Big Scott goes to the doctor

I am two weeks out of back surgery and I am doing great. I have my follow up exam this morning. I know he is going to tell me to lose weight, duh. But what else will he say?

This is the rub with most of us. We worry about the “what else” when it most likely will be nothing. My dad said “most of the stuff you worry about never happens, and if it does it doesn’t amount to much.” Speculation is a seed bed for sin. Did you know that worrying is a sin?

So what do I need to do? I need to move from worry to faith. I don’t know what my doctor will say but I will do what he says. The worse thing that can happen is that I die and go to heaven. And that will not happen until God is finished. I need to remember God has plans for me, loves me, empowers me, has gifted me, will comfort me, provide for me, has forgiven me, will work good for me, and so much more.

I think I am ready to see the doctor. Faith is really good fuel.

Revolution

I was a youth minister for 11 years. I loved hanging out with kids and watching them grow in their faith. Back in the day we were often more interested in keeping the kids out of trouble then we were interested in building their lives. We thought and taught that ministry was to youth not through youth. I saw some amazing results in the lives of these students even though we were less than intentional.

This week we become intentional. We are launching Revolution, a church for students. This church will intentionally bring students in, build them up, train them for ministry, and send them out. Our prayer is that we see a ministry through students to students with adult heroes who are assisting these kids as they grow. I pray that they become so accustom to church this way that they will lead a movement that changes the world for God’s glory.

16 years ago when I left student t ministry I said I would never do this again. Be very careful what you say never too. God is launching a movement and I am excited to be a part! I will let you know how it goes.

College students

Ok one more for today… I told you about going to Pinegrove Baptist Church last Sunday and enjoying the whole experience, but I didn’t tell you about the self discovery I made.

We traveled down and back in a carpool of trucks (we are from Texas) and cars. The truck I was ridding in was driven by Brian, the smartest guy in the whole world, in the middle was Floppy, an amazingly talented 21 year old, in the back was Alyssa, Jon, and Chris. The back three are the top of their class, have been invited to world class smart kid conventions and other impressive stuff.

As we traveled everyone was discussing all kinds of smart stuff and I realized that I was the dumbest person in the truck! This was very humbling. How can I lead this bright group of kids? Soon they will discover who and am and how much I don’t know. Oh well, God is not impressed with me, He is not concerned with my credentials or competencies, He is looking at my heart.

It is kind of cool to be the dumb kid. When I do something good then it is an event and when I mess up it is expected. I am so thankful that God chooses to show off His strength in my weakness! I pray that I can keep leading these super bright college kids to be the hope of the world!

God Loves you!

Have you ever been in a relationship that you were unsure of? Most of us have grown up that way or you have had an adult relationship that was filled with insecurity. There is nothing more unsettling than not knowing where you stand in a relationship. What I have discovered is that most of us experience conditional love. What I mean is that we are loved but that love is based on performance; if I do right then I am loved. Or it is based on personal dysfunction, better said addictions. I will be loved when I cover for or assist the addict to keep up their abuse.

If you grew up in a home like this, it has shaped your view of God. I have heard people say God can’t love me because I am sin filled, I am broken and can’t break through, or most damning, I am not loveable because of … fill in the blank. They are robbed of a life worth living based on insecurity and false beliefs.

Then there are the false beliefs that if God really loved me then I would not struggle with hardships or I would never be filled with doubt and discouragement. Or we can assume that God is somehow unloving because of systems of abuse, genocide, terrorism, and many other things. If God really loved us He would put an end to all of this. What is amazing is that the very presence of evil reveals the love of God in contrast.

Satan’s favorite tool is to make us think the God doesn’t really love us. Satan wants you to think that you have to earn God’s love, get your act together, and be religious or some other self improvement “mojo”. But God does love us and his love is unconditional. He demonstrated that love “while we were still sinners Christ died” (Romans 5:8). He has loved us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 33:3) and His love is based on His character not ours. God has created you to have a love relationship with Him and that relationship will produce Christ-like character in you as He becomes more and more at home in your heart. God made the first move in this love relationship and He keeps moving transforming us through His great love.
What do I need to do? Accept His love and then intentionally live in that love.

