While taking 3 Sundays away from Elevation during One Prayer, I thought a lot about this:

What—as a pastor— do I need to do that I’m not doing?
I came away with this:
I need to enjoy it more.

Man, this is the greatest ride a guy could ask for. It’s a waste to let:
-pressure
-doubt
-criticism
-anxiety
-insecurity
-self-pity
-self-importance
-impatience…
rob me of even a sliver of the joy of being the pastor of Elevation Church.

So I’m working on it. Drinking it all in, smelling the roses, all of that.
Bottom line: I need to be more grateful to God, present in the moment, and satisfied but never complacent.
I’m sure you can relate…

Once, in the middle of a life threatening storm, Paul spoke up with courage:
“Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul.’”
Acts 27:23-24

I like the way Paul ordered that:
1. Whose I am
2. Whom I serve
Identity (whose I am) comes before activity (whom I serve).

I need to remember that when I’m heavy with inadequacy and uncertainty.
Who I am in Christ comes before what I do for Christ.
God the Father said He was well pleased with Jesus before Jesus ever performed a public miracle.
Identity supersedes activity every time.  Remember that next time you feel like you don’t have what it takes to do what God has called you to do.
And let what you do flow from who you are.

Check out this video we showed in our Sunday worship experiences. One of our favorite strategic outreach partners in the city is Communities in Schools, Safe Journey. I don’t know about you, but this is the church I’ve dreamed about being a part of all my life. Thanks for your generosity Elevation.

Watch Video Here.

One of the best things I can do when I feel my attitude drifting toward discouragement is to switch from defense to offense.  Instead of sitting around waiting for someone else to encourage me, I try to go on the attack and encourage someone else.

If I’m feeling down because our attendance isn’t where I want it to be, I might call a pastor who is struggling big time in this area, and try to speak increase over his life and ministry.

If I’m hurting because someone I trusted let me down, I may write a short letter of encouragement to someone who I let down in the past.  It helps me keep my own imperfection in perspective when I’m upset by the imperfections of others.

If I’m feeling sorry for myself for a vague, unnamed reason, I like to leave encouraging comments on a few random blogs-especially guys’ whose ministries may not receive a lot of attention-and say a short prayer for those guys.

I’ll bet Satan hates this strategy, because in effect, it turns his heaviest artillery against him.  And when I venture away from my dilemma for a few minutes to bless someone else, I often find that the discouragement has greatly subsided by the time I return.

Please don’t ask me if I’m excited about being back at Elevation beginning this Sunday after 3 Sundays away. It’s a silly question, and you’ll be annoyed when you have to listen to me ramble for 15 minutes about all the things we’ve got coming up, how much I miss my church, etc.
Now, let me take a moment and tell you how excited I am about being back at Elevation this Sunday, and explain some of the things we’ve got coming up. I’ll close with a line or two about how much I miss my church.

This Sunday will be special on several accounts.

1. We’ll be releasing the new Elevation Worship CD, which, as you’ll soon find out, is freaking good. I’m so proud of our guys. I’m proud that we’ll have these songs to remind us for years to come of all the great things God did at Elevation in 2007.
Sunday I’m cutting our band loose for a bit of an extended concert…but that’s not the best part.

2. I’m going to share a little with you about Ferris and Wade’s tremendous faith. It’s a story you need to hear. Our services Sunday will be the most inspiring and encouraging 70 minutes we’ve experienced on a Sunday in a long time.

3. Meet Me at McGlohon! Sunday night will be your first opportunity to see the new Uptown Campus. The event starts at 6:30pm and you’ll want to get there early-the first 500 get a free worship CD!

This Sunday is loaded, man. Don’t be the loser who misses it all because you didn’t plan to get back from 4th of July vacation on time. I’ll see you there…

Our Staff just completed a 2 day Staff Advance (Elevation Church never retreats). We prayed and planned through our goals and plans for the fall. God is about to do awesome things. I asked my staff, “What was the greatest thing God impressed on your heart at staff advance?” Today you can read their answers all day long in the twitter section on this side bar of this blog.

I think I’m schizophrenic:

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.