lessons i learned from bjd

this past week, my pastor (pastor billy joe daughtery) passed away.  i had the privileged of being a part of his congregation from 1978-1989.  my dad was his right hand man for the first 12 years of the church.  our families were close.  he baptized me.  he was a mentor.   he was way to young to die and he will be greatly missed.

i wanted to share a few lessons i learned from him:

#1  integrity - “the integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.”  proverbs 11:3 (msg)

bjd was a man of rock-solid character and was full of integrity.  no wonder God trusted him a congregation of 15,000 and with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of resources.  i also love the fact that he was entirely faithful to his wife and family.  he never was involved in anything shady or immoral - his integrity kept him on the narrow path.

#2  contentment - “not that i was ever in need, for i have learned how to be content with whatever i have.”  philippians 4:11 (nlt)

bjd did not live in a huge crib, drive a benz, or sport designer clothes and bling.  he knew he was just a pilgrim and he traveled light.  in a day when ministers are rocking 7,000+ square foot homes (in gated communities), rolling in a $100,00 ride, and draping themselves in prada, gucci, louis vuitton and armani - bjd would simply wear a decent suit, drive a buick, and he lived in a very average house (in fact for years he lived right around the corner from our house in a very average middle-class neighborhood (at 47th and harvard).  trust me, i’m not knocking living a prosperous life and i do believe God wants us blessed… but i am against excess, greed and lust!  thank God for a man of God that lived simple and kept his focus on eternal things.

#3  encouragement - “so encourage each other and build each other up.”  1 thessalonians 5:11 (nlt)

bjd always encouraged me - even when i fell flat on my face.  at his funeral, one of his sons shared how his dad always gave him “two thumbs up” even when he was failing miserably.  thinking back, bjd gave me the encouraging two thumbs up several times.  during a time in my life where i was involved in immoral and illegal stuff - i remember bjd telling me “scooter, it’s not as important where you have been, but it is important where you are going - God’s grace has already covered those mistakes.”  countless times, he would verbally lift me out of the discouragement and heaviness that surrounded me.  bjd understood ministry… he knew it was all about listening to, loving on, and lifting others.  he was one of the two most encouraging people i have ever know (the other one is ulf ekman).  romans 12:8a says, “if your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging.”  he had the most amazing gift of encouragement.

there are so many other lessons that i learned from him…. faith, miracles, the power of the Holy Spirit, the need to just be yourself, living debt free, being merciful, believing in others, the power of joy, and the list goes on and on and on.

my life is so much richer because of bjd.  this world is a way better place because of bjd.  most importantly, multitudes will be in heaven because of bjd.

thanksgiving 09′

pump up the vision

“and then God answered:  write this.  write what you see.  write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.  this vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming.  it aches for the coming - it can hardly wait!  and it doesn’t lie.  if it seems slow in coming, wait.  it’s on its way.  it will come right on time.”  habakkuk 2:2-3 (msg)

reading this classic vision verse fills my heart with hope for a better future.  it reminds me that God is in control and the vision He has given me will happen.  regardless of what things look like - i need to pump up the vision!  why?  because vision deflates… the enemy tries to discourage me… my own insecurities surface and have to be overcome… other people bail out and choose another vision to follow (that’s not a bad thing, just reality).

how do you pump up the vision?  take promises from God’s word and speak them over your life and release words of faith.  take control of the atmosphere!  fight discouragement!  defeat doubt!  get aggressive in prayer!  start praising God in advance for what you know He will do!  remind the enemy that no weapon formed against you will prosper!  tap into the power (the same power that raised Jesus from the dead) and smack the enemy back a few times - let him know you’re alive and ready for anything he wants to dish out.

d.l. moody said, “the devil never kicks a dead horse”.  in other words, the enemy only attacks those that are doing something, going somewhere and living big for God.  if you have had the enemy messing with you recently - be encouraged - you are doing something right.  satan picks on people that have a God-sized vision, he tries to get us to back off and give up.  ”don’t quit in hard times…”  romans 12:12b (msg)

nehemiah gives us a great visual of how we are to live - in one hand he had a tool (to build something significant for God) and in the other hand he had a weapon (to fight the enemy and overcome).  your vision will require you to use both hands - building & battling, serving faithfully & slaying fiercely.  i know God has given you an amazing vision - don’t let the enemy deflate it!  if he does, pump it back up and make it bigger than ever.

my prayer for you… “may God give you your hearts desires and help make all your plans succeed.”  psalm 20:4

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!

climbers

“the slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve all the problems of the human race.”  calvin coolidge

there are only 3 types of people in this world:  quitters, campers & climbers.  the truth is that i’ve been all 3 at different times in my life, but i know that God wants me to climb - to embrace the upward call that He has put on my life.  the psalmist wrote, “the way of life winds upward for the wise…”.  paul wrote, “i press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

quitters abandon the climb - they give up!

campers delay the climb - they give in!

climbers live for the climb - they go up!

