WholeHeartedLife

How I got "here" - Part 2

I began sharing my journey with you yesterday because today is my anniversary with you, my family at hyde park. And being that I begin my 10th year today, I thought I'd share how I "really" got here... (if you missed yesterday, check it out 1st).

• March '97 - While I was at church, John David Coxe walked up to me and asked me if I wanted to go to this thing called Promise Keepers. He said a bunch of the guys from church were going and  thought I would like it. Honestly, the thought of going off with church guys was not that appealing to me at the time, but on the other hand, for the 1st time in my life I felt accepted at church because they invited me to do something besides sit in their pews.
• Late March '97 - this guy named Brian (everybody called him "dog" for obvious reasons) got saved. Big deal? This dude was a huge construction type tough guy - he would get high and beat people up for fun (seriously). When he got saved he was crying and snot was running all on his clothes... and i'm like, "you gotta be kidding me - that guy got saved?!?" It messed me up.
• April 13th, 1997 - after service, on a sunday morning, I was hanging out. Everyone was gone except Keyna, Madison, the pastor, his wife, and myself. I wanted to get saved but I wasn't gonna walk down in front of everybody. He obviously sensed it and asked me, "mike - if you died tonite do you think you'd go to heaven?". "i hope so" was my reply because I didn't know if i was saved or not as I had been praying that prayer every sunday for weeks and trying to turn my life over to God. He said, "would you like to know so?" and the rest is history. We all, including my baby girl got down on our knees as I invited Jesus in. No tears. No feeling. But I was serious. And God immediately began to grow me.
• June 6, '97 - i went to that "guys thing". One prayer on my way to meet them - "God, take away my addictions this weekend and make me who You want me to be". I threw a pack of cigarettes out the window and never bought or smoked another - i became free that weekend of my past. One thing that happened: on friday nite, as they gave the altar call, thousands walked down the isle and when I saw that, Jesus burned within me and I knew that "THIS" had something to do with the way I would spend the rest of my life. I came home a different man.
• the next 18 months were a whirlwind of me serving, singing, preaching, teaching, learning and growing. I knew within the 1st 6 months that I was called (or at least I thought that was what god was saying to me).
• Spring '99 - I was broken. Frustrated. Confused. I knew (or at least i thought i did - i was beginning to doubt myself) that God had told me that this would be my last year at McFadyen Music and by the fall I would be serving a church in the ministry. Nothing was happening. Nothing. Matter of fact, my former pastor had given my name to a guy who was looking for a music minister but even he had never called. His name was Hubert. Hubert did nothing with the number because he figured "if the guy was worth anything he would know about him - after all, he lives right here in Lumberton." That's funny.
• May '99 - my pastor calls me one morning and asks, "did that guy ever call you?". "No." i said. "I'm gonna call Dennis - I've known him a while, and tell him he needs to call you." "NO!!" i insisted, "I'M NOT INTERESTED IN GOING TO A CHURCH LIKE HYDE PARK!". I said that because I had been pretty hurt where I was at and figured hyde park was just the same. I wanted to go to a church that was like we are now. "I'm calling him!" he said as he hung up before I could protest.
• 10 minutes later he calls me back, "Dennis wants you to call him." "Man, I told you..." "just call the man! Love you - bye!" and he hung up. So I called Pastor Dennis.

we hit it off on the phone. He asked if the chairman of his committee could call me - I said sure. When he called me I was driving so I pulled off the road at I95 exit 49 so I could concentrate on this call. All of a sudden, my heart was already changing toward this church i knew nothing about...

We hit it off also. Oh yeah, by the way, the guy was hubert (you know, the guy that blew me off! We still joke about that one!).

2 days later a meeting. Awesome. 1 Month later - a meeting with those involved with music. 2 weeks later - a tearful goodbye to a church that I poured my heart into...

...and here we are. I'm a different man. I know it. And you're different too. I love hyde park - I love serving you and I love serving with you! The things that you and I have seen and experienced are tremendous and we've seen God bless in ways that many pastors see in a lifetime. You know, I believe we've only begun to see and experience the things that God has in store for us. Thank you for allowing me to serve you and sharing this journey with me. Here's to many, many more! I love you, my friends.

