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The Extra Pointe: 1/22/09

Message Recap from The Pointe:

Life Week 3: How to Save a Life

James 5:19-20  
“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

Having the Tough Conversation:

1. APPROACH EACH PERSON IN LOVE
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 
-love is not self seeking, nor does it have an agenda.  When we approach people with true love it can change the world.

2. HANDLE EACH SITUATION WITH HUMILITY
Ephesians 4:2
-nobody wants to talk about hard things with a know-it-all

3. NEVER GIVE UP
1 Timothy 4:16
-hold strong to your beliefs and live in such a way that saves the people watching and listening to you

4. ALWAYS POINT TO CHRIST
Christ shares his perfect love with us.  Nothing we do can separate us from it and he is not surprised by our actions.
Romans 8:35-39

Why You Don't Love People Part 1

Often times it's easy for us to say that we love people.  Everybody loves people.  Where I think we miss the point is that we love people for the wrong reasons.  These reasons keep us from seeing what real love can be, not only for us, but for the world.  Over my next few posts I will share some reasons why you really don't love someone, no matter how much you say you do.  Reason number one (in no particular order):

You don't love people because you hold love back.

Love (and relationships for that matter) is doomed to fail when it's conditional.  You cannot love somebody with restrictions.  I cannot say to my wife, "I love you as long as you do x, y, and z."  When we make our marriage vows we basically say that we will love and cherish our spouse through thick and thin, no matter what.  

People who are far from God need that same kind of commitment made to them.  We cannot expect sinners to be with you any other way than they are with themselves.  There is no way to love someone only after they clean themselves up.  

Love is not conditional, nor can it be restrained.  The Bible says in 1st Corinthians that love does not fail.  Love at it's very core cannot fail.  It cannot come up short.  When true love is given, one that is without restrictions, it changes the world.  The love of Jesus Christ forever shaped the world because it was given with no prejudice.  Love was not given based on skin color, academic achievement, self worth, or status: it was only given.  

Common Sense

Whenever I go to a Chick-Fil-A in Charlotte I am ALWAYS replied to with "my pleasure".  Now I know it sounds weird, but the employees saying "my pleasure" really makes me want to go back.  I know that if I typically go somewhere else I am rushed through, but at Chick-Fil-A I feel appreciated.  

How does this relate to the church?  Are people deciding to visit your church again because they feel appreciated?  Do they feel needed?  Or do they know you give a rip that they were even there?  It disgusts me sometimes when I realize how many people have come through the doors at Ridge Pointe that have not come back.  I believe that people will deal with not liking the music and/or not liking the preaching if they feel loved and appreciated.  This belief also exposes the disconnect between the church in general and sinners.

In a world that longs for connection why do we not connect with people?  It's a cop out to say we're scared or intimidated; I believe we're scared.  We're scared to get into people's lives and see who they are.  We're scared to see who we really are when we're faced with real issues.  When you deal with sinners you must deal with sin.  It's as simple as that.  Making a connection requires a sacrifice.  Get over the pride and fear.  Make a connection.  Make it "your pleasure".  

Vision that sticks

A couple of weeks ago my buddy Leonce Crump was talking to me about the church plant he is working on.  As we talked, he shared the vision for the church: Love wrecklessly, live biblically, make disciples.  It blew me away hearing someone put vision so clear.  Usually churches muddy their "vision" by making it pages long or having multiple explanations for "one" vision.  Our staff often joke of a church we know that has about 4 or 5 different slogans for their church. 

When we don't have a clear cut vision we are doomed to fail as a church.  Much like any business, if leadership coming from the top is not clear and identifiable then there will be disorder and confusion.  A clear vision gives a clear process.  We are able to see where we are dropping the ball, whether it be with a specific person/family or with a program, when we have a clear process.  Leonce's is simple: love, challenge a change in lifestyle, and disciple those in his care, thus making it easy to see where things aren't connecting.  

Over the next few days I will post the vision for my life and for The Pointe: Love, Change, Mold.  

What Do You Love About Ministry?

As I was driving around yesterday, one question kept hitting me: what do I love about ministry?  When you define what you love you can truly begin to define what drives you.  You can begin to see through what you love what it is that keeps you up at night.  

What do you love?

What do you cherish?

Does your ministry envelop you?  Does it make you want more?  I think the reason many of us get bored with ministry is because we don't love it.  It can't just be like any other job because the nature of ministry is so different.  When we as ministers begin treating people like statistics or numbers we lose the very heart of the ministry.  

I forced myself to really put out there what I love:
-I love seeing teenagers connect with God
-I love when teenagers ask questions that let you know they are getting it
-I love seeing people who were far from God become devoted followers of Him.
-I love being a pastor

So what is it for you?  What drives you?  What in your life makes you feel inadequate to accomplish the goals God has set for you?  What intimidates you, making you do your very best?  Seek God and see.  When we discover what our love is, we discover the heart of God in our lives.

