WholeHeartedLife

Believing About vs. Walking In

Have you ever made a really bold, God-led statement concerning something you felt God had been telling you only to come to the realization, "oh CRAP!!! Now that I have publicly declared that I have to actually follow through!" I have discovered that there is a big difference between believing something about God and actually living out that belief.

This thought came yesterday as I read in Ezra 8 - as Israel was beginning their journey back to Jerusalem after 70 years in captivity Ezra suddenly realizes the truth of their situation (v.21-23)

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

I love this - Ezra, the great teacher of the law of God whom God used to reveal the truth once again to His wayward nation realizes that He has made much of God - so much so that he is ashamed to request protection for their long and dangerous journey. They fasted and prayed (v.23) and God answered.

Awesome! The problem you and I often have with this: that was Ezra from the bible and you're "you" (and I'm "me"). People in the bible are supposed to do stuff like that, right? Believing about and walking "in" are two different things.

Two scenarios I have personally encountered - one victoriously, the other not so much. In the first scenario God shared with me something that He wanted to do among my congregation and it was big; so big that there was no way that we could do it if He didn't step in. I told the people what I felt God was leading - many were ready (like the Israelites signing up to return to Jerusalem - Ezra 1:5). There were also those whom the vision was a little much, a little too big. I'll never forget the leader who shared with me that he didn't want me to fail - maybe I should back off this vision. I told him that I was confident in God's leadership but would seek the Lord one final time because of his concern. I did - God confirmed once again this was His will - we moved forward and watched Him literally work out Ephesians 3:20 in our midst.

In the second scenario God revealed a plan to me, a vision, that would not only affect our church in a major way; the plan that He revealed to me would literally initiate a change our region in the area of the local church. I was confident this was from the Lord - it BURNED within me!!! I shared it with some trusted leaders and friends - they also were compelled by what God had revealed. There was one major issue: it was big (BIG!!HUGE!!!) and our church was exploding with growth - so much so that it was hard to imagine more (especially as big as this plan was). We were understaffed and overworked not to mention the fact that our budget was being stretched by all that was happening in our midst. 

I felt very confident that the plan was from God - the challenge was that the vision was just so big and I was SO stressed and didn't feel I could handle anymore. As much as I tried to bury the vision it wouldn't let me go. I was having a crisis about the plan/vision: how could we, with all that was happening pull this off? Rather than do what Ezra did (gather the people/fast/pray) I remember making the decision in an overwhelmed moment that maybe this vision was not "for now" but at a time when we could better handle/finance such a work.

Today I have realized my mistake: I had way too much faith in me, our staff, volunteers and leaders and not enough faith/dependency on the Giver of the vision. I have also come to recognize that the vision was for then and I missed the opportunity to see an Acts-like movement because I didn't have the faith/obedience to follow through.

Your willingness to walk in faith on something that God has revealed to you reveals the depth of your belief in Him: is He capable? Able? Do you REALLY believe? If so, now it's time to walk IN that belief.

What Do You Lose First?

I don't think I have to convince any of you of the importance of personal worship. We know that God has called us to worship Him. With that in mind, do you find it strange that one of the first things to go is worship?

I have personally noticed that when I begin to stray from the Lord one of the first things that I do is cut-down the amount of time I spend in relationship with Jesus. It's never on purpose - I don't see it happening (if I did I would stop and correct, right?) but when I recognize what has happened and look back I see it plain as day.

As I recently read I was struck by a particular passage of scripture found in the first few chapters of the book of Ezra.  After Israel continued over and over in disobedience God raised up Babylon to conquer them and take them into captivity - mostly removing them from their homes and all that was familiar to them that they might live in the land of the Babylonians.

Why did this happen to God's people? Because the people had stopped worshiping Him and found themselves moving further and further from Him. Israel moved from the protective arms of their Everlasting Father and eventually fell into the arms of disobedience and sin. 

When you stray from the One you worship you may be removed from the place of comfort you once worshiped Him in.

When their punishment was ending He raised up a king, from Persia no less, to recognize in His heart that the Hebrews should be released, return to their homeland and rebuild God's temple. So those who felt moved to return and make that work happen did so (Ezra 1:5) thus preparing the way for God's people to return to Him.

