http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/ Tue, 28 Jun 2011 03:39:31 GMT en-us Copyright 2011 Overlake Christian Church http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/excel--life/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/excel--life/ Tue, 28 Jun 2011 03:39:31 GMT "My son, listen to your father's advice.Don't turn away from your mother's teaching.What they teach you will be like a beautiful crown on your head.It will be like a chain to decorate your neck."Proverbs 1:8-9 (NIRV)   Last week I had the opportunity to speak to our church staff on a subject I’ve given a lot of thought to over the years: How to maintain a healthy rhythm in life. Looking back, I’m aware of a number of writers who have profoundly shaped my thoughts regarding life management; men like Gordon MacDonald, Ted Engstrom, Ed Dayton and Stephen Covey to name a few. Yet one of the most helpful bits of advice came my way through the writings of leadershipconsultant Bobb Biehl. He noted that all the key aspects of a person’s life can be captured within seven domains. While I’ve since learned that other experts tout either more or fewer categories, Bobb B.'s template has served me well over time. Now, having applied his paradigm for decades, I’m convinced there’s great wisdom in keeping these seven areas in the forefront of one’s thinking. I also know if you apply the same thought process with regularity, you will be well on your way to achieving healthy balance in life. In this week’s blog I simply want to list the seven categories. Then in the coming weeks, I’ll take time to unpack each category individually: Here they are: - Family/Marriage - Finances - Personal Growth - Physical Fitness - Professional/Career - Social - Spiritual Growth By the time we’re through, I think you'll agree that, not only do all seven areas matter; failure in any one of them can lead to dire results. For as "the old saw" goes... A hole in the boat, is a hole in the boat, is a hole in the boat.... ________________________ THIS SUNDAY (July 3): Insight from the Bible on how to make important choices in our lives, day-to-day (perfectly in synch with Dr. G's new blog mini-series)! Services times: 9:20 am, 11 am and 6 pm. Miss a message? LISTEN/WATCH anytime. ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/what-a-man-needs/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/what-a-man-needs/ Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:30:50 GMT Years ago during my stint with the national men’s ministry, Promise Keepers, an interviewer suggested to me that while women were in need of encouragement, men needed “a kick in the pants.” I immediately took issue with her perspective. “No,” I countered, “men need encouragement, too!” There are relatively few healthy role models for men to look up to today. And without getting overly philosophical, the shifts in American culture over the past hundred years—including the massive move from a rural to an urban society—has done a number on guys. Boys rarely rub shoulders with their fathers any more, let alone work alongside them in the fields. Now add broken families, relativistic morality, Hollywood stereotypes, and political correctness runamok to the mix, and it’s easy to see why many men are confused about their place in the world. The single biggest threat facing men today has been around since the dawn of time. It’s not “money, sex, or power” as real and powerful as those temptations are; rather it’s the urge to live in isolation. This past Sunday we celebrated Father’s Day at Overlake. I love being part of a church that “gets it” when it comes to guys. At OCC, there are lots of ways for men to connect for encouragement: through discipleship, mentoring, and a wide array of Life Groups. Equally important, there are plenty of places to serve our church and world. Just yesterday I prayed with a guy convicted about his lack of significant relationships. He wished he had more and better friends. I gave him a dose of honest advice: If that’s every going to happen, you (indeed, each of us) need to be willing to take the first step. ________________________ THIS SUNDAY (June 26): What's the heartbeat of OCC? Hear Pastor Mike Howerton unpack what Overlake is all about and see the latest on how God is using this church here at home and around the world - Sunday at 9:20 am, 11 am and 6 pm. Miss a Sunday message? Listen/watch anytime.]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/ready-for-your-annual-check-up/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/ready-for-your-annual-check-up/ Tue, 31 May 2011 23:51:53 GMT A couple weeks ago I took my wife’s new-used “mid-life Chrysler” in for a check-up. It came back from our mechanic with a generally clean bill of health but still required a couple hundred bucks of corrective measures. On one hand, I dreaded asking my mechanic to check things out knowing he would inevitably find something that needed fixing. But on the other, I still recall the sage auto commercial advice, “You can pay me now or you can pay me later.” Let’s be honest…none of us look forward to annual check-ups, whether from auto mechanics, eye doctors or dentists. But smart people know an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Right now I’m in the middle of crafting an annual performance review document to help assess the effectiveness of people on our ministry team. It’s a process I don’t take lightly. One “hitch in my giddy-up” when it comes to evaluating staff has do with identifying the most meaningful metrics. After all, as a friend of mine was fond of saying, “Not everything that can be measured matters; and not everything that matters can be measured.” This, of course, is nowhere truer than in ministry. Even the analytical Apostle Paul at times avoided evaluating his own ministry by suggesting we should “judge nothing before the appointed time” (1 Corinthians 4:5). But even that doesn’t let us completely off the hook when it comes to doing the hard work of rigorous self-assessment. Socrates was right, “The unexamined life isn’t worth living.” Now, I’m not bringing up all this evaluation stuff up because I’m looking for free advice. I raise it to pose a larger question:  When’s the last time you opened up your life to a frank “360-degree” evaluation? ________________________ THIS SUNDAY: Take another step as we invite Jesus to help us break FREE from what holds us back. Pastor Mike Howerton continues our current UNSTUCK message series this Sunday at 9:20 am, 11 am and 6 pm. Missed a Sunday? Listen/watch anytime.]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-world-keeps-a-turnin/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-world-keeps-a-turnin/ Tue, 24 May 2011 01:01:10 GMT In case you haven’t noticed…our world remains intact. Yes, in spite of all the recent “hoopla” about a Saturday night Armageddon, our sin-stained planet keeps on spinning. Still, I found it fascinating that so many people—mostly unbelievers from what I could gather—took Harold Camping’s campy prophecy so seriously. I say “campy” because during an interview on Michael Medved’s talk radio show last Friday afternoon, one of Camping’s closest associates indicated that the rapture would occur sequentially, as each of earth's many time zones reached 6 pm. Hmm. How long will it take before we start taking Jesus at his word when he says only the Father in heaven knows the EXACT hour of his return (Matthew 24:36). Sure, there will be “signs of the times,” but that’s about it. It’s for this reason that I’ve always preferred the notion that we should “live as if Jesus is returning today, but work as if he’s not coming back for a thousand years.” This morning I came across a Sunday “tweet” from Dr. Henry Cloud regarding the “end times” theme. He wrote: As far as I know, the world didn’t end yesterday. Which brings up a question for all of us: what will we do with our remaining days? That’s REALLY the issue … isn’t it? ________________________ THIS WEEK: Find the PERFECT Life Group at our fun and interactive LET'S CONNECT event, Thursday (5/26) at7 pm near OCC Espresso in the lobby. And then take another step as we invite Jesus to help us break FREE from what holds us back. Our new UNSTUCK message series continues this Sunday at 9:20 am, 11 am and 6 pm.]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/a-carpenterand-so-much-more/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/a-carpenterand-so-much-more/ Mon, 02 May 2011 22:08:28 GMT I’ve been an avid reader for a long time, probably because decades ago I made a commitment to read an hour a day. I usually get most of my “general” reading in at the start of the day. It typically involves reading and reflecting on two or three Bible chapters…and a book that interests me. The process has gotten more interesting with the advent of the Kindle, my reading device of choice (sorry iPad, but I can’t quite justify you…YET!). My “nifty” (I hear this word is back in vogue, though I don’t quite believe it) Kindle claims to hold up to 3,500 books. We’ll see. But, I digress. The point I want to make is that one very cool feature of the Kindle is that it lets you to “preview” books before committing to buy them. This has proved to be incredible money saver since one can quickly and easily delete books that don’t pass muster. On the other hand, easy access to the Amazon store can get “spendy” if you’re not careful—or your chubby little finger hits the wrong button twice in a row. I never considered my fingers chubby until I did that very thing last week. Fortunately, the book I accidently bought turned out to be a spellbinder, so I’ve since concluded it was God’s will. A book I reviewed just this morning represented a serious blast from my past --More Than a Carpenter, by Josh McDowell. I’ve been planning to re-read this multi-million seller for a long time and my Kindle, of course, made it quick and easy. In the preface McDowell says he wrote the book in about 48 hours of free time. That’s how fired-up he was about sharing his journey to faith. And, as far as I can tell, his small masterpiece has stood the test of time with more than 10 million copies sold and having been translated into nearly one hundred languages. Personally, I love stories of life-change…and if you’ve never taken the time to read this unbeliever’s journey from total and utter skepticism to SOLD-OUT, I urge you to add it to your reading “bucket list.”  And although the following lines don’t appear in the book, their messages certainly resonate: God formed man, Sin deformed him, Education informs him, Religion may reform him, Only Jesus Christ can transform him. ________________________ THIS WEEK: Wednesday's w/Dr. G takes a deeper look the importance of mentoring others in the Christian faith at 7 pm in the Chapel (video). Kid's Ministry programs provided through 4th grade. And then be sure to bring mom to OCC for Mother's Day this weekend! Sunday services: 9:20 am, 11 am and 6 pm.]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/in-a-wordothers/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/in-a-wordothers/ Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:10:14 GMT That small word nicely summarizes the focus of the Christian life.  If you think about the kingdom of God—and how to extend it—you can’t help but consider OTHERS (Philippians 2:4). And for me, it’s interesting to ponder the redundancy God built into the human experience. I marvel, for example, at the overlap that exists in the arenas of “parenting, discipling, leading…and yes, mentoring.” They’re all cut the same cloth. That’s why I’m teaching a two part interactive series on the “Mentor Leader” starting this week at Wednesdaysw/Dr. G. We will meet just twice—April 27 & May 4—at 7 PM in the Overlake Chapel to explore the “why’s, wherefores, and how’s” of the mentoring process. And if I can “lift the window shade” for you just a bit…I want to re-emphasize that God’s pattern for revolutionizing this tired old world is really quite easy. It simply involves one person telling another person…who in turn tells another person about Him.  