Living and Dying

One of my favorite moments of each day is the quiet moment I share with my sons well after they have gone to sleep. In the quiet of night I slip into each of their rooms to make sure they are covered up and warm before I go to bed. Often I stop and think… “holy cow, I have two boys!” Most of the time I whisper prayers on their behalf praying for things like strength to stand against temptations I know they will face. I will pray they have the grace to act as gentleman in their lives as it relates to friends, women, church, family, and business. Many prayers are spent praying against the enemy of God and his efforts to win their hearts and rob them of the joy of knowing and following Jesus. Last night was a little different. I stayed up late to watch a documentary on WWII. It highlighted the sacrifices of so many young Americans to protect what I enjoy today. I heard stories of great personal loss and loved ones who beamed with pride over those they lost during this war. So, last night as I slipped in to pray and care for my boys my thoughts were more like, “I would die for you without hesitation.”

I gotta tell you it was a simple statement that is having profound effects on me today. It is nothing new, but is in this moment all new. I thought of how Christ died for me, and how he has called me to die daily to selfishness and follow Him. This verse from Matthew 16:24 came to mind:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and ​take up his cross and follow me.”

I was so eager to confess my willing sacrifice for my sons…how willing was I to do the same for Jesus? After all, I believe He has already done this for me. Then I began thinking about the ramifications of daily dying to myself and what that would look like. Not choosing sin over holiness. Obedience rather than rebellion. Devotion instead of fickleness. It really comes down to a commitment. Am I committed to living like I am dying. Dying spiritually to my selfish ways and embracing the way of the cross. The implications go even deeper. If my faith in Christ is immediately impacted, so then would statements of devotion to my family. I confessed in that nightly prayer that I would die for my kids, wife, and family. The wave of conviction that swept over me next was, “then why won’t I live for them?”

We spend so much time thinking about how much we would die for our loved ones that we rarely consider how we will live for them. I felt conviction over certain dietary selfishness that could rob me of healthy days and the potential for longer life. I felt the shouts of anger and impatience screaming back at me and thought about how I can never have those back. I crumbled under the pressure of my own choice for work over family and what they tells my most cherished people. Although I have made major improvements in some of these areas in the last many years I am a work in progress and I am sure this epiphany is pushing me to declutter and refocus on that razor sharp edge God wants me to live on with my family…AND WITH HIM.

My life with Him will only strengthen my healthy habits towards and for my family. Dive in to your relationship with God as you seek to follow Him and deny yourself. Let that relationship change the way you will sacrifice for your family. Conisder right now how you will live to make your family more aware of your willing sacrifice on their behalf…not just in words (they are often too cheap, too easy to speak) but in your actions. Good news… you won’t be alone!

A Boys Imagination

I think fathering boys was everything God built me for…I am not always the best daddy of boys, but I am a work in progress. Some of the things I love about my boys are the moments of adrenaline, the sense of urgency, the need for adventure, and the list goes on. I have tried to feed many of those needs in my little men. One of the ways I have been working with Brady is through story. I have concocted an 8 day story this last week and a half that has ended with major adventure for his little 5 year old mind. So much so…he couldn’t sleep the night before the big event. What did I do?

Simple. I made up an ongoing story that each night ended with…to be continued. I didn’t have to do too much creative digging…mostly I just talked about what I loved as a kid with him. The story involved little boys taking trips around their neighborhood, and became as elaborate as these same kids meeting up with spies for a treasure hunt. Interwoven into this long tale where truths from God’s word about what a boy must be to be a man.

We talked of courage, honor, faithfulness, risk, saying thank you, looking for things and not giving up, and so much more. I shared about how you won’t always be perfect but when you aren’t you gotta learn to say your sorry and get better (maybe a little of Tiger Wood’s drama affected me here). All in all it is a precious time and one that I try to protect and keep each night.

