Lessons from this Past Year

As the sun gets ready to set on 2010, I'm taking some time to reflect on the highlights, lowlights, and lessons learned. I like to do this on the last week of the year, reviewing my journal and my calendar to reflect and renew my focus for the year to come!

We recently recorded this podcast of some reflections on this year at Sonrise Church with my partner in ministry, Scott Greene.

I have great memories from this past year - my 50th on this planet - it was a good year!

Here are some of the HIGHLIGHTS:

- Generous Response of our Church to "Help Heal Haiti" (January)

- My 50th Birthday! (March)

- Development of my "Pastor Coaching" Ministry (June) & Kathy's Teaching Career! (August)

- A Dream Realized at the Lake (September)

- Launch of Fort Wayne North Campus & "Over a Thousand Tongues to Sing" (November)

Here are some of the LOWLIGHTS:

- Haiti Earthquake (January)

- Driving to Out of Town Meetings (Too Many Weeks this Year)

- Tough Decisions that go with Leadership (All Year)

- Dealing with the Challenges of Change (September)

- Trading my beloved Sailboat - for a smaller one! (November)

Here are some of the LESSONS LEARNED:

- In the midst of "obstacles" there are some GREAT "opportunities" if you look for them!

(Haiti Earthquake - Generous Response, Market Lows - Big Returns)

- Leadership is most important and most dynamic in the midst of difficulties!

(The "Tough Calls" that led to growth in Sonrise Church and with "Jesus in Haiti Ministries" )

- Great growth can emerge when we deal well with "game changing" circumstances!

( Jesus in Haiti Ministries "explosive growth", Multi-Site Development)

- Multiplication is more dynamic than addition!

(Multi-Site Ministry & Multiplying Leaders, Pastor Coaching)

- Equipping others is fulfilling and fun!

(Pastor Coaching & Ministry Staff Equipping, Kathy's Teaching Career)

I'm thankful for this past year - and the lessons I've learned in the last twelve months! I look forward to the new year and the new lessons God will teach me!

My Girls

Kathy and I have enjoyed the last few days with our grown daughters at the beach - but today I took them each to the airport to head home. I miss them already!

While my kids are gone from my home - they will always be very close to my heart!

Here's a picture of "My Girls" ...

(I get to spend the rest of my life with the one in the middle!)

Indiana Earthquake!

Reports indicate an EARTHQUAKE shook Indiana early this morning! This is not something folks in our part of the world are used to! While this may "shake" some folks, it may be one more chance to direct our praise to the God of creation ...

May the glory of the Lord endure forever;

may the Lord rejoice in his works—

he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,

who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the Lord all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

as I rejoice in the Lord.

But may sinners vanish from the earth

and the wicked be no more.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

Praise the Lord.

- Psalm 104:31-35 (NIV)

Perhaps the Lord is "looking" over my home state today!

FREE Christmas

This December at Sonrise we decided to make it our goal this to FREE Christmas ...

• We wanted to FREE this "holy day" from being simply materialistic shopping holiday!
• We also wanted to proclaim the FREE gift of God's grace to as many people as possible!

One of the ways we did that is we held a total of eight Christmas Eve Candlelight Services in three locations! Another thing we decided to do was take a FREE Christmas Offering to help others experience the freedom of God's Amazing Grace ...

• I'm thrilled to say that 1,678 people joined us to worship the King who was born at CHRISTmas! (That was a 40% increase over the previous year!)
• I'm even more thrilled that over $40,000 was given to help provide "clean water" around the world, assist with benevolent needs in our own community, and to multiply our outreach efforts! (This will all "over & above" our other ministry giving!)

I'm proud of our church ... and I'm humbled to serve as one of it's pastors!

I will NOT be home for Christmas!

I love the song - and I love being home - but I will NOT be home for Christmas this year!

We just finished eight Christmas Eve services in three locations - with nearly 1,700 people sharing the light of Christ! It was a great night - even though it made for a long day!

We are "hitting the road" on Christmas Day to connect with our family in Florida for some family fun in the sun! I'm looking forward to time with my favorite people in the world!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Making Friends is Worthwhile

I've been "making friends" today on Facebook ... I have not typically "asked" people to be my friend online, but have simply responded to others! Today I decided to just be friendly and ask several people to "accept" me as friends ... and they did! I made nearly 20 "friends" today!

Facebook is mocked by some, but it has become a great means of social networking for so many. I've "reconnected" with old high school friends, stayed in touch with good friends who live hundreds of miles away, and been able to respond to the needs and prayers of friends literally around the world! What a great privilege!

