Thoughts on the killing streets of Ireland

We just returned from a 7 day trip to the Belfast area of Northern Ireland to assist our core group for our church plant there.

While there, we took a double decker bus tour of Belfast.  After a 2 hour tour, something became crystal clear…

Belfast has defined itself by it’s history of violence and conflict.  The city is covered by murals and memorials to people who’d been killed in a centuries old conflict between fellow Irishmen… all based on family religion and background. 

Getting to know so many 20 somethings both Catholic and Protestant in the Belfast area over the past year, I couldn’t help but be taken back to a different time, a different place to a similar generation. 

Growing up in 1980′s Mississippi, we found ourselves some 10 years into forced integration by government, and we too were defined by our violence, conflict, and separation.  But as schoolkids, we didn’t know any better than to love one another.  In first grade, my 2 best friends were black kids.  As I grew older, it was so hard to believe that just before I was born, there was a violence and conflict in my homestate that was very real, and very oppressive.  As we rode through Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods and streets dubbed, ‘the killing fields’,  that 1st grader inside me went back to those days in elementary school. 

Where is the Exponential Potential?

This is a sample graph comparing linear growth to exponential.  Notice the Linear growth happens steady and starts above the exponential, but there is a tipping point where the Exponential not only overtakes the Linear, but climbs at a rate that can only be described as Exponential.  

The idea behind Extension Gatherings is to remove some of  the bottlenecks that slow the rapid spread of God’s kingdom and house.  Often, those bottlenecks are people.  By releasing people to be leaders, not just followers, EG’s have shot in every direction all over the globe, and continue to grow by scores daily. 

Craig Groeschel said it last month, and it’s worth repeating here: 

There is weakness in simply ‘utilizing the giftedness’ of volunteers.    The bottom line is we’ve been recruiting volunteers in American churches.  Delegating tasks.  The challenge with this is we create followers.  Instead delegate authority.  Let a volunteer Create something great.  This develops leaders.

Extension Gatherings provide believers to take church services to people who cannot normally attend one.  People in nursing homes, rehabs, jails, orphanages.  Also to people in other cities and countries who want to stay connected to their local church which is hundreds or thousands of miles away. 

The Exponential Potential is not adding to your 100%.  That will be linear growth.   It will not happen.  If you are a leader, the exponential is moving beyond addition and multiplication…. adding something to the 2nd or 3rd power.  This is where the growth is beyond your control (aka, limitations).  If you are looking for story and impact in your life, consider taking you and your family on such an adventure…. to reach 10-50 people weekly who would not normally make it to a service.  You will not believe the impact it will have on you.

So much more than flesh& bone: A Night of Remembrance for Taylor & Jessy

We lost so much more than flesh and bone….and on Wednesday night, over 250 people met up at our weekly high school youth gathering to remember Taylor and Jessy, 2 uniquely unselfish souls.   This spiritual anguish is real… but somehow it was a chance for the students of Celebration Church to show their love not only for these 2 that we lost, but also for their family &friends.

Our students, volunteers, and staff were so blessed to be able to host both students’ families. Students were on the campus from 6-9.  From 6-7, they wrote cards, cried together, and shared stories.   From 7-8, we had a short time of worship, remembrance, and encouragement.  From 8-9, they poured their love onto the families of our 2 we lost.

One of our bands led us in 2 songs…”You Deserve” and “From the Inside Out”, both by Hillsong.  Lori Schumaker sang, “Hear You Me” by Jimmy Eat World.  The lyrics are at the bottom of this post.  Pastor James Price gave a word of encouragement as a representative of our 8 other campuses of Celebration Church, and students put together a slideshow of photos that we watched.   My wife Rachel shared some words of encouragement from our other youth pastors, John Wyatt and Josh Turner.

I had the chance as our Element Pastor to speak a few words and say a prayer with the friends and family in attendance.  I was blessed to share some memories of both students, and spoke from Mark 12:28-31. When asked what 1 thing we should do as Christians, Jesus replied simply that we should love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves.  I spoke about how Jesus doesn’t ask us for us to love God with as much heart as Dr. Billy Graham…or with a whole untainted heart…whatever pieces are left of our heart, whatever clarity is left in our minds, whatever vibrancy is left in our souls, whatever is left of our strength….to love Him with all we have left.   Many right now have so little heart, soul, mind, and strength left…yet a majority there concluded the service by responding to Jesus by committing to love God with all that we have.

Funeral Services will be this weekend for both students . . .

Couldn’t find anything better to do on Christmas?

Today Rachel and I went to the jail where we do weekly ministry with juveniles and college age inmates.   Several of the guards were irritated at our presence…not sure why.  In the elevator, it kind of all came out… one of the higher ranking officers asked me a question I won’t soon forget

“Couldn’t find anything better to do on Christmas day?”

My answer was what most of my friends would say…. “No.” 

That was a couple hours ago.  I wonder why no human never asked Jesus that question.  Hey Messiah…couldn’t you find anything better to do today than come down to this nasty place with these people who not only dont deserve you, but aren’t even looking for you and probably won’t receive you?

I’m glad Jesus answer was no…there was nothing better to do that day in His mind.  Many people don’t see the point in reaching out to the outcasts, forgiving sinners, healing the sick.  Simply put, many people don’t love humanity that much.  

When 5 teenage boys committed their lives to Christ this morning in the Christmas Day service, it really hit me that there’s no place He would have rather been than glorifying His Father through His incarnation to and for humankind.   Humankind just like those guys today.   Humankind like me and you. 

Merry Christmas    -big John

34th Birthday

My 34th birthday was this weekend…what a great time!   It kicked off with me speaking live at our St. Johns Campus as we kicked off our “Sent” series with a message about grace.   Later on, we had a children’s workers party, and I got this shot of the last sunset of my 33rd year.  I’d like to stay in my 30′s 4ever if that’s ok…

I slept WAYYY late (9:30 a.m.) on Monday, played a game of Madden as the Lions, ate cake and icecream, popped in at BTHS to visit some of our students…then later went to see the new marvel movie, “the Punisher”.   I love having a wife that likes action movies!All in all it was a fantastic day.  John ..the final tally of electronic birthday love…facebook 31. text 19. myspace 7. twitter 2.  Thanks everyone for being the most incredible friends a guy could have!