Oh man... here we go. We're at 9 days to launch. Are you ready? Pray hard. We are on the verge of something remarkable.
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August 2007
August 30, 2007
August 28, 2007
Infinite thinking...
I love this quote by G.K. Chesterton:
"How much happier you would be, how much more of you there would be, if the hammer of a higher God could smash your small cosmos."
In our wildest imagination, deepest thinking, and most in-depth study, we haven't even scratched the surface of true living. We are bound, finite creatures. One day our eyes will be opened and we will see. We will know. We will be with The Knower. Until then... break free and begin living. Taste life. Know God. In Him you will find true living. Let Him "smash your small cosmos".
August 27, 2007
Big Boy Pants...
How do I say this.... Satan is at work, yeah that's it. It's become obvious that resistance is on the rise as we approach launch day. Lots of good things happening with a constant battering of roadblocks. Let it be known, I've my big boy pants on, we will press on, we will thrive, we will bring God his due glory. God is orchestrating something remarkable and we are along for the ride.
This post by Jeff Kapusta today reminds me that we are not alone. Thanks to him, and thanks to God for a good day and another day closer to launch. Put on your Big Boy Pants guys... we are on the verge of something remarkable.
August 26, 2007
Sunday Evening......
- Two-Thirds of the way through membership stuff. One more week and we've completed our first membership class.
- Gave props to the band today as I spoke. I really love these guys. Von, Danny, Chris, & Jake. They have really been committed and are very gifted. They are going to be used greatly by God as we launch. It's cool to just be along for the ride.
- I'm ready to start NOW.
- No satellite. The installer thinks we have a bad receiver. He says that once it's working, it should be very reliable. OK.....
- We could possibly have a sign some time this week or maybe early next week.
- Great afternoon. I'm a little upset that Brooks whipped me in Guitar Hero.
- The Matney's are soon to be Okies again. Did a quick walk-thru of their new home today. It's gonna be great. Great view and even really good cell phone coverage...
- I'm falling in love with the Bod'ers. The little Bods are so much fun. It's going to be amazing watching them grow up in life AND in Christ.
August 25, 2007
Life Groups are not about head knowledge...
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (New King James Version) from BibleGateway.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
Life groups will thrive when we grasp the heart of verse eight. Did you catch that. AFFECTIONATELY LONGING FOR YOU, YOU HAD BECOME DEAR TO US... WE IMPART OUR VERY LIVES. It's doing life together, putting our personal comforts and desires behind us and giving away our hearts to others. Gently caring for others as a mother would for her child. We will grow in the knowledge and truth of our Lord, we will fall in love with Him, and this will enable us to fall in love with others. The fallout of this will have incredible impact.
August 24, 2007
August 23, 2007
Embrace the Chaos...
I must confess, I love quiet time alone. It's how I'm built. For some reason my soul hungers for what I call "down time". The reality is that my mind doesn't shut off during this so called "down time". In fact, that's when things really start clicking. When the chaos of activity fades and I am finally able to focus. These times are important for me because it's in those moments that I think God is best heard. They don't happen often enough for my liking but they are the fuel that feeds my soul in the midst of the chaos.
It's in the chaos where life happens. Work, family, church, ballgames, hobbies.... the list is un-ending. For the past month or so I keep thinking that once we launch things will be more under control. Maybe the chaos will settle a little. But, are you ready for this. I haven't dreamed big enough. God is placing a vision in my heart that is so much bigger than anything I could have ever imagined. A vision for a thriving, growing, world-changing church. A church where student's lives are rocked and changed forever. Where children from the entire region are passionately in love with Jesus. Where families are healthy and loving. A church that raises up church planters, missionaries, plants churches, feeds the hungry, clothes the poor. A church that turns the community upside down. Sounds pretty chaotic huh? We will embrace the chaos because that's where life is found. We will pause to breath but we will run to the chaos and live.
Props to Tony Morgan and Tim Stevens for writing SIMPLY STRATEGIC VOLUNTEERS. I'm working through it and chapter six prompted this post. The vision has been growing in my heart for the past few weeks but this chapter helped me realize the need to embrace it instead of apologize for expecting people to join the journey. Strap on your seat-belts BOD'ers we're about to take off.
August 22, 2007
August 19, 2007
Sunday Evening......
I'm ready for game day. Oh sure I'm ready for football too but, I am so ready to launch TheBOD.tv. Not that we are ready for everything, not by a long shot. It's just that I'm ready to go beyond theory and into practice. If you never had the privilege of living through "two-a-days" before football season, you missed out. Practice twice a day in 100 degree weather after a summer off is not for the faint of heart. Blood, sweat, tears, headaches, bruises and the coach spitting in your face because his nose it bumping your face mask as he chews you out for missing the block. Necessary, beneficial, valuable, but grueling and nothing like game day. I'm ready to feel the thrill, and pressure of knowing we will gather week after week. I'm ready to play the game. It's coming soon. Be ready.
Random thoughts:
- Remember the baby calf I told you was coming? She's here. Born tonight. Big, black, heifer. Momma and baby seem to be doing fine.
- We had a good day covering membership stuff. I talked too much, too long but it's kind of like two-a-days. Necessary and beneficial.
- Allison and I will be hosting a home group. We'll begin one week after launch on Sunday nights. We'll meet every other Sunday. We hope to have 3 or 4 groups in the church meeting by October.
- I love hot-dogs. Plain with mustard is just fine as long as the bun is fresh and even a little soggy. Just like the ones I had at the pool party for the students tonight at Candy and Dwayne's house. Thanks guys.
- I'm coming out of the closet. OK, here it is.... I have some goats. OK, there, I said it. They're really cute. So if you want to bring the kids up for a real petting zoo, we are open for business. Wear shoes without much tread their "stuff" tends to stick in the cracks.
- LifeChurch is doing a series right now called "30 Days To Live". The report from last weekend was 21,000 attendance and 375 salvation experiences. WOW and Cool. Great God, Great Glory.
I'm ready coach... put me in the game....
August 17, 2007
501-c-3.....
Great news... after lots of time, paperwork, a lawyer and money it's done. I spoke with Karen at the IRS today and she said she has forwarded our application for tax exempt status (Form 501-c-3) on to her director with recommendation for approval. So I guess we are officially official with the government. Although churches are not required by law to file the form, most churches do to eliminate any questions about the tax exempt status of contributions. Insurance for the contributor. This is a huge relief and answer to prayer to have this out of the way. 
