Going .... One on One

He Is Risen!!

The earth shook with the news, "He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him." Mark 16:6. And in that moment, joy replaced despair, hope pushed past fear, and life conquered death --- not just that day, but for eternity!!

We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ for what it meant then and what it means for us every day a sacrifice that brings forgiveness, renewal, and peace to any who put their faith in Jesus.

As we celebrate the blessings and victory of Easter, may we experience a rebirth and renewal that courses through our hearts and minds, spilling over into our lives and our communities throughout the year. He is risen indeed!!!!!

Journaling During Your Quiet Time

Journaling requires critical thinking.  Journaling is more than keeping a diary where you log the events of your life. It's a place where you share your innermost thoughts with God.  As you become more comfortable and skilled in doing that, you will sense God's direction for your life as he leads you in his ways.

It makes you analyze:
1.  What does the text say?
2.  What does the text mean?
3.  How do I apply the text to my life?

Reflecting on what you read casues you to internalize the reading and meaning of the text.   

…trust him all the time. Pour out your longings before him, for he can help! Ps 62:8-9 TLB

I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32:8 AMP

 

Wishing You a Merry Christmas!!

A passage not related to Christmas but one that has a message this season ….

Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

At Christmas we worry about many things -- food preparations, gifts, decorations, etc ... all that has its place but we need to understand a line needs to be drawn and a declaration made that says .... 

I'm not going to let anything that will ultimately mean nothing keep me from experiencing what means everything!!

Only one thing is needed .... the PRESENCE of JESUS this Christmas!! 

 

25 Church Planters through Launch Network

Introducing the First 25 Planters for the Launch Network 

Here’s a list of the church planters Launch will have assessed, trained and resourced. Some of these churches have already started. Others will start in the coming months.

• Brad Raby, Discovery Church (Knoxville, TN)
• Will Goodwin, Oak Leaf Church (Canton, GA)
• Chad Davis, Venue Church (Hattiesburg, MS)
• Christian Newsome, Journey Church International (Lee’s Summit, MO)
• Robert Green, Fondren Church (Jackson, MS)
• Justin Craig, Vinings Church (Atlanta, GA)
• James Cordell, 101 Church (Rockmart, GA)
• Josh Nelson, The Station Church (Carlsbad, CA)
• Jeff Phillips, The Crossings Church (Vancouver, BC)
• David Bradford, Celebration Church (Hoover, AL)
• Angus McKinley, Elevation Church (Loveland, CO)
• Damian Boyd, Vertical Church (Atlanta, GA)
• Keith Montgomery, Kingdom Come (Woodstock, GA)
• Brandon Brilhart, Relevate Church (Lawrence, KS)
• Doug Sibcy, Impact Church (Lebanon, OH)
• Wesley Odum, Dynamic Church (Chattanooga, TN)
• Jonathan Napier, Newnan Church (Newnan, GA)
• Joey Baynes, Restoration Church (Greensboro, NC)
• Chaz Churchwell, Restore San Diego (San Diego, CA)
• Travis Fox, Salt Lake City Church (Salt Lake City, UT)
• Shawn Peoples, Grace Community (Kaneohe, HI)
• Chris Hughes, Hope Church (Orlando, FL)
• Terence Lester, Innovation Church (Atlanta, GA)
• Bryan Carter, Bozeman City Church (Bozeman, MT)
• Bryant May, The Exchange (Jackson, MS)

Exciting to see what God is doing through Bryant (our son) and Heather (our daugther-in-law) as they follow God's call to plant a church - The Exchange - in Pearl, MS.  You can get up to date news by following The Exchange blog or The Exchange on Twitter.            

When Things Fall Apart, You Need to Make Some Changes by Rick Warren

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”(Lamentations 3:40 NIV)

There are a lot of things in life that can’t be changed. For example, you can’t change your past or the genes you inherited. With things like that, peace of mind will only come when you accept them.

But you do change the things you can change when your world falls apart. No, you can’t bring back the loved one who died. And no, you can’t change the other person, no matter how much you try. The only thing you can change is you.

You can change your attitude and skills. You can change your character and values. And you can change the way you use your time and what’s important to you.

In order to change these things, you’re going to have to do a self-evaluation, which requires being honest with yourself. You have to admit the areas of your life that are broken: The relationship is broken. The finances are broken. The career is broken.

Jeremiah says, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40 NIV). Do a relational inventory, a spiritual inventory, and a moral inventory.

Look at your relationships and ask, “What’s my relationship with my spouse, my friends or my boss really like right now?”

Do a spiritual inventory and ask, “How am I doing in my relationship with God? What’s my character like? How does it match up to God’s Word?”

Then take a moral inventory, asking, “What sins in my life are tearing me down?”

When you start doing these evaluations, you’ll realize you’ve stored up a lot of emotions, like guilt, anger, frustration, grief and remorse.

