Christians...get a grip

People overwhelm me.

I've been sitting in the Charlotte airport, watching hundreds of people walk by. All shapes. All sizes. All colors. All ages. Happy. Sad. Ticked. Annoyed. Excited. Discouraged. I'm seeing it all.

And 2 things just hit me.

ONE

Many of these people are lost. Most in fact. They don't know Jesus. Or that He loves them and came to save them.

That absolutely breaks my heart. How do I reach these people? How will they know? Why have so many rejected?

That struggle is hard enough. It should keep me up at night. It should be more important than my job. Your job.

But then...

TWO

Something else hits me.

No one here has ever heard of The Bridge Community Church in Des Plaines, IL. Or at least 99.99% haven't. In fact, most haven't heard of Harvest Bible Chapel. Maybe Rick Warren? Maybe? Probably not.

7 billion people on earth. And probably .000003% have heard of my church. WOW!!!

Christians...get a grip.

Why do I ever think I'm big stuff? Why do you? Because of our ministries? Because I get to play guitar? Because of your study group? Your church's slogan? Logo? Because people 'know' you? They 'know' me?

I have to be careful here. What God is doing in the lives of individuals and families at The Bridge and other churches is incredible. It's overwhelming. His grace is all around us. His work is constant.

But He is big. Not me. Not you.

I'm not that cool. And neither are you :). Our church isn't the greatest thing in church history. And neither is yours. And if you don't go to one, that's not better either.

A few weeks ago, our Lead Pastor zoomed out from our church to the edge of the universe. I thought I was so small that day. Overwhelmed that God even loved me.

Today....again...I'm small.

Wait...one more thought.

Do you know what else is bugging me right now? That us "Christians" often spend time shooting down churches that no one has ever heard of!

We go after the very thing that this airport needs, because we think our opinion is so important. It's not.

These people need Jesus. They need His bride...the Church. How dare any of us bring our petty arguments into the way of God's work in our world?!

Again, I have to be careful. As Christians, we can have real reasons to switch churches. Or want to try something new. Or to just move on. I get it. That doesn't necessarily bother me.

But put the guns away. The verbal shots. The quiet conversations. The 'prayer' meetings. The blogs. The nonsense. Stop aiming at each other.

Christians...get a grip.

So you don't like The Bridge? The people at the table next to me don't care. You don't like Harvest? No one here seems to care. Not the biggest Rick Warren fan? Who cares?!

There are so many people to save and we want to waste time tearing each other down? Hoping the "other church" doesn't reach people? Seriously?!

These people at CLT don't care! They just need hope. They need love. They are lost.

Christian...search your heart, whichever side you're on. 

1. Are you too proud of your church? Think you're cooler than everybody else? That your music is better? More godly? That your ministries are more effective? That your way is God's ultimate way?

Don't scroll on too fast. Are you?

2. Are you bashing another church? Making sure they know why your new one is better? Throwing cheap shots and gossip around? Even just to close friends?

Again...are you?

This isn't just about The Bridge. Or Harvest. Or Rick. It's about all churches. All cities. All countries.

This blog is about all of us. Because this stuff can happen to any of us. Trust me. It happens to me.

My advice? Since God already knows, stop now and confess your pride. Then repent and move forward.

Cheer for God and His Church. Cheer for all of them. It's what I'm trying to do.

I better go. I have a flight to catch.

My heart remains broken. The lost are everywhere here.

People have left the tables around me and more have shown up. Guess what? They don't know The Bridge either.

They might not even know God.

You see, ONE is way more important than TWO. But we better get TWO right so we can do ONE well.

Christians...get a grip. Because the world is lost.

Church people...you better watch it

In John 9, Jesus heals a blind guy. Gives him sight. A crazy thing to have seen I'm sure. Long story short, the Pharisees (religious leaders) get ticked off. Why? Because Jesus does it on the Sabbath. How dare he help someone on this day of rest!

Moral of the story? Instead of seeing what God was doing in their midst, and celebrating this miracle, they criticized and complained.

Stupid Pharisees.

I'm just glad we aren't like that.

I'm glad church people don't judge the guy smoking outside the church, but instead celebrate his faith.

I'm glad church people don't complain about the different songs being sung, but instead enjoy worshipping with a group of new believers who are headed toward heaven.

I'm glad church people don't think about a pastor's tattoos, but instead rejoice in the many stories of people who have heard the gospel because "he's just like me."

I'm glad church people don't criticize the church down the street, but instead pray that God uses those people and His gospel to touch the many lives their own church can't.

I'm glad church people don't talk about those "awful electronic Bibles," but instead encourage their friends to walk around with God's Word at all times.

I'm glad church people don't struggle with hearing messy stories in their lobby, but instead embrace the hurting, lonely, depressed, scared, troubled, and lost, knowing that God can save them.

I'm so glad that church people are nothing like Pharisees. :)

Truth is...I'm privileged to work in a church where these statements are valued. Overall, we really do celebrate what God is doing. This wasn't a commentary on my church, or any other church.

