Census Anger?

In the message on 2 Samuel 24 "A sacrifice that costs nothing", I mentioned that I would blog about the difficult Bible question: "Why was God so mad about the census?" Wasn't David simply counting people? Well, today, I am trying something new...a video blog. The answer to that question can be found in the video below!

Angry at Census? from CCC Omaha on Vimeo.

Chuck Norris

After the message about David's Mighty Men - 2 Samuel 23 - and the profound parallels between Benaiah and Chuck Norris, I have had some great emails, facebooks and other references to the nearly infinite powers of Chuck Norris. Here are some of my favorites:

* Chuck Norris can divide by zero
* If you are playing scrabble and you spell Chuck Norris, you automatically win...forever
* Chuck Norris does not wear a watch. HE decides what time it is!
* Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.
* Outer space exists because it is afraid of Chuck Norris
* Chuck Norris has already been to Mars. That is why there are no signs of life there.
* Superman owns a pair of Chuck Norris pajamas
* Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table of the elements because he only recognizes the element of surprise!

And in case you missed the sermon:
* When Chuck Norris does pushups, hes not pushing his body up, he's pushing the earth down
* When the boogeyman goes to bed at night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris
* Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make him drink
* Chuck Norris is the reason Waldo is hiding.

Oh, and just for fun. Go to Google. Type "Find Chuck Norris" and click "I'm feeling Lucky." You'll crack up!

December Outreach Run

December is a month when all of our culture remembers the manger. Sure, it is often disguised as commercialism, TV specials and gaudy decorations, but the origin of it all is the baby in Bethlehem. As such, it is the perfect time to be reaching out in love and with the message of Jesus. It is our best time of year to include friends in our circles of influence and take the practical love and generostiy of Christ to a needy world.

Here are some great opportunities:

1) Operation Angel Tree - buy gifts for kids whose parents are incarcerated and might not have gifts under their tree. Details in the Atrium.

2) Christmas Caroling in Nursing Homes - Join one of many groups spending time with Seniors who can feel especially lonely this time of year. Worship leaders can tell you the details.

3) Ministry options - From filling shoeboxes of goodies for kids in Uganda to buying food for Omaha families in need, different ministries in the church are taking initiative to share God's love. Check with your ministry leader for details.

4) Morning in Bethlehem - December 12, at CCC - Families with preschoolers will love the opportunity for a morning of interactive storytelling, crafts, and family-oriented experiences to remember Jesus as the center of Christmas.

5) Lee Strobel - Bestselling Author, Journalist, Amazing Speaker will be speaking at CCC December 12 for a special Saturday Service and then at both Sunday morning services on the 13th. Sarpy will be having Lee via video the same day! He will be speaking on the Case for Christmas in a service that will be optimal for newcomers.

6) Choir Outreach - The Choir will be presenting a powerful performance called "The King" - Saturday December 19 in the evening and Sunday December 20 during services in the Worship Center only.

7) Christmas Eve - Everybody goes to church on Christmas eve, right? Bring your friends to this fantastic night of singing carols and looking to the manger for the power, hope and love of God-who-became-human.

8) Birthday Parties for Jesus. If you have kids, consider having a birthday party for Jesus. It is a simple way to gather kids in your neighborhood together for fun and an opportunity to tell the REAL christmas story. Check it out at the kids ministry booths in the Atrium.

This year, consider how you might impact your family, friends, coworkers or neighbors! Be intentional about using your life for Christ in December!

Salem Reflections

"I get invited to a lot of places to speak...once," I told my friends a the largely African American Salem Baptist Church yesterday morning. "But you all have invited me for a third time! The first time we were acquaintances, the second time, friends, but the third time...we are now family."

I love Salem Baptist Church...my second favorite church in Omaha. I am grateful that when I show up, I get hugs from my friends John and Viv Ewing, Pastor Jones, Lamar Pringle, Deacon Christian...and many others. The worship is fantastic, exuberant, joy-filled and God honoring. I not only love the people, but I love the opportunity to bring God's word there. And I am so thankful for the way that the Rev. Dr. Selwyn Q. Baccus brings it to CCC when he is here! I am only bummed that I am never here at the same time he is!

As we all know, race relations and racial reconciliation are tough challenges. But for a Christ-follower they begin with a couple of key factors. First, the common ground that we have in Jesus, his power and his kingdom agenda for this world. In this alone, there is an immense amount that we can build upon. Our view of God, people, morality, salvation, eternity, grace, relationships, and so much more is the same. The second building block is relationships. This is why it is so healthy to be on each other's turf, bring people along, and make/renew friendships. Problem solving is much healthier when there is a basis of trust.

