Abiding For Life

Time Away

2011-08-02T22:35:00.003-04:00

Right now I'm enjoying some much needed time away. I notice that I haven't blogged in over a year! My apologies to all my fans out there! I hope you appreciate the sarcasm. No ill intended, but if you visit often, here is a post to satisfy even the most crazed of fans.

I'm relaxing after an incredible journey with some amazing students and churches to Buffalo, NY to engage the community with a block party we like to call Summer Jam. Over 200 students, and three churches from Wilmington, NC joined forces and impacted the lives of churches in three separate communities. The smiles on kids faces, the people who came to Christ, the churches whose perspective changed on what they can do to better their communities, all done over a period of a week and over 14 hours of driving and tons of resources provided by God. I'm just in awe of what God has done. Buffalo will never be the same, nor will 3 churches in Wilmington, and 3 churches in Buffalo! Also check out http://www.180mission.blogspot.com for more info on the trip!

No Bags For A (Homeless) Gentleman

2010-11-27T20:12:00.004-05:00

Tonight was bit different for me. Usually we go and feed the homeless like we've been doing for almost a year with some great saints of God who give of their time so selflessly. We show up with food and smiles and lots of love in the name of Christ and minister to the broken, to the ones whom society forgets about so often. Who would have thought there would be enough homeless in our town of Wilmington to sustain daily feedings in 4 to 5 different areas of downtown! There's such a need that perhaps I failed to see or perhaps chose not to see. That's changing now. We've been volunteering for a men's shelter called the Mercy House for almost a year now. We promised the men that we wouldn't be drive by ministers, but that'd we stay and we'd stay a long time. Helping where there was need.

Tonight was different. We brought a Thanksgiving meal. We brought clothes. We brought Bibles. We even brought shoes. As the men began going through the clothes and shoes, I'm not sure what it was, but I was overcome with the immense need I saw before me that was being met as best as possible. But was it my best? A couple walked up, grabbed the only backpack we had that night, and stuffed it with sweaters and sweatshirts to stay warm. Some one else came up, and asked for a trash bag. A trash bag. I thought, no problem. I went inside to look for one. The only one we had was the one we were using to put the food trash in. That did it! I lost it but not enough for people to notice, I walked away, weeping at the thought of not being able to provide a simple trash bag to someone in such great need.

We had food, we had clothes, we had Bibles, but no trash bag. I knew it was a simple thing. But it just struck me funny for some reason. Can we as the church provide a trash bag for the homeless? Absolutely. Next time I'll be ready. But the lesson for me tonight is perhaps one of simply looking at the needs around me, and realizing that I don't have the means to meet them all, but I can minister with what God has given me, and do it with joy rather than sadness.

I hurt for the men at the Mercy House. I know I can do more. I will continue to serve God through being there for them, and encouraging others to do the same. Happy Thanksgiving.

The Journey Is The Destination

2010-09-05T23:15:00.004-04:00

The App Trail was so fun! We had a great time hiking about 10 miles on the trail. Good times.

An Atheist Named Jesus

2010-08-31T22:20:00.002-04:00

How is it that someone is turned away from God after many years of nurturing and exposure to the message of hope found in Jesus Christ? Many questions may be raised at the friends or acquaintances we run into that have a a sour taste in their mouth over all things church. There's even a new term used today called "de-churched". I heard of an atheist named Jesus (his real name is changed), but the shock and questions are still just as valid. How can a person named after the Son of God not believe in the Son of God? Many in the Latina culture are named Jesus in honor of the Son of God. Could it be that we as a church have failed to convey the message of hope to those who cry out for it? Conflict, Power Struggles, Gossip. The Apostle Paul called the members of one of the most immoral churches in the New Testament "saints". Many are turned away from church because of the hypocrisy they see.

How are we to answer the "de-churched"? I believe we are to begin with a deep look into our own souls and the manner in which we are accustomed to following Jesus. Secondly I believe our inward lifestyle must radically change if those watching us on the outside are to see consistency. It's tough living two lives. Nobody's happy. Hypocrisy depletes passion and inflames critics. Humility encourages others to look inward and upward at the God who forgives and heals the broken sinner.

I am aware of my heart, yet at times I am shocked by it's depths to turn away from God. My own hypocrisy...has it turned others away? The times when I am weak, needing strength from the Savior, I pray that the Amazing Grace of Jesus that has provided atonement and forgiveness will forever move me closer to conformity to the life of Jesus. As the Apostle John has written, "I must decrease, He must increase." So goes the battle against living lives for Jesus so that others may see hope and salvation, versus putting to death the works of the flesh, which those not of the faith label hypocrisy. It's not hypocrisy, it's simply one beggar leading another beggar to the Bread of Life.

The Blend

2010-07-13T17:30:00.003-04:00

Check out a post by our pastor about his vision for the Blend!

The Blend

Check It Out!

The Letter

2010-06-22T13:05:00.003-04:00

The Following is from a guest blogger, Makayla Roberts, one of our students in our ministry. Hope you like it!

Dear Child,

Why are you so afraid? You hear me call you, but instead turn up the radio to tune me out. You see my face, but close your eyes. You feel my love, but push it away . I know all about what you did last year. You think forgiveness isn't even possible, that it doesn't even exist. If only you knew The Truth. You're letting your past make your future my love. My Son gave you the chance to start over, even before you were born, when he took your shame on the cross. Speaking of Him, he talks to Me about you all the time. He really loves You. He was right there beside you when you messed up, with His hand on your shoulder. I was also. You can start over. Right now. You're slate has been wiped clean, your trash thrown away. Just come to Me! Not tomorrow, not in a few years, but now. I can fill you with a love you never thought was possible. I can give you an inexpressible joy. I can make you feel beautiful, without ever having to try. I promise you it will be
the best decision of your life. Will you take me up on My offer?

Forever Yours,

God

P.S. I'm here 24/7 if you ever need anyone to talk to.

He Won't Let You Go

2010-05-10T22:10:00.000-04:00

May this song encourage you!

Mercy House Miracle

2010-04-10T21:56:00.003-04:00

The unexpected surprise of compassion came to men who were hungry on a Friday evening where tens of thousands were several blocks away taking in the offerings of Azalea Festival foods. We came as we've done for the past several months to give the men a hot meal, a word of encouragement, a prayer for hope in the midst of current struggles, and a consistent "we're coming back next time" mentality. Did the smells of the bratwurst and funnel cakes reach the Mercy House? The irony was not lost on them I'm sure.

A certain gentleman came upon the meal line to receive some spaghetti and meatballs, the meal prepared for the night. He took the plate, smiled, and made a few comments to the students who were compassionate towards him. He also mentioned he needed to move his truck. I thought nothing of it and said sure, we'll move the tables for you. The last thing he said as he walked away from the tables was I've been selling Christian t-shirts all day. I was curious as to his connection with the Mercy House, perhaps there was none, no matter, we would feed whoever walked up and needed a meal.

As the truck drove by the tables we had moved, the man rolled down his window, reached toward me and said, "here". I saw he was trying to tip us, so I politely declined and said you keep it man. He continued to insist, so I took the folded bills and put them in my pocket, and carried on with the feeding. After we had closed down for the evening, I pulled out the tip, and it was an amazing act of generosity. It was a miracle. Funds were tight with the ministry as it stood, and a complete stranger who we gave a meal to, simply was recklessly generous. It was the Mercy House Miracle.

Floating Axe Heads and Daring Escapes

2010-03-28T20:07:00.002-04:00

Today we examined a passage in 2 Kings about a floating axe head. Yep. You read that right. An axe head floated to the top of the water. The point? God cares for us tremendously, from our smallest needs to our life crises. The guy who lost a borrowed axe head wanted it back, so Elisha threw in a stick and it floated to the top. A true miracle. God cares.

The photo here is another example of God caring, specifically, for me and others who escaped the accident on I-40 that took the life of the individual beneath the half car under the trailer. I and a friend of mine were scouting out a mountain to hike, and along the way, escaped death, or rather God wanted us to continue our lives here. Essentially, it wasn't our time yet. And I'm grateful.

The scene was surreal, and the crash plays over and over in my head. I swerved like the Daytona 500 and for those of you who know my driving skills, that was no small feat. The white car you see, actually crossed my path at a 90 degree angle, in the 2nd lane from the left. That's how I close came to becoming involved in the accident. I saw the truck swerve and the car disintegrate in font of me all in a matter of moments.

I couldn't speak for a few moments as we traveled alone on the road with an 8 mile back up behind us either way on the interstate. My friend and I simply recounted the Providence of God upon our lives.

Singing Rodents, Christmas Eve, and God

2009-12-24T17:02:00.003-05:00

I took my son to see a movie involving singing furry rodents this Christmas Eve. Before all of the familiarities of Christmas Eve and the Holiday season were about to happen, my son and I took a break to watch the Chipmunk movie. I received a call in the middle of the movie, and I let it go to voicemail. It was a good friend who was calling, so I checked the voicemail quickly just to be sure everything was ok.

Everything was not ok.

My friend had called with some sad news, and with some pleas for urgent prayer and hope for their loved one who had become ill suddenly. Hospice was going to be called in, and the person asked that I pray for them and that God's will would be done in this situation.

I wanted to get up and call immediately, but my son was really enjoying the movie, and he had talked about it literally for a month. I prayed that nothing serious would happen at least until I got out with my son, so I could call and console my friend. Thankfully nothing happened, and I was able to pray over the phone for my friend and their situation.

The lesson here is ministry never stops. People never stop hurting or having problems. The question remains is how much of our lives are we willing to give up to be able to walk with someone if but for a moment.

I feel like my choice to "remain" or abide, if you will, with my son shows the struggle we all face in ministering to those around us. It's living life for God and being available for His purposes that teach us all to be more aware of needs around us.

Aware of Suffering

2009-12-01T17:46:00.002-05:00

In recent days God has made me ever so aware of suffering around me. Whether it's in my own life or in the lives of my friends, acquaintances, or people I just meet on the street, God is revealing to me a greater picture of life that I'm so open to right now.

Walking through church, saying hi to new and old faces, elicited deep responses. The friendly and meaningful "hi" doesn't always get a deep response. I'm always eager to listen to people's stories, but this seemed different. Many who opened up after the casual passing "hi" gave me a moment of pause. They simply gushed their story to me. It doesn't always happen, but then again, these times are uncommon also. Lives were broken, painful stories of broken families, struggles with grief over the loss of loved ones, struggles with strongholds, the stories didn't seem to stop.

Taking kids to feed the homeless, collecting bags of groceries for the needy, listening to a friend who deeply hurts. Seeing prayer boards posted for the lives of the young seemingly snatched from this world too soon...The stories haven't stopped. Our lives never do. The struggles we face never do. The struggles and suffering people go through doesn't stop.

When this pattern continued throughout the week I knew God was speaking to me something new in the sense of a lesson or truth I needed to learn.

