We just started a new series called Game Changers. During the four weeks of the series we'll be looking at four different people in the bible to see how they changed the world around them and what lessons from their lives we can apply to our own (that was a long sentence). When I think of game changers, I think of athletes. I think of people like Michael Jordan, Albert Pujols, and Peyton Manning. However, those guys are the best at what they do or did in Jordan's case. But if we can only be game changers (for the kingdom of God) if we're the best at what we do then most of us are in trouble. What about the rest of us mortals? Can we still be game changers? There's another athlete that we might be able to relate to a little easier. His name is Robert Horry, or as he became known over the course of his career, Big Shot Rob.
Here's the great thing about Robert Horry...he was never the best player on his teams. For most of his career he came off the bench...he was a role player. A role player that hit 7 game winning shots in the playoffs and won 7 NBA championships with 3 different NBA teams. He played with guys like Hakeem Olajuwon, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan...how does a guy playing with that kind of talent...a guy coming off the bench, become known as one of the most clutch players of all time? It's a simple answer and it's the first thing we must learn if we want to be game changers. Robert Horry had a willingness to take the shot. When the game was on the line, when the pressure was at its peak and the ball was passed to him...he didn't pass it to someone else...he didn't freeze...he took the shot.
Your ability to change the world around you isn't about talent, or finances, or even spiritual maturity. It most often boils down to one thing. Are you willing to take the shot? Are you willing to take some risks? Are you willing to ask that co-worker to church...are you willing to reach out to a neighbor you know is hurting? Robert Horry could have passed the ball to more talented players and nobody would have blamed him for it but instead time after time he stepped up and took the shot. Regardless of what you believe, you have the talent and gifts necessary to change your world. The question is are you going to step up and take the shot.
Laugh or Go Crazy
This past week, Solomon's Porch embarked on its first mass mailing campaign. We sent jumbo sized postcards to 10,000 homes here in Richardson. Mailing campaigns like this are always a little risky...they aren't cheap (although the price per home is about 23 cents)...and obviously there's no guarantee people will show up because of a piece of mail. While I'll be disappointed if we don't see any foot traffic as a result of our efforts, I believe simply letting people know we're here and putting our name in front of them is important. So, as the postcards have hit mailboxes the last few days, I've wondered what, if any impact they were having. This morning I went to check my email and I had my answer.
I got an email from a gentleman letting me know he got our card......and then he preceded to ask me to take him off our mailing list...hahaha. So I guess my questions have been answered. People are getting the cards and they are having an impact...although it's not exactly what we were going for it's a start.
If you ever think about planting a church, I have one important piece of advice for you. If you don't have a good sense of humor, don't do it. It's a crazy ride, with lots of ups and downs...you better be able to laugh.
I got an email from a gentleman letting me know he got our card......and then he preceded to ask me to take him off our mailing list...hahaha. So I guess my questions have been answered. People are getting the cards and they are having an impact...although it's not exactly what we were going for it's a start.
If you ever think about planting a church, I have one important piece of advice for you. If you don't have a good sense of humor, don't do it. It's a crazy ride, with lots of ups and downs...you better be able to laugh.
Making the Most of It
When we decided to make the move to Texas to plant Solomon's Porch, we did some significant downsizing. The most dramatic part of the downsizing process was moving from a three bedroom house, with a great backyard, into a two bedroom apartment. We have two children, which means now our kids share a room. Needless to say, this is not an ideal situation, especially when you have a boy and a girl, and they are four years apart. My son is headed into 6th grade and he's sharing a room with a 2nd grader. It's not even close when it comes to the issues they're dealing with and being in the same room just complicates matters.
So how do you give your kids a little privacy when they share a room? How do you give them a space to call their own, to put their own personal touches on? Well, thanks to my wonderful wife and her ability to make the most out of a less than ideal situation...you give them tents! She even let them write and draw on the tents to make them their own. So far the kids are loving it, and although we hope to give them their own rooms again one day, we're all learning to make the most out of where we are.
The hardest thing about planting Solomon's Porch, at least so far, has been the affect that it has had on our kids. In many ways, our kids have sacrificed a great deal more than us. As a father, that's a hard pill to swallow and one I wrestle with daily. Although we can't change our living situation right now, we can make the most of it. I thank God for a wife that's doing just that for our kids.
Maybe your current situation is less than ideal. Make the most of it. When you do, five or ten years from now, you'll look back on this time with fond memories instead of regrets.
Here are a few pictures of their new "rooms."
So how do you give your kids a little privacy when they share a room? How do you give them a space to call their own, to put their own personal touches on? Well, thanks to my wonderful wife and her ability to make the most out of a less than ideal situation...you give them tents! She even let them write and draw on the tents to make them their own. So far the kids are loving it, and although we hope to give them their own rooms again one day, we're all learning to make the most out of where we are.
The hardest thing about planting Solomon's Porch, at least so far, has been the affect that it has had on our kids. In many ways, our kids have sacrificed a great deal more than us. As a father, that's a hard pill to swallow and one I wrestle with daily. Although we can't change our living situation right now, we can make the most of it. I thank God for a wife that's doing just that for our kids.
