Benji Kelley

Tim Tebow and the Super Bowl Commercial

2010-02-08T13:00:00.006-05:00

Let me make this disclaimer - I really like Tim Tebow. I like his passion. I love the way he is not ashamed of the Gospel. (See Romans 1:16) I like the way he carries himself. I appreciate the way he serves God on and off the field, often hitting the mission field in the off season. He is just a great guy who loves God and happens to be incredible at playing quarterback.

So, naturally, I was curious when the critics starting ranting and raving over the Super Bowl commercial Tim and his mom did as a way of telling their story. If you have not seen it, you can check it out here.

It was such a short, innocent and non-offensive ad. It doesn't even mention abortion or spell out their decision to embrace his life.

Last week, there was an article in the Washington Post by a person who is NOT Pro Life. This person outwardly disagrees with those of us who support life. However, this article was one of the best, non biased, and intelligent articles on the subject at hand to-date. She tells it like it is and it is well worth your time. Do yourself a favor and read it carefully. You can check it out here.

I thank God for Tim Tebow - we would all live in a better world if more people lived out their faith in Jesus Christ like he does...

Unleash the Dream - Part 3 - Serving the Least

2010-02-07T21:14:00.001-05:00

Museum or Mission?

2010-02-06T15:09:00.002-05:00

I can hardly wait for church tomorrow! Due to the weather last weekend, it has been two weeks since we last gathered together for Sunday worship. And to be honest, I REALLY miss the smiles, hugs, music, Word, and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit among us!

This Sunday, we embark upon Unleash the Dream, Pt. III. I have been looking over the message all morning. I am quite eager and anxious to share this particular message on Sunday. I shall say no more - you will just have to be in the house to fully understand what I mean. :-)

I will tell a brief story, though, that will help set the stage for our time together this Sunday. It's a true story and one that I believe speaks to the call of Christ upon His church!

I know of an inner city church that was forced to a make a difficult decision. The church was located in an area of the downtown city where there were very few residents. Like a lot of urban churches, they had been hit by the suburban sprawl and found themselves only remembering the good ole days. A large corporation was offering them a great deal of money for their site, on which the corporation wanted to put a parking lot. The money would enable the church to move to another part of the inner city where they would find many more people to serve. Even though this was exciting to some in the congregation, other members were resistant to the idea. They pointed out that the church was the guardian of a building whose history and architecture reached back into the early part of the nineteenth century. Denominational history had been made in that building, and some grand figures in the faith had passed its portals.

Eventually the congregation decided to sell the site and make the move to a new building in a thriving inner-city neighborhood. The pastor who was with this congregation through all this upheaval said, "We had to decide whether we wanted to be in a museum or in mission."

You see, newhope, they couldn't have it both ways. It meant either staying on their site, glorying in their past history and serving a few people, or giving up their past and gearing themselves to a significant ministry among the city's people. They opted for mission status over museum status.

In many ways, almost every day, the church has to decide whether or not she will be a mission or museum. And while it is hard for us to imagine this tension in a brand-new church facility, the truth is we will be faced with this same dilemma/decision with every passing year. Will we as a church slip into the museum mindset or we will remain missional? I am certain you know what the answer should be. However, knowing the right answer and doing the right answer is where all of this gets most difficult. I believe we are up for the challenge and I can't wait to discuss it more with you this Sunday.

Unleash the Dream Vision Video

2010-02-03T17:48:00.003-05:00

By now, if you are a regular attendee or member of newhope church, you should have received the vision video compliments of the United States Postal Service! :-) We dropped over 1,000 DVDs at the Post Office last Friday. If we have your correct contact information, you should have received this by now. If not, keep your eyes open for the package!

This DVD will take you back to the jail cell where I accepted Christ nearly 22 years ago! It was the first time I had been back since I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It walks you through my salvation experience and the way in which, in a very real sense, the birth and dream of newhope started right there in a cold, dark, dingy jail cell in Sumter, South Carolina.

After my testimony, you will experience multiple newhopers and others from local outreach ministries in central North Carolina sharing the power and potential of Unleash the Dream! The video will walk you through the biblical vision/initiatives of Saving the Lost, Serving the Least, Securing the Leadership, and Supplying the Resources. We are very pleased with the final product and I want to thank everyone who participated. You guys did a fantastic job casting vision for the future impact of newhope. I have watched it multiple times and I keep walking away stink'in stoked about the future of our church!

The video concludes with me taking a few moments to walk everyone through the Unleash the Dream pledge card. This is a simple tool that will allow you, if led, to make a 1-year pledge to Unleash the Dream. As you receive this video, I encouraged you to sit down with your significant other, your spouse, your family, friends, Small Group, or by yourself and watch it just as soon as possible. It will take you approximately 30 minutes to watch the entire DVD. The first time I watched it I had to do so alone - it was just too raw and emotional for me.

If you do not receive your copy of the DVD, you will be able to grab a one at church this Sunday. If you are a newhoper, please know I praying for you and our church family. Please pray for me, my family, and the movement of newhope.

The best, beloved, is yet to come!

This Week and Beyond...

