One Week To Change The World

Posted on March 5, 2010 by Frank Wooden

One Week To Change the World is the new message series we just started at Sweetwater River Church. I’m really excited about it. Over six weekends we are focusing on the last week of Jesus Christ on earth. Each message takes an event from a different day of that week.

The theme for the series is how Jesus used the events and teachings of His last week to redefine key concepts. On Palm Sunday, last weekend’s message, Jesus redefined God. This coming weekend (March 7th), Jesus cleared the temple of the merchants and money changers. He used this event to redefine what religion is.

If you’re in the area, come join us Sunday as we learn to Make Jesus your relationship, not your religion.

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Success and Failure

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Frank Wooden

I had a great time on Wednesday meeting with three pastors from the Anaheim area- an Anglo, Guatemalan and Filipino. They are hoping to merge their three congregations into one in the fall. They made the drive to San Diego to explore how we do things.

One of the greatest things we can pass on to others is what doesn’t work. I was able to share some of the things we tried that didn’t go as we planned and some of the areas where we are still struggling. We will continually be refining how we do multi-ethnic ministry.

It is easy to hide behind a facade that leaves the impression that we don’t make mistakes and have it all figured out. Unfortunately, it isn’t true for any of us. Our honesty in sharing failures makes us more credible when we share successes.

Filed under: Churches, Leadership, Multi-ethnic | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Two Key Words For A New Decade

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Frank Wooden

The 2010 decade is going to be different than the last decade so how will it be defined? Try these two words: perseverance and networking.

Perseverance. It is too easy to give up in challenging times. Learning the importance of working through, thinking through and praying through problems will bring about success. Creative solutions to our biggest challenges often are discovered in the midst of perseverance.

Networking. New coalitions are being established between people who might have been inclined to go it alone in the past. I’m meeting tomorrow with a several pastors from Anaheim who want to know how to do multi-ethnic ministry in their city. That’s the example of how new partnerships are being formed.

It is pretty exciting to realize that we can possess the skills necessary to navigate in a changing world.

Filed under: Leadership, Ministry | Tagged: , | 2 Comments »

Drops Like Stars

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Frank Wooden

I was in Los Angeles last night for Rob Bell’s “Drops Like Stars” tour. This tour was envisioned as Rob worked on his latest book of the same title.

I love listening to Rob- His fresh approach to communicating helps me to recharge my creative nature. How many people could you listen to for  one and a half hours and not be bored? Rob is one of the few that makes my list.

He is a reminder that It isn’t always the message that is stale, it’s the messenger. For those who communicate for a living- may you be as fresh as the words you speak.

Filed under: Culture, Discipleship, Preaching/Speaking | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Bakersfield Here I Come

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Frank Wooden

I going to be in Bakersfield tomorrow night for a San Diego Hope dessert. I’m sharing the vision with some people I’ve known for years about what we are doing in the urban core of San Diego. As we plant churches and increase our outreaches in this multi-ethnic and spiritually diverse area, we need additional prayer partners and financial supporters.

Bakersfield is also the city where I ministered for four years before moving to San Diego. My parents and sister and her family still live there. It’s going to be a great time!

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Lent

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Frank Wooden

Today is the first day of Lent, a season that I have come to value more and more. The whole concept of giving up something you enjoy during Lent is to practice self denial. This year I’m giving up snacks…it is now 2:30 pm and there is chocolate in the next room calling to me. If I can’t say “no” to candy, how can I learn to say no to those things that would poison my soul?

To observe Lent is to join with countless other followers of Jesus Christ through the centuries who have prepared their hearts to live the Jesus way.

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Word of the Week: Urgent

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Frank Wooden

We encounter this word fairly regularly: urgent care, an urgent message. It is used to describe something that requires immediate attention. It is also a word that describes how we are to approach God’s agenda for the world.

I’m becoming increasingly aware that God has an urgent plan for people and he is expecting me to have the same urgency. God may not care as much as I do about scheduling an haircut appointment but He wants me to care as much as He does about the people of San Diego.

In our staff meeting this week we talked about urgency being an identifiable characteristic of a church that is reaching its community. We’re growing our sense of urgency as we spend more time praying to capture God’s heart and then doing to capture God’s creation.

Filed under: Discipleship, Leadership, Ministry | Tagged: | Leave a Comment »

Thank Yous

Posted on January 29, 2010 by Frank Wooden

Thank you to all who have been reading my blog. Since November, traffic has doubled.

Also a thank you to Kurt Warner, retiring quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. Kurt put God and family before fame. At an age when most quarterbacks have either made it or are backups, Kurt became a star. God gave him the fame after all. His story should be an encouragement to all of us to stay faithful and keep our priorities right because God is always watching over us.

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Why Dread Mondays?

Posted on January 25, 2010 by Frank Wooden

Because I’m on Facebook, I see a lot of posts towards the end of the work week about people looking forward to the weekend. I understand the desire for Saturday to roll around…a time to sleep in, be with family, do something fun, etc. But I think that deep down, there is a disappointment with the other five days of the week.

The concept of work is holy. Genesis chapter one tells us that God gave us a job- to take care of the earth. As fun as the Garden of Eden must have been (except for that one tree), it wasn’t met to be a biblical Club Med. It was a place to put your skills to work (Genesis 2:15).

Going back to work after the weekend is to realize your place in the universe. If you don’t enjoy what you do- find something else to do. Otherwise, accept that work is an opportunity to honor God (unless you’re a bank robber by profession).

May we come to the place where we look forward to the weekend and after the weekend, we look forward to Monday as well.

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A Priority of Reading

Posted on January 7, 2010 by Frank Wooden

Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.  ~P.J. O’Rourke

I am a reader- from fiction to classics to history to leadership. One of the things I am doing this year to establish reading as a priority is to keep track of how many books I’ve read. My goal is to do 36- 3 per month. I’m currently reading Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, What the Dog Saw.

Another reading goal is to go through the Bible this year. I’ve found a reading plan and I’m already on my way. I have challenged my congregation at SRC to either read through the Bible or the New Testament this year and many are doing it.

Filed under: Personal, Productivity | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

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