In Your Words...?

Truly a “Champion for Christ.”

What words come to your mind?

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31

Twitterin'

I have completely submersed myself into twittering, and I can tell you this much - I love it. It is just a cool way to stay connected to people throughout busy days and lives and all the stuff we all do all the time. When a twitter pops up on my phone (comes in as a text) from one of my friends like @n8_da_gr8 and @brooksferguson it makes me feel like I’m right there with them.

There are some pastors who have influenced me who are twittering now too - @perrynoble, @markbatterson, @bobbygwald, @dougfields and a bunch of others.

And there’s also some @NewLifer’s who are twittering. You can check out all of those by visiting the list of those I’m following on twitter here.

Hi, I'm Brandon and I'm a Workaholic...

Ok, not really, but I'm trying everything in my power to make sure that statement never becomes true. Our current series, "The Office" has helped me to evaluate where I am at.

For many of us, our jobs can be an addiction -- we thrive on being needed, working like mad, and being in control of the whole show.

In fact...I believe that in anyone who truly loves what they do, the workaholic lurks just under the surface waiting for an opportunity to take over. Knowing that, I want to be extremely self-aware and I want make sure I'm paying attention to anything that could derail or sideline me from doing what I love doing.

One of those things that can derail us is working too much, so I've been thinking of some characteristic of the workaholic:

• The curse of the workaholic is that they live for being needed. You're so important. You have to be at all the meetings because people might make a bad decision without your presence to show them the error of their ways. What if there's a crisis? Nobody's as good as you are in a crisis, right? WRONG! But that's a lie of the workaholic.
• Workaholics thrive on the constant decisions. They feel like they are good at decisions, so they became like a computer program that anyone could gain access to. They get questions like "this is breaking, what should we do?", "we need goals, what should we do?", "we need a this or that, what should we do?" Most workaholics feel like they thrive when everything rises to the top.
• Workaholics can't leave work...AT work! They bring the office home with them and home just become 'more work.' I've noticed that this can especially happen in ministry! We rationalize this by saying, "ministry is what happens outside the church" so we answer every call and email just like we were in the office.
• Workaholics feel like they thrive on a little stress. They feel stress is a sign of being on their way to becoming a high-achiever.
• Workaholics use their job as their main source of feeling good about themselves. They feel like a success if their "job" is thriving. (this could very easily become a soapbox topic for me so I won't comment on how ridiculous this is...)

As I look back at these I realize that NOT all of these have to be true to be a workaholic, but for me, I don't want ANY of them to ever be true.

Big Questions that I've been considering this week:

• How do I schedule my time so that 'family' always stays first?
• How do I continue to let other people surge ahead in their leadership and give them more opportunities to lead?
• How do I always make sure I'm getting some rest without getting rid of the thing I love to do? (For me that's ministry.)
• How do we keep ministry going up and too the right without anyone burning out from ministry fatigue?

Answering God's Call

Meet Rick and Brooke, their two daughters Maddy and Gracie, and their son Ezekiel (he'll be here soon.) They are two of our dearest friends. We are so excited for them...their beautiful family is preparing to move to Thailand.

Ever since I've kown them they have had a heart for Thailand and felt that God was leading them there. They will be teaching in some orphanages and doing outreaches in Thailand, Burma, and Pakistan. They are going to be busy working hard to advance the Kingdom of God.

I am proud of them. I am proud to be able to say that I serve along side of them in God's Kingdom! I will pray for them daily and have already had a few conversations about some short term mission trips with teams from NewLife to Thailand!

I can't wait...

Will you help me pray for them?

Matthew 28:18-20 - Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

How Can You Pray For NewLife?

I thought I would do a post today that anyone who reads could get involved in.  I know that we have some awesome people who pray for NewLife on a regular basis.  Just thought you should know that I appreciate the prayers and would love to have you pray for us!!!!

