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!
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...
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)
I want to wish a very Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! This is one of my favorite holidays because, well, I am a dad and love it. :-)
I can't wait until Father's Day tomorrow at newhope church. Come join us at 8:45 or 10:30 am and bring a friend!
In the meantime, I thought you might like to read about a father and son that I admire and was blessed to get to know two years ago while running a half marathon at Virginia Beach. They are inspiring to say the least. Enjoy:
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Eighty-five times Dick Hoyt has pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.
Dick's also pulled his awesome boy, Rick, cross-country skiing, taken him on his back Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?
And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life! This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
"He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;" Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. "Put him in an institution."
But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the Engineering Department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. "No way," Dick says he was told. "There's nothing going on in his brain."
"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? "Go Bruins!"
And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, "Dad, I want to do that."
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described "porker" who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. "Then it was me who was handicapped," Dick says. "I was sore for two weeks."
That day changed Rick's life. "Dad," he typed, "When we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!"
And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
"No way," Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially - in 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.
Then somebody said, "Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?"
How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.
Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii . It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you think? :-)
Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? "No way," he says. Dick does it purely for, "The awesome feeling" he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.
A few years ago, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992 - only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was NOT pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.
"No question about it," Rick types. "My dad is the father of the century."
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries was 95% clogged. "If you hadn't been in such great shape," one doctor told him, "You probably would've died 15 years ago." So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.
Rick, who has his own apartment and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Massachusetts, always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including Father's Day races.
Rick likes to buy his dad dinner on Father's Day, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.
"The thing I'd most like," Rick types, "Is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once." :-)
If you want to watch a video on the Hoyts, click here...
I can never say that I know what it is like to give birth to a child. Because of the way God has designed it, Amy Lynn endures that painful process. Thank you, Lord, and thank you Amy. :-)
But I will say that the process by which I just crafted and finished my message for tomorrow is the closest thing I can imagine to giving birth. I know, women, it is a stretch, but please bear with this man for a moment. I have been at it all week and that was long and painful and hard.
Like babies, some messages come easier than others. It always takes me at least 10 - 20 hours a week, but those 10 - 20 hours can be enjoyable in the truest sense of the word or downright difficult. The process of preparing a message can be either extreme or anywhere between the two. This week, that delivery process was painstakingly slow, difficult, and exhausting to say the least.
I can hear the Senior Pastors out there saying, "Amen." You know exactly what I am talking about. I just had a wonderful, yet impossible thought - wouldn't it be awesome if we could get an epidural for weeks like this. I am telling you I would have endured multiple 6 inch needles stuck deep within my back to not have to go through that process. :-)
Anywho - it is done, at 10:20 pm and thankfully I am fired up about delivering this baby tomorrow. If you are local and attend newhope, I can't wait to see you. If you are not local or attend somewhere else, please pray for your pastor each and every week. He/she probably works very hard to divide the Word of the Lord for you and the community of faith. If you are a pastor out there, take heart, you are not alone when it comes to the sermon crafting process. Hang in there and together, let's remember this:
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (I Corinthians 15:58)
So, if you were in church this past Sunday you know we started studying Galatians in this new series called, "Juicy Fruit." If you missed it, you can check it out by scrolling down below this post. At any rate, as I read through Galatians several times last week in preparation for this series, I was taught this particular Mythbuster, namely that leaders have to always say "nice" things. Have you read Galatians? I think Paul was a leader! With the exception of Jesus, I would say Paul was the most effective and influential leader. Listen to some of the things he said in this book alone: "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:6 - 10)
1"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish?" (Galatians 3:1 - 2)
12"As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!" (Galatians 5:12)
For your edification and comfort, Webster says, "Emasculate means to perform an archaic practice of castrating humans or animals."
If we can't say amen, let's all say together, "OUCH." :-)
Let me be clear - too many people believe that Jesus and Mr. Rogers are the same guy! As such, too many people think that the call of the Christian and definitely the Pastor is to be a never ending human mass of niceness.
Now don't get me wrong - I like niceness. I think I am a pretty nice guy...most of the time. :-) But hear me out - to be a Christian or a church leader does not always equate to being a nice guy. The problem with that kind of thinking is Scripture.
