Impressing people or pleasing God?

We had a great day at Providence Sunday.

Part of what we talked about was what it really means to be "deep" in the Christian faith.

When I first got in to ministry - I thought that in order to be "deep" I had to throw out Greek and Hebrew words when I preached and explain every technical nuance of the text. Part of me was preaching to impress people with my knowledge... people who weren't even there. (I spent a lot of time teaching 7th grade boys)

I read this quote from Martin Luther as I was reading Total Church today:

When I preach I don't look to the doctors and magistrates of whom there about forty in this church. I have an eye to the many young people, children and servants of whom there are more than two thousand. I preach to these, addressing myelf to their needs. If other people don't want to listen to this approach then they can always walk out! An upright, godly and true preacher should direct his preaching to the poor, simple sort of people... when preacher talk to me they can show off their learning ... but to sprinkle Hebrew, Greek and Latin in their public sermons, suggest they are merely showing off.

How did you do the last time God gave you the opportunity to talk about truth with someone? Did you try to win the argument? Impress them with your knowledge? Or did you try to please God by connecting with them in a way that was easy to understand?

Sunday Recap

We had a great time at the fishing tournament yesterday!

• Next year we're going to chum more fish before the tournament - not as many fish were caught as I had hoped. But we did manage to land some nice ones.
• Hopefully, next year there won't be a heat wave - 10:00 at the Crab Shack was cookin' outside.
• Lunch was awesome - I'm thinking about buying my dad a full boiled platter every Father's day from now on.
• Lot's of folks donated some great prizes this year - datil sauce - Outback gift cards - a digital camera - cool butane torches - hats - shirts - car wax - tackleboxes - a fishing pole - a cool cypress carving - and much much more ... there are some generous people and companies around St. Augustine.
• We gave away a TON of cool stuff - we're probably the only church in town that gave away knives, butane torches, and poker sets yesterday - probably ever.
• Special thanks to companies like DatilQ, WW Gay, Catepillar, Reliance Fasteners, Outback Crab Shack, Buck 'n' Bass and the guy who carves stuff at the Crab Shack on weekends...(as soon as I get his company name - I'll put it in here)
• I'm thinking next year, we'll run the tournament from 6:30 to 9:00 - have church from 9:00 - 10:00 (much cooler temp) and still have our 11:00 service in an air conditioned location.
• I'm real excited that my neighbor won the ugliest fish trophy after taking my fishing advice. I told lots of people, but Leo's the only one I know who actually took action on the info I shared....(there's a sermon illustration in there somewhere.)
• Providence people were amazing. They really stepped up and did a great job with planning and hosting - I see a real heart for the community in so many people who are involved here.
• It is a joy to pastor a church full of people like this.
• We had a lot of new faces - hopefully most of them will come back and join us as we work together to love God, love people, and change the world.
• I'll post some pics from the tournament when I get back from this mini-vacation.
• I got a Flip HD camcorder and 3 custom painted flower pots for Fathers Day - I cherish the pots more than the camera.
• I'm celebrating my 13th anniversary with Lesli today at Casa Monica in St. Augustine. She's a little sick still, though- pray for her - (pray for her just 'cause she's married to me - that can't be easy)
• She really is the epitome of a Proverbs 31 woman to me. I'm so thankful God put her in my life...praying I'll be a great husband for her.

Thanks again to everyone who worked to put this tournament together it was a really good day.

Now, I'm off to enjoy the day in St. Augustine with my bride in as many air conditioned places as we can find....praying she feels better today.

Do Something Good.

After my time in God's word today - I read these two quotes from a business book Jeff gave me (or permanently loaned me) a while back.

"One of the worst uses of time is to do something very well that needs not to be done at all."

"An average plan vigorously executed is far better than a brilliant plan on which nothing is done."

So, make sure what you're doing is what God wants you to do and then get out there and do it.

It's already Wednesday - make this week count.

Figured it out

Here's the video I played around and made with my new Father's Day present Sunday. That flip camera has some handy software with it - just have to pay attention and read the instructions.... You know the guy who never reads the instructions until he's wasted a ton of time trying to figure it out on his own? - that's me.... Don't be that guy.

