Tory Farina

What Was Your Greatest God Moment?

Was it the moment you were called into ministry? The moment You discovered your need for Christ?  Maybe it was a night under the stars when you discovered the AWE of Gods wonderful Sky scape. Was it the moment God asked you to give him something you prized above all else?

I am working on a new series and want to know your most impacting "GOD MOMENT." I'll reveal mine in February.

7 of Sabbaticals...

I read this in a recent article from the Hardy Group about sabbaticals.

Here are some quick observations on the value of taking a sustained period of time off called a sabbatical.

1. Spiritual Renewal – This is the single component which differentiates a pastor’s sabbatical from virtually every other career field. Because pastors eat, sleep and breathe in the spiritual world, there comes a point where they need to come apart from the work of the ministry before they truly come apart. This time away is perfect for God to speak to the quieted spirit within us.

2. Physical wind-down – It will take at least seven days and maybe more to bring your body to a slowed pace to actually relax. Physical rest will truly begin to set in when this happen.

3. Emotional wind-down – It will take an equally long period of time for your emotions to begin to settle down. Those stresses and emotional drains will begin to ebb from your life and a true sense of relaxation will set in. You will be amazed at just how relaxed you can be when your emotions are not all over the map.

4. Relationships improve – Presuming you take your sabbatical with your spouse, you will find your time together to be enriched. The pace of running your life by the clock will defer to the ease of spending time, extended time together. The stronger the pastor’s marital relationship, the more secure the Body feels as it moves forward.

5. Vision clears – Your ability to separate wild and crazy ideas from true vision for the future will become clear. There may be times on your sabbatical that you set aside to think about your own personal future. Depending on the designs of your sabbatical, it may be that vision for your ministry can become part of the mix. The ability to focus is increased.

6. Planning increases – If planning for the future is part of your sabbatical, the ability to do so without the clutter of phone, email, correspondence and emergencies is increased dramatically. Consequently, the resulting plan is of greater value to the church and its leadership.

7. Church benefits – The church learns that the staff and volunteers who serve so capably when you are physically at the helm are more than capable in carrying the day in your absence. Further, a renewed pastor results in a renewed congregation. The Body responds positively to the refreshing in their pastor. It can be said that sabbaticals, when implemented properly, can contribute to the numerical, financial and spiritual growth of the church because the leader comes back firing on all cylinders as opposed to when they left firing on only half of them.

I’m taking a sabbatical...

It’s been 6 years since High Point Church began in our home. Emotionally, spiritually, and physically we have held nothing back. As we were talking with our overseers recently, about our plans and where God is taking us as a church, they stopped us and asked if we had been on a Sabbatical yet.

We said no, but after this last year and with what we have planned for High Points future, it sounds like we could use it. They agreed.

The word sabbatical comes from the word Sabbath: observance of a day or time of rest. The Hebrew word shabbath means “rest.”

Genesis 2: 2–3 “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating He had done.”

Elizabeth and I will be spending the month of November on sabbatical. 

I plan on doing 3 things while I am away with my family. I believe my focus on these 3 areas will increase my effectiveness and longevity as a father, husband, and pastor.

1.) Rest — We will not be working. This will be an emotional break from weekly deadlines, carrying others’ burdens and from the weight of leading.

2.) Spiritual Renewal — There is a weight we carry for this city. Leaving for a short season is like taking a step off the front line of war. As a pastor my focus in life is on the caring and feeding of others. I am convinced that not having to carry the burden of spiritual care for hundreds of people will bring personal spiritual renewal to our lives.

3.) Personal Growth — The Lord is leading me to structure the last half of my life on prioritizing my roles. Often I find my role as pastor taking priority over my other responsibilities as a disciple (follower), husband, father, and mentor.

It is going to be a great time of renewal. Please pray for us as while we are gone. Pray for refreshment. Pray for God to speak new words of encouragement.

 

Second-chance offers don’t last forever...

Yesterday morning as I was leaving for my morning walk with the dog and kids, I walked out of my house to see three cop cars parked on the street. I was a bit shocked, assuming they were there to talk with me. However, as I was walking over to talk with the cops, my neighbor came out crying and informed me that her brother had been found deceased due to an overdose.

My heart broke. She had just found him and was reeling from the pain of it all. I am her neighbor and her pastor, so I thought about what I could do to comfort her. I thought for a few moments and prayed silently, “Lord help me know what to say and do.”

I offered her a cup of coffee.

She looked at me with eyes of sadness and said that sounded perfect. The kids and I went in and got her a cup and then went back out with the intention of praying for her.

As I handed her the cup I simply asked if I could pray for her. I offered the church’s services and my neighborly assistance. We prayed a simple heart-felt prayer and I took the kids on the rest of our walk.

My heart went out to her. I still cannot stop thinking about her and her situation. Later, as the police were finishing up, I went back out and gave her my number. I let her know I was available for whatever she needed and then we prayed again.

She asked me a question that I knew would come eventually. Everyone asks this question. She asked with tears streaming down her face, “Do you think he made it to heaven?”

