Day 4 - Alive and Well

Bob Russell was the guest this morning and he did a fantastic job of encouraging us. He pointed out the amazing amount of people who are drawn to the independant churches on a weekly basis. It was awesome to think that 20 years ago the Restoration Movement was basically dead and no one had any answers. Church planting wasn't a blip on the radar screen and for all intents and purposes there wasn't a whole lot of hope. Yet, look how far we have come.

This whole week was overall very encouraging to me and I think I got some serious business taken care of with God and I'm so glad that I came. This wasn't exactly what I was hoping for but I suppose it was what I needed. God has really developed the vision he has been giving me for quite a while. I don't know if I fully comprehend it yet, but this vision is beginning to get legs and is becoming feesable.

I had an awesome couple of walks today. I ventured out into KC, had a cajun chicken sandwich and boy was it cajun. The temperature today was amazing, a couple of times I was sure that I was going to melt. I kind of enjoy the heat here though, it is a dry heat. Oregon can prove to be a little humid when the temperature climbs.

I look forward to seeing my family again tomorrow. I really have missed them and it will be soooo nice to see them. My flight gets into Portland around 9pm. I get to stop in New Mexico on my way home, another state to stop in on this trip. Heading home.

aaron

Day 3 - Church Planting

I have always had the utmost respect for church planters. You can't argue with statistics, church planting is the best evangelistic tool that the church has. So, how do we in Cottage Grove, OR tap into that. First of all I think we need to develop an attitude of church planting. It may not be exactly feesable to plant a new church in Cottage Grove (though I could argue that it needs one) but we could be supporting, or saving up to support a church plant in the local area. Another way we can help is by raising up a church planter. We can hire on staff an associate minister who will be sent out to plant a church in the future. We can be the place he prepares and is inspired. Those are some very legitament ways we can be a church planting church. Those may not be ideas we can put into practice next month, or next year, but I do believe we sshould have an attitude of outreach in the area of church planting.

The mentorship breakfasts for me, have been truly disappointing. I do enjoy the free breakfast and sharing the vision and awesome things happening at Sixth and Gibbs, but there was very little time, or ability to truly be mentored. I sat around a table with a mentor and six other pastor's. Unfortunately, no one got to be very specific and ideas that guys were throwing my direction just don't work for the situation the church is in. It is not their fault, we just really don't have the time for me to sit and explain the West Coast mentality and what our city is truly like. Let's face it, things are different everywhere, what works in one place may or may not work in another.

Individually it has been a struggle, I miss my family and though there are some people here that I know and love, there is no one here from my peer group. I have been kind of loner the last couple of days which by the way, has provided for some quiet times with God and lots of reading to catch up on too.

I worked out a free lunch, breakfast and bought a quick dinner at the conference. I have failed to experience the culture here in KC, I promise to do better the next couple of days. Peace

ae

Day 2 - Hearing From God

I must admit, I was totally set up by God for this one. A couple of awesome things have been going on. Last weekend in my sermon I spoke of a gal in our church who said she knew without a doubt what God wanted her to do. On my flight from Oakland to KC I listened to book I have on my Ipod called "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell. In the 3rd chapter I believe, Rob digs deep into the idea that God is still at work in his miraculous ways, and we today are an extention of this church discussed in Acts. Last night during the main session, the speaker spoke along those exact terms, calling us today the Acts 29 church. (The book of Acts concludes in Chapter 28, meaning God's story continues.)

This is a very deep thought for me. If I truly believe God's word to be living, breathing, then God's story is not done yet. His word lives and moves within my life and within the life of the church. Truthfully then, God is speaking and moving and I have done an excellent job of making myself too busy and playing off the word of God. I believe God has to work hard to get my attention and many times I have taken credit for his direction and his leading.

Almost eerie was our elective class teacher. Speaking yet again on the power of the Holy Spirit in sermon directing. He challenged us today to listen to God, be subjective and that when we truly are tuned into God, our response should be in humility. Often when I think of God speaking to me, I picture the obnoxious televangelist, using the "word" from God to push his agenda, ask for more support, and apply a thick layer of guilt.

