Smaller to Get Bigger 2

Matthew 20:26 is Jesus words to his disciples who are fighting for status in the Kingdom of God, "Whoever wants to become great must be a servant" (The Message). God's method is that to earn the right to rule you must serve others.

How shocked these learners had to have been when he demonstrated this leadership principle by wrapping a towel around his waist and, kneeling before them, washed their feet (John 13:13-17). Because this action was below the slave level, Peter brashly declared, "You will never wash my feet." Unfazed, Jesus replied, "Unless I wash you, you have no part of me" (John 13:8).

We encounter God in dramatic ways at the place of service. One author put it this way, "We meet God as a foot washer or we do not meet him at all!" The towel becomes the trophy that distinguishes between those who know from those who claim to know God.

The only way He gets "bigger" through me is if I get "smaller." He increases when I decrease.

Ride the divine teeter-totter.

Sunday Night Dinner

I had a "second mom." Her name was Rita. She and I became friends when I was a youth pastor here in Utah. She died 7 years ago at age 62. I remember the moment I got the call to tell me she died. I was sitting outside of the Top Foods Starbucks having coffee with Ken Pratt. It is one of those moments you never forget where you were and what you were doing.

Her family are still friends of mine and they live here in Salt Lake City. Tonight I had dinner with them and it brought back a lot of memories.

Appreciate your loved ones and live this week.

Smaller to Get Bigger

The main reason our faith community utilizes Small Group Life is a philosophy we adopted during years of numerical expansion: we must get smaller to get bigger. For any church to be the church (a community of Christ followers) it has to touch individual lives. Most churches, including ECC, have Sunday morning gatherings that are corporate in nature. There is interaction among people, yet the major thrust is corporate, not personal attention to each person. How do we have churches that have thousands in attendance on a weekend and still be effective in meeting needs of individuals? By way of small groups. A small group of people that can dialogue and interact with each other to get questions answered, receive support and challenge, and pursue a common purpose.

The concept of "smaller to get bigger" is also true for each of us individually as Christians. "We have to realize," says J.I. Packer, "is that we grow up into Christ by growing down into lowliness (humility, from the Latin word humilis, meaning low). Christians, we might say, grow greater by getting smaller." To master the spiritual life we must advance toward insignificance of self so we can be ultimately significant.

To realize that we are not indispensable is a great move toward significance. For we can do nothing of significance apart from Jesus (John 15:5).

Sunday Review

What a dynamic and fulfilling day. Our morning gatherings were really satisfying. I am still amazed that I get lead ECC. Then we had a small group meeting tonight that was as strong as ever. I drove away feeling changed.

This morning I took some time to interview the speaker Joni brought in for our Woman's Conference, Robia LaMorte. She has quite the story. You can hear it on her website by clicking on her name. Thanks Robia for leaving a distinct footprint on ECC.

Your choice - make it a great week.

Activity Center

We received our occupancy permit yesterday for our new Activity Center. This morning our school, Evergreen Christian School, had an opening ceremony. It was very well attended with all the students and many, many parents.

For those that have been around our campus for decades, this is the fulfillment of a 30 year vision. I am so honored to be part of the dream that has become reality.

Are you dreaming? I pray all your dreams become reality.

Full Speed Ahead.

This Sunday

I am looking forward to another great Sunday as we continue our Larger than Life series. I have received a lot of positive feedback with respect to not only individual messages in the series, but also how we have approached the topic of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

My last installment will be this Sunday and Andrew will conclude it on March 29. I am speaking on a few passages this Sunday. Acts 1:8 will be my lead in to Mark 14:66-71 and John 18:12-17, ending with Acts 4:1-11.

I am looking forward to seeing you.

Tournament Bracket

A few that have seen my bracket have disagreed with my choices, but I am going to be confident and bold. So here are my final four:

Pittsburgh vs. Syracuse
West Virginia vs. Connecticut

Title Game: Connecticut vs. Syracuse

Champion: Connecticut

If you need a place to say "I told you so," please post a comment.

Rick Warren

Rick Warren conducted a live webcast for pastors today.

He left me with some impressions. He is seeing the economic downturn as an incredibly positive time for the church. He pointed out that during any recession there are at least three businesses that grow: Churches, Bars and Cinemas. As churches, we need to make sure we are aware of the potential harvest during this time.

Another impression is his sustained energy and passion. Having known "success" like he has, it would be easy to rest on accomplishment (large church, vast influence, financial security) yet he is as forward focused as ever. What an encouragement and challenge for me.

His last point of encouragement was that we always need to take in more than we give out. The moment we give out more than take in we will find ourselves stressed out and headed toward burn out and discouragement and depression. Huge reminder for me!

Get input so you can invest in others. Stay positive. Finish strong.

700 Club

It was really something special to be featured on the 700 Club for our Community Care department. Daryl and Linda Kallberg have an unending passion to help those in need. It is because of that passion that the show decided to feature us. Daryl did a wonderful job of representing us all. Thanks Daryl and Linda!

If you missed it, you can go to the website where we have a link to the feature.

