Merry Christmas from the Felkers!!!
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Top 10: Books of 2010 pt. 2
I read approximately 50 books in 2010- a record for me. Most often, I limit my reading to books about best practices, theology, and church leadership. I’m pretty picky about what I read so I usually enjoy and learn from nearly every book I dive into. That makes writing a list about my favorite books of the year really hard for me. I don’t feel like I can pick just 10! Regardless, here is part 2 of my Top Books of 2010:
The Land Between by Jeff Manion
No other book blessed me as personally as this one did. A friend recommended it to me to help me work through a time of transition I was experiencing. We were moving, things changing at work, we were adjusting to a toddler. Things seemed more hectic than usual and I was looking for a way to navigate the chaos. This book was the perfect solution. When we experienced the miscarriage, I had finished this book the day before. I may not have known why I was recommended this book by my friend but God knew. Consider The Land Between a roadmap for your walk through the wilderness. I cannot recommend this book enough!
The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeshel
I heard Craig preach a series of sermons that eventually became this book and I was wreaked. The premise is that there are many Christians who say they believe in Jesus but live as though He doesn’t exist. Boom!
The Grace of God by Andy Stanley
Andy Stanley teaches about grace. That sentance right there would be enough for me to run out and buy 8 copies.
The Year of Living Like Jesus by Ed Dobson
After read this book, I attempted to live as Jesus lived for one month- eating kosher, observing the Sabbath, and wearing sandals. Just a warning before you pick this up for some light reading.
Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
Get an inside peak at the founder of Zappos and get caught up in his leadership and enthusiasm for his work, his love for those around him, and his passion for changing the world.
Top 10: Books of 2010 pt. 1
1) Sun Stand Still by Steven Furtick
This was, without a doubt, my favorite book of 2010. I received an advanced copy over the summer and quickly read it twice. If you need a message to kick you in the pants, if you need something to stir up your faith and desperation for a holy and mighty God, then this is the message you’ve been looking for.
“This book is not a Snuggie. The words on these pages will not go down like Ambien.
I’m not writing to calm or coddle you. With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places of insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years. In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential.”“If you’re not daring to believe God for the impossible, you’re sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian life. And further still: if the size of your vision for your life isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.”
“There’s nothing our world needs more desperately today—in individuals, families, businesses, churches, and communities—than God’s saving, supernatural acts. And he’s ready to act if we will be bold enough to ask, not just for a good day or a better life, but for the impossible. Then step forward to act in audacious faith. Each of us is called to be a Joshua—each in our own way, in our own circumstances, with our own God-given personality. As you’ll see in the pages ahead, you and I are called not just to have faith but also to regularly activate our faith by asking God for giant outcomes, taking giant steps. If we have the audacity to ask, God has the ability to perform. That’s how God turns his amazing promises into everyday reality in every generation—for Joshua’s and for ours. You and I may not see the same miracles Joshua did, but we serve the same God. His nature never changes. The same power that stopped the sun and raised Christ from the grave lives in every believer. God still demonstrates his power and supplies his provision in direct proportion to the faith of his children.“
Audacious faith isn’t some newfangled, extrabiblical variety of faith. It’s a return to the core of Christianity: trusting Jesus completely in every area of your life and setting out to devote your life wholly to revealing his glory in this world. Critical clarification: We are saved by grace through faith in Christ—period. Don’t look at the challenge to act in audacious faith as an add-on to this saving faith. It’s a call to press deeper into that faith, until it becomes more and more effective in your everyday life. The opposite of audacious faith: passive unbelief.
2) Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
The number 2 book of 2010 goes to an incredible story of discipleship and dedication to Jesus! You may know part of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story but this book gives you the rest of the legend behind this amazing young pastor and his battle against the rise of the Third Reich. I want my son to read this book with me one day.