The lesson I'm learning so far...never stop caring. No matter your situation, caring for others, taking time to notice and appreciate the person. Stopping, gazing intently and compassionately into their eyes to see their loss or struggle...that's what I'm learning.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

I've Seen It All

2009-11-30T18:22:00.001-05:00

Finding Jake

2009-10-23T19:59:00.003-04:00

Sometimes God just whacks you upside the head and shows you how your perspective on life is screwed up. Then he gently realigns your perspective. My perspective changed in a massive way tonight at our son's school carnival.

Imagine having an illness that only 12 other boys had, and you are the only survivor thus far. His name is Jake, a name dear to me although we call our son Jacob. Our son Jacob wrote out a prayer for Jake, and we made a donation to help. His friends and family are raising funds to help pay for medical bills for the chemo and radiation treatment Jake, a third grader, must courageously endure. Pray for his family. Pray for Wilmington to embrace this family. Order pizza from Dominoe's this weekend from 17th St., and mention Jake's journey, and 15% goes to the family. Here's a bit of Jake's story,

Jakob was first diagnosed with medulloblastoma in Dec of 2004 a month before his 4th birthday. He underwent surgery to remove the tumor, 6 weeks of radiation and a year and a half of chemo. He finished Chemo in the spring of 2006. Since then we have been living a wonderful life with our son in remission. Three weeks ago as we left the Humane Society with a new addition to our family we notice Jake's eye was turning in. We called Dr. Blatt our oncologist from Chapel Hill as soon as we walked in the door. She sent us for an MRI. We were informed that Jake has two new brain tumors. We were stunned. This Dec it would have been 5 years since our first diagnoses. We were sure we were done with this and this cancer was not coming back. These two tumors can not be remove base on their location so we are undergoing Chemo. When the chemo shrinks the tumors ,hopefully until they are all gone or until they are very small we will go for high dose chemo and stem cell transplant. I would like to Thank all of our friends for the incredible support we have recieved. We could not do this without everyone. To all of our friends at Holly Tree we love you!!! Thanks for making Jake feel so special.

Jake, we are praying for you and your family!

You can follow Jake's Journey at CaringBridge, and sign up, and search for Jake Hatton. Please donate directly to family, as they will not receive funds through CaringBridge directly.

Camping Experience

2009-10-16T00:18:00.002-04:00

Can't wait for a cool time with my son! We're going camping soon! Our first time with the Cub Scout Pack! It's going to be an awesome experience! Will write more soon when we take the trip!

Caswell Rewind Video 2009!!!

2009-09-24T08:55:00.001-04:00

Caswell 2009 from derik100 on Vimeo.

Wind In The Face...Blue Dreams

2009-09-04T22:21:00.002-04:00

It's been a dream of my wife to own a convertible, namely an electric blue, Mazda Miata MX-5 if I may be specific. So on a whim, we ventured out for a test drive of sorts, torturing ourselves to no end knowing we were entertaining a wild fantasy. The car only has room for two, a selfish thought to say the least, as somehow one of us would be left out of the zoom zoom experience if our only son wanted to come along for the ride.

As our son was in school, on a cloudy day, the ragtop came down, and we sped away down the interstate throwing caution to the wind--ok we're not THAT adventurous...but the little car had some kick! Paddle shifters, a gentle hum of the engine and a 70+ mph (I won't go into details) wind on I-40 greeted two adults wanting so much to be kids if but for a moment in time.

The joy ride soon came to an end and as reality set back in, we rode away in our paid-for car (not the Miata, our PAID FOR car--the used one, old faithful-never let us down car) with a smirk of child-like glee that perhaps we had just gotten away with the cookie from the cookie jar.

We picked up our son and asked him how his day was...he was none the wiser to our foray into the wild blue yonder...a blue Miata in her dreams.

Flood My LIfe

2009-08-21T15:44:00.003-04:00

There's been several floods this week. It flooded today in Wilmington in more ways than one. Parts of College Road were under several inches of water. And parts of the road I've traveled on and many of my close friends have traveled on are under several inches of...well floods of different sorts.

This week and the last have been challenging for several friends of mine. They're taking things well. They've been reminded of life and all it's joys. A newborn baby, a father who passed from one life to the next, a wife who suddenly became ill and is now miraculously better...Standing up under a flood of seemingly incomprehensible news, both sad and joyful. My friends have done well. Christ is their strength. It's so evident in their lives and their responses. Life comes like a flood sometimes.

Can we ever get enough of God? On one level, yes. When we encounter Christ and he abides within us, we become his. We receive the Holy Spirit as a future guarantee of greater things to come. (Eph 1:13). On another level, we are encouraged to constantly seek God, to continually grow, to tap into the fire hydrant of God's love and character. (Eph 3:14-19). The flood of suffering and joy are a part of the process God takes us all through.

My friend recently prayed, "He must increase, I must decrease." (John 3:30) That made me ask, "So there is more of God for my life?" Yes. There is more of God for the one who seeks passionately the Creator God. God doesn't change. We only get closer to him so that we might become more and more overwhelmed with his glory.

The floods of life often surprise us. Yet in them all, God's glory and character are revealed. I'm so aware of God flooding my week as I see others go through a flood. It's encouraging to see them stand and stand strong. Hopefully you'll see others go through times of flooding and have a chance to stand with them also. God's there in their midst. He brings the flood. But He also brings Himself.

Tax Free

2009-08-10T10:04:00.002-04:00

This past weekend we made the round of stores and bought some much needed items for our growing, rambunctious, wide-eyed little boy. It was a small but welcome relief from regular "prices." It reminds me of a passage in Isaiah 55, and speaks of what Christ offers us, without price:

55:1 “Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.

May we fill up on the living water that Christ offers to all, which cost us nothing, and cost God his Son.

Handed A Baby Though A Window

2009-08-02T15:12:00.003-04:00

I'll never forget it. Driving down the interstate with friends to sit with a student in a hospital several hours away, I came upon an accident that just happened moments earlier. I slowed down my vehicle as fast and safely as possible, only to discover the family was still in the over turned van, windows shattered, would be good samaritans frantic in their efforts to help. It was like I was thrust into the accident scene itself. It still replays so slowly in my mind, First Aid kit in hand, with no idea how any of it would help the chaos. There were immediate shouts to get the babies out. Prayers for wisdom rushing through my head. God what do I do!? More than one baby? One was terrifying, more than one was hard to bare if they weren't rescued soon. I joined with several other men, the smell of gasoline pierced my nostrils, not knowing when things were going to go up, in rolling the van right side up.

At that moment, a baby was handed out the window, to my left. The image of seeing a 3 month old's legs unscathed by the wreckage being handed to the person beside me, as we were grunting to push the van over was surreal and refreshing to see the baby unharmed. The other child had a cut on the forehead, and he was pulled out with the childseat screaming. EMS still hadn't arrived. Adults were still in the van. I helped pull the mother out of the van, my friends were on the side of the van helping others out.

As we rolled the van over, to my horror another man was about to be crushed by the van, so 10 men pulled the van back enough for him to move. He was inside the van, trying to help the occupants out. None of us knew too much about rescue, but we knew we must get the occupants away from the potential inferno. Gasoline was everywhere.

EMS arrived, stabilized all the victims, who were removed safely at this point. One victim on the other side was only moving her head, while her body lay motionless. I prayed as hard as I knew how. God help this family!

On the way to the hospital to see a student, all of us were silent for quite some time. Knowing that we were placed there at the scene to help. We prayed for the family.

One thing all this did to me, was to realize that people need our help, and we must be willing to stop our "plans" to help. We had planned to help a friend who needed us. Instead we helped those who needed us sooner. Another thing I realized was the precious value of life. None of us know when a tire will blow or what the outcome will be. Hold your family and friends close to you. Take nothing for granted. Love God and others fiercely.

Tour De Turtle Pt. 2 and Other Firsts

2009-07-24T16:10:00.002-04:00

Tour de Turtle and Other Firsts Part 1

2009-07-18T16:47:00.006-04:00

Just so you know, I've been riding with a good friend of mine at a neighborhood park. What has become a morning ritual for us both has created a number of firsts of sorts for my son.

My little guy is learning to ride the bicycle. He's a late bloomer for that particular skill as many of his friends already know how to ride. But that's OK. I explained to my son that in the mornings after a long bike ride, my friend and I took a break on a bridge overlooking a reservoir. And for some reason, the turtles flocked to an an area just beneath our long shadows cast by the morning sun. So we just stared for a while, and then I had the brilliant idea to feed them. It worked. They came in droves. And I shared with my son that Daddy and his friend were feeding the turtles.

He would have no such thing. He HAD to feed the turtles. But he couldn't ride his bike. So I made a deal with him, being the compassionate and merciful specimen of fatherhood that I am. If he could ride his bike to the reservoir from our home, he could feed the turtles. So off we went. At times he whined, cried and threw tantrums along the way, saying he couldn't go on anymore and bike riding was just too hard. I knew better. As I pushed and he pedaled for what seemed like miles in the warm sun, he gradually began to depend less on my guiding hand, and more on his ability to ride. When we got to the park, he rode triumphantly by himself through the gates.

After much hi-fiving, we went to the bridge, threw down some food...but no turtles. What seemed like a letdown paled in comparison to the tremendous accomplishment just had. So no big deal. My son then proceeded to ride back much of the way on his own, towards home, and as he pulled into the driveway by himself in his glorious moment of victory, his mom also pulled in from work, eyes wide open, and so proud of what her son had just done! Very cool moment indeed in the Davis household. More firsts coming up. Check back for what happened next!

The Jesus Knock

2009-07-10T00:54:00.002-04:00

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:20

So many times this passage gets used for come to Jesus moments. I've seen this used in many youth meetings and camps and conventions. While the intent is pure, I believe the interpretation is somewhat off. Jesus was saying this to a group of believers. Not unbelievers. So that means...

Jesus was knocking on the door of the church, where he should have already been inside. In a sense, Jesus was not there within the church at Laodicea. Jesus was saying, "Hey, I'm supposed to be represented by you, I'm supposed to be living through you!" "Invite me in and I will have true fellowship, true relationship, true communion with you!"

What do some churches do when they hear the Jesus Knock? They'd better tremble and seek the community of Christ once again. Note that this is NOT just about a group, but about an individual believer's response to being indifferent and non-impactful in their Christian walks. Lukewarm Christians equal lukewarm churches.

I would say there are many in our church that are aware of the Jesus knock. We even had a guy post a picture of this on our front Church door one Sunday! I am aware of the Jesus knock. I've heard it, and I realize my heart can become quickly indifferent to the things of God. I repent of this and seek to make Him known, and to have a relationship IN Christ. It's hard to admit, but I must be real and seek healing and renewal everyday. This passage points to renewal. But it also points to God's discipline and warning.

So, have you heard the Jesus knock lately?

God's Got Your Back!

2009-07-01T23:18:00.005-04:00

This evening at 180 we had a pretty cool experience! I wanted to show you a picture
of the time we spent praying before heading out to do a "beach sweep." Seeing the sunset from this photo was a cool reminder that no matter where we are or what we do, the sun rises and sets, and in that time frame we have the hours to praise our God for his sustaining care and provision for us. We each are given the day. God's simple gift to us. Another way of looking at a sunset? God's got your back! The sunset on the backs of the students in the picture here are a reminder of that. The sun will be back around the planet in 12 hours. As we rest, and God's blessing the other half of the planet with the evidence of His glory, be mindful that he has his heart towards us 24-7. The evidence of creation doesn't end wth the sunset, but continues with the dance of the moon and the stars. (Sound poetic?) When we wake, we have the chance to praise God. The sun may set, but God's still there watching over us. A quote from Psalm 113:3:

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised."

