Random Takeaways - Part 2 Of 2

Well...Church Planters is a wrap. Although my left ear is totally plugged from the flight, I'm grateful for the opportunities. Here are my remaining takeaways...

The sins you find most appalling to God are the ones you don't struggle with. Pete Wilson.

It's the church's job to create an environment where we help people discover their new name. Pete Wilson.

Are you equipping the saints or are you just building numbers? Dave Gibbons.

We impress people from afar, but impact them from up close. Dave Gibbons.

If you treated your wife like your iPhone, you'd have a great marriage. Dave Gibbons. (Ha...now that's a good one.)

What's the big deal if you only love people who are like you. Dave Gibbons.

Don't take early loses seriously. Ignore them! Rick Warren.

God grows a mushroom in six hours and an oak in sixty years. Which one are you? Rick Warren.

Determine the health of your church not on seating but on sending. Rick Warren.

Never confuse your value with your valuables. Rick Warren.

Learn humility. Remember the whales. When they get to the top and are about to blow...then, they get harpooned. Rick Warren.

Stop building church and build people as when you build people God will build the church. Rick Warren.

The six phases of faith. Rick Warren.
1. Dream
2. Decision
3. Delay
4. Difficulty
5. Dead End
6. Deliverance

That's all folks. Until next time. Jed.

Camp's Rants & Raves

We just got back from Family and Youth Bible Camp. What a great week! I tagged team the senior high with my friend Nick Marcoux. And…as always, we had a blast!

Here are a few glimpses…

- Serving the Lord with your all in the ordinary will result in the extraordinary. “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” (1 Samuel 16:11). This is Jesse talking of his youngest…David. David was living an ordinary life…serving God with his all. The rest of the story speaks for itself.

- You might not make it across the street, home, through dinner, or whatever. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man, the living should take this to heart (Ecclesiastes 7:2). Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog - it’s here a little while, then it’s gone (James 4:13-14).

- Knowing you might not…what are you going to do with Jesus? Forget all the other questions. This is the only one that truly matters.

- Listen to the Paul within your life…there’s likely more than one. Paul advised them saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul (Acts 27:9-11).

- What is it costing you to follow Jesus Christ? Then King David said to Ornan, “No but I will surely buy it for full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing,” (1 Chronicles 21:24).

Also, here are some questions asked by the senior high…all eye openers…

- If you feel as if God is calling you to do something bigger than what you are capable of doing, how can you feel the confidence to do great things for God?

- Why does God not let something happen that you have worked hard for and would be able to praise Him through?

- Other than an accountability partner, what are good ways to break a habit, as in a habit nobody knows you do?

- How far is too far when it comes to dating? When does it become a sin? What’s the most advisable way to resist the physical temptations and sexual temptations from the opposite sex?

- What do you do if you have a friend who is a believer, but doesn’t attend church?

- My dad is probably not a believer. Besides praying, what are some other ways to also influence him?

- How should I begin to talk to someone about Christ? What should I say first?

Camp was a huge success! God moved in mighty ways and I’ll forever be grateful…for we serve an awesome God. Until next time. Jed.

The Speechless Sin

Ever been lost for words? Tongue tied? Speechless? Perhaps with good news such as the birth of a child or promotion at work. Or…perhaps with not so good news such as a diagnosis or layoff. Your mouth opens and nothing comes out…followed by nothing again.

Forget the good or not so good. What about sin? Wait, wait, wait…time out. Let’s not talk about sin. Who struggles with sin? Not me. Must be you. What’s that verse again? Something about a log in my eye. Right…

Sin often cripples and leaves us speechless with blame and shame. Who wants to talk of that? But, we have a voice. We have an advocate.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But, if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins – and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. (1st John 1:1-2)

It is not either or. It is both and. We must cling to Christ if we are to experience the free life and when sin hits we have an advocate who will speak on our behalf and has already paid the price. So simple…yet so impossibly amazing!

No more wallowing in silence. Lift your head and praise the Lord. And let’s not forget the world. John Piper says it best. Don’t hog Jesus! Families, friends, and neighbors wallow day in and out. Share your advocate. Share Jesus! Until next time. Jed.

