The LaunchPad

99 Balloons

What an amazing attitude and perspective.  The balloons released at the end conveys a powerful sense of the value of every day and every life.

Creative Fasting

 This year we have decided to recommend a creative approach to our week of fasting and prayer.  We are proposing a PARTIAL FAST rather than a FULL LIQUID ONLY FAST.  Both types of fasting are equally valid, but this year's partial fast has a very specific purpose.

We want to fast in the spirit of Isaiah 58 this year.  Consider the impact of the following verses (Isaiah 58:6-8):

  "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
       to loose the chains of injustice
       and untie the cords of the yoke,
       to set the oppressed free
       and break every yoke?

  Is it not to share your food with the hungry
       and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
       when you see the naked, to clothe him,
       and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

  Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
       and your healing will quickly appear;
       then your righteousness ^[a] will go before you,
       and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

We are recommending that as we set aside the next week to seek God, that we eat a diet similar to what the poorest of the world experience every day.  Much of the world lives on less than $1 per day.  That works out to a rather small portion of a meal or two of beans for a day.

As we limit our eating to this meager amount, we will pray that God will sensitize our hearts to the needs of the world around us.  We will also encourage those that fast to consider donating the money that they would normally spend on groceries/and eating out for a week...FOOD FOR THE POOR so that we are 'putting our money where our mouth is' (pun intended).

I am very excited at how God is going to use this week of fasting and prayer in my life.  By the way, the promises of Isaiah 58 are powerful.  Read verses 10-12, and claim them for your own life in 2009.

Guest Worship Leader This Week

As we kick off our WEEK OF PRAYER this week, we have a special guest worship leader this weekend.  Michael Olson is a gifted song-writer and worship leader.  He will be leading worship in our three regular services for the weekend.

Then on Sunday night, at 6pm, we will start our week of evening prayer/worship events with a night of worship as led by Michael Olson.  You can listen to some of Michael's music here.  Can't wait for this week to begin!!

Goals For 2009 (p1)

These last few days of the year, I typically work through a process of life-evaluation:

1.  Review Long-Range Life Goals (I have a list of about 55 things I want to accomplish or experience).  To see an example of this click here.
2.  Review and evaluate Last Year's Goals
3.  Set some targets for the Next Year
4.  Ask God for a theme/or name for the New Year.

Let me start with Step #2 in the above process.  My Long-Range Life Goals are not something that I have felt released to share on this blog .  But I have taken some time to look at them and add to them.  In terms of the 12 Month Goals, last year I set 15 targets for the year.  In some of my areas I did very well:

• Completed a 40 Day Daniel-Fast
• Wrote a New Believer's Booklet that we are now using.
• Assisted Greg Krowitz to plant Bridgepoint Church
• Took my son David on his first SOS Missions Trip
• Re-wrote a Constitution + Bylaws to be affirmed by the APC Members in January.  Still in the final edit phase, but almost complete.
• Took several hundred through the Spiritual Breakthrough Weekend.  I hope to teach many many more in this upcoming year.
• Launch the MCM Ministry School with 20 Students.  We started with 19.
• Took my entire family to visit my in-laws in Nicaragua.
• We increased our personal giving by more than 1%.  Actually, God did showed himself in this area of our life with some unexpected finances so that we could meet our Generations Pledge.

Then there were several goals that I got part of the way there. But progress toward a goal is better than nothing at all.  So I don't look at 50% as failure. 

• I was prepared to run in my first 5K and had trained to do it.  But circumstances prevented me from attending the event.  Actually, most 5K's are held on weekends which is when I am the busiest.
• My goal was to read 60 books.  I think I may have fell about 10 short of that one.  Teaching in the MCM Ministry School took a lot more prep time this fall.
• Wanted to finish writing my first book this year.  I completed five chapters!  So I am just about half way there.  My plan is to take some time to finish it this February.
• Physically, I wanted to maintain my weight under 195lbs this year.  Well...I was there for about 5 months out of the 12.  I think I am just about there now.  Consistency is still something I need to work on in this area.
• Wanted to write a follow-up booklet for the Breakthrough.  I started it.  Wrote two or three days of readings.  And then stopped.  This will be a goal for the new year.

My final goal for last year was to LIVE OUT OF JOY.  This one is hard to evaluate.  But I think I can say that I am doing this more now than ever.  What about you?  How did you do last year?  What are you shooting for in the months ahead?  Let me challenge you to be thinking through this issues so that you can live at your best. 

Read more about effective goal setting here.

Dying To Live

Can you believe it will soon be 2009?  Wow.  Another year is past, and a new year is upon us.  This coming weekend is the kick-off, not only for this new year, but for a week/month where we emphasize stepping up our game spiritually.

I am going to start a series this weekend called, DYING TO LIVE.  It will be based on Colossians chapter three, which is a powerful prescription living a NEW life in Christ.

So often, when we begin a new year, we look to initiate some positive changes and improvements in our lives.  But lasting change is easy to miss.  In order to succeed, we have to approach life-change through a process that really works.

The reality is that we have to DIE before we can really LIVE.  That's the recipe we find spelled out for us by the apostle Paul in the book of Colossians.  This week, we also begin our Week Of Prayer.  I am so looking forward to what God has in store for us in the next month.

Rising Above Status Quo

Mark Batterson has some great thoughts about the effort it takes to rise above the patterns of the past.  BTW - Mark's blog is an excellent read, especially at this time of year, because he has some wise thoughts about goal setting and the new year.

