tulsa trip

sitting at lax, getting ready to jump on a flight to tulsa (non-stop…yea!).  i’m really looking forward to seeing my mom, dad, and siblings and having the opportunity to speak at life church in bartlesville (www.lifechurchok.org).  my dad has pastored the church for the past 4.5 years and has seen it grow from 50 to 400.  the church has a great vibe - awesome people - lives are being changed weekly - i’m really looking forward to serving there.  i’m going to be busy doing ministry, but hope to take in a service at guts church (with pastor bill scheer) and maybe get to a sat p.m. service at church on the move (pastor willie george).

tomorrow i will drive up to kansas city with my little bro (kyle) and his wife (liz).  they are getting ready to launch a brand-new church called the cause community church.  i’m really looking forward to seeing the area God has called them to and support them anyway i can.  God’s hand is on them and it will be awesome to see what God does through them as they expand the kingdom and take new territory for God.  i really hope i can encourage them and help them think through everything as they take this massive step of faith.  church planting is incredibly exciting, but incredibly hard at the same time.  kyle and liz will be coming to socal and speaking at the summit on november 22nd - we want to get behind them and support them as they pioneer the cause.

mary will be speaking at the summit this sunday - she will continue our nehemiah series - with the emphasis on serving God passionately.  i know she will do a great job and encourage (and challenge) everyone.  i’m hoping i still have a job when i get back… they might vote me out and vote her in - it wouldn’t be the first time.

going to tulsa is always interesting - it is where i ran from God for the better part of 7 years.  as i pass certain streets and landmarks i am reminded of all the crazy (and illegal) stuff i did.  from crazy vandelism to grand theft auto… seriously.  it used to really bother me (when i went to tulsa and was constantly reminded of the choas and compromise i lived in), but now it is a gentle reminder of God’s grace and favor He has given me.  thank God He doesn’t hold our sins against us - in fact He forgives instantly, completely and permanently - what a deal!

“God says He will accept and acquit us - declare us not guilty - if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins.  And we can be saved in the same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like.”  Romans 3:23 (TLB)

“A clean slate and a fresh start come from God by way of Jesus Christ.”  I Corinthians 1:30 (MSG)

thank God i’m not who i used to be and i’m becoming who He created me to be!

excuses

over the past week i have become acutely aware of the amount of excuses i use.  i also have noticed how many other people use excuses to justify their behavior, tardiness, poor decisions, lack of passion, and stupidity.  excuses are what keep teams from winning.  excuses are what keep churches from growing.  excuses are what keep us from our God-given potential.  excuses are a

excuses always replace progress.  excuses always try to cover up character gaps (remember adam? “God, it was this woman that you gave me!”).  excuses attempt to make us feel better about ourselves.  excuses keep us from growing.  excuses are the result of pride (and not wanting to look bad).  excuses fuel failure!

i don’t know about you, but i’m done with the deceptive nature and destructive habit of excuses.   there is something liberating about not hiding or trying to disguise truths i’ve sold.  God is looking for people who stop looking at why they can’t live big for Him and just do it.

Jesus (in Luke 15) tells the story of God’s Kingdom dinner.  he shares how the invites went out and the food is on the table… but “then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses.”  jesus continues to share how one after the other excuses were given - they were pretty good excuses.  excuses that dealt with relationships, business and important issues.

most of the excuses in my life are based on making a difference for God in this world, in my city.  many times i find myself saying, “i can’t do anything about that” or “what difference can i make?”.  then i start making all the excuses why i can’t.  proverbs 24:11-12 (msg) says, “rescue the perishing; don’t hesitate to step in and help.  if you say, hey, that’s none of my business, will that get you off the hook?  someone is watching you closely, you know - someone not impressed with weak excuses.”

i pray that we get rid of every lame excuse for not doing God’s will and start doing what we can.  excuses are keeping us from becoming the people God has created us to be - keeping us from becoming the church God has created us to be.

i repent from making excuses.  i’m done with trying to justify why things just stay the same.  i’m through with coasting… from living my life on auto-pilot.  God help me to live passionately for You.  Jesus, i can do all things through you and your strength.  Holy Spirit, keep me from making excuses.  from this moment on - i am living “excuse free”.  anybody care to join me?

think big

recently God opened up the door for the summit to move to a much better location.  we will be moving in 12 weeks off campus (just 1.4 miles away) to vista verde school.  this strategic move will double our space and give us the ability to minister at the next level.  there are many reasons for moving (better location, more parking, additional space for more kids & youth classes, getting off of campus and out in the community), but the driving force behind this decision is to reach more people!  God is asking us to get our eyes off of ourselves and see all the people around us that are so lost and so confused.  this move is not convenient, it’s expensive, it will require a lot of strategizing and hard work… but it’s all about people!  people are what matter to God and it’s time we think bigger, take a risk and go to the next level!

with any change comes fear.  the fear of making a bad decision at a critical crossroad, the fear of looking foolish, the fear of losing people, the fear of failure, or just the fear of trying something new.

in isaiah 54, God says, “clear lots of ground for your tents!  make your tents large.  spread out!  think big! use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep, you’re going to need lost of elbow room for your growing family.  you’re going to take over whole nations; you’re going to resettle abandoned cities.  don’t be afraid - you’re not going to be embarrassed.  don’t hold back - you’re not going to come up short.”

i know God has inspired this move and is asking us to create more space for Him to fill.  deep in my heart i’m convinced that He will show up and take the summit higher.  i know He is building His church and hell can’t stop it.  so with God’s help we will break out of small thinking, rise above the fear, take a risk and go for it.

this is not just a summit church thing… this is a you thing!  God is asking you to think big, to spread out, to take risks, to go for it.  don’t be afraid, God is with you.  don’t hold back, God will show up and show off!  without faith it is impossible to please God - step out, this is your season.  don’t hold back… God says, “my soul has no pleasure in anyone that shrinks back.”  think big… don’t be afraid… every step the sole of your foot takes, God is with you!