Share the Love

Helping people take their next step toward Christ...together...no, seriously, together! That would be a cool mission statement for churches around the world as a whole. Trinity Church expressed that in a very real way this weekend when they lent our students their skatepark.

Someone with a "scarcity" mindset would say, "Why do that?"..."What if they break it?"..."If they don't break it, at the very least they will add to the wear and tear!"

Those with an "abundance" mindset would say, "Wow, what a great statement we would be making to the world if we shared our stuff with another church"..."What if one of those skater students who might not of had any great Christian skater friends before, really connects with one over those short couple of hours?"..."What if as a result of this event, one of them comes to know Jesus?"... "Wow, now that's a risk work taking, a risk greater than wear and tear!" Thanks Trinity.

In turn, Oasis tried to express that when we lent Five Star our Luau stuff for their kick-off. As I know Five Star will do with their stuff as well. Pay it Forward Baby!

Bloggin' for Jesus

She's only 10 and she get's it. On her blogspot, my young friend Kira has the ABC's to becoming a Christian (undoubtably something she's learned in Mrs. Sheila's class), talks about how cool church is and expresses her concern for her friend who needs Jesus. She also responds to the "Walk with me questions" in Hebrews. In her own little way she exhibits 3 of 5 GCC Wins: "Invests and Invites", "Have a Friend, Be a Friend" and "Read your Bible". What a reader worthy blog my young friend has.

I've been reflecting on bloggin' lately and have lots of questions. Is it really worth the time...is it making a difference...is it worthy of you taking time out of your life to read...am I bloggin' just to have blogged? Many bloggin' friends have dropped out of the bloggin' world. Does that mean the answer was more often "no" than "yes"? If "all staff" emails costs $25, how much does clickin' and readin' everyones blog cost a corporation / organization / church? How much of my life is evaporating away as I read a bunch of mindless garbage to get to the nuggets? While I really like the nuggets and I really like getting updates on peoples lives and I really like telling the stories...at what expense or who's expense? Lots of questions with very few answers...I'm good at that. I'm gonna keep on bloggin', but just try to make more of an effort to make sure it's reader worthy.

The Demolition Team

You want to put a huge smile on the face of a middle school guy...or girl? Give them a hammer and tell them to take a whack at the wall. It's like the pinata to beat all pinatas. Some of our Oasis students and leaders put the hammer to the wall at Manowe last week. Manowe is renovating their gym into a conference center that will fit a couple of hundred people. It will be very cool. Thanks to Jim and Eric for allowing us to be a part of renovating the room that will be used to reach hundreds, perhaps even thousands, for Jesus.


You want to put a huge smile on the face of Judy? Show her one of the critters found in the rafters...a bat. Don't worry, it was dead...I think.

Learn the Art of Frog Kissing

Jeanne Mayo talks about "Learning the Art of Frog Kissing" a lot. It means learning how to see past the warts (the junk) in people and recognize their potential...not necessarily who they are, but who they can become. I love that phrase.

After I talked about it at Oasis, Chrissy and Jason's Simnick's daughter was caught on camera practicing it...literally!

Walk With Me Questions of the Day #4

Hebrews 12:1-3 ROCK and are worth memorizing. Memorize them and it's worth a free dinner at the Oasis cafe (piece of pizza, chips, pop/water and desert of your choosing). Considering the witnesses they are probably referring to are the heroes of the faith talked about in Hebrews 11, that is way cool. They've handed off the baton to us! Zowee! How well are you running your leg of the race (no need to respond, just something to ponder)? I'm doing ok, but desire to do so much better.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:2-3

There were a lot of great verses in those two chapters, stuff we don't necessarily like to hear about but desperately need to (ex. discipline, bitterness, living under authority, etc.), most of which we know. However, it's one thing to know God's Word and totally another to be transformed by it. That's my prayer, that we'll both be transformed as you "Walk with me".

