You should checkout these…

Here are some sites/ blogs that you should checkout…

Access Church
Access’ blog
My blog

I’ll give some more links another time. But check these out. And you might ask, why do I have another blog? Well, I wanted to started moving Access specific information and thoughts to the Access blog and my broader reflections on life, food, leadership, faith, and family on my blog. So I’d love it if you stopped by AdamFlynt.com.

See you soon!

Don’t Miss This Sunday’s UpStreet!

Hey parents! This is just a heads up that if you have kids that are in k-5th grade, you’re going to want them and as many of their friends as you can pile into the truckster to be down on UpStreet this Sunday.

I’m not kidding! This Sunday UpStreet is putting on a full-length, one hour, feature production full of games, sketches, music, a Scottish guy rapping, and an incredible introduction to February’s Big Idea: honor.

So spread the word. Have your kids invite a friend or ten to spend the night on Saturday night, get a couple pizzas for dinner, play some Wii, watch a movie, and then wake them all up on Sunday, and bring them to UpStreet.

Doors open at 10:25 at the main doors of the theater. See you there!!

Have you ever regretted giving

Kristen and I pulled up to a stop light the other day. There was a couple sitting at the curb begging for money. Before the light turned green, we were able to give them $6 and two chick-fil-a coupons (for free meals). They smiled and off we went.

Then I had the thought, I wonder if they’re going buy drugs or a beer with the money. (Hey, I’m just being honest about my thoughts here… don’t judge). I figured that I was supposed to give, and that it was up to them what they did with.

So my question is this: have you ever regretted giving money to someone or some charitable organization? Have you ever found yourself worse off for being generous?

I want to teach my children to be generous for more reasons than they “ought to”, but because of how generosity changes the world and it changes me.

Speaking at Church of The Palms

A few months ago, I had the chance to speak at Church of The Palms, in Sarasota, FL. It was a service on Sunday evening to install one of my best and long-time Friends, Tim, as their pastor.

To view the message, click HERE. The message starts at 5:55. Just a warning: if you’re a UT Volunteer, the first few minutes may sting a little.

I loved the opportunity to communicate at this event because Tim and I have had a great friendship, the congregation was a ton of fun, and I had the chance to share a few biblical principles about ministry.

You can also go HERE to see a few other messages that I have given at Access Church about being “involved” and the “orange philosophy” of family ministry.

GoodReads

I started reading a new book yesterday. It’s called “Counterfeit Gods: the empty promises of money, sex, power, and the only hope that matters”. It’s by Tim Keller. I’m just getting going on the book, but it is phenomenal so far. Keller is so smart, yet so accessible. This book couldn’t be more timely for where we are as a society.

If you want to see what else I have been reading, you can take a look at my GoodReads account. If you’ve never used GoodReads and love reading, you should jump in and give it a try. It’s a really good site that allows you to see what friends are reading and what they like/ dislike.

Have you read Counterfeit Gods? I’d love your thoughts. Want to read it together and talk about it? Have any suggestions for my 2010 reading list I could add?

Throwing out our microwave

So, I’m tossing out our microwave. That’s a picture of it completely dismantled and sitting next to the garbage cans in the garage.

Our staff is wrapping up a book we’ve been reading togother called “Influencer: The Power To Change Anything.” I’ll give a review soon, but let’s just say that’s a really bold title!

One of the last chapters talks about how physical environments affect behavior. It goes on to say that what seems like positive developments in our environments don’t always translate to positive actions or results.

One example they site that communication and strong family bonds have been breaking down over the last few decades. There are all kinds of reasons, but one they looked at is the decline in families eating dinner together. Seems logical. But guess what the reason is for not eating together? The microwave!

The microwave has allowed for single serving meals to be prepared at any time allowing family members to eat when and where they want. Contrast this to meals that must be cooked as one larger meal, and then eaten at one time.

How often does your family eat the same meal at the same time at the same table together? Who is in for the “4N7 Challenge”? Four meals together in seven days.

ps-I didn’t toss the microwave because of this article. We got a new microwave and it the old is just waiting to go to the curb.

Flynt Family 2010 Theme- Ways to be simple

If you’re just popping on for the first time or haven’t been around in a while, we’re talking about “simplicity”- my family’s theme for 2010.

The question I’ve been thinking about is: how can I be simple?

