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Today’s guest post is by Andy Jones (I like to call him Andy Jones Live), He writes and podcasts regularly on his blog.

Take the Initiative…

“It is not good for the man to be alone.”

God himself said it and yet many of us live as if it’s a good idea.

We isolate ourselves for countless reasons:

• Personal preference
• Insecurity
• Exclusivity
• Social anxiety
• & many other good reasons

The bottom line is God designed as relational beings.

My brother Jeff has been living on his own in Stockton, CA for last year and half and will confirm the need for human connection.

It was difficult for him to move away from the family that loved, cared for and raised him for his first 26 years of life.

He was on his own in a new place.

Alone.

What Jeff had to realize is something I see throughout scripture as a pattern when it comes to cultivating relationships.

Jeff had to become the initiator.

If he wanted to make new friends and connections he would have to put himself in a position for it to happen.

In short, people from Stockton, CA were not lining up at Jeff’s door to become friends with him.

He had to go find them.

He went to church.

He joined a life group.

He volunteered to serve.

He showed up at the church office and made himself useful.

Quite honestly, I’m sure Jeff was a little uncomfortable with this but it had to be done if new relationships were going to happen.

One night in particular I remember calling Jeff; he mentioned he was driving 30 minutes out of his way to go play video games with a friend he had recently made.

Jeff could have stayed at home, but the need for relationship caused him to get in his car and drive.

No offense to my brother or anything but things were different for Jesus.

He was a popular guy.

Healing diseases, making the lame walk and raising the dead to life will make you well known.

When it came to the people that Jesus chose to be in community with He was the initiator.

He called out unlikely people to be his closest friends and companions.

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.

 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me.” (Matthew 4.18-19, NLT)

A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. He called them at once, and they also followed him. (Mark 1.16-20, NLT)

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” (John 1.43, NLT)

Jesus takes the initiative when it comes to relationships and so should we.

If you’re having trouble making connections and would like to get build better relationships here are a few tips:

• Be the friend you’d like to have
• Throw a party & invite lots of people (for no good reason)
• Slow down, take time to hang with people
• Be inclusive
• Encourage others (people should feel better after being around you)

Take the initiative.

I’m available if you’re serving steak.

Today’s guest post is by Angela Hagebusch. She writes regularly on her blog.

Everybody’s Welcome In The House…

Growing up, I have fond memories of my home always filled with people. My parents loved entertaining. We had a swimming pool and a pool table, air hockey, a putting green, a hot tub and a basketball hoop and they all got used a lot–by lots of different people.

My friends were always welcome at our home, and they enjoyed being there. My mom was good at keeping the snacks around and I heard on more than one occasion that I had really cool parents.

Families from the church were always being invited over to swim during the 100° summers in So Cal.

And countless BBQ’s were held in our backyard.

My parents hosted a small group in our home for nearly ten years and many of those in the group became like family themselves.

Even when my older brother was struggling with drug abuse, my parents would invite his druggie friends over for dinner because, the way they saw it, if they could make a positive impact it could eventually lead to a dramatic change.

There was an old wooden handmade sign with a painted sunflower that sat in the flowerbed in front of my house -

It read: Friends Welcome Here

And it was absolutely the truth.

Our door was always open and you were always welcome.

Yes my parents loved entertaining—but more importantly, they understood the value of building community.

Young and old, Christian and non-Christian, old friend, new friend, druggie, teammate, band member and co-worker—they were all invited and welcome and cared for.

That’s what community is all about.

Letting others in, including them, and making sure they’re taken care of.

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.” (1 John 4.7)

With my dad’s life altering accident and the death of my mom coming much sooner than any could have imagined, those friends that had been made, the relationships that had been built were all there for us in return. They made sure we were taken care of.

Because that’s what community does.

Today I strive to follow my parent’s example.

They taught me the value of building community with everyone, no matter how different they may be. I plan to model the same for my kids.

So although I don’t yet have a wooden handmade sign with a painted sunflower that reads: Friends Welcome Here.

Let me just tell you—you are.

Today’s guest post is by Shawn Seeley. He writes regularly on his blog.

Say Yes To The Mess…

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5.16 NLT)

I can’t remember how many times I’ve done this.

Afraid of being judged & condemned by people I perceived to be perfect, I was afraid to tell people what I struggled with.

What would they think? What would they say?

The example I had of “church people” before I became a Christian was confusing.

I’m sure you know what I mean—people who would mask the pain & struggles of their daily lives, hiding behind their Pan-Am smiles that tell you everything is just fine.

I wanted everything to be just fine, but hiding behind that fake smile wasn’t working.

The thing about hiding is that sooner or later, you’re found out.

