Thursday, August 7, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Brayden is here and has a website
For everyone who hasn't heard, Brayden Austin Padgett was born on May 28th at 9lbs and 21 1/2 inches. He was a big, healthy boy! Both he and Heather are doing exceptionally well.
We've created a website that includes videos and pictures of Brayden at www.braydenpadgett.blogspot.com. Please check out the website, we are very proud of him.
We've created a website that includes videos and pictures of Brayden at www.braydenpadgett.blogspot.com. Please check out the website, we are very proud of him.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Website
Hey everyone, we have a live website now for Origins Church at www.originsaustin.com. Check it out and let me know what you think. We still have a lot of work to do with the website, but this gets us up and running.
Everyone Matters
This is a simple, yet very profound statement. In fact, its'such a profound statement that Origins Church is built around this idea and philosophy. We have built ourselves around this because we believe that this God's heart. It doesn't matter what you've done in your past, what is currently happening in your life, or how bleak your future looks...you matter to God!
Jesus was the significant example of this. Because of the Father's love for the entire world, he sent his only Son Jesus to this earth. Jesus came to serve the poor, oppressed, marginalized, and hopeless to show them God's love. In other words, Jesus hung out with and placed value on the people that no one else wanted to. The Scriptures even tell us that he spent a significant amount of time with "sinners." This hardly made the religious leaders of his time happy. Then in the ultimate example of love for humanity, Jesus died upon a cross in our place for our sins. This way we have a path back to God and a relationship with him. This is how much God cares about you.
If you mean this much to God, then we are compelled to place value on you and every other person in this world. At Origins Church you matter!
Jesus was the significant example of this. Because of the Father's love for the entire world, he sent his only Son Jesus to this earth. Jesus came to serve the poor, oppressed, marginalized, and hopeless to show them God's love. In other words, Jesus hung out with and placed value on the people that no one else wanted to. The Scriptures even tell us that he spent a significant amount of time with "sinners." This hardly made the religious leaders of his time happy. Then in the ultimate example of love for humanity, Jesus died upon a cross in our place for our sins. This way we have a path back to God and a relationship with him. This is how much God cares about you.
If you mean this much to God, then we are compelled to place value on you and every other person in this world. At Origins Church you matter!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Neglecting the Basics
Lately, Hill Country has surrounded all of the church planters with extremely bright and insightful ministry leaders. Leaders like Matt Chandler at the Village, Bob Roberts from Northwood, and Hal Haller from Church of the Highlands, have all spent time with and invested in us. I am so thankful for the time we've had with these men of God. I have gleaned much wisdom from each.
However, these leaders and their stories seem to have a seductive force. People, which includes me, are sucked into their story and how they "did or do things" that we neglect some of the basic elements that are vital to our story and church plant. Hal challenged us with prayer, God's Word, and relationship building. Intutively we all know this. We blog, speak, and instruct about these things, but they tend to get lost in our life. He told us to toss all the books aside for the moment and focus on the basics. This resonates within my heart because I began thinking about how much I have been lured into reading the next great book or podcasting a great communicator at the expense of my prayer life and study. Not that books and podcasts aren't incredibly helpful, but they pale in comparsion to my personal devotion to Jesus.
This totally wrecks my schedule. My goal is now to have at least 500 conversations over the 3 months with people in the area, pray over every home and apartment within 5 miles of the Arboretum, and spend substantially more amount of time alone with God. If I neglect these then it doesn't matter how cutting edge I am or how great of a gathering I plan, the church will fail. I'm getting back to the basics.
However, these leaders and their stories seem to have a seductive force. People, which includes me, are sucked into their story and how they "did or do things" that we neglect some of the basic elements that are vital to our story and church plant. Hal challenged us with prayer, God's Word, and relationship building. Intutively we all know this. We blog, speak, and instruct about these things, but they tend to get lost in our life. He told us to toss all the books aside for the moment and focus on the basics. This resonates within my heart because I began thinking about how much I have been lured into reading the next great book or podcasting a great communicator at the expense of my prayer life and study. Not that books and podcasts aren't incredibly helpful, but they pale in comparsion to my personal devotion to Jesus.
This totally wrecks my schedule. My goal is now to have at least 500 conversations over the 3 months with people in the area, pray over every home and apartment within 5 miles of the Arboretum, and spend substantially more amount of time alone with God. If I neglect these then it doesn't matter how cutting edge I am or how great of a gathering I plan, the church will fail. I'm getting back to the basics.
Monday, January 28, 2008
It's Not Enough to be Missional
It is not enough to just be missional. I'm not saying that I'm not a fan of the missional movement because Origins Church must have this mentality and mindset. We have to view ourselves a missionaries. We have to "live sent" in order to impact and reach the Arboretum-area and community. However, being missional alone isn't enough. I think we have to not only be missional, but also intentional. Our core group is wrestling around with the idea of being intentional with the mission we have been given.