I once read that the fact that God began His restoration of Israel with the rebuilding of the temple underscores the priority of worship. Worship is never be an something to be used our considered lightly; worship is not simply a "warm-up" for the "real meat" of preaching. Worship is our respond to all that God has done on our behalf.

Our personal worship matters to God and I think we need to take our gathering seriously. We NEED Him, we need His presence - not the other way around.  

God, quicken our hearts that we not stray from the our need to deeply connect with You.  

Sunday Nite (on a Monday Morning)

Was yesterday actually the Sunday after Thanksgiving at hyde park! I couldn't really tell as we had such a great gathering before the Lord. The Sunday after Thanksgiving has traditionally been a VERY off weekend as we have so many people who travel for the holiday - call it the economy, call it faith... I myself was very pleased!

So here's what you missed if you weren't with us:

• Yesterday's music was led by the group, "Sisters", who came to us from Spartanburg, SC. The group, which is made up of sisters Kim Lord, Heather Day and Valerie Ellenburg, are actually the combination of the groups LordSong and their lifelong family group, The Ruppes. It was great to have them with us - they were great - their harmonies are unbelievable!
• Check out their music if you didn't have the opportunity to go to their table yesterday.
• I brought yesterday's message, titled "Cleaning House", as Pastor Dennis is on vacation.
• The message was based on Matthew 23:25-28 and was based on some thoughts I had as I thought through the implications aimed not JUST at the Scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day but also at myself...
• ...you see, I am a Recovering Pharisee.
• I had a friend who asked me the following question after the second service: "How does a person know whether they are a Pharisee or a Recovering Pharisee"? I had not really thought about it but off the cuff my answer was something like this: "A recovering pharisee understands that they have the tendency to be judgmental and legalistic and is calling out to Jesus to change his/her heart, mind and soul, from the inside out. The pharisee doesn't think they have a problem. They have a tendency to justify their judgmental attitude and normally don't see any problem with it (but they DO see the problem with others).
• That, by the way, was an excellent question.
• One thing about the message: I felt like I didn't communicate the point in the 1st service that I wasn't preaching AT them but rather I was talking about something that God has revealed inside of MY heart. As always, if the shoe fits you should wear it, but know that I'm wearing one just like it 
• I was very encouraged by the number of you who expressed to me that you did some "house cleaning" after the message. I pray that all who were moved will follow through on the decisions that we made.
• We're completing our Christmas stage this weekend! This is going to be one of the most incredible Christmases you've ever been part of at hyde park!
• Anyone interested in being part of our Christmas Worship Choir should be at rehearsal Wednesday nite at 8pm!!!!

Have a great week!

Sunday Nite (on a Monday Afternoon)

I know that I begin most Sunday nite recaps by saying something like, "Today was so amazing" - at the risk I won't say it again (even if it was ):

