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Get to the Big Game!

One of the baristas at Starbucks this morning made me jealous.

No, not that he has 24 hour access to that sweet sweet espresso machine… but he was at the Bears/Packers football game in Chicago last Sunday. As two of the most historic teams battled for the NFC championship and a trip to Dallas for the SuperBowl next Sunday, I could only imagine the electricity of that stadium, the excitement of the fans, and thrill of getting to say “I was there when…”

I am excited about this next season of connecting people in Cypress to the real Jesus in a real way, and in the past few weeks have experienced the electricity in worship, the excitement of people finding community and belonging in Life Groups, and the anticipated thrill of one day getting to say “I was there when God…”

A couple of things to have on your MET radar screen;
This Sunday, Jan 30 – Lord’s Supper and STUCK series wrap
Night of Worship – Jones Road Campus – 6 PM.
The Kids will experience a Kids Night of Worship as well!
Next Sunday, Feb 6 – A Super Sunday:
2 Year Anniversary & “CHAZOWN” Message
February 11 & 12 – CHAZOWN weekend & “C’MON MAN” Series starts Feb 13.

As God is at work in Cypress & all over NW Houston through The MET, I want to encourage you not miss out… It’s one thing to hear about a great game, its another thing to be there in person, along with a bunch of other folks that experience and line up side by side to play in it.

Guess what- we know that our team wins, an assurance that the Bears fans didn’t have… So I guess I am not so jealous anymore! See you Sunday.
Meet You on Fry Road,
B

January 26, 2011 | Categories: Campus Pastor, The MET | Tags: | Leave A Comment »

Of Arks and Snails

So, as I begin my Bible in a year journey, and the first few chapters of Genesis, I have had this internal struggle building up. There are two opposing forces working inside of me. First, the faith-filled, artistic Bryan who loves the great stories of our faith. Which battles the the scientific, cynical Bryan who reads about gardens and towers and arks and says, how in the world could this have been physically possible. I will admit, the feat of getting every animal in the ark challenges me.

So I prayed. I asked God to again give me of little faith a reminder that “How?” isn’t as important as “Why?” and “What Now.”

I had almost forgotten that prayer until I reached for my truck door handle (yes that amazing 97 Ford F150 with the squeaky steering is all-mine!) and saw this:

Just to the right of the handle, that little brown smudge is a snail. 3 feet up on a vertical plane, with no immediate direct connection to the ground… A snail on my door, with a meandering trail all over the side of my truck. To get here it either A) came from above – dropping off of a bird somehow landing uninjured on my truck during the night’s storms…  or B) did some impressive and determined climbing up a tire, across and axle, up some suspension, under a wheel well, and then around to my door. In about 10 hours. In the pouring rain.

As I was trying to determine how, I realized it was a good reminder that God’s possible is much bigger than my imaginable. So God, thanks for that little snail, a reminder that I don’t have to be able to figure everything out to know you are there.

And, snails lose their grip at about 57 miles an hour. I wonder what the guy driving the car behind me had prayed that morning?

January 7, 2011 | Categories: Campus Pastor, Church Life, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Getting Started…

There is something about getting the New Year cranked up that is pretty exciting, its like I can finally give myself permission to do the things I should have been doing for the last 11 months. Certainly the ability to harness this kind of thinking every morning would be an improvement to who I am and what I do.

One thing I have never done, that I have begun for 2011, is read through the entire Bible in a year… I think I tried once before, but got stuck in Chronicles 1 or 2. So, this year, I am utilizing an online 1-Year Bible reading track through YouVersion

Because we left Alabama at 5:15 am this morning, I am just now completing my reading for the day and I have to admit, there is a serious feeling of accomplishment in getting to check off the “mark as completed” box.

I have a couple of other goals and re-goals for this year, but I am most excited about getting started with God’s word.

January 3, 2011 | Categories: Campus Pastor, Family | Leave A Comment »

Rose Christmas Card 2010

Here is the annual Christmas Card for our family…

…a Thanksgiving weekend tradition.

November 26, 2010 | Categories: Family | Leave A Comment »

The Porch Light is ON!

This year we turned our porch light on as a campus for Halloween. Instead of pretending to disassociate ourselves from the evils of Halloween, stay darkened, and gather somewhere else… we decided to leverage one of the greatest chances to reach our neighbors for Christ.

Seriously, who really thought that if we all got together in the church gym and inflated some bounce houses, wrote numbers on the bottom of ducks, and marched in a circle for cake, that we were not celebrating Halloween? Or better yet, lets “Trunk or Treat” it… evidently, the church parking lot is to Halloween as christian radio is to U2. Its all a matter of context?

So this year, we armed our campus families with some really fun treats to give away (based on the rubbery shaped bracelets that my kid has a low level addiction to – see photo below), and get the name of The MET out in the community. Instead of worrying about being associated with a pagan holiday, we decided there is no other night when we will talk to most all of our neighbors and have a chance to begin a sacred conversation.

I personally, got the chance to be more than the guy with the old, sqeaky white truck and met most of our new cul-de-sac.

Here is the invite tool that we gave out (along with fun sized Kit Kats at my house):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are some other creative ways you have found to influence and reach out to your community?