God's Pie

An intriguing video. Money aside…this video can apply to all walks of life. Especially your time.

What Will You Have For Lunch

Chicken noodle or peanut butter? The options for my daughter’s lunch. She went with chicken noodle. A good choice…especially with the winter weather. What will you have for lunch?

This choice will be one of many today. After all…we live in America. Where choices and options abound. Just look at toothpaste. Baking soda anyone? Cavity protection or whitening? Gel or paste? Mint or fruit flavored? Name brand or offshoot? Sensitive teeth too? Toothpaste claims an entire aisle within the store. Toothpaste is serious business.

But…the choices and options have just started. Looking only within our baths…we have conditioners, deodorants, scrubs, shampoos, soaps, sprays, etc. Wow! And…without hesitation we pay the bill. We don’t think twice. We put in the time. To ensure we have this or that. Even going out of our way or paying a little more.

Kind of nuts. Isn’t it? Putting so much thought into our hair, teeth, and underarms. But…what about God? How much thought heads His way? Well...we listen to that Christian radio station. Say a quick prayer or two while plowing through the snow covered roads. Oh ya…we even read that Christian blog. We’re good. Aren’t we?

I’m not here to condemn. Just wanting to give a second or third thought as Jesus stands and knocks (Revelation 3:20). We pursue the best for ourselves…with all the products noted above. But, do we pursue God? We carefully mold and shape our hair. But, do we allow God to mold and shape our hearts?

As Jesus stands and knocks…let’s answer and sit with our Savior. Pursue God’s best! Until next time. Jed.

A little humor before leaving. What’s the slogan for hillbilly toothpaste? If it was made for more than one tooth, we’d call it teethpaste. Ha ha.

Just Your Average Sparrows

The birds. Nope…not Alfred Hitchcock. Just your average sparrows. What do they do and where do they go during the winter? Who needs or wants a winter blast? Not me! Be good and fly south my feathered friends. Wish I could join ya.

Don’t worry. We’ll avoid the theology between these questions and you. Let’s simply keep it simple.

A week or so ago, I was driving and trudging through the snow covered roads. While praying for sanity and safety, two sparrows landed directly in my path. A few pecks and off they went. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Matthew 10:29-31 notes, “What is the price of two sparrows – one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid – you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

Landing while I was praying…these sparrows were a simple reminder. A gentle touch from God. He catches, leads, and loves!

Listen up church! People are seeking these sparrows. Are you communicating the catching, leading, and loving nature of God? Without spot or wrinkle. Holy and worthy. Simply awesome...

Just your average sparrows. What do they do and where do they go? Not sure. But…what an amazing testament to the faithfulness and readiness of God. Until next time. Jed.

Trust? Not A Chance!

Earlier today I pulled up to a stop sign and trusted my wife. She claimed all was clear and off we went without demise.

Trust is powerful. After all...I trusted my wife with my life. No doubts, glances, fears, or worries. Just the word go and off we went. We trust people from all walks of life. Doctors to heal. Officers to protect. Pastors to counsel. Teachers to teach. And the list marches on. But...trusting God seems to be a stretch and life overtakes.

I love my kids and kids love trust. A lion could be charging or asteroid colliding. But...my kids would feel safe and secure within my arms (although we know better). Why? Because of trust. No doubts, glances, fears, or worries. Just absolute and simple trust.

We try and crack the code or untangle the mystery. At times…this mystery is ok unsolved. The answer may remain elusive. Hidden despite our best efforts to seek. Why? Why the diagnosis? Why the pain? Why the stress? Let's take the lead from the kids. Here comes the lion or asteroid. So...jump into the arms of God. Safe and secure with absolute and simple trust.

Abraham left without a defined end...and guess what. Abraham found home (Hebrews 11:8)! He trusted God and God delivered and secured home. How about you? On a journey without a defined end. Not sure of the how, when, where, or why. Just trust. Haunted by fears and questions. Just trust. Plagued by popular opinions. Just trust. Unsure of...

Just TRUST!

Give and release this journey to God. Trust in the Lord with all your heart...He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7). Now...that's words to live by. Say bye bye to doubts, glances, fears, or worries. Listen for the word go and trust! Until next time. Jed.