The RightNow Conference: Part 2

Among the list of challenging speakers/gut-checkers at this year's RightNow Conference was pastor and author Francis Chan. He spoke to leaders Friday morning about a couple things: seeking out the OBVIOUS message in the Bible and not giving up, but continuing on to fight the good fight.

In first addressing us about looking for the OBVIOUS message that's in the Bible, I realized that often times I'll look for scripture to defend my point of view - we can absolutely twist scripture to reason with our opinions and relay whatever message we want it to. But Francis challenged us just to simply seek out what it OBVIOUSLY says and do it! He painted the picture that we have this narrow road leading to life, a wide road leading to destruction and a pretty good sized road we've made up to just be able to coast and do good sometimes.

He challenged us with the idea of Simon Says vs. Jesus Says - we remember the childhood game of Simon Says. But when Jesus says to do something, how often do we simply study it or memorize it rather than actually doing it! What if we told our co-workers or employees to go do something and they came back saying, "I memorized what you said...I can even say it in the Greek!" Like Alan Danielson said, "we're so far educated over our level of obedience it's disgusting." It was a simple yet bold call to quit scheming and start doing.

Using the text from 1 Peter 4:12-14, he then encouraged leaders to keep pressing on. He shared personal experiences of when he came so close to quitting - literally leaving his church and his ministry because he just couldn't take it anymore. But 1 Peter tells us to not be surprised when we get tired of doing good or when we go through trials, 'as if something strange were happening to you.' In ministry, we should EXPECT suffering, resistance and struggle - not benefits, salary or popularity. Bottom line, Satan is in the business of division and wants us to stop loving the Church and God's people - he wants us to write a book or a blog posting about how stupid the Church can be. But we should be concerned if we don't go through trials - not bashing the Church for it's shortcomings but restoring with love what's gone wrong. As for Jesus, 'passion for God's house burns within me' (John 2).

Verse 14 rocked my world, mentioning that it's when we go through those trails - when things aren't going well - that we'll experience Jesus and His grace and love the most. It says, 'for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you.' Francis asked the question, 'who needs a comforter when we're comfortable?' Walk boldly with Christ knowing that in the bad times, He'll reveal Himself the most.

Shine on. Fight on. Stay thirsty my friends.

The RightNow Conference: Part 1

Before I joined staff at Bent Tree about a month ago, I worked for BluefishTV & the RightNow Campaign - two branches of one amazing non-profit. One of the things they do is annually host a national leadership event called the RightNow Conference (formerly LeadNow). This past week, I had the privilege of serving alongside my Bluefish+RightNow buddies at this year's Dallas event. We heard from amazing speakers/pastors/authors/visionary leaders who challenged us, humbled us, and encouraged us. Over the next couple of posts, I wanted to share some take-aways from the event:

Tim Ross, young-adult pastor at the Potter's House in Dallas, kicked off Thursday with a ridiculously challenging message to today's leaders. He boldly asked, 'we all want to be leaders but are we worth following?' Using the text from Philippians 3:17-19, he pointed out how Paul had the audacity to say, 'if you want to be like Christ, if you want to get to the Cross, follow/imitate me.' It made me wonder, if people followed me 24/7 and imitated my lifestyle, would they become closer to Christ - would they get to the Cross - or would they get to self-centeredness or perversion or arrogance?

Verse 18 mentions that many Christ-following leaders display conduct showing they're really enemies of the Cross - as a worship leader, it challenged me to search my own heart and ask tough questions to see if I'm an ally or an enemy of the Cross. Am I leading for the wrong reasons? Because it's cool to be up on stage, leading a band in front of thousands of people, traveling the region to lead at other events, etc...? Do I have an agenda other than leading people to have an encounter with the living God? We've all got to ask ourselves why we do what we do in the name of Christ - do we sponsor children to have a photo on our fridge or to provide hope and relief to a desperate kid? I see a generation on TV that's all about relief efforts and social action but what's our motives behind it all? As Kay Warren put it, who's the hero in the story - Christ or ourselves?

Verse 19 warns us about harping on shameful things - often times we see success in numbers. We feel like we have influence if we have a huge following. Tim challenged us that if we want to see the level of our influence as leaders, we shouldn't look to the numbers but rather to an authentic testimony of a changed life through Christ.

