Cori and I have been in Ft. Myers, FL this week, learning from Matt and Sara Keller at Next Level Church along with the Association of Related Churches. We are working through some next steps in our journey to planting a new church and we have gained so much from being here this week.
Mostly, I feel like I have been absorbing in an intangible element of this church in regards to their heart for hurting people and the creativity it takes to reach them. Cori and I are more engaged in this dream than we ever have been and we can't wait to share what we have been learning and experiencing down here!
Love you all!!
jeremiah
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
The smell of success!!!
The "iHeart Haiti" Dance raised over $4,000 for Haitian Orphanage!
Thank you to all of you who helped us raise funds for our little children in Haiti! The "iHeart Haiti" dance was a huge success and I am humbled to pastor such a passionate group of people who pour out their finances and energy for those who are less fortunate! Let's continue to build our reputation as the church that is always giving stuff away!!jeremiah
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Main Thing
A spiritual mentor of mine handed me a piece of paper at church a couple of weeks ago. The paper had only a short scripture reference written on it. It said John 2:24,25...
24 But Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew human nature.25 No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like.
Hmmm...that's a head scratcher.
Sounds a little paranoid or pessimistic at first, but here's the thing...It took root in my spirit and I just couldn't let it go. For two weeks, I have been going back to that verse, asking God to reveal more of what He was trying to say because I knew I just wasn't getting it.
A fellow church planter and I have been talking about how there is such an unspoken pressure to perform as you step into new vision. I've been feeling that thing crowd in on my relationship with God over the last two weeks, but it is so subtle because planting a church is a good thing.
But here's the deal. Church planting is a good thing, but it's not the main thing. My relationship with the one who called me to these good things is the main thing. Jesus was aware of man's tendency to get swept away with new vision, miracles and hype and He guarded his heart against that fleshly reflex again and again throughout His earthly ministry. I have been guilty of following that reflex, but grace has saved me yet again through the obedience of a good friend and I am recommitting myself to the main thing again.
Make sure your ministry flows out of a passionate relationship with the Savior and do not let your vision or ministry replace the main thing which is your relationship with Jesus. Otherwise, you could start believing the hype that surrounds you...and believe me, it ain't true!!
24 But Jesus didn't trust them, because he knew human nature.25 No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like.
Hmmm...that's a head scratcher.
Sounds a little paranoid or pessimistic at first, but here's the thing...It took root in my spirit and I just couldn't let it go. For two weeks, I have been going back to that verse, asking God to reveal more of what He was trying to say because I knew I just wasn't getting it.
A fellow church planter and I have been talking about how there is such an unspoken pressure to perform as you step into new vision. I've been feeling that thing crowd in on my relationship with God over the last two weeks, but it is so subtle because planting a church is a good thing.
But here's the deal. Church planting is a good thing, but it's not the main thing. My relationship with the one who called me to these good things is the main thing. Jesus was aware of man's tendency to get swept away with new vision, miracles and hype and He guarded his heart against that fleshly reflex again and again throughout His earthly ministry. I have been guilty of following that reflex, but grace has saved me yet again through the obedience of a good friend and I am recommitting myself to the main thing again.
Make sure your ministry flows out of a passionate relationship with the Savior and do not let your vision or ministry replace the main thing which is your relationship with Jesus. Otherwise, you could start believing the hype that surrounds you...and believe me, it ain't true!!
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