Eric Offstage

Christmas Eve at the Crossing

On Christmas Eve the creative team has decided to do the most average service we have ever done.  What?  Absolutely. 

See our services on the average weekend are more interactive, creative and interesting than most churches' special Christmas programs.  So we thought, what if we just did an average service and showed all the guests what they would get all year long if they came to our church sometime other than a special holiday? 

So rather than putting on some sort of over-the-top cheesy production that people just go, "that's nice I will see you next Christmas Eve," We thought, "let's just be ourselves and do what we do best--tell people to follow Jesus in a very direct, challenging, relevant way. 

So that is what we are doing.  Christmas Eve is the final week of our Christmas On Location Series, and it's called, "Christmas at Home."  I promise you the band will rock, the worship will be tight, and the sermon unusual for Christmas Eve.  (Hint: You can either go home or you can go to hell; why would you not want to go home?)  We are going to reach a ton of people this Christmas who are far from God--but they'll only hear it if you will bring them. 

So I hope to see you at 4 or 6 on Christmas Eve with some friends.  (Come early if you want a good seat.  Zimmerman is joining Elk River so it will probably be pretty crowded.)  

Now...I'm off to enjoy my Sabbath with my amazing, wonderful, beautiful wife.  And maybe I'll even make her some breakfast.  (Yes, that part was written by Kelly as I edited this post. Think he'll notice?)

A Crucial Concept for Leaders

I read this today from Ken Shaffer and his blog www.churchrelevance.com.  It was a great thought for leaders of any ministry area.  PLEASE READ!! 

 

Developing your team into effective leaders requires more than just explaining how to do something. You must explain the why behind the how. Understanding the science behind a method is crucial to being able to effectively lead in times of unusual circumstance.

When it comes to systems, most rules have exceptions, but you can’t appropriately identify these exceptions unless you understand the principles behind the rule. Teaching rules alone creates carbon copy robots. Teaching principles creates leaders.

The Pharisees lived by rules with such rigidity that they missed the principles and the purpose behind the rules. Jesus knew the rules, but more importantly, Jesus understood the more important principles behind the rules. As a result, He made exceptions that made His ministry dramatically more fruitful and impactful than the office of a Pharisee.

Here’s the challenge – it is much easier to teach the how without the why. Teaching the science and principles behind it all requires the investment of a mentor. Often, it requires modeling. Managers teach rules. Leaders teach principles.

Zimmerman Campus Update

We are rocking it out in Zimmerman.  If you don't know this, since our grand opening on October 25, Zimmerman has gone from about 70 committed adults to a weekly average of about 150.  That means in less than 2 months they have doubled in size!  That is amazing.  Way to go Zimmerman!  Keep up the great work.   

Starting next month Zimmerman will also have an awesome new kids ministry asset that Elk River will not have.  It is our new secret weapon for the GalaXity kids in Zimmerman.  I can't tell you what it is yet because Chris will kill me, but I promise your kids WILL LOVE IT! 

Zimmerman kids' ministry is going to be, as I like to say:  OFF THE CHAIN!!!

If you live in Zimmerman, go check out our new Zimmerman campus.  It is awesome.  They have an amazing band; would you believe, everyone tells me the Z-town crowd is way more alive and fun?!! They have a great place to worship, and it is the same talk as in Elk river. 

(I'm not kidding you; every week people tell me how much more alive the Zimmerman crowd is than Elk River.  If you haven't been there, it is electric.  Jesus just shows up.)

Also for all you 11:00 peeps in Elk River, Zimmerman has more seats!!!  Our 11:00 Sunday service in Elk River is way over crowded.  If you can switch to 10:30 in Zimmerman please do it and bring YOUR FRIENDS.  

So now you have been updated.  Zimmerman rocks, Jesus rocks, and your mom could rock if she would just go to ZIMMERMAN!! 

See you there. 

A Very Important Announcement

For months now I have mocked and derided Twitter as self-promoting and a big waste of time. 