                                                                                                Mike P

How I got "here" - Part One

I was thinking a little earlier and realized that it's almost my anniversary. No, not that one (Keyna knows that I KNOW my "dates"). No, Friday is my anniversary with my family at hyde park. And being that tomorrow I will begin my 10th year here, I thought I'd share how I "really" got here...

• Somewhere around '86 - a friend of mine shared with me that he had a bad dream about me and that i needed to give my life to Jesus. I didn't care. Even though I didn't have ears to hear, I remember it and to the best of my recollection this was the first time anyone ever spoke to me about Jesus in an evangelistic way. That friend was Coval Long, Pastor of "Light of the Nations Church" here in L'town.
• Early 1989 - I began attending church with my future wife, Keyna. I didn't like church at all - I thought it was terrible from beginning to end, with the exception of one thing: the Pastor preached from the scriptures and for the first time I thought God was drawing me to myself.
• Summer '89 - I quit going to church. No one cared, no one called and it's not like they didn't recognize i wasn't there. Truth is, I didn't really like their church anymore than they liked this unrepentant sinner with long hair. Maybe they didn't feel this way, however, their silence towards me leaves me with this impression. Truth is, if someone would have loved on me I would have never left and the next 8 years wouldn't be the whirlwind of sin it became...
• Summer '95 - went to an Amway convention with my dad and they had an awesome worship service on Sunday morning. I was drawn and intrigued by JESUS. I, however, had not one committed, Christian in my life at the time so it was a waste.
• Fall '95 - this guy named Eric loved Jesus. He was a chain-smoking, tatooed, cussing, recovering alcoholic/coke addict who had 2 failed marriages. He found JESUS during treatment. He was raw but I had never, ever met anyone like him. His roughness around the edges had a lot to do with a lack of Christian mentorship, as he had gone to church after salvation and they didn't accept him. When he would talk about Jesus to me (and he did) my heart would burn within me. Had he only had "the conversation" with me, I would have been saved. I doubt that he knew that he was supposed to have "the conversation" as no one ever taught him how. (by the way, I want to spend the rest of my life helping the Eric's to come to Christ, be accepted and loved by the church, so they can affect the world the way that he did me).
• Winter '96 - Keyna and I attended a church here in L'town because some friends were going. We didn't really like it... I mean, Keyna really wanted to find a church to raise our unborn Madison in, but we just didn't really feel like it was the one. They did reach out to us through a SS class, but their outreach was quite frankly unwelcome and felt forced to me. It turned me off even more to them. My friend attending, by the way, wasn't commited himself, so no loss there...
• April 20th, '96 - Madison was born last night and after almost watching her die on the delivery table I recognized Jesus, vocally, for the 1st time in years. "Lord", i said, "I thank you for giving Madison life, for saving her, for Keyna being fine. I know that YOU did it, God! And I know that the proper response is to give you my life, to allow you to save me, but I'm just not ready!". What a fool I was. I really prayed almost that exact prayer - i'll never forget that moment.
• May '96 - January '97 - it's like God removed protection from me. "OK, mike p - I'll get your attention!". My father-in-law's terminal illness took an obvious turn for the worst, baby Madison fell on her head from the changing table (!!), a trip to Urgent Care for me, a death threat letter aimed at me and naming everyone in my family including my new baby, a busted back window on my work vehicle, and my mother-in-law had a major heart attack. By the end of this, Keyna said, "we need to get back in church!". My reply: ok.

Check back tomorrow for Part 2 - it's the part where "you" come in...

Update and This Weekend!

Just a quick update... Sorry so late!

This has been an interesting week for me. I've learned much in a lot of ways. Having never been to Las Vegas I really didn't know what to expect with the exceptions of the lights, the well-known establishments and the anything goes lives. What I have seen though is the fact that these are regular people, living in a not-so-regular place who struggle with the same stuff that you and I do at home: busyness, finances, kids and raising them right and all the other things we deal with 24/7.

I've seen a town that has people in a very confusing industry that really needs people reaching out to them and reaching them where they are. It's gonna take some grace-filled people to bring hope to a city that believes it's hope rests in the next big win...

