SOUPer Bowl Sunday

newhopers, join us this Sunday as we have our own version of SOUPer Bowl Sunday. If possible, bring as many cans of soup to church as you possibly can THIS SUNDAY and we will pray over these cans and deliver them to the Durham Rescue Mission to bless, encourage, and shine the light of Christ to those in need throughout central North Carolina. This is a great opportunity to serve as the hands and feet of Christ!

C U Sunday...

BTW - I am picking the Steelers to WIN THEIR 6TH SUPER BOWL!

Let Us Pray...

Have you prayed more this week? How about for new governmental leaders? How about for our nation? Israel and Palestine? How about newhope?

Earlier this week I posted Rick Warren's beginning prayer at the inauguration and thought it was only right to comment on and post some of Reverend Lowry's, who had the distinct honor of giving the benediction. It was, without a doubt, the longest benediction I have ever heard. :-)

After Obama's speech, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, a civil rights icon and a pastor known to speak his mind to power, opened his benediction with the first words of the "Negro National Anthem," Lift Every Voice and Sing,

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears ...

Lowery implored God to help Americans make "choices on the side of love, not hate, on the side of inclusion not exclusion, tolerance not intolerance."

Interestingly enough, he took some biblical liberty and updated the famous passages from Isaiah, suggesting humanity "beat tanks into tractors." He called for a time, quoting Micah 4:4, when every man shall sit beneath his vine and fig tree and live in peace and unafraid, Amos 5:24, "Let justice roll down like waters."

Lowery also brought a smile to the president with a recitation he's used before, asking God to

... help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right."

He concluded, "Let all who do justice and love mercy say amen and say amen."

Rick Warren's Prayer...

It was only last Tuesday that we inaugurated President Barak Obama. It seems much longer than one week. I have reflected a lot these days on the prayer of Rick Warren. In fact, I was asked just yesterday by two pastor friends what I thought about it.

First of all, let me say I was proud of Rick's willingness to name Jesus! As I watched with my family, I just kept saying, "Claim the name of Jesus, Rick..." He did and in this pluralistic politically correct culture, that is powerful. In doing so, I believe Rick demonstrated grace and inclusiveness, while holding to the exclusive nature of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Rick Warren is a brother in Christ. I think he is becoming America's Pastor in a number of ways. I am not suggesting he is a Billy Graham but there is no doubt God is granting him favor and influence throughout the world.

I want to encourage us to follow Rick's example and pray. QUESTION - have you prayed for:

* President Barack Obama and family
* Vice-President Joe Biden and family
* All the newly elected political officials and their families

In case you missed it, or you would like to read it, check it out below. if you want to watch it, you can see it here. Pastor Rick, thanks for your prayers and leadership.

Rick Warren's Prayer

Almighty God, our Father:

Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.

It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.

History is your story.

The Scripture tells us, “Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African-American president of the United States.

We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new president, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity.

Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.

Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans—united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.

When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you—forgive us.

When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone—forgive us.

When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve—forgive us.

And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.

May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.

And may we never forget that one day, all nations--and all people--will stand accountable before you.

We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, 'Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.


NOTE: I might reflect some later this week on Rev. Lowry's benediction/prayer at the end of the inauguration service. It was something to behold, as well.

A Very Cool Link...

This is very cool stuff for the King of Kings...

Please check it out here when you get a chance.

Peace and much love...

Imagine celebrating of 7 years of newhope. You don't want to miss it!

Imagine a 1200 person heated tent on our land!



Imagine the UNC Gospel Choir raising the roof of that tent in worship!

Imagine God showing up and moving BIG time among us!



Imagine touring every area of our new church home!



Imagine the best is yet to come! C U Sunday at 9:15 am. Please arrive early!

Some Days are Just Better Than Others...

Today was destined to be special. For reasons I can't explain, I love snow days!

* I love how it gives the landscape a fresh start. Yesterday's trash pile is suddenly turned into a beautiful mound to the glory of God.

* I love the way is sounds when you walk through the snow or talk to another. The blanket of snow changes even the outside acoustics and everything sounds richer and more intense.



* I love that in the south, EVERYTHING shuts down. If you are new here - don't resist it. Just chalk it up as God's way of saying, "Slow Down."