Why am I saying all of this? Because we need the love of God poured out in us, His security covering us, so that we as believers can really love each other and a watching world. If the church loved that way then … everything changes!

What do you think?

Reflections

We had a great week-end at Fellowship of the Hills. I am in a season where I can’t wait for Sunday. God is doing some amazing things and the “I can’t wait to see what happens” feeling is so exciting. Let me give you some details.

Yesterday I spoke on facing your giants and put out some rocks for people to gather to symbolize the giants they would kill in their lives. When I placed those rocks out I thought maybe 2 or 3 people would come get one and that would be it. What I saw was around 90% of the folks there go get a rock. Several people got a handful of rocks. It was so cool. There will be dead giants everywhere!

Last night we took a road trip to Pine Grove Baptist Church in Trenton Florida. They asked us to come and do our style of church with them. This church is over 120 years old and very traditional. She is lead by a pastor who loves God and wants to see lives changed. The church was great. They embraced us and we loved the whole experience. My prayer is that we form a partnership with them to reach people.

What I am discovering is that God uses all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people. To ask a 120 year old church to transition into a contemporary model would be disastrous, but to ask them to partner with us is God honoring. God loves unity in the body as well as diversity.

One more thing, I believe that God is pushing us toward forming a network for training, encouragement, support, and leadership development. I am not sure how or what but God is pushing. Keep praying for us!

Help

Ok, assuming anyone reads this ... I need your help. I am currently writing a small group study that will go with our new sermon series Rodeo: Lassoing Life. I want to do a talk and a session on false beliefs. I think so many folks would pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ but they have a bunch of junk running around in their heads. Stuff like … God loves people but He is ticked off at me, I have to get my act together before I can come to church, All religions basically teach the same things, and so much more. I want to do a good job with this so I need your help. Send me some of your beliefs that you might think are skewed. I promise to be loving and safe. This is your opportunity to ask some stuff that might go unasked. I can’t wait to see…..

Oh yeah, we are going to end this new series with a big Texas BBQ. You don’t want to miss it. You know what they say about BBQ … eat all you can and rub the rest on you!

Show what you believe

One of the marks of spiritual maturity is seeing and seizing spiritual opportunities. This sounds grandiose but is really very practical. God has never measured our devotion based upon what we know but our response of obedience. God wants me to obey because I am right with Him not just because I know about Him.
See and seizing God opportunities is then the response of faith. The response of faith reveals what I believe.

In 1992 I stepped away for an established church and joined a small group of people starting Parkway Church that grew into a regional church of thousands and was a vital part of a church planting movement throughout the USA. In 2007 I stepped away from leading that church to start Fellowship of the Hills in Tallahassee Florida. Why do I tell you this? I tell you this because God wants us to obey. How I responded to these calls of faith reveals what I truly believe. Through obedience I have come to know God even more.

I knew God called me to the first and to the second. I knew His call through alignment of His word, prayer, circumstances and the influence of other believers. Even though these alignments happened I still had to “pull the trigger” and obey.

Why am I telling you this today? I think that God is pushing some of you to take great risk and you are halting. I think some of you are bored to tears with your life and want something more. I think that God wants to launch a movement in the lives of believers that shakes this country for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Jesus gave us a great commandment to go into the entire world and preach the gospel. For some reason I think He meant what he said. It is time to show what we believe by obeying.

the focus bear

Caleb turned 22 yesterday and we threw him a big party. Once again our house was filled with 20 something’s. We had a blast.

His birthday caused me to reflect on his birth. While Tara was in labor we used a focused plan to get her through the pain. We brought a teddy bear to the hospital as Tara’s focal point. I was trained to get her to focus on the bear when the pain started.

What if we decided that God was our focus? What if in times of pain and hardship we turned to Jesus? What if fixed our eyes on Him? What if in times of joy and victory we focused on Him? I think our lives might be different.

