Clif McKinley Dot Com

I must have been delusional, I mean after all I have the background, the experience, the chops, you would think that I would qualify . I mean I have been playing guitar for 23 years, I have played in a few different bands, I have shared the stage with some amazing people, I have played all over the Northeast, performed before 1,ooo’s, I have recorded my own music as well as been featured on other people projects, I have met lot of famous musicians, I have even signed a few autographs in my day. You would think that in my house I would be The Real Rockstar………but I am not, in my house the Real Rockstar is My Wife! She is amazing is so many ways, but what makes her the Real Rockstar is the fact that she mops the floor with me in Guitar Hero!!!!!

You would think that I could destroy her at this, after all I play guitar, I know how to play so many of the songs for real, you would just assume that I would rock, but I DON’T and Ange really does. So I admit it to the world, my wife Ange is the Real Rockstar!

• Started the Changed series, trusting God for some great growth during this series
• Attendance was down a little but it was very cool to have different members notice, the funny thing is that attendance way up for this time last year, so everyone is getting used to the growth and expecting to see new faces every week.
• Got the chance to talk to a couple of newbies yesterday who said that they loved the church and were so glad that they found a place where they could come as the are and feel welcomed and free to learn and grow. That was the best compliment I have heard in a while. One on my goals was to lead the church to embrace a “come as you are” culture and we are really getting there.
• Someone told me that I make guitar faces even when I play the piano, that cracked me up. I can’t help it that is just the way I am.
• I am loving all the new faces, God is doing a good work.
• We announced the 40 Days of prayer and fasting that will start next Sunday, we are looking for everyone to pick a day and commit to pray and fast that day for the church and the community. We are kicking things off with a prayer and praise gathering next Sunday night @ 6:30PM, I will be leading the worship times & the Elders will be helping to lead the times of prayer.
• Everything healthy grows and we are really beginning to see it @Lighthouse, you guys rock!!!!!!!!

Ok I am starting a new series of Blogs per Danielle’s request.  She enjoys my perspectives when I p;reach/teach and wants to know what all the notes I scribble in the margins of my Bible look like.  Sooooooo because Danielle is so cool and just all around awesome I will honor her request and start sharing “My Notes” as it were. Hope you can glean something from them.

Ephesians Chapter 1

• It is easy to skim the first few verses of Paul’s letter and miss out on who is talking to,  his target audience is “God’s HOLY PEOPLE in Ephesus who are FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS of Jesus Christ.“   So as you read through Ephesians remember Paul is speaking to Faithful Believers, not pagans, not newbies, but Faithful Believers.
• Verse 5 tells us God’s plans have not changed, His plan has always been to adopt us into the family.  He did this through Jesus Christ.  And this relationship gives God great pleasure.  Being in relationship with us puts a smile on God’s face.  That is very cool!!!!!!!!!!
• V7-Our freedom was “purchased” but we are never treated as possessions.
• V7-Our sins are Forgiven, the debt is paid, no more bill collectors calling, we are free
• v12-God’s purpose is that we should “praise our glorious God.”  When we consider all he has done for us it really isn’t that hard to praise and thank God.
• V13-The Holy Spirit is given to us @ salvation and is God’s guarantee, good faith gesture, that He will give us what He promised.  The Holy Spirit is also proof that we belong to God.  Yet another reason to “praise our glorious God”
• V15-23 is a prayer that Paul prays for these Faithful Followers, understanding is a big theme here.  HE asks God to give them Spiritual wisdom & understanding so that they might grow in their knowledge of God.  This is important because there are a lot of competing voices that say “spiritual sounding” things, but can lead us down the wrong road, it takes Spiritual discernment from God to keeps on the right path.  Paul then goes on asking God to flood their hearts with light (very cool image) so they can (here is the word again) UNDERSTAND the future that was promised and realize (yet another word for understand) the inheritance we have been given.  HE continues praying that they will UNDERSTAND the greatness of God’s power that is available to us who believe.  It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead & seated Him in heaven, and the same power that gives Jesus authority over all things.  This power was given to Christ to benefit the church, so it is available to us to BENEFIT the church.
• So you could say It is Paul’s desire and definitely God’s desire that we UNDERSTAND who God is, who we are in Him, what He has promised us, and the power that is available to us for the benefit of the Body of Christ, the Church.

Lisa recently passed a book along to me to read, Jim and Casper Go to Church.

This is very cool book. Jim is a Pastor & Casper is an Atheist. They journey around the country visiting all kinds of churches, on the list as Saddleback, Willow, the Potter’s House, Imago Dei, Mosaic, the Dream Center, and a few others they even check out a service at Joel Osteen’s church. Anyway it is very interesting to see the commentary that Casper the Friendly Atheist has to offer. Granted he is not who we are most often targeting but he had a lot of good insights. One very good question he kept asking was, “Is this what Jesus told you guys to do?” While he comes across as very cynical in places he is very honest about his observations. One thing that really stuck out was Casper was impressed with the churches that did practical things to meet the needs of those in the community & turned off by the slick and polished presentations of the Megachurches. It is a very quick read and is definitely worth checking out.

My birthday was back in March and I told my wife that I just wanted a book for my Birthday. So we went out to dinner and walked around the mall and when we came upon the book store we went into see if they had the book I was looking for. Now Ange thought that I was looking for some “Christian” literature, something on church growth, leadership, worship, or the latest from Max Lucado, so imagine her surpise when I picked up “SLASH.”

Maybe it is because he is an amazing guitar player, maybe it is because Guns was such a killer band, or maybe it is just because I love to read about iconic figures, but yeah it was a great read. I love to see the journey of life for some of these guys. I read the Marlyn Manson bio a few years back and still have to Read “The Dirt” and “Save Me From Myself.” When you look behind the curtain and see the person, no glitz, no glam, just raw life it is pretty amazing. Slash shares very candidly about his personal struggles with drugs and alcohol, about the inner turmoil of Guns & Roses and just his personal journey. I really enjoyed it, you can tell the guy loves music and it was cool to see how he progressed as a player and the determination he had to succeed on his own terms.

So for music fans and Biography fans I’d give it a thumbs up. Mind you this one is not for children.

I was driving around Thursday night and I turned in the local Christian station and I heard a voice that is very familiar to me. This particular communicator/teacher/pastor has been rocking my world since I recommitted my life to Christ at the age of 18. For the last 17 years this dude has been teaching me, challenging me, and encouraging me, and his books have done the same. So after all this time Greg Laurie is still the man. If you have never listen to him you can check out his radio show called “A New Beginning” or get his podcast, or check out his personal web site for other outlets of learning from him. Greg more than anyone else has influenced my teaching style so if you enjoy listen to me YOU WILL LOVE LISTENING TO HIM! So yeah Greg is still the man!!!!!!!!!!!!

Expelled – This is going to be awesome, I hope to be able to get to see it before it gets kicked out of theaters. Check out the website, there are a lot of great resources and info there.

Expelled Trailer

Trailer

• Guilt is Good, Myth busted!!!!!!!

• Yet another great Sunday, excellent worship , strong attendance, new faces, a good day

• We broke out “Everything Glorious” this morning and it went over really well

• We found out Option for Women exceeded there goal for the 20/20/20 project, the Walk for Life is coming up June 7th check options for women.org for details

• Had a great Class 101 tonight, eleven new members, very cool

The nice weather is finally here!!!!  I can’t wait to get out and play a few rounds.

The site is up and good to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!