God On The Move Across The Country

One of the things I want to do on this blog is share some stories of what God is doing across the country with churches. Churches that are making a difference.

God really is up to something. How is it a church that is twelve weeks old gets featured with Tom Brokow on the NBC Nightly News? Let me spell it out for you. G.O.D.

A cyber-friend of mine, who is giving me some great advice in our church plant, was featured Friday night, on NBC. Tadd Grandstaff, pastor of Pine Ridge Church, in Burlington, North Carolina, recently was contacted about doing a feature on young evangelical preachers and their churches. NBC even came in and recorded their whole Sunday morning meeting.

You can read his account of tonights story on his blog in a post called "In Case You Missed It..."

Tadd did want everyone to know in the interview that "the word “emergent” was never even asked or mentioned in any of the interviews that were taken. I DO NOT consider us an emerging church."

Check out the video HERE.

Make sure that you read his take on it and watch the video. I think it is awesome. Way to go Tadd and Pine Ridge. God is on the move.

Tadd and Pine Ridge Church are DIFFERENCE MAKERS.

Lessons Learned From The 21 Day Journal Challenge

For the past 21 days I have been on a journal challenge. I have consistently read one chapter in the book of John each day and journaled on it. I would pick out one scripture I felt God was speaking to me and write a reflection and a prayer.

After 21 days I have learned some things about myself. I have also heard from God through His Word on a more consistent basis.

Journaling for me is here to stay. It is one reason I created a personal blog not to bog Making Difference Makers down. I encourage you to take the challenge. Challenge yourself by reading and journaling through John or any book of the Bible. For December, I am going to be on a 28-day Challenge on my personal blog. Anyone willing to take that challenge with me?

Here are my top takeaways from this experience:

1. HEARING FROM GOD DAILY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DISCIPLINE

As a church planter/pastor this has become a reality to me lately. For many years I had a hit and miss approach. Often I was on the read through the bible in a year plan and because I was busy I would just read and not reflect on what I read. Through journaling though I felt God leading me on a journey. I could tell see how He would speak to me on a theme that would recur. He also led me to some Scriptures that reflected some personal struggles.

Our walk with Christ is a two-way street. God does want to speak to us and He does so through His Word. Journaling made me slow down so I could hear Him.

2. CONSISTENT FEEDING PROGRAM

Journaling, especially on a challenge like this, forced me to be consistent. To often Christians over rely on Church to "feed" them. What that has created is a bunch of Christians or a modern day "church" that is weak.

Yes, church can be a time where we can gather together and hear a message that challenges us on a personal level, but as a Christian it is your responsibility to build in the consistent daily spiritual disciplines for your life.

3. JOURNALING UNITES MANY DISCIPLINES

Journaling, for me, united many spiritual disciplines. It combines reading God's Word, meditation, reflection, prayer, and hearing God speak. I can find no other thing that can challenge us to that level.

Journey Through John Day #21 (John 21)

Read - John 21

My Key Verse - John 21:24 This is the same disciple who was eyewitness to all these things and wrote them down. And we all know that his eyewitness account is reliable and accurate.

My Reflection - This scripture is probably a great way to sum up journaling. If it wasn't for four men who had decided to journal we wouldn't have the gospels. Each of them had their unique way of how they filtered the events of Jesus' life.

It is important that we take up this challenge to journal. It can be hard sometimes to put the time in. It is, though, imperative that we hear from God.

Dave Ferguson wrote about three things he has learned from journaling:

1. WE ALL NEED TO HEAR FROM GOD EVERYDAY.
2. JOURNALING IS A GREAT MULTI-FACETED SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE.
3. WE NEED TO GROW FROM "BEING FED" TO "FEEDING OURSELVES" TO "FEEDING OTHERS".

I would have to concur with those three things.

My Prayer - Father help me to stay strong in hearing from you and making it consistent.

Links

Just trying to get some stuff straight out there in blog land.

If you happen to link to this page on your blog or site could you do me a favor. Make sure you put the link title to "Making Difference Makers". The site link is jaycurlee.blogspot.com Since the content and format of this blog is changing I want to make sure that there is a distinction from my personal site.

If you, by chance, want to put a personal link up on your site for me, Jason Curlee, do so using jasoncurlee.blogspot.com

Thanks to all you guys and gals support by reading.

Journey Through John Day #20 (John 20)

Read - John 20

My Key Verse - John 20:23 "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?"

My Reflection - This is something I've been dealing with for the past six months. I had a conversation with God about this the other day. In a nut shell He said forgiving them doesn't admit they are right.

That has been my sticking point in forgiving. I felt that forgiving them would be admitting that I was wrong. Part of me is tired of people hurting people and then sticking their hand out and saying "I'm so sorry I hurt you." Sometimes I'm really good about doing that with my wife.

Forgiveness doesn't mean they are off the hook with God and it doesn't mean that what they did is not wrong. Forgiveness is a state of walking in the freedom that God grants us.

I so liked though how Jesus put it there at the end of the verse. "If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?" Come on Jesus preach it to me. Am I going to keep them on my trophy shelf of wounds? My wall of hurt? Am I going to walk around with this cloud of gloom over my head so proud of all the unforgiveness I have?

