Go Big Or Go Home

Jog-a-Thon 2011!

I know this is a lame post....purely informative, but necessary!

Here is the list of challenges and rewards for our annual Jog-a-Thon, which all money raised goes to support our missionary friend Ken Huff in Cambodia!!!

JOG-A-THON CHALLENGES AND REWARDS

-Break $8,000 total raised in this event and P. Sean will "live Biblically" for 1 week (i.e. carry a staff, not shave, dress like Moses.).

-Break $50,000 tittle raised mark in this event and Dwaine Thomas will wax his hairy back!

-If at least 1 of you completes 10 laps on all 4's with at least $100 in sponsors, Bev Bower and Katiemarie Thomas will wear awesome costumes to 4 Wednesday nights!

-If at least 1 person does 10 laps in a row backwards, Joe Gutierrez will come to Wednesday night in all Beaver gear (For those of you unaware, Joe is a HUGE Duck fan!)

-The person who comes up with the most random devise to complete 15 laps in, Josh will dye his gottee pink!

-The first person who does 10 laps with Joe Gutierrez in a wheelbarrow, Steph and Joe will take you out to dinner @ restaurant of your choice!

-To the Female raises the most money, $500 minimum, Eugene will allow her to wax the top of his arms on a Wednesday night!

-To the Male who raises the most money, $500 minimum, Scott Hoerauf will allow him to shave his head into a mohawk on a Wednesday night. Scott will keep it for a week!

-To the one who receives the most Unique Sponsor, for example, a one-legged man or music artist. Reta will make a candle lit dinner for 4 at her house!

Have at it!!!!

To all who may be interested and intrigued, I have been seeking out good devotional material and Bible reading plans for my kids (The teens I lead and pastor). In addition to my first post (Normal is boring...Be Weird), here are several solid reading plans put out by Zondervan, a fantastic publishing company.

Check it:

If you are a new Christian, check this one: 30 days for New believers

A study in the Gospels: 30 Days with Jesus

Something COOL and Unique: 30 Stories You've probably never heard

Training ourselves in Godliness (2 Timothy 4:7-10) requires having a Plan, a Place, and a Time when we dig in to the scriptures. Let us not neglect out "training" this summer!

Normal is boring...be Weird.

Last night we talked about the "weirdness" of Christianity...We are counter-cultural, different, and just plain WEIRD at times!

But this is good!! I encourage all Christians to EMBRACE their weirdness! Not "weirdness" in a psycho unusual "get the heck away from me" sort of way (Such as predicting the end of the world or skipping down the halls of your school with streamers in hand shouting "the joy of the Lord is my strength"). But by Training, Serving, and Giving (For references to the weirdness I am talking about, look to Matthew 5:1-12).

As a follower of Jesus, I stand out! I strive to be different...Normal is boring!

I want to make a difference with the one life I have been entrusted with. In order to do this, you just gotta be different.

The challenge I gave and give to us all is...are you weird? Or, do you blend in with everyone else?

Something practical:

True to my promise...

Here are a couple of links to help us "Train Passionately" this summer. Some reading plans and devotional helps!

31 day devotional by Simply Youth Ministry. A GREAT resource!

A Guide to Studying God's Word by Jeremy Lee. For the serious student who wants/needs help digging deep.

And for the serious studier of the Bible...A good 6-month Reading Plan.

More to come throughout the week!

Words that Shatter.

I dropped two bricks onto a glass table and the table refused to break. In fact, the glass actually broke one of the brick's! Last Wednesday night, my attempt to illustrate a point through a loud SHATTER escaped me. However, the point was remained crystal clear: The words we speak will either Sharpen or Shatter those on the other end.

I am NO expert on the subject of "The Tongue" (Look to James 3), yet I believe we underestimate the weight and impact of our words (On average: 7,000 a day for guys and 20,000 for the ladies). My goal is to make the words I speak count for good; to build, not break...bring LIFE, not DEATH (Proverbs 18:21)!

AND, when it comes to being wise with our words, our Friend King Solomon speaks about the "Sweet stuff"...HONEY (Proverbs 16:24)! Who doesn't like honey?!?! Okay, I am sure there is someone who does NOT like it, but the point remains true: Honey is sweet and fantastical to the taste and body. I eat honey straight out of the bottle, packets, and any other device it comes in!! It is a GREAT visual for us when it comes to all that rolls off the tongue and exits the mouth.

