http://www.churchweblogs.com Christ's Church of the Valley Weblogs by ChurchWeblogs.com en-us Wednesday, July 23, 2008<br /><br /><strong>Years ago there was a lady in the church I served who was really into <a href="http://www.gty.org/">John MacArthur</a>.<br /></strong><br />(If you’re not familiar with John MacArthur, he’s like the <a href="http://www.billoreilly.com/">Bill O’Reilly</a> of modern-day pastors).<br /><br />It seemed that <strong>every time she saw me in the hallway</strong> she was sticking…<br /><br />…a John MacArthur sermon cassette tape<br /><br />…or a John MacArthur book<br /><br />…or a John MacArthur study guide<br /><br />…or a John MacArthur pamphlet in my hand.<br /><br />“Pastor Brian, this teaching is so powerful. You MUST listen to/read this.”<br /><br />I could tolerate all the MacArthur paraphernalia and the not-so-subtle hints about how shallow my sermons were, but <strong>the one thing I couldn’t stomach was the condescending way she used to talk about the new people who were coming to faith in our church.<br /></strong><br />“Pastor Brian, the baby Christians here aren’t quite where they need to be…”<br /><br />“Pastor Brian, we need to get these baby Christians in The Word…”<br /><br />“Pastor Brian, have you seen those…”<br /><br />I wanted to hurl every time I talked with her.<br /><br /><strong>Here’s a simple fact</strong>: <span style="color:#3333ff;">most Bible consuming Christians I’ve met over the years have been painfully arrogant.<br /></span><br />No-one is as spiritual as they are.<br /><br />They confuse Bible knowledge with spiritual maturity.<br /><br />They’ve turned the study of scripture into a recreational hobby, as if the act of studying the Bible itself is what pleases God.<br /><br /><strong>And worst of all, they’ve committed the most subtle form of idolatry of all</strong> – <em>they’ve replaced the centrality of the risen Jesus in their life with a book that talks about the risen Jesus.<br /></em><br />And then they look askance at anyone who dares to differ with them.<br /><br /><strong>Who pleases Jesus more?</strong> A "baby Christian" who has never read Jesus' command to be humble, yet is radically self-effacing? Or the person who has memorized every verse in the Bible that talks about humility yet remains painfully arrogant?<br /><br /><strong>Read all the posts in this series:<br /></strong><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/misguided-spiritual-disciplines.html">The Misguided Spiritual Disciplines</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/we-pray-too-much-not-too-little.html">We Pray Too Much, Not Too Little</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/stop-trying-to-get-christians-to.html">Stop Trying To Get Christians To Worship</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/your-prayer-time-is-too-small.html">Your Prayer Time Is Too Small</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/christians-spend-too-much-time-studying.html">Christians Spend Too Much Time Studying The Bible</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/excessive-bible-study-produces-arrogant.html">Excessive Bible Study Produces Arrogant Christians</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Brianjonescom/~4/343507886" height="1" width="1"/> Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:07:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=110284 1177162732 <div><div>Day two has come and gone at Escape and here are the highlights of today. We kicked off our morning with breakfast at 8am and had our morning worship service shortly after that. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226036129577008146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIacK87LfBI/AAAAAAAAAVc/-_JZeRijj8Y/s400/Escape-worship.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>Jeffery talked with our students about identity through the morning session. The main idea revolved around this - When we allow the world to create our identity for us we lose. Our identity has nothing to do with what we do but everything to do with who we are. We are each uniquely created by God in his image. The topic really connected with our teens. They are constantly bombarded by our culture with how they should look, ways they should act, brands they should wear and it can be extremely challenging to find God in it all if you are not focused on seeking Him.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226039626565961026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIafWgOURUI/AAAAAAAAAVk/YU5SbQAJ5jk/s400/escape-slide.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>After lunch it was all about the 130ft water slide (that practically went straight down) and the trampoline in the middle of the lake! The weather was perfect, the water was warm, and yes the teens pressured me into going down the slide backwards!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226039626573457826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIafWgQGqaI/AAAAAAAAAVs/kEauPVZYyfs/s400/escape-trampoline.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p>After a day of fun we had some dinner and gathered back up for our evening worship service. Tonight it was all about honesty and surrender. Being honest with God and ourselves about things in our life we have to change. We all have parts of ourselves that we want to hold close and keep control over. However, we have to surrender - in order to find our true identity in Christ, we have to surrender to God the good and the bad in our lives.</p><p>Small group time tonight went into over time. The students really connected to God and each other. It was beautiful to see them sharing deeply and I simply walked the area praying. I walked by one pair of girls talking and asked, "How are you two doing?"</p><p>They replied smiling, "This is so great! We just found out that we both are struggling with the same stuff and it is nice to know we are both dealing with it." Students - praying, supporting, and loving other students. AWESOME.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226039634745017858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIafW-sWxgI/AAAAAAAAAV0/qy_EpOuhcQQ/s400/Escape 1.jpg" border="0" /></p> <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=Y5vQPo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=Y5vQPo" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=TphpCJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=TphpCJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=yQsT4J"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=yQsT4J" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=ZXqymJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=ZXqymJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=OrTJSJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=OrTJSJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=U3CX3j"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=U3CX3j" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=lyNu3J"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=lyNu3J" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/343151703" height="1" width="1"/> Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:43:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=110041 400425555 <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIY3m1IJx0I/AAAAAAAAAVU/lW4amSEfMl4/s1600-h/amish buggy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225925557845870402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIY3m1IJx0I/AAAAAAAAAVU/lW4amSEfMl4/s200/amish buggy.jpg" border="0" /></a>Escape has gotten off to a great start! As we were driving to the retreat center, Ben and I couldn't help but notice we were beginning to leave civilization as we were passing by Amish buggys. We had more students show up then expected which is wonderful, not only did we fill our entire bus but we ended up needing to take 3 additional car loads of students to accommodate the need.