Threads

Leader Tip of the Month--November

Jason Hayes — 2009-11-05T09:00:52-06:00

Ministry leaders, this month’s leader tip by Jason Hayes deals with our responsibility as Christ-followers to share a complete gospel with the world. Participating in social action without sharing the message of the gospel just isn’t sufficient in terms of bringing people to Jesus. Take a minute to watch this month’s leader tip video blog.

The Power of Gratitude (Part 2)

Marlene Baer — 2009-11-05T07:00:20-06:00

Part 2 of The Power of Gratitude continues. Read Part 1 here.

Now that you’re thinking of all those people you wish to thank, here are additional ways to show appreciation. And anytime you say “thanks,” be sure to tell that person specifically what it is you appreciate about him or her.

Practically Grateful

Take a surprise dinner to a friend who helped you through a tough time.
Give an after-the-party survival kit (stain remover, paper towels, and a gift certificate for a pedicure) to a party-hosting friend.
Do something unexpected for your roommate, like washing his or her car.
Write a letter of appreciation to a former teacher who influenced your life.
Place an unexpected phone call to your grandparents, parents, or a mentor and thank them for how they’ve impacted you.
In a friend’s name, sponsor a well where clean water is scarce, or donate to his or her favorite charity.
Volunteer to serve a meal at a homeless shelter, or provide a Thanksgiving grocery gift bag with all the traditional eats for a family in need. Consider making this a church community outreach effort by coordinating with your local Salvation Army or transition house.

Originally Appreciative

Arrange a bouquet of flowers, attach a note of thanks, and leave it on a friend’s doorstep to greet him or her after work.
Inscribe a favorite or meaningful book for a mentor or helpful coworker.
Host an appreciation party and invite all the significant people in your life to one special event. Write a note of appreciation to each friend, or honor each guest with public words of thanks.
Create a book of thankfulness for your parents, pastor, or friend. Have different people write notes of personal thanks for how that person impacted their lives.
Frame a collage of verses that remind you of the person you want to thank.
Get to work early and leave a piece of candy, some fruit, or a flower at every desk with personal notes of appreciation.
Send a hand-written thank-you note on your own hand-crafted card.

On the Big Day

Before you start feasting on sweet potato casserole, here are some unique ways to share your gratitude on Thanksgiving day and start new thankful traditions.

Express your thanks through decorations. Make napkin rings or place cards, writing down each guest’s name and why you’re thankful for him or her.
Create a family Thanksgiving album of your favorite pictures throughout the year. Reflecting on your memories from trips or time with friends is a great way to count the blessings of life. Have everyone write something they’re thankful for alongside the pics. Bring out the album each Thanksgiving and continue the tradition.
As a way of saying thanks by paying it forward, organize your own food drive by asking guests coming to Thanksgiving dinner to bring along a canned food item to donate to a local food pantry.
Put everyone’s name into a bowl, and draw names before dinner. Afterwards, share why you’re thankful for the person whose name you drew and what quality in him or her you admire most.
Show thanks for the chef and hosts by taking charge of clean-up duty.
In Joshua 4:2-7, Joshua created a monument of thankfulness for his children to see for ages to come. In the same symbolic way, pass out smooth stones and a sharpie to everyone and have them write down a word, symbol, or phrase on the stone (along with their initials) to signify what they are most thankful for. Place the stones in a basket to bring out each year, adding more to the collection.
Through prayer, thank God for His many attributes—Creator, Healer, Sustainer, Provider, Comforter, Savior, Holy One.

Carole Lewis, author of A Thankful Heart, says, “When we show thankfulness to those we meet each day at the cleaners, grocery store, or at our job, we are extending blessings into their lives. God tells us in Mark 12:30 that the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. He says that the second greatest commandment is that we love our neighbor as our self. We show love to God by loving others.”

This simple act of showing love to others by saying “thank you,” no matter how you choose to say those two important words, is a contagious act that will change your heart in the process.

Making the Thanks Fit the Favor

Wonder what the etiquette experts have to say about how to say thanks for specific favors? RealSimple.com has surveyed the experts and gracious gift-givers regarding 20 common and confusing situations that mandate thank-yous. From good deeds such as watching your pet while you’re on vacation to family friends hosting you for a night at their home, the site offers creative suggestions that will strike the right note of showing your appreciation.

At a Loss for Words?

Sometimes it’s hard to get past the first two words in a thank-you card and to put your gratefulness into a meaningful expression. If you’re suffering from writer’s block, my-thank-you-site.com has ready-to-use verses, quotes, and poems to help.