Really what are we going to do with them? Me...I'm going to let them go and give them to God.

My Prayer - Lord help me to let go of the hurts of the past. Help me to not hold my life back by holding on to these issues. Thank you for forgiving me.

Leadership DNA

Next week, I will be going through 6 leadership principles every pastor or department head could implement that would help them be more more successful in the areas they lead.

I blogged a little on them before, I believe, but thought they would be great with the new direction we are now headed in.

Leadership sometimes takes a knock in todays church world because it is associated with "business". Only problem that you can't get around is that a pastor is a shepard which is a person who "leads" sheep.

Journey Through John Day #19 (John 19)

Read - John 19

My Key Verse - John 19:16 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified. The Crucifixion They took Jesus away.

My Reflection - Look at what happened to poor Pilate. The decision he made wasn't the one that he wanted to make. What happened is that he caved. He caved to the pressure of the people around him.

As a leader it is important that we don't cave. We are going to be surrounded by people who are going to want to do church their way. They will want to change the vision to fit their wants. They will pressure you to go from what God has laid on your heart.

We must stay the course and run the race God has called us to. The vision God has laid on your heart must not change. We must not steer from that vision. Sometimes those around you must go but not the vision.

My Prayer - Lord help me always stay to the vision you have called me to. Don't let circumstances or people let me cave to the desires of your heart for my life and this area.

Completing The Feel

I have been busy updating and tweaking and creating a new look and feel to this blog. I also have my new personal blog up and going.

I'm not totally sure on the look and feel of this one just yet, but it is a lot better. The main thing is that in December it is going to take a complete turn as far as it's total content. Gone will be the random a.d.d.ness and the content will focus on helping you make a difference in your life.

Whether it is in ministry, business or life it is my goal to help others make a difference in their world.

Make sure you check out my personal blog and add it to your RSS reader. Go to jasoncurlee.blogspot.com

Also if you subscribed and reading this via RSS go to jasoncurlee.com and see some of the changes.

New Personal Blog

Ok, after 808 posts, the randomness has a place to go. I created a new blog for my own random pastor/church planter/whatever else runs through this mind.

That blog will be a place where you can go to see what is going on in my world. It will be a place where you can read random to personal thoughts, what's going on in our church, my bible journal, etc, etc, etc....

Don't worry. This blog will stay where it's at but the content will take a more refined, rather defined approach beginning in the month of December.

• There will be less posts, at the most one per day.
• It will only be written on during the weekdays.
• It will follow along the theme Making Difference Makers with a leadership flavor.
• It will mainly be written for ministry and/or business leaders but anyone may be able to graft the contents for your personal life.
• It will contain some weekly series like the Keep Moving Forward series.
• It will feature web technology resources to help simplify your world.
• You may even find that I have more guest bloggers.

Hit any of the following to add my new personal blog to your blog reader. They are the subscription link feeds to my new personal blog http://jasoncurlee.blogspot.com

Feed This Blog On:

Sunday Remix

It's been a while since I did a Sunday remix. So is what is randomly floating through this head of mine.

• Pumped about our first Launch Gathering this Friday. Don't know how many will come but I'm pumped to be doing what God has put on our heart.
• I really want to write a book. I've been tossing around several ideas and I'm liking them. I even have one started. My passion is to write for me. Putting down some ideas that have been successful in what we have done and maybe can be successful for someone.
• I think I'm moving my time line up on creating two different blogs. One is going to be more personal, about my journey, and this blog I think will take a more serious thread.
• I have an idea for a post or a post series called, "The Curse of Charismata". Don't know if I want to let you in on it but it will be pretty hard hitting.
• The fried turkey I cooked on Thursday sure was good even as left overs today.
• If you are in the Coastal Bend Area and want to be a part of a movement that is going to make the Coastal Bend the hardest place to go to hell, hit me up. This Friday will be our first meeting. Check out more info at our Journey Community Church Myspace.
• I got a couple of projects that have been on the stall due to the holidays but hope to get them cranking...one of those is the pastor internet round table.
• I am fixing to do a myspace/facebook presence for a local area church. This is something I'd like to do on my spare time for others churches.
• Did I tell you I'm pumped about Friday???
  

Journey Through John Day #18 (John 18)

Read - John 18

My Key Verse - John 18:25-27 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?” He denied it, “Not me.” One of the Chief Priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.

My Reflection - Sometimes it's easy to sit and say we are going to be bold for Christ. It is times when we are completely out of our comfort zone that we find that we cave under the pressure.

This is yet another reason why we must continue to build ourselves up spiritually. Sometimes it's easy to be bold in church and profess what you are going to do.

In reflecting on this passage I can see that part of Peter's denial may have come from the pressure of being so bold in his faith. Yet when confronted by a man who was there when he stood up to Jesus and cut a man's ear off he caved.

My Prayer - Lord, help me to be bold in my profession of faith for you no matter where I may be.

Journey Through John #17 (John 17)

Read - John 17

My Key Verse - John 17:4 I glorified you on earth by completing down to the last detail what you assigned me to do.