My response was compassionate, but honest, “I don’t know.” As she cried I then explained to her who our God is. “God comes to those who are in deepest need. He hears the prayers of the desperate and touches the sick in mind and body. He can do more in seconds than we can do in a lifetime. I don’t know what happened in his life, but the Lord is compassionate.”

I think about this man and think about him being within feet of me for the last couple of months. I didn’t say much to him other than wave and node. They got the mailer for the church but I could have done a better job of inviting him. I am not responsible for what happened but I feel a sense of sadness and regret.

He needed a second chance. I don’t know if he ever got one, but I pray that he did. I do what I do so that people who are struggling with what he was struggling with can find Christ and be changed forever.

If you need a second chance or know someone who does, talk to them. Share your story. Invite them to High Point. Scripture tells us that our opportunity for a second chance has an expiration date. Get your second chance before it’s to late.

If you would, please pray with me for this family.

Take the Plunge...

Take the Plunge. Jesus was clear with his disciples about how everyone who crosses the line into faith should get baptized. Just before Jesus returned to heaven, he said...

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

 

What is water baptism? Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. It is a sign to everyone watching that you have accepted Jesus as Savior and set your life's course to please Him.

 

You are baptized into Christ’s death. Baptism is an incredible sensory experience meant to help us understand what Christ did on the cross. The Greek word for baptize means “to go down under, to dip, to submerge.” Water baptism represents our identification with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. We are literally going into a watery grave fully submerged under the water. When we come back out of the water, we find ourselves like Christ being raised from an old life into something new and beautiful. My college professor once said, “Hold ‘em under till the bubbles come up.” He was joking, but the symbolism is incredible.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20

 

You are raised into new life. Your old life is a life of sin and separation from God. After we allow Jesus into our lives, baptism reminds us of the work he did. We are no longer burdened with the weight of sin, nor are we tainted by stains from the past. Instead, we take on the perfectness of Christ.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:26-27

Baptism is a time to tell your story. Tell what life was like before Christ, what it was like to have christ in come in your life and then share how things are different now. The testimony time is always the most moving part about being apart of a baptism.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Romans 6: 11-12

 

Baptism is a declaration to this world that I am the Lord’s. I am no longer a wandering vagabond. No longer will I try to live this life on my own. I stand with Christ and together we will accomplish the Father’s will and live forever in eternity!

Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33

 

Baptism is all about your story of life transformation. Tell the people you love to come and see you take the plunge. Share with your coworkers and show the pictures. It is a powerful moment that breaks through barriers because people want to know why you would let someone else dunk you under the pool water. Tell people what Christ means to you and get baptized.

If you would like to get baptized... Let me know. This Sunday at the church picnic you can take the plunge!

"Do not be Ignorant"...

“Do not be ignorant!”

 

The Apostle Paul once said this to the Corinthian church regarding their knowledge of spiritual gifts. We hate being ignorant of things in our culture, yet I wonder how many of us would know what our spiritual gifts actually are.

 

A spiritual gift is a special supernatural ability that God gives to each of His children so that they together can advance His purposes.

 

These are not simply talents given to a few special elite, but are good gifts available to all. God’s gifts are special and unique to each person, and are not given to be hoarded, but to be shared. Spiritual gifts are tools that specialize in changing people’s lives. There are many different types of gifts, but all serve the same purpose of advancing the kingdom of God.

 

If you want to uncover what gifts the Holy Spirit has blessed you with, here are some tools to assist you.

 

1) Ask... Ask the Lord to help you see your gifts and seek the gifts that most intrigue you and/or get you excited. The Lord has hard-wired us for specific gifts that will complement who we were made to be.

 

2) Test... Testing to uncover your spiritual gifts may be especially helpful.  Some gifts are harder to recognize than others.

www.spiritualgiftstest.com

 

3) Study... I found this book to be very helpful in discovering God’s vision and mission for my life. We were all created to play a role in the body of Christ. If you and I are not on mission then we are like a sick organ of the body. The whole body must compensate for the hole you leave.

Chazown.com

 

4) Scripture... Here are some great passages of scriptures we should be familiar with in order to not be ignorant about the Spirits Gifts.

 

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

 

Romans 12:6-8

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

 

1 Peter 4:10-11

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

What are your top three biggest gifts? I would love to know?

Songs of Hope in The Hospital...

Elizabeth was admitted into the hospital again on Wednesday night. She has another arterial dissection. I feel like we are on an episode of House. The Dr.'s do not know what it is that is causing these. We keep hearing them say things like, "You are a mystery... Very interesting... HMMM." Please keep praying. We are ready to get out of the Hospital and move on with Life.

As we have been in the Hospital we find ourselves singing simple songs of faith. I figured I would share with you a few of our favorites.

I hope these bring you Hope! Jesus is the giver of HOPE! Although we may be uncertain of what is to come and the Dr.'s are uncertain of what to do next God is not surprised, in doubt or uncertain.

