What is STORMEquip?

Check out this video on our new STORMEquip Classes held on Sunday Mornings 9:30 am!

10 Characteristics of a Practical Atheist

Wednesday Night at STORM we talked about Atheism, and this is just an excerpt of 10 Characteristics of a Practical Atheist, for more information check out www.stormyouthcenter.com and download the podcast.

1. Crave acceptance from people more than acceptance from God.
2. They rarely share their faith in Christ.
3. They do whatever it takes to alleviate their guilt.
4. They think more about life on earth than eternity in heaven.
5. They gage their morality by comparing their lives to others.
6. Wants to be saved from the penalty of sin without changing their ways.
7. Only turns to God when they are in a bind.
8. Gives whenever it doesn’t hinder their standard of living.
9. Are not much different than the rest of the world.
10. Want the benefits of what Christ did without conforming to who he is, being like Jesus.

New STORM Intro Video

Check out our new STORM Intro Video!  Love It! 

 

 

Subscribe to my blog…

Hey all I just added a new link to my blog site that allows you to subscribe to my blog, so everytime I update it you will get an email letting you know about a new post!  Please sign up!  Love you all!

I Dare you to Pray

Check out this video…and if you dare, do it…

…just God

…to worship you I live…to worship you I live…I live to worship you…

I heard Kari Jobe sing this song live last night at the Right Now Conference in Dallas Texas, and honestly…well it was…just God…

Around 3:00 is when it gets good…

Imagine a room filled with 2000 Young Adults, candles all over the stage, dim lighting, the touch of the holy spirit dwells a hand raise away…and you reach for Him, and maybe for the first time you reach back and with everything you have you worship Him, because well…because he is God, and that’s enough for you…

I have started getting up at 5am every morning…why?  Because Worshipping Jesus is my priority…this is how I started my day…how did you start yours?

 

 

Lead Now Conference Pre-Show

Bobbi and I are about to leave for Lead Now Conference 2009 Featuring Francis Chan, Matt Chandler, Mark Batterson and many more speakers! 

Check out this video on this site for more details!  http://www.rightnow.org/Events/Details.aspx?id=1018

Promise notes and pictures to come!

It’s My Birthday…

It is 1:06 am on November 3, 2009, (although it still says 2:06 on my oven – things have been a little nutty lately) and I am sitting here at my kitchen table contemplating how 27 years ago today I was born, and thinking about what I have actually done in those 27 years to make a difference for God. In a book that I am currently re-reading a question is posed: “Is the way of Jesus still the best possible way to live?”

Thinking about this I think about people like Joel Houston, who for his birthday asked for people to donate money to build well in Africa (mycharitywater.org), and how on November 4, a documentary on the band he is the lead singer for, Hillsong United, is launching in the United States called “We’re All In This Together”, which I am sure with touch hearts and ultimately touch heaven.

I think about one of my students who has struggled from with everything from depression to an eating disorder to cutting, and back and forth over and over again until about 6 months ago when everything clicked and although she still has challenges, every time I see her I just see Christ.

I think about these friends of mine who got this ridiculous dream from God to start this band, and tour and do all of these outrageous things, and it is happening – it is really happening. (Check them out!)

I think about the fact that in the last 1 year, I have moved 3 times, gotten my own place, got engaged to the most beautiful woman I have ever met, planned a whole wedding, eaten 15.00 worth of food a Taco Bell, worked out at least 5 times, ran 3.4 miles, and got married to the woman of my dreams! And now I am 27 years old, and I can’t help, but remember, because I was so graciously reminded this afternoon, the words of one of my dearest friends, and greatest mentors: “I rarely know when I am in the will of God, but I always know when I am not.” (Pastor Jeff)

Mark Batterson recently said in a blog that 1 God idea is greater than 1000 good ideas, so I have been thinking all day long how much that is true.

Where man would choose for God to destroy evil by force, with lighting and thunder, or even a flying house like in the Wizard of Oz, our fantasy world filled with good ideas, were trumped by his great idea to send Jesus to suffer and die for our sins. I am thankful for that God idea.

