Heading off today for Xcel Conference at Abundant Life, Bradford. Always enjoy getting away and listening to some great preaching and this year is no exception with Pastor Paul Scanlon being joined by Pastor Dino Rizzo, Lead Pastor at Healing Place Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
I follow Pastor Dino on twitter and read his blog from time to time. Love the way he thinks so I am expectant of being challenged but also of picking up some leadership tips as well. Check back for my thoughts later…
Church should be fun. Whatever style of Church…it should be fun.
This Sunday at Xcel Darlington we are going to have some fun. More precisely, looking ahead to some we can have as Church in Darlington this Christmas. It’s a bit of a ‘community’ focus so we will be letting you know about all the things we have done during 2008 - we have done some incredible stuff, helping people with their immediate needs, no agenda - just loving people for the sake of it!
Then, I want to share some thoughts about what we can do…this Christmas and into 2009, how you can get involved and give you an opportunity to give into the ‘GIVEAWAY’ for Christmas. Some great ideas, so if you want to know what’s going on then you had better be there.
My heart as a Pastor…is to create some excitement, to challenge peoples concept of what Church is all about, to bless in an unexpected way and in unexpected places…so, I hope you are ready for some fun.
I think this a truth: allowing yourself to get immersed in the culture of a certain place takes a certain attitude. After all, every society, every region, every community, every team, every Church - they all have a certain culture. Even if it’s not designed, culture just happens by default.
As a Christian the Bible says a few things that I think can be related to culture. It says…
…that I live in the world but I am not of it.
…that greater is He that is me than he that is the world.
…that Jesus said that He had overcome the world.
It reminds me of the continuous need to make the right choices, of flesh v spirit. Whatever the culture I want to create as Pastor at Xcel Darlington, I must maintain a certain attitude towards it.
Remember whose I am.
Remember the bigger picture - it’s not mine, it’s Gods.
Remember that culture of itself is not wrong.
Remember to walk by faith and stay connected to God.
Anyway - just some thoughts…what do you think?
New Year resolutions. Most people make at least one. The change of year is a great time of reflection, looking back on what the last year brought and then believing for better in the next. Problem: good intentions are not always enough. Many of them never fulfil the promise.
There are many things that could help…
1. Set some goals
Make them specific and measurable. Be realistic but with an element of stretch involved. If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you do?
2. Make a list
How do you eat an elephant? The same attitude is needed to make goals a reality. What do you need to start doing to see the goals achieved? Break them up into bite size chunks then you can tackle them, one at a time, rather than trying to swallow the whole thing at once.
3. Remember the BIG picture.
One successful day does mean you have made it. One bad day doesn’t mean the goal can never be reached. Failing is likely to be part of the process, but it does make you a failure. Edison took 1600 attempts to get the light bulb working so keep that BIG picture of the future clearly in your sight.
4. Become accountable.
You can do this in many ways. Tell someone you trust about your goal. You are not necessarily after an opinion, just support, someone to ask you how you doing, are you on target. An accountability partner can work for you, if you are truly willing to hear what they say.
5. Get a Life Coach.
This is the next level but maybe paying for some coaching will add the value to what you want to see happen, encouraging you to stay on track. Check out excelyourself for more information about how a life coach can help, plus a great offer for 2009.
6. Celebrate.
Rewards along the journey are fantastic incentives. Mile markers are great. Where do you want to be in 6 weeks time, 3 months or 12 months time? What will it look like? How will you feel? When you get there - spoil yourself, have a day off, celebrate.
For more information on how coaching can help you, your team and your business…please contact me.
Made a comment yesterday that as Christians, when it comes to loving life, we have to remember where most people are coming from. I suggested that maybe we have forgotten what it’s like to live life without God in it. Now, that’s not a bad thing…I mean we were created to have God in our lives and be connected to Him.
BUT!!
You don’t need to be a Christian to love life. Actually, is saying that not slightly ignorant and offensive to those we want to reach out to. Oh, but you can’t really love life without God in it, I hear you cry. Well, we know that - we recognise the difference that Jesus has made in our lives but until the light of the Gospel is shone over someone’s life, they don’t think like that.
People don’t consider themselves lost.
People may not love every aspect of their life but they get on with it.
People have bills, a home to run, work to do, things to deal with…much like me. For most though they do that without understanding or even being aware of the bigger purpose they were born for.
Think John 10:10. We all want an abundant life but if you asked your colleagues at work if they felt life was being stolen, killed or destroyed, they would wonder what you are on about. We know the truth of this verse and must demonstrate that love for life by not allowing stuff to kill us off or destroy our sense of purpose. Hope you get what I mean?
Whilst reading Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll something that he wrote just got me thinking…
…as religious people often do, they read the Bible looking for ways to be the hero of their own life rather than reading it to see themselves as villains and Jesus as their hero.
