Category — Just Thinkin'

It’s been a busy week and I haven’t taken much time to post.  So today is make up day!  In the spirit of David Letterman, here are my top ten favorite things about this past week:

10. NCAA Championship game between Carolina and Michigan State.  I was rooting for the Tarheels and they put the beat down on the Spartans.  We went to bed early as there was no drama.

9.  I had a great time with our good friends the Sushenias and the Seagos on Tuesday night.  We went to eat BBQ and took all of our kids.  That would be three couples and 8 kids.  6 kids under 4.  People were leaving our section and I didn’t blame them.

8.  Its Master’s week.  Enough said.

7.  Kathie Sanford had a birthday this week.  She is the Executive Assistant to Chip and has been incredible this week in coordinating much of our celebration of Easter.  Much gratitude for all that she does to help us.

6.  New music Tuesday brought a new album from Rascal Flatts.

5.  I had a great meeting with my dear friend S. N. on Wednesday.  He and his wife headed out to Africa on Thursday and will be of great use to our King.  These people are devoted, passionate, and called.  Wow.  I am committed to praying for them.

4.  The Seder meal experience was off the hook.  Great experience and a great reminder of all that God has fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  So thankful for the plan of God.  So thankful for the lamb who took away my sin.

3.  We had our all staff (all campuses) meeting this past Tuesday.  One of our “traditions” is that we have a time of sharing great “stories” of life change that is happening in our church.  It’s an encouraging time for all of us.  I left this Tuesday in awe of all that God is doing through our church in seeing real change in reall people’s lives.

2.  I have been reminded constantly this week of what a great staff team that our church has.  Our team has been exceptional this week and God has really used them to provide some great opportunities for our communities to experience a celebration of Easter.   In a one week period of time, our team will have led 31 different services (7 Sunday, 8 Seder Experiences, 3 Tenebrae Services, 3 Prayer Experiences and 10 Easter Services).  Lots of praying, thinking, working, and serving from our entire church.  I have been really proud of our staff this week.  By the way, unless it’s serious; don’t call us Monday.

1.  He is Risen! His life is in us raising us up to real life. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”  (Romans 8:11)

On Monday a few of us are headed over to Dallas for a couple of days to connect with some other churches and learn from them.  This learning environment is put together by Leadership Network and features Pinelake and nine other churches who have experienced “rapid growth”.  This community of rapid growing churches is an amazing group of churches. This combined group (of all 10 churches) represents 60,388 people in average attendance each week.  The churches include:

• Celebration Church, Georgetown TX
• Church of the King, Mandeville LA
• Church of the Redeemer, Gaithersburg MD
• Christ’s Church of the Valley, Peoria AZ
• Cleveland Community Church, Clayton NC
• Healing Place Church, Baton Rouge LA
• Heartland Community Church, Rockford IL
• Living Hope Church, Vancouver WA
• Pinelake Church, Brandon MS
• Sagebrush Community Church, Albuquerque NM
• Seacoast Church, Mt. Pleasant SC

Ed Stetzer posted this week on a recent Barna Group study on technology and how it has the potential to widen the gap between generations.  You can read the post here. I get asked all the time why we are spending so much energy, time, resources, and thinking on trying to figure out how to decentralize, release and simplify most of our communication strategy (if you want to call it that) at Pinelake.  Technology is changing the way the people connect relationally and the way that they process information. There are tremendous implications for this in regard to socialization and communication.  Not only that, but it is speeding up generation by generation.

Looks pretty simple to me.  It seems that the Church that turns it back on technology (and the learning mindset that it demands) could be the church that is disconnected from the very people that it is trying to influence for the Kingdom.

I love the Psalms because the writers (God inspired) find a way to articulate through prayers and songs what I am feeling, experiencing and many times struggling through.  God also uses music in my life in a deep way.  One of the songs that I have near to me in these days is a Hillsong tune called Desert Song This song has been a blessing and has expressed some confessions that I would not been able to say myself. Isn’t it a joy when God gives us songs that articulate feelings and inclinations that are present in us?