JOEL...GET TO THE POINT

2010-10-01T17:40:00.001-04:00

The Second Push

2010-09-08T13:42:00.000-04:00

This is the time of year when you are doing the recruiting "Second Push". The first push has already taken place. You've identified the roles that need to be filled for the coming ministry season, and you've done your best to find "the right people for the right places".

But now comes the time for the "Second Push". This is the time when you realize that some of your initial placements aren't going to work out. Some of the people have been placed in roles that are not a fit for their personality and gifting. Maybe you need to ask them "How is it going?" and "Is there something else you'd like to do, or are you ready to press on in this assignment?"

Also the "Second Push" is when you realize that there were some blind spots in your leadership structure. Now you see that there are roles needed that you had not foreseen. So now it's time to do the second round of recruiting.

As you recruit, keep 3 major things in mind:

1) No one is looking to just fill your NEED

In general, people don't jump at the opportunity to fill a need. Your need does not constitute their emergency. "Need-based recruiting" might as well be called "guilt-based recruiting". You tell people how desperate you are, and hope that they will want to help. This may fill a few immediate needs on a short term basis. But it seldom brings people joy and they will soon slip away from your team. Soon the guilt wears off and, as weariness sets in, they head for the escape hatch.

Principle: People want to be part of the vision

In recruiting, find how you can inspire people to activate their God-given desire for significance. Everyone wants to know that their life is making a difference. Everyone wants to be part of something great. Everyone wants to feel valued. And God has gifted every single Christian, with a talent for ministry. The trick is finding their gifting and providing opportunities to release that gifting for maximum Kingdom impact. Continually show people how their piece of the ministry puzzle is contributing to the vision being accomplished.

2) No one is looking for MORE stuff to do

Everybody is busy. Nobody jumps at the opportunity to add another responsibility to their already busy schedule. And to make matters worse, we often force ministry leaders to sit through mindless meetings. They sit around watching us fumble through, revealing how unprepared we were for their contribution. Then we ask them to show up for events where they feel their skills aren't even being utilized.

Principle: Make every minute count

If you don't have seriously valuable content and a pressing reason to hold a meeting: then don't. And when people show up to serve, clearly define their responsibility. Each volunteer needs to know that their absence will leave a gaping hole in the mission's accomplishment. The reason that people often drop the ball is because their role doesn't seem important. They figure that anybody could do the mindless work they're being asked to do. Streamline each leader's ministry so that they clearly understand their roles and responsibilities. And whatever you do: don't waste their time!

3) No one is looking to follow a STRESSED-OUT leader

One time I met with a staff member to talk about the image he had been projecting. It seemed that he would often mention (to anyone who would listen) how much work he was being asked to do. In meetings and conversations he would often take a deep breath and give a little "sign". When people asked him about anything, he was always sure to share how stressful his job was and how little time he had for anything new. And then he wondered why people weren't flocking to join his ministry areas.

Principle: Be a leader that people want to follow

Our conversation was very simple. I said, "People follow leaders whom they want to be like...and right now, nobody wants to be like you." Fortunately, this was a smart and humble guy. He quickly recognized the negative pattern that had slipped into his conversational habits. He became very conscious of the importance of his words and attitudes. And the result? His new positive attitude became an attractional force to his ministry.

And one more thought. Continually search for individuals with a "leader's heart". These are the people who "get it". They have an aptitude for leadership. They have a positive attitude and demonstrate the fruit of the spirit. Given the right circumstances, they could probably do your job better than you do. These people are a special gift from God. Don't give them piddly little tasks. Give them positions of leadership and authority. Pour into their personal and spiritual development. And especially with these "high caliber" volunteers, implement #1, #2 and #3.

Early morning Labor Day

2010-09-06T10:47:00.004-04:00

Ground Hog Road

2010-07-10T14:40:00.001-04:00

Ride out to West Blockton

2010-07-02T10:55:00.004-04:00

On Wire Road
The West Blockton Coke Field Historic site
The baseball field where we played when I was in elementary school.Some goats along the way.

Stella for sale

2010-04-13T15:20:00.002-04:00

2008 Stella - Vespa Scooter

Only 1352 miles, beautiful condition, classic 2 stroke engine, all steel body

$2300 obo

what's up with the blog?

2008-12-01T08:47:00.002-05:00

I've had a number of people asking why this is blog has been inactive for so many months. Well, it really has to do with a matter of function/purpose.

When I was at Faith Church, the blog was a fantastic leadership tool. People read it and followed up. I felt like it was an opportunity to teach and minister primarily to the people at our church. Occasionally I would share personal and family updates. But mostly it was a church ministry function.

Which leads to the main reasons this page has been fairly inactive:

1) Since having been called to Tuscaloosa First Wesleyan I found that most of our people here are much less "blog addicted". It began to feel like a labor to keep something like this up-to-date, when it seemed that few people within our local church followed the page regularly. In fact, the people who have requested me to start writing again...are people who are outside of Tuscaloosa.

2) The other primary reason has to do with FACEBOOK. So many of the people who regularly followed my blog are now on Facebook. And for those of you who follow Tracy's writings, you know that she does a fantastic job of keeping everybody up to date on the happenings of the Gorveatte family (with pictures!).

So there you have it. I plan to keep this website and hang on to the title "JOEL...GET TO THE POINT". And from time to time we'll use this page to serve a particular purpose (so be sure to check in occasionally). But for the time being...we'll see you on Facebook!

Have a fantastic day.

happened naturally

2008-07-30T07:49:00.002-04:00

When the effective leader is finished with his work, the people say it happened naturally.

~ Lao Tse

Read back the through the above statement a few times and let the power of this truth sink in.

Leadership is not drawing attention to yourself. It is about moving the mission forward in ways that feel natural to the rhythm of life and organizational flow.

artist's angst

2008-07-29T09:00:00.002-04:00

purpose power

2008-06-11T11:17:00.003-04:00

George Washington Carver said: “No individual has any right to come into the word and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.”

When you look at men and women throughout history. Those who excelled. When you read in the Bible of great leaders of faith… you see that they were men and women with a purpose.

Noah was able to build the ark, in spite of the criticism and ridicule of his neighbors...because he had a purpose.

Abraham was willing to leave his family and friends to go to a new land…because he had a purpose

Joseph was able to endure persecution and imprisonment…because he had a purpose

Moses was able to leave the palace and the riches of Egypt to lead the children of Israel…because he had a purpose.

David was able to face down the giant Goliath (while others ran and hid in their tents)… because he had a purpose.

Daniel stood firm when being thrown into a lion’s den…because he had a purpose.

John the Baptist was able to say, “I must decrease so that Christ may increase”…because he had a purpose.

Stephen proclaimed the message of God (even while being put to death)…because he had a purpose

Paul was able to withstand persecution and hardship…because he had a purpose

JESUS himself, in his love for mankind allowed himself to be placed on a cross, in our place...because he had a purpose.

And WHAT IS that purpose? Take a few minutes today and read (Matthew 22:37-39) and (Matthew 28:18-20).

sweetheart

2008-05-22T16:59:00.002-04:00

An elderly gent was invited to an old friends' home for dinner one evening. He was impressed by the way his buddy preceded every request to his wife with endearing terms such as: Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc. The couple had been married almost 70 years and clearly, they were still very much in love.

While the wife was in the kitchen, the man leaned over and said to his host, 'I think it's wonderful that, after all these years, you still call your wife those loving pet names'.

The old man hung his head. 'I have to tell you the truth,' he said, 'Her name slipped my mind about 10 years ago and I'm scared to death to ask her what it is!'

So here's The Point

Be sure to express your love and appreciation to someone today. And if you can remember their name...it's even better!

myths about volunteers

2008-05-13T09:06:00.005-04:00

7 Myths of Volunteerism
Bill Hybels

Every church has, at some time or another, complained about a lack of volunteers. Excuses are given as to why volunteers aren't showing up and a mad scramble usually ensues to figure out how to get the work of the church done. But most of the conceptions that we have about volunteers are misconceptions. Some of the reasons our churches give for not making great strides in recruiting volunteers are not good reasons … they're myths. Here are the seven most common myths about volunteers.

Myth #1
There aren't enough volunteers to go around. Almost everywhere I turn when I meet with pastors and leaders, they're bemoaning the fact that they don't have enough volunteers for their ministries. But there's always a reason why they're not serving. I don't know what it is in your church. We know some of the reasons in our church.

But here's an idea to consider: Why don't you identify those people and ask them to come to a pizza party at the pastor's home? Say, "Hey, we've asked you to come tonight to pose a question. We're trying to raise the value of volunteerism in our church and we know you attend, but we're not sure that you serve anywhere. Why don't you serve?" You're going to hear some very interesting things. Some will say: "You know, I served for a while, and then no one called me to serve again so I thought you didn't need me;" "I served for a while, but the ministry team leader was not a good guy, so I stopped serving and no one's called me since;" "I served for a while because I was told that I was needed, I got there, and I really wasn't needed, so I stopped serving."

There are going to be lots of reasons. We can moan, sob, and groan about a lack of volunteers in our churches. It's just a myth. There are a lot of people who are potential servants in your church. You have to identify why they're not serving, get on the solution side, and invite them back into serving.

There are 500,000 non-churched people within a 30-minute drive of our campus at Willow Creek. If we're not making significant progress in drafting the people who already attend our church, who aren't willing to serve, then I've got to think beyond that and say, "Well, there are 500,000 other people out there. They all represent becoming potential volunteers. Obviously, there are a few challenges along the way to drafting them. But the people are there. We have to meet them, lead them to Christ, disciple them, convince them they have a spiritual gift, and invite them! If you're a leader in a local church, part of what you need to do is lift the vision, set the strategy, and start praying like crazy that you'll start to meet and lead to Christ ever-increasing numbers of people who will eventually become volunteers in your church.

Myth #2
Volunteers are only capable of doing the busy work of the church. By this I refer to the myth that volunteers are only capable of doing repetitive tasks that the paid staff doesn't really want to mess with. That they're only capable of doing the tasks that are low in strategic import. At Willow, the decision-making positions with the greatest strategic import are often done almost exclusively by volunteers. To think that volunteers can only do busy work isn't true theologically, it doesn't agree with the experiences of the New Testament church, and it certainly doesn't agree with the experiences of our church.

Our elders, for instance, are responsible for the overall spiritual oversight of our church. They hire and fire the senior pastor, they exert church discipline and doctrinal evaluation and they're all volunteers. Our board of directors moves around tens of millions of dollars. They're involved with construction, legal matters, etc. They're all volunteers.

In every church, there are high-capacity volunteers, there are medium-capacity volunteers, and then there are lower-capacity volunteers. (When I say lower-capacity, I'm not talking about someone's IQ or social skills. I am just talking about giftedness, availability, life experience, stage of life, and commitment to Christ). Some people in your church will only step up and get involved if you offer them a high-capacity volunteer opportunity. We have to make sure that our churches have a wide portfolio of high-capacity volunteer positions, mid-capacity volunteer positions, and lower-capacity volunteer positions, and then we've got to match the people with the positions.

Myth #3
Volunteers are free help. I remember when we decided to do food service on our campus. It was a big decision. We knew that when we were going to provide food service that we were going to have to pay a small staff for a few key people. But we envisioned hundreds of volunteers helping out in that ministry. When a couple of our board members were putting the business plan together for our food-service ministry, one of our staff leaders plugged in a number. And that was questioned at the board meeting. The answer came back that the money was for a full-time salary and benefit package to hire a great person to recruit volunteers to work in our food-service ministry and to nurture and train and care for those volunteers who would step forward and serve. And the board member said, "Wait, I thought volunteers were always free help." The other guy said, "Volunteers offer enormous amounts of help around here, but they are never free."

Volunteers need and deserve to be given competent leadership, sensitive shepherding, ongoing development, training, and tools to do their job. They're supposed to be nurtured and coached by the staff into their full-redemptive potential. That's going to require some staff. At Willow, we give some of our high capacity volunteers their own office, their own phone, and computer. They come to staff meetings. They don't get a paycheck for it, but we certainly give them the tools and the equipment that they need to do what God has called them to do. They do an enormous amount of work for us. But they really aren't free.

Myth #4
Most volunteers want to serve in one role for a lifetime. Let me reveal a nasty little secret about pastors and paid staff. When a pastor or staff recruit a volunteer and train them and help them figure out their spiritual gifts and finally place them in a critical role in some ministry of the church, the paid staff are just hoping against hope that they have filled that ministry position from now until the Lord's return.

Now, this is understandable, because in most churches, staff are working really hard and when volunteers start jumping from one ministry to the next, that requires staff time. But here's the truth from the volunteer side: Very few volunteers hit the jackpot the very first time they serve somewhere. Most of the time, when a volunteer steps forward and starts to serve, they start to learn more about their gifts, more about their capacities, more about what they like and what they don't like. And it's not uncommon at all for about three to six months into a serving experience, for a volunteer to start self-assessing.

In some dysfunctional church environments, a pastor will stand up and say, "Let's talk about commitment. Let's talk about keeping your word. Let's talk about loyalty." And the volunteer is thinking, "I am committed, I'm loyal, I'm faithful. I might just be in the wrong role." In healthy, high-functioning churches, staff and volunteers stay in a consistent dialogue about how it's going with the volunteer and whether the work still seems like a good fit.

If a volunteer has pounded one nail for 10 years, if he/she decides to explore another ministry, welcome the exploration. Invite them into it. They might decide to go back to what they were doing, or they might find a whole new lease on life and serve God with greater enthusiasm in the new role.

Myth #5
Volunteers are not interested in training or development. Volunteers, generally speaking, love getting a little better at stuff. They would like to be a little sharper, their tools to be razor-edged. They would like to be developed. My opinion is that there should be training as well as on-going training whenever a volunteer steps into the position.

Myth #6
Volunteers need encouragement from heaven but they really don't need much encouragement from anyone on Earth. We ought to clean up structures so that staff know exactly who their volunteer team members are, and we should be creating cultures of inspiration. It doesn't require a graduate degree from Harvard, it doesn't cost any more money, it doesn't even take very much time for you to go around thanking and blessing volunteers. It really doesn't. I tell our staff all the time, "You have to think of yourself as a thanking machine. If you're not thanking volunteers every day and blessing them and encouraging them, you're missing a tremendous opportunity to fire up someone who really deserves being fired up."

Volunteers have real jobs and they have marriages and kids and a lawn to mow and cars to wash. Sometimes when volunteers come our way, their tanks are low. They've been beat up at work and they sat in traffic and now they're coming over to the church to give another couple hours of service because they love God and love the vision of the church. And it's no small thing to a volunteer when you just say, "Hey, Tom, thanks for being here." If you want to lead a volunteer revolution, it has to be in the context of an inspired culture, and once you get that going, it's an unstoppable force!

Myth #7
Volunteerism is a one-way deal—all output, no returns, no rewards. Quite commonly, a senior pastor will say to me, "Bill, our people are busy, they work hard in the market place, they're raising kids, they're doing stuff in the community. I just couldn't ask them to do more than that." And something starts boiling in me. Because what those pastors are really telling me is that they don't want to ask their people to put serving towels over their arms and step up to volunteering for the cause of Christ in the local church because they fear it will diminish the quality of their lives. It will add one more stress to already stressed-out people. It will put yet another burden on the backs of people who are already hunched over from carrying too many burdens; I can't tell you how much I disagree with that position.

Volunteerism done right, volunteerism done biblically, wisely, and in the power of the Holy Spirit will not diminish the quality of a person's life. It will do precisely the opposite! Volunteerism done right will dramatically and often radically, positively transform a person's life. Inviting a person into servanthood in the cause of Christ is often one of the kindest, most life giving, joy-producing, spiritually-enriching opportunities you can offer somebody. Volunteerism done right will add immeasurably to the quality of the people in your congregation's lives.

Volunteerism done right will grow people's faith, deepen their trust, stretch their skills, enrich their relationships, increase their joy, and last, but hardly least, it will set them up for the commendation every sincere Christ follower wants to hear at the end of their time here on planet Earth: "Well done, son. Well done, daughter. You loved me, you served people, you used your gifts, you made a difference in this fallen world. Way to go!" Is there anything better than that?

From Willow magazine, Volume 12, Issue 1 (Winter 2005). Willow Creek Association ©2005.

swimming rats

2008-05-01T15:55:00.000-04:00

John Maxwell tells of a study done by a group of scientists doing experiments on lab rats. In this test they took these rats and placed them in a big jar of water and put them in a room that was pitch black (no light at all), and they left these rats in the water. Now get this, in total darkness, the rats would only swim around for about 3 minutes before they would drown.

As they continued the test, they took some more rats and put them in those same jars of water and put them back in that same room. BUT this time, they allowed a single gleam of light to shine in. Just a single ray of light in the room. And those rats, for 36 hours, they swam and fought for their lives.

Just that single ray of hope, kept them alive 700x’s longer.

Where do you find your hope? I can't imagine what it must be like for those who try to "keep their head above water" without having the hope that comes from knowing Jesus.

the exchange

2008-04-14T15:39:00.005-04:00

In (Mark 8:34-37) Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me…What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Notice the word “exchange”. Jesus said that there is a kind of “exchange” that is made for our souls. If you’re the typical American, you’re going to live an average life-span of about 25,550 days. And…every one of those days you’re exchanging your life for something.

You may exchange it for a day of watching television.
You may exchange it for a day on the golf course.
You may exchange it for a day at the lake.
You may exchange it for a day of working.
You may exchange it for a day of helping and changing someone's life.

The Bible says you are exchanging your life every day for something.

