Ephesians 4:29 says, "Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them."
This verse has helped my marriage so much. It is such an important verse about the power of words. The greek word for "foul or abusive" is spoiled fish. Think about it. What if our words effected people the way a rotten fish would effect the environment of a room. Imagine the stench. Could it be that God has made things work in such a way that we can choose to use our words to hurt, destroy, affect and spoil relationships? OR to encourage, build up and bless someone? I think we underestimate the power and permanence of words. I really believe words matter, and as I said this weekend, we can do better.
I promised that I would post these words. Here they are. In communicating, work at communicating feelings, needs and opinions. Remember coffee talk, and remember to LISTEN to understand. We can do it!
WORDS TO LOSE
But, should, you have to, it's a problem
WORDS TO USE
And, next time, would you (if you could), I wish, I feel I need
John
PS
I LOVE THE SET. Teresa, Trinette, Robert, Jason, Katherine, Dardi, and all the unspoken volunteers. To see people taking pictures and video of the set was so cool. Thanks for giving everything, and then some. ONLY GOD.
I wish I could say I haven't blogged so I could carry the lesson of expectations to a whole new level. I hope each of us continues to move expectations to the dream and hope category and I hope we all will continue to see our spouse and serve them every single day. I often think what if this was my last day, have I loved Michelle the best I could? Thanks for being such a gracious church. So many people brought friends, we had our highest weekend attendance ever, almost 3100 people. I am so excited about this series. The things God has for us is so cool. I intentionally think through multiple age stations as I prepare each talk.
I have been working to put together this weeks talk. LOST in translation, or Coffee TALK. I am amazed at how many times Michelle and I over the last 22 years have had a conflict because of a misunderstanding. We have learned some things that have helped us move to a deeper level of understanding. Honestly, so goes communication, so goes any relationship. Pray for our weekend teams, the set up teams (the set will be awesome). Also, pray for Michelle and I as we share together from the stage.
ONLY GOD.
John
Sorry about the longer than normal "no blogging". Things have been so busy. I am more excited about this vision than any other vision I can remember. We have always been audacious in trying to reach the unchurched and dechurched for Christ, but this vision is simply too overwhelming for anyone, or any team. If it happens it will be simply "ONLY GOD."
If you haven't heard, we are in a situation where we need to be able to accomodate as many as 3000 new people (if statistically things are static and we only double in attendance) within 12 months. Our plan is two fold. First we are going to launch five campuses on Easter Sunday. In 12 weeks we will open 5 campuses, for a total of six. Six church campuses in 06.
I was talking to a church leader today from a different church that simply couldn't believe we would consider something so "risky."
Progress always, always requires change. In any organization the willingness to do something unthinkable could in some cases be the difference. Courage is so essential to effective leadership. Courage means risk. Risk means potentially failing and being wrong. Leadership means I will have the courage to when necessary walk in the dark, alone and confident. It isn't the absence of fear, but rather the willingness to move in spite of fear.
If we wait until the fear is gone, we will never move.
I wonder in our lives what isn't happening because of fear? What dream is going unrealized? What phone call isn't made? What bold move never happens>?
Max Dupree said, "An unwillingness to accept risk has swamped more leaders than anything I can think of."
I hope this is never the case with us. I hope we will calclaute, pray and eventually risk everything.
Life is too short not to.
Praying for 2006. Dream big, work tirelessly and in the end we will all say these words together, "ONLY GOD."
John
I was reading today in the book of Philippians and kept thinking about this verse, for us, for this year:
"I am still not all I should be, and I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead." Philippians 3:13
I was thinking of all the different resolutions that I have made thoughout the years, and was reminded of what really matters most. Think about it, this is written from a Roman prison. The word joy or rejoice appears here more than anywhere else in the New Testament. Paul had more than us to forget. He had killed Christians before he found Christ. He was arrested more than once, beaten, abandoned and yet was able to say he was focusing all of his energy on moving from somewhere (the past) to somewhere (the future). Isn't is so easy to hold on to stuff that just destroys our souls? I am so good at remembering what I should forget, and forgetting what I should remember.
For all of us, I offer these thoughts on 2006:
1. The past is over, so let it go. Simply forget what is behind you. You can't change it. God has forgiven you, forgive yourself and be better because of it. If someone has hurt you, remember the garbage, how it poisons and how God died for the garbage. Give it to Him.
2. The plan is progress; not perfection. I tend to be harder on myself than I ought to be. What helps me so much is when I feel like a failure as a husband or friend or parent, I often have to step back mentally and think about how different things are today than they were a year ago. It helps to recalibrate things. Philippians 1:6 says this, "I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again." Stop listening to the enemy. God is NOT done with any of us, so just let His love reclaim what has been stolen and let His love win the moment you are in.
3. God's plans are good for you, the future has hope, REACH for it! So often we approach the day with a bit of mediocrity. I refuse to let my faith get lukewarm. When it does, I begin to allow hope to die, albeit slowly, it begins to fade. Then my faith begins to get doubtful and dangerous. I just know this, the Bible says that hope deferred makes the heart sick. Hope really matters in your life. What is it that you want God to do? Who is it that you maybe have stopped praying for? What have you given up on? Hope matters. How does this work itself practically? Simple. You have heard me say, "Do the next right thing." Each day, hope stays alive by simply doing what is right now. God will show you, if you are listening.
As I approach a new year, I hope I can let stuff go and really strain toward what it is that God has for us all.
Think about all the stories that are going to be told? Think about all the lives that God will change through your faithfulness? I keep thinking about Living Hope and how God is being glorified through all our lives. NEVER STOP BELIEVING.
I am speaking at a church this weekend and gotta say, I so appreciate Teresa, our programming and weekend teams and everyone who prays and serves to make our weekends what God allows them to be. I am a grateful pastor, who is a bit out of my element. You know who you are, I appreciate you so much. As I serve, I hope what God will use me in a way that will encourage, challenge and bring a sense of vision to this church. Pray for God to speak through me. I am leading their staff retreat Saturday and speaking to their congregation on Sunday. Where is Nathan, Dave, Teresa and everyone else when I need them?
As we begin a new year, I encourage you to simply Rest in Him. I can't wait for the new series to start. I also can't wait for the baptism services. I can't wait for the stories to be told.
ONLY GOD.
john
