In case you missed it, Ministry Rally was incredible last night. Pastors Eric Geiger and Dave Lopez challenged everyone to get involved in some of the new things that will be happening at the church. Just so you know, here's what's coming up...
* Caring for Miami
This is a non-profit started by Christ Fellowship will be offering health care, language instruction, food, clothing, tutoring, and small business solutions in different areas of Miami-Dade County.
* CF Counseling Center
As it turns out, we have a great staff, but few of us have the gifting or training that it would take to counsel many of our church members and people in the community. This inspired our leaders to seek out the right leaders to take on this cause and provide something for everyone in our community. This is going to be huge!
As Eric said, our church exists for the city. This city should be a better place because we exist.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Monday, October 05, 2009
Caring Place Downtown
This past weekend, I had an awesome opportunity to serve with the folks at Caring Place Downtown. We sorted and passed out clothes to the homeless and packed snacks for them. It was awesome. Some were thankful, and some were attempting to see how much they could squeeze out of us. At the end of it all, we showed them kindness and mercy. I was encouraged by my wife when I got home. She basically told me that we should serve there more this month.
The Caring Place needs more clothes, and everyone should take part in giving. Now let's pause for a moment, because when most people give things away they hand over clothes with holes and stains all over them. This is not the kind of clothing that we need. Just because they are homeless doesn't mean that they don't have any sense of dignity. I've seen the occasional person hand over a box of junk and walk away satisfied as if they've done something good, only to realize that they have given us more junk. Not cool.
If you choose to give, give well.
The Caring Place needs more of the following items:
* Men's and Women's Jeans
* T-Shirts
* Socks
* Men's and Women's Underwear
* Belts
* Your time
Thought I'd sneak that last one in. What will you do for the kingdom?
*Photo by Merari
Friday, September 25, 2009
noticed
Have you ever noticed that we're not far from those in need?
My uncle confronted me a few months ago. He was a police officer. He is a skeptic. He wanted to know why Christians would be so quick to help people overseas and yet forget about those in need right in our own city. In some ways, I understood his frustration, but I glory in the fact that change is happening.
Last weekend, I watched Jake baptize Kevin. Kevin is the result of God working through CF Downtown and their homeless ministry. It's amazing to see the kind of change that we can make if we'd just be willing.
Tomorrow, I will be leading a few small groups in a reach beyond that takes place almost right across the street from our PB campus. CF Palmetto Bay is placed inside a lush, affluent neighborhood with beautiful scenery and a beautiful building. However, right across US-1, the nice trees change into broken homes with damaged buildings.
The first time I crossed into the area was four weeks ago. The principal of a public elementary school (who happens to attend our church) invited some of us to check it out and see how we can help them. In the middle of this low income neighborhood is a magnet school called R.R. Moton Elementary School. Hundreds of children attend this school. They are some of the brightest kids with amazing talents, but their school is looking shabby. So our church will be reaching out by mulching and painting the building. It's not huge, but it's a start.
I've also been in touch with the preschool across the street to see how we can serve them. I'm excited because God has given us a vision for changing this community that wasn't that noticeable, yet it was right under our noses.
My uncle confronted me a few months ago. He was a police officer. He is a skeptic. He wanted to know why Christians would be so quick to help people overseas and yet forget about those in need right in our own city. In some ways, I understood his frustration, but I glory in the fact that change is happening.
Last weekend, I watched Jake baptize Kevin. Kevin is the result of God working through CF Downtown and their homeless ministry. It's amazing to see the kind of change that we can make if we'd just be willing.
Tomorrow, I will be leading a few small groups in a reach beyond that takes place almost right across the street from our PB campus. CF Palmetto Bay is placed inside a lush, affluent neighborhood with beautiful scenery and a beautiful building. However, right across US-1, the nice trees change into broken homes with damaged buildings.
The first time I crossed into the area was four weeks ago. The principal of a public elementary school (who happens to attend our church) invited some of us to check it out and see how we can help them. In the middle of this low income neighborhood is a magnet school called R.R. Moton Elementary School. Hundreds of children attend this school. They are some of the brightest kids with amazing talents, but their school is looking shabby. So our church will be reaching out by mulching and painting the building. It's not huge, but it's a start.
I've also been in touch with the preschool across the street to see how we can serve them. I'm excited because God has given us a vision for changing this community that wasn't that noticeable, yet it was right under our noses.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Collapse of Distinction
The Collapse of Distinction, by Scott McKain, is an interesting study of why certain businesses standout and succeed, and others do not. The idea is that as businesses attempt to mimic their competition, the heart and soul of what truly makes them great is lost. Originality is becoming extinct as many organizations feel that the only method for true success is to copy the ideas of their competition. (Ex. “If they offers free valet parking, then so will we!”) McKain examines business such as Apple, his parents’ grocery store, and a diner that he used to visit as a kid to demonstrate how distinction can revitalize any business.
