Church

We had a fun 4th of July weekend at Mountainview.  Our worship services were "family" style, which means the kiddos come into worship with their parents.  We started the service giving the audience the chance to vote for the song they wanted our band to play at the end.  They could text their vote for one of three songs: Born in the USA R.O.C.K. in the USA God bless the USA Saturday night's crowd picked R.O.C.K. in the USA and Sunday's crowd chose Bruce Springsteen.  It was fun watching the crowd respond to both the voting and having the band play the song.  Our band did a fantastic job, too. I spoke on the idea that true freedom is found only in Christ.  To begin my message, I showed a series of pictures of myself as a kid -- making the comment with each one that I was "free to…

The only time I’ve traveled in the back of a police car was on the 4th of July. I hadn’t been arrested, though it felt like it.  A few of us kids from the neighborhood were playing with firecrackers – and we found that by throwing them under a trash can made the explosion sound that much louder.  Unfortunately, it also sounded like a gun shot. I’ll never forget seeing two cops come running around the back of my friend’s house.  After talking with us about “how serious the situation was” they put me in the back of the car and drove me home.  My mom just about died (I was only in elementary school at the time). I didn’t experience too many of the joys of freedom that July 4th night. But I have experienced the joy of freedom.  I’m blessed to live in a free country.  I’m blessed…

More from our off-site leadership day at Mountainview. What are the stakes? Why does it matter if we as a ministry team function properly?  I reminded our staff that the stakes are different for us in ministry than if we were selling used cars.  We are dealing with the lives and destinies of people. Learning from obstacles. Not surprisingly, we as a church currently face many obstacles as we seek to move the Kingdom forward.  Money is tight.  Facilities are limited.  People are busy.  In fact, we generated a rather lengthy list of very real obstacles. Yet, according to James, these same obstacles can become great opportunities: When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the…

In my first "official" act as a executive pastor at Mountainview, I led our staff in an off-site vision casting and leadership development day.  I am privileged to coach a dedicated, creative, and fun group of people. Here's a brief recap of what we talked about: Opening devotional: Nehemiah 4:1-15.  Nehemiah has multiple opportunities to grow discouraged and quit.  He faces opposition from outside and doubts from those on the inside.  Rather than give up, he rallies the troops with these words: "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." We, too, face many opportunities to grow discouraged.  That's why it's important we remember how great and awesome our God is ... and what we are fighting for. What is a church? Next I shared Alan Hirsch's definition of church:…

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