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In honor of March Madness.

Sunday Six 3-29-09

*I told someone last week that, "I love coming to TheBOD on Sunday".  They looked at me a little surprised and said, "Well I hope so!"  The reality is that if we polled pastors across the country most would not be able to say what I had said.  I do love it.  It's fun, it's energizing, it's life giving... OK... I'll say it again... "I LOVE COMING TO THE BOD ON SUNDAYS!"

*Bodsquad D-NOW 2009 is in the history books.  Awesome job leaders and students.  Powerful stories of serving others.  My favorite was the group that fasted through lunch and used their lunch money to buy tacos for the homeless.  When they ran out, they pooled their money and bought more to give away!  Bodsqauders could be found all over the area serving and having impact.  The Rescue Mission, the Hannah House, and much more.  COOL!

*The Krohn's, does that sound weird?, hit the mainland early Sunday morning.  Be sure to let them rub your nose in it on how great 7 days on the open seas with all of the food and full service you could ever want is.      INCLUDING A MESSAGE.  Oh and it was their honeymoon!  Congrats guys... now back to work!

*Dave Ramsey hit it out of the park again.  Are you living debt free?  Can you imagine being debt free?  Have you created the debt snowball chart yet?  My prayer is that those who call TheBOD home will know the freedom that comes from escaping the bondage of debt.  Get busy gazelling!

*It's coming.... wait.... wait....

*Baptism this week, Easter right behind it.  Man I love this time of year.  God is rocking our world.  DON"T BLINK.

FORTY-FIVE

Today... ouch.  The consolation prize is I have a wonderful wife, amazing kids, and lead the best group of Christ-Followers I know, affectionately known as The BODers.  Booyah..... On top of that mom made me a German Chocolate cake tonight.  After a couple of pieces of that I had to top it off with one of these!

 

Chelsey whipped these out for my birthday Sunday night with her new squeeze Grant at his home.  They were delivered with this note. 

Attached to this container.

 

Low budget (I think some of the Dave Ramsey stuff is sinking in), creative (love the note and the cookies... my new favorite cookie by the way), and I thank God for giving me a daughter (they are just so sweet once they get past 18)... The only problem.  Any more birthdays and I'll start looking like the guy in the red suit! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!  Tomorrow it's back to veggies but tonight we are living large!

Computer Junk

Two things: 

ONE:  Our server at the church has been hacked and is currently DOWN.  COX turned us off as apparently someone is using our server to "Phish" for information via email on the web.  So if you need me send the email to johnny.roberts@sbcglobal.net not johnny@thebod.tv.

TWO:  I'm pasting a warning of a coming email virus that apparently is going to be a biggie.  I'm not sure how they know this stuff... Is is like the FLU that hits in the East first and works it's way toward us?  If you didn't' know... that's how we get the Influenza Vaccine every year.  They look at what's happening in the Eastern Countries make the best guess as to which virus will be the biggest and most likely to make it to us and create a vaccine for it.  Intelligent guesswork.  Sometimes they get it right and sometimes the vaccine "doesn't work"... well it really works it was just targeting the wrong virus.

Back to the point... here is the news.  I just wish these virus writers would use their time for something productive!!!!!!!!!

PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS!  
  
 You should be alert during the next few days. Do not open  any message with an attachment entitled 'POSTCARD FROM  HALLMARK,' regardless of who sent it to you. It is a virus which opens A POSTCARD IMAGE, which 'burns'  the whole hard disc C of your computer.  
 
 This virus will be received from someone who has your  e-mail address in his/her contact list. This is the reason why you need to send this e-mail  to all your contacts It is better to receive  this message
 25 times than to receive the virus and open it..  If you receive a mail called' POSTCARD,' even
 though sent to you by a friend, do not open it! Shut down your computer immediately...  
   
 This is the worst virus announced by CNN. It has been  classified by Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever.  This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday, and there is  no repair yet for this kind of virus. This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the vital  information is kept.
 

Sunday Six @ TheBOD 3-22-09

*WooHoo Jason and Rachel are now hitched!  Congrats…  My suggestion… pay cash and enjoy the ride!

