JOHNNYROBERTS.TV

Closing the deal...

One of the many things LifeChurch.tv does right is... they close the deal.  Every week without fail the message concludes with a challenge to respond to the truth we have heard.  A challenge first to Christ followers and then... to those seeking God's place in their life.  Sometimes I'm hesitant to follow through with a "sinners prayer" IF there are no "hands".  I'm re-thinking that.  I've had two conformations this week of just how important it is that we close the deal.  One,  people make decisions and.... don't raise their hand.  Sometimes a person is ready to step across the line and become a follower of Christ but is very cautious in letting us "the church" know it out of fear or confusion or whatever.  And... that's OK.  As time goes by they step forward with a public statement and in the case I'm thinking of it will be through Baptism.  I love it.  Second, by giving the call for hands, by offering the challenge each week, the person in whom the Holy Spirit is working is confronted and challenged to make a decision.  The battle can go on for weeks... even longer.  I cannot imagine getting in the way of someone ready to take the step... So every week... We will close the deal. 

I wish each of you could have my view during the call for hands.  Let me share with you the experience.  It's the look on the face of the one responding.  It's amazing.  On several occasions I've had the person, look up, smile from ear-to-ear, make eye contact, and raise their hand.  It's the look of someone who has just had a ton of bricks taken off of their back.  It's the look of freedom.  The look of THE FREE.  It's a look of someone who for the first time in a long time is soaked in grace.  The beautiful grace of God.  Sometimes there are tears... but usually they appear to be tears of over-whelming joy.  I think that most of the time, the heart-ache and repentance has already been taken care of.  What I get to see is the face of relief.  The face of a child... a child of God.  They are breathing the air of grace.  His load is easy my friend.  So if you are one of the Free'd, share your faith.  Pray during the call for hands.  Rejoice in knowing that God's Holy Spirit is at work.  If you are searching... Know that God's grace is big enough to cover your sin.  That He loves you infinitely and unconditionally... and so do we. 

Good is the enemy of great...

Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the reasons that we have so little that becomes great.  We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools. We don't have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, precisely because it is easy to settle for a good life. The vast majority of companies never become great precisely because they become quite good. - and that is their main problem.

(Jim Collins -- Good to Great)

What we have is really good.  God has and is richly blessing us.  The question is, "Will we settle for good?".  Sure God ultimately provides the results, but He uses us in the process.  I've been in and around church all of my life.  I've never experienced anything like what I've experienced in the last few months.  We are on the verge of greatness for God's glory.  What are you going to do to get us from good to great?  Will you serve?  Will you lead?  Will you pray?  Will you invite?  Will your time and energy be invested in God's kingdom or your own?  Will you commit to community?  Will you love unconditionally?  Will you live grace?  Are you tired of good enough?  Are you tired of settling?  Have you ever just wanted to be part of something so much bigger?  Not big in size... big in impact.  CHANGING THE WORLD!  To be involved in greatness?  To be involved in the greatest story ever told?  We're on our way but now you must decide...  Will we experience the greatness of God's glory or will we be known as "a good church"?    

Lessons in hiring...

As we look to the future this video outlines our process for hiring. Skills are important but heart and passion beat it hands down. Group interviews, interaction skills... playing well together... CRITICAL.

Side effects...

These deep wells of black beneath my eyes are the side effects of too much excitement about what's happening at TheBOD.tv to sleep.  I'll wear them proudly....

I need a tan!

Sunday Evening......

This will be short.  I'll process the day and blog later this week.  Right now I'm just soaking in what has unfolded and need some time to reflect.  I will say that my ordination service is something that I will remember for the rest of my life.  Our first communion at TheBOD.tv is one that I will remember for the rest of my life.  You guys... the crazy ones who joined me on this journey in the beginning... The world-changers... yep you guys... I will remember for the rest of my life.  I love you.  Thanks for sharing with me in an incredible day.

 

A Man's Man...

I've known a few men I'd call "A Man's Man".  My father, and a good friend I call "coach" are a couple I love dearly.  Let me introduce you to my friend's father.  I've only known him for a few months and actually have only been around him five or six times.  He's a reserved, dignified and obviously disciplined retired coach.  Still in shape and strong.  He's raised a fine family, invested in their spiritual well-being, and undoubtedly has invested in the lives of hundreds of young students and ball players.  I guess I could go on but let me get to the point.  My friend's father does something that has caused me to reflect.  He does it every time we meet.  Without exception and without change.  It's the moment we shake hands.  In that moment.  He stops.  No matter what's going on around us, no matter that he has much on his mind, no matter that he really doesn't know me well or that knowing me has any bearing on his life.  He stops.  In the middle of a firm long hand shake he looks deep into your eyes and connects with you.  As if to say... "You matter."  There are always sincere well-thought-out words spoken during the hand shake but the connection is much deeper than that. 