Do we have agenda's or are we in the business of changing lives through Truth in the Cross? Who's the hero in the story? We all want to be leaders but are we worth following?

Simple Truth, Big Encouragement

I was reading a passage this morning in Acts chapter 5 that I've read through before - this time with my vow of being intentional with every single word I read - and a simple truth really encouraged me.

In Acts 5, the high priests of Jerusalem and their sadducee friends have arrested the apostles and put them in jail for going around and telling everyone about Jesus. However, an angel of God busted them out of jail and told them to go to the temple to continue doing what they do - give the message of life! Of course this ticks off the high priests who go and arrest them again and question them saying, "didn't we tell you never again teach in Jesus' name?" To this, of course, the apostles remind them that they obey God rather than human authority - their God who put Jesus in the place of honor at God's right hand as Savior to give the people an opportunity to turn from their sins and turn to God so they'd be forgiven.

Here's the part that rocked my world and really encouraged me. A religious leader named Gamaliel stood up and addressed his colleagues, reminding them of a couple leaders back in the day that pretended to be great people and had pretty big followings but "their whole movements came to nothing." In verse 38, Gameliel give his this advice:

"Leave these men alone...if they are teaching and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God."

At the end of the passage, the apostles yet again got beat up for their beliefs and were told to never speak of Jesus again, yet "everyday, in the Temple and in their homes, they continued to teach and preach this message: the Messiah you are looking for is Jesus."

Be encouraged today - there have been many "important" people that had followings but their movements have amounted to nothing. Here we stand, 2000 years later with God's word and all His promises standing true.

The Messiah you are looking for is Jesus. The hope, the void that needs filling, the happiness, the peace, the forgiveness, the joy, the freedom you are looking for is Jesus. Be encouraged in a God who will forever reign.

Lifestyle of Automaticity

The church that I work at, Bent Tree, is about half the distance to my house from my old work. I used to drive 27 miles one way to work. It's a counter-commute (going the opposite way of heavy traffic from other commuters) so it wasn't so bad. The other day I was apparently on auto-pilot cause when I came to, I was exiting for work - only it was for my old place of employment, not Bent Tree. Without even realizing it, I drove about 14 miles out of my way that morning.

We've all done it - we'll be driving in a trance and have arrived at our destination without even being aware of our surroundings - it's called automaticity - the ability to do things without occupying the mind as a result of learning, repetition and practice (thanks wikipedia).

About six months ago, I was attending a mid-week service - an awesome gathering of young adults here in Dallas - where there was worship, teaching and small groups and I found myself broken at the end of a well known and frequently sung worship tune. I had literally sung every word without even realizing it. It's a song that the church knows and sings often and I went on auto-pilot while singing it. Automaticity had crept into my worship time that night and it broke me.

How often do we allow ourselves to get caught in the repetition of church - the repetition of worship and teaching. That night I vowed to never sing another song, read another word or voice another prayer with an empty heart or empty mind. I want to be intentional and focused on every single word I read or say. Whether it's a verse I've read before or a passage I've studied over again or a song I've sung a hundred times, it's great words I'm putting on my lips and I want it to sink in and be so real for me.

I remember the song was 'You Never Let Go' by Matt Redman - the bridge proclaims 'I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on, there will be an end to these troubles BUT until that day comes, STILL I will praise You, STILL I will praise You.' That's some heavy stuff! When, God forbid, something tragic comes my way, will I still be able to praise Him? I know I will but in that moment of worship I want to be able to sing of my commitment to Him from the depths of my being. I don't want to just sing it because I know it and it mean nothing more - if so then I'm just there making noise.

I want the words on my lips to be real in my life. What would it look like if we fully lived the words we sing, pray and proclaim?

A Call From and a Call To

Most of us may not know what we want to be when we grow up but we at least know what we're passionate about and therefore what it is we're good at and how we spend our time, energy and efforts to be the best we can. Mark Batterson calls them your 'God-ordained passions.' For me, I know my God-ordained passions are within music ministry - leading worship for whoever would gather seeking to connect with the living God.

Those passions became a reality about four years ago with an opportunity to lead each week for my church. For two great years, I worshipped with incredible friends and family members at Victory Life in Lubbock while attending Texas Tech University. I then had a call from and a call to moment, allowing me to move back home and help develop the contemporary worship ministry at my home church, FBC Lewisville. For the past two years, I've been able to not only lead on the weekends at First Lewisville but also travel and lead for different churches, mid-week services, camps, festivals, etc...

