12 Things I Don't Want to Forget

So far, 2011 has proven to be a very interesting year, and I have seen Gods work in my life, as He continues to grow and change me. A few weeks ago I was thinking about things that I do not want to forget, of 2011 to date. In no particular order:

1. Flight - I have spent a lot of time traveling by air this year. In doing so, there have been missed or delayed flights that changes your whole day. I have met some pilots that look as if they were old enough to attend a high school dance. But what I don’t want to forget is the amazement of flight. To look out the window as the plane leaves the earth. To look at the earth at 10,000 feet and see what God has done, and feel so small but feel so LOVED by God.

2. Family & Marriage – I had the opportunity to marry my youngest son Andrew to his bride Jamie. To see Jamie and her dad approach the altar, was ALMOST more that this old softy could handle. Spending an evening on the beach at Jekyll Island with my bride, sons, daughter in-loves, and Mikel was more that I deserve.

3. McGriddle – Without a doubt, the number 1 best American invention ever. I rediscovered the McGriddle on one of my business trips. Two small pancakes that have syrup flavor with pork, egg, and cheese in the middle. America I Love You.

4. Go Givers – I have had the opportunity to reconnect with people that have invested in me over the years. They have given me more than I could ever return to them. And God has used them to keep me focused and to have a thankful heart. Thank you.

5. Wave Sticks –Though it cost me a broken arm, the thrill of riding a 2 wheeled skate board for about 15 minutes was great… not worth it, but great.

6. Scott Naturals – toilet wipes. 2nd greatest American invention.

7. Tortoise and the Hare –weekly I get to read Tortoise and the Hare to Mikel my granddaughter. She is still amazed that the tortoise wins every time, and I love the 10 minutes I get to hold her.

8. New England – As God continues to prepare us for planting a Gospel Centered church in New England, I have even more opportunities to share the vision with other churches and Christ followers, and to make another visit to Connecticut. The burden and vision grows stronger as I talk with New Englanders. In the next few months, Lynn and I will attend church planting school at LifeSong Lyman, and visit Hartford County Connecticut. www.plantingthegospel.com

9. Church Family – God has blessed Lynn and me to be a part of a Movement of God at LifeSong Church Lyman. It’s been said that LifeSong is in the top 1000 fastest growing churches in America. But to serve with some other guys that just want to Love God and Love people swells my heart. To witness God Change in the lives of people at LifeSong, and realize that God NEVER slumbers or sleeps.

10. Coming Home – As mentioned earlier, there has been a lot of travel for me this year, which can stress a marriage. But there is nothing like getting home and seeing the smile of my best friend, lover, and having a cup of coffee on the front porch.

11. Atonement – Romans 3:25-26. Don’t ever say “God is Love” as if it doesn’t mean anything, or as if it at 1970s bumper sticker.

12. Justification – Romans 4:24-25. Don’t live your life as if it didn’t cost everything.

Meet Me on the Playground or Die

This week I was traveling back from Grand Rapids MI, and has the pleasure of sitting beside 9 year old Zack ( a third grader). He asked me if ever had "In School Suspension". NO I said. He said that he had. I asked why? His mother then leaned over and told him to ZIP IT! Zack looked between his legs and said "I'm good", and then continue to tell me, that he gave a kid a note that said "Meet me on the playground or die". That was enough to get him 3 days of ISS.

Why did you do that Zack?

He told me that he needed to get the boys attention, and thought that a note would be good enough. Apparently the dude that received the Zack note, had been treating a girl in the class very bad, and Zack was not going to let another day go by without correcting the wrong that he had been witnessing. I'm loving Zack by now. I asked him about his 3 days of ISS. He said it was the best 3 days of school ever in his life! For three days he was in Mr. Carson's office (the principle) making copies and talking ALL DAY to Mr. Carson.

He is a Good Shepherd.

As leaders of the church, are we willing to call things for what they are and protect the sheep, even from themselves? The Called Pastor must protect the flock from false preaching and watered down, feel good teaching. Many claim to be called but their lives still look very similar to the world that they claim that they have been called to change. The sheep and the church suffers when we don't address those issues

The question is:

Do I love people more that I love being safe?

"If Christ so loved the souls of men as to lay out Himself and deny Himself at this rate for salvation, then surely the ministers of Christ should be ready greatly to exert themselves and deny themselves and suffer for the sake of the salvation and happiness of souls"

- Jonathan Edwards

Matthew 10

Be Blessed!

