Long Time Coming

So much has happened in the last 3 months and I, once again, have had nothing to say about it on the blog. . .

We have been through at least 85 musicians in the last three months and to say the least, that has been a bit draining. (Yes 85 is an exaggeration!) It seems when something is not running on all cylinders, it just drains you a little more. There is the constant searching and calling and interviewing also. A bit of the experience has been reminiscent of American Idol... some really talented folks and some that must be heard to be believed. (I am convinced that one of the greatest wrongs in our world is mamas telling their kids they have musical talent when they don't.)

Of course that is followed closely by people sleeping under bridges and eating out of dumpsters. Actually that is the purpose of this post and the other was just to get you to agree with something I write.

It seems that we are in the habit of getting really excited about things that have little eternal significance and we have very little concern for things that make a huge difference. I have often wondered what would happen if we successfully pulled just one person from the cycle of dependance and hopelessness and could see the result of their life-change 20 years out. What would future generations look like?

Peer Pressure

You know that peer pressure can be a really strange thing. Some parts of the issue can't be fully explained by simple analysis. I'm writing this entry because of peer pressure but I am choosing what to write. My peers harass me if I go more than two weeks without an entry.

Peer pressure can be good and it can be bad. Some believe peer pressure exposes who you really are when you give in to the pressure. Of course that only applies if the thing you gave in to was a bad thing. If you were influenced to do good outside your standard character, then you are in a phase or just trying to be someone you're not.

Peer pressure can bring great rewards when acted on and it can also bring great sadness when acted on.

The greatest problem with peer pressure is when you are still suffering consequences years after a decision has been made.

This week I have seen the single most painful,lasting result of a bad decision made earlier in life.

I don't know when the first introduction to drugs came, for that matter I knew nothing about drugs or a struggle past or present with drugs in the life of my friend.

I knew about some issues with alcohol which was probably also introduced by a peer, but I had no clue of any other struggle.

My friend lost his life and everyone believes narcotics were involved. As I talked with another friend he told me of the struggles of so many to shake off and become free of the addiction to narcotics. He said he had witnessed people free from drugs relapse after up to six years. In their drug induced state they acted out of character for them. Often times it resulted in a crime being committed.

In my friend's case there was a crime committed and the proper response of law enforcement ended a life seemingly devoted to God in every aspect. But there was that one area that very few were aware of where satan was quietly using a decision made years earlier to destroy a life, even one devoted to God.

I don't doubt my friend's devotion to God but I will always wonder why help wasn't sought. I will also be left to wonder if my friend had given up on life and become weary in trying to undo the damage done by giving in to peer pressure so many years ago.

If there is any one lesson worth taking away from this experience for those who have never been bound by a drug, it is that in any area of life, God must have exclusive access. When we give Satan any place to set up camp in our life we invite a lifetime of regret for a life not lived exclusively for God.

Reputation

As I was handing out balloons this past Saturday, someone stopped me and said, "Your church is always doing stuff in the community" He went on to say that many people are commenting to him that our little church is constantly "doing something".
You know, I guess it's good that a church has a reputation for helping others. I'm not complaining. But, my prayer for 2010 is that we can move beyond being recognized for "doing stuff" and begin to make an actual impact on our community.

Please don't confuse what I'm trying to say. God has given me a vision for so much more than name recognition. . .

Imagine for a moment that we were able to reach every single person in Spartanburg County in 2010. What if we could make Jesus famous to every resident in Boiling Springs and surrounding areas? Now consider the fact that people usually become the Christian that is modeled for them in their church and answer the obvious questions:


Would waitresses still hate Sundays because Christians are jerks and bad tippers?


Would the homeless population increase or decrease?


Would we still have children waiting to be adopted?


Would we still be ashamed to pray in our schools or businesses?


Would Greenville, Union and Cherokee counties have any idea that Jesus was at work next to them?


This time next year I want to be writing that people who know nothing about God are commenting that GOD is at work in Boiling Springs.




Keep up the hard work of making the name of Jesus Christ famous in Boiling Springs.

Bout Time

The blog has been silent for far too long. I am writing in a bit of a stupor ... so any corrections that are needed will have to be made tomorrow. I feel as if when I am not blogging that nothing is going on in the church, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.

So here is an update for those of you who check up on us; We have had our building open last week and we continue this week so that college students have a place to study. 2am was so early 20 years ago when I was in college.

We have been able to support our local food pantry through a collection and donation of needed items. Serving there is one of my weekly highlights.

This Saturday morning we will be giving out candy bags to the children gathered for our local Christmas parade. Don't get too excited. We will not be giving out the candy, just the bags.

This Sunday we will be serving at the local soup kitchen. Some people will even skip church to get things started. How will they make it through the week without my sermon?

Needing a church? Come serve with us.

Friend Day

Friend Day was a success! (Even though I have written nothing about the results of our inviting efforts.) Not to make more excuses for not blogging, just to let you know, I have spent some time getting in the groove for the Christmas season this week and at the same time I have the next four sermons close to the finish line. Additionally, I am aware that this Sunday has the potential to be better attended than Friend Day so that brings into play additional thoughts about how to approach the message.

So what did I think about Friend Day?

Friend day could have been a bit better in several areas (all of the shortfalls are on me) but overall it was a very good day. With 13 first time visitors and more than half committing to return, we are on the verge of some significant momentum. Our drama folks really made it easy for me to present the message and the music was the best since we started according to several folks.

What I like best is that our greeters make people want to return before they hear the message or music. That is huge, and I am so thankful for folks that are willing to volunteer every week to welcome our visitors, prepare breakfast and coffee, run sound, lights, teach children, clean the building, etc.

By the way, our upgraded refreshment station was a huge hit thanks to a generous donation of tables and chairs!!

Hope to see you this Sunday for Friend Day revisited. OK not officially, but it is acceptable to invite your friends this week too.

Don't forget we have lunch together immediately after church this Sunday... Barbeque :) No need to bring anything or make reservations. Just bring a friend and hang out!

See you then!

Looking Forward to Sunday

Haven't posted in a while due to being completely swamped. It has been a long time since I've been this tired. Busy doesn't even begin to describe it.

I worked on our facility a lot this week making sure everything was top notch for our GUESTS that are coming on FRIEND DAY. (Don't you clean your house when you are having company?)It was a great motivator to get a lot of things caught up, cleaned up, and spiffed up. So, be prepared for some (good) surprises on Sunday!

Matt has prepared a great worship set, and our (newly formed) Drama Team will be demonstrating their talent and creativity, while making us ponder the age old question, "how do you get into heaven?".

So, basically, if the old preacher can get his act together, we should have a great time together on Sunday :)

Pray for Sunday. Prepare now for our time of worship together. And invite friends! They will be welcomed, have fun, and most importantly, hear the truth of Christ.

Sunday De-brief

Every so often you have one of those days where things are non-standard -- where things are not as you expected and the best planning on your part does not bring the results you imagined.
I tend to have those days every 7th day.

The fun thing is when you prepare a message with a particular set of attendees in mind (not to single them out - just knowing who would likely be in attendance) and you wind up preaching to a very different crowd. That was yesterday. Along the way I found out that two families have really bought into our outward-focused thinking.

This is big!

Remember our upcoming events:

* Hanging out at Hendrick's Elem. while helping out with the Movie Night this coming Friday. . .

* Friend Day is only two weeks away and friends have already been invited. Keep inviting folks! If you've been invited, I promise you'll be glad you came.


See you on "Day 7".