My Reflection - Often times we think we give God glory by singing worship in a service. We get there and we're all into it.

BUT...Jesus glorified God by completing everything He was assigned. It is important that we recognize that doing God's will for our lives is what brings God glory. And that means finishing the things He has assigned for us by using the gifts, talents and experiences we have.

My Prayer - Father, define my vision so that I know exactly what it is you want me to do and give me the fortitude to finish the tasks you have assigned.

Journey Through John #16 (John 16)

Read - John 16

My Key Verse - John 16:23-24 This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!

My Reflection - Jesus does want to give us whatever it is we want, but it is contingent on three things:

1. He reveals it to us
2. Ask in His name
3. According to His will

How many times are we asking for things outside of that. Maybe sometimes God doesn't answer some prayers because they are outside of this realm. Now I'm not saying every unanswered prayer is, I'm just reflecting on this particular verse.

I think this all falls in having that close and personal relationship with God. When we do, His heartbeat will be ours and we will ask things according to His will.

My Prayer - Lord, help my walk with you to be close. Let my heartbeat be yours. Let your Word springforth like a well from deep within me, that I will ask according to what you want for my life.

Keep Moving Forward Part 5

Dealing with failure is sometimes an area that can keep us from experiencing a breakthrough. This week we been looking at three points we took from a quote by Walt Disney and are using them as a spring board forward to new levels in our lives.

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things - because we're curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. We're always exploring and experimenting.” Walt Disney

In the first two parts, Part 1 and Part 2, we set the stage for this weeks blog posts. In Part 3 we talked about our first point, Keep Moving Forward. In Part 4 we discussed how we need to Open New Doors.

Today, I want to discuss the third and final point: DO NEW THINGS.

This is somewhat similar to part three in which we talked about opening new doors. If you find you are stuck in a rut sometimes one of the best things you can do is try something new.

This might be a new way of doing something. There is a saying, "If you want something you've never had, you've got to be willing to do something you've never done." It is futile to think that you will get new results by doing the same thing you've done all along.

I often see this in churches. Many pastors are wanting to experience a breakthrough in attendance. Only problem is that they keep doing it the same way. Only thing they really change is maybe praying a little harder. Problem is, it's not the prayer part that is the problem. God already wants them to succeed. He wants to build His church. But why isn't it working. Could be a variety of reasons, which is why they may need to do something new or take a new approach.

This works in every area of our life, whether as an individual or a organization. Trying something new or trying a new approach to a problem could lead you to the breakthrough you are looking for.

In Isaiah 65:17 it says God "...will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind."

I think that could be a breakthrough approach for you as you go to a new level. Create something new and don't remember the old. Forget that failure. Squash it. Do something new and make a difference.

Journey Through John Day #15 (John 15)

Read - John 15

My Key Verse - John 15:5-7 I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.

My Reflection - One thing I see about our relationship with God is that it is alive. Often times we treat God as one certain part of our lives. He said though that the relationship is intimate and organic. Our relation should be intimate: a relationship that involves personally close association or feeling. Our relation should be organic: one that is interconnected. In other words we should have a life that is truly close and interconnected with Him. Thus the vine and branches example.

That being said when our relationship is that close there are some benefits.

1. We will have an abundant harvest.
2. We will get anything we ask.

The reason for these two things is that we will do the things God needs and wants us to do because they will be passionate in our hearts. We will also be filled with His Word and will ask for things that are already in His will.

There is no way this one post can do justice to this because there is so much in this set of verses.

My Prayer - Lord help my life to be totally interconnected with yours. Help my words and desires to be lined up with your will. Help me to always keep my eye on you.

Happy Thanksgiving

Just a great big Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who reads. Today, I'm frying four turkeys, two Cajun and two Italian. If you have never had fried turkey you are missing the absolute best turkey in the world.

Keep Moving Forward 4

To begin to experience breakthroughs in our life we must demolish an obstacle that, for some people, holds us back from experiencing life at its fullest. That obstacle is failure.

This week we are digging into three points we have extrapolated from a quote by Walt Disney. Part 1 and Part 2 set the stage for this weeks blog posts, while Part 3 hit on the first point, Keep Moving Forward. Today, I want to discuss the second point: OPEN UP NEW DOORS.

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things - because we're curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. We're always exploring and experimenting.” Walt Disney

When and where you have experienced failure in the past tends to be an area where you focus negative energy. Sometimes that failure might be in an area which simply isn't one of your strengths or talents. That is why it is sometimes important to open up new doors. Try another arena in which you might find that breakthrough outlet.

I teach science this year and one of the concepts is scientific investigation. This is where you observe a problem and try to come up with a solution. You create a guess and then you experiment until you come up with a proven theory.

I think that is what opening up new doors is about. It is about going forward until you find that exact door that creates a breakthrough. Truth is you won't find that if you aren't trying.

Thomas Edison, in talking about the light bulb, was quoted as saying "I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work."

Edison was the king of the empirical approach in which he literally tried everything until he found a suitable way to the answer to a problem. I believe he kept opening up new doors. He kept moving forward. He didn't personalize failure, he looked at it as success.

Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

When it comes to you getting your breakthrough you must keep knocking and opening up new doors. Whether it's in your personal life or in your business or organization, don't look back. Keep progressing from one door to the next. I know it's risky. The reality, though, is that not taking risks increases the odds of failure. Open new doors today.

Metamorphosis Coming

I think over the next month you will see a metamorphosis with this site. I've been thinking of how random this blog is. Some people use one post for their randomness. I use my whole blog.

My thought is taking a more streamlined approach with Making Difference Makers and creating a personal blog for my randomness. We will see what the holiday season produces.

Journey Through John Day #14 (John 14)

Read - John 14

My Key Verse - John 14:9 “You’ve been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don’t understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, ‘Where is the Father?’

My Reflection - How relevant is that to today's Christian? Jesus said that His life was a reflection of the Father. They weren't seeing His life. They were seeing the Father.

Our lives should model this same line of thought. Our lives should model the life of Christ to those around us. Not the over-hyped religious figure. They should model the true Christ. They one that was about helping others around. It was about reaching out to the ones no one wanted. It really was a life opposed to the religious system.

How does your life reflect Jesus? Could you say "To see me is to see Christ"?

My Prayer - Father help me to be a person who others see Christ. Let my life be such an example that they truly see the heart of Christ.

Keep Moving Forward Part 3

This week we are digging into three points we have extrapolated from a quote by Walt Disney. Part 1 and Part 2 set the stage for this weeks blog posts. Today I want to hit on the first point: KEEP MOVING FORWARD

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things - because we're curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. We're always exploring and experimenting.” Walt Disney

Sometimes one of the hardest things to do in life is rebound from failure. Some people personalize it and use failure to keep them from a breakthrough that is just around the corner. Let's just get right to the truth: As people we are imperfect, faulty, mistake-prone people. Our past failures build into us a mind-set that keeps us where we are.

That is why we must breakthrough this barrier by moving forward.

In 1996 the US women's Olympic softball team was lost, at that time, their second international loss in 10 years. Dani Tyler, the third base player had hit a home run. Or so she thought. In the excitement of rounding the bases, she accidentally stepped over home plate. The umpire disallowed the run. Because of that one misstep, the US team lost in extra innings 2-1.

The next evening, Tyler played well. Sports Illustrated writer Peter King asked her why the mistake hadn't seemed to become a mental ball and chain.

"Well, I didn't want to get out of bed this morning," she admitted. "But this is sports. One play doesn't make a game, and one play won't define my life. I've never been the best athlete, but I try to have the best attitude and work the hardest…."

If you want to break through failure, you must keep moving. You must get out of bed and grab life by the horns.

Proverbs 24:16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again...

It is a process of life and we just keep getting up, over and over and over again. That is probably why Winston Churchill said, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." Keep moving forward, demolish obstacles and never ever ever give up.

New Graphics

So I decided to make some graphics today for the future. This one was the best for its simplicity.

Journey Through John Day #13 (John 13)

Read - John 13

My Key Verse - John 13:20 Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me.

My Reflection - Jesus has sent us into the world, therefore he has:

1) Enabled Us
2) Equipped Us
3) Encourages Us

We must understand that all of heaven is behind us. When we minister in the power of the name of Jesus, we minister with all the authority of heaven. We have His stamp of approval and He has given us everything we need.

My Prayer - Father thank you for making me able. That I am not alone or under equipped for the task at hand. Continue to build in me the faith and courage I need.

Chuck Norris Approved

This is not an endorsement...just loved the video. My kind of humor.



Thanks MMI

Keep Moving Forward Part 2

Yesterday in Part 1 of this post series we started looking at a quote from Walt Disney. Here is that quote again:

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things - because we're curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. We're always exploring and experimenting.” Walt Disney

Often times in the life of an individual, company or ministry we can come to a point where failure seems pretty final. A point in life where you may not feel like taking one more step. It is in these moments that we have a choice. A choice to believe in what we know as truth. That we are not down but are instead at the moment of a breakthrough.

Mr. Disney said something great to start this quote, "we don't look backwards for very long". I can relate to this as every morning I spend about 15 minutes driving on the interstate at around 70 mph. Every now and then I will glance into the rear view mirror, but not for very long. If I keep my gaze locked on that great piece of equipment that can be used in a useful manner something terrible would happen. No, I glance backwards, take stock of what is there and proceed on to my destination.

We all have a great destination we are on and this quote provides some solid advice that we can cover this week. Three points that could unlock the breakthrough that we so desperately need.

1. Keep Moving Forward
2. Open Up New Doors
3. Do New Things

Join us again tomorrow as we dig into that first point.

Book Publisher

Want to be a home publisher? Well not exactly but Tim Stevens does need help picking a sub-title to his new book. Go to this book survey.

Journey Through John Day #12 (John 12)

Read - John 12

My Key Verse - John 12:35-36 Jesus said, “For a brief time still, the light is among you. Walk by the light you have so darkness doesn’t destroy you. If you walk in darkness, you don’t know where you’re going. As you have the light, believe in the light. Then the light will be within you, and shining through your lives. You’ll be children of light.”

