WholeHeartedLife

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.

Sunday Nite (and Trunk-A-Treat)

Today was a marvelous day at hyde park...

...Last week = No Band, No iServe team, No multi-media, No lights (well, special lighting - we didn't worship in the dark) - if you don't know what that was all about you need to check this out. Today everyone was back (PRAISE JESUS!) and it was "ON"!!! Here's what's in my mind on this Sunday Nite:

• Can you believe that today is November 1st?
• Pastor's Message, his 4th in his "Be Free" series was excellent as he tackled some pretty theological stuff in the easy-to-understand way that has become his trademark. I am SO THANKFUL for a man who understands that high on his list of priorities is helping people actually understand God's word that they might apply it to their lives.
• Remember: You are God's child by GRACE ALONE through FAITH ALONE in CHRIST ALONE.
• I love me some "fall-back" Sunday's! Can I order an extra hour of sleep for next week as well.
• SO EXCITED to see the iServe team back in full-force this morning! I LOVE those smiling faces who demonstrate what it means to "make Sunday the Best Day of the week". Our iServe team understands the passion behind that statement.
• I wonder what the church in general (big "C") would be like if all those who call Jesus "Lord" would take on the attitude of servant rather than spectator to the Christian life?
• I was so ready to lead worship this morning! I took a day Thursday for the purpose of prayer, refocus and quiet... it worked!
• Found myself a little distracted during the 10:30 service - by what, you ask? CHRISTMAS! I was thinking about the amazing series we are planning for Christmas and the outreach opportunity that will go with it - God might blow the doors off this place!!!!
• By the way, it was Pastor's fault I was distracted: he was the one who mentioned Christmas being 8 weeks away.
• We opened with the Gospel, pure and simple: You lived, You died, You said in 3 days You would rise, You did - Your alive - You rule, You reign, You said You're coming back again, I know You will and all the earth will sing Your praises!
• DANG!!! Christmas is 8 weeks away?!?!?
• That previous statement is SO TRUE: some will sing madly, some gladly but I believe ALL will declare Him Lord (once again, because HE said it to be true!!)
• Only one thing can make the 10:30 service any better: the people who attend 10:30 take ownership of the service and begin utilizing the service as a tool, inviting their friends, family, neighbors and work associates and begin seeing them SAVED. That's the only thing that would make 10:30 better.
• In other words, 10:30 is generally pretty amazing. 
• Wondering how many took advantage of the half-off specialty drinks in the ROC Cafe' this morning? If you haven't tried it the Chocolate Espresso is my favorite!
• Today's Music: All the Earth Will Sing (Paul Baloche), O Praise Him w/Doxology (Crowder / Cottrell arrangement), God of the City (Tomlin / Passion). Powerful stuff.
• By the way, last night's Trunk-A-Treat/Fall Festival was so successful. I'm continuously blown-away by what happens every October 31st - by far the biggest community event we do each year. This year I intentionally did NO OUTSIDE ADVERTISEMENT (we didn't even put it on the marquee sign out front) - I wanted to see if it would matter; it didn't.  We registered 2,000 people - no telling how many more got by us without registering. We will utilize that information over the next 2 months to reach out to our community.
• I drove the "hyde park railroad" for an hour and forty-five minutes... literally ran it until the tires started going flat!!!
• Lots of fun - we couldn't have done it without the hundred plus people who served - without YOU there is no fall festival. THANKS TO YOU ALL!
• Oh... and thank You Jesus for holding off the rain on Saturday night and Sunday morning. It threatened rain all morning - we had none. That was a prayer of mine today.
• I had all intentions to say this at the close of both services (and forgot) so I'll say it now: I know that for many of you who attend hyde park the music is a BIG PART of your worship experience - we are currently receiving new choir members - Anyone who is interested in being part of the worship choir at either 9am or 10:30am services please join us this Wednesday Nite at 8pm in the auditorium. Look forward to meeting some new friends and adding some members. (And pass it on to your friends as well).

I close by saying that it was so good to see so many filled with the love of Jesus... some laughing, some crying. People catching up with someone they haven't seen lately, people meeting for the 1st time. Hyde Park is a special place - if you missed the joy it's because YOU missed it...

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

... maybe you have your eyes "fixed" on the wrong thing. My love to you all.