<br /><br /><div><div>As we arrived at Black Rock Retreat I couldn't help but notice the beauty <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIYGN5VIX9I/AAAAAAAAAVM/ZWJEHh-Zc6c/s1600-h/blackrock2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225871253407555538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIYGN5VIX9I/AAAAAAAAAVM/ZWJEHh-Zc6c/s200/blackrock2.jpg" border="0" /></a>of God's creation. I love paying nature a visit from time to time, but I'm not much of outdoors-man, so I don't get out in the woods much. When I do finally get away from the hustle of where we live and work it is great to experience the peace that comes with going on retreats like this. However, that all changes when you bring High School students with you, but we love em anyway!!!</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIYFrZY5fLI/AAAAAAAAAU8/h96bBp5MjJs/s1600-h/blackrock1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225870660717870258" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIYFrZY5fLI/AAAAAAAAAU8/h96bBp5MjJs/s200/blackrock1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://jeffreydean.com/">Jeffery Dean</a> did a great job of starting us off the first night by asking our students to reflect on why they are here. After our small group time last night - I think they get it. They had their Bibles out and took notes and one of my interns (Adam) told me he thought some of the teens were having some life changing moments. I look forward to seeing what God does next!</div></div> <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=WEpob1"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=WEpob1" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=AG5HsJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=AG5HsJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=BeWjYJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=BeWjYJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=7du0gJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=7du0gJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=eRCVLJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=eRCVLJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=hZgpGj"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=hZgpGj" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=k2OPrJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=k2OPrJ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/342701392" height="1" width="1"/> Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:47:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=109937 1818787246 Tuesday, July 22, 2008<br /><br />Last week's camp was just amazing as 959 kids from around the area attended our Kids’ Camp Big Top.<br /><br />I can’t tell you how proud I am of the volunteers and staff who worked night and day to make this 3 day experience happen.<br /><br />Here’s the highlights video…<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fWDbWGsERCA&hl=" fs="1" width="425" height="344" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Brianjonescom/~4/342416008" height="1" width="1"/> Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:00:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=109758 2227622787 <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SISHVaMQQUI/AAAAAAAAAU0/eNt7NPRZjh4/s1600-h/escapevacation.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225450269534339394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SISHVaMQQUI/AAAAAAAAAU0/eNt7NPRZjh4/s200/escapevacation.jpg" border="0" /></a>This week is the home stretch for me. We leave today for our summer High School retreat called Escape! We will be heading to a retreat center with a lake, water slide, gymnasium, outdoor pool, bonfires and more. <a href="http://jeffreydean.com/index.html">Jeffery Dean</a> will be coming to speak at our retreat and I look forward to our High School Students connecting deeply with God and building strong friendships with each other. <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=yq6kAV"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=yq6kAV" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=XvHOsJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=XvHOsJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=M0FBYJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=M0FBYJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=uEiktJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=uEiktJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=v4NK7J"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=v4NK7J" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=oQUN2j"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=oQUN2j" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=BYe0kJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=BYe0kJ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/341517630" height="1" width="1"/> Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:21:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=109598 3010918183 Monday, July 21, 2008<br /><br /><strong>Most Christians assume that immediately after Jesus died, rose from the dead and went back to heaven that a leather-bound copy of the Bible descended from the sky.</strong> Complete with the 27 finalized books of the New Testament and Jesus’ words etched in red, this Bible was delivered to the church and has been studied in perpetuity by Christians around the world.<br /><br /><strong>The reality is we didn’t have the New Testament in its complete form until 367 a.d.</strong> when Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria listed all 27 books of the New Testament for the first time.<br /><br />That’s three centuries. 334 years to be exact.<br /><br /><em>Comparatively, that’s like Jesus showing up in the Jamestown colony when it had only 75 people in it, teaching, dying, raising from the dead, and then the Bible coming together in its final form this Thursday right before we head out to Applebees for lunch.<br /></em><br /><strong>It’s hard to imagine what it must have been like to be a Christian without a Bible.<br /></strong><br />150 years after Jesus left it appears that some churches had copies of the collected letters of Paul and a gospel or two, but that’s it. Many had collections with books of debated authenticity that were later ferreted out. No-one had a final New Testament like we have today. Whatever copies existed remained in the possession of the local church leadership. <strong>No-one, it appears, owned their own copy of the Bible for personal “Bible study”</strong> unless they were wealthy enough to pay the substantial cost to have it transcribed (see Luke 1:3-4).