I've seen a church that is so much bigger than us that ministers here. They do a marvelous job but the town needs a thousand more of them. They struggle with the same things that we do except on a much larger scale. The very things that we struggle with, currently and past, are things that they are dealing with. I got a lot of insight into the way that they are dealing with these issues.

I've noticed that no one speaks English here, which means that you could literally "reach the world" from here because if people radically receive Jesus here they can take Him home to their county. This could happen in our region.

A different kind of week. I've been surprised, caught of guard, challenged and homesick. I've laughed and gasped and seen some amazing things. I've prayed, read, loved, thought, planned and prepared... and now I'm about ready to worship with you this weekend...

A couple things to keep in mind about this weekend:

• Most adult classes will be learning to compose their personal story/testimony beginning Sunday. If your class is not, and this is something you know you need, you might consider going to another class for the next 3 weeks. Your leader will definitely understand because they love Jesus.
• There is a mission team service sunday nite at 6pm. Great time for "the family" to gather - don't miss it.
• I am pumped about preaching this weekend!
• Need a few friendly people willing to step up and help us by helping people find a seat at 9:51/11:11 services.
• JESUS IS ALIVE and He is changing lives one at a time!

Love ya'll - have a great, great day!

BSU Spring Conference

Mt. Airy. They say it's the "real" Mayberry. Andy, Barney, Otis (ya gotta love Otis!) and, WHAT'S THIS? Narrow Way Band?!?

Here's a SHOUT-OUT to all of my college peeps getting ready for Spring Conference!!!

I'm really looking forward to leading worship at the North Carolina Baptist College Ministry Spring Conference in Mt. Airy. Some of my friends at the UNCP BSU suggested that I be called as the worship leader for this event (and they fell for it ). Seriously though, this is gonna be an awesome weekend!

• i AM Humbled that they would choose me to lead them into the presence of JESUS.
• I love worshiping with college students! I believe that when we all get away, in a different location that God will do a special work around us.
• Looking forward to meeting college students from all over North Carolina!!!
• When I see college students I am reminded that God can use these people to TURN THEIR CAMPUSES UPSIDE DOWN! I want to see passion ignited among these students and God to do something so huge that they must give Him credit for what He does in their midst!
• I'm looking forward to hangin' with "the band" - these guys are so awesome! Something magical happens when we get together!
• Leadership Training - I'll be doing a worship leaders breakout session... May God raise up the next generation of worship leaders...
• Opportunity to meet Rick Howerton (and hopefully pick his brain! ) - If you know me, you know that one of my biggest challenges is building the Bible Fellowship Group Ministry at hp. I hope this guy will just pass some of that small group annointing to mike p!

The guys in the band are ready! We're gonna be rockin' in Mt. Airy!!! WholeHearted readers, pray that God will do a special work among us.

2008 Goals

Do you make New Year's Resolutions? Do you set personal goals (personal, spiritual, etc.) for what's ahead? There are some things that I am striving to do in '08. I hope that you have some too...here's what I'm serious about seeing in 2008:

Personal Goals

• Knowing God's will for my life and my ministry - My mind is so busy. I'm a hard-worker. I have a REALLY hard time to ever "turn-it-off". But in '08 I will take what developed in '07 with seeking JESUS to a deeper level. I plan to work in more times of quiet, times to discern and listen that i will be on the right kind of leader, pastor, friend, communicator, visionary, architect (you didn't know that i did that?), designer and every other thing I'm involved in. I want my understanding of scripture to be deeper - i want my walk to be closer.
• Growing as a Leader - I am constantly looking to be better at helping others to be better at what they do. I want to be an encourager, equipper and a bunch of other "e" words this year.
• Live more healthy, Keep my weight consistent. Not just work out for the weight portion but to strive to be a better steward with the one body God has blessed me with. I want to honor Him.
• To read at least 15 books. I read a lot - but, i've found nothing (outside of prayer) impacts me more than reading.
• To be a man of word AND deed - i am SO flawed and the thought of standing before people and speaking the Word of the Lord is so humbling (and fearful). I don't EVER want to lead people astray...i want to be a man that can speak with authority and power, a man who leads by example and doesn't have to be fearful because he doesn't "walk" what he talks. I desire to be righteous and upstanding and spiritually pure.

