The Start of Something Big!

Hey all - keep the elders, me, and the church in special prayer this week and for the next few weeks. Dan and I have been conducting phone interviews this week with prospective "Grow Pastors". This is a new position that we will be filling very soon. This will be a part of the whole - "Seek-Grow-Serve-Love" system.

For those that may not know - Seek-Grow-Love-Serve is our new purpose statement. We feel strongly that it is our job to help every person we come in contact with to take one step closer in their walk with Jesus. I will be preaching for the next four weeks on this topic. So make sure you are there or catch it on our web site.

Anyway - we have interviewed nine and have the last three today. Our plan is to whittle this down to three or four and then have a second round of interviews. And man, I AM PUMPED! The candidates that we are talking with are outstanding. I MEAN AMAZINGLY OUTSTANDING. Our challenge will not be to pick a good one. It will be to pick the right one from among so many phenomenal choices.

Pray that God makes this clear. This is a huge turning point for our church.

At least somebody is making money!

I read Yahoo news every day (several times on some days). I watch the morning and evening news. Sometimes in my office I have Fox news in the background. I'm not sure this is a good thing but it does help keep me current. It also is infuriating sometimes - LIKE TODAY!

In the news today Exxon-Mobile's profits were posted for the 3rd quarter. Poor souls are struggling right now. Their profits for the last quarter were a mere 14.83 Billion Dollars. This is what that looks like - $14,830,000,000.00.

It is also noted that not only is this yet another record for the oil company - but a record for any US Company ever! The article shared how the profit was driven by the higher crude prices and the fact they were given a pass on much of the fine they were supposed to pay for the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

So lets all say a big hooray for these folks... They hit the mother load. And I'm so glad I could help every time I filled my tank. And I sure hope they don't suffer too much with the falling price of crude.

CAN SOMEBODY SAY THERE'S SOME GOUGING GOING ON!

OK - I have to stop now... my fingers are wanting me to type some bad words and I have to bandage my hand - I hurt it when I punched the screen on my computer!

UUUUGGGGGHHHHH!

Challenge Flag

Challenge Flag - Guest Blog from Brett Oliver

I love college football. For me a fall afternoon or evening tailgating with friends and family followed by cheering on the Wildcats is what a Saturday was made for.

I got to thinking about the challenge flag in football. You know, the flag a head coach can throw when he wants to challenge the call made on the field. The officials are still in charge of the game, but they aren't perfect and sometimes video replay shows a mistake. The officials recognize that part of the game and rules and allow the coaches to request this review (sometimes "requested" more aggressively and loudly than others!) and challenge their decision.

It got me thinking - who do I have that I allow to throw a challenge flag on me? Who in my life has permission to question a decision or behavior that might prove wrong or not Christ-like? Like the challenge flag, the opportunities for a brother or sister in Christ to challenge me need to be limited. We've all experienced the friend who tells us everything we're doing wrong and never encourages us - we turn a deaf ear to them - even if they sometimes speak the truth. We need those in our life that understand the balance between challenge / rebuke and encouragement.

the challenge flag reminds me that it needs to be done respectfully. The flag may be thrown toward the official in emotion. But the review process is orderly and respected. When we challenge someone is our response orderly and respectful? I need those in my life with the challenge flag and they need the permission to throw them on me.

I encourage each of you to allow those challenge flags to be thrown in your life.

Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."

We in the body of Christ need each other to keep us on track. Who in your life has the permission to throw the challenge flag? Be sure and let them know soon.

Brett Oliver

Just so you know - this is not me!

This was just too funny....

What a weekend!

Normally when I talk about the weekend I'm talking about what went on at Harmony Christian Church and I guess I am now in some fashion.

The weekend started on Friday night with a Volunteer Appreciation Banquet - wow - what a great time to celebrate with a bunch of folks that make HCC such a great place...

Then Saturday and Sunday 21 of us went on our first every men's golf trip. We went to Dale Hollow State Resort and had a ball. I can honestly say it was the most beautiful golf course I have ever seen. I can also say it kicked my butt! I did not know any one person could lose that many golf balls!

The highlight for me was hiking Sunday morning to a cave that Dave Parrish had found several years ago. We went up there before we played on Sunday and had church in the mouth of it with an incredible view of a ravine. It was breathtaking. Note to self -don't eat so many biscuits before hiking in the hills!

We're already talking about doing this again next year... I can't wait....

What I hate about E-mail.

OK - here's the promised 2nd part... please feel free to add your comments as well.... This is what I hate about E-Mail.

I hate Spam - uggghhhh!

I hate Forwards - (you know the one's you have to open three pages or more to get the message - guess what - after one page I just hit delete... and for some people - I hit delete immediately.

I hate it when people I don't even know take shots at me or the church via an e-mail with an address that does not let me know who they are.... I don't mind people's remarks (good or bad) - but they need to at least sign their name!

