean those words? Honestly I don't know. I think I just sang them because everyone else was.

In Isaiah 1:13-15, God told the people of Israel that He didn't want the people's sacrifices, songs, celebrations, and prayers, if their hearts were not in it. If it was just about the beat, then He wasn't listening.

Last Sunday I was at www.gcomchurch.com singing "Glorious," written by Todd Fields. It got me wondering if I really believe that. I'm not advocating that we all stop singing to God and go on a guilt trip. I'm just suggesting that we start paying attention to what we're singing and let our hearts match our lips. God loves it when that happens.

You late 80's peeps, can you believe we all stayed up late, watching MTV, singing "Love in an Elevator?" What was that about? And don't even get me started on that Boys 2 Men phase I went through. Well, it's late. I'm going to see if Headbanger's Ball is on tv. I'm craving some Motorhead!

Gossip

2009-07-06T17:25:00.001-07:00

Gave a talk at church on gossip last weekend. I've also been following all the Steve McNair comments on Twitterville this weekend. Makes me ask the question, "If it is true and it is public information, can it still be gossip?" My answer? "Heck yeah." Just because something is true does not give me the freedom to talk about it to other people. Yeah, freedom of speech. I'm all for it. But having integrity is more than that. I've had to ask myself recently if what I'm saying is really helping someone. If it is not, then I probably need to shut up. I honestly can not remember a time when I have lied about someone else. Don't get me wrong. I have lied before. Lots! But not about someone else. I have, however, told things about people that probably didn't help the situation. In fact, it may have made their healing process more difficult.

We've all got powerful info as to who's cheating on who, who got wasted on Saturday night and loved on Jesus on Sunday morning, who got divorced, who got fired from his job, who lost her virginity, who ____ (you fill in the blank). Even though we may be certain these things are true, what's the purpose of telling other people? To make ourselves feel better? To counter our own insecurities? Seriously?

A book in the Bible called Proverbs says wise people don't talk so much. I'm sure Steve McNair's widow and kids would like for those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus to learn from that proverb. And the guys all around us (at work, at the gym, at church, down the street, etc...) who are slowly putting back together the pieces of their lives? I'm sure they would like that too.

In short, I think we all talk way too much. The next time I hear about what old so-and-so did, I hope I've got the guts to call that person directly and say, "Hey man. I heard. And I ain't telling a soul. If you need to talk, I'm here. Later."

Well, I guess I'll practice what I teach and simply shut up.

What the Heck Have I Been Doing Today?

2009-06-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

This dude built an exact replica of Noah's Ark.

I spent my day...

* Eating

* Getting my son a haircut

* Changing the oil in my wife's car

* Washing my wife's car

* Making a delivery to the Hope Center

* Eating

* Preparing a for a future message/talk/sermon

* Meeting with a guy who is "ready to become more religious"

* Meeting with a girl who is ready to kick Satan's rear-end

* Eating

* Lifting Weights

* Eating

* Updating this blog

* Wondering if I'll ever do anything as cool (or crazy) as build an ark.

Seriously, I wonder what I would do if time, money, and tools, were not obstacles. So far, my list includes curing cancer, inventing a 3-D feature for ESPN, and creating Peanut Butter flavored medicine. Guess I better get to work.

Having Gas is Good

2009-06-23T06:37:00.000-07:00

About 8 months ago, I got a new (to me) car. I sold a car and a truck and did a two for one thing. I love the new car! But I was used to my truck. My truck had a big gas tank. Filling up at the pump seemed costly but it lasted a while. Sunday, I saw the "low fuel" indicator light up on the dash. No big deal. In the truck, I could drive for miles before making a pit stop. I assumed the same was true for my car.

Yesterday, I pulled into the gas station. I removed the cap to my 15 gallon tank. I then proceeded to put in 14.8 gallons of gas. 14.8! Do the math. I was driving on 0.2 of a gallon. I had no idea how low on fuel I was. My car was basically dehydrated and I had no idea. I knew my ride was not full but she was dangerously close to breaking down!

Seasons of our lives are like cars. When we enter a new season of life, we assume our needs are the same as they were in the old one. Not always true. Some seasons, or stages, of our lives require more energy. Some require more patience. Some require more pit-stops. Some require more maintenance. That's not a bad thing. It's just the way it is.

Lately, I have needed to exercise more patience in more areas, than I have in a long time. And I just realized I have been running on near-empty. Being empty has made me less of a husband, dad, and friend to those closest to me. So, I have spent more time in the last two weeks talking to my source of strength (God) than I have in months. And little by little He's filled my tank. Apparently, I'm going to need more frequent pit stops in this season of life. I need more gas! I can honestly say this is the first time in life when my family is encouraging me to have more gas.

