Confessions of the redeemed

In case you didn't know...

2009-12-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

I've moved!! Check the new site out at www.aaroncoalson.com

Seizing Financial Opportunities

2009-10-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

In today's financial climate, believers more than ever are faced with difficult choices. Do I buy gas or pay the credit card? Do we eat out or stay in? Can we afford a vacation this year? Can we even afford to tithe? These questions must be answered, and biblically for us to understand how to handle our finances during this prolonged financial slum.
I, as well as a great friend of mine Paul Speight, work at a credit unions. CU's focused on one thing: saving you money. With no greedy stock holders to fund, State Employee's Credit Union actually doubled their assets in 2008! How many financial organizations did that in the worst fiscal year since the depression? With lower rates and higher customer service, CU's are becoming a major player in the financial world.
So with that said, I have asked Paul to elaborate on how we can better manage God's finances.
"Handling our personal finances is a huge responsibility, but rather than
seeing it as a responsibility why not look at it as an opportunity. The Bible speaks

very clearly on how we are to manage our wealth. Tithing is the first and
most important step in reaping more financial blessings. With that being understood, I want to speak on three oppurtunities after tithing us as Christians should be strving for.

> The first opportunity in handling our money is saving. David Bach, author

and financial advisor repeatedly tells his clients to ‘pay yourself first.’ Proverbs 21:5 also tells us that the plans of the diligent lead to advantage. Before spending on anything else we need to contribute to our savings so we can be prepared. There are 3 areas of saving we should be concerned with. We should be saving up an emergency fund, typically 3-6 month’s worth of income (Prv. 6:6-8). Secondly, we should be saving for when

we will no longer be able to work, or want to work (retirement). Finally,

we should save so we have money to give.

> The second opportunity is providing. There are several categories I think fall under providing. We are to provide by paying our bills responsibly (Rom. 13:7, Ps 37:21), providing food, clothing, and shelter for our family

(1 Tim 5:8), and preparing financially for our children’s education (Prv.7:11, 24:5). Finally, we are to provide by having some fun with our blessings! We know that if we give to God He will bless us until there is no need (Mal 3:10). In fact, in that same verse God basically says, “Come on, I’ll prove it to you!” God will always bless us but don’t think just because we give we are immune to challenging times, just ask Job.

> Our third opportunity calls for us to give. We all know Christmas is a time for giving and so are birthdays, anniversaries, fundraisers, graduations, baby showers…can you see where I’m going here? My point is that the bigger your social network the more expensive life is. This should not discourage you from making more friends but it should encourage you to save!

Giving a friend or anyone a gift during a special occasion will bring you so much joy. Giving gifts is great but so is helping people in tough times. My goal and hopefully yours also is to be in a position to allow God to call on me to help others in need. However, in order to perform these two acts of giving we must prepare and save!

So to conclude, if we have taken the opportunity to save, provide, and give, we should also enjoy financial blessings together as a family or individually. Singles, go spend some money on yourself, married couples (w/o kids) go on a date or weekend getaway, and families do something fun
together (date nights are still always acceptable). Enjoy spending, but do it responsibly. And remember, one day we will stand in front of our Savior and be held accountable for all we did in life, not just financially, but in every thought, deed, and action. Above all us let everything we do bring glory to Him!"

New Music Week: Jonny Lang

2009-09-30T02:58:00.000-07:00

Rhythm and Blues has revolutionized and dramatically changed the way we listen to music over the past 70 years. Having influenced so many genres, it's hard to believe that in this millennium blues artists could be in such short supply. Insert: Jonny Lang
He stepped on the scene over ten years ago as a teenage prodigy and a voice that would fool anyone. Since then he's raised the bar of blues/rock with every album. This guy is easily in my top 3 favorite artists so check it out.

New Music Week: The Elms

2009-09-28T04:06:00.000-07:00

OK, so I've been thinking about doing a really cool blog series this week that would take up very little precious time. This week, every second counts. We sublease our apartment, close on our house, pack (no we haven't started) and move in the next five days. So instead of slacking in my blogging sense, I decided to introduce you to a few of my favorite artists over the past year or so. Not new to me, but may be new to you. So, introducing...New Music Week. Sit back, relax, grab your Itunes and add these artist to your playlist! Their music is soul-stirring, moving, full of talent and passion. They are simply more than just tight beats polished over mediocre voices. These artist are what I build the rest of my music library around, they're that good!

Starting with a band called The Elms. This band is essentially what Rock n' Roll should sound like. In a time where so many genres have little musical boundaries and every artist is attempting a musical 'crossover', this band has stayed true to it's roots and brings us the best rock albums I've heard in a long time. Singing about Midwestern life, spirituality and small-town living, The Elms is as good as it gets. Their album, The Great American Midrange just dropped a few weeks ago, and so I couldn't wait to share it.
Come back for new artists everyday this week and then a special guest blogger will be posting this weekend.
Enjoy!

70 Years of Oz

2009-09-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

This day marks the 70th anniversary of one of the most famous movies of all time. 'The Wizard of Oz' was released in theaters in 1939 and had it not been for another movie you may or may not have heard of called 'Gone With the Wind' released in the same year, Wizard would have cleaned up at the Oscars that year.
This movie is simply one of my all time favorites, for so many reasons. Always a fascination with tornadoes, the movie had me from the beginning. Insert a clumsy man made of straw, a noble tin-man and a big lion, what kid wouldn't love it? Flying monkeys did and still do, scare the be-jeezezes out of me!
What I loved most about the movie was the fascination of it all, it was unlike any other movie. I also relished the anticipation that came along with this movie because growing up in the pre-downloading era, this movie was a yearly event. The Wizard graced us with his presence once a year and it was an experience. I know, I'm grown. It's still one of my all time favorite movies. Warner Bros. and Turner Classic Movies have done two really cool things to commemorate the 70th anniversary. Tonight, The Wizard of Oz will be showing in select theaters around the country at 7:00 pm. Stephanie and I have tickets and we are STOKED!! We've of course never seen the movie in the theater, what an opportunity! Second, they have released a ultra-high definition Blu-Ray box set for a whole new generation to enjoy.
Hope to see you at the movies tonight! We're off to see the Wizard...

Affairs last forever

2009-09-22T03:48:00.000-07:00

Our pastor , JD Greear, has carried us through Proverbs this summer in an incredible series called 'Still Standing'. A couple of weeks ago he spoke on the immorality and adultery from Proverbs 7, emphasizing this verse:
"Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths. For many a victim she has laid low; and her slain are a mighty throng". (v. 25-26)
His reflections involved a personalized list of what would happen if he fell into the tragedy of immorality. It was a sobering sermon. I've taken the list and personalized it as well and it made a HUGE impact on me. I encourage you to do the same. Satan's tactics include convincing people that sin is not nearly as bad as they thought, and at that point in time, can be exactly what they need or deserve (i.e. Eve). SIN IS NEVER WORTH IT! This list is originally adapted from Randy Alcorn's The Purity Principle.

First, above everything else, I would greatly disgrace the name of my Savior, who died for me.
I would undermine the Gospel to everyone around me
I would devastate and forever hurt Stephanie, the love of my life
It would bring untold pain upon those who have poured into my life such as family and friends
I would loose most, if not all, of my credibility in ministry for the rest of my life.
I would loose the trust and faith of my children who may never understand why I exchanged their mother for a cheap thrill
The Gospel would never again be the focus of my life or ministry again, sin and failure would be
I would bring intense hurt and pain on my parents
My wife may never be able to trust again
One day I will look Jesus in the face and have to give an account for my life
I would force God to discipline me severely
Great pleasure and victory will be given for the Enemy.