Have you have ever been offered a free subscription to a magazine for the first year? Why would we be offered something for free? It’s because magazine companies understand the status quo bias. Most of us will forget to cancel. And it’s not really that we’ve forgotten. We’re just too lazy to make a simple phone call or write a simple letter. Right? That is human nature! We tend to keep doing what we’ve been doing. And the problem with that is this: if you keep doing what you’ve always done you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.

As we get ready to begin a New Year, let's challenge the status quo. I know there is nothing magical about midnight on December 31st. And not everybody has a resolution personality. But all of us need to make changes. Take some time to evaluate your life spiritually, relationally, physically, emotionally, and intellectually. What changes do you need to make? Is there something you need to stop doing or start doing? What do you need to do more or do less?

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.

NY Eve Blessing Time

A tradition that I have truly grown to enjoy is something do on New Year's Eve.  We open the church for about 2 hours, from 6pm till 8pm.  Several of our pastoral team are available in the front of the Sanctuary to pray over individuals and families as we start the new year.

The whole concept of 'blessing' is something that I think is both powerful and significant in our lives.  A 'blessing' is verbally picturing a positive future for someone else that is based on the promises of God.  When we 'bless', we also convey and affirm our value for the person being blessed.

Those are the natural benefits of the practice.  Spiritually, I have experienced how the Holy Spirit gets involved in those moments.  Often prophetic messages are birthed, and physical or emotional healing is released.  With every person/family that I pray over, I have a sense of expectation that God will get involved in this special process.

If you live in the Pittsburgh area, we would love to have the opportunity to bless you this New Year's Eve.

Seeds

This past year, I chose the One Year Bible as my reading plan.  For those that want a consistent, easy to follow Bible reading pattern, the One Year Bible is the best that I have come across.  In these last few days of the year, the readings are from some of the prophetic books.

A few days ago, I was struck by this one verse from the Zechariah 8:12.

For I am planting seeds of peace and prosperity among you. The grapevines will be heavy with fruit. The earth will produce its crops, and the heavens will release the dew. (NLT)

Often the beginnings of God's blessing are sent in the form of small seedlings.  Peace and prosperity are planted in us.  And just like seeds take time to grow into fullness and fruitfulness.  So God's provisions often come in similar fashion.

I must confess that when I look for peace and prosperity, I look for it in the form of a dump truck.  I want him to back up and just unload it on me in one big release.  But God starts His work, often in the form of seed.  It is so small.  It is planted in the ground.  Then nothing seems to occur.

But over time, and with our combined faith and obedience, the vines eventually are 'heavy with fruit.'  Don't you love that phrase!  Lord, let that be the case for me this upcoming year.  Plant your good seed in my life so that my future can be heavy with fruit.

Merry Christmas!

My prayer for you this Christmas is that God would give you a fresh and clear revelation of the person of Jesus Christ. 

I pray also that God would release every good thing that He has promised for your life in this upcoming year. 

I pray that you would prosper and be in health and that your soul (the center of your spiritual life) would explode with fullness and power in this season.

May God give you the capacity to enjoy the small abundant blessings of God in your life, to walk with both courage and faith, to recognize your need for God enough to choose to depend on Him, and to fully realize just how much He loves you.

BTW - I am so very thankful for my family this Christmas.  My gorgeous wife Melodie.  My four amazing boys...David (17), Joshua (14), Caleb (11), and Jonathan (9), and my beautiful daughter Alissa (16).

Have a fantastic Christmas!

What We Think About God

I pulled a Christian classic off the shelves in preparation for the message on Christmas Eve.  It is a book by A.W. Tozer entitled, The Knowledge Of The Holy.  Here are a few quotes:

What comes to mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.  The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God.

We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God.

The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.  It begins in the mind and may be present when no overt act of worship has taken place.

We do the greatest service to the next generation of Christians by passing on to them undimmed and undiminished that noble concept of God which we received from our Hebrew and Christian fathers of generations past.  This will prove of greater value to them than anything that art or science can devise.

So what are you thinking about God?  What do you believe about who He is?  He is all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere-present, unchanging, and holy.  He is both merciful and just.  He is filled with grace and yet absolute in truth.  He is not a distant, disinterested God.  But He is a self-revealing God who loved us so much that He pursued us by coming in the flesh.

Most relevant to us today is that God came in the body of Jesus.  And Hebrews 1:3 tells us that Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the EXACT REPRESENTATION of His being, sustaining all things by the power of His word.

On this Christmas Eve, as we celebrate the birth of Christ into the world, our job is to lead our families to worship in both spirit (with sincere passion) and in truth (with accuracy for who He really is).  May God give you and your family a revelation of Jesus this year.

Caterpillar Muscles?

I just completed reading Francis Chan's book, Crazy Love.  In it, he provides some very interesting facts about God's creative genius.  I plan on sharing this, among some other things, during the Christmas Eve Services.  But this was too good to wait to share.

Did you know that a caterpillar has 228 separate distinct muscles in its head?  That's quite a few for a bug.  The average elm tree has approximately 6 million leaves.  And your own heart generates enough pressure as it pumps blood throughout your body that it could squirt blood up to 30 feet.  (I've never tried this, and I don't recommend it.)

Have you ever thought how diverse and creative God is?  He didn't have to make hundreds of different kinds of bananas, but he did.  He didn't have to put 3000 different species within one square mile in the Amazon jungle, but he did.  God didn't have to create so many kinds of laughter.  Think about the sounds of your friends laughs - wheezes, snorts, silent, loud, obnoxious.

