Word

This morning I sent an email to about 100 people from KFA encouraging them to add The Daily Bible to their Christmas 'wish list' in preparation to begin reading it January 1st. Many have responded with great excitement as they look forward to being in the Word daily with a structured study.

Many have tried other study guides but this unique Bible Devotional is arranged in chronological order. One example of this is that psalms are inserted into the exact place in the story where the author would have written them. The Gospels are also harmonized so that all accounts are read at the same time. The commentary/narration, written by F. LaGard Smith ties the reading of each day into a seamless epic that spans events from creation to the apolocalypse.

It was twelve years ago that my mentor suggested that I purchase a copy of this Bible and establish a pattern of studying it daily. This habit has been life changing for me and since God's Word does not return void I expect that the same will happen for all who study it.

So, if you are reading this and did not get my email from this morning, please also consider joining us in reading The Daily Bible in 2009. You might also share this with others in your circle of influence.

Take care-

BUSY

As I reflect on the past 5 weeks, since I last blogged I think of the list of activities, meetings and appointments I have experienced. I find it hard to believe that I have not downloaded any of them in writing! So, I will touch on a few to bring you up to speed:

Meeting with Jeanette Stevenson, a certified Life Coach that I have know since my MWA Counseling days where she rented an office from MWA. Jeanette is looking for ways to connect with KFA.

Vision casting with Joan Stanich as we begin to plan what 2009 will look like for The New View and then Joan and I shared that vision with The Pulse Team to have so much enthusiasm build. I LOVE casting vision!

I have been blessed to work with (mentor) 4 women over the past 2 years that have really begun to experience the fullness of total surrender to the Lord. One of which just emailed me from her new home (in another state) to tell me that her life has completely turned the corner that she has been praying about. God is so faithful.

Employment Workshop with Sarah White was well attended. God worked both during the workshop and on individuals following that time together to change hearts and confirm callings.

FIREPROOF: two girlfriends went with me to view the movie FIREPROOF in the process of planning to bring it and the study "Fireproof You Marriage" to couples small groups in the spring! More to be announced...

ONE MONTH TO LIVE: What a great series. We have heard many great testimonies about life-change that happened during the study. More than anything I must say that KFA is BLESSED with two great communicators and Senior Pastors!

Conferences:
GROUP LIFE conference at Willow. Saw leaders John Burke (Soul Revolution), Mark Batterson (In a Pit with a Lion..., Wild Goose Chase) and Bill Donahue among many others. Sat with THOUSANDS who share my heart for life-giving relationships through small groups. This year I went looking for confirmation for the plans that have been placed in my heart for our people at KFA.

EXODUS INTERNATIONAL Regional Conference at Green Lake Conference Center. Lisa McAlpine went with to help get an eye for deliverence ministry at KFA. We found ourselves in the midst of individuals who have struggled (past and present) with same-sex attraction as well as spouses, friends and family members who have millions of unanswered questions and tons of compassion. The leaders did a great job and speaker KATHY KOCK, Ph.D. (www.celebratekids.com) was OUTSTANDING. Look for Dr. Kathy in 2009 as we plan to invite her with a message for students and families. Her book "Finding Authentic Hope and Wholeness" (Moody Publishers) will be in The Bread Store next week.

Planning for 2009: I am SO excited to see how the vision shapes up. Pastor Bob and I are working together to focus on Family ministry. The New View has big plans. Small groups are booming. Assimilation and Discipleship are combining for LaunchPoint- the process for Christian growth at KFA.

Now you see why busy was a good title. My list only begins to scratch the surface of what it has looked like. I am so grateful that God has me on this great adventure!

Take care-

See you...

This morning I went with my son Ben to his school for 'See You at the Pole', a student-initiated, student organized, and student-led event. That means this is all about students meeting at their school flagpole to pray—for their school, friends teachers, government, and their nation. See You at the Pole™ is not a demonstration, political rally, nor a stand for or against anything. It was really great to be there. Ben began to prepare for the events today by attending a rally last night at IBC where some of the local youth pastors taught the students how to conduct themselves at SYATP, a worship band played and we prayed for the school we would be at. As you know, middle-schoolers can get silly... as we prayed the repeated part of the prayer by almost ever student was "God, let more people show up..." There were about 15 kids in the Lance School prayer group.



