WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson | Archive | May, 2011
Archive - May, 2011

Preach That

May 11, 2011 in Leadership, Preaching with 46 Comments

I’m starting my morning off in Atlanta where I’m speaking at the Whiteboard Sessions. This is an interesting conference because each speaker has only 15 minutes to speak.

I’m a pastor. I’m not used to 15 minutes. In fact, each Sunday I speak for 30 minutes and most conferences I speak at I get 45 minutes or even an hour.

It’s been fun and challenging to prepare this talk. I’m even wondering if I could do more 15 minute messages on Sunday morning now.

In my preparation I found this great article which included the ten commandments for Ted Talks.

  1. Thou Shalt Not Simply Trot Out thy Usual Shtick
  2. Thou Shalt Dream a Great Dream, or Show Forth a Wondrous New Thing, Or Share Something Thou Hast Never Shared Before
  3. Thou Shalt Reveal thy Curiosity and Thy Passion
  4. Thou Shalt Tell a Story
  5. Thou Shalt Freely Comment on the Utterances of Other Speakers for the Skae of Blessed Connection and Exquisite Controversy
  6. Thou Shalt Not Flaunt thine Ego. Be Thou Vulnerable. Speak of thy Failure as well as thy Success.
  7. Thou Shalt Not Sell from the Stage: Neither thy Company, thy Goods, thy Writings, nor thy Desparate need for Funding; Lest Thou be Cast Aside into Outer Darkness.
  8. Thou Shalt Remember all the while: Laughter is Good.
  9. Thou Shalt Not Read thy Speech.
  10. Thou Shalt Not Steal the Time of Them that Follow Thee

I thought these were great tips regardless of whether you preach, teach a Sunday school class, or lead meetings.

So, I’ve got two questions today:

1. What other tips would you give those of us who preach/teach on a regular basis?

2. Should sermons in general be shorter or longer?

My Finish Line

May 10, 2011 in Church Leadership with 10 Comments

 

This is an exciting week. I’ll be in Atlanta, Dallas and Knoxville in the next 48 hours. It’s a finish line of sorts as I’m wrapping up what has been a crazy four months of travel. I’ve learned in ministry there are very few finish lines. The works is never done. There’s always more people to meet with…more meetings to attend…more messages to be written…more conferences to speak at.

That’s why a couple years ago I started making up my own finish lines. I break my schedule up into chunks so I can always see the light at the end of the tunnel.

After this week I switch gears and my extra time will be focused on finishing up my next book which is due in June (another finish line I’m looking forward to). Wow! I’ve got a lot of work ahead. Time for serious writing mode.

So if you’re around any of the following places over the next two days I would love to catch up with you!!

I’ll be speaking at the Whiteboard Sessions in Atlanta Wednesday morning. Looking forward to being with some good friends like this guy and can’t wait to hear Jenni Speak.

Wednesday afternoon I’ll be speaking in Dallas at the Catalyst Conference. It’s their first time in Dallas and I can’t wait to see how God’s going to move through our time there.

Thursday afternoon I’ll be in Knoxville at Faith Promise for the LIT conference. So proud of Pastor Chris and his entire team for putting together such an amazing conference.

*I’m also praying for my wife, Brandi. This is a huge week for her and the entire Leading and Loving It team as they put their first retreat together for pastors’ wives. They sold out their first year!! Today some 150 women converge in Nashville for a couple days of encouragement, laughter,  and an all around good time.

A Journey Marked By His Grace

May 9, 2011 in Parenting, Spiritual Growth with 38 Comments

 

Growing up I had a Sunday School teacher that was quite fond of reminding us that we were all a work in progress. While I can’t absolutely prove it I’m pretty sure she had a song that went a long with this concept.

I really wish spiritual transformation wasn’t such a process. I’m tired of making the same mistakes over and over. I’m done with being lured in by the same temptations.

The other day my oldest son, Jett, chose to make a few decisions that were less than smart. He had once again been caught directly, and in my opinion, purposefully disobeying something we had engaged in lengthy conversations about.

I was right to be upset and disappointed in his decisions, but my reaction was equally as devastating. I responded in anger saying things to him in a tone and spirit that were quite hurtful. Plain and simple I had lost my temper with him.

About 15 minutes later I sat there on the edge of his bed. With his face buried in his pillow crying, I asked him to forgive me for the way I had responded to him.

I couldn’t help but feel defeated. This wasn’t the first time I’ve had to ask him to forgive me for losing my temper with him. Shouldn’t this be something I have control over by now? Shouldn’t I be mature enough to control my emotions? Why do I have to continue to hurt the people around me that I care so much about with my sin?

