Don't Come Down Off the Wall - An Encouraging Word!!!

Hey everyone,

It's so easy to get consumed by the "less than positive" voices and things that surround us so often on a daily basis. It 's easy to become discouraged because things aren't going as we wish they would go. Progress isn't being made as quickly as we hoped. The negative voices are louder in our ear than the postiive ones. If you've ever felt that way I want to encourage you.

In the book of Nehemiah there is this moment where Nehemiah and all of the inhabitants of Jerusalem have been working on the wall for like 30 or 40 days . They're tired. They're hungry. They haven't seen normal in several weeks and to make it all worse, there is one guy, Artaxeres who is the consumate "negative voice ," who just won't stop bothering them. He's doing everything he can to knock their progress off course.

Finally, Artaxeres tries to convince Nehemiah to come down off the wall, "just to have a meeting" and talk about their differences. And it's in that moment that Nehemiah makes a statement that is just awesome. He says, "I am doing a great work and I can't come down." I love that. It's like in that moment Nehemiah has this ability to view all that he has accomplished, all that God has put in his heart, and all the possibility that he and his people are capable of, in his sights, and in light of all that, his only response is: "No way baby!! I'm not coming down! I've got too much good happening to stop and listen to you in this moment!!!!"

I believe that's a word for some of you today! You are facing circumstances that look discouraging on the outside. Well, can I just encourage you that "you are doing a great work! Don't come down! Don't even give those negative voices a second thought! You are an overcomer with more potential than you could ever think or imagine! Stand strong in the Lord and in His mighty power! You have way too much good going on in your world to let a couple of negative people throw your focus off course! Don't come down!

Hope that helps!

Just an Encouraging Bloggish thought,

Matt

Restoring Rhythm to your Leadership

For the last couple of blogs we've been talking about a leader's Rhythm. Today, I want to give you a few thoughts on how to restore your life and leadership to a healthy rhythm if you find that it's not a sustainable pace.

1. Seek Jesus to see if He's trying to advance your life to a new rhythm. I think that we, as human beings, and as God's children, are capable of far more than we think we are. I think that we sorely underestimate our potential as leaders and followers of Jesus. Therefore, I think that God uses seasons of our life to get us to recognize that we have "gears" that we never even knew we had. It's like an engine. If I try and go 60 mph in 2nd gear, my engine will be running way too hot and making all kinds of loud whiny noises. But, if I shift it from 2nd gear into 3rd gear, the engine resumes a normal and sustainable pace. Sometimes I think that God wants us to "shift gears." He knows that in order for us to become all that we can become in Him, it will require that we learn how to move at 60 mph, not just 40 mph.

When we moved to Florida to start Next Level Church, that's the experience I went through. I remember God speaking to my heart one day, "Matt, you're going to work harder and with a greater intensity then you've ever done before!" And sure enough, I began to see that I was capable of so much more than I ever thought I was. God had a whole new gear for me that I never even knew existed.

2. Evaluate the components of your rhythm. When we find our engine running "extremely hot," it's best to identify and unpack what's making it that way. What new things have we added to our life that are causing our rhythm to increase? What needs to be eliminated? What is out of order in our life? Etc.

3. Talk to your supervisor about it. If you find yourself at a place where someone else is dictating to you what the rhythm of your life has to be, then I guess my best recommendation is communication. Of course, my leadership style is very relational, so I prefer open and honest communcation, and I understand that not all bosses are that way. However, I think if you go with the right approach, more times then not, your boss will be able to bring clarity and understanding to the reasoning behind this season of "heightened rhythm."

4. Find a new opportunity that matches your rhythm. If you find yourself in a work environment where the rhythm is unsustainable, then perhaps you'll have to begin to believe God to open a new door of opportunity. After all, I beleive that God would rather have your life being lived in a healthy & sustainable rhythm, then to have you burn out and blow out on an integrity level!

Hope that helps,

Just another Rhythmic Bloggish Thought,

matt

Rhythm Help - Part 2

Yesterday, I talked about a Leader's Rhythm. But what do we do we recongnize that some area of our life is out of rhythm? How do we handle it? What happens when our boss or environment is more in control of our "Rhythm or Pace" then we are? What are the effects on a leader's life that is out of rhythm? Here are a few thoughts:

1. Recognize that there are season to rushed rhythm. Everyone goes through seasons of life where the rhythm is unsustainable. That's normal. The key is that we recognize it as "abnormal" and have a timeline as to when it will return back to normal again.