• Pastor finished up the "Be Free" Series yesterday. Good stuff as we worked our way through the book of Galatians.
• One of the cool things about going through a book is that when you hit on a subject that some don't like they can't accuse you of picking a scripture with an agenda in mind. 
• I love what Perry Noble said in his post today: If everybody likes you then you’ve spent way too much time kissing rear ends instead of being faithful to who God has called you to be and what He has called you to do!
• Galatians 5:15 (in the NIV) states, "If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other". As Pastor broke that down he made this statement: when the church fights and bites at each other we are literally eating ourselves. This in itself is often the major problem in congregations, disunity that doesn't see each other as an extension of one-another, but rather, as separate beings. In Christ we are to be one.
• I, for one, continue to be thankful to be part of a congregation that "gets" this.
• Pastor spent the majority of the message demonstrating what spiritual community looks like. I would love to see us take that concept even deeper, applying it at a more life-on-life, in home (and the community) approach. Maybe Pastor was planting a seed for some of that.
• He also pointed out that one of the key elements of a worship experience is confession - do you think of that often? Is there a time during worship where you do that? I think we should do that more, don't you?
• We were blessed and pleased today to see that we filled up the Operation Christmas Child Semi-trailer! What a great ministry OCC is - we are so thankful to join arms with Samaritan's Purse in this endeavor. As Carole said, "this shoebox is the easiest way to share the gospel of Jesus with our world".
• The Worship Choir was rockin' yesterday morning with some new members - so excited to see enthusiasm throughout that group! Anyone interested in singing with us for the Christmas Season (and beyond) can download our music here. All of you are welcome to join us Wednesday Nites at 8pm in the Auditorium...
• ...that is EXCEPT THIS WEDNESDAY - we will have no services Wednesday Nite due to the Thanksgiving break.
• AND SPEAKING OF HYDE PARK WORSHIP: this weekend we will have a special time of worship as we welcome the Recording Group, "Sisters" to Hyde Park this Sunday morning during both our 9am and our 10:30 am services. The group is made up of sisters, Kim Lord, Heather Day, and Valerie Ellenburg. Back in the day Kim, Heather and Valerie were members of their family group, the Ruppes, as well as currently being members of the group, "LordSong" with Kim's husband, Michael. We're looking forward to a special time of worship this Sunday.
• Our worship Sunday was kind of a dual-service approach: 1st service was, "Our God Saves" (Baloche), At Calvary (Hymn - G3 arrangement) and "Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)". 2nd Service: "Our God Saves", "Let God Arise" (Tomlin) and "Came to My Rescue" (Hillsong). I liked the dual approach and feel that we might do this more after the 1st of the year.

I hope that you all have an amazing Thanksgiving - still praying that God will open your eyes as to ways that YOU can give-thanks through a practical application. My love to you all. 

Christmas 2009 iMix

Christmas is right around the corner and we are in preparation mode - here are some songs that we will be singing this Christmas at hyde park. Download them to your iTunes and get ready for an amazing Christmas:

Christmas Night of Worship - Sunday Evening, December 20th at 6pm

Here's some of last years music (some of these might pop-up this Christmas as well):

Sunday Nite

Were you there?

We had a great day at hyde park - so much to celebrate. Short Sunday afternoon nap out of the way - another one probably on the way, a little football - good times. Here's what's on my mind tonite:

• All glory to our God for His provision of the Word this morning. This has been a pretty crazy week for me - 3 days out of town (Mon-Weds), a Saturday morning conference among other things. With all that in mind, GOD has been good to me, speaking so much in preparation in a way that made preparation easier than some other messages. I am blown-away by the way that God provides for His own!
• Pastor Dennis was in FAITHTrac 101 this morning whom I joined (along with my family) for lunch. Pastor asked me, "so how did it go?". My answer: we had a SMASHING good time. 
• If you don't get that it's because you weren't there. If you missed the message you can listen to it here - listen real carefully because YOU may get "smashed" 
• Action + Attitude = Worship   Decide to put action to your thankfulness for God's glory.
• Extra prayer thrown up this morning as I prayed that God would remove the spiritual barriers that keep people from grasping the depths of God's word. I felt as if the Lord gave me grace to deliver the message by the power of His Spirit. 
• So many people responded to today's message in brokenness. Many, many more, however, walked out the door like the 9 lepers from this morning's scripture - receiving the blessing but not responding in an adequate way. 
• The breaking of "my box": I had no plans to act that out today, had not even thought of it but when I awoke this morning breaking "the flask" was on my mind. Always remember that A visual is worth a thousand words - driving home the message in a powerful way.
•  you should have seen me looking through the cabinets this morning looking for a "flask" that I could destroy (without getting in trouble with Keyna).
• So thankful for hyde park worship. Rhonda did an amazing job leading us to the throne of grace through music this morning.
• Music today: Blessed Be Your Name (Matt Redman), Glory (Hillsong), Worthy is the Lamb (Hillsong), The Power of Your Love.
• We had the privilege of baptizing 10 new believers this morning! What a privilege it is to share in the baptism of friends whose lives are being changed by the Lord Jesus.
• For those of you who were judging my friend Richard as I told you the story about his "rough edges", I just want to point out that he is one of the most brilliant people I have EVER MET, his personal knowledge of the scriptures is amazing. He is probably also much deeper theologically than you . He totally makes my head hurt talking to him!
• Really enjoyed meeting all the new people today (as always). If they were friends of yours, please mention that to them.
• Had a huge UNCP crowd this morning! Love it when the college students are in our midst. God is doing a great work through these young people there. 
• We were sorry to hear of the UNCP Football loss yesterday in the NCAA playoffs. Great, great season though fellas - so proud of our coaches and team.
• When I got home today I thought to myself, it's amazing that I get to do this! Just doesn't get old to see Jesus at work, challenging people and changing lives.