Cutting Back

2009-06-25T09:58:00.003-04:00

Have you noticed that when you don't deal with weeds, they grow and grow and grow? They take over what was once usable space. They get in the way of movement even!

I recently trimmed back a few weeds in our yard, and I smiled to think of the insurmountable task of getting it all done. The weeds keep growing! So if they keep growing, why even bother to cut them back?

You might as well even say, if I get dirty all the time, why do I need to take a bath? The principle is the same: Removing that which takes away from your and others living life as God intended is a daily process.

You have to attack the weeds every day, or they'll choke out all you love about life. You have to take a bath every day, or else you'll stink so bad no one will want to come around you.

Some spiritual hacking and cleansing is in order for me. I must cut back things that don't matter, the time robbers, the money wasters, the doubt builders. I must incessantly seek to love others because it gets through the weeds of the potential for pain and regret.

What if they reject me? Hack the weeds.
What if I say the wrong thing? Hack the weeds.
But I really want to buy that! Hack the weeds.
I've got to answer that call! Hack the weeds.
This person will like me if I do this. Hack the weeds.
I don't have time to read the Bible. Hack the weeds.
I'll play with my kid later. Hack the weeds.
God you want me to do what?? I'm not ready. Hack the weeds.
This movie isn't that bad. I can handle it. Hack the weeds.
I'll just pretend that I'm ok. Hack the weeds.

"Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit." John 15:2

Why Sunday School Is A Dinosaur to Youth

2009-06-16T22:51:00.003-04:00

I remember going to church as a young teen. I was a part of an exciting youth ministry at the church. I was a part of a great small group. I was a part of a great worship service at my church. The one thing that didn't click so well for me was Sunday School. I don't fault my teacher at all, but the forced nature of the class begged the question, "Why go?". I think it was a number of things, but primarily it was a structure set in place in the 1950s. Sunday School was set up so students could do their chores on the farm and then go learn to read from the Bible in School around 10:00am. One school house in the community.

Now schools educate our children differently. The Bible is far removed from the schools. Yet churches by and large, still have the structure of Sunday school. So there exists a dichotomy for the student. Learn one subject in church, learn another subject in school, never merge the two. Read the following article to make a little more sense of a recent study stating that 2 out of 3 teens are leaving the church.

Study Showing Teens Leaving Church

My thoughts about the article hit home. I teach youth Sunday School. We cover Creationism. In fact, we just taught about worldviews several weeks ago. We cover doctrine. We cover practical life issues students face. It's really more of a small group than a "Sunday School". No hokey "Jesus answers" here. But it gives me a moment of pause. Why have we hung on so much to a Sunday School structure? It may be our denomination, but other denominations have this as well. We would be wise to reexamine the evolution of the Sunday School Dinosaur. They're leaving in droves according to the research. Not in my case, but for how long? Relationships are key in making any connection with God matter. Perhaps the Sunday School has lost touch, and sequestered itself to one hour on Sunday, hoping to give out just the right nuggets to help the student survive the rest of the week. God help us.

God is Amazing!

2009-06-10T22:13:00.003-04:00

God continues to blow me away at what he's doing in the lives of our students. Many were baptized as a result of coming to Christ several weeks ago, and several came to Christ tonight and were baptized at the same time! What was more important, they understood baptism. They got it. It wasn't just an act, but a beginning of a new life of obedience to Christ. Pray for these students and adults who were baptized. Heaven is having a party!! We should too! Any takers?

Ocean of God's Forgiveness!

2009-06-07T23:33:00.002-04:00

To take a leap into the edge of the vastness of the ocean with simple childlike abandon reminds me of God's call on our lives to embrace the profound forgiveness he has given to everyone of his own. Your sin? My sin? God's forgotten them. Yep. Clean slate. Gone. Bye bye.

Doesn't that free you? It should free us to the point that we jump up and down, ready to be bowled over by wave after wave of God's incredible love for us all. We need to lead others to that forgiveness. Some get so close. Some want to experience that forgiveness, but stand at a close distance behind, afraid perhaps that they've done too much. They've gone too far down sin's path. We know better! Get someone to take that leap into God's incredible ocean of grace and forgiveness! Show them what it's like!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_i2xsRiXDU

Can You Pray This Prayer?

2009-06-01T14:04:00.000-04:00

The Digital Reach

2009-05-29T09:58:00.003-04:00

Nearly half of US online adults are social media users, but 71% of online tweens and teens

connect to a social network at least once a week.
There are more Paypal accounts than Visa card holders.
Americans sent 75 billion text messages in June 2008, a 160% increase from June 07.
70 million of the 90 million homes in the United States that are online have broadband connection speed and 37 percent of US Homes have Wireless or Wi-Fi.
9 out of 10 teens considers themselves to be “video gamers” and more than half play video games at least 3 times per week.
29% of teens would rather shop online than in a store.
Consumers aged 18 - 26 are spending more time using the Internet (12.2 hours per week) than watching TV (10.6 hours per week) according to Forrester.

My thoughts...we are fast becoming a community that goes digital. We are interfacing more than we are interrelating. How do we translate that into effective means of communicating hope and love? Often we think that the latest and greatest is the key, when in reality, it's simply a trend people are moving towards.

Thank You

2009-05-25T17:27:00.001-04:00

Eyes To See

2009-05-18T22:14:00.002-04:00

We long to see. That's the cry of the very soul of man. It's why we spend billions of dollars to peer to the utter ends of the universe on a quest to "find the beginning." Man's attempt to see into space this week by touching for the last time The Hubble Space telescope underscores the pursuit for meaning and purpose in life.

Can a telescope really give us meaning and purpose? If devoid of the presence and control of an all loving and all caring God, then no. If to reflect the Glory of the Creator of the universe, then yes!

The focus in the media outlets have been on the scientific value of Hubble, rather than probing the deeper life questions that beg our focus towards the Creator God.

Do we really see? Or are we looking with the wrong lens?

"In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 2 Corinthians 4:4

I am a Musician

2009-05-15T22:58:00.001-04:00

Had to post this...if you love music, love to play, have music flowing through your veins, like all kinds of music, check this out. It's worth the watch. Very cool.

"Stand by Me" performed by musicians around the world from SKAT on Vimeo.

Blown Away

2009-05-13T23:27:00.003-04:00

God is up to something!

That's what I keep repeating over and over in my head. There's no other explanation for what's going on inside of our student ministry. Last week began what is seemingly taking shape to be a movement of God in our midst. Inspiring worship, broken hearts, students confessing sin to their peers, pledges of commitment and repentance, prayers of forgiveness, students coming to faith in Christ, it's all there! Amazing and humbling.

For any true revival or awakening to happen, there are several elements that must be present.

1. A Desperation for God. People are in need of God to an extent that they're ready to receive and respond to what God is calling them to.
2. Open and honest confession and repentance of sin. Confession happens privately and publicly in Scripture. When it's done publicly, much conviction takes place among the hearers, as I've seen recently in the many confessions of teenagers amongst their peers.
3. Obedience to God. God desires obedience more than sacrifice. The proof is in the pudding. When obedience happens, schools are rocked for Christ, families are transformed for the Gospel, and a real movement of God is submitted to and followed.
4. Response of Faith. This actually is the primary element of any true great awakening. The way an awakening happens within a person and the way a person is converted are one in the same.

My good friend Dr. Alvin Reid, in his book, "Firefall" produced the above list in his research on Great Awakenings in history.

Pray for our students. God is an amazing God. We must be humble and obedient to what He is calling us to.

Earth His Destiny, Heaven His Goal

2009-05-10T16:35:00.003-04:00

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:17-18

What would we do if we had no God that understood us? What if we only had a God that made us then left us alone? We would be terribly lonely, incredibly bitter, and hopelessly wandering.

Yet God chose to empathize with his Creation. In the midst of a "Spit in God's Face" rebellion on Planet Earth, God chose to become who we are, yet without sin. He was saying, it can only be done by God. Living human life as God desires can only be done by God himself. So he came as a babe in a manger, raised by earthly parents who had no clue what to do what every parent does.(How does one raise the Son of God except by the power of God?) Jesus went through everything we did, yet did it flawlessly. Without sin.

So the created now have a front row seat, go-to person, in whose arms can collapse exhausted and sin weary. And the casting of our lives upon the altar over and over again serve as a reminder of the daily dying to self. Jesus is our empathy. More than that he lived a life we never could. Jesus knows what you and I did. And Jesus still cares and alone has the power to say, I conquered everything you couldn't in life, and ultimately conquered death.

Jesus empathized with the pain of dying, so we wouldn't have to. He put himself in our shoes, he put himself on our cross, so we wouldn't have to. There's a God-Man I can relate to!

Guest Blog: Allen Murray

2009-05-06T21:37:00.001-04:00

“I’m at Caswell and I just set up two surf rods by myself thanks to the teachings of Allen Murray.” That is a text message I received from Derik a few weeks ago. He asked me if I would write a blog post reflecting back on my time as a member of the youth group. So when he sent me that text, I knew it was how I would begin. Of course I know it probably makes no sense to most people to start off a blog posting about my time in youth group with a text message about fishing a couple years after graduating out of the youth group at Southside. So I’ll explain.

I was always the kid in youth group that decided no matter where we went on a trip, no matter the time of year, if there was water I was going to bring a fishing rod. (If I didn’t have a fishing rod I would even use a clothes pin and a spool of line to catch fish, with success I might add.) I absolutely loved to fish, and when Derik came along he learned this quickly. But Derik wasn’t much of an angler when I met him. I’ll be honest there was one particular time we were surf fishing at Kure Beach I knew for sure that my fishing rod was about to become property of the Atlantic. But over the years Derik invested in a couple of surf rods and I taught him how to fish. So it was really cool to get that text the other day, being able to see Derik use the knowledge I gave him to fish on his own. That brings us to 2 Timothy 2 where Paul writes to Timothy:

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach also.

Paul taught and mentored Timothy to be a minister of the gospel; likewise is the case of my time in the youth group at Southside. Now I’m in college getting an education and preparing to be a church planter and I wouldn’t be where I am right now if it wasn’t for the investment of the leaders of 180 Student Ministries.

So much was learned in the 7 years I spent in the youth group. I received a first-hand taste of what biblical exposition is on those Wednesday nights out in the shed going through Philippians and 1 John with Derik. I can still remember some of the lessons he taught from those nights even though it has been 4 or 5 years ago. We had a lot of real intimacy those nights with just a few bibles, a djembe, and Derik on guitar. It was an example of discipleship that I want to pass on to those I have in my ministry.

I received my first real experience of missions when we went to Augusta, Georgia for World Changers. I was able to see the impact of the gospel change a woman’s life for the better. It set me a flame for sharing the gospel that summer. We made other trips as well, some local, some a bit further, and now I’m excited to see the group going to Jamaica, Brazil, and beyond. So you could say I taught Derik a bit about fishing for fish, and he taught me a bit about fishing for men.