You’ll need to deal with these emotions in order to have personal recovery in your life. Don’t ignore them and don’t give up on making a change in your life. God is for you, and he will help you you’re your deepest hurts and regrets. Give them to God and listen for what he tells you to do.

 

Warrior's Prayer

Ephesians 6:10-18

Today I claim victory over Satan by putting on
The whole Armor of God!

I put on the Girdle of Truth!

May I stand firm in the truth of Your Word, so I will not be a victim of Satan’s lies.

I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness!

May it guard my heart from evil, so I will remain pure and holy,
protected under the blood of Jesus Christ.

I put on the Shoes of Peace!

May I stand firm in the Good News of the Gospel, so Your peace will shine through me
and be a light to all I encounter.

I take the Shield of Faith!
May I be ready for Satan’s fiery darts of
doubt, denial and deceit, so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat.

I put on the Helmet of Salvation!
May I keep my mind focused on You, so Satan will not have a stronghold on my thoughts.

I take the Sword of the Spirit!
May the two-edged sword of Your Word be ready in my hands, so I can expose the tempting words of Satan.

By faith your warrior has put on
the whole Armor of God!

I am prepared to live this day in spiritual victory!

Amen

 

Sunday's Coming!!

Fruit Bearing

John 15:1-8

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 

God intends for His children to bear fruit - that is to lead others to Christ - by going one on one.  Fruit-bearing is possible only for believers who live in constant, prayerful relation to Christ.  

Several principles of fruit-bearing is found in this passage: (Disciples Study Bible) 
1.  Jesus Christ is the source of all life
2. Failing to bear fruit has serious consequences
3. To bear fruit we must let the Father cut wrong practices and habits out of our lives so we can bear more fruit
4. Fruit-bearing depends on remaining in Christ and drawing on His sustaining grace
5. We can do nothing that matters unless we abide in Christ
6.  We are judged if we do not bear fruit
7. Those who bear fruit have their prayers answered
8. Bearing fruit glorifies God

 

 

Ten Sins of a Dying Church

1. Doctrinal Drift

In a desire to reach more people, churches have often watered-down doctrinal truths believing that they are creating a more inviting environment for seekers. The Word of God may not be very sensitive to an unbeliever, but it should be intelligible. Make no mistake, the younger generation likes straight-talk. They are tired of the mush.

2. Evangelism Atrophy

Most churches in America aspire to have evangelism as a driving force but they have lost their passion. Ask every one of them, however, and they will proclaim it as a core value. Yet, a quick look at their checkbook, annual budget and programs will tell the truth. For most churches in America evangelism is a great thought and desire, but in all actuality very little in the way of evangelism is done.

3. Failure To Be Relevant

The Gospel was not written in a cultural vacuum. The words we read today were written thousands of years ago. They still apply today, but we must learn to understand them in their cultural context and then find ways to help 21st century people understand.

Church is no different. We have to do church in a way that connects with this culture otherwise the church simply becomes a huddled mass of cloistered believers hiding from a sin-sick world.

4. Inwardly Focused

The new unspoken mantra of the modern American church is; “It’s all about me.” While no one will readily admit it, all one has to do is look at the ministries and programs. What can be quickly discovered is that most churches build ministries to satisfy the already fed. These programs are good to keep the flock happy. Not necessarily a bad thing, but too much of a good thing ends up being a bad thing.

5. Personal Conflict

Church people have found a way to make an argument out of almost anything. Political power struggles rule the day.

6. A Priority Of Comfort

Dying churches refuse to reach out beyond their own comfort-zones. When any real ministry does happen and dirty, sinful people walk in among the righteous, it upsets the apple cart. It simply isn’t comfortable.

7. Biblical Illiteracy

The latest research by Gallup and other pollsters reveal that most long time members of churches don’t really know what they Bible says. Phrases like; “God helps those who help themselves” are regularly quoted as scripture.

8. Hording

It amazes me the amount of money many dying churches have in their saving accounts. The thought is that they are saving it for a rainy day, but I wonder what God thinks about this? Will he be happy if we, like the man with one talent, have not invested his Kingdom resources in the Great co-mission work when returns. Which would be best; Die rich, having saved our resources and done as little as we can get by with, or Die broke with the knowledge that we have done all we can.

9. Failure to Follow

Too often pastors are treated like hirelings and not called, anointed people of God. The pastor is forced to walk on eggshells to avoid losing their job.

10. Idolatry

You may think this is absent from today’s Church, but it is very alive. Beloved programs, versions of the Bible, furniture, paintings on the wall and the placement of objects have caused more quarrels than I care to mention. We have taken these items to god-like levels in the church and forgotten the main thing.

[from Essential Church by Thom and Sam Rainer]

Psalm 33:11 (NIV)  

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,

the purposes of his heart through all generations.