Some great quotes from Exponential Conference...

Dave Ferguson
"As churches let's measure how many we're sending, not accumulating."

Craig Groeschel
"Being consumed by what people think of you is the fastest way to forget what God thinks of you."

Randy Frazee
"The family needs to be restored as the ultimate small group." 

Chris Hodges
"A man on his face can't fail from that position."

John Burke
"We have to intentionally equip people to follow Jesus and to multiply."

Jo Saxton
"Christ's discipleship was the result of an accessible life."

Jim Putman
"We have to get people out of worship services only and into relationships where they're discipled."

Greg Surratt
"It's hugely important that you regularly sit with a group of people who love you and aren't impressed with you."

Alan Hirsch
"We need to embody our truths in ways that make sense to people."

Being In The World...

Within the pages of the her Bible, Mom wrote the phrase, "Be in the world but not of it."  As believers we've heard this over and over again.  I suppose it's become cliché for us.  We work around it's truth by rationalizing, "I am listening to this music so that I can know what the world finds enjoyable.  We do this with movies, TV shows, and even the places we go.  So what does the phrase mean?  To me its a way of saying to someone to be engaged in the lives of people and to be disengaged from the evil talons of the culture.  Where do you find yourself?  On one hand, sometimes followers of Jesus can be so weird, self-righteous and lofty that folks around can't stand being even around them.  By the way that's not a good thing.  My head is so far in the clouds that I've lost influence with those around me far from God.  The other camp is just as dangerous.  Here's an example.  I actively join folks in drinking in order to be one of them, thinking that I will gain a foothold to influence them to be more like Jesus.  What sort of twisted logic is that?  I say this over and over again to my church.  LOVE and SERVE.  Want to engage folks far from God? LOVE and SERVE.  Be in the world by loving and serving those far from God.  God's Spirit is actively creating the touch points as we are engaging folks far from God.  It really is that simple!

Hidden Treasures...

My mom left me and my sister Laura her Bible when she passed away a seven years ago.  Laura and I mail it back and forth every six months.  Mom battled cancer for 10 years.  Through it she drew very close to Jesus.  Her Bible is full of papers, notes, and lessons that meant a lot to her as she walked in peace through her cancer.  I love just looking through it because I know that her hands held this Bible and the Lord spoke to her through it.  It brings a great sense of joy to me.  While I miss her very much, it is very satisfying to know my Mom is with the Lord.  So the next two or three blogs will have some hidden treasures from my Mom's Bible.