Job

Job has kind of become a really cool Bible figure to me in the past year or so.

Justin wrote this post that got me thinking about him and how his story is so relevant to us. It really challenged me to think of how God views my actions (and how disappointed He must be every time I let Him down).

In my quiet time this morning I read about how Job responded when God took his ’stuff’ away. It challenged me saying this: “As you go about your day with your stuff, as you walk into your house, get on your computer, put on your clothes, see your family, etc., imagine how you’d react if God suddenly took it from you? What would you say?”

This is crazy if you think about it. I mean, I’m trying to buy a house, so if God suddenly started messing me up I’m not sure how I’d respond. I hope I’d do as well as Job.

But if past performance is any indicator, I’d probably pitch a fit.

So what about you? How do you feel about Job’s reaction?

Discuss. 

h2 woah

So Timm told people about baptism today. He made it simple. It’s not mystical, it’s not magical, it’s just a thing you do. It’s what stamps you as one of God’s kids. And he gave them an opportunity to do something about it if they felt the need. Right here, right now. The water’s warm, get in line.

And 22 people came forward. It was the most incredible, moving thing I have ever seen. I was up helping to organize, watching them as they came out of the water. My cousin, my friends, stepping up getting dunked. Mom’s and daughters hugging after they’d both been baptized. People shivering and laughing and crying. It was absolutely the coolest thing.

One of my friends that was there said, “I could tell from the first song that something big was going to happen today.” It was electric in there.
It was exactly what I needed. I’ve been going through some stuff, and today I was able to let go and worship freely for the first time in a long time. It felt amazing. It wore me out and I had to take a nap when I got home. God is so COOL.

Sometimes the water can set you on fire.

Sunday Rewind

Any time you can quote “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” in a sermon, you’ve done well in my book. Michael Mathews knocked it out of the park this morning. Here’s a look back as we put another Sunday to bed at RPC…

• Job had a plasma TV! Well, at least for our purposes he did. Michael did such a good job making an old story come to life. This morning focused on friends and living room environments. We all need a support structure around us, and the only way to get it is to make new friends and let them get close to you. It might be hard to open up, but ya gotta have friends. When Job had everything taken from him, his friends came (and tried to comfort him and didn’t really make him feel better), but at least he wasn’t alone.
• Justin is a drummer. If you weren’t here you won’t understand. That’s all I can say.
• Actually I can say more. He’s freakin’ awesome. AWESOME. I love when he plays drums. The rest of the band kicked it too.
• We were slammed full.  The second service was so fun! Everyone was singing at the top of their lungs and there was just a good spirit. Everyone wanted to be here. It was nice to feel that momentum again.

ssshhh

 Habakkuk 2:20
“But oh! God is in his holy Temple!
Quiet everyone—a holy silence. Listen!”

Is there anything harder to do in our culture than listen? Half the time I can’t even pay attention when I’m on the phone because there’s always a computer in front of me, people IMing me, a television, a radio, an iPod. I’ve shared with a few friends some of the struggles I have right now. The first thing one asked was, “Have you prayed about this?” The second asked “Are you listening?” I suck at listening. I don’t have time to sit and be still and talk to God. I try and remember to pray in the shower, but I leave conditioner in my hair because I forget what I’m doing, true story.  I try and pray in the car, but there’s too much going on around me. I try and pray at my kitchen table in the dark, but my brain won’t shut up.

The solution is so simple in theory: be still and know. But how does the practice work? Does it take a huge amount of practice to put it into practice?

Will I ever grow up and get better at listening?

lions and snow and jesus. oh my.

So I started the book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day today and finished chapter one. I consider myself a reader and have never had this feeling before.

In one chapter I had to look up two words in the dictionary. Here are the points to remember:

• God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time. But the right place often seems like the wrong place at the wrong time.
• Goodness is not the absence of badness. You can do nothing wrong and still do nothing right. Our calling is much higher than simply running away from what’s wrong. We’re called to chase lions–look for opportunities in our problems and obstacles, and take risks to reach for God’s best.
• When we don’t have the guts to step out in faith and chase lions, then God is robbed of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him.
• Spiritual maturity is seeing and seizing God-ordained opportunities.

That’s just ONE CHAPTER.

Quite a bit for one lunch break, huh.

Anyone else chasing lions?

buns and ovens

Do I look knocked up to you?

I had 3 different people ask me if I was pregnant yesterday. THREE. One even offered me congratulations (she had me confused with someone else, but still). A guy I used to work with asked me if I was, then I got the congratulations, then my mom called and said my dad’s secretary had a dream about him (My dad) with a little boy that was his grandchild. I’m an only child, so that grandchild would be my kid. That’s kind of freaky.

Let me just clarify:

I have several friends who have just had a baby, or they’re trying to have a baby, or they’re worried about getting pregnant, or they want me to have a baby. All this is stressing me out plenty without me actually trying to have one.

I’m not sure how I feel about it. I don’t want something else to have complete control over my body for 10 months. I don’t really feel right about bringing more children into the world when there are so many suffering in our country and others that need good homes. I could definitely take someone else’s child and raise it as my own. I mean, if I have to deal with my own kid kicking me in the ribs for 6 months, how maternal can I feel when it comes out? What if I want to kick it back?