I believe that the church today is struggling because we are focusing on programs, doctrine, leadership, and whatever and not focusing on Jesus. I know this sound very spiritual and not practical. I do think that the above mentioned things are important but in the right focus of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Why am I going down this road this morning? Because I think that we, no I must have a God centered focus. I am planting a church and every day the prospect of failure looms. If God doesn’t come through I am doomed. I am choosing to focus on Jesus, His power, His abilities, His glory. I am fixing my eyes on Jesus. As I focus on Him everything we need to do, be, or become will come into focus.

Tara and I still have the “bear”. Every time I look at it I am reminded of the time of focus. I am moving the “bear” to my office to remind me that I have shifted my focus.

Reflections

I wrote this a few years ago, enjoy ....

Holy Roar

There is a roar
That reverberates in my soul that quickens and holds
There is a rumble
Of something deeper moving here
There is a passion
That burns toward a fire started by the one who burns brightest
There is a calling
That quakes the earth but whispers to my heart
There is a purpose
Lay bare before me that unites and will not let me go
There is a God
Who loves me, knows me, forgives me, uses me
In His holy roar, His rumble, His passion, His calling, His purpose
I find my life

Reflections

Tara and I watched Extreme Home Makeover last night. Once again Tara cried. She loves that show; it mixes her passions of home design and helping people. I think the producers had her in mind when they created the show.

I made a comment that these guys have the best job in the world, and then I corrected myself. I have the best job in the world. I get to introduce people to Jesus Christ. I get to join God in a church planting movement that changes the face of eternity. I wept with graduate realizing that the God of the universe would allow me to be a part of His plan.

Bad disk in a fat preacher

I have had and interesting two weeks. I woke up Tuesday morning Feb. 5th with unbelievable pain in my hip and down my leg. I could not stand up or walk. Being stupid I thought I could power through and go to work. I started getting dress and almost passed out.

I made it to the couch and called Brian to take me to the doctor. Going to the doctor is always the last thing on my mind. I then called my friend John Gladden and he came and hauled me to a great surgeon. After laying on the floor in his office until he could fit me in I discovered that I had a lower back stress fracture and would be facing surgery.

I had the surgery Wed. Feb. 13th and I am on the mend. My surgeon is brilliant. He removed the bad disk and told my wife I needed to lose 20 pounds. He could have left the last part off but oh well. I have already lost around 40 pounds so I didn’t tell him how fat I was.

I say all of this to say. God really speaks through your pain. I was completely bed ridden in great pain. I could not do basic things. I was in a very humble position. Pain will do that. I was in a desperate position. Pain will do that. I was not in control. Pain will do that. I needed Jesus. I have never experienced this level of dependence. C. S. Lewis says that God shouts to us in our pain. He is right.

The night after my surgery I could not sleep and spent the whole night in prayer. I was mostly thankful and spent most of the night saying thank you. I also had some clear direction from God regarding direction and character. I am very excited about the days ahead. What I have learned most is that God will leverage your pain for His glory. Let Him. Now this might seem strange but, I would go through this again to experience God like I have. I can’t wait to see the good he brings and the lives that are changed because of a bad disk in a fat preacher.

My Calah

When Calah was in high school she had a bad valentine's experience and was stating the facts about how stupid the day was, made up by card and candy people, and well you get the drift. So I wrote her this, enjoy!

The Day after Valentine’s Day
For My Calah


It is February 15 and you are so sad
You don’t have a valentine and that’s too bad
You have eaten all the chocolate and cried on the floor
And now you’ve grown bitter and oh so bored
But there is a rainbow in all that is gloom
For a ray of hope is still shinning through

Your daddy loves you and you are adored
He is not a cute hunk but just an old dork right down to the core
He will always protect you and come to your aid
He will always remind you to be not afraid

The boys will court you and not follow through
You daddy will love you and be there for you
The boys will notice you and ask for your hand
And daddy will demand to know where they stand

So lift up you head and dry all your tears
One day a real man will drive out your fears
But till that day comes know one thing for sure
Your daddy’s sweet love is your valentine cure

Reflections

Brian and I are teaching a sermon series called Fearless, facing life with courage and confidence. I love this kind of teaching because we take a look at biblical people, who are very much like us, and leverage their experiences in our lives. These folks we are looking at lived with a clear view of God. I call it a "God culture". Everything in their lives was centered around their view of God's presence and power.