Stressed out & afraid I couldn’t keep up the just fine smile anymore & because I didn’t have anyone at church I felt I could really be me around, I decided to give it one more try—in a life group.

As I spent time around these people, I noticed that I wasn’t alone—these were real people with real problems, just like me.

We met together every week to talk about the week, take off our just fine masks & openly admit that we were real people with real problems…& I had a real good time.

Community isn’t genuine if it’s not authentic (that’s my inner Yogi Berra coming out).

A book I read a while back (& have read several times since) might have said it better.

“One of the greatest gifts we can offer another person is a safe place to fail.” (TrueFaced)

That’s real community…a safe place to fail—together.

As Christians, we have to be willing to admit that we don’t have it all together, but we believe in the God who does & who loves us anyway.

Church isn’t a black & white, cut-&-dry collection of perfect people.

Church is a messy place for messy people who have said yes to the mess.

“The church that is prodigal friendly is both idealistic and realistic, committed to God’s standards and yet unsurprised by failure. The Bible is not the story of surgically-enhanced people of God, their defects and gaffs airbrushed out. Instead they are shown in their splendor and stupidity, warts, as they say, and all.” (Creating a Prodigal-Friendly Church)

James knew what real community was—a place where people were free to fail & be freely forgiven.

So what do you want?

A lifetime of stress & struggle hidden behind a just fine smile, or a chance to be open & honest with God, yourself & others?

I choose the latter & I’m inviting you to join me in saying yes to the mess of community.

It’s Friday again… time for some more fun & free stuff. Enjoy!

#1. FREE BOOK—Date Your Wife by Justin Buzzard.

In this new book, Justin gives 100 practical tips on how to date your wife. If you’re a guy & you’re married, you probably need this book (if you don’t win it, you should buy it). Gotta love Justin’s last name! Be the first one to comment on this blog post & I’ll send you a copy (scroll down to the bottom of this page to comment).

#2. FREE BOOK—Creating A Prodigal-Friendly Church by Jeff Lucas.

I recently had the opportunity to talk with Jeff Lucas & found him to be an excellent resource. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why are we doing what we’re doing at NWLife?” this book will be of interest to you. Be the first one to comment on this blog post & I’ll send you a copy (scroll down to the bottom of this page to comment).

#3. FREE MUSIC—In Christ Alone (My Hope Is Found) by Adam Young of Owl City.

This track is simple and beautiful. I love it… you will too.

#4. FREE MUSIC—Jekob (2 Albums).

Jekob is a Christian R&B / Hip Hop artist. Some good summertime music here.

#5. Coca-Cola Commercial—Security Cameras.

Fun video showing what we don’t normally see captured by security cameras.

Like this post? You should also check out:

Friday Fun & Free Stuff

More Friday Fun & Free Stuff

Even More Friday Fun & Free Stuff

Have you ever done the “flop your Bible down, see where it opens—and look for some incredible verse to jump out at you” Bible reading plan?

Uh… yeah, me neither.

Whether you’re out of practice, going through a dry spell, or haven’t yet figured out how to get something out of your Bible, this is for you.

The Bible is full of life, adventure, fascinating stories, and most importantly: God’s heart for you.

In fact, the Bible has one central message…

God loves you.

Maybe you’ve been missing out on what God is wanting you to hear, see, discover, learn, and take away from His Word.

Here are 3 Keys To Getting More From Your Bible:

1. Make It Fun.

Set the atmosphere. I like music playing in the background (not too loud or crazy or wordy—I don’t want the music to distract me; I want it to help set the mood). Sometimes I light a candle. A big cup of coffee is always part of my routine.

Get a Bible you can understand. I use the NLT (New Living Translation).

I also have a journal I use for taking notes when I’m studying my Bible. And I have lots of colorful pens on hand—for note taking and underlining/highlighting.

In the summer, I really enjoy reading the Bible outdoors in the morning.

Do what you’ve got to do in order to make it fun!

2. Stick To A Plan.

By plan, I don’t mean the “flop your Bible down, see where it opens—and look for some incredible verse to jump out at you” Bible reading plan.

You need an actual Bible reading plan to follow. Doing this gets you through sections of Scripture you might be missing if you just read randomly. Having a plan gives you the sense of accomplishment and getting somewhere.

Our church has a Bible reading plan online with hyperlinks to BibleGateway. It can also be accessed and read from our church’s iPhone App.

Get a plan and stick to it!

3. Search For Gold.

Think of reading your Bible as a treasure hunt—or a “Where’s Waldo?” hunt. Make it your goal to discover ONE thing (a takeaway, an insight, something you can apply to your life today) each time you read.

