The Perfect Law of Liberty

What's the irony here?

James 1:3 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Our praise band rehearsed a song tonight, called "I Am Free". I can't wait till the students get a chance to experience the truth of this song. It allows you to sing literally at the top of your lungs, "I am free!" What are we free to do? We're free to run. We're free to dance. We're free to live for Christ!

It's the opposite of fear. Fear that if we run, someone might see and think something. Or if we dance (God doesn't forbid that!)--Baptists need to learn how to dance unhindered before the Lord, and experience the Word of God in James 1 in a fresh and freeing way.

Many have been closed up like a prune for so long that perhaps they've long forgotten how freeing it is to just dance like a child, before their heavenly father. The guy from the Six Flags commercial, (above) flies in the face of convention. My son (who also flies in the face of convention) was so happy tonight at the simplest thing on TV, and it moved him. He literally wiggled and giggled a bit. I'm not advocating chaotic frenzy, but then again, some may define that in such a way as to include worshipping in the ways King David did--undignified, unclothed, yes. (Some suggest that there were other motives relating to David's proclivity to women, but I'm not so sure).

Why do we look at others when we worship? 1. To be inspired at the work of God in their hearts. 2. To see if they're looking at us! 3. To yearn for a closer, deeper experience and connection with God. Which one do you? My heart of hearts wants that freedom! The freedom's already there for us to receive! However you worship, whether in silence, simplicity, or full throttle, are you free? Emotionalism can enslave, just as much as stoicism can. But those who want to be free...Who wants to run with me? Who wants to join me in the dance?

There's freedom waiting in the pages of the Word. Jump in! Do what it says! Don't just hear! Be free in your obedience to Christ!

Messy Spirituality

The road to heaven is akin to a mudding festival, where you've got all sorts of trucks with different shaped tires, digging and grinding towards the finish line in a rut-filled path that's sure to bog down even the most expensive models. Many get stuck and have to be pulled out by stronger, better equipped trucks.

We all get in a rut at times. I'm being pulled out of a rut as I write this, because I have friends and family who hold me accountable in my faith journey. If I keep doing the same old routine, my life seems to come to a crawl, almost as if I'm going through the motions.

What is so refreshing is that people who are in this journey with me are right there, with the winch grinding towards them as they help me out, even as they struggle in the journey too. A fresh perspective, a gentle nudge (a holy whack is what I prefer) that keeps this life real. Real people. Real problems. Real struggles. Real sin. Real Jesus. Real forgiveness. Real Change.

Thank you Jesus for the mud!

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. James 1:12-15

Forgiven

Shameless Self Promotion I Confess!

Ok I confess, this may be a bit much, but since I love the AT, and will be going there soon, why not make it an extension of who I am as well? Again, my life verse is John 15:9, which states, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." It's my life goal to love with the same love that Christ loved his disciples and ultimately the entire human race, only many will never see. I'm not there yet, not sure if I'll ever get there. But I strive, and I abide. I'm staying on the path. Remaining in his love, however you want to look at it.

You'll just have to look at it from behind a grey X-Terra now! :)

Cub Scout Promise:
I, Jacob, promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.

It makes me so proud to see my son take this oath. I know what's behind it, and I look forward to what's ahead of it. Popcorn sales aside, Boy Scouts of America has been a solid organization teaching values to young men for generations. We jump in as a family! I look forward to my wife and I helping him earn badges, establish relationships within the pack (Go Pack 200! CFC) and grow as a young man. I'm just a proud dad wanting to see his son

"mount up with wings like eagles; ...run and not be weary; ...walk and not faint."

Disciplemaking

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” --Matt.28:18-20

We had a baptism for several students this past Sunday. So much to say at this point, but where to start? I with start my Father's command, to teach how to model that abiding life Christ calls us to. I post this not to show, but to remind each of us what one of our primary purposes on this planet is: to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them. That's what the church is about. All the rest is fodder and for the flames. How long does the proverbial baptismal pool remain empty? (Yes I said proverbial and baptismal pool in the same sentence!) Whether it's a lake, a river, or a beach--where's the wonderful celebration happening in every church on every corner? Pray for many to be sent to "go". Will that be you today, for someone, somewhere, God intended for you? I'm really convicted that it doesn't happen enough in our ministry. Just let me be the first to bear the weight of responsibility. Friends, God willing, and God has promised, more will come into the kingdom! Who's wants to be next in joining our Great God in that process? Sign me up!

Growth Doesn't Occur Without Change

1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

With all the talk about change in the world of politics, let me imbue your perspective for a brief moment. A good friend of mine is a mechanical engineer. In more than a few of our late night conversations in his tiny dorm room at NCSU, he would often speak of the laws of thermodynamics. The first law of thermodynamics states that matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed but only transformed. This is so because matter and energy are natural, a part of nature, finite. Due to their finite nature, they have a cause, and that cause is a Creator.

Stay with me here. Transformation happens and growth results. God caused the heavens and the earth to be created. God therefore is the ultimate effector of change.

Change must happen as a result of growth, or else change doesn't happen. For a baby to get taller, it's cells must go through mitosis. They divide and change and transfer genetic material to the sister cells. Biology 101?

Since the church is a spiritual organism--the members of the body made alive by the Spirit of God, then suffice it to say that the "body" must change if it is to grow. What's the reason for incredible church growth? Ultimately the Spirit of God effecting change in the life of the believer is the answer. But the other side of that equation balances out with the believer partaking in "spiritual" mitosis, by making known the powerful message of change to those that God chooses to transform by the work of the Spirit.

In other words, decades of stagnation gets you the same thing: an immovable, still non-flowing church. But when the Spirit of God invigorates change and clear vision, growth occurs.

WE must be transformed by living according to the new creation God has granted us to be. Then we grow, then we cast off our seemingly spiritual excuses for not growing: "We've never done it that way before," or "This will never work," or my personal favorite, "We don't want to be like them." Show me a church that's growing, and I'll guarantee you that change is happening and that change is being enabled by God and not man. God is the great effector of the transformed church!

Dive

My heart is racing and my knees are weak
As I walk to the edge
I know there is no turning back
Once my feet have left the ledge
And in the rush I hear a voice
Thats telling me its time to take the leap of faith
So here I go

Bull Dogs and Vision

I'm reminded of a quote from an old preacher, who often became invigorated by the encouragement of his listeners. It was like telling a bull dog to "sick 'em". he would say. With such an energized base, it's awesome to move in a new direction, with people confidently trusting the vision that God has given you. They allow failure. Failure means an attempt at success happened. Success in God's eyes, is to have "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

May your kingdom come. May we be about bringing heaven to earth.

Some Will Not See

As you can tell by the comments from my previous post, there are those who are unsure about the vision God is taking our church. But the church is about going, not sitting. We're going. We've come back from Chicago all excited! And we presented the vision to the church leadership, of which a majority were excited at such unity! Perhaps only one or two weren't seeing it. There were some folks who didn't see, and we realize this may happen. But that doesn't stop us from moving forward from the vison that God has given us.

Innovate or Die

It's off to Chicago! Our vision team is pumped! We are so excited at the direction God is calling us to! He has orchestrated every moment, and we continue to trust a faithful God who call us to the water's edge, and says, "Step in! Trust me for the miracle!"

Josh 3:13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”

Our Comfortable Cocoons

We have so much to learn from the butterfly. For the past three days I've seen one busily flying across my path. In it's early stages in life, it's a bug in a cocoon. All warm, cozy, and comfy. I imagine if I were in a cocoon it'd be hard for me to adjust to anything else. I've got all I need right? What the bug doesn't realize, we often don't realize either. Radical transformation happens outside the cocoon. The cocoon can hinder or even stop that transformation from happening. All the change in the world can happen inside the cocoon, but if the cocoon is not removed, no change matters.

So here's a lesson in change: If you don't like change, your cocoon may be the very thing that prevents you from experiencing life changing reality. God has a plan and a bright future for us all. We must throw off the cocoon, and become the new creation which Christ has promised.

This weekend at Caswell, I saw many students learn the lesson of real, transformational change. I spoke to many on the phone today, to see how their "first day" out of the cocoon was. Some were really excited. Some appeared to be still in the cocoon. It was an awesome weekend where I saw God's hand once again move in the hearts and lives of students. The challenge, will be to keep the butterfly from crawling back into the cocoon.

Let's see, Cocoon or Flying Free...I'd rather be free!

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

The Gladiator in Me

Every man is inspired by aruuugah! and chest beating movies. The Gladiator is one of those movies. We see Maximus, a brave warrior, betrayed, captured, but rises again with courage to inspire! One of the things he says in the movie echoes true biblically speaking.

"What we do in life, echoes in eternity."

What we do NOW, will matter forever. This is our defining moment. For our church, I feel this is our Gladiator moment, to rise, to have courage, to lead others in the charge to see their perspective and world radically change--for eternity. Our church will have an "echo" in eternity. How loud that echo becomes indeed hinges on the courage of its leaders, and the ability of the people to catch the vision!

I'm reminded of young Joshua, and how he was given great encouragement to LEAD his people.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

So we have a greater promise than the Gladiator, a greater hope. No reason for fear, no reason for dismay, because God is already THERE! So we lead with eternity on our hearts. Our staff is so charged up, I feel like every meeting we have is a meeting of Gladiators, men of courage, men of vision! God is about to do something incredible for eternity through Southside! It's going to be (ahem) aruuugha!

EMPTY

What does it take to empty me of me? A lifetime. Christ continually reveals in me what I need to get rid of. It's a daily thing to die to the wretched self. Christ offers a life overflowing with abundance. That "overflowingly full" life is for the taking. When Jesus taught the disciples and the crowd on the sermon on mount, his first words were, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

To be emptied of self, to experience spiritual poverty, is rare these days. Do I really have a poverty that says," Jesus, you're all I want, You're all I need?" We cannot begin to experience the kingdom of heaven unless we start with the realization that we are utterly finished without the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to live and move and be!

Two New Bloggers In One Day!

So excited about the possibilities of blogging! It's awesome to see my wife and one of our friends start a blog on the same day! You go girls! Please visit their blogs and encourage them!

Dream Great Dreams

I'm continuing to read a great book by Chip Ingram, and the chapter on dreaming great dreams is awesome. Reminding us that God asked people like Abraham to go places they'd never heard of, the author challenges the reader to get out of their comfort zone. All the people who dreamed God-sized dreams were not superheros. They were just like us, as the author states, "desperately insecure, uptight about finances, prone to relational conflict, and at times full of fear."

I'd better follow the dream God's behind, and the dream that God has for me and many other people at our church. When it comes to fruition, it'll be beyond my wildest imagination. Yes, that's the kind God we serve! God calls us to step out in faith, just as Abraham did. I've no idea where this dream will end up, but I'm stepping out and trusting God who wants me to dream the impossible, because it then becomes a dream only God himself can fulfill!

So I'm calling all dreamers, to come and dream the impossible and see God turn it into his possible! I'm ready, are you?

I Just Want My Rocks

God has a unique way of using children to put your life into perspective. My son had misplaced charger number three for his game system, and I wanted him to see that chargers (or money for that matter) doesn't grow on trees. So I said well, you've got some money in your piggy bank, if you really want one, let's use some money out of it ok? The words out of his mouth floored me. Jacob also has a rock collection, not worth very much, but to him it is. He said, Daddy you can have all the money it doesn't mean anything to me. I just want my rocks.