November 4, 2010 | Categories: Campus Pastor, Church Life, The MET | Tags: , , , , | Leave A Comment »

REALLY Sweaty Church…

Last Sunday put new meaning to the name of this blog and our mutli-site sweaty church… at least that’s what I hear.

On the one Sunday that I have a horrible sinus/migraine to the point of nausea headache, I also missed the fun of a potential power outage and actual A/C system outage. From what I hear it was a beautiful Houston 80+ degree 90% humidity morning INSIDE the school where we meet. I really do hate that I missed it… really, no sarcasm here. I love the “remember when…” stories and last Sunday was certain to be one of the bigger ones we will have at the Cypress campus.

So, in honor of Big Sweat Sunday: September 12, 2010… here are my 5 things to do when your multi-site venue A/C is out:

1.  Stay away from evangelistic manipulation… campus pastors, a day like this isn’t your permission to flash back to your student ministry days with phrases like “If you think its hot here imagine what it will feel like while you are burning in hell” or “Raise your hand if you think it was hotter than this on the day Jesus was carrying the cross for you.” Keep it real, acknowledge that sometimes things are beyond our control and cast vision for the days when “we get to pay to fix the A/C ourselves!”

2. Turn the hype knob down from 11 to something more bearable… say 3 or 4. Your Hot Coffee, Cool Music attractional church catch phrases #fail on no-A/C days (let’s debate the other days later) and it doesn’t matter how PUMPED, FIRED UP, or OUT OF YOUR MIND you say you are… when its hot, its hot… and people tend to get annoyed when they are not sweating intentionally.

3. Make sure the teaching pastor knows whats going on… and can stress how the air never goes out at the broadcast venue and how there are plenty of seats there. Just kidding… but it IS fun to remind everyone in the church, not just at the sweaty campus, that multi-site is an edge of the seat, roll with the punches, front-lines-of-ministry endeavor and these are the days that we will look back and smile about. Also, cutting the message short scores big points from what I hear.

4. Worship leaders, be OK with a hands down Sunday… it’s not you, it’s us. I know “Revelation Song” and “Our God” are usually two-palmers from the first chord… but you know some people are not as comfortable with their sweat pits as others are. Also, if you don’t lead from guitar or piano, you might think about worshiping from either the glider or the chest pains worship position… cause nothing pulls people out of spirit or truth faster than wondering if there are IVs available for the band after the set.

5. Pull chairs before the second service… Its not hard to imagine that folks who have been sweating in the kids ministry, hearing from the kids about how hot it is for the last hour, might want to go grab a shower and catch the message online later. In fact, the second service on no A/C days are the perfect moments to spot the regulars who aren’t serving, but merely attending service… here is a simple test: guests will just be confused, regulars will be agitated. Those who are just coming for the service will immediately realize that its not their comfortable Sunday routine and try to escape during the “shake a friend’s hand, shake the hand next to you” moment. Just make sure you put the offering boxes near the exits on these days.

Hope these in some way help… because you know, the campus that sweats together, well… sweats together.

September 15, 2010 | Categories: Campus Pastor, Church Life, Sunday ReCap, The MET | Tags: , , , , , | Leave A Comment »

List or Listless

I am a person who thrives on chaos and non-linear thinking, but for some reason if I am going to claim any normative standard of productivity, I need a list. I can feel great about a day in which I have meaningful conversations and hang out with the really cool people I work with, answering questions and dreaming about reaching people and changed lives. However, I cannot always look back on those days through anyone else’s standard of accomplishment and see that my time was spent well.

So I make lists and use iCal to stay on track.

Then I can schedule conversations and mark them off… bam. Productive.

September 7, 2010 | Categories: Campus Pastor, Church Life, The MET | Leave A Comment »

Faith Finances and Frankie

Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” -Hebrews 13:5

Since starting Financial Peace University last week, I have found myself more tuned in to God’s provision in mine and Kelly’s personal financial life. Not that I didn’t understand (or haven’t also taught on) a Biblical view of stewardship, or believe that all we have is from God and for Him. But sometimes the gap between what I believe or understand and how I act is surprisingly wider than I thought. Getting involved in FPU has given me a new vantage point on this chasm in our life.

In reading from Hebrews this morning, I was struck by the phrasing that Peterson uses in The Message version: “be relaxed with what you have.” Take it easy, don’t get all stressed or excitable… which, as any who knows me can attest too, is an act of discipline. What would it look like to me to be relaxed about our possessions?

When I am relaxed I…
… have a better perspective on life. I tend to see more clearly and have a healthier outlook on what to do and where things are headed. When I am stressed I am a conspiracy theorist who things the world is out to get him- it feels good just to type that out loud. Short of some long-needed therapy, developing an understanding God’s provision and my ability to live healthily within it takes a positive and stable outlook. I trust easier and faith abounds when I am relaxed.

