It’s All About Me…

I know when you read that title you probably thought I was going to really stick it to those people who think the world revolves around them or I was going to hit some pride issues.  Nope.  Today really is all about me which is very awkward.  I had someone say to me the other day, “I really enjoy reading your blog but I still really don’t know what you like or don’t like.”  So today is a few lists of things that I like and most likely I will lose some readers because you may not like what I like and may even be offended that I would like that. (There was a lot of “likes” in that sentence.) However, this is who I am.  So, here we go.

Top 5 Artists or Bands:

• Nirvana
• Hillsong
• The Beatles
• Eminem
• U2

Top 5 Movies:

• Braveheart
• The Notebook
• Gladiator
• The Breakfast Club
• Dumb & Dumber

Top 5 Books: (The Bible being the exception)

• Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
• Visioneering by Andy Stanley
• Crazy Love by Francis Chan
• Confessions Of A Pastor by Craig Groeschel
• In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson

Top 5 T.V. Shows

• Survivor
• Modern Family
• The Office
• Greys Anatomy
• Sportscenter

Top 5 Favorite Real Foods

• Pizza
• BBQ -Ribs & Brisket
• Seafood
• Mexican
• Chinese

Top 5 Favorite Junk Foods

• Doritos
• Oreos
• Candy
• Beef Jerky
• Ice Cream

Favorite Sports Teams:

• NFL- Philadelphia Eagles
• MLB- Philadelphia Phillies
• NBA- Los Angeles Lakers
• NHL- Philadelphia Flyers (To be honest I only watch hockey in the playoffs)
• College Basketball- University of North Carolina
• College Football- University of Southern California

People I’d Like To Meet: (Alive or Dead)

• Martin Luther King Jr.
• Steve Jobs
• Chris Farley
• Francis Chan
• Steven Furtick
• Perry Noble
• Nelson Mandela
• Andy Stanley
• John Maxwell
• Bono
• Kobe Bryant

There it is briefly the things I like.

Francis Chan – #CatWest ’09

Be You

While I was driving today I heard on the radio that Subway is now serving breakfast.  Really?  No offense to Subway but when I think of breakfast they are the last fast food industry that I think of.  I’m sure they have done marketing and research.  I’m sure they have even talked to consumers about the possibility of this endeavor.  Their build a better breakfast slogan is catchy and the food does look very good, however.  My question is this, why can’t Subway do what they are good at?  It’s the same reason why Chick-Fil-A does not make burgers or KFC does not make Tacos because they know what they are good at and they stick to it. (Yes I am aware that KFC joins together with Taco Bell and Pizza Hut)

Once again it got me thinking about us as individuals trying to be something we are not.  Maybe we are trying to be all things to all people.  Maybe we don’t even know who we are now.  As a pastor I know who I am and who I am not.

• I know I am not going to write a book that will give the world 40 days of purpose like Rick Warren.
• I know I am not going to have the fashion sense or tenacity of a Steven Furtick.
• I know I am not going to wear polo shirts and speak from a stool where every word I speak should be written in a leadership book like Andy Stanley.
• I know I am not going to be able to get away with cussing like Mark Driscoll.
• I know I am not going to sing and act out my messages like Ed Young.
• I know I am not going to smile relentlessly like Joel Olsteen.
• I know I am not going to be as deep and studied as Mark Batterson.
• I know I am not going to be as funny and raw and bold as Perry Noble.
• I know I am not going to have the faith and passion of a Francis Chan.
• I know I am not going to have the incredible voice of T.D. Jakes.
• I know I am not going to have the build or as many campuses as Craig Groeschel.
• I know I am not going to have powerful worship in my church like Brian Houston.
• I know I am not going to stand through trials like Matt Chandler.

What I do know is that I was not created to be them.  I was created to be me.  I was created to serve God to the best of my abilities.  The quicker you and I realize who we were created to be the quicker you and I will experience the life that God created us to enjoy.

So don’t be a Subway where you come across as desperate chasing the competition but do what you do and do it better than anybody else.