3) Rework by Jason Fried and David Hansson
This was probably the most practical book of the year as it helped me change some habits that kept me from getting everything done that I needed to do. The book is one part instruction manual and two parts inspiration. Check out these two highlights:
Imagine you’re standing in a rental-car office. The room’s cold. The carpet is dirty. There’s no one at the counter. And then you see a tattered piece of paper with some clip art at the top of it pinned to a bulletin board. It’s a mission statement: Our mission is to fulfill the automotive and commercial truck rental, leasing, car sales and related needs of our customers and, in doing so, exceed their expectations for service, quality and value. We will strive to earn our customers’ long-term loyalty by working to deliver more than promised, being honest and fair and “going the extra mile” to provide exceptional personalized service that creates a pleasing business experience. We must motivate our employees to provide exceptional service to our customers by supporting their development, providing opportunities for personal growth and fairly compensating them for their successes and achievements … * And it drones on. And you’re sitting there reading this crap and wondering, “What kind of idiot do they take me for?” The words on the paper are clearly disconnected from the reality of the experience. It’s like when you’re on hold and a recorded voice comes on telling you how much the company values you as a customer. Really? Then maybe you should hire some more support people so I don’t have to wait thirty minutes to get help. Standing for something isn’t just about writing it down. It’s about believing it and living it.
Whenever you can, swap “Let’s think about it” for “Let’s decide on it.” Commit to making decisions. Don’t wait for the perfect solution. Decide and move forward. Decisions are progress.
4) Leaders Who Last by Dave Kraft
Read this book and avoid being in the 70% of leaders who burn-out and fail to leave a meaningful legacy for anyone. Simple as that.
5) Church Planter by Darrin Patrick
Want to know what this book is about? Watch this video. Now, go change the world.
Top 5: Follow On Twitter
I love using Twitter to expand my mind and my leadership ability. Here are 5 of my favorite people on Twitter who challenge me, stretch me, and encourage me.
@JonAcuff is the author and creator of StuffChristiansLike.net and is quite possibly one of the funniest and genuinely honest bloggers out there. Jon is the exact amount of funny I wish I was. His site is a collection of writings and thoughts about Christian culture, church life, and everything in between. Add him to your Twitter feed today.
@CatalystLeader reminds me each day to develop and grow as a leader. Great links. Great challenges. Great thoughts.
I get a dose of theological thought from @CSLewisDaily each and every morning. If Lewis were still here today I’m sure these thoughts are what he would tweet.
@BradLomenick is one of the main creative leaders behind Catalyst. I have a huge respect for this guy and I love checking out his tweets to see what he is thinking, hearing, and seeing.
How @CornelWest distills his thoughts on #Love and culture into only 140 characters boggles my mind. Sometimes controversial. Always engaging.
You Are The Song That I Sing
Today I am preaching the second part of my Christmas series, Do You Hear? We will be looking at three of the Songs of Joy that accompany the birth of Jesus, the Savior. These three song-prayers are found in Luke (Luke 1: 46-55; 1:67-79; 2:29-32) and are sung by Mary, the mother of Jesus, Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, and a man named Simeon. What makes these songs so special is that each of them are marked with praise to God for all that He has done in the past and marked by joy for the promises that are being fulfilled.
Mary, Zechariah, and Simeon have spent their entire lives preparing for the coming Messiah. Now each of them was being asked to play a role in the Savior coming to earth. Their response speaks volumes to their level of faith and willingness to follow wherever God would lead them.
Mary’s song set about Magnifying God for his power and grace. Zechariah’s song Blesses the Lord and praises Him for sending His salvation for Israel and for the Gentiles. Simeon’s song is all about promises fulfilled and asks God to Release him to tell the world of his experience with the Savior.
What song are you singing today?
Lists
I’ve been busy working on a series of lists to post for next week. Here is a sneak peak:
Top Books of 2010
Favorite iPad Apps
Top 10 Favorite Podcasts
Favorite Ministry & Leadership Resources
I love making lists. My wife laughs at me and believes that my Top 10 song list must include at least 100 songs or more. Hopefully these lists can be helpful for you and I hope that you enjoy them. look for the first list to be posted tomorrow morning. See you then!
Songs of Joy
This week’s sermon will look at 3 Songs of Joy that accompany the birth of Jesus found in Luke 1 and 2. Try making one of the songs your prayer this week.
The Magnificat – Luke 1:46-55
“And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
The Bendictus – Luke 1:68-79
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—
to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness
and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
The Nun Dimittis – Luke 2:29-32
“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
Blindsided
When I was a Senior in High School, I was injured during a football game and had to endure a few weeks of physical therapy in order to even walk without pain. The day I was cleared to return back to football was a Friday afternoon. Even though I knew I wouldn’t get to play that night I was so excited about being able to be on the sidelines, dressed in my gear, with my teammates. I couldn’t have been happier. That’s when it happened.