Family Goals:

• Being more thoughtful and creative as a husband - My most important human relationship is my marriage. Period. Why would I not want to do all i can to be creative and fresh here as i would in my ministry?
• Being a better Spiritual Leader as a dad - 'nuff said. No higher calling in my life than to develop fully-devoted followers of JESUS. I want my kidz to have their own relationship with JESUS.
• Have as much fun with my family as possible. I want to make great memories that last forever!
• To "turn it off" when I'm home so that I might actually BE there with them.

Hyde Park Goals:

• To stop being a micro-manager - I often feel the need to control the whole situation of areas I oversee. My goal is to allow people to find their own way of doing what they do.
• Developing Leaders in every area I oversee and handing their ministry off to them - i want them to fully function in a leadership role.
• See our Bible Fellowship Groups (BFG's) get healthy and reproduce - we will never go to the next level until we see Sunday morning attenders become a part of hyde park life. Worship Experiences are not enough.
• Make the Step Smaller - For some reason people obviously find it hard to move from the worship experience to GroupLife...We will experiment with ways to make this move less intimidating. Borrowing a quote from Troy Gramling (Lead Pastor, Flamingo Road Church), "we want to make a person's steps towards Christ as small as possible."
• To encourage excellence in all areas, all the time. Everytime that our doors open is someone's 1st visit to hyde park.
• To begin a video production ministry. Nothing impacts people more than the visual. Don't know where the money will come from, but if it's God's plan...
• Take the Weekly Production to the Next Level, Weekly - I've said in the past, the reason we don't do a lot of "special" things like singings, plays, and programs is because we try to do 52 "special" Sunday's per year. I think our Sunday's are good, but I want them to sizzle every week. There are many factors that must happen outside of me that must take place for this to happen but I am about doing my part and developing the teams to do this.
• Improve Communications at hyde park - Lack of communication creates a lack of connection. As we morph into numbers we aren't familiar with the parameters change and it's our job to find out what works in the ways of communication. We always want you to be "in the know."

Do you have any goals for 2008. What is your plan to make that happen?

Anniversary Thoughts

18 years ago Sunday, this kid who wanted to be a Rockstar married the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen... For some reason, this nice Christian girl saw something in that guy, what I'll never know. But on that day, he made a promise to her that changed his life - he promised to love her and to be with her until death. She was his foundation, his anchor keeping him from things that would ruin him BEFORE he knew JESUS... at times, she was like his conscience - he kept from making really stupid decisions because he considered the fact that the consequences involved more than just him. She prayed that he would receive JESUS - and one day, on April 13th, 1997, God answered her prayer - she knelt with him and prayed as he invited JESUS into his life and soul... Our life has been special, God has given us so much, may we take the time to savor and cherish it. You're a great wife and mom - you're my most special friend and I love you SO much.

Happy anniversary - Tomorrow nite it's just us!

Maybe Now...

...we can be about what we should be about as North Carolina Baptists: SOULS.

Ever since I've been a Christ follower I have noticed that Baptist "factions" seem to argue a lot: Churches disagree with churches, church members argue with one another and church political factions hardly ever see eye 2 eye. I personally get tired of the political posturing that happens among North Carolina Baptist (although I clearly side with those who believe in the inerrancy of scripture and are conservative in it's interpretation) but every once in a while things like what we experienced this week are obviously necessary. This week, at the NC Baptist State Convention we:

• Removed a church from our fellowship
• Got out of the "school business"
• Got out of the retirement home "business"
• Removed the WMU-NC from our state budget

From the look of things it seemed like a "bad" gathering... unfortunately, we brought none of it on ourselves - this is the place we find ourselves in.

I'm glad we're out of the school business - let's leave the education to the educators and be better teachers at home and in our lives to our kidz...

Let's leave the retirement home business to those who feel called to do that...

Let's let people who don't want accountability to the messengers and members of the NC Baptist State Convention live on their own without our monetary support.

(and by the way, here's the MAIN POINT) Let's finally be about what NC Baptist should be about - seeing the transformation of our state through the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit of God! You might be wondering what we're doing with the majority of the money that might have funded these other ministries?