A Gathering Force

Francis Chan wrote an article back in 2008 titled, A Gathering Force for Catalyst.  I found what he wrote to be very exciting, alarming and unattainable, but is it?  Read part of this article and share with me your thoughts below.

“Is there any logic in believing that God started His church as a spirit-filled, loving body with the intention that it would evolve into entertaining, hour-long services?  Was He hoping that one day people would be attracted to the church not because they care for one another, not because they are devoted to Him, not because the supernatural occurs in their midst, but because of good music and entertainment?

Try to imagine what conclusions you would come to if you had no prior church experience.  The things in church services might make sense to the American church-attendee, but they don’t make sense biblically.

Picture yourself on an island with only a Bible.  You’ve never been to a church-you’ve never even heard of one.  The only ideas you have about church are what you’ve read in your Bible. Then you enter a building labeled “church” for the first time.  What would you expect to experience as you entered that building?  Now compare that to what you actually experience when you attend church.

What if the church looked like this?  ’They devoted themselves tot he apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.  Every day they continued to meet together int he temple courts.  They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’ (Acts 2:42-47)

It describes what the world is looking for.  I used to look at this passage as something that was wonderful but could never happen int he twenty-first century.  There are just too many cultural obstacles for the Holy Spirit to overcome.  He is powerful enough to form a sharing and loving body in our individualistic society.  I doubted God’s ability to stir a body of believers to love tirelessly and give without restraint.  I reasoned that this type of fellowship was probably not intended for our time.  Besides, we don’t have time to love like this.

Looking back, I wonder if I came to those conclusions because there was a part of me that wasn’t sure I wanted it.  It’s interesting how much our theology is driven by desire.

Something real was happening in the early church.  It was something of the Spirit, too powerful to be replicated by human effort.  Imagine taking a friend to one of their church gatherings.  Your friend might not experience a smoothly run, professional service. But one thing he would experience: God.  Do we even need to ask which is better?  So much of church growth today has nothing to do with the Holy Spirit.  The right team of talented people can make any church grow.  When people sit through creative services, is it really God they’re experiencing?

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying that we shouldn’t give our best to God.  If you’re a musician, work diligently are your music.  If your a teacher, labor intensely over your messages.  I’m just asking you to be willing to rethink what you’re doing and ask: How can we create a more biblical environment where people see and experience God?

May people see our churches and know that mere human beings could not have created what they experienced.  May we seek the priorities of the early church and trust God to once again produce the fruit of the early church.  ’And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.’ (Acts2:47″

Great reminder for me to not be performance based but Spirit based.

Francis Chan is stepping out in faith…

This is a re-post from the Catalyst Blog.

Last Tuesday I had the honor of interviewing Francis Chan at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA.  I was asked to wait to post this video until today because of the sensitive nature of what Francis shared…

After 16 years of serving as senior pastor for Cornerstone Church Francis is sensing the Lord leading him in a different direction.  Despite not having complete clarity on what this means or exactly what is next Francis is stepping out in faith, something he has done for so much of his life.  He announced this decision to the church yesterday no doubt solidifying the start of a huge transition for both the Chan family AND the Cornerstone Church family.  The beauty of this announcement is that it comes in unified peace and hopeful harmony.

When I asked Francis, “what’s going on with you right now, what are you learning,” I had no idea that he would share all of this…needless to say the remaining questions I had prepared were thrown out the window as Francis spoke from his heart and offered a vulnerable glimpse into his own personal journey…

“I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t go…”

Why do I fear following in faith?  What risk is too great if the voice of the Lord is leading?

Francis, thank you for your tangible example of trust and surrender…

I Want To Be Average

I want to be average, who says that?  Who goes through life never wanting to reach their full potential?  Who goes through life be content being mediocre?  I think there is a competitive spirit in almost everyone, maybe not to be the best but to simply be better.  Better than the day before, week before or even better than last year.

I find in my walk with Christ that I have huge ups and then huge downs.  I find that there are seasons that I play it safe, I don’t take risks and I can end up going through the motions.  Francis Chan gives an awesome 4 minute challenge about not living ordinary.

Watch it and after you watch it answer the poll question.