Today, for the first time, I realized that I am the mother (this is Shaina writing, Kevin’s wife) of a toddler. Not only was it the first time that I had to take my son out of the store because he was being loud, but when I went to put him into his car seat, he arched his back in protest and tried to squirm out. I also could only decorate the top half of our Christmas tree because his curious little hands kept pulling the lower ornaments off. For so long I used to think that if I could only get him to hold his head up, things would be easier. Then I was waiting until he could crawl, because life would be even easier. Next was waiting for him to walk because then I didn’t have to hold him, but now I have to chase him all the time. It seems like with each new milestone, a different challenge comes up that I am not used to. When I keep looking towards the next step to be easier, it seems to never work out that way. I know that I just need to enjoy the moment and celebrate his accomplishments one at a time. When you keep looking towards the future to be better and stop enjoying the present, life will pass you by before you know it. Everyone says that kids grow up so fast and you know what? They do!

In economics there is a term called the “velocity of money.” The basic meaning of it relates to “how fast money changes hands.” The faster money changes hands the better it is for everyone, the slower money changes hands the worse it gets for everyone. The economy does better the faster the money moves.

I thought about this concept and then immediately thought about (of course) the church. No matter what methodology you adhere to (i.e. small groups, connect groups, grow groups, or the relational web) it is all about the number of transactions of people have. Relationships grow with interactions.

And relationships are vital to the church (or any organization for that matter)!

Thanksgiving is almost here! Hanging out with family and friends, with a combination of great food, equals an amazing time! Christmas music is just about to be all over the radio and the shoppers will be everywhere.

I love this season, but there is something practical we have to remember. Don’t overdo it. Our emotions overtake us in the holiday season and usually two things happen. We overeat and we overspend. Most of us regret it big time after the fact, but many do not consider the fact beforehand.

We see the cranberry sauce, the turkey, and the stuffing, and go crazy. Or maybe we feel like we have to get everyone a present even if we can’t afford them.

This may seem like a silly post, but our health and our finances are very important! Make a plan and stick to it for the holiday season. And don’t overdo it.

Ideas to go from “first day of school” to “cafeteria” (if that doesn’t make sense go to this post)

• Mow your friends lawn
• Meet a need that they have talked about
• Bring them a gift that they want
• Wash their car
• Bring them dinner one evening
• Have them over for dinner
• Ask the person “want to go to lunch?”
• Find common ground and share that experience (fishing, hiking, riding a bike)
• Make them a homemade gift that you know they would like (bath mixture or bbq rub)

There will be times in your life, when the things you thought you knew, get thrown upside down…Maybe a situation occurs, a circumstance, or happening that makes you pause.  It makes you stop and think, “where are my motives?” or “why am I doing this?” or you think “why am I so frustrated?”  

The prevailing question, the one that keeps “coming up” in your head, God is usually bringing that one up for a reason.  That question needs to be answered.  

God has continued to bring one question to me…this same question, over and over.  I didn’t know the answer which forced me to go to God and ask Him.  

It’s interesting, He didn’t give me the answer right away, it was a process, which took time, but it is crystal clear…Almost in stereo, it was like God was speaking from different sources.  Then He lead me to this scripture…

 It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow.  1 Corinthians 3:7

The questions or problems you cannot answer are designed so that you are compelled to go to God for the answer….Those questions are the ones that drive you to an amazing love relationship with Him.

They are not the most fun times, it feels like your heart is being torn up, and sometimes feels brutally painful…but massive growth happens because of them, and God uses every tear drop and pain for His purpose.

My prayer is that we will ask ourselves the tough questions, let God move in our heart, allow others to know what we struggle with, have the courage to move forward in faith with Him, and accept His will in all circumstances.

Today we had the opportunity to record part of the staff meeting…check it out!

Staff Meeting

Over time, if you read health magazines, you are more likely to become
more healthy.  If you read parenting magazines, you are more likely to
be a better parent.  If you read financial magazines, you are more
likely to be more financially savvy.  If you read cooking magazines, you
are more likely to be a better cook.  If you read the Bible, you are
more likely to be more Christ like. 

Reading gives you insight, and insight gives you the opportunity to
choose.

Notice the words “you are more likely”. Reading does not guarantee
anything, but not reading will definitely produce far less results.

When I was a kid I loved winnie the pooh (yes i admit it). He liked sweet foods like honey and so did I…He liked hanging out with his friends and so did I….Me and pooh had a lot in common.  I don’t know if you watched the show, but many times pooh had to think.  He would put his paw up to his head and say, “think, think, think.”

That silly old bear was pretty smart!  We should all take a minute and “think, think, think.”

Think about how things are going in your life, what needs to change, what is going well, do I need to pray more, do i need to start a workout routine, is there someone i can call and ask if they need help…

When we take a minute to think about where we are headed and what we are doing it brings clarity to a cluttered and busy world.

Inside of every one of us is the question, “What if?”  What if I fail?
What if I don’t get the job? What if my relationship turns out to be
horrible?  At imagine we are asking the “what if” questions, but in a
different way.  Here is what we ask…

What if we acted like the church and loved our neighbor?  What if
we reached out to people that didn’t have a relationship with Christ and
showed them, not beat them with words, but showed them what it means?
What if we operated independently with God and was supported by the
relationships around us?  What if we planted 262 churches all around the
nation in cities over 100,000 in population?  What if a direct cause of
us planting churches reached one million people for Christ?

Do me a favor, if you go to Imagine, would you send a quick email to me, kevin@imaginefellowship.org, with the three names of those you are trying to be intentional with to bring to our service and ultimately a relationship with Christ (I want to pray for you and them)…with the names, tell me what phase you are with them (first day of school, deskmate, cafeteria, or recess-read previous blog posts “how do relationships grow”).  What if you don’t know three people?  Then write that you are praying for God to show you who to be intentional with (for example: John Doe-first day of school, Angie Halle-cafeteria, praying to find the thid person to help)

What if we did this?  We will see lives changed for Christ!

The four stages are: first day of school, deskmate, cafeteria, and recess.  We all have people in each stage of our lives…The people that we barely know or just met is the “first day of school.”  ”Deskmates” are those that you have small talk with…The “cafeteria” is where you hang out and have extended conversation and “recess” is where there is a high level of influence and authenticity.

I bet you have people in each phase.  People that are far away from you and people that are close.  At imagine, we are intentional about helping those around us that are far away from a relationship with God and bringing them closer.  It is about recognizing who is in each phase (first day, deskmate, cafeteria, or recess) and how do we take them to the next one….

(Ideas for taking the next steps)

First day of school is about meeting new people-

this could be a new neighbor, a coworker, a person at the gym, or the starbucks worker…a simple “hi, how are you doing?” works well, or talk about the weather, or the things around your environment 

Deskmate is about asking questions-

Once the first day of school is over, you can ask more questions such as, “What classes are you taking?” “Do you have any kids?” “Do you watch sports?” “What type of movies do you like?” Questions allow others to tell there story and it shows that you are genuinely interested.

Cafeteria is about the invite to an event and holding a conversation-

The next question, after time, is the invite…”Want to go to lunch?” “Want to go workout?” “Want to come over for dinner?” These events allow for you get to know them even better.  Barriers in the relationship are are usually broken here, because you went to a different environment.

Recess is where both people (or couples) can be themselves-

In every relationship, eventually, you get to a point, where you talk regularly, go to the movies, and can just be yourself.  This is the best time to ask someone to attend a sunday service.  If you ask before this, they might come, but the likeliness is much lower before this stage.  It is high in this stage because you have invested in that person.  (After the service, you can ask them what they thought, did they like it, and what they thought of the message)

If you are at imagine, or any church around the country, identify the people in these stages, and take them to the next stage. If you do this, you will see lives changed for Christ!