WholeHeartedLife

"it" - Part One

I finished reading the book, "it: How Churches and Leaders Can Get it and Keep it" by Craig Groeschel, a couple of months ago.

"it" bothered me.

"it" is hard to describe to others. "it" is indescribable. Kind of like the true essence of God, though we try our best to describe it, also is indescribable.

Craig says, "many people misinterpret it. Someone might visit a growing church and observe outward signs of success - videos, buildings, fancy kids' room and so on. These well meaning guests mistakenly think, if we had all that stuff, we'd have it too. They couldn't be more wrong."  

"it" is not the stuff that we have - the tangible things that we touch. I have experienced this first hand here at hyde park. We built a great childrens building but didn't necessarily have all the right systems in place to make it function correctly. Even today we are continually working on our systems to help ministries function better. "it" isn't the tools that we use - the stuff that we think we need. How many times has someone said to me, "well, if we were in a big church like ya'll we could do that too..." as if we have it all together and assuming that there wasn't a price to pay to get to the point we are at.

I believe that the biggest problem with it is me. Isn't it funny how we convince ourselves of all that is wrong with our churches and our people when the truth is the thing that is wrong is US. We're the problem. Where am I with God? Where is my relationship? How is my prayer life? Am I having issues with others when my biggest problem is my heart, my spirit and, well... me.

Craig goes on to answer the question of what "it" is:

"The best explanation I can give you is this: it is what God does through a rare combination of these qualities found in His people:

• Passion for His presence
• A deep craving to reach the lost
• Sincere integrity
• Spirit-filled faith
• Down-to-earth humility
• Brokenness

Without these Christlike qualities, no matter how good things look today, no ministry or leader can sustain it with their own talent".

I am going to explore this week as to whether or not I have "it". I hope that you will ask yourself the same honest questions.

Do you want it?

Sunday Nite

So many emotions and thoughts running through my mind as I write this... We had a great day today at hyde park. The stuff I'm thinking about tell me that I just discovered my topic for this weeks WholeHearted. Here's Sunday Nite...

• I thought that Pastor's message this morning was really strong - if you're struggling HE WAS SPEAKING TO YOU! His message, "When Times are Tough" asked the question, "What do you do when you have done right and everything seems to go wrong"?
• One of his points was "don't let bitterness get a foot hold" and used Hebrews 12:14-15 and I made a note on part of that verse, "the key to having peace with others is to be holy and v. 14 says, 'without holiness no one will see the Lord'". DANG!
• Enjoyed being on worship team this morning while Steven did an excellent job leading. In the last service the weightiness of "Let Me Sing" hit me: Let me sing LOUDER than creation to You (does my worship even chart with the glorious worship that YOU receive, Lord?) For the pain You bore in Your body (YOU took it on YOU for me... knowing that I would be the way that i am) to bring my soul to You (i can't believe that YOU even cared to bring me to you even though i rejected YOU).
• I looked at Bree before she sang, "You Said" (one of my all-time favorite worship songs, by the way ) and asked, "You got your holy ghost on"?
• I can't believe that we will be doing Christmas music in less than 3 weeks!!
• Some of you were asking about my message, "I Got This One!" - it's online here

Went to a portion of the Crossover Middle School Service tonite and it was unbelievably great!

• Heard the Crossover band do "Everything Glorious" by David Crowder tonite and was BLOWN AWAY! Really, really great - Justin was rockin' the vocal - the whole band was terrific tonite!
• Asked Madison tonite when she got in the car about Brandon's message and she said, "he was great tonite - He sounded like you up there, daddy!". Poor Brandon... she meant it as the ultimate compliment
• Before I left Crossover I had one of our members come out and share their testimony about tithing with me. The person said that times had been really tough lately and after hearing Pastor's message ("A Manager for God") about trusting God with their finances and then reading my testimony about tithing they decided to tithe on their money - the scary thing was it was all that they had left until the 20th. They gave it because they decided they were gonna trust God. Without giving away the story (because I hope the person will share it themself) God showed Himself strong on their behalf. You can't outgive God. He challenges us to "test Him in this"... I dare ya!

In closing - Emergency Food Drive: You have given over 500 lbs of food so far hyde park!!! Way to Go! But we ain't done... keep giving until it hurts cause there are some people who do hurt and need your help. And last, Operation Christmas Child boxes are due this Wednesday - let's do this thing and be the blessing God has called us to be.

I love serving with you!

Is Lumberton a Dying City?

So, after all the talk about this past Sunday's message, "I Got This One!" I will close with this question AND statement:

What about Lumberton, IS it a dying city?

The economic indicators say it is; Forbes magazine says it is; Here's what I think...

I think that hyde park can play a huge role in the future expansion and success of our city. I think that hyde park is important to Lumberton because it is filled with the people who will make Lumberton a success. When I look at hyde park and think about our future as a congregation I see...

• a church of influence - a church that is so powerful that it can't be ignored, a church whose presence in our community is so encompassing that buildings can't contain its influence.
• I see a church that has worship that is so passionate that it "touches heaven while it changes earth". I see a church whose worship is so life-changing that it influences churches throughout our region in such a way that it changes the landscape of church music and helps to reach an unreached generation.
• I look at hyde park and I see a a church that is filled with repentant sinners (that's you and I) responding to Jesus' call to salvation. I see a church that is SO dependent upon the movement of the holy spirit and has a message that is so clear that people HAVE to surrender their hearts to Him!

What will this do for our city? I believe that as people surrender their hearts and their treasure, their lives, their families (and even their bank accounts - Matt 6:19-21) to the Lord He will begin to bless their jobs, their businesses and their families. Yes, I believe that God can use you to make your neighborhood better, your workplace better, your whole life better because JESUS WILL BE AT THE CENTER OF EVERY BIT OF YOUR LIFE and everyone will know it and they will want it too. Your situation may seem hopeless but God says, "I got this one!", he can handle this... WILL... YOU... LET... HIM?

What Do You Do When Failure is Unavoidable?

God handled Hezekiah's situation but the thing we gotta discover is the way that Hezekiah handled it: He didn't.

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD : "O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. (2 Kings 19:14-16 NIV)

Hezekiah literally gave it to God - took the letter and spread it out before Him. His process was described in Sunday's message: 

1. Humbly Seek God (2 Kings 19:1)
2. Guidance from Scripture (2 Kings 19:2,3)
3. Secure a prayer warrior (19:4b)
4. Don't let your guard down (19:10)
5. Do it all over again (19:14,15)

I think that if we'd be honest for just a moment most people say they trust in God but they live as if He doesn't exist.

Can God fix our city? Yes. Will God fix our city? I honestly don't know. Will we quit living as if God doesn't exist?

Can God do for us what He did for Hezekiah? Of course He can, God can do anything! Will God do for us what He did for Hezekiah? I don't know - are we willing to do what Hezekiah did?

Check with me tomorrow for the last part of this as we discuss whether we think that Lumberton is a dying city.

A Rant About Hezekiah and True Holiness

Sunday morning I introduced hyde park to King Hezekiah and we looked at the way that he "rebelled" against the ways of the previous kings (including his father, King Ahaz). One of the coolest things though that Hezekiah did is found in 2Kings 18:4

 4 He (Hezekiah) removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called ^[b] Nehushtan. ^[c] )

The thing that I thought was so interesting about this was the fact that Israel had worshiped the Lord incorrectly for so long that for the most part they felt that the worship that they did was TO God. For example, Hezekiah's dad, Ahaz, actually built a pagan altar in the temple. IN THE TEMPLE!!!! And they did pagan sacrafices in God's temple. Unbelievable, isn't it?!?

The people for centuries had worshiped in the high places... taken part in the sex and religion Asherah worship... so when this King Hezekiah comes in, destroying their high places and making changes to the way that "they worshiped" it wasn't popular.

