I was emailed this yesterday from Dustin, our bass player.  These are some sketches of the last three guest speakers we have had a Elevation Church.  These are awesome.

Mike Foster

Mark Batterson

Joel Hunter

Yesterday at 7pm, the prophet of the LDS Church, Gordon B. Hinckley passed away.  Mr. Hinckley has served as the prophet of the LDS Church since 1995.  He is most known for his expansion of temple building across the world and his mild manner.

Today as I drove from meeting to meeting I was listening to the LDS Church owned radio station, KSL.  KSL was interviewing a lot of well known people about their take on the passing of the LDS leader.  Donny Osmond, former Governors, Lovell Edwards (former BYU football coach), local religious leaders, community leaders, etc.  As one person said on the radio program, “for a 17 year-old member [of the Mormon Church] this is the only prophet they have ever known.”

My in-laws are LDS and I called them last night when I heard the news.  I gave them my condolences for the loss of their religious leader.  My prayers are now with the LDS Church as they will be selecting a new prophet.  I have heard so many differing statements on how the process actually goes down, but bottom line for me is this:  I am praying that God will put someone in that position that will look to Jesus Christ and have a heart for Jesus Christ.

Went to Sundance with JR today.  Walked around the downtown area, got some coffee, ate some pizza, and went to a show.

The short film at the beginning of the movie was good.  I liked it.

The movie on the other hand…not so much.  In fact, we walked out…boring.  Brandon if this is what they have at Sundance you will win if you would just enter something.

Great day with my buddy JR.  He is going to hang with us at Elevation tomorrow.

So my buddy JR had this crazy idea and vision from God to start this ministry to the movie industry. After he shared his idea with me I was totally on board. Like I need something else to do in life.

What has sprung up is this new ministry called Hollywood Pastor.

JR is leading a group of Christians into reaching out to those in the industry that just need someone to talk to and need the light of Christ shined into the dark. I am happy to be working with JR and his team on connecting authentic followers of Christ to those in the industry that need and want Jesus.

JR is flying into town today around 5pm and will be up at Sundance in Park City for the next two days. If you would like to become part of the Hollywood Pastor squad either on Friday or Saturday, email me and let me know. Check out their website, podcast, blog, and cool links. Our own Steve Matney put the website together.

Here is what Hollywood Pastor is all about…

After watching the Hollywood talented blow themselves up year after year with divorce, booze, drugs, bad relationships, and bad career moves… We got pissed. Pissed because people just need a little love and perhaps a bit of good-old- fashioned counsel from people who “get it.” Get that it’s not all shiny dreams come true and instant fame and fortune. Get that for the most part everyone wants a piece of you, from your fame to your cash. Get that before all this you most likely came here with faith and the Hollywood experience has lead you to leave what you truly seek… a relationship with God.

Hollywood Pastor has a host of regular pastor type folks who are ready listen and help. If you’re in the business and need an ear or an answer, we are here. A lot of what’s happening right now can be redeemed with just a conversation and a tiny bit of faith. 

I shared this with a few guys the other day at Starbucks…GOD has really convicted me in my spirit about being negative.

I’m sure some people don’t believe that, maybe it was something in my childhood or how I grew up, but whatever it was I have had this easy street to negativity inside of me.  I have had to work hard at fixing this…

I’m super sensitive now about anyone being negative around me.  The Bible is clear that our words should be about building each other up…not pushing each other down.

Now criticism and negativity don’t always go hand in hand.  There are times that a critique is warranted or necessary, but how do you know when you crossed the line into negativity?

So here is a list of five ways to be an unfair critic and cross the line into negativity:

• Use absolutes and generalizations:  The person you heard speak was, “the worst speaker ever.”  Every church doesn’t follow the Biblical model in how they teach the Bible.
• You know the motivations behind everything and you should criticize those too:  They started a school at their church for the money.  He is just trying to become the next leader and he has a secret agenda.  Or even better than all of that, the person you are criticizing is a “wannabe” -they just want to be like the big time pastor up the street or the guy they just met.
• If you are going to criticize something, don’t just criticize the item in question, but also the background of the person or source responsible for the item:  If you can point out other things you hate about the source, by all means do so, cause that proves that you are right and everything they do is completely wrong.
• Heap as much negativity into one sentence as you possibly can: the more negative you can be the more right you are and the more wrong they are.
• Everyone who disagrees with your criticism should also be criticized:  They don’t just disagree with your thoughts they are now your enemy.  Turn your enemy’s criticism back on them and if you can use their words against them then you are so right and they are so wrong.