All of this would be the result of forgiven sin. Sin ALWAYS has consequences, and it's never worth the pain. Satan is always trying to tear down husbands and fathers, it is his direct inroad to the entire family. Men, stand guard. "Be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." - I Peter 5:8
Here are seven principles from Prov. 7 adapted from JD's sermon:

Your enemy's at every corner (v.12)
Beware the lies (v. 21)
You can not live by desire alone; you must also live by design (v. 22)
Sin leads to death (v. 23-27)
It is MANLY to hide from temptation (v.6)
Do not do life alone (v. 9)
You can only escape falling for the "woman of sin" by being in love with the More Beautiful Woman (v. 4-5)

Why leaders should blog

2009-09-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

Blogs can be beneficial to ministry, but crucial to the leader. Blogging is an incredible way to reach, teach, educate and motivate people easier than ever before. As a pastor, teacher or ministry leader, blogging is a great way for you to reach your congregation or anyone in your realm of influence to influence them to walk closer to God.
Recently, I read a post by John Piper titled '6 Reasons Pastors Should Blog'. You can check out the full post in the link.
Now, a pastor can be a great leader and not keep a blog, but I agree with Piper that blogging can be an incredibly effective way to reach people.
So, here we go, a condensed version of Piper's post along with some added input:
Reason #1: - To Write
Piper says it well: "If you’re a pastor, you probably already know the value writing has for thinking. Through writing, you delve into new ideas and new insights. If you strive to write well, you will at the same time be striving to think well."
Writing is a spiritual activity and it is a perfect outlet for a clouded soul. When you're formulating your thoughts, lessons, sermons, etc. Write! Write! Write! There is also no better way to share your thoughts and writing than through your blog.
Reason #2: - To Teach
I read one specific blog just as methodically as I drink my morning coffee. The reason this certain pastor's blog has made such an impact on me is that, on average, his posts are intentional, relevant, concise and powerful. Every time, he's on target. It's refreshing. He doesn't write a book or preach a sermon, but he understands in a mighty way the power of a blog post. It teaches his people, and it reaches ministers around the world and he does it with impact. If your curious, now that I've built up curiousity, it's Pastor Steven Furtick out of Charlotte, NC. Blogs allow you to teach daily, your pulpit only gives that opportunity weekly.
Reason #3: To Recommend
Piper writes about how pastor's can use blogs to recommend in very real ways to their people. "People want to know that their pastor knows he is an ordinary, imperfect human being." Recommend everything. From your favorite new restaurant in town, the best cafe to buy a cup of coffee, or the newest book you've read. This last one has been very important to me as I have grown in my own learning and theology, the books that other pastors have under their 'recommended reading' has greatly encouraged me to pick up a book that I may have never come across.
Reason #4: To Interact -
It's highly likely that if you've been involved in ministry on a staff level, than you have felt the intense pressure under the idealistic image people have of church staff. Blogs are a great way to, in a healthy way, break down some of the unnecessary barriers between a church leader and his people.
Reason #5: - To develop an eye for the meaningful
Just gonna let Piper take this one, he pretty much blows it up. "For good or ill, most committed bloggers live with the constant question in their mind: Is this bloggable? This could become a neurosis, but I’ll put a positive spin on it: It nurtures a habit of looking for insight and wisdom and value in every situation, no matter how mundane.
If you live life looking for what is worthwhile in every little thing, you will see more of what God has to teach you. And the more he teaches you, the more you can teach others. As you begin to be inspired and to collect ideas, you will find that the new things you’ve seen and learned enrich far more of your life than just your blog. "
Reason #6: - To Be known
As a leader, this is crucial. People will naturally construct a false (partially) idea of who you are as a person. It happens because they ONLY hear you preach and teach, and if you're pastor of a church of 200+, then most of your congregation gets to spend little one-on-one time with you. This is a great opportunity to share with your people who you are. I have a tendency to say I don't have time, but really, blogging regularly keeps me fresh and it excites me to learn as I write. Connecting with the people within your realm of influence on a regular basis is an exciting opportunity...take it!
Want to read some great blogs, check out my list. Scroll down. Bottom right. Enjoy.

Why Barack Obama is my president.

2009-09-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama is my president. I don't say this with hesitation. I don't whisper it under my breath. It's just a fact.
I have felt this underlining tension among fellow conservatives lately. Underlining? Who am I kidding? More like this intense outcry from the conservative right (often, the far right) every time our president even breathes. This becomes increasingly obvious when such overreaching cries come from our side of the park when the president decides to do something as innocent as speak into the minds of young children during a public school forum. Are you serious? I could not believe the outrage at something so simple, something that had the potential to be so beneficial. This kind of reaction reflects the attitudes of such liberals during the Bush years. To both fringes of the political landscape, the other side can do no good and their own can do no wrong. See, and you thought you had nothing in common.
I understand the frustration. There is many issues that we can discuss, debate and fight to change, as we should. That however, does not change the fact that Barack Obama is still our president.
Let me reiterate. Barack Obama is my president. Jesus Christ is my Lord. I do not rest my hope for the cures of hunger, peace and happiness in the government. I put it in my Savior. No, I'm not naive, nor am I glossing over obvious differences conservatives have with this administration. I'm simply stating what should be our hope.
See, I prayed a simple prayer during the election (the election that went on, and on, and on). It was this: "Lord, put into office who YOU want". Simple. I didn't stress, I didn't worry. In fact when I woke up on Nov. 5th, I didn't feel the slightest bit of hesitation or anxiety. Why? Because of Who is in control. If we believe that God is in control, and we ask Him to place in office who He desires, then by way of deduction we must conclude that God placed Barack Obama in office for His glory, for His reasons.
As I was reading Proverbs this morning, I was reminded of this fact. God is in control. Always. There's never been a time in my life where He wasn't. He doesn't sleep. He needs no rest. He never takes a siesta.
-Prov. 21:1 says "The king's (president's) heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes." I don't know about your particular version, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't say the 'conservative/republican's heart is like channels of water...'. No, it says the king's. Any king. Any ruler. Any president. God brings them to leadership, and uses them for His glory.
- Prov. 16:9: "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." President Obama may be the leader of the free world, but God directs his steps. He guides his heart like channels of water. It's impossible for any president or leader to do anything that is not in God's ultimate plan for this world and that He can not use for His glory. The word that we're looking for is sovereignty. Too often we ascribe far too much of it to political leaders and far too little to the God who rules.
I know what you're thinking. What about abortion? What about gay marriage? Yes, those issues are very important. But let's shoot straight, brass tacks-it. We've had a conservative leader in the White House for 8 years. Abortion statistics have not diminished and it's no longer uncommon to hear another state has adopted policies for same-sex marriages.
What our country desperately needs is not another conservative(or liberal)leader. What our country needs is for the church to awaken to the reality that WE have been put on this world to be the change agents. The church is the only organization on this planet that has the resources to impact any country in the world and bring people of all different cultures and walks of life to peace through Jesus Christ. No other group can claim that. We must never forget that Christ has sent us to be light and salt. Politics are important and powerful, but pale in comparison to the mission the church has been given.
What you and I must commit to do is to pray for our president. Pray that God would open His eyes to His truth. Pray that God would use his administration to glorify Himself. Pray that God would use this presidential term to draw the church out of our buildings and into the lives of the lost, desperately burdened to draw them to Christ.
"Our God is mighty to save...He has conquered the grave!"
Now that's change we can believe in.

