Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Hot Buttons Recap

We finished our Hot Buttons series at ACC yesterday.

Honestly, I'm glad it's over. This was a draining series, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This series wrecked some people. It caused others to really evaluate how they are doing at representing Christ in these debates.

God did amazing things through the last three weeks, but it was still one of the toughest series I've ever preached.

You can access all the podasts on iTunes or on our website.

Hot Buttons series

Creative Summit

Our church's creative team is meeting today.  Nothing abnormal about that. We meet once a month.

What is different is that we are meeting from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm! We are affectionately referring to this as our "Creative Summit."

Our goal for today is really ambitious.  We are meeting to plan a year's worth of sermon series. That's right, baby!  A whole year!

Obviously things can change in a year.  Nothing we do today will be written in stone.  If we need to tweak or change something, we definitely will.  But I can't tell you how amazing it will be to know where our teaching will be going for the next year.

Planning this far in advance helps us evaluate our teaching topics.  It helps us make sure we are offering our people a balanced diet of truth. I guarantee that it will take our teaching to a whole new level!

I am so blessed to be surrounded by a team who is willing to make incredible sacrifices. John Bach, Phil Prather, and Josh Young are all taking a day off work for this.  Brian Morrissey is giving up his day off.

That is amazing commitment.  And when we have amazing commitment, God shows up in amazing ways.

Church: The Love/Hate Tension

Scott Hodge has a post on his blog that I haven't been able to get over. It's an incredible snapshot of how I feel about the church.  And if you've been in the church for any length of time, this is how you feel, too.

Church: The Love/Hate Tension – Scott Hodge

If I may echo Scott's words…amen and amen.

What Do You Want?

The New Testament book of John is one of the four gospels that give us the record of Jesus' life on earth.  John gives us no record of Jesus' birth or anything regarding His childhood.  John's account begins when Jesus is beginning His ministry.

Here are the first words of Jesus that John recorded in his gospel:

"What do you want?" (John 1:38)

If I were writing a book that tells the story of Jesus, I don't think I would choose these words to be the first words of Jesus that I wrote down. I would have sought out something loftier…something deeper…something to really capture my reader's attention.

But the first words from Jesus that John chose to record are, "What do you want?"

Jesus was walking along when two men began to follow him.  That's when Jesus turned around and asked them, "What do you want?"

That's kind of a harsh, abrasive phrase to use as your opener.

But the more I thought about it, I think John has hit on something.  Jesus had an unbelievable way of cutting through the fog and asking very hard, but very clarifying, questions.

If we decide to follow Jesus, we can have a myriad of motivations behind that decision.  Jesus won't settle for that. He demands to know our heart. He demands to know why we are choosing to follow Him.

Some people proclaim to follow Jesus because they see something in it for them.  Others follow Him, recklessly abandoning their will in favor of His will.

If you want to follow Jesus, then you need to honestly and thoroughly wrestle with this question:

"What do you want?"

And you need to know that Jesus demands an answer.

Hurting People

We are surrounded by hurting people. I have had so many reminders of this truth recently.

In the last few weeks, I have ministered to a ton of people whose lives have been devastated by…

1. abortion.

2. divorce.

3. illness.

4, financial tragedy.

5. Etc., Etc., Etc.

I said on Sunday, and I now reiterate, that this has been a gut-wrenching season for me.  So many hurting people searching for answers that I cannot give.

All I can do is love like Jesus and pray like crazy.

God is calling you to do the same for the hurting people in your life.

Only God Could Do That!

One of my "bucket list" goals is to the see the Aurora Borealis (aka,the northern lights) in person.  Most people dream of going to a tropical island.  I dream of going to the northernmost reaches of the planet.

To each his own.

There is something inside me that wants to experience this kaleidescope of colors painted by the hand of God.  The pictures leave me awestruck.  I can't imagine what seeing it in person would do to me.

There is just something inexplicable when you experience something and then step back and say, "Wow! Only God could do that." I know that's what the northern lights would be for me.

But then again…I don't have to travel to the Arctic Circle to see this.  I see God's handiwork in the lives of people all around me. One of the perks of ministry is that I get a front row seat to watch God change lives. I've watched him heal marriages.  I've seen him work in the lives of addicts.  I've witnessed him soften hearts and literally change lives and eternities.

And I step back and say, "Wow!  Only God could do that."

Got Your Food for Haiti Yet?

You'd better get to it!

The deadline for donating food for our Haiti relief effort is this Sunday.  ACC's foyer is filling up with food.  Keep it going!

Remember, we are only collecting peanut butter, rice, beans, and Spam.  If you would like to make a cash donation, write "Haiti" on the memo line of your check.

All food and money will go to the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission.

You're doing great, ACC!  Bring your final donations this Sunday!

Coaching Community

I am SO STOKED about today!

I was selected to be part of a coaching community with Scott Hodge.  Hundreds applied, but  only 12 were chosen.  I don't say that to brag.  I say that because I believe it was a move of God. I am incredibly honored and humbled that I was selected to be part of this community.  And it all starts today!

The coaching community meets online once a month for the next six months.  I am so ready to learn. Scott is a great guy with a tremendous ministry in the Chicago area.  I can't wait to drink up the wisdom and insight he has gained over the years.  And I'm looking forward to meeting and learning from the other fellas in the community, too.  It's going to be amazing!

I appreciate your prayers for me, for Scott, and for the other 11 guys in this community.  Pray that God fills our minds, enlarges our hearts, and fills us to overflowing with passion for His purposes!

The Will of God and The Grace of God

"The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you."

I'm not sure who was the first person to utter those words, but they were spot on.

• When God calls us to go somewhere, His grace goes with us.
• When He calls us to do something, His grace empowers us.
• When He calls us to endure something, His grace sustains us.
• When He calls us to say something, His grace speaks for us.

We can't misinterpret grace as a guarantor of success. There is still risk in following the will of God.  But in His grace, God can even turn our failures into His victories.

The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4, "We are fools for Christ…" (1 Corinthians 4:10a, NIV)

Oftentimes the will of God seems foolish to our world.  And so, by following His will, we are viewed as fools.  We will be criticized, mocked, laughed off, and condemned if we follow His will.

But when we are rejected for following the will of God, the grace of God shows up all the more.

32 Hours: The Church in Haiti

I have been more outwardly emotional in the last few weeks than at anytime in recent memory.  I watched this message from Mark Driscoll after his return from Haiti, and I cried my eyes out again.

I shared on Facebook yesterday that God is stirring something in me to do something more. I don't know what that something is yet, but I know it is there.

You can check out Mark's message in its entirety here.

32 Hours: The Church in Haiti – Mark Driscoll