*It was good to be back from DC.  I loved the trip but I missed TheBODers.  I stood with tears in my eyes during BOTH worship sets this week.  Between looking over the people God has brought to TheBOD and soaking in God’s presence I was deeply moved.

*God has designed us for big impact. He is gathering a unique collection of “stories”.   It will take time but the BODers are going to influence this culture for God’s glory and delight in Him through the process.  Man this is cool.

*From where you are to the next place.  I must constantly remind myself to protect our culture of grace.  I tend to push forward.  I’m learning to walk more slowly myself and strive to remind others to simply take the next step.  Too much too fast and six months later you are FRIED!  Allow yourself to grow.  Bring your faith into your life don’t abandon your life to “do” church.  “BE” the church where you are.  Spend more time building a relationship with Christ and learning to love others and less time trying to build an institution or program.  Love people.  Love life.  Relax and breath in the freedom that comes from being redeemed from the condemnation of sin.  LIVE!

*The toilet stopped up again this week.  That can be a problem with you only have two stools in the whole building.  We think a flushed Jr. High cell phone is the problem….. ROTO ROOTER… we need help!

*Talked to the architect today…. It’s good news… for now that’s all you get!  Oh and we do need some money…. Anyone out there in cyber world interested in furthering the Kingdom in our little neck of the woods can send a tax-deductable check to:  TheBOD.tv, PO Box 1600, Roland, OK 74954.  Mark it campus development and we’ll put it to good use!   

DON’T BLINK!

 

 

Riding the Metro

Here is some footage of us loading up on the Metro in DC this week... well maybe not.  There were a couple of times it was a little crowded but NOTHING like this.  If you've never been to DC... put it on your "must do" list.  Incredible history, incredible architecture... photos to come soon.

Change the world...

I often find myself being VERY thankful that people, including the staff, show up week after week to connect, serve, and engage at TheBOD.tv.  More recently I find myself wondering if we/you/they/I realize just how fortunate we are to be a part of something God is doing. In fact I think we are the lucky ones to get to be involved in this thing, not the other way around.  It's laughable that we consider we are doing God, or the church, or leadership any favors by showing up, making a commitment, being accountable.  In fact when you think about it, that attitude is even a little embarrassing.  It's easy to get busy and tired and simply do church.  God is up to something much bigger than that.  He is at work and you get to join him.  I've spent most of my life working, planning, and looking for a time when I would experience an obvious move of God.  To in fact be used by God in an obvious way.  It's here, and it's not just me, it's US.  It's awesome.  It's rare in America.  Enjoy it.  Enjoy the people God has put in your life.  Enjoy being tired.  Enjoy being frustrated that you don't have enough hours in the day to get it all done.  Cherish the slams you get for "drinking the cool-aid" or going to "that church".  Soak in the fact that God is using YOU for his glory... for His Kingdom.  Be thankful.  Have you thanked Him?  You should.  He deserves it.  Then dream... imagine a culture being changed... a town transformed... less poverty, less divorce, less filth, less curse and more hope.  Hope for a brighter future.  Then imagine you being in the middle of it... God's redemption of the culture through you.  God at work through you.  Dude that rocks and I'm thanking God for an opportunity that often doesn't even come once in a lifetime!  DON'T BLINK... WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF SOMETHING REMARKABLE!     

Living well

Being ON-MISSION is about people.  Meeting them where they live, building relationships, and loving them.  These are tough times but in the midst of it you can do good and live well.  Here are some examples from a recent news article: (I love the prom dress idea for our area.  Now where could you store those things?)  Get creative and spend some time loving on others.

*Bob McIntire, owner of McIntire's Florist in Fulton, Mo., surprises one, two or three people a week with free bouquets. Residents send in nominations and staff pick names out of a box.

The unexpected deliveries might be good advertising, he says, and "in these days of doom and gloom, we're just trying to brighten up people's days."

*Scott Haag, CEO of Moore Oil in Milwaukee, is offering his 75 workers $2,000 toward a new car and $1,000 for a used car. Four have taken his offer. In addition to his workers, Haag says he wants to help auto dealers, who are among his customers.