Racism and the church, part 1

2009-09-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

Racism: 'An ideology of intellectual or moral superiority based upon the biological characteristics of race.'- D'Souza Martin Luther King, Jr. defined racism as a 'doctrine of the congenital inferiority and worthlessness of a people.'
My original thought was to walk through Dinesh D'Souza's 'The End of Racism' through different blog posts, viewing the origins, ravages, and future of racism in our country. Probing questions arise: If my ancestors were victims of racism, am I born into a life of disadvantage? A question more pertinent to my situations is this: If my ancestors were racist, am I inclined to live as an avid racist? Thank God, the short answer is a resounding 'NO'! This leads me to shift my original ideas for these posts to something much closer to my heart: racial reconciliation within the Body of Christ.
I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'm perpetually pissed to no degree to hear racism come from the mouths of church leadership. It's not only poor leadership and poor representation, it squanders the very heart of the Gospel on cheap jokes. Racism is and has been a great problem in our country. No one generation originated the problem, no one generation will completely solve it. What I am primarily interested in is conveying the great responsibility we have as the Church, to live the Gospel out as Christ intended. This involves a life style free of prejudice, a family raised to view ALL people created in the image of God. I'm not merely talking about some kind of pathetic, overreaching, affirmative action, hand-holding, Jesse Jackson kind of love. No, this is the real deal. The Gospel is literally at stake, and choosing not to engage is willingly choosing to disengage. A disengaged Gospel isn't pretty. It isn't real.

'The End of Racism'

2009-08-31T04:14:00.000-07:00

I'm currently reading 'The End of Racism', by Dinesh D'Souza. He's a brilliant scholar and a (slightly) controversial New York Times best seller. A little more than 10 years ago, he wrote this book concerning the origins of racism and it's course of life throughout American history.
A question I'll approach with MUCH more depth soon is 'Does racism still exist in America?' The answer to that is an unequivocally emphatic 'YES'!. Although, as D'Souza shows, in many different ways that we expect.
I wanted to start off this series by just quoting a few lines from the book that has really stuck out. D'Souza writes with great optimism, and one of the main objectives of the book is to show that racism is not universal, has not existed for all of humanity, and DID have a relative origination. Therefore, if racism had a beginning, then it's conceivable to believe that racism can have a...?? That's right, an end to racism. Again, we'll dive into this more, but realistically speaking, I don't believe we can ever see the end of racism without the church. The church should be eternally invested in breaking down racial barriers because in the family of God, there is one Lord, one Christ, one baptism, one faith.
Here are some great quotes:
- "Black rage is a response to black suffering and failure, and reflects the irrestistble temptation to attribute African American problems to a history of white racist oppression."
- If racism is not the main problem or blacks, what is? Liberal antiracism. "By asserting the equality of all cutlures, cultural relativism prevents liberals from dealing with the nation's contemporary crisis - a civilational breakdown that affects all groups..."
- What is the best defense against racism? EXCELLENCE

More to come...

Project numero uno...

2009-08-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

So as we embarked on our first official home project this weekend, I realized many things.
Realization #1: After buying, mixing, priming, painting, and fixing, one things for sure...buying new furniture is way easier than updating old furniture, but it's not nearly as fun!
Realizaion #2: My wife and I had a blast on this project together and can't wait for more to come. I love my wife.
Realization #3: I'm approaching the 23rd celebration of the year of my birth. I would be crazy to say that I feel old, but I'm pretty sure that yesterday I was graduating high school, pulling pranks with my youth group and the like, and today I'm building a family and a life with the most beautiful woman on earth. I'm not old, but I'm getting older, and I like that. I sit back almost in tears at times, to think of all that God has done in me, through me and what He's done FOR me. I am a blessed man!
So, before we get too sappy, check out the sweet pics of our updated, more modern looking furniture. Enjoy!
Before:

After:

UPDATE now!

2009-08-29T06:28:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a LONG time since I've updated my blogga-roo...let's just say I've been on hiatus since the move. I've taken a break from a lot of things and focused on a few others. Since moving to Raleigh in May, our lives have been incredibly different, in so many great ways I wanted to update and fill you all in on what's going on.
We just recently purchased our first home in Wake Forest (thanks for the rebate, prez O.) Needless to say, we're stoked. My beautiful bride has, overnight, turned into our generations' next Martha Stewart, with a HGTV vibe. So, we'll be updating some projects very soon. Check out the pic below...
We also just recenly joined our new church...The Summit. I can't describe how much we've been fed and ministered to over the summer, thanks to the folks @ the Summit. MUCH more on them to come...
I'm currently working at State Employee's Credit Union, the 2nd largest CU in the world (can I get a 'what, what' from the financial world?) haha, and Steph is taking care of a 20-month old as a nanny for a family here in Raleigh. Life this summer has been great, our God is SO awesome.
I've been reading this incredible book lately called 'The End of Racism' by Dinesh D'Souza. I'm going to be blogging and writing an article on racism in the coming weeks...so be looking for that to come.
All in all, life has been great. Will update more...until then, you can follow me on Twitter (aaroncoalson) or FB (actually, my mom just got a FB, and I almost passed out! Good times!)

What's your number?

2009-06-05T04:12:00.000-07:00

What's your number? So often, within various sectors of Christian life, whether it be church ministry, bible college, or small groups, all of us have a tendency to loose sight of what's actually important. Numbers have been on my heart recently, but in a very different way than normal. Let's just be honest, Christians LOVE numbers. Whether it's the growth of our small group, church plant, or youth choir...we are all about the numbers. Numbers, in and of themselves, are not a bad thing. Numbers help engage us with the growth of our community. Numbers estimate the amount of unreached in our world. Numbers help us regulate health within the body. However, often times the emphasis on numbers can be grossly out of proportion with what Christ would rather us focus on.
Remember the Ashton Kutcher/Kevin Costner movie "The Guardian". All the new recruits are trying to figure out Costner's 'number' of people he saved. Here's the convo when Costner retires:
“What’s the number” Kutcher asks Costner point-blank
“22″ says Costner.
“Well that’s pretty good, but it’s no 300,” says Kutcher,
As Costner finishes packing his bags, he says…
“That’s not how many I saved; it’s how many I lost. That’s the only number I’ve kept track of.”

Instead of bragging about the number we had in service last Sunday, or the number of people we've 'saved' in the last year, why don't we focus our sights more on the number of people we've lost?
- The people we've lost through missed opportunities to witness
- The people we didn't minister to because we were too wrapped up in ourselves.
- The people who needed an invite to church, but didn't get one because we were in a hurry
- The people who we may not see in eternity because of our self-centered Christianity

So...what's your number?

Reflections on leaving youth ministry

2009-05-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

I've thought a long time about how to write on this subject, and as many of you who have transitioned through ministries before you know that it is a difficult thing to explain to those around you.
So in this post I will be explaining why I'm moving out of youth ministry, what God has laid on our hearts and ways youth ministry can succeed in the future.
I've currently served as Youth minister and associate pastor at Waco Baptist Church and have LOVED my time there. I've loved the church, I've loved the leadership and most of all, I've loved the students! My time there has been incredible, and God has stretched me in so many ways!
Over a year ago, God started to work in my heart and focus my attention on missions and church planting. Since then, I've been in prayer about whether God was changing my heart from youth ministry. After my wife and I settled into our later months of engagement and early months of marriage, we both knew with out doubt that God was moving our hearts. The time to transition was now.
Currently we are packing up our small Bremen apartment to move north to Raleigh, NC. I will be working for the North Carolina Credit Union as an Escrow adviser and Stephanie will work for Bath and Body works (she's obviously excited about the discounts). We will be working and saving our money over the next year to begin seminary at Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryWe are pumped about this new change that God is taking us in, but it's important to note that as God transitions you into a new chapter of life, he moves your heart from your current chapter of life. As you grow and change as a minister, your passions will grow and change as God shapes you into who He designed you to be.
We believe that God is calling us to serve in ministry that is out of the box, unconventional and non-traditional. We believe that God is, by His grace, calling us to do something exciting and unique like church planting, missions, or church revitalization, and although we may not know the where, when or why, we know Who is calling us, and we are stepping out on faith during this new time in our life.
I've thoroughly enjoyed our time in youth ministry and at Waco, but we are stoked about what God has for us in the future. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we move to NC and continue to check the blog as I will continue to post on what God is doing in our lives and how He is growing us spiritually.