2. An improper leadership rhythm leads to Unhealth. We have to know that if we're outpacing ourselves, it will eventually catch up to us. Every once in a while, you'll meet someone who thinks they're super human and can live at a super human pace for an extended period of time. Rest assured that their life isn't all it's cracked up to be. If they're living at an unrealistic rhythm or pace, it's exacting a price somewhere in their life.

3. Unhealth creaps in to the gray areas first. One way you'll know if you're living at an unhealthy pace is that some of the gray areas of your life will begin to slide. You'll catch yourself "needing" something that you used to do for leisure or enjoyment. Like energy drinks, or alcohol or something like that! Suddenly it goes from "enjoying" to "I have to have this to make it through my day!" That's a sure fire sign of unhealth.

4. A Life out of Rhythm is a target for burnout & integrity failure. The problem with a leader who's life is out of rhythm is that the "liberties" don't just stay in the gray areas. Eventually, if we don't do what's necessary to bring our life back into a healthy rhythm, we will begin to see cracks in our integrity. It's just too difficult to be all things to all people all the time, so either we'll "fake" it, or we'll readjust our priorities to where they need to be.

Tomorrow we'll talk about a few thoughts on Restoring our lives to a Healthy Rhythm.

Just a Rhythmic Bloggish Thought,

Matt

Leadership Principle: Rhythm & Pace of Life

I know that there are alot of young leaders who read this blog each week, so in an effort to continue to be strategic about the content I write in regards to what I'm learning, here's another installment.

As we were driving home, my wife made the comment that there alot of "givens" that we take for granted in our everyday leadership. Phrases we'll use, things we'll say, concepts we'll assume, that young leaders might benefit from having in their vocabulary. I want to share one with you today...

Last night, at our Connection Group, Sarah and I shared that we had to recommit to the "Rhythm & Pace" of our family. There is a rhythm to ministry and leadership. There is a rhythm to family and marriage. And there is a rhythm to our lives as individual leaders. If any of these "rhythms" get "out of rhythm" then trouble begins to happen in our lives.

Rhythm is, of course, a musical a term. Rhythm is that thing that keeps all of the instruments together. Playing in unison & in time with one another. Without a syncapated rhythm, the whole musical number will fall apart. If every piece of the orchestra is playing at a different "rhythm" then the music will end up a mess.

The same is true in the life of a leader. Each piece of your life has a rhythm. Your energy level. Your ability to focus. The way you prioritize your time. It all has a rhythm to it. Learning the rhythms of your life is one of the most important things a leader can do.

1. The Individual Leader's Rhythm. Every leader has a rhythm. A pattern or systematic approach to the way they live their life and interact with the world around them. Learning at what pace you can function at your optimum the longest is huge. Learning what activiites "fill your tank" and what activities drain you. Learning when you're most creative & when you're most reflective are huge pieces of a leader's rhythm. The sooner a leader can identify components of their rhythm, the better off they'll be. I guess what I'm trying to say is: You've got to learn to march to the beat of your own drum!!!

2. A Leader's Marriage Rhythm. Every healthy married couple has discovered the concept of what it means to be in "rhythm" together. They understand the pace of their spouse, and are willing to adjust their pace to it, either up or down. There is alot of communication that is necessary for a married couple to learn their collective rhythm. And it's not as easy as just one partner matching the other partner's rhythm. There is an art to two drummers playing together. They have to keep their eyes fixed on the other person. It's a whole lot more about focusing on the other drummer's style & pace & intensity, then it is dragging them along to yours.

3. A Leader's Family Rhythm. Every family has a rhythm as well. This week, my wife and I had to stop and look at how the rhythm of our family had gotten out of sync. With moving houses, summer break from school, and the excelerated pace of opportunities around NLC, we discovered that the pace of our family was out of sync. So here's what we did: We paused in our kitchen and recommitted to some things that keep our family pace in rhythm. Like mealtime around our kitchen table 3 to 4 nights a week. This isn't optional for us, it's essential! Our kids need to know that mom and dad are home and listening. Like prioritized "kid time" with the boys. Doing what they want to do, not just bringing them along as we do what we have to do. And recommitting to lead at home, like we lead in the church. It's easy to be the "leader" at church, and then when I get home to want to "rest" from leadership. Yet the truth is, leadership is every bit as essential at home as it is at church, or in your place of work.

? So how's your rhythm? What can you do this week to evaluate your rhythm, and then begin making adjustments in an effort to recommit to the rhythm that makes your song sound great! After all, that's the song that will make the world turn their head and notice! Jesus needs your life in rhythm!