Take a moment and read John 1. To follow in the footsteps of Jesus means that we strive to strike a balance between grace and truth. And sometimes truth requires us to not be sooooooo nice. Take a moment and read John 2. Have you ever really grappled with Jesus running people out of His Father's temple with cords and whips and turning over the tables of the money changers? Listen, there is such a thing as righteous anger and I am convinced, there are times when Christ followers burn with the same kind of passion and intensity we find in the life of Jesus.
Because I have some extra time today, let's push the Mythbuster case a little further. Have you ever read Matthew 23? In our language, Jesus "Lost It!" (Don't get hung up on that - we all know Jesus didn't lose anything) But check it out:
In Matthew 23:15 He calls the most religious people in the world “sons of hell!” (Not what religious people like to hear...)
In Matthew 23:25-26 He tells the religious peeps that they are clean on the outside but not the inside. (That will get you looking on the inside...)
Matthew 23:33 He says, "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape from being condemned to hell." (Ssssssssssnakes - WOW)
In John 8:44 He calls these people “sons of the devil!” (Can't you hear them muttering, "Did Jesus just call us sons of the devil?" YIKES)
Like we discussed on Sunday, Paul, and here we see our Lord, Jesus, was not REALLY nice about religion and other common acts humanity.
WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - Now, even as I type this, I am fully aware of how we have to be careful with this particular myth. If we are not careful, we can use these verses to warrant our own anger and/or sin. The truth is, when I am angry or not "nice," it is a result of my own sin/stuff more times than it is a result of righteous anger. However, that reality does not negate the fact that Jesus and His followers - Paul, you, and me included, will at times, be called upon to speak a courageous, challenging, and sometimes a not-so-nice word(s) for the cause of Christ and the advancement of the Gospel. Our obsession as Christians is NOT to be nice but rather, to live faithfully and obediently to the call and Word of God upon our lives.
The challenge, of course, is to do precisely that, with as much love as humanly possible.
Most definitely one the best Sundays at newhope EVER. Someone forgot to tell us that Summer typically means slow down and lower crowds. Not at this church and I love it!
Juicy Fruit is going to be a blast! We gave thousands of packs of gun away to every newhoper who walked into the building. The banners and graphics looked great and the apostle Paul was just bring'in and sling'in IT in the book of Galatians! If you missed it, you can check it out at right here tomorrow.
The band was tight today and the new drums were awesome. Great job Worship Arts Ministry.
I can not believe the number of guests we are having every Sunday. The most popular way people are hearing about the church these days are from friends. Well done, newhopers.
Do you know how blessed we are to have our students (6th - 12th graders) learning from Jeremiah Dodson. I have known this dude for 12 years now and he is the real deal. We are fortunate that God has brought him back home to serve as our summer Interim Student Ministries Pastor. Welcome back, Jeremiah!
I am so proud of the children in our church. A large group of 4th and 5th graders went on a local missions trip yesterday. Way to lead, Amy Lynn.
Lots of folks are signing up to get baptized Sunday, July 5th at 4:00 pm. Mark your calendars everyone for the next Party on the Patio!
Carolina is on their way back to Oklahoma again. Bring it home this time, Heels!
After an entire year-long search, we have finally hired our first full-time Discipleship Pastor! His name is Steve Ellis. He will oversee Small Groups, Ministry, HOPE Missions, counseling and assist with teaching different classes, workshops, and Sunday morning messages! We are sooooo blessed and he will be well worth the wait.
I love it when the church comes to truly Worship and hear the Word! You have no idea what that does to me and the other leaders of this church.
There is no better news in all the world than the Gospel!
I think I am going to run another half marathon in September with some newhopers.
The new barista is a master. Nothing like the art of lattes! (Sorry, but I like 'em. :-))
My throat is ripped, my body is utterly exhausted, but my mind and heart are soaring with excitement and adrenaline. It is really weird.
The First Contact volunteers are the most gracious and giving leaders I have ever seen anywhere! Way to go and thanks for serving team!
I wonder when we will have to go to three Worship Celebrations. I am guessing November 1!
We have been in the new building three months now. I think we are really hitting our stride.
I wish tomorrow was Sunday again. :-)
If you play basketball, join us on the courts every Monday at 5:30 pm.