I received a lot of one-on-one discipleship from Derik, John, Neil, and Dan while I was in youth. Derik poured a lot of bible into me and I cannot begin to thank him enough. He challenged me and always enjoyed throwing out a big seminary word in there to mess with my head at times. He put good books and good preachers in front of me. Sometimes we went toe-to-toe debating theology, at times a bit too far. But we never stopped trying to advance the kingdom together. If I had something going on I knew I could give these guys a ring and they would be there for me. They prayed for me. They were there at the hospital if something happened to someone in my family. They cared. If there is one thing I can say about these men who poured their lives into mine, it is that they are way more than just youth leaders. They are my brothers in Christ and my friends, and I pray our friendships are lifelong.

So many memories were made while in youth group. Reflecting on the road trips alone are worthy of a blog post. In these few paragraphs I just wanted to give a bit of reflection in my time with 180. I pray that in years to come many more can make such reflections under that ministry, and that someday I might be able to make the same kind of investment into making disciples of the Lord Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria- to God alone be the glory-

Allen Murray- www.eyeswellrubbed.com

She Chose Life

2009-05-02T15:48:00.003-04:00

Teenage pregnancy is the not so often talked about side of parenting. Some parents want to cover their child's decision up. Some parents end up paying for the unthinkable. What's left is either a young lady heartbroken, grief stricken, or ashamed with seemingly nowhere to turn.

That's where a great organization called Lifeline steps in. They provide stopgap measures for new mothers and offer grief counseling for those who've had an abortion. These are just some of their services. Today we had a chance to give to this organization. Sometimes when we do a carwash, it serves as a fundraiser tied in someway to a trip or an upcoming event for our ministry. This time, we chose to help another ministry in town. I was so proud of the students and adults who could have been doing something else on such a gorgeous day. Instead, they served it up!

The neat thing here, is that we all came from moms who chose life! Thanks Mom.

Walk A Mile In My Shoes

2009-04-27T17:36:00.002-04:00

Getting at the heart of a student's dreams and passions, and funneling them towards a greater desire to use them for the kingdom takes more than just a phone call or card. It takes your life. And sometimes, that gets messy.

More than letting students know how much I care, my desire is to take a few along the journey God has created for me, and let them see my life fleshed out: My successes, my failures; my good moods, my crazy moods; and oh yes my bad moods. Why go to all this effort? Because Jesus called us to go make disciples, not statistics. Some students I'm mentoring, while others I'm teaching how to mentor. Everyone needs to be in a mentoring relationship, because it's an investment that has returns long after the relationship comes to an end.

So throughout the next few weeks you'll see some posts on my progress, and posts from the students I'm mentoring. How will success be defined? If they're walking with Jesus more so than they were before, then that's awesome! If they've seen faith fleshed out in my life and all the baggage that comes with me, then that's incredible!

I'll walk a mile in their shoes. They'll walk two in mine. We'll walk together towards His Kingdom.

Jazz, Sushi, and Jesus

2009-04-24T09:56:00.001-04:00

This week I took my wife on a lunch date of sorts, and we ate Sushi. Now it was very nice of me to go there right? There are two things that I enjoy a lot and my wife just doesn’t care for. She’s cool with it, but it’s not her style. I like Jazz music, and I like Sushi. As we sat and talked and I ate my sushi and she enjoyed a salad. She made the suggestion that we go there. I asked her to try the sushi, and she politely declined. My wife’s just not a sushi eater. But I was sharing the experience with her. She invited me to eat sushi, and she had the experience with me. My wife’s eaten sushi before and I bet you’re wondering where I’m going with the sushi thing. Sushi is a lot like walking with God. You don’t know until you tried. My wife tried sushi, and she tried God and God won out. My wife at one point said she didn’t like sushi. Then she tried it and she agreed. I said the same thing. I don’t like sushi. I tried it about 10 years ago and I love good sushi. I love jazz, but you have to experience jazz. You can’t just listen to jazz. To hear the musician modulate a scale, or take off on an improv and actually see him playing the instrument either in person or in your head, that’s jazz. Sushi, Jazz, and Jesus, have to be experienced.

There are a lot of people that believe in God. There are a lot of students that claim to follow Christ. There are a lot who claim to know God, but they don’t try him out, for real. They don’t experience God by putting their faith in Christ.

So base your experience in Christ through the Word he reveals to us. That Word is truth!

2009-04-20T21:04:00.003-04:00

This is from Steve Furtick's blog...I found myself saying this statement too often to my son as well...and in regards to my relationship with God, see below for my added statements...

Not Right Now

I realized the other day that I use this line on my son a little too often.
“Daddy, can we please go play on my pirate ship?”
“Not right now…”
“Daddy, can I have some juice please?”
“Not right now…”
“Daddy, will you read this book to me?”
“Not right now…”

Now it’s not that I think I should jump every time my kid says jump…or oblige his every whim.
But I miss a lot of opportunities for good interaction because of my procrastination. Because “I’ll get to it later”. And usually, later never comes.

Of course, this same scenario plays out in my relationship with God. And yours.

Speak a word of encouragement to your kids…
Not right now…
Turn off the TV and spend some time in the Word…
Not right now…
Tell somebody what you’re struggling with so you can get some help…
Not right now…

It may be trite but it’s true:
Delayed obedience is disobedience.
And most of our regrets won’t be about the things we did…
But the things we didn’t do.

My statements...

Daddy can my friend come over to play? Not right now

Daddy can you take me to the park? Not right now

Daddy can we go get a comic book? Not right now

Spend some time riding bikes with your family...Not right now

Get up an hour earlier to bring your family's

needs before Jesus...Not right now

Spend time with students who need an adult to say "I Care About You", and not just use words...Not right now

What would you do or have you not done and said, "Not Right Now"?

Jesus and the Pirates

2009-04-13T23:10:00.003-04:00

Hat's off to the U.S. Navy and the SEALs for rescuing the captain of the cargo ship in the Indian Ocean. Way beyond heroic. But the actions of the United States point to a defining moment for the other 200 plus hostages being held captive by other pirates around the world: Who will fight for us when we cannot?

The U.S. took a stand when no one else was. That's the U.S. I know. Although I don't agree with our president mostly, on this one issue I am proud of our military responding to our commander-in-chief.

Jesus took a stand against the religious establishment of the day when no one else would. There were pirates of sorts preying on the vulnerable and defenseless in the form of Pharisees creating laws which were guilt forming and bondage creating among those who tried to do good.

Jesus stepped up, because he alone could. No one could come to our defense. Certainly not us because we try in vain to earn God's favor. No one else could provide the freedom from the laws and traditions of men--even religious men. Like a snap rescue from pirates, Jesus fired the shot that put to death the law of sin, that we might be rescued and radically saved.

I can only imagine how many times the story will be recounted among the rescued Captain and his family, for generations to come.

How many times will our own rescue be recounted by us, and even change us inwardly as well as outwardly? They should be the same. One can't be without the other. Radical rescue. Radical change.

"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2

Can You Hear Me Now?

2009-04-07T21:06:00.004-04:00

"So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” 9 They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

--Luke 22:8-13

Jesus spoke to Peter and John, and they listened and went and did as he said. But did they hear him? There's a difference between being listened to and being heard. We go about our lives living before God and obeying and listening to his Word, and when God shows up we seem surprised! Luke noted that there may have been some surprise or low expectations for such a specific request to happen just as Jesus had said.

I find that in student ministry, sometimes there's a great chasm in families between being listened to versus being heard. What do parents say to their kids all the time? "Listen to me!" or "You're not listening to me!" I see teens crying out for the opposite from their parents as their hearts cry "Please hear me!". And teens who aren't heard act out their rejection through turning inward or becoming more rebellious in order to oppose the parent out of spite for not "hearing."

Parents want to be listened to=authority. Teens want to be heard=recognition/respect.

We have a lot to learn in listening to God's revelation to us versus hearing. We listen through obedience. We hear through faith and move in response to seeing God moving in our world. When God doesn't move, we think it's God that's moved. Instead, I believe that we've stopped hearing His heart, and we've settled for merely listening to the Word in the form of ritual and tradition. It makes us feel like we're doing something for God, when the heart of the law is faith in Christ, not faith in the law.

Listen to God. Hear God. Be moved.

10 Ways Jesus Changed The World

2009-04-05T21:40:00.001-04:00

1. He split our calendar in two: B.C. and A.D.

2. He showed us God is love.

3. He refused a crown to bear a cross.

4. He occupies no grave.

5. His sermon on the Mount set forth the highest standard for how we should live.

6. He modeled forgiveness in a world of stone throwers.

7. He transformed fishermen and tax collectors into world changers.

8. He healed the sick and raised the dead…enough said.

9. He challenged religion devoid of compassion.

10. He willingly accepted a cruel death so that we might have life.

As we enter Holy Week we contemplate Jesus’ death and that first Easter morning. The week started with betrayal, confusion and sorrow only to end in celebration. The scriptures tell us that God “showed his love among us — He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.” --Pastor Shuler, Capitol Life Church

So That The World May Believe

2009-03-27T22:43:00.003-04:00

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20

I find this prayer amazing that Christ prayed for today's church. He prayed for UNITY, as we would say...but is this unity the "oneness" that Jesus had with the Father? To me it seems deeper, more connected, interwoven, enmeshed, and of the same heart.

So if we as a church body, are one, or "in Christ", then the commonality is Christ. Why then are there so many "churches"? The answers I get to this question, (and often pose myself) don't seem to measure up to the standard that Christ wanted for his church. But yet here we are. Serving Christ alongside each of our little (or large) communities of faith. Jesus knows our brokenness. That's why he PRAYED for that which needed to come about: UNITY and the WORLD to believe that Jesus was sent by the Father.

Prayer works. Prayer, more times than even our presence with others, is so powerful and can minister even across TIME, as Jesus prayed for future believers. Our prayers are so time-centered. How often do we pray for future generations?

Lessons From The Wilmington Four

2009-03-22T22:58:00.003-04:00

Hiking fifteen miles with three good friends is a great way to spend a weekend! We knew more about each other when all was said and done. It was a great time to share in God's Creation and just hike the trail as a band of brothers.

Cross Without God?

2009-03-16T22:29:00.004-04:00

We have crosswalks everywhere. We must cross them to get from one place to another. Yet they remind us of a task most of us carry out everyday: Walking. Walking is easy. Or is it? If you cross the road, and don't look at where you're going, or at what's coming, you could die.

So it goes with our spiritual lives. All throughout Scripture, (350 times) the word walk reminds us that there's a way that pleases God our Father. Either we walk in his ways or we don't. Many walked in the ways of God, very few, were consistent at it. Most flubbed up. Yet God calls us to walk in his power, not our own. It's this struggle that we fight with. Our way of doing things vs. God's.

That's where we are with our students. Challenging this generation to walk through life with a God they can trust is the goal of an exciting series we're beginning Wednesday night!

