Several weeks ago I was thinking about how little we talk about the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christ-followers. I began to consider how I live out my life, and, I was convicted…which, by the way, is one indication that the Holy Spirit is active in our lives. I thought it might be good to consider the conversation here especially as it relates to leaders in the Church. Based on that, here are…

10 Signs that We Don’t Believe in the Power of the Holy Spirit

1. We are experiencing anxiety and bitterness in our lives rather than joy and kindness. (Galatians 5:22-23)
2. We can’t remember the last time we prayed for the people we lead. (Romans 8:26)
3. The churches we lead aren’t growing and reaching more people. (Acts 9:31)
4. The churches we lead aren’t outreach focused. (Acts 1:8)
5. We think it’s our responsibility to convict people of sin. (John 16:8)
6. We are stuck in sinful patterns rather than pursuing the things of God. (Galations 5:16:17)
7. We think we have the power to change people. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
8. We are more concerned about the rules than we are our freedom in Christ. (Galations 3:2-3)
9. We think we can explain the mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10-12)
10. We are creating division and aren’t promoting unity within the Church. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

It might be good to begin the week and this next season of ministry by studying and praying through this list. My prayer is that your life and your ministry would continue to experience its fullest potential in the power of the Holy Spirit.

I feel like I need a personal download and here is why:

• Anna has been gone for 5 days and I am going CRAZY!!  Don’t know if I can make it another 9 days.  I have only heard from her twice and need to hear her voice again soon.
• Excited to get Isaac back from camp tomorrow.  Heard he had a great time but want to hear it from him.
• Noah and Emma have been awesome.  It has been great to have Eva Hyder’s help watching them.  She took them to the Clipper’s game on Tuesday and to the pool today.
• Have been patching and painting alot!!!!!!
• Hopefully getting cabinets in the kitchen on Saturday.
• Need to get tile down as soon as possible so we can get back to living normally.
• Would love to have everything done by next Friday so we can surprise Anna on Saturday.
• Got the air-conditioning fixed in her van.  She will be excited.
• Man, I miss her!!!!!!!!
• Have two and half weeks until we leave for our Mission Trip to Cleveland.
• Have way too much to do and not enough time to get it all done for the trip.  Just found out we are doing a week’s worth of VBS!
• I am excited about Father’s Day but bummed that Anna won’t be here!
• I love her and miss her A LOT!!!

Well that is all for now.  Thanks for letting me vent!

Turning the Page—Liberty HS Baccalaureate (June 3, 2010)

As the Pastor of Student Ministries at GPCC, I have had the privilege and responsibility of casting the vision for what I believe God wants for our students. As I prayed and sought God’s direction, He seemed to be pointing back to this idea of a STORY and hence, the reason we have called our ministry, EPIC.

EPIC is defined as a “grand” story that highlights the adventures and achievements of a hero. A list of EPIC stories would include:

1. The Epic of Gilgamesh

2. The Iliad

3. The Odyssey

4. Beowulf

5. Star Wars

6. The Lord of the Rings series

I haven’t always been a reader but over the last 12-13 years I can’t stop reading. I didn’t use to enjoy reading because it was something I HAD to do. Of course, school always had us reading and not necessarily “fun” books and having a mother as a teacher meant my summers were consumed of weekly trips to the library and “countless” quiet hours for reading. Now, I always have a book on me, and though they are normally “non-fiction” books about ministry, leadership, or creativity, I do wander upon a good Fiction book every now and then. But not every story grabs my attention. To me, the characteristics of a great story are:

· Intriguing characters

· Depth and yet ease of plot

· A story that is bigger than the characters

· A deep longing for the next chapter

You are about to turn the page and enter a new chapter of your life . . . literally. The next chapter of your life, for many of you the next 4-8 years, will be some of the most rewarding and yet challenging times in your life. It is during this chapter of life that:

· Ties from friends are stretched and yet new ties are made with new friends.

