WholeHeartedLife

Re: post - The Bottom Line

I have never done a "re:post" before. I originally posted this on October 13th, 2006 - I read it the other night and thought, "Amazing how it sounds like I wrote it yesterday" - check it out:

the answer depends on what's important to you. Everyone has a bottom line. For example, if you were the CEO of a major corporation, the bottom line would be $$. If you were a doctor the bottom line would be your patients' wellness. For a teacher, the bottom line is his/her students learning your curriculum. For a student, the bottom line is grades.

What's the bottom line for you?

What would you guess the bottom line is for most churches? When I ask this question to Christians in round-a-bout ways I normally get the same answer, "We want to reach people for Jesus." That's a great answer; it's the "good-Christian" religious answer. I agree with the answer. The question we all need to ask ourselves is ARE WE REACHING PEOPLE FOR JESUS? Really. If just for a moment, let's be brutally honest: are we REALLY reaching people for Jesus?

I find that for the most of us we kinda transfer members back and forth and every once in a while "fall-into" a true convert - is this really what it's all about? The number of lost people seeking out churches is low because they don't care about church. Why? Because they don't love Jesus - their not supposed to; they're lost, remember? Are lost people, will their hang-ups and problems welcome in your church?

Sometimes I get discouraged about not reaching the people we need to be reaching - I so want to make a difference in my world for Christ. Is there anyone making a difference where they are? Consider the following:

I see a fellowship that meets in a nightclub in Los Angeles that sinners come to and are taught about the love of Christ and the need for one to repent of their sins and lives are being changed; lives that work in Hollywood, the movie industry which has such an influence on the culture of our whole society...

I see a fellowship that meets in Seattle, one of the most secularized, self-reliant places in America, celebrating their 10 year anniversary with over 5,000 younger people who don't yet have a permanent meeting place. They meet together and listen to their pastor preach, sometimes for an hour, about the need for them to repent of their sins and to rely on the grace of Jesus to change their lives...

I see a fellowship in SC, in a town similar in size to ours, have over 8,000 people in attendance 3 weeks ago for a regular Sunday Service. In this service the pastor preaches a salvation message about Jesus. Over 200 professions of faith were recorded. The next weekend over 400 entered the waters of New Testament, post-conversion baptism by immersion - going public and saying "i'm gonna live for Jesus!"

The 3 churches mentioned don't have a lot in common; they all have their own "style" in a completely different section of America. The one thing that they have in common is they are REACHING LOST PEOPLE. They don't do church the way most do church and for good reason - most of us do church similarly and get similar results. They have been willing to break the mold so they could reach sinners.

Sinners. Reaching sinners. Sinners coming into our clean churches - bringing their problems, their issues, messing up our programs and our plans. Sinners...

Jesus came to seek and to save sinners; those who were lost. Jesus came to reach sinners.

What are these churches seeing? 2 Words: Transformed Lives. You can argue with whether the way we do church is the "right way". You can argue about whether the church service should be for the saints or to reach sinners. You can argue about whether we should or should not take communion more often. Heck, you can even argue whether or not YOU believe in the Bible's truth (why would someone call themself a Christian and not believe the whole truth of the Bible? If I couldn't believe it all I would believe none of it) What you can't argue with is a Changed Life; a Transformed Life speaks for itself - no argument is necessary.

I want to see lives totally Transformed. I want to see sinners saved like I was. Sinners are welcome with Mike P.

What's the bottom line...

PEOPLE DESPERATELY NEED JESUS! What's your bottom line?

My bottom line remains the same - you?

How to "simply" live out change

In Sunday's message, "Simple Church", Pastor Harrell made some unbelievable parrallels between the church in Acts 15 and why we are structured the way that we are, SEE...

We seriously want to be the kind of church that reaches the people that aren't currently being reached. 

In a conversation with a leader the other day I poured out my heart about the challenge of reaching unreached people. It is so easy to get caught up in the exchanging of "church people" and to be excited when a new person comes to be a part of your fellowship from another church. Over the years we have had some really tremendous people come to us from other churches for one reason or another - i thank God for the leaders who have really plugged in and been difference makers. But growth from transfer membership IS NOT the mission of the church - it's not what it's all about.