Maybe your current situation is less than ideal. Make the most of it. When you do, five or ten years from now, you'll look back on this time with fond memories instead of regrets.
Here are a few pictures of their new "rooms."
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| Jordan's Tent |
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| Sydney's Tent |
Compassion On
During my prep time for the message this past Sunday, I read a familiar verse in a familiar parable. However, while reading it, I had an anything but familiar wake up call and it all hinged on one word.
The verse is found in the parable of the good Samaritan. This is what it says...But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. Luke 10:33 (KJV)
I read this verse and one word jumped up at me, the word ON. Now, on the surface it doesn't look like much but I believe this one word speaks volumes about the kind of Christians we are called to be. Why doesn't Jesus say the Samaritan had compassion for the man? Why does he say he had compassion on the man? He uses the word on because there's a huge difference between having compassion for someone and having compassion on them. Having compassion for someone is passive. It's a feeling and nothing but a feeling. Having compassion on someone is active and goes beyond just the initial feeling and results in action.
Having compassion for someone is saying, "My heart goes out to the kids in our community that can't afford school supplies." Having compassion on someone is saying, "My heart goes out to those kids so we're going to give away backpacks and school supplies to help them out." As a church, as believers, it's more important for us to have compassion on people...to take action and do something about the hurt and pain we see around us. Lord forgive us for simply having compassion for people and challenge us to start having compassion on them.
Show compassion on someone this week.
The verse is found in the parable of the good Samaritan. This is what it says...But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. Luke 10:33 (KJV)
I read this verse and one word jumped up at me, the word ON. Now, on the surface it doesn't look like much but I believe this one word speaks volumes about the kind of Christians we are called to be. Why doesn't Jesus say the Samaritan had compassion for the man? Why does he say he had compassion on the man? He uses the word on because there's a huge difference between having compassion for someone and having compassion on them. Having compassion for someone is passive. It's a feeling and nothing but a feeling. Having compassion on someone is active and goes beyond just the initial feeling and results in action.
Having compassion for someone is saying, "My heart goes out to the kids in our community that can't afford school supplies." Having compassion on someone is saying, "My heart goes out to those kids so we're going to give away backpacks and school supplies to help them out." As a church, as believers, it's more important for us to have compassion on people...to take action and do something about the hurt and pain we see around us. Lord forgive us for simply having compassion for people and challenge us to start having compassion on them.
Show compassion on someone this week.
The Power of Ordinary
Sometimes we're guilty of falling into the trap of believing that in order for something to be considered extraordinary it has to be big, cost a lot of money, or leave us with an emotional high. I'm afraid churches are the worst when it comes to this mentality. I'm not anti-big event, in fact I love big events, but I think in our quest to be extraordinary we've lost sight of the power of ordinary.
Most of us would agree Jesus was pretty extraordinary. In fact, the whole Son of God, raise people from the dead, live a sinless life, tends to make you the most extraordinary person of all time. We even read in scripture where he walked on water. However, the bible only mentions him walking on water one time. Every other time, the bible says he got in a boat to cross to the other side. Why? I mean if I could walk on water, if I could do something that extraordinary, I'm never setting foot in another boat. So why would he choose the boat over walking on water? Why would Jesus choose ordinary over extraordinary? Here's why...relationships are built in the boat! Ministry takes place in the boat! The boat may be ordinary, but it's in the boat that life change happens. Jesus knew he could walk on water and get to the other side faster, but just imagine all the time he would have lost "doing life" with the disciples...valuable time that he gained by doing something ordinary.
As a church planter, I'm constantly praying for the extraordinary and I believe Solomon's Porch is called to do extraordinary things in Richardson. However, I'm beginning to learn that there's also power in the ordinary. There's power in getting in the boat with other people, of living life with them in plain, simple, ordinary ways. I'm learning that it's possible to be great while being ordinary.
Most of us would agree Jesus was pretty extraordinary. In fact, the whole Son of God, raise people from the dead, live a sinless life, tends to make you the most extraordinary person of all time. We even read in scripture where he walked on water. However, the bible only mentions him walking on water one time. Every other time, the bible says he got in a boat to cross to the other side. Why? I mean if I could walk on water, if I could do something that extraordinary, I'm never setting foot in another boat. So why would he choose the boat over walking on water? Why would Jesus choose ordinary over extraordinary? Here's why...relationships are built in the boat! Ministry takes place in the boat! The boat may be ordinary, but it's in the boat that life change happens. Jesus knew he could walk on water and get to the other side faster, but just imagine all the time he would have lost "doing life" with the disciples...valuable time that he gained by doing something ordinary.
As a church planter, I'm constantly praying for the extraordinary and I believe Solomon's Porch is called to do extraordinary things in Richardson. However, I'm beginning to learn that there's also power in the ordinary. There's power in getting in the boat with other people, of living life with them in plain, simple, ordinary ways. I'm learning that it's possible to be great while being ordinary.
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