Lessons From An 8 Year Old

So there we were enjoying our time together and all of the sudden the door bell rings. My 8 year old son and I were playing a little xbox and one of his friends came to the door. He threw his jacket on, slipped his boots on, looks at me and says; "Peace Dad, I'm Out!" And out the door he went. PEACE! WHAT!

It's Christmas. A holiday season known for "Peace On Earth." But for some reason here are the words I hear around this holiday season; Fear, Worry, Anxiety, Discouragement, Stress, Depression, and Drama. Where is the Peace? Here is one simple thought I want to give you with our short time together.

Peace Is Not The Absence Of Crisis. It Is The Presence Of Christ. We will never find true lasting, deep abiding peace, by trying to create a perfect little world without Crisis. Crisis is apart of life, but Christ gives life. Here is an awesome verse from the bible that I hope encourages you during this Christmas season - John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Hope Is A Funny Feeling

Hope is a funny feeling isn't. The word has 4 letters, yet the feeling has immense power. A recent situation compelled me to write a little about hope. 2010 has been a tough year for a ton of people. Think about all the struggles you've personally heard over this last year? Here are a couple categories that you and I have heard a ton about this last year; Health, Finances, Business, Lack of Faith, Family Issues, Depression, and the list goes on and on. Most of the time, Hope is all we have, and if a person loses hope, what is left? 2011 is right around the corner. If your hope tank is empty, then take the next 3 weeks of this year and begin to fill it. I am praying for you. I don't know many of you, but I am praying that 2011 is an awesome year for you. I pray that your plans succeed, and friendships improve. I am praying that you find the job of your dreams, or the man/woman of your dreams. I am praying that your family is healed, and your relationships are sizzling with passion. I leave you with an old proverb:

As long as we have hope,
we have direction,
the energy to move,
and the map to move by.
We have a hundred alternatives,
a thousand paths and infinity of dreams.
Hopeful, we are halfway to where we want to go;
Hopeless, we are lost forever.

Forgiveness

We just finished up our series on forgiveness. It has been an awesome two weeks at CityPoint Church. Here are a couple of key points to remember this week:

1. Forgive, even if the offender does not ask to be forgiven. Quit waiting around for the person who hurt you to come to you and tell you exactly what you think you need to hear in order to forgive them. There is a chance they will never be a big enough person to ask you for your forgiveness.

2. Treat those who injured or offended you with kindness, not harboring any grudge or speaking of that individual in a condemning way. (This Is A Tough One)

Romans 2:4 (NLT)
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Cant’ you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

I love this verse because at its core it says; “If you are willing to treat your offender with kindness, you could actually be pointing them toward God. Kindness goes a long way.

3. If the opportunity presents itself, do something good for the person who hurt or offended you.

There ya go! A couple of great things to keep in mind for the week!

Worth Reading

Wow!!! Feels great to have a moment to write again! There has been so many awesome things going on that it would take a long time to update on all that has happened over the last month, but the biggest thing is the launching of CITYPOINT CHURCH. We have had such an incredible time since our very first preview service. I wanted to take a minute and give a quick spill on one of my favorite talks we have done at CITYPOINT. Here are five things I think we can work on if we call ourselves Christ followers.

1. We Need To Learn To Listen Better. Talk Less. Keep your opinions silent. Everyone has an opinion, but it doesn't mean all opinions are meant to be spoken.

2. Don’t Label. Using terms to put people into boxes is generally offensive to people. We are all people, let’s stop making neat little categories for each other.

3. Don’t Be So Smart. No body loves a know it all. These people personally drive me nuts. Don’t pretend to have all the answers. If you are not sure, just say so. We have a saying around here “We don’t have all the answers, but we believe in a God who does.

4. Put Yourself In Other Peoples Shoes. People generally just want other people to understand what they have gone through. This allows for a better connection point.

5. Fight The Three Second Rule. Within 3 seconds people form their first impressions and don't give a fare chance to get to know the person who we are looking at.

A Blog By Steven Furtick (It's Great!)

Yesterday I wrapped up a four-week series on Romans 8 called “Christ Alone.” Going into the weekend I had three different sermons prepared. When you’re covering the greatest chapter in the Bible in just four weeks, it can be hard to know where to land.

I ended up focusing on the phrase, “more than conquerors” and what it means to be a super conqueror. A more than a conqueror through Christ, rather than just a mere conqueror.

More than anything, I wanted to communicate the truth that if you’re more than conqueror, you achieve the victory in the opposition. Not just over it. You’re victorious in the midst of your circumstances, struggles, and opposition. Not necessarily when you escape them.