You Have To Laugh

2009-03-15T21:06:00.002-04:00

Found this and thought I should add a little political humorous flair to the blog!

Recession is when your neighbor loses his job.

Depression is when you lose your job.

Recovery is when Obama loses his job.

For those of you who didn't vote for President Obama, this might amuse you. For those of you who did, just simply allow room for some good jesting! : ) It's OK to laugh people! President Obama would laugh at this joke! See here.

The Power of The Gospel

2009-03-13T10:45:00.003-04:00

God is at work in the hearts and lives of students! Praise God for what he's doing through my friend Clayton King:

Can 2,000 people be saved at once anymore?

Filed under: Blog Post — Clayton King @ 4:18 pm

We are not living in the book of Acts, the West has become post-modern and post-Christian, church attendance is declining, and Billy Graham is no longer doing stadium crusades. So can 2,000 people still get saved all at once? Evidently, they can.

I just saw 2,000 people repent of their sins and publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ.

The backstory: The event was the TN Youth Evangelism Conference. It was held in downtown Nashville, with just under 12,000 attendees. On Thursday night, I sensed the Holy Spirit challenging me to pray an audacious prayer, reminding me of the 1,500 people who trusted Christ in Beaumont, TX in January. I confessed to The Lord that I did not have faith to pray for 2,000 people to be saved. He would not let me go. He kept bothering me, telling me that the gospel works and that if I would just believe Him, He would show off.

I reluctantly submitted to pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and I did, indeed, ask God to give me the faith to believe that 2,000 people would begin a journey of salvation on Friday night. I prayed fervently, and began to notice that the more I prayed, the more I believed God would do it, and the more sensitive I became to the lostness of the people around me, even in the airport and the hotel.

I preached from Romans 10:8-10 a very simple message on what is required of us in order to be saved. According to Paul, we have to believe in our hearts that Jesus is raised from the dead and we have to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. I told them they were not allowed to rededicate. I did not want any Christians to make a re-commitment. I was only going to extend an invitation for people who had never repented, never believed, never been saved, never met Jesus personally.

Instead of doing a typical Baptist invitation (heads bowed, eyes closed, music playing softly, lights down with nobody looking), I had all the lights on, all eyes open, no music, and everyone looking. Then I challenged them to do exactly what Paul commanded the church in Rome to do for salvation.

STAND UP. OPEN YOUR MOUTH. CONFESS “JESUS IS LORD.”

I did not allow anyone to clap or shout or say amen. The room was totally silent. One by one, people began to stand up and declare their faith in Jesus. You should have heard it…voices filling an auditorium with thousands present, confessing the Lordship of Christ in front of earthly and heavenly witnesses. God had answered my prayer.

Afterwards, I met lots of people. A 51 year old chaperone was saved. A 29 year old youth pastor was saved. And 3 of the security guards were saved. There are 2,000 new names written in God’s book, people who have begun a lifelong journey of salvation.

The gospel works. We don’t have to dumb it down, we just have to declare it with boldness, love, and conviction. The Holy Spirit does all the work in people’s hearts because Jesus did all the work on the cross. Pray for all your new brothers and sisters in Christ who have a new heart, and new life, and new destiny.

Derik's thoughts:

God still moves. He's been moving since Creation. A simple, profound explanation of the gospel message stirs hearts and minds by the power of the Holy Spirit. The result? Teenagers bustin' heavin wide open!

Student Testimony Night Then Unleash

2009-03-11T00:40:00.003-04:00

We're set for a great line up of what God's doing in student's lives Wednesday night! I'm so excited to hear of how God is shaping the lives of our students! After tomorrow night we head to Anderson SC for the UNLEASH conference! Woohoo!

Snow Skiing In the 70s

2009-03-08T23:21:00.002-04:00

It felt like the 70s anyways. It was probably one of the warmest ski retreats I've been on with a group. Our speaker Sterling did an awesome job with excellent video teaching along the 8 hour trip up to the slopes, and the night session for which we were so grateful. We skied and had some awesome times of worship and teaching. God was impacting hearts and minds as several of the students committed their lives to Christ over the weekend, and many became closer in their walk with Christ. It was great to get to know some new faces and connect with some good friends. We couldn't have pulled this off without the help of our wonderful team of adults and leaders. Great trip.

UNCW 4 MICH ST. 3 RECOVERED FOUL BALLS 1

2009-02-27T21:49:00.002-05:00

My son officially got his first foul ball at a baseball game. It was great to see him scramble for it as it sailed over the bleachers, and nearly into the backseat of my Nissan. The catcher was gracious enough to get the entire team to sign it. Way to go Jacob!

God's Heart for Students Pt. 2

2009-02-22T21:53:00.003-05:00

Today's been a banner day for student ministry in my life. No throngs of students flocking to the altar, no multi-thousand dollar events drawing huge numbers...Just conversations with at least 20 different individuals at different times during the day that revolved around the simplicity of the important, rather than the tyranny of the urgent.

What was so important in the conversations with those students? For today, I've seen an incredible realness not often seen so jam packed in any 24 hour period. Talk of pursuing God and living life for Christ by being the church rather than in one...Talk of repenting of sin (It's great to hear that word acknowledged by students, sometimes hard to pick out against the great backdrop of noise)...Talk of purity in a time of students living life like everybody else...Talk of motivating others to honor Jesus by not living two faced lives.

You want to know the crazy part? The above description comes not from my mind, but nearly quoted verbatim from all the real, deep, heart pouring out conversations I've had today with middle schoolers and high schoolers and college age students. Funny how all that happened in one day.

It's just an amazing reminder to me of God's heart for students.

God's Heart For Students

2009-02-20T08:44:00.003-05:00

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deut. 6:7

Raising an incredible teenager who is on fire for Christ begins before they become a teen. Why then are so many students coming through the doors of student ministries all across the U.S. and leaving with an a la carte mentality of God and the church? Take what you like, leave what you don't like.

Could it be that we as parents have neglected the heart of the Greatest Commandment? To obey God fully, and to PASS IT ON to the next generation? The word "diligently" stands out in my mind in the above verse, and the fact that passing on this devotion to God happens not once a week at a student ministry program, but everyday as the parent walks with their child and lives life through the lens of God's Word.

Conversations about God. Conversations about right and wrong. Celebration of victories won. Correction to make the way straight. Such an attitude and discipline in the family (my own included) helps this youth pastor equip students the way God intended.

Life Is Short

2009-02-18T13:20:00.002-05:00

I had a reminder recently of the shortness of my own life. Call it a medical check up if you will, but the results pleased me nonetheless! I see why some have a more care-free attitude towards life, and some care WAY too much. I'm in the latter category a lot, meaning that I sometimes fuss over the trivial, and neglect what really matters. Here's several realities I'll never get away from, and that should drive me to think about my life radically different:

1. People can love me incredibly and hurt me deeply, yet I can respond in a way that will either weigh me or others down, or make my life and theirs a breath of fresh air.

2. Every breath is a gift from my Creator. That breath is either wasted or cashed in on accomplishing God's plan for this planet.

3. I'm here less for me and mostly for other people. Selfishness can drain my wallet, my time, and my worship.

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:31-34

Better get busy dying to self, 'cause I see more and more there's a lot of me to die to, and so much in Christ to live for.

Fearing We'll Blow It For Wilmington

2009-02-16T21:53:00.002-05:00

In our vision to reach Wilmington in an "out of the box" way, many issues have been brought to the table, prayerfully and with much wisdom and concern. In finding the right time, the right place, the right "way" to do it, Steven Furtick's church is also experiencing similar issues. I remind the reader, we're not them, but we are a part of God's plan. Check out his thoughts:

Fearing failure

Some people teach that we should never be afraid of failure.
That’s bad advice. Fear of failure can be a great ally.
But only at the right times, and only for the right reasons.

1. The right reasons
It’s a good thing to fear failure because of potential harmful repercussions.
But it’s never okay to fear failure because you’re scared to be embarrassed.

Example of a good reason to fear failure:
If we spend 3 million dollars to purchase this land, and it’s in the wrong location, or it straps us with an enormous debt load, we’re screwed. A mistake here could severely limit what God can do through our church over the next few years.

This fear of failure indicates prudence, forethought, and systematic thinking-
All productive qualities.

Example of a bad reason to fear failure:
If this doesn’t work out, we’re going to look stupid.
This variety of fear reflects pride, self-regard, and an unhealthy obsession with making sure you look good.

2. The right times
Fear of failure is most useful on the front end of a decision. At this point, the fear can drive you to analyze thoroughly, debate vigorously, and pray fervently. Fear can serve as a reflex to remind us how completely dependent we are on the hand of God.

But once you’ve made a decision, fear of failure can do more harm than good if you don’t regulate it. Worry gets in the way of active, faith filled prayer and response.

Fear failure. At the right times. For the right reasons.

So for the Blend, it's not about fear of failure, but rather prayerfully considering the steps to get to the fulfillment of a God-sized vision. We're on our knees and we've locked arms and are moving forward and hanging on for God's blessing. People are excited and pumped! And they are drawn and that is so incredible. Opening day at the Blend will be a God-sized event indeed! I'm hangin on with faith because I trust in a God who cares so much for every community of believers, and wants us as a united Body to continue advancing His Kingdom!

Way of Life

2009-02-16T20:58:00.004-05:00

We're continuing in our "Life Together" series and had a great insight by Pat tonight. The Greatest commandment, and the second greatest are essentially a "way of life." That's the phrase he coined, and it's so true. The Law and the Prophets, being summed up by those two commandments, which weren't a part of the 10 commandments we think of, but were commandments nonetheless. It comes from Matthew 22:37-38. So the way of life Jesus is getting at is to love God with all your being, and love others. You can't do one without doing the other. It's the "way life" God calls us to!

Student Video

2009-02-11T23:29:00.000-05:00

Hangin With The Fellas!

2009-02-09T21:50:00.002-05:00

Guys' "Small" Group

Had a great first night of small group! Excited about these guys and what God's going to do with them! I appreciate their passion and honesty so much! These fellas don't play!

The Beach Boys

2009-02-08T17:25:00.003-05:00

Ok, the title's a little cheesy, but I'm a fan nonetheless, thanks to my dad's crazy insistence on those "Quality Times" he had with my sis and I singing into whatever makeshift microphone we could find. Fun times.

Today was a day of rest, worship, and inspiration for sure! My pastor rightly used the phrase, "get the lead out of your bottom" today, and it may very well be the phrase most take away and stick with.

Our stroll down Wrightsville Beach helped us recap the day, laugh, pray and just enjoy the beautiful weather this area is known for.

You Need This

2009-02-03T23:18:00.003-05:00

A friend posted a video on FB with this song, and I had forgotten about it's message. Thought I'd repost it here. We all come to a place in our lives when we need a shoulder. Perhaps you've been that shoulder to someone, perhaps you'll need one. The greatest comfort comes from knowing that Christ ultimately is the one whom we rest in and lean on.

And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6b)

7 Practices of Effective Ministry - DNA pt 7

2009-02-02T10:14:00.003-05:00

The last point of being effective in ministry is found in an exercise that many are doing just this day. Being a Monday Morning Quarterback. You know what we do, we evaluate what's effective and what's not effective. What worked in the game and what didn't work.