Now, think about that for a minute. Are you getting a good deal out of the exchange? Are you investing in stuff that’s just fun for today (but nobody is going to care about what you did 20 years from now)? ... OR are you making investments each day that will last for eternity?

generation of debt

2008-04-01T17:47:00.007-04:00

Why is our economy struggling so greatly? Why do we deal with so much fear when it comes to the issue of money? I wonder if some of the problem might have to do with these recent statistics:

 People in the 18-24 year old age bracket spend nearly 30% of their income on debt repayment.
Generation Broke: The Growth of Debt Among Young Americans

 Of households that carry consumer debt, the average carries over $10,000 in revolving debt and has 9 credit cards.
Jump$tart Coalition, 2007

 Americans gave credit card companies over $24 Billion (in fees) for the year 2004. That was an increase of 18% over the previous year.
Cardweb.com, 2005

 A survey of teenagers today. Teenager believe that in the coming years they will earn $145,000 a year. When in reality, a person with a bachelor’s degree earns (on average) about 1/3 of that amount.
The Denver Post, citing Charles Schwab Teens and Money, 2007

 The number of 18 to 24 year olds declaring bankruptcy has increased 96% in the last 10 years.
Richmond Credit Abuse Resistant Education (CARE) Program

What’s the problem? We live in a culture that is all about buying, and having, and wanting more and more stuff. Are we teaching biblical principles and modeling them for our kids?

(1 Timothy 6:6-8) says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

The Bible says, “Look, all this stuff that we get so worried about… it’s just stuff. It has no real value. It’s just a temporary distraction in your 80 or so years on this planet.”

Never forget....the most important things in life… aren’t things.

love and fear

2008-03-25T09:39:00.007-04:00

I am teaching right now through a Sunday Series called "Living Without Fear". There is a verse of Scripture that never fails to amaze me. (1 John 1:18) says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

It's hard to wrap my mind around how significant this really is. The Bible says that

the opposite of love is fear and
the opposite of fear is love

In other words, love and fear can't operate at the same time in your life. Love and fear can’t be in the same room. Here’s what happens: when love comes in the front door of your life, fear goes out the back door. Love chases fear away.

And no matter what anybody tries to tell you, the truth is this: You ARE loved! God has loved you ever second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day, of every week, of every month, of every year. There has never been a time that God has not loved you. And his PERFECT love can drive away our fears.

high school memories

2008-03-18T09:14:00.005-04:00

A woman was sitting in the waiting room for her first appointment with a new dentist. She noticed his DDS diploma, which bore his full name. Suddenly, she remembered that a tall, handsome, dark-haired boy with the same name had been in her high school class so many years ago. Could this be the same guy I had a crush on way back then? she wondered.

She quickly discarded any such thought when she met the balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face. He's way too old to have been my classmate, she thought to herself.

Still, after he examined her teeth, she asked, "Did you happen to attend Morgan Park High School?"

"Yes! I'm a Mustang," he gleamed with pride.

"When did you graduate?" she asked.

"1975," he replied. "Why do you ask?"

"You were in my class!" she exclaimed.

"Really?" he said, looking at her closely. "What did you teach?"

human history

2008-03-13T09:31:00.002-04:00

All that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.

C.S. Lewis

seth's comedy debut

2008-03-04T19:12:00.003-05:00

Today our 7 year old son took the stage for his first time at a Senior's gathering. I helped him pick jokes and get ready, but the style and delivery is ALL Seth!

Sorry about the video being sideways. But I'm sure you'll enjoy it :-)

jefferson style

2008-02-28T17:30:00.000-05:00

In matters of style,

swim with the current;

In matters of principle,

stand like a rock.

Thomas Jefferson

the great musician

2008-02-21T09:49:00.002-05:00

Imagine a family of mice who lived all their lives in a large piano. In their “Piano-world” every dark space was filled with beautiful sound and the wonderful harmonies of the piano.

At first the mice were impressed by their world. They drew comfort and wonder from the thought that there was SOMEONE who made the music. They could not see the “Great Player” but they sensed that he was above them and close to them.

Then one day, a daring young mouse climbed up part of the piano and returned with all the answers. He had studied their Piano-World very closely and had found out HOW the music was made. He said there was no Great Player. Wires were the secret; tightly stretched wires of different lengths which trembled and vibrated. So... the mice had to change all their old beliefs; they were told they should no longer believe in the Great Unseen Player.

Then another research project determined that hammers were the secret. Many mallet type hammers actually tapped ON the wires to create the music. The music must be simply a system of mathematic reactions.

SO… they no longer believed in the unseen musician. They thought they had it figured out.

And isn’t it sad how humans tend to do the same thing? We forget that if there is music, there is some player who must have created it. (Psalm 19:1) “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” The reflections of God’s handiwork are all around us. YOU...were not an accident. Creation is evidence of the existence of God.

church and politics

2008-02-13T14:53:00.000-05:00

Many years ago I came to a realization concerning politics. As you know, evangelical Christianity has become synonymous with the Republican party in America. But I have come to the conclusion that a Christian leader needs to carefully consider the ramifications of publicly endorsing any particular candidate or political party.

Here's why: because the message of Jesus Christ needs to take precedence. Should a church find its primary identity wrapped up in "abortion protests" and "preventing gay marriage"? If we portray ourselves as the church of the Republican Party...does that essentially declare to Democrats, or Libertarians, or Green Party people, "You are not welcome here. I guess you'll have to hear about Jesus somewhere else."

And more importantly...trying to change people's outside behavior will never transfrom our culture anyway! What good does it do for people to adopt a conservative agenda, if they don't have a relationship with God? The answer is for people to get Jesus in their heart. That is what will result in a transformation of our culture. The church has spent generations trying to change people from the outside-in through political power. News flash! Jesus said it will never work. God's plan is to change people from the inside-out.

Today I read this article, and it was clear that Gordon MacDonald is a guy who "gets" the point. It's pretty long. But believe me, it is worth a read.

When Leaders Rock the Vote
In this political season, how much should I say?
by Gordon MacDonald

In the faith community of my boyhood, our defining hymn could have been "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through." We were relatively disinterested in any public issues except those that had something to do with family or matters of private morality. Everything else was "of the world." Result? I was quite naïve about how to sort out the kind of public issues with which a pastor should identify.

Figuring all of that out began during my seminary days. On weekends I pastored a tiny, rural church in northwestern Kansas. As I was preaching my first sermons Lyndon Johnson was running against Barry Goldwater for the Presidency. I determined to break from my Republican roots and associate with the Democrats. I pasted a Johnson sticker on the back of my Volkswagen. I did this in a Kansas county that would eventually vote overwhelmingly for Goldwater! Was I brave or stupid?

My father (full disclosure: he was a Goldwater man), always candid, saw my Johnson sticker and said, "Are you prepared to take a political position that will cause some people to stop listening to you when you preach the gospel?"

Now there was a showstopper of a question, and not a bad one. It challenged me to rise to a new level of consciousness in determining when I should go to the wall for an issue and when it might be prudent to avoid the wall. In truth, I had not moved to Cheyenne County in Kansas to stump for Lyndon Johnson; I was there, presumably, to represent the interests of Jesus.

In that case I removed the sticker. My political preferences would not be a deal-breaker when it came to engaging people in my congregation. And the moment birthed a new insight: In matters political, I needed to discern the difference between a preference and a conviction.

On another occasion two years later, it was a conviction that caused me, as a young pastor, to take a stand for civil rights. After a racial disturbance in our southern Illinois town, I encouraged the leaders of churches, both African-American and white, to meet and discuss the matter. I held one of the meetings in our home. That was daring in 1966. It resulted in a confrontation at the next deacons meeting and the forced resignation of one of our leaders.

In both of these cases, I was free to assert my rights. But while I asserted that right in the second event because of conviction, I chose not to in the earlier account because it involved preference.

As the years passed, I came to see that the practicalities of a Christ-following faith almost always have political, social, and economic implications. But when and how to use my pulpit privileges or the influence of my pastoral position to bring attention to these issues was a serious challenge. I did not enjoy the job security of a tenured professor, and, to be frank, I did not possess the bravado of a zealot. By nature I wanted to get along, to be a priestly presence for people, to build a strong church.

So when should I take the plunge and declare myself or act upon controversial issues and when should I stay away? The answers that came to me over time are what I call soft answers … or judgment calls.

Principles I (now) live by
Most importantly, I learned to seek a convergence of impressions from biblical reflection, historical precedent (as I gained insight from my hand-picked heroes of faith), vigorous prayer, and the wisdom of a few close confidants. If one of these was out of alignment with the others, it was a wake-up call that I might be on my way to making a fool of myself.

It became important to ask, Who am I, and what have I been called to do? By nature I am not an adversarial person; I am not politically minded, and I do not function well in the world of debate. I was (still am) called to be a pastor—a spiritual father—who functions best when he asks tough questions and challenges people to listen for God's voice and its potential to direct them into action. There are some in my world—even good friends of mine—who are naturals at entering the fray of the public political arena. But that seems to be both their strength and their prophetic call. It's not mine.

A second thought that developed was to make sure I was aware of the priority themes of the Bible and their practical or political implications. One might be tempted to say, "Well, duh!" except for the fact that many of us come from traditions that have manufactured great conviction out of just two or three lines of Scripture while ignoring other possible convictions based on scores and scores of scriptural lines.

This meant that issues like compassion for the weak and the poor and justice for the powerless became more than matters of conscience to me. It meant that I could not take the doctrine of creation seriously without recognizing the concomitant issue of the proper care of the earth. Can one seriously claim to follow a crucified and stripped Savior and not have conviction about the irresponsible uses of wealth? I saw such things oozing from all sections of the Bible.

A third principle that became important to me was to become a listener. It's a discipline: to patiently hear what someone else has to say and reserve judgment until they have fully spoken their piece. I'm amazed at what I have learned and how often I have been humbled when I follow this principle. This is the beginning of genuine Christian discourse, something not well developed in my background.

Fourth: I determined to stay as free as I possibly could from ideological entrapment. There are worthy ideas and solutions that come from the minds of good people who populate both the conservative and liberal constituencies. The God of the Bible is neither Republican nor Democrat; the biblical framework cannot be reduced to the agenda of either the right or the left.

Fifth: I determined to renounce the temptation to bash those with whom I do not agree. It is one thing to poke and prod at an idea, another to attack the person who bears the idea. Too often I have failed here.

The arrogance and smugness of too many Christian spokespersons has cost us greatly. We will pay a price for years to come for their mean-spirited and intemperate remarks. Bible-believing Christians are not usually characterized by the larger world as compassionate, gracious, and thoughtful. Rather, we are typed as angry, win-at-all-costs, insensitive people. How can our higher message—that Jesus is mighty to save—be taken seriously if we are perceived in this way? This is worth weeping for.

It was helpful for me to carefully select three (just three!) issues with which I would identify over a long period of time. The three for me were famine-related issues in Africa, racial reconciliation, and environmental matters.

As a leader, it is all too easy to get involved in myriad issues, to become a "lobbyist" for every decent cause. But I could not afford to be pulled away from my core sense of call: to shepherd a flock of souls and to help them follow Jesus. Obviously, I would—from time to time—illustrate issues of discipleship in terms of their political implications, but extensive, time-consuming, passion-draining involvement in non-pastoral matters was probably for other people, not for a pastor.

That didn't mean I would not occasionally point out political and social applications of the gospel. I had to steel myself against the possibility of losing an occasional friend or church member. In my world I found that I was something of a hero if I spoke against abortion and for the sanctity of life. But I lost my heroic status if I dared to extend the principle of life-sanctity to the matter of capital punishment, or the fact that 27,000 children die every day in our world due to diseases that are treatable.

A sermon that protests gay marriage would be welcomed, I learned. But a sermon that reminds us that, statistically speaking, divorce and spousal abuse is just as flagrant in our congregations as it is in the secular community, is shrugged off.

Perhaps my greatest disappointment with the tradition I consider my "home" is that it wasn't and still isn't a safe place to ask questions, explore alternatives, launch creative ideas of a political or social orientation. It is often overrun by a mindset that puts people in a box after just a few words are said that don't sound safe and familiar.

It has been said that the role of a prophet is never to compliment government but rather to critique it in the name of the living God. The traditional Quaker phrase—"truth speaking to power"—applies here. But how shall we know what to say to political and economic power, if we cannot convey thoughts to each other in respectful dialogue instead of battering each other with labels, disassociation, and slander?

As this national election process determines who will occupy the White House for the next four years, I know that many pastors will struggle to know when to speak and when to remain silent about all of the issues that a national election raises. More than once I have been in conversations where a political or ideological position was far more divisive than a discussion over a piece of orthodox Christian doctrine.

Regularly pastors thread their way through the labyrinth of opinions and debate knowing that a misplaced word can sometimes set a pastoral relationship back many months if not permanently.

But every once in a while, a word well-spoken because it is immersed in prayer, clothed in humility, backed with solid thought and the fullness of God's Spirit breaks through and people see something differently.

Result? They go on to make a God-intended difference in their communities. That is one great moment.

sowing & reaping

2008-02-06T15:57:00.000-05:00

So often we forget the “Principle of Sowing and Reaping”.

Sometimes we give up on the possibility that God is going to do something great, simply becuase he hasn't done it YET.

But the priciple we need to remember is this: You seldom reap the harvest in the same season that you sowed the seeds.

When you plant a seed in your garden today, you don’t sit in the garden and watch the ground expecting for the fruit to pop up right away. You know it takes time. The harvest might not come tomorrow, or next week, or even next year.

In fact the Bible says the harvest might not even come up until you get to heaven. You may not see the reward for your labor in this lifetime, on this earth.

But God has promised that when you plant
 seeds of righteousness
 seeds of integrity
 seeds of peace
You have the hope…you have the promise, that you will be rewarded with a harvest of righteousness.

Maybe the change that you need to make is in a relationship (somebody you just can’t get along with). And so you decide to do something positive. You start planting the seeds. You start being nice to the person. You start loving them and making peace and trying to restore that relationship.

Well, you’ve got to understand that you might not reap the rewards right away. They might not change and everything turn out great. They might not apologize and make pretty.

So what is our natural tendency? We pull back and say, “Well fine then, I’ll stop planting the seeds. I’ll go back to treating them the old way.” And we never reap the harvest in that relationship.

But DON’T STOP. Keep on loving that person. And even if they don’t change, God says…IN THE END you will reap a harvest of righteousness anyway. You’ll be rewarded.

henry ford

2008-01-30T15:30:00.000-05:00

If you think you can do a thing or that you cannot do a thing...

in either case you are right.

Henry Ford

motivation video

2008-01-21T09:12:00.000-05:00

This was from Sunday morning 1/20/08 at First Wesleyan Church. We're exploring why our attempts to change so often fail. Could it sometimes be a problem of being motivated by the wrong things?

patience with God

2008-01-16T09:45:00.000-05:00

One of the areas that God has been working on in my life...is patience.

Sometimes that is reflected when I'm out on the road. Do you ever stuggle with patience, when you get behind a slow driver?

At times, I think it helps my prayer life. I start having a prayer meeting right there in my car. “Jesus will you please bless that person in the car in front of me! Especially bless their right foot. Give it extra weight. Give them wisdom to know that they better speed up or get out of the way, in Jesus name!”

I've learned a lot from watching NASCAR (which is probably not the best role model). Watching NASCAR, I learned that it is not called tailgating…it's drafting!

At the grocery store, I hate when you end up in the slowest line. There’s an exact science to picking the right check-out lane at WalMart. I do that thing where you walk by all the registers and calculate the ratio
 between the number of people in line
 proportionate to how many items each person has
 divided by the apparent speed of the cashier in each line
To determine which one will get me out of the store the fastest.

There are some great restaurants here in Tuscaloosa, but you won’t find me waiting. Outback Steakhouse? Great place. I love it! But if it means waiting 2 hours to get a seat...I'll see you at McDonald's.

So...WHAT'S THE POINT?

Impatience doesn't work in our relationship with God. Isaiah 40:31 says, "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." My problem is that I want to run and do all this stuff without first waiting upon the Lord.

This week our entire church has committed to a morning (or evening) quiet time with Psalm 139. Inspired by that challenge on Sunday, someone sent me this email that puts it all in perpective:

I have a close friend who is a pastor. A few years ago, he began to experience burnout. He was trying to do too much and satisfy too many people. He even considered, with tears, the idea of leaving the ministry. One of his favorite writers is Brennan Manning. One day he was so depressed that he decided to try to call Manning, though he had never met him. To his surprise, Manning's name was in the New Orleans directory. My friend called the number and Manning answered the phone. Manning was very gracious and listened to my friend pour his heart out. Then Manning said, "Greg, you probably need to get out of the ministry." There was then silence on the line. Those words stunned Greg. He did not know what to say. Then Manning added..."or you can learn to waste time with Jesus everyday...not doing anything constructive but relaxing with Him. Those are your only two choices."

average child

2008-01-09T08:10:00.000-05:00

I'm usually not usually much of a "poem guy". But last year I read this one during a teaching and have often been asked for a reprint. So here it is. I don't have any clue who the author might be (but from the language and phrases used, I'm guessing this work has been around for a while)

“The Average Child”
I don’t cause teachers trouble
My grades have been OK
I keep up my chores at home
and I’m in school every day.
My teachers think I’m average,
and my parents, they think so too
I wish I didn’t know that...cause
there are lots of things I’d like to do
I’d like to build a rocket ship,
I’ve got a book that shows you how.
Or I’d like to start a stamp collection. Well...
No use tryin’ now
cause, since I know I’m average,
I’m just smart enough you see,
to know there’s nothing special that I should ever expect of me.
I’m just part of that majority
that bump part of the Bell
That live there lives unnoticed in an average kind of hell.