The Power of Gratitude (Part 1)

Marlene Baer — 2009-11-04T13:48:50-06:00

G.K. Chesterton once said, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” Expressing gratitude by saying “thank you” is a profound and simple act, but has it become a forgotten art?

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it seems appropriate to reflect on all the things we are thankful for. But those thoughts can often be fleeting as we become consumed with holiday travel plans and look forward to a meal of turkey topped off with pumpkin pie, followed by the tryptophan sleepiness that will render us replete before the football game of the day.

So before you start scheduling your trip and making a mental list of all of the things you’re thankful for, let’s first examine the source of our thankfulness. We’re reminded in Scripture again and again about God’s goodness: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

When we are truly grateful for God’s power at work in us and God’s gift of life, we cannot contain this joy. From this thankfulness comes an outpouring of gratitude that is contagious, infectious, and life-giving to those around us.

In an online Christianity Today interview on his book Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning said, “When somebody is aware of [God’s] love, the same love that the Father has for Jesus, that person is just spontaneously grateful. Cries of thankfulness become the dominant characteristic of the interior life, and the by-product of gratitude is joy. We’re not joyful and then become grateful; we’re grateful and that makes us joyful.”

This joy, an outgrowth of our gratitude, also inspires us to act and to utter, in word or in deed, two very powerful words—thank you. Knowing exactly how to express those two words can be unique to each situation and to each person. Perhaps you’ve wondered how to best give thanks when more than words are necessary. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, express to your friends, family, roommate, coworkers, and mentors just how much they mean to you.

In his book The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman shares that we express our love and appreciation for others in the way we like to have love shown to us. Different personalities show love in different ways through five specific love languages: quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, and physical touch. Learning someone’s love language is a unique lens for conveying gratitude. While giving a wrapped gift or a physical pat on the back are often our default expressions of thanks, move beyond autopilot by considering some of these ideas.

Now That’s Quality

Rather than giving a store-bought present to show gratitude, offer the gift of your time. Quality time can be expressed in a conversation over a cup of coffee, where you really take time to listen and dig beneath the surface. Thankfulness can also be conveyed through time spent enjoying an activity together. “The emphasis is not on what you are doing but on why you are doing it,” Chapman says. And sometimes that means doing things that you don’t necessarily enjoy.

Krista, 35, of Santa Barbara, Calif., has learned that the gift of time is the perfect way to express thanks to her mom. “When I’ve promised to spend the day with my mom and help her with computer issues, she feels blessed,” Krista shares. “I also have to promise that I’ll be patient, because patience is not one of my gifts!”

Say It With Words

Showing appreciation for someone can also be expressed through words of affirmation and encouragement. Whether written in a card or expressed verbally, the dialect of affirmation has the power to restore and deepen any relationship.

Before John, 31, from Morgan Hill, Calif., was diagnosed with cancer, he would often bring smiles and laughter to his friends. “When I was going through chemotherapy and really struggling, I had ‘fairies’ come by my house and decorate my driveway with Bible verses, drawings, and special quotes that made me smile and laugh. It seems they wanted to return the favor.”

John’s friends articulated their gratitude for his friendship in such a tangible way that John’s neighbors were even able to witness God’s love in action.

Serve It Up

Do you have the gift of hospitality? Do you like to cook or fix things? Are you a lean, mean, cleaning and organizing machine? Rather than mailing a thank-you card, consider expressing your gratitude for others through an act of service, utilizing your own special gifts.

To thank his friends for always opening up their bachelor pad for dinners and social functions, Carl, 36, from Silicon Valley, Calif., decided to surprise his compadres by fixing up their neglected bachelor bathroom. He bought new towels and a shower curtain and scrubbed down the entire lavatory to a “Mr. Clean” shine.

Adah, 40, of Mountain View, Calif., thanked a mentor couple in her church community group by surprising them with breakfast and fresh flowers when they returned from a long vacation, knowing they’d be too exhausted to go to the store after their long flight.

Whether you show your gratitude through a hug, a gift, quality time, encouraging words, or service, learning someone’s primary love language is an incredible way to say “thanks.”

Click here for Part 2: More practical and creative ways to say “thanks,” and not just on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Writing Contest--Win a spot on our blog!

staff — 2009-11-03T14:27:22-06:00

Do you suffer from blog envy? Are you tired of being mocked by thousands of witty, popular blog posts when all you have to show are a few mildly entertaining Facebook status updates that no one even looks at? Well, Threads would like to give you the opportunity to be seen—er, read.

We’re throwing a question out there just for you to answer as we gear up for the holiday season. Be creative, be honest, be yourself. Threads staff will choose the post we think is most awesome and we’ll publish it right on our site … on Thanksgiving day!