My Only New Years Resolution

I typically don't buy in to having resolutions for the new year.  I typically stay completely away from the entire topic when it's being discussed.  This year, however, my dad asked me what I wanted to see done between me and God and something actually came to mind:

I want to be so consumed and filled by God in this next year that the ministry He has for me will have it's potential reach to the fullest extent.  I want people to know that when I come in a room God is right there with me and ready to work.  I want God to be made famous through my life and the lives of those that I am privileged on a day by day basis to be around and speak into.  

I want to be such a great husband to my wife that others desire to have a relationship like ours, not because of my influence, but because of God's influence in my marriage relationship.  

I want to become a leader, not just to teenagers, but to the leaders around me.  I want my personal potential to bust the roof open through Christ.  

Now I know that sounds like more than one resolution, but it's not.  My resolution is to live my life in a way that God is constantly glorified and made famous, no matter what arena of life people may know me through.

as for my blogging hiatus...

I really can say that I haven't felt much like blogging lately.  When I first began blogging I started because I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings with the people that I love (family, Ridge Pointe Church, etc...) but can say with complete honesty that lately it had become a popularity contest for me...how many views in a day?  where are the people from that read this?  

I have come to the point where I have realized and am now trying to act on being the man that God has REALLY called me to be.  Forget the garbage, forget the baggage; whatever it is that's holding me back.  I have to get back to loving our people with complete abandon, putting their needs before my own, and sharing Christ with others.  Every so often God gives all of us a reality check.  We get ahead of where He wants us.  Some of us move back in line, others think that their ideas are above Gods.  It's time for me to move back, get in line, and follow Christ.

When Jesus was going to resurrect Lazarus, Thomas said, "let us go so that we may die with Him" (Anthony Johnson version 2008).  Sometimes it becomes necessary to follow Christ against all conventional wisdom, against ideas of "successful" churches/pastors, and against our own wills and desires.  May God help all of us to have an agenda created and shaped by Christ.

Just Do It

So this past week Ridge Pointe Church had an article written about it in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.  It seemed for the first day or so that everything we had heard back was positive.  From then on, however, it seemed to take a downward spiral.  While this does not at all bother me, I think it's important to say one thing: no matter what is going on or what others may think, Ridge Pointe is going to do it's absolute best to make sure that what we do and who we are glorifies God completely.  What agenda would be worthwhile if God were not involved?  What plan would work without God in it?  We often joke that all of the rules of church planting have been broken by this church, yet we still seem to succeed.  

Success is not what we think it is.  When I think of the "success" of Ridge Pointe I don't look simply at numbers, but at lives changed.  I think of the countless people that even one year ago would not have stepped foot into a church that are now great partners with us.  I love this church, the people in it, and our mission.  Let's remember to always strive, whether as a church or personally, to follow the mission of Christ: love God, love others, make disciples.

Message Recap from 11/9

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to speak again at Ridge Pointe Church.  Here are some notes from our final message in the series "Fanatic":

-God seeks "true worshipers": John 4:23
-Four characteristics of true worshipers:
1. Worship with awe: Revelation 1:16-17
2. Worship with abandonment: 2 Samuel 6:21-22
3. Worship with intimacy: Psalm 27:4
4. Worship with their lives: Romans 12:1

Hopefully this can jog some memories and help out for our home groups this week.

Sunday Recap 11/9/08

Today was another great day at Ridge Pointe Church.  Also had a great day in general with my wife and some friends.  Here are a few highlights from the day:

-band was once again FREAKING AWESOME.  Great job guys.
-attendance was back up to normal again after being way down the week before.  People either thought I was good or that Shane would be back this week...who knows?
-saw the movie "Fireproof".  Acting was definitely not the greatest, but the movie was actually better than expected.
-had a great time hanging out with Mitch and Candice.  They are both really great youth leaders.  
-really enjoyed being with my wife last night.  She was sick, but it was good to have time just to hang out and be together.

On a side note, I will be glad to be back to putting my full focus The Pointe this week after doing double duty between them and "big people church".