Pastor Tim

Korea DMZ

Can you think of a time when you felt “the most” lonely?

The most, loneliest time of my life was the 365 days that I was stationed a few miles from the North and South Korean Border. Separation from the ones you care for the most, creates a crisis in our lives.

What about people who claim Christianity that are lonely? I know that there are numerous reasons why a person finds themselves alone, but what about those of us who are alone and don’t have to be?

My point is, a Christian without a church home or (small group) is like an organ without a body. Can the liver survive without the body, or can the body survive without the liver?

It is an Unnatural state when a Christ follower separates themselves from other Christians.

Ephesians 2:19
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Why do you need a church family?

Identifies you as a believer and moves you out of isolation. John 13:35

Develop spiritual Muscle 2 Corinthians 4:15

The body needs its liver 1 Corinthians 12:7

Share Christ’s mission to the world Ephesians 2:10

Living in the house of loneliness is your choice

Each Christian must take responsibility for his/her own Emotional & Spiritual Health, which includes walking through loneliness.

It may not be your fault how you got there,But it is your fault for staying there.

Ephesians 4:15-16
15God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love--like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. 16He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.

Gather, Grow, & Go

Pastor Tim

Communion

Communion & Spiritual Family

So far Chapter 7 of the Purple Book has proven to be one of my favorites. Specifically Acts 2:42-47 embodies the heart beat of LifeSong Church. Personally being a part of the LifeSong family has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Has it been perfect and without pain? Absolutely not, but to eyewitness Gods movement in my life and in the lives of people who have no hope, but through HIM, has been amazing.

We have been touched by the Savior!!

The Acts 2 Christ followers were involved in biblical teaching, having dinner together, and prayer. They went to the synagogue to worship together. They were more concerned that the needs of people around them were being met. They were more concerned with glorying God than themselves. “Are we there yet”? I don’t think that we will ever be while on this side of Glory, but I know that we must not lose focus and gravitate to “Me Church”!

Chapter 7 Lesson highlights:

Ephesians 4:3 – To KEEP Unity

Ephesians 4:12-13 – A Pastors job and command is to Equip, not to coddle and a
Shepherds job in the 1st century was to make sure the sheep reproduced themselves.

Proverbs 16 - says what about Gossip?

1 Corinthians 11:28 – We should examine ourselves before we take Holy Communion.

Matthew 26:26-29 The Message
26-29During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples: Take, eat. This is my body. Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them: Drink this, all of you. This is my blood, God's new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins."I'll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I'll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father."

Gather, Grow, & Go
Pastor Tim

One Year Later

One Year Later

Its hard to believe that one year ago this month a merge between to different congregations happened. Much fear was expressed as to what LifeSong Lyman would look like when it was all done. Of the new changes that were experienced was the idea of LifeGroups. I have to admit, some fear entered into my heart because I just wasn’t sure that I could communicate clearly, what I knew as to what God was doing in my heart in terms of growing relationships and learning God’s word, verses something that we all have been use to… Sunday School.

In October of 2007 we began training LifeGroup leaders in our home. During those amazing 6 weeks, God conquered our fears as we trained, practiced, and prayed. January 2008 God started 5 LifeGroups. Today God has to be given the Glory and Praise, because of His guidance, LifeGroups have grown from 5 groups in January to 12 in October 2008. I expect to see even more in 2009.

It has been difficult thing for me personally, to move people out of their current group in order to start new groups, but with the explosive growth that we are experiencing at LifeSong, it is simply necessary. I am beginning the process for the next Host (leader) training as we continue to move forward. More Hosts and Host Homes are needed.

Please know my heart; my passion is not to simply multiply groups, but help create an environment where three relationships can thrive. The 3 relationships that I speak of, is with God, Christ followers, and the ones that don’t have a relationship with God yet. In order for Iron to Sharpen Iron, there has to be more than just a few rubbings. Personal & Spiritual growth will take place in LifeGroups the longer the group stays active. Current groups will end at the end of the school year.