He wanted his rocks! So simple. We make much ado about nothing, especially the seemingly important and misguided urgency of things, and money. I've often joked with some friends, If God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, how about sellin' some of those cows? Seriously, a child's perspective is needed here! I've prayed many times before, God, it's all yours anyways.

Although I agree it is important to teach financial principles to children, and the appreciation of a solid work ethic, the simplicity of that statement has just stuck with me all day. Do we ever get to a point where we release our grip on the temporary, and bask in the eternal? May I have the mindset of my son, and the Son of my Father, who had not even a place to lay his head.

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust [1] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matt. 6

11 Steps To Burnout

1. Ignore spending time in the Word and in prayer. Ministry is easy — you can do it all in your own strength. It shouldn’t be based on God anyway. Spend all your time teaching others how to develop their relationship with God instead.

2. Accept responsibility for everything. Say “yes” to whatever is asked of you and your time. It doesn’t matter if it could easily be handled by a volunteer, take it on anyway because you’re the guy they pay to do it. Besides, there may be no one else willing or available to do it besides you, which obviously indicates how important it is to everyone else.

3. Become emotionally attached to every situation. Whenever someone has a need, be the first to jump in, provide all the emotional support they need and rescue them from the problem. After all, everyone needs a savior.

4. Always serve God in ministry. This is so important that you must sacrifice all personal down-time and fill it with good things like meetings, events, Bible studies, evangelism, mission trips, prayer groups, small groups, and knitting groups.

5. Attempt to control everything. Control all the planning, the results, the future, the people, the workplace, the weather and God. You are the sustainer of the ministry on whom it is all built. If you take your eyes off of any of anything it will collapse and fail miserably.

6. Base your self-worth on the “success” of your ministry. You’re investing your life into this ministry thing! How it grows and flourishes indicates how important you are and how pleased God is with your labor. If your ministry is struggling, there must be something wrong with you.

7. Feed spiritual consumerism. So-and-so left the church and is attending the “mega-church” down the street because they have a better youth ministry. Now you need to quickly compete by offering the same programs but better. Otherwise, the entire congregation will migrate and leave you out of a job.

8. Focus your ministry on programs. This may come as a result of #7. Remember that vision and relationships are secondary to programming. Look at Jesus for example: His ministry was all about getting things done, not about growing disciples through relationships or communicating His vision for the world.

9. Dwell on all the problems. So it turns out that your ministry is the only one in the world that isn’t perfect. Let it consume your thoughts, your heart and your emotions. It’s important to focus on internal problems so there’s no time left to reach the lost souls that are dying all around.

10. Avoid transparency at all costs. Vulnerability brings the potential for rejection, criticism, and people losing respect for you. As a church leader, everyone must think you’re perfect, strong and invincible. Otherwise, the perfect people in your church will have no reason to follow you.

11. Focus only on what’s in front of you. Dreaming a huge vision for the future only makes people feel uncomfortable, probably because of item #5. Passion can become contagious and take the ministry in scary and risky directions, so it’s best to avoid these dreams altogether. It’s always safer to wander aimlessly by staring at your feet than it is to walk toward God’s beautiful horizon and risk tripping.

Taken from Tim Schmoyer.

I really like #11. Our church is in the exciting stages of some incredible vision casting by the staff. I posted this because I have many friends in ministry who have burned out or left their position at their church. For any of you in ministry in anyway, these guidelines serve as a reminder that burnout can happen, but you can guard against it. Great post by Tim!

Ready to Go

Just got a call from our Disaster Relief ministry, and they've placed us on standby to help out with the storm damage in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Ready, willing and able! Pray for those in need that God would use any and all means possible to reach them!