"The Uncommon Favor of God is on Next Level Church" - Luke Walters

I mentioned that on Sunday, Luke & Sandy Walters came over to the house for dinner. They are missionaries to Sri Lanka and God is using them mightily to say the least. During our time together, he shared with me that while he was around our church, he couldn't get away from this idea that God's "Uncommon Favor" is upon us.

So at the end of the night, they paused by our front door and laid hands on my wife and I and prayed for us. He prayed for God's continued "Uncommon Favor" to be upon us. Wow. I can't get away from those words! For the past 2 days I've been praying for "Uncommon Favor" on our church, and on the people of our church. I believe that God is blessing Next Level Church, not so that we can sit and bask in how "much we have." But so that we can allow that blessing to flow "Through" us into others around the country and the world.

I have had a heaviness on my heart that we, as a church, would become more faithful stewards of all that we've been entrusted with in the days ahead. I know that God wants to use NLC to bring about Life-Change in so many across Southwest Florida, strengthen and coach Church Planters across the country, as well as fuel missions across the globe.

Can I ask you to join me in praying for "Uncommon Favor" from God upon our church and the people of it? Who knows what God might do if we're faithful!!!

Just a Bloggish Thought,

Matt

What a Great Day on Sunday!!!

So we finished our "Take Me out to the Ballgame" Series on Sunday and it was an amazing day to say the least! All I can say is I hope you didn't miss it! We had over 650 people in church, in the middle of summer, which is amazing! There were several dozen 1st, 2nd and 3rd time attenders there. We had 7 people commit their lives to the Lord! Some of the highlights of the day were:

• Luke and Sandy Walters. They are two of our missionaries that we support from Sri Lanka. It was great to hear Luke share his heart for Sri Lanka and that part of the world. He also shared about a piece of property they have acquired that will become a hub for missions teams from the United States in the future! Sarah and I got to spend Sunday evening with them at our house and it was great to tell stories and laugh and connect with 2 people God is using mightily across the globe! Click here to go to their website.


• Our 1st ever NLC Tail Gate Party. We had a beautiful and sunny day for our tail gate party that was an absolute blast! It was so fun to see several hundred Next Levelites get creative for their tail gates. Everything from playstations in the back of SUV's to Baseball cakes and cookies. Swimming pools, BBQ Smokers, Tents, and a Winnabego! Are you kiddin' me? You guys pulled out all the stops! That was just awesome.


• Missy the Miracle. Yes, she was there for the give away of the prizes from our drawings! I have to admit this is the only church I've ever been in who actually had a "Baseball Mascot" on stage. Unprecedented, baby!


• Throwing out the first pitch. I got to throw out my first pitch ever. It was great! I was a bit nervous, but definitely in the zone and in the moment as I took the mound. I had one goal: Don't throw it in the dirt. So I threw a high fast ball (& when I say fast ball, I mean a straight pitch with very little arch) that was right over the plate. Yes!!!


• Lindsay singing the National Anthem. I was so proud of Lindsay as she sang the national anthem. She did a great job. (Even if she did have to look at the words that she had typed out earlier in the day!!!)


• The presence of God in our Sunday morning service. It was great to see God moving on people as I talked about being set free from "Rules" and living in a true "Relationship" with Jesus Christ! If you missed the message, you can click the link on the right of my blog and listen.

I am so thankful to the marketing team and so many dozens of faithful people who catch the vision for a series like this and are willing to sacrifice and be used by God to see lives changed for eternity. I am so proud to be a part of a church like this.

Thanks for letting me be your pastor,

Matt

Lessons from a PlayStation 2

Friday was an historical day for the Keller boys. For the last 8 months or so, my kids have been saving their money for a PlayStation 2. Will (my 6 yr old) more so than Drew (the 4 yr old). I have used the goal of a PS 2, to teach Will some basics about Business & Finance. In fact, 5 months ago, he even started a little retail "business" (that went amazingly well by the way.) Drew has been saving his birthday money and any other coins he finds laying around daddy's wallet, etc.

So on Friday morning they came to an amazing discovery... if they pooled their money together, they would have enough to buy a PS 2. Around 9:30 am, they came running down the hall to find me & share the news. After we emptied the piggy banks (literally) and their wallets, the realization hit us... Today was going to be the day! The Kellers would enter Video Game Land! (I can still remember buying my first Atari with my brother as a kid! Crazy!)

Now I have to confess I have mixed emotions about this b/c up to this point, Sarah and I have been rather resistant to the whole "video game" thing, more in the name of "you're going to become couch potatoes" and "it's going to melt your brains into mush," type of thinking, then anything theological or otherwise. But none the less, the kids had met their goal and it was go time. So off we went to Target and they were like 2 kids in a toy store. (Oh wait, that's exactly what they were...)

