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My heart is heavy

My heart has been heavy since I heard of the tragic passing of Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman’s youngest daughter, Maria. Words cannot even describe the pain they must be going through. I wish I could have words during a time like this. But, we are praying for your family and our hearts are broken for you.

About five years ago, SCC and Mary Beth started the Shaohannah’s Hope Ministry after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world.

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Sunday thoughts

• Noah and Adam both got base hits this weekend! I am proud of them. But, I’m still ready for baseball season to end. Does that make me a bad parent?
• I am worn out! I don’t know how you guys multiple services do it. I believe that is in our future and I am excited and nervous about it. I want to do whatever it takes to reach our city. Even if it means being completely wrung out.
• The Glory Fine Arts production of Creation this weekend was amazing! The Saturday performance looked like it was full or pretty close to it and yesterday’s matinée was about 75% full. Abbye and her team are absolutely amazing.
  

  

  
  Abbye and Carolyn will much more in-depth posts about the production later. Until then, check out more of Millie’s pics HERE. I love being a part of a church that uses all of the arts to worship our God.

• Matthew proposed to his sweetheart Jennifer Roush yesterday and she said YES! I don’t know what he did to trick her. But, whatever he did, it worked. You can see more pics over on Millie’s blog. Hey Matthew, remember that you are not married yet. Keep your lips to yourself. Congratulations! I am proud of you both.
• There was a good feel to the service this morning. I believe we are tracking right where God wants us.
• Today I started our series I Serve and kicked it off by telling our church family that our church is not for you. You are the church and you are for the World. I then challenged the long-time consumers in our church to stop it and become contributors. I believe it hit home.
• I had a couple after church, with tears in their eyes, ask me to forgive them because they had been coming to The ROCK for 7 years and had never plugged in to serve! They asked how they could get plugged in. WOW! Hang on ROCKERS! We are taking off!
• I also heard that Millie is absolutely swamped with work. I know why. She is absolutely one of the best photographers… ever. But, instead of staying home to work, she came to church this morning and sat in the lobby so she could edit photos and listen to me preach! You go Mills!
• After church today, a bunch of us headed over to the Greek Festival and ate until we just about exploded. I love Greek food.
  
  
• Then Terri broke out her portable adjusting table and adjusted us all in the front yard. Terri is AWESOME!
• It has been a very full weekend. I can’t wait until next week. More exciting announcements coming over the next few weeks.

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Fear of Failure

As I waited for my ADD meds to kick in this morning I read through my blogroll. I came across Pete Wilson’s post about a pastor, Brad Johnson, who left the ministry as a result of having an affair.

As I read Pete’s post and then read more on Brad’s blog, I felt two emotions. First, my heart broke for Brad, his ex-wife, their family, the other woman and her family and his former church. All of us deal with sin.. all of us. I hate what sin does. I hate how we forget grace or, even worse, put conditions on how we extend grace. That’s not what Jesus did. He loves us without any prerequisites.

The second emotion that overwhelmed me came when I realized that none of us, including me, are immune to completely destroying our own lives. It is hard to not become completely overtaken with fear that this would happen to me. Second only to my salvation are my wife and boys. It would devastate me to know that I let them down.

So, what should we take away from this?

1. Stay close to God. I am not in His presence to get my next sermon. I read His Word and seek Him because I need God for me. What I preach and how I lead come out of the overflow of my relationship with Him. Without a real relationship with God, we are all destined to mess everything up.
2. Be really accountable. I’m not talking about the superficial, convenient, feel good accountability. Just about every minute of my life is accounted for. My wife knows where I am at, who I am with, where I am going next, what we are talking about, where I go on my computer, what I read and what I struggle with. When I leave the office, I call her phone. If my plans change, she is the first to know. I don’t ride in a car, have lunch with or do any significant counseling alone with a woman. I am an owned man and it is by choice. If you think you are strong enough to go it alone, you are a fool.
3. Cultivate relationships that matter. I’m not talking about surface acquaintances. Jennifer and I are always working on our marriage. She is my wife, friend, lover, mistress, guardian, confidant and companion all rolled into one. I have other relationships with people that know nothing is off limits to them. They can without warning, look through my computer. They can look at my schedule. They can question me about any area of my life.
4. Put down your rocks. I am a sinner. I did not write that I was a sinner. I am a sinner and so are you. So, when you see somebody destroying their life don’t throw more rocks at them. Instead, pray with them and for them. Love them. If they lash out at you, love them anyway. Grace is love, mercy and favor that are undeserved. Who do you know that has messed up their life? They probably feel like a leper. Why don’t you pick up the phone and invite them into your life.
5. Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray. You can’t do this one too much. Do you want to know what God has to say to you? Then pray. When you pray, stop talking so much and listen. God wants to talk to you if you will just listen.

God, please don’t let me destroy my life, family, ministry and destiny. Yank my chain long before I mess it all up. My life is yours. When temptation comes, open my eyes to see it for what it is. Give me the wisdom and determination to stay far from the traps laid for me. Give me Your heart of compassion for the broken around me.

What keeps you out of trouble?

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14 years ago today

Fourteen years ago today, my life changed forever when the most beautiful, amazing, smart, virtuous, loving, provocative, gracious, kind, wholesome, sexy woman that ever walked the earth was fooled into marrying me.

I have to tell you that I don’t know how I did it. But, I pray every day that God would give me the wisdom to love this beautiful woman the way she deserves.

Jennifer, thank you for believing, loving, supporting, caring and praying for me. Thank you for being such ha Godly example of hotness. Thank you for giving me three of the most amazing boys. Thank you for believing in my vision when it seemed nobody else did. Thank you for not running when life got difficult. Thank you for holding me when I fell apart. Thank you for cheering for me. Thank you for looking for me across crowded rooms. Thank you for holding my hand. Thank you for grabbing my butt… in public. Thank you for keeping our family life together while still setting your hand to ministry. Thank you for dressing to make your man smile. Thank you for being my best friend.

I make the same vows to you today that I did then because I still remember what they were.

“I promise to love you as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. I will love you unconditionally. I will cherish you as a treasured gift, my faithful help mate, my most trusted counselor, my closest friend, my intimate lover and my partner in pursuit of God’s perfect will for our lives.”

Happy Anniversary Baby!

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Private Eyes

“Why you try to put up a front for me
I’m a spy but on your side you see
Slip on, into any disguise
I’ll still know you
Look into my Private Eyes.” ~ Hall & Oates

Recently, I have been thinking about the conduct of people who think nobody is watching. I also wonder what people see in me when I’m in my own world doing my thing…

• driving my car
• talking on the phone
• walking out of a movie
• disciplining my kids
• loving my wife
• worshiping
• being a friend
• resolving a conflict

Is my life an example that I would want others to follow? I may be able to turn off “pastor mode” but I must never stop being a Christ follower. Because private eyes are always watching me.

That is why I return often to God’s presence. I must consistently study God’s Word and apply it to my life. It is absolutely imperative that I humble myself before God and man.

There are a lot of people around who can’t wait to tell you what you’ve done wrong, but there aren’t many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God’s Message to you that I became your father. I’m not, you know, asking you to do anything I’m not already doing myself. (I Corinthians 4:15-16)

They’re watching you, watching you, watching you, watching you.

via Mark Beeson

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