I am glad salvation belongs to God and has absolutely NOTHING to do with me!
I am looking forward to a full week in the office with no outside commitments or conferences.
We have our All Staff meeting tomorrow at 1:30 pm. I absolutely love the pastors and staff of this church. There is nothing I would not do for this team of men and women.
So, I usually don't comment on comments :-), but Lee Davis, a newhoper, wrote me on Facebook and said this about my post yesterday on MythBusters and Leadership. PLEASE read down to the last paragraph/quote from past President, Teddy Roosevelt - it is AWESOME and well worth the read! Thanks Lee...
----- Pastor Benji,
I just got finished reading your blog about leadership. I agree with you that a true leader is one that can make those hard decisions and does so even knowing that he will never please everyone. I too grew up in South Carolina (Hemingway) around the same time you did. I knew my pastor well outside of church and can remember there were times when he and the elders of the church had disagreements on the direction our church was or was not heading. I appreciate what you do and am continually impressed with newhope church. As you are leading the way for others to follow, I thought you might like the following quote:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." (Teddy Roosevelt in a speech titled, "Man in the Arena")
Have you seen Discovery Channel's MythBusters? The show seems to be doing well. Basically, these two dudes, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, take popular ideas/notions/theories in the culture and test them to see if they are accurate or not. It is kind of cool because sometimes I learn that what I had originally thought or perceived as truth was and is actually way off! And even though I do not watch the show regularly, the few times I have stopped by I find it interesting and educational.
I am starting a series of posts called "MythBusters and Leadership." If you lead a church or ministry department or anything for that matter, you might find this helpful. Nothing will hinder a leader more than starting to buy into the myths swirling around about leadership. Here is the first one - I hope you enjoy.
Myth # 1 – You Must Be Liked By Everyone.
Nothing causes burnout among pastors more than this notion. I have seen so many pastors wear themselves out and many, unfortunately, leave the ministry as a result of this myth. Listen, you can not nor will not be liked by everyone if you truly are leading for Christ and change in the world!
As you know, we are about to start a message series at newhope on the Fruit of the Spirit. As such, I went into the woods yesterday and read the book of Galatians. What a great book! Right off the bat, Galatians 1:10 reminded me that I have a choice in life - will I strive to win the approval of man or the approval of God? The verse says this:
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
I have a confession to make - I like it when people like me! I think every leader does. I have never actually met a person that loved to be hated. But hear this - if we are going to strive to be the leader that God wants us to be then we must embrace that there will be times when we will be disliked in order to honor the One! God's leaders have to decide if they are living to hear the applause of men/women or the applause of two nail scarred hands? I choose the nail-scarred hands.
In Acts 7, we find Stephen's speech. It began pretty normal. At first, he was following the “rules” of an excellent communicator. He established common ground with his audience, he spoke with authority and had the crowd locked in for a while. All of a sudden Acts 7:51-53 happens. If you read the entire speech it is perfectly normal until this point.
At this point, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, Stephen spoke with power and conviction. If you have the time, read the entire chapter here! Clearly Stephen knew that he had to be true to the ONE who had called him…and that he would one day stand in front of Almighty God and give an account.
The result…the crowd killed him (see Acts 7:54-58). But check this out - Jesus honored him and stood up to receive him into the Kingdom! Can you imagine getting a solo standing ovation from Jesus when you die? (Now that is stink'in cool :-)) Stephen was willing to be disliked, even to the point of being killed, rather than dishonor Jesus!
Courageous leadership means we must be willing to make tough calls. Our calling is not to be liked by people but rather to be loyal to Jesus. You might want to read that one again.
When it is all said and done, leaders, I repeat, we MUST live to hear the applause of two nail-scarred hands. Compared to that, all the other fan-fare, accolades, and/or popularity means absolutely nothing.
Yes - I am an American Idol fan. In fact, this year our entire family enjoyed the season. And we were thrilled when Kris Allen won. We were pulling for him or Danny.
At any rate, I want to congratulate Kris Allen and let you see see a deeper side of this young man. Clearly, he understands that there are more important things than winning American Idol. Enjoy...
FYI - Kris is a worship Leader at New Life Church in Arkansas with Pastor Rick Bezet.
Check out this video of Kris Allen singing "God Of This City".
