What to Do Every Day

Here’s a great principle I recently heard from John Maxwell. Every day you should wake and ask, “How can I add value to someone’s life today?” Here’s how I understand that...

To add value means to find something that you can improve or strengthen that will bless someone else. The most successful and happy people are those who make others successful and happy.

Many times, this principle is the only thing that can break you out of a rut because it will cause you to take your attention off yourself (and your problems) and seek the best for someone else.

The ultimate fulfillment of this is Jesus. Greater love has no one than he who lays down his life for a friend. Jesus did it for us. Try it now.

Eight Gifts of Hope in the Midst of a Mess

Eight Gifts of Hope in the Midst of a Mess

1. Read John 20:1-2 - If you’re a great failure like Peter, or a great sinner like Mary Magdalene (the prostitute), than you’re a perfect candidate for God to use powerfully and to be in the inner circle of his followers.

2. Read John 20:3-9 - If you don’t fully understand God’s plan or what He has repeatedly told you, you are in good company, and his plan is unfolding perfectly.

3. Read John 20:10-15 - You may not recognize Jesus in the midst of your trials, but He is right in front of you, speaking to you.

4. John 20:16-18 - In the midst of your blindness, Jesus calls your name, reassures you that you are His family, and gives you a purpose.

5. Read John 20:19-20 - Jesus stands among you in the midst of your fear, shows Himself to you (and your loved ones), and gives you peace that leads to joy.

6. Read John 20:21-23 - Jesus gives you peace, gives you the Holy Spirit, and sends you on His mission with authority.

7. Read John 20:24-30 - God is not threatened by your honest feelings in the midst of trials. Even then, He will prove Himself to you.

8. Read John 20:31 - Jesus is the Christ and is the living hope. He gives you life in the midst of your mess.

Easter Sunday ReCap!

We had an awesome Easter gathering this morning at Clarity! Despite an angry dude showing up and threatening to shut us down (which he can't... but we were graceful about it), we had 45 first timers (over 15 of which were kids!), and 2 first time decisions to follow Jesus. The Clarity team killed it (again) and everyone had an awesome time.

This was a huge weekend for us between the Eggstravaganza and Easter morning! We invested a lot of time, energy, and resource into it all... many months of prep. Because of this, many people took significant steps forward in the journey with God... and that makes it all worth it!

See you all this Sunday as we host Austin Andrews from this season of the Biggest Loser! Bring some friends... anyone who loves the show!

Clarity Eggstravaganza ReCap!

We had a GREAT Clarity Eggstravaganza today! With 500 kids, 1,100 people, and lots of new community connections, it was a huge success! The Clarity Team (and our extra help from Bakersfield) were amazing! They successfully set up and pulled off this whole event while making everyone feel welcomed and loved! We met so many wonderful families that we look forward to getting to know!

This was a lot of time, energy, and resource well used! The school district and city staff said they have never worked with a better and more organized team... a testament to the teams quality. BE SURE to come to our Easter gathering and see the team in action again. More importantly, see the God that inspires and is the motivation for this team. Every Sunday morning at McKinley Elementary at 11 AM!

The sky diving easter bunny landing was... and I hate to use this word... EPIC! Video coming. All 25,000 eggs gone :) Thanks to everyone who came and helped out. Wow!

How wise do you work?

I can work with the best of them. When I am passionate about something, there is little that can stop me from doing it. BUT, the truth is, working HARD doesn’t always mean working WISE. For instance, it’s not wise to but all your time and energy into moving in the wrong direction.

The bible puts a VERY high premium on wisdom!

My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Proverbs 3:21-22

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7

...for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 8:11

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5

Take a step back. Ask God for wisdom. Evaluate your priorities. Determine your main focus. What is your mission? What has God called you to do? What are you most passionate about? Where should you be putting your greatest time and energy?

I encourage you to ask these questions prayerfully and in light of God’s word. There is no way to truly find clarity without the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. God will renew your mind, change your motives, and set you on a course that is divine. It will not be easy. In fact, Jesus promises you will have trouble in this world, but that we can take heart, because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Join us at Clarity Easter Sunday, April 24 to learn how to walk in peace in the midst of chaos.