Great Weekend At Ridge Pointe

Yesterday I had the privilege to speak in our main service in the AM.  I always love to speak in "big people church".  It's refreshing for me and motivating all at the same time.  I think anytime you get so used to preaching in one venue that you tend to take it for granted.  Switching it up and speaking yesterday (as opposed to just on Thursday nights) was a blast.  Our people were awesome, responsive, and attentive.  With that said, here are some highlights from yesterday:

-the numbers were down but they were into it
-music was awesome.  Had a dude from the Marshall Tucker band.  UNREAL how good he was
-enjoyed having someone yell "snake handlers" as I referenced my Pentecostal background.  Truly funny stuff
-had to tell them if part of following Jesus was handling snakes then this man would have to "peace out"
-enjoyed having my parents in town to hear my speak

True Love Is Contagious

As I was sitting at my best friends wedding this weekend I couldn't help but smile.  Everyone there was so happy for the couple that was married.  No matter how they personally felt towards marriage, other people, or the couple themselves, every single person there was ecstatic that day.  I realized something then and there at the reception: true love is contagious.  When we see something so pure and real we cannot help but be amazed by it.  Not only are we amazed by it, but we desire it.  How would the lives of those around us changed if we could put on display our true love for God?  Would people be changed?  Is our love for God so pure that other people cannot help but admire and desire it?  My challenge is that if you want to see those people around you changed, what can you do to help them along the way?  Show your love for God through your service and good deeds.  Show your love for God through your interaction with others.  Love your spouse with everything you have.  I promise that if we do then we will change our world and the lives of those around us.

Excited about "Changed"

Let me first say that I am really pumped about this series that The Pointe is getting ready to start on Thursday night.  Here's why: it deals with a man whose life has been drastically changed by Christ.  It's a change of heart, change of attitude, change of perspective...ultimately what is awaiting change is his reputation with people he used to come across.  The book of Philemon deals with a man being restored to others.  It's a story of redemption.  It's my prayer that at the end of these three weeks we will all see the process of change in our lives and put it to action.

New Series Beginning Thursday Night: "Changed"

He became a slave. Who became a fugitive. Who came to know Christ. And overcame it all. Hear the story of Onesimus, the slave who betrayed Philemon, and the passionate efforts of Paul to convince Philemon to change his mindabout this truly changed man.  Join us for the next 3 weeks as we look at a life that was forever "Changed". 

Reaching Teenagers

So I think we have finally gotten to the point where we have to find new ways to reach teenagers.  We have a steady group of roughly 20 every week, but we seem like we have hit a wall with our attendance.  Now lots of people might be happy with a student group of 20 when you have only 3 teenagers with parents in our church, but that couldn't be farther from the truth for me.  I can't help but think that there are sooo many teenagers in Inman, Spartanburg, and the surrounding areas that need a relationship with Christ.  So much work to do...

Remembering The Stones In Your Own Life

Working hands on with a church plant for the past 10 months has taught me a lot.  I had always had a burden to work with a new church (and possibly plant one down the line) so being at Ridge Pointe Church has been the best thing for me.  It's insane for me to look back at the past ten months and evaluate what I have seen and remember all of the lessons that I've learned, whether by my own recognition or what Shane has taught me, and think that it's not even been a year yet.  

I encourage everybody to journal what you have and are learning about yourself and your specific situation.  Take the time to remember, because if you do I promise you will lessen your chances of making the same mistake twice.  Also, take time to write down and remember your "wins".  What has God done for you and the people you come in contact with?  Remembering and reflecting are some of the most powerful tools we can ever hope to have.

"When your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones mean to you?', then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off.  So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever." (Joshua 4.6-7)

Glorified Delivery Boy

So I've been trying more and more lately to evaluate what I do.  I try to figure out when it comes to preaching what my intent is/was, what God was trying to get across to our group and me as leader, and whether or not I delivered.  A friend once explained to me that being in ministry was like being a "glorified delivery boy".  That same friend also told me that it doesn't matter how it's delivered, but that the delivery boy brings it.  I know it sounds cheesy, but him saying that to me last summer has really meant a lot to me since becoming a youth pastor.  I try to focus on perfection, not realizing that as long as I'm trying my best to hear and be what God is calling me to be that everything will more than work out.

Along with all that, this week I evaluated.  What kept coming to mind was that I constantly qualify what I say when I preach.  I have been feeling the need to make sure that no one gets upset or that everything sounds "correct".  What I realized the other day, and what God has been pounding me with, is that my first job is to be the delivery boy, not necessarily the friend.  My priority must be delivering what God has for His Church, not what makes me more popular in His Church's eyes.  Always be willing to stand for God, no matter what the opposition, whether it comes from yourself or someone else.  Remember, we in ministry are called to be first and foremost a "glorified delivery boy" to our churches.

The Extra Pointe 10.3.08

"Zip It" week 1:  Containing Complaining

-your words reveal the condition of your heart: Matthew 12.34-37

-a negative heart brings negative words, which ultimately results in a negative life

-3 positive promises each of us must make:
1. I will not always hang out with negative people
-...bad company corrupts good character: 1 Corinthians 15.33

2. I will speak words of life
-the tongue has the power of life and death: Proverbs 18.21

3. I will be thankful for what I have
-give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

New Series Beginning Thursday Night: "Zip It"

Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."  Maybe it's time we evaluate what we say, even when nobody's around...