Time with God: Kristen and I have been doing the same Bible reading plans for years. Last year (the whole year on five books) was Old Testament poetry and wisdom literature. This year we are simplifying things down to spending the year with Jesus in the gospels. We’re reading a chapter a day starting in Matthew. Doesn’t get much more simple than that.

Professionally: From the church angle (maybe a marketplace job for you), I’ve been asking a question of “focus” to bring simplicity, effectiveness, and power. When we launched our church, there were a lot of things that all of us on staff had to do because they needed done. As we’ve grown though, we are gaining traction with more and greater leaders. So, what are the things that only I can do or that I do that are the best of my gifts and skills? What can others around me do (probably better than me)? How can I focus on those things I do best and leverage them for the greater mission?

One of my brothers suggested relational simplicity. Can I get an amen! If you’re single and want to date someone, why play games? Just ask them out. If you’ve made a mistake, just admit it. If you tend to keep secrets (even small ones), why not be more honest? We tend to complicate relationships under the guise of trying to keep things simple. What if we just kept things simple relationally?

How can you keep it simple this year? How would this apply with our children?

Men in Family Ministry

One of the things that I am passionate about as a pastor and as a dad is having men serving at all levels of leadership in Family Ministry.

I am so proud that at Access we have men who serve as Waumba Land Coaches, UpStreet producers, singers, storytellers, and hosts, UpStreet small group leaders, guest services hosts, Waumba Land small group leaders, and in student ministry.

As a dad, I love that my son has had the same small group leader for almost three years. Gavin is growing up learning that being a man means loving and caring for your family and loving and serving Jesus (not to mention his leader works with tractors and hunts). Gavin thinks that’s great- and he’s right! Gavin’s group leader is like dozens of other men at Access who are impacting boys as they invest in them to be godly men. They are also showing their own sons and daughters a model of a good husband, father, and follower of Jesus.

I love hearing parents comment to one another in the halls about how many men we have serving! These guys in UpStreet, Waumba, and student ministry are teaching other men what it looks like to be a real man.

This morning, I met with some of our guys who lead in Family Ministry to have breakfast. We looked at three stories in the Bible about men who invested in the next generation of boys, partnering with parents, to raise godly men. If you want the notes/ handout from our time, HERE it is in a PDF format. Feel free to use it. Contact me if you want an editable file for your own use.

PS- women, I’m a big fan of you serving in Family Ministry, too. But I’m sure you’ll join me in cheering on our guys as they lead and serve to raise up the next generation of men.

Flynt Family 2010 Theme-simplicity definied

If you missed what we’re talking about this week, you can check out part 1 of the series here.

I’ve been thinking about what SIMPLICITY will mean for 2010 for our family. I have a few thoughts that I jotted down this morning about what simplicity is and isn’t for me to get the ball rolling…

Simplicity is: uncomplicated, clear, focused, disciplined, saying “no” more often, grace, Jesus, missional, targeted, God’s way, direct, honest, decisive, repentant, powerful, relational…

Simplicity is NOT: naive, dumbed-down, lazy, wavering, incomplete, sloppy, being simple-minded, lack of direction, taking the easy way out, an excuse to do less, faltering…

Last year Kristen and I read through the book of Proverbs. It had a ton to say about “the simple”. But the way it used the term “simple” is not the same as what I think I mean by simple/ simplicity. But I’m still working that one out.

What are your thoughts????

Flynt Family 2010 Theme

For the past few years our family has picked a theme for each year. Some are themes we need to work on. Some are just fun (our 2009 theme was this).
*2007 was compassion.
*2008 was compassion (that’s not a typo- the family thought I needed another go at that one).
*2009 was hospitality.

I think 2009 was a lot of fun- opening our home up more to friends, our community group, leaders from the church, having out of town guests, and capping the year off by hosting our huge extended family Christmas Eve party!

After a lot of discussion around the dinner table, we decided that this year’s theme would be SIMPLICITY.

I’ll spend the next few posts unpacking what I think simplicity is and isn’t and why we picked it. I would also love your thoughts on it. I also think there is great application within the church, an orange philosophy of ministry, and leadership.

But here are two reasons (one a little more serious than the other) why I love this year’s theme:

Reason 1:
“we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” (1 Cor 1:12 ESV)

Reason 2: