Mark Batterson “Primal” Blog Tour

Over the past couple of years I have had the pleasure of reading the books that Mark Batterson has written.  It was also my pleasure to be able to listen to him share about the amazing things that God has been doing in the church that he pastors in Washington D.C. at a seminar for church starting at “Exponential”.  Each time I have cracked the pages of one of his books I have be fortunate to learn something new about God, have a great time doing it, and been challenged to step out on faith.  It was through reading the book “Wild Goose Chase” that God spoke to my wife about starting a church.  It was through the reading the book “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy day”  that we as a family felt the spirit speaking to us as a family to set life goals and take the fight to this life that God has given us.  In his newest book “Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity”  I have been impacted beyond my anticipation. In this book there is a great gathering of the historical, the biblical, the analytical, and the creative.

“Have you ever noticed how many times Psalms tells us to sing a new song? That creative command is repeated no fewer than half a dozen times.  Evidently God gets tired of old songs.  He doesn’t just want you to worship Him with your memory; He doesn’t just want you  to worship Him with your memory; He wants you to worship Him with your imagination. Love isn’t repetitive, Love is creative. As love grows you need new lyrics and new melodies. You need a new song to express new dimensions of love.  If you tell your wife that you love her the same way over and over again, she may stop believing you at some point. Why? Because your words are an expression of memory instead of an expression of imagination. It’s half-hearted because it is half minded”                                                                                            Mark Batterson “Ritual” pgs 110 – 111

I think that this is a book for everyone that calls themselves a follower of Jesus should read.  It pushes and prods in ways that enables you to really grasp some old areas of faith in new ways.  This will be a book that I read as well as my whole family, this is a book that I am excited to say has as much of my ink in it from marks and high lights as what the book originally came with when it was printed. Take the time this Christmas season to share with those around you a great expression of what it means to follow Jesus in some new ways.  LET’S GO PRIMAL!

Reflections on Sunday

Yesterday was the last Sunday that we as the Bloyer family would be serving at Northgate Christian Fellowship.  It was very bittersweet.  We have been so blessed to have been a part of this church for the last two and a half years both as a staff member and as a church member.  Through all this time we have been able to see God do amazing things.  Students not just attending at a church but leading and serving in the church.  Students that have taken steps of faith with Jesus with over thirty of them getting baptized.  Parents recognizing the need to be the spiritual leaders in the lives of their kids.  Fathers dedicating to restore the relationships that have with their kids and their wives.

It is amazing to me that I am amazed at what God does.  But this is what God does the amazing! So I thank God and the people of Northgate for allowing us to be a part of something amazing.  I know that even now God is preparing the church and it’s people to do something even more amazing then we have been a part of in the last two years.  It has been my pleasure to serve with the staff of Northgate and watch their blood sweat and tears when it comes to not just talking about church but being the church.

I personally want to thank Pastor Ken Jensen for his support and leadership as we have walked through the last two years.  I also have been blessed with his encouragement as we embark on this journey into starting a church.  Much like he did nineteen years ago in his living room.  I have appreciated his care and concern for our family and the church that God is bringing together in Colorado.

As we leave to start a new journey in Colorado we take with us the friends and family that God has placed in our hearts and lives from Northgate.  Thank you Northgate we love you.

Raising arms in Victory!

Have you ever felt that you just couldn’t go on?  Have you ever just thought it would be just easier to quit?  Maybe that is what you feel like right now.  I think that everyone of us has felt this way at one time or another.  But there are some people around us that just seem to be able to fight through the battles with a little more strength then we do, why is that?

These people have found the people in their lives that are willing to lift their hands up in victory.  No I am not talking about like after a fighter wins in the cage or if a wrestler wins a match.  But people that are willing to support them as they walk through life, these are accountability partners, best friends, bible study leaders.  These are the people that you can go to when life is getting to you.  These are the people that you can tell your struggles too.  These are the guys that will hold up your arms.  Check this out:

Exodus 17:12 (NLT) Moses’ arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side, holding up his hands until sunset.

You see Moses needed these guys to hold up his arms so that the battle that was being fought in front of him could be won.  What we need is the same thing, we need men in our life that are willing to lift us up and encourage us while we are fighting the battles of life.  We need men in our life to be able to support us along the way.  Take the time this week to find some men that would be willing to lift your arms up while you are in the middle of a battle.  Then talk to them and let them know that you would be willing to do the same for them.  Then find a time where you and your team can get together to talk about the battle and how you can support each other.  We need to have these kind of men and women in our lives.