THIS MORNING when we arrived many of the students from the rally were already there. We joked and joined the semi-circle around the flag pole. Then more people showed up. About thirty students and 3 parents (including me). It was interesting to hear what the on-lookers were saying although some of their comments would not be acceptable to repeat. Mostly though, as the crowd built there was just a great deal of noise.

Here are a few examples of my experience:

• At one point I was aware of a boy standing just behind me peering in. I let go of the hand I was holding and invited him to join us. He set down his backpack and took both hands to complete the circle. After about 2 minutes he leaned over and asked "Are you guys praying or something?" He stayed for about 2 more minutes and excused himself.

• Shortly after that I overheard someone behind me say "Oh man! I was supposed to be doing THAT!" Again I dropped my neighbor's hand and made eye-contact with the girl that had made that statement and she left her friends and joined in.

• I noticed a school employee over my shoulder and invited her into the circle. She took both Ben's hand and mine and stood with us while many students prayed before she excused herself.

• During prayer two girls walked past and one loudly said to the other "I don't know WHAT they're praying for... but I know the are PRAYING!"

What a great morning. I was so impressed by the students who bravely stood up for their Christian beliefs in front of their school body. I saw many gifted leaders and evangelists boldly proclaiming their love for Christ. These kids are the future of the church... and our future looks BRIGHT!

Being There

The power of multiples has again become evident in my life. I say 'again' because this recurring theme has always shattered my illusions of self-sufficiency. As David states in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:If one falls down,his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up."

During the past month I have been working to set up the Challenge Groups for KFA's "One Month to Live" campaign. It has been both the greatest joy and biggest challenge I have faced this year. I LOVE that a greater number than I expected have decided to connect through small group life for the six weeks of the campaign. However three weeks ago my assistant Peggy had to to begin a personal leave to care for her mother as she has had some medical issues. Here, two would be better than one.

Earlier this week the pastoral staff and their spouses attended the Innovate08 Conference at Granger Community Church in Granger, IN. We took the two church vans due to the number of people going. Things went well through Chicago but shortly after crossing the Indiana state line the tread on one of the tires of the vans came off and flew into traffic behind us. Just so happened it was the van that Jim and I were in AND it just so happened that it happened 15 minutes from my parent's house. When we discovered that the van's emergency tools to change the tire were not up to the task I chose to call my parents for help. You know that call that begins "DAD... you're not going to believe this..." In a matter of time he and my Mom arrived with the appropriate tools for the job and soon we were on our way.

Just before leaving my office earlier that very same day my cell phone rang. As I answered the phone I noticed that it was one of my friends on the other end of the call. Having just had "a day" herself she called to confess that she was tempted to fall into an old sin pattern. She was reaching out because she knows the power of multiples. She knew that public confession would take all of the power out of the temptation. Later, I called her to follow-up while we were sitting on the side of the highway. She had been able to resist the urges that temporarily had her in their grip.

We are called to be there for each other. "Rescue the perishing; don't hesitate to step in and help. If you say, "Hey, that's none of my business," will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you now—Someone not impressed with weak excuses." is what Proverbs 24:11-12 says in The Message Bible. I think that is what bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth looks like. How about you?

Take care-

Rich

Between 2003 and early 2008 the cost or rice, a staple food for billions worldwide has doubled. With an American worldview one might think that even with the doubling of the price that rice is still an inexpensive grain. But if you take it out of the 'rich American' perspective this makes for a global hunger crisis. In early 2008 Economists reported that 2.6 billion people live on $2 a day or less. They spend approximately 50 percent of their income on food. Thus a person living on $2 a day spends $1 a day on food. When food prices go up by 100 percent, s/he must spend $2.00 a day on food or purchase less food. The result is s/he purchases less food, leading to increased hunger, and has much less left over for other necessities such as housing.

My time in Thailand earlier this year gave me an opportunity to see what abject poverty really looks like. During our time in the Northern mountains of Thailand we visited refugee camps where people had fled Burma (now called Myanmar) with only the clothes on their backs and after a period of time in Thailand still only owned those clothes. In Pattaya we also experienced women and children begging in the streets. This was all a huge reality check about just how much 'stuff' we have in America. Some of us have so much 'stuff' that we have rental units outside of our home just to hold the overflow. In fact the business of storing 'stuff' is a huge industry in America.