Then, a few months ago someone I respect (Pastor Rick Warren) who felt similar to me about Twitter, caved and began to use it.  I have watched for several months now as he used Twitter not to talk about stupid stuff like what he ate for lunch, or how cute his dog is, but to encourage, teach and push people to grow in their faith and be like Jesus. 

I watched him take a piece of self-promoting technology and turn it into a tool to change people's lives.    

So as of today I repent of my mocking of Twitter and I am opening my own account.  Now before you write me off and say this is stupid (which is what I used to do), let me promise you what I will be doing with Twitter. 

Here are my rules.

1. No stupid self-promoting tweets.
2. No stupid stuff that has nothing to do with Jesus.   
   
3. I will use Twitter to encourage you, push you to conquer sin, remind you to be dangerous for the kingdom of heaven, and help you stay connected to Christ. 

Here is how this will work:

• Each day you will receive a tweet with a suggested prayer to pray to God.  (You will get to see what I am begging God to do that day.)
• Each day you will receive a verse of Scripture to remind you to follow Christ.
• Each day you will receive a quote or a key thought encouraging you to live out your faith and be dangerous for Christ.
• MAYBE you will receive one other thought in a day about how awesome Christ is or what He is doing in my life or the life of the church.  BUT that is all.  I want to use to Twitter to push you to follow Jesus all week long. 

Think of it like this:   

What if you were having a bad day and about to make a stupid sinful choice and suddenly on your phone you got a text with a verse of Scripture or a thought about Jesus that pushed you to do right?  Wouldn't that be a serious benefit to you?  I think so.  You would have a tool to remind you to honor Christ all week long.   

This is ALL I want to use Twitter for.  It is a tool you can use to remind you, help you, and encourage you to be like Jesus. 

If you would like my help not just on the weekend, but all week long click the link to the right at the top of this page.   

A New Study On The Sad Effects of Porn On Marriages and Families

Someone I respect showed me a super sucky new study on the effects of porn on marriages, families and teenagers.  Please read this, and if you struggle with this stuff or know someone who does, please call or email our office and we can get you some help.  (Don't worry; it will be completely confidential.) 

The study is done by Patrick F. Fagan.  (Fagan is Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Research on Marriage and Religion at the Family Research Counsel.)  Here is a bullet-point summary of what he had to say, and my thoughts after each point: 

• Pornography is addictive, and neuroscientists are beginning to map the biological substrate of this addiction.  (DUH!!!!  This is as big an an addiction as drugs or alcohol but harder to conquer because sex is a natural, God-given craving.  RUN FROM THIS CRAP!!)   
• Users tend to become desensitized to the type of pornography they use, become bored with it, and then seek more perverse forms of pornography.  (AGAIN DUH!! People need more and more deviant stuff to satisfy their twisted cravings.)
• Married men who are involved in pornography feel less satisfied with their conjugal relations and less emotionally attached to their wives. Wives notice and are upset by the difference.  (HOLY COW THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!  Dudes, I think one of the main reason I see couples in counseling is because husbands just shut down with their wives and are emotionally and sexually distant.  This stuff ruins marriages.  IT WILL NOT HELP YOUR SEX-LIFE AND MARRIAGE)
• Pornography use is a pathway to infidelity and divorce, and is frequently a major factor in these family disasters.  (Most dudes who end up in affairs also look at porn regularly.)
• Among couples affected by one spouse's addiction, two-thirds experience a loss of interest in sexual intercourse.  (Seriously guys this is insane.  GOD GIVES YOU A WIFE, AND YOU WOULD RATHER USE YOUR HAND AND AN AIRBRUSHED PRETEND WOMAN?  COME ON, THIS IS SO SAD!  LOVE YOUR WIFE!  I KNOW THIS TAKES HARD WORK BUT YOU CAN DO IT!  MEN, if you struggle with this you have to get some help!!  You can change!  Christ can give you the power to KEEP YOUR EYES ON YOUR OWN WIFE AND BE GOOD TO HER AND LOVE HER WELL!  WOMEN, I know that many of you struggle with porn also.  Talk to someone.  Get some help.  YOU CAN HAVE A HOT SMOKING AWESOME SEX LIFE AGAIN!!  DON'T LIVE IN THIS INSANITY!!)  
• Many adolescents who view pornography initially feel shame, diminished self-confidence, and sexual uncertainty, but these feelings quickly shift to unadulterated enjoyment with regular viewing. (Our teenagers are in serious trouble.  Most kids have viewed porn by age 12.  PARENTS PROTECT YOUR KIDS!!  GET FILTERS ON YOUR COMPUTERS!  MONITOR THEIR INTERNET USE, MOVIE CHOICES AND TEXT MESSAGING!  PROTECT YOUR KID FROM BECOMING AN ADDICT!!)
• The main defenses against pornography are close family life, a good marriage and good relations between parents and children, coupled with deliberate parental monitoring of Internet use.  (Basically the way you stop porn is to love your wife/husband well.  Be honest and open about your junk.  Pay attention to your children; don't just send them off to school and hope for the best.  AND PUT FILTERS ON YOUR COMPUTERS! Resources:  www.xxxchurch.com and www.bsecure.com

IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH THIS, I KNOW YOU ARE FEELING SUPER GUILTY RIGHT NOW!  GUILT MANY TIMES LEADS YOU TO SHAME, AND YOU CONTINUE TO HIDE YOUR PROBLEM!  YOU CAN'T CHANGE IF YOU KEEP HIDING!  TALK TO SOMEONE!  THIS IS NOT UNSOLVABLE!

Adults:  You can confidentially email pastor Bruce for help at: Brauma@crossing-church.com

Students:  You can confidentially email pastor John our student ministries pastor for help at:  jhill@crossing-church.com

 

A Great Question for Church Leaders

Each week I meet with my spiritual running partner and he asks me hard, intrusive questions about my personal life.  This keeps me on a path toward holiness and away from stupid sins. 

Today I ran across a great question that we are going to start asking each other regularly. 

"If the devil were to ruin your ministry, what area of your life would he pursue?"

And a follow-up question: 

"What area of life is most vulnerable to temptation, and what are you doing right now to protect yourself?"  

Remember, church leaders, we have an enemy that is seeking to destroy us and all the work we do for the kingdom of heaven.  Ephesians 4:27: Do not give the devil a foothold. 

Guard yourself and your fellow ministry partners from evil so that you can continue to advance Christ in our world. 

Don't SHOULD all over yourself today.

Too many of us live our lives in guilt.  We tell ourselves things like:

• I SHOULD be a better dad.
• I SHOULD be a better wife.
• I SHOULD be a better employee.
• I SHOULD be a better Christian.
• I SHOULD, I SHOULD, I SHOULD...

And we just live in guilt.  We live looking at all our flaws, and we just walk around feeling like crap all the time.  When we live like this we are not trusting that God really loves us and cares about us.  We are living in fear of our Savior and trying to impress Him instead of just accepting His love.  This is crazy. 

Stop SHOULDING all over yourself!  God is already pleased with you.  He already loves you.  He is already proud of you.  He is already impressed with you and loves you as much as He ever will.  STOP BEING AFRAID HE DOESN'T LOVE YOU, AND REST IN HIS LOVE!  

Scripture says:  Romans 8:38  Nothing can ever separate us from Christ's love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.

See God is loving you no matter how you PERFORM!  You can't impress him.  You don't have to be a better father or better Christian to get God's love.  He ALREADY LOVES YOU!  REST IN THAT! 

STOP LOOKING AT YOUR FAULTS AND REST IN YOUR FATHER'S LOVE.

DON'T SHOULD ALL OVER YOURSELF!