Doesn't that break your heart?

Let me tell you today, you’re not average!!! My job as a Pastor, is to help people see themselves through God’s eyes.

And check this out. That’s YOUR JOB too! It’s your job to look at the people around you and to encourage them. Be a messenger of hope. Help people see their potential through the eyes of God.

playground courage

2008-01-02T12:42:00.000-05:00

All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.
- John Kenneth Galbraith

Could it be that the essense of leadership is courage? Andy Stanley had a great point when he said that most people follow "The Rules of the Playground".

When you're a kid out playing with a group of friends, there is always one child who is ready to:

- climb the tree
- shave the cat
- walk the fencepost
- jump the gulley

This kid may not have been the strongest, fastest or smartest. The Playground leader often made up their own rules. Many of those kids were the ones who got me into trouble! :-) Because once they did something, others were sure to follow. The courage to go first made them the leader by default.

The human spirit is always drawn towards courage.

Isn't that one of the defining characteristics of Jesus himself? But what set him apart was this important difference: Jesus had a courage that was motivated by selflessness. He didn't do things out of pride or personal ambition. His was a courage that stood up for justice, that defended the weak, that healed the brokenhearted. He always chose the right for the common good.

Jesus was often hated and accused. Many took offense and positioned themselves as enemies of Christ. It ended up costing him death on the cross.

But the courage of a servanthearted leader has the power to change the world.

christmas letter

2007-12-18T11:56:00.000-05:00

Below you will read Tracy's inaugural edition of a "Family Christmas Letter". She demanded that I keep the last section included where she talks about me. When I asked why she did not also write anything about how wonderful and beautiful she is, Tracy's answer had something to do with how much I talk about her on the platform all the time. Apparently this was her turn to get me back. She is such an amazing woman...I guess I'll let her take over my blog for this week.

So here it is. Read and enjoy:

Well, this is a year with some ‘firsts’ for the Gorveatte Family. Hopefully every year has some ‘firsts’, otherwise life gets boring!

A major change in our life has prompted us to write our first official Christmas Letter! I always enjoy receiving letters and updates from friends and family around the country, but never thought of doing one of our own. We hope you enjoy the first...maybe there will be more to come!

In January of this year, we went to Disney World for the first time. I (Tracy) had never been to Florida, so I was very excited to see what all of the hoopla was about. We had 2 wonderful days at Disney, but even better was the time we got to spend with the Gorveatte extended family. Having all 28 (one niece, Sara wasn’t there) of us together doesn’t happen very often, so it was a real treat.

Joel bought his first road bicycle In January and starting training for ‘the Big Ride’ in September. This spring he put more than 1,000 miles on his bike, and then...we moved about 2 weeks before the 400 mile Dalmac ride through Michigan. We were all bummed for him because he had worked so hard. He was quick to find fellow bikers at our new location, so Joel still rides when he can make time. You should see him in his biking outfit – very cute!

As some of you may know, we moved to the great state of Alabama at the end of the summer. It is somewhat of a homecoming for Joel after having lived here in Tuscaloosa as a child.

We had been in Lansing, Michigan since we left college 12 years ago, so this is the first time we’ve ever had to say goodbye to our church family and start our journey with a new church family. The moving process is never fun, but all went well. Despite the horrendous real estate market, God did what only He could have done – our home sold within one week without a realtor! Throughout the process, God has proven His faithfulness over and over again.

We’ve been blessed by the great folks at First Wesleyan Church in Tuscaloosa, who have been very welcoming. Our Faith Church family is now being led by Brandon & Jennifer Bruce, and we couldn’t be happier for them all. We know that while the process of leaving was difficult, the Lord has great plans for Faith & The Bruces.

We are really enjoying the yummy Southern cuisine – BBQ, ribs, catfish, sweet potatoes, pecan pie (and the list could go on and on). This has prompted another first….Joel and I have been jogging. Southern cuisine isn’t know for being low-fat (I really want to see Paula Deen’s cholesterol count)! So, we try to jog together a few evenings a week around the neighborhood. No marathons are in our future, but a couple of miles here and there give us some quality time together.

For the first time, Kate (now 10) and Seth (now 7) are giving basketball a try. They have their first game after the New Year, so they’re busy practicing. We are still homeschooling, and it’s still working well for us all. Kate is into listening to her iPod, emailing buddies, reading, and spending time with new friends. Seth still loves to draw, tell jokes and create things (new superheroes, video games, etc.). They both had their first visit with an orthodontist, and it looks like braces are in our future – yikes! They have transitioned very well since the move and have taken it all in stride. We are so proud of them and feel very blessed to have such great kids.

Joel and I will be celebrating our 13th anniversary in just a few weeks, and if it’s OK to brag, I will. I am a very blessed woman to be married to such a wonderful man. His words are sweet, his heart is mine, most of his jokes are funny, and his shiny bald head is so handsome! How blessed I am!

This concludes the Gorveatte Family update for 2007. Our hope for our family and yours in 2008 is that we have a better understanding of who Jesus is, have hearts more willing to serve, and have some great ‘firsts’ to share next year.

christmas guarantee

2007-12-12T18:20:00.000-05:00

supernatural video

2007-12-06T17:33:00.000-05:00

During our Sunday series "Supernatural", we used this video as part of the teaching. Didn't Grant do a fantastic job directing and editing?

If you're wondering about the "spirit images" behind me, there is a really special way that we captured that effect. We bought a very special filter for the camera lens and then prayed really hard for angels to appear.

OK, maybe it was just a "green screen" computer trick, but it still worked great!

new running shoes

2007-12-03T08:52:00.000-05:00

The weather has been really nice this fall. This weekend was the first of December and the weather was 70+ degrees. You would think that the conditions would be great for cycling. And Saturday I did get a chance to mountain bike on some aggressive trails (I only tumbled like 3 times!)

However, from day to day it is frustrating to see how quickly darkness approaches. Alabama is at the very beginning of the Central Time Zone. It is literally pitch black outside by 5:15pm. And the roads around here are not such that cycling after dark would be a wise thing to do.

Compounded by the fact that my schedule, has not allowed alot of time for it, I have not been getting hardly any time in the saddle. The result? My lack of fitness has made me feel pretty "blah".

So in the last 2 weeks, Tracy and I have tried to do a little running/jogging. This is a first for both of us. I have never owned a single pair of running shoes in my entire life. But I had been saving up my birthday money and that's what I ended up buying.

Running is something that we can do after dark. The dog enjoys the leash time. We can circle around the neighborhood (with cell phone in hand) and the kids are fine at home (Kate's a pretty responsible young lady). And I especially like that it is something we can do together.

We'll see how it goes. I don't expect to run (or even walk) any marathons any time soon. But at least the dog is enjoying the exercise!

daniel's prayer

2007-11-24T21:18:00.000-05:00

This month at First Wesleyan we are in a Sunday series called SUPERNATURAL. This weekend I'm going to touch on the power of prayer in the battle of the spiritual warfare.

I don’t know about you, but for me, there are times when I slip into thinking that prayer is not that big a deal. It seems like I pray and pray, and nothing happens.

But then I’m reminded of the story of Daniel, when he was going through a difficult time.

In (Daniel 10 vs.12) it says an angel came to him, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard… (the angel said, “Daniel, from the very first moment those words came from your lips, God heard your prayer in heaven. And he sent me to come help you").

The angel said, “And I have come in response to (your prayers). But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there.”

All of a sudden Daniel realized God was answering his prayer. But it was taking time. There was a battle going on.

Just because you pray and it seems like nothing is happening, don’t think that it’s the end of the story. Prayer is more powerful than you know. Keep praying. It is making a difference.

Favre's new record

2007-11-17T08:51:00.000-05:00

This season Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre broke Dan Marino's record for throwing the most touchdown passes. The magic touchdown number was 421.

Two weeks later, he broke another record. His 278 picked passes made Brett Favre the most intercepted quarterback in NFL history.

Doesn't it remind you of Babe Ruth? One of the greatest baseball batters of all time, Babe once held the record with 714 home runs. But he also struck out 1,330 times.

Why are we so hard on people when they fail? At least they had the courage to take a risk. And that courage is often the defining characteristic that separates the winners from the losers. Winners aren't always more talented or gifted. But they keep pushing forward when others give up and quit.

why do it that way?

2007-11-12T09:23:00.000-05:00

I recently read an article by Patricia Fripp and it prompted thoughts about WHY we do things the way we do. Upon evaluation, we often realize that our only reason for a particular practice is because, "Well, that's how we've always done it."

Here's the article, and then at the bottom I've added some questions that are worth pondering.

Joyce Ward is with Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activities, a Navy organization that fixes ships. "As a Business Performance Officer," she told me, "I go out and work with the shops, focusing on teamwork.

"In 1994, I was working with my first team, our lifeboat repair shop. These rafts hang on the decks of ships and need to be inflated in an emergency. However, the failure rate in 1994 was 40%. After we asked some questions, we dropped the failure rate to 1% or less by the year 2000. How did we do this?

"We looked at the processes and made a flow chart. We kept track of who was working on what so we could spot where the errors were occurring. When we did this, we discovered one extraordinary employee whose work was always perfect. There was no failure rate for Joey.

"We decided to observe Joey carefully to figure out what he was doing right. We watched and watched, but couldn't see that he was doing anything different from the other workers. Then we decided to videotape him and asked him to describe what he was doing as he did each step. We encouraged the other members of the team to observe, reminding them that they or their family might be the ones needing a lifeboat in an emergency.

"So the whole team was there watching. At one point, Joey said, 'And now I fold the valve under.'

"'Wait!' the other said. 'But we fold it toward the top? Why are you folding it underneath?'

"'Because," Joey said, 'it lies flatter, and there is less chance that it could be broken when the life raft is compressed into the little package.' Joey was a young man very low on the totem pole, but we've learned that you have to listen to the kids down on the deck. They are the ones who make it happen.

We ask the teams to define problems and describe what they've done to solve it. After we collect their answers, we brief the executive officers who can make it happen. Then they make recommendations to leadership who can bring about a permanent change. Joey's idea became the department standard for the entire Navy. (He also got an award of $2500.)

And thanks to Joey and our asking the right questions, your chances of having a working lifeboat have risen to 99% or more."

Why do we so often get stuck in “wrong practices”?

How can we identify the people in our ministry who are doing it right?

How can we learn from their practices?

How can we implement those learnings?

exhausted birthday

2007-11-05T10:13:00.001-05:00

I had a birthday this weekend. It's funny how those seem to come around every single year. This one happens to be my 34th.

In some ways, that doesn't seem very old. But on that particular day, I felt VERY old.

It started with an alarm clock at 2:20 in the AM! We had a great crew from First Wesleyan leaving for a missions trip to Guatemala. So as a family adventure, Tracy and I packed up the kids and drove over to the church to pray with them. It was fun, but the bed sure felt good when I crawled back in sometime after 3:00.

Then my alarm rang again at 7:00. I had promised to go on a group cycling ride. So before I knew it, I was suiting up to hit the road. The guys on this ride are all serious at climbing the hills and pounding the pavement. I felt great for the first 25 miles. But after some long climbs my legs started to cramp up. And unforunately the group had chosen a 50 MILE LOOP! When you are way out in the back woods of Alabama on a bicycle, it doesn't matter how much your legs hurt. There is only one way to get home. Keep pedaling!

When I got home, I was feeling the affects of sleep deprivation and pushing past my physical limits. I grabbed a bite to eat and then went to soak in the tub. I must have stayed in there too long with the heat and bubbles from the jets, because for the rest of the day I developed a little cough from the humidity.

So finally I settled in for a late afternoon stretch of football. A friend from the church came over. My family was excited about 2 of the most important games of the year. Alabama VS. LSU and the Michigan State VS. Michigan game. Both games ended with a disappointing last minute loss for my team.

Then I spent the last few hours of the evening getting ready for Sunday morning with teaching prep and prayer.

What a 34th birthday! And in the midst of it all I couldn't be happier. I was tired because of good things. Positive things. I was exhausted because of...

A missions trip blessing
A morning in nature with some great guys
A comfortable home with jets in the tub!
A football game to watch with a friend
A church with which to grow and worship

Now that's a birthday. I am so blessed and thankful. I have the most amazing wife and the most wonderful children. And God has given me a whole new city to take on as a mission field.

Nevertheless, for my 35th birthday I think I'll sleep in!

invites to church

2007-10-30T09:10:00.000-04:00

It is so cool to see our people at FWC with a renewed passion for inviting people to church! Our "Personality Profiles" series has been alot of fun. And there is a growing buzz of anticipation with each new week.

This Sunday morning I introduced myself to a young lady. I asked, "And how long have you been part of First Wesleyan?" She said, "Actually this is my first Sunday. A friend invited me because of the teaching series."

Folks that fires me up. There is a work that God is doing in people's hearts. We are gaining a new appreciation for how God has wired each individual for ministry. I can't wait to see what is going to happen this Sunday!

silver cross gimmick

2007-10-25T09:59:00.000-04:00

During WWII, there was a battle in Italy and a young soldier was under fire. He was running for cover and he dove into a foxhole with bullets whizzing over his head. Frantically he started to dig down deeper to make more room. He was scraping away the dirt with his hands. As he was digging, he saw something hidden in the dirt. It was a silver cross, left by whoever was in that hole last.

At just that moment, someone else dove into the foxhole behind him…with the bullets whizzing by. The soldier looked up and saw that it was a chaplain. Holding out the cross, the young soldier gasped, “Am I glad to see you! How do you work this thing?”

People so often think there is some trick or gimmick to getting love from God. But I’m here to tell you, there is no secret code. It’s simple! God LOVES YOU.

You say, “Joel, you have no clue what I’ve done.” That’s true I’m clueless. But God has more than just a clue! He knows your whole story, inside and out.

And in spite of anything you’ve ever done, the Bible says “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He wants to forgive you and give you a fresh start. He wants to empower you to live a NEW life, freed from the power that sin has over you.

not such big ideas

2007-10-23T09:45:00.000-04:00

Here's a recent article from Leadership Journal. Since my family is crazy about Bob and Larry, the subject matter tweaked my interest. But the real point was not about talking vegetables:

Six years ago, Phil Vischer revolutionized Christian family entertainment by selling 30 million Veggie Tales videos. He was running the largest animation studio between the coasts, and had dreams that his empire, known as Big Idea Productions, would become the next Disney.

But by 2003 his dream was over. After a heartbreaking court decision, later overturned on appeal, Big Idea declared bankruptcy, and Vischer sold the company's assets, including his computer animated characters Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber. His new book, Me, Myself, and Bob (Nelson, 2007) tells the story of Big Idea's rise and fall. We sat down with Vischer to talk about what he's learned.

What did you do after losing Big Idea?

About six months of rolling around and moaning, which is what you do when you wipe out. I also did a lot of reading and praying, asking God to sort through the wreckage and show me what I needed to learn.

Looking back, when did Big Idea get off course? Was there a turning point?

Big Idea was growing, but I didn't know how to manage it. It felt out of control. So, I turned to a popular business book, Built to Last by Jim Collins. I read through it like I had found Scripture. The book suggests a "big, hairy, audacious goal." I didn't think God had given me one, but the book said I should have one. So I made one up—one I thought God would like.

What was the BHAG?

I thought God would be pleased if Big Idea became one of the top four family media companies in the world. The goal came from my evangelical upbringing that said more impact is better. Better to impact millions at once than one at a time. Big Idea's aggressive growth, which came from the big, hairy, audacious goal, was ultimately its undoing.

When did you begin to sense something was wrong?

We were selling a gazillion videos and I was getting 400 fan letters a day, but one day I was reading my Bible and came across the fruit of the Spirit. It occurred to me that none of those things was present in my life. It didn't say the fruit of the Spirit is impact, large numbers, or selling lots of videos. I realized something was not right.

Where did you turn?

As everything was falling apart, I started reading a weekly study by Henry Blackaby. On the first page Blackaby more or less said, If what you are trying to do for God is not working, it may be because it came from your own head and not God. You may want to do something significant for him, but he just wants you to be obedient. That skewered my false gospel of impact.

How has your understanding of success changed?

I used to think people like Mother Teresa and Henri Nouwen were guilty of poor stewardship. God has given us limited time and resources and we have to help as many people as possible—not just one or two at a time. Mother Teresa should have franchised a system for feeding the poor on a massive scale. She needed an MBA.

Now I understand God has a unique journey for each of us with unique measures of success. Now I ask myself, Have I done what God has asked me to do? Am I walking with him daily? Success has very little to do with where I end up. It's not about measurable impact.

What advice do you have for pastors trapped in a false gospel of impact?

First, there is a danger in applying business principles to ministry. Businesses use numbers to measure success and ministries shouldn't. Using numbers to convince ourselves that we are doing God's will is dangerous. Second, remember that nothing is scripture except Scripture. We shouldn't look at a model another church is using and simply adopt it. Because God has uniquely led someone doesn't mean he is leading you into the same thing.

How are you employing these new ideas in your ministry now?

My new company is called Jellyfish Labs because jellyfish cannot choose their own course; their direction is derived from currents. As a Christian I should be thinking of myself more as a jellyfish than as a big studly tuna. I have a wall full of new ideas. But the moment I pick one and call it my dream—my big, hairy, audacious goal—I'm holding onto it too tightly. And that's a big change. God is now my dream, my deep desire, not what I can do for him.