Rob Bell states in his NOOMA video "Rich" that the money that Americans spend on ice cream in one year equals the amount of money that it would take to provide clean drinking water to THE REST OF THE WORLD that has that need! Ponder that. We ARE rich.

FANTASY and FOOTBALL and FANATIC

From WIKIPEDIA:

Traits of FANTASY
The identifying traits of fantasy are the inclusion of fantastic elements in a self-coherent (internally consistent) setting. Within such a structure, any location of the fantastical element is possible: it may be hidden in, or leak into the apparently real world setting, it may draw the characters into a world with such elements, or it may occur entirely in a fantasy world setting, where such elements are part of the world. Within a given work, the elements must not only obey rules, but for plot reasons, must also contain limits to allow both the heroes and the villains means to fight; magical elements must come with prices, or the story would become unstructured.




Football
The word given to a number of similar team sports, all of which involve (to varying degrees) kicking a ball. The most popular of these sports world-wide is also known as "soccer" and most commonly just "football".




And finally:

Fanatic
Fanaticism is an emotion of being filled with excessive, uncritical zeal, particularly for an extreme religious or political cause or in some cases sports, or with an obsessive enthusiasm for a pastime or hobby.

"A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject."
-Winston Churchill (1874-1965)






I understand these definitions more now than ever as I am currently on my first FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE. Enough said?

Take care-

Water Baptisms

What a day!!! Last Sunday a crowd of approximately 200 friends, family and church attenders showed up at Lake Andrea to celebrate the water baptisms of an undetermined number of Christ followers. Turns out that 72, yes I said 72 people decided to make a public statement to the crowd that was there with us in addition to anyone else who cared to watch.

Someone later told me that they were approaching the picnic areas and saw a BIG tent with a few people in it and a SMALL tent that was surrounded by a crowd. Their guess was that we had the BIG tent. Much to their surprise and pleasure we were in the SMALL tent.

I had planned to teach the brief message about baptism but my heart was also in calling the friends and family that attended to examine their hopelessness and need for a Savior. A young woman who had come to support a friend accepted Christ on the spot... AND THEN WAS BAPTIZED! How exciting!

I was also blessed to baptize Joya, my friend Ellen's daughter among the people who ended up with Pastor Bob and I. What a great moment... probably only second to marrying Dave and Ellen last year. These experiences leave me (almost) speechless.

We have great stories and some good photos. I look forward to seeing the edited video which will be available on our website as soon as possible.

Take care-

Friday

Friday is MY day, most of the time. I spend the first part with the Lord in some time of community. I pray and read His Word then I do my best to LISTEN to what He shares with me. I have to be disciplined to stay still and also not to give that time away in the midst of my busy schedule (especially when the boys are not in school). Next is home management time. This might include housecleaning, bill-paying and grocery shopping, or not. THEN come one of my FAVORITE weekly activities: SMALL GROUP.

SMALL GROUP: after 21 years of group life I need to say that each group I have belonged to is better in a different way than the group before. Much of that has to do with the group God places me in but it also has to do with my transformation. As I have grown in maturity so have my reactions to bringing people closely into my life. Let me just add now that I am grateful for that change!

We currently have a group that ROCKS! We have men that cry and bare their souls and women who are not afraid to be seen. What a blessing! The past two weeks our group has been just amazing! Thanks groupies for giving HIM your all and then sharing it with us.

Take care-

Rules and Relationship

This week during my quiet time I have been lead to take a look at my closest relationships. It is amazing what God will lead me to when I humble myself and ask Him. Having been a study of relationships, psychology, group life and the like for many years has not exempted me from needing to do a relational tune-up from time to time. The timing is where God comes in. This exercise is not the result of hitting the relationship wall with someone as much as it is the 'still, small voice' guiding me to take a good look at how things are (a bit of a personal inventory of sorts).

Many have heard the profound statement "rules without relationship lead to rebellion." Romans 5:20 states "All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers." This was the way of the Old Testament. It was hard work to get righteous before Christ came to walk among us! All of the sacrificing and isolation as atonement took so much time and effort. Sometimes even for healthy, normal bodily functions. The book of Leviticus lays out all of the rules and the remedies for straying from them. While not an easy read, certainly a chance to grow your gratitude.