How about the way plants defy gravity by drawing water upward from the ground into their stems and veins.  Or did you know that spiders produce three kinds of silk?  When they build their webs, they create sixty feet of silk in on hour, simultaneously producing special oil on their feet that prevents them from sticking to their own web.  (Most of us hate spiders, but sixty feet an hour deserves some respect!) Coral plants are so sensitive that they can die if the water temperature varies by even one degree.

Did you know that when you get goose bumps, the hair in your follicles is actually helping you stay warmer by trapping body heat?  Or what about the simple fact that plants take in carbon dioxide (which is harmful to us) and produce oxygen (which we need to survive)?  I'm sure you knew that, but have you ever marveled at it?  And these same poison-swallowing, life-giving plants came from tiny seeds that were placed in dirt.  Some were watered, some weren't.  But after a few days they poked through the soil and out into the warm sunlight.  Whatever God's reasons for such diversity, creativity, and sophistication in the universe, on earth, and in our own bodies, the point of it all is His glory.

Links This Week

Here are some interesting links to check out:

• I hadn't heard this one in the news at all. Did you know that Sarah Palin's church was set on fire?  Read more here.
• You probably have heard that Rick Warren was chosen to pray at Barack Obama's inaugural.  At the Out Of Ur site, there are some videos of interest.  Rick explains why he said 'yes'.  Obama explains why he chose Warren.  Then Warren answers questions about his view of homosexuality and marriage.  View the videos here.
• Paul Grabill provides some links to the Top Ten Stories In Religion in 2008.
• I was convicted by Mark Batterson's confession:  I am an email addict.  Read it here.  Good insight once again from Mark.
• Perry Noble reacts to some enormous and inspiring vision from Brian Houston.  Read it here.
• Geoff Surratt provides some interesting thoughts on the difference and benefits of church planting versus multi-site.  Read the article here.

One last thought:  Did you know that you can buy the album of David Santistevan's latest recording on iTunes now?  Click here to find out more information.

Homework: Watch A Classic!

During the weekend service, I asked for a raise of hands, 'How many people have not seen the movie--It's A Wonderful Life'?  I was astonished to see that maybe as many as 1/3 in the audience had never fully watched that movie.

Then yesterday, I was meeting with some of my pastoral staff.  We started to talk about the Classic movies, "A Christmas Carol", "Gone With The Wind", "Le Miserables", and my favorite "Wonderful Life".  To my surprise, they had not seen these either.

We began to talk about how this current generation is missing out on some of the more beautiful stories because they take too long to develop, since they were written in a former era.  Movies and TV Shows today are fast moving, with multiple sub-plots, and lots of action.  Many of the Classics require a degree of slowing and patience to enjoy them.

One of the pastors then observed, 'This may also be why people struggle to read the Bible regularly.'  We are so used to being assaulted in our senses by quick moving, 30 second sound bites of information, that we often lack the discipline to do the work of pressing into an ancient text.

Somehow I think something very rich is lost when we fail to enjoy and experience the richness of the stories and lessons of the past.  We can quickly become superficial and dull, if we only live on the 30 second, fast moving, sub-plots of todays entertainment style.  Now don't get me wrong, I love a fast-paced multi-faceted program. 

But I think it is also good to learn to enjoy a nice slows single storyline that brings to the surface something very rich and powerful.  So here's your homework for the Christmas season, WATCH A CLASSIC this year.  You won't regret it.

Thoughts From An Athiest

I found this video very interesting.  Penn Jillette from the comedy team of Penn + Teller, talks about his encounter with a Christian fan who attempted to share Christ with him.  Penn is a expressed atheist.  But he acknowledges this man's attempt to proselytize him as a very positive thing.

In fact, Penn says, "I don't respect people who don't proselytize, if they say they have faith.'  It is also interesting to see the key attitudes the Penn identifies as important to him in this man's approach.  As you watch this account, I would be interested in hearing what you think?

Weekend Thoughts

This weekend was so enjoyable for me.  Friday I spent the entire day with Melodie to celebrate her birthday.  The actual birthday was Saturday, but we used my day off to spend together.  We did some shopping.  Then I took an hour to coach my Upward Basketball practice (I am coaching both Jonathan and Caleb this year).

Friday night I took her to the Cheesecake Factory, and we pigged out.  The wait was almost an hour for a table, but the food was worth it.

Saturday, I spent the morning in prayer and study.  It was great to have a few hours of solitude just to be alone with God.  In the afternoon, I watched the Patrick Stewart version of A Christmas Carol with Alissa and Joshua.

Then the weekend services were just so much fun!  You have to love a Preschool Choir.  They were absolutely adorable.  The Crosstown Kidz Choir did a fantastic job with the APC Worship Band playing live along with them.  I met so many guests who visited with us to see their child or grandchild perform.

The story of Zaccheus us one of my favorites.  It gives me hope.  If Jesus can transform a man like him, certainly there is hope for me.  I also love the full meaning of Luke 19:10. 

The son of man came to seek (relentlessly pursue) and save (restore, heal, and make whole) what was lost (ruined, worthless, and destroyed).

I am really looking forward to the Christmas Eve services.  They are some of my favorite moments of the year. 

To Put You In The Christmas Mood

Unclean, Unclean

On Wednesday, my new shoes arrived in the mail.  Mel had ordered me a pair of shiny, new black Florsheim shoes.  They looked great!  When we took them out of the box, they had a strange smell.  How to describe it?