Just recently I had another call from and call to moment and have joined staff at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship here in Carrollton as their Students Worship Coordinator leading all worship efforts for junior high and senior high ministries full-time! It's been neat seeing how God's prepared me for this new journey in full-time vocational ministry. I've enjoyed itinerant ministry - and still pursue as many opportunities to lead whenever and whenever I can - but I'm stoked to finally be on staff at a church and really help develop an atmosphere of understanding worship.

One of the things God's taught me through this whole process is the idea of a 'call from and call to' that can take place in your life. There are things that God may be calling you from - a time when you need to withdraw your energy, efforts and resources from a certain opportunity - and things God may be calling you to - a simultaneous give and take based on God-ordained passions within you. In situations like this, it can be hard decisions but as Charles Stanley said, "God takes full responsibility for a life wholly devoted to Him."

We're excited for this new journey and expectant for the things to come!

Engaged Fall Retreat contd.

They don't call it a retreat for nothing. It was great getting out of the city and being reminded of some great truths. I often leave events like this past weekend feeling rejuvenated and more in tune with God and what He would have for me. Sunday morning, the Don talked about what happens when we return to 'the City' - back to the grind of work, school, family/friends and other everyday things. I loved what he said, that our walk of faith won't always have the feeling of being at a retreat - when things are good and we're really in-tune with God.

We've all been there where we've had a 'spiritual high' and then a couple weeks later that high has diminished. That's because being in a relationship with God is real. It's not a fairy-tale love story all the time. There are times when our hearts seem to beat right along with the very rhythm of His heart. Then there are times where we feel distant and out of touch. The beautiful truth that Don talked about this weekend is that we're the ones that have gone out on a walk but God's always waiting at home. Paralleling with the theme of this blog, our relationship with God is more than the moment. It's not a feeling but a commitment.

With that commitment comes hard work to keep the relationship alive and healthy. If I can be open and honest I'd tell ya there's no way my relationship with my wife would survive if I treated her the same way I treat God. Even when my walk of faith seems to be really good - when I'm spending at least an hour a day really diving into scripture and praying - could you imagine me only giving Lindsey an hour of my day? Wouldn't last...I have to be creative and let her know how much I love her - not just by telling her but by showing her. My love for her is proved in my actions.

It's good to have a plan - to be creative and have certain things you do in order to strengthen your spiritual life. Sure there are always your 'quiet times' for scripture and prayer but one of the ways I strive to keep my relationship with God healthy and alive is simple things like this blog. For me, this blog is accountability. I want to be able to share what God's doing in my life on a continuous basis - so I'm constantly looking for God in everyday things. Perhaps in a song, a conversation or a Texas sunset. I find Him there and ask Him to teach me or reveal a new side of Him I didn't know existed. For you, it might be journaling or writing a song or going through a book with a friend - an accountability partner if you will. Something that keeps you accountable to continue to live life intentionally and with purpose in your pursuit of God and what he would have for you.

Sometimes it's rather easy and beautiful and other times it's hard and mundane. But stay committed knowing what He has is best. In Mark Batterson's book, Wild Goose Chase, he mentions we should 'pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on us.' I love that - stay in tune with God by continually being honest and open with Him and then work as hard as you can to live on mission and in-line with our beautiful Love and His teachings.

Engage Fall Retreat

This past weekend, the guys and I loaded up the van and headed down to Camp Cho-Yeh in Livingston, TX - about an hour north of Houston - to lead worship for UBC Houston's fall retreat. Don Vanderslice from Mosaic Austin was there to bring it each session and brought-it he did! Though it was my first out-of-town gig since baby Beckham arrived, we had a great time and thank Big Kyle and the UBC students for a great weekend of worship, growth and hanging out.
On Saturday, we had a TOMS 'Style Your Sole' Party where each student (about 125 students) got to style their own pair of white TOMS. If you haven't checked out the TOMS movement yet, head over to www.tomsshoes.com and read all about it - maybe even order your own pair. They're pretty sweet kicks and with every purchase, TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a kid in need. Pretty sweet that around 125 needy kids will get a pair of shoes from our weekend together.

Below are some images from the weekend thanks to the ever-ready iPhone and the super talented Daniel Wang. Check 'em out and more at www.danielwangphotography.com

The Don