Progress Matters – Momentum Day 4

// January 27th, 2012 // 2 Comments » // 217church, 2nd Anniversary 217, Momentum

Scripture:  Acts 4

Key Verse: Acts 4:4

“But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.”

We all want to see it.  Whether it is in our parenting or athletic pursuits.  Whether it’s in our career or simply getting out of debt.  We want to see progress.  The question is, “are we getting anywhere?” The disciples saw it as they were being persecuted and people were lashing out against them.  Whatever was happening to them was worth it because five thousand people came to Christ. They saw progress.  Progress makes pain worth it!

But here is the problem.  Often times, we don’t see progress like we want.  We may even be doing everything right, but we seemingly never arrive at our destination.  Our business doesn’t grow, Our marriage may feel empty. We have done everything possible to get out of debt. We should be further along, but we are not.  Many times though, we ARE making progress, we just don’t see it like God does.

You won’t always see the progress, but know it is there.  There is no way you can see what God sees.  I remember being in the back of the car asking my Dad, “are we there yet?” My dad would lovingly say, “not yet son, just a little while longer.”  I trusted him and we always got there.  Progress is there. Don’t lose heart and keep on moving.

Living Without Regrets – Momentum Day 3

// January 26th, 2012 // 1 Comment » // 217church, 2nd Anniversary 217, Momentum

Today is day 3 of the Momentum Reading plan.  It’s simple: 1 day = reading 1 chapter of Acts for 28 Days. Today, January 25 read Acts 3.

Scripture:  Acts 3

Key Verse: Acts 3:15

“and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.”

We all have them, things that remain imprinted on the fabric of our souls.  They are regrets from the past.  I know it seems impossible; forgetting what is behind us, the mistakes we have made, the people we have hurt, the debt we incurred, the relationship we ruined, the child we didn’t love well enough, the wife we abandoned, the time we cheated. With these actions come scars.  They hurt. My deepest regret is my sin. Just like Peter said above, “we did this.” We crucified Jesus.  Peter doesn’t speak from piety, he speaks from a place of realizing his past apathy.  He avoided the crucifixion altogether and denied Jesus three times.  But remember, Jesus restored him three times as well…and he has restored you.

Maybe you don’t feel like it, but hear Jesus now, “You are adopted as sons and daughters.” (Eph 1:5) Cling to Jesus today, live without regrets, create new moments Jesus would be proud of.  Make the most of today.  You are forgiven.  No regrets…

Not Enough Drunk Christians – Momentum Day 2

// January 25th, 2012 // No Comments » // 217church, Momentum

Today is day 2 of the Momentum Reading plan.  It’s simple: 1 day = reading 1 chapter of Acts for 28 Days. Today, January 24 read Acts 2.

Scripture:  Acts 2

Key Verse: Acts 2:15,17

“For these people are not drunk, as you suppose…¹⁷ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit…”

Of course I’m not talking about alcohol, c’mon. Really? Everyone seems to want to tame the book of Acts.  That is what happened then… can’t we accept it for what it is and say why not now?

Dad - If you would get drunk then maybe your wife would respect you.  Maybe your kids would receive your correction. Maybe you would get out of debt.  You’d say goodbye to your vices.

Mom – If you would get drunk, that husband of yours would look at you differently. Your kids would admire your dedication and passion.

Teenager -Maybe you could tell a good catch from a loser.  Maybe you wouldn’t NEED a boyfriend or girlfriend.  Maybe you would realize your life starts today and you can make a HUGE difference in the world.  Maybe all the sudden you would become responsible.

College Student - Maybe you would realize your passion in life and stop using your mommy and daddy’s money to fritter away your existence through alcohol, pornography, partying and tweeting about how stupid your life is right now while a few good young men and women keep their integrity.  Maybe if you got drunk you would have some integrity?

Retired? - Maybe you would GIVE your whole retirement away to advance the Gospel so you could die broke and happy.  Maybe you would wake up and see the pointlessness of golfing and owning 2 vacation homes and dying with a bank account full of money your kids will fight over. Maybe you’d live before you die and accept that the American dream is as empty as a dried up well.

Pastor – Maybe people would get saved, maybe the reason your church isn’t growing is because you are waaaaay too sober.  You tried it a while back but, getting drunk is too risky, what would people say if I preached like I was drunk?  If I raised my voice? If I led with conviction? If I got emotional? If I actually did what I told everyone else to do from the platform I preach on?

This may be a bit much for you.  If it is, you are probably pretty sober.  It’s ok.  At least you will live a life with the illusion of safety, comfort and the reality of mediocrity .

Question: What is holding you back from becoming intoxicated?  I want to be a drunk father, pastor, dad.