It smelled a little like the clothes I bring back from a missions trip to a third world nation, combined with moth balls, and a new leather scent.

Yes, they smelled disgusting!  I thought they probably just needed a little air.  So I wore them to work on Thursday morning.  But the airing out didn't seem to help at all.  In fact, the smell filled the air of every room I entered.

I felt like I needed to cry out UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN like the lepers used to have to do during the times of the New Testament.  It was awful.  And I tried everything I knew to deal with the smell.  I put some strong air fresheners in them.  Someone told us to freeze them for 2 hours.  We did that.  No matter what we tried, the odor remained.

So we sent them back to the company.  They apologized and are sending a new pair.  What's the moral of the story?  I am not sure.  Maybe you could help me come up with that?  What should I learn from this one?

PCO's Big Day

Pittsburgh City Outreach is a great church that meets on the North Side of Pittsburgh.  APC helped to launch them two years ago.  This past Sunday, they had one of their highest attended services ever.  They sponsored an event called Winter-Reach in which guests received some gifts for Christmas.

Total attendance for the day, including kids, was over 200!

PCO has such a unique impact on this area with its Men's and Women's Recovery Homes.  The goal is to help those who are struggling with addiction find a place of freedom, and become a full-out disciple of Jesus Christ.

I am so proud of Pastor Brian and Angie and so happy for how PCO is touching the city of Pittsburgh for Christ.  Way to go guys!  And congrats on your big day!  You can view more pictures of Winter-Reach at PCO here.

And The Word Was God

One of the great Christmas passages in the Bible is John chapter one.  As a writer, John used some poetic language to describe deep theological truth.  John is the one gospel writer that stands out distinct from the other three.  The purpose of John's writing was to persuade people to believe in Jesus.  He was giving more than history, was was presenting a case for Jesus as the Son of God.

So the book begins...

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and that Word was God.  (John 1:1)

When we see the God as a self-revealing, pursuing God, these verses make so much sense.  Jesus came to reveal God to us.  He is God in a body.  Like a 'word', He communicates to us who God is and what He is like.  Jesus is the revelation of God to us.  So we can read John like this.

In the beginning was Jesus.  And Jesus was with God.  And Jesus was God.  Jesus was with God in the beginning.  Through Him all things were made that has been made.  In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of men.  (John 1:1-4)

And Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14)

No one has ever seen God, but Jesus, the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made Him known.  (John 1:18)

A Chick, Goat, + Latrine

During the month of December, we are partnering with a very creative organization to equip people to live out the meaning for the season of Christmas.  The organization is called FOOD FOR THE POOR.  They exist to provide food, housing, health-care, micro-enterprise development assistance and emergency relief to the poorest of the poor.

• For every guest who visits APC during the month of December, we are donating $10 in their honor to this worthy cause.
• We have also distributed GIFT CATALOGS that provide creative ways to give Christmas gifts in honor of family and friends.  You can buy a goat, or some chicks, build a house, or even erect a latrine in honor of someone this Christmas.
• When we receive our Offering during the APC Christmas Eve services, we will donate everything that comes in that night (that is not designated as normal tithes) to the Food For The Poor organization.
• Many of the MCM Churches here in Pittsburgh are taking similar steps to give so that by the end of December, thousands of dollars will have been raised for this purpose.

If you would like more information about how to get involved, you can visit the Food For The Poor website HERE.

Give A Gift 2008

This past Sunday afternoon was our Give-A-Gift Store at APC.  There were 90 families who were helped, which represented 239 children who will be impacted by this effort.  That's a thought right there.  Think of the 239 Christmas mornings that will better this year.

Another point of celebration is the 65 volunteers who donated 262 total hours to sort gifts, set up tables, wrap the presents, and pray with those who participated.

We also want to express thanks to the hundreds of  people who donated money or brought in gifts to help this event happen.  We appreciate you.

Oreo Cookie Conversations

I hate confrontation!  There I said it.  It's true.  Healthy confrontation is one of the leadership skills that I have worked hard to develop, but I must admit that I have a natural aversion to it.  What I have learned is that you cannot have a healthy relationship without some degree of healthy confrontation.

If we avoid issues, they have a lingering and even growing affect.
If we deny issues, they are still there.
If we speak the truth, but fail to do so in love, we will do nothing but divide.
If we love, but fail to speak the truth, we will do nothing but enable the problem.

So how do we speak the truth in love?  What is the key to healthy confrontation?

1.  Confront Quickly - The temptation is to wait for the perfect time.  But as we wait other issues arise, or we build up stress over what we have to say.  It is better to deal with things as soon as you see them and to do it without making a BIG deal out of it.

2.  Confront Specifically - It is critical to deal with ONE ISSUE AT A TIME.  Be very specific.  Not vague.  Identify the problem.  Propose a solution.

3.  Confront Kindly - I use the Oreo Cookie as my example.  The cream in the middle is sandwiched by two chocolate sides.  So begin and end your confrontation moments with compliments.  Provide four or five positives.  Then deliver the one specific issue that needs to be addressed.  Finish with four or five positives. 

4.  Confront Gently - Proverbs 15:1 says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath.'  So let your tone by soft.  Say difficult things with a smile.  Send the message of acceptance with your body language.

5.  Confront Expectantly - Begin with the conviction that your words will be received.  Don't expect the worst.  Expect the best.  And if the worst occurs, then deal with it as it happens. 

