January 2015 Book Release / A Family on Mission Action Journal

A Family on Mission Action Journal  /  Coming January 2015

Check out my first forthcoming Action Journal dedicated to fostering intentional family life in Christ together. Get active on purpose and regularly at that! Next Year (January 2015) order a copy for your family - and one for each of the families in your Missional Community. Get active together one day at a time.

Live UP / Live IN / Live OUT  This rhythm of life as a family dedicated to growing in Christ personally and together AND engaging Jesus' call to make disciples who make disciples is a wild adventure. On our journey to engage our neighbors and network with the Gospel together as a family we need a little encouragement from time to time.

Journey together through UP - IN - OUT adventures, journal about the events, the people involved, the work of the Spirit and the fruit you'll be praying about for future relationship and mission.

Being missional as a disciple of Christ is most rewarding when it's the overflow of our Deuteronomy 6:4-9 family life rhythm. It's most fruitful when it leads to discipling relationships both inside and outside the home.

Are you enjoying the call of Christ right here in your home?

A Family on Mission Action Journal / The Next Absolutely Unprofessional Publication coming January 2015.

How Was Your Christmas?

I've been asking this question the past couple of days as I run into people I haven't seen in a bit. I don't even know what I mean by it if I'm honest.

Family dynamics.
Party schedule.
Gift reception.
Financial peace.
Experience the spirit of the season.
Overeating.
General enjoyment of the kids, wife and time together.

Deep in my gut I'm also wondering how the person is engaging Jesus in this season. How celebrating the incarnational birth of Immanuel has impacted their heart, soul, mind and body here and now.

It's the other side of the pre-Christmas question: Are you ready for Christmas? It depends, what are talking about?

If you had asked me that in regards to gifts? Yes.
In regards to scheduling? Yes.
In regards to enjoying the family? Yes.
In regards to decorations? Yes.
In regards to peace and low stress? Yes.
In regards to worshiping Jesus?

Yes.

Paul challenged the body of believers to examine their own hearts and minds before engaging in the bread and the cup. Catch that? Before a Christ-follower is to eat a hunk of bread and take a shot of wine we're challenged to spiritually engage Jesus on His terms (1 Cor 11:27-31).

A celebration festival in honor of Christ's birth isn't found in Scripture - but the amount of space dedicated to recalling His coming gives weight to such a worthy party. Communion honors His death and resurrection and our place in Him. Christmas honors His birth and His place over us.

So, were you ready for Christmas? How did your Christmas go?

Did you examine your heart and it's focus on Him and overflow of His love in this season?
Did you examine your mind and your understanding and awareness of His Messianic Nature as the God-man?
Did you examine your body, your actions and engage in a divine level of self-control and service in loving your family, friends and neighbors?
Did you examine your soul and it's intermingling with the Spirit of the Living God in and about you?

How was your Christmas? Whether it was good or not may not have to depend on your family dysfunction, gifts or lack thereof, favorite foods, smells, church services and feelings. This isn't a new concept but maybe the Christians Christmas experience ought to depend on how we honored Christ this season? If Isaiah the Prophet can find hope and peace in a coming Messiah he didn't know, how much more can the disciple of Jesus enjoy His birth in all we do know.

How was your Christmas attitude?

Read Philippians 2:1-13 and engage this God this Christmas