Exploring A Secret Beach
Yesterday I explored a “secret” beach in Northern California with Cru, my oldest son. My Great-Grandparents, my Grandparents, and my parents all used to hold bonfires on this beach. I’m a 5th generation Northern Californian and I love living here.
Tired of Being Obese? Start Running in 2012.
Some of you who are reading this would be considered obese. Obesity is not good. It can kill you.
God gave you a body and he wants you to take great care of it. Approaching the new year is a great time to decide to take better care of your body. My favorite way to take care of my body is through running. I’ve never been obese, but three years ago I did get rid of twenty extra pounds I’d slowly put on after college football (I’d kept the football player appetite without the football player workout schedule), all through running.
I like how Ben Davis got rid of his obesity through running. I read about his story in Runner’s World. Whether your obese or not, watch this five-minute video. It’s inspiring. Watch the video, share the video, and start running in 2012.
Best Books of 2011
Here is my Best Books of 2011 list. This isn’t a list of books published in 2011. This is a list of the books I read in 2011 that gave me the most profit/pleasure. See last year’s list: Best Books of 2010.
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
This is story telling at its best. Over a three-week period I re-told this story to my boys while tucking them in at night. They were riveted.
California: A History by Kevin Starr
Californians, it’s important to understand the rich, exciting, sinful, and fascinating history behind our incredible state. I think this is the best one-volume history you could read on California. Kevin Starr is smart. He’s actually too smart. This book would be stronger if it said less, if it was about fifty pages shorter.
The Meaning of Marriage by Tim and Kathy Keller
The best book I’ve ever read on marriage.
Onward: How Starbucks Fought For Its Life Without Losing Its Soul by Howard Schultz
This is a great read on leadership.
Investing for Dummies by Eric Tyson
I hope you’re investing money, not merely saving money. To get a jumpstart or refresher course on investing, read this book.
King’s Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus by Tim Keller
One of the few books I know I will re-read, a book to be mastered.
On Being A Theologian of the Cross by Gerhard O. Forde
This is the message of grace! A brilliant book.
Church in the Making: What Makes or Breaks a New Church Before it Starts by Ben Arment
Great common sense that is often forgotten in the church planting/ministry/leadership world.
Muscular Faith: How to Strengthen Your Heart, Soul, and Mind for the Only Challenge That Matters by Ben Patterson
I read this book last month. It motivates me to enjoy God, not waste my life, and go hard after what matters most. Ben Patterson is a great guy. He’s the real deal.
RUN: The Mind-Body Method of Running by Feel by Matt Fitzgerald
Get out there and run!
The Great Reset: How New Ways of Living and Working Drive Post-Crash Prosperity by Richard Florida
It was fun to think about and interact with all the ideas in this book.
The Last of the Prune Pickers: A Pre-Silicon Valley Story by Tim Stanley
I loved this self-published account of life in Silicon Valley before it became Silicon Valley.
Jesus + Nothing = Everything by Tullian Tchividjian
Amen! This equation changes everything. Tullian is a good friend, he’s the real deal, and this is the good news of Jesus Christ stated in bold and beautiful fashion.
Gospel Wakefulness by Jared Wilson
Now I have better words to explain what started happening to me in my early 20s. Read Wilson’s book and Tullian’s book together. A gospel double-decker.
Strengths-Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow by Tom Rath
Quit thinking only about your strengths. Identify the strengths of those you lead and help them play to their strengths.
San Jose: California’s First City by Edwin Beilharz and Donald Demers
Good history and photos of California’s first city.
How Not to Lead Your Church
Watch this one-minute video. A pastor preaches on love while losing his temper with his church. I find this hilarious. Don’t try this at home.
HT: Mi amigo, Jerome Gay
Fellowship Associates: One of the Best Things That’s Ever Happened to Me
Recently a friend of mine asked me to explain what my time has been like with the Fellowship Associates Church Planting Residency Program. This is what I said in reply: It’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.
I wish every church planter could experience the training, mentoring, friendship, and help that I’ve been receiving through Fellowship Associates.
Read this overview of the residency program.
Check out the five other guys I’m in the residency with.
Learn about the type of men Fellowship Associates is looking for and consider whether this might be for you.
2 Books For Training Men
At Garden City Church we are big on training men as leaders. As a pastor much of my time is spent investing in men who will invest their lives in other men. This is how Jesus structured his ministry and this is what Paul instructed a young church planter named Timothy to do:
“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” -2 Timothy 2:2
Part of our training of men involves books. Before we begin the assessment process for man to become a Neighborhood Group leader/deacon* at Garden City, we have men work through the content of two books with their Neighborhood Group leader:
1. Church Planter: The Man, the Message, the Mission by Darrin Patrick. This book lays out the kind of men we want to build at Garden City.
2. Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears. This book lays out what we want our men to believe, live for, and die for at Garden City.
Men/pastors/leaders, if you’re looking for some content by which to train your men, consider making use of these two great books.
*NOTE: We also have women serve and lead in the role of deacon at Garden City. Our female deacons at Garden City are doing a fantastic job at leading people to Christ, discipling others, leading from the stage on Sundays, and helping make the ministry of the church happen.
Date Your Wife (When You’re 90 Years-Old)
Soon I will share more details about the release of my book, Date Your Wife. My hope is that Date Your Wife will help shape more men into husbands like Dr. Robert Mounce. From Justin Taylor‘s blog:
Dr. Robert H. Mounce, president emeritus of Whitworth College, has served as an important biblical commentator (especially on the book of Revelation in the NICNT series) and as a Bible translator (involved early on in the translation of the NIV and serving on the translation committee of the ESV—where he served with his son Bill, author of the widely used Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar).
A filmmaker was recently able to capture a brief snapshot of Dr. Mounce as he cares for his beloved wife through her extended illness. Dr. Mounce will be 90 at the end of the year, and his wife is 91.
This is what love and faithfulness looks like:
Year-End Giving: Give to Garden City Church
It’s that time of the year, time to think about year-end giving. This year I’d like you to think about giving a year-end gift to Garden City Church.
This year I moved my family 30 miles south, to Silicon Valley, to start Garden City Church. On the day we moved we had just 3 people committed to the church plant and just 3,000 dollars in the church bank account. It was a move of faith, banking on God’s calling on my life and Jesus’ promise to build his church. Today Garden City Church is 11 weeks old and we have about 150 people in our church. Right now the strongest evangelist in our church is Sameer, a former Hindu who heard the gospel for the first time 3 Sundays ago, was converted, and is now telling everybody about Jesus.
In short, Jesus is doing a great work at Garden City Church and I want you to invest in it.
Garden City Church is a wise investment of your charitable giving. Our church is growing and making a real impact in Silicon Valley. Everything we do as a church is driven by our mission: Making disciples to impact the city for Jesus. What we’re experiencing these first 11 weeks is, I believe, just the beginning of the big things God want to do through our church.
You can respond to this email in 2 ways:
1) Make a year-end gift to Garden City through an online donation or by mailing a check to:
Garden City Church, 6455 Almaden Expwy Suite 207, San Jose, CA 95120
2) Become a partner of Garden City Church. Join the team of people, churches, and institutions who are investing in Garden City over the course of the next 1-2 years. Some partners are investing at the rate of $1,000 per month, others at a rate of $100 per month. To learn how to join the team, contact us at: admin[at]gardencitysanjose.com
