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Showing posts from January, 2010

Ministry "CHOICES"

I know I have taken some time to post the next ministry "CHOICE" I have made but here it is, ARE YOU READY ! "CHOICE" #4 - I HAVE MADE THE "CHOICE" TO WORK WITH A TEAM Years ago I realized that there is NOTHING that can replace a QUALITY TEAM! For me there is NO GREATER JOY than ministering side by side with people who are as PASSIONATE about the D REAM OF JESUS as I am. As the LEAD PASTOR of Granite United Church I have the awesome privilege of working with some of the FINEST LEADERS I believe in the church world. So it is to my ministry team that I say THANK YOU because although ministry is not always easy, having all of you by my side ENCOURAGES ME and INSPIRES ME to keep on keeping on! So the "CHOICE" to work with a TEAM has been one of the greatest "CHOICES" I have ever made, and I am thankful that the Lord taught me this lesson early in my ministry life. I want to keep this brief, so I will end by simply saying , I

Ministry "CHOICES"

“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.” (Denis Waitley) "CHOICE" #3 - I REFUSE TO GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS I have made the "CHOICE" not to be the type of person who accepts the STATUS QUO especially when it comes to God's KINGDOM WORK . I REFUSE , absolutely REFUSE to be the person who looks back over his shoulder over time and is haunted by the thought of WOULD OF , COULD OF , but DIDN'T . The song MOTIONS by Matthew West describes some of what is in my heart... I don't wanna go through the motions I don't wanna go one more day Without Your all consuming passion inside of me I don't wanna spend my whole life asking, What if I had given everything, Instead of going through the motions? Without a doubt I believe I have been saved to be a KINGDOM IMPACT PLAYER and it's not because of what I bring to the table, it's because we serve and AMAZING GOD, an

Ministry "CHOICES"

" CHOICES " we all make them and they all have either positive or negative consequences. Because I want my " CHOICES " to be positive and have eternal value I have made the following " CHOICE "... "CHOICE" #2 - TO POUR MY LIFE INTO PEOPLE We can make the "CHOICE" to live for fame and fortune or for the one thing that actually matters in eternity, PEOPLE . Jesus didn't give his life so that I could attain STATUS , or accumulate WEALTH . And He certainly didn't lay down His life so that I could take the NEW LIFE He has given me and squander it. Jesus came to give His life for the one thing that mattered in eternity, ME , YOU , PEOPLE ! PEOPLE matter to God, and because PEOPLE matter to God P EOPLE SHOULD matter to you, to me. One of the prayers I pray every day is actually taken from an OLD SCHOOL song, that says, " Let me see this world, dear Lord, as though I were looking through your eyes ." I have made

Ministry "CHOICES"

We are in a series at GRANITE UNITED called "CHOICES" . We are journeying together working through our HURTS , HABITS , and HANG-UPS , not through will power but through HIS POWER . It's been a wonderful study so far and life changing. Well the theme of "CHOICES" really got me thinking about M Y MINISTRY "CHOICES" so for the next few days I want to share the "CHOICES" I have made and am committed to concerning GOD'S CALLING in my life. "CHOICE" #1 - It's All About JESUS Even though there are pulls in every direction to do this and to do that, I have committed my life to doing ONE THING , and that is keeping MY LIFE and OUR CHURCH ALL ABOUT JESUS . I have made the "CHOICE" to lay down my life and my will to THE ONE who GAVE HIS ALL for me. Although I value the opinions of people, there is ONE VOICE I strive to be in tune with, and to obey, the sweet voice of MY SAVIOR , JESUS CHRIST . I know this sou

10 Reasons I'm PUMPED about GRANITE UNITED

10. SWEET church family 9. LIFE CHANGE 8. AMAZING Worship 7. Fired Up WARRIORS 6. Kids LOVING church 5. Room to GROW 4. SALVATIONS 3. DREAM of JESUS coming true 2. HOPE found 1. LIFTING UP JESUS

COME APART BEFORE YOU COME APART

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If you spend any time reading the Gospels you will read about times Jesus stepped away form the busyness of ministry to set aside time to spend with His team. WHY? Because of we do not take the time to COME APART the truth is we will COME APART. Our church has been blessed with amazing and growing leaders, and recently three of us had the chance to escape to MYRTLE BEACH for a few days. One of the cool things all pastors should do is to build a team of people they not only would like to work with but a team of people they would would like to hang with. Thats the kind of team we are building at GRANITE UNITED, its the kind of team I look forward too LIVING OUT THE DREAM OF JESUS with, and its the kind of team I enjoy being around. Cultivating a real team takes a serious investment and for every lead pastor the choice will always be to USE PEOPLE to do ministry or to do ministry WITH PEOPLE. The ministries that use people will always experience high turnover, the ministry that does

MY BEST FRIEND!

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For the THOUSANDS of people who follow my blog I thought I would take the time to tell you about MY BEST FRIEND! It is my amazing and beautiful wife Christy. I just had the chance to spend three days with her and some other friends in MYRTLE BEACH and what a great time we had. Christy and I have been MARRIED for what will soon be 24 YEARS and after all this time there isn't another person on the planet I would rather spend time with then her. Yep, I know what your thinking SAPPY, but I want everyone to know how blessed I am not only to be married to a beautiful lady but to be married to MY BEST FRIEND. Christy is an amazing person who loves the Lord, His church, and the ministry. It is cool having a wife that not only supports me in the ministry, but is in the ministry with me. Christy is also a phenomenal mom to our kids. She is loving, caring, giving, sacrificial, faithful and a wonderful example to everyone who knows her. Christy is one of the most creative people I kno

Reflections on 2009

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Let me share some of my 2009 HIGHLIGHTS God's AMAZING GRACE Growing closer to Jesus The privilege of another year SERVING MY SAVIOR Celebrated my 23rd wedding anniversary with the love of my life, CHRISTY Had an amazing vacation with my kids, parents, and friends Got to see people I care about come to Jesus Was blessed to see WARRIORS for JESUS rise up at GRANITE UNITED CHURCH Was part of seeing over 120 people follow Jesus in Baptism Blessed to know that all our church plants are healthy and growing Got to get away with Christy to Maine Spent time with dear friends from around the country Cody and I won our fantasy football league - more Cody than me Was incredibly blessed to be a blessing Moved our church to new location - at least when its not snowing, lol Saw our ministry team mature and lead on a HOLE NUTHA LEVEL Saw our church exercise faith which intersected with God's faithfulness Catalyst with team The huXtable - added over 100 new WARRIORS for Jesus in mi