I’m in no way making excuses for my behavior but, I’m learning that you can’t microwave spiritual formation. We want the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and faithfulness to be evident tomorrow. But I think there is a reason that Jesus likens our spiritual growth to trees (Jesus said, ‘I am the vine and you are the branches’). Because it’s a process and sometimes a slow one.

But this is the incredible beauty that God has called us to. It’s not a flawless process but a journey marked by His grace. It’s not a stale existence characterized by a mindless existence simply waiting for eternity. Not even close. We’ve been invited to connect with God each and every day as He brings about this incredible transforming process in our lives right in the midst of this beautifully broken world.

Awesomeness

May 6, 2011 in Family with 56 Comments

My oldest son, Jett (you may remember him from THIS self-directed video), turned 10 yesterday.

Hard to believe I have a son who’s in double digits now.

This past Sunday he made an amazing basketball shot that our neighbor caught on camera. He asked if I would blog it so everyone could see how awesome he is.

I’ve used him to get many laughs over the years, so I guess I should show you some of his awesomeness as well. He’s a “baller.”

And since I’ve used my platform to brag on my son today I’m going to open it up for all. It’s national brag on your kid day, so let’s hear it.

What’s one thing your kids have done in the past few months you’re really proud of?


 

My Little “Baller” from Pete Wilson on Vimeo.

 

 

Anything But Ordinary

May 5, 2011 in Cross Point Church with 7 Comments

We launched a new series this past Sunday entitled “Anything But Ordinary.”  Matt Singleton and the rest of the team did a great job on this series promo.

 

I’ve been preaching for almost 18 years and I’ve never preached verse by verse through the Beatitudes, but I’m loving it.

If you’re a Cross Pointer and want to invite someone to this series you can click here.

Don’t forget our new Internet Campus where you can join us around the world at 6 pm CST right here. My favorite part of the new internet campus is the LIVE Q & A we do each week after the service.

Cross Point Tornado Relief

May 4, 2011 in Cross Point Church, Leadership with 9 Comments

I think we’re all aware of the devastating tornadoes that tore through the South last week leveling entire towns and killing some 340 people, mostly in Alabama, with families still missing loved ones. There has not been a deadlier day for tornadoes since the 1925 outbreak that took 747 lives throughout 7 states.

Part of our DNA here at Cross Point is reaching out to our neighbors in the most desperate of times and just doing whatever we can to bring relief to those hurting and in need. I’m so proud of the first responders who within 24 hours of the disaster’s strike were loaded and ready to head out with our mobile hope center down to Cullman, Alabama, one of the worst hit areas.

Another team of 50 took off Monday morning and have been working tirelessly on the cleanup of home after home and just loving on the families who are still in shock. There is more work to be done than there are people so if you’d like to contribute to the relief in any way please visit here for info on how you can help or email our missions pastor Ryan Bult at Ryan@crosspoint.tv. Another truck will be heading out from Cross Point tomorrow so please keep your donations coming!!

Thank you to all those who have already responded and contributed so generously of their time, money and resources. Let’s all keep praying for those who have just lost their homes, belongings, loved ones, their security, and life as they know it; that they would be comforted and ministered to in this unbelievably difficult time.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Mixed Emotions

May 3, 2011 in Religion, Spiritual Growth with 127 Comments

Like everyone else I was glued to the news late Sunday night. I was shocked at the news that Bin Laden was finally dead. At first I felt such a great feeling of relief. I was so happy for the families who have lost loved ones from the terror he’s spread around the world. But the longer I thought about it the more confused I felt emotionally.

Don’t read into this post. I’m not writing this as a pastor trying to convince you how you should feel. In fact, honestly, I don’t know how you should feel. I don’t know how I feel.

I read verses like Proverbs 24:17 which says,

Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice

And I think to myself: “Pete, I know you’re glad justice has been served, but you shouldn’t be so inwardly excited about the fact that this man finally got what he deserves.”

Then I read verses like Proverbs 21:15 which says,

When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

And I think: “Pete, you’re spot on. You should be happy. You should be elated this man no longer walks the face of this earth.”

I think the hardest thing for me is this…  I wonder if I would have been as excited if the news had reported that Bin Laden had repented and accepted Christ as I was when I heard he had been killed?

Would we have jumped up and down over that?

I want you to know I’m proud of our troops, our former President, our current President and the host of people who have defended our country, our freedoms, and the American way. I can’t tell you how glad I am that a symbol of such long standing terrorism and the death of thousands no longer has power.

I’m just still torn about how I feel.

Anyone else struggling with this weird dichotomy?

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