18 October 2007
Danger Will Robinson!
Remember this show?
Lost in Space.
It was, bar none, my favorite show growing up. It had already been on for a few years by the time I was old enough to track with it, and other shows like, ‘Star Trek’ were already beginning to take the luster off of my new discovery (kind of like ‘Heroes’ has done to ‘Lost’), but I didn’t care. I was a loyal fan then and I’m a loyal fan now.
So loyal, in fact, that it is 4:05 am right now and I can’t sleep because the Lord put ‘Lost in Space’ on my mind.
No, I’m not kidding.
He does stuff like this from time to time and I’ve learned its best to just get up and listen to what He has to say. Who knows, He might even have a word or two to say to some of you as well.
That being said, what was it? A particular episode?
Nope.
Some useless trivia?
I thought so at first. I even used that line with God to try and buy myself some more precious sleep time, but He was having none of it.
Actually, it was one line that the Robot was often famous for saying. Not the title of today’s post (though that one came to mind even more prevalently after I realized what the Lord was really telling me). It was actually this precious little gem;
“That does not compute.”
“That’s it. Am I done, God? I told them. Can I go to bed now?”
No.
“Ok, I’d better explain it to them.”
You see, something someone (no, I’m not telling you who. It’s not important) said a few days back (not to me) worked its way through the rumor mill until it was ground up, refined, and presented in all it’s glory. Probably a bit altered due to all the preservatives and steroids, (that’s what tends to happen with gossip) but all its glory nonetheless. You see, apparently an individual or two were complaining about the leadership dinner we are having later this evening.
Campaigns are stupid.
Let’s just trust God to take care of our needs. If He wants us to have a bigger building, He’ll just provide. <— I love that one. Tell that to Noah!
Aren’t we fine the way we are, at the size we are? Why is everything always about bigger, more, etc? We’re too into numbers.
On this last one, I snapped! Is it all about the numbers?
YES! Duh!
God is into numbers. Every number represents a real, live person who is far from God and on their way to a very real place called Hell! You can read about it here and here and here and atleast a hundred other places if you need to. God counts people because people count! But I have a better question for you…
Why are you trying so hard to convince yourself that God is not into numbers?
Could it be because you are not into people? Could it be that God has called you out and you are being disobedient?
Ouch!
Now, before the blog police start dissecting this post and trying to figure out WHO I am talking about, let me say this,
Chillax!
No names got to me, just ‘concerns.’ Isn’t that always the case anyway? Besides, I have been convicted lately about calling people out. That’s not important. Especially when its an attitude that hits all of us at one time or another.
Even me.
That’s right, even I have questioned building campaigns and so forth. It’s necessary for me to work through all of this with the Lord before I ever move forward with conviction in sharing it with you all. Don’t believe me? Watch this video I did on this very subject.
The important thing to know is that, after wrestling with God on these things I am more convinced than ever that building campaigns and bigger places, more children’s ministry capacity, larger youth facilities and anything else related to growth and God’s blessing are not only necessary, but vital. And they are a strong sign of God’s blessing and hand upon our church.
So, here’s the bottomline ( I need to move quickly now, the melatonin [careful, its over the counter, natural stuff] I disobediently took is beginning to kick in 
), not only does the spirit of generosity begin tonight with the Leadership Desserts, but it will also continue throughout the life of this church. At least as long as I am the pastor.
As long as Jesus cared enough about the masses to lay down His life for them, we will too…
In fact, I want to do something to show you how serious I am about this stuff. Tonight’s leadership event is for the leaders (duh) however, if you are new (or have even been here a while but for whatever reason have not stepped up to God’s plate — or perhaps, used to lead but have entered a sort of early spiritual retirement) but know you want to help lead the way with us, why don’t you plan on coming out tonight as well?! We’d love to have you, and in God’s family there are never enough leaders. We can always use more. Just register here (and preferably more than 5 minutes before the event 
) so that we can still plan on having enough desserts, and commit to praying for me (because the staff are reading this for the first time just like you, and they may put a hit out on me) and Southbrook as we reach out to seize the divine moment the Lord has put before us!
See you tonight!
Oh, need more proof on numbers? Read our own, Clayton King’s blog post on this very topic. It’s awesome!
10 Comments currently posted.
Michelle Singleton says:
Rob says:
Hello Hot Stuff! (I can say that, this particular commenter is my wife!).
Just to clarify, the reason she is USUALLY up before me is because she teaches a 5:45 am aerobics class at the Y several days a week. To get up before her I would have to get up everyday at 4:30! Truth is, I barely beat her today getting up at 4:05! Why so early? Because she does her quiet time before leaving for the Y!
