This Week at Twin Cities - July 30, 2009

Hey Gang,

Have you been to the Wax Museum in San Francisco? If so, you’ve seen wax figures that look strikingly similar to the people they are fashioned to look like. It’s uncanny and even the most critical eye can be convinced the figures are alive. The truth, though, is that they look alive on the outside, but there is nothing living below the surface. They look like the real thing but in reality they are dead.

This Sunday, as we step through our “Mind the Gap” series, we’re going to focus on Revelation 3:1-6. The Apostle John recorded the words of Jesus as He delivered a message to the church in Sardis. Even though this message was given 1900 years ago, the implication and directives from Jesus are so relevant for us today.

We believe the “church” is the hope of the world when it’s working right. Unfortunately, in some cases (more often than you might realize) the church is not working right. In fact there are churches all over our land that look good, look like the real thing, look like things are going well, but in reality they are dead or dying. Jesus has some very strong words to churches like that.

I hope you’ll be here this Sunday because, as we’ve learned, the church is not a building or an organization or programs. The church is people. You and I are the church. We would never want to look religious and keep religious sounding doctrines, only to discover that we’re really not alive. We’re going to focus on the gap between reputation and reality.

We’re also handing out 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting guides so we can begin preparing our hearts for 40 Days of Love, which begins on September 13. This spiritual campaign has the power to move us beyond the superficial to the impactful.

See you Sunday!

This week at Twin Cities- July 23, 2009

Hey Gang,

This week, I am engaged in a hobby that is a renewed passion for me, backpacking in the Sierra. Part of the thrill is sharing this with my son Ryan. It’s a great time for us to be alone and disconnected from distractions and texting (he’s not fond of that part).

What I’ve discovered is that backpacking has a way of giving me perspective.

Last summer was an amazing re-entry into this strenuous and adventurous hobby after an eight year hiatus. I had forgotten how exhilarating it is to be alone in nature with good friends. Four of us went on a hike that one person had previously been on several years earlier. Each day we would tease him about how inaccurate his memory was regarding how far we had to go or how difficult the way would be.

The lesson for me was: The guide can make a huge difference in how you view reality. On Sunday we’re going to look at a group of people from Revelation 2:18-29 who had developed a faulty view of reality. They were facing a values issue which God wanted them to deal with. The issue: placing tolerance above truth. An issue we face in our time as well.

Our guide for this study of truth and tolerance is Jesus Himself. As our sure guide and Good Shepherd, He is always available to help us hold to values that matter. Truth must always come before tolerance. I think you’ll find this week to be enlightening. He knows the path, and never has memory lapses about the direction or difficulty ahead.


What I’ve discovered is that Jesus loves to help us on our journey by giving us His perspective. I want to see the world through His eyes.

This Week at Twin Cities - July 16, 2009

Hey Gang,

This week at Twin Cities we’ll talk about how to have clarity when our circumstances leave us confused and feeling “in the dark.” We want to see, but the problems we face loom so large that they block our view of the horizon.

I have had the privilege of seeing the horizon without ANY obstructions this past week. Each morning I have gotten up before 4:00 and driven my mom 130 miles each way to her morning radiation appointments. She would receive her treatment, and we would hop back in the car for the return trip from Amarillo to her home in the Oklahoma Panhandle – of course she now knows where every Starbucks is in Amarillo.

I grew up in this part of the country, and each time I come home I am reminded of how much it soothes my soul to have an unobstructed view of the horizon. We all like that kind of view in life where we are able to see clearly before we take each step in our journey. No surprises.

In times like we’re facing, there’s no way to see just where we’re headed – the horizon is blocked by circumstances and uncertainty. Life requires trust. The big question for us is this: in what or whom will we trust?

This Sunday we look at people who were living in very uncertain times, and we’re going to learn from them how to have clarity when times get confusing. I believe you’ll find it very insightful. Even though it’s not going to give you the kinds of views of the horizon I’ve had this week as I’ve been driving, I believe it will help you know how to take the next step God has for you. Make sure to read Revelation 2:13-17 to prepare to hear from God.

I have loved the extra time I’ve had to pray for you this week as I’ve watched some incredible sunrises.

This Week at Twin Cities - July 9, 2009

Hey Gang,

This week at Twin Cities we’ll talk about how our view of our circumstances can sway our hearts toward fear or faith. When we look at our circumstances from our perspective and our ability to change them in our own power, we’ll tend to live in fear.

We took our dog swimming a few weeks ago. My daughter, Jordyn, thought it would be great to have him along, and she caught me at a weak moment. I knew better. Our dog is a high strung Jack Russell. His name is Hunter, and he’s been part of our family now for 10 years.

Well, Hunter had never been at a swimming pool before. He saw a big body of water, and his family flailing their arms and making huge splashes. Now to him, from his limited perspective, it must have looked like we were drowning. He kept trying to bark us back to the bank. He was delirious by the end of our time because his view of reality was skewed, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not “save us.” His circumstances created fear because his perspective was based upon his assessment of the situation and his ability to impact the outcome.

Many of us face life and its difficulties with the same kind of skewed assessment. We see the problem. We know what we’re capable or not capable of doing and if it’s up to us, well then, there’s little hope. So we live in fear.

When we look to God and what He’s capable of doing or when we look at Jesus and what He has promised, it gives us a different perspective. Faith results from that perspective. That’s where God wants us to live, not barking frantically at a false danger and living in fear. That’s what we’ll be looking at in Revelation 2:12-17 this Sunday.

This Week at Twin Cities - July 2, 2009

Hey Gang,

I grew up in the day before safety guidelines, therefore 4th of July was a great time for me and my brother, Rick. We would save, plan, shop and plan more on how we were going to make the loudest noise, the biggest bang, and the brightest flash. Watch out, all you ants, Oklahoma horny toads, and grasshoppers. We were passionate about one thing – Fireworks.

This passion carried on into my adult years as well. It’s kind of strange, though. Fireworks have lost their appeal. It could be because fireworks of today are so “tame” or that there are so many restrictions that it’s just not worth the effort. I am not sure. But, I do know one thing – I have come to a place where I can take or leave fireworks. I’ve lost my passion for them.

This Sunday, we’re going to talk about a group of people who started their walk with Jesus all fired up and excited and passionate. When they met Him fireworks went off in their hearts. They embraced Him and His extravagant gift of freedom with an exuberance so electric that thousands of people took notice and got to know Jesus themselves.

This passion carried on for years, but over time their faith in Jesus lost some of its fire. They still did the things people who know Jesus do. They went to church, served, shared Jesus with others and even defended the faith, but their faith had lost its spark. This represents many people who claim to know Jesus today. They go through the motions, but somewhere along the way they have lost their passion.

On this 4th of July, I hope you will get all excited about freedom and hotdogs and fireworks. But, more than ever, I pray you will get fired up over Jesus. That’s what Sunday is about. I hope to see you in church, where the real fireworks show will happen this weekend.