When I am relaxed I…
… laugh a lot and enjoy life. I think this could, for me, be the source of cheerful giving. I cringe in services when I hear pastors use this phrase and its original meaning to urge the congregation to laugh as they put their offerings in the plate- this seems to be a disconnect with the reality of people’s life situations. Most people are laughing at the notion of giving anything more than a tip, depending on how the message tasted or worship was served up to their liking. I am resonating with the notion of a relaxed view of what God has provided leading to a life of laughter and love- thereby producing a joyful and cheerful giving experience.

When I am relaxed I…
… am easier to be around. I don’t share my stress with others, passing it around like a runny nose in the church nursery. My family is relaxed and we laugh a lot. Last night, Kelly and I played the game Catch Phrase with our first grade daughter, and the laughter and ease of our time together still lingers in deep wrinkles at the upturned corners of my mouth. Without that stressless family time, I would have missed her unique and creative perspective on life. I probably am the last one to realize that those moments rise and fall on my attitude and demeanor.

In light of the promises and proof of God in our life, its great to live in the assurance of God’s presence… and like Frankie say… relax.

September 6, 2010 | Categories: Family | 3 Comments »

Gruden’s Campus Pastor Camp

I have LOVED the various SportsCenter specials featuring former coach and current NFL analyst Jon Gruden. After watching Gruden’s Quaterback Camp featuring All-SEC and First Round Draft Pick Tim Tebow, and some other guys from lesser football conferences, I gained a huge amount of respect for his style of leadership and coaching. I was pleased to find out that he had written a book documenting his career and quick success from a DIII quarterback to Super Bowl Champion Coach, and just finished reading it on my iPad via Kindle.

So here are some of my thoughts on being a great campus pastor, based on some of highlights from Do You Love Football?! by Jon Gruden…

…I Need To Love My Job
‘Through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, you’re always going to be ahead of the game if you love what you do for a living.“
Pastoring- laboring for the work of God THROUGH me- is relentless, overwhelming, and at times impossible… especially apart from the working of God IN me. Like coaching an NFL team, there are people who are fully vested in the outcome of Sunday, and are passionate about seeing wins happen. And often, I don’t always hear what went well… most times I get to hear what went wrong, and assume things are good unless noted. That can be overwhelming… and without loving ministry and loving being a campus pastor, my lifespan is sure to be short. Great news is, I love being a Sweaty Church Campus Pastor… getting to be a part of life change every Sunday makes me tick! I just need a bit more sleep to get it done than Coach G.

…I Am Responsible For The Outcome
“Your players – how well they play, how many games you win – really distinguish a good coaching job from a poor one.”
Its easy to find reasons why guests are not coming back, pioneers are drifting away to the sending campus, or why the environment feels flat… but all of those reasons ultimately come back to my leadership as Campus Pastor. Coach Gruden held his staff and players accountable, but no one was more accountable for the outcome on a Sunday than him. God controls what happens in a person’s heart and mind on a Sunday, but we contribute what happens to their experience.

…Remember, There Is Always A Reason Why
“Just work your ass off, but don’t let your ambition get in the way of the respect for what these people have done – what you have not been a part of.“
Its easy to enter a new situation and see what isn’t working or what can be better, but at some point someone made a decision to make it that way. When Gruden would arrive at a new team, his dad chided him to not compromise what needed to be changed or updated, but to also respect the work of those who had been there before. For our campus, its important to realize that everyone walks in the door with a conception of church, and my goal is to work my tail off to lead them to where God is calling us, there is a big difference between judgment call and  judgment.

…Lead My Team To Execute
“Sunday’s your day… We’re going to make adjustments, as you know, but we’re not going to be telling you what to do. That’s your day to perform.“
Every Sunday, Coach Gruden would assemble a list of plays, and script during the week the first set or series. Sunday is not a day to guess or try something new, Sunday was  execution day – everyone walks in knowing where we are going. Thorough preparation during the week, people, equipment, knowing when and where to be, anticipating guests… leads to excellent execution on Sunday. Rigor during the week leads to victory on Sunday.

…Build A Team of Vision Carriers
“But I need help to lead. I can’t be the Lone Ranger. I rely on the coaches to give me some juice.“
Gruden was talking about leaning into the collective wisdom and will to win of his assistant coaching staff and really this is just leadership 101… by myself, there is no way to keep up with or ever accomplish all that needs to be done, let alone all that wants to be done on our campus. But if I surround myself with vision carriers, sneezers, and freaks about what we are doing, not only will the tasks get completed, but we will have a great time along the way. Competency goes far, but having people who lose sleep Saturday nights because they cannot wait to see what God will do on Sunday… that’s when it really gets fun.

Ok… so nothing really new or earth-shattering in any of those, but it was fun to pretend like I was getting coached by one of the best in his field… My own little Gruden’s Campus Pastor Camp.

August 26, 2010 | Categories: Campus Pastor, Church Life, The MET | Tags: , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Life After Death

Yesterday I attended a memorial service for a family member of a campus pioneer. It struck me again how our faith is about life after death, but not just our life in eternity, also how our life impacts those left behind. While the daughters of a dad who, seemingly left this life too early, spoke and questioned why… I was challenged to redouble my efforts into my life after death, and the mark it will make on those I knew and loved. That seems to be worth a lot of sweat…

What are some of the things you are doing to impact life after death?

August 17, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »

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