There are issues with raising the bar of distinction that should be examined. Customer expectations are higher. As such, the author also notes that our own personal jobs can be threatened by the collapse of distinction. Whenever employees produce distinct results within their area, they are then moved into leadership and expected to reproduce leaders like them. McKain is indeed cynical towards this leadership style, and also towards companies that model themselves after the “Good to Great” methodology that is championed by Jim Collins.
Though distinction in the customer service and product might be key in the future economy, McKain may be speaking a bit out of turn when criticizing a company for identifying its hedgehog concept. The core values of an organization are what drive distinctive forces. They breed new and creative ideas because focus is clear. I believe he would do well to invite some of Collins ideas into his theories rather than disregard them.
272pp.
$16.49 @ Amazon
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Challenge is on!
Like most people who get married, Lauren and I lost weight prior to the wedding. We worked out and we worked hard, but it all paid off. Here we are 3 months after the big day, and we've gained weight. Thanks to a lot of slacking off and some major life changes we have gained enough weight to be fed up with it.
So here is the challenge: (cue the Rocky Theme Music)
Lauren must lose 10 pounds, and I need to lose 15. Since Lauren's birth control makes it harder for her to lose weight, I must lose more in the same amount of time. First to reach their goal wins a tiny spending spree within our budget. We will weigh in on Sunday, and then we're off!
I'm very excited because I thrive off of this kind of competition. We'll keep you updated as we hope to declare a champion soon.
So here is the challenge: (cue the Rocky Theme Music)
Lauren must lose 10 pounds, and I need to lose 15. Since Lauren's birth control makes it harder for her to lose weight, I must lose more in the same amount of time. First to reach their goal wins a tiny spending spree within our budget. We will weigh in on Sunday, and then we're off!
I'm very excited because I thrive off of this kind of competition. We'll keep you updated as we hope to declare a champion soon.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Things that I'm excited about
There are so many different things that I could talk about in this blog...
1. Marriage is awesome.
2. I love my wife.
3. Lauren and I love our new church.
4. My new store is amazing! There are some great leaders there that I have the privilege to learn from.
5. Lauren and I are reorganizing our finances so that we can be prepared to own our first home.
All these things are fantastic, but what really has me excited is my new internship. I'm currently working with the Christ Fellowship Missions department on establishing new Reach Beyonds into the community. Now, you may be asking, "What is a reach beyond?" A Reach Beyond is an activity or project through which members of our church step out of the building and "reach beyond" the walls of the church to impact and engage the community. Long definition? It is. The point is that we're making a difference all over Miami-Dade County and bringing the Kingdom of God to those who are in need.
Currently, my goal is to make sure that 100% of the small groups in Palmetto Bay get involved in a Reach Beyond of some kind before December 10th. Palmetto Bay currently has about 120 small groups in attendance. Are you fired up yet? Because I'm going nuts just writing about it. Keep praying for Lauren and I as we search for a home.
Oh, and by the way...Lauren did a Reach Beyond today too! I'm sure she'll tell you more about it soon. :D
1. Marriage is awesome.
2. I love my wife.
3. Lauren and I love our new church.
4. My new store is amazing! There are some great leaders there that I have the privilege to learn from.
5. Lauren and I are reorganizing our finances so that we can be prepared to own our first home.
All these things are fantastic, but what really has me excited is my new internship. I'm currently working with the Christ Fellowship Missions department on establishing new Reach Beyonds into the community. Now, you may be asking, "What is a reach beyond?" A Reach Beyond is an activity or project through which members of our church step out of the building and "reach beyond" the walls of the church to impact and engage the community. Long definition? It is. The point is that we're making a difference all over Miami-Dade County and bringing the Kingdom of God to those who are in need.
Currently, my goal is to make sure that 100% of the small groups in Palmetto Bay get involved in a Reach Beyond of some kind before December 10th. Palmetto Bay currently has about 120 small groups in attendance. Are you fired up yet? Because I'm going nuts just writing about it. Keep praying for Lauren and I as we search for a home.
Oh, and by the way...Lauren did a Reach Beyond today too! I'm sure she'll tell you more about it soon. :D
Saturday, July 11, 2009
uncommon answers to prayer
Well, this is a blog that I've been anxious to write for two weeks. Lauren and I will be back in Miami tomorrow. It was not an easy decision and certain criteria had to be met in order for us to come home.