Paul put the process in clear terms when he wrote to his young protégé, Timothy: You have often heard me teach. Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others. 2 Timothy 2:2, (CEV) Did you catch that? I want YOU…to tell others everything you know about Jesus Christ. Last time I checked Paul’s words were still in play. ________________ THIS WEEK: Wednesdays w/Dr. G begins at 7 pm in the Chapel (Kid's Ministry programs provided through4th grade). And mark your calendar for part two of Dr. G's teaching on mentoring coming up NEXT Wednesday, May 4. Then THIS SUNDAY, don't miss Pastor Mike Howerton's message: "Successful Living - What Does it Look Like?" at 9:20 am, 11 am and 6 pm!]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/an-invitation-to-a-new-drg-series/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/an-invitation-to-a-new-drg-series/ Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:00:01 GMT http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/an-easter-faith/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/an-easter-faith/ Tue, 19 Apr 2011 01:10:00 GMT This week marks the annual ramp-up to Easter Sunday…and the MAIN REASON Christians live hope-filled lives. Scripture says that, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). Clearly, Jesus was a man on a mission. And his mission was unique in all of history. That’s because he wasn’t merely a man—he was/is the “God-man” (literally, “God in the flesh”). While there will be ongoing debates about the person of Jesus Christ…may those of us who follow him relax in the certainty of his identity. To that end, this is an ideal week for all who claim to know, love and trust Jesus to read and reflect on the great resurrection chapter…1 Corinthians 15. This chapter is the linchpin for all who possess an Easter faith. Really…it’s that BIG! So big in fact that the Apostle Paul didn’t hesitate to say: And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith (1 Corinthians 15:14) Paul minces no words about the magnitude and majesty of Jesus’ death and resurrection. According to him, Jesus’ triumph over the grave is the ultimate litmus test of the truth—or falsity—of the gospel! Jesus was either who he said he was…or he was the greatest scoundrel in human history. But, finally, don’t miss this. If Jesus IS the “real deal”… the hope of heaven is readily available to every person on the planet, including you. Years ago a song boiled Easter down to its very essence:  Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. You can’t beat that. ________________ THIS WEEK: EASTER AT OVERLAKE starts with a 7:20 pm Good Friday service followed by FOUR Easter services this weekend. FREE Easter Sunday breakfast and lots of fun for the kids too. THEN at 7 pm on Wednesday, April 27 (the Wednesday after Easter), Dr. G begins teaching a two week class on mentoring. Mark your calendar now!]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/youre-uniquelike-everyone-else/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/youre-uniquelike-everyone-else/ Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:58:20 GMT Just days ago I returned from a terrific trip to Santiago, Chile with 37 of our students and leaders. While there we worked alongside OCC-supported missionaries in schools, churches, and various community outreaches. I was reminded again of how key RELATIONSHIPS are to all that we do as the body of Christ. I suspect you’re tired of hearing that; sometimes I get weary of saying it. That is, until I recall how profound relationships are in the Kingdom of God. It’s not overstating it to say EVERYTHING we do hinges on relationships. When we step into a different culture, we’re often instructed on what to avoid saying or doing so as not to offend our hosts. Most of these faux pas relate to speaking or acting in a way that offends relational sensibilities. For example, while in Chile it was emphasized that when shaking hands with a man you’re supposed to shake hands, not once, but twice. Essentially, it’s a “shake, hug, shake” deal. Failure to shake hands a second time is considered rude. Looking back, I suspect I was inadvertently rude on at least two occasions. That’s life. Hopefully, we learn…and grow…as we go. The point is that without mentors we’re like rudderless ships on the sea of life; we bump into things (translate that “people”) in unintended ways without meaning to. We don’t know any better. Mentors, however, serve us as guides. They help us succeed. A few years ago Nancy Ortberg (yes, the wife of oft-quoted author John Ortberg) wrote a thought-provoking book on leadership entitled, Unleashing the Power of Rubber Bands. In it she writes: Much of what gets done in leadership has a strikingly non-linear approach. There is no clear-cut, step-by-step equation that guarantees results; it’s the convergence of conditions that creates a climate where people and organizations prosper. Lest you miss Ortberg’s insight, let me restate it in my own terms: Both mentoring and leadership are far more about “process” than “program,” more about creating environments where people flourish than producing roadmaps for them to follow. This makes developing people messy at times. While most of us are at least occasionally attracted to a “plug and play” approach to life, in the end, that approach doesn’t work well. Rather, our goal as Christ-centered mentor-leaders should be to call out the inherent uniqueness God planted in each person’s DNA.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made – Psalm 129:14 ________________ DON'T MISS EASTER AT OVERLAKE starting with a 7:20 pm Good Friday service and FOUR Easter services that weekend. FREE Easter Sunday breakfast and lots of fun for the kids too. THEN at 7 pm on Wednesday, April 27 (the Wednesday after Easter), Dr. G begins teaching a two week class on mentoring. Mark your calendar now!]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-gospel-according-2-u/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-gospel-according-2-u/ Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:29:17 GMT Last week I launched into a conversation about mentoring. I’d like to stay with that theme a few more weeks.  But before I do, please note that I’ll be teaching a short course on mentoring at my next Wednesdays with Dr. G, April 27 & May 4. These teachings will take place in the Chapel and run from 7-8:30 pm. Plan now to attend, and bring a friend.  During our time together we’ll be looking at the close relationship that exists between leadership and mentoring. That’s because “leaders are breeders” (2 Timothy 2:2), always committed to raising up “more and better leaders.”  Years ago I came across a helpful bit of doggerel that describes the uncanny “in-FLU-ence” we each have on the people within our sphere of influence; people who continually watch us to see if we “practice what we preach.”It goes like this:   You are writing a gospel, a chapter every day, By the deeds you do, and by the words you say.   Men read what you write, whether faithful or true. Just what is the gospel, According to you?   To this day I still pause periodically to ponder that sage piece of advice. ________________  At 7 pm on Wednesday, April 27 (the Wednesday after Easter), Dr. G begins teaching a two week class on mentoring. Mark your calendar now - and don't miss THIS coming Sunday at OCC as Pastor Mike Howerton takes another look at Jesus Under the Microscope...and how Jesus CARES for us, today.      ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/who-r-u-investing-in/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/who-r-u-investing-in/ Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:40:17 GMT                   MENTOR: [ men' - tawr ]          1. a wise and trusted counselor or teacher          2. an influential senior sponsor or supporter      If you think about it, each of us is the summation of what others have poured into us over time. This means the effects of some types of mentoring are positive…while others…not so much. (Ever see the “coming of age” movie, Karate Kid? “Wax on, wax off.” Good Sensei…bad Sensei). That’s why I often quote the pithy proverb, “We teach what we know, but we reproduce what we are.” It forces “would be” mentors to take a long, hard look in the mirror to make sure we like what we see. Sadly, plenty of people are the by-products of bad mentoring - INFLUENTIAL yes...but WISE, no. Bad mentoring results from a failure to look down the road and weigh the long-term implications of short term actions. Think of a time when you or someone you know said something hurtful only to have to apologize later. We’ve all done it; after all, we’re human. But the less damage we do in the first place, the less damage control we’ll have to do later. When I was a kid a popular saying was, “Sorry doesn’t heal the wound.” So while forgiveness is a wonderful gift to give or receive, how great would it be if we got better at doing it right the first time around? Years ago I sat in a class where the professor gave countless examples of famous Christian leaders who took the time to invest in the next generation. The results of their time and energy investments include names like Bill Bright, Lloyd Ogilvie, Howard Hendricks, Ray Stedman, and Chuck Swindoll...just to name a few. Jesus Christ, the greatest “mentor leader” of all time said:   “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher. " Luke 6:40 - NIV   Not a bad goal…to be “like Jesus,” that is. I end as I began, with the title of this blog post: Who r u investing in? ________________  At 7 pm on Wednesday, April 27 (the Wednesday after Easter), Dr. G begins teaching a two week class on mentoring. Mark your calendar now - and don't miss THIS coming Sunday at OCC as Pastor Mike Howerton takes another look at Jesus Under the Microscope...and how Jesus handled temptation.   ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/surprise-surprise/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/surprise-surprise/ Tue, 22 Mar 2011 01:12:14 GMT A few years ago Elaine, who heads up our church’s Life Group ministry, introduced me to a new friend named Terry Esau. Since that time, Terry and his wife Mary have become family friends, though from a distance since they live in faraway “Minne-snota.” Terry, who was making a living as a commercial jingle writer at the time, felt compelled to keep a journal throughout a month long “prayer” experiment. He committed to pray the same simple prayer to the Lord every day, and then wait and see what God would do. Some days God showed up BIG TIME, while other days were more of a “Where’s Waldo?” experience. Terry's discovery, though, was that over a thirty day span, God’s presence was palpable. In other words: When we’re actively looking for God in everyday life we have a much greater sense his presence. The coolest part is that Terry’s prayer consisted of just three words. Every day, for 30 days, began with the same hope-filled request: “Surprise me, God” (and BTW, his book has an even shorter title…Surprise Me). While I highly commend Terry’s book and journaling method as a great way to see and capture more “God sightings,” I mostly want to say that taking time to pray daily need not be a burden. In fact, the great British preacher Charles Spurgeon was famous—not for long-winded prayers, but rather for their brevity. When asked how he got away with such abbreviated prayers he replied, “I make it a point to keep short accounts with God.” That’s still sound advice. “Pray continually” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 ____________________________________________________ Lock-in at OVERLAKE and register now for Tuesday's Membership Class ( 7 pm - March 22, 2011) - or join us to simply learn more about OCC! And don't miss THIS Sunday when Pastor Mike Howerton launches his NEW teaching series, " Jesus Under the Microscope."  ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-influence-of-in-flu-ence/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-influence-of-in-flu-ence/ Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:23:53 GMT Last Saturday afternoon I started doing something I swore I’d never do. I started “twittering.” Worse yet, “tweeting.” Yes, ME! In my case, Twitter was the direct result of having a techno-savvy teen in our home. I should have realized it was simply a matter of time before she won me over to the “dark side.” ME! And to think, I’m a guy who envisions himself as living on the front end of the “Diffusion of Innovation” curve. So how did she get me to engage in this previously bizarre behavior? She did it by “modeling” it for me over time. This makes her a living, breathing example of what guru author Malcolm Gladwell calls a “tipping point” person. In short, a “tipping point” person is a trendsetter…the kind of person people like to follow…for whatever reason. In her case, it’s acting, modeling, and fashion. In my case, if my career as a “tweeter” takes off, people will follow for vastly different reasons. Malcolm Gladwell,author of The Tipping Point. My point is that each of us holds the power to profoundly affect theway others think and act — in other words, INFLUENCE them. Perhaps you’ve heard the question: “What kind of person are you, a thermometer or a thermostat?” While a thermometer merely reflects the temperature in a room, a thermostat sets it. To keep reminding myself just how viral this idea is, I often spell the word “influence“—“in-FLU-ence,” since like the flu, it’s more caught than taught. So here’s a thought worth contemplating: Who will you “in-FLU-ence” today, and why? For if it’s true that the shortest definition of leadership in action is “influence,” then it logically follows that influence without intentionality can be a force for good…or evil.    So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:6, NIV ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/change-who-said-change/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/change-who-said-change/ Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:09:55 GMT The title of this week’s blog is actually the punch line from an old joke. It goes like this: A Baptist preacher asks his congregation, “How many Baptists does it take to change a light bulb?” Their response: “CHANGE? Who said, CHANGE?” I can get away with that wise crack since I spent much of my life in Baptist circles. But it was author Leonard Sweet who really got my attention a few years ago when he said that, as a result of rapid technological advances, kids are now “natives” to the culture while the majority of us over forty-five are “immigrants.” That’s a pretty sobering fact. Having grown up in an immigrant neighborhood in Chicago, I have firsthand experience with Sweet’s point. For example, if you take a trip into an ethnic community of a large city, you will discover that the kids are usually the first to learn a new language…and end up taking their “immigrant” (slower learning) parents by the hand and leading them through the supermarket—not the other way around. Taking the “immigrant” analogy a step farther, I recently came across a quote on FB (Facebook, i.e.) ascribed to futurist Alvin Toffler (you may recall his best-selling book Future Shock), who observed: The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those that cannot read or write,but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. Listen…the dude is on to something “mega” in its implications for the world—and even more so for the church. There is no sure-fire way to avoid or evade CHANGE! Change happens. And while many “immigrants” have learned to “speak” technology fluently enough to survive—many fail to grasp the essential need to keep relearning…redefining…and, yes, even…re-inventing” themselves as we move toward the future. Innovator Charles Kettering was right when he protested: “I object to people running down the future. I am going to live the rest of my life there.” His remark, friends, has huge implications for every serious-minded Christian. Will we run INTO the future God has permitted us to help craft…or AWAY from it? And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion]. Matthew 11:12 / Amplified Bible _________________ DON'T MISS THIS SUNDAY when Pastor Mike Howerton takes another look at "Pagan Love." Mike's new series on God's relentless, loving pursuit of all people continues. And MEN, join Pastors Mike and Gary THIS FRIDAY (March 11 at 6 pm) for Guys Night Out - sign up NOW!  ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-sound-of-silence/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-sound-of-silence/ Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:23:12 GMT This past weekend I had a chance to teach on a subject that has long been near and dear to me: TIME. Maybe that’s because from an early age I either befriended or simply heard about so many people that lived with a sense of urgency about it. Now don’t get me wrong, living life with urgency isn’t the “cat’s meow” in every situation, though it’s definitely a scriptural value we should hold high. That’s because urgency has a way of forcing us to live on the edge and avoid becoming too cozy with the things of this world. Perhaps that’s why I’ve always admired the sentiment that says, “Unless you’re living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.” Then again, it depends on the edge. It’s important, though, that we not confuse urgency with mere “busyness.” There are already scores of people all around us living life at a frenetic pace, trying to “savor every moment” and “grab all the gusto they can,” because as the old adage suggests…“We only go around once in life.” That kind of living holds no allure for me. The urgency I aspire to make a measurable difference for God’s kingdom in our world. A true sense of urgency—biblical urgency—is often birthed during down times in our life. Somewhat ironically, it springs unexpectedly from moments of unwanted solitude; at times when we feel shut down or laid aside. Writers of old often refer to these character building sessions as “a visit to the backside of the desert.” Check it out for yourself. Note the “urgency” growth of just about any character you might choose: Joseph - Moses - David - Nehemiah - Daniel - Jesus - Paul...and you will quickly see that they, literally, flourished like flowers in the desert. In his classic book, Ordering Your Private World, author Gordon MacDonald notes that Fred Mitchell, a leader in world missions at the time, kept a motto on his desk that read, “Beware of the Barrenness of a Busy Life.” He adds that Mitchell “understood the potential collapse that follows when the inner life is ignored.” Living a high impact life means having significant ballast in our tanks. And the only way to achieve that is by getting some serious “alone” time with God. The psalmist sent us an easily overlooked reminder with a heavenly memo when he wrote: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). __________________ DON'T MISS THIS SUNDAY when Pastor Mike Howerton kicks-off a new series, Pagan Love, which looks at God's relentless, loving pursuit of all people. Also check out a bunch of OCC Events coming up soon - and MEN, sign up NOW for Guys Night Out coming up NEXT WEEK, at 6 pm on Friday, March 11.  ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/time-to-think-about-t-i-m-e/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/time-to-think-about-t-i-m-e/ Wed, 23 Feb 2011 02:37:55 GMT If I wasn’t a pastor, I might have been a time management guru. NOT REALLY! That’s because I agree with the insight that there’s really no such thing as time management—only self-management. I like the distinction. It makes sense to me. Still, as far as I can tell it’s no accident that time is often portrayed as sand silently slipping through an hour glass; for time—like sand—is elusive, and the harder one tries to grasp it the more it slips though one’s fingers. In that respect, time is a lot like money. There never seems to be enough of it. Oh sure, we occasionally deceive ourselves into thinking there’s an ample supply, at least until we pick up the latest obituary column and are starkly reminded that if we’re past age 50, we’re already starting to mess with the mortality tables. At the same time I’ve long been moved by something I read from the pen of the late, great pastor Ray Ortlund, Sr. who wrote, “God made you, and God made time…and then he put the two of you together.” That was his elegant way of saying that, regardless of a life’s length…if it’s in God’s hands…there’s enough time to do what needs to be done. That short line has long encouraged me. Decades ago I sat in a memorial service being conducted on behalf of a brilliant young pastor whom I'd been privileged to serve alongside of. I was just a first year seminary student working with high school students in a local church when death came calling. The “C” word, it was. In the short span of nine months our much-loved pastor went from appearing perfectly healthy to terminal. It was a “wake up call” I’ve never quite forgotten. He had been valedictorian of both his college and seminary graduating classes, and the “apple” of pretty much everyone’s “eye” who ever knew him. Nevertheless, he was dead at age 33. During the meditation, a Christian leader and close friend captured the essence of everyone’s thoughts when noting: “His death is unnatural, like a period in the middle of a sentence.” Well, he was certainly right about death being “unnatural” (i.e., from a biblical Christian perspective, we live in a fallen, sin-stained world where bad things happen to good people). Then I remembered that Jesus Christ, the God of Heaven cloaked in human flesh for a season, also died in the prime of life…and at the very same age of 33. His very last words, “word” really, was “Tetelestai” (in the Greek) or “It is finished” in English - a shorthand way of saying, “My work on earth is done.” (John 19:30) And once again I’m encouraged as I recall…“God made me, and God made time…and then He put the two of us together.” _______________________ DON'T MISS THIS SUNDAY as our current "Balance" series looks at TIME (sound familar?!) and Getting the Right Things Right. ALSO check out all the awesome OCC Events coming up soon - and MEN, sign up NOW for Guys Night Out, 6 pm on Friday, March 11!    ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/today-with-jesus/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/today-with-jesus/ Tue, 15 Feb 2011 22:31:22 GMT I’m sitting at a table working away in one of my favorite Starbucks haunts as I write this. Actually, it’s quite common to find me in a Sbux (my shorthand version of the name, not the stock ticker) early in the morning. It’s a habit; dual habit, really—coffee…and spirituality. Two of my favorite things! It’s curious, though. As I stop to look around this morning, fully 75% of the people are madly clicking away on computer keyboards (Apples, mostly) and have earbuds firmly plugged into their heads—pretty much oblivious to everything going on around them. Isn’t it fascinating to consider how our world has changed, and in a relative handful of years? A little more than a week ago we were reminded by virtually every “24/7” cable news show that Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel didn’t have a clue as to what the Internet and e-mail were back in 1994 (watch). We have a good laugh about it now because the I-Net and e-mail…like Facebook and LinkedIn are ubiquitous in our day. In fact, so popular and accessible are social networking tools that they’re currently causing coups to take place in faraway countries. Who’d a thunk?! Nevertheless, as I sit and ponder these things I’m thankful that there are still some unchanging realities in our world, one being the ever-present opportunity for time alone with the God. Regardless how fast our fast-paced world changes the Scriptures say that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). I find that proposition both refreshing and comforting. Let me encourage you to give some thought to that this “busy” week. Better yet, take a “time out” to connect with God for a few minutes. You will be glad you did. Thank him for the fact that in a world that seems to spin ever faster, He remains large and in charge. ______________________  WEDNESDAY at 7 pm - Simply Irresistible: Sharing Faith with 21st-Century People. Dr. G. wraps up his four-week interactive teaching series this week (Weds., Feb. 16). Nursery/Kids' ministry programs through 4th grade provided. And if you've missed any of Mike Howerton's series on Heaven, you can download/stream anytime!  ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/theres-no-easy-button-when-following-jesus/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/theres-no-easy-button-when-following-jesus/ Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:50:24 GMT Based on personal experience, I seriously doubt that sharing one’s faith has been easy in any generation. That’s because coming into genuine personal relationship with Jesus Christ is costly (Luke 9:57-62). In last week’s blog I mentioned that I’m slowly making my way through Eric Metaxas’ new book on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The incredible story is simply entitled, Bonhoeffer, and outlines the life and times of this amazingly heroic figure. It was Bonhoeffer who put the famous phrase “costly grace” on the map. While at times Bonhoeffer’s writings may be inaccessible to the everyday Christian, working through his material as best one can is well worth the effort. One reason: it’s so rare to discover such a beautifully synchronous person; to be confronted by a brilliant theologian who actually allowed “Truth” to speak into his life…and change him. For those of us who have had the privilege of attending a Bible-orientated seminary, it’s hard to imagine what it was like to grow up in the theological “hot bed” that was Germany in the first half of 20th-century, where liberalism dominated the landscape. In fact, German theologians held such sway that the musings of other theologians of the day were pooh-poohed as mere footnotes. Yet even in this un-Christian context, Bonhoeffer proved more than capable of holding his own. Much of the reason for Bonhoeffer’s success was familial - from his father’s side sprang some of the greatest medical and scientific minds of the day, while his mother’s family generated world-class theologians. Remarkably, in Dietrich both “reason” and “faith” were wonderfully wed. While no woman or man (other than Christ himself) should ever be touted as a template of human perfection, much is noteworthy about this man’s life: He approached Scripture with his whole heart and mind When confronted with truth, he changed at great personal cost He stood up for persecuted people when others were too afraid In the end, Bonhoeffer’s life was snuffed out by Adolf Hitler’s decree. Yet, the same thing can be said of him as of Abel, the Bible’s first recorded murder victim: “though dead, still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4). _______________________________ Feel like 2011 is your year to be baptized? Check out what baptism is all about and register for THIS SUNDAY'S (Feb. 13) baptism service. And if you've missed any of Pastor Mike Howerton's new series on Heaven, you can download/stream anytime!   ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/im-on-fire-lately/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/im-on-fire-lately/ Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:56:00 GMT I’m on fire lately. I learned a long time ago that God has a unique way of getting me to re-engage the Gospel (the “good news”) from time to time. I know he works in different ways in different people. In my case he tends to “immerse” me in experiences, conversations, and readings...then brings me up for air. For example, currently a large number of OCC’ers are taking the missions course, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. I’ve known about the class for years, and always wanted to take it, but the timing never seemed quite right. Well, now I’m up to my eyeballs in the material…and it’s GREAT! Then, a week or so ago I started reading the intriguing new biography by Eric Metaxas and Timothy Keller, Bonhoeffer. It recounts the inspiring life of brilliant Theologian-Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who bravely took a stand against Adolf Hitler during WW II…and paid for it with his life just weeks before that devastating war ended. And just yesterday Pastor Mike launched into an encouraging and challenging three-part series called Heaven. I’ve preached on heaven a couple times, but I now confess, I’m sorry I haven’t done it more often. Today we hear little about the realities of Hell—but even less about the great place we’re destined to spend eternity. Thank God for authors like Randy Alcorn and Joni Eareckson Tada for writing on this often overlooked topic, and for pastors like MH who dare to preach on it! Lastly, I’m currently teaching a four-week series called Simply Irresistible: Sharing Faith with 21st-Century People on Wednesday nights that keeps reminding me of all that’s at stake. For you see, within God’s “divine design” — reaching the nations (Perspectives), suffering for Jesus’ sake (Bonhoeffer), living forever in the presence of God (Heaven), and the willingness to share the “good news” (evangelism) are remarkably bundled; like coals on a blazing BBQ, their proximity to one another keeps them HOT. So my challenge to you this week is to weigh the many ways God is speaking into your life at present:  What are you reading? (You are reading, aren’t you?) What topics keep popping up in your daily conversations? When’s the last time you gave some serious thought to heaven? How are you graciously expressing your faith to people within your sphere? I hope you’ll give each of these subjects serious consideration. Socrates was right when he said: "The unexamined life isn’t worth living." _____________________________________________________________________________ Feel like 2011 is your year to be baptized? Check out what baptism is all about and register today for our Sunday, February 13 baptism service. And if you missed the first of Pastor Mike's 3-part series on Heaven, enjoy it now! ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/change-without-change-isnt-change/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/change-without-change-isnt-change/ Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:48:23 GMT We live in a fast-changing world. On one hand we’re AWARE of it, but on the other we’re “immunized” against feeling it. This is why the well-worn story about a frog getting cooked in a kettle continues to get so much play. You may recall: the frog sat in the clear, cool water happily oblivious to the reality that the water temperature was slowly being tweaked upwards…and he was about to boil. Like every illustration worth its salt, the tale can be twisted and turned in any number of directions to drive home a point. So instead of tying it into culture, I’d like to tie it into Christianity; more specifically, to the way Christians think about sharing their faith. Historically, changing virtually anything about how things work ranks pretty low on most Christian folk’s “to do” list. For many, the very essence of “church world” lies in its immutability. While we should celebrate the awe-inspiring truth that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews  13:8), we can NEVER afford to forget that our world keeps spinning along…and change is “inevitable” (though misery remains “optional”). Personally, I find that worthwhile change keeps me on my toes. Without the challenge change affords, I would quickly grow listless and bored. Change “changes” that.   So beginning this Wednesday night I’m launching into a new series of teachings dealing with the never-ending theme of how to share the “unchanging” truth of the “good news” of Jesus Christ with a world that NEVER stops changing.   Years ago I heard my then-pastor Bill Hybels compare trying to reach people with the Gospel in our rapidly changing culture  to “shooting at a moving target from a spinning platform.” (Isn’t it funny how certain things stick with you…or in this case, me). Of course, his point had nothing to do with “shooting” anything. It was simply his creative way of saying that when the all-important message of faith isn’t properly “contextualized” (i.e., put in terms people can easily understand), we often come off like we’re from another planet! In light of that: I INVITE you to join me and many others on a four week journey beginning THIS Wednesday night (January 26-February 16) as we carefully consider how to share the Christian faith in a way that makes sense to 21st century people. We’ll meet in the Chapel @ 7 pm and be heading for home by no later than 8:30 pm (nursery and other Kids' Ministry programs provided through 4th grade). And, as always, feel free to bring a friend! ______________________________________________________________________________ Feel like 2011 is your year to be baptized? Check out what baptism is all about and register today for our Sunday, February 13 baptism service.    ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/not-for-long/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/not-for-long/ Tue, 11 Jan 2011 02:37:31 GMT This past weekend we were all thrilled (all of us in the Seattle area that is) to see our much-maligned Seattle Seahawks take flight in their big, upset win over the New Orleans Saints - the reigning Super Bowl champs. Later that afternoon, another major upset of sorts occurred when the New York Jets finally managed to knock out last year’s Super Bowl contenders, the Indianapolis Colts (my brother’s hometown team. Sorry bro!). But that’s not the half of it. The Seahawks had finagled their way into the playoffs as a “wild card” team with the worst season record ever. Previously, no team had ever gotten into the playoffs with a losing record. Think again of those poor Saints. They shattered another record last Saturday—and not a good one. Never had a team that led by 10 points in the first half of post-season play ever gone down to defeat. In fact until then, teams up by ten points held an impeccable record of 34 wins to zero losses. Well, I could go on and on talking about how last year’s winners turned out to be this year’s biggest losers. And that’s precisely why football pundits are quick to remind us that NFL (National Football League) really means “NOT FOR LONG.” So by now you’re probably wondering what on earththis has to do with anything remotely spiritual. I would suggest three things: First, the Bible makes a big deal out of the fact that a day is coming when those who are “first” by this world’s standards will suddenly find themselves “last” (Mark 10:31). No offense to the Saints or Colts intended, both are great teams; but they're also great, contemporary metaphors for us Seattleites and help illustrate the principle. Second, the New Testament also says there will be a time when the “humble” of this world (a.k.a., losers) surprisingly find themselves at the front of the line (Matthew 5:5). Third, these flip flops will take place within a relatively short span of time. Just as winning Super Bowl titles is fleeting, the New Testament writer James reminds us that “life is but a vapor” (James 4:14). So as another new year gets underway let’s all keep one BIG TRUTH in perspective: Everyone on God’s team wins in the end.  ______________________________________________________________________________Plan to join me at Wednesday’s w/Dr G. I will be teaching a fun, informative, and user-friendly course entitled, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE: Sharing Faith with 21st Century People. This interactive class will take place in the Chapel on four consecutive Wednesday night’s: January 26 - February 16 from 7-8:30 pm.    ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/lord-give-us-mountain-people/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/lord-give-us-mountain-people/ Mon, 03 Jan 2011 20:30:39 GMT I can hardly believe we’re already a few days into 2011. My how time flies!   