Wednesday, May 27, 2009

JUST DO IT!

I love this quote:

"While the worriers are worrying, the planners are planning and the accountants are figuring out why we can’t afford it, I’m busy getting started." - Walt Disney

Monday, May 25, 2009

MEMORIAL DAY 2009: REMEMBER

We're in ATL enjoying a great time with my bro and his family.  Love hanging out with these guys.  Love it!  But in the middle of all the laughter, craziness, insanity, eating - you name it - one big word keeps coming to mind:  REMEMBER.  REMEMBER.  

That's really what Memorial Day is all about.  It's about REMEMBERING all of the men and women who made the freedom we experience and enjoy possible.  They did it at the greatest cost possible: their very lives.  

Words seem inadequate.  But today, in the middle of all the laughs and food, I wanted to stop just a moment to think, contemplate, remember and say THANK YOU to those who have served or continue to serve our country.  

Enjoy your Memorial Day.  Remember those gave all.  Say THANK YOU to someone who served or continues to serve our country. 

Friday, May 22, 2009

TWO BIG QUESTIONS

In Acts 27 Paul was up against it... He was on board a ship with 270+ passengers and things were going south in a hurry. Think "Perfect Storm" with George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg...

The ship's crew was scared. The people on board were anxious. Nobody had eaten in days. Everyone's was preoccupied with one thing: SURVIVAL. "Let's just make it through another night..."

The anxiety and desperation of the crew got Paul's attention. So he called everyone on board the ship together. As you can probably guess, Paul wasn't the "kum ba ya" type. He was hard-nosed, opinionated and relentless.

This is the first thing Paul said to this terrified group: "You guys should have listened to me... I told you that we shouldn't leave Fair Havens..." (Acts 27:21)

Let's face it. Sometimes Paul could be a first-class jerk.  I mean, Paul is basically saying, "I'm not one to say, 'I told you so,' but, 'I told you so.'"

The next words Paul spoke are "money." They're the words you need when you're in a huge jam and there's no apparent way out. These words hit me like a freight train this morning during my devotional time.

Acts 27:22-25 (NLT), "But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me..."

Two BIG TRUTHS gave Paul security, peace and confidence, even in the middle of a huge northeaster.
  • I belong to God - "an angel of the God to whom I belong..." 
  • This is God's mission, not mine - "...and whom I serve..." 
It doesn't matter what kind of storm you're facing as long as you have a  firm grip on these two truths.  
  • I belong to God. 
  • This is God's mission, not mine.  
On the basis of these two HUGE FACTS, Paul made this statement.  

Acts 27:24-25 (NLT),  "...and [the angel] said, 'Don't be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What's more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.' 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.."

Here's the thought that blew me away this morning: FEAR takes a dive and FAITH rises up when you know YOU BELONG TO GOD and YOU ARE ON MISSION for HIM.  

So, the TWO BIG questions I want to pose this morning are these:   
  • Do you know you belong to God?  Do you know that you're deeply loved by God?  That He's your Father, and that you are His child?  
  • Do you know you're on MISSION from God?  Do you really believe that your career, ministry, family, your current situation in life are really assignments from God?  Or, are you simply calling the shots in life yourself?  
I don't know that we can ever defeat the power of FEAR and get a grip on FAITH if we haven't settled these two issues.  

So what about it?

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Innovative Church Growth Strategy #3492

Read this earlier today over on Steven Furtick's blog. I agree with Steven - BIG TIME. This is EXACTLY what we want to do at a2. Thanks to Steven for putting this into words. Awesome.


Innovative Church Growth Strategy #3492
Steven Furtick

At Elevation, we spend a lot of time trying to create experiences that unchurched people would want to attend. That will never change. It’s our mission, our meaning, and our reason for existing.
So that people far from God will be filled with life in Christ.

But our primary target audience is…Jesus.
Our worship service is ultimately for…Him.
For His pleasure. For His glory. For His honor. For His praise.

And since no man comes to Jesus unless the Father draws Him, maybe the theological essence of our church growth strategy to reach the unchurched could be restated like this:

Create a church and a service that God wants to come to
And He’ll bring people with Him.

How’s that for innovative?

THE SUICIDAL MISSIONARY?

I love this article by Eric Bryant called THE SUICIDAL MISSIONARY recently posted on Catalyst Space. A great read and much needed message.

Favorite quote in the article: "As followers of Jesus, we have been 'set apart' and 'sent out.' We are 'set apart' in our behavior, and 'sent out' in our relationships. The more religious we become the more these ideas become reversed..."

Ouch!

Check it out and let me know what you think.

