Following Jesus without fear

How does my current ministry practice align with what Jesus asked His followers to do? If I follow Jesus, should I have the same results (people persecuting me). Do I live in fear? Or do I live my life in such a way that normally a person would be fearful ... but because of God's care I don't have to be. Or am I taking the easy road?
















Matthew 10 is Jesus' charge to His disciples. What were they supposed to do? Here are the verbs he used...

• go to the lost sheep
• preach
• heal sick
• raise dead
• cleanse lepers
• cast out demons
• do not acquire money
• inquire who is worthy
• abide/stay with the worthy
• enter the house
• give it your greeting regardless of how it returns
• if rejected, go out and shake off the dust

He goes on...

• beware of men
• do not be anxious for how you will speak
• flee persecution
• do not fear
• speak in the light and proclaim
• do not fear
• do not fear

In a nutshell, they were to take action. When they met resistance, they were to move on and continue in another location. Jesus knew it was going to be seen in the public eye and looked down on. So he told them to not fear, move on, continue the work.

Lord, show me how I can follow you better. Help me to not fear man or things of this earth if it means following you as a legitimate disciple.

Interruptions!

Interruptions. They frustrate us. We don't see them coming. We wish they didn't happen. We are relieved when they are over. How many times when sitting in my office do I view unannounced people as an interruption?

The Bible has a similar story about a tax collector (Matthew 9). This IRS guy was at his office when Jesus stopped by. Not only did the tax collector listen to what Jesus had to say, he simply followed Him — and left his work. And it appears He left immediately.

In the end, the interruption was really an appointment with God - a divine appointment. This tax collector ended up inviting Jesus over for dinner - where many other of his friends (other tax collectors and "sinners") were also eating. It caused a commotion because it looked bad — Jesus hanging with the bad crowd. But Jesus' motives were to do what was right in His Father's eyes, not man's eyes.

When an interruption happens - do I ever look beyond it to see the divine appointment? If I see the divine appointment, do I embrace it - or think the opportunity to follow it is too risky?

Lord, help me to look for how You are working — and when You ask me to follow You, give me the courage to move where you want me to be.

My thoughts on the light show future

In short, it's a green light - the light show should continue another year. Why? Because the percentage of unchurched people who came not only is above 10% - but it increased from 14% to 23% from 2007 to 2008. Folks, that's WHY we are doing it. It's not for media attention. It's not for bragging rights. It's not because it has become a tradition. It's not for ANY other reason - other than to tell people about Christ.

In the future, if the number of surveyed people stays above 10% unchurched - it's a good indicator that we are doing some good. Most outreaches I've been involved in in the past were 6% or lower. While the true percentage is probably higher, the measured amount is the only tangible number with which to make decisions.

Also, if the percentage of surveyed people who are unchurched begins to drop over consecutive years - it's time to admit that we are most likely on the backside of an S-curve. This means reinventing the light show...like a light show on a Kansas grain elevator...or completely killing it for a different event would be wise. What counts is not the sheer number of people who come to the event - but how many people who don't know Christ. It's all about having an opportunity to share Christ with them.

God, help us to make wise use of the resources You give us (time, money, people, energy). You said the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. So we want to make what we do count. May You be broadcast in our community...help us learn how to best do it.

She let me do it

Right back to her!

2 year old facelift with stickers

This is our 2-year-old Kayla's artwork with stickers on my face.

Should we kill/continue the Topeka Light Show?

It's important to really evaluate after a resource-sucking event whether or not to continue or kill it.

I'm taking a risk in publicly revealing the results from the online survey from the 5,500+ people who came to the 2008 Topeka Light Show. Why bare all and reveal the results? Because we need to know if we should continue it.

Without saying whether or not we'd continue the 3-story drive-in light show with live musicians - download the comparison report to take a look at the results and decide for yourself. In another post, I'll share my thoughts on the data and let you know what I think.

UPDATE: Link should now work properly. Thanks Dustin for catching it.

Lazy musicians use parking cones...really?

The breakfast musicians who use cones for a parking spot will now be parking in the back West Mulvane lot - instead of parking in front of the church.

Here's why...

One of the things I was impressed about TBC's musicians right from the start was the fact that they have breakfast together every Sunday AM between the 1st and 2nd hours of worship. They usually pile in one or two cars together and head out for some grub before they came back for the 2nd and 3rd round.

