The other day I was asked to describe someone in five words for a character reference. As I summed up my opinion of them in less than a sentence, I thought to myself “man, that really doesn’t give a lot of insight into this persons life”. But, as I thought about those five words (and I was very honest), I realized that it was very powerful.
THOSE WERE THE FIVE THINGS ABOUT THEM THAT DOMINATED WHO THEY ARE VIEWED AS.
There are a lot of adjectives that can be given to most of us. But when it comes down to it, we really are only known by a few things.
Jack is a great business man and a hard worker.
Jennifer is a wonderful mother and an incredibly friendly person.
Chris is so funny.
So, I wonder what would be said about me. Here are some questions that I have been asking myself…….
What five (or more/less) words would be used to describe me by someone who is being truly honest.?
What words do I want to be said about me?
How does that line up with what Jesus said I should be known for?
How can I use the personality that God has uniquely given me to be known by what He desires?
Some characteristics are cool to be known by and some make an eternal difference in the lives of others.
Beginning this week, the teaching at Mosaic’s worship gathering will be on “how the devil wants you to live”
Join us as we look at 3 temptations that we all face in regards to how we live our life.
YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO DISCOVER HOW MUCH YOUR LIFE PLEASES THE DEVIL!!!
(insert cheezy but yet kind of scary laugh here)
for more info check out www.mosaiccrestview.com
also, we will be giving away cash during the next three weeks. you might just walk away from church with extra money.
I am so glad to announce that Jackie Chaney is becoming Mosaic’s Administrative Assistant.
In addition to serving the Church and community through children’s ministry, co-leading a ladies Bible study, and she and her husband (Robert) helping out with pretty much everything we do……
she will now be working to help your pastor be more organized and efficient.
This addition will be so helpful in allowing me to focus more of my time and energy on studying, working with our leaders and leading us in BEING the Church.
We also will have actual scheduled office hours and a better handle on communicating clearly.
She will be working on a part-time basis and will move into this role effective February 1st.
so, join me in telling Jackie thank you taking on this task!
I am excited that God can use us to help those in need. Here are two upcoming opportunities to do so!
1. This Sunday January 17th we will be taking up a special offering for recovery in Haiti. The funds that we take up for this will be used directly for the relief effort. Administration and operating costs are already covered by the Organization’s yearly budget. The greatest needs will be food and medical supplies which the money we collect will go towards.
2. Also, next Saturday January 23rd we will be giving back our local community by paying for everyone who comes to the Coin laundry place on Wilson Street. Typically people using their services are either poor or homeless.
We will be working this in 2 hour shifts of 2-3 people at a time.
6am-8am
8am-10am
10am-Noon
Noon – 2pm
2pm – 4pm
4pm – 6pm
6pm -8pm
Please e-mail me with the shift you are able to work. I will confirm the schedule during the beginning of next week.
Mosaic is covering the expenses and you will be handed the $$ to pay for those coming in by those covering the previous shift. If you want to help with the costs of this, please give an offering above your tithe during a January worship service.
Thanks for being the Church!
james@mosaiccrestview.com
The term “white elephant” refers to a gift whose maintenance costs or hassles exceeds its usefulness to its owner.
During a white elephant gift exchange or game (however you do it) you give up something around your house that you really don’t care about having, no longer need, or just don’t want.
This year for our church’s gift exchange, I ended up with a hot cocoa kit and then traded it with a kid for the movie Sandlot, I was pumped!
Actually, surprisingly a lot of people walked away with something they would actually use through trading and through people giving their gifts away.
I think a lot of churches and people have things lying around that could be such a gift to another church or another person but they just hold on to it.
There are churches that could give facilities, equipment, finances, staff members that aren’t really being used to a church that will use them.
There are people who could give up cars, clothes, food, money that aren’t being used for a good purpose to a person that needs them.
We should really question why it is that we have so much yet do so little with it or what someone else could do with it!
I pray that I am continually evaluating what I am entrusted with and the value it could bring to someone elses life or another church’s ministry.
So, it is 7:00pm on December 31st. If any blog is going to be skipped because of business by my readers….this would be it.
What if I spend time on this and only a few people read it?
What if I pour my heart and soul into this and no one actually cares to receive the message?
What if what is so BIG and important to me is meaningless to everyone else?
A lot of us live our life thinking about those things?