I know that sounds good, but I think the reason many Christians never graduate to being a super conqueror is their fear of the danger and opposition that lies in the middle of a battle. There’s a tendency in us to think we’re safer when we face no opposition. Or when we’re in no danger. And therefore we run from them at all costs. Fear, rather than faith, becomes our controlling mechanism.

But this misses the point that God provides security and protection in direct proportion to the danger we’re in and the opposition we’re facing. In God’s economy, it’s when we’re facing our greatest opposition and danger that we’re also the safest. Not from them. But in them.

In the Bible, the greatest instances of God’s protection directly coincide with the greatest moments of danger and opposition for God’s people.

God parts the Red Sea. Because the Egyptian army is about to annihilate the Israelites.
God shuts the mouths of lions. Because Daniel is thrown into a lions den.

I think many of us want a front row seat to God’s miracles without a front row seat to the danger and opposition that coincides with the need for the miracle in the first place. But this isn’t how it works. The people who get to experience the power of God are those who are actually in need of seeing that power manifested on their behalf. And it’s for this very reason that these people have less to fear than those in seemingly safer circumstances.

The Israelites didn’t have to fear the Egyptians because God was fighting for them.
Daniel didn’t have to fear the lions because God was with him.
You don’t have to fear whatever you’re facing because the same God is with you and fighting for you.

The greater the danger you’re in, the greater security God will provide. The greater the opposition against us, the greater the opportunity for God to fight for us. And allow us to be super conquerors through Him.

Start Your Genesis

"Genesis" has always been a name I have been fond of. Here's the reason why; the word Genesis means "New Beginnings." I love that! There are 4 time during the year I press the reset button on my life and evaluate things. We are entering one of those seasons right now. FALL is a great time to push "reset" on your life and start a "new beginning." It doesn't matter how good or bad your summer went start a new beginning right now. Push reset on your life and start your Genesis this fall. I pray that God Blesses You In Amazing Ways Today And Through This Season!

July 11th Preview Service

We were so blessed on Sunday July 11th 2010. I never, ever want to forget the journey that God has us on at this point in our lives. People have been so incredibly patient, and kind, I can't express my gratitude. On Sunday we talked about "Walking 10 Miles In Someone Else's Shoes" Check out this quick blooper real taken from the 10 mile walk:



4 things to remember as you consider walking a mile in someone else's shoes, here they are -

1. Walking Our Own Shoes Is Comfortable, and we love comfort!

2. Walking in someone else's shoes means that we sacrifice our comfort for someone else's discomfort.

3. Help By Gaining Perspective! When we gain perspective, we understand someone else's situation with clarity. There is no more room for Scepticism, Speculation, or being Judgemental

4. Walking in someone else's shoes is a Heavy Honor. When you intentionally choose to walk in someone else's shoes you will most likely feel a Spiritual Heaviness, Mental Heaviness, or Physical Heaviness.

Walking A Mile In Someone Elses Shoes

We have all heard at one point in our lives, this phrase: "You'll never understand a person until you walk a mile in their shoes." Going along with that there is another phrase I found that is probably even more familiar. "Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes, that way when you do and they get angry you will be a mile away, with their shoes." That one made me laugh...
It is undeniable, we live in a culture where our lasting opinions of someone are often times formed by our first impression of that person. In a simple first impression we form a lasting opinion. Some of you even today, may have walked into work and spotted the new person, maybe didn't even talk to them, you don't know anything about them, but in your mind you have a lasting opinion be it right or wrong of that person, simply by the first impression glance.
I want you to think about something for just a quick second. If we were to go and talk to your roommates, or co - workers, or family, and ask them what their impression about Christianity was, based on the way you live your life, what would they say? What would their lasting opinion of Jesus be? I will be speaking on Walking 10 Miles In Someone Else's Shoes, Sunday July 11th, 10:00am at the Sauk Rapids Rice Middle School.

CityPoint Church Preview Service #2

Finally a little time to sit in a quiet place and write. Seriously, it feels awesome to type out some thoughts. We had our second CityPoint Church Preview Service on June 13th, and it was awesome to have people show up again. I had the opportunity to talk with some incredible people, and I am so excited about where God has us in this church planting experience. We played some loud music and talked about "Moving Beyond Good Intentions." Over this last week I have moved beyond some of my good intentions and I have had some breakthroughs that have changed my life. I want to say thank you to everyone who came to the service, and encourage you to pray that God continues to guide the church in a way that is pleasing to Him. Also I want to invite you back in July on the 11th. If you haven't been to CityPoint, come check us out. Here is the website that will help with directions. www.citypointchurch.com I hope you all had an amazing weekend, and I look forward to writing soon again. God Bless!! - Kevin

Taking Time With Tator!