My Reflection - Jesus fills us with His presence so that we can now be the light of the world. He said He would be, as the light, here for a brief time. It is now up to us to bring light into the world so that others will have light to walk by. It is also important that we stay close to Him in our spiritual walk to keep that light burning bright.

My Prayer - Lord, help me to keep the fire burning within so that I might be the light to those around me.

For My Friends In The Coastal Bend Area

For My Friends In The Coastal Bend Area

God has been up to some great things in our lives lately. He has been taking us on a journey that didn’t just begin but has been 14 years in the making. I don’t know if I could do justice in totally describing the vision I see when I close my eyes. A vision of lives changed, people discipled, and a movement spreading across the land. I would have to say that it is slightly overwhelming. Something that I don’t feel “I” could do. But I believe that is exactly where God has us.

In 1994, God radically changed our lives. He placed a passion in us to work with teens. Over the years, I have seen that passion grow into a ministry of creativity and innovation that has brought that same change into others lives. In the past 3 to 4 years God has also been at work on my heart. I know God has been calling me to step up into a greater vision.

As I have reflected more and more I know God has called us to breathe His life into the Coastal Bend Area and beyond. In being back in Corpus Christi now, I have looked at the landscape of churches and have seen that many are passionate for God and many are doing a good work, but I believe God wants to reach this area in a greater way.

There are three things about church that I do believe God wants to see. They all fall in Acts 1:8 and are: Holy Spirit Led, Evangelistic, and Reproducing. I really believe this is the type of church God wants to see established.

I would love to tell you that I have the exact strategy to do it, but I don’t. I would love to tell you that it is all laid out from start to finish, but it’s not. What I can tell you is that God came to seek and save that which was lost and rescue them from an ordinary and mundane life. He is also going to show us one step at a time just how He plans on doing it.

I know the vision is about people: Making disciples by teaching the life-changing message of Christ and sound biblical principals for living.

This will revolve around what I call the 3 G’s: Gather, Grow and Give

Gather
We will gather together weekly to celebrate what God is doing in our lives and in the church.

Grow
We will experience Biblical community as we grow with others through weekly small groups.

Give
We will impact our world as we give weekly to God’s work using our unique talents, passions, and resources.

So what is the next step God is calling us too. I believe that is in gathering a launch team. As the initial team is gathered it will be poured into as we prepare to launch this movement God has designed for us.

This step is going to begin with a Bible Study through the first few chapters of the book of Acts.

This bible study will be on the following Fridays at 7:00 pm at our home: November 30th, December 14th, and December 28th. (For Directions Please Send Us A Message To pastorjcurl@gmail.com)

Beginning the weekend of January 11th, we will begin reaching out in a broader manner on a weekly basis as we begin our quest to next summer when this movement will hit full steam.

We would love for you to join us in this journey that God has us on. Many of you have been a close part of our lives for many years and it is our desire that you partner with us to find out what God has in store for us all.

Please mark your calendars to join us on those initial three dates as we take the first step to the destiny God has designed.

Keep Moving Forward Part 1

This week I want to take a look at a quote that has some great principals for us.

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things - because we're curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. We're always exploring and experimenting.” Walt Disney

This is some great advice from Walt Disney that I want to dig a little into. To get you started this week take a quick look at a movie that I found that used this sound advice.



Tomorrow we begin to explore this topic and begin talking about three points that I see can help people move beyond failure.

How have you let failure keep you from moving forward?

21 Day Challenge

Eleven days in and I'm really enjoying the 21 day challenge of journaling. Every day it has been inspiring to look for one scripture and really listen to what God is saying through it.

I've been posting my links to youversion.com as well. I used to do most of my bible online at biblegateway.com but the possibilities that are with youversion.com have drifted me to going to it more and more.

I really want to encourage everyone to take up this in your spiritual walk. Whether you do it online like me or you just grab a notebook and write it down, you will find this discipline to be a great enhancement to your daily walk with Christ.

My only question is after this do I keep posting on this blog or do I possibly start another one for journaling purposes.

I also have a couple of other friends who are journaling on their blogs as well: Tyler Madison, Dawn Givan and Dave Ferguson. If you are journaling online send me your link I would love to see what your doing.

Journey Through John Day #11 (John 11)

Read - John 11

My Key Verse - John 11:4 When Jesus got the message, he said, “This sickness is not fatal. It will become an occasion to show God’s glory by glorifying God’s Son.”

My Reflection - One of the great things about God is that nothing is ever final with Him. The situation you are going through, no matter what it may be, can be an occasion to show God's glory.

The situation this verse is seated in is the death of Lazarus. Jesus gets message that Lazarus is sick and declares it is not fatal. The proceeds to do...absolutely nothing. He just stayed where He was. FOR TWO DAYS.

Do you ever feel like that? Like all of HELL is coming against you. Your world is falling apart. And God...uh God...WHERE ARE YOU?

It is important that through you situation keep your faith. God is right there with you and the reality is He will show the world around you what He can do. Jesus could have easily run down there...or just said a quick prayer and Lazarus would have been healed. But this miracle played a larger stage.

Your miracle could be the one thing that gets the attention of the world around you.

