I received this email from my friend Doug Ehrgott.   Doug sent this as a mass email, but it struck me down and really spoke to me.  Doug works with Horizon International serving AIDS orphans in Africa and around the world.

In a conversation this week with a church mission committee, they expressed to me that they were not having the results they anticipated for participation on their next Global Outreach team. I asked them how many people they had each invited to go on the trip. The silence was deafening. Then I asked if other people from their congregation who had been on a GO Team had be encouraged to invite others  to experience a GO Team.  It was apparent that this was a foreign concept.

The fact is inviting people into the life God has given us is one of the foundational truths of living out the Spirit lead life.  It is a primary characteristic of the Jesus style to invite others into our life and experiences. Another way of saying it would be to “call people out.” The word we use for church in the original language means, “called out ones.” We have been called out and it is part of our DNA to be involved in calling out others and inviting them to join us in the Way of Jesus…ie what he is doing in our life.

Not a day goes by that I seek to invite someone to GO to Africa with me. Just last night two cars stopped in front of my house. One was out of gas the other trying to help. Both cars were filled with teenagers who had just attended a local concert. One of the young ladies who was driving the gasless car came up to me as I was working in my garage and asked if she could borrow some gas. Fortunately we had just filled one of our spare cans for the lawn mowers. As I was pouring the gas into her car our conversation turned towards…you guessed it…Africa. I invited her to go with me some day. Amazingly she has just finished her nursing degree and wants to go to Africa and serve children. I gave her my card. I expect to see her on a GO Team with me soon. What if I had not “called her out?”

God has called you out and to himself. Who you calling out and to what.

Please pray for our team as we go to Uganda and conduct the African Pastors Conference.

Please pray about participating on one of our fall GO Teams. You can learn more about them on our website at horizoninternationalinc.com.

Blessings
Dance with God
 
Douglas Ehrgott
Global Team Builder
Horizon International

Do you hear the crickets chirping on this blog?   I have been such a slacker recently about blogging.  Once some time passes between posts I get this feeling that I need to blog about something great and worthwhile.  When that feeling doesn't get any inspiration, more time passes and it causes the feeling to increase.  Anxiety sets in and then...Oh well.  Nothing note worthy coming in this post.   Except to say that I'm missing the blogging world and that I'm sensing a pull back in.

Anybody relate?

I wanted to share a saying I read the other day about character.   I thought it was really good:

Watch your thoughts, They become your words.

Watch your words,  They become your actions.

Watch your actions, They become your habits.

Watch your habits,  They become your character.

Watch your character,  It becomes your destiny.

What do you think about this?

Here's the definition of a leech:

a person who clings to another for personal gain, esp. without giving anything in return, and usually with the implication or effect of exhausting the other's resources; parasite. 

Here's the definition of a teacher:

a person who teaches or instructs.

Which one are you?  Hint:  you don't want to be the first one.

Think about your life and the people you spend time with.  Make sure you're adding value to the relationship.

I am loving the Hope Rising album by Fee.  There are two songs I wanted to post that are really speaking to me right now.  We might not always know why trials and hardships arise, but resting in God will help us push through.

Maybe these songs will speak to you too?

I've had some people ask about my neighbor Steve who I wrote about in this post.  I wanted to post a quick update.   I finally saw another neighbor yesterday that had some information.   The word is that he's stable.  That's about as good as it is.  He's still on a ventilator and his kidneys are still having issues.  I guess he's more aware now.

It still blows me away how quickly a person can go downhill when an infection sets in.

Thanks for the prayers for Steve.  When I hear more I'll post another update.

I don't really know Steve.  He lives around the corner and down the street from me.   He's the guy that's always out walking his black Lab named Gus.

I say hello to Steve and I give him the "drive-by wave" as I pass by his house in my car.  But that's about where my relationship with Steve ends.

I found out last night from another neighbor that Steve is in the hospital.  An unexpected infection brought on from strep-throat sent Steve into the hospital.  Turns out that Steve isn't doing very well.  The infection took root in his lower right leg.  Within about a day or two, his body shut down because of the infection.  Yesterday, the doctors had to cut off his right leg below the knee.  They said that was the only hope to stop the infection from spreading.

Steve's the guy that's always out walking his dog.   Steve's the guy that's always out tinkering in the garage and working on his lawn.   Every neighborhood has a Steve.  Steve doesn't have part of his right leg anymore.

At least he's still alive you might say.   According to my neighbor, that's even touch and go at this point.   His kidneys have shut down and the doctors are hoping that they got the infection removed.   The next 24 hours are critical for survival.

I've been praying for Steve since I found out about his situation.  It's been troubling me since I found out.  How fragile this life is.  How quickly it can turn.

Hang in there Steve.

