Tuesday, February 19, 2008

are your eyes bleeding?

I promise a more conservative choice in image and colors with the next blog change. I just couldn't resist.

Monday, February 18, 2008

the main thing

OK...it's been too long since I posted. So sorry. But, my head's been crowded with so many other things. We are right in the middle of a vision series at Pantego Bible Church--discovering the spiritual lifeway that God has designed for every Christian. You can check out our series at http://www.inagodplace.com/. On top of that, Tiffany and I have launched another Home Group in the Ditto Community (now there are 3!), we organized a surpise birthday dinner for Grant (about to turn 15), I've been playing more racquetball, I'm trying to catch up on my through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan (I made it through Leviticus) and I got a cortisone injection in my left wrist from an injury more than a year ago. Now you know more than you ever wanted to know about my life.

Last Sunday, I preached about reaching our neighbors--the world closest to us. In Colossians 4, Paul urges his readers to be "devoted to prayer." That's the first and main thing. Of everything that's going on with me (or you), the most significiant thing we can do is pray. On Sunday, we took 20 minutes in our service to pray for our community. There are a hundred other thihgs we could have prayed for as well. But, the fact that we prayed was important.

If you're looking for something to pray about, intercede on behalf of Austin New Church. My buddy, Brandon Hatmaker has formed a team and is launching this new venture in SE portion of the city. They have a very important "preview" service this Sunday, February 24. Then, they officially launch their first service on Sunday, March 30. Check out their website and pray for Brandon and his team. If you get a chance, email him and let him know you did the main thing. I'd appreciate the favor.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

aaron's beard and the dew of zion

Today, I began a two-day prayer retreat with other Senior Pastors in the Arlington/Mansfield area. A few of us have been meeting together for the last 2 years, seeking to discover how we might be used together to impact our city. One of the pastors mentioned that he had been recently reading Jonathan Edwards and appreciated Edward's goal of "giving the world a right opinion of Jesus." That's it. We want to make God famous.

This evening, as 20 of us prayed together, no less than a million thoughts went through my head. I confess that I had a hard time making sense of how, what, when I should pray. But, one thing I came away from our time with was the joy of being with my ministry comrades. All of us share a similar calling and the same commitment. Psalm 133 declares, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!" The next verses compare it to the annointing oil dripping from the high priest's beard and the refreshing dew falling in Mount Zion. Indeed. I'm not quite sure where this gathering will lead. But, just being here is a wonderful blessing! Imagine what our churches could accomplish if all of us pursued a common mission together!