Creating Community – The Power of Poker
A guy at our church has been “leading” a monthly Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Group connected with our church’s grouplife ministry. For some of you, this sounds sacrilegious and not quite right – after all, doesn’t the Bible discourage gambling? I guess I understand this viewpoint; however, I would argue that this is the type of group that Jesus would promote. From what we read in the gospels, Jesus hung out with prostitutes, cheaters, and punks. I’ve attended this poker group a few times, and it draws all kinds of people – people who are part of the church and people who are not part of any church. The group’s goal (besides playing cards) is to create an entry point for people to get connected with people from our church. From here, the hope is that they would come to our church and check out other opportunities to get connected and to grow.
Today, I was blown away when I saw one of the group’s attenders file into church a few rows in front of me with the group’s leader. He quickly received a hand shake and hello from one of the group’s regular attenders who was sitting right in front of him. I’ll be honest, I never expected to see this guy in our church. I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised. This is the group’s goal, and it’s working.
So what do you think? Would you consider this a valid part of your grouplife/connection ministry? What other types of groups might serve in this same manner?
I’d love to hear your feedback!
Remember 2010
2010 was a pretty tough year for me. I’m just being honest. There were many unexpected bumps, bruises, and blockades. Despite all the downs, disappointments, and detours, I can also honestly say that I’m thankful for 2010. Here are some of my highlights from this past year (in no particular order):
– We now have a teenager as our daughter turned 13 in November.
– We had a wonderful unexpected vacation with our immediate family to the green state of Vermont. This will clearly sit as one of the best memories of our year.
– We had a visit from my folks all the way from Texas. I so much appreciated their visit, and I know now that the timing couldn’t have been better.
– My job has been great. I love what I’m doing at Siemens (most days), and I’m extremely thankful for the people I get to rub shoulders with everyday. It has truly been a blessing to have a job that I love. (This week, I will be celebrating my 15th anniversary with the company – hard to believe.)
– I am blessed with such a wonderful wife. This year has brought us more than our fair share of challenges, but I’m convinced that we have grown tremendously despite the struggles of this past year.
– I am blessed with fabulous kids. Our daughter is such a wonderful example of kindness and thoughtfulness. She is super smart. And she has a great group of friends. Our son is so talented. He loves music. He enjoys hoops and scouts, and he is so caring. Both our kids made a huge step this summer when they made the decision to follow Christ and be baptized. There is no greater joy for a dad then to see your kids make this decision. (I’m grinning from ear to ear as I type this.)
– I have been blown away by the support that we have experienced from our church family, friends, and family in the wake of our challenges this year. My words cannot fully describe my gratitude and awe for the support we have received.
– I have experienced growth especially in my faith this year. I never would have wished for some of the things that happened in our family this year, but I can honestly say that I’m thankful for how these events and challenges have cemented my faith.
I’m happy to see 2010 in the rear view mirror, but I’m also thankful for a year that brought so many blessings. Having said this, I am looking forward to a new start as we enter 2011 (I’ll share more thoughts on the upcoming year in a future post).
Happy New Year!
Second Chances
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr94zStsk8E&feature=player_embedded]I resonate so much with this commercial. I’m so thankful for second chances and for people who help me get back up. Thank you!
2 Questions – How Would You Answer?
As I continue through Chazown by Craig Groeschel, I definitely have felt encouraged, inspired, and challenged. I’ll sum up my overall comments when I finish reading the book, but for now I’m pondering two questions that are posed in the middle of the book:
Question #1: If money were no object and you could do anything you wanted for the rest of your life, what would you do?
Question #2: Besides loving, caring for, and ministering to those who are most important to you, what is the number one thing that you believe God wants to accomplish through you?
These are pretty big questions. How would you answer them?
Plan Your Epitaph
I’m in the process of reading Chazown by Craig Groeschel, and I just finished Part I. At the end of this section he encourages the reader to finish six statements. “Forget the past, because you can’t change it. During those final days (of your life), how do you want to be able to finish the following statements?” I thought I throw out my initial responses to these statements here (but to be honest I have more pondering to do to fully finish these completely). I also thought it would be challenging for you to consider these as well. I’d love to hear how you would finish these statements.
1. The thing that was most important to me was…
God (first) and my family (second).
2. People say I stood for…
loyalty, integrity, Christ, and community.