2010-02-02T22:42:00.002-05:00

As you know, we canceled our Worship Celebrations this past weekend due to inclement weather. As such, I want to bring you up to speed with regards to Unleash the Dream. Here’s the latest:

A Night of Worship for Haiti is THIS Wednesday at 7:00 pm. We will Worship with song, Word, Holy Communion and 100 % of the offering will go to rebuild Haiti in the name of Christ! Child-care will be provided for birth through 3 years of age.
Unleash the Dream Vision Chat will now be Sunday, February 14th, immediately following the second Worship Celebration. Dr. Craig Dunn will be with us. The Vision Chat will give you and others an opportunity to ask questions and discuss this campaign! (We did have one planned for this Saturday but since we are a week behind, we have rescheduled that to the Feb 14)
Vision Day VIII will now be Sunday, February 21st instead of Sunday, February 14th. Due to the weather, we simply moved everything back one week. Mark those calendars for February 21st!

That about covers it for now. Hope you will join us this Wednesday, February 3rd at 7 pm for Worship!

Biblical Fasting, Faith, and Self Control...

2010-02-02T09:06:00.004-05:00

I am learning more and more every day that there are a lot of people engaged in the Daniels Fast! I do not have an exact number but it seems that everywhere I go these days someone is grabbing me and telling me about their spiritual journey of fasting. For those of you on the journey, way to go! For those of you not yet in the game but considering, it is not too late to join.

I'm hearing humorous stories as well as stories of struggle. One man told me about sitting down to eat his vegetables while his wife plopped down in front of him with piping hot fast food from Arby's, including those crispy curly fries. (Lord, help the ole boy :-)) He wanted to strangle her and then eat the curly fries. On a serious note, I am also hearing of fatigue and lack of energy. Remember, the beauty of the Daniels Fast is that you don't have to fast food completely. So, as when needed, throw back those vegetables, fruit, and water.

In his book, Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough, Elmer Towns, says this:

"One of the first steps in the Daniels Fast is to recognize the external power of our bondages. This does not necessarily mean we have demons, but it does mean we are controlled externally, not internally. Some believe they are alcoholics because their fathers were alcoholics... Although the causes of these problems are external, these people suffer internal depression. "I'm worthless," they inwardly confess, and give up -- when in fact, if they regained control of their bodies through fasting they could reach into their spirits to take control of their inner humanities. Recognizing that an internal power has made us weak is the first step in recovering control of ourselves." (Pg. 32)

In my experience with fasting, Dr. Townes is spot on. One of the key benefits/blessing of fasting is being able to control ourselves. I'm reminded that one of the fruit of the Spirit is self-control. (Galatians 5:23) I would go so far as to say one look at our culture and it is clear we have lost all forms of self control. As 21st-century American Christians, we don't come off much better. The truth is we often struggle with self control.

Fasting, in a real sense, is a statement of faith that recognizes what God can do in and through us. Likewise, it is also a statement of faith to recognize what a person cannot do. Faith is recognizing God's power and strategy for giving us self-control and then submitting to that power/strategy. Fasting taps into both His power and His biblical strategy for gaining self control!

Jesus said to the disciples, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'" (Matthew 17:20)

Faith is never completely blind faith, such as walking to the end of the diving board and jumping into a pool, hoping there will be water in it. Faith is confidence. When you say, "I believe," you are saying, "I know." When Jesus said, "If you have faith," He was saying, "If you know you can break the bondage, it will happen to you." I know that is slicing it pretty thin and some of you will quote Hebrews 11:1 about faith "Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." I get that. But notice the first part of that verse - "Being sure of what we hope for." There is a blindness to faith but don't neglect the certainty of faith either! So much of our victory as Christians depends upon our identity in Christ and our faith/knowledge/trust of His power permeating in our lives. When I start to tap into that kind of faith, that the Christian life starts to take on victory and power!

The old farmer once said to me, "Faith is believing what you know ain't so." Beloved, that is not New Testament faith. New Testament faith is believing what you know is so! So, press own dear fasters! I am praying for you -- for self-control, solid biblical faith, and God's power manifested in your life!

Christmas of Hope!

2010-02-01T09:30:00.003-05:00

I know it feels incredibly late, but I came across this picture of our church Christmas tree from one Sunday in December! The gifts are from newhopers who graciously gave items to needy families in central NC! Way to go, newhope! You are some of the most gracious believers I have ever experienced. Thanks for giving to the Lord!

A week's worth of recipes

2010-01-30T04:04:00.002-05:00

Sorry this is a little late this week. It has been one insane week...all good...but insane budy nonetheless. I will make up for it not with one recipe but a week's worth! Hope you enjoy.

Vegetable Soup with Soy Crumbles

12 oz. soy crumbles (found in the “vegetarian” frozen section)

2 – 14 oz. cans of vegetable broth

14 oz. can of diced tomatoes

16 oz. of frozen mixed vegetables

1/2 tsp. of salt

1/2 tsp. of pepper

Spray a pot with cooking spray. Heat soy crumbles over medium heat. Pour broth over crumbles. Add tomatoes, veggies, salt, & pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Makes about 6 – 1 1/2 cup servings.