A Letter from Pastor Nathan to the Clarity Community

I am so pumped for this weekend’s launch into our new venue, new time, new “Clarity Kidz” programs, and new series “The Perfect Storm!” God has prepared the way for us every step so far, and He will continue to do so. This is His will, so it is His bill; meaning, He will accomplish all that He wants to! We just get to be the ones He is using!

Right now, we are preparing for the move of God. Don’t get me wrong, He is moving already, but I am talking about a GREAT harvest. We are like a farmer. He plans, plants, and waters, but cannot make a tomato grow. He is just preparing for the miracle of God to happen. But a farmer never sits on His butt and says, ok God, give me a harvest. He gets up early, busts his butt, is faithful to the process, and then waits!

Here’s an important illustration from Steven Furtick (Pastor of Elevation Church) to help us with perspective as we prepare for the move of God.

“Have you ever been dressed to the nines for a wedding and had to stop along the way at a gas station? Feels pretty silly to be dressed so nicely pumping gas. And it almost feels like you need to explain to everyone: 'I’m going to a wedding…' whether they ask or not.

But when you get to where you’re going, you’ll look great. You’ll fit right in.

Church growth is like this. It feels silly sometimes to build structures and systems that accommodate more people than you’re currently serving. But you must. In fact, my mentors have told me to structure Elevation like we have twice as many people as we currently do.”

So, we are dressing for what is to come. We are preparing for the move of God! I am so blessed to be in this with all of you and am honored to be the pastor of this awesome church!

Check out the additions and new navigation on our site. Use it as leverage to invite and create awareness online. The website is the front door of the church for people in our culture. Most importantly, PRAY and OBEY. Pursue God every day! The rest is in His hands.

See you bright and early on Sunday!

Nathan

Keys to Being a Great Fisherman

Jesus did not call us to be better people, better parents, better business leaders, etc... he called us to be fishers of men. This simply means we catch people with the gospel... the love of Jesus. This is our mission. Here are a few keys learned from being a great fishermen.

1. Fishermen have to go where the fish are. This is obvious, but if someone is going to reach a certain people, they need to go where those people are.

2. Fisherman have no control over what the fish do. All Jesus tells us to do is to cast, not to catch. Only He can do the catching. Great fisherman cast and cast and cast. When great fisherman fail (which they do all the time), they don't give up and only watch fishing on TV, they keep casting!

3. Fisherman have STORIES of great loses and great catches. If you don't have any recent stories, you're not fishing. If you only have stories from five years ago, you used to be a fisherman, but you're not now. Get in the boat and fish.

4. Great fisherman have great guides. I just learned this. Fishermen rely on the guide to take them to the right place at the right time. We have the ultimate guide in Jesus. It goes best when we listen to everything He says.

Side Deals with God

When it comes to being a fisher of men, many people in the church today try to cut side deals with God. They internally say things like... I will be bible boy, or missions girl, or volunteer man, or worship woman, or kids worker, but not fisher of men!

The truth is that it is impossible to reconcile being a follower of Jesus and not being a fisher of men. It's a certainty, followers fish. If you're fishing, then you're following. If you're not fishing, then you're not truly following. Yes, it may be uncomfortable being a fisher of men, but we are called to be comfortably uncomfortable. God got uncomfortable for us so that we could have eternal comfort. We must do the same for others.

Read Matthew 4:18-19 and Matthew 28:18-19.

The State of the Church

The State of the Church
Acts 2:42-47

Twelve Signs of a Healthy Church.
*Borrowed from Rod Loy.

A Healthy church is…

1. Learning (vs 42)
2. Loving (vs 42)
3. Praying (vs 42)
4. Humble (vs 43)
5. Supernatural (vs 43)
6. Unified (vs 44)
7. Generous (vs 45)
8. Committed (vs 46)
9. Fun (vs 46)
10. Worshipping (vs 47)
11. Influential (vs 47)
12. The Lord added to their number daily. (vs 47)

Journaling and CAUTIONS

The spontaneity and excitement of my relationship with my wife, Jessica, are wonderful and needed. BUT, we also NEED intentional time together, planned date nights, periodic tough conversations, and consistent listening to one another to stay strong. So it is with our walk with God. I know many that only have the accidental and spontaneous time with the Lord. I challenge you to keep that, but also become intentional. So with that, here is a suggested basic structure for daily journaling as a spiritual growth discipline.

Journaling

1. Date – Write it each day.

2. Read – Several verses at a time. Go through a book (James, John). Write the reference and any thoughts.

3. A.C.T.S. – Spend time on each of the following. Occasionally write it down.

A – Adoration – Adore and praise God for who He is.

C – Confession – Confess all your short-comings to God. List your sins and ask for forgiveness.

T – Thanksgiving – Thank God for all He’s given you.

S – Supplication – Ask God specifically for what you need and desire. List your requests.

4. Listen – Make sure you are listening for what God wants to say to you through this process. Spend some time just meditating on truth and listening. Occasionally write down what you think God is saying to you.

Journaling Cautions

1. Take your time. Write slowly and think.

2. Don’t have false expectations that will disappoint. Do it as a discipline to grow in a relationship with God.

3. Do not make it a religious duty that you use to earn God’s approval. You have God’s approval now, based on Jesus.

4. Use the suggested format as a basic structure to get you started, not a rule.

5. Carry your journal and Bible with you.

ONE Thing

As promised, here are the powerful questions from Charles Kollar’s message this past Sunday. The context was that of a singular focus in worship. That we would be about one thing. Namely, Christ, and what He has for us. Challenge yourself with these questions and listen for what God may be speaking to you through His Word.

1. What ONE THING do you desire from God? Psalm 27:4
2. What ONE THING do you lack? Mark 10:21-22
3. What ONE THING do you need to let go of? Philippians 3:13-14
4. What ONE THING do you need to know from God? Psalm 56:9-11

Promises you can “know” from God…

Philippians 4:19 – To meet every need you have from His riches.
Ephesians 1:7- To forgive all your sins.
Hebrews 13:5- He will never leave or forsake you.
Psalm 46:1- To be your ever present help in trouble.
Isaiah 40:29- To give strength to the weary and power to the weak.
Psalm 32:8- To guide you and give you direction.
Philippians 4:7- To give you a peace that goes beyond your understanding.
James 4:7- To give you power to defeat Satan.
Romans 8:39- Nothing can separate you from His love.
Romans 8:37- You are more than conquerers.
John 10:27-28- Eternal life through Christ.

How Can I Find My Idols (Part 2 from Sunday)

In this weeks message, “The Centrality of Worship,” I gave two challenges. Here is the second one…

2. Read through the “How Can I Find My Idols” questions and challenge yourself to live a life of worship unto God only… nothing less than a continuous living sacrifice for the glory of God (thanks to Mark Driscoll for the probing questions)!

Who/what are your external idols?

• Who/what is my Lord that rules over my life determining how I live?
• Who/what is my Judge I am living to earn the approval of?
• Where do you give the firstfruits of your wealth?
• Where do you give the firstruits of your time?
• What people and things take the majority of your life?
• What do you plan and pray for?

Who/what are your internal idols?

• What false beliefs do you hold about God?
• Which parts of Scripture do you deeply doubt or even disbelieve?
• Deep down in your heart who/what do you love, cherish, treasure, long for the most?
• Deep down in your heart who/what do you despise and hate the most?
• Who/what makes you happiest? Why?
• Who/what makes you saddest? Why?

Who/what is your mediator between you and God?

• Who or what other than Jesus do you use to get closer to God?
• Who or what if taken from your life would cause you to not walk as faithfully with God?
• How do you define yourself, especially when introducing yourself to others?

Where is your functional heaven?

• When daydreaming about escaping this life, what does your functional heaven look like and how is it different from the real heaven?
• On earth, where do you run for your safety or comfort as your hiding place (e.g. the fridge, alcohol, the television, a person, a place, a hobby)?

Who/what is your functional savior?

• What is your picture of hell in this life (e.g. being single, not having children, being poor, etc.)?
• Who or what do you use to save you from what you fear (e.g. a relationship, children, money, shopping, sex, etc.)?

What good thing has become a god thing?

• Which idols are in your life that when appreciated and/or stewarded correctly are means of worship but have become objects of worship (e.g. work, family, health, friendship, pleasure, leisure, hobby, etc.)?
• What idols am I selling to others?