Final word to fellow youth pastors: It's not about you! Don't build you're youth ministry around you. Don't grow your students or your leaders around you. Grow them around the Word of God, because one day God will move you into another ministry and you will want the ministry that you are leaving to be built around something more stable than your time there. The Word of God is lasting! For more tips on how to effectively transition out of your youth ministry when God leads, check out Rethinking Youth Ministry: How do you leave youth ministry

M-E Genertaion turns into DIVORC-E Generation

2009-04-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

I recently read a news article from Newsweek called Generation ME. The article hit some homeruns in disecting the current sludge-pool of narcissism that my generation seems to take a dip in every day. We are easily the most narcissistic generation and while hours of time fade away on Facebook (guilty) and we are enamored by the next YouTube sensation, our ME Generation is quickly turning to the Divorc-e generation.
While serving tables at O'Charley's last night I overhear many conversations from other servers regarding relationships. Now, I understand divorce has been around almsot as long as marriage, but it seems that in a culture where teenagers every whim is catered to, and they never hear the infamous (and apparently outdated) word 'no', it is inevitable that student will grow into a marriage relationship also expecting to be catered to and never denied their desires. We that live in the real world understand this not how life works, but it seems that my generation is entirely under the assumption that it is, and I almost wholly blame one group of people for that...parents. A self-indulged teenager who is consumed with their own desires enters into a life-time committment of sacrificial love and shocked when they are no longer give everything they want. The result = marriage takes a back seat to their desires, along with children and any other responsibility that doesn't fit into their 'plan'. By giving our children everything they want, we have in turn created a group of young adults that have an insatiable desire for themselves, neglecting the responsibilities of life and committment....when was the last time you told your children no?

Leading or Maintaining?

2009-04-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

What does your ministry say about your leadership? Do your co-workers view you as a motivator? Initiator of change? An innovative thinker? Or are you simply a maintainer, a follower? No matter the setting, whether church or the business field, we are called to be change-agents for those around us. Lately I've been studying Andy Stanley's leadership material and wanted to write about some things that I've learned since I've been in ministry. Here are seven signs clear signs of healthy leadership. Does your ministry/business reflect these?
Here we go:

Clarify the Win! No matter how good your team is, even the best team can't win the game if they don't know where home plate is. Clarifying the win for your ministry or organization is crucial to the effectiveness of your team

Think steps, not programs! Clear strategy for your ministry is crucial in leading your team from point A to point B.

Narrow the Focus! We can do a lot of things, but we're not going to do a lot of things well, or even remotely well for that matter. We have to constantly narrow our focus in ministry and if something doesn't fall in line with our ministry objective, then we have to be willing to axe that program.

Teach less for more! We all love getting less for more and in terms of ministry it's no different. Sanctification is a process, and it ain't easy! It's hard work. We as leaders must be very specific in leading those under us because we are bombarded with noisey and confusing messages every day. However, those are not adjectives that should describe the messages we covey. Be intentional.

Listen to outsiders! Why don't people use your company? Why don't strangers visit your church? Is it because you're too focused on keeping who you got than reaching those you don't? There is a balance of course, and it's not one that is easy to arrive at, but a church that is solely inward focused is about as fun as drinking from a pond that has no fresh water supply! It's still water, but...

Replace yourself! I'm a big believer in this one! Different situations require a different scenario, but the concept is still the same. Let's face it, none of us are irreplaceable, and that last big project you just did for the company is only good until someone comes along and creates a better one (i.e. Xanga meet Myspace, and Myspace meet Facebook, get it?) No one is irreplaceable! However a good leader is in many ways trying to replace himself by training those under him to work without him. Mentoring your team is vital because you never know...they could be your replacement, and if you want your vision and dream for your ministry to carry on, you better share it with those under you!

Evaluation time! Every event, every project, every service even, needs to be objectively evaluated in order to better that organization or ministry. We all have to constantly guard against becoming stale. We are all working with eternity here and whether it's church or business we can not afford to become out of touch simply due to a lack of effort or creativity. (MTV meet your defeat: Youtube)

Does your ministry have it?

2009-04-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

Book Review time! I just finished the book IT from Craig Groeschel. The premise of the book is how churches and leaders can get IT and keep IT. So I pose the question - Do you or your church have IT? This has easily been one of the greatest books I've read on practical ministry and how to keep and maintain the coveted IT that we see in so many ministries and desire in our own. This book will quickly change your view of ministry from a 'church building' mindset to a 'kingdom building' mindset and rushes in a paradigm shift in terms of thinking about ministry and life. Needless to say it was incredibly convicting and gut-wrenchingly honest. Get it now!
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
- "The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of. Our attention would have been on God." - C.S. Lewis
- "The only thing constant is change, which IT-soaked people seem to thrive on. When a church doesn't have IT, few people even notice that no one new is showing up."
- It is a rare combination of these qualities found in his people:

Passion for his presence

A deep craving to reach the lost

Sincere Integrity

Spirit-filled Faith

Down-to-earth humility

Brokenness

-"Worse than being blind would be to be able to see but not have any vision" - Helen Keller
- "Without a vision, people become comfortable with the status quo. Later they grow to love the status quo. Eventually, they'll give their best to protect what IS, never dreaming about what could or should be"
- Vision: "The vision should capture attention, stir hearts and be irresistibly moving. It should cause agitation, ambition, ignition, even competition."
"You can never underestimate the amount of energy and frequency you must give to vision casting. You can never underestimate it." - Bill Hybels
- "To have IT, you'll have to choose not to do everything. Those who attempt to do everything always lose it."
- "Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it."
- "Good things are not necessarily God things."
- "To be independent is to be distinctly non-Christian...God designed you to be interdependent"
- "Teams with great camaraderie get relationally naked. They take seriously the it in nudity.
- "Innovation is not absolutely necessary, but then neither is survival." - Andrew Papageorge
- "The goal isn't innovation. The goal is effectiveness. We strive for innovation because we want to be effective."
- "Failure is the tuition you pay for success."
- "Without-it ministries can be filled with very sincere Bible-believing Christians; unfortunately, they're simply more concerned about themselves than the lost."
- "When have we forgotten that the church doesn't exist for us? We are the church and we exist for the world." - Erwin McManus

Failure is key!

2009-03-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

Don't be afraid of risk - failure is key! Far too many times do we try to avoid failure by playing it safe in life and ministry, when our all-powerful, all-knowing God is calling us to live a life of risk.
Check it out: Jesus tells a story in Matthew 25 of three men who were given talent(money)from their master. Two of the guys risked failure and invested their talents. The other dude was so afraid of taking a risk, so afraid of losing his one talent that he buried it in the field. When the master returned, the two had a return on their investement and the servant who buried his was rebuked!
"The Message" offers great insight in Luke 19 when it says: "Risk your life adn get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag."
The question is not IF we fail, it's WHEN we fail. We WILL fail, many times and we must learn from it, laugh through it and watch God move even through our failures.