As I was driving to the game, I lady in a giant Cadillac t-boned me. She just decided that she might try to cross 4 lanes of traffic by sliding under my Chevy pick-up. The back end of my truck popped up and I would have flipped or landed on my side but “luckily” the nose of my truck came down on the back end of an Infinity Q45.
I was disoriented. “What happened?”
I was angry at the lady. “Are you SERIOUS!!!”
I was confused. “Why did this happen to me?”
I was angry at God. “Why did YOU let this happen?!?!”
I had been blindsided. Things were looking up for me. Then out of nowhere… this. I had been enduring pain and frustration for so long. Now that I was better and things were getting back to normal how could this have happened? What’s the purpose? Why?
Have you been blindsided by life? I know you have because all of us have experienced a moment where everything changes in an instant.
The phone call with the test results.
When he told you that this isn’t working out and would like the ring back.
The heartbeat isn’t on the ultrasound.
A parent having to move in with you so you care care for them.
The scholarship that never materialized.
The rumors swirling around the break room about the cutbacks.
As I’ve been studying a preparing for my sermon this week I have been thinking about what our response to these moments should be. As children of God and as disciples of Jesus our response to pain, suffering, frustration, and disorientation is directly related to what we believe about God and His Son, Jesus Christ.
I wrote this down: In all things do not fret and do not fear, take courage and know that God is near.
God is with you. Jesus is here. That’s the underlying message of the Incarnation. God became flesh and dwelt among us.
Do you believe that? I hope you do. May that belief- the belief that God is with you- sustain you the next time the Cadillac of life decides to plow into you.
Do not fret and do not fear, take courage and know that God is near.
Do You Hear? Christmas Series
This year, I am preaching for the entire month of December so I decided to do a Christmas series and I am so excited about it. As I have been preparing I felt like we needed to hear what God is saying to us through the birth of his Son, Jesus. God is speaking some powerful truths to us. The question is, “Through the rush of this Christmas season, do you hear what He is saying?”
After I wrote down some notes on which direction to go I came across some great artwork from Elevation Church that captured my thoughts exactly. I ran it through Photoshop and put together this promotional poster for the series.
What do you think?
I am so thankful for Elevation Church for making promotional materials and artwork available to other churches. Way to go!
He Is Good & He Does Good
This post is about Thankfulness.
Three weeks ago, our family suffered a miscarriage.
I am still sifting through my thoughts and feelings about what has happened to us. I don’t yet have the words to explain it all. What I do know is that I have a profound sense of thankfulness and a desire to express my love and gratitude to everyone who has cared for us over these last three weeks. It is hard to believe but, even in the midst of incredible sadness and loss, we have much to be thankful for.
I’m thankful that I have a God who is good and does good. The day before the miscarriage I read an article about Pastor Matt Chandler and the 1 year anniversary of his battle with a brain tumor. The picture that accompanied the article showed Matt surrounded in prayer. His head is bowed- his bald and scarred head– and his hands raised. The author asked him how theology sustained him through the suffering of the past year. He answered:
“There were at least 3 meetings with my doctors early on where I felt like I got punched in the soul. In those moments when I was discombobulated and things felt like they were spinning out of control, my theology and the Spirit were there to remind me that “He is good and He does good”—to remind me that God has a plan for His glory and my joy that He is working.“
I am thankful that, even in the midst of questions, loss, and pain, ultimately God is good and does good. That perspective has been my rock over the last few weeks.
I am thankful for our Family. Our immediate family members have been supportive and loving throughout this whole ordeal. I am thankful for their love and care.
I am thankful for our Church Family. One of the axioms that we live by is that we do “life” with our church family. We want to celebrate with them and we need to mourn with them. When we went to the emergency room, our church family took care of our son for the day. While we waited to hear from the doctor, we were surrounded in prayer by many people. Phone calls and text messages flooded my phone throughout the day and didn’t stop 24 hrs after. People engaged us and cared for us. And food… oh was there food. We have seen the blessing of “Doing Life” with our congregation. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
I am thankful for my wife. The strongest, most beautiful woman in the world somehow agreed to marry me. We will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary in August 2011 and I am very thankful that God saw fit to bless me with this woman.