Texas Caviar Dip

1 can of black eyed peas, drained and rinsed

1 can of whole kernal corn, drained

1 can of Rotel, Mexican style

3-4 ribs of celery, chopped

1 packet of Good Seasons Zesty Italian Dressing (prepared with 1/2 the oil called for in the recipe)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Let dip sit for at least an hour to blend. You can also add a can of rinsed, drained black beans if desired.

Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. vanilla

2 cups puffed brown rice or any “fast friendly” cereal (See instructions below.)

Combine all ingredients. Scoop balls of mixture by a tablespoon and place in a food storage container. Enjoy!

Roasted Garlic Hummus

1 – 15 oz. can of chickpeas/garbanzo beans

2 tablespoons of minced garlic

1/2 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1/2 teaspoon of oregano

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Process until dip is smooth and creamy. If hummus is too thick, add extra olive oil 1/2 teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

Roasted Potatoes, Carrots, & Onions

Potatoes, washed and cut into bite-sized pieces

Baby carrots or large carrots washed, peeled, and cut into bite-sized pieces

Onions, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 or 3 tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil

Garlic salt

Salt & pepper

Mrs. Dash Table Blend or any additional seasonings that you like (optional)

In a 13×9 inch dish, combine potatoes, carrots, and onions. Add oil and toss veggies to coat. Add seasoning and toss again. Cover with foil and bake on 400 degrees for 1 hour or until veggies are tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Spanish Lima Beans

2 cans of lima beans, drained and rinsed

2 medium onions, chopped

2 tablespoons of canola oil (or vegetable oil)

1 can of diced tomatoes, undrained

salt & pepper to taste

In a large skillet, saute onions in oil until tender. Stir in tomatoes, salt, pepper, and beans. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until heated through.

Fruit Smoothies

1 large whole banana

1 cup of frozen blueberries

15 medium strawberries (fresh or frozen)

2 cups of orange juice

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until the smoothie is the desired consistency. Makes 2 large smooties.

Taco Soup

2 – 14.5 oz. cans of diced tomatoes, undrained

2 – 15.5 oz. cans of kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2 – 15.5 oz. cans of whole kernal corn, undrained

2 – 15 oz. cans of black beans, drained and rinsed

1 – 16 oz. can of chick peas, undrained

1 – 16 oz. can of pinto beans, undrained

2 packets of taco seasoning

12 oz. soy crumbles (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a large crock pot. Add water to make a thinner soup. Cook on Low for 8+ hours. Serve alone or with corn tortilla chips. Makes about 16 – 1 cup servings.

Spurgeon on the Sermon

2010-01-28T21:25:00.003-05:00

Hey Pastor, with Sunday coming, we would do well to recall how C.H. Spurgeon summarized what he believed the matter of a sermon should be:

Of all I wish to say this is the sum; my brethren, preach Christ, always and evermore. He is the whole gospel. His person, offices, and work must be our one great, all-comprehending theme. The world needs still to be told of its Saviour, and of the way to reach him. Justification by faith should be far more than it is the daily testimony of Protestant pulpits; and if with this master-truth there should be more generally associated the other great doctrines of grace, the better for our churches and our age.

From Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students (Chapter 5: “Sermons — Their Matter”).

My point - preach Christ and Christ alone. Sunday's coming - let's preach Jesus - crucified, dead, buried, and risen!

Sabbath Study of Deitrich Bonhoeffer

2010-01-27T12:08:00.009-05:00

I have come to the conclusion that I am not very good at taking Sabbath rest during the winter months. When it's nice/warm outside it is easy to fish, or play outside, or ride the Harley or whatever. When it's cold, I would much rather work. :-)

So, I have not taken much Sabbath rest the last few months. I am not proud of that reality. Wednesdays are Sabbath for the pastors at newhope. Instead of resting/playing, I spent the morning inside studying, corresponding, and thinking through the remainder of Unleash the Dream. If you are a newhoper, the Vision Video is coming to you in the mail the first of next week!

I decided to study one of my heroes in the faith today, namely Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Here are some interesting nuggets I gleaned and thought you might enjoy:

