Sometimes "Uh... Duh!" is better than "Oh... Wow!" (Part 2)

I told you in my last post that the "Oh... Wow!" moment that everyone seemed to be anticipating came and went with almost no fanfare... And that I couldn't be happier. I also said that in this post, I'd tell you why, so... Here we go!

Think about this: a climax is a moment of great, eye-opening revelation where great understanding suddenly grips us & great excitement floods our souls... We spontaneously reveal the depth of this stirring with some kind of outburst like, "Oh... Wow!"

But if there is no great revelation... No great new understanding... If, instead, there is a realization that you've known this all along... If there's a recognition that this is the obvious answer that has been right in front of our eyes, then the response you get is much less sensational & much less emotional. With a little sarcasm, it might be expressed, "Uh... Duh!"

When it comes to each of us fulfilling our God-given purpose, we have no interest in sensationalism... Jesus was supernatural, NOT sensational! Instead of sensational, the leadership team of our church has chosen simple: we've developed a simple, 3-step process that facilitates growth.

Why? Because prefer that our people understand how to BE the church of Jesus Christ (without the fanfare) than to hear ooh's & ahh's from an adoring crowd who are still stuck in a pew GOING to church.

The reality is that most of us feel that anything sensational is too intimidating to attempt! But, when we believe that something is simple, we already well on our way to achieving it!

Let me put it another way... This is one time when "Uh... Duh!" is better than "Oh... Wow!"

Sometimes "Uh... Duh!" is better than "Oh... Wow!" (Part 1)

For the last several weeks, our church has been looking at the principles of spiritual growth that Jesus modeled for us during His earthly ministry in a message series called, "God Gives Growth."

This series was the foundation for and the introduction to "E3", the process our leadership team has developed to help our church grow in Christ.

Here's the path we walked to get there...
1. God created us to grow in steps.
2. These steps are environments that God specifically creates to facilitate our growth.
3. Jesus showed us what these environments are during His earthly ministry.
4. The 1st environment is the crowd... in this 1st step, people ENCOUNTER Jesus.
5. The 2nd environment is the 12... in this 2nd step, people EXPERIENCE Jesus.
6. The 3rd environment is the sent... in this 3rd step, people EMULATE Jesus.
7. Our process is E3: Encounter | Experience | Emulate

It took 6 weeks, of course, to build up to this final message & the anticipation was tremendous... There have been times when I could "feel it" in the congregation!

But here's the odd thing: the "Oh... Wow!" moment that everyone seemed to be anticipating came and went with almost no fanfare... Almost no notice, in fact. It was as though we got to the great big climax & it turned out to be... well... anti-climactic!

No, really... The great big moment that we've pushed so hard for did not happen! It kinda bombed, really.

And I couldn't be happier!!!

In my next post, I'll tell you why!

This is HUGE!!

I've finally reached it!!

It's been a tough, hard-fought battle that has been won with dedication, hard work, perseverance, & a little (lot) help from some friends.

There have been times when I wasn't sure I'd make it, but I'm finally here & I can't explain to you how good it feels!

I hope to build on this huge victory & keep moving forward... Please pray for me that I will continue to do so!

Yes, it's true: this is a HUGE milestone... this blog has finally seen it's 100th visitor!!

Woo-Hoo!!!!

Let me close with a moment of seriousness: thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you... I hope you continue to enjoy my postings!

When can't becomes gonna

If you would've asked me six months ago where we'd be today, I'm not sure what I would've said. But I do know what I wouldn't have said: "Here."

For 7 1/2 years, God has burned in our hearts & minds that He wants to use CLC to save lost people, then train & equip them to reach multitudes of other lost people here in New Orleans. At the same time, however, we have had a sober concern that if God started sending them, we weren't ready to handle them.

If I was going to describe my overall attitude about it in one word it would be this one...

Can't.

But something happened last week.

As I was praying about some of the final details of our growth process, it hit me: "We're not only ready now... We're gonna do it!"

This went past being just a casual change of perspective or some fit of wishful thinking... This realization--there's a better way to put it--this revelation just hit me in the gut & consumed every bit of me!

In one moment... In one breath... That "Can't" I'd been feeling for so long became "Gonna!"

It's a new day!

Have you ever just felt like something was different?