What was the one thing that prevented the Cardinals from winning? Perusing over the news outlets and talking heads, and recalling the game in my own mind, the answer was not just one thing, but many. Penalties, a not-so-together defense when it mattered early on, a last minute touchdown by Santonio Homes made all the Cardinal's effort to get to that point seem like a moot point.

In churches, evaluation is important. Allowing time for evaluation is also important. Whether it's in the game or afterwards, you adjust and make the goal possible by evaluation.

In our student ministry, I ask our team at our meetings after our main Wednesday night program, what their perspective was on all the different aspects of the night. We dissect it. We take the great things out of the night, and the things that perhaps need adjustment. Our pastor does this with our church as well. But we can't do it if we don't do it. Make sense? In order to be effective, you have to work on it. You have to "effect" what you want to be effective at.

Nobody's going to "get" church exactly right. We're broken. But we can evaluate how effective we are in ministry, and seek to have the greatest impact by doing so.

Worth It All

2009-01-31T08:43:00.002-05:00

As we race into 2009, with many if not all news outlets reporting doom and gloom for the economy, I was reminded this morning in my devotion as well as earlier in the week that God's economy is much different:

11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

This is not about eternal destiny. It's about what we've chosen as priorities while living life on the earth. It's about what we've done. What we've chosen to spend our time with. What we've chosen to waste our time with. Ouch. That hurts! I know of much time I've wasted, and could have spent furthering eternal things. When I stand before Christ, I pray that this time in my life, and beyond would speak of an increasing desire to build on the foundation of Christ, with things that last:

Time spent fostering relationships that seek to walk with Christ.

Time spent being a good father and husband, and the spiritual leader God calls me to be.

Time spent praying for the needs of the broken and downcast person who many forget.

Time spent using my resources to exalt Christ rather than my own wants or comfort.

Time spent leading others to understand how to live out all the above.

Those ideas, that kind of time, is time well spent, and a foundation rightly laid.

The Blend...Coming Soon!

2009-01-30T07:20:00.001-05:00

Check Out The Blend!

Jealous?

2009-01-29T08:47:00.004-05:00

One thing that's become very clear to me recently is that jealously can be an Achilles' heel of churches doing work together.

Well what if we lose "members"? Ok, fine. You lose them. But we have to ask ourselves, (and often do)...why did we lose them? Don't get me wrong, I understand the framework for people covenanting with a community of believers. The commitment is to Christ and his people, and the common purpose of glorifying Christ and building of the kingdom--not commitment to a building or a name or an individual.

So when we see other churches doing incredible things, why not seek to join them? A merger is not the idea here, but some have went down that road with success. But actually coming along side and pairing up our fellow believers of other churches, with the community of believers we've chosen to walk in life together with, is what I'm getting at. One of the ways we're seeking to do this is to go to a church that's thinking outside the box. We're taking a team to the Unleash conference in March. It's not the only way to do church. But they're successful and we want to tap into that and see if we can apply some of their techniques to help our own community be a better place to serve God in.

I want our students to go to other student ministries. I've told them this. I'm not afraid of them joining another ministry. I want them to see what God is doing in other churches, and to bring back ideas that will improve our kingdom impact! If they leave and start going somewhere else...ok I shouldn't be one bit jealous, but rather question my efforts at making sure their connections within our community were actually helping them live life for God, and not just filling a void on Sunday or Wednesday.

Shame on us if we think that church is "our" church. It's God's Church. We identify with the community he has brought together, and to those we covenant our lives to.

We all know eyes are on the church and how we interact with different "flocks". Let's give them something to talk about rather than validating their suspicions!

Do You Need To Be Rescued?

2009-01-26T22:53:00.002-05:00

It takes effort to be rescued. A profound lesson learned by my son as he climbed out of the firetruck after a tour of the Wilmington Fire Department at Station #7. It was quite a site! All the parents standing in the background, all the cubscouts clamoring to get close enough that one could probably tell what the firemen had for dinner!

Millions of dollars and training hours go into a fire fighter's training--all for the purpose of rescuing someone from a fire or other emergency. As the fireman donned his fire suit and breathing apparatus, he let the scouts know that they may not recognize him at a time when they needed rescuing. He encouraged them not to be scared, but to listen for his voice through the mask if they encountered him in their bedroom, and that being said, if they needed to be rescued.

Many people go throughout life not knowing that they need to be rescued. They're comfortable. It's easy to be comfortable here. Right now I'm sitting in a cozy warm home, in a comfy chair, so you could say I'm comfortable. Spiritual emergencies often prepare our hearts for rescue. Even then, it's hard to listen. Take a moment to examine what we've been rescued from, and what we need rescuing from still, from the only One who can rescue what really needs rescuing...make sense?

"Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:24-25

DNA Pt. 6 Replace Yourself

2009-01-23T21:42:00.006-05:00

At some point, someone will replace you.

This is the next element effective ministries realize and act upon. As I was reading this chapter in 7 Habits of Effective Ministry, I looked at that reality within my own ministry. Whether it's 1 day or 1 decade or until God takes me home, being a part of the process of laying the ground work for the ministry to continue to be effective as a direct result of my choice to lead, will determine whether the legacy I leave is me-centered or Kingdom centered.

Leadership is not about control or power. Leadership is about vision and influence. If you can't influence people in moving towards the God-inspired vision God's given you for ministry, then they will not follow you. It's been said that a leader in which no one follows is only taking a walk.

So with the humbling realization that I will be replaced...I can either lead with an inward focus, trying to "protect my ground" which looks like me putting out scuffles and naysayers' fires...or I can lead with an investing focus, trying to give my job away, teaching others to do ministry, while serving alongside them, with the realization that I may be replaced, and so might they. Investing allows the vision to continue long after I'm gone.

In our series, Life Hurts, God Heals, several of our leaders have stepped up to the plate to deliver a home run, leading the mid-week message. I've asked them to do it. I could have done every week of the series, but that's not being replaced. God's doing amazing things. Pray for our ministry. So many teens hurt. It seems like every week God shows me students with pain that breaks your heart. We lead for them. We, by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, want to be totally replaced, totally consumed, by the indwelling Spirit of God within our lives.

So replace yourself. Give your ministry away. Be led by the Spirit.

God At Work

2009-01-21T23:40:00.004-05:00

I just love to be surprised by God! He surprises me and it's awesome! Tonight we had around 70 with adults and students, and we had also had the Holy Spirit moving among many of our adults and students. Ten students accepted Christ tonight, no guilt trips here, just a clear presentation, and an opportunity to respond, with follow up afterwards by our adult leaders.

Why do I say this to you in this blog?? Because I can think of no better thing to share with anyone! People going to see Jesus is the most incredible thing and it never gets old! I was just glad God allowed me to see it! Right here. Right now. Go Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Those who are now His are transformed, and will never be the same.

Leadership 101

2009-01-18T17:42:00.002-05:00

I get to minister alongside some of the greatest, most dedicated youth volunteers in the world! Seriously. These team players are dedicated to seeing students mature in their faith, and modeling that commitment in their own lives as well. We just had a leader appreciation luncheon, and at this luncheon, I also shared our vision and goals for the new year. Here's what our ministry is focusing on in 2009 in four simple words: ACCEPT...FOLLOW...LEAD...MODEL.

That's it. If you can't narrow down your focus, its too broad. We've narrowed it down to these concepts and they will define our ministry for this year and I believe in the years to come. Here's the four goals spelled out a bit more:

1. We must provide opportunities for non-believing students to accept Christ.

2. We must have more opportunities for students to follow Christ.

3. We must have more opportunities for students to lead with Christ..

4. We must deepen relationships with more students and parents in order to model Christ.

Looking to see these goals fleshed out in 09 with the strategies we outlined today. Pretty cool stuff. I'm excited. Our team's pumped, and students will receive greater impact from Christ as a result of being focused on what's important, and tossing everything else to the side.

What's Your Whale?

2009-01-15T21:08:00.003-05:00

I just realized something very intriguing. Not once has Jonah and his encounter with the big fish been ever mentioned in regards to Thanksgiving. Strange you ask? Here's why...Jonah was in the belly of the fish because he chose to run from God in disobedience. What does he do after 3 days of putrid existence? (in a stomach ok?!) He cries out to his God for rescue and says, "But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord." (Jonah 2:9)

Jonah was thankful in the whale, but it took three days. After that a new life. Obvious is the reference to the resurrection life, as Jesus referred to this in Matthew. We must get this part. We must begin with the resurrection life. But what about the whale? Do we realize we're in a whale sometimes in our lives and stay there without crying out? Becoming numb to a putrid way of living can keep us from living as God is calling us to. Yet God in his mercy allowed Jonah to begin the new life on dry land. He didn't have to drown. God's effort. Not his. But Jonah cried out.

You could say, from looking at my life, that I've been vomited up from the whale. As a result of disobedience? On some level yes. God got my attention. I'm a different man now. From trials can come joy and thanksgiving. Would I go through that experience to get to where I am now? Not ever. That's where God steps in, and takes us where we need to go.

If you or someone you know is running from God, pray they realize they're in a whale, and pray for their rescue from the stinking stew. Pray they live as though they've never lived before...and seek to give thanks for the whale they've just been vomited up from.

Carolina and Caroina

2009-01-09T22:24:00.005-05:00

Ok so both of my teams lost...one didn't play so well, the other played pretty good to the end, on the road. Hats off to the 14-0 Demon Deacons, they've done well to represent the ACC.

Bridge Building

2009-01-06T22:44:00.002-05:00

God continues to shape hearts and minds as we progress towards an incredible vision for Wilmington! Check out some really neat thoughts from my pastor on bridge building here.

If You Like Sushi...

2009-01-05T21:48:00.001-05:00

Here's a great laugh! (and a good point too)

Sushi Fail

Whilst we were away on our Christmas break, I stopped by a local sushi shop and while browsing the menu, I found this little gem…

Not judging those who take the time to learn a second language, but the devil’s in the the details folks. Skip the small stuff enough and all you’ll end up with is crap filled dragon rolls.

So, a little rhetorical question to kick off your new year right: What are the details you’re overlooking or brushing off that are keeping you from a creative breakthrough this year? What’s gotta change? You’re only 2 days into the year, so no excuses. Do it.

-Ryan Hollingsworth, Graphic Designer

You MIght Be A Youth Worker If...

2009-01-05T10:24:00.004-05:00

Here's a just for fun top ten list from my friend Tim:

1 You know what a blue flame is and think it’s fun, you might be a youth worker.

2. You’ve heard these words from a Sr. Pastor, “Son, step into my office. We need to talk,” you might be a youth worker.

3. You can devise an impromptu ice-breaker game with 3 paper-clips, 4 tissues and a sharpie, you might be a youth worker.

4. You can justify surfing as work, you might be a youth worker.

5. People pull up to a red light and you have the bass cranked up singing to the top of your lungs in the church van, you might be a youth worker.

6. You've ever declared, “Dude, that would be soooo hardcore!” in response to a senior pastor’s suggestion, you might be a youth worker.

