Bobby Lepinay

My Favorite Movies of 2005

I am not a real big fan of network tv.  It by and large bores me.  BUT, I do enjoy watching a well-made, intelligent movie, ..... whether serious or funny!

People always ask me if I have seen this or that movie.  Deb and I catch movies less often than we used to, .... especially since the price has gone up to 8 bucks!  We subscribed to Netflix last year and really like it, as it is $9.99 a month and they send it right to your mailbox. You send it back postage paid already, then they send you the next one in your list, unlimited.  FYI, my next one coming is "March of the Penguins".  Since Deb is not big on documentaries, I usually watch those late on Sunday night as a way of unwinding after church.  It doesnt make Monday morning easy, but, every so often, its worth it......that is, if it is a worth-while movie!

Below is my list of personal favorites from 2005.  Please note that they werent neccessarily made in 05.  I just WATCHED them in 05.  Some have some language in them, so you prob want to keep your lang filter on.  None are excessive.  Whatever violence is not gratuitious, but real to the story  (Rwanda..etc..).  All I felt better for watching...... Added to, even if they were disturbing, as in the case of Hotel Rwanda.

# 1 - Cinderella Man.  Best movie I saw in 05, bar none.  It's a shame it was over-looked.

#2 - Hotel Rwanda.  If you don't cry, something is wrong with you....  Powerful and true.  Don't miss the special features on the dvd of the real guy going back.

#3 - The Corporation.  Most have never heard of it.  Another documentary that is very engaging, showing how powerful corporations are for good and for evil.  I promise this:  It WILL make you think.

#4 - Hitch.  A perfect date movie. I like watching Will Smith in movies, as he is enjoyable to watch.

#5 - StarWars : Revenge of the Sith.  I know, I know...you are disappointed in me.  I wanted not to like it, as the last 2 were SOOOO bad.  But Anakin's transformation got to me.  The acting was terrible, which I think is intentional, but the movie felt 'big', the way Star Wars started out.

Those are my top 5 of the past year.  "Narnia" didn't make it, due to the fact that for me, I found myself comparing the book to the movie the whole time I watched, making it far less enjoyable personally.  Great, enduring story that would have been a masterpiece in the hands of Peter Jackson directing it.

Enjoy your Wednesday....PB

Hitting the Wall

As you may or may not know, I am trying to lose 12 pounds.  I want to get to what is supposed to be my target weight for my height, 170,... max 172.  (168 would be great, giving me 2 to 4 pounds to 'play' with....:-)..)

I have been at it now for 3 weeks.  I lost 5 pounds during the fasting retreat a few weeks ago.  Since then, zippo, though I have run and been eating healthy.

This morning was the absolute pits.

I went with our guest speaker, Ron Cantor, out for dinner after church to Zea's, one of my new favs.  I disciplined myself all day yesterday, banana for bfast, vitamin juice 'shake' (4 oz OJ, 4 oz carrot juice, Green Defense, tbsp of protein) for lunch..), knowing I was going out for dinner. 

I decided (against my better judgment, I now realize...:-)...) to forgo 'fun food' and get a boring salad, while Ron had blackened Prime Rib next to me.  I am just trying to lose ONE measly pound a week and felt certain this morning I would be rewarded for my discipline.

Was I ever disappointed....

Got on the scale first thing and I was A POUND AND A HALF HEAVIER than the day before! 

Needless to say, I have hit the proverbial "wall" full force.  I am not quitting, though, as I feel better, though am at a loss as to WHY I can't break through.   If needs be, I will do another juice-fast for a week to "beat this body and make it my slave", rather than being a slave to it.  (I Cor 9:27)

"Walls" are a very real thing, aren't they?  Just as we hit them in the physical, we hit them in our spiritual life as well.  Bible reading becomes dull.  Prayer becomes routine.  Worship and church become boring  (well.....at other churches that is...:-)...). 

Spiritual dryness sets in.

The cure for spiritual walls is the same as with physical walls:  We have to "shock" ourselves out of the rut. Fasting, extended worship and prayer, a missions trip.....whatever will FORCE us beyond the resistance of the flesh are the only way to get beyond the wall.  One thing I have learned about my flesh is it always wants to 'settle', hates being challenged.

Break out of the rut.  Life is too short to live status quo.