Guess We're All Abnormal

2009-06-15T17:42:00.000-07:00

Not sure what your favorite kind of music is but I have to be honest and say that Tori Amos is not on my iPod. In the name of diversity, maybe she should be. But she's not. Even still, I couldn't help but notice the title of her newest work - "Abnormally Attracted to Sin." The title worked. It caught my attention. In fact for a moment I thought the song was about me.

Sin (or whatever you call the stuff that you know keeps getting you in trouble) is like a magnet. No matter how far I distance myself from it, I feel the pull. No matter how long it's been since I lost a particular sin-battle, it still calls me out and challenges me again. If I ever relax, it sneaks up on me. Maybe that song is about you too. No matter the consequences, you still try to get away with it. No matter how many promises you've made to quit, you still find a way to do it one more time. It may be an attitude, a thought, or an action. But it's always there.

I was reading this today in Genesis 4..."But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Sin sounds like a tiger or a dragon in hiding! And mastering it is much harder than Kung Fu. Forgive the movie reference. The point is simply this: I think we all are abnormally attracted to sin. It's a fight for us all. It makes us all look and feel foolish at times. It weakens the strongest of us. It has the power to change our course and destroy our dreams. I know all these things first hand. I've battled the enemy for years and I still have a lot to learn. I'm not sure I'll ever be a "master." But one thing I do know is that I must remain teachable and never stop fighting. I may not be the holiest guy in the world. I may never master sin. But I'll die trying. I'll resist the temptation to make a 50 Cent reference here.

Here's what Tori Amos has to say:

Impeccable peccadillo
You are off your guard
Pussy willow calls there by the church
"Don't go in if you are abnormally attracted to sin"
Abnormally attracted to sin
She may be dead to you
But her hips sway a natural kind of faith
That could give your lost heart
A warm chapel
You'll sleep in her bell tower
And you will simply wake
Abnormally attracted to sin
Abnormally attracted to sin
Impeccable peccadillo
I know who you are
Tales of longing sway
Lost without a verse
Hymns of swing lay low
There by the church
"Don't go in if you are abnormally attracted to sin"

Yeah, me neither. Not sure what half of this means. But I know she's talking about me. And you. So to all those willing to agree that we are abnormally attracted to sin, I urge you to get your kung fu on. Fight back! After all, "sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

Who knew I could somehow connect Tori Amos and Kung Fu?

This One HIts Closer to Home

2009-06-10T07:13:00.000-07:00

My last blog post was prompted by the passing of a Hollywood icon. This one is prompted by the passing of my best friend from Middle School. It hurts me a little more. I just found out this morning on the way to the office. So I'm going to write out my prayer today.

Jesus, thank you for allowing me the honor of making memories with my friend, Chad. Yes it was weird having a best friend with the same name as me. But it made us more inseparable. More of a team. Teachers had to include the first letter of our last name when calling on us in school. That was cool too. I didn't mind being known as "Chad R." I ask that you comfort his parents now. I have no idea how they're dealing with this. Because it's been a while since we hung out, my mind is reminiscing today on our past. Here's what I remember:

We always roomed together at church camp.

We took each other on our family vacations.

We memorized every word and every note to every song by Guns 'N Roses.

We both drove classic cars from the '60s...in the '90s!

We spent every Friday night together for nearly 3 years...and ALWAYS cooked cinnamon rolls at midnight.

We sang in the youth choir together and in the awesome ensemble.

We toured Texas Stadium together. Later we toured DC.

We saw Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Skid Row, Huey Lewis, Stryper, Chicago, the Beach Boys, Brooks & Dunn, and many more concerts together.

We double dated together.

We played and sang in our garage band (Metallica was our favorite).

One time we cried together God and asked you to help us do a better job of making you happy...I guess looking back I have to say that is my favorite memory now.

So Lord, I thank you for letting us be a part of each others' lives. I miss him and regret not keeping in touch since high school. But I plan on seeing him again. "The Chads" will be reunited. And when we're together again, if it's okay with you, we may talk about how awesome Heavy Metal music is. But only for a moment. After that, we're going to dust off the golden pipes and sing together again. This time the song will be for You.

Thank you Jesus for my friend. We had some good times. Just not enough.

Behind the Eyes

2009-06-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

As all my friends know, I'm an entertainment junkie. I've got dozens of heroes from tv and movies but have no idea what they're really like. Many of them may be jerks. Some of them may be more moral and decent than my own grandmother. I just don't know. But I make assumptions. I make uneducated guesses. After I heard today that David Carridine, the star of Kung Fu (television) and Kill Bill (movies), had taken his life, I started thinking about this.

