got credibility? keep repeating!

(This is a blog from Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch in Oklahoma that I found very interesting when thinking of my own friend and pastor Brad Martin of RiverPoint Church. Brad has been a pastor for at least a decade as well. Some of this sounds VERY familiar).

The Credibility of the Second Decade

In the first decade, I was the young guy. People called me the “kid preacher.” They used to tell me,

“Keep practicing; you’ll be a good preacher one day.”As the church got off the ground, people would say:

• “You’re just a kid. Why should I follow you?”
• “You won’t be here long. You’ll leave for some bigger church one day soon.”
• “You won’t last. You go too hard. You’ll burn out.”
• “Your crazy ideas will never work.”

In the second decade, people believe me when I tell them I’m committed for life. They believe me when I tell them Amy and I have a good marriage. They believe me when I tell them I’m spiritually healthy and growing.

Integrity + Longevity = Great Influence

Now when I speak, I don’t have to shout for people to listen. I don’t have to be funny to get their attention. I don’t have to prove myself to gain credibility.

I praise God that I get to serve Him in the second decade!

How are you gaining credibility?

Keep praying, reading the word, listening THEN, repeat!! Thanks Brad for being my friend, pastor and spiritual leader!!!

God Rocks!

-tom

firm foundation? (where’s yours?)

You probably remember and have sung many times the old hymn that included the verse about God as our “firm foundation”? 

Any builder will tell you that the most important part of a building is its foundation. An office building can rise to dizzying heights, but, if its foundation isn’t sound, it will all amount to a pile of rubble. It’s interesting that the Bible deliberately describes Jesus as being the foundation of our lives, and there are three specific ways that He fulfills this function.
First of all, a building’s foundation must be sufficiently deep. Once the depth for the foundation has been determined and the hole dug, there is no need to dig any deeper. In a spiritual sense, there is no need for a person to go any deeper than Christ. There is no spiritual mystery that does not have its answer in Jesus, for we are told that in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3).
Another aspect of a foundation is that it’s
single. It would be disastrous for a building to have two or more foundations because any seam would be a breach in its structural integrity. In our own lives, we need to understand that we cannot combine Jesus with another foundation. He simply will not share that place with anyone or anything else. Christ Himself taught “if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light” (Matthew 6:22 KJV). Our lives ought to be single in their focus, and we do this when we understand that our foundation is in Him and Him alone.
Finally, and most obviously, a foundation is
supportive. Every ounce of a building is ultimately supported by its foundation? It’s framework, windows, elevators, office furniture, even the paperclips inside are all held up by the foundation. Similarly, Jesus Christ supports every aspect of our lives. Big or small, massive or minute, there is absolutely nothing about us that isn’t ultimately supported by Him for as Jesus said, “without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
What a firm foundation we have in Christ! He is sufficiently deep, He is our single source of stability, and He is supportive of every aspect of our lives that we yield to Him.

What are some faulty foundations in your life?
How has Jesus proven Himself as a firm foundation in your life?

This speaks to me in a big, big way. As I look at where RiverPoint Church is, continuing to lead others not only to seek and have a relationship with Jesus Christ, but to also instruct them to do the same with the rest of the spiritually lost in our world in a real and relevant way. I am proud to work with a group of people who are becoming committed to what Christ called this Church to be from it’s very beginning! A sanctuary for healing, growing and leading people who will “work hard for God” in Harvey County Kansas!

Lord, you rock!!

-tom

the unhurried life

As we begin 2008 most of us are making plans and setting goals that can, unless we are very careful, do the very opposite of what we intended.

Planning and goal-setting are not intended to speed up our life, rather to slow them down. They are not intended to add more to our lives, but to take more of the things out of our lives that don’t contribute to our long-term objectives.

There are two important things you need to know about hurry as we begin the New Year.

1. Hurry makes you stupid. Not just you, me – everyone. When you try to hurry your relationships, hurry your goals or visions, your hopes for the future; when you try to hurry God, or hurry up spiritual growth, you get really dumb, really quickly, only trying to get through rather than understanding that all these things take time. So slow down. Eliminate the things from your life that cause you to hurry.

2. Hurry damages everything.It damages relationships, joy, peace, and the ability to get smarter and better at what you do. There’s nothing in life worth doing that requires you to hurry. Remember, Jesus Christ, who had the greatest mission on earth didn’t have cars, phones, faxes, the Internet, or iPhones. Yet he was able to accomplish everything God sent him to do by walking from place to place.

If you already feel overwhelmed and hurried, opt for the unhurried life; the life that knows exactly where it’s going and what it’s here to achieve. None of us are about many things, but few of us are about a few things over which we’re willing to give our best.

Feel hurried? Do a couple of these things:

1. Plan your week, not your day.
2. Pray until you feel settled and peaceful.
3. Quit doing things that you’ve been doing just because they are a part of your routine or have become habit.
4. Throw away the clutter around you; mail catalogues, emails, if you’re not going to use them, throw them away.

You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

-tom (borrowed mostly from David Foster)

yes, i am driving now

Although I have had the opportunity to drive a super powered sports car this week, I am more excited about the “Drive” series and LifeGroup study that we are beginning at RiverPoint Church during the month of January. For my RiverPoint friends, now more than ever is the time to be inviting all you come in contact with to worship on Sunday morning and to be a part of a LifeGroup at RPC!! Our LifeGroup met last night and used the first lesson of the “Drive” study that Brad prayerfully put together for all of us to be able to join in study at the same time during January! This is stinkin’ exciting stuff! Rock On Brad!! 2008 is going to be the absolute most amazing year in my life. I am looking forward to experiencing it with all of you!!! Love you Sharon Ann!!

 -tom