Dawn

James

Stephen

Danielle

Hailey

Elaina

Always fires me up when people agree that the choice made inside the heart, need not stay there.

Rather,

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14

Eyes Wide Open

My eyes are wide open. Today has been a day where you see God begin to move in powerful ways and his timing is obvious. I was going to meet my wife for lunch, and I hesitated, grabbing the mail and sorting through it briefly. At that moment, some very dear friends came up, and needed to talk. We talked, we cried, we laughed. I spent the next several hours rekindling a friendship and just being there for a friend who had gone through tremendous pain.

What if I had left without checking the mail? The opportunity wouldn't have been there.

My eyes are wide open, waiting for the next person God brings my way, to show me that life is about reaching out to the hurting, the needy, the ones who need the very love I received when I was hurting, needy, even dying. Christ filled that void. He enables us to do the same for those he brings our way.

2 Cor. 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

Responding

Today was a great day at our church! With 6 baptisms, who needed a sermon? We had nearly 400 there and that's awesome! I had an opportunity from our senior pastor, Kelly, to deliver a message God has been brewing in me for a while, and I was so honored. The crowd seemed so alive and responsive. The Holy Spirit was moving in hearts as the message was given and I just stood back in awe at what was happening! Many came to me afterwards, and quite honestly I don't mind the compliments. What I hope to see is that the compliments reflect a deeper response to God's Word. The text was John 15:7-13, and focused on the connection of the church body to the vine, and to each other. The word of the day was ABIDE. As folks came to the altar, it was good to see. I know God was stirring more hearts and perhaps something was holding them back. My prayer is that they would continue to remain in the vine, to abide in Christ, and to love with no thought to self. Still reflecting about all that happened. It was just a Spirit=filled day.

Got Life?

What is something that grows without life? Something dead, hard, rigid and never changing it's basic starting shape--a crystal. Sure it grows, but there's no life there. It's not pliable, just breaks off with a hard enough push. There are those that have a life that's been given to them, yet their lives are just that, given, but not used. They're just....the walking dead. Their lives are seemingly purposeful, but helplessly self-focused. What can break the cycle of the same old same old? Being grafted into something alive. That which was dead, can become alive. Not the crystal. No the analogy breaks down. But for those who want life, a transformation is available to them that respond in faith to the pulsating life given by the Vine. But the work has to be "grafted". Without the graft, no growth occurs.


Get it? Without the pulsating life blood of Christ, we can do no good thing. We can live no purposeful life. Christ provides that purpose. He provides that focus of obedience. It is the constant reliance on Christ, his power through us, to live in and with and through and by, that is the same love that he gave us on the Cross!


4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

So how about it?

Remain in the world, or Remain in Christ? Let's love each other as Christ commands...

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

The God of Invitation

I've been doing some conversing with some good friends about relationships and how others can become mask-wearers real quick. As we were talking about that, the subject of invitation came up. Do you ever like to get invited to events, lunches, dinners, outings, etc? Why do we like that so much? Perhaps it's a need of love and belonging that Maslow talked about, or it could be the love and compassion that Jesus talked about, or both. All truth is God's truth. So in getting invited somewhere, we all of a sudden feel more loved, more like we belong. But it's a false-filling of a deeper need to have value. What happens when the lunch is over? Where do you go when the friends go home--or move a way? Quite simply, we either take the mask off or we put the mask back on. It depends on which mask you choose to wear.

We all have masks. Or you can call them "hats" if you like. We get into trouble when those masks lead us to insincere and even dishonest communication within our relationships. We play nice and friendly even though we just want to unload on the other person about our day. (One time, my wife even told me to put the mask back on! Love ya hon!) Doesn't somebody want to get above all the nice small talk!? How about sharing some real feelings, some real joys, some real pain, so we can see beneath the masks?

Our Creator, the God of Invitation, invites us in Isaiah 55 when he says, "Come, everyone who thirsts...Come buy wine and milk without price". The invitation there has no strings. It's not based on our ability, but solely on God's. The beggar takes the bread without question.

What if we related more within the body of Christ that way? To be people of invitation? Not inviting out of our plenty, but out of our shared poverty? We're all impoverished beings that need the filling of a God who can, and a God who will.

Here's this beggar's invitation to you. Come, drink the living water with me.

Why I Made The Switch to Mac!

Being The Church

Today we challenged our church...to stop playing church, and start being the church. Perhaps in our comfort it's easy to slow the pace a bit. I was so charged after today's service. So much went on today at our church.



