Well, Are You?

Are you living a great story?

Family Tradition: Family Dream Session

Because of my belief in the importance of meaningful traditions, I'm sharing a few from time-to-time that we've established in our family...

This is the last family tradition I'll mention: Our family starts every year by dreaming together. We spend some time individually (eating peanut butter & banana French Toast and) thinking about questions like:

• What are my favorite things about our family?
• What do I think our family needs to change this year?
• What are my favorite things about me?
• What are some of the gifts God has given me?
• What are some of the careers I think might be a good fit for me based on my unique design?
• What do I think God is calling us to do this year?

And then we regroup and talk through the answers. Stole this idea from Todd Clark, and we love it. Awesome way to start each year.

this weekend @ VERVE

You don't want to miss this weekend at Verve. It's Halloween and we're starting a brand new series called, Monster/Monster. We're gonna take a look at some famous monsters, and look in the mirror to see if there might be a monster living in us. We'll talk about how to kill the monster and get free to become the person God intends for us to be.

We're also having a party in the lobby - games, snacks, candy for the kids.

Can your kids wear their costumes? Can you? ... Of course.

See ya Sunday morning or Monday evening.

this weekend @ VERVE

This weekend we kick off a brand new series: MONSTER/monster. We're going to look at some famous monsters, like Frankenstein and Dracula, and we're going to look at ourselves to see if those monsters might live in us. It will be interesting and extremely practical, so don't miss a week - especially the first week!

This Sunday morning and Monday evening we're also throwing a Halloween party before and after the services. We've got games, snacks, some candy for your kids. Gonna be fun.

Annnnddd, we are in the final stretch of days to signup for this semester of Verve University, which is six weeks long, on Wednesday nights from 6:35 to 8:00, starting this Wednesday. You can register for either of the great classes we're offering online, or in person at Verve on Sunday or Monday.

Know Any?

With our Monday night service, and curiosity about other potential evening services we can do in the future, I'm wanting to do a little research into night services at churches.

Do you know any churches that have evening services (that are not on Saturdays)?  Know any that do only services at night?

If so, could you leave me a comment with their name(s), and maybe web addresses?

Thanks!

The People's Good (Not Mine)

Maybe my favorite leader in the Bible is Nehemiah. One reason is what drove him. In Nehemiah 2:10 we're told that he came to "promote the welfare of the Israelites." And when he saw how bad things were for them, he was troubled to the point that it was noticeable.

I think too many leaders are driven to promote themselves, rather than the welfare of others. It's why it took me so long to have a blog, and I still feel funny about it. It's why I don't do Twitter. Because self-promotion is a temptation for all of us, and I don't want to fall into it. (This, by the way, is what my book publisher likes the least about me.)

There's just something ugly about a person promoting themselves, or when they do things to make sure you notice how great they are, how famous, how widely they're followed.

But there's something beautiful about a person who pours himself out for others. About a person who's dream is to help other people's dreams come true. About a person who instead of walking over others to get to the top, lays down his life for the sake of the people she's serving.

I don't know that anyone would say that about me (yet), but man, that's what I want.

Just Curious

I didn't ask for it, it's just sort of a natural part of who I am. And, honestly, I love it about me. My wife, on the other hand, isn't so fond of this trait of mine. She gets a little annoyed by it sometimes. What is it?

I am curious. To absurd levels. I have to know the etymology  of every word. I want to know the system the restaurant uses to process their orders. I want to know who sings that song. I want to know what are the ingredients in this. I want to know how that magic trick was done. I want to know where those coyotes actually live. I want to know it all.

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity."

Want to know who said that? Albert Einstein. And he was pretty bright. So I'm in good company. And maybe you should join the company of the curious. You've got to wonder how your life might improve if you had more, well, wonder.

VERVE Happs - PLEASE Read

Yet another great weekend at Verve, in which we met the naked, bloody, superfreak, and learned that we are not monsters, just people who need to go home.