It was awesome to be able to reinforce, for my kids, a couple of leadership principles and philosophies that I try to model and live out on a daily basis in my life as a pastor and leader. They are:

1. Teamwork. At NLC, it's all about Team. Period. This is a value we have reinforced from day one, and we seek to reinforce at the earliest levels of our church. We need each other and that's all their is to it. The way we teach it in our Kids Ministry at NLC is called, "Cooperation." "Together we can make the impossible, possible." It's an awesome feeling to know that what my kids are learning at Church is being lived out at home... Even at the ages of 6 and 4! Praise God! (If you aren't bringing your kids faithfully to our Kids Ministry, you're missing out on a valuable training ground to instill the values you want most in your kids as they grow! Make it a priority every week for your family. You won't regret it I promise!)

2. Perseverance. I marveled each week at Will's patience when he was earning money from his business. He had a Profit & Loss sheet and the whole deal. And each week, he knew how much further he had to go and how much he had earned. Some of us adults could take a lesson right here, couldn't we? If only we knew where our resources were going and coming from as well as my 6 year old! He didn't give up on his goal, and as I've seen in his eyes all day today, "Anything good in life is worth waiting for."

3. Faithfulness. They were faithful to their goal and it paid off. They didin't give up or loss heart. They remained true and faithful to their goal and I'm so proud of them for it. What goal are you being tempted to give up on? Don't do it. Don't give up! It will be worth it, I promise. As the Bible says, "You will reap a harvest if you do not faint."

I know that 1 of the huge goals most all of us around the NLC world have is that our lives would be used for something greater than ourselves. At NLC, the way we make that a reality is through the value of Teamwork. I can't even begin to tell you how each week, over a hundred volunteers and "team members"make the environments happen across our church, and the end result is Lives Changed for Eternity!!!

From Connection Group Leaders or Hosts, to Kids Zone leaders, Set up crew, to Musicians, Ushers, Greeters, Accountants, Office Administration, Techies, Video Editors, Event Organizers, Kids Class workers. You name it, there is a place to serve on an amazing Team at NLC.

If you're not involved in the life of NLC through serving, I highly recommend you e-mail Pastor Mike Ash or go to www.NextLevelChurch.com to get involved right away! Now is a great time to jump in with both feet!

Well, I better go, I think I hear my kids fighting over a controller,

Just a gamish bloggish thought,

Matt

"Welcome" but "Do Not Enter"

On Friday night, my wife and I went out for our date night. On our way, we swung through a store to pick up something or other, (I don't know.) Anyway, as we were walking into the doors of the store, I noticed that the set of doors to our left had 2 big stickers on them.

 

 

The first said "WELCOME." It was big and green, with bold, all cap white letters.

The other, right above it, said in Big Red Bold letters: "DO NOT ENTER."

Same Door ... Two Messages

 

 

One saying, "Hey, come on in, we're glad you're here."

The other sayng, "We really don't want you here."

 

 

I don't know why but that struck me as funny! I think I spent the next several minutes laughing to myself about it! But then I started thinking about it in terms of church. How many churches are communicating the exact same thing, unconsciously, every Sunday?

 

 

At NLC, everything we do in our Weekend environments is done with the "New Person" in mind. We know that excuses and reasons for NOT coming back to NLC are everywhere! Everything from Parking too far away, unclear signage, to unfriendly people, to the fact that we're a 'mobile church.' That's why we want everything we do from the time someone drives on the parking lot to the time they drive off to be strategic! We call it our "Parking Lot to Parking Lot" Philosophy. And it's all about eliminating as many of those excuses as we possibly can b/c we know that we only get 1 chance to impact someone's life for eternity!

 

 

So what are the "keys" to our Parking Lot to Parking Lot Philosophy? Here are a few thoughts:

 

 

1. At NLC, the first big win for us is that people will Come Back. We understand that true Life-Change happens over an extended period of time, not just in a one shot deal.

 

 

2. A second thing we understand is that people will size up their impression of God based on what they see, feel, & experience while at NLC! Whether we like it or not, the truth is people will form an impression of God based on what they experience at NLC each weekend! That's why "everything matters." Period.

 

 

3. Third, we understand that every Sunday is someone's "That Day." It's the day that someone will give God one last chance to make Himself real to them in a personal way. And we take that responsibility very seriously! We never want to communicate in words or actions or unspokens a dual message that says: "Welcome... Do Not Enter."

"We're glad you're here, but not really..."