* I love how it brings out the kid in all of us.



* I love the memories it conjures up as I recall those rare but wonderful school days being canceled and playing outside with my family and friends from sun up until sun down.

* I love how it makes our team and others slow down and enjoy family and cuddle up with the Word or those you love.

* I love how fast it usually melts in the south. :-)

* I LOVE SNOW!


This Picture was taken this morning - first snow on this building!

Sunday Afternoon Download...

~ I have never felt God's presence like I felt it today in all three worship celebrations.

~ Something incredibly supernatural just happened, on a whole "nutha" level. I am NOT tired like usual on Sunday afternoons. Can't explain it so I will stop trying.

~ The racial diversity in this church fires me up. Keep bringing it God - we want to fully represent you before people and Your throne in heaven.

~ 55 days and counting before our move to the Southpoint campus.

~ I just have to say John White has some of the best stage presence as any vocalist I have ever seen before - ever!

~ I am praying my heart out for President Elect Barak and Michelle Obama and those two precious girls. Father God please protect and anoint and bless this man for the job ahead. May the enormity of the task thrust him to his knees before your Son Jesus Christ!

~ By far the best and most moving Worship we have ever experienced on Dr. Martin Luther King weekend. The same Spirit that permeated his ministry was among us today, calling and challenging us to keep The Dream alive



~ I lost it in the second Worship Celebration today. The emotions were raw and the tears just started rolling. That was strange and so rare for me.

~ Christine Eason is the bomb when it comes to solo features. She owned that song with musical skill, lyric memorization, and worship. You go girl - the baby inside you must be loving worship at newhope.

~ Please pray for me and the pastors/staff of this church. The best is yet to come but the decisions facing us are HUGE.

~ I wish I could fall asleep and wake up tomorrow for Vision Day VII at the Southpoint post. :-) Don't forget - no worship at Garrett and ONE WORSHIP CELEBRATION NEXT SUNDAY AT 9:15 AM. Please arrive at 9 am - building tours following Worship.

~ The technicians at newhope just keep getting better and better. Way to go James, Troy, and Angela.

~ No less than 5 African American families said to me today, in one way or another, "We are praying for you/thank you/be warned because you will take some hits for that message." So be it. You can listen here.



~ I am so thankful my kids will grow up in a different kind of America.

~ I love having John Dodson back around.

~ I am seriously craving a gallon of Ben and Jerry's Phish Food ice cream. :-)

~ Please pray for our church.

~ Football - football - football. I am picking Arizona and the Steelers in the Super Bowl. I am hoping the Steelers will take another Super Bowl title home. BTW - remember to bring cans of non-perishable food items to church on Sunday, February 1st for our version of SOUPer Bowl Sunday. All cans of food will go to the Durham Rescue Mission!

~ Spiritual warfare is upon us. Changes are coming. Some will be good and some will be unfortunate.

~ There was a lot of weeping at church today. I think God says a lot to us when we cry. Pay close attention to your tears.

~ I can't believe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. died at the age of 39 years young. No one should die that young for embodying God's vision for peace and non-violence.

~ Lots of Duke Divinity school students attending newhope these days.

~ I would love ONE big snow this winter. I would then LOVE for it all to melt two days later. How is that for a southeast winter request? :-)

~ Pastor Curtis Mulder just gets better and better as a Worship Arts Pastor.

~ I wish I could be in Washington Tuesday at noon to watch history unfold.

~ The UNC Gospel Choir will lead us in Worship next Sunday at Southpoint. Get ready, newhope - this should be AWESOME.

~ I have never seen a more powerful video than the one we showed in worship this morning. I am still a wreck.

~ What if every Christian prayed to Jesus for Barak Obama? Come on church, regardless of who you voted for, PRAY.

~ Under Teresa Hartsfield, our First Contact is going to whole "nutha" level!

~ I can't believe we are about to celebrate 7 years of newhope. How times flies. Imagine 7 more years. Imagine 70 more years of newhope. WOW.

~ I love Tenea DeBerry. Your discernment and joy always bless and encourage me.