Its an incredible reminder to me that I must allow God to be God. He is the hero. The only reason I can have victory is because of the victory Jesus won for me.
Respect. After being whacked round the head by reading this book…respect. To J.R and Craig for the work they do, for their honesty which was fairly brutal at times, for sharing their heart and the desperation they have to see Gods church out of the pew and into the world reaching people, which is summed up early on where it reads ‘Bottom line: Get off your butt and do something.
Loved the thoughts about being Born Again Lazy, how we have got lazy with outreach, with money, with families, with prayer, with fasting, with studying God’s Word, with him, with the lost.
Loved the thought about how we have lost our nerve as followers of Christ, that the early church knew that their message was so disturbing, so offensive, that they knew it meant death…that we have what we have because they did what they did. WOW!
Ignorable calling…how life is full of ignorables. I ignore my wife, my children, discipline, God. When you have a relationship with Christ, he calls you to action. When heard and ignored, the resulting action will always result in failure. How do you know you are ignoring God? If you asking the question, chances are you are.
Put down the life you think you need, and open yourself up to the life Christ has designed.
A dangerous thought as they suggest becoming outrageous,experimental, entrepreneurial, and bold. Steadfast in the idea that anything short of sin to drive the message of Christ into the world.
Some people will be offended by this book. The message, the way its written, the vulnerability, the passion, the 40 day fast and tour stuff. You cannot read it and not respond in some way. Thank God they are not just saying it but live it out too - warts & all! The honesty is challenging but if you love God then you will accept the challenge in the right way. It’s a call to a dangerous life, an exciting life, a faith-filled jumping out of the boat life - one I am determined to participate in, and as a Pastor grow a congregation that live it too.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to ALL Christians. Be reminded about what you should be doing, how life can be lived. Get your copy here.
Continuing on these thoughts about praying for breakthrough, in my life, in my family, in Xcel Darlington, in other peoples circumstances…how do I humble myself?
Humble is…one of those words we use but do we really understand.
According to the dictionary humble is to not be proud or arrogant, to be modest; to have a feeling of insignificance or inferiority; to be low in rank, importance or status; to be courteously respectful; to make meek - to humble ones heart.
Matthew 6:33 instructs me to ’seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness’ then all the ‘things’ will be added. For me, keeping humble is remembering my place, that God is God and I am not. Keeping right with Him, knowing my place and being comfortable & confident in that place.
Being humble is not a weakness. It is a place of strength and assurance. Hopefully, it allows God to have His way. So, share your thoughts…what is humble for you?
You truly cannot pray enough. The problem is too many Christians just don’t pray. Too busy, no room for it. Or we just pray when we want something. Nothing wrong with that but it lacks the consistency, the humility perhaps, maybe that is no different to a non-believer calling out to a God in desperate times. Having said that…God is full of mercy and I think here still hears and answers.
BUT…
…IF my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Now I know you shouldn’t take a verse out of context but, when we pray lets stay humble, lets keep seeking His face, lets keep our lives full of the right stuff THEN God hears, can forgive and can heal. Lets do our part knowing that God will do His.
What are you praying for at the moment? Let me know I will stand with you and agree in believing for that something to come to pass, for Gods purposes to be done.
Well, I have had a week away - great to chill out by the pool, have some family time, fun with girls - chasing down the rapids, good food and some reading of course.
Now with 50 days of 2008 left I am lifting the bar, believing for some things, praying, giving, fasting even, trusting God for breakthrough. Let me know if you are up for joining in as we gear up for what I know is going to be an incredibly exciting time for Xcel Church across the region but especially for those of us at Xcel Darlington.
Church is great. Still growing, still seeing new people but still want to see us reaching more. Am I being selfish? Hope not. I’m not saying this just for numbers sake, I think we are ready to see Xcel Darlington consistently push past the 100. I think that Xcel Darlington is a good place for you to bring the people in your world.
Here’s the promise…
…they don’t need to believe in God to come
…we will make it as easy and comfortable as possible
…they may get freaked out but that’s just God turning up
…they will be made to feel welcome
…bold statement but I think they will be pleasantly surprised, even tipping in to enjoyment…hopefully they will then come back too
So…here’s where I am at. I’m praying to see Xcel Darlington increase, growth, sustainable growth. I’m asking God, everyday. I know, God brings the increase but we must play our part, whatever that part may be. Some of you are champion bringers. Some of you are champion connectors. Some of you are champion welcomers. As we each play our small part…we can make a BIG difference.
So…next Sunday, we will finish talking about Building the House and LOVING LIFE. What is life with God not in it? What is life if we keep control? What does loving life the God way really look like? Thinking this might be a great message for anyone in your world. Do you think you could bring someone?
Don’t forget the Christmas Spectacular on the 14th, plus Sundays at 11am…going to be talking about Jesus. After all, He is for life, not just for Christmas.
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