 

 

25 (Plus one) More Influential Books Every Christian & Leader Needs To Read

1. Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen.  Incredible book on God, His love for us and how He works with us. 
2. The Forgotten Ways by Alan Hirsch.  Awesome book about what Christianity originally looked like and what it could look like again. 
3. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero.  This book helped me realize I needed to get emotionally and psychologically together, and not just keep limping along.  (It made me go to counseling.)
4. The Wonderful Spirit-Filled Life by Charles Stanley.  I realized I was not living by the Spirit of God by instead was living in my own strength. 
5. Too Busy Not To Pray by Bill Hybels.  This book moved me to finally start talking to God and not just doing things for God. 
6. No Perfect People Allowed by John Burke.  John helped me understand how to build a church that says all of us are broken people, and only Jesus can fix us.  I am not better than anyone.  We are all a mess, but Jesus changes us.  
7. The Church of Irresistible Influence by Robert Lewis.  This book showed me how a church can be the hands of feet of Jesus in a community; not just inside its own walls.
8. Hedges by Jerry Jenkins.  This book taught me to protect my marriage more than I protect anything in life.  A must read for couples.
9. Roaring Lambs by Bob Briner.  I learned that Christians need to stop running from culture and start engaging and leading culture.  Holy Cow!this was fantastic.
10. The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard.  A tough read but AWESOME.  Dallas wants you to understand what the Gospel of Jesus is really all about.  It will change you.
11. They Like Jesus but not the Church by Dan Kimball.  This showed me what non-Christians actually think about church.  THEY HATE IT!  They are very open to Jesus but hate the church.  That means church must change so people can see JESUS!  Very simple but profound book. 
12. If You Want to Walk on Water You Have to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg.  This book will give you the courage to finally take risks and leaps of faith.  WELL DONE!
13. Fresh Wind Fresh Fire by Jim Cimbala.  Jim teaches you the amazing power of prayer in the local church.
14. Raising a Modern Day Knight by Robert Lewis.  Every dad needs to read this book and put it into practice with their sons. 
15. An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus.  This book taught me that Christians need to be dangerous and stop trying to be safe and secure.  Churches need to be a SAFE PLACE for a DANGEROUS message. 
16. Walking with God by John Eldredge.  By far John's best book.  He teaches from his own life how to have an actual friendship with God. It is fantastic.
17. Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  Chan does a great job moving Christians to take their faith seriously and put Jesus first. 
18. It by Craig Groeschel.  Craig is great at showing you what a church could look like if you just have GOD.  Church isn't about production and lights and sounds and bands.  It is about the power and presence of GOD. 
19. An Hour On Sunday by Nancy Beach.  Nancy is the creative team leader and a teaching pastor at Willow Creek.  Every pastor or ministry team leader who plans a weekend service at a church needs to read this book.  You only get one hour a week to influence people; you better do it right.  IT IS ALL ABOUT THE WEEKEND, STUPID!
20. The Myth of a Christian Nation by Greg Boyd.  Wow!  Greg does a fantastic job teaching that patriotism is wonderful, but we are ALIENS AND STRANGERS here.  Christians are citizens of the kingdom of heaven, not of ANY EARTHLY kingdom.  Every Christian needs to read this book.
21. The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley.  Andy very simply teaches young leaders like me how to lead well. 
22. Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels.  This is Bill's best book in my humble opinion.  He taught me so much about risk taking and momentum and faith.  The speed of the leader equals the speed of the team. 
23. The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claybourne.  Shane is radical about Christians actually caring for the poor and the needy.  He studied with Mother Teresa for a while.  He lives the life of a modern day monk in inner-city Philly.  AWESOME!
24. The Radical Reformission by Mark Driscoll.  Another home run book by Driscoll.  He helps pastors and church leaders get back on mission and stop wasting time on the stupid stuff.
25. Wild at Heart by John Eldridge.  John helped me realize that JESUS WAS A DUDE.  HE was a fighter not a weenie.  This was profound for me because it helped me stop apologizing for my desire to fight a battle and conquer things.  God made me to be a warrior. 
26. ******This is my honorable mention:  Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell.  Bell is amazing.  He teaches very easily that the Christian church cannot become a Velvet Elvis (irrelevant to people).  We must be constantly reinventing ourselves in every culture. This does not mean we change the Bible or what it teaches but we do change how WE teach the Bible to others.  The Crossing can never become a velvet Elvis or we will stop reaching people who are far from God.      

10 Most Influential Books I Have Ever Read

Besides the Bible the most important books I have ever read are as follows. 

1.  Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren.  This book helped me understand the vision and mission of the local church long before I was ever a leader of anything.  Rick shaped much of my thinking in the mid-nineties. 

