A Nonreligious Approach

"Both / And" Instead of "Either / Or"

2008-07-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other; for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them. Ecclesiastes 7:18

Laziness wants simple answers. One thing at a time. Nice and slow. But often God asks us to hold on to more than we think we're capable of so that we can be stretched and strengthened (for those of you familiar with gym equipment, I'm picturing the cable-crossover machine).

For example, check out this verse:

Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:3-4

I find it easier to either be kind OR truthful. Either I'm the nice-guy or I'm pounding on somebody. Both of those modes come pretty naturally to me. I'm not very afraid of confrontation and I really like being nice. Unfortunately, neither of those modes is very helpful to people on its own. Mr. Nice Guy doesn't really help people move forward. Mr. Pound 'Em doesn't either -- people feel disqualified and discouraged. But if I choose to grab onto both kindness AND truth, God will make me into someone who can really be a blessing in others' lives.

Where is God asking you to hold onto more than one thing? Here are some areas where God regularly challenges me:

Family AND Ministry
Outreach AND Discipleship
Practical AND Faith-filled
Prepared AND Flexible
Intelligent AND Spirit-led
Courageous AND Prudent

Mission Team Germany

2008-07-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

We currently have a team in mission team in Germany. This is a pic of Peter Otvos swinging an axe as they work together with one of the host families to clean up their yard. Here's a link to more photos and stories of what's happening for them so far. We also have a team of youth in Mexico. Can't wait to hear more when everybody gets home!

One of our goals as a church is to send people into more ministry-opportunities than they could have participated in on their own. It's part of why our church exists. We're a launching pad of sorts. In fact, it's the last part of our church's mission statement. In 2007, we sent 19 teams with 70 different team members to 14 different nations who spent a combined total of 542 days abroad.

Choosing to Believe in Change

2008-07-09T16:31:00.001-07:00

Isn't that a cute shot of my little ones? Just looking at it makes me want to squish them with hugs and kisses.

One of the reasons our hearts swell with joy when we're with kids is that their futures are wide open. Because they haven't made many mistakes yet, it's easy for all of us to see such bright futures for them. It's easy to be hopeful and joyful because their lives are so simple and innocent.

As people grow up, however, it is a bit more challenging to have that same excitement. Patterns and habits have developed. Much of life seems to be consumed with simply navigating the consequences of previous choices. By the time a person reaches adulthood, their future seems pretty much set.

But Jesus declared otherwise. He promised to give us a new life. That we could even be "born again." That's a challenge. It takes a lot of faith.

When I look at people, I feel the Lord reminding me that I need always remember that He has the power to change them. That He can take a selfish, cynical, or outright depressed person and revitalize their mind and heart. He can restore purity and innocence.

In my leadership, God always wants me to have an eye for where people could be if they start making good choices to follow Him. If I'm seeing people the way He does, I'll take the same kind of delight in each person God gives me as I do in my little ones.

So I'm praying, "Lord, give me an eye and a heart for where You want to take each person and how you want to use me to grow them in that direction."

All is Well in Larissa Land

2008-07-01T13:48:00.001-07:00

It's been a fantastic week since Larissa's birth. I will forever treasure the memories of these days spent quietly at home playing with my boys and watching my little girl grow (I feel sure that she's already added an inch or two to her tiny frame). She's eating and sleeping like a champ. Thank you, Jesus! *smile*

Today is my first day back in the office... I'm grateful to be here. The family moments have been precious, but all of us boys are well-ready to jump back into our more action-packed schedules. Hils & Larissa are still laying low at home.

A Family Moment

2008-06-23T16:47:00.000-07:00

The boys' first moment with Larissa

2008-06-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Another picture of our daughter Larissa

2008-06-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

Larissa Joy was born at 8:36am this morning! She weighs 7lbs.4oz., and is 19.5" long. And everybody is happy and healthy. :)

Larissa Joy's Arrival

2008-06-23T09:28:00.001-07:00

We are at the hospital

2008-06-23T05:11:00.001-07:00

We are at the hospital now... Here comes Larissa! Yay!