· The role of parents move from parental authority to counselors, friends, supporters.

· You will determine who and what you want to be for the rest of your life.

· For many of you, this chapter of life is where you will meet your damsel in distress or your knight in shining armor.

This new chapter in your life is HUGE!! So how does God want you to handle this new chapter? Four things I want to share with you tonight from Ephesians 5.15-17, concerning how you need to live this chapter of your life:

1. Be Prepared–prepared for the twist and turns (v.15)

a. There will be ups and downs during this phase of life. Seeking godly counsel from parents, wise friends, etc. is essential during this time of life.

b. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

2. Live life on purpose (v. 16)

a. Don’t hold back.

b. God didn’t design us to live a mediocre life.

c. God designed us to live life on purpose for Him.

d. But in doing so, live for God, not for self.

3. Keep God as your focus. (v. 17)

a. It is easy in life to go with your plan, your parent’s plan, or someone else’s plan, but ultimately you must go with what God want for your life.

b. If God is not the main character in your story than you are not living the right story.

c. The most important part of God’s plan is for you to be a part of HIS story.

God desires that you play a part in a GRAND story—a story that is bigger than yourself but a story in which you are one of the main characters. So how do you become part of God’s story?

Roman 10.9-10 states, “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

You must choose to be a willing participant in God’s story. It is not up to your parents, friends, church, pastor, etc. It is solely up to you. So have you entered God’s story? If not, I am asking you to please find me after the service and simply say—“So I want to be part of God’s story!” and I would LOVE nothing more to help you enter this amazing Story God has planned for you.

If you are here tonight and you already have made that chose and you are living out the story, as you turn the page and begin to live out this next chapter, make sure God is your focus, that you are living on purpose, and that you are prepared for what life brings your way.

Prayer

God, thank you for allowing us to be a part of Your story. Thanks for this moment in the life of these graduating seniors where they turn the page and enter a new chapter. Yet as they do so, God remind them of their need for you. Remind them that life isn’t worth living if you are not the main character. For the parents, we ask that you give them the strength and wisdom to help their seniors in this new chapter. Thanks again for the opportunity to stand here and to talk to this group. Use them in mighty ways to enrich and bring depth to your story.

Simple Youth Ministry by Eric Geiger and Jeff Borton

Awaken Your Creativity by Les Christie

The Slow Fade by Reggie Joiner, Chuck Bomar, and Abbie Smith

Connect:  Real Relationships in a World of Isolation by Jonathan McKee

Are there any good books you have planned to read this summer?  I would love to see the list!!

I would highly recommend this book to any parent no matter if you have children or teenagers.  Here is a review of the book:

When parents work in tandem with the faith community to raise their children, they increase their parenting capacity exponentially.

Most parents have so many demands on their time that they can’t be the kind of parent they desire to be. They need to know the Orange Factor: Two combined influences will make a greater impact on kids than just two influences. And it’s true. Parents who partner with the faith community are the best way to bring the next generation into the family of God-and keep them there.

If you want to order one, you can do so HERE or HERE.

I thought I would share just a little of what I am learning through this book journey.

#1—Leaders MUST Excavate their soul.

God has put into every leader the talents and gifts to be the leader He wants them to be.

Leadership success is the process of digging up the treasures of the invisible soul in order to bring dreams, desires, and talents into the visible world  –Dr. Cloud

In order for a leader to optimize his leadership he/she must:

• become aware of his/her dreams, desires, talents, and other treasures of the soul.
• Listens to them and values them as life itself.
• Takes steps to develop them, beginning in very small ways.
• Seeks coaching and help to make them grow.
• Does not care as much about his/her results, just continues to express his/her soul-treasures where they can.

Avoidance of risks is the greatest risk of all!!!!  –Dr. Cloud

Key passages to study:

• Matthew 25.14-30—Parable of the talents.
• Proverbs 4.23—Wellspring of life.