Do You Have The ‘IT’ Factor? Momentum Day 1

// January 23rd, 2012 // 1 Comment » // 217church, 2nd Anniversary 217, Momentum

Today is day 1 of the Momentum Reading plan.  It’s simple: 1 day = reading 1 chapter of Acts for 28 Days. Today, January 23 read Acts 1.

We are anticipating INCREDIBLE things in the next 28 days leading up to our 2 year anniversary celebration services February 19th.  Today is DAY 1.  Let’s see what God says to us.  Every day there will be a question at the end to rattle your cage!

Scripture:  Acts 1

Key Verse: Acts 1:8

“…but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”

You either have IT or you don’t.  Excuse me, you either have HIM or you don’t.  He isn’t an inanimate object and He isn’t a randomized power.  He isn’t a force out there waiting to be discovered giving people special powers, He has nothing to do with Luke Skywalker. Don’t confuse.  He isn’t a thing we call on just when we are in trouble.  He is our opportunity before a living God to make good on this opportunity of life.

I have seen people who have Him as their friend, mediator, strength and comfort.  I have seen people ignore Him, blaspheme Him, and act like He isn’t there.  I can tell you this without reservation though: You either have HIM or you don’t.  He is not something you work to obtain and you don’t have to EARN his friendship.  Don’t insult Him like that.  He is the real deal, can access things you only dream of and can give you knowledge and strength. He loves.

Let Him overcome and forgive your deepest darkest sin for you.  Let Him comfort you through your pain.  Let Him bring healing when there is excruciating pain. Let Him empower you to do His miraculous work.  It’s black and white, no gray area.  There is no mediocre middle, you either depend on Him or not.  Be aware of Him, talk to Him and if you don’t have Him, it’s time for you to let Him remake you.  He is God, He is real, He is your all-access pass.  You either have IT, ahem, HIM or you don’t.  Pray hard.

Question: Where are you seeing God’s power in your life RIGHT NOW?  IF no power then…Pray, Thoughts?

Here is the reading plan…

Can You Feel It?

Continue Reading

Tebow-ology

// January 9th, 2012 // 2 Comments » // 217church, Life Purpose, Theology

Ok, let’s just deal with one thing.  It is a pretty important thing.  perhaps the most important with Tim Tebow and his expression of faith.

Tim Tebow isn’t preaching this one thing, he doesn’t even subscribe to it himself (as far as I know). He doesn’t believe it.  He just has a habit of being likable, influencing and respectable.  As far as we can tell, he is using these traits to point to Jesus.  He raises money for Children’s charities, He loves Jesus.  He is an all around great guy. For the haters, whatever.  But for those who love Tebow from Christendom, this is what you may be falling into, it is what misinformed naive Christians subscribe to.  It is a perversion of following Jesus.  I now call it Tebow-ology. (maybe its unfair to use his name but it seemed appropriate)

It goes like this, God loves Tim Tebow, Tim Tebow loves God. God made Tim Tebow a celebrity. God helps Tim Tebow find a way to win football games. God is obviously for Tim Tebow more than the other team.  So therefore, if I could just love God more, like Tebow does, he will bless me more.  A further perversion is, “Jesus has chosen Tim Tebow and needs him to get his message out.”  “Hey, it is working for Tim Tebow, maybe it will work for me?”  It is so ridiculous but it is that simple.  Sure you haven’t said that, I don’t think.  In the back of your mind last night on that amazing, game winning, overtime play, I know you were thinking, “God obviously is for Tebow.  There goes God again, blessing Tim Tebow, making him a winner while he made all those other worldly NFL football Steelers evil.  He must love Tebow & the Broncs more than Roethlisberger.” I saw Big Ben point to the heavens when he completed the pass that tied the game in the 4th.  “Nice try Ben, but it’s Tebow Time” 

The lie is: “The better I am, the more Jesus will love me.”  Garbage.  This is a lie that will lead you to religion and failure.  Rule keeping and legalism.  Try harder and then, well, fail.

If we subscribe to, “The better I am, the more Jesus will love me,” we are saying we think when things are going wrong there must be sin in our lives.  There is something wrong.  God doesn’t approve. Garbage.  Suffering happens, regardless if you are more good or more bad.  Jesus suffered, we will to.  You can’t good works your way out of suffering and you can’t manipulate God to make you rich, famous have a more successful life. One third of the Psalms are of Lament, almost every OT book contains Lament. Read Ephesians 3, Paul wrote Ephesians from prison.

Life isn’t all Overtime Touchdowns and end zone prayers.  I want to see Tebow get sacked on his butt and do his Tebow prayer position. That would do more good for people to see.

That would represent more real life – God is faithful and loving through the SACKS and the Touchdowns. Tebow-ology is garbage Don’t believe it.  It stunts your growth.