Copyright © 2007 by Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.

house church research

2007-10-17T13:17:00.000-04:00

While 20-somethings pull out of traditional churches, more people are leaving organized churches altogether, according to revolutionary pollster George Barna. Your new competitor is not the church down the street, but the house next door. Here is how Barna sizes up the House Church experience:

Average size of gathering: 20 people (including 7 children in gatherings with kids)

Gatherings including kids: 64%
Of those, kids meeting with adults for whole session: 41%

House churches meeting weekly: 80%

Average length of service: 2 hours

Include formal teaching: 76%

Eat as well as meet: 85%

Satisfaction with spiritual depth of the experience: 59%

Satisfaction with personal connectedness: 66%

Attenders who have met with their house church one year or less: 75%

—with info from Barna.org
Copyright © 2007 by the author or Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal.

welcoming newcomers

2007-10-10T09:54:00.000-04:00

This Sunday at First we're starting a new series and many people have been inviting unchurched family and friends. I hope we're ready to put on a smile and give lots of newbies plenty of southern loving and hugging.

day with the big wigs

2007-10-03T16:35:00.000-04:00

With all of the "NEWness" that fills every single day of my life recently, obviously the discipline of writing has waned. Hopefully you'll keep checking in on this site, because I will be getting back to it.

But these past weeks have not been uneventful. One of the craziest opportunities was last week's trip to Houston to spend the day at the largest church in North America, Lakewood Church.

Thanks to someone choosing to invest and pour into my life, I received this special invitation to an amazing leadership rountable. Along with a small group of about 30 other pastors, we spent about 11 hours in discussion with Joel & Victoria Osteen, Bill Hybels and John Maxwell.

I could try to unpack all the amazing events of the day and the ways my heart and mind were stretched, but in all honesty...it's an experience that I'm still processing. Suffice to say, I felt like a very small fish in a very big pond.

And I gained a greater appreciation for how God often wires effective leaders in very different ways. We don't all have to be alike. We don't all have to do the same things in the same kind of ways. We must, however, leverage our strengths to affect maximum impact for Kingdom advancement.

You and I are responsible for making the most of what God has given us. And fortunately, He doesn't leave us to do it on our own!

teachability

2007-09-13T09:40:00.000-04:00

One of my recent prayers has been this: "Lord, I want to be teachable." Walking into this new situation, it is tempting to assume that you have all the answers and know how things should change.

Getting started as the new pastor at an established church however, I have realized the great need to first absorb things like a sponge. As I observe and learn, reserving judgments helps me to maintain a teachable spirit.

For anyone expecting me to immediately make sweeping changes at First Wesleyan Church, they may have to wait a little while. Instead, I am trying to get to know people. I am becoming a student of culture. I am asking lots of questions.

In conversations I am often floating out bits of philosophy to see how people respond. Some things need to be dealt with immediately, and that's what we've been doing. And we do know the ultimate goal: to become a church after God's heart, actively serving our community and bringing people to Jesus. But to accomplish that goal, our first priority is getting to know each other. And then...TOGETHER...we will figure out exactly how we're going to get where we're going.

In a recent article by Angie Ward, she wrote: "In addition to looking at ministry competence, one of the questions we continue to ask about potential candidates is whether or not they have it—that innate passion to keep learning and growing. It is much easier to fill in gaps in education than gaps in character. Teachability can't be taught.

Teachability is not determined by age, but increased age means an increased chances that bad habits and character traits are more permanently ingrained.

Neither is teachability directly related to giftedness. Again, there may be an inverse relationship: the more talented the leader, the more difficult it will be for her to be teachable because she may have been able to coast on giftedness. Give me a humble, teachable leader any day over the most talented pastor on the planet.

Teachability requires repeated long, hard looks in the mirror. It means constantly evaluating your effectiveness and developing new skills to meet the challenges in your current situation. It requires asking, "Am I the bottleneck here?" and having the courage to make changes if the answer comes back "Yes." It involves looking at your previous track record and recognizing that a history of repeated failures or bad experiences may reflect solely on yourself.

And it requires a commitment to grow in the context of community by letting others speak into your life. The teachable leader creates a culture where others can see the specks in their eyes because their leader is willing to pull the beam out of his own eye first. It is only when we are willing to learn from our mistakes that we will reduce the likelihood of repeating them."
Leader's Insight: It's Not My Fault
Why short-tenure leaders are doomed to repeat their excuses
by Angie Ward

pounding

2007-09-12T15:03:00.000-04:00

You wouldn't believe how much food people brought to us Sunday night at the "Pounding". Actually it was more like a pummeling!

In the South...food is often a demonstration of love. So let me just say...we are feeling VERY loved!

new sunday series

2007-09-06T15:34:00.000-04:00

I am so excited about Sunday. For the very first teaching series at First Wesleyan Church in Tuscaloosa we're tackling some "First Questions".

September 9 "Where's the Power?"
September 16 "What Makes a Church Great?"
September 23 "What's Wrong with Jesus?"
September 30 "Will You Come With Us?"

getting started at first

2007-09-04T13:44:00.000-04:00

How do you know it's time to update your blog? When you come back from lunch and find a note from someone asking you when you're going to get to it.

Okay, so here it is...

Last week on Tuesday, the moving truck arrived at our home in Lansing and they shoved everything we own onto it. It disappeared over the horizon and we hoped and prayed that we would see it again someday a week later! We couldn't wait to get rolling so we took off at supper time and drove half of the trip to Alabama and made it pretty close to Louisville, Kentucky on the Indiana side. Wednesday night we pulled into Tuscaloosa with thoughts of Chick-Fil-A and Bama football on our minds.

The next few days involved getting the house ready for all of our stuff to arrive. Tracy started cleaning. The previous owners had left the house in pretty good shape. But there is a difference between "clean" and "tracy-clean".

I treated the yard for ants as the family began to get acquainted to Southern "Wildlife". The first night in our house, I noticed the scurrying creatures out in the garage. I was hesitant to tell Tracy, but she found them for herself soon enough. Cockroaches don't bother me quite so much, but my beautiful wife draws the line when a bug is big enough that a toddler with a saddle could ride it down the driveway.

We also have begun to meet some of the neighbors. Marcy across the street gave us the low-down on the nearby rattlesnake and scorpion population. The neigborhood is great with lots of children around the age of our kids, Kate and Seth. One of the neighbors even said he might come to church this Sunday! That's what it's all about!

The food has been amazing. I believe that the people of First Wesleyan have a goal. They have decided to fatten us up with the most wonderful food you could imagine. I'm really going to have to thrash out some serious miles on the bicycle to make up for the recent mass consumption of goodies. And the best is yet to come. Sunday night they're throwing an old-fashioned potluck and POUNDING to fill our cabinets. Our 7 year old Seth had never heard of a pounding and it sounded rather frightening to him. But we told him to leave his boxing gloves at home. All he needs for this event is an appetite.

This past Sunday was a great day for worship. Most people didn't know that we were going to be around this weekend. At the end of the service I slipped onto the platform and said a few words of greeting. We closed with a powerful time of prayer. There are exciting days ahead at First Wesleyan Church. You can sense the enthusiasm. There is an electricity that we believe is the Spirit of God preparing us for a season of great impact.

Oh, by the way. Our moving truck DID arrive yesterday so now we have actual furniture. The kids loved sleeping on camping cots and sitting on folding chairs, but last night I slept in a real bed...and it was VERY good! Now we just have to navigate our way through the maze of boxes stacked in every room.

last post from michigan

2007-08-27T07:40:00.001-04:00

I know people get sick of hearing that you're doing the "LAST" of this or that. About 3 weeks ago our family decided to stop using the phrase, "Well...this is the last time we'll ever...(drive on this road, eat from this Chinese place, sit on that park bench)." You get the point. However, this really will be the last time I write from Faith Church in Lansing.

Yesterday at church, it was so touching to hear stories of how God has impacted people's lives over the years. It is really encouraging to know that this church is going to be more than just OK. They're going to be great. The leadership team is doing a fantastic job through this time of transition. And the date has been scheduled for a pastoral candidate to come and go through the "show pony" routine so everyone can "kick his tires". Faith Church is in the same position that Tuscaloosa First Wesleyan was in earlier in the summer. They've identified who they believe God has divinely appointed, and are now going through the final stages of that search process.

Meanwhile, I've been hearing great things from Alabama. The spirit of enthusiasm and unity has been rising like a Crimson Tide!!! It is crazy to think that I will soon be on site as a pastor of one of the greatest churches in the South. First Wesleyan is not great just because of its location, facility or size. It's not even great because of its storied history or its celebrated leaders (although those are certainly undeniable factors). First Wesleyan Church is great because of its dependence on an amazing God.

It will take us a while to get settled in and to begin the process of evalutation and really getting to know and trust one another. But I have the sense that there are thousands of people in Tuscaloosa who need a touch from Jesus, and this is the church that has been uniquely called to be their connection point with God.

Schedule of Events

Today at noon is the closing on the sale of our home. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the long-distance closing on the purchase of our new home down there. Please pray for these transactions!

The moving truck arrives tomorrow, first thing in the morning. Depending on how everything goes, we hope to be in our new home by the end of the week (although we'll be there for as long as a week before the truck arrives with all our stuff). The kids are excited about camping out in a house without any clothes, furniture or personal belongings. It will be an adventure. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get up and running with the next post to this website.

We can't wait to see everybody at First Wesleyan this Sunday on Labor Day Weekend. And I am SO much chomping at the bit to get on the platform to teach for the first time on September 9th! We're going to be exploring one of the most likely causes for the lack of spiritual power in the life of the average Christian. If you're in the area, come and check us out.

Have a great week and we'll see you this Sunday at First!

last teaching at faith

2007-08-20T10:19:00.000-04:00

This has been an amazing weekend, filled with both joy and sorrow. Yesterday morning I stood on the platform at Faith for the very last time as Senior Pastor.

For weeks I had been pondering the focus of teaching for that day. I believed that I had come upon the right subject. I prepared this fantastic message about being a "Hope Addict". We were going to study Romans 8 and end with these exciting words of encouragement. That's how I wanted to be remembered, as leaving a legacy of optimism. I envisioned it as an exciting day of commissioning. I would offer these words of blessing over the future of Faith Church and everything would be happy, happy, happy.

But everything changed Saturday night. After performing the wedding ceremony for Pastor Mark Potter and Jen Norris Potter (congratulations!), I went home to spending time in my normal Saturday evening rituals. This is when I spend time in prayer, go through and practice telling some of the stories, mark up my notes, and make any last minute changes.

With a highlighter in hand, about half-way through my notes, I stopped dead in my tracks. All of a sudden the thought came into my mind that this was not the right subject for the day. I tried to put the thought out of my mind, but the strong conviction began to grow that God wanted me to speak on something totally different. To be honest, this is not what I wanted to hear. It takes a LONG time for me to prepare a teaching. And this was a teaching that I was excited about. If God wanted me to do something different, why didn't he reveal that to me at the beginning of the week...rather than Saturday evening? (Perhaps it was because he didn't want me to have time to overthink it and mess up the words that he wanted to speak)

I was immediately drawn to the Sermon on the Mount by Jesus from Matthew 5-7. Instead of having my last words at Faith Church be the words of Joel, the last words from my mouth were simply to be the words of Jesus.

So that's what happened. Yesterday morning I got up on the platform, opened my Bible and began to read. At various points I would stop and comment and provide some application or clarification...but mostly it was just reading the words of Jesus. And God showed up! Half of the church stood and responded to the call for commitment. The other half of the church gathered around those who were standing in order to lay hands on and pray. It was a beautiful moment of surrender as many prayed to receive freedom from bondage. Sins were confessed and I believe many victories were won.

Then in the pattern of Matthew ch.8 we had those come forward who desired prayer for physical healing. Again we prayed for miracles and I can't wait to hear the stories of what God did in those lives.

It was not the way I had pictured my final Sunday here. But I have come to discover that God's way is always the best way. And it is such an honor to be used as his servant.

times of change

2007-08-14T09:22:00.000-04:00

"When it comes to change, there are three seasons of timing: People change:

when they hurt enough that they have to,

when they learn enough that they want to,

when they receive enough that they are able to."

—John Maxwell

family tension

2007-08-09T11:35:00.001-04:00

Do you ever get stressed out by family stuff? Sometimes we get this idea that once you become a Christian, Jesus just automatically takes care of all that family tension and your relational stress just floats away... (yeah right).

And yet the New Testament gives us pretty strong indications that there was even sarcasm, jealousy and negativity in the "Holy Family".

For example, there’s a SNAPSHOT of this in the Gospel of John. It’s at a point where Jesus is very early in his ministry. Jesus and family grew up in the town called Nazareth, up in the Galilee region. And early on, Jesus is just starting to go around to some of these little nearby towns to teach and do miracles.

But there’s also this huge event coming up. It’s called the “Feast of Tabernacles”. It’s one of the big Festivals that all the Jews would go to. And people from all over Israel, and all over the world would come to Jerusalem for this big celebration.

Look closely at how the half-brothers of Jesus treated him. (John 7:2-5) “But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." For even his own brothers did not believe in him.”

Do you see how they’re mocking Jesus. They’re making fun of him. Can you sense the family tension?

So next time you get stressed out because of your relatives…just remember that even Jesus had family problems. And he was… (uh) Jesus!

So why should we expect our family stuff to be any easier?

better than the next

2007-08-04T10:35:00.000-04:00

Have you ever received a compliment that really was not all that encouraging?

I once heard a story of a pastor who was told after church, "Every Sunday your teaching is better than the next." He said, "Why thank you. Those kind words are so encouraging."

But then the pastor went home and began to think it over. If "every Sunday you teach is better than the next"...than you are headed on a downhill slide.

It's easy to let people's comments get you down. But for every negative, there are probably 10 positives that you've forgotten. We (self included) tend to fixate on the negative. But what good does that do?

Just keep doing your best and learning to depend on God more and more. Jesus said, "When someone slaps you on the cheek, smile and say: 'Thank you may I have another?'" Easier said than done.

finding a new home

2007-08-03T08:48:00.000-04:00

After a whirlwind weekend of meetings and greetings, and after having been poked, prodded, questioned and evaluated, and after speaking and receiving the Sunday vote...next came the challenge of finding a home for our family. We had one day to accomplish the task!

So the entire day Monday was spent with a wonderful and patient real estate agent who led us from house to house. After about house #6 we were starting to get quite discouraged. The price tag of homes compared to Lansing was staggering. People think of the south as being an affordable place to get lots of house for the dollar. Not so in Tuscaloosa. Especially not in the area surrounding the church.

We spent a few weeks beforehand researching real estate online, so we had a really good idea of what to expect. And we had the houses ranked in order of priority. But there are a lot things that you can't learn from a computer listing until you see the house in person.

Some of our top choices ended up being knocked out of the running because of floor-plans and indadequate features for hosting guests in our home. There was, however, one house that Tracy had been really excited about from the information we read online. It was at the very top of our price range, but it seemed to be a fantastic value for its neighborhood and Tracy kind of had a feeling about it from the very beginning (maybe there's something to this whole "women's intuition" thing, but I would prefer to call it "the Spirit's leading").

This particular house was just about the last house on our schedule for the day. We were kind of feeling the pressure, because if this last house was no good...we'd be in a pickle. We walked through the door and took a big sigh of relief. It was the only (absolutely the ONLY) house we found that didn't need lots of work and was pretty much ready to move in. The floor plan worked well. They yard was great. It felt like home.

That had been our main prayer before the search began. Tracy and I prayed together that there would be just one house that day that felt like home. And that is exactly what happened.

called to tuscaloosa

2007-07-27T13:13:00.001-04:00

Wow...I guess it has been quite a while since the last post. We just returned from Alabama and it has been hard to catch a few minutes to write. I'd love to go into great detail on the all the happenings of the last week. But for now, let me just update you on our final decision.

As of the last writing we were still out on the limb, uncertain of what God's future had in store for the Gorveatte family. We were completely confident in taking each step in faith, and have felt a complete peace through it all. We had resigned from Faith Church, but had no idea how the visit and vote from the membership at First Wesleyan Church in Tuscaloosa might turn out.

Long story short, it was fantastic! We had sensed God leading in that direction(and the immediate sale of our home seemed to affirm that)...but the people of First Wesleyan double-confirmed it. The offer to become Senior Pastor was extended and we have accepted.

It was a blessing to be received so warmly and enthusiastically! We felt that even if the vote had been less than encouraging, obedience to God meant going there anyway. Fortunately that is not how it turned out. God is developing a new sense of unity within the church at First Wesleyan...and that is exciting! The challenges are huge and there are many unanswered questions, but there have been far too many "godly coincidences" for us to even entertain any doubts.

I guess you could say that the amazing support of the people from Faith Church triple-confirms the whole thing. We have received so many notes and words of encouragement from people at Faith who say, "We can't understand why God would lead you away. But it must be because he has something great in store for both Lansing and Tuscaloosa!"

Things are moving forward here in Lansing. The board has developed a visionary leadership profile and the evaluation of candidates is beginning. Whoever ends up here is in for the most amazing journey of their life. This place is awesome and God has huges plans to use Faith Church to change Greater Lansing for Jesus Christ. I can't wait to see who the Spirit has been prepping for this job.

Maybe next week I can tell you more about the whole house-hunting experience in Tuscaloosa. It was pretty cool...another example of God's great timing.

house story

2007-07-17T14:20:00.000-04:00

Okay...so it's time for an update.