Thank you LifeSong family for your Love, Support, and Prayers. I am truly blessed to be with you!
Pastor Tim

We have room for you if are not currently in a LifeGroup. See List

Who - Where - Day
Matthew Christopher - LifeSong Church (SINGLES) - Sunday night

Troy & Brandi Cole - Reidville - Sunday night

Jon & Kim Adam Adam - Duncan - Wednesday night

Brian Christopher - Lyman/Inman - Wednesday night

Doing Life Together

Wow!
GroupLink this past Sunday was amazing. I want to thank everyone evolved in setting up the sign up areas, but more importantly I know that many of you had soaked the whole event in Prayer. The response reconfirmed to me that God is again moving people to Himself, and maturity and commitment is happing. By saying that you want to be in a Life Group, you are saying “YES!, I want to strengthen your hand in God, and I need you to strengthen my hand in God”. Not all share that ordination from God as truth, but God’s word is clear. The question that we must ask ourselves is “who’s hand can we strengthen in God today?”

I want to encourage the 124 (adults = 78% adult membership) of you that set aside your fears and took the first step in sharing life with others, in order to Grow toward a right relationship with Him. The next 2 weeks Satan will plant crazy thoughts in your mind that you must deal with, like “why did I sign up for a Life Group?” Make No Agreements with Satan, and don’t get robbed of a major blessing in your life, by NOT doing life with others.

1 Samual 23:15-16
15 So David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. And David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a forest. 16 Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.

Gather, Grow, and Go
Pastor Tim

Mountain Bikes

About Bikes
Last week while riding @ USCU, I destroyed my mountain bike. It broke my heart. It was my first full suspension bike, and the one that I have raced twice. This bike was such a natural fit for me and how I ride. When riding it, the bike became an extension of my arms and legs. I could downhill fast, climb steady, and cross water hazards without drowning. I logged more than 700 miles of trail riding with that bike, which translates into a lot of abuse for a mountain bike. This bike will now be stored in my basement, as I have come to the conclusion that I can’t part with it, even in its broken condition.

About Family
Family is an extension of who we are. Some families are broken beyond repair due to death and sin. Other families are damaged because of un-met expectations, and listen to more of what Satan has to say, than speaking to and listening our Father. I’m convinced that most people want healing within their families but the sins of pride and Unforgiveness, seem to be the bigger giant. Lynn and I long to have healing in our own families, but just don’t know how to do it. Like many of you who try it in your own strength, it seems to bring only temporary results. I think that I’m learning something here about Trust, Faith, and Prayer.

About Church
Just like earthly family we have something in common. Blood. With that said, if we focus our efforts on what we have in common (HIM) then we see less of (US). At the end of the day its about glorifying our Lord. The expectations that you bring to your family or church has to be about (HE) and not (WE).

About Jesus
As I sometimes do, I tend to look back and reflect on my walk with Christ.
I have been taken to places that I would have never gone by myself. I have been disoriented many times due to my inability to trust the path on which I was placed on and the ONE who placed me there. I was never alone when I thought that the downhill was going to never end. Climbing trials on a bike, I relied on my legs and lungs. Climbing to a Spiritual Mile Marker, I had only one option and that was to rely on His strength and guidance.

About New Bikes & New Life
My bike can not be repaired. I have purchased a new one (see picture). New bikes are not cheap. Jesus repairs brokenness, even when in our eyes there is no hope of repair. The type of repair He does is everlasting, complete, and not cheap. I’m so thankful that Christ chose to repair me, because in HIS eyes, I (we) are beautiful to Him. My prayer is that I reflect Him to the Precious and I can testify that what ever type of dirt & brokenness you bring, you are Precious to Jesus.

PS. Looking back while mountain biking is not healthy for you or your bike. Looking back on past sins or successes normally causes you to miss a future blessing that has been prepared for you.

Gather, Grow, & Go
Pastor Tim

Tents

Realizing that not all of you that read my blog, also read the blogs of the other pastors of LifeSong Church, I have included in today’s update a guest blogger… Senior Pastor Jeff Hickman.
If you have visited LifeSong church or bumped into a LifeSong member in the community:
You will hear that we are about being missionaries where we live, work, and play.

You will hear that we will pitch tents, not build Cathedrals.
You will hear that we will be part of a movement, not to build monuments.
You will hear that we will avoid like the plague any activity that brings focus on ministry that fits only in the confines of the church building or only focuses on “Church Folk”.

