Stories That Inspire!

I was encouraged and inspired as I started reading the stories in Testimonies From the Body of Christ yesterday.

Pam Teel gave me the book a few days ago and I confess that at first I was like, 'Ok, gonna be some sweet stories about great grandmother Edra's cat getting rescued from the roof.'

But man did I underestimate! It's filled with brief stories that individuals wrote about their own lives and how they've connected with grace and power of God.
It's just reminded me that the most powerful expression in the world of Jesus - is your story!

And maybe the best part of this book is that it was put together to help pay for a second heart transplant for a young 8th grader here in Corpus named Taylor Berry. Some of you know Taylor and/or his Mom Tamara. (You can read his story here.) It's an awesome cause.

You can click here and go to the website to order the book . . . Or skip shipping costs and buy some copies for Christmas gifts in our lobby on Sunday morning!


"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

10*5*1

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise." (Prov 11:30)

A huge part of a life that is following God is to see the fruit of people around us giving their lives to Jesus. Transformation.

Jesus said it this way: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

Some of us live in guilt or discouragement because we don't see the fruit. In the words of a famous Bob Newhart skit: 'Stop it!'

Pray. Ask God to make you a 'seed thrower.' And then look for where He is working and engage!

I've just re-started a discipline that I learned from a church planter a while back. It's called 10*5*1. It's about slowing down to engage people and souls.

Every week I make a new section in my notebook (like the pic) where I put 10, 5, and 1.

The idea is that EVERY WEEK I meet 10 New People. And I write down their names - expecting to see them again and expecting God Encounters.

EVERY WEEK I seek to have 5 deeper conversations with people. Finding out more about their lives. Asking questions about their family, their work . . . And I record what I've learned. Expecting God to use it.

And EVERY WEEK I seek to invite 1 person to move closer to Jesus. Maybe that's by praying for them. By sharing Scripture with them or inviting them to look at what the Bible says about something going on in their life. Maybe I invite them to Celebration, or invite them to put their faith in Jesus. And I write it down, expecting God to work in their life.

Simple 10*5*1
And it's not just about those #'s, it's about being intentional and expecting God to work (the very fact that I make a section for it in my journal at the beginning of the week says I EXPECT it to happen).
It's about looking into people's eyes for where God is working and joining Him!

Vision 09' Update - Part V

On Mission - International

For about a year now the leadership has been praying about how we can connect internationally with a nation, region or unreached people group with a long-term view for the Kingdom.

Jesus told us in Acts 1:8 (my version again) that: 'When the Holy Spirit comes you will be filled with My Power. And you will go and live out my story all over the planet. On your street, at your job, in your City and across the world!'

It was not an either, or (locally or globally) -- but AND (glocally).

Now, here's a cool part that many of you haven't heard -- In 14 days (on 5/14) I leave for two-weeks in Thailand and another Asian Country. It's an awesome door that has been opened.

In the first country I'll be observing a group who has been there for over 10 years. Watching how they have built relationships and blessed the people. And seeking to build relationships and look for opportunities. And doing the same in Thailand.

And I want to be clear that I'm not going there to do all the 'work.' Think of it this way, I'm going as an 'advance scout' - searching for ways that you can use your gifts and vocation and resources to build into people's lives.

We want to have a long-term development approach, not just a short-term 'trip' approach. Yes, there will probably be many short-term trips, but they will all create a long-term bridge.

Through relationships I'm searching for: How can we can help with water/food supply? Ag development? Sanitation needs? Education or technology development? Small business building? . . . Whatever the needs might be, that match the gifts and experiences God has given us . . . And through those relationships be Kingdom builders.

Stay tuned . . . this is awesome stuff!

Vision 09' Update - Part II

On Mission.

On Mission is expressive of our lives being lived as 'sent' people, and not just 'seated' people in a building.

In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, 'When the Holy Spirit comes you will be filled with My Power. And you will go and live out my story all over the planet. On your street, at your job, in your City and across the world!' [OK, that's my version - if you want you can read the NIV here.]

The point is that we are called to be On Mission EVERYWHERE! That's why I love the word 'Glocal.' It's a combo-expression of Global and Local.

Jesus said: 'Go and make disciples of all nations . . .' (Matt 28)

Being a 'church' is not about a group of paid staff being on the field while the others watch and throw a few bucks into the game. 'Go!' is for all of us!

Just think about the POWER when we ALL discover what it looks like to use our talents and our vocations and our gifts to advance God's Kingdom across the street and across the world!

Being a Kingdom-Agent is a privilege that we all have, everywhere we go.

So, how are we seeking to encourage that and express that as Fellowship of Oso Creek, a unique voice of the Kingdom of God?
Watch for tomorrow's post . . .

Missio Dei

Missio Dei is a Latin term that means 'the sending of God.' It describes not just what God does, but who He is. He is a sender.

A couple of the most quoted Bible verses capture this heart: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17

God sent His Son to rescue us. Then the Father and Son sent the Spirit to reside in us.

And now, God sends us into the world so that His power will be released through us.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

You see if an individual, or a church, is truly On Mission we are just patterning ourselves after the incarnation of Jesus. We don't expect the world to come to us, we go to them.

We don't need any more members. What we need is missionaries.

What do you think?