Sunday Recap

This post is late b/c I got a Flip HD video camera for an early fathers day present and tried to upload a cool movie I made from it throughout the day yesterday - I think my internet connection is messed up or too slow right now to do it - so I've included a much cooler video at the bottom of this post



• Had a great time at the Crab Shack eating breakfast and even fishing a little before the service.
• It's probably going to be one of our biggest crowds ever next week at the Crab Shack for once combined service at 10:00
• Andy Morgan did a phenomenal job filling in for Keith(who had to work yesterday)
• I loved Andy's blue mohawk - (I'm betting Libby had a lot to do with that) He wore it well.
• We started our series titled "Don't Be That Guy" -We looked at Matthew 23 and learned how NOT to be Proud Religious Guy - it's going to be a great series - don't miss next week.
• We had a smaller crowd than usual - think it had something to do with wedding season and the first weekend after school let out.
• Awesome lunch at the pool in Heritage Landing - had some great planning time with Jeff and Eric.
• Eric is kind of like royalty b/c he's married to Melissa - who was the Sno-Cone Queen - I think she gave away Sno-Cones for around 3 hours straight.
• I got a Flip HD video camera for an early Father's Day gift played with it yesterday - but can't get the cool video to upload..

- Don't be the guy who wastes his life.

Don't be THAT guy.

Don't be that guy. You know, the one that always misses the best Sunday because he thought something was more important than church. He's always getting in on the end of a great time and wishing he had been there for the whole thing. The guy who gets up on Sunday morning and takes a poll with the family and checks the weather before deciding whether or not to take an hour and a half out of his week and worship His creator with his family. Don't be that guy this week - or next week.... or ever for that matter. If you're that guy this week though, you'll miss the beginning of our brand new series that's all about you! Actually, it won't be about you this week; it'll be about shallow, external, judgemental, religious guy this week from Matthew 23. We'll see what Jesus had to say about how not to be that guy. AND after church we're all heading to the pool for lunch and I'm telling you, you don't want to miss it. Bring a covered dish to share for breakfast at the Crab Shack or lunch at Heritage Landing this week. And, feel free to wear your bathing suit to church. (underneath your clothes) ---Wear your "P" shirts or your Dock Master shirts to the pool.

Then NEXT week - don't be that guy who misses the fishing tournament. It's going to be HUGE! Providence people, we're really going to need your help to manage this thing. We'll have a meeting after church this week to get ready. Seriously, you don't want to be the guy who misses church the next couple of weeks. Don't be that guy.

Decisions, Decisions

Tomorrow morning at 6a.m. I'll be meeting with a group of men at the Crab Shack to talk about making wise decsions. We're going to see what the Bible has to say about making decisions you won't regret. It's going to be a great study. If you're a guy, and you're awake around 6:00 - come on out an join us.

We're going to start with a very basic foundation tomorrow - we'll look at Prov. 3:5-6 and answer the question. "Who knows what's best for us?"

Today, before you make a decision that carries the potential for regret, pause, and ask God what He thinks you should do? Just doing that can save you from tons of regret... and, it might just get you to the place where you make a real positive impact in this world. I know it's simple, but trust me, it's life altering. Just try it today.

Sunday Recap

Really good day at Providence today.

• Dr. Danny White preached a different message at each service - both messages were really timely and good.
• Just decided yesterday to have Dr. White preach - worked out good - got a little throat thing going on and lost my voice halfway through the second service even though I wasn't preaching.
• Really looking forward to our new series starting next week "Don't Be That Guy"
• Providence people gave away heaps of shoes today for Barefoot Sunday.
• Favorite part of the day - seeing my daughter kick her crocs in the box and run around church barefoot.
• Getting fired up about Providence Pool Party Part 2... and Father's Day Fishing Tournament.
• Going to order a bunch of bright orange shirts this week.
• Had a great time at Caddyshack celebrating Cody's graduation.
• Got to pray with the generous person who gave Sean a free saltwater aquarium today.
• Really like the Camp Promo Video - see below --- and sign up --- "the bake sale's been cancelled."