How many times have I walked past someone who was in the deepest despair and I just smiled at him? How often do I drive down the road and pass people who are thinking to themselves, "Do I really want to live another day?" Mental anguish. Abuse survivors. People contemplating having affairs. Others thinking about running away from home. They're all around us. Hollywood, California. Clarksville, Tennessee. The city makes no difference.

Just because someone smiles at us does not mean joy, or even happiness, is present. Only God knows what is going on behind those eyes. I think I'll start praying that God will show me what's there. I often pray that God will help me see other people the way He sees them. I think I'll also start praying that God will let me see people how they see themselves.

David, I wish you had known how much God loved you. And I hope someone introduced you to Jesus along the way. You had a lot of fans. But maybe fans are no replacement for friends.

Time Has a Way

2009-06-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

As my Facebook friends already know, I got to meet one of my childhood idols last week. His name? Jerry "the King" Lawler. If you're from West Tennessee, he is a household name. If not, you may still know "the King." A local wrestling company out of Nashville held an event in Clarksville. My wife saw his picture on an ad on a sign near her office and knew that when that bell rang, her husband would be at ringside.

The evening was truly unforgettable. I had never heard of any the other wrestlers. One was called White Tiger. Another was the Mexican Dragon. The most entertaining was this dude called Standard Wrestling Guy. I kid you not. As I was watching these not-ready-for-primetime wrestlers, I couldn't help but wonder: Was it like this when I was a kid? Were the local wrestling guys this, uh, not great? When I was six years old, even the guys who never won seemed bigger than life. But now. Well. Let's just say I was not overwhelmed with fear or excitement. It was just funny.

Now, a few days removed from my meeting with the King, I wonder about other things. How many other heroes, movies, tv shows, songs, amusement parks, cars, jobs, preachers, or pets do I love simply because at times I'm a bit sentimental? Maybe this is what is meant by the "love is blind" quote. When our hearts are into someone or something, we have a hard time seeing how ordinary he, or it, really is. My favorite actors could be in Star Wars, Episode 17 and I would love it. My favorite athletes could ride the bench for an entire season and I would wear the jersey. My favorite bands could record a nursery rhyme and I would sing along.

So back to the wrestling. At the end of the night, I found myself next to the King himself. I introduced myself. He said, "Nice to meet you, Chad." YES HE KNOWS MY NAME. Then we took a picture. What a night! Did I care that my hero was a 59 year old man in tights sporting a sweet face lift and holding a crown? Absolutely not. Love is blind.

Love live the King of Wrestling!

Humbling Day

2009-05-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend is not supposed to be a very exciting day in the life of a church. It taught me a lot though:

Prepared to baptize 18 people today. Weather forecast was awful. We decided to go ahead with the plan. Another 15 people decided to join the party. I didn't deserve that experience.

The next to last person I baptized looked like a mini-me. Turns out he was. My 7 year old son Brock went public with his faith. I don't deserve him.

Loads of people joined us just to witness the baptisms. Four or five families in my community group showed up for support. I don't deserve them.

No one complained about the rain. No one complained about having to stand the whole time. Everyone I talked to decided to overlook the obvious inconveniences and simply talk about how awesome it was to be a part of this. One of my dearest friends said she and her husband were expecting #3! Another of my friends went out of his way to take care of my father-in-law who is struggling with Parkinson's Disease. He escorted him around in his Polaris. Another friend skipped out on his trip to the lake house to witness his first baptism celebration. I don't deserve this church family.

What a huge day. I've got no business living this life. But I'm not trading it for anything.

Settling and Sacrificing

2009-05-22T21:13:00.001-07:00

So my wife and I have driven around the city 46 billion times by now. Why? We're looking for the perfect house for us. Okay. Truthfully, she's looking for a house that is practical and I'm looking for a house that's perfect. That may be opposite of most marriages, but it's typical for us.

Here's the dilemma. She's willing to settle for less that what she could have. I'm not willing to sacrifice a single square foot. Neither approach is particularly helpful.

I wonder how many people live life on one of those extremes. Either it's settling for less than what you could have because you don't feel like you deserve it. Or it's being unwilling to sacrifice perfection for what could actually be perfect for you.

My encouragement? Never settle for good, when better and best are still out there. But quit demanding perfection. It will drive you nuts. And it's not out there. Except for this one house I saw Thursday that had this.....Oh never mind. There I go again. Maybe I don't actually have to have the pool house with the big screen and surround sound and....