<br /><br />Besides, <strong>with the high rate of illiteracy</strong> among the social groups represented among the rank and file of second and third century churches, having a personal copy of the Bible would have been useless anyway. Most Christians wouldn’t have been able to read it.<br /><br /><strong>I bring all this up to make one simple point:</strong> <em>the modern-day church places a ridiculous amount of emphasis on studying the Bible.<br /></em><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">It’s obvious, from historical observation alone, that one can be a sold-out, fully devout, willing to die a martyr’s death follower of Jesus and spend next to no time practicing the spiritual discipline of Bible study.<br /></span><br />Do we think it’s any coincidence that the period of the church’s greatest growth and expansion (33 - mid 300’s ad) occurred during the time when there wasn’t (1) a Bible in every Christian’s hand and (2) an obsessive preoccupation with Christians clustering to study it word by word, line by line, and page by page?<br /><br /><strong>Most Christians today assume that to be a Christian means to have a personal relationship with the Bible instead of the risen Jesus.<br /></strong><br />To be consumed with it.<br /><br />To obsess over its details.<br /><br />To memorize curiously meaningless trivia about it.<br /><br />To study its root words and the historical data underpinning every sentence, every chapter and every book.<br /><br />But what if we’re totally missing the point?<br /><br /><strong>What if one of the reasons we’re so spiritually dead and the church is abysmally failing at its mission is not because we study the Bible too little, but too much?<br /></strong><br />Instead of being out and about extending the works of the kingdom, Christians are wasting precious time excessively “studying the Bible” in groups and feeling quite content that if they’re practicing the “spiritual disciplines” at home that they’ve done their duty and can call it a day.<br /><br />Who gives a crap if I never open my mouth and share my faith today? Or forgive those who mess me over? Or share my money with those in need? Or my house with the homeless?<br /><br />All is good.<br /><br />I read my Bible today.<br /><br /><strong>Read all the posts in this series:<br /></strong><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/misguided-spiritual-disciplines.html">The Misguided Spiritual Disciplines</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/we-pray-too-much-not-too-little.html">We Pray Too Much, Not Too Little</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/stop-trying-to-get-christians-to.html">Stop Trying To Get Christians To Worship</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/your-prayer-time-is-too-small.html">Your Prayer Time Is Too Small</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/christians-spend-too-much-time-studying.html">Christians Spend Too Much Time Studying The Bible</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/excessive-bible-study-produces-arrogant.html">Excessive Bible Study Produces Arrogant Christians</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Brianjonescom/~4/341482043" height="1" width="1"/> Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:53:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=109417 1388683775 <div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIFY9kKfMOI/AAAAAAAAATs/dcH_1xAdYls/s1600-h/ringmaster.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224554857429414114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIFY9kKfMOI/AAAAAAAAATs/dcH_1xAdYls/s400/ringmaster.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Kids' Camp Big Top has come to an end. When I arrived to the building today we had a few minor challenges. We had a bit of a wind storm rip through our game field and destroy a couple of games. However, our game team was on the ball and did some quick creative thinking and improvised our way through it. Here are some things that I thought were totally cool about Kids' Camp this year:</div><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Campus Decor</span></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224555537770629890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIFZlKoeSwI/AAAAAAAAAT0/FU2Lag3HHF0/s400/kidscampelephant.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Our props team totally killed it this year! The campus looked incredible! We had a HUGE inflatable elephant on top of our building that caused delays on 422 (the highway next to our church property). Even the light posts as you entered the property had circus decor. Not to mention that the auditorium was completely converted to a circus tent! Amy and her team of builder, painters, and circus prop makers did an outstanding job.</div><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Our Volunteers</span><br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224555887391932962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIFZ5hEsAiI/AAAAAAAAAT8/SVr1ilFsiP0/s400/kidscampvolunteers.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>I enjoyed standing on the edge of the game field and seeing a sea of red shirts that represented many spent hours of vacation time. With over 300 volunteers it was impressive to watch our church pull together as a family to extend some hospitality to our community with this event. To all of the teams that served at registration, props, drama, tech, games, snacks, logistics, nurses stations, baby land, and on teams, you are all wonderful!</div><br /><div></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Our Interns</span></div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224556180305888418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIFaKkQ0RKI/AAAAAAAAAUE/bx7mqmEdhbA/s400/Kidscamp-mj.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>This crew is tireless! I love working with this group of college students and seeing them grow. They have been with me every step of the way, starting with Stretch, now with Kids' Camp, and next week will will take our High School Students on our summer retreat - Escape!</div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Entertainers</span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224557091854894626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIFa_oDCRiI/AAAAAAAAAUU/QVsne6vOkdo/s400/kidscampjuggler.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>The Kids' Camp team also made sure that the event had the feel of a circus. Every day we had stilt walkers and jugglers roaming the property and entertaining kids as they waited in line!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224557313771252498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIFbMiwBKxI/AAAAAAAAAUc/XegYWGna25I/s400/kidscampstiltwalker.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Kelly Clark</span></div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224556403664460674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SIFaXkVpm4I/AAAAAAAAAUM/xKSU4_pzn4g/s400/kellyclark.jpg" border="0" /> <div>I hate to single out one person but I feel the need to. She has put herself under a ton of pressure this year. Not only did she start and lead our first year through Providence Christian Preschool but now she has accepted the responsibility of leading our Valley Kids Ministry. Plus she lead the charge on our biggest Kids' Camp ever! Kelly - GREAT JOB! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div> <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=DFd78y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=DFd78y" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=6OHvfJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=6OHvfJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=1TwbKJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=1TwbKJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=MXexAJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=MXexAJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=iIhYOJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=iIhYOJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=QXRlBj"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=QXRlBj" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=a4P9AJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=a4P9AJ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/339574372" height="1" width="1"/> Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:21:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=108812 4087492453 Friday, July 18, 2008<br /><br />Christians are a strange crowd.<br /><br /><strong>Given permission by their deity to speak freely about any topic without fear of being instantly killed, they’ve chosen the oddest times to consistently exercise that freedom.<br /></strong><br />Christians will tell you they pray during some well-oiled daily time of devotion, but in 23 years of following Christ and serving him in ministry, I’ve learned that that spiel is a huge lie.<br /><br /><strong>The only time Christians consistently pray is before meals.<br /></strong><br />I find this strange.<br /><br />What I find so odd about this preoccupation with praying before meals is that <strong>there are so many other important, life-sustaining activities and actions that deserve our prayers and thankfulness, why pick just food? Why draw the line there? Why die on that hill?<br /></strong><br />Why not pray before receiving a vaccination?<br /><br />Or before getting your driver’s license?<br /><br />Or while opening your paycheck?<br /><br />In a personal unpublished notebook that contained random thoughts and scribbling, <strong>G.K. Chesterton</strong> profoundly observed,<br /><br /><em>You say grace before meals,<br />All right.<br />But I say grace before the play and the opera,<br />And grace before the concert and the pantomime,<br />And grace before I open a book,<br />And grace before sketching, painting,<br />Swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing;<br />And grace before I dip the pen in the ink.</em><br /><em></em><br /><strong>Read all the posts in this series:<br /></strong><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/misguided-spiritual-disciplines.html">The Misguided Spiritual Disciplines</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/we-pray-too-much-not-too-little.html">We Pray Too Much, Not Too Little</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/stop-trying-to-get-christians-to.html">Stop Trying To Get Christians To Worship</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/your-prayer-time-is-too-small.html">Your Prayer Time Is Too Small</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/christians-spend-too-much-time-studying.html">Christians Spend Too Much Time Studying The Bible</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/excessive-bible-study-produces-arrogant.html">Excessive Bible Study Produces Arrogant Christians</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Brianjonescom/~4/338948276" height="1" width="1"/> Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=108593 1096669219 <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SH_VzKCjl-I/AAAAAAAAATM/QMLx4X8mvTg/s1600-h/kidscamp2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224129167618185186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SH_VzKCjl-I/AAAAAAAAATM/QMLx4X8mvTg/s400/kidscamp2.jpg" border="0" /></a>GAME TIME! Each year at Kids' Camp one of the roles I have had is hosting our stage games. This year I got to do that with one of our interns, Brendon. We run up on the stage with the game music thumping and get the kids all psyched up to take on the game challenge for that day!<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224129459300615314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SH_WEIpERJI/AAAAAAAAATU/5vTY6mMrROc/s400/kidscamp4.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Each competition has the kids challenging the adult team leaders. If the kids win... EVERYONE WILL GET PRIZES! If the adults win... the kids go home empty handed. </div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224129850674061170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SH_Wa6nxH3I/AAAAAAAAATc/bqcPQIZmYpc/s400/kidscamp5.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>The games usually involve some kind of crazy eating challenge and some how the kids win every time!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224130265557375026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SH_WzELqGDI/AAAAAAAAATk/1_BZfAkw5Wg/s400/kidscamp3.jpg" border="0" /></div> <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=5s7W1A"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=5s7W1A" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=QM4FdJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=QM4FdJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=Xd7MwJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=Xd7MwJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=Lxj3wJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=Lxj3wJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=LdrkxJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=LdrkxJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=myYvdj"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=myYvdj" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=4jwt1J"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=4jwt1J" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/338501630" height="1" width="1"/> Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:20:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=108467 4104525193 <div><div><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SH-onIJYrlI/AAAAAAAAAS0/7AelhEmyRtI/s1600-h/bigtoplogo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224079482928279122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SH-onIJYrlI/AAAAAAAAAS0/7AelhEmyRtI/s200/bigtoplogo.jpg" border="0" /></a>Each year our church gets behind our kids ministry and works together to reach the kids and families in our community with a really cool 3 day camp. This year's theme is a circus theme and our children's staff has worked incredibly hard to organize a fun and exciting environment to teach the kids about God. It is truly amazing how many kids come out to this event I don't know the exact numbers but I do know it is over 800!<br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224079805636620866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SH-o56VDMkI/AAAAAAAAAS8/cjwVIswR9uE/s400/bigtop.