You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March 2009.
Recently I wrote about our friends and co-workers Bob and Linda, who live in Century Village, a huge retirement community in Pembroke Pines. For more than a year they’ve been establishing relationships within this micro city and have also been trying to find a place for their gatherings. It has been an arduous process for them, but it finally paid off when they received news that they have permission to meet at a synagogue located within this community!
Want to read more about it? Bob and Matt tell the story better then I do. Go to:
For a while I had been looking forward to Sunday March 22 at The Pursuit for two reasons: 1) It was the beginning of our new series “What Would Jesus Say To…” which began with what Jesus would say to President Obama; and, 2) I had scheduled myself to be in the sound board instead of the band, which is a first for me since the beginning of our young church. Why would I do that you say? Here’s why
- To rest.
- To avoid thinking about “performing”and “delivering”
- To re-focus on worshiping with our community through music and fellowship.
- To hear how the band sounds to everyone else.
- To allow others to lead in those areas.
- To work with the guys who are running media, sound and translation.
I had a great time taking a step back! The band did awesome, and I really felt rested and filled with energy for the other things that were going on. And even more importantly, the artists did not need me and were able to lead without me! They are all very talented and love Jesus, and they did a great job! I was proud of each one of them. Here’s a sample of what they did.
There are people who teach others to “live missionally,” but actually don’t themselves. Then, there are the ones who truthfully live out Jesus in their world without caring about definitions, titles or models.
Last night, I saw a missional couple in action. Bob and Linda Smith, are missionaries in a huge retirement community in SoFlo. In the last month I’ve seen them face many obstacles, yet there is a community building around relationships. They have taken the time to learn the culture, meet and befriend people, love on them, and become trustworthy to them. It’s not an easy mission, but it is a worthy one. Last night, we were in a local restaurant filled with karaeoking retirees, and many of them made it a point to come over to our table to say hi to our friends, who knew these people and had become friends with them over several different contexts. Although they have not been allowed to begin official activities as a church yet, they have started and participated in a few clubs (including an awesome rock and roll choir!), and have 
befriended a bunch of them over time by serving them and loving them. They go meet people where they are at. They are out of the office and in the world. And I dig that. I like that these guys are not about clerical work (which still gets done), but about true ministry. People know they are loved by them, they do not feel like a project to them or like a warm body sought out to fill a chair. Bob and Linda are the real thing!
Al fin! There is a section in Spanish in this blog! I don’t know why I went so long without writing in Spanish since it’s my first language. But alas!
This new section in Spanish will be for articles that may or may not correspond to the posts on the English section of this blog. Why? Dat’s just how I roll!
Want to check it out? Click on the link “Mi Blog en Español” on the left column of this blog.
There is a link there to help you return to the English section.
(click on Diego and Dora for a little treat from SNL)
5 years a go today I married my best friend! The day was extra special because after 2 years of dating long-distance it took a whole other year to go through visa processes, paperwork, and other requirements that seemed to delay our dream. However, God used that time to keep us together and to grow. We learned to trust Him and to let Him lead the way, and so He did!
The day we finally received notice that my visa had been approved we felt immense relief! And after that, the doors of life blew wide open for us. A few months later we got married. We had nothing to our name except the love for God, for each other, and from our supporting parents and friends. All of this was immeasurably more than I could have asked or imagined!
The last 5 years have been the best time of my life! Together we’ve lived in 4 different cities in two countries, have held several different jobs, and have gone through a lot of good times and tough times as well. I could not imagine going through all that without Erin. She is my partner, my soul mate, and the love of my life, and she’s even taught me so much about love, life and God. She’s an amazing wife, a great friend, and a hard worker, and I am really proud of her.
Happy Anniversary Babe of Babes! Te amo mas que nunca!
alex.
Is church-planting the sexy thing right now? Is is a trendy thing among ministers like thick-framed glasses (check), iPhones (check) and tube-gothy-so-tight-you-cannot-breathe pants (NOT check)?
I am observing how more and more new churches are springing in many shapes and forms. Some are house churches, others are cell-based, others are seeker 
sensitive, attractive, missional, all of the above combined, and then some more. There are more and more churches by the minute!
I have also observed the haters react to this. For these people there is more “competition” than before. I do not agree.
It is not about competition. I’ve told people that we are not here to compete against any other denomination or church. We are here because there are still people who need to find their way back to God. In fact, I think that is the reason for all these new churches. I think God is really doing something to help people find their way back to Him.
Just look at South Florida. There are many great churches here. But there is still a huge need for more! And there are more on the making as well, and that for me is a great thing. People are not “targets” or “consumers” to claim for our little organizations. They NEED to know the love of Jesus, they NEED to know an authentic Christ-centered communiy. Someone I met recently said about it “where has this been my whole life?” More people need to feel that way, and I am truly happy about the new churches I am hearing about in our neck of the woods.
Granted, there are probably many leaders who are so in love with themselves they decide to go out and plant a church to create a cult for their ego. I pray I am never one of those. However, I sincerely believe God is up to something. There are many sincere people who just want to serve Jesus and His Church in the best way they know how, and so they follow their calling through the difficult paths that lie ahead of them, seeing what others do not see, believing what others do not believe. Most definetly, God is calling His troops and sending them to the front lines.
So, is church-planting the sexy thing? Or, is God going after his people?
For me, the answer is the latter.
.
