Headed to Sturgeon, Missouri today. To do a build out on a house my brother-in-law, Mike, is remodeling. I have a feeling we'll be doing a lot of this in Miami. Re-habin old homes for the homeless. Glad I still have all my framing tools. The right tools for the job are pretty important.

The right tools for Operation Miami are love and compassion. If you're equipped with those tools, maybe you should pray about helping out...........just sayin

the silent struggle

According to Miami's board of tourism, "Julia Tuttle, -- the "Mother of Miami" -- convinced Standard Oil co-founder Henry Flagler to extend his railroad from central Florida to Miami, build a luxury hotel, and lay out a new town. She did so by sending him perfect Miami orange blossoms during a crop freeze north of Miami. The railroad arrived in 1896. The City of Miami was incorporated on July 28 that same year. "

Today tourism is the number one industry in Miami metro area, which now has a population of 2.4 million people. However, with all the glam and glitz of the tourism biz, Miami has the 5th poorest population of any major US city. In this current economic downturn, foreclosures are up 21% and homelessness has increased 26%. With 1 in 4 people living in poverty and 1 in 2 households living on less than $35,000 a year. The median household income in Miami is $29,151.00 whereas the median household income across the US is $50,740.00. Over 1400 people are living on the streets of Miami.

Jesus said we will always have the poor with us and it was Ben Franklin I think, I don't know, I forget, anyway someone famous once said "necessity is the mother of invention". With all these things in mind, when we move to Miami to start a church, we want to invent new ways to serve those in need of Jesus. Please pray that God will use us to meet practical needs so we can demonstrate the love of Jesus for those with spiritual needs (if that makes sense).

hmmm, isn't that wicked

Some of you saw the video I posted on my facebook page a couple weeks ago of these christian men who went to New Orleans this last marti gras and "evangelized" Bourbon Street. They informed everyone, WITH A BULL HORN, they were going to hell.

The line seems to be drawn in the sand in many peoples minds, either you're with God or you're against God, which IS in the bible, there is no doubt about that. There is however, a doubt on what our roll is once WE determine what side we are on and what side everyone else is on (as if that's our job).

It seems ever popular to point at people and inform them they are sinners and are going to hell. But, I have a question, what about the people on the other side of the line that never got the chance to grow up in a church-going home? Never went to vacation bible school? Do you think, as they are looking down the business end of a pointer finger that they have any desire to be like the guys in the video?

Personally, I think they're getting a mis-representation of who Jesus is. Jesus was always getting in trouble with the religious leaders because they felt it was their job, their duty and their sacred honor to force others to obey the ten commandments and other levitical laws. He on the other hand thought it was more important to have love and compassion for others.

Even on the night Jesus was arrested, he didn't jump back and yell "now you are all doomed to hell" and call fire out of the sky, even though, I think Peter wanted him to. Peter, however, took it upon himself to draw his sword and attack the arresting party (the ones on the other side of the line). Now obviously Peter was no ninja warrior because all he seemed to be able to do was cut someones ear off. But, instead of having Peter's back and fighting with those against him, Jesus picked up the ear and HEALED the guy on the spot.

The truth is, there is a line in the sand.....it's a line between God and us. Jesus is willing to cross that line. In fact, his whole purpose is to erase the line and unite all those on the other side with God.

The Apostle Paul was a master of the law, not only the Roman law that he was born under, but he was a Pharisee, a lawyer of the oracles of God. In Romans 2:4 he states, "God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance." When we go to Miami to start a church for people who don't like church, we want to use kindness to reach the lost. We want to speak the truth with love. Please pray that we'll be effective in this mission.

For those curious, here is a small portion of the video:

smack down

How many times have you said "Oh that's so dumb! I would NEVER do that" only to find yourself doing the very same thing?

When I was a kid I saw this old guy with some pretty faded tattoos, I said "yuck! I would NEVER get a tattoo" only to find myself 5 years later in a tattoo shop, in Germany, drinking beer while my Sergeant was getting inked. Bad combo- beer in a tattoo shop (there otta be a law). After a couple beers, that Conan sword was looking pretty tough. Guess what's looking pretty faded 25 years later? That's right, the sword tattoo on my shoulder.

In 1988 I said, "Wow, a "mini-van" that's SO DUMB there otta be a law against those! I will NEVER drive a "mini-van"! Well, 6 years later guess what was parked in our driveway.....yep, a 1988 mini-van.

In 1992 I said, "NOOOooo! cats are SO DUMB! We will NEVER get a cat! They shouldn't even be allowed to live with humans!" ....... Yeah, that's right, ever since we've had cats.....

For the record, a few of the things I've been called out on-
I now like guacamole, blue cheese and onions.
I have actually had to change quite a few diapers, I watch chick flicks with my wife, I cut off my mullet and threw away my muscle shirts.

It's weird, but, there seems to be this rift in the cosmos that makes you experience something once you've passed judgment on it. Here you are, minding your own business and without notice you're unwittingly faced with the same circumstances and then you choose the same results. Suddenly you realize either how dumb you are or how it wasn't so dumb after all. Either way you're judgment was wrong.