It's actually about you...if you're a church person.

Do you criticize and complain...while completely missing the work of God right in front of you? Seriously, do you? Before you go back to cruising Facebook or surfing the web, take a sec and think about it.

I'm not above this sin. And neither are you.

Door greeters are the hope of the world

I think it goes without saying that this week has been of the most difficult, overwhelming weeks we've had in a long time. For our nation. For our community.

On Monday, Boston began the week with a tragic, twisted story. Tuesday, a man killed himself by jumping in front of a train .5 miles from my house. Wednesday, a plant in Texas blows up in the most visible display of power I've ever seen. Thursday, the mighty Des Plaines River begins climbing higher than ever in recorded history.

I sit here and ponder. Such pain. Such sadness. Such defeat.

I knew I needed to write something....but what? What could I say to all of this that would matter?

I'll start here: I don't have all of the answers. As our lead pastor wrote, Jesus said "In this world you will have trouble." He couldn't have been more right.  Jesus that is (Scott too!). So often, this place stinks. We face awful situations on a regular basis. And I wish I knew all of the answers to why.

But what I do know is there is hope. God hasn't left. In fact, he did the opposite.

I believe that there is hope found in Jesus Christ. He loves you. No really, he does. This God-man comes down here, lives through all of the crap we live through, and then dies for you. For you! He obviously wants to know you. WOW!!!  That is amazing.  And if you're not buying this, please keep reading anyway.

This is why I love my job. I love being a pastor. Every weekend more people in our community visit The Bridge and learn about this hope. This Jesus. That it is true. That there is WAY more to life than all of this pain. And they put their faith in him. Their destiny becomes heaven.

Again, you might laugh, or say "really?", but it is true. You don't have to do this alone. You don't have to navigate a week like this hopeless, searching, depressed. I would never want you to do that.

That's why door greeters are the hope of the world. Because every person who is involved at our church, who welcomes people, teachers their kids, plays music for them, is part of the bigger story. That God wants to rescue YOU from this place. To show you love that you've never known. And they serve to make sure you know that!

So...if you serve at our church, thanks for being a part of the bigger story. God is using you. And don't worry, I know that ultimately Jesus is the hope of the world. It's just a title :).

BUT...if you've never learned this hope, I challenge you and encourage you: check out our site (www.thebridgedp.org) and make a visit this weekend. Come meet one of our door greeters. It might literally change your life.

Worship Leading: What We Do Is Pressure

Last November, I was asked to join the committee that plans the Experience Conference. I was shocked, thrilled, excited, and other words like that. Now they have me writing a blog. Oh my. Here goes....

Let me say this before I start: If you haven't been to the Experience Conference, you should go. I know it's a shameless plug, but I have to tell you, because it matters that much to me. You matter to me. 

Yes you, random person reading this. You are actually the reason I joined the committee. What you bring back, and what God does to your heart while you're there, is worth more to you and your church than you can imagine. It's worth the flight. The cost. The days off. The hotel. The planning. The effort. And it's worth everything to me.

Ok, here goes: There are many reasons we ‘need’ a conference like this. Let me talk about one real quick. What we do is high pressure.

Or maybe I'm the only one. Is it just me who feels the weight of leading people to God? The God who is searching for worshippers. Isn't it pressure to know that our words, our voices, our Scripture choices, our song selections, our transitions, our instruments, our sound mix, and our projected background, all play a huge part in what happens at our services? Wow. And we have to make those decisions every week?!

I know that God said rocks would take care of the "worship" line on Planning Center if we didn't show up. So He is ok. I also know the best service plan is nothing without the Holy Spirit. But we would be deceiving ourselves if we said it doesn't matter what we do every week. Of course it does. When music stinks and Numbers 16:1 is your passage, worship doesn't really happen. That's the pressure I'm talking about.

Every week we should give this pressure to God. We should. And maybe you do. But we often keep it with us. It builds up. And this is why the Experience Conference could be huge for your life. You need time away with God. Not just a vacation. You need a place where God can use others to feed your soul, to hit the reset button, to heal your battle wounds. A place that sends you back to wherever God has called you in a way that nothing else can. You need it. And your church needs you to do it.

This conference was created for you. For me. It is exactly what we need, because it's much more than info and artists. It's heart. It's about us as people.

These men and women really care about you. I care about you. Hope to see you this September.

More info at: www.experienceconference.com.

Being a Dad + Good Friday = Worst Day Ever

I've been a parent for over 5 years. I love my boys. I have a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old. They are great boys and I wouldn't trade them for anything. We are so blessed to have them and look forward to many yearg with them.

Recently, watching THE BIBLE on the History Channel has been quite an experience. I know the story of Abraham and Isaac very well. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son to Him. Abraham headed out with only Isaac, some wood and fire, and a knife. Isaac wondered what animal they would sacrifice. Eventually God supplies a real lamb and Isaac is saved.