3. I made a difference in my world by…
setting an example for my own family and other families and by pointing others to Christ.
4. God was glorified because I…
followed Him and led out loud in my home, in my job, in my community, and in my church.
5. People knew I loved them because…
I listened to them.
6. The reason I expect God to say “well done” is…
(tough one) I stuck with it through thick and thin. I stayed true to Him. I trusted in Him. I lived to help others find Him.
This Is How I Roll – Blessed Be Your Name
This morning on my way into the office, I heard this song by Tree63 – Blessed Be Your Name. This is how I’m trying to roll these days – if you hear what I’m saying! God is good through the ups and downs of life. Great way to start the day!
Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name
Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in,
Lord Still I will say…
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name
Blessed be your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be
Blessed be your name
Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be your name
Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in,
Lord Still I will say…
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say Lord,
Blessed be your name
Purpose For Me
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever–do not abandon the works of your hands. Psalm 138:8
Did you ever think about the fact that God has a purpose for you? Did you ever stop to realize that God’s love for you endures forever?
Those are two pretty powerful statements. This is what I’ll be pondering today.
Making Music With My Son
Last night, I decided to take out the saxophone for a little bit. Back in junior high and high school, I used to play it quite a bit. I loved the fact that I could make music and express myself through this instrument. I loved playing in several jazz groups, concert bands, marching bands, pit bands, and even all-state bands.
A couple of years ago, I took lessons again to see if I could get back into playing shape. To some degree it worked. I relearned a few things, and I was able to get my lip back into playing shape.
Getting back to last night, my son has been working on a few pieces for us to play together. Isaac has a real gift; his ear for music is incredible. He enjoys playing the trumpet. And his piano skills are really coming along. Last night, we jammed to two songs, Going Home and Tequilla Sunrise. It was so much fun to play with him. We both have some work to do before we’re ready to take our show on the road, but it is so much fun to play together.
Today, I’m thanking God for this gift of music.
Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
Repost: In Your Face – Don’t Give Up Meeting Together
I’m reposting my blog post from August 15, 2010. Outreach Magazine used a quote from this post in their Nov/Dec 2010 issue.
A few weeks ago, I found myself in quite a tough spot. Many things around me seemed to be collapsing in on me, and I felt all alone. This seems kind of strange for a guy who has tooted the “GroupLife horn” for so long, but it’s true. At a time when I needed a shoulder to lean on the most, I was generally isolated from the kind of relationships which would know that life was crazy for me at that moment, which would care enough to ask me how I was really doing, which would carry me through when I just couldn’t muster the energy to continue.
That’s when a friend of mine, Adam, jumped across the “ocean” to join me on my island. Through our conversation, he could tell I was hurting. He simply asked, “Are you in a group right now? Do you have someone to lean on? Who’s got your back?”
Right in my face! Here I was the guy who was supposed to ask people this question. After all, I know how important it is to be in some type of small group. I had been leading groups and leading in group ministry for years. But…with no great excuse…when Adam asked me these questions, all I could say is, “No. I’m not in a group right now. I feel alone. And I’m not sure if anyone has my back right now.”
Thankfully, Adam didn’t leave it at that. He invited me to join him with a group of guys that meets every week. He said I’d be more than welcome to check it out and join them. So…I did! That’s right. A few Wednesday nights ago, I drove over to a local diner and met with a crazy group of guys, who made me laugh, who listened to me, who made me think. These guys obviously don’t have it all together, but they’re trying to do their best to live life in a way that honors God. And they realize the importance of meeting together.
That night, Adam shared a passage from Hebrews 10 about the importance of meeting together. I’m not sure if that was meant just for me or if it was for the whole group, but it was just what I needed. I’ll be checking out this group again, and I’m looking forward to being in community again. Community that will spur me on. Community that will lift me up. And community that will take me off of my island.
Stolen…
Today, I heard word that someone broke into my brother’s car and stole a laptop, a couple of video cameras, and some other stuff. I wish I could fix this for him. His laptop had a lot of stuff that he had spent countless hours creating for his band (The Raven Charter). How do you react when you’ve been violated? I’m sure my brother is really hurting. I’m sure he’s really mad. Why does stuff like this have to happen? We certainly live in a broken world. I’m praying that somehow his stuff would be recovered. I’m praying that the thief will find remorse and God. And I’m praying that my brother will find peace and forgiveness in the midst of this crisis.