NOW, HERE'S AN ACTS 2 / ACTS 4 KIND OF CHURCH

I love this story. It's been all over the airwaves and reminds me a lot of what the church looked like in Acts 2 and Acts 4.

Yeah, God... I love this pastor's heart. I love that this story aired on CNN. I love it when the church acts like the church!

You can read more about Cross Timbers Community Church by clicking here. You can check out Pastor Toby Slough's blog by clicking here.

Once again, "Yeah, God!!!!"

Monday, May 18, 2009

NEW SERIES HITS a2 MAY 31, 9:45 am

In his classic, Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis made the following statement:

“One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe - a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death and disease, and sin… Enemy-occupied territory – that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage… Christianity agrees…this universe is at war…” ~ C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

On May 31, a2 will launch a new four week series on spiritual warfare. Discover the schemes Satan uses to keep you from experiencing all that God has planned for you in this balanced look at an important subject.

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE EXTENDED NOTES

Here are the notes from yesterday's message. Special acknowledge to Rick McKinley's incredible insights into this aspect of David's life.

Don’t Waste Your Life
THE BEST NEWS YOU’VE HEARD ALL WEEK – P6

May 17, 2009

2 Samuel 7:1-3 (NLT), When the LORD had brought peace to the land and King David was settled in his palace, 2 David summoned Nathan the prophet. "Look!" David said. "Here I am living in this beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out in a tent!" 3 Nathan replied, "Go ahead and do what you have in mind, for the LORD is with you."

After God had established David as king over Israel, David had brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, and God had given him victory over his enemies; one of the things David wanted to do was to PAY GOD BACK.

While this is a normal response, it’s not necessarily the response God is looking for. God essentially rejects David’s offer.


2 Samuel 7:4-17 (NIV), That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"
'8 "Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies."
'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'"
17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.


God basically looks at all the BIG PLANS David had to PAY HIM BACK and God says, “David, your CURRENCY isn’t it good with me… You don’t get to pay me back… I didn’t ask for a house. I don’t want a house… And get this, everything I’ve done in your life up until this point, is really, really SMALL in comparison to what I’m going to do. You’re not going to BUILD ME A HOUSE, I’m going to BUILD YOU A HOUSE… I’m going to UNCONDITIONALLY ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM… You’re going to have an HEIR who will rule forever…”

God promised David His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, His EXTRAVAGANT GRACE and His SOVEREIGN PROMISE… And it doesn’t require David to do anything!

One of the most important statements concerning how David responded is recorded in 2 Samuel 7:18.

2 Samuel 7:18 (NIV), Then King David went in and sat before the Lord…

This is crucial. David PUT DOWN HIS TOOLS, LAID DOWN HIS TROWEL, took off his coveralls and placed himself IN THE MIDDLE of God’s amazing LOVE, extravagant GRACE and sovereign PROMISE.

2 Samuel 7:18-22 (NIV), Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord? 20 "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant. 22 "How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears."


THREE THOUGHTS TO “SIT” WITH:

Who am I? (v. 18)


• God knows me… (v. 20)

2 Samuel 7:20 (NIV), "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Lord.”

• God loves me and has chosen me… (v. 18-22)


God answers the "why" question in Verse 21.

2 Samuel 7:21 (NIV), For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.


David's response to God's grace is humble WORSHIP and total DEPENDENCE on the promise and faithfulness of God.

2 Samuel 7:25, 27-29 (NIV), "And now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you have made… Do as you promised… 27 "O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, 'I will build a house for you.' So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer. 28 O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever…"

Several years pass between 2 Samuel 7 and 2 Samuel 23, but at the age of 70, David is still banking on the promise of God.

2 Samuel 23:1-5 (NIV), These are the last words of David: "The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man exalted by the Most High, the man anointed by the God of Jacob, Israel's singer of songs: 2 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: 'When one rules over men in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God, 4 he is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth.' 5 "Is not my house right with God? Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part? Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?

Connecting the dots: 
* God sees me. 
* God knows me. 
* For reasons only known to Himself, God LOVES me and has CHOSEN me.  

Ephesians 1:3-7 (NIV), Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace…


DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE:

1. Bet the whole farm on the amazing love, extravagant grace and sovereign promise of your great God.

2. Have the courage to make mid course corrections when necessary.

3. Make the goal of your life the pursuit of ONE GREAT THING.

One of my favorites movie scenes occurs in City Slickers. Jack Palance and Billy Crystal are riding across a range on horseback. They’re discussing life and love. Palance is a genuine cowboy. Crystal plays a white-collar yuppie from Los Angeles who has paid for a two-week dude ranch vacation. Here's the conversation.

Palance: Cowboy leads a different kind of life. When there were cowboys. They’re a dying breed. Still means something to me, though. In a couple of days, we’ll move this herd across the river, drive them through the valley. Ahh, there’s nothing like bringing in the herd.