Psalm 119.162 says, “I rejoice at your Word as one who finds great treasure.”

When you discover the gold, make a treasure map (underline, highlight, write some notes in your journal—make it easy to get back to that verse again).

The cool thing about discovering Bible gold is that you can share it with others and its value goes up, not down, in your life. No other treasure is like that!

QUESTION: What helps you get more from your Bible? I’d love to hear what’s working for you…

Enjoy this post? You’ll want to read this one too: “Leave A Stain”

Growing up, we sat down at the table every night as a family for dinner.

We said “grace” (a prayer) before eating.

Dinner was always homemade. Often, some element of the dinner came from our garden.

And my favorite part of the story… we ALWAYS had dessert.

Yeah, I grew up Old School.

For many years, we memorized a chapter of Scripture together as a family—verse by verse, night after night.

I still have many of those verses—and even chapters—committed to memory.

My mom used a simple motivation to get us to memorize the verse of the day…

Dessert.

You didn’t get your dessert until you memorized the verse.

Dessert motivated me. I never went a night without having my dessert.

It still brings a smile to my face thinking about how my dad was usually the last one at the table, struggling to memorize the verse, and getting frustrated that everyone else had already received their dessert.

I’m thankful for my parents who taught me the importance of reading, knowing, believing, memorizing, and living God’s Word. It’s kinda Old School, I know… but so good.

I want to pass on that same high regard for God’s Word to the next generation.

There’s a verse I love in the Bible describing one man’s commitment to God’s Word:

“Ezra had committed himself to studying the Revelation of God, to living it, and to teaching… its truth and ways.” (Ezra 7.10 MSG)

Ezra was motivated. He committed himself to discovering God’s Word.

I don’t know, maybe he used dessert as a motivation too.

All I know is: he held God’s Word in high regard. He valued it. He devoted himself to discovering what God is saying through the written Word.

He studied it.

He lived (obeyed) it.

And he shared what he learned and lived with others.

Old School? Yes, definitely.

Worth it? Absolutely. We need it!

#1. FREE BOOK—Creating A Prodigal-Friendly Church by Jeff Lucas.

I recently had the opportunity to talk with Jeff Lucas & found him to be an excellent resource. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why are we doing what we’re doing at NWLife?” this book will be of interest to you. Be the first one to comment on this blog post & I’ll send you a copy (scroll down to the bottom of this page to comment). 

#2. MORE FREE BOOKS (4 of ‘em)—The Leisure Suit Series by Tony Morgan.

OK, these are probably only going to be interesting to pastors. I’ve certainly enjoyed them. Also, Tony Morgan’s blog is worth following—especially if you’re involved in any type of church leadership. Get the Leisure Suit books HERE.

#3. DEMOGRAPHICS—Mapping the 2010 US Census by The New York Times.

Zoom in to see the population change & demographics in your county, city, and neighborhood.

#4. VIDEO—Some Awesome People That I Used To Know: Discovering Talents From Around The World.

Trust me, it’s cool & fascinating. Enjoy!

#5. PODCAST—Andy Jones Interviews Me & We Confess Top 5 Guilty Pleasures.

Go ahead—judge us. We’re embarrassed, & we deserve your laughter.

#6. Wthr—A Simpler, More Beautiful Weather App.

This isn’t free (it’s $.99), but it sure does look good. Check it out for yourself.

Check back next Friday for EVEN MORE FUN & FREE STUFF!

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More Friday Fun & Free Stuff

Friday Fun & Free Stuff

Remixing an original song doesn’t always make it better.

In fact, people tend to prefer the original.

There are times when the remix actually improves upon the original.

One example of this is the Phoenix song Lisztomania. The Classixx remix version takes an already great song to another level.

What’s that? You’re not into music and you have no idea what I’m talking about?

OK. Let’s talk about cereal…

You’ve heard of Cheerios, right? Well, they’ve been remixed.

There’s Honey Nut, Apple Cinnamon, Banana Nut, Chocolate, Dulce de Leche, Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Burst, Frosted, Fruity, Yogurt Burst, and Multi-Grain.

I love the story of the passing of the baton between prophets Elijah (Old School) and Elisha (New Era).

There’s no doubt, Elijah (Old School) was great.

Elisha (New Era) became Elijah’s assistant. He was the apprentice, an understudy.

When the time came for Elijah to “move to the next level,” he tried to ditch Elisha—not just once, but three times.

Elisha refused to let his leader and mentor out of his sight.

Finally, Elijah asks, “What do you want from me?”

Elisha, the new era leader, says, “Please let me inherit a double portion of your spirit and become your successor.”

He wanted to build on the platform and successes of his mentor.