The final thing necessary for a healthy confrontation is to conclude with an agreement.  Decide to agree.  Or sometimes, you have to agree to disagree...without being disrespectful to each other.

So I might state something like...'Are we OK with each other?  Can we agree to the following together (and then state some specifics).'  Then I end with more affirmation and state the value I have for the relationship.

Anything you would add to this process?

Strengthen Yourself

I just completed reading Bill Johnson's book, STRENGTHEN YOURSELF IN THE LORD.  It was filled with practical teaching on specific habits that are involved in learning how to build yourself up spiritually.  Here are some quotes from the book:

• Your faith grows as your heart, led by the Holy Spirit, perceives and understands the invisible realm of spiritual reality.  That unseen realm governs the visible realm and brings your mind and will into agreement with the reality of the Kingdom of God.
• The inferior reality of our physical circumstances always yields to the superior reality of the Kingdom--but we can only release the Kingdom to the degree to which our heart and mind are in agreement with it.
• The safest place for us to be at any point in our lives is passionately pursuing God and the purposes to which he has called us.  Passionate pursuit positions us for advancement.
• The will of God is not complicated...God's will is simply for Heaven's reality to become earth's reality.
• Praise isn't pleasing to the flesh, which may be one reason why it is so powerful in removing that cloud of oppression.  The enemy is empowered by human agreement.  To agree with anything he says gives him a place to kill, steal, and destroy.  We fuel the cloud of oppression by agreeing with our enemy.  Praise, with rejoicing, cancels that agreement.
• Renewing our minds requires us to learn how to let His words over our lives completely cancel out our old beliefs about who we are--even before we see His words fully manifest in us.  This is how we demonstrate faith.
• It is impossible for God to lie.  His word is always in complete agreement with His nature and character, and therefore His very words release His power to accomplish what He has said.
• When we declare the Word over our own life and prophesy our own destiny in agreement with Him, we release the anointing of the Spirit in greater measure to bring the Word to pass.

This book was well worth the read and I highly recommend it.

It's All A Matter Of Perspective

Thanks to Butch Wise for this video link.  Make sure you stick with this one through the end.  What you believe is all a matter of your choice of perspective.

Upside Down from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.

Weekend Celebration

Ok.  I admit it.  I scream at the TV during football games.  My family is amused by my antics.  But I can't help it.  I have always been pretty passionate that way.  When I played basketball, I was the guy waving the towel, and shouting encouragement from the sidelines.

I confess that I am in a really good mood this morning!

• The Steeler's won in the last minute, to clinch the Division, against their arch-rivals...the Baltimore Ravens.  I was jumping and shouting at the end of that one.
• But as great as the football game was yesterday, the results from our weekend services were even more gratifying.  In every service, we saw people making decisions for Christ.
• When I give the altar call at APC, we ask people to raise their hands right at their seats if they want to pray to give their lives to Christ.  Then I lead in a prayer of confession, and the entire congregation joins with those who are making this choice.  Then we ask the people who are standing near to those with upraised hands, to come to the front and bring a 'gift packet' back to those who have made this important decision to follow Jesus.  The packet has a Bible and some other resources in it.
• During the 11:00 service, there was a stream of people coming to the front to get 'salvation packets'.  There were so many that we actually ran out of them and had to quickly make more.  I hesitate to say the number (because I don't have the actual count), but it was very moving to see the response!
• We are in a season of growth right now at APC.  Every week I meet so many new visitors.  The 11:00 service is jammed to capacity right now.  There is a sense of new life.
• After the services yesterday, we hosted our Annual Give-A-Gift store.  Families going through difficult times can purchase gifts for their family at 10% of cost.  I will have more details and pictures later, but I am so pleased that we can participate in this way.
• Ben Roethlisberger is a CLUTCH PERFORMER.  He can be frustrating to watch in the early stages of a game.  But boy does he come through when it counts.
• Melody Olson is a genuine worshiper.  She was our guest vocalist as the APC Choir performed this weekend.  It was powerful.
• I was so pleased to see so many people stay after the service was over and just linger in the presence of God.  In each of the services, people responded to my challenge to press in a little further and enter into worship.

I could go on and on.  Today, I will rest and recover physically, and I will continue to enjoy a fantastic weekend in every sense of the word.

Do + Be

I was reminded this morning of a very wise statement.  I am not sure who originally stated this, but it has become one of the guiding themes to evaluate my life.

What you are is more important than that you do!
Being is more important than doing!

So the real question we have to constantly ask is not what am I doing, or even how well am I doing?  The real question is what am I becoming?  We live out of what we are.  The greatest influence of our life extends out of what we are.  We need to regularly look at the trends in our life as to what we are becoming.

Am I becoming more compassionate toward people or less?
Am I more generous or less?
Am I more passionate as a follower of Jesus or less?
Am I experiencing greater freedom in Christ or am I more entangled in bad habits again?
Am I more disciplined or less?

God help me become what you want me to be!

Speed Of Leadership

Heard the saying, 'Speed of the leader, speed of the team?'  My personal experience confirms that axiom.  One of the greatest challenges a leader faces is the need to develop speed of leadership.  What is 'leadership speed?'

It is the ability to exercise self-leadership with such consistency that enables the leader not only to set the pace for everyone else (by being out front), but to motivate others by casting vision that is both clear and compelling.

Leaders tend to fall into one of the following categories in this regard.

The RUN WHEN OTHERS RUN Leader - This is the person is very much affected by their environment.  They are capable of leading, but they tend to kick into gear only when the atmosphere around them heats up.  When not motivated by others or outside forces, they are content to simply carry the title of leader.