Here are some things you can pray about:

• That Jesus is made famous. That is the only reason we do what we do. We want to reach people who are far from God, plain and simple.
• Pray for our staff.  The amount of hours that are put in by our team behind the scenes and during the week is overwhelming...especially considering they work other jobs.  Pray for their time, their rest, their walks with God, and their families as we press forward in doing what God's called us to do.
  
• Pray for me. Yes, that sounds weird. I have NEVER been one to ask for prayer but the reality is that as the Lead Pastor the pressure I feel right now is off the charts. At one time I would have apologized for asking you to pray for me specifically but not now. God has been dealing with me about some BIG things that are to come and I am focused on the entire church, every ministry, finances, etc. I appreciate the prayers.
• Speaking of finances. God has showed up time and time again through the people of NewLife as so many of you have stepped up to the plate. As you pray and as we continue to give I know provision is going to be there to do all that God is calling us to do.
  
• Distractions. This is how the devil works. Today, I have been letting little things bug me that should not be bugging me.  I need to focus on keeping the main thing, the main thing. 
  

Ministry

Years ago when I took a volunteer youth pastor position I had no idea how God was obviously preparing me for journey that I never would have thought I'd go on.

I am so thankful for all the things that God has taught me. I look back and see how so much has changed since I was 19 years old volunteering in youth ministry.

Here’s what hasn’t changed…

• I’m still humbled that God called me to do what I get to do.
• I’m still convinced we live in a world that desperately needs the forgiveness, hope and love that only comes through Jesus.
• I’m still figuring out what it is to be a fully-devoted follower of Christ.
• I’m still discovering how to help others be all that God designed them to be.
• I’m still passionate about the potential for the local church and its impact in people’s lives.
• I’m still waiting to see what God does next.

It's been awesome to have a front row seat to see people commit to following Jesus. To see people experience physical, relational and spiritual healing in ways that could only be classified as miracles. And to have the opportunity to share that experience with people I love.

What an honor. I don't deserve it.

I’m still a work in progress.
He must become greater. I must become less. Why doesn’t that get easier?
You’d think I’d learn. In case you haven’t figured it out, God’s not done with me yet.

Please be patient.

The Church

The Church is the plan of God on earth, always in her Father's eye.
Cherished, mysterious, beautiful and potent beyond measure.
She emerges triumphant, limitless with potential.
A harbour for the hopeless, and an answer for the ages.

The Church resplendent, a bride for his Son.
She grows in wisdom and stature, with victory on her lips and freedom in her hands.
Hers is an unstoppable cause.
She embraces the world with dignity, honour and compassion.
She gives vision to the sightless and life to the dying.

The Church is the family of God on earth.
Within her compass the hungry find sustenance and the weary strength.
She is a haven for recovering humanity.
Enthralled by grace.
She invites the broken, the vulnerable and the outcast to be immersed in love.

The Church is the house of heaven on earth.
Called out to serve the world.
Calling out to welcome in.
Like her Master, the church is pursued and persecuted; yet she rises with strength in her heart and fire in her soul.

She is the bride of Christ on earth, prepared and presented before the Lord, the Lamb for whom the world waits.
He comes like the rising sun - majestic and magnificent beyond description while she dazzles with reflected glory.
Spotless, perfect and mature.
she bows low to cast her crowns and passionately worship him.

She is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

YOU ARE THE CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
- by Robert Fergusson

Why Is It...?

...that the wrong choices seem better than the right choices?

...that it’s really easy to be selfish even though you know it’s wrong?

...that you know you can choose to forgive and move on, but still hang on to past hurts? even though you know you’ll be so much better off if you just let go?

COMMON SENSE eludes me often.

You?

Chasing Your Dreams

In an effort to be transparent here...you should know dreams keep me going.

Dreams of what's possible.
Dreams of the future.

I have an aversion to the past and an annoyance with the present. In fact, I have a hard time remembering things from my childhood. Each move, each transition has felt like a new sector in my brain's hard drive. The experiences are there, but they feel like a whole other life. I guess it's the way I'm wired. I've got my eyes on what's ahead...always.

