Being Famous or Being Obscure

I was on the treadmill today at the gym and God started bringing some things back to my memory.

I remember when I first got into ministry I had all these big goals.  Wanted to have a huge youth group, wanted lead worship and speak at all these famous churches.  I did this thinking how I would just be the next big thing for God.  I really wanted to be famous.  I wanted everyone to know who I was.  I wanted to walk down the street and be stopped and people gush over my accomplishments.  I was vain, egotistical and insecure.  I was young and...well...dumb and full of myself!!

One thing I've learned in the past few years is this, I'd rather live in obscurity than be famous.  I love being able just to serve.  I love being part of a local body that is actively doing things to build the Kingdom.  If He gives me the opportunity to speak or to take people into His presence or even to pastor one day, I no longer take it for granted or will take it for granted.  It's something I take seriously!!  

I'm not going to lie and say that those old feelings and emotions don't creep back sometimes.  The enemy knows which buttons to push.  It happens.  I'm not perfect and never will be.

I just want to live and be like Jesus.

Catch Up

So I'm sitting in Trav's car heading to Taft to lead worship and I thought that I would blog a little since it's been a while since I posted one.

God has been doing some amazing things in Generation. I'm amazed every week at what God is doing. We finished up our series on Psalm 34 last week by having an outdoor/unplugged night. There's nothing like worshipping God in the midst of His creation. Ellie, Duncan, and Trav did an awesome job with worship. Duncan is fitting right in. He's awesome. Last night was phenomenal!! God showed up big time during worship. We learned a new song called "Wrap Me in Your Arms". Wow!!! Went over awesomely!!

Instead of speaking we did a "Candid Conversation's" night. Lori and I were amazed at the questions we received.

Next week we start a new series called "Contagious Grace". I'm really looking forward to this series!!

Well, that's it for now!! Later!!!

Wednesday Night Randomness

I really need to post more than just my Tuesday Night Reflections...so, how about a little.......Wednesday Night Randomness...Oh Yeah!!!!

• Yeah, I like watching Dog the Bounty Hunter...what of it?!?!
• I don't know how I survived without an IPhone for so long...
• Yeah...so our waitress at Chili's last night was either drunk or on something...
• Ready for football season...LET'S GO FALCONS!!!!!
• Baseball playoffs are almost here...GO DODGERS!!!!
• Peanut Butter ice cream sounds good right now...
• "They don't know that we know they know we know..."
• I'm really ready for the fall TV season...especially Chuck!!
• I'm full but I really want some ice cream right now...
• TWITTER TRACKER...OH YEEEEEEAAAAAAAH!!! (Got to love Conan O'Brien)
• New RR/RW Challenge coming up...can't wait...
• You can only get a good cherry-grape sno-cone in Banning...need to go get one soon.

That's it...Later!!!!

Tuesday Night Reflections

Another amazing night at Generation!!! We opened up with a time of prayer that was amazing!!! God showed up in an amazing way during worship!!

I spoke part 3 of our series on Psalm 34! Spoke on the fear of the Lord. We learned that true Godly fear will produce...

1. Reverence and Awe
2. The feeling of how God feels about sin
3. True repentance

That's it for tonight!! Thanks for reading!!!

Later...

Tuesday Night Reflections

Tonight's encounter wrecked us!!! First worship was off the chain!! Did a new song by Michael Grungor called "Say So" and it was awesome!! Ellie got on the keyboard later on and did "The More I Seek You". Wow!!! A spirit!of prayer hit us...awesome thing is that's what I was speaking on.

So part 2 of Psalm 34. Focused on verses 4-6 and talked about prayer. We discovered 6 types of prayer found in the bible...supplication, intercession, consecration, faith, agreement, and worship. Then we went into Matthew 6 and looked at the Lord's Prayer as a model to pray!

At the end of the night we all came together and prayed for specific needs!! We are entering into something awesome!!!

Tuesday Night Reflections

It's been forever since I've blogged! First, camp was freaking awesome!! God moved and confirmed so much to us as a movement!!

Last week was awesome. We came together to hold each up in prayer!

Tonight was awesome!!! God moved during worship and gave us a word about grace. Wow!!!

We started a series on Psalm 34. We concentrated on verses 1-3. We learned about worshipping constantly, boasting and telling about the good things God has done, and praising God together! Awesome time of worship afterwards during the altar.

Well that's it...Later!!!!

July 4th Weekend Randomness

Greetings all...

In honor of our Independence, I thought I would post a Randomness blog. Haven't posted one of these in a while. Enjoy...