So much has happened in the last week. Probably the most significant and hard to believe event has been the near miraculous sale of our home! A real estate agent told us last week that the residential market in Lansing is down 38% in sales this year. It has been brutal. So many of our friends in town have had their homes on the market for many months without even a single offer.

Well, upon the announcement of our resignation from Faith Church we scheduled an appointment with the real estate agent who had been so helpful to us in our last sale and purchase. We called her on that Friday (I think that was the day) and she said she could come to meet with us on Wednesday with the papers for listing.

So Friday afternoon Tracy and I kind of joked around about putting a "For Sale by Owner" sign in the window over the weekend. That evening Lanny, a friend from the church, and his wife were walking through the neighborhood. I was out in the front yard trimming the trees. They stopped and we began to chat. We mentioned the idea about sticking a sign in the yard just for fun until our meeting with the real estate agent. I laughed, "The problem is...me putting a sign out to find a buyer would be like a dog chasing a car. If I caught one I wouldn't know what to do with it." Lanny said, "You forget, I do real estate stuff all the time. If you get a buyer, you can just call me and I'll consult with you. Go buy the sign and put it in the yard. What's it going to hurt?"

That's what we did. Tracy ran to WalMart and Saturday she got a sharpie marker to put our phone number on the sign and stuck it out in the yard. By the end of the weekend we had our first showing scheduled. We told our real estate agent what was going on and that we should probably postpone our meeting with her. She was really helpful and gracious. Wednesday the young couple came to look at the house. They asked to come with some "experts" to walk through again on Saturday. Upon their departure Saturday, they told us to expect a call on Sunday afternoon. Sunday afternoon they called us with the official offer. Wow!

After about 3 or 4 negotiation calls back and forth, we arrived at a deal. Yesterday afternoon (Monday) we both signed the papers for a buy/sell agreement. The closing can be scheduled any time between August 17 and 30. Can you imagine any arrangement or sequence of events that could have been more perfect?

Of course, like any deal, we wish we could have made a little more profit. But when something like this happens, it is no time to be greedy. I can imagine us holding out for some more money and then being upset with God 3 months from now about Him not taking care of our housing issues.

So Joel...what's the point?

For many of our friends and family at Faith Church they immediately saw this as a sign that the Gorveattes have in fact heard from God and are following his will. Tracy and I don't exactly see it that way. We know many people who have answered the same kind of calling, only to deal with months or years of financial complications because their homes did not sell. I don't think that those people were being any more or less obedient than we are being. Three months from now, if our home had not sold, it would not have changed our conviction that we have been faithful to God's leading.

Tracy thinks that perhaps the immediate sale of our home is not as much about providing affirmation in our hearts (we've had that for the last few weeks)... perhaps this is what God needed to do to give assurance to His people. Perhaps this is to calm the fears of those who wonder what might happen at Faith Church. Perhaps this is a tangible reminder that God is in control and that He fully intends to bless the future of this church.

On the other hand, for Tracy and me it also marks a point of no returning. I remind you again that we have not received the official invitation from the members of First Wesleyan Church in Tuscaloosa, AL. I have been receiving emails from and hearing rumors of many people who aren't so sure about "this Joel-guy". It must seem strange for them to hear about all this stuff going on in Michigan, when they have not even yet had the chance to cast their vote.

My main prayer is just that all of God's children would listen for His guidance. There seems to be a method behind all of this madness. And even if the people of First Wesleyan decide they don't want us, there is a peace in our hearts. I keep repeating the phrase over and again: "Following God is seldom easy, but it is always worth it."

We are anxiously anticipating our visit to Alabama this weekend. And I have to admit... even though it feels like a blind date and we know that we'll be poked, prodded, questioned, and evaluated while spending a few intense days under the spotlight... there is also a growing sense of excitement.

Would God shake us up and turn our whole world upside down for no good reason? I don't think so. We're trusting that years from now everyone will look back and say, "What an amazing God we serve, who knows how to do things greatly in his own perfect time!"

Can you imagine what possibilities the future might hold?

different feelings

2007-07-09T08:12:00.000-04:00

This is such a strange feeling. Tracy and I have never before been in this position. I've never resigned as a senior pastor (I've also never been fired, which I guess is a good thing!)

The people of Faith Church have raised us. I was 21 and Tracy was 19 when we began here with a small group that mostly consisted of retirees and older folks. For the most part, the fears of people being angry or hurt have not been as a drastic as I perhaps anticipated. In fact, it is comforting to know that people don't want you to leave...it sure beats the alternative of people rejoicing to get rid of you.

And while it is a strange feeling, it also "feels right". We have no idea whether the people in Tuscaloosa will welcome us with open arms. But we have this deep peace and an abiding assurance that we are acting in obedience to the Spirit's leading.

Some people seem to have a direct pipeline from God. They often claim that God has spoken to them in a clear and audible voice. I can't claim to always be that certain. I believe that God often reveals his will through the Word and the community of discerning believers. But this is definitely one of those times when I feel a very strong sense of direction (even compulsion) from God.

If you are reading this today, and you are a praying person, I would really appreciate your intercession. Would you join Tracy and me in praying for these 3 things:

1) Our family visit to Tuscaloosa on July 22nd. May God prepare the way and make His will crystal clear to both us and the people of First Wesleyan Church.

2) The sale of our home. The market for real estate is rough in Lansing. But God owns it all, and we trust that He will work it out in His own perfect timing.

3) The future of Faith Church. There are some great prospects for senior pastoral leadership who might be very interested. This is the most amazing church and it deserves nothing less than the best. We trust that God has even greater plans than could be imagined. May God's Spirit bolster the spirit of His people at Faith and may our optimism be undying.

Thank you for your prayers! We'll keep you in the loop.

written june 29, 2007

2007-07-02T10:07:00.000-04:00

Much of the detail from the last few weeks is found here in this letter. It was read to the entire church this past Sunday morning (July 1st). This has all happened so fast that everyone's head is spinning. But we have a deep and abiding sense of peace over this, in a way that I could never have imagined. Please read this letter and pray with us that God will be glorified in and through the great faith of His people.

To Our Dear Family at Faith Church,

Twelve years ago Tracy and I began this journey together with you. God made it clear that he had great plans for this church. We shared a passionate conviction that we were to become a major force for Christ, both in Greater Lansing and around the World.

God has changed lives. We’ve seen miracles and God’s Spirit at work. Our priorities have been realigned. Families have been restored. Hurts and wounds have been healed. We’ve experienced how great God’s church can be. We’ve even had the privilege of partnering with new church plants and investing in other churches to help them become more effective in their mission. And most importantly, people have come to Christ and believers have been intentionally equipped to become world-changers.

Twelve years ago, I could never have dreamed that God could place such passion in my heart for a church and for a city. Our children have been born here. You have loved us, trusted us, cared for us, encouraged us, believed in us and treated us much better than any pastor could ever deserve. Together we have learned the beauty of true Christian community. We never imagined that God would ever want for us to be anywhere, but right here with you.

One thing we have learned is this: that God’s plan is seldom easy, but it is always worth it. That is why this week we believe we must say “Yes” to His calling, which means having to say “Good-Bye” to those whom we love so deeply.

About two weeks ago, I received a call from the District Superintendent of the South Coastal District of the Wesleyan Church. He said that they had been searching the nation for the right candidate to become the new Senior Pastor at First Wesleyan Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It is the city where I went to elementary school when I was growing up. He asked for Tracy and me to pray about it and get back with him. My immediate response was to say, “No”. I told him we had no interest in ever leaving Faith Church, but that Tracy and I would pray and consider it for 24 hours. As you know, it is dangerous to seek the will of God because His plans often do not line up with your own.

We felt God leading us to not shut the door on the possibility quite so quickly. We immediately shared this information with the appropriate leaders here at Faith Church, wanting for there to be full disclosure and no secrets. Over the last 2 weeks, the process of phone interviews and dialogue with the leaders of First Wesleyan left us with the impression that this might be what He wants for our family. However, this is not at all the answer I wanted from God. The challenges in Tuscaloosa are overwhelming. The culture of that church is so radically different. They need a leader who can help them transition to reach a new generation and a new culture with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. It is so far out of my comfort zone that, left to my own devices, I would not even consider it.

This Monday night, Tracy and I fell before God in prayer, asking for His clear direction. I wanted signs and wonders. I wanted His handwriting in the sky. I wanted that big, bold, undeniable fireworks kind of experience in order to confirm the voice of God. That was our final prayer before going to sleep.

The next morning (Tuesday) I woke up, and as I crawled out of bed there was a still, small voice repeating in my head, “You have to go, Joel. You have to go.” Again, this is not what I wanted to hear. In fact, I didn’t tell Tracy until Wednesday night. Somehow, speaking it out loud would make it real in a way that I did not yet want to acknowledge. Wednesday night I looked at Tracy and whispered, “We have to go, don’t we?” And she said, “Yes, I know we do.” We had not yet even been invited to come, but she had sensed it from that very first phone call. She had been waiting for God to confirm it in my heart. That very night, the board at First Wesleyan voted unanimously to recommend us to the church body. Now the ball was in our court.

So the next morning (Thursday), I told our District Superintendent what we were sensing in our hearts. He determined, along with our Vice Chairman Dave Shanks and our board, that the best thing for Faith Church is for me to resign in order for the leadership search process to begin here. I agreed to do so. This is all so brand new, that there is no transition plan yet in place. I don’t even have a new job. The church body in Tuscaloosa has not yet even extended the official invitation. To be clear, this act today is a total step of faith in our desire to be obedient to God.

I believe my most immediate responsibility is to finish well with this church and with you, whom we love so deeply. The Faith Church leadership board will be determining the best plan of action for a transition. This church has great leadership, and I encourage you to trust them implicitly. I will be teaching and serving here with you through the summer (don’t think you’re getting rid of us yet). But those details are in God’s hands. We just don’t know what the immediate future holds.

It is such an affirmation of God’s power at work to see what we have accomplished together. The purchase of the new property was the right decision. We believe in the value of Reaching Beyond, and we’re honored to complete our Capital Campaign commitment. Now we pray with great assurance that the greatest days for Faith Church are yet to come. Every single one of our partner churches in West Michigan who have experienced a similar change in leadership, have continued to grow to new heights of effectiveness. Things will be different, yes. But our God and your calling is still the same. This is a city that needs Jesus, and Faith Church must continue to grow in influence and impact.

We love you more than you will ever know. While our hearts are broken and sad, we are also confident in the deep and abiding peace that God has placed in our hearts. Please pray for us and support us in this time (we need you now more than ever before). And we promise to pray for you. I look forward to hearing your future stories of victory! We will always find great joy in knowing that the Gorveatte family played a role in the history of this, of one of the greatest churches in the world.

"the secret" exposed

2007-06-25T08:44:00.000-04:00

I've often been amazed at the number of Christians who get on board with "Oprah Mania". I agree that she is an intelligent, funny, ambitious and often compassionate woman. She is amazing!

HOWEVER, she is also a self-proclaimed spiritual leader. Her religion sounds good on the surface (with hints of Christianity and other philosophies sprinkled around here and there). But at its very core there is a self-focused, humanistic message which excludes the love of God and runs contrary to the teachings of Jesus.

That's why this recent article from "Christianity Today" caught my attention. I know it's a pretty long read. But I think it provides some valuable insight.

As followers of Jesus, we need to have a well-developed filter that sees through the philophies being subtly promoted through movies, magazine articles, and pop culture gurus like Oprah.

Let's pray that God will reveal himself to her in a beautiful way. Can you imagine what Jesus could do in her life?

The Secret Exposed
Mel Lawrenz 6/18/2007

You can gain anything you want in life—wealth, health, the perfect mate, business success, respect from others—literally anything. That is the promise of the No. 1 best-selling book The Secret (Beyond Words). The editor, Rhonda Byrne, explains that "the secret" can be found in everything from Babylonian religion to Buddhism to Albert Einstein. The Secret (available as both a book and a DVD) is no secret now, however. It has become a global video event, a clever cross-promotional marketing plan, and a book touted by Oprah.

Byrne, an Australian television talk-show producer, discovered the secret just over two years ago. The book's contributors are described on the official website as: a "philosopher" who "developed The Science of Success and Harmonic Wealth® which teach [sic] people how to yield unlimited results in all areas: relationally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually" (James Arthur Ray); a "business building and moneymaking" expert (John Assaraf); a "doctor," "philosopher," and "international speaker" (John DeMartini); a "metaphysician" and "one of the top marketing specialists in the world" (Joe Vitale); and "a nonaligned, trans-religious progressive" (Michael Beckwith). Such titles reveal the new kind of gurus to whom millions of people give credence today.

The secret is simply "the law of attraction." Think about wealth, and you will become wealthy. Think about that new car, and it will come. Think about getting a good parking spot, and one will open up. Think about your ideal weight (really, dwell on that number, write it on your scale), and you will attract that reality to yourself. Byrne reports that since deciding her "perfect weight" was 116 pounds, she has reached it, and nothing has moved her from it, no matter what she does or eats.

"Thoughts are magnetic, and thoughts have a frequency," the book assures us. "As you think, those thoughts are sent out into the universe and they magnetically attract all like things that are on the same frequency. Everything sent out returns to the source. And that source is you."

Now here's the bad news: Whatever happens to you—the good and the bad—was attracted by your thoughts. Appendicitis? Auto accident? Poverty? You brought it on yourself.

Obsessed with the Self

Bible verses are misquoted. Ray, "an expert on many Eastern, indigenous, and mystical traditions," says: "Here's the question I want you to consider—do you treat yourself the way that you want other people to treat you?" Ray's TWIST on the Golden Rule becomes the ultimate form of self-centeredness. Oh, and you can attend Ray's "harmonic wealth weekend" for only $997. Somebody has figured out how to attract wealth to himself.

The Secret, you see, is all about the self—it's for the self, obsessed with the self. Newsweek offers this critique: "On an ethical level, The Secret appears deplorable. It concerns itself almost entirely with a narrow range of middle-class concerns—houses, cars, and vacations, followed by health and relationships, with the rest of humanity a very distant sixth."

Professor Robert Thompson of Syracuse University says: "The Secret promises this heaven on Earth in one fell swoop by simply desiring something, by simply wanting it. It's amazing how we really are a nation of, at best, great optimists, at worst, real suckers."

What The Secret reveals is that so many people are so desperately unhappy that they will snatch up anything offering hope—or simply offering quick and easy wealth. My question is, who will be there to pick up the pieces when they discover that they bought into a lie? And who will help the people who believe that they brought every misfortune on themselves because they sent negative thoughts and feelings out into the universe like a human radio transmitter?

How different from the message of Jesus: The first will be last, and the last will be first. Lose your life, and you will find it.

fast company - authenticity

2007-06-22T21:10:00.000-04:00

The Wesleyan Church's Department of Evangelism & Church Growth put out an interesting commentary this week. Highlighting the points from a leading business magazine, here's a REPRINT:

What does it take to be authentic? It was a question posed in a "Fast Company" article on consumer brands. Interestingly enough, their observations can be readily applied to the church.

1. A sense of place
“Authenticity comes from a place we can connect with; a place with a story.”

The church should be a place people can connect. We have the greatest story of all time: The timeless story of God’s interaction in the lives of people, where God intersects the lives of people and something extraordinary happens. We need to create venues and opportunities for people to hear these stories. People best connect when they realize they have something in common with those around them. It is in the community of believers we come to know that we all have our “stuff,” but God loves us anyway.

2. A strong point of view
“Authenticity also emerges from people with a deep passion for what they are doing.”

We believers should be passionate about the God to whom we give our allegiance. It is in our passion we will serve. It is in our passion we will accept folks where they are, but help them move to where they need to be. It is in our passion we will strive to be as competent as we can in the work we do. It is our passion we will be real, warts and all, so others might see that God works in and through the broken and imperfect.

3. Serving a larger purpose
“…if a brand can convincingly argue that its profit-making is only a by-product of a larger purpose, authenticity sets in.”

Like it or not, the church and Christians have an image problem. We are seen as boring, uninteresting, irrelevant and only partially true. Our response to this is typically to expect those outside our “brand” to get over it. Instead we need to connect with them and make a case through our actions that we are not what they perceive. When people believe our interest in them is based on only getting them into the Christian fold, they will tend to see us as “poseurs.” It is for us to let them see we are interested in them as people not a project.

4. Integrity
“Authenticity comes to a brand that is what it says it is.”

It is not what we say, but who we are that tells the real story. People are more interested in seeing what we believe than hearing what we believe. In 2000 Mc Donald’s launched its “We love to see you smile” campaign. It was well done and slick, except a year later it was discovered that grumpy, rude counter clerks were costing them millions of dollars in lost sales (Fast Company, May 2007, p.87). The integrity of our message is in the lives of those who proclaim it.

The twenty-first century is hungry for authenticity. The church has the potential to address this if we are courageous enough to change. Chris Bangle, BMW’s Design Director, explains that many successful brands stumble because they are “deeply rooted in their heritage and values, they are inflexible, unmovable, and ultimately stuck in time. The competition will outflank it, and the world will pass it by.”

end of article

First, this serves as a reminder that ALL truth is God's truth. Christians should never be afraid of science principles or business principles or organizational principles. Because...if the trend of today is just a fad, it will pass away. But the biblically consistent principles of God will endure forever.

People often discover God in their search for truth. And as people from all walks of life (science, business, sports, etc.) continue to discover how the world works... THEY learn about God and WE can enthusiastically embrace them and learn from them.

Second, these things are easy for us to SAY. And sometimes you may be tempted to critize churches for struggling. But think positively. Think proactively. What are some practical ways that followers of Christ can live these principles out in biblical community?