Lives must be changed - people must be saved from their sin - humans who are far from God should be being reached by those who know JESUS - we do this by living out our mission daily.

So how can you live that out?

• You've gotta be a follower of JESUS. To be a follower doesn't just mean you attend church. If you're following it means your learning, you're growing, you're looking for and desire more of Him. You also need to be in community with other believers - a place where they can do life with you and pray for and encourage you. Where does that happen in your life? 
• You've gotta read your bible. You cannot get to know God without hearing from you. You not only learn who He is by reading the bible, you begin to get an understanding of how to recognize His voice.
• You've gotta pray. Prayer is the fuel that powers the Christian life, period. No prayer, No power. Don't pray structured prayer you've heard others pray, just talk to JESUS - express your heart, He wants to hear from you!
• Give it away. The more I do the above things, the more of Him I carry with me. The more of Him I have the more I want to give away to others. When I don't have enough JESUS in me I don't normally feel led to offer Him to others.

Remember, churches don't reach people - People reach people. I am not content with just doing church as usual - to be satisfied to "do church" week after week without seeing lives being changed. I wanna see change, I wanna be changed so that I might help others to receive the change that comes only from Him.

How 'bout you? What are you gonna do about it?

Notes from BSU Part Two (The Bridge Illustration)

Once you've shared your story, if the opportunity arises, you can share what it all means to them with this illustration - you can literally draw this on a napkin:

You tell them: We matter to God. He made us, and He wants to have a relationship with us.
(then add a "cliff" to your picture demonstrating us being separated from God...)

You say: We're all sinners, right? (Romans 3:23). Our sin separates us from God - it's like it creates a canyon between us and God that we can get across.
(then, adding to the picture you write the word "DEATH" at the bottom of the canyon, drawing arrows that point towards death...)

Saying: because of our sin, the bible teaches that we earn death (Romans 6:23) - that was not acceptable to God because He loves us so He decided to do something about it - He sent Jesus...
(you now draw a cross spanning the canyon and cross out death, saying...)

"When Jesus died on the cross, not only did he pay the price that earned us death, the cross is like a bridge between us and God - bridging the gap in a way only He could do!"
(Drawing 2 stick figures and an arrow showing us walking across to God, saying...)

"Jesus made a way that we could now be reunited, reconciled to God - He did it with the cross..."

Remember, we don't save - the power is God's and the results are totally up to Him. When you step out in faith to share this watch out... God WILL take over (at least He always has with me). Good sharing - I'm praying for ya!

The Most Unbelievable Story...

I just read a story (practically by accident) of a man named Kumar - He's from India, lives in DC...

God called him audibly one day on a bus to "seek Me"...

God has used this man in a way that can only be described as "exceedingly, abundantly more than we can even ask or imagine". You must read his story - it will make you question much.

*if you enjoy these posts, please subscribe to My RSS Feed

A Different Take, Part 3

This week our series has been called, "A Different Take" (if you haven't read them, here's Part 1 and 2)  The purpose of the series is looking at things through a different set of lenses. Let's face it - we're all a product of our environment/what we're used to - my challenge this week is to look at scripture, not through the eyes of your past, but with an open heart listening for God's leadership. In today's post, I want us to look at the church through the eyes of some who aren't afraid to be unpopular/controversial.

Perry Noble's post from Tuesday, "Stepping Back in Time" definitely gives a different take . In the post he said,

I heard Rick Warren say once, “People keep asking me am I all about taking the church forward–actually, I am about taking it backwards…BACK to the first 300 years of Christianity.” He went on to say that the churches desire should be to replicate one of the most EXPLOSIVE growth and influence that it’s ever seen.

Last Thursday the team that I serve with had an off site meeting where I asked the question, “What is it about the first three hundred years of the church that made it so powerful?” Here is a list of some of the things we came up with.