This list was written in my journal after I read the book Small Is The New Big by Seth Godin.  It is a variation of his list on page 54 of the hardback edition.  I highly recommend this book…this author really makes me think and I have written several journal entries after reading his thoughts.

Ok…I am a day late on my recap and thoughts from Sunday.  Yesterday didn’t ever end and today I was up at 5:30am and off to go skiing at The Canyons in Park City with Mark Batterson, his son Parker, and Nate Cook.  It has been a long day again and I’m finally sitting down to computer.

Here are my thoughts from yesterday:

• I am so thankful that Mark Batterson reminded us of the constants in our life and how we need to remind ourselves of what God has blessed us with.  His gratitude journal is a great idea.  What are you grateful for?
• I am grateful for the leaders and people that call Elevation their home church.  The people at Elevation are the best.  You guys cannot be replaced.
• Mark Batterson did a smashing job of bringing a message from God.
• I have about five lions I’m going to hunt down and kill now.
• I’m not going to lie…I’m going to chase my wife as well.  Good word Mark.  Good word.
• We started about five minutes late and went 10 minutes after…need to work on that.
• Elevation Kids had a great leaders meeting at lunch.  Big things on Feb. 3rd!
• Our prayer element in our gathering isn’t normal for us to do, it is hard for people to get out of the theater seats and go up in front of everyone, BUT God was sure at work even if only a few went forward.  It was awesome.
• Worship just had something to it that really seemed to connect.  Great job team.
• Graphics for this month are off the chain.  Great job Brandon.
• Brandon was offered a job editing a nicely budgeted film that is being shot in Denver in February.  They made the decision after watching the Easter video Brandon did last year for us.  How sick is that?  (sick in a good way)
• Another great crowd at Elevation.  New faces every week.
• Was a little shocked at how many people failed to turn in their cambodia missions trip deposit.
• I guessed New England in the Super Bowl, but the Giants.  How sick is that?  (sick in a bad way)
• Hockey game on Saturday night was the best one I have been to so far.  There was like four fights and we had a great crowd of Elevation people.
• Team meeting went long Sunday night…but man, we have the coolest team.  Love you guys and love doing life with you.
• God is brewing some major offensive moves at Elevation.  You ready?
• We called an audible on our next sermon series that starts on Feb. 3rd, we were going to start with our sermon on our Bible, but we are going to start with Fasting…why?  Cause Feb. 6th is the beginning of Lent and it will fit.
• Eli Manning in the Super Bowl?  Are you for real?
• Our House Churches that we have right now are AWESOME.  Get into a small group  or a house church NOW if you are not.

God has been talking to me like crazy this week…

I don’t even know what to blog about, there is so MUCH.

I’m developing this philosophy for listening to God as the lead pastor of Elevation: listen daily, get away weekly, escape monthly.  I am going to be scheduling time every day to just listen to God and his direction for Elevation.  Then once a week I will schedule 2-3 hours to get away from everyone and everything to dig in deeper with God, followed by once a month taking at least one day to get out of town to just hear from God.

This week has been one of those weeks that just fires you up for the rest of the year.  Taking time off from not preparing to speak on Sunday has really been worth it.

As one person said to me this week when I was talking to them about some things I had rattling in my head, “Sounds like a vision from God.  You ready to call it that?”

I’m a little late on my sunday recap.

• Mike Foster did a great job talking about second chances.
• It was great to see everyone back after two Sundays of SNOW.
• We were packed with people after all this snow stuff.
• Worship was anointed.
• Our youth guy JOEL forgot to do the offering…good thing we reminded him as he was walking off stage.  Ha, ha.
• San Diego Chargers BABY!  Don’t think they will beat the Pats…too many injuries.
• Our nursery was packed…seems like kids church is not gaining people, but our toddlers and nursery is going great.
• House Churches started back up this week.  Went last night to one…it was so much fun!  Great discussion and I was chocked up to see the spiritual growth and maturity that is happening in people’s lives.
• We have 30 people that bought tickets to Saturday’s hockey game.  It is going to be a party!
• The Deadly Viper book sold pretty good.
• Let’s be a people of 2nd chances!