- "Failure is not an option. It is essential." - Craig Groeschel
- "If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sure sign your not trying anything very innovative." - Woody Allen
- "Fail! If you're not failing, you've stopped dreaming. You'll eventually stop learning and you will stop growing."

Be willing to fail, it's the only way to succeed.

A word from a 'Blogging Mentor"

2009-03-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

I follow Pastor Steven Furtick's blog more than any other. I find his courage and boldness to speak the Word of God in an awesome, God-inspired, culturally relevant way encouraging and challanging.
Here's what he had to say today...(to read more from Pastor Steven, check out his blog on the left).

Guitar Hero Ministry Mentality
March 25th, 2009 If my generation isn’t careful, we may fall into a Guitar Hero mentality toward ministry:
Everybody wants to be a rock star, but no one wants to learn the chords.

It’s hard work to study God’s Word. To pray for breakthrough. To do spiritual battle on behalf of those we lead. To charge forward in faith for the cause of Christ. To run a church with the highest standard of excellence.

Aspiring ministers:
Be willing to pay the price. Or please go do something else with your life.

Letters from Greece. Pt. 2

2009-03-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, Just wanted to update ya'll on our status here in Greece. We are having a blast! This morning we worshipped on top of Mars Hill as the words of Paul was read from Acts 17. In all sincerity, we could not take in the vastness of what we were experiencing. Paul preached to the Athenians and debated with philosophers on this very spot! Wow, what an incredible experience! We then moved to the Acropolis and viewed the Parthenon. This is the place where democracy, literature and western civilization began as we know it. The impact today was hard to fathom. In other news, what God has been doing in our hearts is also difficult to let sink in. There's nothing like being away from Facebook, cell-phones, and the stresses of life for God to speak in ways that we sometimes don't allow him to because of all the 'conveniences' (distractions) we have. The pastor spoke tonight about Gideon and his call from the Lord. Gideon was from the smallest tribe in Israel, and from a well-known family, and within his family he was the least talented. Gideon tells God 'what can I do, I am no one?'. God says 'go, mighty man of valor, and I will be with you'. When we are weak...He is strong. If I may, let me close with this... Our ministry begins in the morning. The missionary that we work with here is called Raymond. He was explicitly clear about the spiritual state in Greece. The situtation is extreme. He quoted Christ when He said "The fields are white unto harvest..." Raymond told us THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN GREECE! The spiritual desire here is almost non-existent. He likens the field here in Greece to a field that is not even ready to be planted. Much tilling needs to be done in this city of Athens before seeds can really be planted. There are over 6 million people in the city of Athens and less than 1% claim to be Evangelical Christians. The hearts of the people here are much more concerned with fashion and physical pleasures. Pray that God will soften the hearts of the Greeks as we minister this week...this is our greatest need! Secondly, pray that God continues to work in our lives here, He is truly changing how we see the world and the need there is to share the Gospel! Here are some pics and a vid of today's activities...
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Letters from Greece. Pt. 1

2009-03-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

Well, it's 10:04 p.m. here and we have slept approximately 2 hours in the past 30 hours. So as I post, our team here is quickly getting ready for bed, we are tired!
However, we are VERY pumped. It is incredible, how, before our ministry has even begun, God has worked in our hearts in a tremendous way, convicting us, and sending us out to the people of Greece. Trevor, the World Changer's pastor here this week spoke tonight, and reminded us that God could have chosen anyone in to be here this week, but he chose us, and he reminded us of the responsibility that holds.
Pray that tonight we get rest, and the rest of this week we are filled with a holy boldness to share the Gospel.
For now,
here are some pics...
The Scripture Union place where we are staying -

The team at Starbucks - more to come!

I've Seen it all!

2009-03-04T19:04:00.000-08:00

I saw this vid and thought it was hilariously true on so many levels. I dedicate it first and foremost to Brad Benson, my Youth Pastor. Then the leaders in our youth ministry, as well as Brent Forrister and Michael Spector. Enjoy!

What is love...pt. 1 - What is wrong with societies' view of love?

2009-03-03T05:47:00.000-08:00

Designed by our Creator, we are naturally creatures of love and worship. We must adore something! When directed towards the right things, our adoration can be the epitome of our existence. The greatest point of our existence is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, and at the heart of this is love and worship.

So after watching the ridiculously popular show "The Bachelor" last night, being indignant at Jason's decision, and through what my wife and I have been learning about love, I felt that it was appropriate to a series of blogs about our favorite most overused, most misunderstood attribute...love.
1,000 choices a day. That's how many opportunites we have to show our love to God, our spouses, and our families. Life is always a series of decisions that must be made and how we make those decisions and who we take into consideration for those decisions reflects our heart, and who we ultimately love, ourself, God or others.

Short definition: Love is Giving! The question must be asked, what is the opposite of love? We all may be quick to say that hate is the opposite of love. This is not true! You may easily not love something without inherently having hate for that thing. So therefore, the opposite of love can not always be hate. The opposite of Love is selfishness.
Ephesians 4:22-24 speaks volumes of Old man (self) vs. New man (in Christ). The old man is constantly seeking to please himself and makes decisions for himself based on his feelings. The new man makes decisions based upon the Word of God, his love for God, and his love for others, particularly his family. This is love, let us not confuse it with mushy feelings.

"Winter's last kiss of snow"

2009-03-02T19:39:00.001-08:00

My brother wrote this poem about a new-found relationships that has begun in his life, and it reminds me of the great love that I have for my wife. I LOVE it, and wanted to share it. Props to my bro...
"The snow I sit and watch outside,
reminds me of my life before.
Days filled with endless rain and a constant sigh,
until she directed my gloomy ship ashore.

And as the clouds covered and the rain began to cease,
her simple presence is now covering all the old.
My heart she has taken much more than a piece,
my pride and selfishness without regret now sold.

So as I watch the temperature die and plummet,
I smile at the previous man looking up at the summit.
For he does not know how great this journey will be,
the struggles to come and the happiness to see.

The snow continually falls faster and faster,
this emotion inside I have yet to master.
If I try hard enough I think i can prevent,
the bittering sun and the spring to be sent.
For her smile and her touch I will fight time itself,
because nothing I have done will be in vain even if the snow melts."

A factory of Idols

2009-02-05T12:45:00.000-08:00

"The human heart is a factory of idols. It's not that we want something, it's that we want it too much." - John Calvin

Want to know the purpose of your life? Yearn to learn the destiny that you were created for, even before you were born?
Here it is, three simple, yet mind blowing realities that should determine how we all should live our lives.
Check it out...

1. My goal in life is to please God.
- II Cor. 5:9, Paul reminds us of our ambition, wherever we are, is to please Him!

2. I please God by being like Jesus Christ.
- Rom. 8: 29, Paul informs his readers that God predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son

3. God knows I will not be perfect, but He does expect me to be growing!
- II Peter 3:18, Peter commands us to 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

We need to never forget "Just two choices on the shelf, pleasing God or pleasing self!"

Humans are created to be creatures of habit, make sure you're in the habit of pleasing God and not self.

The truth about...SIN

2009-02-03T11:50:00.000-08:00

If I'm completely honest, I hate excuses. I hate when others use them, and I hate especially when Iuse them. Funny how we have difficulty accepting excuses from others, but yet ours are always valid.

What's been on my mind lately is the myriad of excuses we make for sin that lingers in, no, permeates throughout our lives. These are not the enormous sin 'pot-holes' that we think we're so brave and spiritual for dodging, no, these are the sins that have been deeply rooted in our heart for so long, we don't even recognize them anymore.