"The bulk of the increase goes to church planting, which goes from $865,000 in 2007, to $1.3 million in 2008 to $1.43 million in 2009." (Steve DeVane - Biblical Recorder Managing Editor)

This is incredible - new works starting all over NC that God will use to transform their communities! Let's be about the business of souls... souls.... SOULS!!! New churches with New vision that will reach New people who aren't responding to church as usual. "God, pour Your presence out on NC in a fresh, white hot way! In Jesus' Name..."

All in all, this is a great day to be a NC baptist.

Awesome Conversations

I have had some really awesome conversations today!! There are a lot of people in NC who KNOW that the way to see unbelievable things happen for Christ is through the medium of church-planting! Why do so many actually think that things will change when they do things the same way they've always done it?

I had the priviledge of hanging with my 'boys', Randy Hand (former youth and education pastor @ hyde park - current pastor @ Tyson's Creek in Siler City) and my main man, Donnie Paschall. We've had a great time hanging and meeting and talking with people that we seldom see.

There was a sighting of some of the following guys (do you know any of these?): Bud Parrish, Jeff Isenhour, CJ Bordeaux, David McClellan, Jeff Broadwell, Brian Woodell (and Kristin), Manny Mintac... And so many more!

Forget the negative stuff you hear in the news - there are always 2 sides 2 every story - See you tomorrow!

The Challenge

Had the priviledge to hear Ed Stetzer speak today at the NC Baptist Pastor's Conference and as usual he brought it. As Ed spoke from 2Cor 5:16-21 he hammered home the concept that our job is to reconcile our culture and our community to JESUS!

My prayer is that NC Baptist churches would be the impetus for change in North Carolina... we have to stop being known for what we're against, what we should wear, listen to, sing and look like: MAY NC Baptist be known because we love JESUS and our lives have been changed by JESUS and because we want people to be changed (made new) by JESUS.

Did you get it? North Carolina Baptist should be known because our main objective is that people who are living far from JESUS would find JESUS. 'Nuff said.

You can hear the podcast of his message here

On another note, got to hang for a few minutes with my friend, Marty Dupree, Evangelism and Church Growth team leader for the North Carolina State Convention. Always cool to hang with Marty... he has some cool stuff that you can check out HERE. Also, you can check out 3 great messages by him on this page.

Do YOU recognize YOUR season?

I have to say that, in my life, God is always right on time. I think that most of us have a tendency to focus on things that are troubling us... distractions have a tendency to blind us - we lose the ability to see things as they truly are but instead focus on the distractions and miss what's really going on.

Monday I was focusing way too much on me and my desire to do God's will in my life. Then I found encouragement through...

• 3 great conversations
• a sick child (and yet another great conversation at the doctors office)
• a prayer from a trusted friend
• "unsought" encouragement from 2 great members, AND
• the priviledge to pray with a loved church member who needed God's assurance.

Yesterday, Steven Furtick posted on Seasons and made the following statement: "Those who don’t size up their seasons tend to resort to a schizophrenic, inconsistent, fear driven approach to life." This, on top of the things I just mentioned, reminded me that God is in the midst of doing some amazing stuff in my midst. Here's the original post . I don't often share others posts in entirety but here goes:

"God is teaching me to fully embrace and enjoy whatever season I’m currently in.
Even the seasons that are very painful are profitable, because in those seasons, God is plowing up the ground and planting seeds for a future harvest.
Oh, and just because you’re having some bad weather doesn’t mean the season is bad.

I think one of the highest forms of maturity is recognizing and respecting your spiritual seasons.  Those who learn this fine art move through life with an enviable sense of assurance and security.
Those who don’t size up their seasons tend to resort to a schizophrenic, inconsistent, fear driven approach to life.

I pray today that God would give you the awareness and ability to step into your current season with confidence and joy."

Today, in the midst of my situations God reminded me (mike p) of 3 things that He had already shared yet I am not trusting Him with, therefore I'm not following through. I was looking for MORE words, MORE ASSURANCE... they now aren't necessary, as now, I hear HIM loud and clear. (I can't share them - I feel as if they're for me)

"God, thank You for allowing us to be a part of Your plan to redeem those who are far from You - I, today, recognize the season that You have placed me in. Help me to keep my eyes on You - and thank You, for deeming me (for whatever reason) usable. In Jesus' Name..."