He was 21 years of age when he finished his doctoral dissertation. He was an excellent scholar.
He once said, "The church is the presence of Christ as Christ is the presence of God!" I like that - kind of sounds like "The church is the HOPE of the world!"
Interestingly enough, Bonhoeffer did not grow up in the church. Through a friendship with the only African American at Union Theological Seminary, he was exposed to the black church and finally came to see the place/role of church in the life of the believer. His first experience of the church allowed him to see the church as a socially and politically engaged redemptive agent in the world for the cause of Christ.
During this time, the roaring twenties were over and the world was descending into a major depression. It was during this time that Bonhoeffer attended Union Theological Seminary in NY.
He studied under Reinhold Niebuhr, the father of social ethics. Bonhoeffer didn't like Niebuhr. His found any sense of a Christo-centric gospel horribly missing.
Early in his twenties, Bonhoeffer came to a personal conviction/epiphany that the Sermon on the Mount was actually supposed to be lived out and not, as some suggested, just there to show us how sinful we are.
In 1933, Hitler became Chancellor or of Germany. Two days later, at the age of 27, Bonhoeffer spoke on the radio and openly criticized Hitler. Before he even finished his speech, he was cut off the radio.
Hitler started to gain popularity in the churches (I know - hard to believe) while Bonhoeffer taught theology in Berlin. Hitler taught salvation came through himself and Bonhoeffer taught that salvation came through Christ and Christ alone!
He was the first evangelical to make a statement that basically said we can't let Hitler continue. According to Bonhoeffer, believers had a mandate from Christ and simply had to do something when confronting injustice.
Bonhoeffer studied under Gandhi's tutelage and teachings of non-violent resistance.
Under Karl Barth the Confessing Church broke away by confessing Christ and Christ alone.
Before long, Bonhoeffer and others were calling the church to not only preach the Gospel of Christ but to stand in solidarity with the victims of injustice.
The Sermon on the Mount kept haunting him day and night. So much so that he was convinced we should actually strive to live it out fully.
It is not stated, but I see a direct connection between Bonhoeffer's experience in the Black Church as a young man, and his willingness to stand up to Hitler. That is, he had clearly seen oppression up close in the black church and as such, felt for the Jewish people and believed the church could and should stand up against Hitler.
He wrote a lot about the notion of cheap grace as opposed to costly grace. Cheap grace is grace without the cross. Costly grace is grace with the gospel. Grace can NOT be cheap because it cost God everything.
He only had one notation in his bible, found in Psalm 74. You can read it here. It's fascinating to read this chapter in light of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and how that related to the Hitler's destruction of the Jewish people.
In the summer of 1939, Karl Barth was expelled from Germany and hundreds of clergy were imprisoned for resisting and standing up for Christ and against Hitler.
Upon returning to NY, he felt convicted that he had fled from the place he was needed the most, namely Germany. He willingly chose to go back and be used by God. And so, he took the last ship back to Europe before the War. In 1939, Germany attached and WW II began. Bonhoeffer became the moral backbone of the German resistance to Hitler.
In May 1940, France surrendered. Hitler returned to one of the largest celebrations in Berlin of all time. He was riding high, despite underground resistance.
Bonhoeffer was incarcerated for his role to stop Hitler. He befriended several prison guards and they helped him correspond with family and friends.
He was interrogated and tortured in ways we can't even imagine. He was NOT afraid of death but he openly shared his fear of the interrogation methods.
According to this saint, "The true church is the church only when it exists for others." (Bonhoeffer in a book he was writing in prison)
In one final attempt, the underground resistance movement slipped a bomb into a meeting and detonated it in attempt to kill Hitler. It only wounded him but killed others. Hitler vowed to kill everyone connected with the conspiracy and this was the beginning of the end for Bonhoeffer.
By April 1945, Berlin was in total ruin. The order was given to kill the remaining members of the German resistance, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was called in to court and he offered no defense. He was sentenced to death on April 8, 1945.
During the dawn hours of April 9, 1945, Bonhoeffer was marched naked before the people and hanged to death.
The camp doctor who witnessed the execution wrote: “I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer ... kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.”

The Daniel's Fast

2010-01-26T06:50:00.008-05:00

As I write, hundreds of newhopers are embarking upon a 21 day journey called, "The Daniel's Fast." I am not quite sure how many people are taking this spiritual journey but it is a lot! If you are one of those, way to go!

I spent the first 18 years of my Christian life very rarely, if ever, fasting. However, in the last four years I have become a big fan of this ancient spiritual tradition. Over the course of the next three weeks, I will regularly post devotional comments, fasting passages of Scripture, and occasional recipes to encourage you along the way. It is most important that you keep a spiritual focus to this journey. Fasting is not a form of dieting. Fasting is about humbly seeking God with all your heart. mind, soul, and strength. (Mark 12:30) For today, let's start with the basics...

The Daniel’s Fast Overview:
The Daniel's fast is a spiritual discipline designed to better connect us with God. Traditionally, the fasts can last 10 or 21 days. The purpose, as with all biblical fasting, is to connect with God in more profound ways. It was Jesus who fasted forty days and forty nights. (Matthew 4:2) So, when we fast, we follow the example of our Lord and many other heroes in the faith! The Daniel's Fast is primarily about eating fruit and vegetables and drinking water. I do eat some fruit and yes, I still enjoy a cup of coffee or two each day. :-)

Why:
The primary purpose of fasting is to know God better. Fasting is not about food or dieting – it’s about meditation and reflection upon the Scriptures and communion with
God. If you are hungry for more of God, I invite you to join me in this spiritual journey of fasting and prayer.

Scripture:
During the fast, I invite everyone to study the Life Journals. You can pick up your copy at the Resource Center on Sunday. In the Life Journals, we will all study the same passages and use the acrostic SOAP to help us dive deeply into God's Word!

Scripture
Observation
Application
Prayer

How:
There are multiple online resources available for the Daniel’s Fast. A simple Google search will land you more resources than you can handle.

