Pastor’s Blog

124 new members this weekend!

This past weekend was an awesome day at Daystar. We offer membership at Daystar once a quarter and the church just keeps on growing like crazy. This weekend 124 new members joined the Daystar family!!!

We are so excited about the great new family members at Daystar. We have already set a new record at Daystar for members in a year. In 2009 we have had 563 new members join the church. God is so cool!

This year was the 10th year that a group of church leaders gathered in Atlanta for what has become one of the largest and most inspiring church conferences in America, the Catalyst Conference. For the third year in a row, Daystar took several of our church leaders to glean from the wisdom and ministry of great Christian leaders from around the world. Once again, I was inspired by all that I heard and saw.

When I think about what I take away from this year’s conference, there is so much. I have a Blackberry full of notes that I took from powerful speakers like Chuck Swindoll, Andy Stanley and Louie Giglio (to name a few). My mind is filled with many inspired thoughts put there by God in the atmosphere of faith that fills this conference. But most of all, I think I take away the assurance of just how BIG God’s Church is!

Not only is God doing an amazing thing in all of the ministries that were highlighted on the stage of Catalyst, He’s also doing an awesome thing at Daystar Church in Cullman, Alabama. And this week I was struck by the thought of just how many awesome things God must be doing in the many churches represented by the 13,000 church leaders present at the 2009 version of Catalyst. As hard as it is for me to believe, God must love all of those churches and ministries just as much as He loves me and my ministry assignment. Just like He’s blessing, enabling and empowering us, He is doing amazing things through those churches and para-church ministries as well. This realization leaves me with one unavoidable conclusion: GOD’S CHURCH IS HUGE!

And what a wonderful safety net that places under me as a minister. God is the leader of His church, everywhere you find it. At Daystar (and every other church) we are a part of the AMAZINGLY ENORMOUS Church of the living God. And that means we are all a part of God’s dynamic redemptive plan for all mankind. So here’s what that says to me: 1) It’s waaaay to big for me to be in charge of, and 2) If He’s in charge of the BIG picture universal, then He’s in charge of the little picture happening from Cullman, Alabama through the cute little church called Daystar.

Now, if you’re not a pastor, you may not be able to appreciate this next statement, but for all the pastors who read this blog, you know what I mean when I say: “WHEWWWW, THAT’S A LOAD OFF!”

If the goal of every believer is to be like Christ, we must be consumed with passion about the presence of God in our lives. But when I look around the church world today in our culture, I don’t see consumed believers too often. Most of the church today is just plain consumers. The zeal of Jesus is obvious:

Psalm 69:9
Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up.

Revelation 3:15-17
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

Are you a Consumer or are you Consumed?

1. Consumers are looking for the next big sale, but the consumed are already sold out.

2. Consumers are looking for what fits their agenda, but the consumed are open to life-change.

3. Consumers like to keep their options open, but the consumed are committed.

Ruth 1:15-17
15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

4. Consumers are committed to the product, but the consumed are committed to the Producer.

5. For consumers, giving is measured, but for the consumed, giving is a liberal lifestyle.

Matthew 26
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
6While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9”This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
10Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

• Nothing is more valuable than God’s presence!!!
• It is worth WHATEVER it costs you.

6. Consumers rush through, but the consumed intentionally delay.

7. Consumers visit….the consumed dwell.
• See Psalm 91

When Jesus lived on this earth in a human body, he often amazed people by the way he took time with children. He spent time teaching them, caring for them and even listening to them. At one point Jesus said: “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Mark 10:15).

Olivia and Abigail at the Beach

Today I learned something from my younger daughter. She showed me a display of simple faith like few others have. Last week I twisted my ankle playing basketball with some guys at Daystar and it turned out to be a small fracture. It’s been quite a hassle. Well, Abigail has been noticing. She’s been taking care of me, getting things for me, and generally showing real compassion.

Today when I got home after 4 weekend services and quite a swollen foot, I was headed to my room to change clothes. Abigail came in and said, “Daddy, can I pray for your foot before you change clothes.” I said, “Sure.” I sat down on the side of the bed and she knelt down in the floor, put her hand on my foot and prayed: “Jesus, heal my daddy’s foot and make him better. Devil, you are liar. Take your hands off of my daddy’s foot so he can be healed. In Jesus name, Amen!”

Wow! What simple and powerful prayer. She exerted her authority as a believer and a child of God and asked in faith. We could all learn from her example. Thank you, Abigail.

I should add that Abigail serves on the KPC Jr. prayer team at Daystar. She has been taught the power of prayer, not just at home, but at Jr. Children’s Church by her teachers, Pat and Terry Campbell. Thanks for your positive input into my child’s life.