WholeHeartedLife

Yeah, I wanna be "THAT Church"!

8 years ago i sat in Pastor Harrell's office along with Randy Hand, a former Youth and Education minister at hyde park. The conversation was in reference to our reading of the book, "The Purpose Driven Church" (which Pastor threw in my hand before I actually started and stated, "anyone on staff at hyde park MUST read this book).

In hindsight, I wonder if he ever regrets throwing that book in my hand? (i'm sure he doesn't - he was being the great leader that he is).

Our conversation was about our culture in Robeson County - what "kind" of church would/could work here. We were told by others that contemporary church wouldn't work in the rural south (which to me is funny because it's the kind of church that we are today!).  This was where the vision that God had for hyde park was being discerned - to be a different kind of church. You see, we weren't satisfied to just grow because people from other churches might come if we seemed alive.

I don't remember who said it (i really think that it was Randy) but the comment was made, "there are 68 Southern Baptist Churches in Robeson County and almost every one of them are basically the same... why can't WE be the church that is different enough to reach the people that those churches will probably NEVER reach?"

I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT STATEMENT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

When things get tough sometimes and i wonder if I've made a right decision, that statement comes back...
When I hear that someone doesn't like a certain element in our worship service, that statement comes back...
When I feel a tension building over a controversial decision, that statement comes back...
When I wonder if we're really doing the right things to reach a people virtually unreached, that statement comes back...

Everytime that I share the gospel with someone and they respond by praying to receive Christ I remember that "THIS" is why we do things differently - we want to reach different people.

In Tuesday's post, I told a story about a family in the process of being reached because what we do got the attention of the father. In the response comments, as people began sharing their own stories of people they themselves are trying to reach, Laurie made a great comment, "we are 'THAT' church!" That church that many far from God say, "if i was going to go to church" or "When i finally get to church hyde park is where i would go." I want to be "THAT CHURCH"!

"That" church that reaches out to "Those" People and uses "That" Music to draw people to worship our amazing God - Yep, that's WHO we are. If there is a downside it's this: sometimes to be "That Church" that brings the power of JESUS to the people that He came for (Matthew 18:11) we have to be willing to be "That Church" - the one that people talk disapprovingly of because it's outside of their comfort zone.

QUESTION: Are you willing to look beyond the disapproval of others to reach those that most won't?

What are we actually FOR?

I've been kicking this question around a lot today: Does the world actually know what we are FOR or do they only know us for what we're against?

Don't get me wrong, there are things that we are (and should be) against - it just seems that the only time they really hear from "the church" in general is when we're mad or standing up for something.

WHAT ARE WE FOR?

We're for people's lives being transformed by the power of God - FOR people being delivered from junk that holds them down - FOR families being reunited and put back together - FOR husbands and wives being reconciled by the power of Christ - FOR helping young ladies who've messed up find that there is forgiveness and love in JESUS - FOR people being freed from the bondage of drug, alcohol and sex addiction! We're FOR all that and many other things that speak life to people's situations.

THE WORLD NEEDS TO KNOW THIS - THEY NEED TO EXPERIENCE THIS! It is time for those who talk the talk to walk the walk. We must not cross to the other side (see this)

Urban Legends Continues

Our Series Urban Legends Continues this Sunday with the message, "More than You can Handle".

In the spirit of dispelling Urban Legends, we've finally uncovered the truth about the "parachute umbrella".

This Can Be Tough

Standing before you to open (and hopefully in some way) unlock the truth of God's Word to you is the greatest honor I have in ministry; it's also the hardest task that I do.

• It's Not because I lack stuff to say; if you know me you know that I am very seldom at a lack for words. (most of the time i say too much).
• It's Not because I don't enjoy this part of my ministry (on the contrary, I believe it is the thing I most love to do).
• It's not even because I don't have the priviledge of doing it on a weekly basis - I so respect Pastor Dennis and those who have to stay fresh week after week.

I believe the thing that gets me is my desire to not waste your time - you have given/entrusted Hyde Park with a portion of your week (I know, you come to worship JESUS - but you choose to do it @ HP) and I want you to hear from HIM.

Not my opinions - HIM. Not a memorable message - HIM. Not a mind blowing illustration - HIM.

Now will we try to make the message memorable? Of course. (we want you "in" the whole time, captivated by the power of God to change). Will we try to use an illustration to make it come to life? Absolutely, because we want the collective "hmmm, wow. You know, I've never quite understood or realized that before. Thank You, Lord - I surrender to Your will." And of course, you will always hear the opinions of the person delivering a message - may they never run contrary to the Word of God.

The hardest part is remembering (and practicing) the fact that IT ISN'T ME! This isn't my ballgame, it's HIS! He's the One doing the teaching, He's the One doing the convicting, He's the One with the power to transform a life - i am nothing more than a vessel through which He flows...

This weekend's message, "live like You are dying", is a message about LIFE not death. Erwin McManus says it best when he states that life is an adventure. "We are all haunted with the fear of living lives of insignificance, and we all hear the voice that tells us we can live the dream...By defininition an adventure is 'an undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature.' In other words, it comes at great risk and significant cost. And life as God intends for you to live it is nothing less than an adventure." If you choose to play it safe you are settling for less than the life than God created you to live out.

What about you today, are you living out your adventure, your dream? Have you settled for less? Does what you do to support your family somehow carry out God's plan for your life? Did you answer that last question "YES" but right now there's a knot forming in the pit of your stomach because you know that you're lying to yourself? To Be Continued Sunday...

To Make Me Think

8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
      But the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8

Ok, so this is where I'm at...

I want to be reminded what is really important and what isn't. I want to cherish every moment with those that I love. I want to bless those who need a touch, I want to pray with those who need a prayer. I want to be patient with my kids; I want to listen to my wife. I want to live life to the fullest!

I want to live for JESUS - passionately! I want people to see His life in me - I want people to want Him because they see Him in me (and through me). I want my life to count in the places it should count - not the stuff that doesn't matter. Not recognition; LEGACY.

Life is so precious; we can't purchase anymore time. You began reading this approximately a minute ago - you will never get it back, it's gone. FOREVER.

So here's the question: If you found out that you had one year to live how would it change you? What about spiritually? Seriously.