2008 February « UTTERMOST: going where no one else wants to go// with you. //

Archive for February, 2008|Monthly archive page

does $$$$$ buy happiness?

In Devotional, happiness, money on February 28, 2008 at 7:18 pm

Percentage of people, by family income 2004, answering the question “Taken all together, how would you say things are these days — would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?”

RESPONSE	Under $20,000	$20,000-$49,999	$50,000-$89,999	$90,000 and over
Not too happy	17.2%	13.0%	7.7%	5.3%
Pretty happy	60.5%	56.8%	50.3%	51.8%
Very happy	22.2%	30.2%	41.9%	42.9%
Source: Science

Most of us have figured out I hope that happiness can’t be purchased. Looking at how well people manage their money might just be a better question as to happiness in regards to finances.

Of course the CHURCH answer is Jesus will bring complete happiness, but I know a bunch of Christians and they are some of the most unhappy people I have met.

I think it is this simple: OBEDIENCE = HAPPINESS

Let’s converse about that this weekend as we continue our series…WHY?

blessings and peace, and please, can the kids actually go to school sometime this week? (for you tropical people…the snow finally came).

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about to throw an exception…

In Big Church-Small Town;, Church Leadership, Devotional on February 27, 2008 at 11:12 pm

I get this stupid error message all the time because I am still a PC user:

Pure Viral Function: About to throw an exception.

I have no idea what it means…but it struck me as a great mission statement for the church, especially after reading the STATS on the church Monday.

I pray the church of Christ and its people will wake up and starts throwing exceptions. The world is waiting…well, they really aren’t waiting on us, really, they are not. Most could care less.

We must be VIRAL in taking and living out JESUS to them. Are you dreaming GOD’S dreams…and even better, are you willing to make them a reality?

We will be digging even deeper into that question this week.

blessings and peace.

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latest survey on American religious views

In Church Leadership, wake up on February 25, 2008 at 9:50 pm

The LATEST NUMBERS ARE IN….drum roll please…they are getting WORSE for Christianity in America…shocking I know. While people who desire SPIRITUALITY is said to be increasing (according to some research), those who claim to be CHRISTIANS (called religious) are dropping.

Many are leaving the faiths of their childhood to switch to other faiths or abandoning all together. I wonder how much the CHURCH has to do with that? We are still getting freakin’ criticized for trying to help people find the SAVIOR and grow in HIM. While some churches throw stones, we are out actually fighting the battle…trying to introduce people to the SAVIOR. Not just build attendance.

If churches in AMERICA (and elsewhere) keep hiding out and building bigger sheep pens and keep flinging sheep dung at those outside the pen…we are in a WORLD of hurt… well, we already are. WE HAVE GOT TO WAKE UP. WE HAVE GOT TO JOIN TOGETHER IN JESUS NAME.

Ghandi said it best (something like this)…”I like your CHRIST, it’s your CHRISTIANS I don’t like.” Is your CHURCH and is NEW HOPE doing all we can to reverse this trend? God help us be like you. We want to look like you. That’s our cry.

blessings and peace.

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blogs for pastor’s wives???

In pastor's wives on February 25, 2008 at 5:39 pm

Does anyone know of any good Pastor’s Wives blogs that will minister to Pastor’s Wives, especially larger church’s?

Keep the vision burning.

blessings and peace this week.

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clear vision…

In Church Leadership, New Hope Stuff on February 25, 2008 at 12:20 am

Wow, what a weekend at New Hope. I truly feel that we are prepared to make the huge vision that God has given us a reality. Are YOU dreaming GOD’S dreams? But way more than that…are you going to help make them a reality? (Listen to the part in the message where I almost punched out the group of Pastor’s sitting behind me…really, it is worth the listen.) Yes, I am fanatical about making HIS name FAMOUS all over the WORLD!

We are going to make a huge IMPACT in 2008 in our church, community and everywhere in the WORLD. After all, Acts 1:8 commissions us to go everywhere…even to the ends of the earth, and we are crazy enough to believe that and then accomplish it. No matter a town of 2,899 or 2.8 million. How about your church?

If you missed last weekend…catch up on-line or we will be giving the DVD’s away next weekend. It’s too important a message to miss…I will outline what NH is doing soon.

The coolest part was seeing the passion in 2, soon to be 4 campuses, including the CHINA campus that will be opening. YES, I did say CHINA. We will be opening a campus in CHINA. Did I mention CHINA? Only God. And we truly have the craziest, most passionate church anywhere.