From Jeff Hickman
It seems that the talk of the Christian "blogger world" is about Ed Stetzer's blog called "breaking news". The latest statistics from the Southern Baptist show that last year was the second time in the denominations history that there was a decline in membership. This is really not breaking news. It is has taken a long time for us to get here as a denomination. I am not a guru on this subject however, I do have my own opinions. I believe that LifeSong Network can help churches get back on track.

How?

The greatest error we made as a denomination was when the tail started wagging the dog. Local associations, state conventions, NAMB, and the International Mission board were created for specific purposes and we have relied upon them greatly. In most instances they have been effective, however it has moved the mindset in the pew from missional to mission-minded. People were taught to give and let somebody else go. This shift in thought and behavior within the church has created a crisis. Overcoming this mentality will be very difficult because it is built into our "DNA". Institutional thinking has been built into our pulpits, constitutions, budgets and attitudes. We must find a way to move the church back to missional living and destroy our institutional mentality.

It is very important that you hear me affirm our missions organizations. We need to continue to support our missionaries, but we must abandon the thought that our mission minded activities will solve this crisis.

LifeSong Network is aiming to help churches return to personal responsibility with our communities. We want to plant churches that build in a missional DNA. Churches that can see the importance of every person becoming a missionary where they live, work and play.

I believe that through coaching, pastoral encouragement and visional renewal pastors in new churches or in existing churches can see radical transformation in their churches and communities. We need to embrace a lateral growth plan where we are not looking to build kingdoms, but we help each other build the body. The church is one body. Many different names, but one mission. -Pastor Jeff Hickman

Gather, Grow, & Go

Pastor Tim

Got Milk?

Have you ever seen a new born baby with a knife and fork, ready to tear into a medium well New York strip? Hope not. What about someone that has had major surgery and the day after is eating Chili Cheese a Plenty from the Beacon? That could land them right back in the hospital.

1 Peter 2:2 says:
2.Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

At LifeSong, we want to give you an opportunity to Grow and enjoy some Spiritual Milk.
On March 30th Sunday night we will be starting our 2nd Starting Point Class.

What is “The Starting Point”?
If you have recently started a relationship with God, or you are reconnecting with God after being away for a while, this would be a great bible study group to be in. It is a bible study that focuses on the foundations of being a Christ follower.

Where and when, does the Starting Point group meet? It is a 6 week small group study that takes place at LifeSong church on Sunday nights.

Who Leads Starting Point?
The study is being facilitated by Gavin & Patty Huckabee. The Huckabees are passionate about people and serving our Lord and Savoir.

The next “Starting Point” is scheduled for March 30th. Contact me if you are interested in taking part of this Growth opportunity.

Gather, Grow, & Go
Pastor Tim

What is the Roll of a Pastor?

Pictured to the right is C.S. Lewis, one of the greatest pastors of all time in my opinion.

After reading an article by Bill Easum (a ministry consultant) concerning Pastoral rolls, I felt lead to share some thoughts with you.

If you had to list only one responsibility of a pastor, what would it be?

By the way there is only one biblical answer.

You might say that it depends on his spiritual gift. To this I say, that this one responsibility doesn’t depend on a gift, but it should be on each pastor’s list.
You might say “shepherd the flock” or “it depends on the size of the church” or “making hospital visits (see Acts 6)”. Despite what people think or may have been told or taught their whole life that would be a big NO.

The ONLY biblical response is to ensure that the congregation is equipped to do ministry. Let’s look at God’s word together:

Ephesians 4:11-12
11. And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of (the body of Christ;

So the short answer is, a Pastor’s roll is not to care for the people, but to grow them into mature Christians, and that happens when people are serving one another rather than being taught a course at the church.

Shepherds in Christ’s day didn’t care for their flocks. Instead they made sure that the sheep were in pastures where they could graze, so that they’d mature, grow and reproduce. The goal of the shepherd was ultimately reproduction.

Does this mean that Pastors shouldn’t care about their congregations? Of course not! It’s because the pastor does care for the congregation that he focuses on equipping them to be missionaries where the live work and play.

The more ministry that a pastor does for the congregation, the weaker the congregation becomes. As one of the Pastors of LifeSong I desire spiritual growth that pleases God, and at the end of the day, the LifeSong Pastors will be focused on equipping those to have an impact on the community in which we live.

Thank you LifeSong for your love of Christ and community.

