Primal - Mark Batterson, Chapter Four - The Island of the Colorblind

I am a few weeks behind on my Chapter by Chapter review of Mark Batterson's book Primal.

It has been an interesting January to say the least! In Chapter Four of the book Primal Mark asks a series of questions. Have you ever had an epiphany? A moment when heaven seemed to invade earth? A moment when eternity seemed to invade time? A moment when the presence of God was so tangible that it almost felt like a cool breeze on a hot day?

Well I had another one of those moments again in my life. I struggle at finding time to read and I really don't like writing. I am trying to become a better reader and writer this year. One of my goals is to read more and to journal more often in 2010!

So what was my epiphany... in my effort to read more and in the middle of reading Primal Chapter Five (which I will blog about soon) God spoke to me during a prayer service on a Wednesday night. If you want to read more and get to know me more read my Word. Well Lord, I am going to do that too, I'm just looking for some "easy" reads and some "quick" reads that will give me more insight and knowledge into you. Then God got right in my face and spoke directly to me... if you want to know me more read my Word. Then the question came... John if you want to know me more why not just go to "the source" (Bible) my inspired word and don't rely on "a source" to give you insight? As Pastor's it is so easy to run to someone else's work and try to get quotes, comments and even sermon topics instead pressing deeper into God's word for quotes, comments and sermon topics. I'm not saying not to do your research for a sermon but we must be careful to keep God the main point not the sub point. I so appreciate my Lead Pastor and his study time and the fact that you know the time he spend in God's word far out weighs the time he spent in research outside of God's word! The Bible is so full of deep meaning and life transformation if we open our minds and hearts to it we will see things we have never seen before!

Here's my challenge and a challenge to you too... for every chapter of a book or books you are reading read at least two chapters of God's word. I am holding myself accountable to reading through the Bible cover to cover again this year... in fact my goal is that I will read it twice... once chronologically and again topically. I can't wait to see what God is going to drop into my life by spending more time with Him!

Will you join me in going to "the source" this year?

Pastor John

Primal by Mark Batterson - Chapter Three - A drop in the Bucket

I am enjoying the book PRIMAL - A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity by Mark Batterson.


Chapter Three really hit me right between the eyes! Thank you Mark! You see, I am a very analytical thinker, I like to provide details and have all my facts when making a decision.


Here's a paragraph from Chapter Three: "Sometimes our minds interfere with our hearts. Logical objections get in the way of compassionate actions. It's not my responsibility. I'm not ready. I can't make much of a difference anyway. I'm certainly not suggesting that you shouldn't count the cost. You should. But if God is speaking to your heart, don't let your mind get in the way of what God wants you to do. Sometimes loving God with all your heart simply means listening to your heart instead of your head."


So where is your head? Is it following your heart and your love for the Lord? What is driving your actions - your needs and wants or His calling to have your heart break for what breaks His heart?

Remember you can make a difference and every penny "dropped in the bucket" can make a difference in a persons life.



Pastor John

Primal - by Mark Batterson, Chapter two - The Tribe of the Transplanted

I am enjoying the book PRIMAL - A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity by Mark Batterson.

Have you ever had a sympathy breakthrough? A moment when your inclination to hate was overcome by your will to love? A moment when proactive compassion overrode reactive anger? A moment when you cared more about someone else's pain than your own? I recently dealt with an issue in our School District that hit real close to home and when I saw the student and the Dad it brought tears to my eyes. I had one of those moments!

I believe that God is calling us to a new level of compassion. You see, if we have the heart of God in us, our hearts have been transplanted. We now have His heart and our old selfish heart has been removed and is no longer beating.

I love this quote from Mark's book Primal - "In my experience, it's much easier to act like a Christian than it is to react like one. Anyone can put on an act. But your reactions reveal what is really in your heart. And if you love God with all your heart, you won't just act like it. You'll react like it."

Inside each of us is a God-ordained passion that makes you glad, sad or mad. There is something that breaks your heart because it breaks the heart of God.

The question is this: what are you going to do about it?

I'd love to read your comments on your breakthrough sympathy moment and what you are going to do to be more compassionate.

