What Kind of church is that . . .
When I left the last church I was at back in August – there were many who asked why? I have answered that question in another blog. After about 3 month of visiting theVine and meeting with Pastor David, it became clear my NEXT step was to join the staff as Outreach Pastor. Here is a video highlighting year 2 of theVine to answer the other question I often get. What kind of church is theVine? Watch this video and you will know exactly what kind of church . . .
Raising a Disciple . . .
Last Sunday (Easter) my family got the honor of picking up the signs for theVine. I say honor because these signs are an avenue which help people find their way to theVine. It’s not hard to pick them up or put them out, but it does take about 15 min. and has to be done within a specific time frame. As we were picking them up last week Weatherly (5 year old daughter) was hungry and ready to eat “NOW”. I took the time as we were driving to explain to her, “if we help with these signs then we are helping Pastor David connect people to God’s LOVE as they find their way to theVine.” She began to stop complaining and get excited about having a meaningful job of eternal value. This morning as we headed out early to place the signs in the proper locations, Weatherly asked, “daddy are lots of people going to see these signs and know about God’s LOVE because of them?” It hit me in that moment, she is understanding the importance of being the sign person for theVine today. Then it hit me – we should pray over these signs for all the people who will see them to know how much God LOVES them. The most powerful part of my day came as I got out of the car and my 5 year old daughter would pray out loud where I could hear her, “God, help the people who see this sign know you are real and you LOVE them.”
How do you raise a disciple . . . I don’t know, but this is what I did today.
and he is in SEMINARY? . . .
I was talking today with Ken, a great friend, who has been in ministry for about 2 years now. We were talking about many things but my brain was rocked when he shared a story about the stupidness coming from a local seminary student. Ken was at a lifeway book store and one of the workers asked him, “are you in the ministry?” . . . by the way – that is code for, can we talk about crap that doesn’t really mean anything and act like we are something we aren’t. Ken said, “yeah”. Seminary guy says, “where do you serve?” Ken says, “hall country fire, I minister to the guys at the station and the people I come into contact with as I am going out on calls.” The next statement from Mr. Seminary Guy just rocked my brain. Seminary Guy says, “wow, I have never thought about it like that before, I think you are right.”
Okay, are they not teaching those kinds of things in seminary? I hope he isn’t close to graduation. Mr. Seminary Guy is going to lead the people of God, but not teach them that they are ministers? What about being a royal priesthood, called to declare the goodness of God who has called us out of darkness and into his great light.
Chasing with a Reckless Abandon . . .
When I began this journey of trusting God through faith in Jesus, I promised to give my all . . . to go full-on for the Lord the way I had for myself before I trusted the Lord. I figured at the time, “if he is God, he did create everything, and gave his life for me then I should follow him with all I am.” That promise and his revealing of himself to be trustworthy and true has led me into a life of abandonment. Am I completely there? NO, but I long to be . . . I want to know him and to fellowship with him in such a way that I can understand him and all he longs for me and has planned for me. Paul, this amazing dude from the bible, who was radically transformed when he saw Jesus for the truth of who he really is – says it this way . . .
Philippians 3:10-14
“10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
As I pray this prayer, God continues to ruin my life . . . but it is the best kind of ruin I have ever experienced. God also continues to remind me that my life is not my own but I have been bought with a price OR is that just pretty words that church people say. If you believe you have been bought with a price and you are not your own then it is easy for you to give of yourself, it is easy for you to serve, and it is easy to sacrifice – actually it’s an honor to give self, to serve and to sacrifice.
I have come to a place where I do truly BELIEVE & TRUST and it is more than saying the right things or knowing the right answers. The Life I live is LIFE . . . I don’t do what I do for any other reason than the fact, it is LIFE!
Highway to HELL . . .
A church in Anderson, SC called NewSpring opened up with the video above this past weekend. I would even encourage you to click their link and listen to Pastor Perry preach the truth. You might not agree with them opening up church service with Highway to HELL, but over 300 people put their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior this past Sunday.
I was on a Highway to HELL and many could see that very clearly. The problem is there are many roads that lead to HELL! Not all road look like mine, and many traveling toward HELL do not even realize it. Truth is there is only ONE road that leads to SALVATION and that is Jesus Christ. If you have never full turned from yourself, the bad you do or the good things you do as an answer to why you will be allowed into heaven, then do that NOW. Ask God to forgive you of your sins through the forgiven offered by Jesus Christ. No one has ever been good enough or bad enough for God, Jesus is the only way . . . Everything else is a Highway to HELL!
Changed Life – my story in 4 min . . .
This is my story in 4 min . . . When the worship design team from theVine asked me to share my store in 4 min. I was thinking, “there is no way it will fit.” Thanks to the amazing video work of Greg Hampton (worship art’s pastor) it fit and still comes across making sense and without losing the radical power of life change. Pastor David used this on Easter as a final sermon illustration to drive home the Risen Savior’s desire to be found . . . turn and see he has been there the whole time.
Here is a link to the sermon Pastor David preached yesterday . . . one of the best presentations I have ever heard of the empty tomb and His desire to be found.