He wanted what his leader had—and he wanted to take it to the next level.

Elisha wasn’t interested in tearing down what had already been built.

He wasn’t trying to re-invent the ministry.

He simply wanted to be blessed, endorsed, recognized, empowered, and given permission to lead…

And he wanted to take the ministry further—improve, expand, and build it.

He wanted to have a broader reach and greater impact.

For me, the lesson here is two-fold:

First—Old School leaders must recognize, love, bless, encourage, endorse, and empower the New Era leaders…

We should never be threatened or bothered by them—even when their vision sounds grandiose. The success or failure of New Era leaders is more about what the Old School leaders have (or haven’t done) than it is about the New Era leaders themselves.

Second—New School leaders must be fiercely loyal to their mentors…

Not everything in leadership is earned—rather, much is given. Never burn bridges between the Old School and the New Era. Don’t destroy the platform—build upon it. Love, honor, and respect the Old School. Remember, most of what is good in your life has been passed down to you from the Old School. Be grateful AND be driven by a huge vision. It’s your time!

Question(s) for you:

What version of Cheerios do you enjoy?

Is there a remix or cover (song) that you like even more than the original version?

When I was in high school, I dated some girl named Dawn…

For a week.

I don’t remember her last name. In fact, the only things I remember about her are: she had brown hair, she listened to metal, and she lived in Lakeridge.

That’s it—that’s all I know.

Obviously, this wasn’t a life-changing romance.

I added nothing to her life and she added nothing to mine.

My parents never met Dawn. In fact, I don’t think they even knew about her.

We spent some time hanging out together for a week and then we both moved on.

No deep commitments. Nothing shared. Nothing invested.

And no tears shed when it was over.

What I’ve just described to you is HOW MANY PEOPLE RELATE WITH THE CHURCH…

They have brief experiences, encounters, visits, and relationships with various churches.

They spend some time together for a brief period before moving on.

No deep commitments. Nothing shared. Nothing invested.

And no tears shed when it’s over.

All that remains is a distant memory.

On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve always been thankful for the example of my parents…

They were high school sweethearts and they got married young.

They’ve been married now for over 40 years.

Yes, my mom and dad are still “in love,” but all these years, they have remained faithfully committed to each other regardless of feelings or emotions. This brought much strength, security, and stability to our family. All through my growing up years, I knew that I belonged—I had a family, a refuge, a safe place, a home.

Maybe that kind of faithfulness and commitment is considered Old School today.

Old School or not, I don’t care…

It’s a hit and I want to take it forward with me.

I want my daughter to know she belongs—that she has a family, a refuge, a safe place, a home.

I want her to see her parents both “in love” and faithfully committed to each other.

Just one more thing about my parents and their Old School ways…

They still go to the same church I grew up in.

They love their church—and they are still faithfully committed to it.

They’re not just there to get something; my parents are there to serve and build and give.

Maybe that kind of faithfulness and commitment to one church is considered Old School today.

Old School or not, I don’t care…

It’s a hit and I want to take it forward with me.

I don’t want some kind of “Dawn” relationship with the church. This isn’t a “What’s in it for me?” type of fling.

I’m here because I love God’s House AND I will remain faithfully committed to it.

Faithfulness is a hit. Let’s bring it forward with us.

I recently sent out a survey to gather information from a variety of individuals.

In the survey, I explained that we’re doing a teaching series called “Old School Remix” at the church. One of the things we hope to accomplish is to honor the best parts of our past (related to church life and church people over the past 50 years).

Here is one of the survey questions:

Q. What are some of the qualities or values given to us by those who paved the way before us?

The responses were excellent. I was given some great material to work with.

There was, however, one answer I can’t stop thinking about…

Speaking of his grandparents, he said, “They were the opposite of consumers.”

The survey-respondent went on to describe how his grandparents were faithful, loyal, dedicated, devoted, committed—they volunteered and served and gave.

They were the opposite of consumers.

That quality reminds me of Nehemiah in the Bible. As he led the charge to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he said…

“I devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands.” (Nehemiah 5.16, 17)

He was the opposite of a consumer.

I was also reminded of the original old school church—from the book of Acts…

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals, and to prayer.” (Acts 2.42)

They were devoted. Committed. Faithful. Dedicated. They served. They gave.

They were the opposite of consumers.

We have something to learn from those who paved the way before us.

Of course we can’t get in a time machine and go back.

And that’s not the point.

We can take the best hits of the past forward with us.

We too, can be the opposite of consumers.

QUESTION:
What comes to your mind when you think of the best qualities and/or values from those who paved the way before us? What do you appreciate about your parents or grandparents or great-grandparents generation? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.