Is this (exercise, business idea ,confession, ministry, art, spiritual journey) really worth all that I am going to put into it?
Is anyone going to care? Is anyone going to get it? Is anyone going to be behind me? Is anyone going to value this?
the answer is…….YES.
God cares about us. God listens to us. God sees us. God hopes for us.
That has to be enough.
again, that has to be enough.
We have to follow what we feel led/called/inspired/burdened to do and realize that God’s support is enough.
When His opinion, desires, pleasure….is enough, we truly experience contentment.
So, others may care or others may not.
but God does.
That has to be enough.
It seems like white elephant gift exchanges have become the staple for every Christmas party. I seriously played “dirty santa” or some variation of this game at least 4 times this Christmas season.
I used to love this game, but now I am getting tired of playing it.
Corny jokes, lame gifts, and indecisiveness.
I started thinking about how I don’t enjoy the game at all, unless…..
the people I am playing it with make it fun.
I wonder how a non-Christian feels about going to church. They have been to a few churches before and they are all the same; corny jokes, irrelevant teaching, boring music.
They don’t enjoy church at all, unless….
the people who are the Church make it fun.
That is right. They key to people enjoying a church are the people.
If people enjoy church they….
invite others
pay attention
serve
learn
lead others to Christ
So, are they having fun? Are you?
Disclaimer: We must have fun doing what God has called us to do as a Church and not just hang out and become a clique of “religious” people.
Mosaic has had two christmas parties. One in 2007 before we even launched as a church and one in 2008. Both years we participated in a white elephant gift exchange (also known as dirty santa). This year we will not.
You see, we are not playing dirty santa at this Christmas party because it just isn’t practical. I assume that there will be between 70-80 people this year based on the percentage that showed up last year. To do a white elephant gift exchange the way it should be done would take way too long with that many people and it just would not be as fun. There wouldn’t be the connection needed b/c of the size of the group, we would have to rush everyone’s turn, we would have to alter the rules.
The only way that we can play dirty santa as a church is to break into smaller groups.
You might be wondering why I am rambling on about this silly christmas game. Well this really sums up Mosaic Church and the challenge that is before us right now.
We have been a church where you could play dirty santa with everyone. You could talk with everyone, you could know what everyone has going on, everyone would see who you are. That is not the case anymore.
Growth barriers are difficult for organizations, churches, etc but none change the face of a group quite like this one. Everyone will not get to interact with each other on a regular basis, You won’t see what happens in everyone’s life, Everyone will not hang out with the pastor regularly, everyone will not know your name.
Here is the major challenge with this: To break up into groups means that some of the people you have been sitting next to will move across the room and teach the people who are new at this how to play.
As a church, we have to choose one of the following two options:
1. To stay close with everyone. To stay comfortable and keep mosaic the way it is.
or
2. To step out of our comfort zone, to spread out and help new people see the joy of following Christ and being a part of His church.
As for me and Christie, we choose to serve the Lord and not our own interests. But, we cannot make this happen alone.
Please join me in being a church that steps out of our comfort zone to see people come to know Christ!
In November,
Florida Baptists asked for a group of people to study the Florida Baptist Convention and make reccomendations based upon their findings on how the FBC could be more effective and efficient.
I am humbled to serve on this “task force” with a great group of men and women who God has used in some mighty ways.
If you are interested in keeping up with news from our meetings, please check out the following website:
Regardless of what people may say, there are going to come times as a Pastor that you have to choose which is more important.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY CERTAIN WITH QUICK GROWTH.
As you hit certain growth barriers, you are going to have too many people and not enough volunteers, teachers, etc.
So, you will have to pick between putting people in places/positions that they are not ready for OR slowing down numerically for a time while you develop them spiritually.
HERE IS HOW YOU DETERMINE WHICH DECISION TO MAKE:
A – If you desire is to just grow numerically then put people in places to get things done.
B- If you desire is to see your weaker believers grow strong as followers of Christ, you have to take the time to develop them which will slow down your numerical growth for a period.
This is the decision that we are faced with right now as we seek to consistently break the 150 barrier.
My belief, is that by choosing B then you will see lives transformed more and more to Christ-likeness instead of just making professions of faith. I also think that in the end this will result in a much stronger and evangelistic church.
But I could be wrong.
I will let you know how this works out.