~ In closing, here is a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that I had in my notes this morning but did not use. At the height of unbelievable levels of hatred and intimidation and injustice coming his way, Dr. King wrote these words - may you be encouraged and strengthened in your own journey for reconciliation and peace:



“I have decided to stick to love. I know that love is ultimately the answer to mankind’s problems. So I’m going to talk about it wherever I go. I’ve seen too much hate. I’ve seen too much hate on the faces of sheriffs. I’ve seen hate on the faces of too many Klansmen, too many white citizens, counselors in the South.

Every time I see it, I know it does something to their faces and to their personalities. I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear. So I’ve decided to love. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you’ll find it through love.” (The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)

Martin Luther King, Jr, Inauguration, and Joseph...

Politics aside, this is a historic weekend with Martin Luther King, Jr. being celebrated Monday and the inauguration of our first African American President Tuesday. I hope you have prayed for our country and the President Elect.

Have you ever considered the correlation between Joseph in the Bible and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.? They were both dreamers who changed the course of human history in their own right.

This Sunday, in typical newhope style, we will worship God and celebrate all that He is doing in and among us! We will ground it all in the power of dreams and those that pursue Godly dreams with total abandonment for the cause of Christ. You might want to read Genesis 45 - 50 in preparation!

It is going to be an amazing weekend and I hope you will join us for Worship at 8:45, 10:15 or 11:45 am.

Peace and much love.

Things I am Learning Along the Way, Pt. II

Last week I started a post series sharing some leadership nuggets I find myself learning along the way. (The first five are further below) I always encourage leaders to keep an active file of things they are learning in ministry. Leaders are learners - plain and simple. The moment a leader stops learning he/she inevitably stops leading. And for me, I have to write them down or I am likely to forget. This is an on-going list of leadership lessons I have been building for some time. Enjoy and lead well.


6. You cannot go it alone; you need a support system made up of people you trust and to whom you are willing to be accountable.

7. Hire a “world-class” team of equippers as your staff: you cannot hire enough doers to get the job done. The best people usually cost you the most money but in time they pay for themselves over and over again. Lastly and most important - TRUST YOUR GUT IN THE HIRING PROCESS!

8. Write a staff covenant and have everyone who joins the staff sign it with their blood.

9. Communicate to your staff that it is O.K. to fail, but it is not alright to punch holes in the boat below the water line.

10. Manage your staff on an ongoing basis by getting them to write three goals for each quarter; no one can manage a staff through annual goals. Just last week, I also asked our team to take their best stab at writing their job description in one sentence. (Not a run on sentence either :-))

11. Senior pastors need to understand the trends in business management.

12. Put your vision in concrete and your methods in sand.

13. The style of preaching that communicates today is Biblical, relevant, and confessional, it is best delivered without being tied to your notes.

14. Great leaders speak their vision into existence; they shape the movement they serve with words.

WOW - "I Want to Fly Like an Eagle!

Have you ever wanted to fly? I don't mean like in a plane. I mean, really fly like a bird.

When I was a kid, I remember listening to a song that had this great lyric, "I want to fly like an eagle, to the sea, fly like an eagle let mt spirit carry me..." Some of you remember it, as well. It was written and sung by the Steve Miller Band. Ahhhh - it was a great song!

You have to check this video out!


This is the fastest growing sport in Norway right now.

BTW - if you try this, don't tell anyone I sent you this link. :-)

Monday Musings

* Strong Sunday - really strong start of the EXODUS series.

* If you can come to the first or third Worship Celebration that would be great. We added more chairs months ago and still had to scramble through the building yesterday looking for every chair we could find. If possible, please consider making this adjustment. We only have two months left before the move.

* I feel like God was all over newhope yesterday. There is nothing like Worship and Word when that happens.

* I am utterly spent today. It is REALLY hard getting used to working on Mondays. We are adjusting. I have decided it is best to NOT speak on Mondays. :-)

* I love this church and what God is doing. I love God's vision of the church - ekklesia - set apart, holy, called out of the world, in the world but not of the world. That really challenges me and my walk with Christ.

* The countdown screens are freakin scary - two months and counting newhope.

* Please pray for me and our church. There are lots of major decisions all over the place.

* Gotta go catch an appointment - peace...

Leadership Lifter - Things I am Learning Along the Way...