The Week of November 1, 09

Establishment or Outcast

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The  Pharisee stood up and prayed about^[a] himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:9-14 NIV)

One was establishment, one was outcast; one was welcomed in the temple, one was scorned; one thought he was living out righteousness, one was aware that he was in need of God's righteousness (Romans 3:10). It's real easy to be like one, and takes complete honesty to be like the other (and determining which one is easy and which one is hard doesn't make sense by worldly reasoning). Don't let your heart fool you, most of us line up with one of these guys or the other.

Which one are you? 

Sunday Nite (on a Monday Afternoon)

Yesterday had to be the MOST uncomfortable day that I have ever experienced at Hyde Park. The decisions that were made, however, also showed to have an amazing payoff that I believe brought glory to our Lord Jesus. 

If you don't know what I'm talking about, I am referencing "What Happens When..." Sunday which took place yesterday. For one day we asked the question "What Happens When": 

• When the church doesn't function like the church
• When people don't use their spiritual gifts to serve the body
• When new believers don't follow through with believer's baptism
• When attenders don't become members
• When disciples don't live out a lifestyle of repentance

We demonstrated the idea of how important it is for all of us to take our next spiritual step, whatever it may be, by not doing all the things that we normally do and that we often take for granted: we had no band, no worship team, no choir - just a guitarist and worship leader. There was no audio/visual assistance from the screen, no computer graphics, no sermon notes. We took it back to the year 2000 and had the lyrics to the songs printed inside of the bulletin. There was no iServe team working in Guest Services, parking cars, greeting and making Sunday the best day of the week. And most tragically, there was NO ROC CAFE' (oh NO!!!!! )which meant there was a shortage of caffeine in the house not to mention a shortage of patience for those who love them some coffee...

To say the vibe was weird is an understatement. When I share with you that a tension filled the air I'm being kind. I have never felt more challenged and transparent than I did yesterday and I know that it's not because we were missing all the "bells and whistles" that we utilize. I believe that the strangeness I was feeling were the questions of the congregation wondering to themselves (and some to one another), "why are we doing church like this?"

The absence of our teams highlighted to our congregation HOW MUCH BETTER WE ARE WHEN WE TOGETHER LEVERAGE OUR TALENTS for God's glory and it reminded us how much we appreciate those who give; it reminded us of how blessed we are with the sweetest people in the land; it illustrated how many people it takes to pull off what we do every weekend; The service showed us how much better an environment we create when we allow God to use us to our fullest.

Don't get me wrong - we had a great service: the music was amazing (Brandon and Steven flat-out brought it with a great acoustic set - very proud of them) - we had MUCH movement at the invitation as people brought their "MITE" to God asking Him to make it mighty - people took next steps to join ministries, join the church, surrendered their lives and people gave their lives to Christ. All in all, a great day!

I close by sharing that I poured myself out through that message because I wanted you to see my heart as I shared with you that we want you to be part of the story of Hyde Park. I know though that it wasn't my message that stirred your hearts, rather...

THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVED AMONG US, GIVING US THROUGH THE ABSENCE OF ALL THAT IS FAMILIAR A GREATER APPRECIATION FOR WHAT HAPPENS AT HYDE PARK WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT. Thanks to all of you who pour your lives out for Jesus every Sunday through serving at Hyde Park.

With that in mind - get out the instruments, the iServe team and get ready because this weekend is going to be an explosive weekend of worship (and yes... the ROC CAFE' will definitely be open for all your caffeinated needs ).

Video Blog: October 22nd

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What Are "THEY" Saying?

One of the pleasures that I receive in ministry (most of the time ) is seeing what the people who visit hyde park are saying about their experience. 

When a person or family drops in on us one of the things we do in follow up is send a self-addressed, stamped postcard that ask a few questions:

1. I came to Hyde Park because:
2. This is what I like best:
3. Here are my suggestions:
4. Sex and age-range

I wanted to share the last few that we received with you (each number represents the same card)...

I came to Hyde Park because: 

1. Looking for a church and knew some of our members
2. to see what you had to offer - we like what we experienced
3. a friend
4. we heard that it offered contemporary worship which I enjoy
5. of the pastor's friendship over the years and wanted to hear him and was very impressed.