Announcement Time:  On Sunday, December 18th our Cupcake Girls Ministry will be throwing a Christmas Party for employees of Las Vegas' strip clubs. Working in the sex industry can be very challenging, especially this time of year! Many women don't feel valuable or know their true worth. Through this event we hope to help them see that they have great value because they are created in the image of God and loved by Him. We want the party to be amazing (nice catered meal, Christmas gifts, Tiffany/spa theme) so it's clear how much we care. And we need your help! How can you help? Here are a few ways:

1. Donate money. We're praying that 20 people will give $100 to help us pay for this event. If you're willing to give $100 - or anything - click here and choose "Cupcake Girls Christmas Party" for what you're giving to.
2. Volunteer:  We are looking for manicurists, massage therapists, hair stylists, photographers, and we need a set-up and clean-up crew.
3. Donate items:  We're in need of: items for manicures and facials and massages, Tiffany-themed costume accessories.  And for the gift bags: white roses, chocolates, gift cards, candles, and professional & name brand lotions, body washes, body scrub, lip gloss, and bath salts.

If you can provide any of that, we would greatly appreciate it, and through a small act of generosity you could make a big difference in some ladies lives.

Please be praying for this event. Thanks!

Vince Recommends...

I submit for your approval... the 5 step process Alex McManus suggests for accomplishing anything significant in life:

1. Think Big
2. Start Small
3. Build On Success
4. Pray
5. Never Give Up

Seems like common sense, but that process is anything but common. Most people think small, and many try to start big. Rather than searching for successes and building on those, we tend to manufacture momentum from nowhere. Often instead of praying, we just work harder. And when things aren't as we had hoped, we give up.

If you want to start a church or a business or a new career, make a change in your life, anything: Think big, Start small, Build on success, pray, and never give up.

Family Tradition: Christmas Morning

Because of my belief in the importance of meaningful traditions, I'm sharing a few from time-to-time that we've established in our family... 

So if you were at our house on Christmas morning, well, you might feel a slight bit weirded out. We are typically not too odd, but Christmas morning...

When we get up we don't open presents. No, we go to the kitchen table, where I read the story of Jesus' birth, shepherds, wise men. Then we bring out the birthday cake we made together the day before. (A special kind of cake we only make for Christmas.) Then we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus (weirded out yet?). And then we eat birthday cake for breakfast. And then we go to the presents. But before we do we talk about how cool Jesus is that it's His birthday but we get the presents.

It's a little goofy maybe, but it helps us remember what the day is really about. And cake for breakfast is never a bad thing.

Not the Pastor, the Broken

I love this post by Matthew Barnett, pastor of the Dream Center in L.A. (one of the churches that truly inspires me, and that I hope Verve will become more like in many ways as we "grow up"), because he makes the truth about churches clear: It's not about the pastor. It is about the broken.

It's not about the pastor. The idea of celebrity/rock star pastors should be oxymoronic and make us all wonder, "How have things gone wrong for the church?" You could never read the Bible and get the idea that pastors should revel in or point out their fame, or work on "building their careers."

It is about the broken. Jesus made this clear. Obviously, it's truly about God. But what's closest to God's heart are His children who are wandering through life without Him, who are hurting, who are living without a relationship with Him which is the reason for and very source of life.

It's not about the pastor. It is about the broken.

CHANGE of PLANS

We are hoping to finish up the painting on Saturday morning, rather than Sunday afternoon.  If you can help, we'll be working on Saturday from 10 am to about noon.  There may still be some work to do after church on Sunday...

Thanks.

this weekend @ VERVE

This week we conclude our "I Want a Movie Life" series with Super 8.   

Super 8 was a unique sci-fi / horror type of movie this summer from Steven Spielberg.  Whether you saw it or missed it, the message this week will bring you hope and inspire you to find a greater purpose in life. 

If you need hope or purpose, don't let this be the week you miss Verve!

Anyone Want To Paint?

We need to paint some walls at Verve.  We're going to paint on Friday morning from 7:30 to 9:00 am, and on Sunday after second service (so around 1:00 till around 2:30).  If you can help out either of those times, that would be awesome. Please leave a comment if you're going to be able to help.