There has been a rash of pastors leaving their pulpits due to "moral breakdowns" (fancy way of sayin they were having affairs). One particular pastor was ripping on another for his sinfulness and six months later had to step down himself for the same reason. Let's face it, if this rift in the cosmos exists anywhere, it's in the church. In the Verve reading plan today we read Romans 2 where it talks about this rift. It says we'll be judged in the same manner that we judge. It's like we don't have a chance. I think it's God's way of reminding us that we are not the moral police. So, God please have mercy on the guy that yells "get a job" to the next homeless person he sees.

However, I think it would be SO DUMB to have a million dollars! I would NEVER have a million dollars....;-)

new best friends

As we're preparing to leave Missouri, within the next 5 months, we've sat down with the kids still living at home and had lengthy discussions about moving to Miami to start a church for people that are far from God and serving "the least of these" as if they were Jesus himself.

You can see the excitement is building towards getting to Miami. Hannah, 14, and Rachael, 13, show signs of excitement in their eyes, but, they are pretty down in the mouth about leaving their best friends in the whole world. Samuel and Jacob, 10 year old twins, just want to see alligators. Ruthie, who is 8, is going to miss her cousins very much, but, we feel she will adapt faster than anyone. She can make friends anywhere!

One time we were at a playground in St. Louis and Ruthie ran up to us very excited. She proclaimed, "I'm having lots of fun! And I made a new best friend, but, it's hard for my new best friend to say my name (sounds like wooo-fee) so I'm letting her call me Cindy and it's okay!" Her new friend ran up, grabbed Ruthies hand and said, "c'mon Cindy! wets go down da swide again!" They ran off giggling like little girls............ um

In I Corinthians 9, Paul says he becomes all things to all people so that some might be saved. Please pray that when we get to Miami, that we find common ground with everyone we meet, so that some might be saved. That's the whole reason we're in this.

snake bit

I was reading along with Verve's reading plan in Acts 28 today, which is the last chapter in Acts. The apostle Paul was being transported to Rome for trial when the ship they were traveling on ran aground during a storm. They were ultimately shipwrecked on the island of Malta, where the people on the island took good care of them. Early on, Paul went and gathered wood for the fire and when he got back, he put some on the fire and suddenly a poisonous snake came out of the wood and latched onto his hand. It says he shook it off. The people of the island thought for sure, being a prisoner narrowly escaping death in the ship wreck, that fate had it's way and he was doomed to death. After watching for a while and seeing he didn't even become ill, they changed their minds and thought he was a god. With this newly found reverence, he was able to tell them about Jesus and heal their sick and when the next ship came along, the locals sent them off with everything they needed.

When bad things happen to us, it's often blamed on spiritual warfare or chalked up to God's judgment. But, what if we just shook it off and kept on believing in God's vision? Then when those observing us were wondering what the heck just happened, we simply told them about Jesus and healed their sicknesses. That would be awesome!

As we prepare to move to Miami to start a church for those furthest from Jesus, please pray that we can shake off the snakes and stay focused on the vision.

Freedom

Today marks the day of days. The day Jesus Christ split time in two. The day He freed the whole world. The day he erased the debt of our sin. The day He bridged the gap beteen God and man. The day we became joint heirs with the son of God.

Happy Easter everybody!

broken

We were feeding a group high school kids hamburgers at our house one time. As normal with kids, it was a little rowdy, a bit unorganized and a whole lot of fun. This one girl, Dani, was holding her plate and another kid ran by, probably running for his life, being chased by a girl with fire in her eyes, which was normal for this particularly obnoxious kid. When he ran by his elbow hit Dani's plate and knocked off half her food, including her hamburger. An expletive rang out as she stooped down to pick it up. Chris was standing next to her and said, "it's okay, 3 second rule". She replied "no....it's tainted now." Then Chris said, "just brush it off a little and it'll be untainted." Dani said, "you dope, once something is tainted, it can't be untainted."

Half the reason people feel distant from God is they feel tainted and they feel like there is nothing that can untaint them. That it's to late for them and God hates them because they are just broken.

You know, the thing is Jesus spent a lot of his time with tainted and broken people. In fact, he spent so much time with them the "religious leaders" criticized him, calling him a drunk and glutton, that all he liked to do was hang out with sinners and party. Jesus simply said "the doctor is here to heal the sick, not the well." In other words, Jesus came to untaint them and he came to untaint us....

We believe the lie that we can't be unbroken, but, Jesus is attracted to our brokenness. Through our brokenness he unbreaks us. His greatest miracle probably is that he loves us so much, just the way we are, that he unbreaks us...

Objective influences

Our daughters Hannah and Rachael are both participating in the National American Miss pageant this summer. This is the first year for Rachael and the second for Hannah. Last year for the talent portion, Hannah choreographed her own dance routine. She worked very hard on it day after day. When the time came to show the world what she could do, she walked away less than impressed with herself. Later she realized she spent so much time on the choreography that she neglected perfecting the moves. This year she asked her dance instructor to help her. After dance class last night, Wendy mentioned how much more improved her routine is this year. A little coaching has gone a long ways.

