BLeach

Oh How He Loves Us

2 Month Checkup

Will Work for Preschool Teachers

Looks like my baby isn't the only one to be added to our church's nursery this summer.  This past Sunday we had 18 kids in the nursery!  And if you've seen the size of our nursery then you know--that's chaos:)

So we're launching a brand new preschool class to provide better ministry for each child and get the 3-4 year old's into another room. 

I love this promotional campaign that our leaders designed to recruit the new volunteers we'll need!

  

Pray for the G20 Summit

Global economic leaders will come together in Pittsburgh in a few weeks for an important series of meetings.  My friend Jeff Leake, who pastors in Pittsburgh, has launched a prayer blog designed to mobilize people to pray for the summit.  I'd encourage you to follow along and participate.

I'm praying specifically for God to give our leaders strategies to better distribute resources to the poor.  God has given us enough food and water.  We've just got to figure out how to get it to the people who don't have any.

God cannot bless an economic system that fails to consider the poor.  It's easy for us to think of ourselves when we pray for economic prosperity.  Instead, we should get a vision of those without food, clothes, and clean drinking water.  Scripture is clear that generosity always comes back around.

So here's a great opportunity to do something productive with all of your pent-up economic frustration.

Don't just complain about the recession.

Pray!

Spiritual Streakers

Yesterday I continued our Pneuma series by talking about the Holy Spirit's activity in our lives after salvation.  Everyone who experiences regeneration is like Lazarus.  When he emerged from his grave he still had his grave clothes on.  Full of life, yet dressed like a dead man.

Have you ever met someone who obviously experienced regeneration?  There's life there that wasn't present before.  There's desire for God where none existed before.  But they still have issues.  That's the dynamic I'm referencing.

The Holy Spirit regenerates a heart in a moment.  Then He goes to work on the rest of a man.

To paint the picture I brought up the armor of God.  These are the clothes we put on after undressing from our grave clothes. 

• Helmet of salvation
• Belt of truth
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Sandals of peace
• Sword of the Spirit--which is the Word of God
• Shield of faith

But what do you get if experience salvation but fail to pursue righteousness, or explore truth, or digest Scripture, or walk in relational peace, or take steps of faith?

Spiritual streakers--Christians running around with nothing more than a helmet on.

Link Love

Here are some links to articles/blogs/thoughts that have intrigued me lately.  Enjoy!

• By far the best thoughts I've read on the drama that is Brett Favre. Put on your jersey and get in the game!
• An interesting survey on the way women dress and the effect it has on men. Come on ladies! Help a brother out!
• Allison Park Church just launched their 9th daughter church. Congrats to my friend Jeff Leake and his team!
• Wow. Loved this idea. If you're in local church ministry I dare you to give it a shot!
• Craig Groeschel lists what he did learn and didn't learn in seminary. Interesting conversation and I agree with most of it.
• A passionate call for the end of "Perfect Church." Challenging thoughts church leaders should wrestle with.
• Matt Chandler explains why he's chosen to teach the Book of Philippians.  Inspired me.
• My wife pulls meaning out of Gabby's crying and posts some pics of the most adorable baby in the world!
• My mother-in-law explains Samantha's triumph at the American Idol experience. She's officially a star:)

That's enough for now.  Let me know which links help you!

While Driving Home Tonight

Cruisefest Tomorrow Night

 

Can't wait for our annual Cruisefest outreach at Church of the King tomorrow night!  Last year we had several hundred people stop by.  We're planning for another great night of connecting with our community again this year!

We'll have live music, free food, fun games and tons of giveaways.  We'll also be showing an outdoor movie at the end of the night.

If you live in the Detroit area, we could use your help as a volunteer.  Let me know if you can make it and we'll plug you in.

If you can't make it, would you pray for us?  We want our community to encounter the love of God in a fresh and real way and feel the presence of His Church!

This will be the third year in a row we've hosted this block party.  I enjoy meeting people throughout the year who know our church because of this event.  We want our neighbors to know that we're here, and that we're FOR them!

See you tomorrow night!

The Real Truth About Resentment

Resentment: The feeling of displeasure or indignation at some act, remark, person, etc...