The nice thing that I'm learning is that it doesn't matter what I'm going through, what I'm enduring...as long as I've got a dream for the future, I'm good.

And do you know what I've found to be the two biggest barriers to accomplishing dreams?
The standard of living to which I've grown accustomed.
The nay-saying of other people.

It's never capability.

Of course, it might be, but most of us never find out for sure because we get tripped up on these two hurdles.

Dream-chasers have to find away to remove these factors.

Some Monday Thoughts

I thought yesterday was great!  Here's just a few quick thoughts that I've been thinking this morning...

• Whoever knew you could play Scruples at church?
  
• LifeTeams started again last night!  Awesome time had at all our groups and great turn-outs. If you aren't in a LifeTeam you NEED to get in one. It's important that we do life together!
  
• The worship was AWESOME! (yes...I still use that word and yes...I was a child of the 80's) We sang one of my favorite worship songs right now...Came To The Rescue.  That song describes what happened to me...I called and HE answered!  My life has never been the same since HE rescued me.
  
• People forgot to get there early this week.  Counted only about 22 in service when we BEGAN! Filled in but less than a third were in there ON-TIME!  Get here early people! It's not good when we have first time guests sitting in the sanctuary by themselves wondering if anyone goes to this church.  We don't show up to the football game or the movie late!  Why do we do it at church?
  
• I am extremely pumped about what's coming after our current series.  We're laying the groundwork now for the rest of this fall and for our Christmas series.  I am so excited about what God is showing me…it's laying the foundation for what I believe God wants our church to deal with through the end of the year!
  
• Here’s our prayer this week, it’s a real simple prayer and when you find you're in one of these very challenging ethical dilemmas or you’re not that you pray this prayer—God, give me the wisdom to know what’s right, give me the courage to do what’s right no matter how hard.  And the question is, how much is your integrity worth? 
  
• Next week we're going to talk about Balance...is it possible?  How do we juggle our job, family, and other priorities?
  
• NewLife…I probably dont' say this enough, but I love this church!  I love what God is calling us to–and I can’t wait to see what He has right around the corner.  Things are JUST GETTING STARTED!
  
• Jesus...help all those who've been affected by IKE. 
  
• I love to hear my son laugh!
  

What Complaining Says About You

The opposite of complaining is leading...

If you don't like a decision your boss makes, lead up.
If you don't like your office culture, lead around you.
If you don't like your circumstances, lead through it.
If you don't like your church's short-comings, lead out.

Complaining is a sign of giving up. It's admitting that you're a follower, not a leader. A leader is a never a victim. But someone who sees that all conditions are subject to change with the right influence.

Politics & Church

This week the Washington Post ran an interesting article regarding the 54-year-old ban on political endorsements by tax-exempt houses of worship.

As a pastor and leader at NewLife I am apolitical, but not just for IRS-related purposes. If there's one thing that can be learned from world history, it's that the hope of the world is not found in politics.

I like to look at it this way...I follow the presidential race like I follow a season of NBA basketball(understand I'm not a BIG basketball fan): entertaining storylines & personalities, thought-provoking debates among media personalities, but at the end of the day I don't rest my eternal hope in it.

The fact of the matter is you cannot legislate morality. Lives are eternally changed not by laws, but by Jesus.

Think about it - Jesus did not run for the Roman Senate, try to overthrow the ruling Caesar or governors, organize boycotts, or donate to political organizations.

Jesus was about building relationships one-on-one and pointing people far from God to a forgiven future. Behavior modification is not the goal; seeing hearts and lives transformed by God's uncensored grace is.

Jesus is what I'm about this election season.
His flag is the one I'm going to fly.
He's the One I'm going to point friends and neighbors to.
His Kingdom fires up my passions.

Making the name of Jesus famous is my cause.

L.T.

I had the privilege of watching Ladanian Tomlinson (LT) play football at TCU for four years. He always conducted himself with such class and is a phenomenal football player.

When you look at his life it's easy to see that he is an ideal ambassador for the game of football and life. He does it the right way. 

What a man - and quite obviously, God's man! After watching this I admire him even all the more, if that was possible!?!

Hurricane Relief: Can You Help?

Last Monday, Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast region. As of September 5, power is expected to be out in parts of Louisiana for about 4-6 weeks and many people’s homes are destroyed.

One of the churches involved with us in One Prayer was Healing Place Church which is located in Baton Rouge and they are working to assist with relief efforts.

You can still help. Folks are still in great need for blue tarps. I thought it would be awesome if we could help them out by donating one or several. You can order them individually online and have them sent to the address below:

Healing Place Church
19202 Highland Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
225.753.2273

Here’s a video from Senior Pastor Dino Rizzo further describing the need for assistance:
Hurricane Torn Baton Rouge Needs Our Help!!! from Catalyst on Vimeo.

LABOR Day(S)

This past weekend was apropriately named..."LABOR DAY WEEKEND." Because that's what we did...intense LABOR is the only way I know how to describe it. =)

With the help of 2 Grandpas and 2 VERY good friends...we put together my son's new playset before his birthday on Tuesday.

This picture was taken "hours" into our working on it. What I'm saying is...it tooks us awhile to get to here.

We knew we were gettting closer...but these pictures were taken on DAY TWO.

Some of us worked HARDER than others... =)

But in the end it was all worth it...especially when we saw this!

Thanks for all the help guys...

Something I Read...

Still reflecting back on what Nathan had to say this past weekend on Me, Myself, and I...
I stumbled across this and it stopped me in my tracks.

To sinful patterns of behavior that never get confronted and changed,
Abilities and gifts that never get cultivated and deployed-
Until weeks become months
And months turn into years,
And one day you’re looking back on a life of
Deep intimate gut-wretchingly honest conversations you never had;
Great bold prayers you never prayed,
Exhilarating risk you never took,
Sacrificial gifts you never offered,
Lives you never touched,
And you’re sitting in a recliner with a shriveled soul,
And forgotten dreams,
And you realize there was a world in desperate need,
And a great God calling you to be part of something bigger than yourself-
You see the person you could have become but did not; You never followed your calling.
You never got out of the boat.

Gregg Lovey, quoted by John Ortberg in his book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.

JESUS...I pray that you would make us water-walkers and save us from a life of mediocrity!

Nate"isms"

This past Sunday at NewLife Nathan shared a powerful message. Here are some of the things he said that grabbed my attention:

• We live in a "me"istic society.
• We ALL suffer from this "me" disease.
• 1 Cor. 12:12
• The Mirror Test: What is it God that I need to change?
• Luke 9:23
• What are you doing? It's time to get outside of ourselves and serve.
• Do something that makes you so umcomfortable that you have to say God help me, I can't do this on my own.
• Mark 10:45
• Selfishness takes, Selflessness gives.
• Hebrews 6:1 We need to move on to Maturity.
• We've got to get outisde of what we like.
• Don't let us become the modern day Pharisees.
• Ephesians 5:15-16

Happy Birthday Braden

I thought he would never...
- Stop crying
- Say "dada"
- Ride facing forward in the car
- Turn one
- Walk
- Turn two
- Drink out of a cup without a lid
- Use a fork by himself
- Stop obsessing about Jonah and the big fish
- Buckle himself in his car seat
- Move out of a crib
- Turn three
- Play baseball
- Learn to swim
- Eat chicken wings
- Turn four

Today we celebrate Braden's birthday (a bit reluctantly for me). When we brought him home from the hospital age four seemed like an eternity away. Then all the sudden he was four. He is not a baby anymore.

I am so proud of the little boy he's becoming. I am proud to be called his father.

I love you Braden and can't wait to watch you write the story of your life with God's help. Your mom and I are your BIGGEST fans! Happy Birthday!