Thanks.

Family Tradition: Family Fun Friday Night

Because of my belief in the importance of meaningful traditions, I'm sharing a few from time-to-time that we've established in our family...

With all that kids have going on today it's easy to not have family time. Maybe it's even worse for pastors; I'm not sure. So we have blocked out Friday night as our "nothing is going to stop us from being together and having fun" time. With only very rare exceptions, on Friday nights we are playing Wii, or watching a movie, or playing board games, or going to the drive-in, or out to eat or for ice cream.

Between Friday being my day off and my wife & I doing a date in the morning, and Family Fun Night, Friday's are definitely my fav day of the week. 

Family Tradition: Fondue Holidays

Because of my belief in the importance of meaningful traditions, I'm sharing a few from time-to-time that we've established in our family...

I think we got the fondue set as a wedding present. We never used it, then one day for some strange reason decided to give it a try. We liked it. Our kids loved it. They started asking all the time if we could do fondue. Well, fondue isn't exactly good for you. And it's not the easiest thing to prepare. So we kept saying no.

Then brilliance struck.

We decided to have fondue for holidays. Not Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, which tend to have big meals anyway. But like St. Patricks, Valentine's Day, Memorial Day. We thought it might be a fun way to celebrate the "lesser" holidays, and would guarantee we have fondue regularly, but not too often.

It's perfect. We usually do meat fondue (meat cooked in boiling oil is awesome) and sometimes chocolate fondue. And it's a fun, loooong meal to sit around and talk and laugh and cook for each other. Our kids love it. When a holiday is coming they are typically asking, "Are we going to have fondue?!"

So I've been sharing some of our family traditions - you got any you want to share? 

Dream Speed Bumps

I've got big dreams for Verve; for how Verve can help hurting people in Las Vegas and bring God to people who think they could never have Him. If you know me you may think you know the dreams, but you don't. I'm getting closer to revealing some, but right now they're mostly just a secret between me and God.

Honestly, one of the reasons I've been nervous about sharing them is because it's not like it's been easy for us so far. We're growing, but it's not explosive growth. We're trying to figure out how to make ends meet financially...

So I was encouraged recently when I was re-reading The Church That Never Sleeps and found this:

Sometimes God will allow tough times to come at you immediately when you're following a dream because He wants to find out up front if you can withstand them. Most people who have accomplished great things for God testify to the same thing: their biggest test came in the beginning.

So, have you got a big dream from God? Is it being tested? Keep moving, get past the speed bump, because your destiny is waiting for you.

VERVE Happs

Lots of cool things going on at Verve.  I am SO psyched about plans we have for this Christmas season - we're going to take guerrilla to a new level - but I'm not gonna tell you quite yet.

And there's something coming on or just after Christmas that's even bigger. Okay, it's WAY bigger. But I'm definitely not gonna tell you that one yet.

For now you'll just have to trust me, good stuff is coming.

And it's happening now. Maybe the coolest thing that happened this last week is that we put on our Vault Conference. We had about 80 pastors from all over the country come to learn how to do church for people who don't like church. We have to be about the newest and smallest church in the country putting on a conference, but God is doing something so unique at Verve, people are hearing it and want to experience it and learn from us. That's crazy, but it's crazy in a really cool way. And I'm just honored to be a part of it. Hearing the response from people at the conference and reading their evaluations ... too cool.

Verve, we're gonna turn the world upside down!

Vince Recommends...

Something odd about me:  I LOVE books, can't help buying them even if I want to, and I LOVE to read, but I don't read as much as I'd like. And thus I have stacks of unread books. But a couple of months ago our family went to "No Tech Tuesdays" where we're not allowed to watch TV, play video games, etc., and it's given me more time to read. Giddyup.

One of the books I've read on my Tuesday nights is The Gospel According to Jesus by Chris Seay. I knew Chris a little some years ago, and was always totally impressed that he was one of the more sincere and shepherding guys I'd met. And that comes out in this book.