One thing you’ll notice is that there are many ways to do the fast. This is, in part, due to the lack of clarity in the Bible as to exactly what Daniel did during his fast. See Daniel 1. I find that to be perfect, BTW. Don't go getting legalistic about any of this. Decide what works for you and then stick to it to the glory and honor of Jesus! To assist, I will post helpful tips and suggestions on this site. Because some meals will be made from scratch, I will also included some recipes to assist you. For now, here is a food list from which I basically eat:

Foods to Enjoy
* Whole Grains: brown rice, oats, rolled oats, oatmeal, barley, corn, popcorn, wheat
* Legumes: dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, green beans, green peas, peanuts, etc. Grain legumes include beans, lentils, lupins, peas and peanuts.
* Fruits: apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, berries, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, breadfruit, cantaloupe, cherries, coconuts, cranberries, dates, figs, grapefruit, grapes, grenadine, guava, honeydew melons, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons, mulberry, nectarines, oats, olives, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon, etc.,
* Vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, gingerroot, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, any peppers, any potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, etc.
* Seeds: all nuts, natural peanut butter, natural almond butter, sprouts, ground flax, etc.
* Liquids: spring water, distilled water, filtered water, 100% all natural fruit or vegetable juices, and like I said above, I do still drink around 2 cups of coffee a day.

During the fast, I am inviting you to draw near to God. These are historic and sacred times in the life of our church. The Bible says, “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:22)

I truly believe God is calling us to draw near like never before, newhope. I invite you to deepen your relationship with God through Christ and fully discern and participate in what God wants to do in and through us as a church as we Unleash the Dream.

Personally, I am praying that God will open wide the floodgates of heaven and bless us in ways that we cannot even imagine. (Ephesians 2) I’m asking God to take us places we have never been before, while also using us to REACH thousands of people who are far from God, TEACH the Word of the Lord, and RELEASE fully devoted followers of Jesus!

newhope, we have experienced eight amazing years. I am certain, though, that God has so much more in store for us. Jesus says, “He will do even greater things than these...” (John 14:12)

Buckle your seat belts - it's going to be a wild ride!

Unleash the Dream - Part 2

2010-01-25T13:02:00.001-05:00

Unleash the Dream "Bumper" Video

2010-01-22T07:45:00.004-05:00

I REALLY like our Bumper Video for this series. If you are not familiar with a bumper video, this is what we show before the messages on Sunday to establish theme, consistency, transition, and focus for the message.

Speaking of Purity and Ministry...

2010-01-21T06:55:00.005-05:00

I am heading to the western part of the state this morning to speak with some student/youth pastors. I have been asked to speak specifically about sexual sin and my pastoral commitment to purity. When I spoke about this topic many months ago in Worship, a pastor friend in the crowd approached and asked me to come and share this with other pastors under his care.

This is a serious issue for all of us, pastors and laity alike. Since this topic was on my mind again this morning, in prep for later today, I thought I would re-post this covenant. If you want to use, borrow, or steal any of this, go for it. Leader, do whatever it takes to keep you faithful to Christ and free from sin.

--------

Knowing that any sex outside of marriage is a sin against my heavenly Father, I establish and commit to the following boundaries/pathways/guidelines that I hope and pray will help me maintain a pastoral promise of purity before Almighty God and faithful to Amy Lynn and my children. This is my pastoral promise to purity:

I will keep my relationship with Christ front and center, remembering that any sex outside of marriage is a sin before Almighty God.
I will keep my relationships with Amy Lynn and my children the highest priority of my life.
I will remain keenly aware of the fact that any form of sexual sin and adultery can ruin my marriage, bring shame and hurt to my children, devastate my calling as a minister of the Gospel, destroy this church, and bring harm and shame to the larger body of Christ.
From this day forward, I will not offer counseling to women. There are other women on our team who can counsel and if they are not qualified for the particular situation at hand, we will pay for the newhoper to get professional counseling outside the walls of newhope church.
I will not talk with another woman about my marriage, unless it is to praise Amy Lynn and/or discuss how blessed I am to be married.
I will not participate in or even occasionally flirt with pornography because it is sin (Matthew 5:28), cheapens women, and causes unrealistic expectations.
When at all possible, I will not ride alone in a car with a woman.
I will strive to make sure my wife and/or assistant ALWAYS know where I am.
I will not eat in a restaurant alone with another woman after 5 pm. (A working/ministry related lunch/coffee during “business hours” is the only option available)
When at all possible, I will not travel alone in ministry, preferably taking my wife or one of my children with me as I represent Christ and newhope church.

In short, this is my humble and earnest attempt to “Flee from sexual immorality.” (I Cor. 6:18)

A congregational up-date

2010-01-19T22:26:00.002-05:00

Dear Saints of newhope church,

I am writing today to bring you up to speed on our current series, Unleash the Dream, and our current missional emphasis, Hope for Haiti. These two events are of the up-most importance with catalytic Kingdom potential/impact!

Unleash the Dream launched last Sunday with an overview of our current five-week sermon series. If you were present, then you know of the potential for establishing a long-term vision that will enable us to unleash our vision to Reach, Teach, and Release like never before. If you were not present, let me encourage you to check out the message below. If you consider newhope your church home, this message is a must see in order to catch a vision of the future! Speaking of Unleash the Dream, we are making available three Vision Chats. These events are designed for you to ask questions and more fully understand Unleash the Dream. Everyone is welcome at these three Vision Chats:

Monday, January 25th, at 7:00 pm (We will meet in the Rotunda)

Sunday, January 31st at 11:45 am, immediately following the second Worship Celebration (We will gather in the Worship Center)

Saturday, February 6th, at 9:00 am (We will meet in the Rotunda)

The next item I want to inform you of is our current missional emphasis called, “Hope for Haiti.” We have been diligent to prepare a four-fold approach to assist those devastated by the recent earthquake. As I said on Sunday, these are the days for the church to shine brightly. Here's how you can respond:

1. Please pray. I know it sounds elementary but it remains foundational for God's work/will to be done!

2. Bring supplies THIS Sunday. This Sunday, bring any items listed below to newhope church and we will take care of getting them to Haiti. Weather permitting, please drop your items on the patio outside by the baptistery pool. Please box items if possible.