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div><div>The other really neat part of this to see is the teens in our Student Ministry jump in and serve. Many of them have rehearsed tons of hours preparing for these three days. The photo below is a group of Students on our Children's Ministry worship team called P-98 which is from Psalm 98 (a chapter all about singing and music). I love seeing our teens and adults rally around a cause, and serve God and others in a unique way.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224080299226172930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SH-pWpF-DgI/AAAAAAAAATE/0YIc0SKry_c/s400/P98-Bigtop.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div> <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=K4R83e"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=K4R83e" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=ctjCKJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=ctjCKJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=fO3kJJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=fO3kJJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=tIiRPJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=tIiRPJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=4iZwYJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=4iZwYJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=6YTvlj"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=6YTvlj" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=e8YdLJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=e8YdLJ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/338366220" height="1" width="1"/> Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:56:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=108419 3315621697 Thursday, July 17, 2008<br /><br /><strong>Years ago I used to frequent a Vineyard Christian Fellowship’s Saturday night service.</strong> I was pretty burned out at the time, and I really liked the pastor of the church, so I’d sneak over there once every three months or so to get a spiritual shot in the arm.<br /><br />I’ll never forget one Saturday the Worship Pastor standing up and telling the congregation,<br /><br /><em>“In my prayer time this week <a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/06/god-told-me-and-other-phrases-that.html">God told me</a> that we are supposed to begin taking our worship to the streets. So what we’re going to do is rent a huge flatbed truck, put our entire worship team on it, hook our speakers up to a generator and drive it through the streets playing worship music and lifting our hands to Jesus!”<br /></em><br /><strong><em>That’s just wonderful</em>, I thought.<br /></strong><br /><em>Because…<br /><br />I don’t know…<br /><br />People don’t already think Christians are freaky enough.<br /><br />What would really help a skeptic’s perception of Christianity,</em> I thought<em>,</em> <em>is putting 10 kooky hand-waving Christians on a flatbed truck and encouraging them to sing love songs to Jesus while pulling them through the parking lot of a local mall.<br /></em><br /><strong>The problem, in my mind, wasn’t the goal.</strong> As stupid as I thought the idea was at the time, I appreciated their desire to “get out in the streets.”<br /><br />And the problem wasn’t the method. While I’m not sure cutting 10 artsy people loose on a flatbed truck with microphones was the smartest thing to do, at least they were trying something.<br /><br /><strong>The problem was with their definition of worship.<br /></strong><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">Worship = singing songs accompanied by music.<br /></span><br />What the Worship Pastor didn’t understand was that his people already “hit the streets” and worshipped every day of their lives.<br /><br />Through their work.<br /><br />And their attitudes.<br /><br />By the way they washed and waxed their cars. And hugged their wives. And cut their lawns.<br /><br />But more importantly, <strong>the bigger problem with the Worship Pastor’s suggestion was it belied the fact that he had let his American, utilitarian worldview seep into his understanding of what it means to ascribe worth (worth-ship) to God.<br /></strong><br />Worship can’t be “turned on.” People can’t be “led into” worship.<br /><br />Christians are continuously worshipping. 24/7. All the time. Through everything they do, say, feel and give.<br /><br /><strong>Read all the posts in this series:<br /></strong><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/misguided-spiritual-disciplines.html">The Misguided Spiritual Disciplines</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/we-pray-too-much-not-too-little.html">We Pray Too Much, Not Too Little</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/stop-trying-to-get-christians-to.html">Stop Trying To Get Christians To Worship</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/your-prayer-time-is-too-small.html">Your Prayer Time Is Too Small</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/christians-spend-too-much-time-studying.html">Christians Spend Too Much Time Studying The Bible</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/excessive-bible-study-produces-arrogant.html">Excessive Bible Study Produces Arrogant Christians</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Brianjonescom/~4/337979202" height="1" width="1"/> Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:14:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=108269 859253310 Tuesday, July 15, 2008<br /><br /><strong>The first church internship I ever did was with a guy who was into a “get everyone to the church at 5am to pray for exactly one hour” kick.<br /></strong><br />I heard through the grapevine that some well-meaning person slipped him a book on prayer (I think it was TV evangelist Larry Lea’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Could-You-Not-Tarry-Hour/dp/0884192105/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216170825&sr=1-1">Could You Not Tarry With Me One Hour?</a>) and that was all she wrote.<br /><br /><strong>For 13 weeks straight</strong> I would get up at 3:45am, take a shower, get dressed, and then make the 55 minute commute to the church building just in time to hit my knees and join the faithful.<br /><br />For 60 minutes of prayer.<br /><br />On my knees.<br /><br />Every flippin’ morning.<br /><br />For 13 weeks.<br /><br />I kid you not.<br /><br />“The Koreans are doing it and their churches are growing like wildfire,” I remember him telling me.<br /><br />“That’s great, but can’t God hear us just the same at 9am? And does it need to be a whole hour? My knees start killing me after 20 minutes. After 30 minutes I’m getting butt cramps. And after 45 minutes into it, honestly, I’m contemplating converting to Zoroastrianism.”<br /><br /><strong>“Trust me on this,” he said. “It’s going to change our church.”<br /></strong><br /><em>And it did. No-one ever felt like their conversations with God measured up.<br /></em><br /><strong>After 23 years of spending time with spiritual directors, listening to sermons, reading books on spiritual disciplines, and experimenting with just about every single approach to prayer, I’ve come to one simple conclusion:</strong> <span style="color:#3333ff;">if I pray a couple times a week, that’s enough.