Stunning Aurora

I saw this image this morning and it just blew me away. Think about it, while I was sleeping, this is was going on. It’s not that God can and does do things like this, but that he is doing things like this all the time all over the world in ways we see and can’t see. Just because you can’t see God at work doesn’t mean he isn’t doing something absolutely stunning. Wow!

Steak or Wendy’s

This past Sunday evening on the way home for dinner, I said, Who is up for grilling steak?” Sophie replied, “I want Wendy’s.”

CS Lewis said, “It’s not that we desire too much, but that we desire far too little.”

Jeremiah, the prophet, said, “My people have committed two sins:They have forsaken me, the spring of living water,and have dug their own cisterns,broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”
(Jer 2:13)

Jesus, God in the flesh said, “I have come that you might have life and life to the fullest.” (John 10:10)

What is it in your life that is good, but not great, not God-sized? What are your settling for? Keep going have full life by the power of the Holy Spirit!

The day that Kristen was the most attractive…

It wasn’t the day I first saw her in my office building (though she was beautiful).
It wasn’t our wedding day (though she looked amazing).
It wasn’t the days she birthed our two children (though those were indescribable beauty).
It wasn’t the night we went out a few years ago and she wore that gorgeous black dress.
It wasn’t in that new outfit she got recently (though it was pretty nice).
It wasn’t seeing her in the low light of the sunset at the beach (though she was glowing).

It was a random afternoon. She came walking into my study after working out. She was wearing sweaty sports clothes and running shoes. Her hair was a little frizzy and matted at the same time. She was still breathing hard.

She stood in the doorway and said, “You know that check that you got from the church for speaking last Sunday?… I think we should tear it up and give it back.”

That was the day that Kristen was the most attractive I have ever seen her.

There is nothing more attractive than seeing her give up something for the sake of the gospel. There is nothing more attractive than seeing her be generous. There is nothing more attractive than seeing her be kingdom-minded. There is nothing more attractive than seeing her care about a little church plant. There is nothing more attractive than seeing her care more about Jesus’ fame than her comfort.

That was the day that Kristen was the most attractive I have ever seen her.

Does Theology Matter?

Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the Castle Church doors in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517. This event created controversy between Luther (a Catholic priest) and the Pope over all kinds of theology and practices. Luther was excommunicated in 1520, and the reformation, which led to the protestant tradition, began. Sunday, 10.30.11, is Reformation Sunday.

Does theology, literally “God talk”, matter? Do your thoughts on God work themselves out in daily life? Can your beliefs change the direction of your life and the lives of those around you?

The medieval Catholic Church had a practice of accepting payment for forgiveness (I’m way oversimplifying here). Martin Luther, having reread the Book of Romans, came to the conclusion that forgiveness came by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for God’s glory alone as told in scripture alone. Major theological differences. That belief radically changed Luther’s life, the church, nations and governments, and my life forever.

So, does theology matter to you?

Partnering with Parents: 10.16 Resources

Hey parents,
We hope your children had a wonderful Sunday morning in CrossingKids. But we hope that the morning was just the tip of the iceberg. Our goal on Sunday mornings is for CrossingKids to get your children so excited about Jesus that it’s easy to keep the conversation going all week long at home.

Here is what CrossingKids was all about on Sunday:
Theme: JUMP! Put Faith In Motion
Bible Story: Paul and Silas in Jail, Acts 16:16-34
Question: If I do what’s right, will things be better for me?
Bottom Line: It’s not about me. It’s what God wants to do in the world around me.
Memory Verse: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live”
(1 Timothy 4:12, NIrV).

Here are some resources to keep the conversation going all week in case your kiddos didn’t bring them home Sunday or you missed church:

SmallTalk Cards (3-4 year olds):SmallTalk_Jump_MonthOne
GodTime Cards (k-5th Grade):Week 3-Oct16

Iron Sharpens Iron

I had the chance to spend a little time with a group of doctoral students from Fuller Seminary this week. I was invited by a friend who is teaching a track on church planting to share about what is going on at The Crossing Church.

I had a blast. It is always fun to brag on Jesus and The Crossing team that is knocking it out of the park. I love you guys. Also, I kept thinking about Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” I’m grateful for the opportunity to share which made me think critically and articulate God’s vision for us thoroughly. And that sharpened me.

Who do you have in your life that is like iron sharpening iron for you?

Monday on My Mind

We had a great “off weekend.” We were invited to spend most of Sunday at Eleven22. What awesome people. I’m so excited about what God is doing, especially as they transition to being their own church. I’m also fired up to be going on some mission trips together this next year. If you go to The Crossing and want more info about those trips, email info@tccjax.org.

Podcasting on iTunes of the messages at The Crossing Church is up and running thanks to Nathan Mcmillen. If you’ve missed a Sunday, check it out. You can subscribe to the feed, too.

Parent Resources From 10.2.11

Good morning Parents!

