We had an awesome evening at our Senior Adult Banquet at church. No doubt, to gather that many seniors was an enjoyable time – but we did see something that you will only see at one of these… a row of walkers. We’re thankful for these Seniors and their investment for future generations.
Morning music!
There are about 1200 1334 of us.
Today, I found myself in Fort Worth, TX for a meeting. Fort Worth isn’t that far from Waco where I live. It’s up the road a little over an hour. We lived here for a brief time (one month together) when we first were married… I have mostly positive memories.
After my meeting, I treated myself to a soda at Panera Bread. YES – there is a Panera in Waco and I visit it weekly. Yet – while they serve the same bread and cookies and drinks at each Panera – the store is a different layout. This store in Fort Worth off University Dr. is bigger and offers more real estate as far as places to sit and enjoy their free WiFi. I like it and would like to take it with me.
In the midst of sitting here, I realized how much I love my church, my job, my family (not in that order). A change of location can do that for us. I drove through the TCU campus and it’s drastically different than BU’s campus. If you’re curious, I’d rather be a bear than a frog any day. While driving, I recalled eating Fuzzy’s Tacos and even began to compare it to Viteks (although two different foods) remembering that the goodness of ole’ Fuzzy’s yet not much compares to the Gut-Pack (small, add sausage if you go there; plus they have DUBLIN DP!!).
Yet, while sitting here, I became overwhelmed with thankfulness for the opportunities God has granted me these past few years. I see the landscape of emerging leaders in our ministry and it excites me. I see my family and how we’re beginning to learn how to BE a family. I see my church and our ministry and know that we’re healthier NOW than when we first arrived and it has little to do with us and more to do with God and His grace. I thought about different leaders who’ve risen in our ministry and God’s grace in allowing them to be part of our church in our lives.
A change of location can bring clarity. It just does – so if you’re frustrated about your situation, maybe you need to get out of town. Maybe you should spend more time on your face in prayer than on Facebook. Maybe you should get alone and ask God to bring clarity… I believe He will. If anything, maybe you could have a fresh perspective on your work; on your family; on the cross.
enjoy.
This week was simply another greet morning in our ministry and at our church. More and more, Abigail and I are thankful to be in a church that empowers us and allows us to serve… it really is a joy. Here are some of my reflections from our time together this morning:
-We sang “Chosen Generation” to kick things off… and it is so powerful to think about the impact this group will make and is making.
-All things are secondary to a saving relationship in Jesus… yet when we understand this priority, the secondary things become redeemed.
-Did you see the art this Sunday??? Awesome.
-We are justified… I need to hear that over and over…
-We are being sanctified… God isn’t done with us yet!!
-Sin is like a sneeze… I’ll just leave it to that. 
-Being ‘elect’ is not a four letter word, it’s a five letter word! And it’s a wonderful description of us.
-When I’m sinned against, in my response, I’ll sin! Is this true for you? It sure is for me!!
-Satan will us the ‘Roman Road’ to accuse us, he’ll just leave out the rest of the verse…
-It’s God who justifies. Hello again!
-Religious people always think they can earn and even prove their justification to God. This is big… You can never be more justified before God than you are RIGHT NOW.
-What Christ is doing in you is still incomplete (sanctification). But what Jesus Christ has done for you there is not a single tiny crack that the satanic arrows can penetrate (justification).
-Do you like us singing more at the end of the talk? I tell you, I’m loving it!
-My sin o the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
I’ve been thinking about this the entire afternoon. God’s grace has been strong in me with that verse of ‘It is Well’.
-We had a HUGE crowd AGAIN this week!! BUT, we still have more room! Bring a friend!
-Our leadership and volunteers are amazing. I mean that. They work so hard and do such a great job. I’m so humbled that they’re part of what God is doing at FWCM.
If you want to see what God did during our time together, head over to skippingchurch.com and you can see!!
This past weekend, I was given the opportunity to speak at First Baptist Cuero’s Disciple Now. I’ll be honest and say that it was actually a really good weekend as the kids responded to the difficult message to stay pure in these lust-filled times. One big break-through for students was to understand that purity is NOT just about whether you have sex with your boyfriend/girlfriend, RATHER, it’s about your heart. This was huge.
After the Sunday morning worship service – is when things got interesting. An older man (retirement age) approached me and within seconds I knew he was a bona-fide kook. While this man was NOT part of the local fellowship in Cuero, he most definitely was crazy. I find it interesting that in our church (which is a large church) we don’t really see this kind of thing take place, but in smaller churches, the wolves come out of the wood-works. These are REAL things this man said to me after the service.
5 signs you’re talking to a kook in your church:
enjoy.
Can you believe that it’s December?! November really flew by – I think when you get away from your routine life rushes by. Below are the most popular reads for November:
enjoy!
Every Monday, I meet with my college staff. I know some people H-A-T-E meetings – especially if they’re pointless… but consistency in meeting is so important. Today, we met simply for us to encourage one another. We spent the entire time going around the room just building one another up. We do this because it’s Biblical. But we also do it because if we’re not encouraging one another, how can we expect others to be an encourager to their peers.
So here are some of the things I’m thankful for in our team (we said more, but I’m trying to keep things short):
Tim – I love how you care for others – deeply. I love how you pursue righteousness in all things – this keeps me accountable, and also our ministry.
Greg – I love your teachable spirit. So many “music guys” just want to be famous and will try to use the church as a crutch to their own selfish desires… but that’s not you.
Ashley – I love your ability to keep us on mission. Not for one moment do you allow us to let something slip through the cracks… it’s indispensable.
Audrey – I love how you people matter to you – and it shows. You don’t just say, “I care about you” you prove it by your love.
JR – (you weren’t at the meeting but I know you’ll read this and I’ll need to have said something about you) I love the fact that after working 70-80 hrs at your job, you’ll exert an extra 10 for us. Thanks. It matters.
How does this land for you? Take time to encourage those around you – it is good for your soul, and good for those you’re walking through life with.
enjoy
I picked up this CD really for one song along: “When I Survey.” Tim takes an old-time hymn and he re-makes the musical pattern and rhythm. I think he improves it greatly, or at least brings out the words for me. That being said, I would reccomend this CD to you with confidence. I’m a sucker for live worship sets for some reason – but this one has been a great one to have on this afternoon. Thanks to Ben Moore for introducing this song to us a First Woodway.
Simply, in my observation, spiritual formation is not too different from discipleship in nature. I think the difference would simply be that “spiritual formation” evokes fertile images of growth, slow maturation, and gentle becoming. It is a focused attention upon the heart – what is being stirred in your affections; what your minds attention is focused upon. In my view, “spiritual formation” is about your betterment, your sanctification in the most radical ways of which takes place in the most ordinary places.
Like unto it, discipleship is done with one another in community. You have a discipler. You have someone who is coming along side with you and helping you grow. Spiritual formation is an inward discipline; discipleship is an outward discipline. That being said, I think there is a ton of room for disagreement here… the point is that we are called to follow Jesus.
Thus, this is how I would define spiritual formation: the maturing process of a follower of Jesus, so that they might be sanctified.
I think it is imperative for a local church to on regular occasion teach, disciple, lead, form, preach, model, etc. what it means to be a follower of Jesus. It is completely necessary, and if you are not doing this in your local church OR you think it can be done without a plan and therefore will happen naturally, you’re a fool.