I think the first step is an authentic experience with God...

cell phones in church

2007-06-20T09:23:00.000-04:00

pain of the journey

2007-06-18T09:05:00.000-04:00

"I see so many weak, sissy Christians who put their faith in Christ years ago, but haven't grown a bit," says Brad Bell.

"They can't figure out why they aren't happy all the time like they expected. The problem is that they signed on to a pleasant destination, not a challenging journey."

"We need to talk much more about the journey, and we need to be crystal clear about Christ's call to count the costs. Jesus calls us to suffering as much as to delight."

setting them up for failure

2007-06-14T08:28:00.000-04:00

Just 2 months ago, there was an historic mansion near Kingswear, Devon in southwest England. It was worth $12 million. The key word here? "WAS".

The millionare owner, Andrew Brownsword, had commissioned a $2 million renovation. Plumbers and construction workers were working all around the mansion.

In the attic, a 17 year old rookie plumber was using a blow torch to do some soldering in the upper roof space. Apparently the flame came into contact with some old insulation...and within minutes the entire mansion was burning to the ground.

It was his first day on the job, and I suspect it will probably be his last.

OOPS...

This week in our pastoral staff meeting at Faith we talked about training and equipping. Far too often, leaders set people up for failure. Organizations recruit randomly and plug individuals into a responsibility with very little preparation, and it often does not turn out well.

The common process goes something like this:

-We need someone to do a job!
-Hey, this person would be great at this job!
-Tell the person what they need to do
-Hope it goes well
-Pretty soon a fire starts
-Oops, crash and burn

Then we wonder why new leaders fail to be developed. Team members get frustrated and quit. WHY? Because we set them up for failure, rather than setting the person up for success.

The training process should go more like this:

1) I do, you watch
2) I do, you help
3) You do, I help
4) You do, I watch

It is tempting to jump from the first step directly to the last step. It takes so much time working together, that we often just hand off the responsibility before a person is ready.

But time spent training is never time wasted...it is time invested. And it might just prevent the whole organization from burning to the ground!

genius solution

2007-06-12T08:40:00.000-04:00

You don't have to be a genius...to be a genius!

Mensa is an organization whose members have an IQ of 140 or higher. A few years ago, there was a Mensa convention in San Francisco, and several members lunched at a local café. While dining, they discovered that their saltshaker contained pepper and their peppershaker was full of salt. How could they swap the contents of the bottles without spilling, and using only the implements at hand?

Clearly this was a job for Mensa! The group debated and presented ideas, and finally came up with a brilliant solution involving a napkin, a straw, and an empty saucer. They called the waitress over to dazzle her with their solution.

"Ma'am," they said, "we couldn't help but notice that the peppershaker contains salt and the saltshaker—"

"Oh," the waitress interrupted. "Sorry about that." She unscrewed the caps of both bottles and switched them.

(Found on MSN; submitted by Sherman Lee Burford, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama )

How often do we OVERTHINK our problems? Maybe it is time to just listen to some plain old-fashioned common sense.

communicated presence

2007-06-09T10:33:00.001-04:00

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you just crave Sunday morning?

Sometimes you may experience that when things are really going badly. Life seems yucky and you want to go worship and study God's Word out of desparation. "Lord help me...now...please!"

But that's not what I'm talking about today. Actually, I've had a great week. I've spent time connecting with leaders and had some great conversations with Faith Church newbies! I got a lot of administrative stuff accomplished (not usually my favorite tasks.) I even carved out some studying time (although not nearly as much as I had hoped).

Sure, we had to take BOTH of our cars to the shop (expensive)...and the lawnmower broke down (basically every motorized machine we own is being repaired). But those things happen and you just take them in stride.

This week, the reason I am so much looking forward to church, is because I can't wait to worship in community! It is COMEDY Sunday @ Faith and we're going to share some great laughs. We're also going to connect with God in an amazing way. Mark has some great songs planned for tomorrow. I'm not in the band. I'm not speaking or teaching. I just get to experience it all. Maybe I'll even get an "after service" vanilla latte.

C.S. Lewis said, "It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to men." I pray that God will be worshipped and his presence will be communicated.

not so happy teens

2007-06-06T14:54:00.001-04:00

The United States doesn't always come in first place. UNICEF surveyed 21 of the most developed nations and measured how kids related to other kids, spent time with parents, used alcohol and/or drugs, and perceived their own happiness. Tight-knit nations—like Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Finland—ranked the highest when it came to young people feeling secure and happy. The U.S. came in next to last, with the United Kingdom at the bottom of the list.

UNICEF'S operating thesis was that "stable, supportive family and social relationships are far more important to kids' well being than how much expensive junk they have piled up in their rooms."

So what are some things we can do with our kids to let them know how much we love them? It probably has something to do with a cherished treasure called "Time"...

no worries

2007-06-04T09:15:00.000-04:00

Two business executives were meeting for lunch. The one executive asks the other, “So, how are you doing?”

His buddy says, “Great! Never felt better. All my ulcers are gone…and I don’t have a care in the world.”

“Really? How did that happen?”

Well the guy says, “My doctor told me my ulcers were caused by all the worrying and stress in my life. So here’s what I did. I hired a Professional Worrier. Whenever something goes wrong and I start to get stressed out, I just turn it over to him and he does all the worrying FOR me!”

The other guy says, “That’s amazing! I’d love to hire someone like that! How much does he charge?”

Stretching back he said, “Well the Professional Worrier is great… but it does cost me $100,000 a year.”

The other guys chokes, “A $100,000? How in the world can you afford it?”

"Oh, I don’t know. I let HIM worry about that!”

Philippians 4:6 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This weekend in our worship services everyone filled out a "Worry Card". We wrote down our top 2 or 3 worries and fears. Before receiving communion at the different stations, we dropped the cards in the "Worry Buckets".

Today we are beginning to pray over those cards for all the people of Faith Church. As I read through those cards, one by one, I am struck by the common themes of our fears. Money, work, parenting and family issues.

My prayer for each one is
- that the peace of God will reign
- that the people of God will trust
- that the power of God will prevail
- and that we would be counted FAITHFUL to the tasks He has assigned us

Things might not always turn out great in the short term, but Jesus has promised us that the end of the story will make it all worthwhile.

hiring expectations

2007-05-31T09:39:00.000-04:00

We are so much going to miss our Children's Pastor Lynn Jankowski. She is such a gifted and passionate leader and she has made us a better church @ Faith.

But we are also incredibly excited about our Interim Director of Children's Ministry. Jennifer Neal has been really growing in her leadership and our transition plan is really clicking. The crazy part is that Jen just completed her PhD in Neuroscience. It is not the normal career path one would take towards full-time ministry...even if it is on an interim basis!

God keeps providing and we keep rolling!

hiking bliss

2007-05-29T16:33:00.000-04:00

Yesterday (for the most beatiful Memorial Day weather ever!) our family went out to Sleepy Hollow State Park for a picnic and hike through the wilderness.

No, this is not the location of the "headless horseman". But it is an area not too far from Lansing with wonderful natural beauty, wildlife and some gorgeous hiking/biking trails that will surely get some attention from my mountain bike this summer (if I can get anyone who will go with me).

Up until a certain point in the hike (maybe about the 2nd mile) our 2 kids had been having a great time. But all of a sudden that began to change.

First Seth (7 years old) tripped as we tried to make our way around a muddy bog. It was no big deal. He got a little mud on his knee and that was all. But that little bit of mud changed his whole attitude. Up until that point, he had been our self-appointed hiking guide. Enthusiastically he would warn us of upcoming hills and roots to watch out for. He had been totally engaged in the role of "family leader". But immediately he decided that the fun was over. The smiles were gone. And he wanted to get back to the car.

About a half mile later Kate (10 years old) decided that she was also ready to get out of the forest and back into some air-conditioning. For her, it was because of the "mosquitos". In reality they were mostly gnats...and really not that many. And the mosquitos weren't really biting because we were covered in bug spray. But she got that creepy feeling, where you feel like you're getting eaten alive. Sure it's just in your head, but it is creepy nonetheless. And her smiles turned to frowns within a matter of minutes.

Fortunately, we soon found a pump from a well with cool water to rinse our hands and faces. And then we ended up at a beautiful lake, which lightened everyone's spirits. We began laughing and teasing and having lots of fun again, as a family.

But it is amazing how our attitude changes everything. It is true. Life is going to dump you in the mud. Pests are going to swarm. The trail won't always be joy and bliss.

Fortunately, Tracy and I kept our cool as parents. I really was having a great time, even considering that I had just completed a 46 mile cycle ride that morning. I admit that there have been plenty of times when I've gotten frustrated that everybody isn't having that great "family quality time" experience. But yesterday was one of those days when Tracy and I stayed positive, encouraging, patient and joyful. And sure enough, the whole thing turned around. The kids started having fun again.

So here's the point. Keep on hiking!

And I pray that the next time the kids don't "act happy for Daddy"... that I stay positive and encouraging. Fortunately my wife Tracy is a model of all that is good and perfect (well, MOST of the time)... because, "When Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy."

power in group drafting

2007-05-24T10:11:00.001-04:00

Last night I joined my first big cyclist group (about 30 people) for a 30 mile trek. 15 of these guys were absolute animals! I started off with that fast lead group as we left from the MSU campus and headed south. I figured, "I'll start out with the big dogs. And if I can't keep up, I can drop back with the slower groups."

Well the first 10 miles were awesome! It was such a rush. We're doing about 20 miles an hour on country roads in a draft line 2 cyclists wide...tire to tire, front to back. You start to think, "I'm rolling. Look at how fast we're going. I feel so strong and powerful. I can run with the big dogs!!!"

All of a sudden a cramp started to set in around my right ribs. I tried to keep pushing, but I knew that I might be fading fast. At this point I was at the front of the line, running 2 by 2. I thought, "Maybe I can slow my peddling pace a little, to catch my breath and try to relieve the cramp in my side." I pulled over to the right a little bit to let the guy behind me take my spot.

But if you've ever watched NASCAR at Daytona, you know what happens when someone breaks out of the draft line. Within about 5 seconds, I found myself at the very end of the line. I tried to keep pace. I didn't want to be left behind. But within literally 3 minutes, the group was disappearing from sight over the horizon.

Now instead of running at 20+ mph up hill, I was back to my old usual pace of about 15 mph the rest of the ride. And I was all alone.

So here's the point. It made me think of how often people decide to "fall back" from being involved in Christian community.

You get involved in a church that's moving fast. It's exciting. You're running with the big dogs! You're fast and furious. You're covering lots of ground. You begin to think, "I feel so stong and powerful in the Lord. Look at all that we're accomplishing."

But sometimes we fail to remember that much of our speed and progress is due to the synergy of the group dynamic. Just like the cyclists riding in tight formation, spiritually you've been drafting at a faster rate than you could ever accomplish on your own. We so often forget that our spiritual progress tends to be directly corrolated to the group of peers who surround us.

And then it happens. I've seen it over and over again. The person decides to fall back for a little while. They decide to take a little break and drop to the back of the pack just to catch a little rest. They drop out of their ministry involvement. They stop hanging out with their HomeGroup friends. They spend more time doing "other stuff".

And before you know it, their spiritual progress is stalled. They're getting left behind. And it just seems like too much effort to try to catch up. So they pull out of church and wonder, "What went wrong?"

Last night as I watched that fast-moving group disappear over the horizon, I suddenly realized how I had overestimated my ability. Riding with the draft, I failed to remember that the speed and progress I had experienced was due to the energy of the group. On my own, I am much slower and the work is much harder.

I guess God's word is true. We really are much better together and Christianity is definitely not a solo sport.

coffee church

2007-05-22T10:28:00.000-04:00

Richard Blake from San Luis Obispo, California says,

Coffee was always served at his church after the service. One Sunday the pastor asked one of the little girls if she knew why they have coffee time at church.

Without hesitating, the girl replied, "To wake people up before they have to drive home."

I've done a couple of recent posts about "boring church". I hope it just serves as a reminder, that when we let the joy and love of God flow in our worship...it's anything but boring!

heroes or saints

2007-05-20T21:05:00.000-04:00

All of my son's friends are in that "superhero" phase. In the Gorveatte house, we just smile and nod as Seth and his friends ramble on about the powers and adventures of their favorite heroes. But there's something about this that has alway's rubbed me the wrong way (from a biblical context).

Ben Witherington recently gave some quotes from a fantastic book. It is from Sam Wells work on Christian ethics called "Improvisation" .

In reflecting upon the characters we celebrate in movies and in history, Wells points out that the Bible seldom celebrates heroes. It instead emphasized the importance of saints. Read, ponder and reflect...what do you think:

"There is a significant difference between the kind of story that is told about heroes and the kind of story that is told about saints. The heroes always make a decisive intervention at a moment when things are looking like they could all go badly wrong [reference every summer box office hit movie]. The hero steps up and makes everything turn out right. In other words, the hero is always at the center of the story."

"By contrast, the saint is not necessarily a crucial character. The saint may be almost invisible, easily missed, quickly forgotten. The hero's story is always about the hero. The saint is always at the periphery of a story that is really about God..."

"The hero's story is told to celebrate the virtues of the hero. The hero' strength, courage, wisdom, or great timing: such are the qualities on which the hero's decisive intervention rests. By contrast the saint may not be strong, brave, clever, or opportunistic. But the saint is faithful [consider the hall of faith in Hebrews 11]. The story of the hero is told to rejoice in valor. The story of the saint is told to celebrate faith..."

"The definitive heroic icon is the soldier, who is prepared to risk death for the sake of a higher good. The noblest death is death in battle, for battle offers the greatest danger, thus requiring the greatest courage. The story assumes that in a world of limited resources there is bound to be conflict at some stage so that good may prevail. But the saints assume a very different story. They do not need to learn how to fight over competing goods, because Christ has fought for and secured the true good, and the goods that matter now are not limited or in short supply. Love, joy peace, faithfulness, gentleness-- these do not rise or fall with the stock market. The saint's story does not presuppose scarcity [think oil for example]; it does not require the perpetuation of violence. Whereas the icon of heroism is the soldier, the icon of sanctity is the martyr. The solder faces death in battle; the saint faces death by not going to battle. The soldier's heroism is its own reward: it makes sense in any language that respects nobility and aspires to greatness. The martyr's sanctity makes no sense unless rewarded by God: it has no place in any story except that of Christ's redeeming sacrifice and the martyr's heavenly crown... A hero fears failure, flees mistakes, and know no repentance: the saint knows that light only comes through the cracks, that beauty is as much (if not more) about restoration as about creation."

"Finally, the hero stands alone against the world. The story of the hero shows how he or she stands out from the community by the excellence of his or her virtue, the decisiveness of his or her intervention, or their simple right to have his or her story told. The story of God tells how he expects a response from his disciples that they cannot give on their own: they depend not only on him, but on one another for resources that can sustain faithful lives, and they discover that their dependence on one another is not a handicap but is central to their witness....Saints are never alone. They assume, demand, require community-- a special kind of community, the communion of the saints."

"Heroes have learned to depend on themselves: saints learn to depend on God and on the community of faith. The church is God's new language, and it speaks not of a country fit for heroes to live in but of a commonwealth of saints"

(Improvisation, pp. 43-44)

highest number

2007-05-17T09:32:00.000-04:00

Joanne Weil (not from here @ Faith) was talking about one day when her young son asked, "Mom, what's the highest number you've ever counted to?"

She said, "I don't know. Son, what's your highest number?"

He told her, "5,372."

"Oh," Joanne asked, "Why did you stop there?"

"Church was over."

store closing

2007-05-15T14:53:00.000-04:00

Wow, I wonder...how many people are applying for jobs at that store?

To earn commitment and loyalty, people need to know that you're sticking around for the long haul. I even find myself questioning the longevity of a business before I get too attached. Do I really want to fall in love with a restaurant that's going to close next year?

I guess I'm one of THOSE people. I want to root for one team, or one player. I want to get excited about a quality brand. I want to tell everybody to shop at my favorite store or take their car to the best auto repair shop around (go to E.L. Automotive Center with Bill Peters). I want to develop a relationship.

Maybe that's why I've been at Faith Church for almost 12 years. Instead of just getting upset and leaving when things don't go my way...I'd rather invest in trying to make a difference. It's all about relationship.

why worship

2007-05-14T14:47:00.000-04:00

Worship. Here's why it matters: God made you, to enjoy you.

(Revelation 4:11 NLT) “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.”

Recently I thought of it in this context. You see, some of our biggest projects around Faith Church involves kids. Investing in a new generation is one of our written cultural values. We're gearing up for another massive VBS next month.

Why? Why do we invest so much time and energy and money? Why do we have hundreds of volunteers? It’s because our kids bring us pleasure.

Last week, my kids were watching Scooby Doo on TV. I went in and I sat on the couch to watch Shaggy, Scooby and the gang. Why? Because I wanted to watch those “meddling kids” solve another caper with the mystery van? No…some of the shows my kids watch make my head hurt, they’re so boring.

But I’ve found that IF I’ll sit down really close to them… occasionally they’ll cuddle up to me and start lovin’ on their Daddy.

How does it make you feel to have a child look up into your eyes and say, “Daddy, I love you”? It makes all the other parenting crap worth while. All the fights, and hassles, and pains and frustrations that go along with having those rugrats are all worthwhile… just to hear them say I love you.

And listen, that’s WHY God created us. To have that kind of relationship with Him. In (Matthew 22:37), one time Jesus was asked, “What is the most important thing to do in this life?” “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” That’s the answer to the question “Why am I here?”