This scripture is messing me up, let it rearrange your practices:  1 Thessalonians 5:18 “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Then how about this one… 1 Corinthians 11:30 “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” Ouch

I’m done now, thoughts anyone?

My church is INCREDIBLE

// December 30th, 2011 // No Comments » // 217church

I wanted to take some time and share my favorite 217church moments of 2011…

• Personally baptizing my two children, Lilly and Titus, changed my life forever. I cried like a baby. The 217church family celebrated 52 baptisms of restored lives this year. That makes 80 total! Simply awesome!

• I’ll never forget cutting the ribbon at the 217church youth center grand opening. We had 55 217youth at our last gathering!

• At Easter celebrating our largest gathering ever, 431 people, then watching over a thousand kids make a dash for eggs at the Easter Eggstravaganza.

• Celebrating the physical and emotional healing of so many during our “Healing Life’s Hurts” series in the Spring was really humbling.  I’m continually blessed by the way the church loves each other and has such deep commitment after only existing for 22 months.

• Giving our sister church Element Church $22,000 and watching them launch in October with over 300 people!  We exist to plant other churches and now we have a sister! Our vision is 10K people /1K groups /100 churches!  It can happen.

• When I found out just last week we surpassed the $350,000 goal for the Next Generation Vision Offering I was blown away! Yes this is a VERY generous church.  If you don’t give, you are missing out big time.  You can still make a year end gift at http://217church.com/give

• And finally, our Thanksgiving basket delivery and Christmas Toyland. We handed out 100 baskets full of food and over 400 toys to kids at Christmas. Simply amazing!

I love 217church.  You are my family and you have been such an inspiration in 2011. 2012 marks a brand new chapter in our history. We will never be the same. On January 15th we will celebrate our 100th worship service together.  The next 5 weeks we will explore How God is going to move with more Momentum on our behalf.  What was your favorite moment of 2011? Post it on our 217church FB page

2012 is upon us. Let’s do this,

Josh

Give Big or Go Home

// November 23rd, 2011 // No Comments » // 217church, Letters to 217

I trust you will rest and enjoy the holiday surrounded by those you love !

With Thanksgiving,

Josh

The Marine Corps Marathon

// November 1st, 2011 // No Comments » // 217church, Family

Wow, an amazing day for running my 2nd marathon with my brother Adam.  It started around 5:15 am and it was a really easy commute to the start line. MCM did an awesome job with transportation.  The morning started with a fly over from 2 Osprey helicopters, a howitzer blast to start the wheelchair division and none other than Drew Carey firing the starting gun.  (According to my wife Summer this was the most important detail of the day.)  It was 35 degrees and I was just thankful it wasn’t 38 and driving rain like the day before!  So I shed my over clothes and we were off.  Goal time 3:15:00 (7:27 / mile)

First two miles were nice and steady rolling hills, 1- 7:36, 2- 7:35.  These first two miles were really fun and tons of spectators yelling and screaming.  The Marines handing out water and Gatorade were awesome along the course.  They were all encouraging and acted like they wanted to be there.  it was their marathon, they owned it!

The third mile felt quicker and mile four was pretty much all down hill
3- 7:15, 4- 7:10.  Then it got lonely as we ran out in the park area.  I linked up with a couple of runners who I seemed to be running the same pace that I stayed with all the way until mile 18.  Thanks Mauricio wherever you are!  Next two mile were steady and felt good 5- 7:21, 6- 7:21.  My first 10K felt effortless like it should. 45:47, great start!  Considering the first 8 miles was the hilliest part of the course, I may have taken it too fast, but didn’t feel like an issue at the time.

They next 10K felt good as well.  Lots of spectators and the scenery started to get more interesting 7- 7:33, 8- 7:14, 9- 7:21, 10- 7:22.  I swear this was the easiest 10 miles in a race I have ever run.  I was 40 seconds up on my pace and was just trying to control the adrenaline as I knew I had some time in the bank and was feeling optimistic. Next two miles to close in on the 20K mark were 11- 7:22, 12- 7:25.  My 20K had me at 1:31:40.  Couldn’t have scripted a better run to this point.

As we hit the park along the Potomac the crowds thinned out and it was just the runners sticking together pushing each other.  Had a cliff shot at mile 12 and it did it’s job.  Focused well through the next 10K: 13- 7:25, 14- 7:26, 15- 7:33,
16- 7:29, 17- 7:29,  I ran the first 17 text book, saw Summer and the kids at 17.5 and started to feel some pain in the right quad during this mile 18- 7:55.  Had to start adjusting my stride a bit and mentally it was a bit of a battle.  I pulled it back together at mile 19- 7:46 with an incredible view of the capital building.  I had given away all my cushion.  At this point I saw the 3:15:00 pace guy pass me.  I stayed with the group as long as I could, I wanted to tackle him, I was ticked he was passing me.  I knew I would need some good miles at the end to reach the goal.

