Do Something Harder

My natural default is not, "seek something more difficult" - is yours? I doubt it. We seem to have a natural tendency to slide to the easy side of life. To hope for comfort and tranquility. Don't get me wrong those are important at the right time and place. God made it clear that we are to, "keep the sabbath holy" Exodus 20:8

But in comfort and ease we do not learn the lessons of life. It is in labor, strife, and pain that our ears and hearts seem to be most open to God's teaching. That is why I have prayed and offered myself up to God that I would do something "harder" for Him - whatever He desires. Admittedly I did not think the answer would come so soon. However, all indications are that answer has arrived in the form of leading two churches into become one church in two locations.

I did not think there was anything harder than starting a church. I was wrong, leading two young churches is harder. But, here is why I'm so excited about this. 1. It is a clear answer to pray. 2. It is an opportunity to have my faith stretched even more and for God to show up in ways I could never have imagined. I am already seeing this as we begin the process of becoming one church in two locations.

God is raising up workers for the harvest (Matt. 9:37-38) to make this happen. Obviously, I've got my hands full with one young church but the good news is it's not about me. This is an opportunity for more people to get off the sidelines and into to game of ministry. Most people would say, "My life is too busy, I've got too much going on." Me too! But, when you pray and ask God to make your life harder if that will bring him more glory you better be ready for an answer.

We see this problem of ease throughout the Bible. God does something amazing in the life of the Israelites, they worship God, then slowly over time they turn away from God as life gets easier. As trials and tribulations subside they forget about their God. But, as soon as things turn difficult they again turn to God.

We see this in the life of the Church as well. History shows us that the Church grows fastest through persecution, trails and tribulations. The fastest growing churches in the world are in places where it's illegal to have an independent Jesus centered church. China is booming with underground churches growing by the thousands daily.

We see this in the life of individuals as well. Martin Luther's life wasn't made easier by putting all he had into translating the Bible into the "Lingua Franca" or "common language" so you and I can now read it. No, he asked God for more difficulty and more strife if it brought more glory to Him. We need to seek the harder things because in those we grow. Otherwise we slide...we slide away from God, away from ministry, away from faith.

The easier our life gets the farther we slide from God. I'm not talking about all out rebellion like the Israelites often did by turning to other gods and cultic practices. Ours is a more subtle drift that begins like this: Less Bible reading in our devotional life, less prayer, less church attendance, less participation in ministry and serving. But, we add other things as we slide away from God; more to do at our job, more kids sports functions or after school activities that have nothing to do with the Lord, more participation in things that have nothing to do with building or growing your faith. It's a simple slide away from the Lord and it's really easy. It's really subtle. All of the sudden you realize, "I haven't had my devotions in weeks...I haven't been to church in weeks...I haven't...."

Do something harder. Tell God today you are willing to do something harder for Him, something that will bring Him more glory through your life, something that might make a difference in someone's life.

The Search for Worship Leaders, Why We Outsource

MondayMorningInsight.com had a great post about Outsourcing Worship Leaders. It struck a chord with me because that is what we have done at Seven San Diego for the last year and it has benefited us and the worship leaders tremendously.

I don't think it's the best plan overall. I would like someone that has the mix gift of pastor-leader and musical abilities but WHOA! is that rare. Most of these guys and gals want to be Crowder or Tomlin or Darlene Zschech and don't want to commit to a local church.

Here's what I'm finding, some (many) worship leaders want the local church to support them when they don't have outside gigs. The local church has become a "fall back" option for many worship leaders. Here's what I mean: Many worship leaders are not good enough(or don't have the connections, etc.) to do the Lincoln Brewster, Crowder, Tomlin, Zschech thing. That is if they wanted to...they could full time travel and lead worship concerts.

Many worship leaders are good enough to lead on a Sunday at a local church and at a Christian camp here or there. So, they try to build their "career" by having a local church outlet to support them financially while trying to build their "brand" by getting "six weeks to travel" or "10 weeks" or whatever they ask on their laundry list of requirements so they can fulfill their "global" calling. I have had many conversations with good men and women who have said the same thing, "I believe God has a global call on my life and am not sure the local church is where I'm supposed to commit." Huh?

This can start to sound a bit pessimistic about local church worship leadership (and I'm not a pessimist by any stretch of the imagination) but it is the reality I have found in interviewing, talking on the phone, emailing what seems like hundreds of potential candidates at this point. It's become irritating. I'm looking for the guy or gal who loves Jesus, loves the local church and wants to be part of a team. That takes humility...I dare say it, that is what is lacking in many worship leaders today.

Many worship leaders don't have the skills/gifts to lead music and be personable. They don't have the mix of pastor-leader-musician. Not an easy combo, but when you see it you know it. I'm looking for it.

So, the way I see it is the local church has been put in this posture (to outsource worship leadership) because so many worship leaders just want to play music. In that sense it's a win win. The local church gets a variety of worship music by a variety of people God is using. It is a bridge until we find the right person who loves Jesus, loves the local church, and wants to be part of the team.

Patience is Key

Life is so much about patience. Waiting in an emergency room is a good reminder that the world does not hurry for my needs. I think we turned down the wrong hall somewhere because this is clearly NOT the emergency room. This is the "it says emergency room outside but that is so hypothetical...room."

We have been ushered, like a legless turtle, down the hall into a room where I'm listening to doctors and nurses guess at the amount of sedative they just gave the patient behind curtain 6...which is terribly comforting at this hour.

The better news is I've been sitting in this chair which at some level has become part of me except that it is a really uncomfortable part. It's like sitting naked on broken sea shells.