Normally toward the end of an old year and just prior to the launch of a new one, I spend considerable time looking in the rear view mirror...reflecting on how things went. This year, though, I decided to spend more energy looking through the windshield and contemplating what the future holds.   I've read that after the famous missionary David Livingstone returned to England following years as a medical missionary in southern Africa, a reporter asked the old man where he planned to go next. Livingston allegedly replied, “I’ll go anywhere as long as it’s FORWARD.”   Seems like all the “greats” share Livingstone’s perspective (or vice versa), whether it was Abraham looking forward to a city whose architect and builder was God (Hebrews 11:10) or Caleb eager to conquer the highest hill he could climb (Joshua 14:12), or the Apostle Paul who wrote:   Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14).   One thing is clear: they were all MOUNTAIN MEN. For them the past was prologue. And if at any point they were destined to fail, like Livingstone, they wanted to “fail forward.”   As 2011 gets underway I’d like to co-challenge you to be a “mountain” man or woman. That’s the journey I plan to be on.   ______________________________________________________________________________ Join me and fellow Overlaker’s on Wednesday, January 19, for a “Night of Prayer.” Then...on Wednesday, January 26, I begin a highly practical four week series called, Simply Irresistible: Sharing Faith with 21st Century People. Both of these opportunities will be held in the Chapel from 7-8:30 pm.    ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/jesus-who/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/jesus-who/ Tue, 21 Dec 2010 05:29:09 GMT Over the years I’ve periodically done a quick “gut check” and asked myself why I’m a Christian. While that may seem a bit strange coming for a long-term pastor, I can assure you it’s a question worth revisiting from time to time. After all, even Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Yet according to statistics, a disproportionately large number of people fail to heed the famous philosopher’s advice. As a result, many folks come to the end of their earthly pilgrimage only to find that the ladder of success (or belief) they were climbing was leaning against the proverbial “wrong building.” The fact is…we ALL need to make “mid-course corrections” from time to time. It’s not just the domain of corporate CEO’s and strategic planners. And nowhere does directional change matter more than with regard to our eternal destinies. Just today I was reading in the first chapter of John’s gospel where Jesus says to five pious but unsure men, “Follow me” (John 1:35-51). Up to that point, a few of them were already following John the Baptist, the alleged forerunner of Messiah, but now the REAL DEAL had arrived…or had he? Upon seeing his cousin Jesus for the first time in a long while, the worship-stricken Baptist preacher (not really...Baptist, that is!) announced to everyone within earshot: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) You have to admit, that’s a pretty impressive pronouncement coming from the lips of the “last and greatest prophet.” Clearly, in John’s eyes, Jesus had all the right stuff (bona fides, credentials, etc.) Yet if you keep reading through the fourth gospel (or any of the other three), you will quickly realize that most people rejected Jesus outright as a fraud—even with all the best facts in hand. It’s precisely for this reason that you and I must ask and answer the same penetrating question Jesus one day posed to his closest associates: Who do YOU say I am? You see, when it comes to the Jesus of Christmas we must either ACCEPT or REJECT him outright. There is no middle ground, no room for fence-sitting...or as a friend of mine used to like to call it, “No Daffy Duckin’ (a.k.a, “waffling; hedging your bets). We either believe Jesus Christ is who he said he was, or we don’t…and, by the way, all abstentions are counted as NO votes; to decide not to decide is to decide. In just a few days, millions of people worldwide will pause to pay homage to Jesus; but…to Jesus…WHO? The Jesus of myth and legend? Or the living, loving, saving Jesus Christ of Scripture (John 1:11-13; 3:16). Only God…and you…know for sure. ______________________________________________________________________________ DON'T MISS Christmas Eve at Overlake. Come light a candle with us at 5 pm or 11 pm. Nursery/kids' programs through preschool age provided during the 5 pm service.]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/in-the-nick-of-time/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/in-the-nick-of-time/ Tue, 14 Dec 2010 05:43:49 GMT It’s mind-boggling to consider how the way our world conducts business has changed…and in the BLINK of an eye! Or so it seems.  For instance, not that many years ago stores typically stockpiled goods in a back room or nearby warehouse for weeks; today most operate on the basis of “just in time” inventory, meaning they don’t ship—or often even produce—a product until an actual order is placed. So it should come as no surprise that GOD was way ahead of the curve on this one. In fact, millennia before the world had a clue as to how to solve the problem of human brokenness God had already come up with the best possible solution—SEND HIS OWN SON! In a sense, this makes Jesus our “just in time” Savior. When things seemed the bleakest, God Himself stepped in. The Apostle Paul, writing in the Book of Galatians, reminds us: But when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the sonof a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law (Galatians 4:4, TEV). New Testament scholars commenting on this verse agree Jesus Christ came into the world at EXACTLY the right moment. Given our Judeo-Christian heritage it’s easy to forget how dark and depressing things were until Jesus arrived on the scene, albeit incognito. It was an era of unparalleled suffering combined with spiritual and moral chaos. Hope was nowhere to be found (Ephesians 2:12, NIV). This is an intriguing paradox since historians refer to this extraordinary epoch of worldwide peace as “Pax Romana,” a Latin term meaning “Roman peace,” and it lasted for well over a century. During this time few wars were waged, and at least externally, the world seemed a safe place. But PEACE is more than the absence armed conflict. The Hebrew word “shalom” means “wholeness” or “completeness.” And it’s for THIS reason Jesus came to earth a little more than 2,000 years ago…to offer our dark, sorry world something it could never give itself…HOPE. ______________________________________________________________________________ Pastor Mike Howerton's HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE series continues this Sunday at 9:20 am, 11 am & 6 pm – AND join us for Candlelight Christmas Eve services at 5 pm & 11 pm on December 24. ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-season-for-the-reason/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-season-for-the-reason/ Tue, 07 Dec 2010 02:05:42 GMT God lives fully in Christ Colossians 2:9, CEV  No, the title of this week’s blog ISN’T a glaring example of me getting my “mords wixed;” though we DO oftentimes get things backwards especially, it seems, when it comes to Christmas. Perhaps you’ve heard about the two women who were doing their holiday shopping when one glanced into a department store window and saw a display depicting baby Jesus tucked away in a manger, complete with sheep and donkeys. She slowly wagged her head in disbelief as she “tsked, tsked” to her friend then added … “I can’t believe it. Now they’re even trying to bring religion into Christmas!” Losing sight of the real meaning of Christmas during the mad dash of the holidays is nothing new. What often gets missed is that Jesus’ birth was more than the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, as important as that is; his coming also filled a nagging void that exists in every human heart: “Does our world make sense?” Jesus’ birth explained…provided the rationale…gave solid evidence…that He is, indeed, REASON for the season. The disciple John uses the carefully chosen Greek word “logos” to identify the incarnated Christ in scripture (John 1:1). LOGOS can be translated as the LOGIC or the reason behind our ordered universe. The late Dr. James Montgomery Boice, pastor of the renowned Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia a quarter of a century ago, sheds further light on this profound truth in his classic commentary on John’s gospel when he notes: Plato we are told, once turned to the little group of philosophers and students that gathered around him during the Greek Golden Age in Athens and said to his followers, “It may be that someday there will come forth from God a Word, a Logos, who will reveal all the mysteries and make everything plain” (The Gospel of John, Vol. 1, 40). A little later in his commentary, Boice goes on to imagine the beloved disciple John saying to the famous philosopher: Yes, Plato, and the Logos has come; now God is revealed to us perfectly. I’ve cherished Boice’s words since I first came across them decades ago.  EMANUEL breaking into human space and time 2,000+ years ago is proof positive that God is, indeed, WITH US.   ______________________________________________________________________________ Want to keep your sanity AND not lose heart during the upcoming holidays? Pastor Mike Howerton's new HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE series unwraps practical insights from the Bible this Sunday at 9:20 am, 11 am & 6 pm – AND join us for Candlelight Christmas Eve services at 5 pm & 11 pm on December 24. ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/how-to-deal-with-a-spiritual-mismatch/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/how-to-deal-with-a-spiritual-mismatch/ Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:06:23 GMT Do not be yoked together with unbelievers – 2 Corinthians 6:14 This past Sunday, I had a chance to teach on the ever-relevant topic of “finding God’s will for your life.” Conversations following every service coupled with a few Monday e-mails were sobering reminders that many in our church are wrestling with that issue big time right now—particularly as it relates to important subjects like dating and marriage. In light of that, I’d like to offer a few words of counsel along with some encouragement. If you find yourself in a dating relationship you know ISN’T honoring God for whatever reason, commit to changing course and start OBEYING HIM right away. You may need to tap the wisdom of one of OCC’s biblical counselors to help guide your heart (and head) in making that change. The simple fact of the matter is that no relationship stays stagnant; it either grows stronger or gets weaker. In recent years I’ve had similarly frank conversations with couples who clearly cared for each other…so much so that they took a time out to have the “hard conversation.” The interesting thing to me was that in each case, BOTH PARTIES were deeply committed to their particular religious perspective; but because they had dated for so long without talking about their beliefs, their faith had become a painfully onerous deal-breaker. I must admit though, that I came away from these counseling sessions inspired. When push came to shove, these individuals had the strength of character to face the imminent heartache of walking away…though in doing so, they likely avoided lifetime of relational pain. The definition of a mismatch... We in the church regularly overlook the fact that people whose beliefs differ from ours also feel the hurtful sting of spiritual mismatches. In his thoughtful book Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch, author Lee Strobel reminds his readers how being “unequally yoked” can be equally devastating for both parties. For instance, he quotes one man—a self-described atheist—who is dating a woman he describes as a devout Christian. “The religious differences are tearing us apart,” he admits. Still, I assure you that the pain resulting from ending a relationship that’s leading you in the wrong direction spiritually is typically moderate, when compared to the long-term consequences of abandoning God’s counsel in this foundational aspect of your life. If on the other hand, you rolled the dice some years ago and now find yourself in a marriage where your spouse fails to share your core spiritual convictions, I strongly commend Strobel’s book to you. Lee, a former atheist himself and Yale Law School graduate, became a committed Christian several years after marrying his wife Leslie; so they don’t just “talk the talk”…they “walk the walk.” In Strobel’s book, you’ll find an abundance of helpful advice likely to breathe new life into your marriage…and offer encouragement to your heart as you deal with your spiritual mismatch.   ______________________________________________________________________________ Want to keep your sanity AND not lose heart during the upcoming holidays? Pastor Mike Howerton's new HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE series unwraps family conflict this Sunday, December 5.]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/thanksgiving-is-thanks-livingor-is-it/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/thanksgiving-is-thanks-livingor-is-it/ Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:43:06 GMT The title of this week’s blog is considered cliché by those of us who have hung around so-called Christian “circles” any length of time—and that’s precisely the point! When it comes to our best-loved holidays (which usually started out as “holy days”), it’s easy to fall into ruts of routine. And this isn’t just true for church attendees; it’s true for pastors too. After a few laps around the church calendar it’s easy to BECOME cliché! In reality, Thanksgiving IS supposed to be about “thanks living.” Yet, it doesn’t seem to take much for us to lose our joy and to start taking our many blessings for granted. So as we approach the holidays, I’d like to offer a few suggestions that will hopefully help prevent that from happening.  First, try spending Thanksgiving Day with some newfound friends. At Overlake we talk a lot about BRINGVITATION; but unless we’re continually deepening our relational reservoirs, our pool of friendships will soon run dry. Of course, you can still invite the usual suspects over: family members and close friends, but mix things up a little by adding some fresh blood (you know what I mean). Second, if you get invited to someone else’s home for a holiday meal—GO. It’s a powerful way to remember what it feels like to be a guest in someone else’s home. And when we’re in someone else’s digs, we tend to see the people (and meal time) in totally fresh ways. Third, take a break from your regular holiday routine by SERVING in a totally different context. For the past six years, our family has abandoned our tradition of a home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner and instead joined friends who open their delightful restaurant to provide a three course meal for people who are a) stuck in Seattle for the holidays, away from family and friends, b) are in the area visiting hospitalized family members and have no place to go, and c) people who have fallen on hard times in light of the current economy. Together with a host of others, the three of us spend the afternoon serving strangers, and in a few cases, get to hear some pretty incredible personal stories. Having done this for the past six years, our teenage daughter can’t imagine spending Thanksgiving any other way. And if you ask her how she feels about it, she will tell you in no uncertain terms that it’s her annual holiday highlight. It seems there’s something about serving others that inspires us not only to be more giving…but to be more grateful. As you might imagine, the list of “thanks living” options available to us is only limited by our creativity. And at the end of the day, we’re reminded that the best way to live a thankful life is by periodically remembering what exactly it is we’re thankful for. __________________________ Want to keep your sanity AND not lose heart during the upcoming holidays? Pastor Mike Howerton's new HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE series unwraps some practical insight from the Bible starting Sunday, December 5.    ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/measuring-up/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/measuring-up/ Tue, 16 Nov 2010 06:23:52 GMT If you were to sneak a peek inside our kitchen pantry, you would quickly catch a glimpse of some faint pencil markings on the inside of the white door. These marking begin somewhere around three feet level but have climbedto a height of nearly 5’8’ over the past decade. Assuming you’re a parent, you’ve already figured out that the inside of our pantry door is the scale we use to measure our teenager’s height. Whenever that pencil mark ticks upward, it’s ALWAYS cause for celebration around the Gonzales’ household. The reason is obvious…we expect healthy things to grow—particularly people! It’s worth noting, though, that we can go a long time without remembering to check and see if any growth spurts have taken place. Eventually, one parent recalls the door and reminds our teen, “It’s about time we check to see how much you’ve grown in recent months.” And we’re almost always pleasantly surprised to see that the pencil mark has indeed inched up a bit. HOWEVER, there are seasons when little or no growth has occurred. These times are usually characterized by one of two responses: the urge to stand especially straight (on tiptoes even) or sheer disappointment. That pantry door serves as a vivid visual reminder that just as physical growth takes place and is measurable, so too is spiritual growth. And while such benchmarks are often encouraging, there are times when standing with our “spiritual backs” against the door can be disappointing. It’s along these lines that Paul offers some sage advice for us to keep in mind when trying to assess our progress toward spiritual maturity. He warmly urges:  “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as youwere taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (Colossians 2:6-7). It’s just the Apostle’s way of saying: Don’t lose heart. Keep on keeping on! __________________________ This week we continue Wednesdays with Dr. G, a new interactive study on Discipleship—where discipleship is presented as a "lifestyle" of following Jesus rather than a program. Join us Wednesday at 7 pm in OCC's Chapel.And want to keep your sanity AND not lose heart during the upcoming holidays? Pastor Mike Howerton's new series unwraps some practical insight from the Bible starting Sunday, December 5.    ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/living-life-without-bells-or-whistles-/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/living-life-without-bells-or-whistles-/ Tue, 09 Nov 2010 02:05:51 GMT A few hours ago I met with three very bright seminary students I’m mentoringthis term. The topic for our discussions is “spiritual formation,” a.k.a., “How to help people become more like Jesus.” Our conversations have been fascinating and revealing. “Fascinating” in that each of us is blessed with a unique perspective. (I love a line my mentor was fond of using: “A point of view is nothing more than a view from a point;” and “revealing” in that simplistic answers to this vexing question just don’t cut it. During our dialogue one of the students brought up the name of the now-famous Brother Lawrence. Well, actually, he’s not SUPER famous though anyone who has gone to seminary has surely heard of him…even if only in passing. And his claim to fame is that, well, he has no real claim to fame. Brother L was one of those rare Jesus followers who humbly chose to bloom where he was planted…“no bells or whistles.” Put in more contemporary terms, Lawrence was content to “fly under the radar.” As a tribute to Brother Lawrence I thought I’d include a little bit of his “spiritual formation” story for you to meditate on this week. Nicholas Herman of Lorraine, better known as Brother Lawrence, was born in 1611.He entered the Carmelite Order in Paris as a lay brother at the age of 55. Before that he served as a soldier and a footman. His conversations and letters were publisheda year after his death in 1691 under the title, "The Practice of the Presence of God." He is remembered in the Christian community as a shining example of totaldevotion to God. Early in his vocation ,Brother Lawrence decided that "our only business in this life is to please God." He worked in his order's kitchen for 15 years and is best known for the following quotation: "The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things; I possess God as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament." This down-to-earth story goes to the heart of everyday spirituality: God is ALWAYS available to his children. But what’s most incredible to me about Brother Lawrence is how the brief paragraph you just finished reading has redirected the lives of thousands of people for the better. I can only hope and pray that someday the brief entries inmy journal will yield a similar result.  __________________________ This week we continue Wednesdays with Dr. G, a new interactive study on Discipleship—where discipleship is presented as a "lifestyle" of following Jesus rather than a program. Join us Wednesday at 7 pm in OCC's Chapel. And don't miss THIS SUNDAY's release of our OVERLAKE LIVE worship CD. Pick up your copy Sunday.]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/who-are-you-really/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/who-are-you-really/ Tue, 02 Nov 2010 04:30:20 GMT According to author Leslie Flynn, an artist was commissioned to paint in a Sicilian cathedral a mural depicting the life of Jesus. He found a 12-year-oldboy whose radiant innocence made him a perfect model for the Christ-child. Years later, the artist had developed the mural into the events of the Holy Week with all the major figures completed, except for Judas. One afternoon a man whose face showed the ravages of excessive drinkingand hard living staggered into the tavern where the artist was sitting. Immediately the artist thought, “This man would be a perfect model for my final figure. Leading the man into the cathedral, he pointed to the bare space on the wall and asked him to pose for Judas.The man immediately broke down and started to cry, “Don’t you remember me?” Pointing to the Christ-child, he explained, “I was your model for him many years ago.” I confess to having come across various versions of this story over the years and suspect we’ll never know for sure whether it’s true or apocryphal, but I have also known a few folks that could have fit the bill. They started out strongin faith and were full with promise, but somewhere along the line things went seriously sideways and they ended up defecting from the Truth. The Apostle Paul had similar experiences with a handful of disciples he once deeply admired; men who started well but somehow got seduced by other voices. Demas comes to mind(2 Timothy 4:10). Hymenaeus and Alexander are a couple additional examples of one-timefaithful followers who “shipwrecked their faith” (1 Timothy 1:20). As you make your way through this week perhaps now is a good time to do a quick “gut check” and ask yourself…AM I IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING MORE LIKE JESUS,or less? If you find your practices and disciplines aren’t leading you in the right direction: recalibrate. __________________ This week we continue Wednesdays with Dr. G, a new interactive study on Discipleship—where discipleship is presented as a "lifestyle" of following Jesus rather than a program. Join us Wednesday at 7 pm in OCC's Chapel. And it's not too late to REGISTER for OCC's Tuesday, November 9th Membership Class!]