What I've Been Reading

• Finished re-reading An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus. Probably the best book on what church should look like and what a pastor's role is in this modern age that we live in. I think its a must read for any pastor or church planter.
• Just finished The Shack. I thought that this was a great story and would recommend it to anyone. That said, it is not without controversy. You will find many who embrace it wholeheartedly while others claim it is heretical. It is a fiction story packed full of theological thought. It is a fresh look at the Trinity and how God works in this world. You have never seen God portrayed in such a way. I do believe this: God is bigger than the box you have put Him in and the life you are living. This book will put you outside of that box and could make you uncomfortable but that is not always a bad thing. Maybe it's time to let God out of your box and let Him fill in the spaces of your life.
  
• I am currently reading God Wants To Save Christians by Rob Bell. Speaking of the Pharisees, Rob writes "In Jesus' day, people could read, study, and discuss the Scriptures all their lives and still miss its central message." Speaking of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, he says "In Jesus' day, people could follow Him, learn from Him, drop everything to be His disciples, and yet find themselves returning home, thinking Jesus had failed." If that could happen in Jesus' day, it could be happening now in our day. I am convinced that much of mainstream Christianity including evangelical Christianity has embraced an Americanized Gospel that keeps us from being the church God intended us to be. This is another controversial book but it is time for us to become thinking Christians rather than programmed, streamlined, stay in your place and don't rock the boat conformists.
  
• I am just finishing Joshua in my Bible reading. Joshua is a book of obedience, courage, conquest and victory. It shows that with God we are bigger and stronger than the enemy that comes against us. I love chapter 17 where the tribe of Manasseh wants more land but Joshua says that they can clear another part if they need more space. They replied, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have iron chariots, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel." But Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh-"You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can drive them out." We are stronger than what we think if we will just conquer our fear and move out in obedience and faith.
• I am also nearing the end of the Gospel of John. The last teachings of Christ in chapters 13-17 are beautiful, picturesque, poetic, encouraging, inspiring and worth reading over and over again. I love Jesus. This Gospel causes me to fall in love all over again with a Savior who truly loves me.
  

Great Weekend!

We had a great family weekend. Mostly Pattie and I together but Rayanne was in and out of our activities.

• Friday night, we just wanted out of the house so we went to Old Navy to look at winter clothes and Target to see Christmas decorations. It was a lot of fun for not buying anything. We ended up at Dunkin' Donuts eating ice cream and drinking chai lattes.
• Saturday we go up and rode to the mountains. We probably missed the peak color by a few days but it was still beautiful. Went to one of the apple orchards and had apple cider and apple cider donuts. They were good!
• Pattie and I went to the mall and K-mart. We were surprised that they both had Santa and kids were already sitting on their laps and getting pictures made. I'm actually starting to wonder if I could do the Santa gig!
• Sunday at the Pointe was very good. Pattie and I were greeters. It was good to be a volunteer again and get that perspective. Our pastor is doing a series called Supernatural on demons, angels, etc. It has been very good.
• Went to the VA Hospital with Jim Warrington to see our good friend Dennis who had a major surgery. He was doing good and looked better than I expected. Dennis is a good man and a faithful supporter of Axios and my family. We love him.
• Ate at 5 Guys for the first time. That is a great burger!
• Falcons and Dolphins and Colts all won. It was a great football Sunday!
• Heading to the bus now. Everyone have a great week.
  

A Little Perspective, Please!

Has the election left you lost and disheartened? Maybe you need a little perspective. Nothing can shake the foundation of our lives when it is built on Christ. And at that foundation you find these three things no matter what is happening in the world: faith, hope, and love. So take a deep breath and relax and consider these thoughts.

1. Choose faith not fear. It's amazing to me to hear all the fear-based conversations. Yesterday I heard a bus driver say that there will be another civil war if anything happens to Obama. There would be major riots nationwide with looting, burning and killing. I saw a poll on election night that said 17% of voters were terrified to think of Obama winning. Same poll claimed that 23% said the same of McCain. We fear opposing view points. We have mistakenly believed that our political ideology is also God's ideology. We feel threatened when our position is questioned. Erwin McManus wrote, "It is easier to be certain you are right when you have never heard an opposing argument or when you are in the majority position." Fear proves that we are placing our trust, our security, our peace in something or someone other than God. If this election has created fear in you and you feel like our world is falling apart and that a mistake has occurred and that we have not just lost an election but somehow God was also voted down and out of power then read Rom. 13:1-7. Have faith in God. He has established the Obama presidency to work His purposes in the world. We did not necessarily elect Obama but, more accurately, God has placed him in this position for His good purposes. This does not make Obama a saint. Romans 13 was originally written of an oppressive, pagan, Roman Empire and of emperors that believed themselved to be god. God is in control and maybe we all need a "change" and to be shaken out of our comfort zone and place our trust back in God.
2. Choose love not hate. Not only do we dislike opposing viewpoints but we also are afraid of people who are different (race, culture, religion, etc.) than us. I have heard what I can only call "racist" rhettoric although the people speaking would deny being racists. I have heard more jokes that demean the fact that Obama is black in recent days than I have ever heard. And many of these jokes come from people who profess Christ. I sense a fear among well meaning people of Obama's black heritage and Muslim name that mostly flows from a lack of knowledge and misinformation. This is an historic election but the significance can be lost in the attitudes of people who are uncomfortable with this type of progression and freedom. If this world is going to truly "change," which was the main word of the Obama campaign, it will not be because of an election result. Love cannot be legislated. Change will come because love prevails and especially the love of Christ from God's people. According to I John 4:7-18, it is fear that squelches love. We fear losing control and lash out at those whom we feel are stealing it from us. God is moving other races, cultures, religions, worldviews right on to our soil in masses. God is bringing the mission field to us, to our neighborhoods, to our streets. It is no longer enough just to give money and send missionaries. We have to embrace a missionary heart and mindset in order for us to extend love to those around us.
   
