Advancing or Declining

Steve Farrar said several years ago in one of his books, I think it was Tempered Steel
http://www.amazon.com/Tempered-Steel-Shaped-Through-Adversity/dp/1576738922/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198938123&sr=1-2
where he says you are either Advancing in your faith or Declining.
As we end up 2007 that is something for each of us to ponder. Have we grown as a disciple of Jesus Christ? Is there evidence around us? Are we rippling thru the culture to make change and advance the best news anyone could ever experience? Why not? What is in the way?
I can tell you one thing that is all around us and that is busyness. It maybe you need to whittle away some of the things in life to really get into providing life change thru others lives.

What will make 2008 different for you or your family?
Patrice and I sat down and had a relevant conversation again this year about what we see in each other as growth and then we will do the same as a family in devotional time. We both agreed on some changes that need to happen and now we need to pray about those.
Culture can hit you in the face hard. For example, my son and I were looking for a video game that he wanted. (By the way we have a strict code on game content and our son is in full agreement) So as I am purchasing this there are three teen girls next to me who are asked by the young man ringing up the purchase.. I need to see some sort of i.d.
The young lady responded "I have my driver's license but not with me." then she called to her dad across the store. The dad walks up. The young man ask him...this video has content that is rated highly violent, mature of nature and has strong references to drugs and sexual implications. Is it ok for them to purchase it?"
I watched as the dad said,"Sure it's ok."
and inside I was screaming IT'S NOT OK. But, I didn't want to freak him out with confrontation but this is one area that I know I have to use the Holy Spirit guide and use the right words at the right time. This is where we are at today. He is one of the 66 million more than likely. The church isn't relative to him.
What would you have done? Any ideas? Be honest.....how do we impact quickly without coming off as a loon or fanatical person?

The issues at Willow Creek with the lack of growth of discipleship amongst the church has created a stir. If you haven't heard about any of this, here is where you can catch up since August:
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/faith-matters/2007/11/29/a-megacorrection-for-a-house-of-worship.html

and at Out of Ur you can click on links to see Hawkins and Hybels speaking about it:
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2007/10/willow_creek_re.html

This fact isn't just being discovered at Willow. I think the most distubing thing I have heard is that some people are saying....see--see
this seeker things doesn't work....and that my friends is the mark of a immature believer or one in his own little box. I have followed Willow closely and attended events they have sponsored for churches. (Contagious Christianity @ Perimeter Church in Atlanta was life changing for me several years ago) and I can tell you their heart has been no different than your church. They are being honest as they see this as real problem and you can look at almost every church and see it as well. C'mon admit it. There is no one perfect church. They are all supposed to be spiritual hospitals for us anyway. My goodness isn't it nice for some church leaders to address real issues within a church? and Willow is not only seeker focused it is seeker obsessed who has realized that they need to address some serious issues.....My question would be-are you seeker obsessed and why not? Are you more focused on others or SELF-FOCUSED?
It is something we all battle. Who will win this with you in 2008?

The new book No Man Left Behind hits men right between the eyes. 44 million men in church but only 6 million in real discipling of another man. 66 million men that don't know Christ in America.

What does that do to your soul? Does it even start to sink in? This whole gospel should continuualy be causing a major heart issue within people as Christ is waiting for them to have a relationship with Him. Not with their favorite sports team, work or anything other than Himself. You can't take it with you!

If you haven't read this book, you should. The continuum in it for men will work in any ministry setting.

Outreach magazine noted in their 100 top churches survey that this was a trend among churches with 2500 or more members nationwide to say hold on a minute. Here is a recent story from the Trib on Willow:
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071227/Lives/712270465/1047/Lives

Here is Willow's website set up to follow:
http://revealnow.com/


Also Thom Rainer's book on Simple Church addresses it. In case you are in church that is growing and need to reassess your programs versus vision:
http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Church-Returning-Process-Disciples/dp/0805443908/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198937867&sr=1-1

Chuck Colson thanks Hybels and admits issues within Prison Fellowship:
http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/8213.article


Anyway, here at this blog we see this as the theme setter for 2008 in the church across America and it is a good one.

May we all live less of self and more of Him in 2008- Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer l who live, but Christ lives in me and [the life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (NASB: Lockman)

More resources on studying it in detail to make it real in your life:
http://preceptaustin.org/galatians_220.htm

The strangest thing to happen on the sports field this year happens right here this week:
Chris Jessie got the Bowl season started off with him attempting to pick up the ball in the four hour long Holiday Bowl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqq87I9NiI0

Post game interview with Lisa Salters bad video....Mack Brown inserts himself in...You didn't touch it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT-bec0QYC8&feature=related

It doesn't take long for people to add on...this is a short version tied into the Southwest Airlines commericials about "Wanna Get Away?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKtO0HzJJNw&feature=related

One of the best You Tube Videos of 2007 is about real life:
This video called Battle at Kruger is slow to start out as it is a real live story unfolding it involves lions, a herd of water buffalo and the lone crocodile. This was taped at South Africa's Kruger National Park.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM

Best of sports media from 2007 SI's Media Circus column:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/richard_deitsch/12/17/media.awards/index.html

Sports on tv today-make sure you are balancing this with your family time. How would you say you did on this in 2007? How do you swing that balance to be more family and less tv in 2008? Does it matter?...yes it does.
You get only so long to spend with family. The sports teams could care less about your family. There is only one mom or dad to your children so choose wisely. How about starting a family devotional time in 2008 ? We will look at some ideas next week...in the mean time choose wisely:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/tv.htm

Shock and Awe in Chattanooga Radio Arbitron Ratings released on Friday: US 101 increases their lead but the surprise is that KZ106 has dethroned Sunny 92.3 from 2nd....wow:
http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRRatings/DetailsPage.aspx?MID=51&RY=2007&RQ=4&MP=2&OTHER=2&MN=Chattanooga&MS=TN&MR=107&12P=423600&UP=12/28/2007%2012:00:00%20AM&SU=CM&BPER=13.2&HPER=&OPER=&NSD=1/28/2008%2012:00:00%20AM&CE=0

We thought our city council was bad here.....this one wants to impeach Bush:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/12/28/BanningBush_1229.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab