Same stage...New actors

Sometimes life seems like a stage. One recent performance touched me deeply. Our church partnered with a project in Ethopia called Mossy Foot and more than $38,000 was given towards this cause...but thats just the outward result of the work on the inside of hearts and still... the beat of one heart in particular,grabbed me. I don't know his name...but here's his story.

It was a busy Sunday morning in the lobby, the busiest time actually, in between services, one crowd coming while the first crowd is still lingering. The lobby is full,the guest services desk is bustling, the line in the cafe is backed up, new guests are looking for directions to childrens class rooms, you hear the sounds of so many voices filling the air,folks who know each other catching up with one another, or a mother trying to get all her kids headed to the car. The hungry husband who'd like to get home cuz he's hungry, you get the picture....its busy! Right in the middle of that...I feel a tug on my sleeve,you know that little tug you've felt as a mom when your little one has been trying to get your attention? I turn to see a gentleman probably in his 60's, I recognize immediately that there is something different about him, his speech confirms my guess. In somewhat of a child like manner,he opens the clutch of his hand to reveal five, one dollar bills. "How do I give this to mmm-Mossy Foot? Am I ttt-too late? Cuz, I made a promise..I have to keep my promise." I assured him he was not too late and together we got a tithe envelope, we wrote "Mossy Foot Project" on the envelope and together we walked to the tithe box where he dropped his offering...with child like glee. "I have to keep my promise." and off he went but only until after the end of second service and again in the middle of a busy Sunday morning lobby, he found me. "Can I have a hug? thank you for helping me." Not even conscious of the fact that it was he, who had helped me, he had blessed me! It wasn't the size of his gift or the size of his mind but the size of his heart that reminded me of the story Jesus once told, you know the one. Life really is a stage and there are still amazing scenes being played out in everyday life!

A Great Spirit of Candor

I know there is controversy whenever "the church" looks at, weighs, considers or even adopts practices or principles that appear to serve a "consumer" experience. But, can it be about reaching some level of excellence because we really just want people to meet Jesus and we genuinely care about their encounter with His church? Recently I read "The Starbucks Experience" and "The New Gold Standard." by Joseph Michelli In his book "The New Gold Standard", Michelli shares some of his insights in to the legendary customer experience of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. He links one of the marks of their success to a "great spirit of candor" among its leadership and staff. I recently appreciated a dose of candor from one of our own team mates Chris Shoemaker, I needed the shake up he provided with his honest in put on things. I most adored him because he said,"Kim, I can tell you this because I know you really do love us!" Does a spirit of candor mark us? Is there a New Gold Standard we should be reaching for? Are we responsible for the "experience" in our church? Oh, and I'm still waiting for the Ritz-Carlton experience...someday!
Two great books I recommend them both!


Book review: The New Gold Standard

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Stuck

Just left our staff meeting. We prayed for all of you and Pastor Tim shared a little about what is on his heart about this weekends message. . We can be stuck on ourselves, stuck in habits, stuck in the past....He shared how he felt this message is a today word from God.

Its kinda a trend that the Sunday after Christmas, attendance in church services is down.So, if you fall in to that category, just want to remind you that you can still tune in at kcfchurch.org and attend Sunday morning online. 9am or 11am.

For some reason we're all a little more open each New Year's to change. We make New Year's resolutions to lose weight, mend a broken relationship, go back to school....etc.
Me...I just want Jesus to help me be all He meant for me to be...and if I'm stuck somewhere...I want to get unstuck.

Change our culture?

Social media...what if we don't engage it? Watch the clip...still can't decide?

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Today my mother-n-law gave me the best Christmas present ever! I did say mother-n-law right? See there has always been a tension in our relationship and a distance between her and our only son. Now she loves Jesus and I know she loves her grandson as well but the truth be told just not a warm, fuzzy closeness. Being that what it has been...she knocked my socks off today when I read the intimate message she included in her grandson's (our son)Christmas card this year. She spoke life-giving, kind, encouraging words and she made herself real, when she added that she hadn't always got it right in her own life. It got even better as I read her thoughtful words, she wasn't pushy and she left the door wide open. I loved it!, I love her! and mom....this is the best Christmas present we ever got! Here's an excerpt.

"I want you to know something I had to learn the hard way- a truth, I'll share more with you if you want to listen. The truth, I learned is- you may want to be a good parent--but, if you are a good Christian father only then can you be the best you can be, we love you."

Full of grace, love it! Our son became a dad last year at 18. We're proud of him! He's got a real Father's heart!

Speak life in to someone this Christmas...it will be the best gift you can give!

Where's the line to see Jesus?

Sent by my friend Trudy Maletta....had to share it with everyone! Thanks Trudy!

Encouraging Next Steps

I want to help people take their "next step" in Jesus from wherever they are, no matter where they've been, what they've done or what they look like and I really get excited about a person's first step toward faith in Jesus. But what that looks like and how it works is beginning to change me in ways I never expected, it continues to challenge me too. I started this blog as part of that change. I'm learning new ways to engage with those who might be disenfranchised with the "church" but as I'm also learning, are... oh so interested in engaging in a conversation about life with Jesus. They probably just aren't going to walk in to my church. I'm not a tech kind of person...but one night at midnight my son called me from a tattoo shop owned by one of his friends, where a group of them were hanging out and looking for me on facebook, myspace and other internet places I had never been. These are some neat kids, yes, they have tattoos but I actually like these kids because they challenge me and engage me in conversation where the answers are not pre-recorded, it is genuine gut-wrenching honest conversation. Now, I'm slow and it was midnight but... it hit me. ENGAGE with them, from where they are and on their terms. (think I read this in the Revolutionary Communicator) These are kids who maybe haven't taken any steps toward a relationship with Jesus but I've watched them simply bow their heads at our dinner table and it was pure! Maybe? that's a first step? I've just decided to enter the community online in hope that I can help someone...anyone take a step toward knowing and walking out life with Jesus. Now I tweet on twitter, read and journal my bible reading on youversion.com, have mastered text messaging (it might be the best conversation you can have with your teenager), and working on my facebook and this blog. An old dog can learn new tricks!