Here are a few nuggets I shared with the young adults from Christ’s Place on Friday night.
the methods are not sacred, just the message
there is an arrogance to youth…we are not better, this is just our turn
you can’t change what you are not part of
our generation will be known for making things smaller, more authentic, and how we dealt with the issue of homosexuality
the more authentic we are, the more we attract others who are searching for a REAL experience with God
if God can’t protect you in a porn convention, God’s powers are limited…we know this isn’t true so we should trust God more than the environment
relational ministry is takes time and produces deeper results with individuals, attractional ministry is easier and more shallow
when someone like me comes in to tell them about a ministry we are doing, it always sounds sexier than it really is…the picture always looks better than the real thing
missions will change and needs to change…we need to push people into finding jobs globally that put them and their faith in God in the middle of those who don’t
just some of my thoughts from Friday…what are yours?
Ami and I flew to Lincoln, Nebraska yesterday. No, I am not a big cornhuskers fan or anything of that nature…we were asked to come out here this weekend and spend time with the a great church, Christ’s Place.
Last night we spoke to a small group of twentysomethings at a gathering called thepoint. It was really laid back and chill. I had a great time just sharing my heart on ministry. Ami said as we left that it really helped her to see that all twentysomethings across the country really do think the same when it comes to our outlook on life.
I’ll share in a post later about the meeting last night…
Today we are doing nothing…hip, hip, hooray!
Tomorrow we speak in three services. It will be a long day, but I’m sure we will meet some great people and have some fun.
Flew home from Kentucky yesterday. Went home for about 45 minutes then had to head over to Park City for a meeting of pastors from Utah and Colorado.
Honestly, I hate these big business meetings. I love hanging with my friends from around Utah and Colorado. I don’t get to see them a lot, so this is the place to hang.
I’m tired of the travel from the last week, so I think I’m going home early tonight from these meetings. I’m going to take the day off tomorrow hanging with my kids. I miss those little suckers.
Just flew into Louisville, Kentucky a few hours ago.
Joel and I are here to meet up with a bunch of church leaders. Many of the churches we are going to connect with tonight have been supporting our church planting efforts in Utah for the last 3 years. It is going to be great to see some old faces (not a reference to their age verses mine).
I’ve already run into Steve Turley. He is a missionary friend of mine to Brussels, Belgium. I spent a week with Steve and his family back in 2005. They are amazing and it will great to reconnect with him tonight.
We didn’t know the Pope was going to be in DC at the same time. I guess he wanted to hang with us. jk.
It was a great trip. Andy and I went out to hang with about 8 or so pastors in the DC area who have helped invest in the church plant here in Utah. We went to share the stories of the changed lives in Utah as well as share the vision for more churches in Utah. We asked these churches to commit some funds for a new church plant. They stepped up to the plate and we were blessed.
Thank you to all the pastors we hung out with. Thank you to Mark Batterson and Mark Lehmann for putting this event together.
SIDE NOTE: Andy and I went to Mark Batterson’s house Thursday night for dinner. We had a Wii tournament. Utah vs. DC. Just to let all of you Utah peeps know, we represented you well. Utah slaughtered the DC crew. I’m sure that the next time we play them they will want revenge so I’m not letting my guard down yet.
I’m off to Louisville, Kentucky tomorrow morning where Joel and I will be doing the same thing in KY! We would love your prayers.
On Sunday at our gathering, I commented publicly about how awesome I thought it was that American Idol used Shout to the Lord in their song set in last Thursday night’s broadcast.
A few people came up to me after our gathering excited that American Idol used that song.Today, I found out that a bunch of people that call themselves Christians are running around in the blogging and internet world UPSET that there were a few lyrical changes to the song and that some of the contestants were not Christians and they sang the song.A few things:
the name of Jesus was praised.
who cares who sang the song…they did a good job with the song and the message was more important than the method
I didn’t even notice the lyrical change…I had to read about it on some website.
there must be people working at Fox that are followers of Jesus and worked very hard to get this one song approved…pray for them
when we complain and bicker about stuff like this; no wonder the world that doesn’t follow Jesus looks at us cross-eyed. This is when I hate using the word “US.” I don’t want to be lumped in with other negative people.
the name of Jesus was praised.
Here is a blog by author Joshua Harris, yes the guy that wrote I Kissed Dating Good-bye, I’m not a fan of the book…but he has a post on this whole American Idol thing and it is a great discussion.
P.S. If someone knows how we can write or email the producers of American Idol…I would like to say thank you to them for the song.
Just got off the phone not long ago with an interview for a podcast on church planting. I love telling the story of how Elevation came to be…I think it is because it really was one of the hardest times in my life and now that it is over I like the results.
I was asked what our failures were at the beginning.
not knowing how to identify leaders and having a system to disciple leaders
thinking that everyone who helped at the beginning would have the same expectations of church planting and be with us forever. you need workers to help you built it and then they will leave.
thinking we knew what we were doing…no clue, still don’t. I’m learning more and more that it is about just lifting Jesus up.
I was also asked what our advice would be to those who are planting a church:
get a prayer team or people to pray for you during the process. This is a must. IT must happen in the heavenlys long before it will happen where you can see it.
plant a church with other people. Team. Team. Team. Team. If you need to spend two years recruiting a team to go plant a church with you, DO IT. Lonely road church planting is…better with a friend.
everything was an experiment. You fell into what we were doing by contextualizing the gospel to the culture and not taking a MODEL and making everyone fit into it.
I’ll find out when the podcast will be posted and get you a link if you are interested.
we had our new worship leader Byron lead worship…AWESOME job! Great transitions and what a powerful worship time. our goal of having two worship teams is being fulfilled.
Tammy brought almost every person she knows to the gathering with her. You rock Tammy.
Elevation Kids! had their new staff shirts on. They looked GREAT!
I’m overwhelmed by the growth in our gathering attendance and the house churches. It is awesome to watch people find Jesus.
Again…great seeing Dave Matney back up there playing the guitar during worship.
A girl bass player? Maybe almost unheard of…she is awesome! (I’m not sexist…)
Are you diggin the John series as much as I am?
Looks like we are going to start a new series in June, just a little break in the John series…the details are coming.
Loved the warm weather…spring is here…wait, why is it snowing today!!!!!
the prayer time Sunday night with people from other churches was…honestly one of the best prayer times I have had with a group of people. LOVED IT. LOVED THE COMMUNITY!
So blessed to have the leaders we have at Elevation. You make this fun…
Travis, the ticket taker at the theater, had a birthday last week. He turned 28…he got a Utah Jazz watch from his parents. Very slick. Hope he enjoyed our gift to him…
Working on getting new signs for our Sunday gathering…literaly we were told we have a MAC product with Microsoft packaging. So…we are taking over the theater with signs. You will see.
My office is DONE! Pics soon.
I’m learning patience. I wish it would go faster.
American Idol last week was off the chain. Shout to the Lord as an opening song…God be glorified.
getting our thoughts together on another baptism party.You interested in getting baptized?
Elevation shirts are in development…you are going to love them.
Posted April 30th, 2008 by trinity 