The question I have to continually ask myself and now ask all who may converge upon this post:

Are your words Shaping or Shattering? Building or Breaking? Bringing Life or Death to others?

It's all about the Sweet Stuff....words like honey...

The Easter Weekend Challenge

I LOVE a challenge! I love the thrill of change and new possibilities. I enjoy how challenging it is to try new things, to risk and see what happens.

This last wednesday night I challenged all of our students to commit themselves to Jesus and His ways. To jump into all that Jesus has for them. The concept of loyalty and commitment in our culture is broken. All we have to do is look at the divorce rate, which hovers in the 40-50% range, to realize the message we send teenagers about commitment is not a positive one. With this in mind, I believe Jesus has a purpose and plan for the younger generation. And He is looking for sold out, committed, loyal students to SHATTER the status quo and "norms" of our society.

In light of Easter weekend, here are 3 things I challenged everyone to do:

1. Open - Your Bible to John 14.

I believe Jesus desires to Lead students in a journey of a lifetime. We invite Jesus to do this by first opening the scriptures and opening our hearts.

2. Ask - Jesus to reveal Himself.

We then, with pure motive and intent, ask Jesus to speak. If one truly desires to hear Him, he/she will! And lives will never be the same...

3. Read - John chapters 14-21.

This is the part where we bind around our necks and etch on our hearts the scriptures; this is a piece of what loyalty in and love of Jesus looks like (Prov. 3:1-4).

My heart's desire is to see teenagers not only committed to Jesus, but to HIS MISSION! There are many who need Jesus and every week I stare at an army of followers who can give Him to them. The questions is: What are we committed to? What are we tying around our neck? What are we writing deep within our hearts (Prov. 3:1-4)?

MY Preferences vs. HIS Mission

Last Sunday night was a Sick-Nastay time of highlighting the youth ministry. I am so proud of all my students and humbled Jesus would allow me to lead them! They are a talented, loving, and driven group of teenagers who desire to see their community rocked for Jesus!

Aside from this truth, I taught on the idea of "Forward Movement" in our journey with Jesus. It is a season of TRANSITIONING here at Albany First and with this can come a lot of...shall we say, discomfort? When change and transition take place, we can easily lose focus on the mission Jesus has called the Church (notice the capital "C") to:

-We complain about why some of the things "We have always done" are shifting or ceasing.

-We get angry when we see someone bring coffee into the auditorium.

-We grunt when our favorite seat is taken Sunday morning.

-We gossip to someone, who has zero authority or decision making power, about how we disagree with the pastor on an issue or two.

-We can fall into the dangerous trap of judging decision-makers' motives...a pitfall we have all walked into at one point or another.

I find myself getting off Mission when I elevate MY preferences over God's. His mission is straightforward, clear, and concise (Luke 19:10, Matt. 28:10).

Keeping this mission ever before me, it is beneficial for us all to remember: Methodology and Mission are two different things, yet work hand in hand. We (Jesus' "Bride") do whatever it takes (Methods) to point people to faith and growth in Jesus (Mission). One is ever changing, the other is stationary.

I stated Sunday night my desire to have something along the lines of this etched on my tombstone: "Sean did everything SHORT of sin, to see people come to faith in Jesus."

Life is TOO SHORT to fight over things that make ZERO impact or difference for eternity. May we lay down the selfish complaints, preferences, and align our desires with The Master's. When we do this, watch God ROCK our community and advance the Kingdom!

3 Things Jesus is teaching me.

Over the past couple of months, I have often felt as though I am drinking water through a fire hydrant. This has been the coolest, most stretching season of my life and I am LOVING it! However, I quickly have discovered the importance of 3 things, all in regard to physical health. Without these habits formed, and they are habits, we become drained, irritable, distracted, and off track.

1. Sabbath.

Oh how ESSENTIAL this is! When I take my day off, I am more energized, refreshed, and prepared to "tackle" my week. Besides, God took a day off and commanded humans do the same. It might be important.

2. Exercise.

Consistently getting into the gym or running or being active in some way, is too imperative to ignore. Exercise is not just for the body, but the mind and soul as well! It is amazing how much better I feel about myself; how clear my mind becomes.

3. Sleep.

I know this is truly basic, however, it always amazes me how easily we forget to actually do the basics. When I get to bed on time, I am more laser focused and motivated for the next day. Like plugging my phone into an outlet, sleeping charges our metaphorical batteries.

