Getting Higher

Higher is a series about the glory of God. The series was born out of my struggle with how we (CCCC) appealed to people’s lower motivations to encourage them in following Christ. For example, when encouraging people to serve, we explained, “Serving helps you grow.” But is serving others primarily about growing? “Community is the best atmosphere for personal growth,” we say. And I believe the statement is true, but is that the reason we should live in community? The questions sent me on a journey of meditation and Bible study that resulted in this series. Intuitively, I knew that we serve and live in community and give and share our faith for reasons grander than ourselves, and I knew that the ultimate reason is the glory of God. But what does that mean? I’ll unpack my thoughts in Higher.

Two voices were powerful in the journey. John Piper wrote Desiring God. I read the book five years ago, but the message resonates with me still. The first two chapters include foundational thoughts that have made their way into the series. Listen to Piper’s thoughts (below) about how God does everything for his own glory.

The other dominant voice in the journey is Tim Keller. My small group is studying Gospel Christianity, a Bible Study written by Tim Keller. His thoughts on the glory of God were the most compelling influence for my renewed awareness that God’s glory is the ultimate end in the universe.

These messages might be a little more “heady.” Understanding glory is elusive, mysterious and spiritual sounding. But somehow I know that if we “get it” regarding God’s glory, we will see everything else about God more clearly. If we see God more clearly, the rest of our life is a piece of cake.

Don’t wimp out on me. This is the good stuff.

Fighting the Brokenness of Work

Recently I mentioned in my message "The Brokenness of Work" that sin not only has infiltrated our offices but systems which impact us both nationally and globally. The example given in the sermon was about global slavery where shockingly up to 27 million people live under the horrendous conditions of forced labor. Unfortunately, the havoc sin wreaks in the "wide-angle" of work around the world has other insidious manifestations. Here are a few websites that give us a glimpse not only into some of those problems but offer potential solutions as well. If you are interested in fighting the brokenness of work on a global scale these links may be a helpful start. If you find a term you haven't heard before (e.g, microlending) please take some time to discover what it is and how it might intersect your commitment to living out the Kingdom-values of the Gospel.

PLEASE NOTE: These links are not endorsed by the elders of CCCC but are given for the convenience of the reader with the understanding that he will employ biblical discernment as to what and how much of the content expresses the individual's commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Global Slavery/Human Trafficking:

• International Justice Mission
  
• Not For Sale Campaign

Trafficking in Houston

• Houston Rescue & Restore Coalition
  
• CAHTHouston
  

Fair Trade

• Fair Trade Federation
• Fair Trade Sports
  

Microlending

• Kiva
  

Take This Job and...

Okay. What's your answer? We know what Johnny Paycheck wants to do and it seems he's got a lot of people in his corner. Did you know that in a recent survey that one out of every five people plan to take another job in 2009? It seems there will be a lot of "shovin' it "going on this year. That's pretty incredible seeing that U.S. employers cut another another 598,000 jobs in January, raising the unemployment rate to 7.6% and making it the worst job-loss since December 1974 (a whopping 1.8 million jobs in the last three months). No bueno.

Others might like DAC's song but it doesn't resonate with them personally. They like their job (by the way, you're the minority at about 20%). They feel it gives them a sense of security, stability and even identity. It makes them who they are. Good for them right? Well, believe it or not, that is also "no bueno" as well. Why? Shouldn't we like our jobs? Doesn't it tell us who we are? What I do defines somewhat who I am, right?

Join us over the next few weekend for The Office: How the Gospel Redefines Work and find out.

See you there!

Keeping on Reading

One of my favorite texts of Scripture is Ephesians 3:16-19 where the apostle Paul prays for the Ephesians:

...that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

I think about those verses as I read through Genesis, Exodus and the Psalms because that is exactly what I am doing; I am being rooted and grounded in love. The gospel of Jesus is rooted and grounded in the stories and laws and poetry of the Old Testament. It strengthens my faith to see how God prepared the world for Jesus as he graciously received Noah’s offering after the flood, as he graciously responded to Abraham’s faith, graciously led Jacob’s family into Egypt so he could bring them out as his own.

I get to read the Old Testament with the gift of perspective. I get to look back knowing how the story turned out. I get to look back in light of the cross and begin to comprehend the “breadth and length and height and depth” of God’s unfailing love for me. I marvel at how patient, how determined, how tenaciously God worked to bring a Savior who would redeem even me once and for all.

It marvels me as I read to learn how the riches of grace that were poured out for me through the cross of Jesus – forgiveness, sanctification, atonement, righteousness, holiness - didn’t begin at the cross, they culminated there. They are the themes woven through the stories and promises of Genesis and Exodus and on through the prophets.

As I read I am regularly humbled by the faith of people in the Old Testament - they could only hope for Jesus, only dream of the day, only hold fast to the promise. I find myself continually challenged and determined to be faithful to the promise kept.

There is much in the Old Testament I don’t understand. Some of the stories are bizarre and some things God does scare me. I struggle with the minutia of long lists of names and get confused by the geography and sidetracked by strange customs. But I want to know it, because I know it’s my story. I want to know it because it roots and grounds my faith in the tangible history of the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s love for me.

