What would happen if we truly embraced our mission to dared to become the church God imagined? We could become an unstoppable force. Join us as we look forward to what God has in store for us in 2009.
Jan 4 Unstoppable Vision
Jan 11 Unstoppable Partners
I pray everyone has a wonderful celebration of the birth of Christ. Enjoy the moments and memories with family and friends.
My favorite character in the Christmas story is Joseph. His experience two thousand years ago is the most like our spiritual experience today. Joe was trying to do everything right, but everything in his life went wrong. He’s in love with this girl, but she doesn’t seem to be in love with him. He’s committed to her, but now she’s doesn’t seem to be committed to him. She’s pregnant. At best she cheated on him or at worst she’s delusional thinking God did this. His hopes and his dreams for his marriage where completely messed up. Both his friends and his heart said “dump the girl.”
But an angel of God shows up and says continue the relationship with Mary. The interesting thing is God called Joe to a life that no one would have demanded him…no one would have expected of him…no one would have even desired of him. When God steps into our life, He always He calls always calls us to a higher level of righteousness. And Joe steps into that divine moment with God and does the unexpected. He continues the relationship with Mary.
The interesting thing is that Joe could have had a good life without Mary, but it wouldn’t have been the extraordinary life that he was invited into by God. This is the same for you and I. We often are not choosing between a sinful life and godly life. But we are choosing between an ordinary life and an extraordinary life. Between a common life and an uncommon one. Between an everyday life and an eternal life. If Joe had followed through and let go of Mary, his life would have been normal, ordinary and most likely easier.
But God is inviting all of us to step into a divine moment. When we follow Christ our lives become more complicated, not simpler. They get more disturbed, not more comfortable. The journey of life with Mary led Joseph to experience to less stability, less predictably, and less respect from others. Surely people talked. His future was unclear and uncertain which is not the way you want to begin your marriage.
At some point must of thought, “God this is your mess. You clean it up. You got her pregnant. That baby is not mine. ” He could have walked way, but He stepped into that divine moment. Matthew 1:24 says”When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.” The only thing Joe received in return was God with him and that was enough. Instead of an ordinary life, he stepped into a extraordinary moment with God and his life was never the same again.
What extraordinary moment is God inviting you into? It will definitely be more difficult than choosing the ordinary path, but God will be there with you.
BTW…the song, “Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas, always reminds me of Joseph. It’s often the smallest moments and decisions that move us from an ordinary life to an extraordinary life for God.
We talk a lot about relationships at Epic and I’ve counseled tons of couples about love and relationships. Often I help people separate fantasy from reality…the crazy idea that love should be easy and the reality that is love and marriage takes a lot of work and sacrifice. This new study from Watt University was thought provoking:
LINK: Rom-Coms “Spoil Your Love Life”?
At times I’ve joked those movies are like “chic porn.” Just as pornography gives men completely unrealistic expectations of women, I think Chic Flicks / Romantic Comedies have the ability to give women completely unrealistic expectations of men. In the study they questioned people and their opinions about relationships through movies from 1995-2005. Dr Bjarne Holmes writes:
“Marriage counsellors often see couples who believe that sex should always be perfect, and if someone is meant to be with you then they will know what you want without you needing to communicate it….We now have some emerging evidence that suggests popular media play a role in perpetuating these ideas in people’s minds….The problem is that while most of us know that the idea of a perfect relationship is unrealistic, some of us are still more influenced by media portrayals than we realise.”
What do you think?
Thanks to all the volunteers who shared the love of Christ and served the community in Detroit last Saturday. Over 100 children from the community around Temple of Faith received multiple Christmas gifts you purchased for them. For most of the kids these were the only gifts they will receive this year. From the Epic youth who put on the drama…to the volunteers who organized the gifts…to the those who helped with the crafts or food…to those handing out the gifts. Thank you for Your Role in God’s Story!
“I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:40
Thanks t0 everyone at Epic who help with the Epic Float in the Rochester Christmas Parade. From the Float builders…to the costume makers…to the band…to the kids on the float…to those who passed out invite cards. Thanks for sharing the love of Jesus and reaching out to the community! You all Rocked the parade Epic style!
I thought THIS POST “10 Reasons I Don’t Like Most Christians” from Tony Morgan was dead on. Here’s the list if you’re too lazy to click through. I’ve been guilty in all of these areas as a follower of Jesus.