God has called you to a life of climbing, not camping or quitting.  i’m sure right now in your life there are circumstances that make you want to give up - but resolve not to - don’t let anything stop you from pressing on and taking another step up the mountain.  after all, isn’t that where God is - up.  He is the high and lofty one, He resides on His holy mountain.  He pulled us out of the pit and set our feet on the rock.  He has called you (and given you the strength) to ascend to the high places.

maybe you have reached a certain altitude with God and feel like you have given enough.  maybe you feel like you have served enough and helped enough and now it is time to kick back a bit.  i’m so thankful Jesus didn’t have this attitude.  this lukewarm condition that plagues so many in the church today.  i fully realize that people camp due to fatigue, frustration, or just a lack of focus (or vision).  campers forget why they are on the mountain in the first place - they are there to climb it - to summit.   purpose not to camp in your spiritual life - break camp, get rid of anything that slows you down and get moving again.

“the Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon the high places.”   habakkuk 3:19

“…stick with what you believe and don’t quit… it won’t be easy… anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times.”  paul, acts 14:21-22 (msg)

may God strengthen you and inspire you to continue to move upward. refuse to quit or camp or let anything distract you from your climb today.

hovering

in the very opening thoughts (literally the first few sentences) of the bible, we see God’s Spirit hovering over the earth - ready to unleash an inconceivable amount of power in the creation of the galaxies.  by nature, this is what the Holy Spirit does… He hovers… He is fluttering between heaven and earth… He is lingering overhead… He is suspended over every person and every situation on every continent… He is ready to do something - eager to create something new and amazing!  He is so close (if you want to) you can feel Him.  you are so close to a breakthrough - don’t give up!  He will empower you to breakthrough the frustration, breakthrough the disappointments, breakthrough the fear, breakthrough the hurt, breakthrough the pain, breakthrough to an entirely new dimension in life.

my thoughts recently are along these lines… i sense God is ready to do something big, but have no clue what it is (yet).  i’m convinced that there is so much more for my life, for the turner fam, and for the summit.    i know that the future is going to be so much greater than i can imagine.  God is hovering… He is directly overhead… He is closer than you think… He is ready to unleash something fresh over you… you are under the mighty shadow of His wings!

a few scriptures i’ve been thinking about:

• “God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!”  ephesians 3:20a

• “God will give you your heart’s desire and help you fulfill all your plans.”                                                                                                           psalm 20:4

• “I know what I’m doing (says the Lord).  I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”                                                                                                   jeremiah 29:11

stars

last night i had to run outside to get something i forgot out of my truck.  i was blown away by how clear it was and how bright the stars were.  i stood there and gazed straight up and got totally caught up in the moment.  i sensed God’s presence and all of my concerns and anxiety just melted away.  i needed to be reminded that God is in control and He said He would give me the desires of my heart.

the scripture that immediately came to my memory was isaiah 43:19 - 

“Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”

i want to encourage you that God is up to something big in your life and it is about to manifest.  He is on the move and specializes in making all things new (and improved and better and magnificent).  trust Him, seek Him, expect Him to show up!

when is the last time you looked up at the stars?  what would you love to see God do in your life, but it looks impossible?  remember, nothing is impossible for anyone who trusts God!  

fractured

a few days ago, i fractured my right ankle and tore some ligaments.  thankfully (after seeing a specialist) there is no long-term damage and i should be back to full strength in about 4-5 weeks.  while i was at the er (for 4 hours), i was amazed by all the different people that were streaming in - all with serious, but different needs.  my heart broke as i watched each person struggling:

• a baby that was having trouble breathing (gasping and shaking)
• an elderly lady (who looked about 95) that could not stop vomiting (an uncontrollable stream) - her frail husband weeping and holding her
• a young guy (21 or so) that was spitting and coughing up blood - ready to pass out at any moment 
• a girl that had overdosed - her mom panicking and yelling at the hospital staff
• 2 drunk guys - one was forcefully shoved in by police officers and then handcuffed to his bed - the nurse knew him by name and she was obviously bothered he was back - later she told me that he shows up about 3 times a month
• a lady (that weighed about 450 pounds) that was unconscious - they successfully revived her and rushed her into surgery
• too many other people to talk about - various ages, various ethnicities, various needs