My Weblog

Anniversary Gift

Ed Tyler — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:34:00 -0700

Julie surprised me for her anniversary gift to me for our 29th. She took me to Lucky 7 Tattoo at Lake Tahoe. "Sozo" is the Greek word for "to save" and comes from John 3:17.

Desires

Ed Tyler — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:02:32 -0700

Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exist. A baby feels hunger; well, there is such a thing as food. Men feel sexual desire; well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probably explanation is that I was meant for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not mean that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.

-- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

What Makes A Church Come Alive?

Ed Tyler — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:05:27 -0700

I found this somewhere else, but it is truly my heart for CLC:

What makes a church come alive?

CHANGED LIVES…when dead people are being brought to life a church cannot remain on life support. Changed lives change a community!

THE GOSPEL…when the Gospel is THE agenda instead of some ridiculous issue that happens to be the “fad of the year.”

HIS PRESENCE…when He becomes UNDENIABLE!

WORSHIP…when the goal isn’t to see how little of the song we can sing but rather to sing with everything we’ve got.

GIVING…when God is honored because Christians don’t just trust Him with what they can’t see…but are willing to trust Him with what they can see.

SERVICE…when believers are unleashed to serve Christ by using their spiritual gifts rather than depending on the “paid professionals” to do it all.

DEDICATION…when people in the church are way more passionate about pursuing Christ daily rather than showing up on Sunday and getting their attendance star on their chart.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY…when people in the church begin to accept responsibility for where they are in their spiritual journey…and then are willing to do something about it.

LEADERS WHO FEAR GOD, NOT MAN…leaders who know that God called them and will take care of them…and refuse to let the threat of not getting a paycheck stop them from doing what God has called them to do.

UNITY…when a church can truly celebrate when a church…ANY CHURCH…sees something great happen for the Kingdom.

BAPTISM…it’s NEVER a bad thing to see hundreds of people go public with their faith.

SINCERITY…when people show up with hearts ready to hear, repent and be brough near rather that people checking out the fashions of others.

DESPERATION…for Jesus to show up and make Himself known.

EXCELLENCE…for people to be willing to give their very best effort to honor the God who saved them.

TECHNOLOGY…embracing it and using it rather than fighting it. (Find it funny and sad that there are churches who say that using lights and video is “not in the Bible,” yet those same churches use air conditioner and heaters…which are not in the Bible either!)

Budget or Blueberies?

Ed Tyler — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:20:15 -0700

As the State of California faces a $24.3 billion deficit and the threat of running out of cash by late July, the Governor has threatened to shut it all down. Even with the present situation there are some who ask, "What budget crisis?" by sponsoring some "eyebrow-raising bills" in the state Legislature (Budget or blueberries):

- Ensure that juice sold as "pomegranate" is 100 percent pomegranate.

- Instruct 9th and 10th graders about the value of organ donation.

- Ban toy cigarette lighters.

- Require day cares to serve only healthy food to children.

Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, a Democrat from San Francisco, is the author of the name-tag bill and another that would establish a commission to promote California's growing blueberry industry. The commission's $1.2 million annual budget would come from a surcharge on blueberries.

Maybe shutting down the state government isn't a bad thing!

Old Fave Movie

Ed Tyler — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:49:06 -0700

I have some favorite movies that I have watched over the years. Some are real gems that I think about every once in a while. Buckaroo Bonzai is a classic that I recently dug up in my memory. It came out in 1984. Check out John Lithgo! "Character is what you are in the dark."

My Thoughts Today

Ed Tyler — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:11:34 -0700

I was told by someone this morning that I had not blogged for a long time and he implied that I needed to. So all morning some things have been buzzing through my mind and so I wrote them down. These are my thoughts and ideas about the church, ministry, life, and faith. It is just a few. I could go further in depth on these but too many words on a blog is a death sentence. So, take a look and leave a comment.

My primary mission is not to do witnessing, but to be witnesses.
I remember when I first became a follower of Christ it was implied by many in the church that what would really please Jesus was to give a verbal account of what Christ has done in my life. I was to witness, or tell someone about Jesus. As I review scripture it really seems to me that this is not the case. In Acts 1:8 Jesus says … you will be my witnesses...This implies more of a life expression than a verbal acknowledgment.

My desire for the church I serve in is not to be a service organization, but to be a redemptive society.
We don’t serve without a purpose. We don’t serve to make life better for people. We serve to restore what was destroyed. We serve to renew what is old and decaying. We serve to reconcile relationships that have been severed. We serve to draw people’s attention to the kingdom of God.