Chris writes about how most Christians don't truly understand the gospel, and therefore can't really live out what it fully means to follow Jesus. It's a theological kind of book, but not too deep or difficult to read. Pick it up, and read it on a Tuesday night.

Family Tradition: Night Before School Starts

On the night before every new school year starts, we drive to each of our kids' schools.

At the school we talk about why they go to school - learning comes second - the mission of our lives, which is to represent God and love the world to Him comes first. God put you in that school so that school could see and know Jesus in and through you.

Then we take some time to pray: For the school, the administrators, the teachers, for safety, for good friends, for great learning and great grades, for courage and wisdom, and mostly for effectiveness in the mission.

Then we go out for ice cream. Why? Ummm, we like ice cream?

Family Tradition: No Tech Tuesdays

Because of my belief in the importance of meaningful traditions, I'm sharing a few from time-to-time that we've established in our family...

Most of the family traditions came about through creatively thinking of fun ways to share God together, share time together, and celebrate together. This one was more out of necessity.

Our kids would spend every minute watching TV, playing video games, or on a computer if we let them. And repeatedly telling them, "When I was your age, we only had 3 channels and never watched TV," and "we didn't have video games," and "there were no such things as computers back then" and "you're killing your braincells!" led us to decide we had to show them that there are ways of entertaining yourself without a flickering image in front of your face.

Thus we established no-tech Tuesdays. First reaction: weeping and gnashing of teeth. But once they actually realized reading is fun and board games are kinda cool, it's actually become a favorite night of the week.

What do you think about your family establishing a no-tech day of the week?

The X Factor I Talked About

A few weeks ago I talked about the X Factor and used Tim Tebow as one of my examples.  Here's an example of why Tim Tebow is an example...

this weekend @ VERVE

Have you ever felt like you wish you could just be a kid again?  Wouldn't it be cool to live a childlike life, as an adult.  Well, if the thought has ever crossed your mind, or if it sounds good now that you think about it, don't miss this weekend at Verve!

We're in our "I Want a Movie Life" series and will be talking about the movie, The Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides which has Captain Jack Sparrow on a quest for the fountain of youth.  You'll discover how you can live a more childlike life. 

Don't miss it!

Silence

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? More hair? Greater salary? Flatter TV? Smaller nose? Bigger boobs?

For me, I think it's less noise.

Well, the issue isn't the noise, it's that I really want intimacy with God, to be able to hear His still small voice.

Blaise Pascal wrote, All of man's miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone.

I wonder how much our lives would change if silence became a part of our lives and we used it to listen for God?

Shark Fishing

Something I shared at Vault:  Imagine a few friends decide they want to go deep sea fishing and catch sharks. These guys go to Wal-Mart, buy some poles, drive down to the marina, pick up some bait, get in their boat, drive out where some other people are fishing, and drop their lures. Fish start biting instantly. By the end of the day these guys catch 92 Grouper, 37 Sea Bass, 11 Tuna and … 2 small Sharks.

By chance, another group of buddies also decide to try and catch some sharks. This group gets together the night before to study up on shark fishing.

• The next morning they drive to a specialty fishing store and purchase 80lb. class rods with 100 lb. fishing line.
• They get the right size hooks and a gaff.
• They also buy a flat of mackerel and some fresh bluefish to use as chum and bait.
• They go down to the marina, get in their boat, and drive southeast to a pre-determined spot, approximately 30 miles out. This area has a dip in the sea floor and a certain water temperature, both making it a far more likely home for the type of shark they have elected to target. They discovered that different species of shark prefer varying depths of water.
• On the way out they troll for fresh bluefish, knowing it will be even more effective in attracting sharks.
• Two of the guys begin preparing their bait and chunks for the chum. When they arrive, they create a big chum slick. They have learned that sharks are smell driven and will follow a slick to its source.
• Then, knowing that shark fishing is drift fishing, they chart their drift, based on the wind and tide, to follow the edge of the chosen structure below.
• Next they set their four baits, putting the deepest the furthest away from the boat, keeping their drags very loose so they can hear the clicker start to move.

By the end of the day this boat returns to shore with 7 Grouper, 2 Tuna … and 29 Sharks.
Who was more successful? Well, I guess it’s debatable, but if the goal is to catch sharks, I’d say the second group. Sure, the first group ended the day with 104 more fish, but they had 27 fewer sharks. If it’s all about “numbers” the first group can brag, but if the deal is really shark fishing, I’d rather be with the second group. In fact, the first group can say they went out shark fishing, but really the truth is … they’re grouper fishermen.

So it’s no surprise where I’m going with this. A lot of pastors say they’ve heard Jesus’ call and they’re fishing … for "lost" people. (People who are far from God.) But the truth is that we have no idea how to fish for lost people. And it turns out the bait is more expensive, and where they swim is more difficult to get to. So they go fishing, but they don’t go far and they use the wrong bait. And they may catch people, maybe even hundreds or thousands. But what kind of people? Perhaps they came up with a few lost people (basically by mistake) but just about everyone they reached are saved people. And so really the truth is … they’re saved people fisherman.

Which I guess would be cool, except it's not what God's commanded or Jesus' mission.

VERVE Happs

We have Vault going on these three days, our little conference for pastors who want to do "church for people who don't like church."  It's started great, and I'm excited to see the rest.

Also means I don't have much time to write.

But ... if you are a Verver and you were not able to come this weekend, listen to the message.  It describes what church is - or is supposed to be - and our vision for Verve, especially the last 5 minutes or so of the message.  I hope you'll see the opportunity we have as the honor and the adventure I do, and that you'll decide to join me on it.  It truly is worth giving our lives to.

Vince Recommends...

Thought I might, from time-to-time, recommend a few movies that were really well done, but not widely seen. Movies you may have missed.  These movies all fit into the "Someone is going to die" category:

1. Return to Paradise
2. No Country For Old Men
3. Copland
4. Seven
5. L.A. Confidential

You're welcome.

Question: What not-so-widely seen movie would you suggest?

Vault Geography

Vault starts in 17 hours!

I just looked at the list of the registrations and we have people from twenty-five states and four countries (America, Canada, South Africa, and India).  The state with the most people represented?  California.  States with (disappointingly) no one represented:  Florida and New Jersey.  (Why does that disappoint me?  Cause that's where I grew up dawg.)

Can't wait to see what God is going to do in the lives of all these people through what they experience!

And it's not too late to become a part of it.  If you live in Nevada, Arizona, California, or Utah - get up early tomorrow and start driving!  We start at 1:00.  It's only $125, for which you get an intense conference, 3 meals,  3 books, and one Vegas show.  We can get you a cheap hotel room.  It will be WAY worth it.  So ... we'll see you tomorrow at 1:00, and we'll recognize you because you'll be the one looking tired from getting up so early and your long drive!

Family Tradition: Birthday Signs

Because of my belief in the importance of meaningful traditions, I'm sharing a few from time-to-time that we've established in our family...

When you wake up and go downstairs on your birthday morning in our home you are greeted by signs.  Lots of signs.

They're taped all over the walls.  They're home-made signs by the other three members of the family.

Some are sweet, "Happy Birthday, You're The Best!" and many are funny, "We Love You, Even Though We Still Remember When You Farted At Dinner Last Week."  (Not an actual sign, but I would definitely use that!)

We have a blast making them, and the birthday person loves getting them.  In fact, we've had a couple birthdays when we weren't going to be home, and our kids' big concern was, "Will I still have signs?!?"

Speak To, Speak For

Got to hear Erwin McManus speak a few times at the M Conference last week. One of the interesting things he talked about was the difference between speaking to people and speaking for people. The problem, he said, with a lot of pastors is that they're trying to "reach" people they want to speak to, but have no interest in speaking for.

He said throughout history, the most powerful voices came from those who were speaking for people, not to people. And that we may never speak more for God then when we identify with and have compassion for a group of people and speak for them.

Makes sense to me.  What about you?