In the New Year, we are starting our Pastoral and Staff Team meetings at 2:17 pm. You might think that is weird. Exactly. I love weird and different but there is a reason for this madness. I am asking God to do with our team exactly what He did did with the first church. We read about it in Acts 2:17. Meeting at 2:17 reminds us that God wants to do with our team precisely what the Word says in Acts 2:17 - check it out...

"In the last days, God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17)

In addition to meeting at 2:17 pm this Monday, I have started sharing, "Things I am learning along the way..." Call them axioms or whatever, but but here are some of my top learning lessons of 2008. Since you are smart leaders, I will refrain from fleshing these out - I am sure you will know exactly what I mean and I hope these will resonate with you and advance your leadership development. Here are six axioms - I will share more in the week ahead:



1. Authority diminishes with use; influence increases with use.

2. Choose your battles carefully; ask yourself, “Is this issue central to our vision?”

3. Sheep bite. (OK - I have to expand on this one. Reality check #1 - God likens His people to sheep and His Son as the Good Shepherd. Reality #2 - Unfortunately, those sheep sometimes bite)

4. Whatever good will and favor you have earned with people through acts of service and love usually evaporates immediately when you cross them on something they consider important.

5. Long-term goals are hard to track and manage.

Application: Write out three First Quarter Goals and give me your best stab at your job description in one sentence! (Due two weeks from today...)

6. Few people fail in ministry if they learn to say the four “magic” words: “I need your help.”


Lead well, my friends. Keep your head down and your heart up...

Brrrrrrrr - that is COLD and FUNNY :-)

Do NOT click on this link if you have a problem with seeing a little "buff."

Or, in the words of my three year old son, Joshua, some "Shiny Hiney." :-)

I repeat, do not click here.

I am sorry - I don't care who you are - this is downright funny. :-)

EXODUS - It's Time to Roll...

To say I am amped up about the EXODUS series starting this Sunday is the understatement of 2009. (A little prophesy, if you will :-)) I have spent the day digging into the Word of the Lord and this is going to be a wild ride as we prepare to move this movement to the Southpoint Campus. The word literally breaks down like this:

exodus |ˈeksədəs | noun

Means a mass departure of people...often refers to the departure of the Israelites from Egypt.

Exodus |ˈeksədəs| |ˈɛksədəs| |ˈɛgzədəs| |ˈɛksədəs|

The second book of the Bible, which recounts the departure of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, their journey across the Red Sea and through the wilderness led by Moses, and the giving of the Ten Commandments. The events have been variously dated by scholars between about 1580 and 1200 BC.


Listen up, newhope. In my humble opinion, this will be one of the most important series we have ever done. So, let’s dive in feet first. Before coming to worship this Sunday, why not read the Exodus story here and here and also Romans 12. Let’s offer Christ everything we have and get ready for this mass movement, this departure from one location, and entry into the land God has so graciously given!

As always, for the love of God, invite and bring a friend! It is the very purpose for which we exist.

Peace and much love...

A Final Letter from Mom (Noel) to Baby Beau

We had the Memorial Service at the church today. If you want to listen to the message, you may do so here.

We worshipped God, grieved, wept, and celebrated the beautiful life of Beau Samuel Plesha. God's presence was rich in our brokenness. Here is a letter that Noel wrote to her baby boy. Scott read this during my homily today:

----

Mom’s Letter to Beau

With fun anticipation to learn a little about you - Dad, Carly, Ben and I hustled to our routine gestational ultrasound on a rainy day in March, 2007. The doctors told us that your heart was anatomically challenged and advised us to terminate the pregnancy. But we knew in our hearts that they were wrong.

Oh Beautiful Boy, of mine they did not know our connection nor will they ever understand it. But I knew our journey together would be rewarding and worth every challenge that was ahead of us. My first goal was to find a name for this very special gift from God. What name would embody a beacon of hope that this tiny person would become even though the doctors deemed him hopeless. Their ugly scenarios prompted me to name you something to counteract them, so I chose Beau - “Beautiful boy”. Your soul emulated this meaning far greater than my expectations. I remember always feeling a sense of calm and remarkable love in you presence - it was intoxicating - everyone felt it and this made me so honored to by your Mom.