Walk With Me Questions of the Day #3

Hey friends, sorry for the delay. I took Saturday totally off (my Sabbath). I did my Bible study, but don't have internet there. Here are the readings from Saturday and Sunday.

I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their ______. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Hebrews 8:10

For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear _____ ____ in God's presence. Hebrews 9:24

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may _____ one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:23-24

And without faith it is _________ to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hewbrews 11:6

Ok, by far Chapter 11 was my favorite chapter of the four. I like the history/faith lesson. However, my favorite verse was Hebrews 8:10. I desperately want God's Word to forever be on my mind and in my heart. It's the measuring rod for truth in this world, for we can't distinguish the truth if we don't know The Truth found in God's Word. That's why I want you to "Walk with Me", so that we can learn God's truth together. I like the last line of verse 8 as well, "I will be their God, and they will be my people"...too cool!

Which of the four verses (or any other ones in those chapters) hit home the most for you?

Glory Road - 5+ Star Rating

Glory Road - It's a Must See
The inspiring true story of the underdog Texas Western basketball team, with history's first all African American starting lineup of players, who took the country by storm, surprisingly winning the 1966 NCAA tournament title. Josh Lucas stars as Hall of Famer Don Haskins, the passionately dedicated college basketball coach that changed the history of basketball with his team's victory in this time of innocence.

I saw this with some great friends on Friday night. It was incredible. I give it a five star rating. In fact, there are not many movies that I have a desire to see twice, but this one measures up. I might even "pay" to see it twice, which is a huge!

Walk With Me Questions of the Day #2

God is not __________; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10

...but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to ____ completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he _______ himself. Hebrews 7:24-27

The cool thing in the chapter 7 verse is that Jesus wasn't forced to lay down his life, He chose to...that's some serious love. As He chose us, He asks us to chose Him!

The fact that He intercedes for us is pretty cool too! If I were in a courtroom, I would definitely want Him pleading my case before the judge.

Walk With Me Questions of the Day #1

Hebrews 4:12-13
For the ________ of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been ________ in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 5:7-9
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and _______ to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him...

Fill in the blanks, of the three which one is your favorite and why?

Walk With Me - The New Question of the Day

Ok, I really think I'm a little (or as Natalie would probably say... a lot) on the ADD side. My mind zips in a 1,000 different directions...all the time. In the last hour, I've work on two different flyers, read the intro to a parenting book, glanced at two DVD's, sent three emails, surfed the internet, listened to Tim and Tony's podcast and am now thinking about my blog and lack of "Hero of the Day" questions lately.

While I love biblical hero's, we've already hit on a lot of them when it comes to "Hero Question of the Day"...to the point that I'm having to put a lot of effort into finding them and a cool scripture with their name in it. So, now I'm going to do a little change up that will be easier for me. If you're interested, you're invited to join me on a journey with some of my friends. Each week I meet with my inner circle of friends to go over stuff we've read in the Bible. After going down numerous rabbit trails, we usually cover around a dozen chapters. So, I'm going to give you my best of the best highlights in each chapter, along with the opportunity for a fill in or two, when it comes to stuff I'm learning. In honor of one of my favorite sayings on Wednesday night before Oasis, the new question of the day is entitled "Walk With Me". As Mr. Rogers (or some other dude) would say "Join me, won't you?"

Chris and Ryan - This Week!

When asked, Johnny Keim gave illusionists, Chris and Ryan, two thumbs up! The guys will be here this week! Kick-off Oasis in 2006 right by inviting your friends to check it out! Bring your parents too! I will be talking with them about Oasis and spring events down in the Great Room, while you're in the auditorium with your friends and some of the coolest leaders on the planet. Can't wait till Wednesday.

Got Skills?

I took a little blog vacation for the holidays. It's good to be back! For those Oasis radicals who will be there tomorrow night when we kick off our new series "Got Skills?", we've got a fun special guest for you. His name is Josh and he got some kickin' cool skills himself.