Avoiding Social Networking

For a while, I have avoided social networking.  It hasn't been purposeful, but more out of necessity.  Social networking has dominated my time and I have to learn to limit myself especially when more important matters should take priority.  But while I am not avoiding it entirely, I would like to offer my thoughts on social networking:

• Be careful what you post! - Employers are now searching Facebook, Twitter, and blogs when hiring.  So be careful what you post, even though it may be in jest!
• Too much info. - There is so much information available on your profile pages.  You must be careful what information is for public view and what information is private.
• Don't post when you are angry. - There are have been several times I wanted to blog on something that I was angered about.  Or there have been times where I have viewed other people vent too much information because of what they were involved in.  You can express your frustration, but do so constructively and without names (implied or otherwise).
• Your tweet, blog post, Facebook comment is a reflection on you! - I have admittedly gotten "called on" a comment I posted.  I did not think anything of it at the time, but it was clear that my comments angered and offended someone.  Instead of admitting I was wrong, I tried to justify and explain why.  I am analytical and I try to reason, at times, my actions.  The relationship was broken and it probably did not need to be, but I believe I was at fault.

What are your thought on social networking?  Has it dominated your life?  What mistakes have you made?  

Seven Things The Church Can Learn From Disneyland

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1. WELCOME PEOPLE:  The staff at Disneyland was always helpful and inviting.  They made you feel comfortable from the time you boarded the parking lot tram on your way to the park.  What would a church look like if it welcomed people from the moment they entered the facility?  What if they were greeted with a smile, provided information about the church, and was escorted to a seat?  They would never sit alone and they would definitely want to stay.
2. CLEAN FACILITIES:  During one of the parades, some Mickey Mouse confetti shot out and got into Main Street.  As soon as the parade was over, there were about 5 vacuum machines, a number of manual street sweepers, and it was definitely a neat street again.  Churches need to be well maintained and cared for.  This goes from the pews (or chairs) to the restrooms to the nursery.  If you clean, it shows you care and we definitely should care for God’s church! 
3. BE READY:  I have been to Disneyland many times, but others were new or haven’t recently attended.  The staff there was ready for any situation, was accommodating, and made sure that the guest’s enjoyment is a priority.  Shouldn’t the church make visitors a priority?  Be prepared for their questions instead of judging them, be prepared to direct them to restrooms, and be prepared to meet the need no matter how small it is.  After all, Jesus always met the need!
4. ORGANIZED:  With the exception of California Adventure, Disneyland is one of the most organized and well planned parks.  In church, I have long debated if the church is an organism or an organization.  It is BOTH!  Not only are we a living, breathing growing church, we also have structure.  Lack of organization leads to chaos and a chaotic church is not what God wants.  Doesn’t He want some order when we come together
5. CHANGE:  I was disappointed when the Star Tours ride was not available.  I was informed that they were doing some remodeling of the ride.  Remodeling means change, but in my mind it was perfect.  “Change” is the word we don’t want to hear in our churches.  Nobody likes to change, because they don’t see the value of it.  Change in churches means, we have to do things differently to keep connected to people and so our regulars don’t fall into a rut.  If we didn’t change, why would we have websites, emails, or COMPUTERS?  Churches need to lead people into change.  After all, don’t we change our mind when we have JESUS? 
6.   .  ABOVE EXPECTATIONS:  I have seen the Disneyland fireworks over and over again.  It is a true highlight of the evening.  I thought I would see the same big, bright fireworks I had seen before.  To my surprise it was a well coordinated, audio, visual and live entertainment event.  It went above my expectations.  When people come to church, we should go beyond their expectations.  We should deliver the best customer service for JESUS!!!  After all, our God is a big God!
   7.  COME BACK:  When people were exiting the park they had two choices.  They can leave the park and not return or they can leave the park and have their hand stamped so they would be able to return that day.  We have to create an environment where people would want to return.  Don’t get me wrong our church is not for everyone, but we should have quality worship, bible teaching and connecting with people so that they want to return.  Why?  Because Jesus is in those things and He will draw them near when the church is doing what God has shown them to do.