Church of the Week

Subject to change, ECC is scheduled to be featured as "Church of the Week" tomorrow on The 700 Club. The show starts at 9 am PST. Since it is a live show and we are a three minute segment, I realize we could get bumped, but we are on the docket nonetheless.

It will air throughout the day. The 9 am show is on KONG TV channel 6, and at 9:30 am on ABC Family.

Make it a great week. Be led by the Spirit.

Courtside Kindness

What an awesome experience to see an NBA game from a chair on the court. If I stretched out my legs, I could touch the court. They have people that take your order and bring you your food and drinks. It may be tough for me to watch a game any other way! It was a really good contest. The Portland Trailblazers were behind the entire game until about 4 minutes left. Blazers 109 - Nets 100.

During the game, Keyon Dooling, a player for the New Jersey Nets, was about to inbound the ball right in front of us. As I was taking the picture with my phone, he noticed and took moment to strike a pose. He didn't have to do that. I thought it was really nice of him.

Joni and I commented later how we both really liked him and kind of rooted for him because of his momentary kindness.

It wouldn't take much to win someone over today. Just be kind by doing the unexpected! (Galatians 5:22)

By the way, if you should happen to score court side seats, make sure your camera battery is charged. Grrrr.

Blazers Game

On Wednesday I picked up some Portland Trailblazer tickets for tonight from some friends that could not go because of scheduling. I thought it would be a great date night with Joni.

Looking at the tickets - they are court side. I mean ON THE COURT. Never been that close. They are opposite the team benches, so if you happen to watch the game, check us out!

Make it a great day.

Learner

Leaders are learners.

Any detailed list of leadership characteristics will include being a learner - versus being learn-ed, someone who comes off as having arrived and doesn't need to learn anything more.

I had my morning coffee with Ron Kuest today and, as usual, our conversation was energizing. He showed me a quote that has to do with this very idea:

"In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists." (Eric Hofer, self taught social philosopher)

The moment you stop learning, you stop growing; the moment you stop growing, you stop living. The moment you stop living, you start dying. And too often, it is a slow death. I think it was Mark Twain who once said of someone, "He died at 30, we buried him at 60."

Leaders are always learning.

Rather than spouting off, ask a good question.

Finally

I have ended my "rebellion" against culture. I joined Facebook.

I thought I could join covertly. I wanted to check out who had joined Facebook so I created an account with no pictures and hardly a profile. I have since learned, you don't join covertly. Without doing anything else, I had 42 friend requests.

I am probably the last of you to join, but I am now in. Be my friend.

I think Twitter may be next for me.

Daylight Savings Time

If you happen to read this on Saturday night, remember to set you clock an hour ahead tonight. You don't want to be an hour late for church tomorrow.

If you want a brief history of DST (dating back to 1918) check it out here: DST.

Highlight of the Week

I had a unique experience on Wednesday. Not only did I have the distinct honor of offering the opening prayer for the state's Senate session, but, DJ was on flag duty as a page that day so he stood just feet from me at the front of the chamber.

Here is the link to see a clip of my highlight: Wednesday Senate session, 9am.

I have had the honor of meeting the Lieutenant Governor, Brad Owen, on a few other occasions. He has a daughter and son-in-law in Youth with a Mission (YWAM) that I have had contact with. In asking him about them before the session began, he informed me that his son-in-law Peter has cancer. If you think of it, please pray for him. I know the Lieutenant Governor and his family would appreciate it.

Question Follow-Up

Last Wednesday, the 25th of Feb., I asked what the most decisive factor was in the most profound spiritual growth of your life. Thanks to those that responded.

In a national type survey I heard quoted, they found the most common response to be - what some of you stated - pain, trouble, struggle. This makes a lot of sense because ease never produces strength. 1 Peter 1:6-9 speaks to the power of an embraced trial. James 1:2-3 states, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds...the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

To consider it "pure joy" when you face a trial indicates your insanity or your insight. For us, it is our insight that those trials are producing things that could not be produced any other way. I think to my own cancer trial 3 years ago. That trial and struggle of my life gave me a depth of character I would not have otherwise. The reason a young child is immature (as they should be) is because life has not formed them and shaped their complete personality.

Allow the very struggles of today, of this season of your life, to form Christ in your personality.

New Web Site

ECC launched version 2.0 of our website today. Check it out. I love the new look. We are still making some additions, but we wanted to go live with what we have.

Sunday at McCleary

Since we had Andrew teaching this past Sunday, it gave me a chance to head out to our McCleary campus, play guitar on the worship team and connect with them. I enjoy the opportunity to see all that goes on at our campuses that I can't on a "normal" Sunday when I am speaking.

Thank you to those at McCleary that make me feel so welcome! I loved being there.

And Andrew did a stellar job continuing our teaching on the Spirit charged life. FYI: even though I may not speak on a Sunday, when I am there, it is not a day "off." I can see how people would think that, but my job is more dimensional than speaking on a Sunday. It entails the responsibility of the spiritual care and welfare of a specific group of people (ECC), the city we are in, and any other place God may extend our influence. Speaking is an element of my job, but I can give you plenty of examples of churches that have great teachers, yet that has not been translated into a thriving Christian community. My prayer is that we will thrive where God has placed us! (I will be teaching this Sunday)

Make it a great week.