• What would you do for a Klondike Bar?
• I'm addicted to Twitter...
• Candle Finger & Fire Feet...You have to ask to get that one...
• "My scalp is on fire!!!" Lindsay Piker
• Going to an Angels game on July 11th!!
• "I'm on a boat!!!!!"
• TWSS...
• Hot weather is my mortal enemy...
• I'm craving a cherry-grape sno-cone...
• Can't wait for the fall TV season. It'll be Chucktastic!!
• I've started using Hulu. Wow...who knew that I would get addicted to watching old Miami Vice re-runs...
• I'm craving Sushi really bad and have no idea why!!

Well, that's it...Later!!

Tuesday Night Reflections

Here I sit at Chili's after tonight's encounter amazed at how awesome God is!! We met with God during worship. God gave me a word about love. "Greater love has no one than this that one would lay down his life for his friends...." John 15:13!! I shared that His love is overwhelming and has no limits!!

Continued our series on the Supernatural!! We talked about angels and their role. Angels are worshippers, warriors, ministers, and they give direction. Next week Pastor Mark will be preaching part 4 in our series!! Can't wait!!!

That's it for tonight!! Later....

Tuesday Night Reflections!!

Another awesome night at Generation!!! God blows my mind every week. Ellie started us off in worship. She is a fantastic worship leader!! She took us directly into the throne room!! We did "You Hold Me Now" again...once again that song wrecked us.

Spoke part 2 of Supernatural. Talked about Satan and His Demons! We dove into who Satan is, how he came to be, and how he wants to destroy this generation. We talked about how we have 2 main weapons to fight...the name of Jesus and the Word of God! There's so much more but not enough time to talk about it. Amazing altar time!!!

God is doing somthing!! We have yet to experience everything He has in store for us.

That's it...Later!!!

Tuesday Night Reflections!!

Wow!!! Tonight was amazing!!! First off we had an awesome crowd. Every student was engaged in worship. We learned 2 new songs and they went over great. You Hold Me was awesome! Started a new series titled "Supernatural". We need to understand that there's more going on around us than we can see. Our spiritual eyes need to be opened. The enemy will do anything in his power to keep us from receiving what God has for us and from completing the assignment God has given us. We're in a battle. There's alot more, but I don't have time to write it!! Great altar time!! Next week we dive deeper into who Satan and what demons are!

That's it for tonight... Later!!!

Tuesday Night Reflections...

So this past Tuesday instead of having our normal encounter we had an end of school/graduation party for Generation. We had a blast. We celebrated the end of a long school year, acknowledged our grads, and welcomed the new students who have come up into Generation.

I was able to share something that God had downloaded into me. On our headstones, when we die, will be the year you were born, a dash, then the year you died. God showed me that my life is based on that dash. Did I advance HIs Kingdom? Did my actions reflect Him? Did I do all I could to make His name famous? Is that dash going to be significant. Or will be just another dash? Hope that makes sense.

A quick thanks goes out to the Pikers for opening their home, to Amanda Delgadillo & Lindsay Piker with decorating, and to Gloria Rogers for taking some awesome pictures!! We love all of you guys!!

New series starting this next Tuesday...Supernatural. I'm really excited about it!!!

Well, that's it....Later!!

Tuesday Night Reflections

Wow!!! Tonight was so awesome. From worship, to Word, to altar call God's presense was in the building!! We learned a new song tonight called "Holy is Our King. Even during sound check we could feel God all over that song! Went over awesome. Everyone was into it!! I spoke tonight on Living With a Passion!! As Christians, our lives should be full of passion!! We should be zealous and enthusiastic and not living an apathetic life. We need to have a passion for people, a passion for purpose, and a passion for pardon.

Well, that's it for tonight! later....

Tuesday Night Reflections!!

Another awesome night...

•Great crowd!! I didn't expect as many tonight due to graduations...
•We even had 3 visitors!!
•Once again, worship was on point! God's presence was tangible tonight!!
•Did something different tonight! We called tonight's message "Candid Conversations"
•Students were able to text questions for Lori and I to answer.
•The questions ranged from spiritual (How do I determine God's purpose for my life?) to life issues (How will I know when it's the right time for me to date?)
•At the end of tonight's encounter we still had around 6 questions that had not been answered!
•Each visitor said they loved everything and want to come back again!
•We definitely will be doing this again!!

That's it...Later!!!

Tuesday Night Reflections

Another awesome night at Generation...Here are the highlights

• Still having issues with video since we got the new computer, but we'll figure it out.
• Worship was on point...I'm proud of our team...Travis, Ryan, Ellie, Lori, & Trever...They are all great musicians but more than that, they are all worshippers.
• We tried something different last night. God laid a new idea on Lori's heart a few months back and we tried it last night. We split the guys and girls up after worship and just talked about life issues with them.
• God moved in both groups. The one thing each student there last night learned was this; no matter what their social status is , what music they listen too, how they dress, or who they hang out with, they all deal with the same issues.
• I loved the open dialogue. Most of all I loved how one student would open up and another would discuss how they went through the same issue and how God helped them through it.
• Seeing students encouraging and helping each other and letting God speak through them is awesome!!
• I'm really excited about next week!!

