Got Your Food for Haiti Yet?
Jan/100
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
Jan/100
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
Jan/100
"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
Jan/100
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.
Toughest Message Ever?
Jan/100
Quite possibly.
The message I preached yesterday was quite possibly the toughest one I've ever preached.
Yesterday, we kicked off our Hot Buttons series by talking straight up about abortion. It was grueling. So many people were visibly moved. You could have cut the tension with a knife. Emotions were running high. The intensity was at a fever pitch.
I preached this message just yesterday, and I have already ministered to several people who have been impacted by abortion in some way.
I'm totally drained. After yesterday, I have very little to give today. But God is good. He is already healing lives that have been devastated by abortion. I'm in awe of what He did and is doing.
Our podcast from yesterday is now online. Check it out on iTunes or at the link below.
Haiti & Hot Buttons
Jan/100
This is going to be a huge weekend at ACC.
1. Our relief effort for Haiti continues. We are collecting peanut butter, rice, beans, and Spam to send to the people who have been devastated by the earthquake.
If you would prefer to make a cash donation, you can do that as well. We'll make sure every cent goes to the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission.
The Cincinnati Enquirer is helping us get the word out. You can read that short article here.
Amelia Church Holding Haiti Relief Drive – Cincinnati Enquirer
Our church has already stepped up huge. Keep it going! Through your generosity, you are being Jesus to the people of Haiti.
2. We're kicking off a new series this weekend called Hot Buttons. This is going to be one of the toughest, and yet most necessary, series that we're doing all year. We're kicking off the series this Sunday by talking about abortion.
I've been agonizing over this message. I have been brought to tears. I have sat in stunned silence. I have experienced the peace and presence of God. And now, I'm ready to give you the Word that He has laid on my heart.
You can't miss this Sunday. Maybe you saw the topic and immediately thought of someone you need to invite. Do it. They will experience the grace and truth of God in a powerful way.
A Prayer for Haiti
Jan/100
As you probably know by now, our church is involved in a simple, but intense relief effort for the earthquake victims in Haiti. You can get the details of how to help on our website.
Helping the People of Haiti – ACC
I'm starting to hear people say that we shouldn't be helping in Haiti…that there are too many people in need in our country right now.
Our church generously supports a food pantry right in our own neighborhood. We care deeply about the poor here…and in Haiti.
If you're still not convinced that we should help the victims of the Haitian earthquake, listen to this prayer from Mark Driscoll. It breaks my heart in two…and I hope it has the same effect on you.
Pastor Mark's Prayer for Haiti from Harvest Bible Chapel on Vimeo.
Pleasing Him
Jan/100
The last installment in a series posts about lessons from my first four years as the Preaching Minister at ACC.
People are fickle. I know this is true, because I'm one of them.
I'm a people-pleaser by nature, so I've made a lot of mistakes in ministry because I tried to please people instead of God. That sounds like something a pastor would never do, but trust me…it's very, VERY easy to do.
This doesn't mean that I don't want to be a blessing to the people of ACC. I do. I want my ministry to bless, honor, encourage, and challenge our people. But I can never do that with 100% success.
Sometimes what people want and what God wants are different. The choice I make in that moment will define my ministry. In fact, that choice will define my life.
Steven Furtick wrote, "NOTHING you will ever say or do will please EVERYONE. Keep your audience small…like, say…One."
Great advice, whether you're a pastor or not.
I love the people of ACC with all my heart. I've given the last four years of my life to them. But, as much as I love our people, I won't stand before them one day to give an account for how I led. The Bible is pretty clear that I will answer to God for my ministry and my leadership in His church (Hebrews 13:17).
And I've always got to remember that it is, in fact, HIS church. He loves His church more than I ever will. He gave His life for His church. He has a vision for His church. I'm just a temporary fixture in the church, but His presence will permeate the church forever.
That makes it a lot easier to lead with vision. To dream big dreams. To take faith risks. As long as we're going where He is calling us to go…as long as we are faithful to His Word and His vision for His church…we will be successful.
Remember, from God's perspective…
Faithfulness = Success.
People Will Leave
Jan/102
I started a series of posts last week that I chose to interrupt due to the Haitian earthquake. I'll finish the series this week. Here's the third installment in this series of posts about things that I've learned in my first four years as the Senior Pastor of ACC.
People will leave your church. You can bank on it. There are three things you can be sure of: death, taxes, and the fact that people will leave your church.
When I was in various associate ministry roles, I never fully realized this truth. But once I stepped into the preaching ministry, I became fully aware that people will leave ACC.
This is not always a bad thing. If a person doesn't agree with the vision or mission of a church, they should find another church. If they move to a church where they can fully support the vision and get involved in ministry, that is a win for the Church (capital "C"). And our primary concern ought to be the health of the big "C" Church.God's Kingdom is much bigger than any one individual church.
That is not to say that it is always easy when people leave a church. It's not. But I've also learned that this process doesn't have to denigrate into something nasty.
There have been people who have left ACC…and we have been able to remain friends. Not just acquaintances…friends. I saw some people who have left our church recently and we hugged and talked. It was great. We are friends. We are family in Christ. We just worship at different churches. It really can happen.
Of course, there will be some people who choose to leave a church in a very nasty, critical, loud way. But that usually says more about them than the church. I can't control how they handle themselves, but I can control how I handle myself. I will be friendly and kind to them whenever I see them. Whether they return that courtesy or not is up to them.
When people leave a church, it is good to find out why if it's possible. You may find something that needs attention. If their reason for leaving has a Biblical basis, then it needs to be remedied immediately. But, more often than not, it will become clear that it was simply a disagreement on the vision and direction of the church.
I wish this weren't the case. I wish that people didn't leave churches. It's a part of ministry that I could do without.
But the reality is that people will leave. Some will not surprise you. Some will absolutely shock you.
It's hard not to take it personally when you are the Senior Pastor, but I've quickly learned that this is a big no-no. If I took everything that people say and do personally, I would have been fitted with a straight jacket and placed in a padded room a long time ago.
When people leave, learn what you can about the situation. Make adjustments if necessary. Love them, whether or not they love you back.
It might not be the perfect formula, but I think it's the most Biblical approach to an always difficult situation.
And just for a bonus, if you are considering leaving your current church, read this post from Tim Stevens. He has some wise and balanced insight on the issue.
Sunday Recap
Jan/101
Sunday was an amazing day. I wasn't at ACC and I certainly missed all our people. But I had an opportunity this past weekend that I couldn't pass up.
My former youth minister, Scott Hennig, just celebrated his 25th anniversary at the Georgetown Church of Christ. The average minister stays at a church for three years before moving on. Scott and his wife, Sharon, have been ministering at my home church for 25 years! This past Sunday, GCC honored them in their services and in a reception afterward.
I was honored and humbled that I was invited to preach at GCC on this very special day. I had a blast! It was awesome to see some old friends and to make a lot of new ones. It was such a privilege to preach at a service honoring the man who is largely responsible for me being a preacher in the first place. It was just a stellar morning all the way around.
Sunday night, I had the privilege of preaching at Horizon Christian Church. HCC's pastor, Joel Young, filled in for me at ACC Sunday morning. So I returned the favor Sunday evening. I love the people at Horizon! I love every opportunity I have to be with them.
It was an amazing weekend. I missed you on Sunday, ACC. There is no place like home. I can't wait to be back with you this weekend. But this past weekend, I was honored to not only represent Christ, but also to represent you in two different churches. I pray that I represented you well.