The RUN-STOP-RUN Leader - This is the person who gets really pumped up about a new vision or project.  They run with passion.  They run hard.  Others catch the dream.  People begin to run with them.  But after the goal is reached, or the project is completed, they shift into HIBERNATION MODE.  Followers are left standing and waiting for direction as they wait for the leader to gain the next burst of motivation.

The RUN WITH BLINDERS ON Leader - This person is consistent in their motivation, strong in their pace, but too narrow in their focus.  They so focus on one task or project that they lose sight of other important issues that may need their voice or attention.  It's like the old picture of the 'plate spinner'.  A leader has to keep all the plates going at the same time, and can't give themselves permission to focus too narrowly.

The RUN WITH SELF-DISCIPLINE Leader.  This final category is the goal.  Like a marathon runner, leaders need to learn how to keep a certain healthy pace.  They need to build stamina.  They can't rely on bursts or sprints.  They keep themselves motivated, moving, and multi-focused on all the issues under their care.  Their steadiness keeps everyone headed in the right direction at the proper time.

It is impossible to lead an organization of any size or effectiveness without good leadership speed.  In future posts, I hope to outline what I am working to do to maintain my pace of leadership.

Some Great Links

Here are some really insightful posts from some bloggers that I regularly read:

• Craig Groeschel is doing a series of posts on what defines true 'successful ministry'.
• Nick Poole provides the notes from a really great talk he did at yesterday's MCM Pittsburgh meeting.
• The Monday Morning Insight Blog provides an update on what is happening with some downsizing at Focus On The Family.  Read more here.
• Chris Marshall provides some VIDEO background on a fairly amazing commercial playing right now.
• Eric Ferguson provides some pictures and an update on the Nicaraguan Orphanage.
• It's nice to hear some good news for a change?  MMI provides an update on the turn-around that has happened at Ted Haggard's church.  Brady Boyd the new pastor there seems to have done a great job.  Read about it here.

FINALLY, I LEAVE YOU WITH SOME THOUGHTS FROM GROESCHEL'S POSTS:

I am as susceptible to spiritual droughts as the next pastor. Because I know my vulnerabilities, I work hard to keep my passion alive.

Here are a few things I try to revisit:

• See God working in another part of the world. God is so much bigger than what we see week in and week out and our churches.
• Visit an impoverished place at least once a year. Some moms choose what to feed their children. Some moms have to choose which children to feed. Putting yourself in a place that crushes your heart keeps the passion alive.
• Fasting. I don’t know why fasting works, but it does.
• Develop friendships with non-Christians. Caring about people far from God helps keep me closer to God.
• Devoted time to prayer. If I don’t spend time with my wife away from all the other pressures, it is hard for us to stay close. My relationship with God is the same. If I don’t spend time with Him, how can I know Him?
• Give extravagantly. Something about giving big breaks the grip of this world and connects me closer to God.
• Cry. For a number of years, I didn’t cry. I’m not sure I could cry. By God’s grace, I broke through it and can cry easily now.
• Visit a cemetery. Seeing today in light of eternity always changes me.

What works for you?

I Love My Church!

Wednesday night was such a great night for me.  I moved back and forth between two events happening on the APC campus.  First, I was invited to the Christmas party that the Celebrate Recovery groups were holding.  There was over 60 people present for this celebration.  I love hearing the stories of impacted lives through this great ministry.

In the Chapel, ONE HOUR WITH GOD, was happening.  The room was packed!!!  We had to set up extra chairs to make accommodate the crowd.  Several people expressed how they so needed a night just to worship and pray in the middle of this busy season.

Afterward people were hanging out enjoying some cider and cookies.  That's when it hit me strong.  I really love my church!  Maybe I feel it a bit stronger since I was just away for 10 days?  But I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve at Allison Park Church.

ACC Celebrates 10 Years

Ambridge Christian Center was the second church that Allison Park Church helped to start.  It began back in 1998 under the leadership of Pastor Denny Ugoletti.  This past Sunday, ACC celebrated its ten year anniversary as a church.

They did it in style!  Mike Santistevan has been serving as the pastor there for the past two years or so.  Under his leadership the church has been really growing.  Actually, theh have outgrown their facility and moved this past weekend into Ambridge High School auditorium.

The ACC building will now be used for offices, youth services, and small group meetings.  The mortgage on that initial building is now (or soon will be) completely paid off.  We congratulation Mike on the church on this wonderful new day.  Looking forward to the next 10 years. 

Below is a video they showed at the Anniversary celebration.

ACC's 10-Year Anniversary Video from Mike Santistevan on Vimeo.

Week Of Prayer

It has been a wonderful tradition at APC over the past fifteen years to have a specially set aside WEEK OF PRAYER AND FASTING to begin the new year.  There is no better way to set a solid course for the upcoming 12 months than to take some extra time to seek God.

This year, our WEEK OF PRAYER is scheduled for the first full week of January (Jan 4-9th).  We have some very special things already planned.

• Morning Prayer School (7:45 to 8:45) - Every morning our MCM Ministry School has an hour of prayer and worship where we teach them to pray.  For this week, we will open the Prayer Hour to anyone who wants to participate.
• Noon Prayer Hour - In the Chapel we will have an hour of worship during the normal lunch hour.
• Evening Services - Every night from Sun through Fri we will have a one hour and fifteen minute creatively designed worship experience.

Instead of having a speaker during this year's evening services, we are going to have some special Worship Guests (Mike Olson, Denise Graves). 