Your beautiful gentle eyes seemed to express the true meaning of love and grace. Thank you for that powerful lesson and inspiration. When you came home to us in June of 2008 we finally felt whole as a family. You had overcome so much over the first year of your life. We were awestruck by your bravery and strength. You soon began to smile and laugh and enjoy life while your development and strength began to soar. I remember wanting to savor every moment I had with you and how proud Daddy and I were as we watched you master new developmental milestones.

As I reflect on our play times together - your favorite song that always made you smile and laugh was “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”. Its meaning began to make me smile - you were the Itsy Bitsy Spider because after every rainstorm that you encountered you would climb back up again. You were so brave, so beautiful so inspiring and so full of grace. You were so loved by us and by many, many others.

Even though I desperately long to hold you, smell you, look into your beautiful blue eyes, brush my fingers through you wavy hair, touch your hands and feet and lie next to you on the floor to watch you gaze into my eyes again, I know you are finally free of all the pain that you endured and that, my beautiful boy - is my reassurance for this devastating loss. But mostly I am so happy that you made your final climb up to heaven to rest in the arms of the Lord. You did it Beau, knock their socks off with your brilliance.

I will Love you and keep you in my heart forever,
Love, Mom.

Beau's Memorial Service...

We will begin Beau's Memorial Service at 2:30 pm tomorrow like this:


The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?

Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor his anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children.

(Selected Verses from Psalm 27, 28, and 103)


Friends, we have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of Beau Samuel Plesha. He was named such because:
“Beau means beautiful boy and Samuel means God listens.” Both of those are eternally true and comforting.

We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May Almighty God grant us grace and peace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow, we may find hope, and in death, we may find resurrection!

That is why I started this Memorial Service from the Psalms – the book of Psalms was ancient Israel’s worship book. It was their hymnbook, if you will. It was their book of lament and their book of celebration! It’s the book from which we get these comforting words:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23)

What a picture...

Beau means "Beautiful Boy." I think this picture testifies that Scott and Noel appropriately named this little fella.

Please pray for the family and our church as we grieve and celebrate the life of Beau Samuel Plesha this Sunday at newhope church at 2:30 pm. Everyone is welcome.

May God bless you and yours this New Year...

Speaking & Travel

Speaking/Travel:

If you would like to have Dr. Benji Kelley speak for your event, please contact his assistant, Teresa Hartsfield at teresa@newhopenc.org or call the church office at 919.206.HOPE (4673). When making your request, please identify the event and date for which you would like Pastor Benji to speak.

Contact Information

Website: newhope Church

Phone: 919.206.HOPE (4673)

Email: teresa@newhopenc.org
(Executive Assistant to Dr. Benji Kelley)

Ministry Links

Bible Gateway

Christianity Today

Creative Pastors

Worship Planning

Wikipedia

Catalyst Leadership Develpment

Pandora Radio

Wingclips

The Bible

newhope network

This part of the blog will be a work in progress. I love church planters and thankfully the Lord is opening doors for us to truly speak into young planters while also getting behind them and supporting them with our prayer and resources.

In the six years of newhope, we have helped start 6 new churches! In July 2008, we participated in the One Prayer offering (www.oneprayer.com) and with over 1200 other churches, helped start approximately 500 new churches across planet earth!

In 2009, we will help start 4 new churches in North Carolina! We believe Jesus, through His bride the Church, is nothing less than the hope of the world. As such, we enthusiastically engage and promote healthy church planting!

This section of my blog will build over time as God keeps using us in the future lives and ministries of church planters!

Potential Steps to Starting a Church (Not an exhaustive by any means)

1. Confirming the Call


2. Clarifying the Vision


3. Declaring Church Polity/Structure


4. Gathering the Core Visionary Team


5. Communicating the Vision




1. To the Core...


2. To the Community...


3. To the Church...




6. Launching the Church


7. Growing through Life Stages




1. Birth...


2. Infancy...


3. Toddler...


4. Child...


5. Adolescence...


6. Adulthood...

Resources for Church Planters

1. Books and Articles


2. Internet Sites


3. Conferences/Training related to Church Planting


4. Church Planter Blogs


5. www.churchplanting.com


6. Beeson Pastor Program at Asbury Theological Seminary


7. Church Visits - call and ask Pastors - Someone once said, "You have not because you ask not..."