I close by saying that God is STILL doing amazing things at hyde park. Yes, we are in a time of transition - we are less than 4 months away from the retirement of our Pastor of 25 years. Yes, there are people who have chosen to jump to conclusions about the direction of our church - it's a weird time for those of us who are "in the know". I purposely choose not to mention it much because it is my desire to stay out of all of it for obvious reasons. God is STILL doing amazing things in our midst, maybe you just gotta know where to look.

I challenge you all to keep your eyes open this week for the opportunity to be a person who "gives thanks". Much love to all of you.

FRIDAY!!!

Do you know how long it's been since we've had an "A.D.D." driven Friday post... guess what?

it Friday, the Starbucks Gold Coast Blend is rockin', my mind is spinning all around with ideas, excitement about the weekend, it's KICKIN'!!! Here are a couple of things I wanted to share:

• This weekend is gonna be off the chain! We are looking for a great service as we together look at "Luke's Thanksgiving Quiz" - I wonder if you've ever noticed it before?
  
• We're looking forward to sharing in the great celebration of baptism this weekend. Have you been baptized SINCE you believed? If not, there is still time for you to take part in this weekend's baptism service. If you would like to be part let me know.
  
• For all of my new attendee friends at hyde park, make sure that you're signed up to be part of our New Attenders Class, FAITHTrac 101 this weekend at 9am. If you aren't signed up you can sign up here. FAITHTrac 301 (the 3rd installment) also meets this Sunday at 9am. Lunch is provided for you and your whole family after the classes are over. I look forward to eating with ya'll!
  
• We're still accepting new members of the hyde park worship choir. As we gear up to Christmas we are looking to add some new faces as well as welcome some recognizable ones as well. If you are interested in singing with the worship choir join us this coming Wednesday nite at 8:15 in the auditorium.
  
• In the same way, if you are a musician and I don't know it I SHOULD. I would love to meet you.

Love you guys and look forward to worshiping with you Sunday!!!!

Sunday Nite

Another beautiful, heart-stirring Sunday is coming to an end. I am beat (only got about a 15 minute nap this afternoon) and can't wait to go hang with my favorite girl, in other words this one's gonna be short - here's what's on my mind tonite:

