The FC ladies on the retreat

The ladies of Fellowship just came back from a weekend retreat, and I’m really excited to hear their stories of spiritual renewal and relationship building.  The above picture was taken by Katie Ferguson.

But before we go any farther with the stories, I want to offer a challenge to those who went and to those who go through similar weekend, week long, or summer long retreats or conferences:  DON’T SETTLE FOR REPLICATION!

What’s replication?  Replication is the attempt to recreate an experience you had this year next year, and expecting the same results.  It usually starts off during the original experience.  Someone innocently says, “We should do this (exact thing) again next year?”  and replication ensues.  Without thought (many times) to the fact that the experience struck such a chord the first time because of its newness, we mistakenly believe that we can once again orchestrate a successful experience by recreating the same circumstances.

Each year for the last 5 years I’ve gone to the Catalyst Conference, a highly innovative “retreat” with some of the greatest speakers, musicians, and creative personalities you could ever imagine, and each year I walk away with something fresh and new.  This year I can’t go, and I’m almost happy about it.  The reason:  It gives me a bit more time to understand the impact it has had on me in the last 5 years.  And then, maybe I should think about a new venue for creativity (like Story).

This principle has torn down organizations, churches, denominations, and groups of all kinds because they have mistakenly hung on to “the way it happened” rather than the change that took place in the first place.  “How it happens” is important as the experience is taking place, but the “change that happened” is the matter that’s important after the fact. Don’t expect God to work through particular circumstances, just know that if you allow Him to rock the boat…

You will get wet.

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Here are some pics I took with my phone of todays adventures at Catalyst:

Interesting things at Catalyst

Someone dressed as a cow for Anne Jackson’s new book

Marty, Pete Wilson, and Ryan

Tim Payne, Dave Huey, and Cherie Rector

Repeat Picture

Tonight I’m tired.

I learned a lot from the speakers, the friends I’ve caught up with, and the all around Catalyst experience.  I was thinking about giving you our schedule for the day, but since I like to highligt relationships, I’ll share the people I saw speak/met/reconnected with.  It’s a great list.

Speakers @ Catalyst on day 1:

Andy Stanley (Once again. he would not let me wash his feet with my hair)
William Paul Young (author of “The Shack”)
Jim Collins (author of “Good to Great”)
Brenda Salter McNeil (author of “A Credible Witness”)
Steven Furtick (amazing pastor!)
Seth Godin (One of the best bloggers out there)
Craig Groeschel (founder of “One Prayer“)

People with whom I reconnected:

Dave Huey & Cherie Rector (Dave and I go way back to PCC days)
Tim Payne (doing a great job as the life groups pastor at this church)
Shane Kenney (Saw him from ’93-’97 at PCC and never talked to him until this conference)

People I’ve met:

Vince Antonucci (author of “I became a christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt“)
Hank Wilson (planted a church in Boston)
Pete Wilson (No relation, but it was an honor to meet this great pastor/blogger)
Tim J Chambers (great to finally meet this pastor from New Jersey)
Steve Harrison (invited me to dinner with him and the remainder of this list; capped off a super day)
Michael Harrison (pastor in VA and brother of aforementioned new friend)
Aaron Swensen (Life group pastor of Lifechurch.tv Tulsa Campus and hater of Sonnys BBQ ribs)
Jay Stevenson (self professed bum who will someday find a job, and a nice guy)

I love Catalyst and seeing all of my new and old friends!  And Billy, Bramlett, and Al loved seeing Robbie Seay Band and Jon Foreman play an acoustic concert tonight.

They were on the front row.

Last week, my cousin hooked me up with tickets to the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, Ga.  Basically it went like this – I left on Wed. Morning to the Pease International Airport in Portsmouth, NH (1.2 hours), landed in Columbus, OH, where Tim picked me up at the airport, and we drove to Atlanta(8 hours).  We had a great time and at the end of it, I felt like everything that was talked about was for me.  Don’t you love it when God decides to work like that?!

One of my favorite messages was from a pastor that I respect a lot, but I just don’t think of him as a speaker who I’m flying across the country (or driving) to go ear.  This man, however  knocked my socks off as he spoke.  His words were powerful and ordained.  I’d like to share with you his message using his notes and quotes that I got written down. It was so good, I didn’t write everything fast enough as I was enamored by what he was saying.  The man’s name is Rick Warren, and he’s best known for the books, “The Purpose Driven Life” and “the Purpose Driven Church”.  Here’s his message:

“If you want God’s blessing on your life, you have to get on God’s agenda”

“Some people would rather be cool than effective.”

God’s Agenda = The Kingdom of God

“The Kingdom of God is whereve Jesus is King.”

“The church should be multicultural.  It is made up of God’s people for God’s purposes, on God’s planet to fulfull God’s glory.”

The church – The bride of Christ

“In the last 50 years, th arms and feet of Jesus have been amputated, and all that’s left is the mouth.  Imagine if someone said to you, ‘I like you, I just can’t stand your wife.’”

“In Ephesians, Christ died for the church.”

“The church is cultural – so start to create cuture!”

Exodus 4 – Moses and the staff that turns into a serpant

“When God asks you a question, it’s never for His benefit, and when He does a miracle, it’s never to show off.”

“So why this story?”

“1.  The staff represents Moses’ identity. (he was a shephard)

2. The staff represents Moses’ income.

3.  The staff represents his Influence.”

“So God says to Moses,’Moses, if you surrender your staff, I will make it come alive.’”

“After this, it was never referred to in the Bible as Moses’ staff, but the Rod of God.”

“So what do you have in your hand that you’re not letting go of?”

2 questions God will later ask us:

1.  “What did you do with Jesus?”

2.  “What did you do with what I gave you?”

Anyway, that was Rick Warren’s thoughts. I found it to be incredible and I know it was a part of the experience so you might not find the words so amazing, but maybe you can get something out of the notes. 

Until next time…