2.  The Creative Leader by Ed Young, Jr.  This book taught me to think outside the box with everything.  I now ask the question "what if" about just about everything rather than living with "what is." 

3.  Making Room for Life by Randy Frazee. This book helped me learn to say NO to tons of people and tons of good things in order that I accomplish the more important things.  This book made me sane and focused on what I do best. 

4.  Confessions of a Reformissional Rev by Mark Driscoll.  This book taught me to be blunt and speak the truth and shame the devil.  I learned so much about the Emerging Missional Church movement through this book.  It gave me hope that the church in America is not dead in my generation but is returning to its original mission of seeking and saving those who are lost.   

5.  Why Men Hate Going to Church by David Murrow.  I know most people would not put this book in their top ten but this book helped me understand that for the most part we have girlified Christianity.  Most churches are 65% plus female and it is because we have put flowers and pretty things everywhere, sing light-rock prom songs to Jesus, and speak so carefully and gently that men are bored out their flipping minds.  To reach men we need to target the men, talk like a man, and stop being wusses. 

6.  What's so Amazing About Grace by Phillip Yancey.  I am not a person of mercy.  I suck at empathy.  I want to move immediately to solution with people.  I want to help people, but I struggle to be merciful towards them.  This book helps me.  It helps me understand God's grace and my brokenness.  This book helps me to live out Micah 6:8, "Do justice, LOVE MERCY, and walk humbly."  

7.  Abba's Child by Brennan Manning.  This former priest taught me that I don't have to earn God's love.  I don't have to try to impress God.  God is already proud of me.  He is already totally pleased with me.  This is a great book for anyone who struggles with feelings of worthlessness or low self image. 

8.  The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster.  This book taught me that becoming like Jesus is a matter of discipline.  I have to train myself to be Godly.  I loved this book because I learned how to connect with God, grow my own faith and FEED MYSELF!  Every Christian needs to read this book.

9.  Deliberate Simplicity by David Browning.  This book taught me to do less so I could do more.  This book was not so much about me personally doing less; but more about how to structure businesses and churches to do less.  Organizations need to do what they are BEST at instead of trying to do everything average.   

10.  500 more that I can't list today.  I will give you a list of 25 more books tomorrow.  Go buy some of these and let God start to change you.   

Remember:  Arrogance is trying to figure out life without bothering to learn new things to handle life.  Humility is constantly saying I AM A LEARNER.  I AM A STUDENT.  Be a learner.  Go read. 

Leaders Are Readers

I need to just set the record straight for a second about leadership.  Many people assume leadership is just a gift you either have or you don't.  And I somewhat agree with that.  Some have a natural gift of leadership and others don't.  But what I think is more important is what you do with the little or lot of leadership gift you were given.

See real leaders, whether they are gifted or not, have an insatiable desire to learn and grow and become better people.  They are always, always, always reading and researching and seeking to expand their knowledge, because knowledge is power and influence and growth.  The greatest leaders are always readers.

I hate to break this to all of you that don't like to read, but GET OVER IT!  If you want to be successful, buckle up and learn something new.  START READING SOMETHING THAT EXPANDS YOUR KNOWLEDGE! 

I am not a smart guy.  I don't read fast.  I don't understand things easily.  But I read all the time.  I read biographies (I read one yesterday.)  I read spiritual growth books.  I read history.  I read emotional and physical health books.  I listen to books on CD.  I download transcripts of sermons.  I am always always reading. 

The second I stop reading and learning is the second I start becoming a person of pride, because now I am leading based on everything I already knew.  Instead, I must be humble enough to say I don't know everything, so I am going to go find out.  I lead best as I learn new things.  I lead terribly when I live off old knowledge.

Too many people live stagnant, stunted lives because they just stopped learning. So with that in mind over the next two days I am going to put up a list of the most important books I have read in recent years.  And with this list I'm hoping many of you will go out and give yourself the great Christmas present of knowledge.  In so doing, you'll become better leaders.  

Merry Christmas.  My list will be up by 12:00 tomorrow.