7. You're the one who made a fart sound after lights out just to laugh at the junior high boys with how they react, you might be a youth worker.

8. You've ever sat with a student while they tell they’re parents they are struggling with cutting (put your addiction here) you might be a youth worker.

9 You see a kid sitting off by themselves and your heart feels a tug and you go sit and talk with them all night if need be, you might be a youth worker.

10. It makes you sad that your youth members are growing up, you might be a youth worker.

Are We Listening? DNA Pt. 5

2009-01-02T17:58:00.002-05:00

As I tear apart (or slowly digest) 7 Practices of Effective Ministry, one idea is very clear: North Point Community Church has intensely thought through who they are and what it is that they are to be doing. This chapter makes such thinking all the more precise. In emphasizing what NPCC is about, they emphasize the outsider's opinion over the person "in the pew" so to speak.

If we're trying to reach those who need Jesus, it would be pertinent to know what they think about such efforts. The authors aren't condoning pandering to popular opinion about God. But what is clear is that churches, lots of them, don't listen to outsiders or what it would take to get an outsider to come through the church door. It takes the insider. Invest and Invite is NPCC's mantra when it comes to reaching those far from God.

When you invite someone to church--a friend that you've cultivated a relationship with intentionally, and they tell you they're coming--you're going to intensely care about what's coming up for that Sunday: the message, the music, the extras. All of a sudden you, not the "experts" become the most important factor in bringing your friend closer to Christ.

When Southside speaks...who do we want to listen?

Manure On The Face

2008-12-30T16:39:00.002-05:00

Hmm. Interesting title. Even more interesting passage.

3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. Malachi 2:3

Read this in my devotion this morning. Reminded me of the call upon my life first as a royal priest in God's kingdom, and secondly as God's messenger to his people.

The priests had gotten so tired of God and his teachings, they just didn't care. The Priests didn't care! It was the ultimate insult to have that stuff thrown upon your face. (Still is today I would say).

Do I trample the Word of God or become so lackadaisical as his messenger that he would desire to throw manure (or worse) on my face? (Are any shocked that God takes obedience so seriously?) My answer is shown in my life. This passage really makes you look at your life before God, and his passion that his people love him.

The Blessing

2008-12-29T18:54:00.000-05:00

Here's a great video recommended by RJ! Happy New Year!

When All Is Said And Done

2008-12-28T19:02:00.003-05:00

Derik Davis Husband, Father, Friend
Born November 27th, 1973
Died _______ __, 2___

Thinking about the impact of my life moves me to live with the end in mind. Whatever I do, I know that it can either have an impact for eternity, or be shamefully wasted. So whether it's tomorrow or 40 years from now, when someone walks up to me and says, Derik, thank you for ___ (hopefully there'll be a life changing, eureka-type, change my direction, made me think, drew me closer to God, kind of statement placed in this blank) I want to live with the end in mind, and to move people towards that statement they would give me.

Don't get me wrong here. It's not about me, but about what I can choose to do now to help others with the breath and life God's given me. This upcoming year, 2009, will be full of challenges and triumphs, much like 2008 has been. But it will be different, and I'm praying and moving towards impact, rather than impasse. Rather than my life coming to a thud and going nowhere, I want to continue to create a faith of momentum and metamorphosis. Happy New Year!

Southside's DNA Pt. 4

2008-12-27T14:37:00.006-05:00

As I continue to read the book, 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones, I'm reminded that this is one way to do ministry. These are principles not programs. As our staff looks at the 114 year old church, rich in heritage, brimming with potential, that He has called us to shepherd, nurture and assist in it's growth, I see a tremendous amount of ideas we can garner from a book such as this. (perhaps that's why our dear friend gave all the staff a copy!)

One idea that is challenging my thinking is stated in this 4th principle: Teach less for more. It's been drilled into my head that 3 points, 3 illustrations, and 3 supporting verses can make up a great message! Although that's not entirely the model I use, it's more of a compilation. Many other pastors would agree. But this principle points out something: We teach too much. It's been estimated that students within a student ministry are only under teaching for about a 150 hours, if you just count the teaching time. And other studies conclude that we retain ideas more when they're repeated, rather than added onto with point 2, point 3, etc. So the necessity of strategic planning in teaching to an audience, rather than a flavor of the month is what this principle is getting at.

I'm still not convinced that a 3 point message needs to be tossed out. Presentation is key to any message being taught and the listener learning. But how much is said that can be left unsaid? How much is over the top, flashlight approach vs. laser focus teaching that leaves the listener walking away with a general sense that they learned something, but can't tell you what nor use it to help them in their lives and walk with God? Good chapter, great ideas. needs to be mulled over more to fit our ministries.

Born to Give Us Second Birth!

2008-12-24T22:36:00.002-05:00

The most amazing thing in the annals of humanity, is that our Creator chose to be involved from our inception, and that HIS-tory continues miraculously through Christ's birth, sinless life, scandalous death, and shock-the-world resurrection from the dead. To encounter the power of the risen Christ, through the promised indwelling of God's Spirit, is the POINT of everything Christmas. Born to give men second birth. The first birth ends in death. The second birth (spiritual, of the Spirit, faith in Jesus) proves God DOES care about our measly 70 years on this planet, and that he wants us to live that life every second with our future meeting with HIM in mind. Merry Christmas World! God....Is....Here!

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:7-8

Taylor's Gift

2008-12-22T17:29:00.003-05:00

Several months ago, one of our students, Taylor, had a idea. His idea was simple: Collect jackets for the homeless of Wilmington. He gave it a name: Jackets for Jesus. Tomorrow he and I will go deliver the fruits of such a God-honoring idea. Hats off to ya man! I'm so glad you've chosen to make good on the idea and be moldable and used of God.

37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:37-40

50 Youth Marketing Trends for 2009 by Graham Brown mobileYouth.org

2008-12-20T22:12:00.004-05:00

Found this post on DC Curry's blog, Granger's Student Ministry Pastor. If we as a church are to reach students, knowing their culture is the bridge that can introduce them to Christ. Check out this slide show. What I found interesting was

We don't market to youth, we market with them.
They don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

The maddening thought I have is...Is the church even on the radar of the unchurched American Teenager?

PART 1: 50 Youth Marketing Trends for 2009 by Graham Brown mobileYouth.org

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: teens kids)

Graffiti - A Message Meant to Be Heard

2008-12-20T19:09:00.002-05:00

Graffiti Church

I took my son to a relatively unknown park today, thanks to a tip from a friend. When my son and I arrived, we saw friends from church and school! They were surprised at the new park as well, being so close to our homes!

What was also surprising was the new graffiti on one of the freshly painted buildings. We as parents wondered why would someone do that? All the kids playing stood in stark contrast to the reality the grown-ups knew about the graffiti. But yet, the vandal wanted to be heard. There was even barbed wire fence beyond the wall. Amazing.

We all have stories we so desperately want to tell. We want people to care deeply for us and hear us out. One of the cool things about being a part of a community of faith is that this actually happens, but it's messy. Graffiti is like that. Messy. Not the easiest way (or legal), to get a message across. But if our "messiness" is not heard, how can we ever get our messiness clean?

I want to take you to an incredible story of a pastor who went against incredible odds to pastor a church, oddly enough, called the Graffiti church. I've met this man and his family and his church, through a partnership several years ago. It's messy. But cleaning is going on there. Check out the work of God there in the lower east side of Manhattan. Take time to read the graffiti. People want to be heard. Cleaned up? Absolutely. They must be heard first. Then cleansing can come.

8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jn 13:8-9

The Christmas Story

2008-12-19T17:33:00.005-05:00

7 Christmas Facts or Myths Not In The Bible

2008-12-19T11:22:00.004-05:00

1. The Bible mentions no innkeeper. (Luke 2:7) (We only assume)
2. The Bible mentions no donkey. Possible though (Isaiah 1:3)
3. The Bible mentions no animals around the manger. Possible though. (Isaiah 1:3)
4. Wise men didn't bring gifts to the manger, but to a 2-3 yr. old Jesus at his house. (Mt. 2:11)
5. Angels didn't sing to the shepherds. (Lk 2:13)
6. Jesus wasn't Mary's only son. (Mark 6:3, Mt 13:55)
7. Jesus didn't bring peace to everyone. (Lk 2:14, ESV)

(taken from a study found here)

DNA Pt. 3 Throw Away All Your Flashlights!

2008-12-17T20:32:00.003-05:00

It seems as I read this book I'm being reminded of why we're doing what we're doing as a 114 year old church. We're doing too much. Let me say that again. We're doing too much. As a staff, we have decided by the leadership of the Spirit, to throw away the flashlights, and go buy some lasers. Flashlights are broad. Lasers are focused. We've removed several of our Wednesday night programs, in an effort to FOCUS more on our goal of reaching the unchurched. When we're doing less, we're doing more. There will be some who will fret at the loss of light, but will soon realize, I suspect, that the laser has more impact. Shedding some pounds is always healthy, more so for a church that's been around awhile. Wilmington will never be the same because we stepped up and chose to throw away some flashlights. Great chapter.

Making a Good Connection

2008-12-15T19:54:00.002-05:00

I recently had some battery trouble, and went to an auto parts store to find a remedy. After discovering that my battery had a corroded, weak connection to the electronics of the car, I soon realized the source for the whirring, ker phoosh sound the engine tried to make as it started then fuzzed out.

Then something out of the ordinary happened. A gentleman in the store worked passionately to fix the problem, yet he could not speak. He could hear, but could not speak. He had a phone at the ready to text his thoughts whenever needed. Yet, there we were communicating without words. Nonverbal Communication, as my prof would say. His work was fierce as he dashed in and out of the store to find just the right connection. Once it was found, the car started right up.

Sometimes our communication with our fellow man breaks down in the worst way. Feelings and opinions corrode what was once a solid bond. But there are those in our lives who are passionate about making good connections. People insistent that we "get along" or "go deeper" in our lives. I'm grateful that sometimes the connections need adjustment, need cleaning, need replacement even. Good connections happen when we become passionate even beyond our own ability to communicate, to see the body of Christ fit together in a broken, yet ALIVE community. What connections are you in need of?

Dang!

2008-12-12T22:07:00.001-05:00

Boast In Christ Alone

2008-12-11T11:25:00.002-05:00

Can't contain my excitement! We had an awesome youth worship service last night! We've got an incredible group of dedicated, empassioned leaders that pour their lives into these students! We had 5 students stand up in front of nearly 60 kids and say--not with heads bowed or eyes closed or hands raised--but with eyes WIDE open, that they wanted to follow Jesus! Amazing. No manipulation here ever, but a simple desire to know the One who gives us life eternal. Now...on with their moving towards the One who saved them.

"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

DNA Pt. 2 Going Where We Need To Go

2008-12-08T21:23:00.002-05:00

As I continue to read the book on best practices, I'm reminded, that this is but one way to be effective in ministry. It is a way that has worked well for North Point Community Church, and has worked well for many other churches. This is not a "how-to" manual, but a book of principles that, when applied, really seem to make sense.

