Great Quotes for a Great Weekend...

Happy Fourth of July people! :>) This is a great weekend. I hope you enjoy with family and/or friends. As you do, here are some powerful quotes as you celebrate:

Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics."

- George Washington's Farewell Address to Nation

"America was established not to create wealth but to realize a vision, to realize an ideal - to discover and maintain liberty among men."

-Woodrow Wilson

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not but religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

- Patrick Henry

"We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel."

- Benjamin Franklin (From the debates at the Constitutional Convention, June of 1787)

"I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"

- French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

- 2 Chronicles 7:14

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

- Proverbs 14:34

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people... it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other..."

- John Quincy Adams

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

- George Washington

"The choice before us is plain: Christ or chaos, conviction or compromise, discipline or disintegration. I am rather tired of hearing about our rights and privileges as American citizens. The time is come - it is now - when we ought to hear about the duties and responsibilities of our citizenship. America's future depends upon her accepting and demonstrating God's government."

- Peter Marshall

"Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought."

- Pope John Paul II

"Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."

- John Adams

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

- Edmund Burke

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

- Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of Liberty."

- President John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Friday, January 20, 1961

"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility I welcome it."

- John F. Kennedy

"Freedom is the last, best hope of earth."

- Abraham Lincoln

"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.'"

- Martin Luther King, Jr. (From his "I Have a Dream speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963)

"Patriotism is not so much protecting the land of our fathers as preserving the land of our children."

- Jose Ortega Y Gasset

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."

- Thomas Paine

"I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."

- Patrick Henry

"The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself."

- Benjamin Franklin

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

- 1 Timothy 2:1-4

"In reading over the Constitutions of all fifty of our states, I discovered something which some of you may not know: there is in all fifty, without exception, an appeal or a prayer to the Almighty God of the universe. Through all fifty state Constitutions, without exception, there runs this same appeal and reference to God who is the Creator of our liberties and the preserver of our freedoms."

- D. James Kennedy

"History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster."

- General Douglas MacArthur

"I speak as a man of the world to men of the world; and I say to you, search the Scriptures! The Bible is the book of all others, to be read at all ages, and in all conditions of human life; not to be read once or twice or thrice through, and then laid aside, but to be read in small portions of one of two chapters every day, and never to be intermitted, unless by some overruling necessity."

- John Quincy Adams

Here are a couple of random facts you might also like and hopefully find educational/edifying:

• "My County, Tis of Thee" was written by a Baptist minister, Samuel Francis Smith.
  
  
• "The Pledge of Allegience" was written in 1892 by a Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy.
  
  
• The words "In God We Trust" are traced to the efforts of Rev. W.R. Watkinson.
  
  
• Rev. John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Almighty God, thank you for this great land. We are so grateful. Bless us, Lord God, that we might be a blessing to those on this land and those afar. Send forth revival and stir the hearts of politicians, pastors, civil leaders, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, that together we might lift high the name of Jesus. Bring forth your peace and power that the world might look to the church to light the way of justice and salvation. We pray in the matchless name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, amen.

Pastoral and Staff Team Off-site Retreat

Our team tries to get away every quarter or so to study, pray, focus on the season ahead, and strategically plan for the future. Our next off-site retreat is tomorrow! I love this team and always enjoy getting away with them. Tomorrow, we will meet at my house at 9 am and work until 5 pm. We would love to have you pray for us. Here is agenda and outline for the day:

Ministry Center Team Retreat
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
9 am – 5 pm

1. Morning Devotional

2. Game – Whoonu

3. The High Impact of Large Churches!

4. Calendar Planning

5. Operations

6. Lunch from Mediterranean Deli

7. University Vibe Discipleship Classes

8. Calendar Planning and Missional Initiatives

9. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (Part IV – Traction)

10. Surprise Excursion – 2:15 pm


1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…11It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4)

Sunday Night Download... (Two days late)

Here are a few thoughts from Sunday's worship experience...

• We concluded our Juicy Fruit series in the book of Galatians. I thoroughly enjoyed studying this book and remembering the importance of solid doctrine and the pure Gospel of Jesus! Paul is not playing and I love that...
  
