Big Kang Theory

Where do YOU fit in this picture?

Ok so maybe you're not the lederhosen type.  Who can really blame ya?  But now that we've all recovered from the Liquid Oktoberfest hangover...I'm wondering how I can help you take your next step (plunge) into Liquid and closer to Christ! 

For some of you that may mean signing up for a Team or a Group.  One of my favorite moments from this past Sunday was when a long time "spectator" (someone who came to church every Sunday and just watched) decided to switch to an engaged "participator" (not only did he get his worship on...but he also rolled up his sleeves and got his hands dirty with the Roadies!)

Or maybe, like so many of us, your next real move is to totally trust God with that all-important, all-sensitive, all-too-awkward-thing...[take a deep breath]...finances.  In other words, maybe it's just time to take God at His Word and test Him by presenting Him the whole tithe...  [we still cool?  i can say that, right?]  ; P

Seriously though folks, one of the things I kept thinking to myself all throughout Oktoberfest was: "Wow!  God, You've got some crazy things in store for every single person here and beyond...and I can't believe I get to be a part of that ~ thank You!  So please just help me to do whatever I can to make sure others don't miss out on what You're doing!"  

So how about it folks?  What's your next step?  How do you fit into the picture?  And how can I help YOU...with or without my lederhosen!  ; )

Top 5 Reasons...

Oktoberfest Promo from Liquid Church on Vimeo.

Ok so by now everyone gets Liquid is hosting our first ever Oktoberfest down at the Hyatt in New Brunswick this Friday (10/23).  But maybe you're wondering: Why on earth would I spend a Friday night to schlep all the way down to da Brunz for All Liquid. No Beer...?  Great question. 

Here are the "Top" 5 Reasons:

#5 - It's one of the right answers to WWJD

#4 - Come hear where Liquid has been & where Liquid is headed for 2010

#3 - Free food & fun

#2 - See what happens when Eminem meets Executive Pastor, Dave Brooks

#1 - Say hello and take a picture with the World's Tallest...Bavaraian/leprechaun/gnome/thing...(aka Pastor Mike Leahy)

Contradictions...

Contradictions...they're all over the place, aren't they?  Yes, even in the Bible!  [Am I allowed to say that?  I mean I guess I could try and spin the verbiage and call them "paradoxes" or better yet "theological hapax legomenon" but we'd all just see right through that junk, wouldn't we?]

So let's try something new.  Let's try actually embracing some contradictions.  Because after all, contradictions aren't always bad.  Contradictions don't always lead to fallacy.  Pascal said it well, "Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor the lack of contradiction a sign of truth." 

And here are some contradictions I've been thinking of lately: God uses the foolish to shame the wise.  He uses the weak to shame the strong.  More specifically:

1Cor. 1:18   For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
1Cor. 1:20   Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.   

And with that in mind, the past several weeks throughout the Rock God series (read: sermonic "foolishness" ; ) people have actually been accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior for the first time!  [Read that last sentence again.]  Seriously...how crazy is that?  People coming to Christ after a message laced with Bon Jovi, U2, and Nickelback?!?  How is that even possible?

...I may not be Scotch-Korean but I'm definitely starting to like these contradictions!  ; )

Waiting...

context: two of my girls just sitting, watching, waiting for cupcakes to bake...

conviction: dang!  how come when i wait...i don't look nearly as content?

Are you waiting for something?  Do things/people just seem to be taking too long for you?  Does God seem to needlessly delay?

Waiting definitely has to be one of the hardest disciplines any of us need to exercise.  Who in their right mind wants to wait for anything?  Right NOW is better than later, right?  Yet time and time again, I keep getting reminded of these two things:

   #1) God is rarely EARLY...but He's always ON TIME

   #2) God's DELAYS don't necessarily mean his DENIALS

Don't wanna sound all preachy here...but sometimes it's during that very delay or "baking time" when God is workin His magic...actually preparing something even better than what we're willing to settle for at the given moment. 

So dear God, please help me to remember that you're still in control of things...even when I think you're running late and have probably forgotten all about me amidst your busy schedule.  Help me to trust in your character and your ways...to have a "child-like faith"...to just trust you...even the way my two little munchkins trusted their mommy here and waited for the baking time to have its course...not settling for the batter but waiting for something much better!  Amen.