On Monday, I linked to this post by Gary Lamb because it rocked me. The Church that Gary pastors, "Revolution Church" is reaching those that everybody says they wanna reach but don't realize what it takes or how messy it is. If you didn't catch this one Monday - DO IT NOW! Don't miss out on the opportunity to think through this...After you read it, come back and talk about it here (if you dare )

A couple more and we're out...

Steven Furtick, pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte has a great post that makes the point, "The Strategy is not Sacred"

Craig Groeschel, pastor of LifeChurch.tv has a great series called the future of the church - this is Part 2 of that 5 part series.

All of these will give you "A Different Take" as you end your week on a WholeHearted note

Different Take Part 2 - Think for Yourself!!

So much of what people believe is formulated by listening to others - too few people actually think deeply for themselves, looking into God's Word. Have you ever read and thought about this scripture:

3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Tim 4:3-4 (NIV)

Most people who don't know any better assume that this passage speaks about "modern" ministries - ministries that don't do things the way that they've always done (like ours)

WHAT IF... The sound doctrine that "men" won't put up with today was actually the message/vision WE preach today? WHAT IF... the ministries that do different things - the ministries that are willing to become "all things to all people that we might save some..." (1 Corinthians 9:22) we actually the ones in accordance with God's Word?

To this conversation I bring a different take...

What if v.3 referred to people just wanting to hear "good ol' Gospel preaching!" - no real challenge to THEM personally because they are already saved? I've noticed that I can preach a hard "turn or burn" message to "Christians" and they will preach me to death (amen - hallelujah - you tell it, preacher!)... but let me bring a message of the churches need for repentance and they literally don't want to hear it.

Verse 4 says, "they will turn away from truth and to myths...". What if the myth is that we shouldn't change our churches because they will become "worldly"? What if the myth is that new music doesn't honor God but that He (God/Jesus) likes the "Good ol' hymns of the Faith"? What if the myth is that a suit (or some form of dress clothes) are what is considered acceptable before God? (ask a member of our mission team what people in Senegal, West Africa, wear to church - do you think they are acceptable before God?)

Verse 2 is my guage: "Preach the Word. Be prepared in and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction." When I do this I am in compliance with His command - no matter what anyone else thinks.

Update from our Missionaries - Part 2

Here's more contact from our team that left last Tuesday on mission to Senegal, West Africa. They We're teaming with International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries there - Here's more of the contact that we've had with them:

Pastor Harrell - January 26th

Good morning Hyde Park family. It is 11:00am here in senegal and we have already made plans for the day. Today we will have visits from some men to do a Bible story, the ladies will visit in homes to cook and eat with the local ladies. A boys soocker team will come at two. We have shirts and shorts to give them. they will play a game for us at the local field. There is continuous activity in and out of the house. it has become the gathering place for many in the community. continue to pray that we can break through with the men. We have three of our guys out fishing today. When a man makes a commitment to Christ it often means he looses everything, from his famnily to his job. But we must make inroads with them or the work her will not move forward effectively. Tomorrow Mike will start a series on miracles. miracles have already happened here. God is at work opening doors that have been closed for centuries. People are coming to hear Gods word where they would show no interest before. Pray for our missionaries, the Johnsons, and pray for the future teams that will come.

Pastor Harrell - January 27th

Hello again Hyde Park. I have a great praise report. We baptized our first two believers today, a husband and a wife. We pray this will open the door for many more who have shown interest to step forward. Pray for this young couple, they are not sure of the response they will get from their family and community. They could become outcasts. It has been an exciting time. I am looking forward to seeing you this coming sunday. Our whole crew is pumped. They can't wait to tell you about their experiences. I know you had some great services today and God showed up. I pray their were miracles that happened. It's almost 10pm and I'm ready for bed. I'll post again in before I leave. Keep praying for doors of opportunity to open.

Carole - January 27th

Hey Church especially my "faves"...in student ministry. Just wanted you all to know we are doing well. Vickie is feeling much better and things are happening here that are unbelievable. It seems so out of place to see people living under these conditions yet talking on a cell phone. I don't have a signal or I would text (probably cost $100.00)but know that I love you and miss you all so much. Keep praying and we will see you soon.