Also, in a few days I will announce a very powerful and creative way that we will approach the fasting process.   This is something that I think everyone can do that will make the experience even more profound.

Looking forward to starting the new year right!

All Guys Need To Watch This!

This is some ingenious advertising from J.C. Penney.  Thanks to Peg Schindler for sending me this link.  Even though it is advertising, it is a very good reminder for us guys.  So before Christmas shopping this year, make sure you watch this VIDEO.

Stay out of the DOGHOUSE.

God Works From Inside - Out

This song really fits the message that I shared this past weekend.  As you probably can tell, I enjoy Hillsongs!

Engaging Members

This morning, during our APC Board Meeting, we had an excellent strategic discussion about how to do a GRAND SLAM job of engaging the Active Members in our church family.  The discussion centered around the upcoming Annual Vision Meeting in January 2009.

We decided that there are seven critical things that must happen in effectively leading not only our Members but the entire church family (regular attendees included). 

1.  INVITED - first, we want them to feel invited into process.  APC is a larger church so it is often difficult to properly solicit input from every individual.  We came up with some creative ideas like the use of strategically crafted surveys and potential some small group discussion moments to help in gaining input.

2.  REMINDED - next, we want our Members to be regularly taught about the critical steps in maintaining unity in any family.  Matthew 18:15-17 provides the formula:  1) Personal and private conversation with the person who holds the solution; 2) Mediation - with an objective referee; 3) Appealing to Church Leadership for a decision.

3.  INFORMED - there also must be clear reporting done about finances, future plans, past successes, and the challenges ahead.

4.  ENVISIONED - beyond information, there needs to be vision provided that is not only clear but compelling enough to mobilize passionate involvement.

5.  CHALLENGED - along with the vision must come ownership.  There must be an awareness of what is expected of each member of the team, and an opportunity to commit to some very specific things in the year to come.

6.  APPRECIATED - past effort also should be celebrated and affirmed.  Since active members are often the core of what makes a church work, this should be aggressively recognized.

7.  CONNECTED - finally, there is a need to create a sense of real belonging and connectedness not only the vision, and organization, but to the other members of the family.

Today's discussion for us was just the first step of trying to take our efforts in this area to the next level.  I will work to keep you posted on the creative ideas that we come up with.  Would love to hear any suggestions or creative ideas that work for you.

Making Vision Stick (p1)

Last week I completed a great short little book by Andy Stanley entitled, Making Vision Stick.  I thought I would type out a brief overview outline of what he presented:

When speaking to leaders on the subject of vision, I like to joke that the three primary obstacles to making vision stick are success, failure, and everything in between.  There is no season in which a leader can push autopilot and expect the organization to remain vision-driven.

HOW TO MAKE VISION STICK?

1.  State The Vision Simply - If the vision is unclear to you, it will never be clear to the people in your organization.  Howard Hendrix said, "if its a mist in the pulpit, its a fog in the pew.'

KEY: It is better to have a vision statement that is incomplete and memorable, than to have on that is complete and forgettable.

2.  Cast The Vision Convincingly - every vision is a solution to a problem.

Define the problem
Offer the solution
Present a reason

KEY:  if you haven't defined the problem, determined a solution, and discovered a compelling reason why now is the time to act, you aren't ready to go public with your vision.

3.  Repeat The Vision Regularly - To make the vision stick, you need to find ways to build vision casting into the rhythm of your organization.

4.  Celebration The Vision Systematically - To make vision stick, a leader needs to pause long enough to celebrate wins along the way.

KEY:  What is celebrated is repeated.  Celebrations trump motivational speeches every time.

5.  Embrace The Vision Personally - When you embody the vision of your organization, people come to believe that your job is more than just a job for you.  Over time it occurs to insiders that you would be doing the same thing even if their weren't an organization to support you.

KEY:  Sharp people will not embrace a vision that is merely a marketing scheme for someone else's personal agenda.  I'm tempted to say 'no one' will follow a leader who doesn't live his or her vision.  But the truth is, people do it all the time.  Eventually, they wake up to discover they have been used and deceived.

If God has given you a picture of what could be and should be, embrace it fully and refuse to allow the busyness and urgency of life to distract you.

Italian Steeler's Fans

This is an awesome combination.  Two things I love:  my Italian heritage and the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Thanks to Marcia for passing this video on to me.  One day, I would love to visit this place.  CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO.

The Way We See Him?

A few weeks ago, I was teaching in the MCM Ministry School.  My assignment for that day was to study the preaching pattern of the book of Acts.  Honestly, I have never looked that closely at the way the apostles preached before?

What was central to every message that the apostles shared was the declaration of the risen Jesus!  They preached a person, not a process of salvation, or a propositional truth.  They described how He was crucified.  But then they focused on how He now was ALIVE.

This is the center of what Christianity is about.  We serve a person who is alive.  He speaks.  He pursues.  He loves.  He provides proof of His resurrection by doing miracles.  He is active in the world, not hidden or dormant.

So often people want to make Christianity into something else:

• A moralistic philosophy that provides a religious system and a set of rules to follow.
• A set of propositional truths that guide our belief system and therefore our lifestyles.
• A religious club to which one belongs that allows for friendships with like-minded people.
• A therapeutic atmosphere where I am inspired and helped to deal with my life's problems.
• A means through which I can deal with my sense of guilt and shame through fulfilling a set of religious duties on a regular basis.

