Dream Center New York

That's Right...The Dream Center has come to New York City. I have not yet had the chance to attend, being that I just found out about this last night, but I can't wait to hear Matthew Barnett and PressPlay bring it on Monday Nights. I did hear that PressPlay is even better than they were over 5 years ago when I last heard them.

Apparently the Dream Center New York has been here for 5 weeks now and is already packing out the Manhattan Center Grand Ballroom which seats close to 1,000.

I plan on making my first visit to the Dream Center on Monday September 29th. I would go next week, but I have Cubs Tickets.

Friendship

This Sunday we conclude our Accelerate Series with the Habit of Friendship. As I was getting the message notes ready I realized that this message is already beginning to speak to me. Here are a few verses that stick out to me so far.

"Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family." - Provers 18:24

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." - Matthew 6:14-15

"Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love." - Ephesians 4:2

"Never abandon a friend either yours or your father's. Then in your time of need, you won't have to ask your relatives for assistance. It is better to go to a neighbor than to a relative who lives far away." - Provers 27:10

How have you handled your friendship?

Another Song

Here is another song by Lincoln Brewster that really spoke to me. You can listen to it here.

Your Love won't deny me
Even in the storm you find me
You called me from the darkness to your light
Your hand ever leads me, Lord you're never gonna leave me
Your teaching me to fight a better fight

Let Your Glory Shine
Let Your Glory Shine Through Me
Let Your Glory Shine

I Know Your the Savior
You've taken every fear and failure
You've lifted me to rise above it all
Your love won't be shaken
You've taken who I am and make'n something out of nothing for your cause

Song

I came across this song today by Lincoln Brewster called Today is the Day. When I listened to the lyrics and then wrote out the lyrics I could not help but think that this song is a lot like my life. You can purchase the song through iTunes.

Here are the verses:

I'm casting my cares aside
I'm leaving my past behind
I'm setting my heart and mind on you Jesus

I'm reaching my hand to yours
Believing there's so much more
Knowing that all you have in store for me is good, is Good

I'm putting my fears aside
I'm leaving my doubts behind
I'm giving my hopes and dreams to, Jesus

You can hear Granger perform this song here.

IT'S A BOY!!

Little 8lbs 4oz. Jonah Wrigley Engle was born August 9th (my birthday too) at 5:16am. He is the softest and most content baby I've ever seen. We have to keep him out of the nursery because all the baby girls wanted to be next to him.

God's Will

This past weekend Perry Noble of Newspring Church delivered a message about discovering God's will or purpose for your life. Watch the video here.

I loved the part of the message where Perry says "Sometimes we must leave the place we are currently at so that He can reveal more of Himself to us."

Would you be willing to leave if that was God's will for you, or would you listen to those who want you to stay because the think they know God's will for you? Either that or they are afraid that if you leave they will be less effective.

When I Listen to the Word of God and I Walk in the Ways of God, then I will Discover the Will of God!

God's Will can be found in God's Word.

Beach Baptism

On Saturday we held the annual Journey Beach Baptism at Jones Beach. Over 50 people were baptized in the rough waves of Jones Beach. Here is a the Group Picture:Highlight Video Coming Soon!!

Beach Baptism Tomorrow

Less Than A Month

I will officially become a DAD in less than 4 weeks.

It's so much fun to feel the baby move, kick, and roll around in my wife's belly.

The due date is August 18th so you don't have much time to send your presents our way.

Coming Soon...Accelerate

The next Message Series at The Journey will be called Accelerate. This 5 week series will talk about
* Bible Study
* Prayer
* Generosity
* Being alone with God (Solitude)
* Friendship

Looking forward to a killer video idea for the "Solitude" message.

Project Runway

Tonight begins the new season of Project Runway on Brovo.

I must say there is a lot to learn from that Tim Gunn person. He's favorite saying is "Make it work" What are you currently working on that may not be going as you had planned and you just need to "make it work"?

Continued Learning

Today I attended my first ever eSeminar with Adobe. The seminar was on creating a workflow from AfterEffects to FinalCutPro.

These two programs by nature do not work together, but by working through Apple's Motion they will.

Now I can create graphics in Photoshop or Illustrator and work with them all the way through to FinalCut.

I would have never know this if I had stopped learning once I left school. How have you continued to learn?

WOW Factor

Recently we have been trying to have an element on our Sunday's that we call the WOW factor. This is the element that makes your guests say WOW, creative I know.

For instance a couple of weeks ago we had a huge Cereal Bar (for free). We didn't just have one or two kinds of cereal, no, we had almost every kind of cereal imaginable. We also upgraded our Peppermints in the bathrooms and elevator to Andi's Candies and Peppermint paddies.

While the WOW factor is a great way to make a great first impression, but what is it during the service that is making the guests say "WOW this is Church?"