Did I mention I hate SPAM!

I hate it when people don't look at the distribution list and send me stuff that I already have because I was on the same list!

I hate to change my e-mail address... what a pain!

I hate it when others change their e-mail address... not quite as bad - but still a pain.

OK - let's hear your comments too.

What I love about E-Mail

This is going to be a two-part post. The first part is "What I love about E-Mail" - the next part will be "What I hate about E-mail". So here goes - and this is not an exhaustive list - but it would be great to hear your additions to the list....

I love how it as a very effective way of communication.

I love to get pics of new borns (even though they aren't as cute as my grand daugher)

I love to get sermon ideas.

I love to get pics of big fish and monster bucks (deer)

I love to not have to be on the phone with long winded people (at least some long winded people).

I love to send little notes to my wife and get them back too!

I love a good joke.

I love how it eliminates some meetings.

I love of how it can be used for evangelism and discipleship.

OK - add to the list!

40 resumes and counting!

Wow - some of you know this and for some it's news - but we are in the process of hiring a "grow pastor" (minister of discipleship). And boy am I excited about it. Right now we have 40 resumes and expect more to come in the next couple of days.

So here's the deal - PRAY! And PRAY SOME MORE!

We have received some unbelievable resumes and I mean that in a really good way. Now the hard work begins. Dan and I will whittle the list down to 10 (give or take) and then do a bunch of phone interviews. At that time we'll hopefully be able to narrow it down to 2 or 3. Then more interviews with more folks being involved. And then we will be able to issue an invitation for someone to join our staff.

It is exciting, challenging, and a bit overwhelming. But it is amazing to see the caliber of individuals God is bringing to us. But we don't want a good one - we want the best one - and that's the one God has picked out already.

So like I said, PRAY, and then PRAY SOME MORE!

What will we trust?

It's no secret that our economy is in a mess right now. With a 700 Billion dollar bail out, and the stock market riding a roller coaster of up and down swings. I checked into my retirement account the other day and found out I've lost over 35% of it.

And I've had a number of people tell me how worried they are. But should they be? I don't think so. Consider the following verses.

Did I set my heart on making big money or worship at the bank? Did I boast about my wealth, show off because I was well off? Was I ever so awed by the sun's brilliance and moved by the moon's beauty that I let myself be seduced by them and worship them on the sly? If so, I would have deserved the worst of punishments, for I would be betraying God Himself. (Job 31:24-28, Message)

Clearly we get it that worshiping the sun or moon is idolatry - but Job puts trusting in our bank accounts right there with it.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33, KJV)

The context of this passage is about worrying about what we will eat, what we will wear, and where we will live. And Jesus makes it clear - He's got us covered - no matter what happens on Wall Street!

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7, NIV)

Money is power in today's world, as much as horses and chariots were in David's day... so what are we trusting in?

Some times your heart just aches.

The picture I've posted is of Tim Schindler and his newly adopted daughter - as a matter of fact they are still in China getting her - if you want some interesting reading - check out his wife's blog - it's amazing as she chronicles their journey.

But that's not the prayer request. Actually I have a couple. We just got back from Chicago and while we were there we visited with my wife's parents who live a couple hours west of there. Their health is not good and every time we go we have the painful reminder that it could be our last visit with either one of them.

On top of that Melody's dearest friend had a heart attack a few weeks back and it doesn't look good. Her heart is only functioning about 20%. Her husband is not much better with his own health. They have two boys - one 16 and one 12. They have asked us to be their God Parents and take them as our own if something were to happen.

It is a HUGE responsibility to accept such a challenge and we are really praying about it. But as I have been reading Tim's blog - I feel a tug to step up on this request. But it's hard - very hard.

And I ache for the pain my wife is going through right now. Please keep her in your prayers - me too.

Heading to the Windy City

It seems like yesterday I was 18 years old and driving into Chicago for the first time. I was an incoming Freshman at Moody Bible Institute (MBI). A lot happened in my life there. I met some life long friends on the 3rd floor of Culbertson Hall. I gained an incredible love of learning. I got to experience some of the great culture and cuisine of Chicago. And I met the most wonderful young woman in the world. And while I can't really call her young any more - for 30 years she has been by my side.

Well tomorrow (Thursday) we are making the trip again. We're taking Jon to check out MBI. He's considering attending there too. We will get there early enough to check out some of the cuisine - Gino's here we come! And I might even catch a late night #1. A #1 is a hamburger, fries and shake from this place called "Mr G's". It's right down the street from Moody and the reason I went from 175 to 210 pounds in just two years. My mouth is watering right now.

Please keep us in prayer as we travel and pray with Jon about his college selection. This is a big deal. Also because I will be away from my computer for a few days, I will not be blogging. I will give an update when I get back.