Crystal: You see, that’s great. Your life makes sense to you.

Palance: (Laughs)

Crystal: What? What’s so funny?

Palance: You city folk. You worry a lot, don’t you? How old are you? Thirty-eight?

Crystal: Thirty-nine.

Palance: Yeah. You all come out here about the same age. Same problems. Spend fifty weeks a year getting knots in your rope then – then you think two weeks up here will untie them for you. None of you get it. (Long pause) Do you know what the secret of life is?

Crystal: No, what?

Palance: This. (Holds up his index finger.)

Crystal: Your finger?

Palance: ONE THING. Just one thing. You stick to that and nothing else matters.

Crystal: That’s great, but what’s the one thing?

Palance: That’s what you’ve got to figure out.

David figured out his ONE THING.  

Psalm 27:4 (MSG), I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with Him in His house my whole life long.

I love the way Eugene Peterson describes David in his commentary on 1 and 2 Samuel. Peterson writes:

“The single most characteristic thing about David is his relationship with God. David believers in God, thinks about God, imagines God, addresses God, and prays to God. He also forgets God, disobeys God, sins against God, and ignores God. But God is the reality that accounts for and defines all that David does and says. The largest part of David’s existence is not David, it is God.” ~ Eugene Peterson, Commentary on 1 and 2 Samuel

4. Trust completely in the sovereignty of your GREAT GOD.

Acts 13:36 (NIV), …when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep…

SUNDAY IN REVIEW 05.17.09

Okay, here’s Sunday in review from my point of view.

• If my memory is correct, this is the fourth Sunday in a row with rain. Holy cow! Sometimes it feels like we’re in Seattle. (I'm not complaining - well, just a little - I'm certain we'll all appreciate the rain when BHM feels like a bedroom town to Hades this August...)

• I think the ugly weather affected our attendance. We were below 150 for the first time in a long time.

• Really appreciate the pre-service prayer. We’ve launched a new prayer ministry to pray over the Sunday AM service before the service and to meet the teaching pastor for prayer and anointing. I need this and I like it. A lot! Thanks, Dan.

• Worship was really meaningful. Love the set. Here it is:

Today is the Day, Lincoln Brewster
Living for You, Gateway Worship
From the Inside Out, Hillsong

• The band was “spot on” and it seemed like the congregation really engaged. I love what God is doing with our worship team.

• I was really challenged by the message. It started in one direction early in the week. I nailed the outline Thursday, but Friday PM and Saturday AM the whole message changed direction. Kept the outline, just changed the content. We’ll post the notes a little later. Don’t forget you can download it directly from iTunes. Here's an overview of a real simple message: "Who am I? God know me. God loves me and chose me." Amen.

• Communion, prayer and worship after the message was “the real deal.” I really want our congregation to engage like this more often. One lady wrote, “I just felt so close to God in that room.” Amen. That’s always the goal – transcendent “God moments" that put us on our knees, on our face and into the Father’s arms.

• Loved the worship response following the message. Caley nailed “Knees to the Earth” (Watermark). Wow! "The Stand" (Hillsong) is stinkin’ awesome!

• Loved getting to hang out with some a2er’s during lunch. Got to do this more often.

• Really good Board Meeting yesterday afternoon. God’s faithfulness, grace and mercy continues to blow me away. I know that He has big plans for a2.

• Yesterday we talked about David’s desire to build God a house, and God basically turning down David’s offer and saying to David, “You’re not going to build ME a house, I’m going to build YOU a house…” After church someone shot me off an email and said, “…as you were reading from 2 Samuel, where God speaks His word to Nathan (v. 7ff), I had a very strong sense that the promise there was something that you should receive for yourself; I also had an overwhelming sense of God's love for you. I think you already know both of these things, and the Holy Spirit just wants to encourage *you* in the word he gave you to teach.” This emaiil just blew me away. God is so amazingly good. I’m overwhelmed.

• This Sunday I’ll be sharing an important stand-alone message. Invite a friend to attend with you. Should be good. Should be fun. Yeah, I know it's Memorial Day weekend and you're already thinking about the beach, the river, Smith Lake, whatever... But if you are in BHM, this service is going to be SMOKIN'! By the way, if you're taking break with your family - I'm NOT talking to you... Don't feel guilty. Enjoy yourself. You need this kind of stuff, so have some FUN!

• On May 31 we’ll be kicking off a three to four week series on SPIRITUAL WARFARE. Believe me, it is going to ROCK! Make plans to be present.

• Have had an opportunity to spend a little time with my amazing wife the last couple of days. I love the fact that after almost 26 years, I still love this GIRL. Yeah, God for a great woman and a good life.

