No Perfect People Allowed

My Excitment Continues To Build...

I am so pumped about this and every day I get more and more excited about what can happen and will happen... and God being glorified in all of it!!!  Last night we met for 2 hours just for the "finishing plans" and praying for this incredible day... (on top of the countless hours, days, and months already praying, planning, and dreaming) We've never done anything like this... or tried this... but we have dreamed about it... and like the feelings that a child has anticipating Christmas morning... we are expecting an incredible movement of God!  I told the NMCC family on Sunday that we are praying for an Acts 2:41 experience and last night even confirmed those prayers!

There is an excitement as people are re-adjusting their priorities... praying more... inviting more... reading more... and dreaming more about what God can do and is already doing in this amazing community!  His is the God of this city! (Love the song and the history behind it)

Again... I am so blessed to be born in this generation to see God working in so amazing ways.  This past Sunday I got to be present again to witness the divine moment when another person crossed from death to life... from an eternity without Jesus to an eternity with Him.  This never gets old!  In the past 30 days... we've seen 13 make public their decision to say "Yes" to Jesus and start their journey with Him allowing us to partner with them in this adventure!  Thank you Lord, for letting me be here!

And I am praying for hundreds of decisions to be made... as close to 2,000 or more will hear the incredible message of Jesus, dying, being buried, and rising to defeat death and sin on April 12!  Some people will say that I'm "Hooked on Numbers..."  No... I'm hooked on the unconvinced becoming convinced!  And my excitement continues to build!

I Was Broke... Now I'm Not...

Last week I took advantage of Newspring's offering of a free webcast of their finance seminar.  It was a great way to introduce the God's principles of living concerning our finances.  I really encourage anyone to pick up Joe Sangl's book, "I was broke, but now I'm not."

NMCC is offering the 6 week course beginning April 26th during our Adult Bible Fellowship time on Sunday mornings!  I highly recommend it.

I have talked with several people who desire to give more to the church to see greater ministry happen... but feel trapped by the debt they have acquired.  Imagine what can happen if the money that we spend on interest because of our debts was eliminated and put to the ministry of God...  just imagine.  We really could be living a fully engaged life:

Encouraging Spiritual Growth; Nurturing Spiritual Leaders; Grace Agents to the hurting; Assisting the Poor; Giving Help to the Sick; and Educating the Next Generation!

As I have mentioned before... I am sold out to the mission and vision of this church... and because of that I want to give more... to me, there is nothing more important in this world to invest in than the mission that God has given to the church... and there's nothing more secure in it's return.

Thanks Joe Sangl and Newspring for listening to God's leading and sharing with us these powerful biblical principles!

Easter Kicks Off... "One Month To Live" series...

I've been waiting to share this exciting news as we get closer to Easter... but just couldn't wait any longer!  I am pumped about Easter Sunday... and yes... Anon... I agree Easter is more than just a one Sunday experience... It's an everyday experience!  And who knows... that one day experience on April 12 may change an eternity!

During our Sunday Experience at the MCHS gymnasium we're kicking off our "One Month To Live" series and please understand... you need to be inviting as many unconvinced people as you can to hear a very convincing message about the love of God and their first step in their journey of saying "Yes" to His Son, Jesus!  I am seriously praying for an Acts 2:41 experience!

I firmly believe that Jesus died for us... not only to save us from the penalty of our sins... but also to allow us to live a powerful... significant... and influential life until we die... or He comes back.  Otherwise... He would've zapped us into heaven the moment we said "yes" to Him.  "One Month To Live" challenges us to live a "regret-free" life and to fully engaged ourselves to fulfill the purpose God created us to live.  It's an exciting series and I can't wait to dig deep with all who aspire to become fully engaged!  Pray... Invite... Share... Get Ready!

Monday's Musings...

Yesterday was just powerful!  I loved being together with the NMCCfamily... worshiping, sharing, encouraging, and dreaming!  Powerful stuff!