Gather, Grow, and Go
Pastor Tim

Acts 2 Church

The first church truly got it right in terms of what Jesus intended to church to be. Acts 2 describes a people that ate together, studied together, prayed together, and the number of Christ followers grew daily. Isn’t it funny how God can take a group of people from being self centered to being Christ centered? And when we together, finally focus on the savior and not each other, that is when God uses us to encourage and minister to each other. When a person receives salvation, fellowship is realized, growing together in God’s word is realized, and becoming a missionary in your area of influence is now a “Must Be” reality.

I am overwhelmed of the GroupLink response from this past Sunday. We had 84 adults to sign up for small groups!! This represents 8 small groups in different parts of town, various ages and walks of life. I can see God planting a huge landscape of some amazing relationships that are about to be discovered. Your willingness to be a part of such activity, takes away the ME factor and now puts into play the WE factor. My prayer is that we continue to, not just to know what the savior knows, but to become who He is.

Three Reasons why the first church made an impact on their world:

1. Gather, Which is Fellowship
Acts 2:46
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

2. Grow, Which is Bible study and prayer.
Acts 2:42
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

3. Go, Which is be a Missionary were you live work and play.
Acts 2:47
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Gather, Grow, & Go
Tim

Church: Part 2

What are the most common excuses people give for not being part of a church family? Being in Church leadership, I have heard quite a few. Those excuses come from family, work, and the grocery store. The one I love to hear is “the church is full of hypocrites” and (in my mind) I say “yes” you are right, and we have room for one more, so when can you come?

When I think of church family, I think of unity. In the past I have experienced people that claim to be a disciple of Christ, that have done some very destructive things that disrupt unity, which a true Christ follower would not do.

God’s word has a lot to say on the subject:
Ephesians 4:3
3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
In short, as Christ followers we have unity, and Satan seeks to disrupt it or to remove it. The scripture didn’t say “create” it said “KEEP”.

Who is responsible for the unity of the church?
For the answer read Colossians 3:12-14

Tips worth keeping

Focus what we have in common, not our differences.
Matthew 28:18-20

Be realistic with your expectations
Ephesians 4:2

Choose to encourage rather than criticize.
Romans 14:4-10

Refuse to listen to gossip
If you are not part of the problem or part of the solution and you are talking about it then that is GOSSIP. And listening to gossip is like receiving stolen property.

Practice God’s method for conflict resolution.
Matt. 18:15-17

Support your pastor and leaders
Hebrews 13:17 / 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Side Note:
Other believers WILL disappoint you and let you down, but that is no excuse to stop fellowshipping with them. And Divorcing your church at the 1st sign of disappointment is a mark of immaturity.

Gather, Grow, & Go

Tim

Church: Part 1

How is being a member of a church like being a family member? Wow, if you are like me at all, you would have a lot to say about family and church. I think that there some similarities between the two. Key word here is “expectations”. We all have them, and when the church or the family, doesn’t meet our expectations, we are pretty quick to defend why our expectations are what they are, and even try to make them sound biblical. Sometimes we place expectations on people without ever verbalizing it to them. Example, most people believe that the church exists “to meet their needs”, when in fact the church does meet needs, but it is the result or the by-product of being a group of people who desperately want to see the lost to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The soul purpose of the church is not to meet needs, but to meet souls.

So in reality there are 2 types of misplaced expectations:
1. The unspoken expectation:
“Well, he is a Pastor, he should come and knock on my door.”

2. The unrealistic expectation:
“Why isn’t the church doing more for the marching band fund raiser?”

Using an analogy that a good friend shared with me, kind of sums it up concerning expectations, “at a football game, you have 10,000 people (in need of exercise) not in the game, but complaining what the 11 on the field, (that needs rest), should be doing in order for us to win”

Remember this, you can’t place an expectation on a family member that only the church can fill, because as a Christ follower you were created to have Christ community, and you can’t place an expectation on the church that only God can fill, because without a growing relationship with Him you will forever be dissatisfied, regardless what a family member or a church does or doesn’t do.

Paul said in Ephesians 4:1-2
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Side Note:
As a family member the expectation is to Love and be Loved. That does not exclude you from washing the dishes.

As a Church member our focus is Him and not us, and we don’t earn the right not to serve.

Gather, Grow, & Go

Tim