• That’s it… I love you and thank God for you ALL! I'm out!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

SANCTITY OF LIFE

A few months ago John Piper delivered a powerful message on the sanctity of human life. Recently, the creative team at Desiring God produced a concept video including some of the remarks he made.

This weekend cable news channels are saturated with coverage related to President Obama's address at Notre Dame and the pro life advocates who will be protesting the President's address at this popular Catholic school. While I do not agree with, sanction or condone some of the tactics of a "few" individuals and groups in the pro life movement, this video helps to clarify why this issue is so important to so many people, including myself.

Thanks to John Piper for courageously speaking truth to this important issue.

Friday, May 15, 2009

THE KEY TO NOT WASTING YOUR LIFE?

I've read this verse before, but re-read it again yesterday.  

Acts 13:36 (NIV), "...when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep..."

I don't want to cheapen everything that's packed away in this verse, but this is a good way to live and die...  

Wouldn't you LOVE God to say something like this about you?  

"He / She 'served MY purpose' in THEIR generation and then...LIGHTS OUT...  They're home. Good job.  Well done."


Thursday, May 14, 2009

A WASTED LIFE

These two stories from John Piper's book, Don't Waste Your Life challenge me - BIG TIME.  

"In April 2000, Ruby Eliason and Laura Edwards were killed in Cameroon, West Africa.  Ruby was over eighty.  Single all her life, she poured it out for one great thing: to make Jesus christ known among the unreached, the poor, and the sick.  Laura was a widow, a medical doctor, pushing eighty years old, and serving at Ruby's side in Cameroon.  The brakes failed, the car went over a cliff, and they were both killed instantly.  I asked my congregation: Was that a tragedy?  Two lives, driven by one great passion, namely, to be spend in unheralded serve to the perishing poor for the glory of Jesus Christ...  No, that is not a tragedy.  That is a glory.  

"I will tell you what a tragedy is.  I will show you how to waste your life.  Consider a story from the February 1998 edition of Reader's Digest, which tells about a couple who "took early retriement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51.  Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells."  At first, when I read it I thought it might be a joke.  A spoof on the American Dream.  But it wasn't.  Tragically, this was the dream: Come to the end of your life - your one and only precious, God-given life - and let the last great work of your life, before you give an account to your Creator, be this: playing softball and collecting shells.  Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: "Look, Lord, see my shells."  That is a tragedy.  And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream.  Over against that, I put my protest: Don't but it.  Don't waste your life." 

Wow!  Talk about a perspective...  

I first read these paragraphs in September 2004.  They still challenge me every time I read them.  

We'll talk more about the danger of a wasted life this Sunday.  See you this weekend at a2.  

BIBLE READING PLANS

Last night during our Wednesday PM session on spiritual growth I also mentioned some of the Bible reading plans that are available. 

Here are some of the plans I've used in the past.  All of them have on-line versions available. Currently, I'm using the one year plan available on Christianity.com.  

Hope this helps. 

Christianity.com Bible Reading Plans
http://bible.christianity.com/readingplan/

Discipleship Journal / Navigators Bible Reading Plans
http://www.navpress.com/dj/content.aspx?id=138

One Year Bible Reading Plan
http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/


PODCASTS I REALLY DIG!

Last night during our Wednesday PM session on spiritual growth, I mentioned some of the podcasts that I really enjoy listening to - that really inspire me.  Here's a list of the podcasts in rotation on my iPod.  

I've listed the podcasts names as they appear on iTunes.  I've also given the links where you can download mp3's and additional media from their respective websites.  Hope this helps. 

What podcasts really inspire you?  Would love to hear your comments.  
 
Here's my list: 

Mars Hill Church: Mark Driscoll Audio
Messages recorded at Mars Hill Church in Seattle where Mark Driscoll serves as the founding and lead pastor.  Mark is a gifted teacher.  He usually teaches verse by verse.  Really good stuff.    
http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/sermons

Acts 29 Network Sermons
A church planting network featuring teaching resources from guys like Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, Darrin Patrick, Ed Stetzer and others...
http://www.acts29network.org/resources/multimedia/

Resurgence featured audio
"A missional theology cooperative" featuring teaching from guys like Mark Driscoll, John Piper, Tim Keller, Matt Chandler and others...  
http://theresurgence.com/media

NewSpring Church Audio
Perry Noble
Newspring is a dynamic church with locations in Anderson, Florence and Greenville, South Carolina.  Perry is a down to earth, Spirit anointed communicator who really challenges me.  
http://www.newspring.cc/series/