I have not heard the direct audible voice of God, but God still speaks to me through my thoughts. I know this simply because his words are not ideas of mine own, but wake up calls or words of encouragement to direct me. I have often passed those off, or taken credit for them myself but today I was challenged, to listen, to take time to be quiet and to apply these things to my life directly.

I have had a couple more interesting thoughts, of which have been mine not specifically from God. I have noticed how sterile this enviroment is. Yeah, I think sterile is a good word for it. It's a little wierd, but I have spent my free time mostly talking to street vendors and people along the road. The rain poured down this afternoon, I mean poured!!! I made it just before it got nasty into one of the vendor's tents. I guy who just wanted to paint my picture for $5. As we were trying to save some of his art work from being destroyed by the elements we had a great conversation. After the storm let up, I hit the ATM and brought him back $10 for a tent fee. He really wanted to draw my picture, but truthfully, I don't want a picture of me.

This whole conference is so sterile, I needed that rough conversation, that rough challenge to truly minister to someone. I love that, I need that. There has been an interesting debate going on in our family, my wife thinks, and she is probably right, that certain personality types are energized by being around there same personality. Extraverts are energized by being around people and introverts by being by themselves. It has been interesting how energized I have felt by being around people who need Jesus. I need that.

No BBQ yet, with the rain I have yet to chance it. Friday I either need to hit a Royals game, or spend some time in a sports bar with tons of memorabilia that I spotted on the way into KC. But the street vendor brauts have been great.

ae

Day 1 - The Conference Begins

Well, I am here in KC, sitting at our hotel at the Radisson, and things here have been awesome. The conference itself actually begins in about 6 hours or so, but we took some time to take a look at many of the boothes and tables. The thing that really blows me away, are the amount of ministries ideas, plans and well, just plain ministries. Lots of quality, needy well meaning ministries. Lots and lots of ministry ideas and tools, many colleges and tons of resources. The difficult thing I am having is trying to determine what it is that will benefit the church and ministries back in the Grove.

I have also ran into many many familiar faces and people. Boise Bible College has a presence this year at the conference and they are doing a big dinner gathering on Wed. forllowing the conference. I ran into an old friend of mine in ministry and I have just really gotten a kick out of the things going on.

I plan on taking a dip in the swimming pool before the conference time tonight and of course, I'm in Missouri and will be looking for some real life good BBQ. I will keep you posted on my trek for the eats. I am really looking forward to seeing Jim Putman too, he is the main speaker on Wed. I believe.

One more thing. I plan on taking some time to visit the youth portion of the conference, things will be awesome!

Aaron

Kansas City
Here I Come

I am off, to KC, to the North American Christian Convention. I do believe that I will be having an awesome and an excellent time. Goodness, as of right now, I have had enough time to actually blog, now that is crazy. I have lay over in Oakland, then I will be in KC around midnight Central time.

I am really looking forward to a couple of things. First of all there is a mentorship breakfast, where a seasoned minister will meet with us "unseasoned" ministers. I am also really looking forward to viewing all of the booths and getting some exciting ministry ideas. The list of main speakers is awesome to see and I am sure I will be learning lots of tons of stuff. I will do my best to keep all of you posted on my experience.

aaron

I Hate Allergies

One thing that really drives me crazy, sanity and all, is allergies! My head feels like it is imploding and the pressure release valve is all plugged up. Claritin works most of the time but this is sooooooooooooooooo frustrating.

Sometimes I think that if I could just set up a shop vac to my sinus cavity that I could clear the whole thing out. What a thought. I leave you with that.

ae

Man, I need a Tent

I never caught this, in all of the times I have read through Exodus I never saw this. In fact, it had to be pointed out to me. Moses had this tent, a tent that was made available to all of the people, but it seems he was the only one to use it. A tent that was far away from rest of the group. A tent reserved for one on one contact with God. Exodus 33 introduces us to this "tent of meeting," that Moses would go out to, to encounter God. When he went everyone knew where he was going. It really seemed like he went when things were the craziest too, right after the golden calf incident. I'm sure he had a lot of issues going on but that tent was a priority.