 

 

To so many of you around the NLC world who serve faithfully, I want to thank you for grabbing a hold of our "Parking Lot to Parking Lot" Philosophy & for taking seriously the opportunity we've been given on a weekly basis to impact someone's view of God!

 

 

Just a bloggish thought,

 

 

Matt

Paint, Communicate, and Anchor the Vision of your Organization

I read recently a quote from leadership guru and expert, Warren Bennis. It was one of those statements that jumped off the page at me. I couldn't wait to share it with so many of you who are young leaders who read this blog. Here's the statement:

"It is the responsibility of the leader to Paint, Communicate and Anchor the vision of an Organization."

Wow. What a description of the responsibility that leaders have. I know that as the lead pastor for Next Level Church, I take that responsibility very seriously. I know that the vision of NLC is one of seeing countless lives changed by the Message of Jesus Christ. We want to "Help people reach their Next Level of Becoming more like Jesus Christ in their everyday lives." And I've got to do everything I can to creatively connect the people of NLC with that vision! Here's a few of my thoughts on how we attempt to "Paint, Communicate & Anchor" the vision of NLC.

1. Paint it. For me, it's all about creativity. We are constantly trying to use creative ways to communicate the vision of NLC, and the message of the Gospel to our listeners. Word pictures are huge for me. I'm an illustrator and story teller to the core. I believe that story telling was a popular method of Jesus, and continues to work today. We are living in a visual generation. Don't just tell me, show me. And stories do that. They paint pictures of realities, yet to be created. I love painting the vision in as vivid of a format as I can.

2. Communicate it. I believe the days of "classroom style" learning as the primary method of information dissimination are behind us. The emerging generation and the speed of life demands that we continue to be creative in how we dissiminate information. Heck, you're reading a "blog" right now. Something that a decade ago didn't even exist! Technology plays a huge role in how we as leaders communicate our message to our listeners. At NLC, we want to be asking, "What does this message look like when it's communicated in a "non-traditional" format. ie... through iTunes, or on an iPod, or CD, or even on a cell phone? How do we keep pushing the limits of "how the message gets out?"

3. Anchor it. I love the wording that Bennis uses here. It's so visual. Every vision must be anchored to something. If it's not anchored to something, it's a whim, not a vision. And we all know that whims don't make it too far in the world of leadership. People weary of whims pretty quickly. The anchor of a vision is that which ties it to something greater. For us, it's 2 fold. 1) The Bible. The Vision of Next Level Church is unquestionably tied to the Bible. We believe the Bible gives us the example of how we ought to love people in a real world and our vision is firmly anchored in that! 2) Our Core Values. The Core Values of Next Level Church are simple:

1. People Matter to God.

2. Relationships are the conduit for Life.

3. Everyone has gifts to be used to serve others.

4. We believe in reaching the unchurched.

Everything we do at NLC is centered around those 4 basic concepts. Helping people realize how much they're worth to God. Getting them connected to others who are pursuing God like they are. Encouraging them to use their gifts, talents, and abilities to serve others. And mobilizing them to reach those who are disconnected from God and His Church.

It's the responsibility of the leader to do 3 things well for any organization: 1) Paint the vision, 2) Communicate the vision, & 3) Anchor the vision. That's what I want to spend my days doing for NLC and the Body of Christ. It all comes down to Life-Change! And that's what we're all about...

Just a Leadership Bloggish Thought,

Matt

Light Bulbs and Lawn and Garden

Last week, I had to make a "Home Improvement Store" run. (I will not disclose the name of the store to protect the guilty.) We needed a few things for our new house and so off I went. I have to confess, when I enter a "Home Improvement Store," I'm kind of out of my element. (That's a humongous understatement, by the way.) (Think fish out of water, driver out of car, stopsign on a round about) I needed 3 things: 1) 4 L brackets to fix my kids dresser, picture wire, and 5 light bulbs.

Upon entering the store, I began to read the Huge signs above my head for direction. They read various things like "Hardware," "Lighting," "Seasonal," "Lawn & Garden," etc. Thinking through the whole "L Bracket" thing, I headed for "Hardware." I asked a guy name Vic and he asked a guy named Jim and Jim prompted redirected me two aisles away where we located the "L Brackets." Not bad for round 1.

Next was Picture Wire, which I remembered having seen a few days before when I was there with Scott Drummond (who is a "Home Improvement Store" Officianato). So I got that no problem. Round 2, success.

Then came the light bulbs. Now, if you were me, walking through that store and you saw a big sign that read "Lighting," would it be wrong to assume that that is where you would find the "light bulbs?" Well, according to Steve who works in "Lighting" I was wrong. Dead wrong. Steve cleared the whole matter up for me when I asked him where the light bulbs were... He calmly replied, "Oh, they're all down in Lawn and Garden."