But that didn’t happen.  The right quad got worse followed by the right hamstring a bit later.  Considering all that was happening mile 20- 8:10, 21- 8:14 felt respectable.  I kept thinking, “OK, I still can keep this under 3:20:00.”  But then it started to unravel as I crossed the longest bridge ever Mile 22- 9:15, 23- 9:28 made me realize I just needed to hold it together.  I just needed to keep the legs churning. Mile 24 in Crystal City was awesome scenery, but I was in serious trouble 24- 10:51.  The killer mile 25- 14:35.  I was done, had to walk during 25 as I was literally dragging the right leg along and finished with mile 26- 12:08, .2 in 2:08 up the hill to the Iwo Jima Monument.

The last half mile or so I got an adrenaline rush as I began to remember who I was running this in honor of.  My 84 year old friend Lorin who fought at and survived the devastation of Iwo, and all those Marines and military who have given their lives and fight to give us freedom. Most of all I was thinking of my Dad who cheated death in Vietnam. Many of his brothers in arms died that he served along side.  I will never forget the day I graduated from Marine Corps boot camp October 8, 1993.  I received a card from one of my Dad’s buddies who saved his life in combat.  The card was simple and it said, “Congratulations, you’re one of us now!”  AWESOME! I am thankful to have this legacy.  thanks Tony for taking care of my dad.

A bad day on the course was better than any good day on the battlefield. At the end of the race I was handed my finishers medal and I couldn’t hold it together.  I knelt for a couple minutes and just prayed to God thanking him for sparing my dad’s life Donald W. Conn Sgt USMC 1963-1967 Purple Heart, A hero, a patriot, my dad.  Proud of you dad.  All 3:36:26 was for you from one USMC Sgt to another.  And Adam, great job 4:26:25 ain’t too shabby for an old guy like you!  To my 217church family, you are always an inspiration to me in what you are doing in Hamilton!  I took every one of you with me on this run!

Looking forward to marathon #3

About What Happened Sunday

// October 26th, 2011 // 4 Comments » // 217church, Letters to 217

Man, this Sunday blew me away 217church!  I feel bad if you missed it because God did some amazing healing in people’s lives.  As I asked if people needed healing at the end of both services, two thirds of the congregation stood.  We had people ready to pray for others, but when that many people stand, you improvise.

So we just asked everyone sitting to stand and all pray together.  Seeing all of you lay hands on each other and pray bold prayers of healing MOVED me!  This is how movements start.  I have already received e-mails about what God did.  Many recommitted their lives to Christ and many prayed for marriages to be healed.  One person shared how they received a phone call on Monday and a debt of $10,000+ was instantly forgiven!  While I was writing this, I received another e-mail from a pregnant woman we have been praying for with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.  She just delivered a healthy baby boy full term!  In addition to Gary’s healing testimony on Sunday, one person’s neck was healed Friday and I received this e-mail:  “I received so much healing in my life Sunday, the tears wouldn’t stop.”

I believe this is simply the beginning. Fix your eyes on Jesus, increase your faith, repent of the sin in your life and be healed!

I love you all and it is a privilege to be your pastor.

If you missed the message Sunday you can watch it here on Thursday

A New Chapter for 217church

// September 15th, 2011 // No Comments » // 217church, Letters to 217, NJ Church

This Sunday we launch a 2nd service and double our impact! 10 am & 11:30 am.

• We have been on a wild ride together. 74 baptisms, 81 weekend services, thousands of meals provided, You are an amazing church family! This weekend is one HUGE party. Here are some things you need to know…

• SLEEP IN ☺ If you don’t know which service to come to, choose 11:30am.
  You will get to say “I was there!” We will have special giveaways ONLY at the 11:30 service.

• It is ALL STILL about Jesus and bringing people to him. Because of this 2nd service more people will meet Jesus! Watch this video for a refresher: http://vimeo.com/25114405

• It’s TIME TO SERVE! We ask people to Once a month serve on a team. Every Sunday is an amazing opportunity. Greeters, ushers, café, worship, parking are some of our teams. You can, JOIN A TEAM this weekend. E-mail Dan directly here: dan@217church.com.

• 217church is about our stories! We are a family. Here is how one family member’s life was changed because you served: http://vimeo.com/25011085

This Sunday marks a brand new chapter in our history We will never be the same. Invite a friend and let’s maximize this growth opportunity together.

See you Sunday, I can’t wait!

Josh