Hope for Haiti Supply List:

distilled water
baby formula--powder or liquid
diapers--cloth or disposable
blankets
sheets
towels
wash cloths
food
tarps
liquid soap
commercial tents
antifungal cream
antibiotics
oral rehydration salts
cough medicine
vaseline
hypertension meds
blood pressure meds
aspirin/tylenol/motrin
medical supplies:
surgical supplies: gowns, gloves, needles, sponges, etc
gauze/ace bandages
alcohol pads
medical tape
sterile blades
dressings: sterile and unsterile
IV supplies
scalpels
surgical towels: cloth and paper
sutures
syringes
tongue depressors

3. Attend our Hope for Haiti Night of Worship on Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00 pm. 100 % of the offering that night will go to Haiti!

4. Missions Trip - Stay tuned for an up-coming Missions Trip to Haiti, most likely in the latter part of 2010.

Take care, beloved. I love each of you and what God is doing through us. I hope to see you Sunday as we continue to Unleash the Dream!

Because of Jesus,
Pastor Benji

Unleash the Dream - Part 1 and some Monday Musings

2010-01-17T23:19:00.003-05:00

It is great to finally be fully engaged in Unleash the Dream. The congregation seems fired up and excited about supplying the resources, saving the lost, serving the least, and securing the leadership!
I have never experienced two services more different than I did yesterday. The feel, the vibe, and the flow of the first Worship Celebration was completely different than the second. No way to explain it other than the Holy Spirit will have His way --PERIOD.
Dustin did a fabulous job leading worship yesterday! THANKS BRO...
I still cannot believe I told someone on the front row in the second service, "You are starting to get on my nerves." :-) It sounds more brutal than it was - you had to be there. It actually was a hilarious moment in worship.
For those of you interested, the deadline for the Kenya Missions trips is TODAY at 5:00 pm. If you want to go, I suggest calling the church office immediately @ 919.206.HOPE (4673).
Ahhhhh, this is a gorgeous Monday in January. As I said last week in a tweet, this is precisely why I love North Carolina. Thank you Jesus.
I honor Martin Luther King, Jr. today. I have been profoundly impacted/influenced by his sermons.
It's a great day to be in the church of Jesus Christ! These are amazing opportunities for us to be the hope of the world. I'm so encouraged by what I see taking place in churches all over the world!
Stay tuned to my blog this week for more information regarding our efforts in Haiti. A VERY solid game plan is coming together.
Some of you have asked about the Daniel Fast information. That will be posted here, as well, but later in the week. Anyone interested is invited to start the Daniel's Fast on Sunday! In preparation, go ahead and read Daniel 1 - 3.

Unleash the Dream TOMORROW!

2010-01-16T12:27:00.002-05:00

In light of the most recent devastation in Haiti, God continues to expand our hearts and vision for His people. I find myself more hopeful and excited about doing ministry in the Church of Jesus Christ than ever before.

Unleash the Dream is all about our church seeking God with our hearts, mind, soul, and strength. The vision is that each and every person who considers newhope his/her church home will passionately pursue Christ through Worship, Scripture, prayer, fasting, and daily devotions so that God can speak loud and clear and we can respond with an affirmative yes! God says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me..” (Proverbs 8:17)

This Sunday, I invite you to show up with eagerness to study the Scriptures and fully engage worshipping Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! The Worship Arts Ministry volunteers are fired up and ready to go! (You will love the new stage layout, BTW!) The children’s and student ministry leaders are passionate about loving/leading our children and students in the way of the Lord. And our First Contact volunteers, as always, will be ready to serve with a smile. In preparation, feel free to red Luke 10:25 – 37, the parable of The Good Samaritan.

At the dawn of another year and a brand-new decade, newhope, let us keep the Gospel of Jesus Christ front and center in the life of this church. The vision is clear and the banner high — we are church on point to Reach people for Jesus, Teach the Bible, and Release fully devoted followers! If we do that, beloved, the best is yet to come!

Hope for Haiti

2010-01-14T20:13:00.002-05:00

I am actually writing with a heavy heart due to the earthquake in Haiti. I am sure you have been following the death, destruction, and devastation. As I have watched these events unfold, I have felt the Holy Spirit saying to me over and over again, “You have to do something!”

I have been speaking with other pastors on staff and our HOPE missions disaster relief leader and we are trying to find the most effective and faithful response. Like the world community, there is a great sense of urgency and eagerness to assist and help our brothers and sisters. The difficulty with this situation is that there is no easy assess to this devastated country. Many are figuring this out even now and we will keep you posted. For now, though, I want to let you know of two opportunities.