Our pregnant pause is past 5 hours. It's 2:00am now and there is no sign that Riley will get his stitches any time soon. His chin looks a lot like and opened oyster right now. Ah, but the time will come soon enough, patience, oh sweet patience. It could be worse.

Soon, I will see the sun will come up, or soon The Son will come back, not sure which one will be first but am anticipating the second much more than the first and at this point don't want to be sitting in sea shells when the first happens. However, if it so happens that it is the sun before The Son, I shall remain patient.

End of the World Teaching Series

The End of the World is coming...We continue our end of the world teaching series this Sunday. I will be talking about Signs of the End.

It can be such a strange topic because there are various views...even among Christians...about how "The End" will look. I'm glad you logged on to my blog because I've got the right answer! - Ok, I've got what I believe is the right answer based off my and many other's study of Scripture.

Throughout this process I promise not make it "weird". It will be down home, plain english, to the point...we will not be drinking any Kool-Aid or anything.

I'm going to be blogging about it because on Sunday there just isn't enough time to dig into all the Bible prophecy and nuggets that foretell the things to come.

My goal is to have many of your questions answered on Sundays but inevitably you will have some questions after my deep, precise, and through examination and exposition of biblical eschatology (...slight exaggeration...) and definite overuse of theology terms.

So, to give you a preview..and for those who are logging on after Sunday Aug 23rd. Here are a couple of the signs I want to talk about...and I may not get to all the details in 30 min. or so on Sunday.

1. The RE-Gathering of Israel.
In 1948 - Israel became an official independent "state." The Bible speaks about the regathering of Israel as the key element to the beginning of the END. This regathering would have been unthinkable just decades before. The Jews were absolutley scattered all over the world with only (at high estimates) 4% living in Israel. Today of the 7million + living in Israel over 5 million + are Jews- over 75%! That is significant. The regathering is occuring.

A few verses: Isa 43:5 Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you.

Isa 11:12 He will raise a signal for the nations
and will assemble ithe banished of Israel,
and gather the dispersed of Judah
from the four corners of the earth.
Also: Deut. 30:1-4

Many verses in Isaiah talk about this Regathering. It is the SUPERSIGN that precedes all other events. That is why 1948 was so significant. Many Christians at that time cried in joy seeing that this prophecy was being fulfilled before their eyes. It continues to be fulfilled today as more and more Jews return to their homeland.

Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and many of the OT prophets talk about this. As a matter of fact of the 16 OT Prophets- 10 mention this Supersign.

SO WHAT? WHY SHOULD I CARE?
Because it continues to prove the Bible is accurate and true. And, since the Bible had over 300 prophecies concerning Jesus' 1st coming - and they ALL came true - you can bet, at a 100% accuracy clip - the prophecies (of which there are 8x more) of his 2nd Coming will also prove true.

In Matthew Jesus gives us some parables. The point to those parables is simple: BE READY. He says we need to be WATCHFUL, not getting lazy because He will come when we least expect it. He tells us, Be WATCHING, Be WORKING, Be WAITING.

Read Matthew 25. I'd love to hear your comments and thoughts on "The End."

Summer of 09

BLOGGIN' LAGGIN'
My increased use of twitter has tripped up my blogging. Blogger is also extremely slow in uploading photos and video so I've turned to twitter for my followers needs :).

However, to work on my writing and journaling skills--or lack thereof--I want to continue to blog at some level.

SUMMER 2009
It's been a good summer. It's been a challenging summer. So many lessons learned, experiences I've had of which the memories will last a lifetime.

We just got back from a round trip that included Janie's cousin's funeral in Kansas, our annual visit to Mt. Hermon in the Coastal Redwoods and visiting our friends in High Desert of Victorville and Apple Valley.

Sometimes I wonder where'd I'd be if it weren't for the peace and serenity that is Mt. Hermon. I am so thankful for that place. Here are a couple pictures and you will see what I mean.



Coming back to church and firing up the ministry engines means finding a worship leader, finding a building and getting rockin' and rollin' for the Fall.

As for the now, the Yankees and the Red Sox are about to get going on Sunday night Baseball so this blog will end for now--but follow me on twitter for more updates, more consistently.

twitter.com/jmcgarity

Otis and the Carton of Shame

We have a new punishment device for Otis when he gets out of the yard and when he digs up the entire backyard as he has done many times.

I'm tired of repairing the grass after he digs and I'm tired of adding more boards and rocks to keep him from digging out of the yard.

So, I have crowned him with a new crown. He must now wear the carton of shame! So far, this has prevented him from digging under the fence and from tearing up the backyard.

We shall see if this will hold up until our vibrating collar and motion detecting fence with zapper arrives in the mail.

He has taken it amazingly well, only looking at me with that Otis look...which says...I will win...this carton will not last...soon as you are not looking I will return to the other side of the fence and your beautiful backyard will once again look like a war zone...only a matter of time...only a matter of time...(he continues saying that on and on in his mind....)

Opening Night Padres and 7SD New Building

Riley and I kept our tradition for the 5th straight year by attending Opening Day of the Padres (We always make it to one of the opening series games). This time it was versus the hated Dodgers. We had a great time enjoying our Toyota Terrace Seats (Thanks Ethan), and the new 5 for 5 deal the Padres have. 5 items for 5 bucks. I think that was the best part of the game since the Friars lost. However, we managed a split of the series by winning two or four games versus the heavily favored and highly paid Blue Man Group.

7SD: Here is the link to the building we are trying to lease to have our church offices and our auditorium, kids, pre-k, nursery, sports programs, etc.

http://gallery.me.com/jmcgarity#100076&bgcolor=black&view=grid