• Got my txt box on the cell phone slammed with "crap"... loved it.
• Got new friends on Facebook... really loved it.
• Got to spend the day with my family... everyone was home... awesome!
• Today... starting off with a baptism... pumped beyond description!
• Working on Sunday's message and really excited about the weekend coming up!
• Praying hard about Easter and the Sunday after! (Thrilled about what God is up to...)
• Looking forward to a couple of days chilling with the family on Spring Break...
• Praying for our Food Outreach tomorrow... we'll offer love and support to over 400 families...
• Over excited about the 140 + volunteers ready to serve on Easter Sunday!

Here's something else that I'm going to be doing this week... Newspringis offering a free webseminar on debt reduction and budgeting.  Here's the 411 on it all.  It's Tuesday night.  I'm planning on attending via the web.  Our team who went to their Unleash Conference was really excited about their "I Was Broke But Now I'm Not" resources for being good stewards with what God has blessed us with.  If you've got the time... check it out with me.  This Tuesday night...

Have You Seen The Yard Signs... (Special MessageTo NMCCers)

It is so exciting to drive down Clifty Dr... Michigan Rd... through Madison's neighborhoods... downtown and see the Easter Experience Yard signs!  Every time I see one... I'm praying for an Acts 2 Experience to happen!

One of the great truths that I have learned and was driven home just lately is that you can't plan a move of God... but you can get ready.  I have no idea what is going to happen on April 19th.  Yes... I said April 19th (the Sunday after Easter).  You see I've been praying about April 12 for sometime now... for over a year when we saw 1100 last year at the Easter Experience.  But the key is... what happens on the next Sunday?

When all of a sudden the believers went from 120 to over 3,000... I can't even imagine the thrill, the rush, the humble celebration... but also the "What now?" in the hearts of the early church.  I would imagine that the fell on their faces and knees and continued to hear the voice of God as He led them as they grew. 

Something very similar could happen here... right here in Madison.  And we are already on our faces and knees listening to the voice of God!  The excitement is building and I am so pumped, thrilled, humbled, and open to what can happen next in our journey to become fully engaged followers of Christ!

Speaking of fully engaged... our series continues this Sunday with "Fully Engaged With Our Friends!"  Can't wait! NMCCer's... the journey continues!

Lukewarm... Me? Really...?

Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" as I wrote here, is really doing surgery on my heart.  In his chapter "Profile of the Lukewarm" he lists the characteristics of a Lukewarm Believer.  See if any of them start "carving" on your heart...

Lukewarm people....

• ...attend church fairly regularly.  It's what is expected of them, what they believe "good Christians" do, so they go.
• ...give money to charity and to the church... as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living.
• ...tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict.
• ...don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin... (think about that one for awhile)
• ...are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not want to change.
• ...rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends...
• ...gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing themselves to the secular world.
• ...say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed a part of their lives.  But only a part.
• ...love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength.
• ...love others but do not seed to love others as much as they love themselves.
• ...serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give.
• ...think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven.
• ...are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor.
• ...do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty.
• ...are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control.
• ...do not live by faith; their lives are structured so that they don't have to.  Truth be told, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God.

Wow!  What's your heart's temperature?

Crazy Love... & Suff....

Francis Chan is really messing with my heart!  I am reading his book "Crazy Love" and it is just challenging me... making me spend more time with God... drilling me in my life choices.  His description of a Lukewarm Christian (which in a sense is an oxymoron) is driving me to my knees.  If you are satisfied with the status quo and mediocre living... don't read this book.  But if you want to take your relationship with God to the next level... pick up this book.  Read it slowly.  Spend time with God about the issues that Francis raises.  It really is crazy love.  You can check out the website www.crazylovebook.com

Also... I am overwhelmed with emotion and excitement!  Many of you know that NMCC is moving the Easter Experience to the MCHS (local high school) gymnasium on April 12.  I knew that we needed lots of volunteers to pull this off:  Parking attendants, greeters, information specialists, etc... and our staff estimated a need of about 125 volunteers.  We had a meeting this past Sunday night... and over 130 showed up with others calling to say they would love to help!  NMCC I love you guys!  This Experience is going to be awesome!  Please be praying for April 12!  I'm praying for an Acts 2 Event!  Already there is excitement mounting in our community as 150 yard signs are in place!  More are on their way!