So, here’s the question: What are you most thankful for about your church and/or its ministry leaders?

Write till your heart’s content—and then narrow it down to 200 words or less—and forward it to us at threads@lifeway.com. Happy posting!

Get Uncomfortable: A Problem of Geography

Todd Phillips — 2009-11-02T13:45:10-06:00

Americans live in a cocoon. This cocoon—made from the interwoven silks of economic, political, and ideological freedoms—effectively isolates us from connecting to (or fully understanding) the way in which the vast majority of people on this planet live. Here are some basic figures about life outside that cocoon: One third of the world—that’s about two billion men, women, and children—lives on less than $2 a day. That’s $60 a month, $720 a year. Some of us spend that much on our cars each month (car payment, insurance, gas, and so on). That ought to be enough for us to realize there’s a need.

Our national economy and political freedoms are not the only things that separate us from understanding the way the majority of the world lives. We further separate ourselves as believers by refusing to educate ourselves on the more than 2,000 verses in Scripture that clearly reveal the following perspectives: God’s heart for the poor and oppressed; the true condition of our world; our responsibility and opportunity to spread the gospel by serving others in need; and the promise that God will empower His children to accomplish His goal of justice and mercy for all the world through His Son, Jesus Christ.

As Christ-followers in the United States, we tend to feed ravenously on every passage of Scripture that refers to the blessings we receive from God. While we gorge ourselves on those verses, we by and large give very little time to the many passages that speak of self-denial, service, sacrifice, suffering for the sake of the gospel, and sharing in the misery of others.

As quick as I am to judge our actions as the people of God toward the poor and oppressed (I put myself at the front of the line), I’m equally quick to absolve most believers from blame for our collective inactivity. In fact, I’m surprised that we aren’t even less aware than we currently are of the global crises that plague the majority of humankind. Given how sparingly Scripture regarding God’s desire for our involvement in social action is preached, it is amazing that these issues are acknowledged at all. This is our first and greatest problem.

The cynical side of me thinks that social justice is not preached because people who are poor and oppressed can’t do the two things that most preachers want everyone to do—attend their churches and give to their causes. Additionally, my own experience as a pastor helps me understand that these topics are not addressed from the pulpit because “service” and “sacrifice” in Jesus’ name is difficult to teach in today’s consumer-driven church culture.

In such a culture, the preacher is only as good as his last sermon. He is rated by the straw poll every week as people gather in the lobby to talk about their approval or disapproval of the day’s message. In this environment, many preachers stay away from the controversial subjects out of concern for reprisal in the form of lower attendance.

Secondly, our churches aren’t structured toward responding effectively to these global issues. Many churches in the U.S. today, especially the larger they get, become like country clubs rather than spiritual hospitals. Over time we become concerned about our needs more than the needs of others. We become so focused on our own personal or corporate growth and maturity in Christ that we miss out on countless opportunities to grow and mature through service and sacrifice.

Church slowly becomes all about us and little else. Reggie McNeal puts it this way: “[Church] members obviously have needs for pastoral care and spiritual growth. It is critical that these issues be addressed. However, I am raising the question of how many church activities for the already-saved are justified where there are people out there who have never been touched with Jesus’ love? The answer is a whole lot less than we’ve got going on now.”¹

Excerpted from the Threads short-term study Get Uncomfortable, by Todd Phillips.

Reggie McNeal, *Present Future* (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003), 32. ↩

I’d like mine with a nice country club membership included

Chad Jordan — 2009-10-30T16:14:17-06:00

November is going to be a difficult month. Our study, “Casual Christianity,” poses some tough and uncomfortable questions. Are you prepared to honestly examine your habits and attitudes about Christianity? Are you willing to make any necessary changes?

It seems that many who call themselves Christ-followers are fine with limiting their Christianity to showing up on Sunday mornings, singing along with three or four songs, half-listening to a thirty-minute talk, and then heading to lunch. Task completed, check it off the list! But you should know that casual Christianity just won’t do.

Here’s a fun task: let’s make a list of guys in the Bible and ask them if they would consider their faith casual, easy, or fun.

