New Year’s Resolution: Read the Bible in 2009

Happy New Year!

I hope you all are having a great holiday season.  Since it’s the time of the year that many of us make New Year’s resolutions, I wanted to encourage you to join me in reading through the Bible in 2009.

If you need a place to get started, you can follow the reading plan on YouVersion. It’s extremely convenient since you can read the Bible for free from an iPhone, iPod, BlackBerry, web-enabled phone, or any computer connected to the Internet.

I’m looking forward to seeing how God speaks to all of us through His Word in 2009!

Tags: new year, resolutions

5 comments

Merry Christmas!

We wanted to wish all of you a Merry Christmas!

We will be taking a break from blogging over the next week and a half to spend time with our families and friends. We may have a couple of posts, but look for us to be back in full swing on Jan 6th.

Also, I want to thank our awesome team of staff/volunteers here at LifeChurch.tv. They rocked a total of 99 worship experiences in the last 5 days so that tens of thousands of people could hear the Good News. The team really is awesome!

Again…we wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

Tags: Christmas

2 comments

Ecuador Trip

My family just returned from Ecuador with Compassion International. This picture shows us in Guayaquil-Isla Trinitaria with several children living in extreme poverty. We’d just visited a family of 7 that lives off about $30 a month. Their home backs up to the river which is filled with waste. The smell was almost unbearable.

The picture below shows my thirteen year old daughter receiving a hand-made dress valued at about one month’s income. Everyone in the room was crying at the people’s generosity. As Compassion’s CEO, Wes Stafford said, “You can’t out-give the poor.”

The third picture shows me with the pastor of the church in Huaycopungo. Under strong persecution, his church had about 15 people. Today he and one other pastor ministers to about 1200 people and 85% of his village knows Christ. He may be small in stature but he is a giant in the Kingdom.

In the final picture, our family met one of the children we sponsor. She is 8 year old Liseth and is the girl in my wife’s arms. I didn’t even try to hold back the tears.

Tags: Compassion International, Ecuador, Wes Stafford

25 comments

Guest: Scott Williams

A Leader vs. The Leader

Pronunciation: “A Leader” Uh-Leader and “The Leader” Thuh Leader

Just because you are “A Leader” doesn’t necessarily mean that you are “The Leader.”

Just because you are “A Leader” who leads a church of 500 people; doesn’t mean that you are “The Leader” to take that church to over a thousand people.

Just because you are “A Leader” that has a position, a title and an office; doesn’t mean that you are “The Leader” that people believe in, respect and are excited to follow.

Just because you are “A Leader” that people look up to today; doesn’t mean that you are going to be “The Leader” that people look up to tomorrow.

Just because you are “A Leader” on this team; doesn’t meant that you are going to be “The Leader” on that team.

Just because you are “The Leader” to this particular group or faction; doesn’t mean you will be “The Leader” to that group or faction.

If you are “A Leader” and think that you are “The Leader” that can be a problem; know your place and respect your space.

Although both are important, there is definitely a difference between being “A Leader” and “The Leader”

Remember, just because you are “A Leader” doesn’t mean that you will necessarily ever be “The Leader”

If you are “A Leader” who’s determined to be “The Leader” figure it out; Go Lead… Transcend The Isms’

Share Your Thoughts and Experiences?

8 comments

Guest: Anna Meadows

Anna is our Associate Youth Pastor at our Northwest Oklahoma City Campus. She writes…

BELIEVE and LEAD

As a leader, you MUST have confidence in who you are.  If you don’t, you are teaching your people to not have confidence in you either.

If you don’t believe in yourself, your people won’t believe in you either.
If you don’t believe in what you’re saying, your people won’t believe in it either.
If you don’t believe you can do it, your people won’t believe you can do it either.
If you believe you’re insecure, your people will believe you’re insecure too.

If you believe in whom God has made you to be, your people will believe in you as well.
If you think you can do it, you’re people will think you can do it too.

People won’t believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself… some people can’t believe in themselves unless someone first believes in them. (Think about it…)

Do you need to start believing in yourself more?

Is there someone you need to start believing in?

9 comments

Why I Love My Church

This January, LifeChurch.tv will be kicking off a new series called, I Love My Church. Simply put, we’ll be preaching the vision by sharing the results of what God is doing throughout our church. We’re currently capturing those stories—Invasion Style. We show up unannounced to get the unscripted firsthand accounts of people whose lives have changed course at LifeChurch.tv. But we also want to offer an opportunity for you to share your story here.  How has your church help transform your life?  Why do you love your church? No matter if you’re part of LifeChurch.tv or a church on the other side of the globe, leave a comment and let’s celebrate the local church together! We’d love to get your comment as video, so check out this how-to if you’re unfamiliar with that process. Be sure to let us know the name of your church, which campus (if applicable), and the location.

60 comments

Video Comments on Swerve

We’re going to experiment with a new way to post comments on Swerve…video! We’ll be using Seesmic to allow you to share a short video with us and bring a new dimension to the community here. While Seesmic is not new, we’re excited to try it out on Swerve. For those of you unfamiliar with this application, here’s a quick how-to:

1. You’ll need to have a webcam set up on your computer.
2. Click “Or add a video comment” in the commenting area at the bottom of the post.
3. Enter your name and email address in the text boxes.
4. You can choose whether you want to use Seesmic anonymously, or sign up for an account on their site.
5. You might need to give Seesmic access to your camera.
6. Hit the red “Record” button, share your thoughts, and then hit the red “Stop Recording” button.
7. Your comment video will play for you. Choose whether you want the comment to be published, or give it another go and record again.
8. When you’re happy with your recording, hit “Publish” and then enter a title for your comment. Click “Publish” to submit your comment.
9. All comments are moderated, so it will show up only after it’s been approved.

We’re launching this for a post tomorrow where we’ll be asking our church to share their thoughts for an upcoming series called, “I Love My Church.” You’re welcome to join in the conversation and participate! But before then, you can be one of the first to try it out on Swerve—leave a video comment below and let us know how your Christmas service plans are coming along.

Tags: seesmic, video comments

6 comments

Guest: Scott Rodgers

The Chameleon Church

I’m willing to try.  That’s my answer.  So, what’s the question?  Can a local church be designed for both believers and unbelievers? 

Can a church be passionate about worship, spiritual growth, and mission minded while being sensitive to those sitting next to them that may not yet believe what they believe? 

Have some churches gone too far with this approach?  Have some not gone far enough?

24 comments