Last night was Awesome and today I am simply sharing how good God is. For youth we went door to door as a street mission to connect to the unconnected. I was so stinkin proud of my students as I watched them go up to perfect strangers and with passion tell them about our church and invite them to come and check it out. I know for those students this was a memorable night and was a faith builder for them. We got back to the church around 9:00pm to eat chicken burritos "$.89 at Taco Bell" and share about Experiences. Right then a new couple from the church showed up and I was blessed to talk with them for a bit but then I received a call about a family in the church that their kid was in a bad 4 wheeler wreck. I shut down my convo with the new couple and sent the youth home and then I headed straight for the hospital. I was broken inside for this family and prayed soooo hard as I broke the speed limit getting to the hospital. I was so glad to hear the the scans came back good and it was just surface injuries. Still going to be over 50 stitches but he was OKAY and talking and smiling with me. This was a great night of ministry and nights like this remind me of why I do what I do. GOD IS GOOD!!!
Z
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
FOUR!!!
Okay last week I pulled out my golf clubs and dusted them off, no literally I had to take a towel and dust off my clubs and I even had to Clorox my bag. It has been a couple of years since I played golf, maybe because I avoid it like the southern Malaysia bubonic plague. Myself and a friend decided to play a round after work at Lakewood here in Ada last week. The course was perfect for me but those that don't like water hoses going across the fairways and above ground sprinklers moving in your direction may want to stick to the more pricey places but I HEART Lakewood. I was very quickly reminded of how bad at golf I am, literally I stood at the first woman's tee box and I was practice swinging and lining up and then I looked back at my friend Michael and laughed and said I have no idea what I am doing so I just walked up to the ball and WHACKED it. I was PUMPED the ball went in the air, it very quickly made a right and then went directly into the woods and I mean WAY into the woods. Some may have seen that shot and thought "how sad" but for me I was pumped that the ball did not bounce along the ground like every other shot I have ever hit. You know for some my shot was UGLY but for me it was what made my day. Don't get me wrong by the 9th hole it was game Zac again as I hit 5 consecutive balls into the water but that ONE moment is what I remember the most. For me I look back over my walk with God and there have been many times that I have not made par but truly what I remember the most are the MOMENTS. The moments where God did something really cool like "break me" during a worship song, heal a young girl that the doctors gave a grim report about, restore a marriage that was broken, give me strength to serve when I am sapped, and SOOO much more. I praise God for the moments because for me I can sit back and remember them and praise God for them as I go along this journey of Life...
Peace,
Z
Peace,
Z
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Running on Empty...
Yesterday I got a little frustrated when I got into my wife's car. Once again her gas light was on and the gauge was BELOW "E". I called her and asked her if she ever actually puts gas in her car or if she just trades me vehicles every time it is low so I will fill it up. I quickly apologized for the phone call and wrote in my little book of things I should never say or speak of again. Well I think she would not mind if I include this in this blogpost but I may be writting in my little book again after she reads this. I do hate that feeling though of getting in a car, having to be somewhere soon and know that you may or may not make it on what you have in the gas tank. I believe that MANY Christians live this way. I know I have many times in my spiritual journey tried to live this way. The feeling of Knowing you are on "E" but pretending you filled up you tank this morning. Knowing that spiritually I may break down on the side of the road and be unable to function at any moment but smiling like everything is perfect. In my wife's car I have to put my big boy pants on and pull into a gas station, get out of the car, pay for the gas, and PUMP IT. Just like my wife's car we HAVE to do the same with our spiritual lives. We have to put our big boy pants on and OPEN THE WORD OF GOD and let it pour into our lives. The funny thing about the Word of God is that the more you get of it the more you want it. So if you are "Hungering" for God then begin just diving into his word and let Him fill you. If you don't know how then find a good devotional or someone that can mentor you on how to get in the Word.
Z
Z
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Why Mormons Do Better Youth Ministry Than We Do
I came across this article and had to post it...
