How do you view the relationship between EASTER and the CHURCH? It occurred to me recently that many Christians might consider Easter no more than a high attendance weekend.

That thought made me sick to my stomach.

Do we gather to boast big numbers?  After all, it is common for us to celebrate our attendance after a huge day.

Do we gather to SEE and BE SEEN?  My family will definitely take it up a notch fashion-wise on Easter weekend.

Why do we gather on Easter?  Why not scatter and mobilize into the community?

Because as Christians… We WORSHIP TOGETHER.

What is more natural than to gather together to celebrate and remember our risen Christ?  Also, Easter is one of a few opportunities to see MASSIVE life-change.  We see more family trees transformed on Easter than perhaps any other weekend during the year.

If you are new to Keystone, we are ADDICTED to life-change!  Easter is a major celebration of life-change and an opportunity to SEE LIVES CHANGED!

Don’t force an EITHER/OR mentality regarding worship and mission… They swim in the same pool!

Inviting someone to church with you on Easter IS MISSION!  Helping people find life in Christ is not secondary to meeting their physical need.

This Easter we will have literally hundreds of volunteers who will help thousands this weekend by serving their kids, parking their car, or warmly greeting them.  THIS IS MISSION!

Serve it up!  Bring your best worship!  I’ll see you this weekend!!!

So often, when it’s time to eat, we ask the question: Well, What are you in the MOOD for?  I’ve learned that can be a very, very dangerous question.

I’m in the MOOD for…
one can of Pringles
homemade cheeseburger
one tub of B&R Winter white chocolate
and… I think you get the picture.

Following our APPETITES is a recipe for mediocrity at best and destruction at worst.

In my pursuit of healthy eating, I have boldly eaten things I thought I would never like.  To experience a higher goal of health I was forced to sacrifice a lesser goal of comfort food (I’m still a work in progress, by the way).

This is true in life as well.

Following your appetites in your career leads to discontent at best and failure at worst.

Following your appetites in your marriage leads to conflict at best and divorce at worst.

Following your appetites in your parenting leads to grumpiness at best and neglect or abuse at worst.

It takes a CHOICE to set up an outdoor lunch for the family.  It’s inconvenient… and it will lead to a WEALTH of experiences.

It requires a CHOICE to set aside time alone in your marriage.  Relational isolation sneaks up on you.

Disconnection from God is a SLOW FADE.  Make the choice to ask God to RENEW your appetites… Go to God for your pleasure and you will find MORE than happiness – you’ll experience TRUE JOY!

Very few people know that for the past 21 days I’ve been fasting.  Specifically, my diet has been governed by what many call a ‘Daniel fast.’

Basically, I’ve eaten most like a vegan for three weeks.  It was TOUGH!

WHY would I put myself through this?  What would possess me to resist dairy, meat, sugar, yeast, and other ingredients?

This was a spiritual, physical, and emotional journey between me and God.

Spiritually…

• I prayed for a deepening in my own spiritual life.
• I pled on behalf of Keystone as we finish our LAUNCH journey this weekend.
• I asked God for clarity regarding our next bold vision.

Emotionally…

• I asked God to clean out any errant appetites or tendencies that I’m not even aware of.
• I prayed for discipline mentally and a growing sense of focus

Physically…

• I anticipated a healthy re-boot to my metabolism
• I asked God to take me to another level of healthy living
• I prayed for some new patterns that would emerge even after the fast

For me, a fast is a way to experience all the BENEFITS of a crisis without its HARMFUL side effects.

Benefits…

• Greater dependence on God
• Growing sensitivity to his Spirit
• A heightened hunger for the holy Scriptures
• Intense appreciation for the good gifts God gives us

Without the harmful side effects…

• Someone I love sick or dying
• Broken relationship
• Financial devastation…

My fast ended today!  I am so thankful for the past 21 days.  I am eager to see how God uses it to further his agenda and his church, specifically Keystone!

I am also READY to enjoy some of God’s good gifts!  Amen!!!

2 years ago we began a spiritual journey at Keystone Church.  We named it LAUNCH.

I love it when we journey together as a spiritual family to do the impossible.  I remember well the stress and uncertainty two years ago as we saw our campus limitations.  It was easy to imagine turning people away.