Where is my tent? Where is my place, my time to escape? It is no one's fault but my own, I need a tent. Maybe not one with stakes and poles but a tent nevertheless. I would hope that if one really has a tent, a time with just you and God, that life gains a little more perspective.

Yet, even with his tent, Moses still failed to set foot in the Promise Land. He was still human. Imagine what his life may have been like without his tent. He had a lot of responsibility. Man, I need a tent.

ae

One of the things that has struck me lately, is this idea of God being everywhere. Not only his ability to be everywhere, but his ability to celebrate my victories with me and weep and mourn with those dealing with heartache and heart break. As much as he is with me, he is also with you. This is such a concept to ponder but this also reminds me of how powerful God is.

I don't have a lot of time to ponder this idea. God obviously lives outside of our time and space, common, he created it right. In the midst of this deep ponderful idea I am over whelmed and comforted by a God who is fully in control.

Outreach Comedy Presents

July 15 @ 7pm

BBQ @ 5:30pm

What an awesome opportunity coming July 15th for our church here in Cottage Grove. Dana Daniels, a christian comedian will be here to perform, encourage and make us all laugh.

We will be doing a BBQ here at the church immediately before the show. Then we will converge on the High School and enjoy Dana. This is a great and non-confrontational way to invite your friends and family who may be skeptical of the church. This will be just an enjoyable night of fun. We hope everyone brings their friends.

Tickets are $3 and can be purchased through the church.

See you there.

Because we were never meant to be alone.

The Christ in Youth Conference is coming. To read more about the conference, go check out www.ciy.com and click on the Summer Conference section. There is a special section for students this year on the sight, with lots of fun stuff.

Check it.

Aaron

The Riverside Cleanup

The cleanup I think went very well. There were about 110 or so people registered and cleaning up around Cottage Grove. We were done with all of the river cleanups only 1 hour into the deal, and so, we went out throughout all of Cottage Grove and went cleaning up everywhere. The most disgusting place was probably behind the skate park and by the park by Safeway.

There was about 8 or 9 people from our church and I was encouraged to be working along side those from our church. We also spent some time at a BBQ at the park and we had a chance to fellowship not only with others from the church community, but also those from the city community. It was a great step in letting our city know that we as a church truly care about them.

I do hope this is only the beginning, and that we have a great opportunity to reach out to our city! What an opportunity to show Jesus. To show we care. I know I will be praying for more and more opportunities like the one we had this weekend.

The Discipline of Blogkind

I have to be honest, I am not a very good blogger. This stuff takes discipline, time and real effort. My hats off to all my fellow bloggers, who really can't even call me a blogger. An absentee blogger maybe.

I must say, I have really been encouraged by some awesome things happening here in the metropolis of Cottage Grove. I have been meetin with the local ministerial association, a group of us ministers from around Cottage Grove, and we have been putting together a plan to change the attitudes about church in our community. We are looking to bring an attitude of blessing to the city. On the National Day of Prayer, we gathered about 50 of us or so, from many of the local churches to pray for our city and city leaders. I do not envy the decisions and rulings they make and they can use our prayer. We also prayed for those within the Fire and Law Enforcement Departments. It was a great day.

This Saturday is the day I am REALLY looking forward to. Cottage Grove is participating in the state wide "Riverside" cleanup and our church and other churches in the Grove are going to help. This is an awesome opportunity to show love to the city of CG and to help bueautify the most beautiful city in the world.

I will let you know how it goes, if I am ever back on the blogger again.

I spent some deep and awesome time with my wife last weekend at the Family Life Marriage Conference. Honestly, this is the first conference that I have been a part of that didn't make me feel like a schmuck. I was encourage, I was driven to try to be a better husband, a better father and ultimately a better believer. I had one of those "duh" moments that I really would like to share with you.

