upward & inward

I get the privilege of leading a group of folks in a study of the Acts of the Apostles. On Fridays now, we're having some College and Career aged young ones (18-24 year-olds) over to the house to have food (physical and spiritual) and fun. We had a great first session and I want to ensure everyone who wasn't able to attend has all that's required to be prepared when they come the next time. However, I haven't figured out how to post documents for review. Until then, here, at least, is our approach to the study. More coming... Goal: To study the story of Jesus’ work in the early church and how to apply His Word to our daily lives. Approach: The Bible is God’s Word. Therefore, we will: 1) Trust it. It is God breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. 2) Seek to understand how He interacted with those we read about. 3) Seek to understand ourselves better as we look into the reflection it presents us. 4) See ourselves as God sees...

I'm continually reminded of the importance of understanding how a large group of tasks are accomplished in unison and in synchronization with each other. This is what a typical project is, isn't it? However, one of the KEY success factors is PRIORITIZATION. And, prioritization can't be done without understanding: WHAT needs to be done, HOW will it be done, and WHEN it needs to be done. According to classic, tried and true, project management techniques, this translates into SCOPE (what needs to be done), COST (how it will be done), and TIME (when it needs to be done). Time and again, we want everything done immediately at minimal cost. This departure from reality places our faith in the most unlikely places, doesn't it? Yet, I recently had another conversation that transcends the natural by assuming we can actually do everything yesterday with just one person. Prioritization comes when we decide among these three project attributes which is flexible, somewhat flexibl...

I had the privilege of preaching on Sunday morning in the Sunrise Service here at Central Community. You can hear this message - and see/hear many others by Pastor John and other pastors here .

As promised, here are a few of the lessons learned after the challenges wrought in the experience on Thursday night's Living Last Supper: When we do something intentionally to God's glory, He receives the glory and protects us. Continue to put trust in God alone. As we trust God, if an outside organization desires access to the church, one must perform due diligence to verify who they are and what they intend to do. If there is no time to perform due diligence, then the offer remains unaccepted. The farther away an interviewer/videographer lives, the more due diligence is required. Interviewers or videographers rarely (if ever) pay you to do their work. If sufficient due diligence is performed, review ALL waivers before signing or making them available for signatures. If after due diligence, a group is allowed on site, increase security to ensure the group behaves as promised. And, the oldest lesson of all: people may not do what you expect them to do, but they will do what you...

Some of you may know of what happened on Thursday night (3/13) when a film crew, purporting to be filming our Living Last Supper for a German TV One documentary on American culture, tried to ruin the event at the end of the production. By God's power and providence, the plan was thwarted. In order to get the word out and hopefully help other churches avoid a similar situation, we agreed to interview with KAKE TV here in Wichita and discuss the incident. Deb Farris of KAKE was very kind and sympathetic to our situation. I really appreciated her approach to the segment she led at the 6:00pm news hour and consider her and Tyler and so many others who have helped us through this as instruments of God's continued blessing. Lessons forthcoming...

Here is an excerpt from a sermon by Josh Harris discussing discernment with an illustration of an "almost" encounter with the guy who portrays Borat. As this speaker tells his story, I can relate.

In an effort to get the word out to warn folks about the film crew incident at the Living Last Supper on Thursday night, I agreed to give an interview to KAKE TV in Wichita. Having been burned just the week before, I was a little nervous about speaking to them. However, Deb Farris and Tyler Schiffelbein were great and per our agreement, Deb allowed me to review the afternoon segments via email before airing. However, on the evening program, the script was handled by another reporter and I was given credit for what happened at the end of the production rather than Clint Dunn (who God worked through mightily). I have sent Deb an email asking her to change the text of the posting on their website to reflect the truth of the evening's activity.

Our last night for the Living Last Supper was Friday night, March 14. What a great sacrifice to God this production turned out to be! I purposely use the word sacrifice because if what we give isn't a sacrifice (in time, money, or effort), then it's not the gift it could be. I got to know some great brothers and sisters in the Lord and created bonds which are, as one brother put it, not easily broken. The resounding message I heard in this production was that Jesus (and His disciples) the audience witnessed had joy, had fun, and laughed! I believe that the laughing Jesus we have in our Atrium (see above) was portrayed in this presentation and that although Jesus was fully God, He was also fully man who loved, felt sorrow, wept, and laughed. I'm thankful that we had the opportunity from God to present this and that each presentation was a success in that God receive ALL the glory for what happened (and what didn't). "May the Eternal One strengthen His people an...

During the production last night, a production company filmed the cast and those attending. As a result, each of the cast, crew, and audience had to sign waivers so that the company could use the film for their purposes of "objective journalism" (I may write another post describing what this means in greater detail later). These waivers, which we did not see until that night, asked for private information such as Social Security Numbers. Some refused to offer this information on the waiver. Others, being the trusting souls they are, offered them. Hopefully, the production company will treat this private information with the care it deserves. However, for those who have concerns about this and would feel more comfortable in taking action to protect their identities, here are some suggestions provided by Ruth Richman-Bernard. Call Equifax (800-525-6285) and report your concerns. They'll notify the other reporting agencies and alerts will be placed on the credit recor...

