Greetings from ORL

So I'm in Orlando this week for convention meetings and youth pastors conference. We are staying in the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel and Resort.

Yeah, that one...

This is the view from the VIP Suite...

Yes, I said VIP Suite... mad props to your Director of Youth ministry, Scott Simmons for letting us use his pass while he's in meetings...

This is Heath and I's room... lots of pillows and flat panel TV

Oh yeah, this a 3 panel fridge FULL of ice cream... wish you were here D

And yes, Jesus served us dinner... He was a servant!!!

All in all, being here makes me so excited about this convention, God is going to move BIG time!!!!

frustrated...

First of all, I was driving to work this morning and passed this...

What does this mean? I literally drove passed it read it and laughed as I usually do but then I got to thinking about it and got frustrated. I'm going to do my best and be optimistic about the reasoning behind this message but the way it reads sounds very "exclusive" to me. What about they people who "don't do" church? Aren't they the people who need church? Church and church people make no sense to me. I hate church signs, I feel like in most cases they confuse people about Jesus, or give people a reason to make fun of the church (I find myself doing the latter most of the time). But if I had one and had to put a message on it about our church, I would want it to say, "The church for people who are tired of church." or "The church for people who want to know who Jesus really is." But screw that (pardon me), I want to people of my church to be it's advertisement. I want they way that we live our lives to be a testament to the church I attend and even more that that the God that I serve. You know I think we are so quick to blame Satan, people's hard hearts, or unwillingness to give up a life of sin as reasons people "don't do" church, but I honestly believe that church people that are more willing to put a cheesy (ie. "Someone call 911 because this church is on fire for God." or "Walmart isn't the only saving place in town.") quotes on a sign than actually following Christ's example and getting out there and pouring into people and loving them with everything they have. I am interested in getting feedback on this issue.

And secondly, I was looking for some stuff on my old laptop and found this picture...

So I went to the doctor yesterday and he told I should lose a few... I used to be skinny, what happened? Ugh, this is depressing, I'm either going to be motivated to do something about it or I'm going to eat myself into a coma because I'm such an emotional eater... and as I read that last statement I realize that I am also a female for having said that.

Dare You To Move... 2nd Movement

2nd Movement, Relationships

Tension:

In a world of impersonality could it be possible that the methods that God uses to take us to the next level be through personal interaction?

Self-examination:

Do you have people in your life you can turn to?

• The desire to be in relationship is built within all of us.
• Who is in you sphere of influence?

What God has to say:

What if relationships were designed to point us to Christ instead of lead us astray?

Peter's Denial and Restoration

17"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not." 18It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.
John 18: 17-18

25 As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked , “ You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” 26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” 27 Again Peter denied and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
John 18: 25-27

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" “Yes, Lord," he said, "You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.
John 21: 15-17

• Peter damaged his relationship with Christ by denying Him in His greatest hour of need.
• Have you damaged a relationship.
• Have you been damaged?
• Christ restored Peter completely for each offense
• As a result of that restoration and the continued relationship Peter changed the world, Peter moved.

Self-application

1. Spend time with people who point you toward Christ.

• Your (youth)pastor
• Other Godly mentors

2. Reevaluate relationship that may lead you away from Christ

• Its much easier to be lead away than to pull someone towards
• Example: If you are standing in a chair its much easier for someone to pull you out of that chair than for you to pull them up.

Challenge:

1. What would your life look like if you built Christ centered relationships?
2. Could you take it to the next level if you built relationship that pointed you to Christ instead of away?

I Dare You to Move... 1st Movement

After speaking at Family Camp last week a few people asked me to blog the challenges that were given. I decided to do a little more than that. You will find and abbreviated outline of all five messages over the next few days. I hope it will continue to challenge those of us that were in the services and maybe help others that weren't. (thanks Steven)

I find myself asking God whats next after I've reached a new spiritual level and He has been faithful to me by answering "Take it to the next level, I dare you to move". hopefully these 5 devotionals will help you with the "how".

1st Movement - Service

Tension:

The challenge to move the next level can be overwhelming, the first step should be that of practicality and simple application to a physical world.

Self-examination:

Ask yourself two questions.

• "Can I see a need?"
• "Have I been given the means to fulfil that need?"

What God has to say:

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8

• Above all God has called us to love
• Service is the physical application of love.

Self-application:

Make a commitment to reckognize needs

• Listen for God
• Obey Him when He calls

Challenge:

What would the world look like if we answered the call to serve?
What would our relationship with God look like if we obeyed Him when he called us?

I had to go there...

There is a bulletin post floating around myspace today that tries to argue the "imbalance" on the views of racism. While I'll agree that the are some certain inconsistencies on all sides of the debate one thing I know for sure is that things like that post breeds hate on all sides. Furthermore I am having a hard time seeing this bulletin on people's myspace who claim to be Christ followers.... If that bulletin was all someone ever knew about you there is ABSOLUTELY nothing about it that would let them know that you even knew who Jesus was... Very disappointing... but if you read this or whatever and feel convicted take it down... make an apology.... To my dog that stepped to the plate... kings to do to day!! I'm proud of you!

... very disturbed

In repair (haven't I used this title before?)

Guys I'm a terrible blogger... 3 big posts coming soon
1. a really funny example of lesson illustrations gone bad
2. Middle school camp (WOAH!)
3. High school camp (WOAH! x2)


thanks!!
Matt

based on experience

So I haven't blogged in a really long time but based on last weeks events I felt the need.





I started a lesson series called "Prison Break" a couple weeks back and we were looking at the effects of sin of our lives. The first week was "Incarcerated" and we looked at the bondaged of sin. So to illustrate that fact I thought it would be good idea to handcuff myself... to myself and talk about the effects of sin. Well it went well, I thought the who night went well. So this past Wednesday I started the lesson in the handcuffs and I talked about being released from the bondage of sin, I was telling the guys about my story as I got to the part where I was released from my sin and I had Kristen come take the cuffs off... As she went to stick the key in we both realized the key was broke so with my mouth agape I stood their hand cuffed to myself.... Of course the room broke out in laughter and I lost all hope of control so I closed my bible and dismissed... what else was gonna do? So I am outside with my whole church hand cuffed like a criminal. Everyone laughed at me... The only other key I had was in my nightstand drawer 20 mins away in Central. So in order to keep my plans of going to eat with my guys I got the bright idea of going to the Easley police department and getting them to remove them. It was a bad good idea, good in theory, bad in practice. As the officer walked out he looked at me and then at my female youth sponsor that drove me and said "I don't want to know what you two were doing." One of the most akward moments of my life. Anyways, Big Poppa Officer Man could only get once cuff off. I was not happy at all. So here I am walking through the Sonic parking lot where every youth group in Easley decided to hang out that night with one hand cuff on. And yet again everyone laughed at me. Well there so happen to be a guy from our church there and he cut them off with a cordless grinder and it burned me and now I have a scar and a story.