Here it is, the "duh" moment. I sat in the session specifically for men, and as the speaker spoke he reminded me of the importance of being a Chrsitian first and then God will be the one to help me be a better Husband, Father and person. Yeah, that's it. If I want to have a better relationship with my wife, I need to work on my relationship with Christ first and then he will show me how to be a better man. Same with my children. Same with work, entertainment, everyting! See, I always try to do it on my own. To force myself into being the right person and as I look back in my life I see that those times that I am doing stuff the way it should be done, it was because I wanted to. God planted those desires to be a godly man. See what I mean, a "duh" moment.

You see, Marriage itself is a complete God thing. He is the one who started it, defined it, gave it its perameters and ordained it. Without God, it has difficulty succeeding. With God, marriage is about making my wife happy by being the man God wants me to be. Without God, marriage is about making me happy by satisfying my desires in hope that those fit in with my wife's desires. Now, because I'm human this doesn't always work perfectly but my goals are the same, focused and fresh on being who God wants me to be, thanking him for grace and a graceful wife.

Spend some time today, focused on figuring out who God wants you to be and how that impacts every part of your life. God can help you with that. Give it to him, "duh."

Choices

So far this past month we as a church have been going through the book of Genesis, looking the foundation of our earth, our religion and the scriptures. We have entitled our series, "New Beginnings." Not because this study is "new" or its thoughts are "new," simply because God gives us new beginnings everyday in our lives and we seek to live like he desires us to. In tern, we should desire to be a people with our hearts and thoughts in the right place. Ultimately, we are all on a journey in our lives to be the people that God has called us to be. This journey implies that we wake up everyday prepared to travel, prepared to move, prepared to live every part of our life in the right way.

It has been quite the turning point in my life when I realized that I'm on a journey, in every part of my life. When I arrive, a new journey is set before, just as the world around us is constantly in a state of change, our lives are not the same today as they were 5 years ago, nor will anything be the same 5 years from now. If we want to be God's holy people, the journey starts today, and continues tomorrow. As we follow this path, change is inevitable and each day, each step gets us closer to our goal, or further away from it based upon how we choose to live.

I over heard Bill Long, the CEO of Winco, talking to one of his managers. He made this simple analysis of his company, "If we aren't growing, we are dying." That thought has stuck with me throughout time. The truth in that simple phrase is eye opening and devastating. Ultimately if we are just seeking to maintain something, it will eventually die. Sadly, that is the way many of us treat our relationship with God. If I just do the basic duties, tenants of my faith, I will be okay. Yet, time and time again I have seen so many people become comfortable in their faith, lose interest and fall.

How do we avoid this fate? Well, I think it is simple. Each day we just need to recognize it. The first steps to the recovery of any addict is recognizing the issue. Each day, when we wake up, we must recognize that we are continuing on a journey to be the people God wants us to be. A few thousand years ago (or so), God called Noah to build an Ark. He gave him the dimensions, supplied the wood and gave him a year to complete the project. I have to think, the idea of an Ark was quite the nonsense. Really an Ark makes no sense, no rain has ever been seen, and in the lives of these people, thousands of years, their has never been a flood that would necessitate such a huge boat, if they had ever seen a flood or a boat for that matter.

Noah had to get up every morning and make a decision to work on this Ark. He pulled himself out of bed, strapped on his boots, and made a decision to continue his work. In the same way, we are choosing to live our lives completely different from the way this world does. We wake every morning and have to choose our Holiness. The decisions we make are counter culture to the world around us. We are as different as Noah was to the world around him. Are you prepared to wake every morning and choose Holiness?

Adventures in Ministry

I was blessed this week to speak at a youth revival in Idaho. It was an exciting time for all of us as we dug into the Spiritual "Battle." We looked at the Battle for Holiness, the Battle Within Ourselves and we focused on How God Doesn't Fight Fair. This is literally the core of Battle, Jesus says in John 14, "Take heart, I have overcome the world." You see, he's already won! The battles we face, have nothing to do with the outcome of the war. It's over, it ended on the cross on Calvary. So, this battle is not about winning, it's about "becoming all that God has called me to be." (Phil. 4:12b)

Wow! If you really stop and think about it, that should make us even desire to battle more diligently. The thought of already being labeled victors should drive us to be more like Christ, our King. The idea that we are going to win should cause us to stand with confidence, the armor of God in hand, prepared to accept any challenge.

