Dare to Dream...Again

Here are the notes from Sunday:

The Curse of the Dreamless
1. Frustration
2. Boredom
3. Regret

The Chorus of the Dreamers
1. It's never too late.
2. It's never too early.
3. It's never too much.

Three Steps to Dreaming Again
1. Look Out--Exposure creates the climate for the dream.
2. Look Up--God is the dream giver.
3. Look Beyond--You have to look beyond your current condition to see the dream become a reality in your life.

Thank you to everyone for making our installation celebration so special. We are excited about what God is doing at Bethel!

LifeGiver: He's Coming Back

Thank you to everyone involved in LifeGiver: He's Coming Back. It exceeded all of our goals. We saw scores of people make decisions for Christ, believers were able to use their talents for a worthy goal, and nearly $6,000 was raised for Bethel College scholarships. Big props to everyone involved in LifeGiver!

Dream Again

I'm wrapping up the first message in the Dream Again series this morning. I am so excited about the launch of the new series this Sunday at 9 and 11 AM. Here are the messages for the next five weeks:

• Dare to Dream...Again
• Uncage Your Dream
• The Five Principles of Dreamers
• When the Dream is Dim
• Dream On!

This Sunday is also our Installation Celebration at Bethel. I want to say thank you to everyone at Bethel for their warm and open welcome. Our family has been embraced by your love. And, to everyone at CLA in Des Moines. We continue to love you and miss you. You should all move to Virginia, though your next pastor might not like that too much.

See you Sunday!

Great Day in DC

Amberly, the kids, and I had a great day in DC yesterday. We decided to head out on a home school field trip about 10 AM. We arrived in Springfield, VA and took the Metro into the city where we took a tour through the International Spy Museum, walked past the White House, and had dinner at Union Station. Then, we drove back. Got to bed at 1 AM. But it was fun!

Retro--Evangelism

We finished up week three of Retro! with one more week to go. Sunday, we highlighed the Matthew 9, where Jesus instructed us about the harvest. There were three key ideas:

1. See as Jesus Sees

Jesus saw the crowd as sheep without a shepherd and a harvest without harvesters.

2. Feel as Jesus Feels

He was moved with compassion. He didn't just have sympathy or mercy--he was moved with compassion and did something about their plight.

3. Do as Jesus Says

He gave them two instructions regarding the multitude--pray and go!

The people of Bethel stepped up and committed to invite nearly 4,000 people to the Dream Again message series. Incredible!

Wild Goose Chase

I just started the next book in my reading plan--Wild Goose Chase by my friend Mark Batterson. So far, it is phenomenal. I recommend it. It's about the pursuit of God and his purpose for our life. Wild goose is a term Celtic Christians used for the Holy Spirit. He has a thesis that most Christians are bored because we ask God to bless what we are doing, instead of going on the chase to see where he wants to lead our lives! Pretty inspiring.

What a Day!

Yesterday was an awesome Sunday. We baptized over 50 people, received 15 new members, and dedicated two babies. In addition to all of that, 30 people made decisions for Christ during the two services. Then, we went to the All Church Picnic at 3 PM. My daughter loved the face painting. Corbin loved the tug of war. And, Grant loved hanging out with his friends. Amberly and I loved the shade. It was a great day!

Speed of Trust

I just completed the first book from my new reading list--The Speed of Trust. While the 13 steps to improving trust form the core of the book, Covey's discussion on the economics of trust was insightful. Here are the main ideas:

• When trust is low, everything costs more and takes more time.



• When trust is high, everything costs less and takes less time.

The perfect example of this corollary is the airline industry. After 9/11, trust took a giant hit--that is an understatement. Now, because of low trust, it costs more time and money to make it through security.

He also talked about the trust tax and the trust dividend. The trust tax is the amount people automatically discount what we say because they don't trust us. Think a used car salesman.

The trust dividend is the amount of credit people give to what we say. Think Billy Graham.

Powerful thought. I recommend the book.

The Hardy Group Podcast

I want to put a plug in for The Hardy Group podcst. Each week, The Hardy Group podcasts a new message from one of nine pastors across the country:

• Mark Batterson (Naitonal Community Church, Washington, DC)
• Dary Northrop (Timberline Church, Fort Collins, CO)
• Jim Bradford (Central Assembly, Springfield, MO)
• Bryan Jarret (Northplace Church, Sachse, Texas)
• Gary Brothers (Cape First, Cape Girardeau, MO)
• John Lindell (James River Assembly, Ozark, MO)
• Maury Davis (Cornerstone Church, Madison, TN)
• Randy Valimont (Grifin First Assembly, Griffin, GA)

Dick was kind enough to ask if I would be the ninth one on the list. I'm subscribing to the podcast through itunes and I hope you will, too. At least 8/9 should be some really good preaching and teaching

Retro-Word

Here's the outline from Sunday's message in the Retro series from Matthew 13.10.

Three Ingredients in the Parable
1. Seed
2. Sower
3. Soil

Four Types of Soil (Hearts)
1. Hard Hearts
2. Shallow Hearts
3. Cluttered Hearts
4. Receptive Hearts

How to Prepare Your Heart
1. Break it Up
2. Dig it Out
3. Clear it Out
4. Get Ready for Increase

Facebook

After months of being encouraged to get into Facebook, I took the plunge yesterday. I am amazed and how connected you can get overnight! Amberly set up her Facebook last night. It's so cool to reconnect with people all around the world.