Also, how do you create a WOW factor this week, and WOW them next week as well?

I'm Back

I noticed the other day that I have not posted in over a month.

I do check other people's blogs everyday, but I'm just terrible at putting something on my blog.

It is my goal to post everyday for the next 3 weeks. Maybe after that time it will be a habit for me. And maybe just maybe I'll be able to say something meaningful.

I'll need you're help to keep me posting, so encouraging comments are welcome.

Meeting Needs

Sometimes the church needs to quit saying they will pray for the needs of the people and actually do something about them.

We are called to be doers of the word.

Who's needs is Jesus calling you to meet today?

Church Growth - Part2

Why Should the Church Grow?
1. Because God's Word Commands it.
Matthew 28:19-20 Make Disciples - Baptize Them - Teach Them
Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-48, John 20:21

2. Because the needs of the people
As long is there is one person without Christ in our area we must keep reaching out.

3. It's Selfish not to want to grow.
2 Corinthians 5:14, 1 Peter 3:9

4. Because Jesus Believes in Church Growth
Matthew 16:18 Jesus said "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it."

5. Because The nature of the church itself implies Growth
The church is not an organization but an organism.

6. Because the New Testament Church Grew

Growth is not an option. A church not growing is a dying church.

Church Growth - Part 1

During our staff meeting yesterday our lead pastor talked to us about Church Growth. Over the next couple of post I would like to summarize what he talked about.

There are three kinds of church growth:
1. Biological Growth - aka believers are making babies and populating the church
2. Transfer Growth - aka Church Hopping
3. Conversion Growth - aka unchurched people are coming developing followers of Christ

God's word commands that the church grows. I will dive more into what the bible says about church growth in the next post. But in the mean time take a look at Matthew 13:31 and Matthew 28:19-20.

Take Control

We used a song by Mute Math called Control a couple of weeks ago as our walk out music. This song has some of the best lyrics I've heard. Here are some one liners from the song.

*Take Control of the Atmosphere
*There is no better loss than to lose myself in You
*Surrender somehow becomes so beautiful
*There is no better find than to find myself in You
*There's no reason for us to breath unless you're in the air

If you have never heard this song I suggest you go to iTunes and spend the 99 cents, it's well worth the money.

Is Your Church Mature?

This is a post copied off of Tim Stevens blog. What a great post.

Last week in a meeting, Mark Beeson started on a rant about maturity in the church and what it means. It was good. Real good. In fact, we told him he should write about it on his blog soon!

Well, he did, last Friday. Check it out:

Three days ago Rick Warren proffered this question for me to mull over. What is the mature church?

I knew immediately how I would respond: "The 'mature church' is the church filled with immaturity."

Anywhere in the world, whether plant or animal, the clear delineation of maturity is the ability to reproduce. Immature animals can't reproduce. Immature plants can't replicate themselves. The definition of maturity is being fully ripe, fully aged, so the connotation of maturity is obvious. Where you see maturity you'll observe new life, babies and immaturity all over the place.

Maturity desires reproduction. Maturity tolerates juvenile behavior (from juveniles) while training its progeny for success in life. Maturity means little [babies] running all over the place.

If you attend a mature church, be prepared for immaturity. Where you find mature Christians you'll find little babes in Christ running all over the place. In fact, if you have been looking for a church where everyone tithes and everyone serves--you're not looking for a mature church, you are looking for a dying church - aged, impotent and bereft of spiritual newborns because everyone is mature.

Few things are more disturbing than a flock of adult believers standing around complaining that no one has come to Christ while refusing to do something that might result in new life. So when you bump into someone who acts immature at one of our services, don't complain, and don't be surprised. Instead, thank God the mature in Christ are busy delivering newborn babies to the family of God.

What do you think. Do you agree with Mark's definition?

March 24, 2008 | Permalink

Saying Hello

Here's my baby's first every picture. This has to be the coolest thing ever.

Throw it away!!

I have spent most of the day today cleaning up after the previous person(s) who have worked in my position. I could tell after just 30 minutes that no one had thought of cleaning or organizing in a long time. I found files from 2 years ago and team rosters of people who don't even live around here anymore.

It makes everyones job easier if you stay organized. If you don't need it, throw it away. It makes no sense in keeping old rosters or schedules, or whatever other weekly items you may use today. Those types of things take up space...THROW IT AWAY when you are done with them.

It has been said that leaders should always be training someone to replace them, so when they leave someone can pick up where the leader left off. It is the leaders job not to leave their trash behind. CLEAN UP!! STAY ORGANIZED!!

The Results Are In

I just finished reading/ taking Strengths Finder 2.0. As a result I learned a lot about the way I think, which I found interesting because I like to learn apparently. Here are my top five strengths.