Tell me parents,

How do you feel about pregnancy?

Christmas Eve Service

When you see the word “service”, you might think we’re planning a candle-lit ceremony in the sanctuary to sit and reflect on the baby Jesus. While there isn’t anything wrong with that, we thought we might try something different this Christmas at RPC.

Go figure.

We are giving you the opportunity to minister to 11 EMS, Fire Station, and Police Departments in the Auburndale/Winter Haven area. These people spend their Christmas Eve working so we don’t have to. It’s time we told them that we appreciate them.

We’ve done all the prep work. We’ll give you a packet with the name of the station or department, driving directions and a map, and a CD for each person working that night. The CD’s have a little word from Timm explaining why we’re reaching out to them and basically just telling them thanks.

All you have to do for prep work is bake cookies to take to your station–the packet will tell you how many dozen you’ll need to make depending on the number of folks working that evening.

The rest is simple. Drop off the cookies and CD’s and tell them to listen to their CD in their car on the way home that night. It’ll do all the talking for you.

It’s time we reach out more. It’s time to get uncomfortable. It’s time for RPC to make a mark on the community.

The first 11 people to e-mail me will get to participate. emily@ridgepointchurch.org

Merry Christmas

heroes

I’ve heard there’s a good show about them on TV. Lots of people have heroes. Usually they are people who are larger than life: Martin Luther King, Jesus, Buddha, etc. The famous, the interesting, the controversial.

Yesterday was a horrible day for me. I came to work on 3 hours sleep because I was behind from being sick. I was crying all day because of a family situation.  I had appointments set up to decorate the sanctuary (although I had no real plan). It had to get done, and I needed to be here, and I was miserable.

This is where the heroes come in. The following pictures show my co-workers and some amazing volunteers (that don’t even attend all the time) stepping up to help. They really came through for me and it’s one of those things that I can’t really describe, you just had to be here.

 

  

Come see the final product. It is freaking phenomenal and it wouldn’t have happened without all the help.

PS– you get a preview if you come to night of worship this Friday at 7!!!

what the heck am I doing here?

Some of you have no idea what the heck I do at RidgePoint. That’s OK…it took me a really long time to figure it out myself. Lots of people think I am the secretary, and while that is a very important and fun job, that is not what I do.

My title is “Programming Director.” Gee, that’s helpful, isn’t it?

Here’s what I do in a nutshell: I create a worship experience. Well, actually my team does. I do walk-throughs of the Sanctuary and make sure things look like they should. I talk with Timm and Justin and try and get them things that they need. I help with music stuff, I co-ordinate the lighting, my team runs the lyrics you see so you can sing with us, and they help the band and Timm. So with me overseeing stuff and my team busting their butts, we try to create a worship experience for you so you can come in, relax, and focus on God.

Pretty cool, huh?

There’s a guy named Los Whittaker who does this for Buckhead Church in Georgia, and he’s a lot better at it than I am. I’ve been reading his blog and studying him, hoping to learn a thing or two. He posted the following video today…it’s the opening of a service at his church. I am blown away, my jaw dropped when I saw it. It is so beautifully done, so classy, so moving. It made me want to quit! (Kidding)

Anyway, turn your volume up and check it out. It might make you uncomfortable.

Sunday Rewind

Timm was taking a break this Sunday, so I’m taking a look back at what went on at RPC…

• When the cat’s away, the mice will bust their butts. We know what’s expected of us each weekend, and when Timm is gone it’s no different. Every area runs just as well-oiled as it usually does, and I think that says a lot about our leadership team.
• We baptized another couple. You can’t really beat a baptism, can you? It was really cool.
• Attendance is evening out. We were up by about 10 people in the first service, and down by about 25 in the second. This is a holiday weekend for a lot of people, so I’d say that we did very well. It’s great that things are evening out because next week, it’s game on.
• 3 services, here we come. I am so excited and nervous and happy and jittery. It’s going to be so cool to move to 3 services. I can’t wait to see how God works through this. Keep doubling your influence RPC….triple it even. We’ve made room, so bring your friends.
• Crisis shows character. We had a bit of a medical emergency in between services, and it was handled beautifully. Nobody panicked, medics were called, and everything was taken care of with authority and calmness that you don’t typically see. Our leaders are ready to step up at any moment– even when it’s their family that’s sick.
• The band was phenomenal.  Yeah yeah we say that all the time, but what you don’t know is that we added 2 new guitarists/vocalist to our stage. It takes a long time for a band to gel together, but these guys really pulled it out. Aaron led us in a worship song and he NAILED it. I know that talent is talent, but I also know it can be very intimidating to join an established band and get up to sing in front of their biggest fans. Well done sir. Of course the band is only a reflection of its leader…if you don’t follow Justin’s blog, check it out. He doesn’t update very often, but when he does it’s stuff you need to hear. Be sure to check out his post on Job. I’ve been thinking about it non stop since I read it.

So that’s it. Another Sunday gone, and another coming faster than you can shake a stick at. Next Sunday brings  3 service times: 9:00 AM, 10:15 AM, 11:30 AM. Pick one to attend and one to serve at. Bring your friends, bring your enemies. Most of all, pray that God shows up, ’cause he’s the only person we really need to do church.