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.