As we are connecting with people we must ask ourselves, "What are we doing with them exactly? Where are we taking them? How are we getting them there? What next for them?" We can't spend our days as the missionaries randomly hanging out in the coffee shops trying to formulate conversations with complete strangers. Don't get me wrong God divinely appoints meetings with people and crosses our paths with individuals who need the Gospel, encouraging, etc. But I think we have to be much more intentional with our time and mission. We need to find ways to penetrate places where people already gather together. We need to have the next step in mind with each individual we come into contact with. We need to find ways to penetrate the most influential leaders and groups. Paul, the greatest missionary of the Christian church, seemed to quite intentional in how spread the Gospel. He went to the largest, most influential city in a region and started churches there. I believe he did this with the intention of these churches affecting the surrounding cities in the region. Missionaries are missional...Effective missionaries are missional and intentional.
Also, Jason Rastatter and Ashley Jones gave us a call last Thursday to confirm that they are moving to Austin to help with the plant. They should make to Austin sometime around the summer. Praise God...Jason and Ashley are wonderfully talented and will be used by God in mighty ways.
As we are connecting with people we must ask ourselves, "What are we doing with them exactly? Where are we taking them? How are we getting them there? What next for them?" We can't spend our days as the missionaries randomly hanging out in the coffee shops trying to formulate conversations with complete strangers. Don't get me wrong God divinely appoints meetings with people and crosses our paths with individuals who need the Gospel, encouraging, etc. But I think we have to be much more intentional with our time and mission. We need to find ways to penetrate places where people already gather together. We need to have the next step in mind with each individual we come into contact with. We need to find ways to penetrate the most influential leaders and groups. Paul, the greatest missionary of the Christian church, seemed to quite intentional in how spread the Gospel. He went to the largest, most influential city in a region and started churches there. I believe he did this with the intention of these churches affecting the surrounding cities in the region. Missionaries are missional...Effective missionaries are missional and intentional.
Also, Jason Rastatter and Ashley Jones gave us a call last Thursday to confirm that they are moving to Austin to help with the plant. They should make to Austin sometime around the summer. Praise God...Jason and Ashley are wonderfully talented and will be used by God in mighty ways.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
You Have to See This!
I was sent a link earlier this week to a new movie that is coming out in the Spring of this year. This is a film created by the intellectual Ben Stein and seems very interesting!
Here is the link to the website and trailer for the movie (I highly suggest that everyone check it out):
http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php
And here is a brief synopsis about the movie from the website:
Ben realizes that he has been “Expelled,” and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired – for the “crime” of merely believing that there might be evidence of “design” in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance.
Let me know what you think...
Here is the link to the website and trailer for the movie (I highly suggest that everyone check it out):
http://www.expelledthemovie.com/playground.php
And here is a brief synopsis about the movie from the website:
Ben realizes that he has been “Expelled,” and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired – for the “crime” of merely believing that there might be evidence of “design” in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance.
Let me know what you think...
Friday, January 18, 2008
Core Group Meeting - Jan. 20th
Well the time has arrived for missional core group meetings to begin! This Sunday, Jan. 20th, from 7:00pm-8:30pm at HCBC-NW we will be gathering together those people who are committed, interested, or just investigating the church plant. This will be a time to cast the vision of where God is leading, praying, and discussing together what it means to be missionaries in the Arboretum-area. Please pray that God's spirit would move among us and direct us and that he would continue building a team for the plant. Right now we have 10 people who have committed to the church with many more praying about it!
If you are interested in being a part of the church or coming to the meeting, please contact me at bpadgett@hcbc.com or (512)627-9130.
If you are interested in being a part of the church or coming to the meeting, please contact me at bpadgett@hcbc.com or (512)627-9130.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Time with John Burke
Well today we had another opportunity to hang out with another influential leader, John Burke. He wrote No Perfect People Allowed, which I recommend to everyone, and planted a church in Austin about 10 years ago. He is incredibly gifted and has a unique way of steering conversations to Jesus with people who are far from God.
Here is some insight that Burke had for us church planters:
1. Trust God with the messiness of ministry and remember that God redeems! We deal with brokeness in our world and people simply have messy lives.
2. A church planter has to be very self-motivate, able to perseverance, and relational. We must meet with everyone that is willing and create a compelling vision and speech for the seeker and the follower of Christ.
3. We have to get comfortable with culture because that’s where Jesus spent his time. He was among the people. We don’t necessarily need to agree or conform to culture, but we need to be comfortable with it and engage with people in it.