By Greg Stier
Let's face it. Most of us look at the clean cut Mormon missionaries that peddle the streets of our city and knock on the doors of our houses as somewhat out of date. Although they are kind and well spoken young men, when they knock on our doors we either don't answer or tell them we are already Christians who reject Mormonism and bid them good day
Let's face it. Most of us look at the clean cut Mormon missionaries that peddle the streets of our city and knock on the doors of our houses as somewhat out of date.
We think to ourselves how "behind the times" these young people are forced to be when they are required to do door-to-door evangelism for their religion. We reflect on how grateful we are that we have the truth once and for all delivered to the saints. We may even think about how much more superior our youth ministry strategies are compared to theirs.
Or are they?
* Mormons expect a lot out of their teenagers. We don't.
* Mormons ordain their young men into the ministry at the age of twelve. We don't.
* Mormons require their teens to attend seminary every day of high school. We don't.
* Mormons ask for two years in the field of every graduating senior. We don't.
Maybe that's why we don't meet a lot of ex-Mormons, while there are hundreds of thousands of former church attendees in the true church of Jesus Christ (of everyday saints) who flee the church after graduating from high school.
Maybe that's why Mormons give more, work harder and are exploding as a religion. In 1985 there were 4.5 million Mormons and now there are over 12 million.
When many of our teens graduate from high school, they grab their books and a beer and go off to the college dorm (A.K.A. "The Party Zone"). When Mormon teens graduate from high school they grab a backpack and a bike pump and go off on a mission.
They know what they believe and why they believe it. They've hammered out their theology on our doorsteps. Their souls and minds have been steeled and sealed into Mormon orthodoxy through their fanatical commitment to the accomplishment of their version of the Great Commission.
Meanwhile we compress most of our mission work into one week in Mexico once every year or two. And even that is comprised mostly of building houses, not necessarily advancing the kingdom of God and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There's a great line in the movie Braveheart where Robert the Bruce is commenting on William Wallace to his father. He says, "He believes. I want to believe like he believes."
When I look at the Mormons I think to myself, "They believe. I want to believe like they believe." Now don't get me wrong. I don't want to believe what they believe. Mormon theology is far from what the Bible says about Jesus, God, sin and salvation. It is, by no means, a truly Christian religion.
Having said that, Mormonism pushes their kids harder and takes them deeper and farther than even the most ardent of evangelical youth ministries would ever dare.
Can you imagine a youth group that challenged every teen in the youth ministry to meet at 6am every day of the school year for a class on Christianity? That's exactly what Mormons do with their high schoolers and their belief system!
We get excited if once a year at 7:15am, while Mormon teens are coming back from their daily seminary lesson on Mormonism, our teens gather around a pole and pray.
I'm not saying that we copy the Mormons specific strategy. I can't foresee our teenagers racing Mormons to the door in a battle of the bicycles. Nor do I believe the answer lies in a daily early morning class. We don't need to copy their strategy. We do, however, need to adopt their philosophy.
We need to push our teens. We need to turn them into active activists. We need to build consistent opportunities for service, outreach and training. We need to equip them to share their faith and then go with them, leading the way. After all, we are youth leaders.
Somebody may accuse me of looking at this as some sort of competition. It is. We are in a competition with Satan for the souls of our young people. And we are getting our rears kicked.
My problem is not with Mormons. It's with us. Let's learn from the Mormons and turn our kids into missionaries. Armed with the power of the true gospel (not some aberrant belief system) our teens could mount a comeback and help us win this thing.
Game on.
By Greg Stier
Let's face it. Most of us look at the clean cut Mormon missionaries that peddle the streets of our city and knock on the doors of our houses as somewhat out of date. Although they are kind and well spoken young men, when they knock on our doors we either don't answer or tell them we are already Christians who reject Mormonism and bid them good day
Let's face it. Most of us look at the clean cut Mormon missionaries that peddle the streets of our city and knock on the doors of our houses as somewhat out of date.
We think to ourselves how "behind the times" these young people are forced to be when they are required to do door-to-door evangelism for their religion. We reflect on how grateful we are that we have the truth once and for all delivered to the saints. We may even think about how much more superior our youth ministry strategies are compared to theirs.
Or are they?
* Mormons expect a lot out of their teenagers. We don't.
* Mormons ordain their young men into the ministry at the age of twelve. We don't.