This is what I like best:

1. the laid back but friendly atmosphere and the music
2. teaching, music, atmosphere, hospitality and enthusiasm of the people
3. I like a friendly atmosphere which this community exhibits
4. the worship music and the friendly family atmosphere
5. the music, teaching and friendliness of the people

Here are my suggestions:

1. none
2. none
3. for newcomers, a welcome committee for such events as fun as well as employments (? )
4. to shorten the service a little bit. It's quite lengthy. (once again, )
5. none

Sex and Age

1. Female / 30-40 years old
2. Female / 60+
3. Male / 50-60
4. Female / 18-30
5. Male / 60+

Here's what I see from the loose data:

• 4 of the 5 mentioned the atmosphere. They are obviously referencing the environment that we create each Sunday morning - the look, the servants, the service itself, the lights - you name it, it's all atmosphere. (Either that or they are referring to the mass of air surrounding the Earth; "there was great heat as the comet entered the atmosphere" )
• All 5 mentioned the friendliness or the hospitality of Hyde Park's people. The people ARE the church.
• 4 of the 5 mentioned the music (word.)
• 4 of the 5 came because they were invited.
• 3 of the 5 were over 50. So much for the thought that what we're doing only appeals to young people.

The cards I've mentioned here are not "carefully selected" - they were the last 5 cards we've received. We've always gotten favorable responses on this card (1 time a person said our friendliness was overwhelming - I told our volunteers that I'll lose them for that reason ANYTIME!). Sometimes it's easy to look at the glass the wrong way - it looks like half of the water's gone when in reality we have a half-glass full of refreshing water to offer.

I wanted to share with you what "THEY" were saying - you know, the people that God has placed us here to reach.

Sunday Nite

Have I mentioned lately how much I love the opportunity to worship Jesus with the people at Hyde Park Church? Today was just a good day...

• Good worship today as we continued Pastor's series from the book of Galatians, "Be Free".
• In today's message we spent the majority of the time talking about Abram (Gen 15) and reminded of what faith REALLY looks like.
• God is Good!
• It was almost cold this morning... but it was so beautiful!!! 
• Did you see the sunrise today? WOW!
• Our prayer this morning as we entered the 9am service: Lord, may Your glory be reflected off of us as people enter in... help them to see you, not us, as we lift our praise (and voices) to You.
• God definitely answered our prayers.
• "It is well, it is well, through the storm I am held - It is well, it is well with my soul - It is well, it is well, God has won, Christ prevailed, It is well, it is well with my soul".
• We hosted a Red Cross blood drive this morning. I am always so proud to see our people step up to give the gift of life.
• The 10:30 service is so alive and seems to get better by the week!
• Music today: It is Well (Todd Fields arrangement), My Savior Lives (New Life Church), In Christ Alone (hyde park worship arrangement), Came to My Rescue (Hillsong).
• I had some amazing conversations at church this morning. I LOVE meeting new people and getting to know others better. Just a great spirit for meeting people today.
• Did you check out the "This Week at Church" video this week? If not, check it here
• Perry Noble (NewSpring Church) just said on his blog: "We saw 187 people come to Christ today…WOW…that PUMPS ME UP!!" This was on a day that he WAS NOT there... God is rockin' Anderson, SC. 

Tonite we had a great nite:

• Brandon said that Crossover was rockin' with 47 students! Crossover has been so consistent with their numbers this year! I'm glad to have a rockin' middle school ministry that my child loves being part of.
• I also love hearing Madison enthusiastically tell me about Brandon's message and illustrations.
• We had a bunch of kidz up in the Coliseum for the 1st nite of Kidz Choir for this fall. Looks like we're gonna have a great kidz choir this Christmas. Really excited to see what they bring come December.
• We had a called business meeting where we voted to sell the parsonage to Pastor Harrell. I definitely appreciated the words that Garry Evans (our Deacon Chairman) shared about our desire to be a blessing to the Pastor who has served us for 25 years. I also appreciated Hubert Waddell's (chair - building and grounds) explanation as to why we don't need a parsonage anymore and the disadvantage it is to a Pastor to have to live in one.
• While I'm appreciating: I appreciated the caffeine that Hubert poured into me before, during and after the meeting. 

Hope you have an amazing week with Jesus - read the Word, pray, tell others about Him - let's see this region turned upside down for His glory!