1. They consistently seem angry and bitter and worried.
2. They don’t dream big dreams.
3. They seem to worship their theology more than Jesus.
4. They don’t like it when other people or ministries experience success.
5. They use prayer as an excuse for inaction.
6. They’re more concerned with the BMW next door than the lost person who drives it.
7. They would rather people live life without Jesus than give up their personal preferences.
8. They are fake.
9. They think they’re better than other people.
10.They’re comfortable with mediocrity.
This verse from Matthew 19:13 challenged me last week.“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.” People were trying to get to Jesus, but it was “His followers” who got in the way of people coming to Christ. They thought they were doing the right thing, but they were actually pushing people away. Unfortunately when I talk to people who don’t who are turned off to Christianity, they often refer to negative experience in the past with a Christian. The challenge is that although Christ is reaching out to people, our lives, our words and our actions have the ability to hinder someone from meeting Jesus.
“Does your life make people curious about the claims of Jesus or does it make them flee?”
Our creative guys at Epic are hilarious!
If you didn’t fill out your entry form for the Epic Sweepstakes last weekend, this Sunday (Dec. 14) is the last date.
The series begins on Dec. 21.
The Perfect Kid Series has spurred some great discussions around Epic. In parenting, I’ve made lots of mistakes, but along the way God’s taught me tons. Other than the two biggies of weekly worship and reading your Bible with the kids, here are a few thoughts from my Thursday lunch with JC….
1. Let Mercy Lead. Every great relationship is built on forgiveness. Our relationship with God is built on the forgiveness of Christ. Your marriage is built on the commitment to forgive your spouse of sins they haven’t committed yet. Let your kids experience grace and forgiveness firsthand from you in your home.
2. Allow Some Crazy. I would rather give kids an open range than a small pen. Give them the freedom try new things, to make mistakes and learn from their mistakes. They will learn much more by doing than being told what to do.
3. Do Jesus and Sponge Bob. When the kids were little we mix out bedtime routine with prayers AND crazy fun made up stories. The kids would give me 3 characters (like Kim Possible, our Cat and Lara Croft) and I’d have to make up a story. Then we’d pray and sing a few worship songs. When you compartmentalize your faith you create two worlds. You don’t have your spiritual life and your other life…you just have your life.
4. Laugh A LOT. It’s tough to be a kid today. Let your home be a haven of fun. Make it a goal to be house that all the kids on the neighborhood want to hang out at
5. Catch Them Doing Good. Even more vital than correcting them when they do something wrong (which you need to do), parenting is about is encouraging them and building them up when you catch them doing something right.
6. Do Adventurous Stuff. Following Christ is an adventure, so take some risks. We’ve given up TV together for 40 days; we’ve climbed mountains together, and taken cross-country vacations. Live in such a way that you will tell stories about your life together.
7. Date Your Spouse. Sometimes parents say, “I’m better at being a mom, than being a wife.” Or “I make time to do things with the kids, but I just don’t have time to take my wife out on a date.” That breaks the heart of God and hurts your kids. If you take care of your marriage, you will take care of your kids. You are modeling the #1 example of what a Christ-Centered marriage looks like.
8. Be Unique. My three kids are uniquely wired by God to be radically different from each other and from us. Parenting is about a discovery of HOW God has gifted them, WHAT God is calling them to become and WHERE God is leading them to go. Help them listen to Jesus and discover His dreams for their life.
9. Dinner is Not About Food. It’s about connecting as a family. Kids grow spiritually when we purposefully plan ways to build spiritually into our kids (Family Nights. One-on-Ones, etc). Be intentional. Bring up topics and discuss them. Remember it’s not about doing what’s comfortable for you. It’s about doing whatever it takes to have an ongoing conversation with your kids about God, life and choices.
10. Get Authentic with Jesus. More than what you say, kids are watching how you live. Since the greatest thing that a kid your kid needs is Jesus, they are looking to you to discover what following Christ looks like…so honestly face your inner journey and struggles with Christ (your hang-ups, your sins and His grace). Share it. Be real. Kids aren’t looking for perfect parents. They are looking for honest ones.
Bonus: Be You! Avoid comparing your parenting to your friends or your parents. Your family will not look like mine and mine will not look like yours. Start traditions that are uniquely yours. The ONLY life that Christ wants you to live is YOURS.
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