But to see it on my TV?! Wow. That was nuts. To actually live it in my living room. Horrible. I can't imagine what I would have done. To kill your own son for someone else? I fear God. I love God. I serve God. But wow.

So now fast forward to Jesus. Same story really. Except it's not for God, it's for people like you and me. And this time, there is no animal. It is someone's kid. A 33-year-old kid, but still a boy. God's Son.

This is why Good Friday is the worst day ever. I understand that it's necessary and I'm beyond thankful. I see the "good" in Good Friday. I get it. But don't tell me that God allowing His Son to die for someone else doesn't overwhelm every parent reading this. I've heard it say like this: It's like your son is getting beat up, stabbed, cut up...and you're 10 feet away with a gun...and you let it happen. You turn away. That's where that "Father, Father, why have you forsaken me?" comes into play. It's truly awful.

Can you believe that?! He did that for you. How much does God love you?! Holy cow! If that doesn't make every one of us 1) overwhelmingly grateful and 2) sad that we ever caused this and 3) want to respond with everything we have...if it doesn't make you do that, you're not breathing. Or maybe you're just not a parent yet.

This blog really is for parents. I appreciated Christ's death for many years. It was still an awful thing. But now? You want to slaughter my son? You want to kill my boys? No way. I'll take you out.

But God didn't do that. He let it happen. Momentary pain for an eternal reward.

We must respond. Have you responded? Happy Good Friday.

To Conference or Not?

This one is pretty simple. The question on the table is...to conference or not conference? For Christians, there are many types of conferences out there. Children's ministry, Pastor, Worship, Small Groups, Everything Combined, and on and on. And they cost money. When you add in travel, food, hotel, and the conference itself, it gets expensive. I know it's not possible for everyone. But for a moment, at least entertain my original question.

You see, my question isn't just for church staff. It's for you. Whether you volunteer, work part-time, lead a ministry, shake a hand, hold a baby, play a guitar...whatever....you need to think about getting away and spending some time at a conference that will grow and challenge you. An event that will refresh and restore you. A place of rest. A temporary home that gets you charged and ready to return to ministry back home.

Last year, I wrote a blog from Disney's Contemporary Resort about the importance of getting away. I was at an amazing worship conference called the Experience Conference.  It was an awesome week where the things I listed above actually happened. They really did. And I needed it. The fall is a busy busy time in every workplace and a few days to get prepared is huge! I've gone twice and am going again this year. In fact, this year I have gotten to be on the committee that plans the event. And I'm hoping to bring some other worship leaders from my church.

So back to my question. Should you go to a conference this year? If you have the means, ABSOLUTELY!!! You should make time alone with God a priority. You should make time to sharpen your skills a priority. You should make time with your team a priority. You should make restoring your life a priority.

I told you this blog was pretty simple. I could go on and on, but I'm not going to. Nothing super deep this week. But if you actually sign up for a conference, this might end up being the 'deepest' blog you read all year.

Check out the Experience Conference: www.experienceconference.com. We'd love to have you!

The 1 Resolution You Must Make

So here we go. It's 2013. Everyone is writing blogs about what they think is going to happen this year. What they're hoping for. What they're planning for. What they want.

Many write about how 2013 will be the best year ever. This confuses me. I wonder if they actually think that magically everything will be amazing. That death, disease, hunger, need, pain, loss, angst, depression...that they will all just go away because it's Tuesday. Oh I mean...Jan 1, 2013.

Now I understand if you have some incredible plans for this year and you're pumped. I know many getting married this year, others starting new jobs, having kids, etc. That I get. I'm not annoyed with you. But no matter where you're at on this thing, this next part is still something you should check out.

Jesus had a brother. Did you know that? Actually he had many. But one of them, James, became a big deal in the early church. Like the biggest deal. And he wrote a letter that became a book of the Bible. In it he says this...

Come now, you who say, 

"Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town 

and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" - 

yet you do now know what tomorrow will bring. 

What is your life? For you a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."

Are you wondering what that just said? It basically says: your life is really short...you don't know what's actually going to happen tomorrow...stop thinking that you do. And remember, James isn't down on us for planning. He says you can make plans, but make them with God. Let Him be in charge and then see what happens.

So what do we do? I don't want to be down on 2013. But I don't want to be blind now and disappointed later. Well, here's my big thought.

Rather than claiming how awesome this year is going to be, and then crossing your fingers, decide to make one resolution. Put God first. Do it. Go to a great church. Find people who walk with Jesus. No really, I'm serious! I guarantee...no doubt in my mind...if you do this, your year will be better than any of your statuses have ever thought :).

Now this resolution isn't for everyone, because some of you have already done this. But if you haven't, give it a shot. And if you don't know the gospel, which is how you can even do this in the first place, click here and check it out.

Because then no matter what happens in 2013, good or bad, planned or unplanned, you'll have a Father who is holding you through it all. And that will lead to the best year you've ever had.