John the Baptist: “Easy? No, I wouldn’t say that. Having your head separated from your body is not easy.”
Jonah: “Fun? You ever been inside a whale? Not fun. Fantastic, yes; incredible, absolutely; but certainly not fun.”
Paul: “Well, I did get to travel the known world telling people about Jesus, but I wouldn’t call it casual. Dodging rocks and getting arrested kept things exciting. I’d never trade what I did, but a church with a country club membership included in their package, now that would have been a lot easier.”
Abraham: “Following God started out pretty easy until He asked me to leave my home and just start walking. You ever leave home without a destination? Kinda crazy. There was also that time where I almost killed my own kid. I’d definitely say following God demands a pretty hefty commitment.”
Moses: “Not too sure about those words. Exciting, adventurous, and remembered forever are more how I’d describe it. I mean, God allowed me to see the Red Sea open up and become like dry ground under my feet, rescue His people, write that song about letting my people go, and then actually see Him. But then there was the whole wilderness snafu, and I can honestly say there was nothing fun about that.”

Where did we ever get the idea that following God would be easy? It NEVER was in the Bible. So is being a Christ-follower worth it? Absolutely. It’s worth anything you’d have to pay, but casual or easy? Definitely not.

Some passages of Scripture are tough to understand and apply to our lives, but this week’s isn’t one of those. We may not like what it has to say, but it’s simple, straightforward and life altering. Read James 1 and 2. Notice how he explains things in very easy-to-understand language: “Rid yourselves of moral filth” (1:21); “Be doers of the word” (1:21); “Show me your faith without works and I’ll show you faith from my works” (2:18). Start this month’s study with a clean slate and examine yourself each week. Does your faith look like the one being described by James as active, or is it one that just hears and is comfortable to live in filth?

I love the closing paragraph on page 80 of the learner guide: “A faith that is void of works is a faith that is void of substance. A faith that is void of substance is a faith that will land someone with the demons in hell. Once we realize that the theology of James matches perfectly with the theology of grace, then we can begin living a life that substantiates a faith we say we possess.”

Does your faith have any substance to it?

Interview with Margaret Feinberg

staff — 2009-10-28T13:18:04-06:00

Michael Kelley sits down with Margaret Feinberg to discuss her new Bible study, Scouting the Divine.

WIN a Free Sacred Roads DVD Leader Kit ($69.95 value)!

Jenny Williams — 2009-10-28T12:37:01-06:00

Sacred Roads: Exploring the Historic Paths of Discipleship, by Heather Zempel, is a new short-term Bible study from Threads. Click HERE for more information about the study. The leader kit includes a member book, a DVD with video clips to jump-start discussion in your small group, and a CD-Rom with leader helps, music, audio files, and more!

Winning is so easy. All you need to do is post on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter feed about the Threads giveaway, linking your readers back to this post on the Threads Blog. Then, come back to this page and post a comment with a link to your social network post. We will randomly choose one winner from those who posted to receive the leader kit.

Congrats to Adrienne Maples, winner of the Interrupted DVD leader kit! Thanks for stopping by the Threads blog.

Official Contest Rules

Update: Congrats to Matt Lee—winner of the FREE Sacred Roads Bible study leader kit, by Heather Zempel! Thank you to everyone who posted about the new Threads study on your social networks. We are hearing great things about Sacred Roads!

Artistic Treat for Collegiate Users

Heather Manning — 2009-10-27T15:54:52-06:00

We have gotten a few requests for a promotional poster for this Fall’s Collegiate Bible Studies and thought everyone might like a copy. This poster is 11 x 17 and ready to print on any standard printer. Happy Bible study promotion to all.

Download the poster (21.7 MB).

We Party Like Kindergartners

Heather Manning — 2009-10-27T13:45:45-06:00

The Threads team recently moved to new offices and decided to welcome ourselves to the neighborhood. Since fall is so beautiful here in Tennessee, why not throw a Fall Festival block party. Here are a few photos so you can share in the ridiculousness of it all.

Tim Tebow is the man!

Chad Jordan — 2009-10-23T15:30:13-06:00

How can my faith begin impacting my actions? This isn’t a question that should be asked, because the answer should be obvious. Our faith should impact everything we do and every decision we make. For many churchgoers, faith is a thing that’s talked about but seldom lived. It’s easy to seem “faithful” on Sundays or in your church crowd, but honestly, how often does your faith show up the other 95% of your week?

As I’ve stated before, I love football. And yes, I’m still a bit down after my Hokies blew a great opportunity last weekend. My love for football has introduced me to a great guy who’s tough to hate. His name is Tim Tebow, and no matter what you think about the Florida Gators (Here in Nashville I could be tarred and feathered for saying those words too loud.), I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t respect Tebow. Many are ready for him to graduate, but how can you not like the guy?

I’ve read many articles about him and his family and the missions work they’re involved in. I’ve also heard him share his faith a thousand times on national TV. After big wins, like two National Championships, he points the glory to his Savior instead of accepting it for himself. I’ve never seen an athlete so consistently live a life that is truly impacted by his faith. Many athletes pray after touchdowns or thank God for His blessings before accepting an award, but I haven’t seen one live a more public life and see the type of example Tebow has been for the past four years.

