So…I was reading the bible the other day and this hit me like a ton of bricks….
“…when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son…” – Romans 5:10
We all know Romans 5:8 just before this verse that talks about God demonstrating his love for us by Christ dying while we were still sinners, but I had never seen the word enemy until now.
Have you ever stopped to think about that?
We were God’s enemies…
But he chose to love us. He chose to redeem us. He chose to see us in himself instead of in our sin. And then he gave us Jesus.
Whoa.
It’s hard to love my enemies like that.
So…I’m still stuck on the things God blew me up with at C3 last week. There is so much that I don’t even know where to start. Therefore, over the next few days I’m going to unpack a few thoughts.
One thing that resonated with me is how important it is to
GET OUT OF WHERE YOU ARE and
GO SEE SOMEONE ELSE DOING WHAT YOU DO.
Doesn’t matter if you work at a church or IBM or McDonald’s…there is ridiculous value in observation. Not only will you get a fresh perspective and get slammed with new ideas, but you will also (hopefully) leave with a renewed appreciation for what you have.
I have found this to be so true in ministry. I got saved at NewSpring in ‘02 and have practically grown up here spiritually. NewSpring is normal to me because it’s all I’ve ever known as far as church. Seriously.
When Perry makes church jokes, baptist jokes, and committee jokes I don’t get them because I just haven’t experienced a lot of er… um…. uh….churches.
When our band is cranked up on Sundays and I can worship God uninhibited that is normal to me because I rarely have to experience my own [off pitch] voice in worship.
When we baptize two or five hundred people in one night, that is normal to me because it’s all I’ve ever known.
When we have 150 people stand up on Sunday and profess Christ as their Lord and savior that is normal to me because that is all I’ve ever seen.
When we have hundreds of volunteers mobilize at the drop of a hat, that is normal to me because that’s what they’ve always done.
Oh, how I am so blind.
The more I see the more I realize how abnormal NewSpring is. Nothing we experience is “normal”. God has allowed us to witness abundant salvations, baptisms, and life change. His favor is on us. And hear me on this – it’s not because of anything we have done. It’s probably in spite of what we’ve done. We suck.
God has done it. He is the one who is building his Church. And he has chosen to do it through us for whatever reason. That reignites my soul. It makes me want to press on in the face of adversity. It makes me want to never give up. It makes me want to invite more lost people to church. It makes me want to press into the purpose God has for my life and empower other people to press into theirs.
So…are you feeling burned out? Bored? Sick of the routine? Normal?
Maybe you need a dose of fresh perspective. Go somewhere.
Be sure to take a notebook.
Just a few quick thoughts about C3 in Dallas
- I have never been so proud of my pastor.
- People didn’t know how to handle him at first.
- I could see them thinking, “did he really just say that?”
- They soon realized that he speaketh the TRUTH that no one else has the guts to say.
- I love hearing people laugh hysterically.
- He received a standing ovation…and we didn’t even start it!
- Anderson, be proud of what God has done in our midst!!!
- WAY TO GO P!!!!!!!!!
- T.D. Jakes is everything you think he would be live.
- I really enjoyed hearing Brian Huston from Hillsong Church talk about empowering people.
- Sounds like they have created quite a culture over there in Sydney.
- I think I need to go see it for myself.
- I’m feeling a field trip coming. Really.
- Ed Young talked about betrayal and how it is the “elephant” in ministry that no one talks about.
- Powerful stuff.
- What made it even better was the LIVE ELEPHANT they had outside on the way in.
- Shuh-zam.
I plan on unpacking more from this conference on my blog over the next week or so. There is a lot that I want to share!
Filed under: Vacation
In the Denver airport. It’s weird to be warm and see the ground.
Winter Park was amazing and cold. -25 with the wind chill half way up the mountain. I would say closer to negative two billion at the top.
We had more fun than should be allowed.
Here are a couple of highlights….
Filed under: Ministry
NewSpring Volunteer ministry is launching something new….
It’s called IMPACT.
We are creating an environment for potential volunteers to come and see what serving at NewSpring is all about. The evening is open to current members and non members. The point is to give an overview of what exactly goes on behind the scenes and to help people connect to meaningful ministry. God given gifts are at stake. The potential is endless.
Real humans will be present to answer questions from each area of ministry.
Real life change will happen as a result.
Tell all your friends.
TUESDAY, FEB. 26th at 7:00pm
Membership room, NewSpring Church.
Questions? Contact Skye.
*Childcare will not be provided.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
I hope you love today.
Original artwork, courtesy of my new friend Tim.
Meet my new cube neighbor Skye.
She had a stroke of GENIUS that resulted in the first ever cube window at NewSpring Church.
We like to call it the WINDOW BOX OF INNOVATION.
So far on day one we have used it for:
- Computer training tutorials
- Information sharing (handing across)
- Impromptu team meetings
- Team collaboration
I’m pretty sure this is the new wave of the future that will be sweeping the nation in a matter of weeks. It’s ridiculous.
Here’s her view.
The funny thing is that I’ve lived in cubeville for 2 years and never thought to tear out a wall to make work more efficient. The walls were just there. I get to my desk every day and see them.
Makes me wonder what other things I see every day that are “just there”.
What a great reminder that innovation is right in front of our faces. Sometimes we just have to find a new perspective and look from a different view.
Here are a few things coming down the pike in the land of NewSpring…
NewSpringers…these events are PACKED with opportunities for you to serve! YEAH!!!!!!
- Friday, March 7th Lee is releasing his new CD, a matchlight in the dark — I can’t WAIT.
- Thursday, March 13th NewSpring is hosting UNLEASH 08.
- All I’ve got to say is DANG – if you volunteer at NewSpring, it’s in your best interest to do whatever it takes to be a part of this day.
- If you miss it, you will probably have regret for the rest of your life!
- Last year this is what attendees had to say about their experience!!!
- You can volunteer based on your availability — an hour or twelve!
- Be warned that you might not sleep for days after it’s over.
- Email Katie if you want to join in – more details to come.
- PS–there are also lots of opportunities to help prepare before the 13th if you’re interested!
- Speaking of pikes…
- On Friday I will be going here for 5 days.
- oh my dang
- 20 of us are going to stay here.
- oh my dang
- Most of those peeps are from my NewSpring home group.
- oh my dang
- This is my first “paid for” vacation since meeting Joe.
- oh my dang
- And the countdown begins…..
You’ve probably seen this before…but hopefully it will make you laugh anyway. I could watch this 100 times in a row….
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!!!!