My first thought was obviously, "Yes of course! Lawn and Garden, that makes total sense. How foolish of me to think that light bulbs would be in "Lighting."

At NLC, there are 3 words that have become a filter for all of our environments... Easy, Strategic, & Obvious. Everything we do centers around those 3 words. Every sign, the placement of every greeter, worker, volunteer, etc. Everything. We want to make sure that people know how to navigate around NLC on a weekend with as much ease as possible.

There is nothing quite like being a 1st timer at a new church, is there? Do you remember your first time? It's down right scary isn't it? You don't know anyone, you have no idea where you're going, and you're hoping someone will look friendly enough to help you find your way. Then, if you have kids, it's compounded by like 1,000 times isn't it? At NLC, we want to do everything we can to set people's minds at ease and help make everything as Easy, Strategic & Obvious for them as we possibly can!

So this week, when you come into NLC, pay attention and look for those 3 words in action.

Easy.

Strategic.

Obvious.

3 words, 1 big difference!!! As Easy as finding light bulbs!

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

Hanging with Barry and Christina Rice - Church Planters in Orlando, FL

So a couple of Mondays ago, Sarah and the boys and I got to drive up to Orlando for 2 reasons: 1) Will had an eye appt. with his eye surgeon. The good news is that he looks great and doesn't have to go back for 6 to 9 months! So Praise God! 2) We wanted to meet up with Barry and Christina Rice, church planters and pastors of Greater Orlando Chruch!

Barry and Christina are ARC Church Planters. They have 4 kids and are just great to hang with. Sarah and I had the privilege of spending an entire weekend with them last October. We were able to do some onsite vision casting and coaching last October! So it was great to see them again and connect with them! It totally filled our tank.

We met at the world's biggest McDonald's in Orlando (which was great for the kids). We were able to talk for 2 hours and it was such an encouragement to hear that their church has really solidified and they are beginning to see a clearer vision for the future than ever before! They came with a list of questions for us! It was so refreshing and great to share so much more of what we've learned in the past 5 1/2 years of doing church planting "Up the Middle."

Many of their questions were centered around the idea of, "Okay, I think we're actually going to survive this thing, so.... Now What do we do about..." a number of different issues and areas! I can remember so vividly being in those days when we were starting to stick our head up above the weekly grind of church planting and begin to survey the landscaping to discover, "Okay, now what do we do with this thing?"

Sarah and I have such a heart for church planters. We love the opportunities God is opening up for us to share our story and so many of our experiences with them. Hopefully they won't have to make the same mistakes and can learn from ours!!!

(By the way, I think we talked Barry and Christina into spending a weekend with us at Next Level at the end of July. I'll keep you posted!)

Just a Church Planting Bloggish Thought,

Matt

God's Vision for Next Level Church is Big!!!

So I'm on my prayer walk this morning and I was praying over the vision of Next Level Church. I was praying about reaching lost people and seeing Christians really going deeper in their faith, etc. I was praying about our influence with other churches around the country and the impact we could make in the lives of so many people across Southwest Florida and beyond. So then I get this awareness in my heart and I sense God saying to me, "Matt, you know your biggest problem? Your biggest problem is that My Vision for Next Level Church is way bigger than your vision for it!"

Wow. So then I got to thinking about how big God's vision for NLC must be... Think about it. Here's what we know...

1. God is more in love with people than we could ever hope to be.

2. God wants to see lost people won to Him way more than we do.

3. God wants to see His children set free, and delivered and become whole way more than we do.

4. God wants to see His church raised up across the country and the world way more than we ever could.

So what's stopping us? What's keeping Next Level Church from truly becoming, "One of those kind of churches?" The kind of church that makes a difference in the lives of thousands and thousands of people across Southwest Florida and beyond? From Port Charlotte to Fort Myers. From Lehigh to Cape Coral. From North Fort Myers to Marco Island. think about it, there are 1.1 Million people in Charlotte, Lee & Collier counties alone. 1.1 Million people who need to hear the life-giving, life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

I don't know about you, but that's a vision I can get excited about.

Just a bloggish thought,

Matt

Additional Content for "Dealing with Defeat" in our lives

For all of you who are tracking with us through our NLC Summer Series: "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," you know that we talked about "Dealing with Defeat" in Part 3. (To listen to the message, click the link on the right side of this blog page...) I had a lot of content that I didn't use in my message on Sunday and so I wanted to offer it here on my blog this week. I hope that you will not only look it over, but do some additional Bible Study on the Idea of "Standing Firm" that is found on so many occasions in the Bible.