Trabing Fire & VBS Finale

2008-06-21T16:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was surreal. On the one hand was the overflowing glee of children watching the VBS Directors turned into ice-cream sundaes:
And on the other hand we watched hundreds of wide-eyed parents picking up their children early. News of the tragic Trabing Fire started coming into our campus around 2:15pm and we quickly began making adjustments to our schedule. Highway 1 was completely shut down and we had no idea whether parents would be able to pick up their kids... or exactly what would happen.

Then we received news that one family in our church (who all happened to be on campus volunteering for VBS) lost their home. The shock of the news left me breathless.

In the middle of the joy was inserted a tragedy. What a picture of life. Our planet is spinning wildly out of control, broken under the weight of sin (Ps. 82:5). Tragedies will abound in this lifetime. But all is not lost.

God promise is that if we will humble ourselves and turn to Him, He will turn our suffering into our gain. Also, He promises to be near to the brokenhearted (Ps. 34:18). That means at our lowest points, we can have a tangible experience of His presence that isn't possible when everything is going our way.

This weekend, we will be receiving a special offering for the victims of the fire. Our hearts our broken with those who have been affected, but we will stand with them and believe that God will bring beauty out of these ashes (Is. 61:3).

Refreshed

2008-06-19T15:32:00.000-07:00

Ahhh yeah! Doesn't that look fabulous! Don't you want it?! I'm sitting in my (too hot) office right now wishing that was me... I'm looking out my office window at children and adults laughing and playing side by side. It's refreshing. It's real. It's miraculous.

We get so used our way of thinking and living. Sometimes we just need to be refreshed and washed and reminded of what's true! That's what VBS has been for me this year... A reminder and refresher in everything that I've known and believed.

Are you tired of the same old, same old? Want to experience something new and different and alive?

Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:17

A Deep & Settling Answer

2008-06-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

We are all looking for an answer that will settle the question, "Who am I?" Some people get philosophical, others become overachievers, but most of us stumble through life just making it up as we go. Our sense of self is somewhat abstract... like a collage of images that we've pulled from various experiences.

But there are gaps that leave questions.

Why are we the way we are? And does it matter? When we're staring into a starry night or into the eyes of a child, it's not cosmology or biology that has captured our attention. It's our own sense of destiny and identity.

Wanting our lives to count for something is not self-centered pride. It's something God put inside each of us. Inside each heart is a deep longing to be known, to be loved, and to have significance.

Sadly, many people look for significance in knowledge or achievements. But Jesus taught the way to true life:

He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37

When we decide to stop looking after ourselves and to starting caring for others, we find our Answer.

Become Like a Little Child

2008-06-17T12:59:00.000-07:00

God made each of us with a virtually limitless supply of natural, zany energy and wacky fun. Yours isn't the same as anybody else's, but trust me... it's there. You might have misplaced it through the years of caring too much what other people think of you, or through being mistreated every time you let it show.

So how do you find it again? Four thoughts:

Get yourself into a safe place where you'll be encouraged to be who you really are (these environments tend to be pretty sparse... but it's my prayer that the Coastlands can be one).
Decide that it's OK to look foolish. Being with kids will help you.
Instead of thinking about yourself, make it your goal to make somebody else smile or laugh.
Listen for God's voice encouraging you in the process. You need a voice that's stronger and more securing than all the negative voices that you've heard all your life. Only God's voice will do.

Being normal is WAY overrated. I love VBS because it's a chance for all of us stuffy adults to live out Jesus' words:

I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

During this week, decide to enter the freedom of His Kingdom! Kick up your heals, give a high-five, scream out a cheer... if you seek to lose yourself in loving the kids, you'll find yourself in the end.

VBS Monday Morning Highlights

2008-06-16T13:09:00.000-07:00

All 337 kids got dropped off this morning without a hitch! VBS is off to a smooth start! Here are a couple highlights from my morning:

A conversation with a group of 1st grade boys about how they couldn't sleep last night because they were so excited for VBS... just like Christmas!
Teaching 2nd grade boys to play "Capture the Flag." The rush of competitive adrenaline helped a couple of the boys out of their nervousness about the new environment and new friendships.
A conversation at lunch with two volunteers who realized that they are virtually neighbors! I overheard them setting up a time next week to go for a walk together...

VBS creates lifelong memories for the children and lifelong friendships among the volunteers. It's a snapshot of how life is meant to be... Thanks to all who are helping to make it happen.