When I think about this week’s lesson, Tim Tebow comes to mind. And this article by Sam Cook really bothers me. Take a few minutes and read it and let me know what you think. One thing I know for sure is that Tebow won’t change. He’ll stand tall no matter who dislikes him for his faith even if he has to stand alone, because he lives a life displaying his amazement in his God.

Now, I know he’s human and certainly not perfect, but I see him as a great example for all Christians. Do the people who know you really know where you stand? Do they see Christ in the way you live? Does your faith impact your life, or is it just something you do on Sundays?

Here are a few articles I found this week that are worth your attention and may be good discussion starters in your community time this weekend.

North Carolina “pastor” will be burning Bibles for Halloween. Click Here.

Not a religious thing, but wrong none the less, College Football Snuggie?!? Click Here.

Get Over Yourself

Jason Boyett — 2009-10-22T05:00:32-06:00

Pride—our culture doesn’t typically give it much thought, but to the early church, pride was considered one of the most destructive of all sins. Trouble is, it’s also a sin that comes pretty naturally to us. So how do we fight it?

Refocus

Instead of trying to subtract pride from your life, try to add something in its place—think servanthood. Being a servant means dying to self whether your act of service is going on a mission trip or opening a door for someone. Focusing less on yourself and more on others is a good step toward defeating pride.

Worship Often

Practicing the discipline of worship removes our attention from ourselves and directs it toward God. Whether in public or private, worship helps us remember that the things that make us most proud—our accomplishments or our talents—are gifts from God. They’re not ours to claim.

Repeat It

Commit Philippians 2:3-4 to memory: “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Repeat these verses to yourself any time you find yourself worried about getting attention or wishing others would bow to your personal convenience.

Quit Trying

Conquering pride on your own only leads to feeling proud of your accomplishment—which kinda defeats the purpose. Ultimately, only the Holy Spirit can help us take small steps toward unselfishness. Ask God to change your perspective. Ask Him to help you see past yourself and to develop within you a deeper concern for others.

Fall-tastic Ways to Fellowship: 8 ideas for building community this season

staff — 2009-10-20T12:25:51-06:00

Ahh, fall … It’s time to breathe in the crisp air, admire the beautifully changing leaves, and log way too many hours in front of the TV watching college football. But it’s also the perfect season to strengthen the friendships in your young adult community. Check out our staff picks for some fall-tastic ways to fellowship.

Go for a hike. Now’s the perfect time to head outdoors and enjoy God’s breathtaking creation. Before winter sets in, gather your Bible study group to hike the best trails in your area. Invite those new to your group to come along. You’ll be reminded of countless things to thank God for.
Feed your friends—and America. Why not host a dinner party for a good cause? When you do, Macy’s will match all the money your guests donate to Feeding America as a part of the Come+Together campaign. Their goal? To provide 10 million meals for families in need.
Trunk or Treat? Volunteer at your church’s Trunk or Treat or Fall Festival. Offer your trunk, man a candy station, or oversee one of the festive games. It’s a great way to serve your church and meet some new faces in your community.
Find the Great Pumpkin. Head out to a local pumpkin patch to enjoy a hayride, find your way out of the corn maze, and sip on some homemade cider. While you’re there, grab a pumpkin or a potted mum to take to an elderly member of your church or neighborhood.
Indulge your inner Top Chef. Bake some of your favorite yummy treats to deliver to your neighbors. Never met them? Who cares! Nothing says “Nice to meet you” like dessert. Make an extra batch for your coworkers too.
Pack a box … or two … or three. Host an Operation Christmas Child shoebox-packing party—collection season is October and November. Your friends bring shoeboxes and gifts. You provide snacks, music, and the decorating essentials.
Rake some leaves for the elderly in your church or neighborhood. Conquer a block, or thumb through the church directory to compile a list of people to serve. You’ll meet a huge need in their lives. And you’ll have the chance to breathe in some fresh air and get in a workout while you’re at it.
Throw a bonfire/chili cook-off/football tailgate outreach party. These tried and true get-togethers are guaranteed to result in multiple opportunities to mingle around a bonfire, bond over bad ref calls, or share your grandma’s chili recipe—great ways to form instant community.

He’s like Walter Payton, I’m more like Peter

Chad Jordan — 2009-10-16T17:33:52-06:00

I love football. This weekend I’ll be pulling for my Hokies to keep the run alive and beat Georgia Tech. While doing my usual pregame activities this week, like reading anything I can find mentioning Virginia Tech football, I ran across several articles talking about our running back, Ryan Williams. You see, from a very young age he loved Walter Payton and even has a tattoo of Payton’s number 34 with the tag, “Little Sweetness” on his forearm. Now that Williams is getting national publicity for his success, many people are comparing him to his hero. They have a similar style and greatness in the way they play the game.

All this got me thinking about which Bible character I’m most like or want to be like. I think this is a fun question to ask and it may be a great way for you to start this week’s lesson. For me, the answer is pretty easy. I definitely see myself as one of Jesus’ apostles, probably even Peter. Now before you go thinking I’m being a little arrogant with my choice, let me explain. I chose Peter because he promised Christ he would stand beside Him until the end, even if it meant dying with Him, and then a few hours later he barked at a little girl for thinking he was a follower of Christ. I can relate to Peter because I like to say I’ll do great things only to find myself sleeping in the garden and missing out on a great Jesus moment. Also, I like to think I’d fight a Roman soldier or evil Pharisee, but most likely I’d run away with the rest of them.

You know what’s beautiful about following Christ? It’s that having moments of weakness like those mentioned above isn’t what defines us. Honestly, if everything you knew about Peter was based on Mark 14, you’d think he was a chump rather than one of the founding fathers of our faith. God used him in mighty ways to establish the church and spread the story of Jesus around the globe.

That gives me hope and I hope it does for you, too. I mess up all the time. No matter how hard I try or how focused I am at one moment, I fall asleep at the wheel the next moment. I’m thankful for a loving Father who’s encouraging and equipping me for success and is ready to catch me when I fall.

So, which character are you, and why?

Below is a clip from Bolt where the pigeons try to remember why they recognize him. Another way to get some conversation started is to ask the people in the class who they remind each other of. This could be a biblical character or someone else, but make sure the focus is on positive traits. I hope some of this helps give you a few ideas and maybe an additional thought or two for this weekend’s time with your group. As always, feel free to share your thoughts below.

F.Y.E.: The Weekend in Sports

Michael Kelley — 2009-10-15T12:42:35-06:00

In my opinion, October is the epicenter of the sports calendar. With the onset of fall, you’ve got all kinds of greatness. You have Major League Baseball Postseason. There’s the real meat of the college football schedule. And the NFL is kicking into high gear. Though my petition with the NCAA to have March Madness moved to October to ensure its total dominance over any other month is currently under consideration, I nevertheless am giddy with excitement because every week brings plenty of fodder for anyone who has even a casual interest in sports. To that end, I’d like to briefly highlight this weekend of sports.

I can’t in good conscience say I’ll be watching all of this, but you can pick and choose whatever scratches your itch. All times are given in central standard:

Friday, October 16th

Baseball: Game 2, Phillies vs. Dodgers, 3:07 p.m.

Saturday, October 17th

College Football: Oklahoma vs. Texas, 11 a.m. // USC vs. Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m.

Baseball: Game 2, Angels vs. Yankees, 6:57 p.m.

Sunday, October 18th

NFL: Giants vs. Saints, 12 p.m. // Titans vs. Patriots, 3:15 p.m.

Baseball: Game 3, Dodgers vs. Phillies, 7:07 p.m.

It’s going to be a great weekend. Live it up, cause the black hole of sports will soon be upon us again.

Threads @ Catalyst Conference 2009

Jenny Williams — 2009-10-14T14:30:08-06:00

The 2009 Catalyst Conference was incredible. Threads authors Mark Batterson, Ed Stetzer, and Margaret Feinberg had pre-labs before the main event. Feinberg also did a main stage interview about her new book Scouting the Divine, and all 13,000 attendees received a free copy. Threads is releasing the Scouting the Divine Bible study in January 2010.

Check out the video highlights of the event and LifeWay booth. The Lost and Found augmented reality game at our booth was a hit. You can play it from home at www.lifeway.com/catalyst.

Last Day

Jason Hayes — 2009-10-09T14:05:36-06:00

Another year of Catalyst is about to wrap up, and it’s been fun to be a part of it. I’ve been around this event for several years and I’m always grateful for my time here. Thanks so much to Brad Lomenick and the Catalyst team for inviting me to participate in the Backstage Experience and for taking such great care of me. As usual, the team executed this event with incredible excellence. This morning we’ve heard from Priscilla Shirer, Dave Ramsey, Margaret Feinberg, and more. I think above all today, I really appreciate the challenge to consider adoption and the care of orphans. As most of you know, this is something incredibly important to us. I’ll be headed to Haiti next month to begin our church’s effort of building an entire village for children without homes and parents. It’s been cool to see 12,000 folks inspired to change the world through the love of Christ as it intersects this crisis.