"He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.". Do you think that's as crazy as I do?? I thought about this and honestly, even today Christians take up some of the siliest practices:

• Like going through the motions of singing the same song for a "call to worship". If they don't sing that song worship can't begin...
• or having to have a choir special right before the message...
• or having to sing a certain song EVERY SINGLE TIME that the offering is returned to the front of building by the ushers. It's ok to praise God from Whom all blessings flow, but can we not figure out a new song to do that by?
• or having to follow the same worship order week in or week out
• or having to wear a certain kind of clothes as being the acceptable clothing for church (even though the clothing that most believe is acceptable was not even invented when the New Testament was written). Sorry, Paul didn't wear a suit or a tie.

We christians have a tendency to make a big deal of traditions - sometimes to the point of making them "holy" (like the Judites were doing by burning incense to that snake). Example: I know churches that you go into that you can't move the "sacred desk" (the pulpit) as if it's "holy". It's a piece of wood - it's furniture - it's not a holy article. Sorry.

I think that the thing that we can learn from this is that we need to keep JESUS at the very center of our worship - Him and him only. Let's let our man-traditions be just that, traditions and not allow them to become religious dogma that eventually drags us down a road that leads away from the heart of true worship.

I am so thankful to live and serve and worship among a people who seem to have understood and applied these principals to their worship. Hyde Park rocks!

Sunday Nite

"Thank You, Lord, for meeting with us today at hyde park! Thank You for showing up, showing out and showing off... thank You for being so obviously present and sharing Your presence with Your people. Thank You for giving me the priviledge of speaking into people's lives - I pray that we have all drawn closer to You as a result."

This was an amazing, yet challenging day at hyde park. Sunday Nite - can't wait to hit my bed, but before I do...

• I got out of bed around 4:30am this morning. After laying there for a long time praying and thinking about the day and the message (probably for around an hour) - i finally said to myself, "what are you waiting for? You might as well get up...". I'm glad I did.
• I felt like God was gonna do something special today. He did. Countless people shared with me how the message spoke directly into their lives and their situations.
• I felt like God was going to bring people into our services who don't normally come or hadn't been in a while. Once again, He did. Before the start of the 8.21 service I was already amazed about the people who were visiting with us at such an early time.
• A lot of tension in the room at times during my message. For those of you who are wondering, that IS NOT a bad thing. I believe that God often uses tension and discomfort to drive His point deep within our heart.
• People met JESUS this morning! I had the priviledge of talking with and praying with a few of them. That never gets old, ya know?
• Rhonda and the band did a tremendous, powerful job this morning with music.
• I hope that you will actually read the 2 chapters I summarized yourself. I could literally do a whole series from 2Kings 18-20.
• I never thought I would actually preach about eating crap and drinking urine!
• Here's the link to the 2 chapters - read it - I DARE YOU!
• My head hurts. My heart is full.
• In the last part of my message I was talking about the part of the pattern that you, "Seek out a prayer warrior". Sara, a leader from our Crossover middle School team, was sitting with my Madison. Sara said that when I said, "you need to seek out a prayer warrior - someone who you KNOW walks with Jesus", Madison leaned over to her and said, "that's my dad - my dad's my prayer warrior".
• That previous statement says it all for me.

I close by saying that I wish I had something prolific to say. Instead, let me say that I am so thankful to serve at hp - God is Good. Let me also say that I believe everything I closed with this morning about the future of our church AND our city. Do you?

Since My Tweets are getting Lost in Cyber-space!

It seems that my twitter text (sms) feed is not working correctly and a few of you are wondering "what's up?" - i have done multiple tweets... sorry they aren't making it to the web (or your phones) - here's what's up:

• ate breakfast with my family and @rwtaylor2 at waffle house - (think donkey, "in the morning, I'm making WAFFLES!") - if you don't have kidz that made NO sense.
• @hubertw - i next went to the UNCP vs North Greenville University Game - Final Score UNCP 21 - NGU 7. UNCP finishes the season 9-1!!!!
• @breeharris - don't send out the smoke signals to me - I know where twitter is. However, "it" can't seem to find me!
• gonna break bread with some friends this evening before my final run-through for tomorrow's message
• An old friend of mine who loves me SO sent me an email and prayed for me yesterday and it was so obvious that he was having a holy Ghost spell as he typed the words. He prayed for me - he prayed for you - he prayed that tomorrow would be "the day".
• Everytime i walk in there I believe that "this" could be the day, the day that everything changes, that people have ears to hear and receptive hearts. Wonder what would happen if hundreds join me? I bet our worship would touch heaven AND change earth!