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/you-are-the-message/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/you-are-the-message/ Mon, 25 Oct 2010 19:23:03 GMT One day a police officer pulled over a car and asked the driver to show his license and registration. The driver asked what was wrong, insisting that he hadn't run a red light or exceeded the speed limit. The officer agreed. However, the driver had waved his fist and yelled at a woman who was driving in the left lane. The officer said he then saw the driver's flushed face and an angry expression when a Hummer cut him off. And finally, the policeman had noticed the driver pounding the steering wheel when the traffic slowed to a stop. Surprised, the driver asked, "None of those are crimes, are they officer?" "No," the policeman replied, "but when I saw the bumper sticker that says JESUS LOVES YOU AND SO DO I,I figured this car had to be stolen." We easily forget that most people will never see any more of Jesus than they see in you and me. I know we resist the idea, but the truth remains that to “represent” Jesus is to “re-present” him. In fact, the New Testament goes so far as to label Christ’s disciples “ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:20). And in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesusannounced that if his people acted like “salt and light” the world would takenotice…and give glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13-16). Dwight L Moody, a 19th-century evangelist, once reminded his audience of listeners, “We are told to let our light shine, and if it does we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining—they just shine. So this week as you’re going about your daily business—whether it’s the guy who unceremoniously cuts you offin rush hour traffic, or the grocery store line that inches ahead at a snail’s pace, or the co-worker in your office who has a “special” gift for getting on your nerves—try to remember not only who YOU are…but Who’s you are. __________________________ This week we continue Wednesdays with Dr. G, a new interactive study on Discipleship—where discipleship is presented as a "lifestyle" of following Jesus rather than a program. Join us Wednesday at 7 pm in OCC's Chapel. And it's not too late to REGISTER for OCC's Tuesday, November 9th Membership Class!]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/why-less-is-more/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/why-less-is-more/ Mon, 18 Oct 2010 22:59:49 GMT It was German-born, American architect Mies van der Rohe who popularized the saying, “Less is more.” He understood that simplicity—not complexity—makes both objects of art and ideas elegant. Yet, if we’re honest, most of us find that hard to accept…and even harder to put into practice. I know I do. Lately I’ve come across a host of reminders that “less is more” in virtuallyevery area of life. It appears that when we master the twin arts of “focus” and “simplicity,” everything else falls intoplace whether it involves finances, child-rearing, or spiritual growth. Muse over the following insights for a momentand then try putting any of them into practice today and you will soon see what I mean. The secret of concentration is elimination – Howard Hendricks (Educator/Author) The way to have more is to want less – Quaker saying Only do what you can do – Andy Stanley (Pastor/Author) Axioms like these are easy to understand principles that urge us to “keep the main thing the main thing!” Still, it’s a LOT easier said than done. Paul the Apostle knew the value of setting crystal clear priorities and staying the course. In Philippians 3:13-14 he quilled:      “But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward       the goal to win the prize for which  God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Think about it for a moment. When Jesus Christ, the undisputed Master Teacher of the Universe, called menand women to become his disciples, he always did so with the “less-is-more” command—“FOLLOW ME!”(John 1:43). Jesus’ call to us today is just as simple and clear – and faithfully following his leadership in our everyday liveswill always prove to be more than enough.   __________________________   This week we continue Wednesdays with Dr. G, a new interactive study on Discipleship—where discipleship is presented as a "lifestyle" of following Jesus rather than a program. Join us Wednesday at 7 pm in OCC's Chapel. And it's not too late to REGISTER for OCC's Tuesday, November 9th Membership Class!    ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/wanted-dead-and-alive/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/wanted-dead-and-alive/ Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:28:10 GMT Years ago when I was dating the woman who would one day become my wife, I walked into an “anchor” store in a San Diego mall to see if I could land her a classy piece of jewelry—more specifically, a cool looking cross to wear around her neck. Correctly sensing I was overwhelmed by the vast array of jewelry on hand, the 20-something female sales clerk behind the counter quickly divvied the available crosses into two distinct piles. After a few more moments of awkward silence—convinced that I would never make a decision on my own—she couldn’t resist prompting me: Do you want a cross with a little man on it or without? I’ve never forgotten that “weird encounter of the third kind.” Her lack of awareness of the true identity of the “little man” on the cross (who he was and what he did) still intrudes on my thoughts from time to time. Of course, the “little man” she was unable to identify was none other than Jesus Christ himself, God in the flesh! (John 1:1, 14) The cross remains the central symbol of the Christian faith after twenty centuries. And although many in the Western world have some sense of what it represents, relatively few fully embrace its implications. A.W. Tozer, a famous Chicago pastor in the middle of the last century, identified genuine Christ followers with some striking imagery. He wrote: The man who is crucified is facing only one direction. He cannot look back. The crucified man on the cross is looking only one direction and that is the direction of God. The man on the cross has no further plans of his own … Somebody else made his plans for him, and when they nailed him up there all his plans disappeared. When you go out to die on the cross you bid good-bye--you are not going back! His words align well with those of the Apostle Paul who also understood that in order for a person to seriously follow Jesus “self” must first be crucified (Galatians 2:20). It is then and only then that one can truthfully say, “I’m both dead AND alive.”   ____________________________________________________________________________________ This week we continue Wednesdays with Dr. G, an interactive study on Discipleship (7pm in the OCC Chapel) where discipleship is presented as a "lifestyle" of following Jesus rather than a program.  See you then! ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/on-becoming-holier-and-you-ier/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/on-becoming-holier-and-you-ier/ Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:41:01 GMT This week marks the start of a short course called The Art of Discipleship that I will be teaching seven Wednesday nights in a row, from October 6 – November 17. We’ll meet in the Chapel and get the ball rolling @ 7 pm for what we're calling, Wednesdays with Dr. G. I chose the word “art” advisedly. In his bestselling business book, Linchpin, author Seth Godin describes an artist as “someone who uses bravery, insight, creativity, and boldness to challenge the status quo. And an artist takes it personally.” I like Godin’s definition. After all, the life of discipleship Jesus calls us to live has nothing in common with a “paint by the numbers” approach, even though that’s often how it gets taught. No, he expects a lot more “buy-in” from us than that! While I’m a huge fan of memorizing verses and mastering biblical content, it bugs me how often we overlook the “nuanced” aspect—the artistry, if you will—needed to live the Christian life to the full (John 10:10). And although Jesus calls us to “unity,” he never advocates bland “uniformity.” Instead, when he puts a number on the back of a believer’s jersey—it’s never the same as anyone else’s. The point: He wants you to be YOU and me to be ME! So I hope you can join us on Wednesday night and learn not only how to become “holier” but also how to become “YOU-ier.”   ____________________________________________________________________________________ This is a big weekend at Overlake...  Help fight HIV/AIDS with the Overlake 5k Run/Walk this Saturday, October 9, and hear Pastor Mike talk about how to incinerate your debt this Sunday at 9, 11:20 & 6pm!  ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/resourcefulness-trumps-resources/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/resourcefulness-trumps-resources/ Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:33:59 GMT A number of years ago, I got to know a top-notch consultant from Atlanta who specializes in building high performance teams. Once while sitting in a room with and a handful of talented leaders, he encouraged us to always think “resourcefulness” before “resources.” He reminded us that it’s a mistake to assume money solves all ills. Instead, he urged us to see money as the last resort. Since then I’ve regularly pondered the multiple ways in which resourcefulness does indeed trump resources. The Bible is filled colorful stories that document this oft-overlooked truth. You may be familiar with the story of Gideon - and how he set out to defeat the Philistines with a sizable army of tens of thousands, only to watch God systematically whittle his army down to a relative handful. Gone were Gideon’s human resources. Ah, but then resourcefulness quickly came to the fore in the form of blaring trumpets and blazing torches (see Judges 7) and the Midianites was soundly trounced. Or what about the familiar account of Jesus feeding thousands with just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish sticks (make that fish)? Talk about the power of prayer! Then again, isn’t prayer our best—and most frequently—untapped resource? The same Jesus who fed those five thousand hungry people on a grassy hillside that day pointed out on a couple of other occasions, “You have not because you ask not.” In recent years I’ve had opportunities to visit some of America’s fastest growing and most creative churches. What consistently stood out to me was their lack of “moolah.” Instead, their ministry successes were the result of passionate poets, artists, artisans, pioneers, and innovators working toward common goals. In other words, what they lacked in money they more than made up for in motivation - and INNOVATION! Sure, like the rest of us they invariably lamented their lack of cold hard cash, but man were they ever resourceful. Closer to home, my daughter started college last week and attended her first-ever campus meeting with a small group of Christian students. While eating pizza the group expressed grave concerns that their presence on campus was so small and admitted feeling clueless as to how it might grow. At that point my daughter (okay, proud Dad here) chimed in and said, “There’s way too much pizza for us to eat. Why don’t we spend the next half hour walking the halls connecting with students, offering them a slice of pizza, AND invite them to join us at our next meeting?” Hum. Just like Jesus fed the masses on a mini-budget this handful of students started learning how to leverage pepperoni and cheese pizza to fill a different kind of hunger, a hunger for relationship. I promise scores of opportunities will come your way this week; opportunities whose successful outcome hinges far more on your “resourcefulness” than your resources. Remember: Regardless of the situation, you and God are ALWAYS a majority of one. This Sunday at Overlake, Pastor Mike Howerton begins a new five week series called Ignite - addressing key issues we all deal with:  Job stress, finances, family, friendship, etc.  