*In Santa Cruz, Calif., Councilman Tony Madrigal started a prom-dress drive for young women who can't afford gowns. Local businesses joined, offering free dry cleaning and hair styling. An Elks Lodge is collecting shoes.

*Rose Duca and a fellow staffer at Milford High School in Milford, Mass., are collecting prom dresses to loan to students. Thirty dresses have been donated.

Sunday Six 3-8-09

*Men... I forgot to ask... "Did you have a Gomer Pyle moment this week?"

*LINKers strike again.  They collect over 1000 items in a Service Scavenger Hunt this weekend for The Next Step Day Room (Ester& Gabriel Houses).  You guys ROCK!  I also understand the the 5th & 6th grade boys now know what "feminine products" are...

*The Vow has been an incredible series.  This weekend was particularly challenging for the men.  I had several husbands share how the message had challenged them.  Now guys... let's step up, lead, and give our gals someone worthy of following.

*Missional... God is doing something unique within our midst.  He is shaping and defining who we will be for many years to come.  Being different won't be about style but substance.  He is calling us to impact a culture... He has brought together and is still building a church of people who he has designed to be world changers.  My job... our job as a church... as Craig said is to "point".  I spend countless hours praying, reading, and studying which way to "point".  God is up to something big.  I'm getting very excited about the fact that we get to join Him in the process.

*The Dave Ramsey series Financial Peace will be good stuff.  You do not want to miss it or fail to invite someone to attend with you.

*For me the true test of leadership is when the leader is out, things go on as if he/she were in the middle of it.  Activity doesn't stop just because he is attending to other things.  Sunday was a great day for me.  I drove in to find severalcars in the parking lot at 8:30.  The band was playing, the tech team was working, the host team was in preparation of welcoming our guests, the Kidzone was buzzing... the cool part is that the majority of those running around are people I didn't know a year and a half ago and that I don't lead directly.  We are a team... a body with many parts.  It's awesome to watch the body function, inside and outside the walls of the church.  BODers you're the best.  DON'T BLINK!

LifeGroups... Be the BOD!

Be-The-BOD is all over me.  As I look ahead five and ten years I long to be where God would have us be.  Laying the right foundation NOW is critical.  LifeGroups and being ON-MISSION or "missional" are big parts of that.  The great part of where we are in history is that there are others taking the journey as we do.  Other churches are living what we are living and experimenting just like us.  This is a great post on what we are talking about when we talk about LIFEREACH and being on mission.  to sum it up... Being The BOD is about running fast and free.  We "do" less church so that you can "BE" on mission.  Together we will change the world.  I'll be quiet and let this guy share his experience:

Would Jesus Refuse To Join Your Small Group?

Posted by: Frank Chiapperino in group ministry, group leading tips on Mar 09, 2009  

If Jesus was invited to start (or join) a small group, and refused, it probably have a lot more to do with the way we run and lead our churches than how we manage our small group ministries. A small group ministry can reflect Jesus if it's leadership models Christ like behavior. I have seen it time and again in our groups at CCV:

•We have small group leaders passionate about reaching children and families so they start inter-generational small groups that invite their neighborhood.

•Leaders excited about helping the poor organize our entire group ministry which puts together hundreds of gift bags with winter clothing and non-perishables.

•Entire men's groups volunteer to strip, mop, and wax the floors of a local soup kitchen.

•Some small groups feed the hungry and volunteer to distribute food once per month at a local food pantry.

•We have a woman's group that feeds needy single moms dinner for an entire week as they learn parenting skills to aid them as new mothers.

•Other groups are passionate are about reaching their friends and host "fight nights" where they invite their neighborhood friends to meet their church friends and watch boxing or UFC fights.

All of these things are dependent upon how much your church will limit or restrict it's leaders. In the great commission Jesus told us to reach the world, but he also instructed us to teach disciples to obey everything he had commanded. Teach them the bible, show them how to evangelize and turn them loose.  If you do that, along with directing and encouraging them in their areas of passion, then you set your church and the kingdom up for a win.

Let's get on with it... DON'T BLINK!