As we neared the end of the story and my imaginative capacity… I thought a treasure hunt would be a great end. So we did just that. I copied a simple map from the internet. I used my iPhone to enhance the spy part of the experience. I also used the phone to act as a treasure detector. I hid the treasure while he was looking in another place…so there was no need to go bury something prior to the trip. He was surprised, curiously engaged the whole time, and eager to use his new found treasure to go hang out with daddy. (Doing something with the person who helped you find the treasure was part of the treasures instructions!)

So, now Brady and I will go spend a day having some lunch (quality time to talk and hang out) and then catch a movie which has been one of our favorite things to do for a while now. (plus the movie may feed our imagination). And, as you can imagine I am thinking about and dreaming of our next adventure together and the story line for that series.

Stay tuned as I am bound to post an update about that one as well.

Need Your Courageous Words

This will be an exciting week, but I need your courage to help pull it off. As we discuss Speaking Up for Jesus I want to show people real life examples of what I am talking about. Sound like fun? Want to give it a shot? Here is what I need:

Wanted: 3 people to share their story of how God changed their lives.

In 2-3 minutes talk about the following things:

• How or when did you become aware of your need for Jesus?Specifically, how does God make a difference in your life right now?
• Specifically, at what point did you become willing to admit you were a sinner? What got you to that place?
• What do you remember experiencing or feeling when you made that decision?
• Where did you make the choice to follow Jesus?
• How has that decision changed your life?

If you could take a minute to write out those answers (briefly please) and then share them on Sunday that would be great. Also, I am open to doing your part on video if you are game.

Missions Night: February 15th

In an effort to inform and ready our church for missions involvement in Anna and throughout the globe, our own Dr. Chuck Vance, will be hosting a special missions awareness night on February 15th at 7:00PM.
The evening will highlight the many ways we are reaching our community, our nation, and the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will look at missions in Honduras, China, Africa, Louisiana, and right here in Anna, Texas. We will be doing anything from building homes, giving money, preaching in churches, prayer walks, caring for orphans, clothing needy children, serving the needs of the poor in our community, and much more. There are places to get plugged in right now and start serving for Jesus sake. This night will be very informative and help you gain insight into how we plan on attacking 2010 for the sake of the Gospel.

February 15th @ 7 PM
Pin Oaks Worship Center
120 W 4th Street
Anna, Texas 75409
Dessert will be served.

Get In, Hang On, & Do Your Part!

Each week is a joy. Every week is a challenge. As is with most great adventures there are valleys for every peak, distractions at every place of focus, and discouragement before success. While working on the Colorado River I noticed something unique about the best of white water rafting guides: they never let their guests “feel” what they knew to be most true. They had a way of reminding people that they were about to embark on the best part of the trip at every turn and lead them through an experience that left them invigorated and ready for more! Yet, the whole time, at the front of their consciousness was the fact that the river could swallow any one of them up with the least of wrong moves or lack of care and respect. These guys handled that truth with a mastery we could all learn from and implement.

As pastors, our job will lead us through valleys, distractions, and discouragements. Some will feel bigger than others. Some will involve few and yet some will involve more than we can dare to imagine. However, our job also leads us to places of “peak,” and wild success. We see miraculous things that we could never dream with ALL of our dreams. This is what we are reminded of in the face of valleys, distractions, and discouragement. This where we help people focus. We help them see that the ride ahead can be one of the greatest of their life if they will get in the boat, hang on tight, and do their part.

Each week I am asked a peculiar question. Pastor, how can I help? Often I find myself overwhelmed with options in these moments. However, after reading an article on this website I think my response will be much different from this day on. Get in (committ), Hang on (secure yourself in Christ by growing spiritually), and do your part (serve faithfully)! Here is how one of the greatest preachers of all time handled this question.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the greatest revivalist preacher of the 19th century, was asked “Pastor, how can I help?” by many parishioners. His response to this question was to establish a serving and prayerful church. His ministry became the largest prayer-based evangelical work in the Christian church since the days of the apostolic era.

