In a couple of weeks, we'll launch some new programs at FC.  Children's Theater will open, Friendship Groups will begin, and I'll start teaching a class on Wednesdays.  We're also taking our teen girls to the all-girls conference.  All of these things take work, organization, and of course, money.  I'm working on some other *big* things you don't even know about yet.

Why can't we just leave well enough alone?  As a church, our mission is to constantly and creatively look for ways to tell more people about Jesus and to grown our faith in Him.  Because this is our mission, we can't ever be still.  We must stretch our imaginations and always ask, "What if..."  It was that question that started our church almost four years ago.

As your pastor, I can tell you this:  There will be always be something new, something we need to build, something we need to buy.  We must never get comfortable with the status quo.  After all, as a church, we all want to stand before Jesus one day and be able to say, "We gave every effort, every creative thought, and all that you gave us back to you and your Kingdom!"

 One of the characteristics of God we often don't think about is "creativity."  God is a very creative artist.  Just take a look at the mountains, flowers, snow - even rocks.  Look at yourself in the mirror - you are the only you - unique in appearance, personality, and gifts.  God is creative.

Yet, God has created us in his image and one of the characteristics of God we possess is creativity.  Yesterday, I began a series of messages called "Save the Humans" where I'm using a "Star Wars" theme to preach about Jesus, Satan, and the spiritual battle going on around us all of the time. It was a bit off the wall, rather creative, and I think it worked. I'm really blessed as a pastor to lead a church that embraces creativity in teaching and gives me the flexibility and ability stretch creativity.

After all, as a church, we have the most important message anyone can ever hear.  We should present that message in a creative way and to the best of our abilities.  Thanks for empowering me to do just that!

Its pretty easy to get fired up about something... a new car, a football game, a future spouse, you name it.  Yet, as human beings, we tend to be people of passion that is temporary.  The new will wear off the "new" car, the football game ends, and your new spouse turns out to be a real human being after all.

Jesus tells us in Matthew to take no thought for our lives and to "lay up treasures in heaven because where your treasure is, there your heart is also."  In other words, we should be the kind of people who have a passion for his Kingdom - our real home.  Yet it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can have a passion for a place we've never been - a place we've never seen.  

At the end of each day, I try to ask myself. "Was my passion for Jesus and his Kingdom today, or something else?"  Sometimes I don't like my answer to myself because the things around me are always competing for my attention, but its important to strive for this consistent passion every day.  So, where's your passion?