I imagine the hundreds of young ball players, fellow church members, even complete strangers that have been on the receiving end of this hand shake and wonder if they notice.  Do they see and appreciate the character behind this hand shake?  Then I think, is my hand shake anything like this?  Unfortunately ,I fear that many times the receiver of my hand shake sees someone in a hurry to get somewhere else.  Someone more concerned with what the world holds for him next.  Not so concerned with the person behind the hand he holds.  I hope not and I'm going to make an effort to defend against it.  There are some things that shouldn't be lost from this generation.  This is one of them.  I want my boys to be men's men.  I want to be a man's man.  Thanks to the real men out there who are passing along what a real man should be. 

I should mention that my friend's mother just passed this life to be with God.  Unfortunately, I never got to shake her hand but I suspect.... there was a lot of character behind the hand shake of my friend's mother as well.  Some day I will look her up, shake her hand and thank her for being a great mother, grandmother and the life-long mate of a man's man.   Life-long mate... that will have to be the subject of another man's man post.

Thanksgiving...

Be Thankful...

Church Marquees....

In case you you didn't know... church marquees are a pet peeve of mine.  Corny quotes only serve to confirm the assumptions of those who think the church is completely irrelevant to their lives.  Scott seems to have the same opinion.  Come on guys... let's get real.  You can rest easy... we won't have one of these at TheBod.tv...

Sunday Evening......

People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well, " they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."  Mark 7:37

• I cannot find the words to describe where I find myself tonight.  So I'll let God's Word speak for me.... "overwhelmed with amazement".  I'm actually a bit stunned..no... completely stunned by God's incredible goodness.  I'm having a little trouble writing as tears well up in my eyes.  Do you guys realize what's happening?  Do I realize what's happening?  God is moving in our midst.  I've never experienced anything like it.  This sheds new light on all of the warfare that has and is taking place.  Story after story of life-change.  So many stories... I sit here stunned... and completely "overwhelmed with amazement" at what God is doing. 
• To Brandon, Christi, Merrick and Ethan...  It was a true blessing and joy to spend the weekend with you guys.  I'm already looking forward to the next time.  Your passion for God's glory and your friendship I cherish. 
• The Dance... I watched a little Garth Brooks Ultimate tonight.  He was coming on the scene about the time I was a senior in HS and for some reason....  I just love his stuff.  I think because he's a philosophical Okie who loves to sing and has as much fun interacting with his audience as he does singing... sounds familiar?.... I also refuse to sit on the sidelines playing it safe... the risk is worth it lest we "miss the dance..."

Sorry, that's all I've got in me tonight...  It's been an incredible weekend.  To you guys at TheBOD.tv... I love you.  Thanks for serving, thanks for letting me be your pastor, thanks stepping outside our comfort zone, thanks for feeding the hungry, thanks for worshiping with passion, thanks for caring for the "least of these", extending love and grace to the world... as world that desperately needs to hear the message.  Three people made eternal decisions for Christ today... each of you are a part of that.  We will serve as if it all depends on us but know that God will take care of the results... Thank you.. 

Don't blink now.... we are on the verge of something remarkable.    

Dying on the inside...

I had a good talk with a friend this week that reminded me of how important it is to think.  I meet people every day who are simply going through the motions, never stopping to think.  Never reading a book or contemplating the possibilities that life holds for them.  It's often that I'm reminded that this life is not a dress rehearsal or practice.  WE ARE IN THE GAME.  It's the only game you get.  No "overs".

Ben reminds us with this post how important it is to be true to ourselves.  To live.  To run, chasing after God.  After his calling on our lives.  Knowing that we will face opposition and struggle at every turn.  Knowing however that, the day we betray ourselves... we begin to die on the inside.  So I guess what I'm saying is... there's living and then... there's living.  I choose to live.  There will be times we disagree.  Times you think I'm crazy.  Times we are pushing the envelope.  If not... I'm not doing my job.  I hope there are times we lovingly make each other a little nervous.  I can't speak for you but as for me...I want to live.