For the Glory and Excellence of God,   PB

Conformity

The picture you see is from an educational film shown in schools in the 50's.  Somehow, the idea that conformity is the key to being popular gained a foothold in a generation.  Tract housing, with thousands of houses all looking the same, was born in this time period.  Pony-tails, bobby socks, greased hair on guys....were pretty much the order of the day as well.  Churches as well were all pretty much cookie-cutter same.   

Conformity gives us a sense of safety.  A completely false sense of security, really.....

One thing I never want to lose at Harvest is the fact that we are continually 'on toe', seeking to be the "original us" God desires and raised this church to be.  I don't want to be like Olive.  There is an Olive already.  I don't want to be like Brownsville.  There is a Brownsville already as well. 

I want to be "Harvest", wonderfully and with a vengeance embracing God's unique vision for us for our city.

I have pasted a post from Mark Batterson's blog, Pastor of National Community Church in DC.  This was posted this morning from the C3 Conference in Dallas.  The funny thing is that I was discussing this VERY thing with Jennifer, my assistant and our Office Manager, minutes before reading it:  the fact that....... "You can mark it:  The people without alot of church background and baggage give little grief.  The ones who give you grief are the ones who come expecting you to be what they came from....minus the bad stuff, of course..! :-)

God love em...!

PB

C3 Session I

Here are some thoughts from Ed Young's opening session.

"Little people with little vision attack big people with big vision."

Here is an observation I've made over the years: a person who is sold out to God convicts everyone around them! But it's a holy conviction. And there are one of two responses. Either people criticize the one who convicts them to justify their complacency. Or they accept the challenge and sell out to God themselves!

That's what is happening in Nehemiah 4:14. Nehemiah has a God-sized vision. But a couple naysayers named Tobiah and Sanballat tried to diss-courage Nehemiah. But Nehemiah tuned them out. If you listen to the "wrong they" it'll result in vision sway.

Here is a discovery I've made over the years. Most of the people who come to your church from another church want your church to conform to the church they come from. You might need to read that twice. Unchurched people don't have an agenda. That's why they never cause problems :) But churched people often want your church to conform to their church. It's natural. It's subconscious.

Don't let anyone keep you from being you! I'm more and more convinced that part of spiritual maturity is resisting conformity and moving toward originality. It's becoming more and more comfortable in your own unique skin. We're called to conform to Christ. But we're all called to become unlike anyone else who has ever lived.

You be you.

"I don't want to rise and fall based on the opinions of people."

For what it's worth, Ed has someone screen his mail and email. And he doesn't read unsigned letters :) We need constructive criticism, but that ought to come from the people who are closest to us! If you listen to the "wrong they" you become like them.

Nehemiah stayed above the fray!

Here's a thought that really challenge me: "Leaders don't take people where they want to go. Leaders take people where they need to go."

Churches naturally become ingrown. I call them centripetal churches.

In the words of Ed Young, "People will lick the lint out of each other's navels." We're not called to sing Kumbaya. If someone isn't 100% on board with the vision of your church, no matter how much they give, you need their seat.

"I don't want people who are for me. I want people who are with me."

Technorati Tags: C3, C3 2006, Fellowship Church

posted by Mark Batterson @ 10:04 AM   2 comments

Fearless?....Or Just Plain Dumb

There is a huge difference between 'faith' and 'presumption'.

I remember talking to a guy some years ago who had borrowed almost 100k against his house to speculate in some brand new, unknown, unproven "dot-com" companies that were just starting up in 2000, the peak of the tech boom.  Within the year he had lost it all.

As I talked to him, it amazed me to hear this believer and his thinking about "faith".  Faith, in his mind, was blindly stepping out on an impulse that he 'felt' might be God.

I used to believe this was 'faith' as well.  Until I realized that God never contradicts Himself.  Hear what the Bible says....just out of Proverbs alone!

• "My son, preserve sound judgement and discernment, do not let them out of your sight..."
• "Do not forsake wisdom, she will protect you; love her and she will watch over you..."
• "Make level paths for you feet; take only ways that are firm."
• "It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way.  A man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD."
• "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."
• "....an upright man gives thought to his ways.."