This woman amazes me.
I’m not worthy!
JT says:
Well I wasn’t up at 4:00am like you Singleton’s, but it is 9:00am and my fingers are blogging now.
What we are reading about and you are hearing about is no different then what we read in the Old Testament with the Israelites. God would follow them around with a cloud, he’d send food down from heaven, he’d tell Moses to go to the mountain top and etch his words on stone tablets. Oh yeah, he parted the Red Sea and as the Egyptian army followed the Red Sea closed back up. He left the sun in the sky for a number of hours so the Israelite army could defeat the Philistines. And guess what the Isrelites did??? They wandered from God. Their faith was never what it should be. They questioned God and always wanted more. They were whiners, even to this day some don’t believe Jesus is the true son of God…they’re still looking for him!!
Wake-up those of you out there that are concerned!! It’s going to be OK!! Be obedient to what God is calling you to do. It is evident that God is asking us to sacrifice just like he asked the Israelities to sacrifice. He’s all about testing our faith and making us stronger in him. Michelle is right on, our God is a BIG God!! Let’s ALL be obedient to what he is asking us to do and let him decide where he wants to lead us. Let’s learn from the Old Testament that being concerned didn’t help the Israelites…I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to wander in no desert for 40 years. I want to get to the promised land and serve God whatever way that I can!!
Christine Malone says:
Sounds great looking forward to tonight.
I have to share, the other night when I watched your invite Rob, and prayed. I then have this journal called Gentle Spirit. My devotion for the night was named, TRUST, YIELD, OBEY. FIrst words I read after lisining to our vision. WOW, God worked fast with his reply for me.
Chris Hogan says:
I wish I could be at the dessert tonight with everyone, but I’m recovering from surgery so Dean won’t let me out of the house tonight! I’m praying for the money that is needed to increase our ministries at Southbrook and look forward to hearing about God moving in a BIG way!
Rob says:
Don’t you worry about it, Chris — We’re all just glad you’re doing better and so thankful for all you (and you’re whole family) you do for God’s kingdom through Southbrook!
Get well soon…we’re all praying for a speedy recovery!
Jay Foreman says:
“Campaigns are stupid”
Before I became a Christian (Buzzzz) I said the same thing.
But as a true follower of Christ my heart has softened and He has softened the ME ME ME, MY MY MY.
Now it’s about HIM HIM HIM, and THEM THEM THEM.
And THEM need a place to get to know HIM.
You can read more in the last installment of the “5 W’s” at
http://www.jayforeman.blogspot.com/
It’s all for HIM.
P.S. … JT…you are an amazing writer.
Kati says:
About God not being into numbers…
I challenge you to look through His word a bit.
I mean one of the books is TITLED Numbers.
That gotta count for something.
I’m excited to see Southbrook continue to grow.
Because that means less people ending up in Hell.
and more spending enternity in Heaven.
personally. i’m all for that.
Kate says:
Christine, I think you hit a big point with the word OBEY. I need to Listen to what God says to me, and trust him enough to Yield my own way and Obey His way!
Why obey? well, do I really want to find myself outside of His will for me? no, not really. Life is really hard already, and I am convinced that even though it may mean getting ‘uncomfortable’, obeying God actually can make things easier! When we obey Him, He will provide the strength and whatever else we need to follow through. Noah obeyed God in building the ark, and there was enough wood, enough time, enough help and enough animals! God did all that, Noah just obeyed to pick up a hammer obeyed.:)
Chris Hogan says:
Rob, Did you read Steven Furtick’s blog on the 17th about an “underchallenged generation?” It was right on target! If you analyze Southbrook, the students do an enormous percentage of the outreach, evangelism, and missions! (Daryl does an amazing job of igniting a passion in them!)Plus, if you look at the average size of the high schools and middle schools that each student attends, they have the greatest opportunity! Statistically, students come into contact with way more people each day than the average adult. The students have the greatest opportunity for reaching the unchurched.
I would love to see our church unite, students and adults, for the great cause of reaching out to the unchurched! Then we’ll really be bursting at the seams!
Woah! You were up before me this morning! That’s a switch! And I can hardly wait for tonight’s leadership event too! Our God is a “Big” God who is up to “Big” things at Southbrook and that includes the “Big” number of people who He saved just this year alone at our church! I am so grateful God is into numbers because my brother and several friends are now going to spend eternity with me. They are part of the “Big” number of New Believers at Southbrook this year. I believe God will continue to move in even “Bigger” ways as our faith and trust in Him grow “Bigger” and we are obedient to give to His Kingdom in “Big” ways ~ Go God!