Loaves & Fish for VBS

2008-06-14T16:10:00.000-07:00

This pic was taken a couple weeks ago at one of the work parties we had to prep for VBS. 100+ volunteers showed up to sort the beads, cut the paper, count the noodles, and so forth that will be used for the crafts next week. Because so many of us threw ourselves into the work, it was finished in about half the time we expected.

This morning 200+ volunteers arrived to chop the branches, paint the benches, put up the fencing, wash the toys, and so on. Again we finished ahead of schedule. Thank you everybody! It was a fabulous morning.

That's exactly how it's supposed to work around here... We each bring the little that we have and we watch Jesus produce something miraculous out of it. Go God, go team!

Offense vs. Defense

2008-06-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

For those of you watching the NBA Finals (I'm not, I'm just enjoying watching other people who are watching), you might appreciate and remember a little something I was mentioning in services a couple weeks ago about living on offense rather than defense. Too often we are thinking defensively rather than offensively. Jesus proclaimed,

I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. Matthew 16:18

He was saying that we should not live fearfully, looking for where hell or death would invade our lives. Instead we should live forcefully (Matt. 11:12), expecting to invade the enemy's territory. Remember, gates are defensive structures. Jesus' promise is that the enemy's defenses won't withstand our onslaught.

Defensive living / thinking:

Worries about problems. They are seen as roadblocks rather than opportunities. There are many reason why things won't work.
Worries about sin. There's no rest or celebration in what God has already accomplished. Thoughts are consumed with my own or other's issues.
Sees failure in every effort. Where God is extremely generous with His definition of success (i.e. anything that's done with wholehearted faith), defensive thinking makes every effort feel like it's fallen short. No matter how much I've tried, it's not good enough. No matter how good it is, it should have been better.
In a brief summary, it's all about me and my problems. Although it can come off looking / sounding pious or holy, at the end of the day, its self-centered.

Offensive living / thinking:

Recognizes that problems are simply a set-up for God to prove Himself and accomplish something great.
Isn't overly focused on sin. Believes in discipline and correction (which is focused on our future), not in condemnation (in which I learn nothing, but just want to quit). Since forgiveness has already been paid for, often times, sin is just a blip on the screen. Confess and move on.

On a side-note, sometimes this will really frustrate the defensive-thinkers. They want you to be stressed out like they are. Sometimes living on offense will be offensive.
Remember, Jesus was descended from and associated with murders, prostitutes, and adulterers... Not the prettiest backgrounds, but all of whom were willing to take huge risks for the Kingdom. The boring, religious (defensive) priests were left out.

Doesn't see failure as an option. Since Jesus has already won, everything in our lives is simply icing on the cake. Even the things we're suffering today He promises will be redeemed and forced to work toward our good.
In short, it's not about me. It's about loving & serving Jesus and others. Our lives become a partnership in His victorious story:

Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15

A New Friendship

2008-06-01T14:01:00.001-07:00

This past weekend in services, I had the pleasure of introducing Ju-Yeong's parents, Pastor Lee & Mrs. Kim (far left in the photo above), to our church family (FYI, in Korean culture, wives do not take the husband's last name). Ju-Yeong (seated next to me) is about 6 months into a year-long internship at the Coastlands. Pastor Lee serves as the president of Foursquare in Korea. Also visiting us was Pastor Lim (center above) who serves as Pastor Lee's right-hand man, the General Supervisor.

They enjoyed themselves thoroughly and thanked me repeatedly for our church's hospitality. What they noticed is the way that our church family gives their time and energy toward serving one another. This pic is of us eating dinner in-between services on Saturday night... lovingly prepared by one of our ICU groups.

They are excited to continue sending interns who will be infected with this passion for servanthood. May we continue to become more and more contagious!

Dinner Crew

2008-05-27T17:51:00.001-07:00

We had a great time tonight over dinner with Russ Schlecht & Ben Adams from Grace Street and Nikki & Kelly Tshibaka from Mt. Vernon Foursquare.

I've obviously got to work on my photo-centering skills. My apologies to Josh's head.

Chat with Volker Heitz

2008-05-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

I spent most of this morning chatting with Volker Heitz, pastor of Eckstein Birseck in Basel, Switzerland. He will be our speaker for our Men's Advance in September. And he has invited me to speak at the Foursquare Switzerland convention in late October... What a fun exchange of heart, thought, and vision we will share with each other's churches later this year!

