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2010 July 16

Don Draper, Adam Duritz, and Christian Contentment

 
I recently started watching MAD MEN, and the main character, Don Draper, says something very telling in the pilot episode…….
 
 
“Advertising is based on one thing, HAPPINESS. And you know what happiness is? Happiness is the smell of a new car. It’s freedom from fear. It’s a billboard on the side of the road that screams reassurance that whatever you are doing is okay. You are okay.”
–Don Draper
 
Consumerism: the great lie that will never satisfy.
You will always want more! That new car smell will be gone in three weeks. Do you pack an Iphone? Well certainly you know the new Iphone 4 is out, and if you pick one up you will have the best phone in the world! Until the Iphone 5 comes out. You get the point. It will never end.
Consumerism: it hurts.
Why? It hurts because many of us follow the lies all the way to a pile of debt. Now you are stuck working overtime to pay the credit card bills as your life and time with your family and friends flies right by. And guess what? Visa won’t tell you that. They are too busy having fun with your money!

 

 

Let's call consumerism lie #1. Here is lie #2: "THE OTHER GUY HAS IT BETTER"

One of my favorite records is August and Everything After by The Counting Crows. In their first single "Mr. Jones", Adam Duritz sing about something we all feel, a discontentment not only with what we have…..but with who we are.

 

“ I want to be Bob Dylan. Mr. Jones wishes he was someone just a little more funky. When everybody loves you, son, that's just about as funky as you can be…….we all want to be big stars, but we don't know why and we don't know how. But when everybody loves me, I'm going to be just about as happy as can be”.

       -The Counting Crows

This discontentment leads to a little thing called coveting. And all of the sudden you are thinking...
 

“If I just had a better paying job”

“If I could just lose 10 pounds”

“If my husband would just talk to me like “so and so” talks to his wife”

“If my kids would just behave”

“If I could just live in the right neighborhood”
 

Well then, as Adam Duritz sings, “ I would be just about as happy as I can be”.

Once again, it’s not true.
So what is????
 

 

A PROMISE! 

 

 “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world."

 

There it is. Straight from Pauls letter to Timothy.

 

There is “GREAT GAIN” in godliness with contentment!

 

Is this "true" to you?
 
Does it affect your decisions about where you spend your money, your energy, and your time?

 

On our deathbeds will we wish we had worked more overtime, bought more toys, and driven nicer cars?

 

Or will we painfully regret not spending more time with our family and our friends. Will we look back over missed opportunities to live a lifestyle marked with contentment, love, sacrifice, and generosity.

 

Are you a Christian who has been caught saying with your mind and your mouth
 

“God is my provider and I have all I need”

While your lifestyle and your decisions are screaming

“I WANT MORE!”

Guilty?
Me too.

So who is right on this?

Don Draper? (If I buy more I will be happy)

Adam Duritz? (If I could just be somebody else I would be happy)

Paul? (Great gain comes from godliness with contentment)

And where do we go from here........

 

Comments...

2010 June 18

TAKEAWAYS

Every month all of our CITY GROUP leaders get together to share a meal and evidences of grace as well as our struggles as we imperfectly lead Austinites in Gospel, Community, and Mission. They are always a great time of encouragement and learning. I thought we could share some "takeaways" that came out of this months meeting......
 
 
Lead with honesty in the group to foster true repentance and community.
 
Don't be afraid to share your struggles with the people you are leading. Being a leader doesn't mean pretending to be perfect. You're not. That's ok. Be honest about it.
 
Godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
 
How is the Gospel addressing the leanings of our hearts to always want more, more, more. And then some more.
 
Get out of the living room.
 
You are a "City Group" and not a"Small Group". Avoid the trappings of the traditional "lets share a veggie tray and see who the smartest guy in the room is" kind of small group.Some of the best conversations and discipleship moments happen "along the way", at the coffeeshop, a concert, or around the grill.
 
Deal With Your Busyness
 
Collectively we are too busy, and a little tired. Many leaders are too busy because they are "people pleasers". In order to make everybody happy they can't say no to anything. Another reason we are busy and tired is because we are serving in our own strength, instead of serving in the strength that God provides. Are you having regular times of communion with God, exercise, and sabbath? A tired and busy leader is not an effective leader so rest in Christ, fulfill your comittments, work hard, and say "no" when you need to say "no".