* Mormons require their teens to attend seminary every day of high school. We don't.
* Mormons ask for two years in the field of every graduating senior. We don't.
Maybe that's why we don't meet a lot of ex-Mormons, while there are hundreds of thousands of former church attendees in the true church of Jesus Christ (of everyday saints) who flee the church after graduating from high school.
Maybe that's why Mormons give more, work harder and are exploding as a religion. In 1985 there were 4.5 million Mormons and now there are over 12 million.
When many of our teens graduate from high school, they grab their books and a beer and go off to the college dorm (A.K.A. "The Party Zone"). When Mormon teens graduate from high school they grab a backpack and a bike pump and go off on a mission.
They know what they believe and why they believe it. They've hammered out their theology on our doorsteps. Their souls and minds have been steeled and sealed into Mormon orthodoxy through their fanatical commitment to the accomplishment of their version of the Great Commission.
Meanwhile we compress most of our mission work into one week in Mexico once every year or two. And even that is comprised mostly of building houses, not necessarily advancing the kingdom of God and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There's a great line in the movie Braveheart where Robert the Bruce is commenting on William Wallace to his father. He says, "He believes. I want to believe like he believes."
When I look at the Mormons I think to myself, "They believe. I want to believe like they believe." Now don't get me wrong. I don't want to believe what they believe. Mormon theology is far from what the Bible says about Jesus, God, sin and salvation. It is, by no means, a truly Christian religion.
Having said that, Mormonism pushes their kids harder and takes them deeper and farther than even the most ardent of evangelical youth ministries would ever dare.
Can you imagine a youth group that challenged every teen in the youth ministry to meet at 6am every day of the school year for a class on Christianity? That's exactly what Mormons do with their high schoolers and their belief system!
We get excited if once a year at 7:15am, while Mormon teens are coming back from their daily seminary lesson on Mormonism, our teens gather around a pole and pray.
I'm not saying that we copy the Mormons specific strategy. I can't foresee our teenagers racing Mormons to the door in a battle of the bicycles. Nor do I believe the answer lies in a daily early morning class. We don't need to copy their strategy. We do, however, need to adopt their philosophy.
We need to push our teens. We need to turn them into active activists. We need to build consistent opportunities for service, outreach and training. We need to equip them to share their faith and then go with them, leading the way. After all, we are youth leaders.
Somebody may accuse me of looking at this as some sort of competition. It is. We are in a competition with Satan for the souls of our young people. And we are getting our rears kicked.
My problem is not with Mormons. It's with us. Let's learn from the Mormons and turn our kids into missionaries. Armed with the power of the true gospel (not some aberrant belief system) our teens could mount a comeback and help us win this thing.
Game on.
Childrens Ministry
I have been pouring a lot of time and energy into our Children's Ministry this summer and it has been a blast. This is one group that purely chases after Jesus. Last night I was talking with a couple of them, not really about anything important just having a conversation when one of them looked at me with one of the most serious faces ever and said "Mr. Zac you have hair in your nose, thats weird". I then pulled the hair out of my nose and put it on him but you have to love their honesty not only with things you don't like but with the things of God. Last night we talked about the forgiveness of Christ. A week ago we had 20 kids give their hearts to Christ and I shared with them about how sometimes even as Christ followers they may mess up and "Sin again" but the love of God is His Forgiveness through Christ. Praise God... This has been Zac Christian and I am signing out... PEACE
Monday, July 20, 2009
Back in the Saddle...
Okay excuse time... 2 weeks ago I had me a nice upper respiratory infection, a sinus infection and some mucus thingymabob, then last week was Childrens camp and they wore me smooth out. Okay I have used my excuses but still I just haven't taken the time to blog. Welp this weekend was week two of AT THE MOVIES and Lifechurch.tv and Pastor Craig are doing some amazing things through this series. This weekend we saw three hands go up from people signifying they wanted Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. I know people wonder why a church would do a series where so many movie clips are used or why would a church use money to decorate their Experience room for a series or probably a lot of other complaints that I don't care to know about. All I know is before Sunday morning three lives in Ada Oklahoma were heading for a eternity of separation from God in Hell and today they are destined for a place eternally with their Savior. I love this phrase "ANYTHING SHORT OF SIN TO REACH THE LOST". This week is chopped full of planning for student ministry stuff, childrens ministry stuff, and ministry in general stuff. It is always chaos ending the summer and beginning the new school year but what a great time to connect with people.