Example:

- Road rage (anger)

- Speeding (disobedience)

- Cursing under our breath (hateful words)

- Sense of entitlement (pride)

- Overspending (greed)

- Overeating (gluttony)

- Laziness (well, laziness)

We need to remind ourselves that just because we haven't killed anyone lately, or have cheated on our wives doesn't make necessarily make us a 'good' person. Christ said only one was 'good'. So in order to be the spiritual warrior Paul charges us to be (Eph. 6), we must first die to ourselves daily and understand that all sin is an awesome offense against a holy God.

This quote from John Piper constantly haunts my soul, may it haunt yours as well...

"Sin is what you do when you are not satisfied in Christ"

"This is the way, walk in it"

2009-02-02T12:04:00.000-08:00

Today my mind is reeling. Questions unanswered. Problems unsolved. It seems that ministry brings a myriad of issues that are constantly being presented and placed on your plate for you to work through.

For some reason, Mondays tend to not be a day where I am full of encouragement. Yet I find strength and truth in the Word.
Isaiah 30:21 says:
"Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it"...

I firmly believe that God wants to bless his children. He want's them to succeed and not fail. He wants them to prosper and not faint. However these truths may have different outcomes than we anticipated, and it is our faith not our circumstances or emotions that we must allow to rule.

We may NOT follow our heart, for as Jeremiah reminds us...our heart is deceitfully wicked above all things. No, not our heart, nor emotions, nor circumstances must define what way we walk in, only the Word that is written from the heart of God when he whispers in our ears behind us "My child, this is the way, walk in it..."

"Lord, I will walk wherever you lead me..."

Cirque de Soleil...

2009-01-26T08:46:00.000-08:00

For my wife's birthday, I suprised her with a very different treat. After having a great dinner at Atlanta's Allegro (http://www.allegroatlanta.com/), I took her to Atlantic Station for Cirque de Soleil's Kooza. It was incredible and mind-blowing. Check out the link above! If you're wondering whether you should take advantage of Cirque's visit to Atlanta, I have one word for you: GO! The show will be here through March 1st, you don't want to miss this one!

The point where inhumanity becomes clear...

2009-01-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

Volition: the act of making a choice

The sad, disgusting reality is this:
We abort over 1.25 million babies every year in the U.S. alone, over 42 million worldwide
The church is not exempt for 37.4% of women who abort identify themselves as Protestant and 18% identify themselves as born-again believers.
The reality is this discrimination and lack of voice for those unable to speak is not going away any time soon and with a new administration eager to overturn the Gag Rule, the church must wake up and realize the horror of such injustice.
Take 15 minutes and check out this video:

http://www.thedoorpost.com/hope/Volition/

Do you feel trapped?

2009-01-15T13:57:00.001-08:00

Do you feel trapped? I know the feeling. Oftentimes in life God designs trials for us to face, and at times, we may feel as if we are completely trapped, inhibited by our surroundings.

Maybe you feel your marriage is on the edge of a cliff, just waiting to be pushed into oblivion. Maybe you feel like you're kids are going to drive you to experience the very last moment of sanity that you will ever have.

Maybe it's your church. Maybe you feel like you're just not being fed...ministry's not going so great, and you haven't truly 'worshipped' in months.

Maybe it's sin. Sin that you've struggled with for years and can't seem to hold onto hope any more.

Fellow Believers...there is hope, and there is truth.

Go back and read the paragraph above, and see if you can notice a certain word that was used more than once. Got it?

Ok, so the word is 'feel'. Work with me for a second. Do you understand how many times we base decision and make statements based off of how we 'feel'. I 'feel' lonely, but you're not, God is with you. I 'feel' depressed, but you shouldn't. As a child of God, you're the most blessed person in existence. I 'feel' worried because of my finances. Why? It's not yours anyway...it's God's. I 'feel' hopeless...don't! Listen to these words of Paul:

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."

I Cor. 10:13

We should all commit this verse to memory...this is our hope, the faithfullness of God.

Take hope folks...God is in control, and every circumstance in your life right now has been specifically designed for ....YOU! Designed to draw us closer to God and make us more like his Son.

Why ministry is not about me...or you!

2008-12-12T20:38:00.000-08:00

There are many dangers to avoid in ministry. Lack of integrity, greed and anger all threaten to destroy the ministries that God has placed us in. Yet despite these 'big' issues in our lives, there is a subtle fault line that runs through the heart of every person in ministry, vocational or not. This fault line can make subtle shifts without being noticed, but eventually if not kept in check, you will see a very large crack in your walls of your ministry, that can cause your entire ministry to crumble.
The issue is a Christ-centered ministry vs. a me-centered ministry. This is always the issue. As John Piper says we must stop loving Christ in order to sin. This concept can be applied to ministry as well. We must stop centering our ministry on Christ for it to become a me-centered ministry.

Paul writes:
"For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord and ourselves as bondservants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves"

This is a common problem for all people in the ministry and I have to confront myself with the issue often.
Here are some sure-fire signs of a me-centered ministry:

A sense of entitlement. This is poison in the heart of a minister. The question is not 'what do I deserve?', but 'how can I serve?'

Lack of humilty. It's kind of a prerequisite for the one above.

A Low view of the sovereignty of God. Rom. 8:28

Making decisions based on 'feelings', instead of the truth of the Word.

Little time in God's Word and prayer. Very simple, always gets overlooked, always breaks down a soldier in the army of God

Lack of Forgiveness. Yes, forgiveness does mean to forgive then walk away from the burden. No, forgiveness does not mean you have to forget.

Hyper-activity. Work-a-holic...it doesn't all depend on you!

Here are just a few things that I've noticed in my life and ministry that I have to constantly be aware of!

C.S. Lewis:
"The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of. Our attention would have been on God" I believe the same could be said for ministry.

Apostle John:
"He must increase, but I must decrease"

So I ask...'Where is your heart'?

Provocative Title...Crucial Message

2008-12-09T14:30:00.000-08:00

I just finished Andy Stanley's book Choosing to Cheat. Super easy reads. For me it was one of those books that you start and then you drop off from reading it somewhere along the way, and pick it up six months later. As my wife reminded me this past weekend when I pulled it out of the bag "...didn't you start reading that like 6 months ago?"

Haha, anyway, Here are some great things that I took from the book. Pick it up if you get a chance, it will greatly impact your life whether in school, ministry or the business world.

"When we cheat, we choose to give up one thing in hopes of gaining something else of greater value."
"What it boils down to is this: Someone is going to get cheated. Worse yet, somebody is going to feel cheated. Somebody is going to feel as if I am not giving them what they deserve or need. The issue is never "Am I cheating?" The issue is always, "Where am I cheating?"
"There is just not enough time inyour dat to be all things to all people" - Loved this one, wheh! Big relief!
"When our attitudes and actions are right, our work is actually very pleasing to God."
"Contentment is found neither in the marketplace nor the family alone. It is found when we align our priorities with His as it relates ot both areas of responsibility."
"In the world of relationships we live with the illusion that good intentions - the desire of our hearts - somehow heal the wounds we have created with our absence and misprioritization"
"...we are never called to violate the principles of God in order to attain or maintain the blessings of God."
"Happily married couples never attribute their success oto unexpected opportunites, market conditions, luck, or good timing. With family, success is always related to time."
"Let's face it. One day you will come home from the office for the last time. Nobody retires from his or her family to spend his or her final days in the office."

I encourage you, ask your spouse: "What one thing would you change about my schedule?" You might be surprised at the answer.