The Holy Spirit is our comfort. Like Paul and Silas in Acts 16 we sing despite the walls around us and Know that The one who is all powerful will hear us and meet us in our affliction.

Looking to the Horizon, Again... pt. 2

Here are five things I am doing to help me see the horizon again... (check out pt. 1 for the context)

 

• Calling other leaders... I am very social but when you go through intense seasons it is easy to pull in because you just don't have extra energy to expend outwards. Social networks are life. They help me see beyond where I am currently. Iron truly does sharpen iron. I am starting to go through my phone and call people I haven't talked with in a while and meet people who I need to learn from and get out of my shell.
• Joining weight watchers... I gained 15 lbs with all the stress going on during the past 10-11 months. It’s time to shed the pounds and get back to my fighting weight. 
• Reading... I hit a wall. I just wanted to be a little numb for a while, and study for what I had to but not get stretched too much. Watching a good movie or sleeping sounded really satisfying. Although that’s fine for a season, it shouldn’t last more than a season. I am excited to get into a few books I have on my shelf. An iPad sounds nice so I would have fewer books on my dresser. I am also thinking about signing up to get free books and then write reviews on them. It may add a good bit of pressure to finish them.
• Traveling... I need to get out of town every now and again. It refreshes me. Takes me from the immediacy and helps me see things from another angle. I have a couple family trips in the works and am looking for a couple ministry trips to go on late this year or early next. I love sitting on an airplane 30,000 feet in the air with a hot cup of coffee and my journal.
• Series planning... Planning out the spiritual content of High Point for the next seven months really helps me get into the future. It has been hard for me to see beyond the present for a while, and I am glad we work ahead as much as we do or I'd be in trouble. I am working on ideas and plans for the fall and spring during these next two weeks. I am praying about what the church needs to hear. Discovering what I need to teach is a deep process. It is the most intense part of what I do. This is going to be a fun next seven months. LOTS coming up!!!

Not all of these things are things I want to do. But I am realizing the sooner I get back into my flow the sooner I will be at 100%. I have seen so many people get to the point where the crisis is over and the opportunity for them to get back on the saddle and ride again is there but they don’t jump at it. They stay right smack dab in the middle of their pity party and they stop. They roll over and die.

Recovery is an intentional process. If you are not looking for things that restore you and help you see the horizon again, then you are at risk of stalling out. I am not going to stall. There is too much to do. Too many lives that have yet to be changed. 

What are you intentionally doing to see the horizon? 

Questions about Prayer?...

I am prepping for a series in the next few months on prayer. I want to get some feed back as to what would be helpful to you for me to address. Hit me up with your questions about the subject and Ill try and deal with whats on your mind and heart. What do you pray about? What do you struggle with? What do you love/hate about prayer?

"When we pray properly, sorrows disappear like snow before the sun..." -Jon Vianney, Cure of ARS

I'm Back...

Things I learned through my time of Withdrawal...

•  Wayne Cordero saved my life and ministry... After reading his book “Leading on Empty” I am convinced I was headed for a breaking point at some point down the line in my life and ministry. I have and will continue to make changes necessary to leave a Lasting Legacy.
• I have more time than I thought. Cutting out extra stuff helped me realize how much time I waste.
•  My relationship with the Lord is the Source of Everything else. Yet often It gets shelved somewhere between car maintenance and shower cleaning. It does not occupy the space in my heart and mind that it should if it is the source of everything. (As a pastor this is a sad revelation.) So I am evaluating the changes that must be made to transform this unacceptable situation.
• Christian music is good but not a lot of it is GREAT!
• Facebook / Twitter are far more useful tools than they get credit for. I was shocked at how many people I felt disconnected from.
• I get grumpy when I fast Food.
•  Maintaining a Blog is exhausting. I need to figure out how to be a smarter blogger. I think I might use more video. Would you watch my short clips?
• Changing patterns takes a tremendous amount of intentionality. You cannot say... I want to change, I need to change or even I must change without making a plan and actually putting the plan into action.
•  Push email on my iphone is stupid. I cannot and will not be a slave to my email... especially when I delete most of it. My email will serve me and not the other way around.
• This will be a yearly event. I will also add into my life’s schedule times of getting out of town for times of withdrawals.
• I need a Sabbatical... Not this year but in the next few years as we round the corner to seven or ten years it is Vital the Elizabeth and I get a Sabbatical in order to gain freshness and longevity at High Point.
•  We are entering into a season of High Points Story that is really exciting. I feel encouraged, Fired Up and energized by what I feel the Lord is brewing in my heart.
•   Isolation is a Scary place to be... Withdrawal is a Non Negotiable place to visit!
•   The WELL of your Soul is what you serve others with... If it’s shallow, contaminated, or not built to last you’re in trouble. If it is Deep and Living water it will refresh people for Years to come.
• Jesus took breaks from the demands of Life and ministry often... I am still chewing on this and am incredibly challenged by it!

I have lots more to say but will leave it at this and work out more the next fe days and weeks. I just wanted to let you know I am back and FIRED UP!