We designed Ignite specifically for our friends and neighbors who don't go to church. This is a perfect series for BRINGVITATION!]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/no-one-size-fits-all/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/no-one-size-fits-all/ Tue, 21 Sep 2010 18:09:27 GMT I love the way King David describes how each of us is “fearfully and wonderfully made,” being knit together in our mother’s womb by the Lord himself (Psalm 139:13-14). Perhaps his words strike me more than most because my wife is a skillful seamstress and quilter; maybe it’s for those reasons that I appreciate the talent, patience, and loving care required to pull off spectacular creations. In Ephesians 2:10 the Apostle Paul picks up on a similar theme. After talking at length about our lost condition apart from Christ, he tells us that as God’s people we are, literally, “masterpieces” of divine workmanship. Paul’s words notwithstanding, experience has convinced me that this is “a bridge too far” for most believers, and that even the most dedicated Christ followers are more inclined to focus on their shortcomings than their strengths. It appears an uneasy tension remains between our human sinfulness and the divine make-over that occurs when Jesus assumes rule and reign over our lives. Most of all it’s hard to imagine there’s a “one and only ME;” that after God created me, he threw away the mold. The same is true for you. This concept of personal uniqueness flies in the face of modern-day theories which generally argue we live in world marked by randomness, chaos, and impersonality despite tons of evidence to the contrary. The late great singer Ethel Waters was famous for reminding her audiences that, “God don’t make no junk.” I like that. For as someone else pointed out, “The only place where one-size-fits all … is a garbage can,” and I certainly don’t believe that about people. So why not stop for a moment and thank the Lord that you are fearfully and wonderfully made?     At Overlake, you can talk about this or anything else in a LIFE GROUP, our weekly small groups. Life Groups are affinity-based groups by relationship, geography, age, gender or interest meeting at OCC or elsewhere.  Meet others looking for a Life Group at our LET"S CONNECT event this Thursday, September 23 at 7 in the Student Room!  Find out more here!]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-five-minute-challenge/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/the-five-minute-challenge/ Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:53:42 GMT I’ve been rereading the gospels the last few weeks in preparation for the seven week The Art of Discipleship series I plan to teach beginning on Wednesday, October 6. In revisiting the entirety of Jesus earthy ministry I was struck again by the fact that he was always busy but never in a hurry. Jesus attitude and perspective on daily life differs radically from the way most of choose (yes, choose) to live our days. His sense of mission bled through his every action. Yet, while he made it clear from the outset that he came to die, you would have to blind to miss the priority he placed on people. More specifically, taking time to engage with everyday people never seems to have burdened him. Me, on other hand; I freely admit that people can often be a pain in the … schedule! That’s because I love to live “well-ordered” days. I love ticking off the “to do’s” on my tidy little task list. But as one author put it: “Well-managed days to not result in a well-managed life. Well-managed days are the result of a well-managed life.” And there’s a world of difference between the two.   My wife Georgia is a former staff member of Campus Crusade for Christ. Occasionally we talk about its amazing founder, the late Dr. Bill Bright, and what an incredibly people-centered leader he was. We reminisce about his notion that every conversation a Christ follower has that lasts at least five minutes is probably a “divine appointment.”   Alright, you might be tempted to quibble with his timeline. But what a potentially influential idea it is! At the very least it would go a long way toward helping us see people as people and not missing the “strategic” opportunities God gives us on an regular basis to turn hearts and minds toward him. So let me issue a challenge. Pick a couple of days this week to try out the five minute “divine appointment” idea and see if God opens any doors for you to gently bring him into the conversation. And, btw, this coming Sunday, September 19, Pastor Mike is going be teaching on this very theme—“Love People”—at all three of our services (9:20 am, 11 am, and 6 pm). I can hardly wait to hear what he has to say.   Plan now to join me @ Wednesdays w/Dr. G beginning on October 6 @ 7 pm in the OCC Chapel for a crash course on The Art of Discipleship. Learn how to accelerate your spiritual growth while mentoring others.]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/flee--once/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/flee--once/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 06:48:09 GMT I get a kick out of author Steve Farrar. He’s the kind of guy that will climb right up in your mustache and tell you EXACTLY what he thinks! In his book Finishing Strong, he tells a story about the creator of master detective Sherlock Holmes. Holmes, who apparently was a great practical joker decided one day to play a fiendish prank, so he sent out identical telegrams to twelve of his friends. The telegrams were anonymous and simply read: “All has been discovered. Flee at once.” Within 24 hours ALL twelve men had fled the country. That got me to wondering how many of us having flashing red lights on the dashboard of our lives? If you got an “All has been discovered; flee at once” email today, what thought would immediately pop into your head? Is there something … ANYTHING … you’ve been hiding? If so, let me remind you that trying to manage GUILT is like trying to hold a beach ball under water—next to impossible! The ancient Greeks believed guilt was so inescapable they developed a little saying: “When a man is guilty the whole world is his prison.” It’s true. The Bible echoes that sentiment when it warns: “Be sure that your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23, NIV). That’s the bad news. The good news is “grace.” And Jesus was full of it (grace, that is). So if you’re doing battle with some dark deed from the past, why not come clean and bring it to Jesus? The New Testament promises that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Give it a try.   BEGINNING OCTOBER 6: Dr. Gary will teach a seven week interactive study he has written entitled, The Art of Discipleship. Meetings will take place in the Chapel and run from 7-8:30 pm. Discipleship will be presented as a “lifestyle” of following Jesus rather than a program. Plan now to attend.  ]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/finishing-well/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/finishing-well/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:48:52 GMT From the time I gave my life to Jesus at age eight until today I made a commitment to live a “white hot” life for God. Not that I’ve always succeeded, mind you, quite the contrary. But as I often remind others, “God is more interested in your direction than your perfection.” Now don’t read too much into that glittering generality—God is DEEPLY interested in our growth toward spiritual maturity—it’s just that he knows we’re frail, weak … and sure to blow it on occasion. That’s why Jesus came into the world in the first place; to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. I like the way the Paul puts it: “I have not yet been made perfect. But I move on to take hold of what Christ Jesus took hold of me for” (Philippians 3:12, NIV). There you have it—a laser-like pursuit of God’s will. Some years ago when I was a budding pastor I managed to take a preaching class taught by well-known pastor and Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll. His insights were “gold-plated.” One cautionary note he mentioned about ministry has stuck with me. He said that his greatest fear (he was in his late forties at the time) was one day becoming like so many “fifty something” pastors he knew, who after decades of local church ministry had become mere shells of their former selves, what C S Lewis called, “men without chests.” His sober warning isn’t only an occupational hazard for pastors or leaders, but for every person who tries to diligently follow Jesus over life’s long haul. At times each of us will be tempted to just “go with the flow,” cut character corners, or like Moses at an insecure moment in his life, put on a veil to cover up the fact that the glory of God was at least temporarily fading away (2 Corinthians 3:13, NIV). So do a quick “gut check.” And be brutally honest with yourself. Based on your current spiritual trajectory, are you likely to finish well?   COMING SOON: On Wednesday, October 6, Dr. Gary will begin a seven week interactive study he has written entitled, The Art of Discipleship. It will be held in the Chapel and run from 7-8:30 pm. The class will explore discipleship through three filters: What the New Testament teaches about discipleship, how to disciple other into Overlake’s specific DNA, and via Gary’s personal experience as a long term Christian leader.]]> http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/opening-salvo/ http://www.occ.org/dr-gs-blog/opening-salvo/ Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:49:39 GMT Hello, Overlake friends. Welcome to my new blog. I’ve wanted to start blogging for a long time. Apparently, NOW is the time. Since this is my maiden voyage into the blogosphere I thought I’d use the space to tell you a little about myself and my vision for this blog. I grew up in a non-Christian home but came to faith, along with my two brothers, early in life—ALL because there was a strong, outreach oriented church just a block from our inner-city Chicago home. Within a year my mother came to know Jesus because an awesome 70-year-old grandma in the church took time weekly to visit, talk about Jesus’ love, and invest in new women in the church. I’ll never forget that dear saint! By the time I was twelve I knew God was calling me to be a pastor. I know that’s hard to imagine for some of you still trying to discern your “sweet spot.” But, in my case, my life arc was set early on. Looking back across the years what’s most amazing to me, though, are the mentors God put in my life. Two pastoral mentors were especially influential in the early stages of my spiritual development—a Scotsman from Glasgow and a brilliant scholar from Acme, Washington (population: 302). Seriously … you can’t make this stuff up! It’s mind-boggling at times to watch God brins people into our lives from all over the map. Those men marked my life because they were—and still are—the “real deal.” Jesus wasn’t kidding when he said of folks, “You will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16). The adage is true: We teach what we know, but reproduce what we are. My main blogging objective is to help YOU grow as a follower of Jesus, a.k.a., “spiritual formation.” I want to challenge genuine spiritual seekers and serious-minded believers alike to cultivate a growing relationship with God. And my plan is to do this by sharing life experiences, spiritual insights … and, hopefully, to provoke some deep thinking along the way. So I end with this challenge. Think of the people who have made the biggest positive influence on your spiritual growth. What qualities made them stand out? Now the more vexing question: Who do you think would say the same thing about your influence? Whose life have you indelibly etched for the good of God’s kingdom?   COMING SOON: Beginning on Wednesday, October 6, Dr. Gary will be teaching a seven week interactive study he has written entitled, The Art of Discipleship. Sessions will be held in the Chapel and run from 7-8:30 pm. Be watching for more details!]]>