Mosaic
Erwin McManus
Erwin is the Lead Pastor of Mosaic in Los Angeles, California.  He is one of the most gifted communicators I've heard.  Good stuff.    
http://mosaic.org/podcast/

Cornerstone Simi Audio Podcast
Frances Chan
Frances is the main Teaching Pastor at Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California.  He is one of the most gifted, anointed communicators you're likely to hear.  He will challenge you several areas of your life. 
http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/special/media_player.html

Northpoint Ministries: Andy Stanley
Andy is the founding and Lead Pastor of Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. He is an incredibly gifted communicator.
http://www.northpoint.org/messages

Brook Hills Podcast
David Platt
David is the Lead Pastor at Brook Hills Church in Birmingham, Alabama.  Wow! This guy can bring it.  I love listening to David's messages.  
http://www.brookhills.org/media/page_audio_main.htm

Menlo Park Presbyterian Church Sermon-Cast
John Ortberg
This podcast features several of the teaching pastors at MPPC.  I tune in for John Ortberg.  I started listening to John years ago when he served at Willow Creek Community Church.  He is an incredibly gifted Bible teacher.  Love him!  
http://www.mppc.org/learn/sermons

ONE THING

I love books.  Love 'em.  Most of the time you read a book, put it  back on the shelf or give it away and never give it a second thought...  But sometimes a book owns you.  Challenges you. Even changes you.  

"Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper is the latter.  It's a powerful book that deserves your attention. 

Here's one of the best quotes from the book. 

"You don't have to know  a lot of things for your life to make a lasting difference in the world. But you do have to know the few great things that matter, perhaps just one, and then be willing to live and die for them.  The people that make a durable difference in the world are not the people who have mastered many things, but who have been mastered by one great thing.  If you want your life to count, if you want the ripple effect of the pebbles you drop to become waves that reach the ends of the earth and roll on into eternity, you don't need to have a high IQ.  You don't have to have good looks or riches or come from a fine family or a fine school.  Instead you have to know a few great, majestic, unchanging, obvious, simple, glorious things - or one great all-embracing thing - and be set on fire by them."  John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life, page 44

Monday, May 11, 2009

RELGION AND THE GOSPEL - TIM KELLER

Just read this over on The Journey's blog. They did us the favor of adapting a great comparison by Tim Keller between THE GOSPEL and RELIGION. This is exactly why we're not into RELIGION, but we're betting the entire farm on Jesus.

RELIGION VERSUS THE GOSPEL
Tim Keller adapted by The Journey

RELIGION:
“I obey-therefore I’m accepted.”

THE GOSPEL: “I’m accepted-therefore I obey.”

RELIGION: Motivation is based on fear and insecurity.

THE GOSPEL: Motivation is based on grateful joy.

RELIGION: I obey God in order to get things from God.

THE GOSPEL: I obey God to get to God-to delight and resemble Him.

RELIGION: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or my self, since I believe, like Job’s friends that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.

THE GOSPEL: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus and that while he may allow this for my training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my trial.

RELIGION: When I am criticized I am furious or devastated because it is critical that I think of myself as a ‘good person’. Threats to that self-image must be destroyed at all costs.

THE GOSPEL: When I am criticized I struggle, but it is not critical for me to think of myself as a ‘good person.’ My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on God’s love for me in Christ. I can take criticism.

RELIGION: My prayer life consists largely of petition and it only heats up when I am in a time of need. My main purpose in prayer is control of the environment.

THE GOSPEL: My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration. My main purpose is fellowship with Him.

RELIGION: My self-view swings between two poles. If and when I am living up to my standards, I feel confident, but then I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. If and when I am not living up to standards, I feel insecure and inadequate. I'm not confident. I feel like a failure.

THE GOSPEL: My self-view is not based on a view of my self as a moral achiever. In Christ I am "simul iustus et peccator"—simultaneously sinful and lost yet accepted in Christ. I am so bad he had to die for me and I am so loved he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deeper and deeper humility and confidence at the same time. Neither swaggering nor sniveling.

RELIGION: My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work. Or how moral I am, and so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral. I disdain and feel superior to ‘the other.’

THE GOSPEL: My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for His enemies, who was excluded from the city for me. I am saved by sheer grace. So I can’t look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. Only by grace I am what I am. I’ve no inner need to win arguments.

RELIGION: Since I look to my own pedigree or performance for my spiritual acceptability, my heart manufactures idols. It may be my talents, my moral record, my personal discipline, my social status, etc. I absolutely have to have them so they serve as my main hope, meaning, happiness, security, and significance, whatever I may say I believe about God.

THE GOSPEL: I have many good things in my life—family, work, spiritual disciplines, etc. But none of these good things are ultimate things to me. None of them are things I absolutely have to have, so there is a limit to how much anxiety, bitterness, and despondency they can inflict on me when they are threatened and lost.