I want to be rooted and grounded in love. I’m going to keep reading.

Congrats Lisa Carden on 10 Years at CCCC

Lisa Carden is one of the best leaders I know. She has given leadership to the Preschool Ministry at Clear Creek Community Church from the inception of the church until now. For five years she worked as a volunteer, and now for ten years she has been on our staff. The ministry has grown from a few children in a school hallway and two baby beds to include more than 400 children each week, 100+ volunteers and a great Pee Wee Ville, Pee Wee Space Station and Pee Wee School staff.

Lisa is a founding member of CCCC. And even though she, Mark and the kids were away for a couple of years, she still provided the materials needed for the Preschool ministries.

Lisa spearheaded the development of our two-day-per-week preschool when CCCC met in temporary space. And the Pee Wee School has developed into an incredible opportunity for children and their families in the Bay Area.

Lisa has risen to meet the multiple challenges that growing churches face. She knows what it is like to try to provide a safe, quality environment for children while CCCC met in multiple schools for over eight years. She built a volunteer intensive ministry that has a strong sense of team. She provided the vision to build our current preschool facilities and she gave direction to the establishing a new preschool ministry at our Clear Springs Campus, Pee Wee Space Station. She has developed a wonderful team of people who serve faithfully with her. Read the team member’s comments about Lisa below.

Lisa's passion to create an environment for PeeWees to learn about Jesus and for us to be part of God's plan is what drives the excellence in PeeWee Ministry.—Sonia Rajaji

As a ministry leader, Lisa has incredible vision and has a contagious passion for PeeWee’s and teaching them about Christ. As a friend, Lisa always remembers the small stuff (dates, anniversaries, etc…), surprises you with muffins ”just because”, and prays you through all the gunk life throws at you. –Catherine Pearce

Lisa is one of the most focused and organized people I know, but the thing I love most about working with her is how much fun she is. –Sylvia Hartschuh

As my boss, mentor and friend Lisa encourages, inspires and leads me to new thoughts, actions and constant growth. –Colleen Kofal

In addition to all the above, Lisa has been a great friend with a deep love for God and his church. I’m forever grateful to God for Lisa and her family. Lisa, we thank God for your excellent leadership and faithful service over the last ten years.

More Than Names on Steel

I have often wondered who called my name out to God in prayer before I came to faith in Jesus. I was only ten. But surely someone, somewhere was moved by God to call my name out in prayer.

I don’t know all the ways that prayers impacts people, but I know prayer matters. That’s why Jesus told us to pray for God to send “laborers into the harvest.” (Matthew 9:38) That is, we are to pray that God will send people to influence those who don’t know him. We know that prayer plays a role in opening the door to the gospel (Colossians 4:3) so that people believe. It seems circumstances and ideas serve in people’s lives to open or close the door to the good news about Jesus.

When we build buildings, we’ve made it our custom to connect the building with people we care about. We write the names of people we pray for on the steel of the building. That way, we are more apt to see buildings as instruments we use to share the love of Christ with others. It’s not about us. It’s about God’s mission to redeem people.

I wrote the names of the people who were on my “Top 5” list (the top 5 people I pray for) on the steel in our auditorium building. If you were to tear off the sheetrock on the right column that borders the stage, you’d see names of people in my handwriting. If you were privy to my prayers, you would have heard me call out their names to God tons of times.

Since then, many of them have come to faith in Jesus. As they were baptized, I thought back to the day when I wrote their names on steel and called their names out to God in prayer, asking him to move their hearts to trust him as Lord and Savior.

I hope you will join me in a prayerful exercise of writing the names of people you care about on the steel in the new children's building at the Egret Bay Campus. On Sunday after each service, January 18 and after the Gathering on Wednesday, January 21, our Creek Kids staff will give you the opportunity to connect the building with people. I encourage you to write the names of children that might come to faith in Jesus and grow in their faith because of what happens in the building. Write the names of children who have never been to Clear Creek Community Church and write the names of children who come all the time.

When you call someone’s name out to God, it’s a powerful thing too. So pray. Pray for Jason, Amber, Blake and Jessica to have an authentic faith in Christ. Pray for each child to become a fully devoted follower of Christ. Pray that they will make lifelong friends in the facility. Pray that they will have wonderful mentors and teachers. Pray that each child will have an open heart to the good news of Jesus.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14)

Our New Bible Website

There is no question that one of the most critical tools for a Follower of Jesus is the Bible – in it we find direction for life, the story of God and a clear picture of Jesus Christ and his mission in the world (otherwise known as the Gospel). However, there are probably fewer challenges in the Christian life than those that arise from understanding the Bible. Trying to understand, interpret and apply this ancient text (approximately 3,500 years old in some parts) presents a daunting task to many a believer. Yet it is a noble and essential endeavor for the one who follows Jesus.

That's why we've created a new website in www.gettingthebible.com to help you "get" the Bible into your life. Check it out and see if can help you get God's word in your heart and life!