This impressed me because it builds relationships and camaraderie far more than anything structured I could ever set up. They laugh together. Learn about each others' lives. Rehash the 1st hour of worship. Share joys and frustrations. This is MORE IMPORTANT than the music we play. I'm not gonna make it a challenge for them to do this - I'm looking for ways to make it easier. In fact, I take a $20 out of the offering each week to pay for their breakfast...and I ask them to keep the change (ok folks, kidding).

They use a parking cone to get a prime parking spot when they return from breakfast. At first glace, the cone looks like the band members are lazy or simply don't want to walk further to the church. In fact, an anonymous person wrote the word "LAZY" not once - but twice on the cone. I don't know who wrote it - and I hope I never find out. I'm not a big fan of poker playing Christians who like to do things anonymously whether it's a back-handed joke or just crank turning. The only place anonymity has in Christianity is when you are praying/worshipping, giving, or serving - all perfect places for a cloak.

They aren't LAZY - trust me. These folks come every Thursday for 2-3 hours. They practice music at home. They show up every Sunday at 7AM to setup gear and don't leave until after 12:30PM. Let me ask you - is that a lazy group to you? No. OK, so you might think they are lazy for parking in the front. I wonder if the person who wrote LAZY is giving as much unpaid volunteer time. Enough of my poison-pen-cone-scribing friend. I forgive you - publicly.

Allow me to explain the #1 reason they NEED to park close to the church. They simply don't want to be late to the 2nd hour of worship. I don't want them to be late either ... I need them to lead worship with me. So they park close to the church so they can pile out and be ready to roll.

Folks, I want this musician breakfast vehicle parking close to the church!

However, I can completely see how parking right in the front makes the rest of the TBC worshippers and our guests feel. In fact, if you were looking for a good parking spot, saw a bunch of people get out of a vehicle to move a cone and park there - then you yourself have to hike two blocks to the church in subzero weather ... and as you enter the auditorium, you see the same group of people lead you in worship ... well, I might be a little miffed to - if I didn't understand the "why" behind the cone.

So here's what we are going to do...all musicians who use the 1 or 2 cones for breakfast parking will park right next to the church in the back West Mulvane parking lot (right outside the backstage back door). This will get them to breakfast quicker and back quicker - and allow the MORE IMPORTANT thing to happen ... RELATIONSHIPS.

Listen, at the end of our life on your deathbed - where you park isn't going to make any difference, but the relationships with the people around your deathbed will.

By the way, I'm finished with my library parking lot commitment for 2008. I have to admit - it wasn't just bitter cold some mornings...my spirit was slightly bitter when I made the walk up to the church and back to the car in the cold. I'm not going to be lazy and park right up at the church so my car takes up 3 parking spots all morning.

Lord, help us focus on things that really matter to You. I'm talking about the big things. Not what we wear, eat, drink, or where we park - but where our heart is with You.

Oh Lord, move my butt

Matt 7:26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand."






Lord, I don't want to simply hear Your words. I want to act on them. But if I'm honest, many times I'm not even listening to Your words.

Here's what I need to do...

1. Read the Bible to listen to Your words
2. Determine what action You'd like me to take
3. Act on it
4. Look back to evaluate what action I've taken and how it matches up with Your word
5. Don't be satisfied with taking one action, repeat #1-4

Thank you for being patient with me while so many times I hear, but don't budge. I don't want You to have to move my butt for me. I want to do it because I love You and want to follow You with every move I make.

Why do people insult you?

In the US, there's not a lot we are insulted or persecuted for. We are a pretty tolerant nation these days — one where it's culturally wrong to insult or discriminate. One might argue that we are too tolerant.

Regardless, we've all been insulted at different times in our life. Maybe it was our mullet, rolled jeans, or comb in the back pocket in the 80s. Or maybe because we like music that isn't popular. When it gets really bad, some call it "persecution." The larger question for me is WHY have I been insulted.

The Bible says God desires to bless those who are insulted and persecuted because of Him (Matthew 5:11). I may be insulted, but if it's because of a decision/action that I made on my own — it doesn't count. If I'm insulted/persecuted just 'because' — it doesn't count. But if I'm insulted by someone because I've lived my life in light of how Christ would live — then I believe I'll be blessed.

The question is — the next time I'm insulted, am I being insulted because of my association with Christ? Or something else? Am I ever insulted at all for Christ for anything? If not, am I playing my life too safe and wasting away opportunities God is bringing me?

Why do people insult you these days?

Topeka's Hottest Pickle - seriously

You can eat one HOT pickle at Porubsky's in Topeka, KS