MR. T - TREAT YOUR MOTHER RIGHT

Since yesterday was Mother's Day, here's a word from Mr. T for all of us with moms.  Treat Your Mother Right.  Enjoy or endure...
  


Sunday, May 10, 2009

UNSHAKABLE - Best News Message Notes

Psalm 11:3 (NIV), When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

A Psalm of Trust: Psalm 11
• Psalm 11 was composed during a time of n
ational crisis.
• Psalm 11 was composed during a time of
personal crisis.


Four Truths That Will Make You UNSHAKABLE:

1. A crisis always has a way of revealing who or what you trust.

Psalm 11:1 (NKJ), In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain"? 2 For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?


THOUGHT: Our biggest temptation when the bottom falls out on life is fear, doubt and unbelief.  Our necessary response is SIMPLE TRUST…  The only other option is to go for
PRACTICAL ATHEISM…. A PRACTICAL ATHEIST intellectually says, “I believe God exists,” but then goes out LIVES as if God doesn’t exist


2. Regardless of what’s going on in your world, God is still sovereign.

Psalm 11:4a (NIV), The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.


Three Facts About Our UNSHAKABLE God:

• God is uncaused. He’s eternal.

Psalm 90:2 (NLT), Before the mountains were created, before you made the earth and the world, you are God, without beginning or end.

• God doesn’t change. He is immutable.

Malachi 3:6 (NLT), I am the LORD, and I do not change.

• God is in control. He is sovereign.

Psalm 11:4a (NIV), The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne.

“God is so powerful that He’s not even bound by the laws He created. He’s a dangerous divinity. Gravity levitates before Him. Water solidifies beneath Him. He flips galaxies like omelets against the sizzling blackness. It’s easy to play theological limbo and see how low our view of God can go. Sometimes we even treat Him like He needs a shot of espresso to get up in the morning…

Sometimes we want a housebroken God, a domesticated Deity. We want a jack-in-the-box Jesus who appears at our command. But God is wilder than that, and hairier, too. He’s not the clean shaven gentleman we pretend He is. We want an Easter bunny, but God’s a tyrannosaurus rex – a growling King who protects his cubs from the enemy, who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).”
~ Christian George, Godology


Psalm 147:5 (NLT), How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!

Psalm 31:15a (NAS), My times are in Your hand…


3. Even when it looks like your world is falling apart, God knows the score.

Psalm 4-5 (NLT), But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everything closely, examining everyone on earth. 5 The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates everyone who loves violence.


4. God is ultimately going to set everything straight.

Psalm 11:5-7 (NLT), The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates everyone who loves violence. 6 He rains down blazing coals on the wicked, punishing them with burning sulfur and scorching winds. 7 For the LORD is righteous, and he loves justice. Those who do what is right will see his face.

2 Timothy 2:19 (NIV), Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

SUNDAY IN REVIEW 05.10.09

· Our first Mother’s Day @ a2 exceeded my expectations!  I mean it!  After everyone who told me they were going out of town this weekend, I had mentally prepared myself for a smaller crowd.  God blew me away!  

· Great crowd: 175 strong!  Yeah, God!  BTW, big shout out to the a2 crew… Great crowds don’t just happen… They’re a result of a church who take seriously their responsibility to live missionally in this world…  Thanks for believing in what God is doing at a2.  You rock! 

· Meaningful time in worship.  For those interested, here’s today’s set list: 

Awesome God, Free Chapel 
(Our band kicks this song.  Chris Miller is a beast on the electric…) 

Everlasting God, Chris Tomlin 
(Solid…) 

Open Up The Sky, Deluge 
(One of my favorite worship songs right now…  Nicole McClean really brought it 
on this one…)

· Shannon Johnson covered the welcome, announcements and the Mother’s Day segment in today’s service.  She’s a natural!  She made us smile and laugh, while honoring moms at the same time.  Great job.   

· Loved the Mother’s Day Video Card…  Really warm and funny… If you’re looking for a great Mother’s Day piece, we found this one on sermonspice.com

· Really sensed a "leading" to continue the series The Best News You’ve Heard All Week with a message titled UNSHAKABLEPsalm 11 is one of my favorite psalms.  We’ll post the message notes a little later on tonight. 

· Takeaways from today's message:

A crisis will always reveal who or what you really trust.  
Regardless of what's going on in your life, God is eternal - nobody brought Him into this world and nobody can take Him out; God is unchanging - lots of stuff may change, but God is constant; and God is sovereign - He is in control.
Regardless of what's going on in your world, God is keeping score. 
Ultimately, God will set everything straight.    

