There are two ways of understanding the story of the Bible.
The first is that Adam and Eve ate an apple that God told them not to eat and all hell broke loose. People started hating their spouses, their kids, animals and even Rockies fans. Then God sent his son to torture him on the cross so that he would not take his anger out on us. All we have to do is pray a little incantation called the sinners prayer, where we tell Jesus we have accepted what he has done for us and then we don’t have to go to hell. We can then file our new eternal life policy in a drawer somewhere and go on with our lives being virtually the same. Unfortunately this is the version of the story that is believed by so many.
The second version goes like this. Adam and Eve were two people like the rest of us. They did in the garden what we do every day. They chose to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil meaning they chose a life that makes sense to their mind and leaves them in control. By choosing to eat from this tree they cut themselves off from intimacy with the relational, triune, loving God of the universe. The result was isolation, boredom and escapism, which lead to every imaginable form of evil. God sent Jesus into the world to show us that what we want most, God’s love; is available to us. He died to show us the nature of God’s love – forgiving, sacrificial, committed and totally unconditional. We can choose God’s love or reject it. If we choose it then we are signing up for a relationship that will cost us our whole lives because God is an “all in or no deal” God. But he promises us that if we make this commitment he will restore our souls and help us be our best version of ourselves. This is what some people call spiritual formation. It leads to a life of joy, hope, adventure, meaning and most important of all, love.
I know which version I like better. How about you?
Visit our website for our church in Denver join us for a Denver service project.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Lessons Learned from Re-Work
Lessons Learned from Re-Work by Jason Fried and Heinenmeier Hansson
Here are a few things I learned today from a book called, “Re-work.”
Don’t prioritize with A’, B’s and C’s or 1,2,3’s. Put at the top of your page the most important thing you need to do and then the second thing and so on and so forth. It creates momentum in the direction you want to go.
Forget advertising. Build an audience instead. Advertising is really expensive and only big companies (and churches) can do it well. Instead build an audience. Teach people what you are learning (like I am right now) and your following will grow over time.
Meetings waste huge amounts of time. Have a time limit, a set agenda and deal with real things rather than abstracts.
Early on, hire doers, not managers. You need people who manage themselves and get things done.
Build the business (or church) you want to be a part of. You better understand your needs than anyone else so build around those and do it really well believing there are people out there just like you.
Start with what you have and build. Don’t wait until you have everything planned and enough capital. People who wait until they have enough money and a solid plan never get started. Launch now.
Interruptions are of the devil. Protect your work time from distractions.
Long lists don’t get done. Make a list of 10 things rather than 100 and then break those lists down into 10.
Do less than others. Focus.
Hire when it hurts. Wait until you need a position so bad that it feels like you are going to die without it.
Skip the rock stars. Hire solid people and develop them.
If you are in Denver, you are welcomne to visit our Denver church or join us for our Denver service project this Saturday.
Here are a few things I learned today from a book called, “Re-work.”
Don’t prioritize with A’, B’s and C’s or 1,2,3’s. Put at the top of your page the most important thing you need to do and then the second thing and so on and so forth. It creates momentum in the direction you want to go.
Forget advertising. Build an audience instead. Advertising is really expensive and only big companies (and churches) can do it well. Instead build an audience. Teach people what you are learning (like I am right now) and your following will grow over time.
Meetings waste huge amounts of time. Have a time limit, a set agenda and deal with real things rather than abstracts.
Early on, hire doers, not managers. You need people who manage themselves and get things done.
Build the business (or church) you want to be a part of. You better understand your needs than anyone else so build around those and do it really well believing there are people out there just like you.
Start with what you have and build. Don’t wait until you have everything planned and enough capital. People who wait until they have enough money and a solid plan never get started. Launch now.
Interruptions are of the devil. Protect your work time from distractions.
Long lists don’t get done. Make a list of 10 things rather than 100 and then break those lists down into 10.
Do less than others. Focus.
Hire when it hurts. Wait until you need a position so bad that it feels like you are going to die without it.
Skip the rock stars. Hire solid people and develop them.
If you are in Denver, you are welcomne to visit our Denver church or join us for our Denver service project this Saturday.
Denver Church Saturday Night Reflections
What a night! This last Saturday was one of the greatest worship services I have ever had the joy to be a part of.
Two were adults who had little to no church background. It was a very emotional time. What a privilege to celebrate the fruit of our churches co-laboring efforts with God.
A highlight for me was baptizing my own daughter! To know she loves Jesus and that we will spend eternity together is a great assurance.
We are singing more and more. It also seems we are praying more. You can feel it!
We are growing. We have had so many new people come the last two weeks. It is very fun to see so many new faces every week.
We are on mission as a church! People are getting out of their comfort zones to pray, fast, share their faith, serve, and give. This is the stuff of revivals. No kidding.
People are hungry for the Word of God. I can’t believe I am hearing people ask me to preach longer. I mean what pastor hears that? It is not indicative of my preaching, it is a hunger in our church to hear from God and have him feed our souls with his Word.
I can’t wait for this next week. We will talk about Extreme Makeovers. This is what makes us unique as a church -a church in Denver. We have a rhythm of serving that is creating missionaries. We will work on thirteen homes in two weeks. Pray we are a huge blessing to those families. I am sure we will be the one’s whose hearts are made over in the end.
Two were adults who had little to no church background. It was a very emotional time. What a privilege to celebrate the fruit of our churches co-laboring efforts with God.
A highlight for me was baptizing my own daughter! To know she loves Jesus and that we will spend eternity together is a great assurance.
We are singing more and more. It also seems we are praying more. You can feel it!
We are growing. We have had so many new people come the last two weeks. It is very fun to see so many new faces every week.
We are on mission as a church! People are getting out of their comfort zones to pray, fast, share their faith, serve, and give. This is the stuff of revivals. No kidding.
People are hungry for the Word of God. I can’t believe I am hearing people ask me to preach longer. I mean what pastor hears that? It is not indicative of my preaching, it is a hunger in our church to hear from God and have him feed our souls with his Word.
I can’t wait for this next week. We will talk about Extreme Makeovers. This is what makes us unique as a church -a church in Denver. We have a rhythm of serving that is creating missionaries. We will work on thirteen homes in two weeks. Pray we are a huge blessing to those families. I am sure we will be the one’s whose hearts are made over in the end.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Easter was awesome
Last Saturday was our first Easter and it was a huge hit. It was great to see so many new people! And our kid”s ministry was packed out! The best part of the day, for me, was when I saw so many hands go up when we prayed to renounce certain idols in our lives and turn to the risen Christ. Those are the kinds of decisions that can lead to deep change and spiritual growth.
Saturday was a foretaste of this coming fall. The energy, the sense of God’s Spirit in the room, the kids running around everywhere – that will be our norm before long.
I was also encouraged by several of my church planting friends in town who had great Easter services. God was very good to Restoration Community Church in Denver this week!
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