Through The Eyes Of A Guest

I recently began reading a book by Gary McIntosh called "The Exodus Principle" in which he discusses the idea of creating a servant hearted culture in a church family. It is quite possible I could have written 15 blogs about its content and I am not even half way through. This morning however an excerpt caught my eye that I felt led to share with our church and anyone else who cares for that matter. Listen to the experience of a first time guest to a church.

"when we entered the church, people were standing in small circles talking with their friends. Nobody paid any attention to us.

As we stood in the middle of the room, I caught the eye of a man my age, but he was too engrossed in conversation to reach out to someone he didn't know. At last an older woman came and introduced herself, brought us coffee, and introduced us to her husband and then another couple.

When the group broke up, we followed upstairs to the chapel, which was nearly full. Someone gave us a bulletin, but no one showed us where to sit. The only vacant seats were down in front, and we were afraid they might be saved.

We stood there, feeling awkward for what seemed like a long time, but we were again rescued by the woman who had brought us coffee. She ushered us down the aisle and asked some people to move over to make room for us.

One person made a significant difference. It has been months since we visited that church. I remember the pastor was evangelical, but I don't remember anything he said. I do remember the people who didn't have time for us and the one woman and her husband who did. That experience made me appreciate ushers and greeters and people in churches who make an extraordinary effort to tea g out and welcome newcomers."

How often do we find our selves engrossed in our circle of friends that we are oblivious to the new person that is seeking. Does our indifference to them make a difference? It certainly does.

But I thank God for those people who really understand why we exist as a church. As Aubry Malphurs once said, "The church is the only organization in the world that exists solely for those who do not belong to it."

BAM! That is why we exist and we need to make a difference...a BiG difference in that area.

May I challenge each of us (myself included) to put up our antennae for new faces in the crowd. May we step out of our comfort zones for just a moment and focus on the people God has called us to reach.

Outreach doesn't stop in some community event. Outreach continues when they walk through the door. Outreach is not a means to simply get people to come to church. It is a vehicle through which we welcome them in to our family.

So when a guests walks through our door, let us take hold of an incredible opportunity to complete the outreach process and WELCOME them, not to church, but to the family. That's being a difference maker.

The National Day Of Prayer

Today is the National Day of Prayer.  For me, it is a day much like that of Valentine's Day.  It is a day set aside for doing something we should be doing each and every day.  Sadly, prayer is one of those spiritual disciplines that often gets neglected on a daily basis.  It is a piece of our relationship with God that we do not take nearly as seriously or practice as intimately as we should. (Note:  I can be guilty of this as much as the next person at times).

Often we throw around a cliche about Christianity that says, "It's not a religion, it's a relationship."  Relationships require time together, they require investment, and they require commitment.  May we as a people embody those three things in our relationship with Christ.  May we, as the church, take time each and every day to spend time talking to God (and listening to God for that matter).  May we prioritize that time as an investment in our relationship with God, our relationship with our families, and the direction or our country and world.  May we be so committed that prayer becomes a non-negotiable part of our daily life.

All of that said...let us observe this National Day of Prayer with passion.  While prayer should most certainly be part of our daily walk, it is refreshing to know that there is a moment where people around our great country will join together to seek the Father.

As you participate in the National Day of Prayer, may I challenge you to pray specifically for three things.  Pray for the churches of the United Stats, that we would stand strong on our faith, our rights, and most importantly our responsibility to reach out to the broken.  Pray for our families, that they would build a foundation in Christ.  Finally, pray for the leaders of our country that their hearts would seek God in every decision and they He would impart wisdom upon them.

Our present, our future, and our eternity all rest upon the power of prayer.  Let us begin a journey to unleash that power today.

Thoughts For May 6th

This Sunday morning will be a landmark in the history of Skyline Church, when a group of people proclaim in one heart's voice that we are committed to seeing the mission of life change become even greater than we have ever dreamed.  It is not a turning point for our church, but rather a moment of acceleration as we move forward and make preparations for our future ministry.

The step we are taking in faith is a step of preparation because we WILL NOT wait until we have to begin another chapter.  We WILL be ready for it.  As we continue to fulfill our mission of LOVING GOD, LOVING OTHERS, AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE, I believe without a shred of doubt that God WILL send a harvest as we have never seen.

I am thanking God in advance for what He has challenged each of you to do and I am thanking you for a response of faith.  Together, God can do amazing things through our church.

This weekend, I have a challenge for you that is four-fold.  1.) Pray intensely beginning right now, that God will move in a powerful way as we bring our commitments to lay at His feet.  2.) Be there!  If you have plans...cancel them.  If you have a ballgame, go late.  Moments like these are just too important not to be a part of.  This is a journey that we are taking together and I in no way want any person who calls Skyline home to miss it.  3.) Come prepared to celebrate.  When I say celebrate, I am not talking about patty-cakes.  I am talking about unashamed celebration for what He has already done and what He is about to do.  We will celebrate our commitment.  We will celebrate our opportunity.  And we will celebrate life change!  4.)  Bring God your best.  Don't just bring God something.  Offer to Him what He has called you to bring.  Whether large or small, when we bring God our everything.....God WILL DO His thing.

The excitement I am feeling right now and the excitement I have been feeling for months about this moment is indescribable.  I know you feel the same way too.  This will be a weekend that each of us will look back on and give praise to God for because it will be a moment where He gives us the opportunity to leave a legacy of eternity.  Hundreds and Thousands more are waiting in the Harvest and through The Mission Central Project......WE WILL HAVE VICTORY and THEY WILL HAVE VICTORY because God is and always will be on the throne!!!  Let's live radically together for Him!!!