In fact, when it comes to expressing our love for God, there is a word that we use. We call it WORSHIP. Worship is BOTH expressing our love for God AND also, living a life that makes God proud. It's more than music. It is a daily and moment-by-moment expression of your being...constantly connecting with God in thoughts, words and actions.

I want Him to be proud of me.

boys like girls

2007-05-09T14:02:00.000-04:00

My 7 year old son was walking through the living room while the TV was on. There was a commercial about bikini wax with a lady in her underwear. Let's just say there was plenty of skin on the screen. I had been reading and wasn't really paying much attention to what was on the TV.

As I realized what he was watching, all of a sudden my little boy started to giggle and get a little silly grin on his face. Wondering what was going through his mind, I asked, "Seth, what's so funny?"

He looked at me, still giggling and said, "Dad, I have NO IDEA!"

I hope he stays that way for at least a while longer. Once a boy starts to get "ideas", we enter a whole new level of parenting.

beauty unnoticed

2007-05-07T12:45:00.000-04:00

Yesterday at church, someone mentioned a story about world reknowned violinist Joshua Bell. It intrigued me so I found the article online at the Washington Post website. Click here to read the article. It is well written and I'll think you'll enjoy reading the entire thing. There are even video clips of the experiment.

But here is a summary of what happened:

"Joshua Bell emerged from the Metro and positioned himself against a wall beside a trash basket. By most measures, he was nondescript—a youngish white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball cap. From a small case, he removed a violin. Placing the open case at his feet, he shrewdly threw in a few dollars and pocket change as seed money and began to play.

For the next 45 minutes, in the D.C. Metro on January 12, 2007, Bell played Mozart and Schubert as over 1,000 people streamed by, most hardly taking notice. If they would have, they might have recognized the young man for the world-renowned violinist he is. They also may have noted the violin he played—a rare Stradivari worth over $3 million. It was all part of a project arranged by The Washington Post—"an experiment in context, perception, and priorities—as well as an unblinking assessment of public taste. In a banal setting, at an inconvenient time, would beauty transcend?"

Just three days earlier, Joshua Bell sold out Boston Symphony Hall, with ordinary seats going for $100. In the subway, Bell garnered about $32 from the 27 people who stopped long enough to give a donation."

Of the hundreds of people who walked by him, only a few even stopped to take note. Everyone rushed past with cell phone in hand, not realizing that just a few feet away is a genius at work.

So Joel...WHAT'S THE POINT?

Well, I think the article (click here if you still haven't read it) does a pretty good job of making the point. There is beauty all around us, and we so often pass it by.

I especially think of this truth in it's application to the church. We have people all around us with phenomenal potential and talents, and yet we look right past them because they don't fit our stereotypes.

Often the greatest Kingdom Impact will come from the most unlikely source. Don't look past someone, simply because they don't look like you think they should. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of God's design in each person's unique character.

And also...keep playing the "Stradivarious" God has given you. Maybe no one seems to appreciate the song God has placed in your heart. So what? Keep on singing, even if nobody notices.

sourpuss

2007-05-02T15:31:00.000-04:00

In "Public Speaking for Dummies" Malcom Kushner says:

"Don't judge the entire audience by the reactions of a single person. This tip sounds obvious, but speakers do it all the time. You may see one sourpuss who won't crack a smile. You'll become obsessed with this person and make all your speaking decisions based on his or her reaction. That's usually a mistake, because nothing you do will work with the sourpuss, and you'll get nervous, feel you're bombing, and screw up."

Sounds like good advice for life. Love and try to connect with everyone. But don't get hung up on trying to please those who can never be pleased.

spiritually average

2007-04-30T16:28:00.000-04:00

Barna research suggests that most Americans consider themselves average in 7 areas of spiritual life...but most could think of no (nada, zilch, zero) areas in which they would like to improve. The article I read implied that this was a survey of "Evangelical Christians", but I coulnd't verify that this was the case.

Anyway...the survey examined 7 different aspect of spiritual development, asking respondents to rate themselves on a 5-point scale.

- Americans gave themselves highest marks for MAINTAINING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS (48% of the respondents claimed to be 'completely/highly' develoved and 46% placing themselves 'about average').

- In the area of SERVING OTHERS, 41% claimed 'complete/high development' and 50% indicating they were 'average'.

- The areas of spirituality that ranked lowest were SHARING THEIR FAITH WITH OTHERS (53% 'average', 24% 'below average') and KNOWING THE CONTENT OF THE BIBLE (53% 'average', 26% 'below average').

However, when people were asked to name a single area in which they would like to improve, many were unable to respond.

The greatest identified spiritual need INCREASING COMMITMENT TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH only garnered 13%, witih INCREASING BIBLE KNOWLEDGE following closely with 12%.

"The fact that so few people have thought about how they could intentionally and strategically enhance their spiritual life reminds us that spiritual growth is not a priority to most people," George Barna said. "Americans are generally satisfied with being 'average' in their spiritual maturity."

What steps are you taking to grow in spiritual maturity? Do you care?

who you are

2007-04-29T18:40:00.000-04:00

There is no joy in succeeding at what you DO, if you are failing in who you ARE.

I think that busy-ness and the expectations of others often drive us to neglect the depth of our relationship with God.

This morning @ Faith, we explored who God is calling you to become.

untapped power

2007-04-25T14:59:00.000-04:00

Back when they brought power lines through the countryside of Wales, there was a Welsh woman who lived in a remote valley. She went to a great deal of trouble having electrical power installed in her home. But after it had been installed, the power company noticed that she didn’t use very much electricity at all. In fact, she used so little, it hardly even registered on the meter.

Well, one month the guy came to read the meter and asked her, “There seems to be something wrong with your meter. Are you actually using your electricity?”

“Oh yes,” she said, “It's wonderful. I turn it on every evening for about 2 minutes, so I can see to light my lamps. And then I turn it off again.”

Isn't that so often how we live our lives? We have access to the most incredible power source. We have available to us the light that can change the whole world!

Yet prayer is something we so often save for times of crisis and trouble. How much power and joy do we forfeit simply because we fail to ask God?

george washington fails again

2007-04-23T18:00:00.000-04:00

Ever get discouraged by setbacks and failure? You feel like you're losing so many battles, how could you ever win the war?

Here's some hope:

George Washington lost more battles than any victorious general in modern history - and his defeats were frequently the result of his own failures, yet he ranks as one of the most celebrated and effective military leaders in Western civilization...

- Source: Joseph Ellis, His Excellency (Faber & Faber Ltd., 2005)

lectio divina prayer

2007-04-18T10:41:00.000-04:00

Yesterday at Faith we had a very meaningful pastoral staff meeting. We practiced an ancient spiritual discipline known as Lectio Divina (Latin for "Sacred Reading"). It's what Christians commonly refer to as "Praying the Scriptures".

The principles for this were detailed by an early church father, Origen in 220 AD. It is simply the act of prayerfully meditating on a passage of Scripture and then internalizing it as you make it the prayer of your heart to God.

Instead of just reading (Psalm 139) "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me int he way everlasting"...you would first read it and then meditate on the deeper meaning. How does it apply to your life? And then slowly and intentionally prayer those words back to God. Ask him to do what the Scripture is saying. Allow the words of Scripture to become your words.

Sometimes we fear what Jesus called "vein repetition". And in an attempt to be spontaneous and expository in our prayers, we often become unfocused and lack depth. Perhaps I'm not the only one who sits down to pray, soon to find my mind wandering off into the various distractions of the day.

Or maybe you find yourself praying to "Father Weejus". How many times do we pray a series of cliches. "Father weejus thank you for this meal. Weejus thank you for the hands that prepared it. Weejus ask that you be here and bless all the little children of the world."

I think in our attempt to avoid "vein repition" we end up doing the very thing Jesus was warning against: mindless prayers.

For the staff prayer time we each spent 50 minutes of solitude praying through the first five paragraphs of St. Augustine's Confessions. Here's a link. Written in 398 AD, these prayers contain a level of depth that my own prayers often lack. We found it incredibly meaningful as our hearts were refreshed by quality time with God.

Set aside some time this week to pray with some sacred texts. It might just revitalize your relationship with God.

outlet

2007-04-17T08:52:00.000-04:00

john chrysostom easter

2007-04-15T12:30:00.000-04:00

I know Easter has come and gone. But this is a beautiful reminder of why the Resurrection is a truth we celebrate more than just one day a year. For the last 1500 years, Orthodox churches around the world have read this sermon by John Chrysostom (349-407), the archbishop of Constantinople at the great Church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia).

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

chocolate covered pork

2007-04-12T08:49:00.000-04:00

A Ukrainian candy company has begun marketing what may be the stickiest, richest and most fattening treat on the market: pure pork fat covered in chocolate. Cracking open a finger-sized stick of ''Fat in Chocolate'' reveals exactly that: a vein of white fat.

I love chocolate...and I love pork. But not everything goes better together. Now, deep fried chocolate-chip cookies with a side of icey cold milk...that's something I could sink my teeth into!!!

I've heard of a place in Georgia where they smoke barbecue ribs and then batter and deep-fry those puppies. There is something to add to the list of things to try in a lifetime.

Oops, temptation is slipping in. I've got to be good. We've got a team from Faith Church preparing to do the DALMAC cycle trip from Lansing up across the Mackinaw Bridge. We've got to stay in shape for the BIG RIDE!

I guess chocolate covered pork fat will have to wait.

cruel video pranks

2007-04-11T12:47:00.000-04:00

Malicious Online Videos Hurting Teachers

By ALEX BRAUN

LONDON (AP) - The teacher stumbling at the front of the classroom in his white briefs, pants pulled down to his ankles by a student, probably wishes he were somewhere else. That place is probably not YouTube.

Captured on video, the scene has been replayed thousands of times and posted by several users on the Internet's most popular video-sharing site. It is not clear where the video was shot, but a quick search on YouTube will turn up hundreds like it.

Such clips hurt teachers, British Education Secretary Alan Johnson said.

"The online harassment of teachers is causing some to consider leaving the profession because of the defamation and humiliation they are forced to suffer," Johnson said at a national teachers' conference Tuesday.

The secretary was speaking about new government guidelines for confiscating mobile phones and other devices that are used to record malicious videos in the classroom. However, Web sites that host student-made videos must also act, he said.

"These are big companies we are talking about," Johnson said. "They have a social responsibility and moral obligation to act."...

The video of the teacher in his briefs was still available Wednesday, as were clips of a teacher walking through cellophane tape covering a classroom door and a student using ketchup to feign a head injury in class.

So...WHAT'S THE POINT?

It breaks my heart when I think about what a cruel culture we are becoming in Western Society. American Idol humiliating pitiful singers, Howard Stern getting the biggest radio show deal in history, Don Imus slandering female basketball players.

As followers of Christ, I believe we are called to respect the dignity of human beings. There is a line that we have to be careful not to cross. It is one thing to prank, tease and joke around. It is another thing to humiliate and degrade.

The Golden Rule, "Treat others as you want to be treated" may not be a quote from the Bible (as many mistakenly believe), but it is definitely consistent with Scripture.

As I began to grow in my relationship with Christ and God began to reveal areas of my character and habits that needed to be changed...this is one of the first things that God's Spirit brought under the spotlight. As a child, I took great pleasure in humiliating someone I didn't like in order to get a laugh. God started to check my spirit when those tendencies would slip back to the surface.

I pray that as Christians we can be a positive light in a negative world.

life as training

2007-04-07T10:20:00.000-04:00

If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable: think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.

C.S. Lewis
"God in the Dock"

easter blogging

2007-04-04T16:54:00.000-04:00

This Sunday is primetime for church. Kind of like Superbowl Sunday for pastors and Bible teachers. Fortunately we have more than just the greatest story ever told...The Resurrection itself is POWER for living!

But I won't give away the core of the message for Sunday here, because I can't assume people have read this blog first :-)

too much alone time

2007-04-02T18:49:00.000-04:00

In Genesis 2:18 God said, “It is not good for a man to be alone”

You know, we all need our privacy. Especially introverts (myself included) need time alone. But TOO much isolation is not good for a person.

Often when relations start to go sour, we have a tendency to just withdraw. Sometimes we just crawl into a hole somewhere.

And that’s not always bad. Honestly, I can tell you personally, that I am at my HOLIEST when I’m isolated from everybody. I can get real godly. Man, you just remove me from the stress of daily life:

not having to deal with technology stuff
not having to deal with the person who complained about this or that at the church
not having to deal with family stuff
not having to deal with the phone ringing off the hook

You allow me to stay away from any kind of relationship, and I can totally focus on God. I can start to think that I am a total Saint. I start to think I’ve got it all figured out.

But it’s the moment that I come OUT of that prayer closet, the moment that I get into the real world and I have to deal with other people. That’s when I realize I’m not so perfect after all. That’s where my faith is tested.

There’s nothing wrong with withdrawal. It’s very healthy and necessary. It’s good for us to pray and get alone and get some private time.

But I once heard a theory that I believe came from John Maxwell:

Spiritual growth begins in isolation, but it never matures there.

When I get away to be with God, the things I learn…are things that I have to PRACTICE with other people. Spiritual growth matures through human relationships. That’s where iron sharpens iron.

So it’s good to get away. But

You will never grow to full spiritual maturity being a monk in the monastery.
You’ll never become what God wants you to be just out there separated from others.

That’s why we do church together. It forces us to learn and change and grow in community.

a married cold

2007-03-30T20:16:00.000-04:00

"The Five Stages of a Married Cold"

See if you relate...

First year: Baby, darling. I'm worried about that little sniffle you have. I think you might have a cold. So I've called the paramedics…the ambulance is coming! They’re going to take you to hospital. I just hope you’re going to be OK. I know you don’t like hospital food, so I’m going to have them deliver your meals from P.F. Chang’s every day. I just want you to get better. (that’s the first year).

Second year: Sweetheart, wow…that’s a really bad cough. I’ve called the Doctor. I’m paying him extra to come make a house call. I don’t want you to lift a finger. You just stay tucked in bed and I’m going to take care of you.

Third year: Hey…do you think you might have a fever? Why don’t you drive on over the Doctor’s office and get yourself some medicine.

Fourth year: What’s that green stuff coming out of your nose? Maybe you should go to bed early tonight… that is…AFTER you’ve cooked dinner, fed the kids and done the laundry.

Fifth year: What is there… a seal barking in the house? Could you go sneeze in the other room? I can't hear the TV.

A man told me "In the first year, my wife used to bring my slippers and the dog came barking. NOW the dog brings my slippers, and..." Oops. Not good.

(James 3:17) says “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate.” It says, a result of being wise is being considerate. When I'm being considerate, I'm being wise.

Careful though, because that also means when I'm being INconsiderate, I'm being stupid. In any relationship, wisdom shows itself in consideration, caring about the needs of others.

hosanna

2007-03-28T11:44:00.000-04:00

This weekend is Palm Sunday. This is the time of year when we sing all the “Hosanna” songs. But so often, it’s just another one of those Christian words that we say, and we don’t know what it means.

Well, it comes originally from the ancient Hebrew and is a combination of 2 words: “HOSHEA' NA” (this is just a phonetic spelling). It means, “God save us, we pray.”

The only time it is used in the Old Testament is in Psalm 118:25. The passage is Messianic in it's hope of a deliverer who would come from God. Even in Jewish worship services today like the “Feast of Tabernacles” (aslo known as "Sukkot") synagogues still proclaim, “HOSHEA' NA”… “God please send your salvation”.

But the good news for the entire world is this. God has already sent his salvation. And so when WE sing “Hosanna”, instead of it being a word of desperation, of sorrow, of agony...for us, “Hosanna” is a word of praise. Of thanksgiving.

God has already answered the Jewish prayer of “HOSHEA' NA”. The Messiah has come! Our Salvation is here!

wedding chapel

2007-03-26T15:54:00.000-04:00

Wow. Faith Church feels kind of liking a wedding chapel today.

I had 3 pre-marital counseling sessions today with couples, one of the other pastor's met with 2 couples today, and others dropped into the office to clarify details for the preparations.

It is awesome that we get to be part of their sacred covenant before God. Faith Church has touched so many lives and made many connections with family and friends who don't know Christ. It is a great ministry connection with the community.

And the pastors at Faith don't just stand up and say a few words, sign on the dotted line and consider it done. Each couple has gone through intensive counseling. They have committed to study the biblical foundation for marriage. They've been challenged to explore the deeper issues of life and spirituality.

The downside? It consumes a huge amount of our time. I pray that our investment in their marriage will reap eternal dividends. If each family would seek to honor Christ, and live with a passion for love and grace...that home can become a catalyst for changing the world!

the plaque whisperer

2007-03-23T18:19:00.000-04:00

Everybody has a different sense of humor. But this one just CRACKS me UP!

BE the church

2007-03-21T09:50:00.000-04:00

Last night, Tracy had a great conversation with a young mom. This winter they moved into the Lansing area from out of state. Their family has been coming to Faith Church for about 2 months. They immediately made the decision to try a HomeGroup.

But then came tough times. She had to have surgery. Things were stressful for their family. That's when their brand new HomeGroup kicked into action as the Community of Christ. Meals were provided. Assitance was offered. Love was communicated. And they were overwhelmed with a sense of belonging.

They got a taste of why the people of Faith Church are so special. It is not enough to just "come to church". It's about learning to "be the church".

I am so thankful for our HomeGroups and their leaders...y'all rock!

canada eh

2007-03-19T09:11:00.000-04:00

I've lived in the states for most of my life. But my blood is from the land of the Maple Leaf and my citizenship is still from Canada. I guess it doesn't come into play much...other than when the Olympics roll around. That's the only time I make much of a deal about being from another country.