Comments...

2010 April 07

Working Fool

Are you a working fool?
 
Many guys struggle to find a balance between work, family, play, and service.
 
City Group leaders in particular are often working a demanding job, fighting for family time, and leading a group of Austinites in a steady state of community and mission.
 
So what does God think about your job?
 
As you struggle through this in your life, check this list of resources underneath "Faith and Work". It could be helpful.
 

Comments...

2010 January 28

you are cool because you are "missional"

 
 
 
You are cool because you are "missional". It's true. Face it.
 
Forget the "mega"churches, the "seeker-sensitive" people, and those darn "prosperity" guys. They are all wrong.
 
First of all, they are not at all "organic" and cannot hang with our beards, pipes, and brews. They obviously didn't read "Total Church" or "Tangible Kingdom", know nothing of church plants or gospel rhythms, and they most certainly are not "in the city for the city". Nope. We are.
 
In celebration of our collective coolness I propose we play a game called "Put your hand in the air, and if any of the statements below are true of you, put it down". 
 
Let's do this !
 
 
 
1 You have used the word "missional" and you have no idea what it means, none whatsoever. Hand down.
 
 
2 You have a "heart for the nations" but have never left your homestate for anything other than a trip to Disneyland. Hand down.
 
 
3 You are really into that scripture that says "love your neighbor as yourself" (you bought the "precious moments" plaque, own the refrigerator magnet, and got the fake tattoo at the last Newsboys concert) but you have never had your neighbor over for dinner. Hand down.
 
 
4 You love "community" and believe the church is a "family" but if anybody in your small group talks too much or God forbid some unruly kid (with horrible parents) kicks your precious little angel in the shins YOU'RE OUT, no more "community" for you. Hand down.
 
 
5 You feel called to "serve the homeless" but akwardly ignore panhandlers on your way to Urban Outfittters. Hand down.
 
 
6 You believe in "acountability" but only confess sins that make you look good. While that miserable loser of a Christian sitting across the table from you is crying in his coffee over his addiction to pornography, you're confessing that you aren't memorizing enough scripture and that 30 minutes a day of prayer just isn't cutting it anymore. Hand down.
 
 
7 You feel "called to adopt" but you avoid the Childrens Director at all costs because there is no way you are missing out on worship this week to watch those little brats in the Kids Ministry. Hand down.
 
 
There is a good chance that nobody reading this still has their hands in the air (mine are down...way down) and there lies the problem. Most of us are strong on ideas and weak on follow through, and it would be good to get honest about that as soon as possible so we can figure out where to go from here. I will suggest a couple ideas, and would like to hear yours.
 
 
1 We all need THE GOSPEL and it would be in the best interest of our churches, our families, and our souls if we committed to understanding and applying it. Nothing is more important.
 
 
2 COMMUNITY is not an option.
 
 
3 MISSION is what we do (not what we talk about).
 
 
What are your thoughts? Where do we go from here? Help!
 

Comments...

2010 January 22

I like TWITTER more than my BIBLE

Not really. Well, kind of. Let me explain.....
 
I really like my Iphone. Some of my favorite apps are "tweetie", "facebook", "words with friends" , and my new years resolution calorie counter called "tap and track".
 
 

 

Check it out! I can listen to Tom Petty, check email, hear about your last "date night", realize chocolate-chip cookies won't make me skinny, have ten games of scrabble going and tune out every other living and breathing real-life person all at the same time......bliss!  And do you see that "holy bible" app....smack dab between "tweetie" and "facebook"....well....I have a little confession to make.....it doesn't get opened near as much as the other two, not even close...
 
 
And this is a problem.
 
 
It is a problem because when it comes to being a husband, father, friend, employee, artist and Austinite all that I learn from seeing pictures from your kids birthday party, hearing about your favorite cause, and knowing where you are having lunch right now simply doesn't cut it.
 