Charles Babson - January 27th

I was beginning to wonder if anyone did love us. We are so far from home and need to hear more encouragement from all of you. Thank you Phillip and Angelia. I love you guys and did miss Mike's message and our class time. Thomas and Linda you keep everyone pumped up. Has anyone seen our boys? Burney if you read this please get Tiffany to post a message for Daniel. Tell him we need to know how both Grandmas are doing.

Can anyone imagine getting baptisted and not knowing what would happen to you, your wife, or three small children? We witnessed this couple doing just that today. This is one of the greatest things to take place in this Region in years and we saw it with our own eyes. Some may not think this is important but for a Christian to be Baptised plus his or her .companion is beyond words. Guys this a Moslum Country we are talking about, they are very hard core and do not want anyone to intrude into their control. Jesus is here and he is letting us walk with these people, go into their homes, talk with them, eat with them. I hope you can tell I'm fired up along with the rest of the team. This experience is showing me how lazy I am in trying to spread the gospel. We want everyone of you to keep praying for us, the team but most of all the lost people in this world no matter where they are. Love all of you.

Vickey Woodard - January 28th

Hey you guys. I just wanted to say hello and that God is really working here in our lives and in the lives of the people in Senegal. We are having a great time serving. That's what our relationship with God is all about serving, not in our comfort zone but where He can use us. I have just returned from visiting a home that is a hut with cardboard walls for the inside and still took my shoes off before enter their home. I help wash clothes with them and hung them out. They are a loving people that God loves and they are very appreciative of what little they have. Folk's you just cannot begin to imagine how blessed we are and you have no reason to complain...Start being thankful and alot less critical. We sometimes say things with our mouths but our hearts are far away but rest assured God will reward us for the things we do. I will strive from this day forward to be more about God's work rather than my own. Wake up Church!!! and Let's Go Home.... Love and Prayers

Update from our Mission Team in Africa...

We have a team that left Tuesday on mission to Senegal, West Africa. They are on an exploratory trip to see how we might team with International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries involved in work progressing in that region. Here's the contact that we've had with them:

January 23rd
Hey Church Family! Just wanted to let you all know we have arrived safely in Senegal and completed our first day of ministry and are exhausted. Please keep us in your paryers and all those we are trying to reach. The language barrier is extremely difficult so our first prayer priority is that we will understand them and they will understand us. Our second is that hearts would be open to hear God's word and lives would be changed. This is the first time I have heard the muslim prayer time over a loud speaker 5 times a day. God is at work here and I hope you all will pray about being involved personally in this minstry. Thanks to you all and much love. Carole, Lewis, Vickie, Charles, Ellen and Pastor Dennis.

P.S. Pray for VIckie. She fell today and hurt her foot. Thanks

Carole.

January 24th

Hi Family. Just wanted to tell you what is happening in Sengal. Today the Talibe` boys (small boys who are given to the local serene (sp.?) to beg for a living, then their donations are taken and given to the leader and usually helps him to live a pretty good life. They are expected to collect so much per day and are typically beaten if they dont. We bandaged wounds and gave them the clothes many of you donated. (please continue to save small shorts and shirts for our next trip) You should have seen the smiles on their faces. Each of you should pray about your involvement, whether to come yourself, support someone financially to come, to give and/or to pray! Love to you all and thanks for your continued prayers.
Wendy, I havent' met Tim and Kate (Horton - Missionaries in Senegal) but David and Cheryl know them and we may get the opportunity sometime this week. If I do I will certainly tell them hello from you.

Carole

January 25

Hello everyone, Things are moving along well here in senegal. The people we are working with are great. The great challenge before us is to reach some of the heads of the home. Where the father goes he takes the whole family including married son's and daughters if they are living in the same house. The opportunities are great and the people are somewhat open but helping them take the final step of a full commitment to Christ is very difficullt. Pray for the work here by our team and future teams that will come.