We launched our vision, and served coffee.
(We bought a pimped out coffee maker)

The coffee's not the point.
Getting others to serve like Christ is the point.
We launched our vision, and served coffee.

The coffee's not the point.
Getting others to be the church is the point.
We launched our vision, and served coffee.

The coffee's not the point.
Reaching those turned off by "normal" church is the point.
We launched our vision, and served coffee.



We launched our vision, and gave out hot dogs.
(We bought an uber-cool hot dog cart)

The dogs aren't the point.
Thinking outside our box to reach Wilmington is.
We launched our vision, and gave out hot dogs.

The dogs aren't the point.
Getting others to connect and relate to God is.
We launched our vision, and gave out hot dogs.

The dogs aren't the point.
Being in tune with God's heart for this city is.
We launched our vision, and gave out hot dogs.

We simply asked people to take a risk and get serving. Sign your name on the dotted line. To look around, to see them engaging Kelly, our head pastor, and see the excitement again on people's faces, as they signed up, got plugged in, met so many new faces, and were truly engaged in the kingdom process...amazing!

It's morning again at Southside. As Pastor John said, it's like taking a sip from a fire hose!

God of This City

Neat how a church in California put a different spin on this song, the church here is fleshing out the song in an impactful way. We played this tonight and we prayed for the city of Wilmington, that we would be used of God to impact lives. He is still GOD of this city!

Change...TODAY

With all the hoopla about change in the political world--yes change is needed, but in my quiet time today I was reminded about God's change. 2 Cor. 5:17 speaks of a radical change. One that happens when we make that eternal connection with Christ. A visible change. An incredible, life-altering change. A new creation.

How many people miss that idea? Christ changes us. Something happens. We want to live differently. We want to want to show others this incredible truth that we've discovered. Zeal is great! But when you have zeal without the wisdom of God, from the Word of God, your message and words get lost in translation.

A new creation is zealous for God. In my life there have been times where that passion has dimmed, and there have been seasons in my life where that passion is a blazing forest fire. Right now, I'm ramping up to the forest fire status. So many "God-ful" (a friend used this word) things have happened in the last two weeks or so. I pray that I live the live of a new creation that God began in me over 15 years ago, and that my life before my family, my students, and my church is an example worthy of being called a "new creation" by my Father.

Sometimes I regret all the time wasted in that time, being a lazy Christian, how much more could have been done for Christ had I not...but then I'm reminded that all I have is TODAY. Today I'm a new Creation in Christ. Today, change is upon me. I must submit to that changing presence of Christ in me...TODAY

Water and Spirit

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You^[c] must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:5-8

The new life that becomes ours to share with Christ is an amazing one. Whether it's been 10 years or 10 minutes, this radical new second "birth" happens when someone commits their lives to Christ. I saw that happen today to an amazing couple. The angels are rejoicing today in heaven for these two who decided to take a risk and dive into the great adventure of God's love and grace!

To live without risk, is to risk not living. --Author Unknown

Hot Dogs, Coffee and Sawdust

If the title didn't make you squirm a bit, perhaps you're one of those birds who drinks coffee with just about anything. Sawdust even?? For me, this combination is a divine one. For it's an intersection of what God is doing at our church.

Hot Dogs can go a long way with a smile. Seriously--providing a connection with a church that wants to reach outside of the box to those who seek answers to the questions of life.

Coffee can go a long way in connecting people to Jesus, by breaking down the barriers to joining everyday people together to engage in the dialogue of the eternal.

And the sawdust from a chainsaw grinding away to help the hurricane victims in Baytown, Texas now lies on the ground in front of new found friends.

God is working and our eyes are wide open and our hearts are overflowing with expectancy as to what's around the corner, and as to what God has in store for Southside. I'm simply in awe at the freshness and life that is again flowing through the veins of a 114 year old church, willing to go to the edge and see a God who is there, and has been a long time...waiting for us to join Him!

Dropping Stock Market=Greater Trust In God

I'm not one to watch the stock ticker too much. But the massive drops in the market has gotten every one's attention. An overriding theme I've seen in the coverage of this "world crisis" is the great loss of wealth and retirement income (nearly half of most portfolio values by many commentators' standards). Losing half of your nest egg can be daunting to some, and leave many with doubts about living out their later years at the place by the sea (or mountains, whichever your preference, I like the mountains!).