It's Crazy Love on steroids!

Unleash 2009...

Perry Noble brought it like Perry does... If you have heard Perry speak... you know what I mean.  They are webcasting the main sessions live and you can watch them here.

His take on II Kings 8 was powerful for the church... there are 3 questions that every church needs to ask...

1. Are you willing to embrace change?
2. Are you willing to work?
3. Is your church passionate in reaching the lost?

Lots to it... to catch a quick view of it.... check out www.tonymorganlive.com

Speaking of Tony, I got a chance to meet him... he signed his book "Killing Cockroaches." Great guy... awesome book.

Went to the first breakout session... "For Sr. Pastors Only"   It was a Q & A session with Perry.  Very informative... I sat down and who sat in front of me?  Steven Furtick... who I just heard speak at the C 3 Conference in Dallas!  Wrote him a note of thanks and encouragement... great guy.

I am so pumped about bringing the team here!  I know that it will be a long ride home... but I can't wait to hear their excitement and "take-a-ways" on that ride!

That said... I am pumped about Sunday and the "Engage" series!  This Sunday is "Fully Engaged In My Church!"  Can't wait!

Heading To Unleash...

This is another conference that has been on my "radar" for quite some time.  And what really excites me is that the "powers that be" have designed it to be a 1 day conference that early bird registration was only $35!  You can't buy DVD of conferences for that price.  So we're packing up the crew and heading to Anderson, SC to Newspring Community Church to hear Perry Noble and others encourage, challenge, and inspire what can happen when churches open themselves up to what the Holy Spirit can do to willing hearts!

We travel today the 7 1/2 hours and then on Thursday "Unleash" all day and then... and here's the really "fun" part... travel back to Madison... most likely rolling in around midnight!  Tired... I am sure... but pumped I'm really sure!

Fully Engaged Fully Began...

Sunday was just another awesome day! We kicked off our Fully Engaged series and many had defining moments!  We saw 3 people immersed into Christ... more joined their talents and gifts with the NMCC family during the CLASS 101 time!  It was another time that I thanked God for allowing me to be present right here, right now!

II Chronicles 16:9 says, "The eyes of the Lord are searching the whole earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."  God is looking for those who are fully engaged with Him.  Why?  To give them strength.  Don't know about you... but I could use some supernatural strength that comes from God!

David asked God to search and test his heart... check out the things that displeased Him... Why did he ask God to do that?  So David could work on those areas with God's strength to be the "man after God's own Heart." 

Have you ever asked God to do that to your heart?  That's what we asked the NMCC family this past Sunday as we kicked off this series.  Here are the 10 statements that we scored ourselves from 0 to 10 (0 being totally disengaged; 10 being fully engaged)  We hope to take another score in 4 weeks to see how we've improved.

1. My faith is involved in every aspect of my life.     
2. My faith gives me meaning & purpose in my life.  
3. My faith gives me inner peace.                            
4. I am a person who is spiritually committed.          
5. I spend time in worship everyday.                        
6. My faith has allowed me to forgive people who have hurt me deeply.
7. My faith plays a huge part in developing my gifts & talents.
8. I will take unpopular stands to defend my faith.
9. I speak words of kindness to encourage others.
10. I talk about my faith with those who are yet to be convinced about the claims of Christ.

Embedded in those statements are relationship builders with God, (reading your bible, praying, etc)other believers, (corporate worship, volunteering, ministry, etc) and with the unconvinced.  How are you doing?

You can hear the message here.  I'm really looking forward toward the rest of this series as it is preparing us for the great Easter Experience coming in April.  More on that later!