1. Analytical: Whats the root cause? Why?

2. Discipline: Everything has its place, put it there.

3. Includer: How can I make you feel happy?

4. Learner: What's new, I want to know

5. Responsibility: I'll get it done, so stop worrying.

These results were surprisingly right on with how I think. Check out StrengthsFinder.com to learn more about yourself. If you've taken this test before what are your strengths?

How do you act?

What you want to be will determine how you act. If you are currently a church of 150 people, but you want to be a church of 1500 people what are you acting like? To be a church of 1500 people you have to act like you already are a church of 1500 people. If we are not acting or thinking large we will continue to stay like we are.

Have you felt like you are not growing or maybe you see spurts of growth but no consistency, then look at how you are acting. Your actions will determine your future.

My Bible Journey

Genesis 6:6 Gods regrets ever creating people, it broke his heart
Ever done something that seemed right at the time, but then you notice how wrong it really is. Or, you think you do something nice for someone only to get the cold shoulder in return. This is what man did with God. Man walked with God - Man turned from God.

Genesis 7:16 God closes the door of the ark
The ark was a life saver for Noah and his family. First Noah had to first be obedient to God and build the ark, then Noah had to walk into the ark (the blessing from God). Sometimes we may be doing what God wants us to do, but we never walk into the blessing. Noah could have built the ark and never walked in.

Genesis 8:21 Even though people are stupid
God knows that we are messed up people. But he will never leave us. No matter what we do, how bad we mess up, He is always there.

Planning Ahead

Nothing is more frustrating for me than a lack of planning. Being in a creative field, I cannot stress the importance of planning ahead enough. Nothing is usually done right the first time. At least nothing is done the best the first time.

You may be able to pull something together at the last minute, but that will show in the end. When putting a production or message together it is a must to know more than a week in advance what you will be talking about and what you will be needing in terms of media elements.

Creativity takes time and to get the very best illustration takes trial and error. Plan ahead. Do things this week for next weekends service. This weekends service should already be planned and ready to be executed.

Small last minute tasks are what volunteers are for. You would not want to be planning a major portion of your service two days before.

You don't make up your battle plan two days before you go to war!

My Bible Journey

In Genesis chapter 4 we see the story of Cain and Abel. Cain grew up to to a farmer and Abel became a shepherd. When harvest time came Cain and Abel brought the results of their work before God. Abel brought the best of his firstborn lambs and Cain brought some of his crops. The first thing I notice here is the words best and some. Abel brought his best, Cain brought some. On top of that Abel brought the first born of his livestock, this shows thought.

How often when God blesses us do we give our best in return? I think most of the time we seem to give him some of our harvest without giving it any thought. We are to give off the top, the first fruits, of our harvest, not the leftovers.

My Bible Journey

The other day I picked up a new book to begin reading. About half way through the first chapter it hit me that I have spent lots of time in the past months reading several different books, but was not reading the bible nearly as much. After upon further reflection it became even more clear to me that I have never really read the bible all the way through. So I put the book down that I was going to read and opened the bible. Genesis Chapter one. I was off and running. It is amazing how the word speaks to you when you read it without looking for anything. In times past I have always read the bible to find someway in which my life could apply. The word should be applied to my life, not my life applied to the word. And what a journey it has been so far. I will be posting about my bible journey over the next several post. I am already in the middle of Exodus so I will try to get you all caught up with how the word has been affecting my life.

TheMix08

Here it is the new promo for the Mix08.

The Search

Why is it that we search around looking for answers to life's question on television, school, books, and friends? When everything we are looking for is found in the bible. Really, how is that we can sit and watch two hours of American Idol or two hours of fat people trying to lose weight, but we are unwilling to get off the couch and exercise our spiritual bodies? Was it not Jesus who said in Matthew 26:41 that we are to watch and pray? I am just as guilty as anyone at this, but I'm going to change. I'm ready to watch what God's about to do in this country, and I'm going to take the action to pray now, and as it happens. Praying is our involvement in what God is doing, that's the only action we can take. We can't do anything but pray for His will to happen. I believe God is saying "Pray, get out of my way, and watch what I can do." I'm getting out of the way, I give up my agenda, and I'm letting God take over. I want to watch what he can do.

The Mix '08

Here is the new Mix '08 promo video. Check it out and let me know what you think.


The Mix '08
October 31st - November 1st in Iowa City
November 14th & 15th in DesMoines

Talents

I'm currently reading the book by John Ortberg entitled If You Want To Walk On Water You've Got To Get Out of the Boad. In the current chapter it talks about the parable of the talents. One person was given 5, another 3, and one person was given only 1 talent. In the end the ones given 5 talents and 3 talents took them and used them to multiply their reward. The person give one talent hid his talent in fear of losing it all. I have to ask myself, what have I done with the talents God has given me? Have I used them to all of my ability and multiplied them, have I continued to learn? Or have I hid my talents in fear of losing it all by taking a risk?