Not only is that a great lesson for our relationship with God, but, it's the same for church planting! We can work really hard on all the details and end up neglecting one area of great importance or do something that just doesn't seem right  --->

So we have a church planting coach that is able to objectively assess our progress. We are also looking at taking an 8 month course on church planting called Cultivate. That will help prepare us for the hardest thing we will ever do.

Of course coaches and training courses cost money, so, if YOU want to invest in planting a successful church for people who are the furthest from Jesus, click on our new Donate button!

Don't do what with the Gators !?!?

Moving our family to Miami to start a church for people who don't like church is going to be quite an adventure! We only know one person there, who just happened to moved there two weeks ago (that's a whole different story). We don't know our way around Miami, we don't speak Spanish and we don't know the customs. That's why we are going to live in Miami for about a year before we launch the church. That will give us time to learn why Miami is Miami and find out the best areas we can serve.

What we do know is that God has given us a vision, a passion, a whole lot of confirmation and the "Roseta Stone" language program. Soon we'll be able to find out donde esta el bano? 'cause sometimes you just gotta go.

Learning to speak Spanish may not help us interpret all the signs down there though.....

Down with ths sickness!

Part of my reading plan yesterday involved Acts 24 where the religious leaders were asking the Roman Governor to kill this guy Paul for teaching people about Jesus. They accused him of being a "pestilent fellow". I thought about that all day long, wondering what that must have looked like. Were there bugs coming out of his ears? Was he stricken with leprosy? Was he spreading a virus by sneezing on everyone?

It reminded me of my friend Dwight that was hanging out with us in a small group setting that had a lot of compassion for the homeless, but, didn’t know how to act on it. He kept saying he wished there was a group of people or a program from the church or something that he could get involved with. After hearing him bring it up time and time again, I dared him to make up some PB&J sandwiches and go hand them out at the park where the homeless like to hang out. That’s exactly what he did!

He had such a great time, it inspired some of the church’s band members to go down and play music for the homeless. The next thing we knew, we had a bunch of homeless people coming to church learning about Jesus.

One guy from the park, was so impressed, he not only started hanging out with us regularly, he decided to follow Jesus and he started bringing his friends to church. He always walked in with at least one other guy. He ended up getting cleaned up, got a job, got an apartment and a car, he found a good woman to marry and is living a productive life. All within a years time.
One guy loved the unloved and it spread like a virus and it changed lives.

They gettin down with the sickness!

foundational fundamentals

Any contractor will tell you that the most important thing to do right when starting a project is to have a good foundation. If your foundation is one inch out of square, it can put the rest of the building out of square exponentially as you build up.

That’s why we are paying particular attention to the foundation of the church we are starting in Miami. We want to build it on the foundation of Love. Jesus said the most important commandments are to Love God and Love People.

Church attendance in America is dwindling and an increasing amount of people have a distrust of Christians and churches in general. As soon as they find out you belong to a church or are working in connection with a church, walls shoot up, they become guarded and get all weirded out and stuff.

So we are also starting a charitable foundation (charitable means love, funny huh?) that will be used as a vehicle to serve others with love without the negative connotations of "some religious organization". That will allow us to get close to people that are far from God and form relationships out of love.

Yep, were gonna trick ‘em ......... in a loving way of course.

Punched in the mouth

Since the beginning of the year I've been following along with Verve in Vegas as they read the New Testament and Psalms and Proverbs in the Bible. Today we read Acts 23, which is the continuation of Paul's hearing after being arrested in Jeruselem for being one who was turning the world upsidedown by teaching about Jesus. At one point Paul stated to the assembly that he had done all things in good conscience and in obedience to God, at which point the High Priest orderd him hit in the mouth. After that Paul noticed the assembly was equally divided between those who believed in life after death and those who didn't. So he yelled out that he was on trial for believing in the resurection (life after death) and immediately the crowd started fighting each other and Roman soldiers had to rush in and grab Paul before he got hurt in the riot.

Latter that night, as Paul laid in his cell pondering, I'm sure he was second guessing if he was doing the right thing, it say's that the Lord visited him and said "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

This speaks to me, because even though we are attempting the insane (by moving to Miami to start a church for people who don't like church) and friends, neighbors and family think we're nuts, Jesus has a purpose for it.

How about you? Have you ever felt the heat when you did what you thought was right? How did it work out in the end?

Miami is No. 4!

YEAH! Whoo-hoooo! Miami is no. 4!

Number 4 on the list of the rudest cities in the USA!

Right behind LA, NYC and Philly according to Travel and Leisure's yearly report.

What this tells me is there are a lot of unhappy people in Miami.  People that need to experience the greatest kind of love. The kind of love that changes peoples hearts and lives.

When we go to Miami to start a church for people that don't like church, we're going to love the unloved, 'cause that's what Jesus does, He loves us.