• I woke up feeling fully rested (very seldom happens on Sunday's), ready to jump out of bed to be with Jesus this morning. Today's sunrise was absolutely amazing!
• I was so looking forward to worshiping with you today. I totally was feeling David's heart in Psalm 122:1 - "I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
• Once again, 10:30 service was off-the-chain!
• Pastor really brought some thought provoking stuff in week 5 of "Be Free". He was in Galatians 4 today. I know that a lot of what he said about the things that God hasn't spoken on but the church has chosen to through the years was challenging to many.
• It all goes back to knowing what God's word says about things. Through the years I have found myself to be appalled about longtime Christians who didn't know their bible well enough to be able to tell the difference between what is biblical and what is about preference.
• I am SO THANKFUL that God has revealed Himself to us through His holy word - giving us the opportunity to know His heart and opinion on so much in this world. 
• With that in mind, we need to stop trying to put words in His mouth - if He didn't say it, quit trying to make it seem like He did!
• You know what the worst thing about this is: some people probably took the teaching the wrong way as if Pastor was talking about them. Truth is, this teaching has absolutely nothing to do with where "we are" at Hyde Park - it is just good biblical teaching that needs to be applied to our lives. Hyde Park is one of the greatest churches I have ever seen in the area of not going extra-biblical on things. I am very thankful for the knowledgeable, Spirit-led leadership that we enjoy.
• New series began in the Kidz INC today, "Heroes of MegaCity". I thought that the set looked slammin!
• Today's music: How Great is Our God (Tomlin), Everlasting God, Overcome with This is My Story (New Life Church). In the last service we added "How He Loves" (Eddie Kirkland arrangement).
• I am already looking very forward to next Sunday! 
• Do you need to be baptized next Sunday?!? Have you been baptized SINCE you believed? If you need to be added to the list of those stepping out in believers baptism this coming Sunday let me know.
• We were personally talking with some new members of the choir this morning. We have some NEW THINGS coming up in the way of worship choir and are looking to add new members. If you are interested in singing in either the NEW 9am or the 10:30 choirs let me know: mikep@lovinglumberton.com
• By the way... band practice this week will be at 7pm - choir at 7:30.
• Also... new Christmas music iMix will be up this week.
• One more music note: Christmas "Night of Worship" will be on December 6th at 6pm.
• Everything we do at hyde park is about Jesus and the people He wants to use us to reach. It's ALL about people. Lord, forgive us for occasionally forgetting that.
• Bree brought us a piece of homemade pumpkin cheesecake this afternoon! Not only was it so good but it was supper. 
• oh... and yeah - she scored major cool-mama points with me by doing that! 

I love you all - may you have amazing weeks - may we serve Him in all that we do!

I was revisiting...

The other day I was revisiting some recent posts and wanted to remind you that it's "Because of You":

^{29 Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, 30 and Aaron told them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the people, 31 and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped. (Exodus 4:29-31 NIV)}

Have I mentioned lately how passionate I am about the mission that God has called us to?

How about the fact that there are tens of thousands of people within 10 miles of our front door who don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ but desperately need one. Have you been reminded lately that they feel a little guilty about the fact that they don't go to church, that they feel like they need to go to church BUT THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GET STARTED.

You see, most decided a while back that church just wasn't for them - although they felt that they should go they just didn't feel like they fit in - didn't seem to be the place for them. Most of them have never really been to a church like hyde park - "a different kind of church - a place that used music that wasn't real "churchy" and if you wore casual clothes you wouldn't feel as if you stepped into a formal party unaware that it was supposed to be formal.

Many of them feel that their kidz need to be in church and feel guilty for not doing so. They don't even know that hyde park cares so much for their kidz that we took the standard for engaging their kidz with the gospel of Jesus to the highest level we could. In the process we made church something that their kidz WANT to do instead of crying when they HAD to do it.

Most of them know that they aren't where they need to be with God. However, they think it's because they're not quite good enough... some of the things they are doing displease God and they figure they gotta get that taken care of before they come to church. They don't understand that they'll never get clean enough to come to God - they have yet to experience His grace. Most don't yet understand their need for a Savior.

Who are "they"? Your family members. Your neighbors. Your co-workers. Your waitresses and waiters. Your (you fill-in-the-blank). Most would love to experience a "different kind of church" and theydon't even realize that you go to one.

This is where the above scripture comes in. You probably don't see "this" in that scripture but I do. I see Aaron telling the people all that God has told Moses (v.30). That's like me sharing with you the vision for where we are going, what amazing things we are going to experience together as a church. Then we see Moses performing the miracles that God has given Him to do (v.30). That's you. You see, the miracle that you perform for those who are not living for Jesus is the miracle of a changed life. Not a religious life, "i go to church but it hasn't affected the rest of my life", life, but a "I've been going to hyde park and reading my bible and Jesus is rockin' my world" kind of life. It goes on to say that after the people saw these things that they believed (v.31). They believe in JESUS because of you and your testimony.

But you know what the best part is? (Verse 31b) "And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped". These people I've been talking about, they need to know that Jesus is concerned with them, that Jesus has seen their misery in their lives - they will only see that through you. When they do, I believe they will eventually bow their hearts and their lives and worship Jesus.

Isn't that what we're all about? We're in a period of our church's life where we can grasp the opportunity before us and acknowledge God's passion to reach this area or we can chicken out because of fear of the unknown... I think "they" are worth it!