We are passionate about partnering with you so that you are resourced, equipped, and supported as you lead your children. One of those ways is through some materials that you can use throughout the week that go along with what your kids learned in CrossingKids on Sunday.

In case you missed out on grabbing a Small Talk Card (Preschoolers) or a GodTime Card (k-5th Graders), here they are.

Click here to download the GodTime Card:: Week 2-Oct2

Click here to download the SmallTalk Card:: SmallTalk_Jump_MonthOne

I have a Grammar Issue

I have a grammar problem. Maybe I’m being picky here, but I’m not normally the detail-mr.-grammar-guy (feel free to leave comments about the irony of bad grammar in this post). But I have a grammar issue with the church. It’s not really the grammar itself that’s the issue, but the bigger problem that the grammar issue brings up.

The grammar issue is this: the is no such thing as “missions”. Seriously. “Missions” does not exist. We don’t do “missions”. We don’t go on “missions trips”. We aren’t on “missions teams”. We don’t perform “missions work”.

Why is there no such thing as “missions”? Because there is only one mission- The Mission of God. In John 20:21, “Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’” Jesus’ mission was to reconcile people into a relationship with our Heavenly Father. It has been God’s Mission since the start. God has not had multiple missions. It’s been one mission: The Mission of God. God on a singular mission, because he has a singular character. God does not change. He is the same always. He is a missionary God, coming into our lives. His character remains singular and consistent. Therefore, there is one mission.

I told you I was being picky. But here is the deal. Besides sounding funny (which it does sound funny). There are huge implications for the Church:
*Understanding The Mission of God brings unity to the body of Christ. Too many churches have fractured and there is too much us-them mentality in the Church because we have fought over which mission is right.
*Having a single mission doesn’t mean we have a single way of being involved. On the contrary. There are all kinds of ways to live out God’s Mission. We see God do this throughout history. But it always point to his reconciling mission of Jesus.
*Jesus himself is mission. He is on The Mission. All mission directs to him. It all leads back to Jesus.
*We are a part of God’s Mission. We may participate in God’s Mission. We are missionaries. Singular mission allows for singular identity within diversity of gifts.
*A single mission gives you the freedom to find your place in the mission and not worry about what the mission is. We can be boots on the ground instead of theoretical minds in the clouds.

So, no more saying “missions”. Don’t stop doing mission work or going on mission trips or having mission involvement. Do all those things. Say all those things. But most importantly, remember that it is singular because it points back to the one Missionary God who has one mission: reconciliation.

Grammar lesson done. Flynt out!

Dealing with Conflict: Admonishing One Another

When you here the word “admonish”, does that conjure up warm fuzzy feelings or feelings of judgment and condemnation? If you’re like me, it’s the second. But look at the Merriam-Webster definition to the left right here. It talks about admonishment as being gentle, earnest, friendly, encouraging.

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Col 3:16

Admonishment is something our culture runs from. Partly because we have a bad definition of it in our mind. Partly because we’ve handled admonishment with judgment, arguing, and condemnation. But don’t you really deep down want and need someone who will be gentle, earnest, friendly, encouraging toward you? It’s hard to see in the mirror areas we need to grow in. But we want to grow. We need this kind of grace.

So how do you admonish some?
1. Before you open your mouth to someone else, open your heart to Jesus. Colossians says it starts with letting Christ dwell richly in your heart. Ask Jesus to come into your life and check your heart and motives. Repent of your own sin first. Make sure your motive for wanting to admonish someone is for the right reason, not just to make your life easier. It’s a speck and plank deal first.
2. Be wise with your words. When you admonish someone, this passage tells us that we are to do it with wisdom and a spirit of teaching. It doesn’t say with a spirit of criticism or punishment. Wisdom is required if you want to encourage someone to go further. Teaching doesn’t imply a know-it-all attitude, but a sense of wanting someone to grow in a positive way. Do you have wisdom and want growth?
3. Relationship matters. If you don’t have a good relationship, you shouldn’t get in the admonishment game with someone. This is why small groups are critical. No current relationship=no admonishment.
4. Be very, very careful asking someone who doesn’t believe what you believe to act like you act. First of all, you’re not the model to be emulated. Second, if behavior precedes belief, all you get is false, deadly religion. When a believe admonishes a non-believer, it hardly ever goes well.
5. The purpose of admonishment is to increase faith in Jesus…worship. Look at how the Colossians passage ends. If you admonish someone, the end goal is not better behavior, but bigger worship. The purpose of admonishment is to help someone know, love, and trust Jesus more. Look at at why Jesus admonished the disciples in Luke 8:22-28 and Matthew 16:21-28. It was always to increase faith. If you increase, then behavior works itself out. Seek first then Kingdom of God, then everything else falls into place.

One other thought, the way you receive admonishment will always be a more powerful witness to the work of God in your life, than how you give admonishment. Be humble and repentant. God gives grace to the humble, but he opposes the proud.