Why do Christians think it is somehow 'spiritual' to leave their brains at the door?  I hear about stuff like this all the time, supposed "fearless faith" ,that is really just plain ole dumb.  So much unneccessary damage happens in lives and families because of cockamany ideas about 'faith'.

"THINK" is not curse-word, folks..!

To a better, smarter, truly more faith-filled future....

PB

American Idol-a-try

I suppose its that time of the year again...time for American Idol.

Now, most of you who know me know I just have never 'gotten it'.  My whole family, on the other hand, love it.  Nothing can spark my girls up more than when I walk thru the living room while its on, making up songs out loud, like, "I worship you, O Simon Cowell....there is none like you....." (an old church worship song from the 80's..).  All I hear is "DAAAADDDD....PLEASE!!!"....  :-) 

Then I keep walking to my office til the show is over.  I know, ....."Fathers, dont provoke your children to wrath...", .....I am getting better, though.  I even tried tonight to sit through some of it.

I made it for all of about 2 minutes......but, I didn't say or sing anything...!

It's funny how many people LOVE the show and how popular it remains.  Tonight was my last shot at trying to like it, and it won't be an event our family will share.  The French have a saying, "Chaq une a son goo." (sp), translated, "Each has his own taste."

And that's where I have landed with the thing.

Who knows?  Maybe one day 10 years from now when Idol is in perpetual rerun land, I may finally 'get it'.  Until then, I am doing my best to muzzle myself and let my family enjoy themselves. 

Grace to your day,  PB

The God Who Hears

       "O you who hears prayer...."   (Psalm 65:2)

One of the things that never ceases to blow me away is the fact that the God who created the universe actually hears when I talk with him. 

Some months ago, during a time of prayer-walking, I lifted my voice up to God and cried out to him to "give me Catholics!!" 

Having grown up a Catholic, I understand them.  I have a real heart to help them discover full life in Christ and the vibrant joy of being filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Most of you probably know my story, but for the first 18 years of my life I grew up in the one of the 'bastions' of Catholicism, South Lousiana.  I went to mass, received First Communion, Confirmation, sinned with all my heart, went to Confession, repeated the 10 Our Father's, 10 Hail Mary's and did the rosary............but never in all those years came alive to God. 

In my freshman year of college, by the mercy of God, I was 'born-again', 'saved', basically, received Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord and life was never the same from that point.  I love Catholics in that there is something inbred to revererence God, to fear God.  Usually, when a Catholic really comes to the Lord, they are serious about their faith and very open to the miraculous and the gifts of the spirit.  There is no resistance to the supernatural.  Many stay in the Catholic church and God is using them there.

Back to the point.  ...

Since praying that prayer months ago, we have had a steady stream of Catholics coming in to our church who have never been to a church like Harvest.  It seems every week I talk to a few more.  And they are coming to God in an incredibly powerful way.  The God who hears prayer heard my prayer and is answering! 

Last night, after the service, a few of us took our guest speaker, Fred McKinnon, to Carrabas restaurant.  As I was sitting down at the table a waitress walked by me and said "I love watching your show on TV....And I'm a Catholic!"  She was very surprised to hear I had grown up Catholic as well. 

Seeing God answer that prayer fires me up to believe God even more!  We can so easily get filled up with unbelief and get very cynical and sour.  Jesus said, "ASK....that your joy may be full!"  The Christian life is a never-ending journey of joy when we participate with God in prayer.

So what are you waiting for?  Remember ...."If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us...." What a challenge to dive into! 

The God of the Universe is waiting to hear your voice.....Grace, PB

Worship Concert this Sunday

Fred McKinnon, a friend of mine who went with Pastor Craig and myself to Tanzania a few years ago, will be ministering this Sunday @ 5:00 pm at Harvest. 

Fred recently did WUTS (Worship Under the Stars) where over 3,000 gathered for a regional night of worship on St. Simons Island in GA.  It was an amazing night of praise and worship (the picture to the left is from that concert).  Trust me when I say, if you miss Sunday night you will REGRET it, as no doubt it will be a night of refreshing in God's presence.....!

Oh, and don't forget......INVITE, INVITE, INVITE, INVITE!!! Bring as many people as you can Sunday night.......we are on a momentum tear at Harvest over the past few weeks.  Just the start, my friends....!

