We've all heard that repetition is the mother of learning. But have we heard it enough? If we don't review fundamentals, we tend to forget. That is why so many coaches emphasize the basics time and time again. They don't want to lose. In this week's Message About Purpose and Strategy, I'll repeat our fundamentals. They are found in our motto: Reaching, Connecting, Growing.

Reaching means that we don't just sit here. We go out. It is amazing to realize that people are actually waiting to be touched, to make friends, to learn about God's way of life. We reach out in the community to show people Jesus.

Connecting is crucial. Anyone we reach must be brought into relationships that matter. When you meet someone new, connect them to others. Introduce a new friend to your old friends. Build webs. Here at Dayspring, we want to link people into groups of various kinds to help people become participants, not just spectators.

Growing is important too. We are not to stay in the crib. Let's grow up spiritually. As we grow, we'll represent Jesus more accurately and attractively. I think people want to see what real Christianity looks like and we can show them. Let's grow to follow Jesus so closely that we lead others to follow as well. As we follow Jesus in becoming as he was, a lover of God and a lover of others, then we will follow him in doing what he did.

I remember the first time I was in Portland. It wasn't for long. In fact, I got off a plane and got on another - that was it. But the ordeal makes a good story for this week's Message About Purpose and Strategy. I had officiated at a wedding in Wenatchee, WA on a Saturday and had to catch a plane through Seattle to San Diego in order to preach at my home church on Sunday. A storm delayed the flight and the people in Seattle said I was stuck there for the night unless I could run across the terminal to catch the last plane to Portland, and then connect home from there. I had only minutes to make it and one of the other passengers didn't wait for any more of an invitation, he took off running. I ran as fast as I could go with my clumsy garment bag and computer case. I didn't think I'd make it. What I needed was one of those moving sidewalks. Have you seen them in airports? You step on and continue to walk, but at a much faster pace than you could move on your own. I got to thinking about how much this illustrates what the Bible calls "walking in the Spirit." Why walk in your own strength? You can be moved along by an underlying source. When you're walking in the Spirit, you're still doing things - using your gifts, demonstrating faith, and confronting sin - but with new success. There is a fresh wind in your sails like having power beneath your feet. In contrast, life in the flesh is like struggling against the flow. It is like going up a down-escalator! For Dayspring to fulfill potential, Christians like you and I have to walk in the Spirit. That's the way to be sure you'll make it home.

One of my meetings this week stood out from the rest. In fact, it was so cool, I'd call it a highlight for the month! For this week's Message About Purpose and Strategy, I'll tell you about what happened, while preserving the couple's anonymity. Their story reminds us of what we're doing here and the challenges that we face. I had not met this young husband and wife, and didn't really know why they had scheduled an appointment. Off the top of my head, I asked them, "What kind of marriage do you want?" In my mind, I was thinking that if I could get them envisioning what could be that we would be on the road to getting there. I was planning a meeting about planning, so to speak: how to get what you want out of your marriage - that kind of thing. Instead, God took the conversation to a different place and it was a joy to ride along with him! I should say that their answer brought joy to my heart. They said, "We want a fireproof marriage!" I asked if they had seen the movie by that name and they had and loved it (so did I). From there we began to talk about their desire to learn about God and find out how church could be of help to their family. It was a valuable revelation to me to learn that they had never attended Dayspring or any other church and that their families aren't involved anywhere either. They popped in almost like someone would walk into Lowes to get something needed. As we seek to serve God in the lives of others, let's recognize that many people are not from church-going backgrounds. They may not understand our Bible-speak. They don't know if they have to sign up, or join something, or pledge allegiance, or pay dues, or what. They are new and just looking. What do they see? Let's show them Jesus! We are his body!

I'm in the habit of reading the news on line each day. Maybe you see the news on TV. When we tune in, it almost seems like we're watching a parade as the world passes by - and the pace is accelerating. Society's values are marching on in de-evolution toward disaster. As the culture changes, we are standing by with mouths agape. Like geophysicists measuring seismic activity, we're witnessing what amounts to a moral earthquake. Some questions come to mind: How did the ground shift so quickly? How can we clean up this mess; or is it even possible? And are we are in the same state as everyone else, shaken and battered, or are we distinctive and healthy enough to be of help? This week I came across a Bible verse that reminds us where we stand. For this week's Message About Purpose and Strategy, I'll share 1 Cor. 8:6 - "...yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." No matter what changes around us and no matter how much our world is shaken, we live for God, our Father, who made all things through Jesus Christ. In him and for him, we live!

My son saved his money and bought a car. It isn't the kind of car a teen wants to drive, but it only cost $1,000 and it gets him to school, swim practice, youth group, Young Life, and so on. And it usually gets him home as well, but not this week. The Buick stayed in the church parking lot and he came home without it, saying it was making a "really bad noise." What could that be? The cause could be any number of things. Just as I was sitting down to write this week's Message About Purpose and Strategy I realized that I needed to go diagnose the difficulty. As I opened the hood, I thought of how much is involved in making a car work, and how all the systems are interconnected. It is the same in the Christian life. A couple just asked me how they could grow in their relationship. And a single mother just expressed frustration, even fear, over the situation with her son. A lot of things need to go right for relationships to work. And when something goes wrong, the problem is likely to cause other problems. In the case of the car, the torn serpentine belt was related to the loose pulley wheel on the water pump. It was sliding off the shaft and scraping the motor mount (hence, the loud noise). The car was also overheating and leaking coolant through the water pump. All the parts that are required to make a car work are connected. If my son wants his car to go anywhere, he needs to see those connections and leave nothing out. If we want to glorify God in our relationships and make ministry work in our church, we need to see the interconnections and give attention to detail. Cars need fuel, spark, and air, all in the right amounts with the right timing. I could see some of what was wrong with the car, but needed the help of a friend to fully understand the issues. Is there something missing in your Christian life - God's Word, prayer, fellowship, mission, obedience? Is something broken? Everything ties together. One loose part will do more than make a bad noise; you can get stuck. Bring a friend along side to help you diagnose what needs to be done to run more smoothly and make progress.