How awful to miss the central idea of the Christian faith!  Christianity is about a relationship with a LIVING PERSON.  He is present in the NOW.  He is not some dead historic hero from the past.  He is not some distant disinterested force in the universe.

We declare Jesus who is alive!  He is God in the flesh.  He was crucified for my sin.  He was buried.  Yet, He rose from the dead.  He appeared to over 500 witness as being alive.  He ascended to heaven.  But He is still active in the world every day, providing convincing proofs that He lives.

I have discovered that when I preach him, a powerful anointing falls on my life and ministry.  Even now as I write this, I sense the Holy Spirit's confirming presence.  The Holy Spirit loves the preaching of a living Jesus.  Something jumps on the inside of me when I talk about the person of Christ.

It's almost like divine sparks in the atmosphere when Jesus is preached.  And the key is Jesus.  Not just explaining the way of salvation:  turn from your sin, ask God to forgive you, and He will come in and make you spiritually alive.  That is the process of salvation.

We don't just preach a process.  We preach a person.  And when we talk about the person of Jesus, the Holy Spirit coats our words with His power.  Try it out today.  Tell someone about the person of Jesus.  Talk about what He is doing in your world today.  Watch and see what the Holy Spirit will do when you speak of Jesus.

Endure Or Enjoy

In a few minutes I leave my hotel room, here in Sweden, and travel to the airport to go home.  I am so excited.  This has been a longer trip than normal for me, 10 days.  I am longing to see Mel and the kids. I find myself counting the hours until I am home (right now if everything goes well...I will be home in 20 hours).

This past weekend, I shared a message with Harvest Center that in many ways has become a life message for me.  The core idea of the message is this:  JOY IS IN THE JOURNEY NOT IN THE DESTINATION.   I take the thought out of Luke 10:38-42, where Martha was putting off enjoyment of Jesus and his work until after the chores were done.

She bought the lie that when I get there, then I will have joy.
When this problem is over...
When my vacation arrives...
When I finally meet Mr. or Mrs. Right
When I get that job I always wanted...

Jesus said to Martha, 'you are worried and distracted about so many things.  Only one thing is needed!'

Slow down.  Appreciate the small things in life.  Invite Jesus into every moment.  Choose joy NOW.  Don't put it off until later.  I am constantly challenged by this thought.

And today, I must really work hard to put it into practice.  I don't want to just ENDURE the trip home.  I have a nine hour flight from Sweden to Atlanta.  Then Atlanta to Pittsburgh.

I want to ENJOY the trip home.  So I invite Jesus into my moments today as I travel.  I look forward to the destination.  But I will take time to appreciate the moments along the way.  I hope you can do the same in your journey throughout this day regardless of where you are or what is happening.

New Series - December

This weekend we launch into a new series for the month of December.  I am so looking forward to being back at Allison Park Church!!!!  I fly out on Wednesday at about 6am (Pittsburgh time) and arrive at about 10pm.  It has been such a profitable time here in Sweden.

The title of the NEW series is THE CHRISTMAS CONSPIRACY.  Doesn't that sound like a good movie?

So what's the Conspiracy?

I guess you will just have to show up to find out?  No, I won't do that to you!  Actually, the idea of Christmas is a total conspiracy from the very beginning.  It is God conspiring to overthrow the powers of darkness through the coming of His Son Jesus.

Truly, the baby born in Bethlehem began a revolution that has radically changed the world.  To be true to its origins, the celebration of Christmas should always remain as such a conspiracy to overthrow the darkness and radically alter the world.

Too often the celebration of this holiday has become about spending money and giving material items.  Or simply about some days off, some good food, and some time with family.

But for true followers of Jesus.  Christmas should ignite in us a fresh commitment to revolutionary lifestyle.  I hope you can join us for this important month.  Here's a look at the topics:

• When Heaven Invades Earth - Dec 6-7
• When Light Invades Darkness - Dec 13-14 (APC Choir will sing w/ special guest Melody Olson)
• When Giving Overtakes Getting - Dec 20-21 (APC Kids Choir Day)
• When The All-Powerful Pursues The Unlovable - Dec 24th (4pm, 6pm, 8pm)
• When The Future Overtakes The Past - Dec 27-28

This new series will not only be shared at APC but at a total of eight of the MCM Pittsburgh churches.  And during this month all of these churches will do something to activate the spirit of giving.

Each church involved will donate $10 in honor of every visitor that attends their church during the month of December to an organization called Food For The Poor.  Most of these same churches will also be reaching out to their communities through the Network Of Hope's Give-A-Gift Store.

Hope to see you this weekend so that together we can join the revolution.

Lucia

The Swedes celebrate a wonderful holiday here in December as they lead up to Christmas.  It's called LUCIA.  The day is named after a girl, as legend has it, who used to bring food to the persecuted Christians hiding in the catacombs in Rome.

In order to see on her way down to help these believers, they believe she wore candles in her hair.  As the story goes, eventually she was caught, and burned at the stake for her crime of helping believers.  Now, as this is a new story to me, I cannot tell you if the legend is true or not?  Read more here.

On December 13th, on of the darkest days here in Sweden (and believe me it can seem at times as if they whole day is darkness with just a few hours sunlight), they celebrate LUCIA.  They light candles, gather with family, and celebrate the thought that the days of darkness are almost over. 

The days of light are on the way.

There is a lot of potential meaning in that thought.  We believe that too.  That the days of darkness (not just physical darkness...but spiritual) are almost over.  The day of light is on the way.

Song Of Week