Dreaming

On December 21, Pastor Scott, of my home church, Crossroads Community Church, did a great message on Dreaming. It was part of a message series entitled.. 'Tis the Season. This message... 'Tis the Season for Dreaming.

I have to say, it was one of the best messages I've had the privilege to hear him give over the past 5 years of attending Crossroads.

I pulled out the message CD the other day and got to listening to it again. Here's some of my favorite key points from that powerful message:

"I believe God is sick and tired of Christians asking God to give us breadcrumbs, when He's capable of giving us a feast!"

"God doesn't need our recommendations... He wants our recognition."

"God didn't die on a cross so we can survive, He died on a cross so we could thrive!"

"God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask for or imagine."

"We're certainly not a perfect church because we've got people in it!"

"Can you imagine a church that is more concerned about people than it is about the color of the carpet? That's it's more concerned that when people walk in that we want people to come as they are... that we don't care what color you are, what economic level you come from, what side of the tracks you come from... that we're more concerned that we love you, that we appreciate you, that you're welcome because God is passionate about people!"

"Can you imagine a church that reaches out into the community and stops playing political games and doing protests and doing boycotts that Jesus couldn't give a rip about? I can!"

"I've got news for you and I've got news for the critics and skeptics and naysayers about Crossroads or about any other church that goes through growth... We're not gonna back up, we're not gonna let up, we're not gonna shut up until we are called up. We're not gonna give up because we serve a God who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask for or imagine and I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get on with it!"

"What would you be willing to do for God and His Kingdom if you knew you couldn't fail?"

"God wants you to get over your but."

"If we're going to reach people that no one else is reaching, I believe we've got to be willing to do things that no one else is doing."

I'm proud to belong to a church that dreams like this.

Are you dreaming like this?

More on Lasting Impressions

I mentioned in my last post that I'm reading a terrific book entitled, Lasting Impressions by Mark Waltz. Here's some more highlights... some things I'm chewing on...

Mark teaches the difference between feeling responsible FOR people he leads verses being responsible TO the people he leads.

"THE FREEDOM OF RESPONSIBILITY TO:

When I'm responsible to people, I understand they have choices.
When I'm responsible for people, I think I should decide for them.
When I'm responsible to people, I know they must figure out their next steps.
When I'm responsible for people, I try to tell them what their next steps are.
When I'm responsible to people, I know they must bear the consequences of their own chosen actions.
When I'm responsible for people, I assume the guilt - or worse, the shame - for them.
When I'm responsible to people, I share their journeys, offering encouragement and teaching.
When I'm responsible for people, I try to direct their journeys, never allowing them to wrestle, mess up, or make a wrong turn.
When I'm responsible to people, I talk to God a lot on their behalf.
When I'm responsible for people, I talk to people a lot on God's behalf."

New Book!

I love a new book! This one I actually pre-ordered about 2 months ago and I just got it a couple weeks ago. I was so excited. This is book #2 by Mark Waltz, Connections Pastor for Granger Community Church in Indiana. This one is a must read first... but I'm discovering a new love for this new one. Here's something I've been pondering...

"People want to belong to something bigger than they are, something exciting, adventurous, something excellent and significant. But if we aren't clear about calling people to be disciples, sold-out followers of Jesus Christ, they will continue to show up, cheer and maybe even tell their friends, but their lives may not reflect a personal, missional buy-in to the agenda of the kingdom of God and the grace of Jesus Christ. People matter too much to miss this critical distinction. God's agenda matters too much to allow this confusion."