Churches can become bloated with programs that are difficult to see the end to. Andy Stanley notes that this practice is all too common in today's churches. The question we must ask ourselves is this: Where do we want people to go or end up as a result of what we're doing as a church?

It was a great chapter because it helped me to ask tough questions about the ministry I lead. As a student pastor, I want students to be on a path to maturity with God. Getting them there is the challenge our team faces as we seek to create such means, or "steps" as Stanley calls them. How does a student go from our large group environment to our small group environment and feel a sense of connection? How do they connect with other adults or students from that small group? Rather than having programs, the emphasis should focus on direction. We have a lot of momentum within our ministry. How to create movement in the right direction (i.e. maturity with God) will determine our ministry's effectiveness, and will serve as measuring stick to determine whether we need to adjust our programs to meet the intended direction. More to come.

Southside's DNA Pt. 1 Clarify The Win

2008-12-06T17:39:00.003-05:00

What makes up a great church? How do you know it's a good church? How does the church know that its doing what it's supposed to? These questions and more will come up I'm sure as I read the book, "The Seven Practices of Effective Ministry," by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones. It's a great book, and a good friend bought it for me at at a conference we went to in Chicago.

As we gear up for The Blend, Christmas parades and all, this book will bring a lot into focus and confirm the direction God is taking us. It already has. In the first principle, getting your people to be a part of the win in which they can consistently see and be a part of is the key to momentum, and continued success.

We want The Blend to succeed. But what does success look like? We've clarified it in vision casting meetings and PR meetings and are still doing so. The win for Southiders? Wilmington families blending their lives into God's plan for them. Life. Faith. Coffee. It's a bridge to get people who feel uncomfortable in church to remove those barriers of discomfort in order to follow God fully. When that happens, we win. God wins. Wilmington wins.

An Open Letter To All Youth Parents

2008-12-03T22:15:00.002-05:00

We had some growing pains tonight..Lots of kids, praying for more volunteers! .Coastal Christian High School Praise Band was awesome! We had over 150 there at our youth worship event, much thanks to John and his crew. Here' s a letter from my friend Tim that echoes my sentiment: To all the youth parents out there, enjoy:

A Letter To All Youth Parents

Jesus Take The Bull Horn...

2008-12-02T21:20:00.004-05:00

When something God-sized needs to be said, Jesus speaks clearly through his Word and through the Holy Spirit. The question is, will the hearers listen?

When something God-sized needs to be said, the church is God's plan to communicate that to the world.

But humans' ears get clogged way too easily. Clogged by tunnel vision, stress, fear of failure, approval addiction, stubbornness, disobedience, and on and on...the spiritual ear wax needs to be broken through with a bull horn from Jesus.

The Church's ears, also as a whole, can become clogged by infighting, (our pastor says that sometimes the church is the only one to shoot it's wounded), broken relationships, doubt, worry and fear, to name a few. The bull horn Jesus would use is also the church. So we hear from Jesus and then respond right? No, we want to give the bull horn back to Jesus. But the responsibility is OURS.

Effective communication can clear a lot of clogged ears that aren't used to listening. God is refining our church. He's refining me. I'm listening. I'm not singing Jesus take the wheel--or the Bullhorn, but saying right now: Jesus I hear you. I've got the bullhorn in my hands, and I'm about to go make some noise. Others must hear you through me. Anything less just leaves more spiritual ear wax.

So onward with clarity and off with the spiritual ear wax. Anybody listening?

"Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Rev. 3:19-22

Why Fear The New?

2008-11-26T15:37:00.003-05:00

New can seem so great and yet can seem so mysterious. New can cause such wonder and new can render close friends separated.

Yet in Scripture, we are invited towards the new. Now perhaps here in Wilmington, the verse below could be applied, as we also are the ones who go down to the sea, but it was an invitation to see God's creative and redemptive power. God's desire to make himself known among the earth. We are invited to share in something new! You can read the context of the passage here.

Bring on the new songs of God! Look foward to the new work he will do in this generation!

10 Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the end of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that fills it,
the coastlands and their inhabitants.

A New Way To Say Thanks Pt. 2

2008-11-25T23:55:00.004-05:00

As we took our son to Toys R Us, we had a conversation about what was necessary in life. Wanting to make my point, I asked our son if he wanted to give one of his presents to a boy his age that would love to have that gift. He said sure! Probing further I asked him if he thought the boy around the world that didn't have good drinking water would want the toy, he said, "Well he would like clean water AND the Kung Fu Panda." Ok, son you win!

The 2nd new way to say thanks, is to teach others to do the same. We must teach others...our friends, family, co-workers, fellow believers, to give thanks. Giving thanks, or rather "Living" thanks, is caught AND taught. here's what my son caught from being taught tonight:

May we teach others to live thankfully, and have fun at it!

A New Way To Say Thanks Pt. 1

2008-11-24T22:38:00.005-05:00

It gets repeated much around this time of year..."What are you thankful for?".

The question can often seem shallow and surface level. I could easily give a list of things, situations, people, and other ideas that move me to be thankful. At the risk of being overly simplistic, I'll leave the list for someone else.

My thoughts center more around on what we miss in the process of making such a list. The poverty around the world contrasts the comfort in which I now write this post. Good health and family. It just doesn't seem like I'm doing enough to justify all that God's blessed my life with. To live out a thankful heart is much harder than to gleefully list all that I'm thankful for. It's one thing to tally the blessings. It's another thing to live a life that's given away breath by breath. That's what I want. To give my life so that others will be impacted, not impressed. Impressions come and go. This is the first part of the process of a new way to say thanks. More in upcoming posts.

Victory!!

2008-11-22T15:28:00.003-05:00

Learning a spiritual lesson at the mercy of a 6 year old's mastery of a wii nunchuck can be a humbling, if not a shocking--life altering experience. As my "mii" lay on the boxing ring floor, my son shouts with all his boyhood, "Get some lessons Dad!" Before you get too excited that I've lost my edge...(is an edge even needed in context here??), I championed around the living room as I rose victorious above the ashes of defeat and won the next Wii boxing Father-Son Championship.

But how often do we engage in a much more costly battle, without preparation, without consideration, yes, without lessons? As a believer, I must train myself for godliness. Godly lifestyles are born out of a lifestyle of discipline and training.

in the ring of life, there are many fights, one ultimate champsionship bout at the end for sure. But to make it to the last round with the stamina of Kingdom champions, we must "get lessons."

So before you crank up the Rocky music, warm up your spiritual legs, so that you might stand and fight the good fight.

"Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." 1 Tim 4:8

"But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Tim 6:11-12

If We Are The Body

2008-11-21T21:50:00.004-05:00

It takes people to be the church. Remember the child's hand illustration? Here's the church and here's the steeple, open it up and...Where's the people?? Ok, it doesn't end like that. But my point is, where ARE the people? Do we have to abide by the 80/20 rule? 20 percent of the people typically carry 80 percent of the load? Nope--we don't have to. My challenge is to motivate and equip those in the body to turn that around. Every local church has needs and areas to jump in and get involved. Here's just a few of ours. If any interest you, just go here to contact me and we'll chat!

Imagine if we had 5 people serving in every area. That's where the people would be! We're not there yet, but I'm so excited we're on our way.

Children’s Ministry:
1. Nursery Workers
2. Nursery Greeters
3. Nursery Clean Up
4. Ministry Team
5. Teachers
6. Assistant Teachers
7. Check-In Greeters
8. The Blend
9. Leaders
10. Greeters
11. Helping Hands

Youth Ministry
12. Greeters
13. Crowd Management (Youth Ministry Bouncer was just too strong!)
14. Video Camera
15. Sound Board
16. Computer Tech
17. Mentoring Team
18. Small Group Host Homes
19. Card Writers
20. Phone Callers
21. Visitation Team
22. Refreshment Team
23. Worship Team
24. Communications Team
25. Web Gurus
26. Small Group Team

Adult Ministry:
27. Singles Event Planner
28. Small Group Ministry Volunteer
29. Fusion Connecting Points
30. SG Host Homes
31. Worship Arts Ministry
32. Media Team
33. Praise and Worship Team
34. Disaster Relief Ministry
35. The Blend Experience
36. Hospitality Ministry
37. Divorce Care/Grief Share Ministry
38. Visitation & Outreach Ministry
39. Pastoral Prayer Support
40. Research Team
41. OATS Ministry
42. Grounds Upkeep
43. Celebrate Recovery

2 Posts In One Day?? Had to...

2008-11-21T18:50:00.004-05:00

Now THIS is awesome! How about it people??? Check more out about it here.

Furtick again

2008-11-21T16:42:00.004-05:00

I've been viewing Steve Furtick's sermons online, and they're quite good. A quote from one of his sermons:

2 Cor 8:1 And now brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.”

What’s he doing? He’s invoking a little healthy competition. He’s telling the Corinthian church, “now we’ve already been to the Macedonian churches to get their portion for the offering, and let me tell ya, they knocked it out of the park…have you ever done this to your kids before? I do it. Sometimes if my three year old doesn’t want to pay me any attention, I’ll say, ‘that’s all right I’ll just get some love from Graham!’ who’s his one year old brother…and then he’ll come runnin, ‘no I want love, don’t give all your kisses and hugs away!!’.....’I’m going to give them all away if you don’t come and get them right now’. Paul’s saying I’m gonna give all your blessings away, because the Macedonian they’ve been approached about the offering, and they stepped up and stepped out and man, God poured out his grace in an extreme way. A little healthy competition. Churches all across America, do this with you all the time. They do. There are pastors that I get emails from all the time who stand up and tell their congregations what God is doing at Elevation in order to motivate their congregations to say if God can do it there, he can do it here too."

So is God doing some incredible things in Wilmington? Absolutely. Are we learning from others that God is using in our city? Very much so. Are we seeking to reach Wilmington for Christ whatever it takes? On our way there.

25 percenter

2008-11-19T22:52:00.002-05:00

"If you have a roof over your head, and clothes on your back and food in your belly, then you're better off than 75 percent of the people in this world...Your box may not look very big, but the closer you look, the bigger it seems!" --Pastor Steven Furtick.

Thanks Furtick. A little perspective. A little "thinking inside my box" gives me a view I seldom choose to take. I'm grateful. Even more so now that I see how big my box is.

Poderia ser?

2008-11-17T21:57:00.002-05:00

I felt my heart stirred tonight as I sat and listened to people who had taken a risk beyond anything they had imagined before, and believed in a God that could do far more than they had ever seen in their lifetimes. There are people in Ubauna that are a part of God's kingdom, because some folks cared enough to not only share the life altering hope that Jesus brings, but to provide an assurance and evidence, that, "we'll be back" and indeed followed through on that promise again and again and again. That is the message that Jesus wants us to take to those who are hurting from so many chains pulling their souls down: He does not leave us alone! A wiley band of brave souls from Wilmington, ready to launch into what I believe can be one of the greatest adventures of a lifetime. Could it be that God has intersected these men and women to make a lasting impression on a small Brazilian town? Could it be that they dare to have faith that will move mountains, a faith grown to incredible leaps by such a step? Could it be that Wilmington will never be the same as a result of one choice to go? Could it be?

Could it be indeed.