First, I want to tell you about Samaritan's Purse. Samaritan's Purse is led by Franklin Graham, son of Dr. Billy Graham. This is the same organization that sponsors Operation Christmas Child every year. They are a reputable and responsible organization that you can trust. If you feel led, visit their website (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/) to hear a message from Franklin Graham and an opportunity to make a donation. Also, if you tithe/give to newhope church, take delight in the fact that we will be sending financial gifts on behalf of the entire church family!

Secondly, mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 3rd at 7 PM. During this evening, we will host a night of worship with singing, Scripture, praying and a special offering for the people of Haiti! 100 % of that night's offering will go directly to Haiti and a future missions Trip we will are planning called, “Hope for Haiti!”

Interestingly enough, several months ago we identified Kenya and Haiti as the two geographical focus points for newhope's International Missions emphasis over the course of the next decade. Now that the earthquake has occurred, it is safe to say the Lord was leading us in these earlier decisions. Haiti was already in great need before this earth quake and it is safe to say there will be significant missional opportunities for this country for many many years to come.

Lastly, please pray for the people of Haiti. When we work, we work. But when they pray, GOD WORKS! May almighty God move greatly on their behalf.

I hope to see you Sunday as we kick off Unleash the Dream!

Reconciliation...

2010-01-12T09:45:00.004-05:00

If you were in church on Sunday, or you follow me via twitter, then you know that my dad came to NC last weekend. You are probably also aware of the fact that we have spent the last 5 1/2 years completely estranged from one another. It is far too complex to get into now, but suffice it to say it has been very difficult and painful for many people on both sides.

Several months ago my sweet and beloved grandmother passed away. (My dad's mother) At the funeral, the Holy Spirit moved mightily and as a result, hard and seemingly impenetrable walls, which had been constructed over the course of five years came crashing down and the result was firsthand reconciliation. That reconciliation continues to unfold as my dad and his wife stayed in our home this past weekend. We celebrated a late Christmas and everyone enjoyed the time together, including my children.

Since this is so fresh, I thought I would offer some reflections on the beauty and power of authentic reconciliation. It has become increasingly clear to me is that almost everyone has someone with whom they need to be reconciled. I have been blow away at the number of people who have thanked me for sharing so openly the past few years. People are finding hope in their own situations. Maybe these reflections will help, as well:

God wants reconciliation far more than we do. I think of Paul's words in II Corinthians 5 - "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation..." (2 Corinthians 5:16 - 18) Granted, this is about ultimate reconciliation with God but it is clear in this passage and throughout Scripture that our God is a God of reconciliation and desires for us to do the same!
Pride destroys the potential of reconciliation. If you are pursuing reconciliation with a loved one, check your pride/ego at the door and humble yourself. James 4:10 says, "Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up."
God's timing is everything. For the last 20 years I have wanted my mother to come to know Christ. For the last 5 1/2 years, I have desperately wanted to have a relationship with my dad. In the course of the last nine months, God took care of both! Isn't that just like God?! As the African-American tradition is fond of saying, "God is never early... God is never late... but God is always on time!"
By and large, both people are almost always at fault. People think because I am a pastor that I must have handled this situation perfectly. I hate to disappoint but nothing can be further from the truth. Part of my journey through this process has been owning my own junk and coming to terms with the fact that I have played a significant role in the brokenness with my dad. It has been quite cleansing and edifying, not to mention humbling and painful.
During initial stages of reconciliation, slow and easy feels like the best approach. After spending 5 1/2 years not talking to a loved one, patience is key to rebuilding trust, vulnerability, and communication skills. Interestingly enough, as my father was driving to North Carolina on Friday, his dad (my granddaddy) had a mild stroke. As such, dad only stayed through Saturday afternoon instead of through Sunday evening. At first, we were all disappointed, On second thought, however, I think it was God's way of helping us navigate the reconciliation road slow and easy. ( Please pray for my granddad as he continues trying to live without his beloved wife of 60+ years)
A child's relationship with his dad is paramount. PERIOD! Again, I have been blown away by the number of people who hear my story and share their pain and hurt. I have found that the overwhelming majority of immediate family brokenness is connected to a child's relationship with his/her dad. This should teach us to things: 1.) If you are a dad, never under estimate the significance of your role in the life of your child(ren) 2.) And if you are a child needing a reconciliation with your dad, here is a powerful verse to claim, "And He will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17)

For those of you needing reconciliation, I pray that God will go before you and that your hearts be joined to your loved ones and prepared for the coming of the Lord!

Peace and much love...

A God-Sized New Year's Resolution

2010-01-10T18:36:00.001-05:00

A God-Size New Year’s Resolution and Unleash the Dream!

2010-01-08T07:59:00.003-05:00

This Sunday, I will be speaking about a God-size New Year’s Resolution that impacts every single person in our church. If we can get this one thing right in our lives, EVERYTHING else falls into a place. I hope you will join us and if at all possible, attend the 8:45 am Worship Celebration. Last Sunday, we were beyond 95 % capacity with a dozen or so people standing against the back wall! Go God!