Not that you could necessary say exactly what it was, but just that you felt different. Kind of like you wake up one morning & think, "Whoa! Something's different!"

Well... That just happened to me! Service was amazing (which isn't new: we usually have really good services), but it just felt different. At our Leadership Team Meeting afterwards, Frank said today felt like we crossed over a line & walked into something. He wasn't the only one, either! Several others said they felt the same thing!

Jen's been feeling that way for several days... Since the Night of Worship a couple of weeks ago, actually. She sang this spontaneous song that night that declared, "It's a new day!"

She prophesied it... & now we're living it!

It's a new day!

I didn't know she had it in her

I was getting ready to read a story to Faith before bed tonight. She picked out a story I've read a few times, but it's been over the course of the last year or so.

As I picked up the book & she got situated on my lap, she said, "I wanna do it, Daddy!"

Keep in mind, now: Faith can't read yet... So, I told her, "You go ahead, Sweetie, & I'll help you out if you get stuck." She got busy, telling the story (as she remembered it) as it unfolded in the pictures across the pages.

Her ability to tell the story absolutely floored me! If I didn't know that she wasn't reading the story, I wouldn't know that she wasn't reading the story! In many places, she told it word-for-word as it was written! I was so amazed at her recollection that I called Jen in to witness it.

Now, I know I'm a proud Daddy, but I was blown away! She has a real gift for telling a story...

& I didn't know she had it in her!

A Little Something in the Air

Today was a lot of fun!

My message today was about the 2nd step of our growth process. I talked about the disciples' experiences walking with Jesus & used that to show the importance of relationships with others in our personal growth.

At the end of the message, I introduced Life Groups: our version of small groups that our Leadership Team has designed to facilitate relationships.

As I shared about the Life Groups we have lined up for our Fall '08 semester, the air was filled with a sound that I can't really explain except to tell you how it felt. It was like a buzz of excitement swept across the congregation... I got a very real sense that many of our brothers & sisters have been longing for this!

I know I have!

The great response at our sign-ups after service proved to me that I'm not the only one feeling that little something in the air.

Bring it!

I was sitting in my office this morning, having just read some e-mail. One in particular stood out to me & had my heart a little troubled.

The sender shared a story with me about a troubling encounter that seemed to reveal an attack strategy of the enemy that could hinder our church.

My first response was, "Oh, no!"

Then I remembered what God has spoken about CLC... The devil can't stop what God wants to do. He'll try, for sure... That's what he does! But God's plan depends on my obedience to God & faith in God, not my ability to bind the devil or expose his schemes.

You see, I've read the book. I know the Author. And I know what He said. My faith is in His ability to perform what He said He would do, either through me or in spite of me.

As I sat there remembering all of the times that I have experienced God's faithfulness, a shot of confidence--in God, not myself--went through me like lightning!

I'm not foolish enough to tempt the devil, but all I could think of is how safe I am in the center of God's will & His plan.

And the words exploded from my lips: half prayer, half boast-in-the-Lord... "Bring it!"

A Tribute to "Hannibal" Smith

Did you ever see that show back in the '80s called, "The A-Team"?

You know... the one with Murdock, Faceman, Mr. T ("I pitty da foo dat don't watch my show! Grrrr!"), & their leader, Col. Hannibal Smith.

At the climax of every episode, Hannibal would stick his nearly-gone stoagie between his teeth & boast, "I love it when a plan comes together."

Well, I gotta tell ya... He was on to something!

For the last 7 years, I've been praying about our church & asking God to make us a place where people are growing in Christ. I've spent more hours in prayer than I can count. I've wrung my hands in frustration. I've had great ideas (at least, I thought they were!) that bombed. I've drawn out a plan that looked brilliant (at least, to me it did!) only to fail miserably & have to go back to the ole' drawing board. I've preached my heart out sermon series after sermon series, & sometimes it felt like I was hitting my head against a brick wall. (I can't tell you how many times I told Jen after church, "They need to get another pastor... I am NOT the man for this job!")

But.

But now.

But now everything seems to be falling into place & God is putting all the puzzle pieces together. It's finally starting to take shape & I'm totally amazed at just how awesome God is! It's awesome to sit here & watch Him do His thing.

As Hannibal would say, "I love it when a plan comes together!"