My Prayer - Father, help me keep the faith as I go through what I'm going through. Let the world see and be amazed as you are glorified.

The Bible For My Journaling

If you haven't noticed or didn't know, I am journaling through the book of John using The Message Bible.

I have the NIV/The Message Parallel Bible (New International Version) that I use. This year I have been spending time reading through that translation to give me a fresh look.

Journey Through John Day #10 (John 10)

Read - John 10

My Key Verse - John 10:10 A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

My Reflection - I want to focus on that second part. Jesus came to rescue us from an ordinary and plain existence. I love this verse and it is one that is quoted by people all the time. This ties in so much to the purpose Jesus had. He came to seek and save that which is lost so that they can have real and eternal life. A life that is better than we can ever dream of.

Most people have have a thought and idea of what they believe life should be like. They also believe that if they choose to follow Christ they will lose out on this. God comes to enhance life. To give us a better life than we can ever even think is possible.

My Prayer - Lord in every way, help me to start living the better life you have for me. Help me to not be satified with where I am but strive to go and be where and what you desire for my life.

Journey Through John Day #9 (John 9)

Read - John 9

My Key Verse - John 9:39 Jesus then said, "I came into the world to bring everything into the clear light of day, making all the distinctions clear, so that those who have never seen will see, and those who have made a great pretense of seeing will be exposed as blind."

My Reflection - Jesus came into the world so that those who have never seen will see. Obviously He isn't here. But He has put this wonderful task into our hands. While we are on Earth we are the ones who now bring His light to the world. Others should see Him through us.

This is starting to be more clear everyday as I interact with others in my new job. For the past 14 years I have worked on a daily basis in a church environment. Now I work in an environment that has really no light. Those around me may never have another chance to see Jesus except through me. That is why I am patient with them. That is why I don't judge them. That is why I am just trying to expose them to the light.

My Prayer - Lord help me daily to shine your light through my life. Not just in word but let my whole life glorify and show others who you are.

Pimp My Internet Bible

Great tool online for all you bible readers and studiers. It's called YouVersion and you need to check it out. It really is taking the Bible and combining it with web 2.0. It is still in much of it's beta form and here are just a few of the things you can do with it:

• Search for scripture, jump to a book/chapter/verse, or scroll through our Bible Reader
• Star verses and content
• Tag verses and content
• Contribute and/or associate images, videos, links, and text to verses or series of verses
• Start journaling in the “My Journal” feature
  See what others are sharing
• Email items to your friends and family
• Rate content
• Dashboard- quickly view new contributions and new users.
• Flickr support- now contribute your images located in your Flickr account.
• Content rankings- user contributions are now weighted based on ratings, etc.
• 1 year Bible reading plan- the first of many Bible reading plans.
  

Currently they have integrated the following Bible translations:

• New King James Version (NKJV) - Thomas Nelson
• New Century Version (NCV) - Thomas Nelson
• English Standard Version (ESV) - Good News Publishers/Crossway
• King James Version (KJV)
• World English Bible
• American Standard Version (ASV)
• Reina-Valera Antigua (Spanish)
• The Message (MSG) - Navpress

It's backed by Lifechurch and I really see it being a catalyst for how the internet will intersect with the Bible in the future. It is a great resource in ministry.

From The Mind Of My Students

Just wanted to give everyone a glimpse into the mind of one of my students. This poem is written by Alejandro Gilberto Salinas.

Altruistic

So far I'm living ambivalent with my time,
never being arrogant sharing all that is mine.

Until there's nothing left to give,
Always keeping an open mind.

From being on the grind,
now willing to leave it all behind.

It takes time in explaining this life that we're living.
Pay attention and listen, and catch glimpse of my vision.

Decisions made from anticipation, our fate can change.
If it isn't too late we can break away from this place.

My mentality is changing I'm starting to turn the page,
but all this tragedy and pressure is bringing insane rage.

Wanting me to make pain, maybe I'll end up in a cage.
Maybe I'll quit all of this nonsense and learn another way,
and concentrate and focus on causing the world to change.

Journey Through John Day #8 (John 8)

Read - John 8

My Key Verse - John 8:15-16 You decide according to what you can see and touch. I don't make judgments like that. But even if I did, my judgment would be true because I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father.

My Reflection - How often do we relate to God or even others based on our experiences? How often do pastors teach out of their experiences? What about our theology? Our spirituality?

I remember in my first position as a youth pastor that as I growing as a Christian was how I was relating in my pastoralship. We were passionate about God and loved praise and worship, so each week we would sing about 1 hour. We would go deep. It was totally awesome. God's Spirit was so real. He was moving in my life. And then I looked up and saw that more than half of our teens couldn't relate. I was relating God to them through the narrowness of my experience.

I'm not saying that was bad, but often we can get caught up in creating a picture of God based on what we experience. God on the other hand is so much bigger and can do things that always blow us away.

My Prayer - Lord help me to relate to others based on the awesomeness that you are. Help me to keep a fresh perspective and not box you into the narrowness of my experience with you.

5 Free Ministry Tools From Google

One of the challenges of small churches is the ability to collaborate due to budget. In the small stages, most church staff are composed of volunteer leaders whose daily time is consumed with work and family. Google has some great tools that can be utilized to creatively help a small staff become more productive and united. These are great internet resources any church can use at any stage of development. Also ministries that may be challenged budgetly, could effectively utilize these tools as well.

Gmail - Free email that gives you more flexibility than some others. It is a great pop3 that can I personally use through my Microsoft Office Outlook program at home...or log in on the web where ever there is web access.

Google Calendar - An online calender where all your events can be posted and shared through your staff.

Notebook - A great way to store and create notes. You can also download an app that works through your web browser to even copy items off the web as you are reading. One way I use it is to pre-write blog posts, log in message and series ideas, and copy ideas for church. And with the ability to share between users...sky's the limit.

Documents - A web based alternative for your document, spreadsheet, and presentation needs. Great thing is you can link others to it and both create together. For example, a friend of mine and I are collaborating on a book and writing it through document.

Google Business Solutions - Simply put...all your web-based needs can be interfaced and connected through this tool. From email, to shared documents, to instant messaging...all of google's tools can come together to give a church staff or volunteer staff powerful communication and collaboration tools that will help bring their productivity to the next level.

All that and a bag of chips...and that is just the tip of the iceburg. See http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/ for a list of all of google's products.

Journey Through John Day #7 (John 7)

Read - John 7

My Key Verse - John 7:1 Later Jesus was going about his business in Galilee.

My Reflection - One of the great things that I see about Jesus is that He was always focused and busy. He understood that He had a mission and stayed on the task at hand.

One of the things that I always believe is that God knows exactly where we are and intersects our lives with people whom He is drawing to Himself. Therefore we must be aware in our daily lives of the interactions. You may only have one chance to be a witness to those around you. By that I don't only mean verbally. I am now in an environment where people can see the example that I leave. Am I living it in word and deed?

My Prayer - Lord help me to stay focused and understand the mission you have given me. Help me to look around and be a witness to the world around me.

Do You OOVOO

Tonight, I'm oovoo'ing. Here is a shot.

This is my buddy Randy...he has a blog called The Confession Stand. He is a church planter in Iowa.

There is a lot of potential with this online messaging system, you can link together up to 6 people, instant message, send files, take snapshots like above...etc...

If Everyone Cared

Want to know the top song on my ipod right now????

Hit the play button!!!!



I feel it's kind of my anthem right now.

Ok...I'll let you in on it. It's Nickelback's If Everyone Cared.

This is a nice video set to some pics about the mission of Invisible Children.

Journal Conversation

If you are journaling out there, let me know. Let's all go deeper.

If you are reading along with me in John feel free to add a comment and what scripture stood out for you. I would love to read how God is speaking to you.

Let's make this a conversation.

Also if you are a blogger that is journaling...leave a link to your blog post in my comments for that day.

Join In Today.

Journey Through John Day #6 (John 6)

Read - John 6

My Key Verse - John 6:6 He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do.

My Reflection - One of the great things about Jesus is that He always wants us to move forward. When He said what He said to Philip He already knew what He was going to do, but He was moving Philip forward in his faith. I really believe that God doesn't want us to stay where we are in our lives. Instead, He is always taking us from glory to glory.

So He is going to ask us to do things that stretch us. Everything He asks us to do we can always do it but it will be out there so that it stretches our faith. Remember He never allows us to go through something we can't handle but it will require us to lean on Him in faith.

My Prayer - Keep stretching me Lord as I know it is making me better.

Church Planting Myths

Gary Lamb has recently posted his thoughts on church planting. He has listed his response to some of the myths that are out there. If you are a church planter or even a pastor, there are some great thoughts for us all in there. Click on each myth to read his thoughts.

Myth #1 - You have to have a building to grow
Myth #2 - Planting a modern style church is a recipe for growth
Myth #3 - You can't build a church reaching unchurched people
Myth #4 - You can't plant a church without a lot of money
Myth #5 - It is all about Sunday

Again, there are a lot of great thoughts in these posts that are not only great for church planters out there, but for established churches as well. Kudos to Gary.

Journey Through John Day #5 (John 5)

Read - John 5

My Key Verse - John 5:19-20; 30-33 The Son can't independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does.....I can't do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide. You can trust my decision because I'm not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders.

My Reflection - Are you kidding me? This is Jesus...you know, like, Son of God...one third of the Trinity. JESUS. And he says He can't do a solitary thing on His own? He sees what the Father is doing and He listens to what the Father is saying...and then He acts.

What a powerful scripture for us to apply. It is so vital to hear from God. It is so vital to see what God is up to and then do it. This will bring us much more success in our spiritual life.

Take witnessing for example. If people could learn to see when God is drawing someone to Himself, they could capitalize on it and be able to help in the process by leading them to Christ.

No matter what or which direction we have got to realize that if Jesus didn't do it all by Himself...how much more should we lean on the Spirit of God.

My Prayer - Lord, help me to lean on You. Help me to hear from You. Help me to see where you are at work. Give me the courage to act when you are at work.

Silence Please

Folks, I'm silencing the voices. I've decided that hearing from God is the most important thing I need to do now.