The biggest wowspot, I received from reading this book was this: we far to often ask God to 'cover' for us in terms of our family, as we work tirelessly at work to 'finish the task'. Yet there is not one person on this planet that has more responsibility to your spouse or children than you do! Their spiritual growth and maturity is essentially connected to your nurturing and devotion.

My thoughts on the election...

2008-11-07T05:38:00.000-08:00

So,

I wanted to jump on here and write a few things about this weeks historic election and what it means for Evangelicals. However, after reading a pastor J.D. Greear's blog, I think I'll just redirect you to his, it pretty much says all that I'd ever want to say, just a lot better! Check out Pastor Greear's comments here at http://www.jdgreear.com/ or click on the link to his blog on the right side of the page.

Advocating change vs. advocating the Gospel

2008-10-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

While studying and reading my quiet time this morning, God reminded me of a verse I read in Proverbs 21. "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes" Remove 'king' and insert 'president'. 'nuff said!

Regardless of who is elected come this November, this is a crucial year and our country has been at a crucial crossroad for sometime. Christians we must face the facts - WE DO NOT LIVE IN A CHRSTIAN NATION. No, this is not blasphemy, this is truth. A Christian nation does not rank as the world's 3rd largest unreached nation in the world. A 'Christian' nation does not spend $3,076.64 on pornography every second! A 'Christian' nation does not have 40 million adults viewing pornography sites every day. A 'Christian' nation does not have 2,300,000 marriages every year, and yet they see 1,080,000 end in divorce. A 'Christian' nation does not snuff the life of 1.5 million babies every year, that's 4,000 babies a day, that's a baby every 20 seconds! The time it takes you to read this post, approximately 3-5 babies will have been aborted! This is the state of our culture, this is the state of our country.

As believers we are not called to be politicians, economists, or even Americans. We are called to be chosen. We are called to be light, and we are called to be change makers in the name of Christ. I will not tell you who to vote for this November, for I know men and women of all races who love God and are voting both ways. This is not a political pun, this is a call for the church!

We must rise up as a church and impact our culture. This is our mission, this is our calling. How dare we rally around a political figure, a sports team or a rock band with freakish fervor as why shrivel away from proclaiming the Gospel and sharing our faith! Is it any wonder, why Christians in america have such a bad name? It's because we're advocating everything BUT the Gospel.

8 Days!!!

2008-09-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, First of all...let me preface, this is NOT how I feel right now!!! I just found this picture incredibly funny. I can't understand a wedding like this...what guy would want to be dragged into it? What girl would want to force her guy to marry her...not cool!

So, anyway my bride and I have only 8 more days, and as I sit in this trendy coffee shop in downtown carrollton, I reflect on some of the things that I love most about my beautiful fiance.

The bangin' hot red dress she wore last night. I mean, it wasn't just a little hot, it was WAY hot!!! I'm conviced there are 2 colors that guys love their girls to wear...one is black and the other is red. Anyway, she was smokin!

The way she loves trying new things with me. Last night she saw her first show at Atlanta's famous Fox Theatre. My birthday present was 2 tickets to see Les Miserables, and it was incredible!! I know longer want to experience anything without her.

Her smile. Her smile is incredible and it makes me melt everytime I see it. Enough said.

When she cries, I can't explain it but I immediately start to tear up. It's as if something inside me hurts, a part of me that I can't touch and am unable to control. This is a new phenomenon for me, but it makes me feel very much a part of her, and her of me.

Her growing love for God! This is probably the hottest thing about her. She is more beautiuful on the inside as she is on the outside and I love to watch God working in her life.

Her desire to follow me wherever God leads us. This is crucial in ministry and I know she will go with me wherever God takes us in this crazy world!

The way she balances me. If you know anything about me, you know that I attack everything in life with great amounts of energy, passion and intesity. However Stephanie will be a great partner in my life because she will probably always have to teach how to 'be still and know that God is God'. She has a calmness and a serenity about her that soothes me, and I know she will create a stable home environment for our family no matter how crazy ministry is.

Well, these are just a few things that I love about my bride. She is incredible, beautiful, mysterious, irresistible and godly, and I am the luckiest man in the world! 8 more days!!!

Who are we fighting?

2008-07-15T10:49:00.000-07:00

Whether in our careers, our homes or even within ourselves, battles are a natural part of our fallen existence here on earth. It is not how our Father ever intended it, but it is reality by default due to our demand for our independence at the beginning of Creation.
It should bring to question quite often the matter of who we are fighting. Initially, our response is to play the game of blame, or as it's commonly called the "blame game". This is our first and sometimes only response when life and our Father sends us into a circumstance or trial where we have to battle out our faith, and it's almost always about our faith or our beliefs in some way or another. The Bible says that 'out of the heart the mouth speaks'.
This is rule #1: Whatever exits our mouth, during a time of stress or battle (and really most any other time) directly reflects the condition and feelings of our heart. We can not speak and then have the luxury of claiming "oh, that's not what I meant". If you didn't mean it, you wouldn't say it. Granted, we may many times misinterpret what's being said as well as say onething, but meant a completely different thing. Generally, it's a pretty good rule of thumb, you speak your heart when you speak.
Truly to answer the question 'who are we fighting', we must not look at our circumstances but at Scripture. Paul reminds us explicitly, Eph. 5:10-12 states:
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces fo this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

We do not fight each other, as much as it may appear to be that way. Our fight is a much bigger fight on a scale so grand that we can not even imagine it. It began when Satan rebelled against God and was cast out of Heaven and will end only when he is cast into Hell. As we work with friends and family, specifically members of the body of Christ, believers, we must remember that God's desperate desire for the church is unity, so much that He sent his Son so we could all be unified under one cross and one God. Seek your Father's face today and when you sense a battle brewing, run to the One who is our strong Tower.

Internet Apologetics

2008-03-25T14:11:00.000-07:00

O.k., so we all know the feeling of standing in line at Walmart or Starbucks and feeling the Holy Spirit lead us to spark a conversation with a stranger, in the hopes that a witnessing opportunity could arise. This can be a frightening challenge. One the one hand, we know that our God is big enough to handle any circumstsance, but on the other hand, that fact is somehow minimized when we are standing at the cusp of that situation.
So, in order to help aid us with sharpening our skills, I've decided to list a number of websites that can encourage you in your studies and give you tools to help defend our faith.
- www.str.org
- www.rzim.com
- www.carm.org
- www.albertmohler.com
- www.cslewisfoundation.wordpress.com
- www.leestrobel.com
- www.erguncaner.com
- www.reasonablefaith.org
- www.dineshdsouza.com

Don't get overwhelmed with all the information! Some of these sites are VERY user-friendly and some are more academic. There's something there for everyone, but the fact of the matter is, I believe if we were more equipped in the Word we would be more effective in defending our faith. Enjoy!

Busyness = productivity?

2008-03-22T07:10:00.000-07:00

For anyone that knows me well, knows that I have an addiction. This addiction has become so much a part of who I am that rarely, I don't even notice it even more. It's there when I wake up, and there when I go to sleep. It involves my family, my church, my student ministry, my girlfriend and the music blaring from my ipod.
As I sit, cushioned within my comfortable seat, nestled in Starbucks I convince myself that I'm effectively counteracting my addiction, yet I'm not really sure.

My addiction, you ask? Well, it's an addiction that has grasped the heart of many students and pastors of my generation. This addiction plays no favorites. It is the addiciton of busyness. I walk through my days convinced that the busier I am, the more productive I am. I can't be still, I don't know how to be still, and when I am still I feel guilty about being still.