Hanna....Hanna...Hanna

So, we go from winter storms to tropical storms. Hanna is on her way and we may have to deal with some of the remnants this weekend. So, I'm going to make sure my laptop and phone are charged, double-check my insurance, and make sure there are batteries in the flashlight.

Before a winter storm, we always went to the store for milk and bread--not sure why--we never ate bread and drank milk during the storm, but it seemed like the thing to do. I wonder if you run to the store for anything during a tropical storm? Ice? Batteries?

Of all weather events, do you know which are the most deadly in the US? If you guessed winter storms you would be right. So, at least, we can mark that off the docket.

Reading List

Since we started the transition from Iowa to Bethel, my reading schedule has been thrown off kilter. I am preparing a new reading list for the next several months:

Biographies
American Sphinx (Thomas Jefferson)
Passionate Sage (John Adams)
The Narnian (C.S. Lewis)
Testament of Hope (Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Christian Thought
Escape from Reason (Francis Shaffer)
The Universe Next Door (James Sire)
The Victory of Reason (Rodney Stark)
A Primer on Postmadernism (Stanley Grenz)

Church Health
Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church (Mark DeYmaz)
It (Craig Groeschel)

Education
How to Read a Book (Mortimer Adler)

Leadership
Tyranny of the Urgent (Charles Hummell)
Organizational Culture and Leadership (Ed Schein)
Primal Leadership (Daniel Goleman)
Masterplanning (Bobb Biehl)
The Speed of Trust (Stephen M. R. Covey)
Tribes (Seth Godin)
Building the Bridge as You Walk on It (Robert Quinn)

Spiritual Life
Introduction to the Devout Life (Francis de Sales)
The Sunflower (Simon Wiesenthal)
Search for the Spiritual (James Emery White
Life Together (Dietrich Bonhoffer)
Wild Goose Chase (Mark Batterson)
Hearing God (Dallas Willard)
Living the Cross Centered Life (CJ Mahaney)
Renovation of Heart (Dallas Willard)

Well, there you go. If you've read any of them, leave a post and let me know what you think.

Accountability

I heard a great definition for accountability at lunch today:

Accountablity is giving the necessary information before it is required!

That's a great thought.

Sermon Length

In our staff meeting this week, we talked about the ideal length for a sermon. So far, hare are the lengths for the messages I've preached at Bethel:

• Candidate Sunday--35 Minutes
• First Sunday--32 Minutes
• Second Sunday--37 Minutes
• Third Sunday--49 Minutes
• Fourth Sunday--44 Minutes

I think sticking in the 30-40 minute range is a good goal. The problem is the clock is way up in the balcony and I can't really calculate very well in my mind, while preaching. I'm just glad, I cut it back to 44 last Sunday and broke the increase trend. By the ninth Sunday, it would be up to three hours at that rate of increase. :)

Our Choice: Life or Death

Sunday, we wrapped up the series Building a Life Giving Church with the message Our Choice: Life or Death. Here are the notes:

Understanding the Passage
1. The Choice--Life or Death
2. The Conditions--It' s Not Too Hard
3. The Counsel--Love the Lord, Walk in His Ways, Obey His Commands

Applying the Passage
This is the central battleground in spiritual warfare.

How Do I Choose Life?
1. Bless instead of curse.
2. Submit instead of rebel.
3. Redeem instead of reject.
4. Include instead of exclude.
5. Love instead of hate.

Let love live!

Leadership Forum

Last night's Leadership Forum was amazing! There was an energy and an excitement in the room as we talked about how Bethel is being positioned to make a difference in the community. Two thoughts kept coming up over and over again in the meeting--potential and reaching the lost.

With the location, facilities, and most of all people God has blessed us with, there is no limit to what God can do in us and through us as we partner with him to make a difference in this region. I'm excited about what is ahead.

Now, we start a series of meetings with volunteers from 15 different ministry groups to listen and learn about the ministry potential and function at Bethel. From there, we build a Dream Team to help us discern the call and vision God has for this church in this city. We want the right people in the right place with the right plan!

Silver or Bronze? Which is Better?

I read an interesting article this morning that confirmed a suspicion I had. People who win the bronze medal are happier than those who win the silver. Why? Because the silver winners are thinking of what could have been--comparing themselves to the gold medalist. The bronze medalists think of what could have been--comparing themselves to those who didn't medal at all.

If I win silver, I wish it had been gold. If I win bronze, I'm thankful I made on the medal stand at all. Interesting stuff. Shows the power of attitude and perspective.

Shawn Johnson Wins Gold

I could not be happier to hear that Shawn Johnson won the gold on the beam at the Olympics. I was so proud of her three silver medals, but was hoping she would come home with a gold. My son Corbin took gymnastics at the gym where Shawn trains. She is so nice and a straight A student.

She did America and Iowa proud. I can't wait to watch tonight!

Way to go, Shawn! Three silvers is amazing, but three silvers and gold--that's what I'm talking about!

Drinking Iced Tea

After 14 years in the north, we're back in the land of sweet tea. Here's my breakdown:

• McDonald's--Way too sweet
• Olive Garden--Sweetened with peach syrup (yummy)
• Bojangles--Almost perfect.

We bought a 1/2 gallon of sweet tea from Bojangles. It's our favorite. Now, to find a great Mexican restaurant.