<br /></span><br />“You mean you’re a pastor and you don’t have a DAILY time of prayer, worship and Bible reading?”<br /><br />Nope.<br /><br />About two times a week.<br /><br />Maybe three.<br /><br />That’s it.<br /><br />On top of that I get away to a monastery or a state park once a month for an entire day of prayer and fasting, but that’s it.<br /><br />And I’m absolutely certain God is just fine with that.<br /><br /><strong>You want to know where I came up with the idea?<br /></strong><br />I stole it from a quirky Jewish guy.<br /><br />Basically, his deal was that he spent so much time with people trying to help them, that all he had time for was stealing a couple moments a week to head off to the mountains or the desert to catch a big gulp of the Spirit before heading back out again.<br /><br /><strong>I would have loved to have seen his face if he had a chance to get quizzed by some modern-day spiritual disciplines guru.<br /></strong><br />“What? Are you telling me you don’t have a set prayer time, every day, for long periods of time?”<br /><br />“That’s right. Why?”<br /><br />“How else are you going to grow in your faith?”<br /><br />“Grow in my faith? I guess I’ve never really been interested in that. But I am interested in listening to God. Occasionally I’ll get a chance to say a few words, but that’s rare.”<br /><br /><strong>Read all the posts in this series:<br /></strong><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/misguided-spiritual-disciplines.html">The Misguided Spiritual Disciplines</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/we-pray-too-much-not-too-little.html">We Pray Too Much, Not Too Little</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/stop-trying-to-get-christians-to.html">Stop Trying To Get Christians To Worship</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/your-prayer-time-is-too-small.html">Your Prayer Time Is Too Small</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/christians-spend-too-much-time-studying.html">Christians Spend Too Much Time Studying The Bible</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/excessive-bible-study-produces-arrogant.html">Excessive Bible Study Produces Arrogant Christians</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Brianjonescom/~4/336941135" height="1" width="1"/> Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:00:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=107934 1459865222 Wow, I seriously can't believe its over. Thanks again to all our hard working volunteers. Plus - I gotta give our Student Ministry interns another shout out of thanks - April, Barb, Adam, MJ, Alex, and Brendon - you guys are awesome! To get a taste of what Stretch is like, take a look at the video highlights below:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UkV-yX1BcEY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UkV-yX1BcEY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=iPSQ6F"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=iPSQ6F" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=Viv39J"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=Viv39J" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=9kELgJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=9kELgJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=lTeYzJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=lTeYzJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=eLqUGJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=eLqUGJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=WihVEj"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=WihVEj" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=rylDkJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=rylDkJ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/336540419" height="1" width="1"/> Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:22:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=107818 3219303756 Tuesday, July 15, 2008<br /><br />“Stretch” (our summer camp for middle schoolers) was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G last week! <strong>225 Junior Highers</strong> were challenged to live “full circle” in their faith. Hats off to our amazing staff, interns, and volunteers for their hard work over the last few months in making this event a reality. You guys rock! Here’s the highlights video if you weren’t there…<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UkV-yX1BcEY&hl=" width="425" height="344" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" fs="1"></embed><br /><br />P.S. <strong>I'm still looking for a Youth Pastor</strong>. Shoot me an email if you are a guy or gal that loves the East...willing to make a minimum 5-7 year commitment...can lead at a high level...on board with our beliefs...creative...can build teams...great from the stage...and walking the talk! <a href="mailto:brian@moviechurch.com">brian@moviechurch.com</a>.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Brianjonescom/~4/336330723" height="1" width="1"/> Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:29:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=107783 648164172 Tuesday, July 15, 2008<br /><br />One of my favorite authors over the years has been <strong>Richard Foster</strong>. He writes well, but he only publishes when he has something important to say.<br /><br />Twenty years ago Foster released a perennially best-selling book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Path-Spiritual-Growth/dp/0060628391/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216125766&sr=1-1">The Celebration of Discipline.</a> In it he outlines <strong>12 "disciplines" Christians have engaged in over the last two thousand years to help them live more spiritually abundant lives</strong> – <em>meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance and celebration.</em><br /><br />The church should be profoundly grateful for that book.<br /><br />And profoundly ticked off.<br /><br /><strong>Someone once said that a person’s greatest weakness is his or her greatest strength pushed to an extreme.<br /></strong><br />That’s pretty much how I feel about that book, and all the other “spiritual disciplines” books that have followed it.<br /><br />Good information.<br /><br />Great information in fact.<br /><br />But because of the way the subject of spiritual disciplines is taken, digested, and pushed in an extreme way – <strong>the concept adds more guilt and pressure than anything.<br /></strong><br />No-one I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ve</span> ever met who has read the book or others like it feels like they pray enough.<br /><br />Or read their Bible enough.<br /><br />Or share their faith enough.<br /><br />Or give enough.<br /><br />Or worship enough.<br /><br />And on and on and on.<br /><br /><em>Am I the only one that thinks this is slightly disturbing?<br /><br /></em><strong>Today I’m starting a series of posts I’m calling “The Misguided Spiritual Disciplines.”</strong> I’m going to reflect upon this “never enough” phenomenon in churches and the way I've wrestled with it in my own life.<br /><br />Hopefully it’s helpful.