I had a great conversation with one of our leaders this morning about the subtle danger of resentment in ministry.  If we're not careful, resentment can grow undetected in our hearts over time.

• Have you made sacrifices for a worthy cause?
• Have you sacrificed evenings with your family in order to counsel people?
• Have you put a particular dream on the backburner in order to pursue ministry?
• Have you taken on debt in order to finish Bible College?
• Have you accepted a pay-cut because your church's finances took a dip?
• Have you moved to an undesirable location in order to start a new church?

If so, it may be that you joyfully submitted to God in sacrificial obedience.  Or it could be that you did it for a different reason--

To please someone
To avoid failure
To achieve recognition
To grow your ministry

Here's one way to diagnose your motivation.  Can you identify any traces of resentment in your heart?

Resentment is an indicator that you've done something good for the wrong reason.  It's presence in your heart should prompt you to examine your motives.

I gave up all these evenings but the person never changed.  Did you do it for that person?

I've accrued all this debt and can't find a full time position.  Is that why you did it?

I gave up a full ride to business school, and now my ministry is anonymous.  Did you do it for recognition?

I moved here to start this church, and now it doesn't seem to be growing.  Is that why you moved?

The only good reason to sacrifice in ministry is because you're compelled to obey the one you love.  When you're in love, sacrifice isn't sacrifice.  It's a delight.

Leah and I have talked alot about this, because resentment can often show up in the heart of a spouse.  It's a powerful thing for me to tell Leah that God wants us to make a particular sacrifice.  But if she doesn't sense God in it for herself, she will most likely go along with me out of duty.  After all, who wants to stand in the way of God's will.  And if we're not careful, she'll grow to resent the very sacrifices I thought God was leading us to make.

Sacrifice is good.  And when it's done as a relational response to God's loving call it is a beautiful thing.  Just make sure He's the one inspiring it.  Otherwise you'll wake up one day and resent the very thing for which you've sacrificed so much.

By the way, if you've developed a resentful heart, there is an atidote.  It's a grateful heart.  Gratefulness trumps resentment.

Have you sacrificed for God?  Then I guarantee He's given up even more for you.

Reflections

I'm back in action today after a memorable week in Florida.  Here are some reflections:

• We spent most of the week at the biannual General Council for the Assemblies of God.  I'm ordained with the AG, and have been to several General Council's so far.
• General Council had a very fresh feel.  The stage was awesome and the worship was hot.  It was obvious that our leaders are working hard to connect with the younger generation.
• I was challenged by many great speakers during the week including Rick Warren, Reggie Joiner, Herbert Cooper, and Dick Brogden.  My journal is filled with thoughts that God spoke directly to me.
• George Wood, our General Superintendent, opened the council with a sermon about Leah.  I can't ever remember hearing a message about her before.  It was so encouraging to realize that it always takes time and distance to truly recognize someone's real influence and legacy.
• The business sessions went as they usually do--I agreed with some votes and was on the losing side of some others.
• I respect George Wood more and more all of the time.  He is a great leader!
• I was really proud of Eddie and JT, our children's pastors, who represented COTK well by leading worship for the kid's council services.  Their picture, along with my sister-in-law Samanta is at the top of this post.
• General Council ended Friday night.  Saturday we spent the day at Hollywood Theaters in Disney World.
• Leah's sister Samantha did the American Idol Experience at Hollywood Theaters.  She auditioned early in the morning and was selected to compete in a show.  She won that show and advanced to the finale show at 7.00 pm.  She won the finale show as well which gave her "the golden ticket."  She will be able to start at the front of the line for any American Idol audition that she chooses.
• The American Idol experience feels just like the real show.  They even use the original stage from season one.
• It was fun to reconnect with some old college friends and interns.
• Traveling through airports with a baby is tough!  Seriously, I don't know how single parents pull it off.
• Gabby is growing like crazy!  It is so fun to watch her smile:)
• This week will be incredible!  We are building for our annual Cruisefest outreach on Friday night.  Last year about 1,000 people were with us.  Can't wait to see what happens this year!