Through the ages, great writers have captured and communicated reality with words. Their bite-sized quotes give us succinct snapshots of how people think. Sometimes what has been written about Christianity stings those of us within the church. For instance, Mark Twain wrote, "If Christ were here now, there is one thing he would not be - a Christian." When the world thinks of the church, they often focus on our inconsistency and hypocrisy. Bertrand Russell wrote, "The problem with Jesus is that he had disciples." And an old French proverb says, "He who is near the church is often far from God." These indictments make me ask if we are really following Christ in a way that leads others to follow.

In today's Message About Purpose and Strategy I want to provide a reminder that only those following Christ can lead others to follow him. When Jesus gave the Great Commission (recorded in Matt. 28:18-20), he told his disciples to make disciples. We need to recognize that it takes a disciple to make a disciple. As we think of what we do here and why we do it, it is crucial to consider if our attitudes and actions contribute to the negative feelings people have about Christians, or if our lives are consistent with our profession of faith. Let's recommit ourselves to follow Jesus passionately, accurately, and attractively.

I'll go ahead and tattle on myself before John does. I did something stupid after the elders meeting on Thursday morning. I was rushing to get to a breakfast appointment and I ran out of gas. Motivated by the desire to be on time and faithful to my promise, I was so late that I missed the opportunity completely. (I ended up re- scheduling and I paid for the guy's lunch - do you think that made up for my mistake? I don't think so. It doesn't work that way.) I had time to make a few calls as I sat in the cold truck on the side of the freeway. I confessed my mistake to John and to my wife. Annie asked me if I hadn't noticed that the gas gauge was low. I admitted that I had been aware of it all week but kept telling myself I could go a little farther, even when the needle was significantly below the ominous "E." Passion is great, but so is planning. I often say in these Messages About Purpose and Strategy that we exist to glorify God by leading people to follow Christ. We get all enthusiastic about doing this and that as fast as we can, all in fulfillment of the Great Commission to make disciples, but we risk running out of gas if we do not plan ahead. We can't keep up the pace without refueling now and then. So, what are your gauges saying right now? Have you been neglecting the obvious? Without monitoring our tank, we turn the risk of failure into a reality. More can be less. Faster can be slower. Sooner can be later. If you neglect to fill your tank, you won't get to where you want to go. Refuel for the long haul by stopping to meet with God. Without him, progress will come to an embarrassing stop.

In this week's installment of my Messages About Purpose and Strategy, I'll share a way to look at what we do here. One way to define a Christian is as a follower of Christ. That is both simple and biblical. But, in what ways do we follow Christ? To follow someone is to go where they lead. Think that over. Another way to follow someone is to do what the person does. Amazingly, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these..." (John 14:12). He also said, "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (John 20:21). What did Jesus do here? He made disciples! As his followers, we are to do the same (Matt. 28:19). In fact, making disciples proves our discipleship (John 15:8 - "This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.") As we consider what we do here and why we do it, it is crucial to consider if our attitudes and actions contribute to the fulfillment of the Great Commission to make disciples. Everything must be aligned that way - to follow Jesus in a way that leads others to follow Jesus.

I love how being active here at Dayspring means that we are each part of something bigger than ourselves. We have a calling to bring glory to God by how we live. As we follow Christ, we draw others to him as well. In this week's installment of my Messages About Purpose and Strategy, I'll share a simple word picture that clarifies our role. Just as there are people employed in trying to reach those who have not yet claimed their inheritance, we get to help people grasp what is theirs in Christ! So many people are missing out. Let's let them know what is available so they can claim all the riches available to them. We have good news to announce. Eph. 1:18 - "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."

As a kid, I'd prepare a Christmas list every year, just to make sure my parents knew what I wanted. I'm not greedy for the same things now, but what I do want costs much more than a few toys from Sears. In this week's installment of my Messages About Purpose and Strategy, I'll share a few things on my wish list for the coming year. I'm typing this on New Year's Eve and I think I'll hit send before I edit whatever pours out of my heart through my fingertips into this laptop. What do I want for 2010? I want revival. I want Dayspring members to so passionately follow God that people in this valley can't help but to wonder what makes us different. And I want us to be different - not conformed to our consumer culture, always demanding our own way and wallowing in illegitimate feelings of entitlement like so many crybabies. I want the God of creation to be honored by what happens here in our hearts and minds and lives and neighborhoods and offices and so on. I want us, and I know it must start with me, to be so committed to the authority of God's Word, so totally focused on Jesus, so reliant upon the leading of the Spirit, and so radical in our sacrificial obedience, that we turn our towns upside-down with a level of love not seen in the past decade. That's what I want for the New Year. Though the cost of discipleship is high, please join me in making this dream come true!