How incredibly awesome!

ae

Boise State ranked #5

I know I sure am curious to see what the outcome would have been in a Florida vs Boise game but I guess we will all just have to wonder.

Check out Dan Wetzel column on Yahoo. . . .

It is always a touchy subject. People squirm and eyes bug out every time name Jesus Christ is mentioned. Truthfully when you talk to someone about Jesus you never know what you are going to get. Some people have say he was an alien, others say he was a man, some say he was enlightened, some say he was a prophet and others of course say he is God. So, what are we to say, who side do you stand on? What Jesus God, or merely man? Was he from Mars or born of virgin? Does it even matter?

Well, the truth is, it does matter. It matters more than you know. Really, by saying who Jesus is, points and directs us to his motive. What was his purpose for being here? Let me give you an example. Lets say Jesus came from Jupiter, an extra terestrial from another planet. He arrived on the scene for the purpose of what? Pointlessness. He lied and decieved us and he is by no means a person worthy of following. All this talk about going to the Father and preparing a place for us. All this talk about saving the world. All this talk about being the Way Truth and Life means nothing if Jesus is an alien.

Had Jesus just been a man, we are left with some serious issues to discuss. For instance we have to deal with the fact that Jesus outright claimed to be God. He not only claimed it, but did nothing to stop others from saying it. In John 4 Jesus is chillin out with a gal at a well. He dives into her life and shares with her truths about God. She says to Jesus that when the Messiah comes he is going to clear this all up and Jesus reply to her, "I who speak to you am he."

Well, if Jesus were human, he must have also been a little delusional. Not only delusional, but a little suicidal as well. When confronted with this same question facing death, he also continued to back his claims as God. (Mark 14:61-62) Not only that, but the Jewish leaders of that day wanted him to be killed, why, for blsphemy, for claiming to be God. If Jesus was a man he was delusional, decietful and suicidal. He doesn't sound like a great prophet, or a great man to me at all. Unless of course, he was GOD!

John explains this quite clearly in John 1. Jesus was with God, he was God and he became flesh. In the book of Philippians Paul describes Jesus as having the very same nature of God and being equal with him and leaving his Godliness to take the form of a human. Jesus is God.

It is also important that Jesus is God simply because he is the only worthy sacrafice. Let me repeat that again. If Jesus was not God than his death on the cross was basically meaningless. Nothing more than a martyr. Jesus death was far more than that. He took on the sins of the world, a perfect sacrafice. The sacrafice of God. That is why Jesus says "I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me." As God he was an worthy sacrafice. As man, he was just another crazy hung on a tree.

Some would say that I am exclusive and closed minded. No, God is exclusive and closed minded. It's his world, he could have saved us however he wanted to but he didn't. He sent Jesus part of the us from Genesis 1:26 to earth to live with us as an example, to show love and grace and to die for our sins. So that God would be glorified. He could have changed up all of history, taken back all the promises made and prophecies that spoke of who this Messiah had to be. No, God was very clear about who the Messiah would be, it would be God. Immanuel, "GOD WITH US." Not, some guy, or an alien from Pluto. Jesus had to be God.

ae

Fall From Grace?

It has been a challenge for me to understand the happenings this last week with Pastor Haggard from New Life Christian Church in Colorado. Read about the story here. It is sad and disappointing on so many levels. His prominence makes this story that much more devastating but the truth is, he is not alone. Every year I hear of another pastor I know personally, who is caught in his sin his secret life exposed, a family devasted, a church blindsided. What have we learned? What can we learn?

The first thing we can learn, is that pastors are people too. They are still tempted, they still have good days and bad ones. They struggle just like anyone else. By no means is that an excuse yet we should not be surprised, sin is sin. Pastors are tempted and have just as much opportunity to sin as anyone. The position they hold does require the church handle it properly. As we see in 1 Timothy 3, the leadership of a church is held to a much higher standard and must be held accountable for and removed from their position. A sinful pastor is no longer "above reproach," and the church needs leadership they can trust. Pastors must be ministered to in these circumstances but must be removed from their leadership roles.