3. Choose hope not despair. Despair is for those who cannot see the potential in the world around them or feel powerless to make positive change to create a better world. Neither of theses attitudes should be true of a Christian. Because Christ is alive the possibilities are endless and with the Spirit of God in our hearts the power is already here. I find great hope in the fact that Obama is a believer. I have heard his testimony a couple of times and he seems to grasp what salvation is and is able to articulate it. I have no more reason not to believe his testimony than I would to disbelieve the faith of President Bush. That makes Obama my brother. That means Christ resides in his heart. I have to believe that he too is seeking God's guidance. I have to believe that God can and will speak to his heart and that he hears God's voice. That makes it even more imperative that I follow God's desire as found in 1 Timothy 2:1-8 and pray for our new president. I must support him, not only in prayer but in word and deed. I must not resist his authority but submit to it. This does not mean that I can't disagree with him but my relationship in Christ demands me to live above the fear, hate, and despair that is trapping so many people.
   

Slowing Me Down

Waiting is not a thing that we naturally like to do. We don't choose the longest line to the cashier or the slowest lane of traffic but the shortest and fastest. Since accepting this new call, I have been trying to get in the fast lane to Denver. After all, once God shows you what to do and where to do it, why shouldn't you get started immediately? So in June, we surrendered to the call to Denver and in my mind, I imagined listing my house by the end of July, selling it no later than the end of Sept, moving in Oct, and launching the church at Easter. But, just like in Atlanta traffic, every lane that I have chosen has become the slow lane. Now it looks like that it will be Jan or Feb before we get out of here and our launch date for the church is now being pushed back to Sept 09. But the longer I sit in the slow lane the more comfortable I am with God's timing and allowing His plan to supersede mine. There are things that I can't control and no matter how loudly I rev my engine or how long I blow my horn, it does not move me along any faster. Now, I would rather try to run ahead of God than to lag behind but running with Him on His schedule, at His pace, is the most ideal. So that means I have to keep altering my plans and resubmit them to Him. This includes our Commissioning Service. When we first decided to have this event, I felt that we needed to do it as soon as possible (thinking that we were leaving sooner than later) so Nov 8 was the earliest we could pull it off. Then we tried Nov 15 and it didn't work. Then after returning from Denver and realizing we will be home for the holidays, I didn't sense it was necessary to have it on Nov 22 (plus it wasn't working for Bob and Monica). Now we will put it off til the new year or until we know more definitely when we are going. This service is important to us but I have to let God work His timing into this so please be patient with my seemingly indecisive decisions about this service. I won't name a date in this blog again until invitations are in the mail.

Move Over David Blaine

Joe has finally mastered the art of levitation. This is not trick photography or photoshop. I don't know what they are teaching him at the church he goes to but I guess I had better find out.

Another Denver Update

• Did an amazing drive up Pike's Peak on Wed. I'll post some pictures later but I know they will not do justice to the awesomeness of God and His creation.
• Also stopped in at Focus On The Family. That is worth seeing. They have done a great job with a visitor-friendly atmosphere.
• Went to the 16th Street Mall on wed. night. This is an open mall that spans several blocks on 16th St. No cars allowed. A wide variety of people from the affluent to the homeless. It can break your heart.
• I'm hooking up with Bryan Sederwall from Denver Church this morning. I have followed some of his story and think he is doing a great job. It will be good to meet him in person.
• Went and saw Scum of the Earth Church yesterday. Just had to see it with a name like that.
• Going home tomorrow with mixed emotions. I'm ready to be here but home is still Georgia.

Colorado Update

Got a chance this morning to get on a computer so I thaought I would give a quick update.

• The weather is absolutely amazing and the scenery is incredible. It's colder here in the morning but I think the days have been warmer tahn what Atlanta is experiencing.
• Spent Monday looking at several apartment locations throughout the city that I was told may be coming open soon. All have potential, all would require a different strategy, not all of them are a good fit for us. We were able to get out and walk around the areas and talk to people and just let God speak to us. It was a very special time for Pattie and I.
• Had our interview yesterday. It went great. Tracy Spencer was awesome and you could tell that she has a church planting heart. They are excited about us but she reminded me that the process may be slow. It looks like we will be in Atlanta for the holidays which isn't all bad but if it goes to far into 2009 without the house selling or an opening coming up, I think I will go crazy!
• Went to Columbine High School where they have a wonderful memorial to the students who lost their lives that day. Many of them had strong testimonies of knowing the Lord. There was also a beautiful wall with quotes engraved in stone from students and city leaders. One quote that stuck with me was from a student who said, "There are defining moments in everyone's life but I will not let this define me."
• We are heading to the mountains today. We will probably go to Pike's Peak near Colorado Springs. It will be fun.