My goal in life is not to make converts, but to make disciples.
Jesus tells us to make disciples, not converts (Matthew 28:19). Jesus is always pursuing people. We just need to put ourselves in those places where he is active and where the Holy Spirit leads us (Philip, Acts 8). Once we are in that place we are to help others know who Jesus is and how they can live for him and others in his kingdom.

I don’t have go to church, but I want to be a member of a community living out the reign of Christ.
Jesus didn’t save me for me. He didn’t die for me to live a life of selfish behavior and isolation. I am saved into his kingdom with other followers who are in Christ so that together we can give witness to his kingdom.

I don’t think the best use of my time is to be in a bible study, the best use of my time is doing what the Jesus tells me to do in his bible.
Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commands” (JN14:15). In reality he was saying that a proof of no love is to not keep his commands. So, just listening to what he says in a bible study and doing nothing in response is not the best use of time. John 1:14 tells us that the Word (Jesus) became flesh (incarnation) and dwelt among us. Jesus put himself (the Word) into practice or flesh. In Matthew 7:23-24 Jesus exhorts every follower to put his word into practice or flesh (incarnation).

My role as a paid staff member is not to do ministry, but it is to gather and equip teams of unpaid servants for redemptive ministry.
The primary role of paid servants is to create an environment in which leaders, at every level, are equipped and replicating the redemptive DNA of the church through living out their spiritual gifts
(EPH 4:11-16).

My reason for giving money to the church is not so the bills get paid. It is not like giving a tip at a restaurant for good service. I give because it shows who really has control of my life.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Lets face reality, what you spend your money on shows the priorities in your life. If I am reluctant to give to the work and ministry of Jesus do I really love Jesus?

I don’t pray to get what I want, I pray to get what God wants.
Right from the start in the Lord’s Prayer (MT6:10) Jesus lays out the priority in prayer, “your (God) kingdom come, your (God) will be done.” I pray out of desire to see the reign of Christ a reality in his creation more than to see my reign realized in my world.

Young Men | Old Men

Ed Tyler — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:54:14 -0700

your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams. - Acts 2:17

As I look at this verse I am reminded of the vision that so many young men have today. Visions of things bigger and greater than what most of us can think of. Being at the age that I am right now I am more concerned with dreams. I wonder why old men will dream dreams. Maybe because it is so easy for you to lose sight of your dreams as you get older. Other things creep into your life to destroy your dreams and you come to a point where you have no more mental energy to dream again. Could this be a promise for those of us who are old (even though I don't feel old) and have lost the spark that God through his Spirit can and will reinsert in us old dudes something fresh, new and life-giving? Hope so!

SAFETY FIRST?

Ed Tyler — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:22:03 -0800

I am reading a book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I read something today that was life changing for me. Here is the excerpt from the book that I want to share with you...

Haven't we all prayed the following prayer? Lord, we pray for safety as we travel. We ask that no one gets hurt on this trip. Please keep everyone safe until we return, and bring us back safely. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. The exact wording may vary a bit, but that is the standard prayer we recite before leaving on mission trips, retreats, vacations, and business trips. We are consumed with safety. Obsessed with it actually. Now I am not saying that it is wrong to pray for God's protection, but I am questioning how we've made safety our highest priority. We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world. Would you be willing to pray this prayer? God, bring me closer to You during this trip, whatever it takes...
- Crazy Love, pg 133

As I read the scriptures the people who did the most for God and were used by God were people who were not obsessed with safety. They were more consumed by their knowing God and doing his will regardless of their own safety.

Sit, Walk, Stand | #1

Ed Tyler — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:48:54 -0800

I am under the impression that when you align your life with Jesus and make the pledge to follow him you will have a desire to discover how that works out in life. You will want to know him better and adjust your life according to his life and teaching. This makes sense to me. We are beginning a new series this coming Sunday called, "Sit, Walk, Stand" and takes a look at our life as Christ followers from the lens of Ephesians. The series is based on the book "Sit, Walk, Stand" by Watchman Nee. My first message is an introductory with my focus on Ephesians 1:22-23:

²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

What are your thoughts concerning this scripture in light of the first chapter?

What does all things mean to you personally?

What does it mean that Christ is the head over everything for the church?

New Logos as Result of Our Financial Crises

Ed Tyler — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:03:05 -0800