Tell your Story

One of the greatest ways that you can let people know about your life is to tell your story.  We all have grown up around at least one family member that is a great story teller, they have a great way of capturing our attention and sharing with us what has gone on in their life.  Well each one of us has an amazing story to tell.  You can be the story that God uses in another persons life to make them think about who Jesus is and what he can do in their life.  Check out one of those stories:

Who are you telling your story too today?

Building the Lead Team

“The secret is to work less as individuals and more as a team. As a coach, I play not my eleven best, but my best eleven.” by Knute Rockne

This is a quote that I have had on my desk top for the last couple of weeks.  I believe that this is a quote that I think that many church leaders really need to chew on for awhile.  Unfortunately I believe that many people see the pastor of the church as the paid player in the game and that he is the one to get everything done.  This is why I believe that so many churches are struggling to reach the people that are already attending their churches.  So I think that we need to get back to some basics, we need to work together as a team we need to delegate off to capable leaders to work together so that people would be able to feel loved and cared for in the body of Christ, the church.  We need to play the best players that God has provided to us as the church team.

Why do I say this?  I say this because Moses experienced the same thing and was given some amazing advice from his father in-law.

Exodus 18:19-21 (NLT) Now let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing him their questions to be decided. [20] You should tell them God’s decisions, teach them God’s laws and instructions, and show them how to conduct their lives. [21] But find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as judges over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten.

The question that I have for you as a leader is: “What are you doing to prepare the men around you to shoulder the load for taking care of Gods people?”  We need to be able to identify the leaders that we have and get them into the game to get them into the place where they can lead more people in a growing relationship with Jesus.  How are you building the team?

 

Music Monday

I am so excited I am going to be in Colorado this week.  Taking another step to be starting Elevation Christian Church in Aurora.  As we have been praying, preparing, and pushing this song has been one of the rallying cries we have held close to our heart.  I hope you enjoy this song that you will listen to the words and know that this is what we see for Aurora.

Where do you see God at work around you?  What are you going to join Him there? Take some steps this week to doing what God has called you to do in your City.

Habakkuk 1:5 (NLT) “The Lord replied, “Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.”

 

Great Speech

I just thought that I would share a really great video of a little boy.  If you are a fan of the movie “Miracle” like I am then you will love what this little boy does.  I don’t know if it is powerful as the way Herb brooks delivered it but this little boy is to awesome.  Just enjoy.

The Players of the Game

Why is that so many people say they don’t want to come to church?  Here are some people who are in the game of life but for one reason or another feel like it is better to play alone.  Maybe their story is the same as yours, maybe their is someone in your life that you have said the same words.

There are NO PERFECT PEOPLE in the church.  There are no perfect players in the game of life, that is why we need each other.  That is why we need to be the church team that gets people just like this from just being spectators when it comes to knowing Jesus.  It is our prayer that Elevation Christian Church will be that team.

Taking Care of the Team

One of the things that I love to be able to do is coach athletes.  I love being involved with the teaching and training of individuals that are seeking to get better at the sport that they are involved in.  There are so many things that are involved with making sure that an athlete is prepared to get in the game.  There is the physical training an athlete must be conditioned to be able to sustain the activity in competition.  There is the knowledge of the competition for instance wrestling you need to know as many different moves as possible in any given situation.  Football athletes need to know what the opposing team is going to do either on offense or defense through film and through playing against a scout team. A coach needs to make sure that he takes care of his team in both of these areas.

As leaders in the church we are to be the coach of the teams that God has entrusted to us.  So why is it that we sometimes do such a better job when it comes to getting people ready to play a sport then when it comes to getting into the game of life as a believer in Jesus Christ.

“Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God”. 1 Peter 5:2 (NLT)

So for the leaders of church teams there are a couple of things we should always keep in mind.  Our main goal is to prepare the team to be ready to get in the game.  It is the goal of parents, small group leaders, class teachers, and the staff of the church to work together to prepare the team for the game.  We are to be the ones that coach with a willing heart for the benefit of the team not for our benefit.  So the question that I have is; “What are you doing to prepare your team to do to get in the game?”  How are you as the coach ensuring that your team is ready for the game?

Music Monday

Ok, so I have to say that I love the music that Hillsong shares with the rest of us.  They are definitely making the big C church better off with the amazing worship music that they write and perform.  If you listen to worship music and think that is nice but I would never really listen to that during the week, that is just church music.  Well, this is not your average church music.

I want you to know that this is the kind of music that I pray we are able to have at Elevation and I know that the man that God is bringing to share his talent with us as a church is a Godly man.  I know that we are all so excited to not just start a church but be part of a REVOLUTION!