In the course of about 45 minutes we talked and laughed as we worked out theme ideas for both events... Can't wait for the good stuff that's ahead of us!

(Re)Connecting

2008-05-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

Josh, Michael, and I are at the Foursquare Convention in Houston. The opening session was tonight. My main goal at these events is to reconnect with my ministry peers. We ran into so many friends over the course of the evening that we actually never made it to the session! Oops! *smile*

Over lunch and dinner today, Josh, Michael & I took turns telling each other the stories of how we came to know the Lord and get into ministry. Although I've known and worked with these guys for years, there were parts of each of their stories that I'd never heard! It's been really fun & encouraging to get to know each other more.

Led With Peace

2008-05-16T14:02:00.000-07:00

For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace. Isaiah 55:12

When we trust God no matter what, we're given an inheritance of incredible peace. God's peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but it is a powerful force that quiets the chaos that wants to consume us.

Sometimes worry and fear find their way into my heart and mind when I imagine that God wants me to figure things out for myself. Because He's invisible, it's easy for me to forget that He is leading me. Because He whispers, it's easy for me to get distracted by louder, more impressive sounding voices that tell me I should worry and stress.

But there is great peace in choosing to be satisfied with the leading of the Lord.

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me. Psalm 16:6

The enemy tells us that the simple place of rest and trust is not enough. With sinister intent, he tells us that we should doing more or better than we are. The enemy's accusing voice is so different from the Lord's (who brings peace and refreshing through His conviction).

Remember what God's voice sounds like and where He leads (beside still waters). Don't allow yourself to be deluded into thinking that stressful, worry-inducing voices are His.

VBS Team Leader Update

2008-05-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

We've started having fun using videos for some of our announcements in services. Here's an example where we're putting out the word that we're looking for some additional female team leaders for VBS:

By the way, we now have almost all our team leaders in place... just one or two more ladies and we'll have a full roster. Keep up on all the latest VBS action on their blog.

Warmer, Not Better

2008-05-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

One of the points of instruction that Matthias Nowak (one of my mentors) gave me when he visited our church a few weeks ago was, "Be sure to focus on making your church feel warmer, not on making it work better." He went on to explain that when we focus on doing a really good job, it can often leave our culture feeling cold, distant, and sterile (like a hospital). But if we focus on loving people more, it will create a warmth and life that's less focused on performance.

These words have been ringing in my ears again and again. It's so helpful and encouraging to remember that we focus on the people, not the job. Although the job is important, it must be put into perspective -- which is often a decision of faith and willpower (because I'm often tempted by a performance-orientation).

Here are a couple of personal examples:

When my email inbox is full, instead of being overwhelmed by the size of the project (which often leads to procrastination), I want to see it as an opportunity to offer each person a glimpse of my heart (which is way more fun and personal).
When a meeting is scheduled, I want to anticipate the opportunity for connection and teamwork. The enemy wants to steal away the joy of anticipation before I arrive by telling me that my schedule is too full and that this meeting is a burden.
When I'm taking lots and lots of time crafting my thoughts, and over thinking and over planning my outlines, my emails, etc., it's a trigger to me that I'm falling prey to the pressure of trying to “sound and look smart” and to “have my act together.” Instead, I want to simply share my heart and thoughts with the people God has brought into my life.

God Uses My Mistakes

2008-05-02T09:05:00.001-07:00

Last night I was laying awake remembering some of the mistakes I've made recently. The hardest mistakes to let go of are when I know that I've hurt people -- when I've corrected too harshly, or not returned a phone call, or forgotten people's names. These (and so many other) mistakes can be so painful and confusing for people. And stepping forward in leadership has meant having a huge reality-check with how much room I have to grow.

As I lay sleepless, I felt the Lord reminding me that He even uses my mistakes to draw people closer to Him. This wasn't self-justification or rationalization, but was instead a correction that brought a lot of comfort.

We Use the Job to Get People Done (not the other way around...)

2008-04-29T09:27:00.000-07:00

I just enjoyed reading one of Anne's latest VBS posts. Other pastors I talk with are sometimes surprised that we don't often use a curriculum with our ICU groups and that we give so much latitude to our volunteers who oversee various aspects of our church life. In her post, Anne explains some of the heart behind that flexibility...