We call my six year old Kaden, Tator, and today I learned an extremely important lesson. If your kids are strongly desiring your time, stop whatever you had planned, and be with them! This morning was a normal morning. I woke up and helped my 8 year old get on the bus for school, made breakfast, changed my little girls diaper, and was heading out the door to go to work. As I was almost out the door, my Six year old was in tears saying, Daddy I Don't Want You To Go. I thought I would be able to counter by saying, "When I get home I will spend time with you, and do whatever you want." But it totally backfired as he broke into tears and said, "All I want to do is spend time with you today." At that point I realized that Tator (Kaden) was strongly desiring my time. So today I cancelled everything to be with my son, and it has been awesome. We haven't really done anything super cool, we went to the gas station, ate a couple donuts, washed the windshield of the van, ate Jimmy Johns for lunch, watched Tom & Jerry, and visited my wife at work. Tator looked at me after eating lunch and said "Dad I Love You Bigger Than Anything." I think it was well worth cancelling everything to be with my son who strongly desired my time. I can't wait to see what else we do today.
PS. The only reason I have time to write this right now at 1:21pm is because he is totally obsessed with one of his favorite cartoons.

CityPoint Church's First Preview Service!

We had our first Monthly Preview Service Sunday May 16th! I have to brag on it just a little bit because I had such a fun day. We arrived for set up bright and early 7am! The 30,000 watt sound system was already being unloaded into the Sauk Rapids/Rice Middle School.

Around 8am our inflatable for CityKids (our kids ministry)arrived, and we hauled it into the middle school commons. As it was blowing up I thought we were going to have to raise the roof off the school just to get it to fit, but all stress was relieved when it fit perfect! When the kids entered the area, a smile instantly showed up on their faces. It Was Awesome!

At 9am 30 volunteers showed up! This was AMAZING! The best part was, they were smiling and stoked to help welcome people as they arrived to check out CityPoint for the very first time. Now all we needed was for people to actually show up. AND THEY DID!

At 10am people were actually walking in! I was so excited! Being with every person there was an incredible blessing! It was so awesome to meet people from the community and the surrounding area. I was able to catch up with some old friends, meet incredible new people, and also be surrounded by family, and a team of people who are dedicated to Consistently and Intentionally helping people Find and Follow Jesus Christ in Simple and Practical ways. Here is just a glimpse, I will be posting more updates and pictures as they come available! Thank You To Everyone Who Helped, Prayed, and Attended!

Forgotten

I just read the latest MSN post in regards to Tiger Woods. Here are some of the quotes that were included in the post. "He was so great, we bought it." "Golf needed Tiger more than Tiger needed golf." "He had a monopoly on greatness." I started to look at all these statements, and even though Tiger is still alive, these quotes are all in past tense. As if he is not to be counted any longer. In fact this next quote included in the MSN post kind of surprised me. "This past weekend we saw greatness, but not from Tiger, the cad missed the cut and I was glad." I do not consider myself a Tiger Woods fan at all. However I am a fan of people. This post about Tiger insinuates that he has been counted out, and almost borders on the line of "Tiger Is Forgotten." I have done a ton of things wrong in life, and it may come as a shock to some of you critics, but I will make more mistakes, but I am thankful that God has not forgotten about me. I want to encourage those of you who feel like you have been forgotten. My heart bleeds for you at this moment, and I want to let you know that God Thinks About You Daily! Who gives a rip about the critics that try to make you feel like you have been counted out, know today that you are still in the game, and another opportunity will show up. God Bless You Guys!

A Scene From The Cross

"I Am Thirsty" (John 19:28) Jesus is a man, He is still human, and He was thirsty. So He announces it, I Am Thirsty and a Roman Guard lifts a Vinegar Soaked Sponge up to His lips. I have always read that and thought to myself that was an act of kindness and mercy in the midst of some horrific stuff, but I was reading a commentator that brought a very interesting perspective to all of this. He said these were the same Romans who just tortured Him and Crucified Him in such a way that He wouldn't die quickly, but His death would linger out for a significant period of time. It's not like these individuals are going to have a change of heart and say "Oh your thirsty, you want a little drink?" He said more than likely what was happening was this. In the ancient world, when it came to public restrooms, they didn't have stalls like we do today where you went in the private. You basically just kind of lined up outside the areas where people would go to the bathroom, and when they were done there were areas where you could dip you hands in water, to sort of clean yourself. Slaves realized that they could take a sponge, dip it in water, put it on a stick, and they could make a few cents by cleaning up for you after you were done. So that could have been what was happening. More than likely what was going on at the crucifixion was this. They took a sponge that had been used basically as toilet paper, and the way they would clean these sponges, is that they would put vinegar on them, so the sponge could remain usable longer, they would hold it up and it was basically like holding toilet paper up to his mouth. In fact when you look at the original language in Mathew 27:48, the tenses used basically show that this attempt to quote "give Him a drink," was either unsuccessful, or it was repeated again and again. So here is Jesus in this incredibly vulnerable moment, who thirsts, and more than likely what's happening, they are sticking toilet paper up in His mouth. And Jesus thirsted, so that we wouldn't have to. He suffered and struggled so that we could be forgiven.

Life Update

Hey Ya'll, it been a while, but I figured I would give an update. Yes, to answer a question often asked. I have resigned as a youth pastor. It is still tough to leave youth ministry because watching people every Wednesday night get stoked about Jesus is priceless. But I am excited about the future. I am humbled to announce that my family, and a couple other families are Launching a Church In St Cloud Minnesota. We have been praying about this for some time and we feel it is time to go forward. Yes, we were hoping that we could move to an area with palm trees, and warm all year round. It didn't turn out that way, and I would have to loose about 40 pounds before I go someplace like that. It is a giant leap of faith for us, but a leap that is going to bring many into a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. The area is amazing because there are already amazing churches in St Cloud and we are excited to join them in the mission of leading people in the St Cloud area to Jesus. Pray for us, Seriously! When we join together in prayer, amazing things can happen. That is the break down as of right now. I will be blogging more on this as we move closer to our first service. Love you all!

WOW! Today Was A Challenge

In short, today was one of the most crazy days of this year. I found myself frustrated, angry at times, quiet and thinking AHHH! And believing that God is going to do something amazing in my life all at the same time. Some would say this would qualify as a horrible day. I want to take it a step further and say "I think it was a day of learning, because I found some true colors I am not fond of." In short, I have some things I need check in my life, and check them right away. So, tonight after I write this, I am going to find my own little special place for a while, and work to change some of the true colors that I feel are harmful for the long haul.

A Thought From Kevin

Tuck in your shirt! Take off your hat! Clean up your language! Stop running with that crowd! Don't come back until you look better! These are such uplifting statements aren't they? This blog could potentially tick off some of you reading this, but I write this with a very humble heart, and deepest conviction. I think that the church is often know for what we are against instead of what we stand for. This potentially turns people away from actually giving Jesus an opportunity to be apart of their daily living. John 3:16 contain the words "WHOSOEVER believes Him." I know that this is a no brainer, but that covers every single person on the face of the planet, it is not reserved for a certain people group. (thank God) 2 Corinthians 12:9 contain the words "my GRACE is sufficient for you." Who's grace? GODS GRACE! Here is the point, we as human beings need to consistently remind ourselves that God's Grace looks a whole lot different than the grace we as people give each other. So if you are reading this, and you have been turned off by "church people" because of man made grace, and hurtful phrases, I want to apologize on behalf of the church. God's Grace is all you need. If you are one that abuses the grace of God and condenses it into man made phrases, please repent, and begin to let people experience the true grace of God. Our sole purpose is to intentionally lead people closer to Jesus.

Relationship?

It's the 8th day of the new decade! We have all sat down and aligned our new goals and vision for the future. I established great goals for my family, my physical (tough)..ok (in tough shape) physique, my future business adventure, my finances, and my friendships. These are all great things to re - calibrate year to year. But what about your relationship with God? I would say that is the most important aspect of our year to year operation. I read a verse the other day that broke my heart and made me think. Here it is - Mathew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Our relationship with God is by far, the most important thing we should capitalize on daily. I have botched this so many times, and believe me, I still don't have it down to a science. Relationship is something that takes time, sacrifice, determination, and energy. This year I want to know God better than I ever have before, that is my main goal for this decade.

Ahhh I Am Parched!

So, I was driving down the road the other day with a friend. He looked at me and this is what he said: "Dude we should get some water, I'm parched." It's so funny how the most common phrases can trigger a thought that flys at you from left field. Here is thought that hit me. How spiritually parched am I? If I have not been drinking soul water, that explains why I feel so spiritually de - hydrated. I can take this a step further and say, maybe that is why my soul stinks sometimes. I have developed a spiritual case of cottonmouth, and it is giving off a nasty odor to God, Family, Friends, and to the world. So, how did I quench my spiritually parched soul? Today, I have taken a little time to read some scripture, and meditate on how God is so good and full of Amazing Grace. Take a little Time Today and quench your thirst!