My hope for the future is that God will continue to build trust between us. That he will choose to use us for his purposes. I hope that we will plan things that can only be done when both of us are invested in a vision. I hope that the church will be the transforming influence that God designed it to be. I hope that we will be united - every tongue, tribe and language - and we'll start with the believers on the other side of town. Jesus was a Jewish Messiah with a vision that transcends ethnicity and tribalism - that we would take his message to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and even to the ends of the earth! Further, that we would be 'one' under his banner as evidence to a watching world that he is true. May it be so in Omaha.

Castle...Recognized

So, I was working out this week and I was recognized by a middle aged lady on the rowing machine next to me. Leading a big church in a mid-sized city, this is not abnormal. What was abnormal was who I was recognized as...follow the dialogue.

Row lady: I know you from somewhere.
Me: Oh yeah? Where might that be?
Row lady: Maybe from politics, maybe TV
Me: Maybe church?
Row lady: Funny. No, I am serious...wait! Wait! I know it you're...you're Castle from that TV show on Mondays.

The moment was too irresistable.

Me: Shoot, I thought I could be anonymous in Omaha.
Row Lady: No way, I definitely recognize you.
Me: Yah, well, I kinda get tired of Hollywood...so I fly here every few days to experience middle america again.
Row Lady: Omaha is a great place to get away from the lights.

Soon, guilt overtook me.

Me: I can't keep this up. I am really not Castle.
Row Lady: Sure, and I'm Hillary Clinton.
Me: Really, I'm not even an actor. I am a pastor...so I should'nt even be lying (forced laugh).
Row Lady: You're as funny in person as you are on TV. See you on Monday nights! or Maybe next week!

So here are some pictures of Castle...See any resemblance?

Cal Thomas

Influence. Everybody has influence. Some have more and some less, but God has given each of you the opportunity to be an influence. Will you use it to build bridges or walls? Will you help people to move toward the truth? Toward God?

I am so glad that in just a couple of days, Cal Thomas will be here to help us wrestle through those questions. Cal Thomas is an opinions writer for 550+ newspapers worldwide. Mr. Thomas also is frequent commentator on Fox News. He has written ten books on a variety of subject matters. Most importantly, Cal Thomas is a child of God - a passionate follower of Jesus.

He has had a dramatic influence on the world of media, on his family and his friends. Check out the video from CBN on our website www.cccomaha.org about how Cal reached out to a fellow member of the media in his darkest hour to reach him for Christ.

Influence is a precious commodity and Cal Thomas has learned much over the years as to how influence can be used. From his work with NBC, to the Moral Majority, to Newspapers across America. He is going to be here on Sunday November 8 at 6:30 p.m. , to help us, to wrestle with how to work alongside those with whom we disagree, reach our neighbor with the love of Christ and stand for truth even when it is hard.

Mark your calendar and plan to bring a friend who loves the news to hear Cal Thomas in person!

Trans Siberian Orchestra

I love rock music. I love great story. I love performance when it is done with excellence. Last night I got all three.

The Trans Siberian Orchestra did their opening shows of the 2009 tour last night in Council Bluffs - of all places. Their primary violinist, Roddy Chong, is an acquaintace of mine from Willow. We had lunch last week - he got me jazzed about the show (and got me tickets - thanks Roddy!). I got to go with Kelle and our two middle kids.

The show erupted with a shock-and-awe beginning. Roddy warned me that the real 'star of the show' is the lights (and lasers, and LCD video, and fire...). He was right. I've never seen lights tied so well with the music of a show. Everybody in the show was excellent. Amazing guitarists, phenomenal keyboards, and my personal favorite...exuberant violinists. Whoa. What a show.

Even the story was powerful. The Christmas theme of the incarnation and Jesus was obvious. There is, added to it, a wrapping of a heartwarming tale of self-sacrifice on Christmas that imitates God's self-giving love of his Son. Filled with artistic license, it draws you in and touches you deeply. Most of the band does not follow Jesus, but you'd never know it from the performance. Traditional carols done in a rock fashion draw on The Story in a gripping, engaging manner.

What stuck out to me more than anything was the intangible commitment to excellence. The techinical aspects were great and the music was amazing, but what poured through from the performance was attitude. The exuberance of the performers, their commitment to energy, great timing, facial expressions and putting on a show that has unstoppable was fantastic.

They do it for the love of art, for the love of performance, for the love of the fans. They do it because they dreamed about doing this kind of thing to a packed area for their whole lives. It made me think about what I get to do...what God made me for. And what you get to do...the thing God made you for. Do we pursue the detailed excellence that not only gives a temporary rush, but changes the trajectory of people's lives AND brings honor to the One who made us for his pleasure? Are we as committed to our pursuit of being God's ambassadors in the marketplace, church, and neighborhoods to the same degree that the TSO artists are? How can we, motivated by the love of Christ, push the boundaries of excellence...not to thrill audiences, but because it pleases the heart of God?

Thanks to Roddy the TSO for your commitment to artistic excellence and for the way you have inspired me this week.