Watermark Is Moving West

Just got this new graphic from my good buddy Nate Disarro and was reminded of why leading our church is such a blast.  I get to run with great people, like Nate, everyday.  People who are fired up about Watermark because it’s THEIR church and they are free to take the biggest risk in this life.   The risk to see Christ at work in their lives and to dare to be secure in their identity in Christ so they can unleash their unique gifts in such a way that our church is both balanced and bold.  Balanced because we have such a broad blending of gifts that we complement one another as we live out chasing after Christ together.  Bold because it requires all of us to put aside our selfishness and personal agendas (especially in dealing with conflict head on) to put one another first.  When the church aspires and perspires towards this end, I believe we unlock the secret key of inspiring those who are skeptical or indifferent.

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

-1 John 4:11-12

I found this great article about Malcolm Gladwell’s new book Outliers.  In his book, which is a coded autobiography, he talks about the context in which success takes place.  He looks at how highly successful people have two things in common: 1) That they needed help; and 2) the 10,000 hour rule.

I thought about how this is a truth that directly applies to what I am really finding to be true as we are at the beginning of life as a new church.  Most people live their lives disconnected from real, deep, and meaningful relationships.  Typical relationships revolve around clubs, activities, kids sports teams, blah, blah, blah.  Never really having people IN our world who know us and can kick us in the rear when we’re headed off course.  How different would our lives be if we had people who were fighting for our success and not just sucking from our life what helps them most.  (I’ve got a life principle that applies here: There are two kinds of people in this world - those who give life and those who take life from us.  The bigger question is, which one are you!)  

Secondly is applying regular and consistent energy towards the one thing that is most important to us.  This requires great care and pinpoint passion.  Most of us live for nothing because we are committed to nothing and therefore impact, yeah you guessed it, nothing.  What would happen if you found the one thing, the most important thing that life is about . . . and you spent 20 hours a week pursuing that above everything else?  I think most people fail to ask the question, fail to find the answer, and therefore fail to experience a life worth living.

Here is the biggest truth I’ve seen play out in life over the last 8 months (Can you believe it’s been that long?) since we started this crazy ride of church planting - Spend your life doing something you’re MOST passionate about and do it with people you’d die for!

This is how you take a farkle like a man!!!  Nothing better than taking a quick dip in sub 40 degree water after an afternoon of climbing . . . 

We had a great time with some of the couples in our church this past weekend.  We camped out up in Estes Park, saw tons of Elk that were out during their peak season, and grubbed on some gourmet food (thanks to Nate Disarro).  One of the best way to build depth in your relationships is by making memories through unique shared experience.  Man, I love my church!!

This past Sunday we kicked off a new series on the book of Colossians.  I’m fired up to take our church through this book that provides the most indepth study of who Christ is in all of the Bible. The commentator J.B. Lightfoot remarked that “Colossae was the least important church to which any epistle of St. Paul was addressed.”  And yet it gives us the most powerful Christology in all of Scripture and to a seemingly unimportant church at that.  Very timely for a church that is on the mission front at 6 months old.  What an encouragement that no matter where we are in our faith, just started walking with Jesus or decades into the journey, and no matter where we are as a church, upstart in the infancy stages or a megachurch, God loves His Bride and has a plan for her.  In all of our efforts the central task we must stay on is seeing and living out the reality of Christ and the truth of the gospel.

Want some of that?  Then c’mon . . .

I get lots of random stuff sent my way but got two today that had me laughing out loud so I thought I’d pass them along:

From The Art Of Manliness - Work out like a Caveman

From Touchstone - Rules For Dating

Have a great Wednesday!

Last Sunday night we wrapped up our Vintage Faith Series where we walked through the first 6 chapters of the book of Acts to see what we could learn from the first century church.  The big news in the church was that we had 3 new kids in the children’s ministry!  That might not seem like a lot to you based on your current/past church experience but for us it was huge.  In fact we are stepping up our game this week by creating a little more environment.  A couple of the guys in our church built some really cool barriers so that our children’s area with have a fun and warm feel.

Our children’s ministry is called The Foothills and so our space has this great mountainous, outdoorsy, rustic vibe.  Can’t wait to see how this area of our church grows in the years to come.  I’m a firm believer that it is NOT the church’s job to disciple your kids - it’s the church’s job to help YOU be successful in discipling your kids.  Love to hear stories about parents taking the time to intentionally invest in their kids.