• The energy level was incredible. It absolutely fires the leadership of this church up when you come ready and passionate about worshiping our great God!
• The new lights on the stage made all the difference. Here's a shout out to Clark Pro Media for coming in from Atlanta to fix the original light job. Thanks guys for standing by your work.
• I am absolutely blown away each and every week by the number of first time guests. The most popular way in which people are hearing about/coming to newhope is through friendships. Nothing grows God's Church more effectively than building authentic and redemptive relationships with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members and then inviting them to a kick'in church where children and students and adults are presented the Gospel! Way to go, newhope, and thanks be to God for sending laborers into the harvest field! (Matthew 9:38)
• Speaking of family members, my mother was in church with me this past Sunday. After hearing my testimony a few months ago, I know this shocks many of you. It is too complex to cover here but in short we have been rebuilding our relationship. Late Sunday night, I spent several hours talking to my mother one on one and God flung open the doors for me to lead her in a prayer of salvation. My mom actually bowed her heart and head and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of her life in our family room!!!! (I never use that many exclamation points but this warrants it :-)) I am in awe of God's goodness and grace. Actually, I have been somewhat speechless on earth as the angels are partying in heaven! (Luke 15)
• I really liked the song combination the Worship Arts Ministry did on Sunday after the message and during Holy Communion. "Cling to the Cross," coupled with "Amazing Grace" and the sacrament of Holy Communion created sacred space.
  
• Ed Seacrest is an outstanding camera operator. He is the roamer on stage and does a superb job on Sunday mornings. Well done and thanks for serving, Ed.
• Here's a shout out to the city of Durham for allowing us a second driveway. The second exit point seemed extremely functional and helpful and alleviating traffic jams and creating traffic flow.
• It never gets old seeing God's people come to faith in Jesus Christ! NEVER...
• I am already looking forward to Dependence Day at newhope this weekend and the Baptism Party on the Patio at 4 PM! Looks like we are going to have another huge group of believers getting baptized - that never gets old either!
• I'm also looking forward to the One Prayer series in July!
• The truth is, I'm looking forward to a lot of things!
  
• The best is yet to come - peace and much love...
  

Juicy Fruit - Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control

And Michael too...

Yesterday might go down in my record book as the day my teen idols died. Who would have ever thought Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett would die on the same day? Strange...and worth some reflection.

I can still remember the parachute pants, Thriller and the videos, and singing those songs endlessly. Here are a few early morning thoughts as I reflect on these two deaths yesterday:

• I must be getting old for teenage idols to be dying. Though they both died young, time is passing by, friends, at mach 5 speed. Slow down and enjoy your days. Grab those closest to you and express and share love.
  
• The more I live the more I hate cancer. I know hate is a strong word, but dang, this disease is a killer.
  
• People really need the Lord.
  
• Death is no respecter of time.
  
• As time went on, Michael became more and more strange but that never changed the fact that the boy could sing and dance like no other.
  
• Farrah was a fighter but cancer had the last word. I hope she knew Jesus so that the Gospel actually had the last word. (I Corinthians 15)
• God is good.
• Life is short.
• Farrah's death will be practically lost amid the death of Michael Jackson. In that respect, popularity and fame win the day!
  
• Wouldn't it be great if we found a cure for cancer?
  
• Isn't it great that God has provided a cure for sin and death - His name is Jesus!

I better go - I have to finish a message for Sunday. We conclude the Juicy Fruit series and celebrate Holy Communion together. Peace and much love...

Farrah's Fight Against Cancer...

OK - I have a confession to make - my very first crush was with a poster in my bedroom of Farrah Fawcett. Many of you guys out there know exactly what poster to which I am referring. I was probably ten years of age and infatuated with this gorgeous blond woman. As such, I grew up watching many episodes of Charlie's Angels. Unfortunately, cancer took her life today.

I have been following Farrah's fight against cancer for the last few months. When I was traveling a a month or so ago I watched a Larry King special in my hotel room of her battle and how she has been recording this battle for the world to see the horrendous and awful effects of cancer. It has been a horrific fight to say the least. Some of the scenes were too painful for me to watch. She fought hard but as of today, the disease has claimed her life.

I am saddened by her death. (She was only 62) The more I live the more I hate cancer. Here is a link if you want to read more.

Lord God, none of truly understand cancer. It has claimed so many lives of those we know and love and those we do not. Lord God, bless the science and medical field and grant us wisdom and a cure. We pray this in the name of the One who holds the keys to life and death, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. (Revelation 1:18)

Father's Day and the Blessing of Dads