Family Tradition: Morning Bible Study

Because of my belief in the importance of meaningful traditions, I'm sharing a few from time-to-time that we've established in our family...

We have two kids, 12 and 10 years old. We've been studying the bible with them since they were around 5 and 3, and do it basically everyday. I desperately want my kids to really know God and to "seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness." I think starting our day every day with God, focused on Him, will go a long way towards that.

Make it a priority. A million things will crowd it out, so decide it's going to be most important.

Make it short and interesting. Especially if your kids are young, don't feel like it has to be an hour long, or like you have to define "propitiation." It can be 15 minutes and fun.

Make it age appropriate. When our kids were younger we used "devotional" books designed for their age. This year we decided our youngest is old enough that we're just going straight Bible. We read one chapter (from the Verve Reading Plan), if necessary I explain the difficult stuff, and then we each share our "Now What" - how we're going to apply it to our lives.

this weekend @ VERVE

This week at Verve we continue our brand new "I Want a Movie Life" series with X-Men: First Class.  This could be a life changing service for you if you've ever felt like a freak, or wanted to really make a difference with your life, or wish you could feel like you're on a team, because that's what we'll be talking about.


It's going to be an inspiring day you don't want to miss!

Steve Jobs On Death

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

 -Steve Jobs, 2005 Stanford U. Commencement Speech

My Theory

I have this theory I'm convinced of, that people grow through two things: (1) Meaningful traditions practiced repeatedly, and (2) Events that totally take you out of your norm.  We grow individually that way, we grow as families that way, we grow in relationships that way.

Think about it: What do you remember from when you were a kid?  The meaningful things your family did regularly ("We went to Burger King every Friday night and talked about our weeks..." "We would go camping every Memorial Day weekend...") and the special once-in-a-lifetime kind of events ("We went white water river rafting once and I'll never forget..."  "One Christmas we went to a homeless shelter and spent the day...")

I bet the same is true in your relationship with God.  What has caused it to grow?  The meaningful things you do repeatedly (maybe spending time in prayer and worship) and the special events that got you out of normal (perhaps a mission trip you went on).

Because of my theory, we've tried to build this into the life of our family.  For instance, I am crazy cheap, but the one thing I will save for and spend money on are family vacations and family mission trips.  Because I know that's a big part of what will bond our family together, and what my kids will be talking about years from now.

We also have built a bunch of traditions into our family, some small, some a little bigger.  And I thought I'd share some of them over the next couple weeks.  So if you're interested in that, be looking for those posts.  And if you're not, ummm, don't read 'em?

VERVE Happs

This weekend we launched a new (yet old) series at Verve:  I Want A Movie Life.  It's a series we'll probably bring back every year, where we take a look at some recent blockbuster movies, to see what spiritual lessons we can learn from them about God and life.  We started with Rango, next week is X-Men, 1st Class.

One of the great people (and great stories) at Verve is my friend Warren, and it was his birthday on Monday, so he invited his friends to come to our service and stay after for a birthday party. He had 35 friends - who are not church goers - come out. Very fun. Our normal attendance on Mondays is about 65, but we had 130ish people. So even not counting Warren's friends - we had a lot of people!

This upcoming weekend The Cupcake Girls are selling cupcakes.  When you buy one dozen for you (for $20) you are also paying for another dozen, which will be brought to a Strip Club to show God's love in a practical fun way.  Come ready to buy ... and eat!

Next week we're also putting on a small conference for pastors and church planters called Vault. It's going to be awesome, and we should have an extra 80ish people at our service on Monday night.

Vince Recommends...

Who is my favorite band? Difficult to say, all-time I start thinking about Counting Crows, Smashing Pumpkins, Bare Naked Ladies, Metallica, and if I go back to the 80's, Judas Priest and Queensryche.

But of more current bands, my mind goes to Needtobreathe, Snow Patrol, and ... Jack's Mannequin.

And that's why I am psyched for tomorrow, when Jack's Mannequin's new CD comes out! Check 'em out and see what you think.

You're welcome!