Rick Warren says that “you can structure for growth or control, but not both.” I’ve heard him say that many times in the context of church and leadership and my wife and I are feeling it like never before.
Our girls are going 1000 miles an hour. Our church is growing and with the addition of a couple team members we’re pushing hard on a few projects to launch this Fall. On top of that God is stretching my faith and asking us to prepare to execute on some audacious dreams in the coming couple years.
There’s one thing that I find myself coming back to in order to cope with this out of control feeling. I’ve been getting up way earlier than I normally do. I’ve always loved to rise before the rest of the family but usually it’s a drudgery. Lately it’s been my lifeline.
I’ve done this before with specific goals like reading the bible, journaling, etc. but lately it’s been no rules. Inevitably I end up talking to Jesus, checking my calendar, email, Twitter, FB but no big pressure.
I don’t think “devotions” or our “quiet time” was intended to be something we “get done” but Someone we connect with. He’s still got the whole world in His hands while ours seems to spin out of control.
My definition of a pharisee is someone that keeps the law but neglects the spirit of it. They love the law but lost touch with the One to whom the law was to point to. Their obsession with law-keeping blinds them to the higher calling of justice, mercy and compassion.
So are you one? Well, we all are to an extent. But most of us think we’re not.
I think there’s a simple test: What offends you?
Allowing the sick to stay sick because our “rules” keeps us from engaging them? Or healing when doing so requires us to reach outside the bounds of our traditions?
Weekend Recap is a look back at all the fun, crazy, mundane and powerful moments in my weekend. What a great weekend. Busy, busy, busy and all good!
Friday afternoon Michelle and I had a meeting that just might change our lives. Not another move. Bigger than that!
Sorry for the delay but Michelle and I got out of town last night…more on that in a minute.
Went to the Mariners game Friday with some great friends and then hung out like we were 19 again. Haven’t got to bed that late in long time!
Saturday we picked up Cambria and Marissa after they spent a couple days raising money for Cambria’s China trip. See her post here.
Then it was off to our Godkids 4th Birthday. We love you Aiden! Happy Birthday! Shoot the guns first thing in the morning before mommy and daddy have had their coffee!
Sunday. Wow. All I can say is that God is doing something at Brooklake and I’m so glad to be apart of it! Preached on having generous hearts. Played this clip (edited it a bit). Had a guy offer his boat for ministry!
Sunday afternoon Michelle and I got away to Suncadia Resort. Long overdo! We used to do this once-a-quarter and need to get back to it.
I launched my blog on September 11, 2005. In fact my first domain was www.spiritstimulant.com because I thought to use my own name was to vane. Maybe it is.
Some of my posts are a simple “here’s a brief look into my life” and others are thoughtful vignettes of ideology that I’m processing. It’s in the later that I take extra time to write in such a way as to use a few words as possible but communicate deeply. For me, it’s really about getting better at writing because there’s at least 3 books that I feel led to write someday.
We’re moving along in our plans to launch a High School ministry like none other. I’ve posted before about our experiment with reinventing our youth ministry and let me just say that after over a couple months of praying and planning. I am stoked for this to launch. Here’s just a little teaser that our Creative Director, Jesse Anderson, put together…