I thank God for the gift of Jesus! In John 3:16,17 we learn"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted." My personal commentary on this is that God longed to be in relationship with us more than He valued even a generation of rule-followers; therefore He made a new way (a new and everlasting covenant) with the fallen mankind. Jesus endured the cross so that we could boldly approach God. We have no need of translators or interpreters, no need for someone to communicate on our behalf. No, we can speak directly to our Heavenly Father. We can seek Him and ask Him... AND He has given us His Spirit as a guide.

So, in my life that Guide has brought me to look at my relationships. Do I expect people to play by MY rules? How do I place myself under the real or perceived rules of others. Do my children see me as a relational parent or the judge of their behavior? Do I reward people based on their willingness to follow my rules? Oh, the list goes on. So now you know what I am looking at. Where are you being lead? Do you hear Him? Will you follow?

Take care-

So this is connected?

As I am still working to get my new Blackberry fully connected, synced (sunk?), and working I think about how communication and the ways that we connect have changed in the past 40 years (my lifetime).

Let's see... we once had phones with CORDS that connected the handset to the base of the phone. On the first one I remember you also had to dial (with a rotary dial) to make your call until the invention of the 'push button' phone. THEN we had cordless phones. I know, still do. These cordless phones had a telescoping metal antenna at least 2 feet long (created by the same being that invented the light saber I think). As technology advanced the phone antenna shrunk.

Then the cellular phone:
The one on the left was attached to a base that lived in a bag. No texting, no browser, not even a camera! Hugely expensive to purchase and to use with little to no reception. Someone had to be IMPORTANT to use this phone.

Then 'IT' happened. We became a mobile society. Now we call, text, email, browse, film, take photos and work from our cell phones while we Twitter and visit our Facebook pages hourly. Technology has virtually eliminated our need to meet face-to-face with each other. In fact we don't even use full words anymore. I will never forget the first time I read an emails with this written in it: "ROTFLOL"... I had NO idea. I am much better now. Partially because I am a techie who 'gets' how these things work rather easily but also because I have children. I HAVE to keep up with things as they quickly change or my kids might be able to pass me by.

So anyway, since God designed us to be in community (and set the Trinity as the perfect example) I believe that this lack of face-to-face encounter with those we are 'connected with' comes at a high cost. We fall out of the habit of being in the presence of other and most importantly we lose the discipline of getting into the presence of God. In all cases we have even begun to lose our social skills. When was the last time that someone began texing or took a phone call during time that you were sharing with them? How much more do we do that with God?

Sorry Oprah, but He IS a jealous God. He LONGS to connect with us. He longs for us to DESIRE Him... and we are wired to worship Him. It is we who take on other gods and idols in HIS place with HIS time. Connecting with (loving) God and others are the greatest two commandments... how amazing then, once we get past the first few awkward moments just how great both feel.

The challenge is to turn off the business-as-usual of the day and fill up on community.

Take care-

Brush with Fame

My weekly phone call with my mom began with a twist yesterday. "Your dad reminded me to tell you that he's a celebrity." As my mind began to process the sentence my mouth took the bait, "Really, how is that?" She went on to tell me how dad and his buddy were out to lunch when the Obama/Bayh tour stopped by the northern Indiana Schoop's restaurant that they frequent.

Seems that this was more of a thrill than I thought as I Googled to find news interviews and photos. In the midst of rumors and speculation about running mates it appears that they decided to shake what one reporter called 'blue-collar hands' on their whirlwind tour of the state.

My dad, a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat was not fond of 'his' party's candidate prior to this brush with fame. In fact he preferred the Republican candidate so he was wrestling with skipping the vote completely (probably for the first time in all of his 55+ voting years). But now he has a new perspective about placing his new-found friend in the Oval Office.

It all makes me think about labels. Democrat, Republican, white-collar, blue-collar even Christian and 'lost'. It is certainly an 'us' and 'them' culture that we live in where we label our differences as quickly possible. I am reminded that Paul instructs the Galatians that " There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." So let's love God and each other looking at our similarities rather than our differences.

Take care-