l a k e s i d e . p e r s p e c t i v e s

Sunday Gathering Memory Verse 10June07

"...be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you." 1 Samuel 12:24 (NLT)

Sunday Gathering Memory Verse 03June07

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

"Overcome" Memory Verse

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - Jesus (John 16:33 NIV)

Sunday Gathering Memory Verse 20May07

"Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you." Psalm 37:5 (NLT)

Unity As A Missional Testimony

A fifth priority for me is to continuously call our church to unity.  Now in my mind, unity does not mean that we always agree on everything.  But it does mean that we learn how to navigate the places of disagreement, love each other, and listen to each other so that everyone feels heard.  If we can work through our disagreements and come out with love and respect for one another we’ll truly have something to offer to the world. You see, unity in a local church is a missional testimony to those outside looking in:  Jesus prayed that his church would be one … so that the world would know that the Father sent Him. (John 17:23)

Leading With Discernment and Dependence

Fourth, I intend to lead with discernment and dependence.  Specifically, dependence upon God.  I will listen, learn, and love, but I also intend to lead.  I want to be known both as your pastor, but also as a servant leader who clearly has his hand on the wheel.  The Bible says of some of David’s men, men of Issachar, that they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.  (I Chron. 12:32)  One of my favorite items that you’ll see in my office is this ship’s wheel with a clock in the center.  As a leader, I always want to know what time it is… what’s the time and temperature of our church?  I intend to keep my hand on the wheel and seek the Lord of the Church daily so that I’ll always understand the times and know what Lakeside should do.

A Pastor That Encourages and Empowers Others

Third, it is priority to me to encourage and empower others. I have a personal responsibility to invest in others what God has invested in me in such a way that the greatest return for the King can be realized.

The relational part of me will want to be everything for every one of you.  I trust you’ll sense how much I enjoy personally connecting, praying, and talking to you.  Just being with you.  As much as I might want to, I’ll just not be able to adequately care for each of you individually.  We’ll need to learn to care for one another. To watch over one another in love.  To connect in our life groups, our ministry teams, and in other places.

A Church Committed To The Truth

Second, it’s one of my highest priorities to preach, teach, and live the scriptures; exhorting, encouraging, and unfolding the truth.  I want us to grow authentic faith and become apprentices of Jesus Christ.  Dallas Willard reminds us that an apprentice has one goal:  to become like the master.

A commitment to discipleship is hidden in here:  Following Jesus is about so much more than just making a decision for Jesus … it’s a conversation; about finding ourselves within His story; about following His ways –repentance, obedience, freedom, and commitment to the truths we find in the scriptures.  So, we’ll hold high the standard of God’s truth and recognize that while spiritual transformation encompasses much more than just reading and studying the Bible, the truth contained here (HOLD UP) is the foundation for everything we do, every decision we make.

A Church Centered On Jesus

We must be a church that stays centered upon Jesus. I commit to you as your pastor and as a brother and friend in Christ to do what is necessary to personally live in daily vital relationship with Jesus.  I purpose to invite you with a clear conscience to follow me as I follow Jesus; and to be and do anything I ask you to be and do.

As His church, there must be no doubt about our intention and efforts to center everything around Jesus Christ.  This means we don’t get upset when we can’t have our way, when the overall church does not do every ministry that individually any of the 600-800 of us want to see happen (this includes me -- :) ).  My responsibility as your pastor and as a leader is not to see to it that everyone is always happy (although I fully expect that our gatherings will be full of joy and happiness in Jesus!), but to ask “What is best for the Kingdom of God at Lakeside?”  “What is best for God’s church?”  “How do we best stay centered upon Jesus?”

In Touch Video 29 April 07

In Touch Video 22 April 07

Free Methodist Preachers

Hi Friends!

Check out the POST I made on my main blog tonight.  You'll find a story about a Free Methodist Pastor at THIS LINK.

"In Touch" Video From 15Apr07

Christian Consumerism

An interesting post from "SmuloSpace," a blog I follow:

"We live during a time when capitalism and consumerism are significant aspects of western culture, and much of the world. One of the outflows of this is that individuals have high expectations of the companies, organizations, and products that they use. There's significant competition when it comes from everything to what shampoo you use, to what restaurants you eat at.

It appears that there is syncretism between this area of cultural values and the church. It leads me to question, "Has the local church merely become one more dispenser of goods and services for the consumer to consider?"

In my context, at least, it appears that this is the case. Christians refer to "church shopping". This involves inspecting the product each local church produces and deciding which services their personal needs best. A church shopping list looks like a typical grocery list, with items such as the following on it:

• Suitable worship music
• Good preaching
• Friendly people
• Comfortable seats
• Excellent children's program
• Right beliefs
• Right practices
• Good coffee
• Free donuts

I remember a conversation with one couple that went to a former church I pastored who told me that they had been church shopping for two years for the "perfect church" before settling on ours. I didn't know if I should be flattered or naseous, but I quickly felt the latter."

 

"In Touch" Video From 01Apr07

Here's the video from Palm Sunday... a bit late, but better than never, eh?