I CANNOT WAIT FOR TOMORROW'S WORSHIP SERVICES! TOMORROW'S MESSAGE IS BURNING WITHIN ME! "Father, You alone know what we need... prepare our hearts for You... YOU are our King - may we acknowledge You as such. Take away all of our excuses and hinderances and usher us into Your true revival of heart and spirit, In the Name of JESUS.

Sun Shinin' Challenges and Treet Meat!

Finally! For the 1st time this week the L'town sun is shining in my window as I pray, read, blog and prepare... and it feels SO good! This has been a gloomy week as far as the weather goes. Matthew said to me on Wednesday, "Dad - it has been the same day everyday this week!". Well, Matt, it's friday and the sun's shining - here's what's on your dad's mind this morning:

• I am BEYOND excited about Sunday's services at hyde park. This weekend's message has challenged me as much as anything that i've experienced in a while. God totally showed up in my preparation time (He is always on-time - that is a story in itself!) and so this morning, I'm enjoying His sun (and His Son ) thinking about what we'll experience this weekend.
• When I walked into the worship center Wednesday nite during the band/singer rehearsal I was blown away... they were in the midst of one of the most powerful, passionate worship songs ever and I found myself immediately just feeling the desire to stop what I was doing, lift my hands and acknowledge the Living God, the Great God of heaven, Our Savior! Best part is that i'll be in the midst of that 3 times this Sunday. I love hyde park worship - "thank You, Jesus, for giving me the opportunity to serve at this great fellowship".
• I am excited to see how hyde park steps it up in our EMERGENCY FOOD DRIVE. We have the trailer in place and I know that you, the most outward focused group of believers that I've ever had the priviledge of working with, are getting ready to represent! You can see a list of needed items here. And yeah... bring on the Treet Meat!

Some would say Psyched, Others Psycho...

I just gotta say that I am BEYOND being psyched today! So much exciting stuff happening! What am I so psyched about?

• about the music at this weekends services at hyde park. The worship this weekend will be served up in a powerful way - my request would be that you come into the place with a thankful heart ready to meet with Jesus.
• about next week's baptist state convention - Most people don't enjoy convention (I myself don't like the political side of things though it is necessary). But for me it is an opportunity to get away and worship - to be ministered to rather than "be" the minister. I'll also get to meet with some of my buds that I only see when I'm at something like this.
• I'm also looking forward to hearing what our new president of the SBC, Johnny Hunt, has to say about the condition of our convention and the fact that we are losing MY GENERATION of pastors. I read this week that he told the Executive Committee of the SBC about the problem, "Some would say the younger generation is our problem. I'll say this: if they're our problem, we don't have a future. I say they are our future.". Amen! 
• By the way... did you miss my testimony yesterday? I wanna hear your story.
• about my message this weekend, "I Got This One!"!!! Have you ever been faced with something that is just so big; so impossible that there was no way that you could see a favorable solution - matter of fact, the best looking option appears to be quit or give up? In Sunday's message we will see that God is never caught off guard by our circumstances, no matter how impossible they may seem. 

I'm psyched to serve with you at hyde park - I can't believe I get to do this everyday!  And yes... I KNOW I'm crazy.

One Last thing about the election...

This post by JD Greear (Summit Church) is very powerful - I appreciate his insight and wisdom. I hope you'll read it. You know, I said it in Monday's post - My Savior is not elected by man but actually believed in and loved me so much that He died for me - unbelievable. Let's be the church and show the world what true change is all about - change doesn't begin in Washington and Government, it begins in one's heart.

Check out JD's post here 

1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV)