Find another church . . .

Here's the deal on what I said this past weekend about encouraging people to find another church if they just want to sit on the sidelines, be fed week in and week out, and be consumer "Christians."

Far too many people in the USA attend a church rather than "be" the church. And the church can never be what God wants it to be if we're not all participating in the Body of Christ.

Now, if you are healing or still trying to decide if you want to be a Jesus-follower, that's a different story. At times we're wounded and need time to recoup. At times we need to figure things out.

All I'm saying is that being a follower of Jesus (which implies you are part of the church) means an active faith. It means we don't "come" to church to be entertained. We "go out" as the church to bring God's Kingdom now and forever. If you're attending a RiverTree Campus to "fill up," and you never "go out," then you'll just be a fat Christian. You'll be continually uncomfortable at RiverTree because that's not what we're about. It would probably be best if you found another church. BUT, if you want to join us on this journey, partnering together to change the world in Jesus' name, then let's go--let's encourage one another along the way--let's be a movement of people with the DNA of Jesus, inhabiting and influencing every nook and cranny of society and culture!

I see you

Among the tribes of northern Natal in South Africa, the most common greeting, equivalent to "hello" in English, is the expression: "sawu bona." It literally means, "I see you." If you are a member of the tribe, you would probably reply by saying "sikhona" or "I am here." The order of the exchange is important: until you see me, I do not exist. It's as if, when you see me, you bring me into existence.

My two year old son will stand in front of me and clap his hands when I'm watching television. I'll say, "I see you Elijah." But he'll continue to clap and to watch me. He wants to know if I really see him or if my attention has quickly returned to the TV. "Daddy, do you really know that "I am here?" Sometimes I'll mute the TV so that I can place my full attention on him, or I'll take him into my lap. I want him to know that I really do see him. That he matters.

How many times throughout a day does someone stand in front of me and wonder if I really see them? If I am really present with them.

God, this day, help me to see people. To affirm that they are really here. That they matter.

Had a blast

Yesterday, I spent the day shooting . . . literally. I was at an all day fundraiser that was built around trap-shooting. Had a blast(so to speak).

Several months ago I began practicing for this event and quickly became enthralled with the idea of shooting clay pigeons(sporting clays, if you want to be politically correct). As the gentleman who put the event together said, "Guns, cigars, alcohol and raising money for young people . . . it doesn't get any better than this." Ummm, I'll skip the alcohol (as should most of the other guys--at least until they finish shooting), but I have to agree with him.

Despite the single digit temperature(we were outside for about 6 hours) more than $30,000 was raised to help college campus ministries.

What happened in Cleveland?

I had dinner with Rich and Dori Gorman this week. They're a young couple who is praying through leading our next church plant in Cleveland, Ohio. Really amazing couple.

I am convinced that Cleveland is going to become a great light for Jesus. That a few years from now people will ask the question, "What happened in Cleveland?" And that the only answer that will be able to be given is, "Jesus."

It's great to have Lebron, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and we all know that "Cleveland rocks!" But at the end of it all, Jesus--through the local church--is what will make the difference.

Why children?

We had a really good weekend with the 14 year old girl who came to stay with us. I have to admit that it was a little strange . . . at 14 she is really a young woman.

It didn't take long for her to warm up to us and for us to warm up to her. I pray she may have experienced God's love through our family.

On Sunday evening, after she returned to her permanent foster family, I asked Tabitha (11) if she knew why we brought children into our home? She responded, "It's what Jesus would do." Mmmm, it's all worthwhile.

Divine appointment

This weekend Julie and I are providing a home for a 14 year old girl in foster/respite care.

Wess Stafford has encouraged me to view every interaction with a child as a "divine appointment." My prayer is that this little girl will experience the love of God through our family.

One of the things that is so good about all of this is that God's heart in our family is growing . . .

Daddy, daughter, Disney

Last night I took my daughter, Tabitha, to Cleveland to see Disney On Ice. Actually, three of the dads from my Thrive Group took their daughters.

The show was horrible (the skating was even low quality). BUT, I would do it all again in a heartbeat to spend a memorable night with my 11 year old daughter.

When I was in Ecuador with Fernando Puga (the Compassion Director of the country) last week, he made the statement to me that 80% of the problems in the Ecuadorian families could be solved if dads would start being fathers. I'm not sure it's so different here in the U.S.A.

It's easy for me to come up with excuses . . . I'm too busy, work is too demanding, I just want to chill at the end of a long day . . .

I suppose that if I don't make the time to be a "father," I'll find my relationship with my daughter is skating on very thin ice.