I wonder if God came up with that idea on the first try or if he contemplated other ways? Now I am in no way saying that Jesus was plan B, but I can’t help but think that God hoped that Moses rescuing the Israelites from the slavery and taking them to the Promise Land would save them. He had to have hoped that sending the 10 Commandments would work, or sending David to kill Goliath would give them hope, or even Prophet after Prophet, after Prophet after Prophet. Deep down maybe God really did know, but all of those narratives played a specific role in the grand scheme of humanity.

If so, then that must mean that the events of my life all have significance, every idea I have, or every sermon I write, every decision I make, and every I Love You I say carries weight in eternity.

It must also mean that I am going to have 1000+ good ideas for the rest of my life, but I am praying to actually here, write down, chase, pray for, prepare for, and execute the God Ideas in my life. In that thought process, I can’t help but believe that like a staircase, every idea has a point, so maybe I have to crawl before I run, this is me crawling…God help me run!

Below I have listed 27 Things that I want to do with my life, that I haven’t done yet, and by God’s Grace maybe one of these will be my God idea…

27. I want to write a book someday that helps people draw closer to God through transformation.
26. I want to help lead a church someday to be a place where people learn to Love God, Love People, and Love Life.
25. I want to have kids, and raise them, and love them to be world changers!
24. I want to be forgotten underneath the name and renown of God by doing everything out of obedience to Him.
23. I want to truly fulfill Matthew 28’s Great Commission and go into ALL NATIONS Baptizing & Spreading the Gospel.
22. I want to be debt free, and have enough that when someone needs help, I am an ATM away from being Banker Jesus, almost like in Monopoly.
21. I want God to use me to help other people achieve their dreams.
20. I want to read the whole Bible at least 50 times before I die.
19. I want to be a rebel, a revolutionary, and a compassionate world changer for the Gospel.
18. I want to walk where Jesus walked, and stand where He died.
17. I want to die with only enough, because I have away everything.
16. I want to learn how to pray more like Jesus prayed, 2 Chronicles 7 says, “…that if My People turn from their wicked ways, and pray, that I (God) will heal their land.”
15. I want to adopt a child someday, because God has a plan for everyone, and just because a child is born some place in poverty, or pain doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be loved.
14. I want to study theology more, maybe even finish my Master’s of Divinity, but theology without revelation is only knowledge, so I pray God reveals more to me.
13. I want to memorize more scripture.
12. I pray I can be a voice against injustice that inspires people to act.
11. I want to take a 40 day and 40 night trip into the wilderness, no cell phone, no TV, just me and God, and well a Grilled Cheese maker, because well, God speaks to me through Grilled Cheese.
10. I want to understand what it means to truly die for a friend, or be bold enough to say what God is telling me to say, and do what God is telling me to do.
9. I want to risk everything…
8. I want to sit at the feet of those that I respect most in the faith and watch them live like Christ. Matt Chandler, Francis Chan, Mark Batterson, John Piper, Brian & Joel Houston, Perry Noble, Chris Hill, Benny Perez, Craig Groeschel, Steve & Kent Munsey, Mark Driscoll, John Morgan, Carl Lentz, Steve Kelly, Jeff Davidson and many others.
7. I want my story to be crazy enough that if God was going to add another book to the Bible He might consider my humility & obedience worth even a quick glance.
6. I want to be a better husband, and a great father who loves my wife and family like Christ loved the Church.
5. Waiting on God.
4. Waiting on God.
3. Waiting on God.
2. Waiting on God.
1. Waiting on God.

In the words of 1 Samuel 3, “Speak, God. I’m ready to listen.” (The Message)

Anyone like Taco Bell?

So I have been thinking about Taco Bell all day today since my wife and I passed one going to the dentist…then I saw this video, and I decided that I think we should have an organized TACO BELL Run after STORM on a Wednesday Night!  Anyone in?  Check out the video! 

Coffee—so funny

So I just had coffee at a local coffee shop called Java Cafe!  So good on Crocker Road!  Even though I LOVE Pumpkin Spice Latte’s, Java is amazing!  Check out this video!!!