I guess the reason that my Canadian citizenry doesn't affect my outlook very much, is because I have lived in the States for most of my life. My outlook and culture was shaped by growing up in America (with schools, church and influences all being American). Therefore, while I'm not an American citizen, I might as well be. There's really not much difference.

The Bible says that our citizenship is in heaven. We are a colony of believers living in a world that is different from us. But just like my Canadian citizenship, as Christians our values, priorities, family life, influences and outlook are often basically the same as those around us. Because we go to school with, work with, live with, and are mostly influenced by the same things as everybody else...there tends to be little difference evidenced in our lives.

So...as citizens of heaven (a colony of believers in Jesus Christ), how should we be different? How do we live IN the world, while not being OF the world? What characteristics should distinguish us?

Food for thought.

sitting in church

2007-03-16T12:30:00.000-04:00

W. Oscar Thompson Jr. (in 'Concentric Circles of Concern') says, "Satan is not concerned with how many people gather in a service if all they do is sit and listen and leave. Satan does not care how much seed is sown as long as he can steal it away."

It is awesome to come to church. But in what ways have you allowed God to capture your heart? How are you being changed? In what way are you becoming more like Christ today than you were yesterday?

Personally, I've always disliked the word "pews" in church. It's such a churchy word for something that everyone else in the world would just call a bench or row of seats. But I guess there's one way in which the word is appropriate. If you sit in a church pew too long, without engaging and changing...before long you end up turning stinky.

McLaren on being criticized

2007-03-12T10:24:00.000-04:00

Hmmm...apparantly I've been thinking about friendship lately. That was a big part of the teaching on Sunday. It seems to be a subject that comes up time and again in much of my reading. And the challenge of having "real friends" is something with which many pastors struggle.

So here are some more thoughts on the issue from an interview with Brian McLaren. He is an author and leader within emergent Christianity, and I don't always agree with him on every point (which I guess is true with everyone, when you think about it). But he said some things that hit close to home:

Brian, how do you handle criticism? Did your years as a pastor prepare you for what you're now experiencing (as a speaker and author)?

As you know, I have people writing books and saying very critical things about me, but in some ways it’s no harder then being a pastor was. In fact, it might even be easier. Many pastors know what it’s like to have people they’ve cared for—people they’ve married, and baptized, and counseled—come up and say, “You’re not meeting our needs anymore, and we’re leaving.” It’s wounding. It’s very, very hard.

When we hear criticism, it can echo in our minds for days. On one hand, we can’t stop beating ourselves up and second-guessing. On the other, we're tempted to get revenge. We torture ourselves. What I found I need to do is retrain my instinct to defend myself. Of course that is what Jesus was talking about when he says to turn the other cheek.

The second thing I’ve learned is to process the criticism with God. The prayer by the Serbian bishop (he's referring to Nikolai Velimirovic) has helped me do this. The bishop was taken to a concentration camp for speaking out against the Nazis. His own people betrayed him. But in his prayer he asks the Lord to bless his enemies, and he recognized how they actually help him. That has been incredibly helpful for me.

How do you think your critics have helped you?

We all want people to think we’re better than we actually are. I want people to think I’m more holy than I actually am, more knowledgeable than I actually am. Well, a critic comes along, and they don’t give me a chance to inflate my image. And in that way, if I can learn to live with a lower image through criticism, then maybe I won’t be so prone to inflate my image in other circumstances. Critics teach us humility.

If we should thank God for our enemies, what about our friends? How do they help us grow?

I think we all need non-utilitarian friendships. In ministry it’s easy for us to use people—to see them as a way of advancing our ministry or our agenda. And there are many ways people want to use us. A non-utilitarian friendship is where we build a relationship because I like the person and I’m not trying to use them for my success, and they’re not trying to use me.

you too?

2007-03-09T19:32:00.000-05:00

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, "What! You too? I thought I was the only one!"
- C.S. Lewis

There are many people who are impressive and seem perfect. There are those who I desire to learn from and who challenge me to grow. But I think Lewis is right when he talks about what bonds us to another person in friendship. It is that sense of commonality. You just seem to "get" each other.

I think that's why Jesus made such an impact in people's lives. He was able to look into people's lives and empathize with what they were going through.

Dale Carnegie always talked about this. It is a bedrock truth that you can make more friends in a day by being interested in other people, than you can make in a year by trying to get other people interested in you.

I think back on countless conversations I've had where, I must confess, my subtle (or not so subtle) goal was to be impressive. Isn't it ironic that the more you try to impress, the less impressive you actually appear?

And yet, if I stop and think about those whom I truly consider to be a friend. When I think about the people I like to be around and have in my life. They're not people who are trying to impress me. They're people who have given me reason to suspect that they might actually LIKE me.

Do you wish you had some close friends?

Here's a suggestion. Make the choice to begin to enjoy other people, and they will begin to enjoy being around you. When you give people reason to suspect that you actually like them (not for anything that they can do for, but just to like them for who they are)...I believe that you will find yourself having more friends than you can handle.

cookie crisp

2007-03-07T15:21:00.000-05:00

This morning at the breakfast table, my children informed me of their latest and greatest discovery.

Our 6 year old boy, Seth, was jumping up and down with a look of glee radiating from his eyes. He joyfully cried out, "Cookies for breakfast. Did you hear me, Dad? That's what I'm saying. You can eat chocolate chip cookies for breakfast!!! And it's a cereal. Have you ever heard of this before? It's the greatest invention ever. Little cookies, in a bowl, as a cereal, that you can eat with a spoon."

Yes, my children discovered the joy of high-sugar cereals. I didn't have the heart to tell him, that it was something that I too ate as a child. And that it might be a mildly decent cereal, but as far as "cookies" go..."Cookie Crisp" is far from being as good as a real gooey chocolate-chip cookie.

But I wasn't going to burst his bubble. The joy of watching children grow and discover is the greatest part about being a parent.

And you've got to admit...it is pretty cool eating "cookies" for breakfast. But I'll bypass the cereal and go straight for the real thing!

generational narcissism

2007-03-05T13:33:00.000-05:00

As I read this article, lights started flashing in my head (or maybe it was lights just being reflected off of my shiney freshly-shaven head)! We are blessed at Faith Church to attract people from all walks of life. So something in this article resonated with the positive experiences (and difficult challenges) of being a "non-homogenized" church.

All in the Family Is Now Grey's Anatomy
Today's segregation is by age.
by Chad Hall

How things change. As a kid, I remember well Archie and Edith keeping things at a low boil, and how the entrée of the hippie son-in-law would put things over the top. Political opinions would fly, social perspectives would clash, and tension would build, culminating in Archie's caustic comment, "Meathead!" The live studio audience would laugh and so would my family because it was All in the Family.

Now one of the biggest hits is Grey's Anatomy. The show tracks a group of medical interns figuring out who they are by befriending, arguing, and sleeping with one other. Plenty of conflict and some high drama, but almost none of it is intergenerational. The same is true for plenty of other recent TV hits. Entourage, Friends, and Seinfeld come to mind.

While older adults and young children may occasionally enter an episode, the series move forward via conflict created and cured among the young adult main characters.

These shows display a trend also found in some churches: the move away from intergenerational interaction. The attitude seems to be: Who needs another generation? After all, we have our friends!

While many established churches struggle to attract and retain young adult members, newer churches are attracting nothing but. A 50-year-old friend in Portland recently visited a popular church plant there, and she took her 11-year-old daughter with her. She said later, "I loved the energy and mission of the church, but I was too old and my daughter too young. There just wasn't a place for people our age."

As a church planter and ministry coach, I've worked with churches who are primarily young and others who are obviously older. What these churches have in common is a voiced desire for community. Yet that "community" is often a veiled form of group narcissism. Young or old, they want to do church with people who are like us and who, in turn, are easy to like.

We want relationships in service to Christ's mission to be smooth and tension-free. We don't want to get bogged down in the messy problems raised by how differently older and younger people see the world.

As tempting as it may be to do church with friends only, there are at least three good reasons to resist age gentrification of church.

1. Christ and Scripture point to an inherent value in diversity. Jesus' ministry included disciples of various backgrounds, women of all ages, and even the most marginalized. Jesus' theme is that the kingdom of God is for everyone. We give testimony to the kingdom's radical expansiveness by the breadth of ages in our congregations.

2. Both young and old have resources to share. Generational homogenization results in an overabundance of one type of resources in certain congregations. Many older generation churches have plenty of money and facilities, but lack the energy and fresh vision younger congregations have aplenty. Churches that bring together the generations also bring together their respective resources in order to carry out kingdom work.

3. Perhaps most important, multi-generational congregations must deal with a particular type of conflict that has a spiritual purpose. While many organizations (churches included) seek to minimize conflict in order to streamline effectiveness and carry out the mission, intergenerational conflict in a church actually breeds godliness. Churches who value their young and their old will have to deal with clashing perspectives, which may slow things down, make decisions harder to come by, force compromise on difficult matters, and automatically elevate the value of relationship over that of task.

But when generations collide, the ensuing conflict reminds everyone, Church is not just about me. Who knew that church could be the cure to narcissism?

jesus (?) tomb?

2007-02-28T13:09:00.000-05:00

Why is the Discovery Channel and cross-marketing of a new book all of a sudden creating a clamor over a tomb that was discovered and documented back in 1980?

Well...because up until these movie/quasi-documentary film-makers made their media splash this week...nobody really cared. Now all of a sudden the blogosphere is filled with scholars who are poking holes through this theory (and the flawed research, assumptions and statistical methods) of the new Jesus Tomb argument.

Dr. Witherington just read the new book (which accompanies the film's debut on Sunday). I'd encourage you to read some of his additional thoughts (added since my below post from yesterday). Click here

In case you haven't been keeping score, here is my attempt at a quick summary from the perspective of Joel:

1) They claim the bone box says "Jesus son of Joseph", when in reality every scholar of ancient language says, "The Joseph part you can make out. But the hastily scratched lettering of the first name is too messy to decipher." The only reason they leap to the conclusion the word says "Jesus" is because one of the other boxes says "Judah son of Jesus". Therefore the name that we can't read must be Jesus. Big problem. This tomb is not filled with every member of the family. Just because the Judah in the tomb had a father named Jesus, that doesn't necessarily mean that the name we can't read must be Jesus.

2) All of the 6 names inscribed are incredibly common names. They ran fancy statistical models to prove that out of 600 hundred times, they are 599 chances that this IS Jesus of Nazareth against only 1 chance that it is not. However, staticsticians are already analyzing the model that they used to come up with this statistic of probability and it is hugely flawed. Believe me, I am horrible at math, but with even a small understanding of logic you can see the errors.

They assume that one of the Mary bones must have been the mother of Jesus and factor that into the statistical model. But pardon me...where is any evidence that the Mary in the tomb is the mother (not the sister, daughter, grandmother, etc).? That is an unfortunate leap that leads you to false certainty of your data.

And what about the Matthew found in the tomb? They say, "Oh Matthew must have been Mary's brother." Ok...based on what? There is zero evidence that Mary or Jesus had anyone in her family named Matthew.

Then they say the other Mary is Mary Magdalene. And because they ran DNA from small flesh residue in that box and the Jesus box, and determined that the Jesus and the Mary were not related...they jump to this conclusion: "Mary and Jesus were married". Hello! How do we get there? The Mary in that box could have been married to any of the other men in the tomb. And they didn't run tests on any of the other boxes.

And they also leap to saying that the ossuary (bone box) says, "Mary or Master". So she must be the one the Da Vinci Code proposes. But it does NOT say that. It says, "Mary - Martha". It was not uncommon to have 2 women's bones placed in the same box. And go do your own research and find out where they get the idea that Mariamene is the common name used for Mary Magdalene. I guess that works if you use sources from 100's of years later, rather than the actually people who knew her in the 1st century. But they don't tell you that.

In their statistical model, their scholar (who was key to all their research) James Tabor explains how they arrive at their conclusion that this is Jesus of Nazareth. Here is a DIRECT QUOTE from Tabor's website:

Experts I am working with tell me that assuming a family size of six, the probability of these six names in these relationships occurring together in one family is: 1/253,403.Therefore, out of 253,403 families (a population of 1,520,418), this particular combination of names would occur only once. Obviously the population of late 2nd Temple Jerusalem was nothing of that sort, but perhaps only 25,000 (Jeremias) to 50,000...My statistical consultant gave me a very simple analogy: Imagine a football stadium filled with 50,000 people—men, women, and children. This is an average estimate of the population of ancient Jerusalem in the time of Jesus. If we ask all the males named Jesus to stand, based on the frequency of that name, we would expect 2,796 to rise. If we then ask all those with a father named Joseph to remain standing there would only be 351 left. If we further reduce this group by asking only those with a mother named Mary to remain standing we would get down to only 173. If we then ask only those of this group with a brother named Joseph only 23 are left. And finally, only of these the ones with a brother named James, there’s less than a 3/4 chance that even 1 person remains standing. Prof. Andre Feuerverger, of the University of Toronto, a highly regarded senior scholar in the field did the formal statistics for the Discovery project. His figure of probability came out to 1/600.

Again, I am no expert at statistics. But how many errors do you see in that model? It says, "Stay standing if your father is Joseph and your mother is Mary." Uhh....excuse me.

Based on your ossuaries there is absolutely NO reference on the "Jesus box" to his mother being Mary.
There is no DNA testing yet to determine if the "Jose" in the other box is a blood relative to "Jeshua"
There is no certainty that the "James" ossuary came from this tomb.

So based on Tabor's own words from his statistician, their calculation of probability is based on things that they are assuming. NOT things they have proven.

3) They claim that patina (basically residue samples) from the "James brother of Jesus" box (found many years ago in an antiquities market) matches patina found in the new "Holy Family tomb". They then claim, "Since Jesus had a brother named James, this box must have come from that tomb." Big problem here. First of all, according to news reports, they made up their own testing method to determine this. Secondly, the patina from that tomb could form similar patina from other tombs in the vicinity. Thirdly, early church documents (within the first few generations after Christ) said that James' tomb was a spot that pilgrims often came to venerate. And that it was very near to the old city. This new "Holy Family" tomb is no where near the old city.

4) Even the ancient prolific Jewish historian Josephus mentions that they don't know what happened to Jesus body refering to the disciples' claim that Christ rose again. The "Jesus Tomb" producers say that this doesn't conflict with their theory. They propose that Jesus did rise again, and then 40 days later ascended "spiritually" into heaven leaving a dead physical body. Big problem with this theory. Everybody hated the Christians. If Jesus did rise again, but then his physical body died when he ascended...and if you were one of the disciples who everybody is out to disprove...WHAT would you do with your Master's body? Would you put it in a big fancy and expensive tomb with distinctive markings on the outside which draw everyone's attention? They say, "This tomb isn't fancy. It's plain and common". But it IS an expensive tomb. It has artwork on the front. It draws attention. If I were trying to protect a body from being discovered or desecrated, I would definitely not put it in a place like that.

5) Just read through some of their arguments on "The Discovery Channel" website. For example they claim that the passage in the Gospels referring to someone reclining on or near Jesus' chest at the last supper, sounds a lot like a child resting on a father's lap. They want you to say, "Wow, that must be Judah, the son of Jesus".

But all you have to do is read that passage in context. Immediately you see that they are preying on the uninformed. Because it goes on to say that the rest of the disciples asked this disciple (the one they suggest is a child sleeping on Jesus' lap), "Ask Jesus which one of us is going to betray him." Does that sound like something you would ask a child sitting on his father's lap?

6) The "Jesus Family Tomb" website ties the whole thing to Dan Brown's Da Vinci theories and the Nights Templar. They say that a 1000 years later the knights found this tomb during the Crusades and learned the secret about Jesus and Mary. But then on the very next page, they say that it sat undisturbed for 2000 years until 1980. So which is it?

7) And oh yeah...why do you not release this stuff until one week before your documentary is released on television. Is it perhaps so that you can get your theory out into the public BEFORE the world's archaelogists, historians and statisticions have a chance to show everybody all the stuff you got wrong?

And these are just the one's that I'm spouting off the top of my head. There are tons of other gaps in logic, fantasy theories and outright deceptions.

Having studied "The Da Vinci Code" thoroughly, it just reminds me of how easy it is to hide behind the claim: "This is just a theory based upon the facts." But then to base your theory on fabricated facts, knowing that 99% of the people will take your word for it.

I am still saddened by the number of people I meet who were influenced by "The Da Vinci Code", and they never even realize that not only are Dan Brown's history and documents are fabrications...but that he doesn't even get the art work and non-historical facts right.

But all you have to do today is take a few dates, numbers and experts...wrap up the facts in a burrito of distortions and fantastic theories...season it with the help of the media (someone said they watched the producers and experts for the Jesus Tomb documentary on Larry King Live this week and who did they have present the opposing view??? Uninformed church leaders who got frustrated, rather than scholars who could rationally provide balance). So what do you end up with? You end up with a recipe for making lots of money and getting lots of attention.

I admit. I come to this with my own bias. We ALL come to this with our own bias. But it seems particularly clear that the makers of this documentary came at it with a very heavily waited bias that leads them to bypass tradition means of research methodology.

Here is MY ULTIMATE HOPE. I pray that this theory will send people out to research the facts for themselves. Study the ancient works and history for yourself. Not just the interpretation of those works by skeptics with an agenda, but the actual history. And you will be amazed that no one has ever been able to prove Scripture wrong yet.

Let's pray that the foolishness of men can be a tool for bringing about the glory of God.