Usually, a journey like this will include a very specific vision: build a building, buy some land, or start an additional location. We didn’t have a clear direction in any of these options.

Instead, God wanted us to strengthen our faith by funding the VISION itself!  Our vision is to lead everyone to experience a passionate life in Christ.

I preached through every element of that vision and we all committed to bring over $1 million over and above our normal giving.

In just 2 weeks, we will complete this journey of faith.  We are almost 80% there!

More importantly, it’s been SO ENCOURAGING to SCOREBOARD the results:

November 5/6 we will finish this awesome journey. How we finish LAUNCH will impact how we begin the next great Keystone chapter.

Don’t miss it!  It’s going to be A-MAZING!

This weekend we had a huge GUACAMOLE BAR at Keystone.  It was a blast!

You may wonder: “What does that have to do with church?”

You may ask: “Are you resorting to gimmicks to score cool points?”

Here it is.  We took a creative edge on an essential core belief: We are SOFT on the edges and STRONG in the center.

It’s like an AVOCADO!

A ripe avocado is SOFT ON THE EDGES & STRONG IN THE CENTER!

The Aztecs called the avocado ‘God’s fertility fruit.’

If you are walking in a FRUITFUL relationship with God you will be soft on the edges & strong in the center!

Here is an overview:

SOFT ON THE EDGES:

Jesus had a SOFT HEART toward those who were FAR from God!

See:

• Zaccheus (Luke 19)
• Woman caught in adultery (John 8 )
• Woman at the well (John 4)
• Calling of Matthew (Aka, Levi… Matthew 9)

Jesus himself said:

• Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matt 11:28 NLT)
• Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds,“Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! (John 7:37,78 NLT)

STRONG IN THE CENTER

Jesus leads us into a PASSIONATE relationship with God.

This relationship CHALLENGES US to die to our sin & find new life daily in Christ! (Matthew 10:39)

The STRONGER we move into a passionate walk with Jesus, the more we SACRIFICE… not out of DUTY, but DEVOTION! (Luke 14:27)

This ever-strengthening walk with Jesus is a DELIGHT, not DRUDGERY.  It literally produces an increasing obedience AND joy! (John 15:9-13)

In other words…

Come as you are!

But DON’T STAY THAT WAY!

A pastor I admire a great deal has coined the phrase “next level-ology.”  Today I want to borrow it to make a point for our Keystoners.

Last night at our ‘CG CONNECT’ event I was able to talk to SO MANY people who are new to Keystone.  The conversations varied and I truly enjoyed it.  Hearing the stories and journeys inspired me greatly.

One talk was LIFE CHANGING.  I had the incredible opportunity to lead a first time guest into a relationship with Jesus!  Together, with one of our Keystone staff, we prayed through Romans 10:9,10 and she BEGAN her eternal life with Jesus.

As I recounted the event with Susan later, I remembered a pivotal moment in the conversation.

I ASKED THE EXTRA QUESTION.

Here are my questions and how the convo basically unfolded:

• Is church new to you or have you done this before?
• Are there any questions about God that you bring with you here to Keystone?
• Today, did you feel God speaking to you specifically?  Did you feel anything?
• What would keep you from crossing the line of faith tonight?

At that point, my guest began bringing some roadblocks to her faith… questions that she hasn’t resolved.  I was sure we were off-road into the jungle of apologetics and ALMOST said this:

Keep coming.  Keep asking.  Keep seeking.  God will show himself to you and I will pray for you… Could we pray now?

Instead, our discussion went this way:

You can have a life of faith WITH questions or you can have a life WITHOUT faith WITHOUT questions… I urge you to begin your walk with Jesus TONIGHT.

Followed by:

What would hold you back from beginning a relationship with Jesus TONIGHT?

At that point, she explained that NO ONE HAD EVER TOLD HER HOW!!!!  That’s what she wanted all along!

Here is my point: Fearlessly ask the extra question.  One more impulse.  Go the extra mile.

YOU NEVER KNOW THE IMPACT THAT AWAITS!!!

Thank you Jesus for getting me out of the way.  I almost delayed or diverted her searching heart from finding you.  Help all of us engage others spiritually to unlock life change!