The next thing we need to learn, if you are in ministry and in sin. GET OUT! If the reports are true, Haggard has had an ongoing relationship with another man for three years. That is a long time. There are a lot of people that are or will be hurt by this sin. It would have saved himself and his church a lot of heartache and humiliation had he been honest with his struggles years ago. He lived a lie, denyed accountability and lived in sin. If you are in ministry, don't lie to yourself, your sin will harm your church and the longterm effects can devastate. Get out of ministry now!

I also think about Pastor Haggad's lack of accountability. Not that he didn't have others around him that he could talk to, he may have. Yet in the midst of it all, he chose not to be held accountable. We all need someone we can trust, someone we can share those deep dard secrets with. Some one who can hold our feet to the fire and cares enough to love us as when we need it most. Few people and even fewer pastor's have someone like this, but we all need it, and we should all be seeking it.

The next few months and years are going to be hard for Haggard's church and family. Sin like this is devastating. Gay activists are calling Haggard to "come out of the closet." Ministries across the country are asking, "why?" Pastors a like are devasted and heart broken to see another one fall to temptation. Another battle lost. We should all be praying, not only for Haggard and his church, but for the leadership of our church's and churches across America.

A Relevant Gospel

There is always a lot of talk about the Holy Spirit. Infact the subject has often divided church's and separated denominations. The debate rages on about the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit as well. I am not here today to debate either of these issues but to bring perspective on the work of the Holy Spirit in our every day lives to reach the world around us.

The day of Pentecost was an exciting day. Thousands upon thousands of people gathered for this Jewish holiday, from nation upon nation. In Acts chapters 1&2 we see the disciples waiting just as Jesus had told them to. Then swoooosh, the Holy Spirit ascended upon them and they began to speak in many of the languages of the people around them. Everyone heard they way God wanted them to hear. Not only were the words spoken in their language, but the Holy Spirit also presented the Gospel through the apostles that struck a chord with the culture that surrounded them. Peter spoke a sermon that pierced their hearts, another work of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes I wonder if the church in general has lost touch with the culture around us, and maybe we are failing to listen to the Holy Spirit in this manner. I have tried hard many times to consider what it is that the church needs to do to reach those around us, maybe were just not speaking thier language?

Rob Bell, a prominent speaker and church leader has put together some very powerful videos, called Nooma videos. One of these videos speaks of our relationship with God like a symphony, with every part being in tune, playing the right notes to move us. A song the world does not understand. Yet for some reason, our song fails to even get their attention, or even spark their curiosity. No one wants to buy our CD.

I don't have all the answers. The truth is, I see a need for churches across America to make Jesus relevant. We must meet the culture where they are because they are not coming to us. The problem is, I'm not sure what that looks like. Is it music style? Is it programing? Is it outreach? Is it service projects? Is it outreach? Is it Sunday School? Is it 40 days of purpose? Is it food drives, potlucks, or Roundup Sunday's? Is it in the Men's ministry, the youth ministry, or the children's ministry? Is it in the church or outside of it's 4 walls? Truthfully I don't know. What I do know is that if we are not careful we could lose a generation.

Let us all call on the Holy Spirit, to show us how to reach our lost cities. Let's focus on ministry outside the box, let's make Jesus relevant. If not you than who?

Today, October 28th is my birthday. Birthday's are fun and enjoyable, infact let me tell you about my birthday this year. I got one pulled over on me. Can you believe it? My wife, for some time, has been planning a birthday surprise and sure enough, I was surprised. I pulled into the Pinnochios pizza and thought I recognized a few cars, then upon walking through the door I heard a loud SURPRISE! and that suprise was for me. It was the largest birthday party I have ever had, about 60 people showed up to party on my birthday. It was extremely special.

Tonight I will most likely be spending my birthday the way most men should, steak, football and pigs in a blanket. mmmmmmmmmmmmm.