Pray for our contacts that are forming a launch team that will take New Hope to CHINA. Wow. Our vision is clear, and I pray it’s the same. What were your thoughts from this weekend?

blessings and peace.

pic: http://flickr.com/photos/won7ders/231260732/

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monster news

In New Hope Stuff on February 22, 2008 at 4:29 pm

I am not a huge NBA fan anymore, but I do love ballin’. I am jacked though about the Cavs latest TRADE. Wow. Finally some testosterone in the middle and in the front office.

And this guys knows his football teams and is accurately predicting next year’s Super Bowl team. If you are a pastor, read this ARTICLE on the new Super Bowl Party regulations. About stinkin’ time…are you kidding me?

And you thought that was the MONSTER NEWS…no, I can’t release it now, but I received a phone call this morning about something we will be talking about this weekend as we cast a MONSTER VISION for 2008 and beyond that will BLOW YOUR MIND as to how awesome our God is and how HIS mission involved each of us. And sure, I will share it with the online community later this week…I love it when a plan comes together…See ya at one of our CAMPUSES.

blessings and peace.

pic: http://flickr.com/photos/neatocoolville/105423345/

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wow.

In ancient-future worship; New Hope Stuff on February 21, 2008 at 9:47 pm

The title sums up what happened last night at our 3rd Wednesday service. I have not had that kind of worship experience in a group format in quite some time.

We celebrated ASH WEDNESDAY. I know, 2 weeks late. We also were led in a unique prayer time by Pastor Jeff that I cannot even describe. And Dan really led us well in “worship.” Wow. If you miss 3rd Wednesday…you are missing out on some of the most powerful experiences ever.

Back to the ash thing…there is something about being physical in our worship. As I touched the large group that was in my line and marked them with ashes in the sign of the cross, there was some sort of peace and presence that touched my soul in a new and really fresh way. “Remember from dust you came and to dust you will return, so now being dead to sins you are made alive in Christ Jesus.”

Kind of ticked that my church experience (besides my early Lutheran days that I don’t remember much of) never included some tradition that was worth implementing. What were they afraid of? That we would all jump ship for liturgy and the high church experience? No, really they thought it was cultish. Wow. So Happy LENT , (can I say that?) I know it’s a time of repentance and penance, but oh well.

Don’t miss this weekend. We will be sharing MONSTER VISION. It will rock your world. No, really. We are taking big risks for the Kingdom. You don’t want to miss it as we continue our SERIES.

blessings, peace and new life.

pic: http://flickr.com/photos/kellyj2777/

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the last 10% or 2%

In Church Leadership, Devotional on February 20, 2008 at 1:27 am

One of the keys of leadership and relationship is being able to say the LAST 10% or some say the last 2% even. What’s that? It is the fact that we always stop talking about a problem at 90-98% of the conversation while AVOIDING the real issue or heart of the problem. I first heard this discussed @ Willow…

I love being around people who say the last 10% without being asked. It is extremely healthy and will promote extreme growth in any organization or relationship due to the nature of getting down to the heart of the problem.

After all, the heart of the problem is the problem, and you will never solve anything until it is unearthed. You will just cover it up again until the other 90% backs up again.

We had a great “last 10% meeting” with our executive team today. How refreshing that we have an amazing team where this can be encouraged. We moved the ministry forward by MONTHS, maybe YEARS by this practice.

“…You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” –Jesus in John 8.32

blessings and peace!

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making it count…

In Church Leadership, Family, time management on February 18, 2008 at 1:21 pm

I hate wasting time or feeling like my time is wasted. I have too much vision for myself, my family, and our ministry to have too much wasted time. Now don’t get me wrong…I love having many mind-numbing hours in the day because when you are a strong type-A driven person, you need at least 3 hours of nothingness at night or you won’t sleep. I love escaping into other worlds like music, movies, books, etc. to get away.

Do you use all your minutes well? I pray in the shower (and yes, other places), catch the news when I am ironing in the morning, make a ton of calls (please be careful, and use a blue tooth at least) in my car when I travel, I always try to take staff places or involved them in issues that I am involved in for those quick leadership moments, and I am a master of making lists and getting them done so that every day I feel like I accomplished a ton. Any other secrets to saving minutes out there? Comments please…

It start with a great plan each day and sticking to it. Then you have to be a hawk about what steals your time or you won’t get anything done.

Speaking of making it count…Monday’s off have a small advantage like when my kids are off from school. Today is a family day and I am pumped. We are building a fire in the fireplace for breakfast (and roasting marshmallows on it for smores later), playing chess, watching a movie probably, talking about the Bible and life together…and Christian is picking out some “Dangerous Boy” stuff from his book to do with Dad…will be a great day. Maybe will hit the slopes late…

blessings and peace.

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