Insert Sermon Illustration Explanation Here?

Delight the Audience

"When you focus on delighting an audience you care about, you strip the masses of their power."

This line of Seth Godin's post on popularity today crushed me.

It is so easy to concern ourselves with the opinion of the many. It is so tempting to adjust our sails to avoid the choppy water of negativity or the stinging rain of criticism. And the many delight in being appeased.

Godin is talking about popularity, business, culture...but what struck me is that my audience can, should and must be ONLY ONE. And when I focus on delighting the One...the opinions, criticisms, jabs, negativity and persecution don't just matter less, they become irrelevant.

Church leaders who compromise the ONE for the many are a dime a dozen. And their churches, though the privileged insiders feel like they are getting what they want,will die of attrition and die of a lack of God's Breath in their midst.

Preacher, speak truth even when that family threatens to leave. Speak hope, when the masses claim despair. Lead into uncharted waters, even when the masses are fearful and without maps. You are responsible not primarily for the flock, but for being the best undershepherd you can be...listening, obeying, following the ONLY ONE who matters.

It's a bit of a hokey sounding song, but the heart of it is right on.

I like this

Though the Earth Cried out for blood
Satisfied her hunger was
Her billows calmed on raging seas
for the souls on men she craved

Sun and moon from balcony
Turned their head in disbelief
Their precious Love would taste the sting
disfigured and disdained

On Friday a thief
On Sunday a King
Laid down in grief
But awoke with keys
Of Hell on that day
The first born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ
Laid death in his grave

So three days in darkness slept
The Morning Sun of righteousness
But rose to shame the throes of death
And over turn his rule

Now daughters and the sons of men
Would pay not their dues again
The debt of blood they owed was rent
When the day rolled a new

On Friday a thief
On Sunday a King
Laid down in grief
But awoke holding keys
To Hell on that day
The first born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ
Laid death in his grave

On Friday a thief
On Sunday a King
Laid down in grief
But awoke with keys
Of Hell on that day
The first born of the slain
The Man Jesus Christ
Laid death in his grave

He has cheated
Hell and seated
Us above the fall
In desperate places
He paid our wages
One time once and for all

motivation for your day...x 40

This ought to pump you up for whatever you need pumped up for.

Didn't need to watch it last night before basketball game...at half time we were up 3...then we caught fire and won tourney round 1 by 40!

Go get 'em today!

Daniel Fast Day Sixteen

Song of the Week this week: Bethany Dillon's "You are all I need"

When the day is done
And there's no one else around
While I'm lying here in bed
You're in my heart, You're in my head
You're all I need, You're all I need
There are a million voices
Calling out my name
But You're the One I want to hear
So make the others disappear

You are all I need when I'm surrounded
You are all I need if I'm by myself
You fill me when I'm empty
There is nothing else
You're all I need

When the morning comes
And Your mercy is renewed
There's a fire in my bones
I'm not afraid to go alone
You're all I need
You're all I need
The sun on my face
I hear You whisper loud
You're still the God that opens seas
Every flower, even me
You're all I need
You're all I need

I'm drawn to everything that You do
Nothing compares with You

Daniel Fast Day Eleven

Thought it would be good to put a song on here that is pretty much what the Daniel Fast is all about. Let it be your prayer for today.




All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You’re my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
You’re the coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me

Passion 2011 Music!

Expect these songs to be sung in churches across the world in the months to come!

Tradition!

I like this clip from the beginning of The Fiddler on the Roof...It paints a mindset of Tradition in a Jewish Community. They have traditions for everything and presume that the traditions are what keeps peace and stability in their village...yet they have know idea how or why the traditions were started.

Chuck Swindoll says it best. "Tradition is the living faith of those now dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of those now living." Be careful that you don't trade the former for the latter. One really does ground us in the faith that has been passed down from generation to generation. The other is idolatry.

If you're demanding that something take place because it is the tradition, you better ask whether its a sacred tradition or a sacred cow. How do you need to check yourself before you wreck yourself?

My move from open gym the other night

I was trying to find my highlight reel moves from open gym last week and thought this was it.



It was similar to this...trust me.

"If you have $4 and you spend $7...that's dumb"

Yes, debt is dumb...but our aim in communicating this must be grounded theologically and biblically.

I can't believe I forgot about this

I love how somehow basketball and ninja warriors mix in this video to make one of the best songs into one of the best music videos.

Just got done playing 2 and a half hours of bball. After a brain zapping day of problem solving, nothing beats it.

Thinkin' about bowlin'

This was released at Catalyst 2010!

Sing It!

three minutes and forty eight seconds of artistic brilliance and passion. I laughed and I cried.

Not sure this is what Jesus had in mind

Friday Unwind

This makes me want to follow horseracing.

Best Horse Race Call Ever - watch more funny videos

Poo Police

So, if there were a category in my blog for Too Much Information, this post would go under that section...Some of you sicker individuals will read on with anticipation.

For the last year or so I have been absolute clockwork...I walk into the church in the morning...it doesn't really matter what time...and within 5 minutes I have to visit the john. I don't know what it is...maybe its a 'holy crap' mentality...maybe my body, including my sphincter just relaxes and calms when I enter the house of prayer...maybe I just like to poop on the clock.

Whatever the case may be, my office is located with the youth director and the custodian's offices all next to our own bathroom. My two coworkers happen to be women and so if I see them in their offices, I tend to venture to a different toilet facility out of respect and chivalry. But if they are not in their offices, I let it rip.

About a month ago, the plot thickened as suddenly in our shared toilet facility there appeared an industrial strength dry air freshener spray. I can only assume they want me to take a hint.

And lately, it never fails that the moment I 'mobilize the troops', enemy invaders show up in their offices.

I guess it really is true..."He who poops in church...sits in own pew."

But maybe we could capitalize on this unique scent with some financial gain?

All Systems Go.

If you weren't already excited about the Kenya trip...this will take you over the top.



Final Countdown, Baby!

Mini Vans

The epitome of style. It's bringin' sexy back.



Happy Friday.

The Disney Conspiracy

In case you were wondering...the lemmings shown here are actually catapulted off the cliff by a turntable.

FYI, lemmings do migrate over small bodies of water to populate new areas...but not the arctic sea.

Sometimes Normal is Insanity

I am getting ready to preach this coming Sunday, and one of the key points that will be made from the text is that sometimes what the world deems acceptable or preferred behavior...sometimes what the majority is doing...sometimes the status quo...is insanity.

Here's a good example.



"Wide is the road to destruction, and many enter through it." Mt 7:13.