· Closed the service with Matt Redman’s song, You Never Let Go… Once again, we really felt a “leading” to go with this…  The lyrics of this song move me… 

I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
 
there will be an end to these troubles
 
but until that day comes
 
still I will praise You 
still I will praise You   

Oh, no, You never let go 
Through the calm and through the storm 
Oh, no, You never let go 
In every high and every low 
Oh, no, You never let go 
Lord, You never let go of me… 

· Really thankful for our Children’s Ministry team… God has given us an incredible group people who are making a difference with our kids.  Thanks for all you’re doing. You guys rock!  I love you. 

· Finally, I really believe God wants to do something AWESOME @ a2.  This week has been one of the most intense weeks of spiritual warfare I’ve experienced in a long, long time…  It’s crucial that we continue to PRAY LIKE CRAZY, LOVE BEYOND LIMITS and LIVE FOR HIS GLORY.  

· This next week we’ll wrap up the series, The Best News… by talking about the AMAZING FAITHFULNESS of our GREAT GOD. The service will include Holy Communion and a special prayer and anointing opportunity for everyone…  

Friday, May 8, 2009

STAR TREK REVIEW

I was never a huge Star Trek fan...  Never came close to being called a "Trekkie" or "Trekker"- I'm not certain what the correct terminology is...  

However, growing up I did watch the show...  Remember, I grew up in the days before digital cable when available channels amounted to about three channels, depending on whether or not the guy on top of the roof could get that huge antenna pointed in the right direction... Those were the days...

Well, last night my older girls wanted to check out the new Star Trek... We did.  It was fun...

They're all there...  One by one we get introduced to the eventual crew of the Starship Enterprise: Kirk, Spock, Bones, Uhura, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov... Even Leonard Nemoy makes a cameo appearance...

There's lots of action, a good story and for those familiar with the old show several lines that will make you smile.  

It's not going to change your life, but it might just make you smile.  

Thumbs up.  
 

Thursday, May 7, 2009

SOME STUFF PERRY NOBLE BELIEVES

This post over on Perry Noble's blog absolutely PUMPED ME UP... Inspiring stuff...

I BELIEVE... May 7, 2009
Perry Noble

Here are a few things I believe…
  • I believe the churches BEST DAYS are ahead of her…not behind her.
  • I believe that God is getting ready to do something in the world unlike He has ever done before.
  • I believe that what I mentioned above is GOING to happen through the local church–the ONE thing He said He would build.
  • I believe that God is going to call more and more people into full time ministry that never even considered that vocation.
  • I believe that God is going to take leaders who are sold out to His Spirit (not a denomination or a doctoral program) and CHANGE how the world views church!
  • I believe the best, most influential churches that will exist in the next 50-100 years haven’t even been planted yet.
  • I believe a strong youth and children’s ministry is ESSENTIAL for the church to make sure the next generation is set up for success.
  • I believe that church leaders should spend way less time trying to explain themselves to critics and move on with what God has called them to do.
  • I believe that GOD REIGNS…which should make “attempting the impossible” a LOT easier!
  • I believe that the church is FULL of untapped potential…that there are people who, if they KNEW what God has in store for them, would rise up and partner together to transform the communities in which they exist.
  • I believe the level of committment that church leaders need to call for needs to be the same that Jesus called for! (”Take up your cross!”)
  • I believe the church needs to understand we are called to be a movement…not merely a meeting.
  • I believe there are people reading this right now who have a burning passion in them to do something great for God…but fear and uncertainty are holding you back. GO FOR IT…the same power that brought Jesus to life LIVES IN YOU!!! WHY WAIT?
  • I believe that pastors are the most underrated change agents in the world.
  • I believe that pastors MUST embrace their gifting and delegate the rest, knowing that it will tick church people off…BUT understanding that our call is not to make everyone happy.
  • I believe Jesus really did rise from the dead…really did say what He said in Acts 1:8…and it is our calling to take the Gospel to the world.
  • I believe the main desire of our planning for Sunday’s should be salvation and repentance…not cultural relevance.
  • I believe these things…and I’ve dedicated my life to them! I KNOW He is a great God…and great things are in store. 
________________________

Amen! So what do you believe?

LAST CHANCE HARVEY REVIEW

Rent this movie! Like right now!

Last Chance Harvey is a beautiful movie about the importance of family, the trauma of divorce, the pain of loneliness, the need for love, and the longing for a second chance. It’s a movie about our need for redemption.

Now, I love movies where stuff blows up, the bad guy pays and the good guy gets the girl… But the truth is, most of life isn’t like that... It's not that exciting and certainly doesn't come with all those special effects. Most of life just sort of happens…

That’s this movie. It’s a soft, slow, meandering movie that is simply beautiful.

Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson are at the top of their game. They make acting look easy – effortless. Wow. What I love most about them is that they look and talk like real people… Real people who know all too well the truth of the words of John Lennon, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

Well, life just sort of happened to Harvey (Dustin Hoffman) and Kate Walker (Emma Thompson)… Now they’re in their mid fifties… He’s just been fired from a job where he gave it his all for the last few decades, only to be left with a broken family, an estranged daughter, some forgotten dreams, a haggard heart and a gnawing sense of loneliness that won't go away…

She’s a dutiful daughter who loves her mom and does her job, but has learned to live with disappointment. She’s never really loved… Never really lived…

This simple movie gives us a snapshot of their hearts opening up to life, to love, to romance, to a fresh start and a second chance…

What’s cool about the movie is that their romance doesn’t lead them directly to the bedroom, but instead to all night talks about their pain, their past, their hopes, brokenness, disappointment and dreams… Some of these conversations are poignant, profound, touching...

I was moved by this movie and recommend it to those who, like me, love seeing Wolverine take down Weapon X… Oh, yeah!!! But they also love seeing real people get a much-needed second chance.

Take a chance on Last Chance Harvey today.

MOTHER'S DAY @ a2 - UNSHAKABLE!!!

a2 Church
This Sunday, 9:45 am

600 Montgomery Highway
(Just above Pet Supermarket
in Vestavia City Center)

Mother's Day @ a2 is going to ROCK! One promise I can make: this won't be your typical Mom's Day deal...

This Sunday we continue the series THE BEST NEWS YOU'VE HEARD ALL WEEK, with a message titled UNSHAKABLE.

It's hard to imagine what headline could hit next... Swine flu... Bailout blues... Economic woes... Every week it's something new... And it all seems to come at warp speed...

This Sunday we'll check out an incredible psalm written by a guy who lived through a period in his life when the whole world seemed to turn upside down... Everything around him seemed to be SHAKEN...

His response? TRUST! UNSHAKABLE TRUST.

This is a message that matters.

Music? The band will be doing a special Mother's Day item to celebrate every woman in the room. Yes, even the "dude's" in the room should love it!

We'll also close the service with one of the most faith affirming new worship tunes out...

Whatever you do: get your friends and family to a2 this Sunday. Nothing "typical" about it. But it could just be transforming.

Friday, May 1, 2009

MORE ON TRAINING VERSUS TRYING

In 1 Corinthians 9:25 (GN) Paul makes an important statement, "Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever."

Athletic competition was one of Paul’s favorite metaphors. If Paul had lived in 2009, I think he would have been a huge fan of ESPN's Sports Center. The guy drew on this metaphor several times in his letters to first century churches.

Athletic competition was popular in the first century. Corinth was the site of the Isthmian Games, which was second only to the Olympic Games. A person who wanted to compete in the Isthmian or Olympic games had to go into “strict training.” In fact, every athlete who entered the games was required to undergo ten months of strict training and could be disqualified for failing to complete the training!

Paul draws on this example in 1 Corinthians 9 and says, "Athletes train really hard because they want to win a race, win the fight or accomplish a goal... But we're doing something that has eternal significance... Train hard!"

Okay, here's the "bad word" we don't like when it comes to training - DISCIPLINES.

Football and Basketball coaches major on one thing. They call them “the fundamentals.” They drill their team in the basics of the game so that their team eventually develops an unconscious inclination that they defer to when the pressure's on and their in the game.

I love this definition for discipline: it's "any activity I can do by direct effort that will help me do what I can't do by direct effort."

Historically, believers have implemented a few core "spiritual disciplines" that anyone can do by "direct effort" that will help them do what they can't do by "direct effort."

For instance, spiritual disciplines like WORSHIP, PRAYER, SOLITUDE, BIBLE STUDY, FELLOWSHIP, etc. are spiritual disciplines anyone can do by DIRECT EFFORT that will help them do what they can't do by DIRECT EFFORT - TRANSFORM / GROW / CHANGE.

Training involves integrating disciplines like these into your life. Over time, training pays off. Change occurs. Transformation happens. We become more like Jesus.

The goal of training? The goal of spirituality is a growing a ability to love God and other people.

What to grow? Want to change? Want personal transformation to become a reality?

Why not try implementing some of these classic spiritual disciplines into your life? A couple of great books I've found especially helpful on the subject are as follows:

Celebration of Discipline
Richard Foster

The Life You've Always Wanted
John Ortberg

A Contrarian's Guide To Knowing God: Spirituality for the Rest of Us
Larry Osborne

Why not stop trying? Let's start training... Ready, set, GROW!