BLeach

And the Winner Is...

Why I Followed the Bus Home

We often think we can't rest because we're so busy.  We just don't have time.  But I think the opposite might actually be true.

We're busy because we don't know how to rest.

John Ortberg was right about me.  My problem is not a disorderly schedule.  It's a disorderly heart.

So on Sunday I challenged our church to practice three disciplines this summer in order to confront hurried sickness head on. 

Slowing: You can practice slowing in the normal course of life by intentionally placing yourself in situations that force you to wait.  Drive in the slow lane.  Wait 15 seconds between bites during dinner.  Choose the longest line at the grocery store, and let at least one person pass you.  On Monday night, Leah even had me follow a bus all the way down 12 Mile Rd, including stops!  (The Holy Spirit is more real to me now that I'm married:)  As a result, I developed a little more humility and patience.  And I turned my frustration with moving so slowly into worship to God for His unending care.

Solitude: For this one you've got to break away.  Sometime this summer, get alone for four hours with nothing except your Bible and a journal.  Refuse to talk.  Instead, sit, walk, meditate, reflect, and write.  It's amazing how clear the voice of God becomes when we slow down and get quiet.

Sabbath: Choose one day every week and declare it to be holy (set apart) by approaching it differently than the other six. Sleep in.  Take some extra time at the gym.  Eat your favorite foods.  Read a few extra chapters in Scripture and enjoy some extended time of worship.  Read a good book or watch an inspiring movie.  Spend time with family and close friends.  Most of all, remember that God is the tireless Creator of every good thing in your life.

Uh-Oh

Look at what came in the mail today. I'll have it on Sunday..unless the baby comes:)

Come Gabby, come!

Your Kingdom Come

This weekend our church had some great opportunities to serve our community. On Friday night we projected the Wings game on the side of our building. And on Saturday we staffed the Chamber of Commerce booth with volunteers for the Berkley ArtBash.

Yesterday during our leadership team meeting we did some follow up by walking through downtown Berkley.  I asked our leaders to worship, note any businesses that stood out, and ask God to share His desires for our community.  I felt like some great insights surfaced.

• 12 Mile is lined with signs declaring, "Berkley is Unique." One unique characteristic is that there are only a handful of chain restaurants/businesses in downtown Berkley. We're not looking for a pre-packaged, conference-inspired move of God. Hungry for God to do something unique!
• Most of the businesses on our street are service or product oriented operations that cater to consumers. We can't be just another consumer-driven organization. We've got to develop missional disciples.
• Felt the pressure of so many businesses trying to make their voice heard and compete for dollars in a tough economy. Praying our church is not just another competing voice. Desperate for God's voice to be heard.
• I really believe God wants our community to experience the untainted influence of His Church.
• At one point I passed a business that closed. Now their windows are covered and it's impossible to see what's happening inside the building. It reminded me of all the closed families, secret sins, unknown needs and hidden pain that quietly exists in our community. My sense is that God wants to reign in those places.

Our team spent some time talking about what it means for God to reign in our community. What would it look like for the Kingdom of God to really grow in influence? In downtown Berkley we've got a Dairy Queen, Burger King, and a street called Royal. And then there's Church of the King!

As followers of Jesus we've got an opportunity to establish the Kingdom of God in our cities!

Let Jesus reign!

Free Books for Dads

Today I started studying for a series we're starting in July called Abba.  I spent the morning walking through the gospels observing Jesus' interaction with the Father.  Can't wait to develop some of my observations.

So in a generous effort to bribe you to help me with my sermon research, I'm giving away two FREE books this week to fathers who will leave a comment on this post answering the question, "What's one thing I've learned about God since becoming a dad?"  The winners will be randomly picked from the comment section on Friday.

Here are the books:

Eyes Wide Open (Jud Wilhite): Jud Wilhite invites you to discover the real you. Not the one who pretends to be perfect to satisfy everyone's expectations. Not the you who always feels guilty before God. Not the you who secretly feels God forgives everyone else but only tolerates you. Not the you who looks in the mirror and sees a failure. The real you, loved and forgiven by God, living out your identity in Christ. 

Read more about Eyes Wide Open.

The Disappearance of God (Albert Mohler): More faulty information about God swirls around us today than ever before. No wonder so many followers of Christ are unsure of what they really believe in the face of the new spiritual openness attempting to alter unchanging truth. 

Read more about The Disappearance of God.

So, if you're a dad, all you've got to do is leave one comment answering the question, "What's one thing I've learned about God since becoming a dad?"

You'll help me with my sermon AND be eligible for a free book!

It's win-win.

Where's the Thin Pastor?

Had a funny interchange with someone yesterday that I haven't seen in awhile.  I opened a graduation open house with prayer.  Afterward, one of the graduates relatives asked me, "Are you the pastor of the church?" After responding that I was, she said, "I didn't realize they had a new pastor."  I replied, "They don't.  I've actually been the pastor since the church started."  At which point she said...

"Then where's the thin pastor?"

I laughed.

Marriage has been good to me.

Very good.

8 Years

Chris Wallace gave his life to Christ at our church's first children's outreach. Amazing to attend his graduation open house today. Eight years goes so fast!

On The News

We're showing game 7 for our Screen on the Green outreach tonight. Our local NBC crew showed up to cover it for the post game show!

How to Care for 10,000 Orphans Without any Money

My Tuesday night Life Group is studying Experiencing God.  In the study, Henry Blackaby shares George Mueller's story.

Because George Mueller wanted his life to prove that God answers prayer, He decided not to communicate the needs of his ministry with anyone other than God.  By the end of his ministry he built four orphanages that cared for 10,000 orphans.  Altogether, $8,000.000.00 was distributed through his ministry...all by faith.  Mueller had the rare ability to discern what God was up to and the guts to join Him.

Here is how he summed up the way he entered into a "heart" relationship with God and learned to discern God's voice:

1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2.  Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3.  I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4.  Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5.  I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.

6.  Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly.

Why I'm Planning to Let Leah Change Gabby's Diaper