Talk with you soon,

Pastor John

Thankfulness vs Happiness

Sunday evening we decided that Brenda needed to go to the ER for the pain she was having in her abdomen area. While we were in the ER I begin to reflect on the faithfulness of God. I had just come home from our "Hour of Thanks" service and was so grateful for what God was doing in and through us individually as well as a church. Only to find my bride doubled over in pain and needing to go to the hospital! I was thankful but not happy!

We prayed that God would bring healing to Brenda and that He would use us during this hospital visit reach others and that He would give us opportunities to share His love... I have to admit I am not happy to have Brenda in the hospital but I am thankful for a God that loves us!

Well last night, in the middle of the night Brenda had the opportunity to share her thankfulness for family and friends that are praying for her and to share her thankfulness for God's love. Bren's nurse came in to do the "vitals" check and she asked Bren how she was doing. Brenda replied; "I'm sleeping better than the night before because I have a lot of people praying for me." Then Brenda did her "vitals" check and asked; "Is there anything I can pray with you about?" After a long reflective pause... the nurse said "Well, yes there is... we are having some problems in our marriage so you can pray for my marriage." Brenda said can I pray with you now? The nurse was so taken back that a patient in the middle of night would take an interest in her and offer prayer that she didn't know what to say...

You never know how or when God will use you. So as you reflect on where you are today. Are you happy? Are you Thankful? Are you both? Or are you neither? God loves you and wants to show you His love, open up and let Him change the state of your mind (happiness) and change the state of your heart (thankfulness) and fill you with you His love, His grace, His comfort and His peace... He as done that in me.... even in the midst of Brenda being in the hospital!

Pastor John

Giving Thanks for family

I love Thanksgiving Day! It's one of those days where it's O.K. to kick back, wear your favorite "buffet" pants and to give thanks for all the things that God has blessed you with!

This year I want to give thanks for my family. Mmmm, where to start.... That's really a no brainer! I have the best wife in world...

Brenda I love you and thanks for being such a great supporter and encourager. By the way... I can't wait until our date night this week!

Of course there is my daughter Jessica... what a bundle of love! She loves life and really loves her dogs and movies! Jessica we need another movie night. I am so proud that you are living your dream, working in the field that you always wanted and you are making on your own (with a little help from Dad)!

And not to be listed (last but he is the youngest) there is my son Bradley... the great debater! Bradley has the ability to engage in conversation with everyone he comes in contact with, he is one of the best debaters of his Senior Class... Wow, Senior class... off to college next year to pursue his dream of becoming an Attorney. Did I say he was a great debater? I wouldn't want to face him in a court room! Bradley you make your dad proud! Keep up the arguing with others and not me! LOL!!!

I also want to say thanks to my parents for their impact in my life and our family. Thanks for being the Godly parents that modeled for us Christ's love.

So thank you Lord, for my family and blessing me with such a great wife, great kids and great parents...! Thank you Lord.... Amen

Pastor John

Getting plugged in!

I just had the opportunity to speak tonight for our Wednesday night Bible Study. As I was preparing this afternoon, the Lord kept reminding me over and over again the importance of being plugged into Him.

I love the opportunity to share my heart and God's word and watch Him work in my life and the others lives! Tonight we looked at the need to connect with God and each other. What an impact we make when we are connected as a church.

We started the hour by breaking into teams of two and finding out one thing we didn't know about the other person. It was amazing what we found out from each other in less than 3 minutes. Then we took the teaching from Romans 12 and discussed the importance of each of us exercising the gifts that God has given us and working in an aligned, focused and compassionate manner.

Can't wait to see what God has in store of us on Sunday.

Pastor John

Living each day like it's your last

What if you knew that today was the last day that you had to live?

What would you do differently?

I recently had one of those dreams that was very real to life. I dreamt it was my last day. In my dream my focus everyday was to make an impact for Christ. I lived my life so that everyone who came in contact with me saw Christ.

As I woke up... I heard the Lord say to me, "It's not your last day, you many days to live, but I want you to live like you did in your dream!"

Meaning - I need to die daily to myself and pick up my cross and follow Christ. It's not all about me, it's all about Jesus and making sure that the people that I encounter get a chance to see Jesus in me. Make every contact count, did the person see Jesus in me? Did my actions reflect my love and my relationship with Christ? What if that was the last time I had to talk with them... did they see Jesus in me?

God is calling us to a higher standard of living. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, we need to live each day like it's our last.

Make a difference in someones life today!

Pastor John