When We Face Seasons of Defeat in our Lives We Should:

1. Stand Firm & Hold Fast to the Teachings.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm & Hold fast to the Teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.”

I am not the biggest fan of roller coasters. My wife loves them, I tollerate them at best. She is the kind that will go, "hands up all the way!" I on the other hand am more of a "Clutch the handlebars until your knuckles go numb kind of guy." So when 2 Thes. says to "Hold Fast" to God's teachings, I think that's what they're talking about. Holding on to God's word like a roller coaster ride. I actually think the official instructions at a theme park are: “Keep all hands, arms, legs etc. inside the cabin at all times..” See, when we're going through a difficult time in our lives, sometimes it’s necessary to just HOLD FAST!!! Nothing fancy, just stay in the pocket and Hold on tight to the Teachings of the Bible!!!

This is the importance of our Connection Groups at NLC. We want everyone to have a group of people around them who can help them to "Hold Fast" to the Word of God during Difficult or Deafeating times.

2. Stand Firm & Give yourself Fully to the Work of the Lord.

I Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

There is nothing more powerful than giving yourself to something bigger than yourself. I think this is where we miss it so often. When trouble or defeat comes our way, it causes tunnel vision in our lives. Until all we can see is ourselves. Here's one for you... When I get discouraged I love to pray for our Missionaries. I love to focus my prayers beyond myself and my own circumstances and it's amazing that almost instantly it begins to pull me up out of it! I also love to pray for other churches in our community. Southwest Florida has some great churches, and I have the privilege of being friends with alot of the pastors across our community. I love praying God's blessing on the other churches of our community! They are doing a great work for God and we at NLC love supporting them!

3. Stand Firm & Don’t Return to the Burden of Sin.

Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

One of the greatest temptations that comes during times of defeat is to run back to a more "comfortable" place. ie... Sin. Sin always gives off the appearance of comfort, security, feel good in the moment, and rescue. But we all know that sin never leaves us there. It always has a bitter taste in the end. Unfortunately for us, too often we get swept up in a difficult time and run to sin as an escape.

We have to fight against this like Galatians 5:1 says. We can't return to a "yoke of slavery" or else we'll find ourselves dealing with a different kind of "defeat" all over again.

Just a Bonus Bloggish Thought,

Matt

Moving Day, 4th of July, and Stuff I'm learning in the Last Week

I have to say that the last week of my life has been crazy, challenging, stressful, & exciting all at the same time. I also have to admit that my "bloggish time" has been limited and difficult. I feel like there are about a dozen transitions happening at the same time right now around my world, and therefore, finding time to generate content for the blogosphere has been a challenge.

We spent the morning of July 4th, finishing packing up our home and preparing to move on Friday. Then we hung out with Scott and Kirsten Drummond, (NLC's Executive Pastor), for the fireworks, etc. On Thursday, I had a couple meetings, and then picked up the moving truck which was an absolute trip! It was a 26 footer, and old. (Trust me, when I say "old" what I mean is Moses actually used this truck when he was moving across the Red Sea.) It had like 199,000 miles on it and was a stick shift. (I haven't driven a stick shift in years by the way... I thought I was back on the farm in IN!!! Yeehaw!)

Anyway, so once I got the truck backed in to the driveway, ready to be loaded in the morning, I took off with Rob Watrous (One of NLC's 20-something leaders) for North Tampa, where I was scheduled to preach the final night of a youth camp for a friend of mine's church! We had a great drive up and back, and I'm glad I got to spend some quality time with Rob. We had a great night at the camp and God moved. But we didn't end up getting back into town until 1:30 am.

So on Friday, we were up and moving at 6:15 am. We packed up the last of the boxes and the moving crew (read a few NLC staff, family, and friends) arrived at 8 am to help us with the move. The good news is we were completely loaded and unloaded at the new house by 10:45 am! We spent the remainder of the day unloading boxes and putting stuff together, etc. Saturday was spent continuing the move in process and putting the finishing touches on making our new house a "home."

Then came Sunday... oh yeah, did I mention that I had to speak on Sunday at NLC? Well, God moved big time. If you were there on Sunday, you know what I'm talking about. It was great to see God moving in people's hearts in a new and fresh way! So needless to say, it's Monday morning and I was anxious to get on my prayer walk in a new location... Here are a few thoughts I had from my time with God this morning...

1. Team is Everything. I definitely witnessed this one first hand this past week. From Rob being willing to drive the "late shift" on our way home from North Tampa, to the crew we had helping us move in to our new house, they spent the whole day just working and sweating, and straining. (wow!) I was reminded this week that Team Matters. In fact, I would go so far as to say that Team will make or break you. Period. Good Team = Good Future! I witnessed that this week!