Zac
Zac
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Great words from pasotr Perry Noble...
15. Am I Wanting A Nice, Quiet, Peaceful Life?
In Matthew 10:34-39 Jesus clearly tells those He has called and gifted your life is not going to be one of relaxation and enjoyment on a consistent basis.
It amazes me the number of times Jesus clearly told people in the Gospels that following would cause controversies and divisions. If you want a nice, quiet, peaceful life, the ministry is not a place for that. We will experience family problems, we will experience emotional problems, we experience health problems, and we will experience spiritual warfare on a magnitude that most people cannot identify with.
When we begin to do effective ministry the target on our backs for every demon in Hell to take a shot at gets larger and larger so if peace, prosperity and niceness is something we achieve to, ministry should not be the road we go down. That is not meant to discourage anyone but to encourage you. When these things happen it probably means that God is doing something or getting ready to do something in your life that will blow your mind.
Jesus never promised us a peaceful life this side of eternity; in fact, He promised the opposite! We should not be surprised when all hell breaks loose…because it usually means the stage is being set for God to show just how AWESOME He really is!
16. Will I Trust God or Others for My Reward?
Jesus clearly says in Matthew 10:40-42 that there is some sort of reward for those in ministry. I believe there are rewards on both sides of eternity…the Bible speaks of this…however, rewards should NEVER be our motivation–JESUS SHOULD!
I would much rather hear the unfading applause of Heaven than the conditional applause of men. And…one of the dangers of ministry is that we can get so caught up in receiving attention and getting rewards from other people that we actually sell out Jesus (just like Judas) and turn our backs on the ministry that He has called us to.
One of the things that I want to hear from Jesus is “Well done my good and faithful servant.” And the way to insure that that happens is to not get caught up in what people are saying about me as a leader whether good or bad but keeping my eyes one Him and remembering He bought me, He called me and is THE very reason I am alive!
I am a servant of the MOST HIGH GOD…that is my reward…anything else is wood, hay and stubble!
In Matthew 10:34-39 Jesus clearly tells those He has called and gifted your life is not going to be one of relaxation and enjoyment on a consistent basis.
It amazes me the number of times Jesus clearly told people in the Gospels that following would cause controversies and divisions. If you want a nice, quiet, peaceful life, the ministry is not a place for that. We will experience family problems, we will experience emotional problems, we experience health problems, and we will experience spiritual warfare on a magnitude that most people cannot identify with.
When we begin to do effective ministry the target on our backs for every demon in Hell to take a shot at gets larger and larger so if peace, prosperity and niceness is something we achieve to, ministry should not be the road we go down. That is not meant to discourage anyone but to encourage you. When these things happen it probably means that God is doing something or getting ready to do something in your life that will blow your mind.
Jesus never promised us a peaceful life this side of eternity; in fact, He promised the opposite! We should not be surprised when all hell breaks loose…because it usually means the stage is being set for God to show just how AWESOME He really is!
16. Will I Trust God or Others for My Reward?
Jesus clearly says in Matthew 10:40-42 that there is some sort of reward for those in ministry. I believe there are rewards on both sides of eternity…the Bible speaks of this…however, rewards should NEVER be our motivation–JESUS SHOULD!
I would much rather hear the unfading applause of Heaven than the conditional applause of men. And…one of the dangers of ministry is that we can get so caught up in receiving attention and getting rewards from other people that we actually sell out Jesus (just like Judas) and turn our backs on the ministry that He has called us to.
One of the things that I want to hear from Jesus is “Well done my good and faithful servant.” And the way to insure that that happens is to not get caught up in what people are saying about me as a leader whether good or bad but keeping my eyes one Him and remembering He bought me, He called me and is THE very reason I am alive!
I am a servant of the MOST HIGH GOD…that is my reward…anything else is wood, hay and stubble!
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