How we decided God was calling us to Miami:
1. God would give us peace about it.- Lauren and I have been reading through the New Testament together at night and praying before bed. Every night, we would ask God for direction as to where we should go and what we would do there. Since then, we have opened our hearts to each other and shared the dreams that we think God is calling us to live out. I have a strong desire to work with discipleship in a church. Lauren has a passion for working with the disabled. I'm thankful for a wife who wants to serve others. She is truly special.
2. Lauren would not be offered a job in Louisville.- Lauren had applied for work in Louisville since October of last year. She obtained her teaching license and was cleared by the school board before February of last year. We set aside a time and date that she would need to receive a job offer. The date came and went without an offer. It was a tough blow, but true confirmation.
3. I would have to be able to complete my degree from Miami.- Seminary has been an awesome experience, and I've enjoyed my education. The professors at Southern are fantastic. I have had the tremendous opportunity to sit under the teaching of men who love God, care about His Word, and live out what they preach. As such, I stayed motivated to take 15 credits a semester. If all goes as planned, my 94 credit Master's degree will be completed next May. After speaking with my advisor, I learned that I would be able to take the rest of my classes via our Internet campus. Praise God!
4. Lauren would have a job in Miami.- Sure enough, Lauren still has her job at Curry Middle School. We have been extremely blessed by the staff at her school. They have worked with us and waited patiently for us to make our decision.
5. I would find work in Miami.- Working for a great company has a lot of perks. One of those perks is the ability to transfer at the same pay. The crazy thing is that I was offered more hours than I can handle. I actually have to downscale in order to have time for work and family.
Anyway, fire did not fall from Heaven. A booming voice did not come through the mist. Lauren and I have seen answers to prayer in ways that we didn't expect. We were actually praying to stay in Louisville. But we have peace despite the outcome. We are currently making our way down to South Florida and will continue to ask all of you out there for prayer and support.
But in the meantime, I need to give a big thank you to everyone in Louisville. Most of all, Rene, Julie, Josiah, Lily, Charlotte and Ninth & O Baptist Church have been huge answers to prayer. They were my family and friends when I was lonely. I learned from them, and hope that I was able to impart some things as well. And of course, thank you Jesus. You are faithful even when I question the next steps.
How we decided God was calling us to Miami:
1. God would give us peace about it.- Lauren and I have been reading through the New Testament together at night and praying before bed. Every night, we would ask God for direction as to where we should go and what we would do there. Since then, we have opened our hearts to each other and shared the dreams that we think God is calling us to live out. I have a strong desire to work with discipleship in a church. Lauren has a passion for working with the disabled. I'm thankful for a wife who wants to serve others. She is truly special.
2. Lauren would not be offered a job in Louisville.- Lauren had applied for work in Louisville since October of last year. She obtained her teaching license and was cleared by the school board before February of last year. We set aside a time and date that she would need to receive a job offer. The date came and went without an offer. It was a tough blow, but true confirmation.
3. I would have to be able to complete my degree from Miami.- Seminary has been an awesome experience, and I've enjoyed my education. The professors at Southern are fantastic. I have had the tremendous opportunity to sit under the teaching of men who love God, care about His Word, and live out what they preach. As such, I stayed motivated to take 15 credits a semester. If all goes as planned, my 94 credit Master's degree will be completed next May. After speaking with my advisor, I learned that I would be able to take the rest of my classes via our Internet campus. Praise God!
4. Lauren would have a job in Miami.- Sure enough, Lauren still has her job at Curry Middle School. We have been extremely blessed by the staff at her school. They have worked with us and waited patiently for us to make our decision.
5. I would find work in Miami.- Working for a great company has a lot of perks. One of those perks is the ability to transfer at the same pay. The crazy thing is that I was offered more hours than I can handle. I actually have to downscale in order to have time for work and family.
Anyway, fire did not fall from Heaven. A booming voice did not come through the mist. Lauren and I have seen answers to prayer in ways that we didn't expect. We were actually praying to stay in Louisville. But we have peace despite the outcome. We are currently making our way down to South Florida and will continue to ask all of you out there for prayer and support.
But in the meantime, I need to give a big thank you to everyone in Louisville. Most of all, Rene, Julie, Josiah, Lily, Charlotte and Ninth & O Baptist Church have been huge answers to prayer. They were my family and friends when I was lonely. I learned from them, and hope that I was able to impart some things as well. And of course, thank you Jesus. You are faithful even when I question the next steps.
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