Again, Catalyst has been a great experience. I’ve heard some strong messages and been blessed to worship with these leaders from around the world. It’s been so fun to laugh, catch up, and interact with old and new friends. I’m not going to share all of my notes from today as there will be way too many to work through and make available. I’ve been challenged on leadership principles, ministry practices, and ultimately been fostered closer to God.

I’ll be Tweeting the rest of the day and then heading home later this afternoon. In addition, next week Jenny Williams (from the Threads team) will be posting a video montage of some of our team’s interaction with folks at the Threads booth. Thanks again for interacting with us over the last few days.

The Threads team is excited to be at Catalyst 2009 this week in Atlanta, Georgia. With over 12,000 in attendance, Catalyst is the largest convergence of next generation leaders in the country. In addition to our interaction with participants and sharing the Threads story, I am one of 10 contributors for Catalyst Backstage. Be sure to check it out during the event for the complete “experience” if you can’t attend in person. In addition, I’ll be posting a couple times a day here as well as tweeting the event thoroughly at www.twitter.com/jasonhayes . And, finally, If you’re going to be there in Atlanta, be sure to stop by and visit us. We’d love to see you!

Thursday Recap

Jason Hayes — 2009-10-09T00:19:15-06:00

Check the archives if you missed my recap of Thursday morning. Here is a tiny glimpse into my notes from this afternoon and evening. We heard from Shane Hipps, Tony Dungy, Rob Bell, Matt Chandler, and Francis Chan. Feel free to check my Twitter history to see some of my commentary on each speaker’s message. In addition to some incredibly powerful worship with Aaron Keyes, the crowd was invited to participate in the communion this evening. Coming fresh on the heels of Chandler’s great message before dinner and then Chan’s incredible talk tonight, you can imagine how powerful it was. If you missed the memo, we actually streamed much of this evening’s service to everyone watching at home. It was cool to see folks from across the globe joining together online. Til’ tomorrow!

Shane Hipps

“Christianity is fundamentally a communication event.” “What if the Gospel was more like a living, breathing thing as opposed to a lifeless artifact. If that’s the case, it seems God might want a lot more gardeners.” “Gardeners act in love. Museum guards live in fear.”

Rob Bell

“I would like to explore the simple question – Is bigger really better?” “A church is called to be a Eucharist for our people and our cities.” “Our children pick up what our priorities are even when we don’t say a word.”

Matt Chandler

“The practice of confession is God beckoning you to go deeper.” “Get up, repent, and mature.” “Someday history will be re-written like it really is. Play your part!”

Francis Chan

“Often we are better at telling people about the grace of God as opposed to soaking it up ourselves.” “We have the God of ALL grace!” “You are not a slave, you are a son!”

Catalyst Has Begun

Jason Hayes — 2009-10-08T15:17:25-06:00

Well, Catalyst has officially begun and it’s been great thus far. It’s hard to live up to the hype that comes along with an experience like this, but it’s not disappointing! The labs were very good yesterday, especially from Threads authors Mark Batterson, Margaret Feinberg, and Ed Stetzer. We’ve heard this morning from Andy Stanley, Malcolm Gladwell, and the folks from KIVA. In addition, the antics of Lanny Donahoe and Reggie Joiner are always fun. Below are a few highlights from the notes I took this morning. I’ll summarize the rest of the day later this evening.

Andy Stanley:

“Every leader leaves a mark. But, what kind of mark will you leave?” “Am I consumed with who is for me or against me? Or rather by who I am for (God)?” “God should not been invited to play role in our story, but we are privileged to play a role in His.” “Living to make my mark is too small of a thing to give my life to. But, to be positioned to follow God’s mark for you life, that is big enough to give your life to!”

Malcolm Gladwell:

Shared about Lee Triumphs at Chancellorsville and John Lee Hooker’s comment, “God Almighty couldn’t even keep us from victory.” “The vital failure in times of crisis is overconfidence.” “Incompetence annoys me. Overconfidence scares me.” “There was a time when we let go of incompetent leaders.” “In the midst of crisis, most think we need leaders who are daring and bold. We don’t. What we need is humility.”

Living on a Prayer: Incorporating God Into Your Every Moment

Matt Tullos — 2009-10-08T09:00:47-06:00

I’d love to be the kind of believer who oozes spirituality, but the real me is a scattered, messy, stumbling Christ-follower. My life is filled with to-do’s, deadlines, meals on the go, and Skype. Is there any reason to think I could ever be good at prayer? Of course! And if that’s something you’ve ever wondered, you can too. The reality is, most of us are way too busy to ignore the mystical, practical, whimsical, illogical gift of prayer.