Jesus spoke these words to the religious leaders of the day,

11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. 14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.

Jehovah Jireh, The Lord Provides--to a nation and world who frets about the economy, Jehovah Jireh beckons that we trust and not doubt.

Fellow Inheritor of The Promise

Charlie Allison Thompson 1921-2008
My wife's grandfather

11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

Today, Charlie inherited the promises.

Dug this out of the old CD pile--Great Song...70ish but still rings true!

Do you see, do you see
All the people sinking down
Don't you care, don't you care
Are you gonna let them drown

How can you be so numb
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes
And pretend the job's done

"Oh bless me Lord, bless me Lord"
You know it's all I ever hear
No one aches, no one hurts
No one even sheds one tear

But He cries, He weeps, He bleeds
And He cares for your needs
And you just lay back
And keep soaking it in,
Oh, can't you see it's such a sin?

Cause He brings people to you door,
And you turn them away
As you smile and say,
"God bless you, be at peace"
And all heaven just weeps
Cause Jesus came to your door
You've left him out on the streets

Open up open up
And give yourself away
You see the need, you hear the cries
So how can you delay

God's calling and you're the one
But like Jonah you run
He's told you to speak
But you keep holding it in,
Oh can't you see it's such a sin?

The world is sleeping in the dark
That the church just can't fight
Cause it's asleep in the light
How can you be so dead
When you've been so well fed
Jesus rose from the grave
And you, you can't even get out of bed

Oh, Jesus rose from the dead
Come on, get out of your bed

How can you be so numb
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes
And pretend the job's done
You close your eyes
And pretend the job's done

Don't close your eyes
Don't pretend the jobs done
Come away, come away, come away with Me my love,
Come away, from this mess, come away with Me, my love.

Life Is Short

Being only 5 years away from 40, I find myself looking closer and closer at the clock. On a visit over the weekend, we visited family which were facing some tough choices about their aging parents. My wife's grandfather, is 87 years old! And he's lived an incredible life! When I look back on my life, and I pray that God gives me a life like my wife's grandfather, long and full of years.

He has a great thing going for him--his faith, his family and his church. His church is doing it's part to take care of him, visit him, be there for him, and I'm glad. He was a leader in that church for many years, it would be a shame if he were forgotten. With all the emphasis on the young and vibrant and up and coming church, we must not forget those who went before us and laid a foundation.

"Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days." -Job 12:12

MMM

It's 4:40am, and it's way past my bedtime! Ok, really I'm just up too early! I'm up for another round of MMM or Mentoring Men for the Master, Int'l. It's a men's group that meets once a week for accountability, scripture memory, and encouragement. It's not a bible study per se. But I find it rather odd that so many men would get up at 4:30 in the morning to do this. It defies logic. But yet here I am, going, like the rest. If you can be involved in a group like this, I'd encourage you to do so. You'll be glad you did!

Get Your Feet Wet!

My wife and I took a quick hiatus to the beach for one reason: to simply take a walk on the beach. We had a break in our day before we were to pick our son up from school, and we took advantage of it! As we strolled down the beach, clad in our jeans, sweatshirts, and bare feet, my wife made a dash towards the ocean and beckoned me to come and join her in getting her feet wet.

Being hesitant because I knew the water temperature was about 50 degrees (cold by my toes' standard), I watched her go in. Now that wasn't very chivalrous of me ya think? She came back, feet red as could be, all smiles. We continued down the beach talking about our week, and on our return, saw some crazy people actually swimming in the water! Just as I completed my down your nose tirade of how cold they must be, and while assuming that the calm on their faces was simply due to brain freeze, a rogue wave came up and slopped seawater on both of my feet!

The storal of the mory? We are so prone to stay comfortable and not take risks. It's as if we store up all our relational treasure in barns, and just plop down and sit on a chair to watch as people come by wanting us to take a risk and open up our barns, wanting us to get our feet wet. Even when we are not wanting such risk, life sometimes forces you to become vulnerable real quick, because hurting people need our vulnerability. They need to see that we are just like they are, broken, but so capable of being cared for and restored.

Getting your feet wet may be uncomfortable, but staying comfortable never was an option for those who wanted to experience the life Christ calls us to. In the passage below, the woman took a small risk, but Jesus, being all knowing, cut to the chase, and got to the heart of the matter. Now we can't cut to the chase that quick, but we need to get our feet wet with others, and become more transparent.

17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” John 4:17-18