UNCP is on FIRE!

Those of you who have been reading me for a while know my heart for the students at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Early in my ministry at Hyde Park it was Pastor Harrell who showed me the need for an on campus move of Jesus, as he said, "students come from all over to that campus 20 minutes from us... reach UNCP and you will touch the world!". Amen Pastor.

With that in mind, after many years of prayer we have been seeing some amazing things happen over the past 2 months through the Baptist Campus Ministry happening at the BSU House. They have witnessed many on campus salvations not to mention an influx of students on our campus. 

Sara Anastasio is the Baptist Campus Ministry Assistant Campus minster (not to mention a hyde park member and part of the Crossover Middle School Ministry Team). I wanted to share with you the email that I woke up to last Wednesday morning:  

Hey Mike,

   I just wanted to continue to make you aware of the goodness that is going on at pembroke.  Last nite, we had our BSU tuesday nite celebration at Berea Baptist and we held a Baptism service.  We have been preparing and praying that not only those that have chosen to follow Christ be baptized but also that lives will be saved during it.  We partnered with another church that majority is to reach college students that don't have a Baptismal pool to baptize in so between Resurrection Church and BSU we had 17 people signed up and ready to take that NEXT spirtual step in their walk with Christ.    Praise the Lord for 17 people (which all consisted of salvations, rededications, or haven't been baptized since they have believed).  We made an opportunity while the praise and worship songs for people to come and pray and if they wanted to accept Christ into their hearts, that they could come forward cause just cause we had finished baptizing 17 people didn't mean we couldn't hop back in the water and baptize another.  People came to pray and one of our guys from BSU named Nick Brooks went to the front and accepted Christ and got baptized.  His step of faith, became a ripple effect for 4 more students to step out on faith and decide to get baptized as well.  All of it was Praises to God for the work he was doing in and through our lives.  Lives were touched!

 

   Lives were touched that while we were gathering in the kitchen (putting out some food), Aleasha Wilkinson came up to me and was like Sara, I just felt that tug on my heart to get baptized and i would have gone up there if i wasn't all dressed up and I was like girl...i can find you some clothes to change into.  If you feel like you need to be baptized we can do it. She had told Mike Smith (who got baptized too during the service and even made a point to say he was supposed to get baptized in 2 weeks) and we prepared for another baptism.  Of course she didn't want to do it in front of a lot of people cause she has anxiety attacks but Aleasha got baptized tonite with a few people there but she had me be right up there with her so when are she came out of the water she came straight to me.  I was praising the Lord that I had invited her to come to BSU tonite since I hadn't really seen her much but have been praying for her a lot since this summer.   But, when we were leaving the church and going back to the BSU house we had called Carole and told her the awesome news and just the blessings that we saw poured out tonite and how so many lives were touched. 

   

    I know you are now thinking wow...22 people got baptized last nite...but God just continued to keep moving.... Mike Smith's roommate David Trower told him that he wanted to get baptized so the boys went to the pool at the apartments and baptized him and all of us just REJOICED in GOD's GOODNESS tonite.  God has been doing amazing things and I am so blessed to just be a part of it and be able to witness it.  God has been so Good and it makes me to think back to your question this past weekend.  You know we took that mite up to the alter this past weekend and you asked what's your next spiritual step?  Well for 23 people their's was to get baptized and to truly SEEK His Face and and continue to be strengthened in the Lord. 

I just wanted to rejoice with you in the awesome news and have be giving God all the Glory for all of the amazing things that are going on in the town of Pembroke for these college students.  Tonite, I was able to see people on council this year be baptized, girls from my Bible Study, and Aleasha get baptized.  God could not have blessed me more tonite.  God is soo good.  Just thought maybe this would encourage you today, that God is moving and lives are being changed and transformed this year!! 

In Christ,

Sara

God is at work - I'm so thankful to be able to witness it and know that the prayers sent that way have once again shown themselves as being fulfilled. The amazing thing to me is that I KNOW THAT Greater things are coming! God is doing some amazing things, you just have to know where (and how) to look.