I cannot dare to dream big enough what will happen if we can all work together for the sake of the Gospel. This may be a new mantra for me for a while…Get in, Hang on, Do your part!
Here is another excerpt from that site you may find interesting as they studied how people could help their pastors:

How to Help Your Pastor

• Understand. The first way to help your pastor is to develop understanding and sensitivity to the stress and demands of a pastor’s work.

• Pray. Secondly, pray for your pastor. A very active prayer ministry to support the pastors in their evangelical work is fundamental to the health of pastors and the church at large.

• Grow. Thirdly, mature in the faith. Grow and work to preserve the work of God in your sphere. Do not contribute to confusion, gossip and bitter attitudes. Get involved in action, service, and financial contribution, which are all vital to the health of the Christian mission of proclaiming Christ in your community and the world.

• Lead. Finally, faith in action is serving others above what you want in support of the ministry of the church. Don’t just get involved in ministry; actively work with the leadership to provide healthy momentum in ministry and to become a personal preacher of the ways of Christ!

He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

So, as we strive to live for what God wants at Pin Oaks Christian Fellowship and Anna, Texas; we need to do it with healthy expectations and Godly desires. One of the least healthy expectations is that the pastor is, or should be, things he was never intended to be. Take a look at the list found in this article and see how your perspective might need to change in the coming weeks and months as we serve alongside each other for the sake of the Gospel.

Unhealthy Expectations

• They are not substitute parents
• They are not shrinks
• They are not janitors, plumbers, or construction workers
• They are not crisis managers
• They are not perfect problem-solvers
• They are not corporate executives
• They do not have wireless access to the Holy Spirit concerning your problems
• They are not responsible for your sin
• They are not constructed for long-term bashing
• They are not required to shoulder repeated harsh criticisms
• They are not celebrities
• They have families with real problems too
• They are not always available and tireless
• They are not God in human form
• They can burn out

Healthy Expectations

• They serve
• They teach
• They lead
• They inspire
• They pray
• They cry
• They get tired
• They are human
• They need family time
• They must be renewed

This list is also a reminder for your pastor. I can never let myself get a distorted view of what I am. Above all, my gifts are to serve and teach. I work hard at those areas. I need to worker smarter at those things. I am learning how to do just that with each day. Continue to pray for me and my family as we strive to look ahead at a future that will surprise us when we get there! And don’t forget, the best way to help the church…Get in (committ) Hang on (secure yourself by grow spiritually) Do Your Part (serve)!

*Excerpts from an article at http://theresurgence.com/series/healthy-pastors

2 Services 1 Church

We are excited to announce that we will be offering two services beginning January 31. The Children’s Ministry is fully staffed and ready to go. Here is what our new schedule will look like starting January 31.

9:00 AM First Service
10:30AM Second Service

Both services will be identical and offer the same content and style. This new format will allow us the opportunity to try some other new things as well, like a 10:30AM Bible Study w/ Dr. Vance (held at Mama Mia’s) and a possible youth group meeting at 9:00 AM with Marcus.

We foster an environment of risk for the right reasons at POCF and giving ourselves every chance to care for our kids in safe environments, and reach more people both young and old is A GREAT RISK to take. Please pray with us as we make this new offering of services, not only for your family, but those in Anna we will reach this new year.

We are thankful for your flexibility and willingness to try new things for the Gospel’s sake. The hope is that it will give us the additional space to reach even more people for Jesus in this new year and provide a more efficient, effective ministry to kids.

Hope to see you soon,
POCF Staff

Being Moved to Generousity!

Each Christmas we have unique chances to share the love of Christ in practical ways…ways that will make a major difference in the lives of those who receive our gifts. This year is no different. There are 3 ways that you can help others this Christmas through Pin Oaks and make an eternal difference in the lives of those you help.

First, with over 50 angels left at Texas Star Bank you and your family can go pick up an angel from the tree. Go do some selfless shopping and return with the gifts and Angel Tree does the rest.