I deleted over 20 subscriptions from my Google Reader. I'm going to spend time this month reading through the Book of John. After that I have thoughts of going through the Book of Acts. I really like the idea of journaling here.

I'm going to slim down my extra curricular reading as well. Except for the ones for our pastor round table I'm going to shoot for none extra.

My blog may be a little more for me for a time. By that I mean lately I have been incessant about blogging for the world. I want to take a little time for it to for me. For it to be about my thoughts for me. That almost sounds selfish. Maybe you will get a glimpse of my inner thoughts.

I'm also really examining what God wants for me right now. Over the past year my family has been burned by church way more than it should. I am sick of prideful people only thinking about themselves. I have seen way more of my share of pride in the pulpit. I have spent so many years helping others to fulfill their dreams only to be stabbed in the back by some along the way.

Honestly, I feel God is taking me in the direction of the dreams He has for my family. My dreams have always been about helping others fulfill their dreams, but now it is going to be on different terms. I'm ready now for God to flow through me into the lives of others.

So it is getting back to basics. I'm going to shut my eyes and really zoom in on the vision God has burning on the inside of me. I'm going to listen to the Spirit as He reveals the next steps in the journey He has me on.

Journey Through John Day #4 (John 4)

Read - John 4

My Key Verse - John 4:11 The woman said, "Sir, you don't even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this 'living water'?

My Reflection - I've been thinking a lot that God really is a deep God. Most people barely even attempt to scratch the surface with Him. He truly has a lot more and wants to interact with us on a deeper level. Only problem is most people including myself sometimes only want a surface level interaction with God. There are so many facets to God.

When I think of how deep God is, I often think about the four living creatures in Revelation 4 who day and night surround the throne of God giving glory and honor, and thanks. Day and Night For ETERNITY. They never get bored. Why??? I believe that every day they see a new side of God. Some new grace He sheds on someone. A new person He creates.

God is so deep that we should find a new side of Him every day.

My Prayer - Help me to look at You in a new and fresh way every day. Day and night your mercies never cease...your grace never fails. Help me to go deeper.

Do You...

Twitter??? As of tonight, I do. In my right column there you can keep up with what I'm doing. Also go to my twitter page, www.twitter.com/jasoncurlee

I found lots of ways to integrate it. I'm twittering through google talk, facebook. I put a widget on my myspace but it doesn't seem to work that well.

I'm a twittering away. It's an experiment...well see how it goes. Next thing you know I'll even start flocking.

P.S. If you use google talk and ever want to talk to me feel free to add me...pastorjcurl@gmail.com

Journaling As A Spiritual Discipline

So what exactly is the big deal with these bible journey thoughts...like this one.

The first inspiration came from Dave Ferguson who wrote two recent posts.

First, he talked about defining spiritual maturity. For a while I have seen that one of the problems with many churches is spiritual growth. Whether you like it or not God has called everyone that has chosen to follow Christ to grow in their daily spiritual walk.

Willow Creek recently stepped up with some conversation that they need to begin to get better at this exact thing.

Dave's next post on this topic talked about what he was going to do about it as he is leading the way at Community Christian Church.

Journaling is a great spiritual discipline that combines three components that you don't see in any other discipline:

1. Bible reading - read a chapter from the Bible.
2. Reflection/mediation - pick out a verse or two from that chapter that speaks to you and write it down and why it means something to you.
3. Prayer - write out your prayers to God.

This is a format that really does work with me especially as a blogger. So, I'm going to be taking a 21-day challenge with him and journal through the gospel of John. These posts are mainly going to be for me, but hopefully you can gain some inspiration from them.

How about you? Willing to join me? Imagine how your everyday life could possibly change if you begin to hear from God every single day. You can do it by blogging or you can simply grab a notebook and go through it with us.

***Sidenote - As of today, Nov. 10th, I'm on day #3 with John chapter 3.

Journey Through John Day #3 (John 3)

Read - John 3

My Key Verse - John 3:26 They came to John and said, "Rabbi, you know the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan? The one you authorized with your witness? Well, he's now competing with us. He's baptizing, too, and everyone's going to him instead of us."

My Reflection - How many times have I seen churches that are just like John's followers? They see another church having success and they get jealous. There is always this sense that each of us as churches has all the answers. That we have God's favor and everyone else should be on board with us. I used to be just like this. I felt there should be only one church in one town and every Christian should be there. I've since come to understand that God is a diverse God and uses people in unique ways. What we must be careful of, is not allowing jealousy to creep in when God is using others. When God does use others it doesn't mean His favor is on us any less. We live in a fractured and broken society and it is going to take churches and pastors realizing that we all have the same goal but don't always need the same game plan to win. By that I mean that the message and mission are truly the same...it is the methods and strategies that will change as God uses us uniquely to fulfill His design.

My Prayer - God use me to reach the lost and fulfill your calling on my life. Help me to celebrate the diversity you have placed in your body and celebrate the success others are having. Do not allow jealousy to creep into my life as I see others fulfilling the calling you have. Help me to stay focused on the task you have designed for my life and allow me to partner with others to reach this world.