You Never Let Go...Through The Calm and Through The Storm

A group like this reminds me that God doesn't let go of us, although sometimes we let go of Him. With the storms approaching the East Coast, I'm reminded that we're still under the curse of the Fall of man, but yet God us calls to draw near to him. Christ is the calm in the midst of life's storms. I've got a storm outside my window right now, but like any man, I'm going through storms in my life. It's good to know that I'm firmly in the GRIP of Grace, and He's never going to let go!

His name is Jim

The View Jim Has

Made good on a promise today. Went to see a gentleman at MJ. Gave him a Gideon's NT, shook his hand, gave him a Wendy's #1 combo, asked how he was doing, and introduced myself and my wife. His name is Jim. He said he was doing ok and thanked me for asking. He also promised me he'd read the Bible I gave him. Whether he does or doesn't, I'm still bothered that I never stopped to ask his name before now. Now I can get to know Jim better.

The Shepherdless of Wilmington

Matt. 9:35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Who are the harassed and helpless of Wilmington? There's a homeless man at Monkey Junction, and everyday he holds a sign. Many of my friends have helped him. Some have wondered (harassed?) why doesn't he just get a job? I've helped him. But real help? If it was what he needed, he wouldn't be on the corner. We all wonder about the homeless, the poor. And rightly so. Jesus said we will always have the poor with us. Poor is a relative term here in the exuberant wealth of these United States. But what is the remedy?

It's twofold, according to the above verses. God, and me. Along with God sending the help, with the labor, comes the telling of the greatest story. The Good news. I feel embarrassed, that I've shared money and food with the gentleman at Monkey Junction, but never the gospel. Great intentions were there. Great motives. But yet, the excuses creep in. Too busy, can't stop, there's a car behind me! Some may say the good news is sometimes shared without words. That's true, but I believe that both go hand in hand. I promise not to just do good to this gentleman, but to share the gospel in word and deed. Tomorrow, I will make good on this promise.

Many more are harassed and helpless and are within my reach. God's placed everyone of them there. How long will they be helpless, like sheep without a shepherd to guide them? I must lead them to the Good Shepherd, and he will guide them. That is the greatest good.

This is not a get out and help the homeless post. It's my heart's desire to see through the eyes of Jesus. He had tremendous compassion for all, because they did not have hope or direction. Does my heart burn for the one who doesn't have a relationship with Christ? Or am I consumed with other things that take away my attention. (Distract?) It boggles my mind how many people God has placed in my path, and I have been shortsighted. Not that every person I meet I must share the gospel with right then. No, that's brow beating. But does anybody know the name of the homeless gentleman at Monkey Junction? Has anybody asked? See my point?

Biblical compassion is more than just good deeds, it's knowing the person's name, intentionally wanting to engage them, because they are made in the image of God, and because you have the same image stamped on you! From that compassion, a desire to show more and more hope, that yes! Jesus does have compassion! Jesus is the remedy to a sin sick world! Jesus allows us to have the greatest life possible, and to give that life away to others who are harassed, hopeless...

Spiritual Eyes Open or Closed?

Read this in my quiet time...

33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

Why was Peter rambling like he did? He didn't make any sense! Three tents? He was seeing the glory of Christ, a moment of transfiguration that few eyes would see, and he chose to say those words? Well, looking a little deeper, we find that Peter was awoken, and he didn't know what to say. He was perhaps sleeping, and was groggy from sleep.

What will we miss because we are in a spiritual stupor? Too tired to engage the God of Heaven, too tired to open the Love letter written to us by him whose eyes never tire or close? God has so much to reveal to us! Jesus told his disciples to "Watch and Pray" at the garden, yet he found them--once again, asleep.

Right now, my eyes are wide open. God is doing some incredible things in my life, and in the lives of those around me. I don't want to mumble through perhaps one of the greatest moments in my life. Jesus asks me to "watch". In other words, standing, waiting, expecting for God to move! May our eyes and hearts be open and AWAKE to the movement and revelation of God in his Word, and in his church! I'm watching Lord. I'm awake. Keep me there. Help me to keep others there.