The only real way you will ever see continuous, intimate, radical prayer is to make prayer a breath, a time, a space, and a celebration. (I’ll explain—hopefully.) Prayer should be a dance throughout your day. It’s a constant conversation between two people—you and God. He seeks to hear from you. He wants to know your struggles, your joys, your sorrows. Newsflash: It’s not a secret; God is accessible to you at any moment and in any place. You can stop and pray like you stop to say hello to the guy you see every day in the flannel shirt chewing on a coffee stirrer in the hallway. The only difference is that the guy in the flannel shirt is not invisible, and he didn’t create the universe. You can learn to pray like you breathe. In with the epiphanies—the God-winks you see in your day—and out with cries for mercy and deep groans of desperation. Here are a few ideas on how to bring prayer to the forefront of your daily walk with God.

SIMPLE ONE-BREATH PRAYERS

I pray the prayers of the ancient church. The oldest is my favorite: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy.” Say it three times, and it’ll begin to roll out off your tongue. It’s a general prayer that says, “I’m at the mercy of the One who now reigns as my Big Brother and Almighty God. And I beg for His mercy throughout the day.” Exams, parents, fears, future plans, broken relationships. It’s a key prayer and it reminds me that this Savior of mine wants me to acknowledge that He is there every step of the way, and He enters my life with power when I invite Him.

Other one breath prayers include:

Yes, God.
Help, Lord.
Show me, Jesus.
Be my Father right now.
Speak, God.

But for some reason I’m stuck on the ancient one: “Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy.”

THE PRAYER BENCH

I am extremely ADD, an un-medicated collage of daydreaming and distractions, so it helps me to have a place to fall into prayer. Something that involves my knees. For me this is a prayer bench. It tells my body that I’m not answering the text, not surfing the Web, and not talking to anyone or focusing on anything else when I kneel at the bench. It’s a God moment that sometimes lasts 117 seconds and other times lasts until my knee caps go numb. A prayer bench is just a tool—a place to go to say things to God. There’s nothing powerful about the bench itself, but it reminds me that I’m a beggar who knows where to go for the good stuff of life.

PRAYING THE BIBLE

When I don’t know how to pray, I head for the Psalms. I read them aloud like a fortune cookie, only the stuff I read has real insight rather than random, surfacy gobledy-goop. It really, really works. It does. Try Psalm 28:1-2 as a starting place:

Don’t turn a deaf ear when I call you, GOD. If all I get from you is deafening silence, I’d be better off in the Black Hole. I’m letting you know what I need, calling out for help and lifting my arms toward your inner sanctum.

Psalm 28:1-2, The Message

JOURNALING

Sometimes I have to see proof that God is at work. And one way I do that is by keeping a prayer journal. I write prayers and worship thoughts. I share my struggles as if I’m speaking to God through my pen. This fermentation process allows me to review where I’ve been and where He has led me too. You can journal to God in hard copy or on an online anonymous blog. It’s easy to create this through Tumblr, Blogger, or TypePad.

TWEETING YOUR PRAYERS

Some of my prayers are like e-mails. Short. Under, say … 140 characters. For those prayers, I twitter. Twittering my prayers is fun because other people see what you are praying for and they begin to pray too! I don’t have a huge Twitter following; just about 175 people. But I’ve heard from many who’ve been prompted to pray for the same stuff I’m praying for that day.

ROAD TRIP

Once a year I make a little pilgrimage to the wilderness. I leave with a toothbrush and a Bible. I try to go where no one will find me. I turn off the cell and just have a day of silence. Do you know how completely rare that is? Just silence? I have time to wrestle through my sorrow, anger, fear, and confusion. God usually shows up after two hours or so and I get about as close to a supernatural experience as I’ll have in the year. Try it once and it will change your life. A whole day disconnected from your life? Sure, it’s strangely Victorian. But it’s interesting … every time I’ve done this, the earth continued to spin just fine without me. Who knew? But if you decide to throw caution to the wind, be sure to remember the basic laws of safety—from weather, forest dwellers, and of course the boogey man.

TWO OR THREE

And then I have my accountability guy. Actually I have two—I’m a tough case. I meet weekly with two guys, and we are allowed to ask anything and say anything. Sometimes the honesty is scary. But it’s like a little mini-church, and we spend a good bit of our time in prayer for one another. It’s an epic part of my weekly routine.

I’m not a spiritual giant, but I’ve grown closer to God because I’ve made it a habit to take time to figure out ways I can connect to Him. I hope you’ll try one or two or three or …

This article originally appeared in Collegiate magazine.