See you @ 5pm Sunday night...!  PB

Love and Choices

Just got back from our annual fasting retreat and am completely renewed inwardly.  

I love the presence of God! 

The only thing that makes us any different than the world is the presence of God in us and upon us.  While driving to Adventures Unlimited (15 miles north of Milton), I was pondering this very thing.  The verse that was stirring in me was this....

"The one who loves me is the one who keeps my commands.......If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."            John 14

This is profound.  God will come to us and make his "home" with us. 

In my experience, most Christians have little or no presence of God in or upon their lives.  This is not to throw rocks, but just to state the fact.  There's no sense denying it, as to state the truth is the beginning of change. We know this by seeing how little influence is exerted and how little thirst is created by the average Christian in the lives of unbelievers around them.

Why is this that there is so little of the presence of God in their lives?

The answer is 'choices'.

Love makes the hard choices.  All of us have this little "lawyer" in us that when the Holy Spirit has a contention with us about something, the 'little lawyer' in us reasons and justifies the Holy Spirit's conviction away.  The Holy Spirit eventually stops talking to us about the matter, whatever it is, and leaves us be. 

His presence is no longer upon us, however, nor the near awareness of God and His love.  And we become very miserable people.

This is called "Grieving the Spirit". (Ephesians 4).  At this point, we enter what I call the "Hebrews 12" phase.....the Father's discipline.  Only those who truly belong to God can know the Father's discipline.

God loves us and wants us to share in His holiness, to live under His ownership, and because of this, we come under His discipline when anything else rules us.  We become very empty, heavy, confused, lacking confidence......pretty much the opposite of the peace and joy God desires for us.

The only solution is to make the "hard choices" that will prove your love for Christ. 

So shut your little lawyer guy up and get on with it.  In your heart of hearts you know you want God more than anything.  Now make the hard choice to put away sin away resolutely. Cut it off. 

Life is too short to live without His presence.

Grace much, PB

Heading for da woods.....

Well.......actually a nice cabin out north of Milton..:-)

I will be joining this evening a number of other guys from all over the S.E. to fast, pray and worship through Thursday. I very much covet your prayer for a fresh touch from heaven for the season that is upon us at Harvest.  Thanks ahead of time!

I will be back in the saddle Friday.  Fred McKinnon, who is ministering at Harvest Sunday evening, will be with us this at the retreat.  Fred has a unique anointing on his ministry to lead people into the Presence of God.  You wont want to miss it!

God's grace upon your week........PB

Not What You Expected

  Was reading this morning about Jesus again......Matthew's Gospel.  At every turn, Jesus defies the people's expectations of what they thought He should be like. 

They thought the Messiah should be serious, a "holy-man" who lived in strict separation.  Jesus on the other hand is always going to parties, laughing, full of joy, winsome, loving people. I honestly think most of us think that Jesus was 99% 'serious', 1 % light. 

My feeling as I read the Gospels over and over is just the opposite.  I see Jesus  as the free, light-hearted, anointed with joy Son of God who was totally secure in who He was.  Holy, yes.  Pure, yes.....but happy. 

Not at all what we or the people of His time thought the Messiah should be like. 

I have had 3 experiences over the past week that were interesting on this thing of 'expectations'.  All 3 centered around the fact that I don't necessarily look like your traditional pastor.  I could see them looking over my jeans and jersey that I was wearing, looking me over as we talked.  One even flat out said, ..."You're too young to be a minister!". 

Then, after seeing Debbie, they for sure thought I was too young..:-) 

After I inform them of mine and Deb's age and the ages of our children, and how long we have been in pastoral ministry, they are usually shocked.  

This happens alot.

Years ago, I felt the pressure to 'look' the part of pastor.  I dressed old (...alright..no need for comments from the gallery on that one....), I carried the "pastoral demeanor"...(no need to explain..), and I even talked the part. 

Something changed about 12 years ago.  The  misplaced expectations from people no longer bother me.  They make me chuckle now, as people are just so "people". I have found the freedom of just simply loving God and loving people, regardless their expectations.  I really do want to live for the praise of God and not men.

Stop living to impress other people, ANY people.  Be the happiest, most free, Jesus-loving "you" you can be.  Bless people for no other reason than that God loves them.  Get free of a "people-pleasing spirit".

...More like Jesus, ....right???   

PB