November 12th, 2008
my blog will temporarily be “closed” (seriously, don’t cry - stop it!) since I have just not kept up with it lately. please feel free to check back probably in January 2009 (since new year’s goals are right around the corner…) and I may do some re-evaluating of how, what it should and will look like in the future.
in the meantime, you can click here to read my wife’s blog and see what is going on with the Hixson’s.
happy thanksgiving, merry christmas, happy new year………..maybe easter, have a great summer…….. ?????
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October 26th, 2008
The VL Team took our first staff retreat this past week and it was a blast! We had a great time together - laughing, having fun, eating, laughing, hiking and looking at deer (are you happy Melissa?), riding 4-wheelers, laughing, bonding, getting to know each other better, and laughing.
After this week, I learned what T.E.A.M. really stands for…………..
Together
Everyone
Acts like
Middle-Schoolers
Seriously - I am SO grateful that I get to serve God with this incredible, gifted, serving, fun team of people who are more than just a team - they are my friends. We are all on mission and in this journey together - and I am convinced that our time away - together - will strengthen our mission and our journey ahead!
(for more pictures from our retreat, go to Hollie and Rhonda’s blogs)
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October 24th, 2008
I have been in the worst blog slump (a.k.a. feeling too busy to do anything else) - so don’t give up on me! I plan to be back in full effect after the weekend, just wanted to give a shout out to anyone that is still with me!Going to High School Musical 3 tonight - the girls are going to love it!
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October 6th, 2008
Yesterday at VL, we talked about Infl-U-ence - the reality that we have all been influenced, the impact of influence that people have on people, and goal of being different as a result of influence. We all have the capacity to be influenced and the ability to influence others.
In Matthew 5:13-16, we see Jesus telling the crowd and disciples then - and us now - to not sit around and wait for the kingdom of heaven “one day” (which will come) but to bring the kingdom of heaven - and INFLUENCE our earth and our world - “to-day”!
Too often, as Christians, we want to “huddle” together after finding the glorious light, salvation, life found in Jesus - and “wait” for heaven one day when Jesus clearly says - get out there and be salt and light to your earth and world to others so they can “glorify our Father in heaven” and experience that same light, salvation, and new life! And simply put - if we are not being what He created us to be - we are missing it.
As followers of Jesus, He says:
U are the salt to the earth
U are the light of the world.
What are U doing with the Infl-U-ence you have?
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October 2nd, 2008
seriously - you have to love this……
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October 1st, 2008
One of the things I have found myself wrestling with on this journey of planting and pastoring our church is knowing the need to have a vision, keeping the vision in mind, communicating that vision, and realizing that without vision - we will wake up and either be stuck or just “here”. And many times I feel like I am supposed to have answers (especially for the “future”) that I just don’t have - and that can lead to fear, frustration and insecurities.
Along this journey I have been realizing the value of STEPS. And the truth is, in order to get from “here” to “there” - it takes steps. So it is both - seeing what we don’t see (vision), and putting one foot in front of the other along the way (steps) - in order to get there (and ultimately trusting God with what “there” really looks like!).
A friend of mine once said, “just do the next right thing” - I will never forget that. It is steps along the journey - and I am also realizing the truth in what others have already said, “God’s desire is not about the destination, but the journey.” - so true. steps.
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September 26th, 2008
I had another conversation this week with someone who has been coming to VL and is not yet a follower of Jesus, and much of it surrounded around the approach of getting the message across. In many settings, the approach is very important - whether it be athletics, business, leadership, raising a family. I think we would all agree that the approach is important.
I believe that approach is very important to “how” we convey this incredible message that Jesus is our Savior and that EVERYONE can receive this free gift. But when a person who is “not there, but getting closer” basically says that the approach is important and in so many words, “I am at least willing to lean in and listen” - that speaks to me.
I realize and believe it is by God’s grace and power alone that a person can come to faith in Jesus. However, I go back to His instructions for us - to take this message. So let’s focus on what we can do and trust God to do what only He can do.
I am convinced that many people will not come to church b/c of fears - be it personal, experiences they had in the past, or just preconceived ideas of what “church” is going to be like. Our approach can either confirm or disarm those fears - which obviously doesn’t change the message itself - but can provide an environment where they may be willing to “lean in and listen“. And since we are the most effective “front door”, we should look at our approach.
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September 25th, 2008
I had a great conversation this week over lunch with a guy at VL who has recently come to faith in Christ - through a friend who had recently come to faith in Christ (which, by the way - seems to be the most effective people b/c those of us who have been “in the faith” for a long time are pretty much stale and lazy - including myself so don’t be a hater!) - and in our conversation something struck me.
We all want people to come through the “front door” of our churches - those unchurched, undecided, non-believers…right? What is the most effective “front door”? Is it a mail-out? Is it through random service in the community to let people know that we care? Is it billboards on I-75? Is it signs on the weekends pointing them to our church?
I believe in the “both/and” theory and ALL of it can be very effective - especially depending on our different communities, etc. At VL - we all know that our mail-outs have been extremely effective to expose people to our church - and we will continue to use them.
However - back to my conversation - this guy was not coming to church, probably wouldn’t have come b/c of a mail-out - and wasn’t really looking for a church. But his friend invited him to come. An unchurched, non-believer came because someone he KNEW was coming. We are the most effective “front door” to reaching unchurched, undecided, non-believers. Again, ALL of the other stuff is great and works - especially to those looking, interested, contemplating going to church (which is VERY important as well), but to answer the “most effective” question….
We are the church - to our world, spheres of influence, home, neighborhood, workplace, school, community.
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September 22nd, 2008
Seriously - you owe it to yourself to go here and see what my wife just posted on her blog! Straight up, this is not one of our friends dressed like this, acting crazy - this is the real deal boys and girls! I have never in my life seen anything like it! Just another reason to live in the south - never short of entertainment!
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