That's it for now...Thanks for reading!!! Later!!

Tuesday Night Reflections

Here we go...

•Ellie led worship and did awesome!!
•She captured the heart of God!!
•Finished the Deep Calls to Deep series.
•Spoke on movement. If we don't move we die.
•We have to be led by God, the Holy Spirit. and by authority...
•Going deep is gradual. You can't just dive in.
•God really moved at the end of the message.

Well that's it...Later!!

Tuesday Night Reflections!!!

I'm posting this blog from my IPhone...Here we go...

•Amazing night...
•Rough time during soundcheck. Enemy was fighting but we overcame!!!
•Worship was awesome!!!!
•Travis gave a great word before I spoke!!
•Preached out of Ezekiel 37:1-10.
•We need to speak to the dry bones, connect
to God and to authority, be filled with the breath of God, and be a voice.
•I really didn't know how this word would go with the "Deep Calls to Deep" series but God worked it out!!
•Great altar time!!!

I'm so excited with where God is taking us!!!

Well...that's it for now...Later!!

Randomness...

It's been a while since I've posted a randomness blog so tonight's a good night for one...

• I finally got an IPhone and I love it.
• Turned 33 on 4/19/09. Don't feel any older.
• Tara will win The Biggest Loser.
• Southland is an awesome show.
• I will be upset if NBC cancels "Chuck".
• Domo origato Mr. Roboto.
• Long live Jeffester!!!
• Discovered some new bands recently...Kings of Leon, Carolina Liar, Muse (thanks Ky), MuteMath (again...thanks Ky), and Locksley.
• Twitter can be addicting.
• I'll tweet about this blog tonight.
• I'm going to have a bowl of Honey Comb cereal.
• I'm done!!

Later...

Tuesday Night Reflections...

Yeah...I know I'm a little late...but here they are...Tuesday Night Reflections!!

• God amazes me every week when we meet.
• Worship was amazing.
• There's something about the sound that comes from this generation that gives me chills.
• It's real and authentic!!
• Hearing them sing "Fire fall down" over and over again brought me to tears.
• Ellie, Travis, Trever, Ryan, and Lori are so awesome. I love how God has knit us together.
• Continued the "Deep Calls to Deep" series.
• I thought this would be the last week but God keeps giving fresh revelation.
• Spoke on "The Journey for Deep Things" using Isaiah 6:1-8.
• To access the deep things of God, there's a journey that consists of 5 things...pride has to die. Once that happens, you'll confess your sins, then you'll be cleansed, once sin is out of the way you'll hear the voice of God, and then you'll answer the call.
• Great altar time.

That's it...Thanks for reading...Later!!!

Tuesday Night Reflections...

We've had some great encounters lately. I'm totally amazed at what God is doing. The movement has begun and is going strong!! He's taking us somewhere we've never been.

• Tonight was so awesome...
• Worship was on point. His presence filled the room so thick.
• At one point we stopped playing and just worshiped.
• "Let the fire fall / Let the wind blow / Let the Glory come down...Rest in this place!!"
• So excited at what God's doing in our students.
• God wrecked me yesterday and changed my entire message...
• Continued my series on "Deep Calls to Deep". We talked about "The Price You Pay for the Deep Things".
• There's a price that has to be paid for the deep things of God. You may have to leave your family and friends, break out of your comfort zone, deal with unconfessed sin, and deal with pride.
• We had a fantastic altar call. God was healing, delivering, and restoring different ones. All I can say is WOW!!
• Can't wait for next week!!!

Well, that's it...Later!!!

Been a while...

OK, so it's been a while since I've posted. Things have been crazy. I'm going to try and get back on track.

Generation is running full force. God is moving and it's blowing my mind. He's wrecking every part of me. We're encountering Him ways that I've never seen. I'm excited about what He's doing. I truly believe that we are on the verge of something great and I can't wait.

Tuesday Night Reflection...

• Another awesome night...
• Had a great crowd...
• Worship was amazing...
• It's so great to see students worshipping with all they have. Basically giving themselves in worship...
• Spoke on the cry that comes from your mouth, the cry that comes from your spirit, and the cry that comes from your heart. We need to make His name famous.
• Altar time was great...
• I get choked up when I see someone giving themselves to Him for the first time.

That's it for tonight. I'm beat. Thanks for reading!!!