FAMILY GROUPS

8twelve launched FAMILY GROUPS last night! This may not mean much to you, but I thought I would share anyway. We are blessed to have many couples who are leaders in our ministry. As we stepped back and took at closer look at this dynamic, we thought we may be able to use this to our advantage. Our small groups have been grade and gender specific since they were first launched in 2006. With FAMILY GROUPS we will have grade specific, but coed groups. So each couple will lead a coed group. We hope this helps with the outreach dynamic, discussion quality, and family aspect that we all love.



With any change comes the evaluation once the change has taken place. Our FAMILY GROUPS may not stick, but for us it is worth a shot. Six months from now I may be writing a post titled, "SMALL GROUPS ONCE AGAIN." After our first experience last night I think FAMILY GROUPS will be the positive change we hoped it would be.

So here is what a typical Wednesday night gathering looks like for us...

6:00 : Leader prayer time
6:30 : 8twelve gathering begins
6:35 : Worship with the 8twelve house band
6:50 : Teaching/Preaching from Jonathan
7:20 : FAMILY GROUPS
7:45 : Gathering ends

making time

The dating stage of life was a cool time. The pursuing of another, while staring the possibility of marriage in the face, is a riveting experience.

Looking back to when I was dating Mandi, now my wife of 7 years, I'm not sure I ever thought about making time for her. If anything it was not calling her too often so I didn't look desperate. Making sure I didn't day dream about her too much so I could get quality work done. I don't remember struggling with giving her my undivided focus and attention.


There is something about life that blurs your vision from time to time, which creates the need of refocusing your attention. Not to put the blame on the elements of life, since they do not have the ability to control our decisions or choices. Rather, there are things we allow in our lives that blur our vision, which creates the need to refocus our attention on what is most valuable.

A few weeks back, Mandi and I scheduled some daily and weekly non-negotiable times together. We pre-planned times for prayer, bible study, family planning, and dating.

It felt weird scheduling these times. It seemed inauthentic and prepackaged. Why did we even need this conversation? What is up with a husband that would need to make time for his wife?

I must say after three weeks of making time for each other, it was everything we needed. We pulled the trigger and took the advice of so many. This decision is bringing rewards we cannot even see.

a great $7 purchase

A great leader and friend told me of a $7 book that was a must read. I jumped out and spent the $7. After finishing the book I quickly gave it away. Quickly throwing down another $7 on the counter for the book again. I have repurchased the book now many times due to giving the book away many times over.

E.M. Bounds is fresh! Oh the books was first published in paperback form in 1972. But he is fresh! The words jump off the page and hit the mind and heart in ways that will cause you to rethink your daily exercises.


Here are a few quotes...

"The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men."

"...every preacher who does not make prayer a mighty factor in his own life and ministry is weak as a factor in God's work and is powerless to project God's cause in this world."

What is one book you find yourself passing along?

public school

Mandi and I were sold on homeschooling Mary Beth. That is until about 2 weeks back. Mandi walked in the door and asked, "Are we making the right decision?" After many words and prayers we pulled the trigger on sending Mary Beth to Kindergarten.

This is day three for her in school. This is not an easy process. Mary Beth is trying to learn the process of going to school everyday and we are trying to stay strong when dropping her off, while she holds her arms out holding back tears.

I don't mean for this to be a sad post. I just thought I would share since my last post was "homeschool convention." I guess they need to step up the convention.

Today was very difficult, as I watched Mary Beth sit down in the gym for the rise and shine assembly. As I walked out the door, I turned back to see her crying. The Father in me wanted to run in an save her. I held back and watched from a distance.

home school convention

I seem to say this often, but I must say it again. There are times when you hear someone say something, and it changes your perspective. This past weekend I heard Phil Downer speak. He has a huge bio that i won't share, but let's just say he brought it. He mainly spoke on discipling your children. Here is a little of what he shared...

- Discipleship is intentional :: creating a good environment at home doesn't make it happen, you have to be intentional.

- Will your children be able to say, "My dad discipled me or my mom discipled me."

- Raise thermostats not thermometers :: thermostats change the temperature of the room, thermometers change to whatever temperature is around them.

- "No one else can father your children."

- Training your children is not about making sure they end up at the top of their class. it is about them loving Christ and treasuring him above all else.

Downer has written a number of books that I hope to get my hands on. I enjoyed his perspective on parenting and leading your family. I cannot afford to expect the church, the student ministry, the public school system, or anyone else to set my child on the right path. It only makes since that this would fall into my hands.

I'm glad I attended the home school convention this weekend.

I will wait for you

if you are single...in junior high, college, 20s-70s...this is a must watch. if you are married this is a must watch. ok everyone, everywhere...you need to watch this!

chapel lectures 2011

yesterday was a great experience! there are these moments in life when someone says something that you needed to hear and it is a WOW moment. that was yesterday morning.

i want to share with you a little of what i heard from two incredible men of God. they shared more than stories and scripture, they shared life and ministry with us and for that i am grateful.

CABBI held a day of lectures on staff relationships yesterday and had asked Joe Morrell and Joey Cook to speak. They are the pastor and youth pastor of flatwoods baptist church in mountain view, AR.

JOE MORRELL :: Building Successfull Staff Relationships :: 1 Cor. 12:18; 3:1-7
- If a staff can't work together, how can it be done in the church?
- If a staff doesn't pray together, how can it be done in the church?

- God Builds the Team
- God Establishes Order :: co-equal in authority, totally submissive to the
Lordship of Christ. every leader should have someone who is mentoring them,
someone they are walking alongside, and someone they are mentoring.
- God Creates Uniquness :: Paul & Barnabus // Pastor - Teach

Joe shared the strengths and weaknesses of the various men on staff. He said that these differences add to the value of their staff not take away from it. They have a staff meeting every Tuesday and start by discussing last Sunday, his message, and there future messages and services.

- Come together in submission to God and egos go out the window.

JOEY COOK :: Good things happen when broken people submit :: Daniel 2:24-35; Matt. 21:42-44 :: a student pastors perspective

- We have a pride issue // selfishness
- God uses healthy healthy staffs to create healthy churches. Also an unhealthy
staff will build and unhealthy church.

- We will break or be broken
- God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and he gives them to whomever he
pleases.
- 1 Peter 5:5-7 :: younger be submissive to the elder
- most of us are so obsessed with being Paul to allow ourselves to be a Timothy.

- Joey shared a story about his pastor's Bibles that Joe had used through the years that are filled with a journal of ministry accounts in his life. Joey looked through these Bibles and as he read these accounts, God spoke loudly to him. Joe had accomplished so much over his life and all he saw as a out-of-touch pastor. He then asked the question to youth pastors, "How many Bibles have you worn out?"

- When men come together in mutual submission God can do extraordinary things.


I had a few WOW moments yesterday. i will post a link for the podcast as soon as they come available.