Second, The Love Fund through Pin Oaks has been established to help Kathy Peters who suffered from a double brain anuerysm weeks before Christmas. her family is left worried about her, their bills, and what tomorrow holds. Any donations you want to make to the Love Fund can be made payable to Pin Oaks Christian Fellowship and we will write the family one check on Christmas Eve. (Our goal is $3,000 to help with rent and bills for 3 months while she recovers and can’t work)

Third, 3 boys lost nearly everything in a fire late last week. While they got out with minor injuries (smoke inhalation and small cuts) the house is a loss. We have been assembling clothes, toiletries, etc. We have also begun to help with some Christmas gifts for these 3 boys as well. Here are the sizes for the boys clothes:

Brendon-size 12 pants, size 10/12 shirts, size 4.5-5 shoes
Connor-size 7 pants, size 7/8 shirts, size 2 shoes
Trace-size 2T or 24 months, size 8 shoes

Any help, for any of these needs, is deeply appreciated and will change a persons outlook on life. I have been moved by your generosity and kindness so far and will update this post in comments as we gather gifts for each group.

Christmas Eve at 6:30pm

Celebrate the wonder of Christmas. Join us in gathered worship at the Collin County Adventure Camp as we celebrate the wonder of Christmas in Jesus Christ. The evening will be the perfect way to capture the heart of what Christmas is all about with your family and friends. The service will begin at 6:30 PM and last approximately one hour and will include many new and familiar elements. Invite a friend to join us as we worship this Christmas…they will be glad they came!

Click here for a map!

Second Location!!!

Yes it is true. For a long time we knew this day would come. The last few months have seen our church reaching more and more people and the most disappointing thing I have heard from those who visit is, “It is just so packed, I don’t think I can come back.” Well, they were right. It’s hard to admit. Either we change or we will always be what we are today. What we are is great but what we need to be is a perpetual offering of the Gospel to all who want and need to hear. After exploring several options it was clear that we at least needed a temporary solution. Since we have been working hard to keep an internet presence and offer a live weekly service the idea of an internet cafe as a second location was perfect. But where? What about childcare? Would people even come? Many of those questions were very difficult to deal with but the most important answer was, “Yes, people will come.”

A number of places made the short list of hopefuls. The list was quickly thrown away when the owner of Mama Mia’s and I talked. They have graciously opened their business and are asking for very little in return. So, the result will be a venue that is close enough for people to drop off their kids, hang out and enjoy pre-service conversations, then head across the street for service. There will be a large screen image of the live service, refreshments, communication cards…everything from the main service.

So, come grab some coffee. Drop your kids off at the Greenhouse. Hang out and catch up with a friend. Then, if you are up to it…go experience our services live at our Second Site.

Enlarge Our Hearts

Every Christmas we are surrounded by anything and everything to steal our attention away from what we should be celebrating. The mad rush to find the right gift, the desperate dash to transfer money to cover credit card balances, the disappointment of family fights, and even the horror of our favorite coffee place NOT serving eggnog. We tend to get lost in the trivial and miss the significance of a birth. A baby. Lying in a manger and surrounded by people whose lives were interrupted to find that all they had come to know, and all the only way they knew how to live was all wrong. Christmas is certainly a time for generousity, it is a time to brign families together, and a time to celebrate through various ways and traditions. However, the purpose of Christmas is to recognize the birth of a Savior. Sure, we should do this more than one day a year, but this day is set aside for a specific time of focus. The birth of the Jesus should remind us that what we do during this “holiday” should ultimately draw the hearts of those around us to Christ. The difficulty is that our own hearts are rarely drawn to that purpose. This Christmas we will be striving to rid our hearts of the distractions so GOd can give us the greatest gift of all…we are asking that our hearts be full of Him. This in turn, is the sole reason we are praying for God to “Enlarge Our Hearts” so we may have more of what really counts this Christmas. Come and join us as we strive to live our life with hearts full of the Good News that Jesus is alive!

LUKE 2:1-20

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.10 And the angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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