I find it remarkable that Facebook has created thousands of jobs for people and a nice business profit simply by encouraging people to be friends! (Though ironically the founder of this enterprise appears to have alienated some of his friends in the process ... interestingly portrayed in the movie, "The Social Network")

Friendship is a good thing. Those who've responded to the grace of God through Christ and sought to obey his commands are even called "friends of God" (see John 15:14-17). That's a good friendship to have!

Friendship is "worthwhile" - worth the time, money, or effort spent; of value or importance (Webster's Dictionary) To the investors of Facebook, it has been VERY worthwhile! To the rest of us ... it is too!

I'm thankful to be called a "friend of God" and I'm grateful to be called a "friend" by 497 people on Facebook ... soon that may be 500! Zowie! (Would you like to be my friend?)

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."

- 1 John 4:7 (NIV)

Don't Ask ... Don't Tell ... Don't Repent!

Today many in our nation are rejoicing that it is now finally the "law of the land" that "gay" individuals will be able to serve openly in the United States military.

I guess this day was inevitable and the days which follow will most likely be inevitable as well - with increased "acceptance" of homosexual lifestyles we will all soon be expected to embrace "gay marriage" along with other "gay rights."

Apparently this is now supported by "public opinion" - and it has been duly voted on by our elected leaders and signed into law by our nation's president.

It appears that I am now in the minority ... so be it. My position is "politically incorrect," but I would rather be right before God than man. I believe I am a compassionate and caring person - but today I am deeply grieved. We have moved from "Don't Ask ... Don't Tell" to "Don't Repent!"

While I certainly believe that ALL PERSONS are created equal, I do not agree that all behaviors are good, nor are they constitutional "rights." I also believe that all persons have divine value and worth, including those who identify themselves as "homosexual" persons. I am simply not convinced that a "homosexual lifestyle" is God's design or desire - and I believe we have today in our nation ignored God's best way - the way of Jesus, who was full of "grace AND truth." (see John 1:14)

The "grace" of God emphasizes that forgiveness is free and complete. The "truth" of God emphasizes that God's way is holy and righteous. I believe "grace" requires that I treat all people with compassion and respect. I believe that "truth" requires that I honestly offer my best understanding of what is holy and righteous.

Yes, I have friends who are "gay" - and I care about them - enough to be graceful in speaking truth. Some of my "gay" friends have confided with me about their own unhappiness with their "lifestyle." Am I to withhold my best counsel from those who I believe are suffering as the result of a popular myth?

Is it wrong for me to warn someone of that which I believe is bound to harm them?

Even if I were an evolutionist, I would have trouble believing homosexuality is "normal" - because it is incapable of natural survival. As a Christian, I simply can not reconcile the natural or the Biblical contradictions with a "practicing homosexual lifestyle." I don't have a need to "punish" anyone who is "gay" - but I also don't believe I should be expected to "support" this lifestyle which is incompatible with both my understanding of the created order and holy living.

I understand that many believe they have been "born" with this sexual preference. I don't believe that makes it true or right. In fact, I think there are as many or more who are "born" with a tendency to be adulterous in their sexual behavior but I believe this is a destructive behavior, dare I say ... sinful. Today in our nation, we have "legally" embraced what I understand to be sin ... on the eve of the Advent Celebration of our Savior.

History is not without precedent in these matters (Genesis 18-19). Nations and cities have endorsed these "rights" before - only to discover they were wrong. They paid a great price for their error. I wonder how long that will take US.

I pray for God's grace and truth to dwell among us in these days.

"And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus-who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you."

- 2 Timothy 4:1-5 (NLT)

For Further Consideration See:

John 8:31-32, Romans 1:16-32, 2 Corinthians 13:7-9, 1 John 1:8, 2 John 1:3

WinterTime

Winter officially begins tomorrow - but it feels like it has been here for a while already! This year it snowed in northern Indiana on December 1st and the ground has been covered and cold with the white stuff since then! At least it will be a "White Christmas" which is nicely sentimental!

The Good News is this ... though winter is just beginning, tomorrow is also the SHORTEST DAY of the year! (Which means it is also the LONGEST NIGHT!) These days the sun doesn't come up until about 8am and goes down about 5pm - and I don't really like waking up before the sun or staying up much after it goes down!

So where's the GOOD NEWS in that? It's right here ...

Tomorrow the earth begins to tilt the other direction!!

As much as I dislike the short cold days of winter ... I still do like the change of seasons!

(I just wish the winter season was a bit shorter and each of the others was a bit longer!)

Spring is only three months away! (Hope springs eternal, right?)