4. Allow people to belong before they believe. If you provide people with a place where they can collectively investigate and ask questions about Jesus and God, then a you have created a culture for lost people to really seek God.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Matt Chandler's Visit
Well yesterday we had the opportunity to hang out with Matt Chandler from The Village Church. God has Matt and his family in incredible ways. He has led the Village Church for the past 5 years and seen thousands of lives changed. All in all he has amazing insight and wisdom that he shared with us.
Here is few take-aways from our discussion:
1. I asked Matt how does he keep himself sharp and intimate with Jesus...and he responded, "I am constantly asking myself, 'What is it that stirs my affections for Christ? and What robs me of those affections?' If something robs him of these affections he will rid his life of it, even if it is a neutral moral choice.
2. Matt wanted us to recognize that church planting must be a calling, not a job. While a job ends at a certain time each day and on the weekends, a calling does not. A calling encompasses your entire life (every fiber of your being is wrapped into). Considering the very nature of a calling, you're family must be actively engaged with you in your calling. They a part of the calling God has given you.
3. He also challenged us with the question, "Do you love Jesus more than the idea of church planting?" Because you start making really crazy decisions when you love church planting or your ministry more than Jesus.
4. Finally, Matt encouraged us to do things with humility, even when difficult issues must be faced. He explained, "You can say really harsh things and if it is done with humility…it will be received."
Here is few take-aways from our discussion:
1. I asked Matt how does he keep himself sharp and intimate with Jesus...and he responded, "I am constantly asking myself, 'What is it that stirs my affections for Christ? and What robs me of those affections?' If something robs him of these affections he will rid his life of it, even if it is a neutral moral choice.
2. Matt wanted us to recognize that church planting must be a calling, not a job. While a job ends at a certain time each day and on the weekends, a calling does not. A calling encompasses your entire life (every fiber of your being is wrapped into). Considering the very nature of a calling, you're family must be actively engaged with you in your calling. They a part of the calling God has given you.
3. He also challenged us with the question, "Do you love Jesus more than the idea of church planting?" Because you start making really crazy decisions when you love church planting or your ministry more than Jesus.
4. Finally, Matt encouraged us to do things with humility, even when difficult issues must be faced. He explained, "You can say really harsh things and if it is done with humility…it will be received."
Monday, January 14, 2008
God Continues to Gather
These are exciting times! God is continuing to gather a team together for the church plant here in Austin. After much praying over the past few months, we've got a worship leader to come on board. His name is Brian Simpson (another Lakeland, FL boy). He is an amazing worship leader with a heart that chases after God. God could not have a blessed us with better guy for the job. He will also be doing our website, graphic design, and creative "stuff."
PLEASE keep Brian in your prayers because he is making tremendous sacrifices to move to Austin. He is selling or leasing his house (whichever comes first) in Lakeland, selling his car and furniture, and leaving his family and friends to join us. Pray that the transition goes smoothly for him as he'll be seeking work, finding a place to live, and adjusting to Austin. Also, thank God for such a great person to join us in Austin.
For more info about Brian here is his site (click here), if you need any graphic or website work he is your man, and here is his myspace (click here).
PLEASE keep Brian in your prayers because he is making tremendous sacrifices to move to Austin. He is selling or leasing his house (whichever comes first) in Lakeland, selling his car and furniture, and leaving his family and friends to join us. Pray that the transition goes smoothly for him as he'll be seeking work, finding a place to live, and adjusting to Austin. Also, thank God for such a great person to join us in Austin.
For more info about Brian here is his site (click here), if you need any graphic or website work he is your man, and here is his myspace (click here).
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
What's in a name?
As we are preparing for the church plant, we have come up with several potential names. Please give me some feedback about what you think about the names. Keep in mind that the area that we are planting in: the largest demographic of people is between 25-34, they are very success and career-orientated, active, educated, artsy, and there is a high single population (37%). The name must connect with and make sense to these individuals.
1. Convergence - A Church Community - we want people to understand the importance of "Merging God and Life"
2. Axiom Church - an axiom in mathimatics is a starting or point of origin. To understand who we are and our current state, we must begin with the proper foundation - God and His redemptive plan.
3. Origins Church - similar to the statement above. We must have the proper foundation or point of origin to begin to understand life and God.
What do you think about these? Any other suggestions?
1. Convergence - A Church Community - we want people to understand the importance of "Merging God and Life"
2. Axiom Church - an axiom in mathimatics is a starting or point of origin. To understand who we are and our current state, we must begin with the proper foundation - God and His redemptive plan.
3. Origins Church - similar to the statement above. We must have the proper foundation or point of origin to begin to understand life and God.
What do you think about these? Any other suggestions?
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