Expressions of Worship (Part 1 from Sunday)

In this weeks message, “The Centrality of Worship,” I gave two challenges. Here is the first one…

1. Spend time doing the Biblical expressions of worship personally and corporately (included below). If you’d like, you can worship along with the “None But Jesus” video included on our homepage.

BIBLICAL EXPRESSIONS OF WORSHIP

Speaking
Psalm 34:1 says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”

Shouting
Psalm 27:6 says, “Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.”

Singing
Psalm 47:6 says, “Sing praises to God, sing praises to our King, sing praises.”

Bowing
Psalm 95:6 says, “Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

Standing
Psalm 119:120 says, “My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.”

Dancing
Psalm 149:3 says, “Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.”

Playing Instruments
Psalm 33:2, 3 says, “Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

Clapping
Psalm 47:1 says, “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.”

Lifting Hands
Psalm 63:4 says, “I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”

Sitting in Silence
Lamentations 3:26-29 says, “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust – there may yet be hope.”

Faithful in the Moment

Yesterday I talked about how God has a plan for your life. This is so encouraging in theory, but it doesn’t always feel like we are in the middle of God’s plan, does it?

So, we took some cues from the life of Joseph to wrap up our Genesis series. There are not many others who have had as high of highs and as low of lows as Joseph did. And all the while, he was right in the middle of God’s plan. I’m sure Joseph, at times, wanted to curse the air, throw in the towel, and just forget God. After all, how could God allow him to be hated to the fullest by his brothers, thrown in a cistern, and sold into slavery by those who were supposed to protect him? Could this really be God’s plan?

But, we see that through all of it, God was bringing forth His plan for Joseph’s life. That plan was divine relationship and divine purpose. And it is the same for you today! God’s plan for you is to be in a relationship with Him, and to work His purpose through you. You get to walk and talk with the God of all the Universe and play a vital role in the plan of heaven for earth. Wow!

BUT, how do we deal with all the highs and lows that God will use to get us there? Well, Joseph wasfaithful in the moment. He saw each moment, dealt with the reality honestly, chose to work as unto the Lord (even when in slavery), chose to maintain his love for others (even when in prison), and chose to maintain his faith in the Lord (even with a destroyed reputation).

So, how will you handle your moment? Will you see it and be faithful in it? Will you trust him? He has a plan for your life! Below is an acronym I made that goes through the stages of Joseph’s life and also spells out FAITHFUL IN THE MOMENT. Don’t forget it!

F.avor from his dad (his dad loved him the most)

A.nger from his brothers (his brothers hated him for it and were jealous)

I.nspiration from God (God told Joseph he would rule)

T.elling the truth to his family (Joseph innocently told his loved ones)

H.ated to the fullest by his brothers (brothers hated him more, to the point of murder, lies, and selling him into slavery)

F.avor in the workplace (from slave to ruler)

U.prightness in secret (when tempted sexually)

L.ied against in public (falsely accused of an affair)

in the

M.adness – imprisoned for doing right (for the wrongful accusation)

O.pportunity in the midst of the madness (ruler of the prison he was being held in)

M.adness – forgotten for two years (forgotten again)

E.xalted over all of Egypt (made ruler of everything in Egypt)

N.o Promise unfulfilled (everything God said, happened)

T.otal Forgiveness towards his family (Joseph forgave them all and wept over them in love… probably the greatest miracle of all, the power to forgive )

The story begins in Genesis 39. Go read it!

For 2011 and Beyond - No Compromise

Last year we gradually and steadily introduced our two first core values, Serve First and Missional Living. Now, after thought, prayer, and God's leading, we are focusing on a third core value, No Compromise. It is based out of a deep passion to live holy lives according to the teaching of our only plumb-line for truth, God's Word.

Check out 1 Peter 1:13-17...

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy." Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.

This year, choose to have no compromise in your thoughts. Don't let ideas or fantasies that you know are lies to rule your thinking, but rather dwell on what is good, true, and excellent (according to Philippians 4:8). This year, choose to have no compromise in your actions. Don't let fear, anger, or selfishness determine what you do, but rather have a love for God and for people that leads you to actions of mission, love, and compassion.

Don't be stupid... no compromise!!!