2. Trust is Huge. In the past week and a half, I have witnessed the trust that people have in me as a leader first hand. There are times in the life of a leader when tough decisions have to be made, and in those moments Trust is required on the part of those around a leader. I've recently walked through one of those times. And I'm so thankful for the trust that I've heard people articulate to me. Thank you, this has been a really hard time.

3. God's Faithfulness is Ridiculous. I love the fact that God is way more faithful to us than we are to Him. He loves and forgives, nurtures and cares for us through every season of our lives. I have sensed and felt that love again in the past week! What a good feeling.

4. Normal is Good. I think that I can see Normal from where I'm standing. I'm not sure but I think it might be living just a day or two away, and I'm excited about that. I'm ready for some routine again. Enough with the boxes, and the moving and the chaos... It felt good to be "home" this morning ... It felt... Normal again.

Just a Bloggish Thought,

Matt

Exit 101 Never Looked so Good!!!

So Friday night, I traveled across Aligator Alley to the Florida Marlins game. The purpose was 2 fold: 1) To shoot the last remaining video for our Take Me Out to the Ballgame Series and 2) to spend the evening with my oldest son, Will, my nephew, Taylor (who lives in Tallahassee) and Chad Oliver (one of the NLC Video Guys, who's just plain brillant, by the way).

So the night went of without a hitch, well, at least until the drive home! So we left the stadium and let's just say that I got confused about whi of the road we were supposed to be driving on! (I'm not sure how Chad will tell the story, but ...) anyway, after seeing the "WRONG WAY" signs, I pretty much knew that we were going the wrong way. So anyway, we got headed in the right direction, and on the right side of the highway. That's when I noticed that we had 1/4 tank of gas.

No big deal, right? There are gas stations everywhere between Miami and Fort Myers. Well, apparently, they're not as easy to find as I thought. So we get on the toll road headed back across Alligator Alley when I think to myself, "Oh yeah, I can't forget to stop at that one gas station that is on the Alley."

Well, Chad and I must have been deep in conversation or something, b/c it would appear that I blew right by that gas station. So then I saw the rest areas and thought to myself, "Okay, no big deal, I hit the next gas station."

Long story short, my Orange, "LOW GAS" light came on at mile marker #68. I wasn't really worried, in fact, Chad mentioned to me that the next exit was #80 and we could get off there. So although I was conscious of my "Low Gas" Situation, I wasn't overtly concerned. (Did I mention that the conversation was exhilarating?)

As we were getting off at Exit #80, having traveled 12 miles already with the "LOW GAS" light on, it dawns on both of us at the same time, "There are no gas stations at this exit." I think it was Chad who spoke first... "We have to go 21 more miles to get to the nearest gas station." As I hit the accelerator, I could feel inside that I was signing my own death wish. There was no way that my 18 gallon tank was going to go for 21 more miles. I had already went 12 on the "LOW GAS" light.

So as we set the cruise control a few things began to happen simultaneously. 1. We started counting mile markers. With every passing mile, we would call out the mile marker. Let's just say that's the longest 21 miles of my life.
2. We began creating contingency plans for when we ran out of gas.
3. We began checking our cell phones for a signal. B/c as most of you know there are some dead spots along the alley where you can't get a signal.
4. We began to FREAK OUT!!!

Neither of us wanted to say it, but I think we both knew that this was not a good situation. With my 13 year old nephew and 6 year old son in the backseat, we could feel the tension mounting in the vehicle.

When we hit mile marker #94 we started to believe that we might actually make it. Never mind that I could see the entire "E" because the needle was so far past! We suddenly had faith that God might just do a miracle! So when the lights of the Naples Toll Booth began to emerge, it suddenly became clear that we were within striking distance of a gas station.

Sure enough, we made it to the gas station at Exit #101. I have no idea how we made it, but we did. We put 19.2 gallons in my 18 gallon tank. Wow. We were definitely both relieved and thankful! That's for sure.

Probably the most telling story of the night was that while Chad and I were in the front seat absolutely FREAKING OUT, Will was asleep in the backseat the entire time. It was almost as if he were saying, "It's okay, my dad's in the driver's seat. I know everything is going to be okay." Wow, the faith of a child.

So here's my question for you... What situation are you going to face this week, where you need the assurance that your Heavenly Father is in the Driver's Seat? Trust me, you're going to make it to your exit! Your Dad's driving your life!

Just a Bloggish Thought,

matt