 
I need something more. I need something greater. What I need is sitting right there between a "chirpy bird" and a "big F"....just waiting to be opened.
 
 
I am so unhappy about my problem that I am doing something about it....today. I just met with my "Fight Club", and we are committing to opening the right app more often....a lot more often. For the sake of "follow through" we are sending a text out when we have finished our reading....because we are big on ideas....and short on willpower.
 
 
You see, we are not just guys that ended up at the same church who enjoy talking about God and life over a cup of coffee. We are not just buddies that like to grill out  and talk football, music, and what it means to be "missional". We are much more than husbands, dads, friends, employees, and Austinites.
 
 
We are broken sinners, who struggle daily to love God and love people more than we love ourselves.
 
 
We need the Gospel, we need forgiveness, we need THE BIBLE. (way more than we need twitter)
 
 
 

Comments...

2010 January 05

Recommended Resources

During our Monthly City Group meeting, a number of you asked for resource recommendations on a few topics. Here are a few:

Prayer
Counseling
Doctrine

Comments...

2010 January 04

PRAYER IN CITY GROUPS?

At our City Group Leaders Meeting last night there was some good discussion around the idea of leading our communities in prayer...
 
HERE is a good POST and a good RESOURCE...

Comments...

2009 December 30

Decision Making in Community?

City Group Leaders: Here is an interesting POST from Tim Chester called "Community as Identity and Decisions".
 
Is this happening in your City Group? Why or why not?

Comments...

2009 December 09

Leadership Appreciation Dinner 2009

Comments...

2009 December 02

What a City Group Gathering Looks Like

Here is a breakdown of how we want City Group Leaders to lead during City Group Gatherings. Of course, CGs are much more than the gathering, but they aren't less!


A CITY GROUP HOME GATHERING should be at least 2 hours, broken up into 4 half hour time blocks (we will use 6:30 as the start time in this example, though the principles are the same no matter what time your group starts)

EAT! (6:30-7) - Everyone’s favorite way to start the night! Sharing meals is very important for community building and kicks up the commitment of CG members if they are being counted on to bring something. We all eat dinner anyway, so EAT TOGETHER!


SERMON DISCUSSION (7-7:30) - Welcome everybody, share the vision for city groups, go over the practices, and then discuss the sermon. Ask questions, listen, be vulnerable, point one another to Jesus. This is where we get to push the gospel into our everyday lives, do it!


PRAYER (7:30-8) - First off, pray for one another. No doubt that the discussion will bring up issues, and in turn we should pray for one another. Pray for the city. Pray for your monthly service project, your neighbors, and your neighborhood. After prayer, close with announcements.


HANGOUT (8-8:30) (and leave)- At 8 CG is “officially over”, so people with young kids may need to leave, but most folks will want to hang out and get into one another’s lives. Be respectful of the Host Leader. Though some hosts love people hanging out till the sun comes up, not everybody does! Out of respect for their home and family, have people leaving by 8:30. Move the party to a local restaurant or coffee shop if people want to hang out more!


NOTE: These gatherings are limited to 3 times a month. Once a month, get out of the living room and serve your neighborhood together! In months with 5 weeks, use the extra week as an opportunity to have dinner together at a neighborhood restaurant, host a party, go to a concert together, etc.

Comments...

2009 December 01

TOO BUSY FOR MISSION?

Missional is not an event we tack onto our already busy lives. It is our life. Mission should be the way we live, not something we add onto life: “As you go, make disciples….”; “Walk wisely towards outsiders”; “Let your speech always be seasoned with salt”; “be prepared to give a defense for your hope”. We can be missional in everyday ways without even overloading our schedules...
 
READ THE FULL POST HERE

Comments...

2009 December 01

LEADERSHIP is not a "ONE-MAN SHOW"

If you are a leader chances are you do too much. Some of your reasons are good: you love God; you love the church; you’re a natural leader. Leading is a way for you to serve the Body and build the Kingdom. Some of your reasons are not so good: you love being heard, love feeling important, and you’re identity is so wrapped up in” what you do” as opposed to “who you are” that you simply cannot stop working and leading......
 
READ THE FULL POST HERE

Comments...