Pastor Harrell

January 25

Everyone I just wanted to let you know KEEP PRAYING. I've seen and heard so much in the few hours we have been here. Pray for all of the Kids. I have pictures that can't show you what it's like. The people are so beautiful and very loving. I don't feel any danger at all. The food is beyond I ever imagine (it is great). If anyone sees my beautiful boys give them a hug and kiss if you like. We miss them so much. I want everyone to start praying for God to use YOU. Get ready Church (that's you)we will be coming back with so much energy. I love each one of you.

Charles Babson

Trunk-A-Treat!

Tonite we party!!

October 31st at hyde park is a "magical" night - honestly. For the past 5 years we have attempted to make what the world knows as "halloween night" the BIGGEST bridge we build to our community all year long. It's pretty simple stuff - line up a bunch of cars with trunks open, fill up their bowls with endless candy, register the attenders (so we can contact them for special events at a later date), put together some cool (if not cheesy) games - hey, the kidz like them!!! and the people just come...

We don't advertise it other than a little in house and mention it on the front sign but they stream in.

The reason the Fall Fest is so cool is bunches of people visit our campus in a non-threatening way, experiencing a night of fun and entertainment and hopefully having such a great time that they think, "you know, IF i was looking for a church for my family, i believe that i would try hyde park!" I love this because i believe deep down in my soul that this day WILL come and they WILL come back... and on this day we will present the Gospel and at some point this person WILL surrender to JESUS to become the Forgiver of their sin and the Leader of their life.

And that, my friend, is what it's all about!

I want to hear from all of you - what are you doing tonite?

On another note: concerning yesterday's post about the grouplink challenge, were you one of those who want to "plug in" to a new group but just haven't yet? This is your chance! Do it - you know you wanna!

Excited About...

The great thing about writing WholeHearted Life is that I normally have some time between the time that I write and the time that it actually posts to you. Let me explain...

I had a whole other post for today - but honestly, I wrote it when I was kinda "down" - I don't know if it was "trip lag" or just some good ol' fashioned spiritual warfare (or maybe a combination of both) but Monday was not your normal Monday. I went home at lunch literally wishing that I didn't have so much to do that I might not return until Tuesday. But...

I'm not "down" anymore. Like I said, I'm just glad I didn't post what I had written because it just isn't where I want to lead from - GOD IS GOOD AND ALWAYS PROVIDES. So I decided to end my short pity party and return to the world of "FaithWalking" - I shut down my bad attitude and decided to bring to you what you really wanna hear: what on my radar gets me "up"?

• Life Development Plan - We are beginning a new series on July 8th that is designed to help us all to develop a plan to actually live out being devoted followers of Christ. You know, "everyone ends up somewhere but very few end up somewhere on purpose." (read that again until you actually "get it"). Do You have goals? Spiritual goals? Do you actually have a plan to make them become reality? Well here's some reality for you - if you don't have a plan to make them happen they won't because these things don't happen by accident. Do NOT plan to miss any of these life-changing messages (and invite that friend who needs a redirection in their life.)
• Shipwrecked - We had a ball in the Coliseum Sunday - you've gotta see this program. It's fun - the message is great - filled with scripture - a great way to help your kidz grow spiritually this summer.
• Summer of Service - Our projects are making a difference in the lives of real people. Do you know someone who needs some help with something? If so, contact Eddie D - we will evaluate if we can be of assistance during this summer.
• The Fall - I love summer but I love it when summer ends (and vacations end!) and we get back into "the groove". We have some awesome stuff just around the corner at hyde park. The series that we have planned over the next 3 to 4 months will be challenging and transforming. I CAN'T WAIT!
• Pastor's Demeanor - Without disclosing what he said, on Monday afternoon Pastor Dennis fired me up! His persistence, vision and determination to win this city is as bright as it has ever been! I believe that God spoke to Him the other day and you could see (and hear) it all over him! "We're gonna win this region for JESUS!"

As you can see, there is much to be excited about - sometimes you just gotta "change your gaze" meaning, if you don't watch out you can focus on the wrong things. You ready?

Here's some pics from the set of Shipwrecked. Tomorrow I will give you a compilation of the highlights of my trip with some pics. See you tonite!