Archive for July, 2008
If you have been hanging around my blog for the past month, you have read a lot about a taboo subject: Depression. From the post of The Dark Side to Solutions For Dark Seasons, I have proceeded with caution to lay a foundation that depression many times is NOT a spiritual issue. With that context, consider this text.
Genesis 4 Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are yo angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must MASTER it.”
Cain was depressed. Cain’s anger segued into depression. Remember we defined depression as, “the inability to express loss.” God lovingly warned Cain, don’t let anger master you. Just let it go, Cain. Just circle back and do the right thing, Cain. Let go of your jealousy, let go of your pride, let go of your ego. Stop blowing this all out of proportion Cain and let it go and get on with your life! Cain refused to display a little humility and agree with God about his sin. In other words, he refused to confess…
If you Can’t Confess, you Can’t Express…the net effect? Depression.
In other words, without confession you will have depression.
What do you need to let go of?
Have you ever met someone that is impossible not to like? Rarely do you meet someone that unique, but Bil Cornelius is such a person. Now I realize, by default, that leadership by its very nature requires that people won’t like you. But let me say this, if you can’t get along with this dude you have a problem! A BIG problem. Let me drill down a little deeper. You might just be crazy! Bil is one of the most humble, kind, generous, funny, and passionate leaders you will ever meet. In short, Bil is Legit.
God has used Bil to start a remarkable church in Corpus Christie Texas, Bay Area Fellowship. It’s one of the greatest movements of God in the country. If you ever make it down to the pan handle, check it out or, you can catch Bil online on his expanding TV ministry BilCorneliustv.com
Enjoy this episode of CC, Too Legit Too Quit.
What makes you angry? Really. What fires you up? What ticks you off? What hacks you off? Is anger a sin? Is anger right? Anger is such a loaded emotion, isn’t it? This weekend, as we continue our blockbuster series, AT THE MOVIES, I will be talking about the destructive and positive side of anger. You don’t want to miss this weekend! As David Banner says…Don’t make me angry…you won’t like me when I’m angry!
Mortgage meltdown, declining dollar, rising gas and food prices…everywhere you turn, negative headlines dominate the landscape! If you’re not careful, you can really get discouraged about the future. The past day and a half, I was reminded of one more thing RISING beside gas and food prices…a new GENERATION.
I saw one thousand students worship and cry out to God like nothing I have ever seen before!
I saw a stadium of students come forward and bow before God…hungry to see God move in their generation
I saw a sea of students willing to sacrifice and take a stand for the TRUTH of GOD
I saw students sick of status quo religion…and understand CHANGE
In unprecedented times, I saw good news dominate the landscape.
I saw a new generation RISING.
What a blast! Had the privilege last night of taking my bride and my daughter to spend some time with friends Craig Groeschel and Steven Furtick at the Generation Conference in Utica, New York. By the way, I have had both of these guys on Cremeans Couch. Check them out if you missed it: Craig: (Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3). Steven: (Pt.1, Pt.2, Pt.3).
I love these guys!
One of the things that bless
ed me is how these GIANT Men of God made my 12 year old daughter feel special. Craig immediately initiated conversation with Natalie and told her about his daughters and how they would love to hang out with her. Very Cool. Steven then met Natalie and complimented her on how great and confident she is with people and then gave her a hug! Now this is Natalie’s first conference, and so she asked me later, “Dad, are all conferences like this? If so…I want to go to more with you!” Here is the deal…Natalie has no clue who these guys are. In other words, she doesn’t know these guys are HUGE. All she knows is these gentlemen made her feel like a Giant.
I also enjoyed seeing friends Lance Young (Craig’s assistant) and Josh Brower (Campus Pastor of LifeChurch.tv, Albany). LifeChurch.tv has a tremendous team, and I always enjoy seeing these guys…it’s just a vibe you get. God calls it a Spirit Thing. It’s amazing how God weaves his family together. I feel like I could pick up with these guys any time, anywhere!