<br /><br /><strong>Read all the posts in this series:<br /></strong><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/misguided-spiritual-disciplines.html">The Misguided Spiritual Disciplines</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/we-pray-too-much-not-too-little.html">We Pray Too Much, Not Too Little</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/stop-trying-to-get-christians-to.html">Stop Trying To Get Christians To Worship</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/your-prayer-time-is-too-small.html">Your Prayer Time Is Too Small</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/christians-spend-too-much-time-studying.html">Christians Spend Too Much Time Studying The Bible</a><br /><a href="http://www.brianjones.com/2008/07/excessive-bible-study-produces-arrogant.html">Excessive Bible Study Produces Arrogant Christians</a><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Brianjonescom/~4/336066933" height="1" width="1"/> Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:41:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=107784 3411769445 Monday, July 14, 2008<br /><br />Last week I snapped a picture of a license plate I thought was interesting…<br /><br /><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qxdIOvvxU8A/SHtTDjhXzAI/AAAAAAAAATE/ugC4h5vgxhQ/s1600-h/Lost.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222859513406147586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_qxdIOvvxU8A/SHtTDjhXzAI/AAAAAAAAATE/ugC4h5vgxhQ/s320/Lost.JPG" border="0" /></a>Not coincidently…<br /><br /><em><strong>Lost</strong></em> is one of my favorite TV shows.<br /><br /><em><strong>Lost</strong></em> is where I usually end up when I sit behind the wheel of a car too.<br /><br />For much of 2006 I <em><strong>Lost</strong></em> the remote to the TV.<br /><br />When I was 4 years old I got <em><strong>Lost</strong></em> in a Sears store and hid in a clothing rack.<br /><br />In fact, <em><strong>Lost</strong></em> is a pretty good description of how I’ve spent a good part of my life – both before coming to Christ and after.<br /><br />In her book <strong>Survivor</strong>, Christina Crawford wrote, "<strong>Lost</strong> is a place, too."<br /><br />I like that.<br /><br />In the evangelical world there’s this chiseled-chin resoluteness with which we describe people outside the faith – spiritually dead, far from God, pagan, non-Christian, unchurched, and yes, <em><strong>Lost</strong></em>.<br /><br /><strong>I’ll never forget a mayor’s breakfast I attended that challenged me to re-evaluate that kind of pompous Christian verbosity.<br /></strong><br />For some reason I got seated at the “table of honor” with the mayor, the county prosecutor, and some squirrelly guy who keep telling knock-knock jokes. Halfway through our time together we were directed to pray for the <em>Lost</em> people in our city. The mayor, without hesitation, cleared her throat and prayed a prayer I’ll never forget,<br /><br />“God, help us never forget that we’re all <strong>Lost</strong>.”<br /><br /><em>What do you think about the way Christians talk about those outside the faith? If you're not bought into Christianity, what do you think about the way Christians talk about you?</em><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Brianjonescom/~4/335097491" height="1" width="1"/> Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:50:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=107362 3794438102 <div><div><a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHmHzTDOnuI/AAAAAAAAASM/NoVZVORO3cs/s1600-h/travis crim.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222354558269693666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHmHzTDOnuI/AAAAAAAAASM/NoVZVORO3cs/s320/travis crim.jpg" border="0" /></a>Day 3 is done and I am relieved. I thank God for the opportunity to work with some great volunteers, staff, and a dedicated group of interns. <a href="http://www.haloproductions.net/traviscrim.htm">Travis Crim</a> came to speak and it was his second year in a row with us. Each night he jumped up on the stage with a tremendous amount of energy and passion that really connected with our middle school kids.<br /></div><div><br>After the night was about over and parents began to arrive to pick up their students I got a chance to talk with one of the mom's that had two daughters attend the event. She said that her girls loved everything about it! They had a blast with the games, they really enjoyed our speaker, and they said they would - FOR SURE be attending church and Impact on Sunday night. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222716768979821394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHrROvGEo1I/AAAAAAAAASU/hxvLf4lpzwo/s400/interns dancing.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div>Well they did, I connected with the entire family this morning and the gang was all at CCV for the Sunday service and they even came to Impact and Riot. The four days was exhausting but it was all worth it. Despite the challenges, God used it all and I can't wait to see what happens next at Kids' Camp! As you can see below - after all the hard work someone was kind enough to TP my car! I have a feeling it may have been orchestrated by one of my interns...</div><br /><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222718384619622114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHrSsx0njuI/AAAAAAAAASc/u3CibotgD0A/s400/tp car.jpg" border="0" /></div></div> <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=L7RySq"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=L7RySq" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=iJdxfJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=iJdxfJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=T3ouaJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=T3ouaJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=nzqIwJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=nzqIwJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=VOR1oJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=VOR1oJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=1pNIbj"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=1pNIbj" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=Fh6xmJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=Fh6xmJ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/334771219" height="1" width="1"/> Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:22:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=107085 1477800904 Day two of Stretch ended with a bit more of a feeling of satisfaction. I was sharing with Terri how there were a few things that didn't go as planned and she said, "Frank, when do things ever go EXACTLY as planned... THIS IS AWESOME!"<br /><br />She was right, and once again we had a great turn out and it made me think about the things that were going great.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Auditorium</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221971310127904322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHgrPUd0dkI/AAAAAAAAARs/t81_243HHCI/s400/Stretch Stage.jpg" border="0" /><br />As you can see above, our team did a great job making the place look cooler than ever. I wish I could shoot pics of the lobby which is covered in black light. The whole place looked incredible. All night, over and over, I heard kids say, "WHOA!!"