We finished Day one of the Living Last Supper this evening. Great fun, great food, great message. I don't have pictures yet, but I hope to soon. God was glorified in a mighty way and I feel privileged that I was a part of it. A few notes... Judas, played by Ed Weippert, was not a melodramatic stereotype, but an honestly portrayed misguided man. I believe Jesus laughed, loved, and displayed His humanity and His divinity. When we ensure that God is the center of the action, great things happen and He doesn't share His glory with anybody. God takes care of details we don't even plan on. I can only wonder how many details He tracks that I don't even know about. I am privileged to be a part of a team that loves the Lord and makes Him first! One more night to go...

I just finished the book Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose . Here are a few thoughts: 1) In all I've been through, I've nothing to complain about. 2) God can take the worst sinner, the most vile and cruel, and transform them into the most loving of His children (Commander of the POW camp in which Darlene was incarcerated for nearly 5 years). 3) When we keep our eyes on Him, and away from our circumstances, we can endure situations beyond our imagination. 4) Even the most devoted of God's servants struggle in difficult circumstances. 5) I'm reminded (again) that when we give thanks IN all circumstances, we begin to look at things from God's perspective and can therefore look for His miracles - even in dire circumstances. I highly recommend this book. What a great testimony!

A buddy of mine sent this list from Dr. John Maxwell's book, "Developing the Leader Within You." It's a good reminder that a) the quality of a leader is often defined by the people who follow them and b) leaders are often classified in more than one of the categories below depending on those who follow him/her. 5. POSITION (Title) "Rights" People follow because they have to. Your influence will not extend beyond the lines for your job description. The longer you stay here, the higher the turnover and lower the morale. People begin to limit you, to put fences around you. You can't stay here more than 2 years. 4. PERMISSION "Relationships" People follow because they want to. People will follow you beyond your stated authority. This level allows work to be fun. Caution: Staying too long on this level without rising will cause highly motivated people to become restless. 3. PRODUCTION "Results" People follow because of what yo...

Wow. Check this out from Perry Noble... #1 - “That’s Not My Job.” #2 - “That Can’t Be Done.” #3 - “All I Need Is More Staff & Money To Make This Happen.” #4 - “Recognize Me!” #5 - “My ministry needs BLANK to…and if we don’t get it then…” For more detail, go here . He gives more color to these statements, but they are essentially what you read here. As he describes them, I have to agree with him. In addition, when I find myself saying them (and I have), then I need to check my motivation for the job I've been called to do. Wow.

Here is a great post on what we can learn from Brett.

This morning, our Contemporary Worship Pastor (as well as IT Support lead), Zac Wilkerson tendered his resignation effective March 19. Zac has an opportunity at a church in Amarillo to provide full-time worship leadership. While I have mixed feelings about this, I am glad for God’s leading and for His recognition of Zac ’s heart’s desire to solely focus on worship leading. I have enjoyed working with Zac in these last 4 months. He has a teachable spirit, excellent musicianship, and a growing sense of leadership. God will certainly continue to bless Zac as he seeks to please the Father and bring more and more worshipers to His throne. In the next week or so, I’ll be working with Zac , John, and the Senior Staff to identify next steps as God leads us through this transition. We need prayer for God's wisdom and direction during this time of transition and opportunity. God will receive the glory for the great things He will continue to do here at Central Community Church. ...

In some of the ongoing vision discussions today, I had these thoughts: We don't need more leaders who lead followers - we seem to have enough of those. We need leaders who lead leaders who lead leaders who lead followers. That's the Jethro-cubed principle. Leadership styles may differ, but a common goal rounds the edges of disconnect and misunderstanding. We are in God's crockpot and He's cooking up something fine. Family far away is worth an interruption. Leaders recognize that the led are watching their every move. A history of hurts can clog the enthusiasm of a good vision. The process of reporting and follow-through can be perceived as distrust. Vision casting, strategic planning, and refinement takes time, energy, and patience for exponential results. Strategy, smategy , whatever - without God, nothing is possible. He alone will make all His given dreams and visions come to fruition.

Here at Central, we have 5 habits we encourage for each fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. These habits help articulate what Jesus told us to do in Luke 9:23, "then He said to them all, 'if anyone come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.'" These habits are: Routinely recognize the grace of God and share it with others. (Ephesians 2: 4-5 , 8-9 , Matthew 28:19-20 ). Experience an ongoing and growing relationship with Jesus Christ ( Hebrews 5:13-14 , John 15:5 , Galatians 5:22 , 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 ). Commit to being a part of a small group ( 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ; Acts 2:46-47 ). Use God-given gifts for His glory ( 1 Corinthians 12:1-7 ). Giving generously to support God's kingdom work at Central ( 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 , Proverbs 3:9-10 ). If we pursue each of these habits regularly (and that is what makes them habits), then we are fully devoted followers of Christ. As fully devoted followers, then we get after the mi...