Our host for the conference were OVER the top! Mike Servello, Jr. I just met Mike several months ago. What an honor and privilege to observe their team. You talk about family? These guys are a tight bunch! I met Mike’s incredible parents, Mike and Barbara, who started the church over 20 years ago! Amazing! I’m looking forward to partnering with All of these wonder peeps in the future!
What a conference! What a God! What a FAMILY!
I love communication. I love expression. I love creativity. What about you? Do you want to sharpen your communication skills? Do you want to improve your expression and creativity in writing? Another challenging insight from McCullough is when you write…write for the eye and the ear. What does that mean? Many times when you write, it may seem fine visually, but when you read it aloud…it doesn’t connect like you thought it would. Bummer!
The reverse is also true. When you say something, it may sound good. However, when you transcribe it on paper, the writing doesn’t flow. Frustrating? Hurts your head? You bet! But it’s one of the secrets that separates great writers like McCullough from the rest.
Great writing requires clear thinking.
Since we have moved our weekend services from Malta to Clifton Park, the feedback has been tremendous! This week, we hit phase two. Our team has been going back and forth from Malta to Clifton Park for day to day operations, and it’s been a challenge. However, tomorrow our goal is to complete our move and get our team to Clifton Park.
If you’re available during the day Thursday to help us out, meet us at the Shops of Malta at 9:00am. Come meet our staff and have a great lunch!
Listened recently to author David McCullough talk about his distinguished career in writing. McCullough stated that the reason people love to read a good book is writing requires clear thinking…it’s also the reason people don’t like to write.
Interesting.
McCullough said that Universities should require their students to write to express themselves. He said a person that can express themselves with the pen and on foot will be successful. After years of his notable career, McCullough still keeps a discipline of writing 4 typed pages a day! And I thought writing sermons and blogging was demanding!
I’ve been challenged by McCullough’s comments. And maybe similarly that’s one of the reasons God called King David a man after His own heart. Why? Because, King David expressed himself clearly to God. David poured out everything…he didn’t hold anything back. David was refreshingly authentic before it was hip. David knew how to write and consequently he knew how to express himself.
I started journaling to God about 8 years ago and blogging over a year ago. I’m just curious, do you journal? Do you blog? How has it helped you to express yourself to God?
My recent posts have been a little intense so I thought I’d lighten it up a bit and share some highlights of my day. I had a fantastic day in God’s house! I think King David said it best…Better is one day in Your house, God, than a thousand elsewhere! I couldn’t agree more! Sometimes God’s presence is just overwhelming! I can’t really explain it…it’s hard to quantify or clarify…all I can tell you is that God is working in an unmistakable way at Northway Church. In short, there is a lot of healing going on that only God can do.
It was great to have Natalie back home from camp! So after church, we took Natalie to the local fair and scored some vintage northeast sausage and peppers sandwiches and fried dough! Incredible!
We came home and crashed and racked pretty hard (in other words, we fell asleep). Then, we woke up and played in the rain. That was a blast! We watched August Rush…(music lovers, this movie is a must rent). Loved it!
Thanks God for a great day!
Next Monday…Cremeans Couch will be back!
Studying for this stuff is tough. I would love to give you knee jerk solutions for the Dark Season. I think God hard-wired me that way, to encourage people and offer solutions…it’s part of my call of being a Pastor. However, for this season, there is no quick fix. You don’t just snap out of a season. You don’t just shake off a season. Remember, a season takes time. Seasons are a process of subtle changes.
Got a call today from a friend who is going through tremendous changes in his life. His mother-in-law is dying of cancer. His wife is emotionally spent. His father-in-law is moving in. He is in a different season. He told me he is working through imagined and threatened loss and that yesterday’s post really helped. I talked to another man this past weekend at Northway Church who had tears in his eyes and said, “Buddy, I know the Dark Season will pass, but it just seems like it’s taking forever!” I wish I could pray all the junk away he and my friend are going thru, however, I find myself praying differently these days…
God, help them process the loss. God, accomplish your purpose in this season.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.