<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Worship</span><br /><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221973290723889122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHgtCmwsz-I/AAAAAAAAAR0/q3jVTR7kRiA/s400/Stretch worship.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>The band did a really good job with the music this year. The students were engaged, excited, and clapped with every song. I can't wait to see how they connect with some of the special music planned for night three.<br /></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Volunteers</span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222094768071363954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHibhhJRzXI/AAAAAAAAASE/NKG5G8eqNMA/s400/Logistics.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Our volunteers make the world go round. Our relational leaders, logistics, tech, hospitality, registration, games, and high school students are all incredible servants that helped put together the pieces for the event. Without them, Stretch doesn't happen.</p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Games</span></p><p>The teens are having a great time with our games so far. I will show you more photos tomorrow, but the highlight of our stretch games this year is the tumbler. My buddy Jon calls it the puke machine, but to me it looks like a human clothes dryer!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222094396885222466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHibL6XmxEI/AAAAAAAAAR8/Gwo34AJxAdY/s400/tumbler.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p></div></div> <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=5MrqOb"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=5MrqOb" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=ONPHCJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=ONPHCJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=Bp0KCJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=Bp0KCJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=3QptkJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=3QptkJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=6q68rJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=6q68rJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=cgcYBj"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=cgcYBj" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=0AmVnJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=0AmVnJ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/333487932" height="1" width="1"/> Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:42:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=106514 3332064523 <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHbZIt2F7jI/AAAAAAAAARk/B0ZdjqBgptE/s1600-h/Stretch-stage.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221599561751326258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHbZIt2F7jI/AAAAAAAAARk/B0ZdjqBgptE/s400/Stretch-stage.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I tried to take a picture of the stage before anything got started tonight, but as you can see it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn't</span> come out that well with the haze machine running. I am just now getting a few minutes to sit down and write and it's almost midnight. Things went great tonight. We had a ton of kids show up and they loved it. All the hard work paid off when I sat down with my team tonight and during our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">de</span>-brief meeting I got an email from a parent. She said the following:</div><br /><div><blockquote>Just wanted to say thanks! Our son Max attended your program tonight and came home in the greatest mood! I think it is tough being a kid his age these days, and it is so nice to see him come home so elated and happy! Thank you for welcoming him to your church.</blockquote></div><br /><div>It is moments like this when you realize that God is using you to impact more than the kids that show up. When they experience God's love through us, it over flows into their families. </div> <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=jUoRWf"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=jUoRWf" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=les5oJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=les5oJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=24f1nJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=24f1nJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=o2FbqJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=o2FbqJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=dkkGZJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=dkkGZJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=eYazHj"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=eYazHj" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=KbSxbJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=KbSxbJ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/332342310" height="1" width="1"/> Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:39:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=106036 2840029945 <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHWNLeYEOKI/AAAAAAAAARc/rjAtEw-tItw/s1600-h/stretch-image.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221234571278039202" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PcwYbgVVvOI/SHWNLeYEOKI/AAAAAAAAARc/rjAtEw-tItw/s320/stretch-image.jpg" border="0" /></a>This will be our church's third year doing Stretch, our middle school summer outreach. I can't wait to see our middle school students in this area have the time of their lives as we put on this incredible event just for them. I was sharing with our volunteers tonight how I have been involved with numerous ministries over the years, and all of them neglected to reach out to this age group. I am so glad at CCV we do our best to communicate that we value them and I hope they know it by our actions and our words.<br /><br />Over the next few days I will do my best to share my experience and post the all the fun we have with some pictures from each day. Sorry for my lack of posting recently but over the next few days you will see what has been consuming my time. <p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=pWAvwb"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=pWAvwb" border="0"></img></a></p><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=A428EJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=A428EJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=2XE5iJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=2XE5iJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=RaelZJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=RaelZJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=PMCtKJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=PMCtKJ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=A5LY6j"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=A5LY6j" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?a=jVelEJ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/LetMeBeFrankWithYou?i=jVelEJ" border="0"></img></a> </div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LetMeBeFrankWithYou/~4/331406956" height="1" width="1"/> Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:02:00 -0500 http://www.churchweblogs.com/christschurchofthevalley/searchEntry?entry_id=105618 2073818674