Most people live with the culture in view and not God. On any given day we are bombarded with messages from our culture. Our culture could be "pop", sports, politics, or even church. We then filter information, make decisions, build values, and extend relationships based on those cultural messages.

What would our lives be like if we chose to live in "God" culture? I think we would be more loving, take greater risks, be less self-centered, be more generous, and have a greater influence for the Kingdom of God. We might even live fearless.

I am making a intentional shift of cultures. I am going with God.

Reflections

I have been praying that God would remove from me everything that was distracting me. I want my life to be focused on Him alone. I am a guy who thinks He can do it all. I can speak here and there, write books, plant a church, leap tall buildings and so on. I know, I know it is all rooted in pride. That's why I have been praying for clear direction.

I got my answer. I have a stress fracture in my lower back. I am not sure what it means right now. I do know that I am hurting big time! My doctor said that this was an old wound that just flared up. Now I have been around enough to know that everything has a spiritual connection. Right at the time this new church is taking off my back goes bad. This is a satanic attack. He can't win!

Over the next several weeks I will be taking it slow. In fact I hear God clearly saying slow down, spend more time in prayer, writing, and getting ready to inspire the folks in Tallahassee.

It is amazing how clear you can hear the voice of God while in pain.

leadership

We watched the super bowl last night with a group of twenty some things. Tara and I are not twenty something. We had a blast! These guys and gals are full of fun and full of life. We intentionally invited them to come over because I believe that this generation has the ability to change the world for the cause of Christ.

Here are some lessons they are teaching me....

They are all about relationships. This group wants to know you not about you. If you are going to lead them into anything it must be on the basis of relationships. Their leaders will be up close and personal.

They are not into big but they are into better. This generation has been brought up with great music, video, and other elements. You must use the arts in a wide verity to touch the heart.

They are not scarred of big things but they don’t want to just be a face in the crowd. They want to be a force in the crowd.

They are accepting of people who have different views about morality and beliefs. But they respond to biblical truth when dispensed with love. If you don’t love them don’t bother. The media has set the cultural norms for them but they know there is more. Godly leaders must not judge them for their choices but offer examples of biblical truth from godly lives. They can smell a phony!

They want to know they are a part of something that touches the whole world. This is the first generation that is globally connected. They text, e-mail, face book, my space and so much more to stay connected. They want big dream and challenges and leaders who dare to dream those dreams.

I believe that us older leaders must reach back and lovingly lead this generation. They will not respond to corporate structures or church the way it has always been. They will respond to acceptance and love. At recent conference where I was speaking one of the leaders said "you can't grow a church will college kids". I say "Bull". If led with love, passion, and vision, they can be the hope of the world.

Tara and I had the opportunity to hang out with Margaret Feinberg. She is amazingly gifted speaker and writer. Her latest book is The Organic God. It is a must read. You can check her out at margaretfeinberg.com.

Relationships

I am stoked! (a surfing term that means to get fired up) God is revealing so many things to me about my character. I hate it went I get convicted about how much I need to grow but I also get excited to know that God loves me enough to keep pushing me.

I have always believed that my life would matter for God. I remember praying asking God to use my life when I was 9. I was standing on top of the "jungle gym" on the school playground looking over the whole school. I asked God that day to make my life count for Him. What I didn't know was that prayer had two sides. One side was to give my life away for the cause of Christ and the other was the battle of arrogance and pride.

All my life and ministry I have battled the pull of wanting the praise of men. Over and over I have found that praise to be hollow. God keeps showing me that He is enough. I must live a life of surrender.

I believe that God is calling pastors to become holy men first and foremost. I have blasted that trumpet only to find it ringing in my own ears. I am stoked because the Holy Spirit is moving in the deep places of my life. I am "a man of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the Lord".

God longs to move in the North American church and He will first move in the hearts of the leaders. I must let Him move in me!