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Sunday Afterhoughts 09.12.10

Here are my Sunday afterthoughts:  

• We had a leadership meeting and we read from the book of Acts the dramatic change that had happened in the church.  I mentioned that our church has experienced dramatic change, but quite the opposite.  Smaller leadership and smaller attenders.  But God's vision remains the same and we should be faithful.
• Leaders were asked if they were on board with the vision of our chruch.  All said, "YES!"
• Our Boomers class expanded when we combined it with our Youth class.  Miraculously God added more than what we started with!
• I have been recording my messages, so if you have a chance listen to this Challenges Part 3
• When God leads, people respond.
• We had a few make first time commitments or recommitments to Christ!
• One family filled a whole pew yesterday!  If you have pews, you know that is AWESOME!
• Thankful that people see the need to decorate the church so it is inviting to guests.
• Very grateful to Pastor Alex of our Spanish Ministry and their gifts in repairing the church.  They do it because they love JESUS!
• Praying for God to bring more people and for us to be motivated to inviting other to join us!

A Broken Promise...

It has been nearly a month since I updated my blog.  I am a bit disappointed in myself.  I set out to regularly update my blog.  It was a goal I set for myself earlier this year.  I was pretty gung ho about it and was commenting fairly regularly on the book of Acts, but then something happened.

BUSYNESS!  Busyness can distract us from goals.  It can distract us from those things that are important!  It can distract us from being a God follower.  The cost of busyness is life changing in the wrong way!  It can be destructive to your health and it can be destructive in your spiritual walk with Jesus.  Jesus said to the rich man:  "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."  His possession, his wealth, his money is what kept him away from Jesus.  He even knew the commands, but he would not live by the commands of grace, love, forgivenss and a pursuit for Jesus.

What is keeping you busy from attending church?  from praying?  from reading the Bible?  from making some significant lifestyle changes?  from following Christ?  You know what they are.  God knows what they are.  All you need to do as I have done...confess...give it to God.  He has made a difference in the world and he can make a difference in YOU!

I ain't afraid of no Ghost! Or am I?

I have been reading a book called Forgotten God by Francis Chan.  It doesn't imply that God is missing, although that is what I thought when I picked it up.  But it talks about this person, the Holy Ghost (or Spirit)!  He explains how we are missing out on the Holy Spirit being active in the church.  Francis spends alot of time developing the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers and the believer of the NT times.  Then he goes on to define the Holy Spirit.  He continues to develop the theology of the Holy Spirit and then...I get to Chapter 4.  And then...I get to page 84.  Here is what he says:

Right now I want you to take a break from reading and some some time asking yourself why you want the Holy Spirit.  Is it for power?  Is it for your own betterment and purposes?  Or is it because you want to experience all that God has for you?  Is it because you love the church and desire to be a better servant to your sisters and brothers?

So I stopped.  I said, "Okay.  I am going to stop reading and really ponder what Francis is writing."  So I stopped at the very first sentence.  Here is some of what I recall my thoughts were: 

• Lord, work in me and straighten me out give me Your Spirit.
• With Your Spirit, I can do all things!
• Father, bring the Holy Spirit to Your church, so I can see it grow.
• Holy Spirit, work with in this situation to resolve the feelings I have.

Did you notice a trend?  Did you notice what I was asking this Holy Spirit, this "Ghost" to do.  First, let me say, I do believe in the Holy Spirit.  Totally.  But what I was asking for were selfish things.  Look at the two statements after the first sentence.  Yes....some of what I asked was for power for me.  I asked for ability.  I asked for the future to be seen by me.  I asked the Spirit to work within me and another person.  Those things I mentioned are "spiritual" for the most part.  We ask that from God and they are not necessarily "bad things".  We have all said things like that.  But what got me, what convicted me, and what I hope will convict you is that last two sentences:  Or is it because you want to experience all that God has for you? Is it because you love the church and desire to be a better servant to your sisters and brothers?

I don't believe what I asked was for either of those things.  My heart was dislocated from God's Spirit.  My heart was only asking for a partial grasp of the Spirit instead of the fullness and "sold out" life that listens to the Spirit.  Where is your relationship with the Holy Spirit?  Are you afraid what He can do for you?  Have you said, "I ain't afraid of no Ghost!", but in reality you truly are?  Take advantage of what the Spirit of God wants to do in your life.  He wants to take it up a notch.  Because He is God and there is no other.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:4 (NIV)

Click on this video to introduce you to Forgotten God.