Barefoot Sunday

You don't have to come to church barefoot this week. (but we won't turn you away if you do)

We're going to do something about the millions of people in this world who are barefoot because they don't own a pair of shoes.

The U.S. government estimates that there are 300 million children in this world who don't own a pair of shoes.  Americans probably threw that same amount or more in to landfills last year.

So, this Sunday - go out and buy some new shoes, or just clean out your closet and your kids closet and bring some of those shoes you don't wear any more.  We'll ship them all off to Soles 4 Souls who will get them on the feet of folks who need them.  Even if you don't bring any extra shoes with you, you can give the ones you're wearing and walk out of church like millions of other folks on this planet... barefoot. 

It might be hard to be humble, but it'll be worth it.

We'll be looking at Matthew 23:1-12 this weekend at Providence.

Jesus is setting up for one of the harshest condemnations of relgious people recorded in the Bible.

It turns out that God really doesn't like the showy, judgemental, external form of religion designed to make us feel better about ourselves because we're "better" than others.

If you're doing religious activity to make yourself look good or better to others - slow down and check your heart. 

Jesus said "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." 

 

I know you're special, gifted, cool, and popular and all, but, really, we're all just sinners in need of grace.  You won't really experience that grace until you humble yourself before God.  It might be hard to do at first, but Jesus promised, it will be worth it.

Where are your decisions leading?

Tonight I'll be speaking to a great group of college students and twenty-somethings at The Crossing.

We've been talking about things like how to know God's will, making wise decisions etc.

Tonight, we're going to dig in to Prov. 27:12 

The prudent sees danger and hides himself,but the simple go on and suffer for it.

Where you are today is a result of where you were yesterday and where you'll be tomorrow has a lot to do with the choices you make today.

• You're in the financial situation you're in today because of you spending/saving habits for the last 5 years or so.
• You know what you know about God today because of the time you've invested in getting to know Him over the past couple of months/years.
• Your relationship with your kids today has a lot to do with how you treated them when they were younger.
• Your relationship with your spouse is what it is because of how you talked to them yesterday, last week, and last month.

You're not just floating through life, you're making decisions every day about the direction of your life.  Your decisions and actions have consequences. When you look down the road what do you see coming?  Prepare for that and take action today.

Sunday Recap

• Sean preached for us this Sunday - He challenged us to live to die. - it was a phenomenal message - you should listen to it here if you missed it (mp3) -- or you can subscribe to our podcast on iTunes here (mp4)
• At the Crab Shack service, Sean told us about this kid who brought clean water to 6,000 people in Darfur, and this girl who sponsors 30 kids through Compassion International.  They're both 16 years old - not even out of high school and changing the world.
• At our Wards Creek Service - he talked about a friend who is risking his life to free slaves right now - here's some info on modern day slavery. 
• One's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
  
• This is ridiculuous - http://www.whocanisue.com/
• I really enjoyed sitting next to my wife at the Crab Shack service.  I don't get to do that very often... she really is an amazing woman.
• At the Crab Shack service, we recognized Aly (who faithfully and effectively runs Media Shout for us there each week) for graduating. -Her actual graduation is next Saturday and she will accept, cash, check, and gift cards.   We're real proud of her and we gave her this book and this book.
• I'm super stoked that Sean is going to be working with our students - he's already making an impact and he's a huge encouragement to me personally.
• The Providence Pool party was amazing!  
• Thanks to everyone who cooked, cleaned, served, organized and sno-coned!
• We gave away a bunch of hot dogs, treats and about a billion sno-cones.
• They say the slide is faster if you coat your back with sun-tan oil...I'm not sure I buy it.
• At 5:00 they closed the pools b/c someone pooped in them... seriously.. it was a little kid who was a little sick.. he wasn't with our group - they're cleaning and shocking the pools today.  (but they also say the slide is faster with poo on it)  gross.
• That sno-cone thing was so fun - We'll definitely do that again - special thanks t0 Bounce-Aroo!
• Next Sunday is Barefoot Sunday.
• There's some real momentum building at Providence right now - really looking forward to next Sunday,