I have this overwhelming desire to constantly be busy, because if I'm constantly busy then I'm able to convince everyone in my life (including myself) that I can be an effective Youth Pastor, full-time student, have a healthy relationship with my girlfriend, spend intentional time with my younger brother, visit the sick, teach Bible studies, maintain an energetic social life, and the list goes on and on.

Why???

Ps. 46:10 according to my flesh, would be one of my least favorite verses. However, it is placed specifically for people who have my addiction. It says "Be still and know that I am God..." The NASB says "Cease striving and know that I am God." Ryrie says to cease striving means to cease from warlike activities and acknowledge God's supremacy over our lives.
After reading a friends blog www.ministrylive.org I received a stark reminder of where God once had me and now where I am now in my walk with Him.

In the fall of '05 I moved to Florida to attend the Word of Life Bible Institute. There a transformation happened in my life, and I absolutely fell in love with the Word of God. Not for what the Word can do for me, or how inteligent I can become from studying it, but simply because it is the Spirit-breathed Word of the Living God. And I understand that in the business of my life, this joy wanes for the Word. Is it any less inspired? NO! I am just simply less motivated because I'm 'too busy'?!?
Honestly, this is a cycle we all have to guard ourselves from. Allowing the busyness of life to steal our joy for the Word of God. Because even good things can be distractions if they keep us from the main thing.

So I challenge you, go to Starbucks, pour a cup of coffee, make hot chocolate (it's not really about the drink, it's just a great edition) and sit down at a table with just the Word of God, praying that God will speak to you in ways you've not seen in a long time. Listen, pray, meditate - expect the unexpected. God doesn't want our busyness - He wants our hearts.

Way too long...

2008-03-12T12:04:00.001-07:00

Oh man! My deepest apologies for how long it has been since I last posted, haha. As you all know life kind of just sweeps you off your feet sometimes.
Quick update -
Tonight we finish up our 'Christians and Culture' series in our student ministry. lt has been refreshing to enter into a new series, searching the Scriptures for insight into how we should handle our culture and the media that we are surrounded with everyday.
Revolution is going great! Greg is doing an incredible job and I really see God blessing this as we reach out to our students through this venue.
Saturday is 'Family Day' and I am so pumped about it. This is really going to be a neat event. We are hopefully going to spend all day at Kennesaw mountain (if it doesn't rain), hiking, playing football, dodgeball, etc. Saturday night we are heading to the Marietta Square for a worship service like none other. It is my prayer that God will speak to our hearts during this time of fellowship and worship.
I know I've already given props on this guy right here, but if you haven't checked out his blog or listened to his podcast, you are doing yourself a tremendous disservice. www.stevenfurtick.com
is the link to Pastor Steven's blog and definately check out his podcast on itunes.
Have a great week!

P.S. If you read the blog, please comment! I would love to hear back from all of you!

Inside out...by Steven Furtick

2008-01-24T07:26:00.000-08:00

I love reading blogs, especially from other pastors and writers. I learn immensly from their knowledge and experience and I love reading about what God is doing in their lives.
Well, one of my favorites is Steven Furtick, who is pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. He is a pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in NC and he is only in his late twenties.
This is what he had to say about ministry, personality and individuality, hope you enjoy:

Cut and Paste vs. Inside Out
January 24th, 2008

A recap of yesterday’s main idea:Effective and lasting ministries are not built by cutting and pasting…They are birthed from the inside out.
In the last 2 years I’ve gotten better at the fine art of filtering. We refer to this as eating the fish and leaving the bones (check out next week’s audio blog for more on this). The filtering process happens as I contextualize and internalize.
1. ContextualizationWhat worked there may not work here. 2. InternalizationWhat works for him may not work for me.
God has wired me in ways that are unique and intentional. And there are both tangible and intangible considerations, too numerous to list, that play into how God works in a given situation, or through a certain personality. Consider your circumstances. Size up your strengths. Learn from everybody. Then leverage the stuff that works in your world. Leave alone the stuff that doesn’t. I’ll give you an example in the area of preaching.I love to listen to my friend Perry preach. I try to keep up with a couple of his messages from every series (I do this with a lot of preachers…but I’m picking on Perry right now).A while back, I saw Perry do an illustration about tithing using Skittles.He had been inspired by a similar illustration that Ed Young Jr. did (I think), he tweaked it and made it his own, and now my wheels were turning:“How could I tweak that and make it my own? How can I make it work for us?”I ended up doing the illustration, and I used a wheelbarrow full of Runts instead of a glass full of Skittles. My interpretation fit my “I wish I was a black preacher” style very well.I was able to present the illustration authentically because it was now molded to my style, paraphrased according to my passion, etc.This happens in my preaching all the time. I’ll hear a guy like Mark Driscoll wailing on a really good point…but his application is custom made for Seattle-the city God has called him to reach. By the time I let God work the theme over in my heart for a few weeks, and I add my Southern twang Bible belt influence to it, I’m saying something that I truly own…even though it wasn’t original with me.(Nothing is original with you, either. Get over it.)

Inspiration without Internalization=Imitation
Inspiration + Internalization=Impact

“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” – John 16:24

2008-01-18T19:17:00.000-08:00

I think the great tragedy within the walk of Christianity today is that many people claim to ‘know God’ , but few truly know Him in a life changing way. Just as Christ told the woman at the well that if she knew who she spoke to she would have asked Him for water, if we truly know who God was, our very lives would be in humble submission and request before an awesome God.
Psalms 50:15 sheds a unique light on prayer that correlates so well with Christian Hedonism. David says “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me”. This screams Christian hedonism in the most overt and obvious ways. First, we have a need. It is a need that we have already attempted to fill by various measures of self-reliance, believing that we alone contain all the power, information and ability for change, how blatantly disrespectful to God our Father. This is clear sign of our faith, or lack there of, when we believe with all our heart that God has the power to save us yet he is entirely incapable or simply does not care to sanctify us that such an impossible feat is left to us as finite humans, how completely unbiblical and utterly ridiculous! Second, we have a promise, God promises to deliver us. It’s fool proof, call upon Him and He will deliver you! What the heck are we doing trying to live our lives, on our own in the good times and the bad! This is travesty upon the grace of God. Why? The end of the verse not only clarifies why children of God should call upon their Father, but also explicitly states our entire meaning in life. ‘…and thou shalt glorify me’…WOW…BAM…IN YOUR FACE! In case you didn’t catch all of that, let the late Charles Spurgeon expound on it. “He says, ‘You shall have the deliverance, but I must have the glory…’ Here is a delightful partnership: we obtain that which we so greatly need, and all that God getteth is the glory which is due unto his name.”
Did you catch that? We receive what we so desperately need when God receives what He so desperately demands! “We do not glorify God by providing His needs, but by praying that He would provide ours – and trusting Him to answer” - John Piper

Ministry......ahhhhh!

2008-01-07T07:31:00.000-08:00

Well,
What's up ya'll! This is my blog. I've wanted to start a blog for a long time now and here it is. It will be simply updates of our Youth Ministry here at Waco Baptist Church, as well as my thoughts concerning current issues within the realm of today's Christianity and what God's has been revealing to me through His Word.

If you don't know already, I am a pretty crazy Youth Pastor at Waco Baptist Church. I haven't been in ministry for long, in fact the church has just brought me on full-time last week. I sit back in awe when I look at the incredible responsibility this job carries. I think that was one of the first surprising realizations in ministry is that it is a 24/7 responsibility, not just to your people but to God. It has been incredibly humbling, I am so unworthy.

Please stay tuned for updates about life, ministry, etc. God just continues to amaze me with His grace and understanding in my life, and I want to share that with all of you!

With love in Christ,
Aaron C.