Ultimately, when I am hitting on all three of these cylinders, my effectiveness in the work place and life in general, increases tremendously!

Okay, time to work!

Surrender: Gut check time

I was flipping through my journal entries over the last couple of months, reminding myself of what Jesus has been doing during this new chapter of life and I ran across this entry. I apologize for the length, but I hope it is insightful and helpful:

Feb. 8, 2011,

Relying on self gets us nowhere. A question Oswald Chambers states in "My Utmost for His Highest" really hit me in the gut this morning. Here is a hybrid version of it: "Is the Word of God tremendously penetrating and SHARP within me...? or does my life betray the things I teach?"

I constantly teach utter dependence upon Jesus, but many times try to take control and act as if everything depends on ME! In the greatest areas of my life (ie. ministry, relationships, family, etc.) I need Jesus more than anything. However, I often directly or indirectly put Him on the "back-burner" so to speak. I, in essence, tell Him that "I have 'it' (whatever 'it' is) covered" OR, "I'll take this!"

The importance of daily surrender all too often escapes me and I pay the price...As the apostle Paul states in Romans 7: "What a wretched man I am!"...the notion that I am in control -- what a foolish concept and one that needs EXTERMINATION! I accomplish this NOT by my own effort alone, but by God's Grace at work within me -- helping me with daily surrender (Phil. 2:13).

I am SUNK without Jesus. Aren't we all? I desperately need Him each day. Don't we all?...

Yellow Snow and Jesus

Last weekend we went up into the mountains for our Winter Retreat and had a fantastic time.

There is something about getting away...away from everything, and inviting Jesus to mess with our world. I find we, at times, do not allow Him to "meddle in our affairs" until we get away. Jesus did that this weekend to me personally...and I was one of the guys leading the retreat!! Funny how that works.

All too often we want to do our own thing; we want to "stiff arm" the Jesus and His promptings instead of obeying Him. It's kind of like when someone in authority tells us to avoid making and throwing yellow snow at people. It's disgusting, rude, and all around mean. But does that stop us? Nope. If anything, someone telling me NOT to do something causes me to WANT to do the very thing (This reminds me of a guy who struggled with doing the right thing: Romans 7).

In the long run, no one benefits. I am touching...well, yellow snow, someone is getting pelted with it, and the one in authority is ticked off.

This, of course, is a metaphor for the practice of obedience. Obedience is a slow process -- a one foot in front of the other, one day at a time type of deal. And if we are not spending time with the One in authority, cultivating relationship, obedience will not become habit for us. In other words, Obedience and Relationship go hand in hand: R leads to O, which leads to fullness of life. Chew on these scriptures and allow Jesus to "mess with your little world" as He is mine: Prov. 9:7-12, John 10:10.

I will now "shut it", and let the Scriptures speak...

Anyone Feel Like a Loser? Don't Measure Up? This One's For You...

So, I am sitting in my office and I open my email to over 50 brand spanking new electronic mails...I think to myself "I can't keep up."

I then stumble across some blogs of guys who are doing a great job in the world of pastoral ministry...I think to myself "I don't measure up."

I then look to my desk and see my open Bible, devotional, and journal...I think to myself "I am not as close to Jesus as I should be."

I look to my schedule, all the things I have yet to do: I have not strategized, thought through things fully, or communicated as well as I would have liked; have not spent enough time in study, with teenagers, and have wasted my time on stuff that does not matter...I think to myself "I need to be better."

Isn't this the achilles heel of many leaders and, really, people of all types? We compare ourselves until depression sets in and I feel like downing half a dozen Prozac's. I am so hard on myself, to the point I forget I am under Grace.

I forget that:

Jesus wants me to be ME, not someone else.

Jesus LOVES me when I get it right AND when I get it wrong!

My value is not in what I do or don't accomplish or achieve. It is found in Jesus, in how He views me, cares for me, and takes notice of who I am (Jeremiah 29:11-12; Psalm 139)!

He desires us to walk in step with Himself, putting one leg in front of the other. A parent does not get upset with their child when he/she stands up to walk, takes a couple steps, falls back down. NO, they cheer and encourage that baby.

Such a picture of how our Father is with us.

So...Today, let's take a step forward. Let's trust Jesus....one day at a time. Life is a process, not a competition. Our faith/spiritual walk is a lifelong journey, not a short excursion.