[image by johnwardell]

Oh to have the faith of a child.  Jesus said:
 
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:13-16)
 
An amazing thing happened this last week at Northview Church.  347 people stepped forward to be baptized in water by a spontaneous invitation from our Lead Pastor Steve Poe.  The invitation was spontaneous to the church members, but Northview had it planned out.  Every detail was accounted for to take away any excuse a person might make.  Shorts, tee-shirts, towels, changing rooms, hair dryers, etc.  All were present to remove any obstacle.  That is except fear.  Fear was the one obstacle that would still prevent a person from coming forward.   I have to imagine that as the team at Northview were planning for this service if they wondered how many people would step forward.   How do you plan for a movement of God?  You can't.  You just pray and hope the Spirit moves people.
 
The Spirit did indeed move people.  At the Saturday night service they ran out of dry supplies and people were literally wringing out wet clothes to let others use them.  Those in attendance that had previously been baptized in water cheered for each person that stepped forward.   Our hearts were touched as so many responded in obedience to God by getting baptized.
 
The Spirit is indeed moving at Northview. 

The best part of the weekend?   My son Camden prayed to accept Jesus into his life on Saturday night.  Holli and I are so proud of him.  He's talked about it in the past, but this time I truly feel like he understood and was ready.   What a blessing as a parent to help him make that decision and pray with him.  Camden decided on Sunday morning to step forward and get baptized too.  He was one of the 347.

I got to walk with him up the stage and back to the changing rooms.  

I got to accompany him to the stage and helped him into the water tank.  

I got to watch as he confirmed to Steve that he has committed his life to live for Jesus.  

I got to watch as he was dunked and brought back up.   

I got to help him out of the tank and hug and squeeze him so tight.   

I got to tell him how proud I was of him. 

Later that day, completely unprompted, Camden says to me "Dad, I just feel different now".   "You know why that is?" I asked him.   "That's the Spirit living inside of you now." 

Childlike Faith.   That's all Jesus tells us that we need.  If you are reading this and you don't think you have ever prayed to ask Jesus to be a part of your life, you can do that right now. 

Just pray something like this: 

"God, I've sinned against you.  I've made mistakes.  I ask that you forgive my sins and come into my life.   I believe that Jesus died so that my sins can be freely forgiven by you.   I believe that Jesus paid my price.   Right now I pray that you fill me with your Spirit and lead me in a life focused on you.  Amen." 

If you pray this prayer, the Bible says that the angels in heaven rejoice over your decision. (Luke 15:10) 

[image by >wouteR<]

If you have questions about what I wrote, please feel free to contact me privately using the Contact link above.  I'd be happy to talk with you.

I was driving today and tried to merge over to the right.  The car behind me sped up and wouldn't let me over.  I was already in the process of merging, so I had to swing back into my lane.   No biggie.  I didn't honk.  I didn't flip out.  I didn't do anything.   

So, the car on the right passes me and I then do my merge right.  As soon as I get into the lane the girl in the car in front of me flips me off.   Come on!  Must we treat people this way?   Must we get so angry from such a simple thing and decide to give the finger? 

As the receipient of the finger, my blood immediately started to boil.   I wanted to honk!   I wanted to tailgait!   I wanted to flip her off.   But I didn't.   I just smiled.  

A small wooden cross hangs from the rear view mirror in my car.   It's a good reminder to love others.  It's a good reminder to not be so uptight.  It's a good reminder to calm down.

Thank you Jesus for the cross.

[image by jennerally]

This weekend marked a big milestone in the history for Northview Church.  Who's Northview Church you ask?  Well, that's the new name of Northview Christian Life in Carmel, Indiana.  Not only did the name change, Northview had its first services in our new auditorium.  This has been a multi-year project that has been fun to watch as it unfolded.   Being in the new auditorium was simply amazing this weekend.  The worship was incredible and the buzz in air with excitement was felt by everyone.

Northview doubled it's seating capacity from 1000 seats to 2000 seats with the new auditorium.  With 2000 seats, I have to admit it still felt extremely intimate with the way it was designed.   The stage is off the charts cool and the seats sort of wrap around it in a semi-circle. 

So why does a church need to spend money on a new auditorium?  It's been a big question many have asked.   I like the way our Lead Pastor Steve Poe put it (paraphased):

"The new auditorium is just a tool.  It's a way to reach more of our friends and neighbors around Hamilton County.  With the old auditorium full and no empty seats, it's hard to get passionate to invite friends to church.  Actually, this new auditorium is just a toolbox.  We, the people, are the tools.  We're the ones to do the work and reach out and invite our friends and neighbors to come and visit."

The Bottom Line: 

At Northview, it's never been about a building.  It's always been about people.  Reaching people and loving people and helping them connect with God.  There are some awesome things happening at Northview and I'm excited to be a part of it.  In Indy and want to visit?  Drop me a line.

PS: 

I took some photos from my iPhone, but they simply were quite pitiful, so I couldn't post them.  I stole these pics off of my friend Ryon's facebook page.  I knew he'd have some good ones!  He's an awesome photographer.  You can catch up with Ryon over on his blog at: http://hawaiianhoosier.blogspot.com