Guilty by association

Guilty by association - just doesn't sound good does it. In our political process we hear about Obama's association with Bill Ayers, and we hear about McCain's past ties with the Charles Keating. And yes I think it matters. But what about our associations? Are we "guilty by association too"?

In the last two sermons I talked about how important our friends are. We asked the questions: Who are they? Who's are they? Where are they taking us? I have been guilty by association. I have hung around the wrong people at times. Listened to the wrong advice. Made the wrong choices - and many times it was because I was with the wrong people.

But I am glad to say I am "guilty by association" with a really great bunch of folks at Harmony. We are in the process of doing staff evaluations. And having looked at them initially I am just ecstatic. We are so blessed with a great staff. A REALLY GREAT STAFF!

And as we are taking resumes right now for yet another staff person it's easy to see that others want to be "guilty by association" with them too.

You and I are going to have associations - let's make sure that when we are "guilty by association" - that it's a good thing not a bad thing.

My friend David

Many of you know my friend David Parrish - he really is a great guy. When we moved to G-town waiting for our house to be finished he let us live in his double-wide trailer out at Parrish Lakes. And over the years he has helped me with a lot of things.

When I finished John's room in the basement he checked my wiring job to make sure I didn't burn down the house. He's helped me tons with my woodworking skills and loaned me some really nice tools from time to time. He's been a consistent golf coach over the last 11 years and seen my game improve dramatically. He's helped me over the years develop the golf league into a wonderful outreach. I've even got to fish with him once or twice at Victoria Estates (although his wife is a lot better than he is).

Over the years I have grown to love Dave and Gloria a lot. We have a kindred spirit. And while we don't go out as couples as much as I'd like we have always enjoyed our time together.

Well today Dave showed me something else. Something I'd only seen on TV - Today Dave got a hole-in-one on the 10th hole at Ducker's Lake. It was amazing and I was so glad I got to share that moment with him - and now with you.

But as exciting as that is... I have seen Dave and Gloria pour their lives into those of hurting people. You see Dave and Gloria met in a divorce recovery class, they fell in love and married. Now together they are taking what they have learned and sharing it with others.

David may have gotten his first hole-in-one today - but he's using his life to help make broken people "whole" again. And that's a much better accomplishment.

God bless you my friend.

Let's try this again.

If you have not read my previous post - read it now... What can the church learn from the political campaigns?

Now let me seed this discussion a bit...

In a political campaign - the candidate knows what they want to accomplish.... and while the church claims to... do they really? A clear vision is critical.

In a political campaign they continually share the vision - elect so-and-so. The church struggles because many don't really know what the vision really is.

In a political campaign - there may be differences in the primary - but once they get past the convention everyone is on the same page. Consider how Joe Biden relentlessly attacked Barack Obama before and now is his VP (and on the same page)... We in the church will have differences of opinion - but must pull together to get the "real job" done.

Now it's your turn. What can we learn from this process?

So here's the deal - I borrowed this idea from the guys over at swerve - but it's good stuff...

Given the non stop coverage of the presidential race and to be honest the most interesting race between two VP candidates I can ever remember they posed a very interesting question. And I want to pose it here...

What can the church learn from the political campaigns?

And here's the ground rules. I'm not interested in who you are supporting, or about who you would really like to see win or lose. I'm interested in the process. Here's why. Each election dollars are spent, volunteers are mobilized, causes are promoted, decisions are made. So please step up and give your thoughts... again - NO PROMOTING ANYONE! Just toss around some ideas of how from this process we could learn some things that might work in the church.

Think about it... the politicians do all this because they feel it is effective in getting people to support their cause. We certainly have a greater cause so what could we be doing better or not at all?

I can't wait to read your comments.

What's inside?

Did you know that I'm going to be a grandpa again? OK - I know you did - but I just love saying it! And here is the latest pic... Isn't she adorable? Clearly SHE has her grandpa's good looks!

An ultrasound is an incredible thing.... an ultrasound uses sound waves to paint a picture. It can show stuff on the inside without having to actually go inside to see it. Pretty technical explanation right?

With an ultrasound (or sonogram) the sex of baby can be determined and even some birth defects can be found in early stages... it's truly an amazing thing.

But what if we could have a spiritual ultrasound? What would it show about us? Oh sure we all look a certain way on the outside - but what are we really like on the inside? Well God's word tells us that while other people can only see the outside (the part we let them see)... God Himself looks at the heart (the inside).

Now I can portray a certain image to you - but is that really the truth? You can act a certain way around church folks - but what are you really like at work or home? We could all benefit from a "spiritual ultrasound". And God has given us one. When we read His word and listen to His spirit - it reveals the truth about each of us. And while it will not determine the sex of a fetus - it will show some defects within each of us. And yes we all have them.

But it is only then that we can deal with them. It's when we really know the "guts" of the issue that we can be honest and let God help us work on them.

So let me challenge each of you to let God give you a sonogram. I'll do the same.