God is truly blessing our Worship beyond words these days. Pastor Curtis and I spoke on Sunday about the way in which everyone REALLY came to Worship with passion and enthusiasm last Sunday. The New Year obviously brought about a commitment to God, who is worthy of our deepest praise. There is nothing like Sunday Worship when it is faithful in Spirit and truth. On the flip side, there is nothing worse than Worship when it is contaminated with sin, pride, and self. I am reminded of a humorous story I heard one time.

There was a church where the pastor and the minister of music were not getting along. As time went by, this began to spill over into the Worship service. The first week the pastor preached on commitment and how we all should dedicate ourselves to the service of God. The music director led the song, "I Shall Not Be Moved."

The second week the pastor preached on tithing and how we all should gladly give to the work of the Lord. The director led the song, "Jesus Paid it All."

The third week the pastor preached on gossiping and how we should all watch our tongues. The music director led the song, "I Love to Tell the Story."

With all this going on, the pastor became very disgusted over the situation and the following Sunday told the congregation that he was considering resigning. The musician led the song, "Oh Why Not Tonight?"

As it came to pass, the pastor did indeed resign. The next week he informed the church that it was Jesus who led him there and it was Jesus who was taking him away. The music leader led the song, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." :-)

I am sure you have been hearing about it, but next Sunday we are launching a trajectory setting series titled, “Unleash the Dream!” This five week series will determine a God honoring direction for our church family as we settle into our first calendar year at the Southpoint post. If you consider newhope your church home, I encourage you to make every effort possible to be in Worship each and every Sunday. The series concludes with our annual birthday celebration, Vision Day VIII, on Sunday, February 14! It goes without stating, but I will say it anyway - YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS IT!

See you Sunday...

What Christmas TOLD us about God!

2010-01-05T23:47:00.003-05:00

I came across this quote in my study/research for the Christmas of Hope series in December! In cleaning out my study here at the house, I came across it again. I love this...

“Those who believe in God can never, in a way, be sure of Him again. Once they have seen Him in a stable, they can never be sure where He will appear or to what lengths He will go or to what ludicrous depths of self-humiliation He will descend in His wild pursuit of man... And this means that we are not safe, that there is no place where we can hide from God, no place where we are safe from His power to break into and recreate the human heart because it is where He seems most helpless that He is most strong and just where we least expect Him that He comes most fully.” - Frederick Beuchner

Ahhhh - that's good stuff good people!

Monday Morning Reflections...

2010-01-04T06:30:00.007-05:00

Brace for Impact - The Miracle on the Hudson (with special guest Mark Hood)

Personally, it was powerful for me to be in church yesterday. I'm not quite sure why but it just meant a lot to be in the house of Lord on the first Sunday of the year and sence God's power and presence in Worship.
If we had any doubts about going to three worship celebrations, yesterday put any and all doubts to rest. When you consider the dozen or so people standing against the back wall, we were actually beyond 100% capacity in the second worship celebration, . Mark your calendars for February 28th -- our new worship celebration times will be 8:30 / 10:10 / 11:45 am!
I am fired up about pastors Jeremiah Dodson and CJ Stephens co-leading our student ministries! It is pretty stinking cool when God raises up pastors from among you, sends them to seminaries, and brings them back home to lead and impact the next generation.
It was obvious that newhopers came to fully lean in and worship Jesus yesterday. That blesses the heart of God, newhope!
There were a lot of New Year's returnees in the house yesterday. I guess going back to church was a popular New Year's resolution - WELCOME HOME.
I'm in that old familiar place again -- finding it difficult to sleep because I sense God is doing something beyond explanation/words. 2010 is going to blow our minds!
Don't miss worship this coming Sunday. FYI - I haven't preached in two weeks which means I am soooooooooo ready to go! :-)
I experienced two great meetings after church yesterday, one with the finance and personnel team and the other with a group of leaders discussing Unleash the Dream. I'm continually amazed at the caliber of leadership at this church.
Speaking of Unleash a Dream, please be in prayer!
Dang, it's cold out there.
I can't wait for the national championship Thursday night. I am picking/pulling for Bama, even though I have nothing against Mack Brown and the University of Texas.

My New Year's Resolution - STAY ADDICTED TO LIFE CHANGE

2009-12-30T08:33:00.005-05:00

Over the course of the last few weeks, our team has spent a lot of time talking about the need to go to a third worship celebration. To be honest, we did not think that we would be at this point nine months into the new building. God, obviously has different plans!

Needless to say, when we have to add additional services, we have to remind people why we do what we do. That is understandable. It is easy to fall into going negative and forgetting what is most important.

As I spent time in prayer and reading the Scriptures this morning, I came to a personal conclusion — I had to confess to the Lord that I am simply addicted to life change! I think I heard Him say GOOD! :-)

I stumbled across Philippians 4:1 which says, “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, and that is how you should stand firm in the Lord.” In and of itself, that verse doesn’t say a lot. You have to look at the section right before this pericope. (3: 12 — 21) When the Word tells us that is how we should stand firm, it is talking about pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. In that section, the apostle Paul goes on to talk about the way in which the Holy Spirit takes control of our, “lowly bodies” so that we can be like his glorious body! To read the entire chapter, go here.

As I studied this passage, I was reminded of the utmost importance of what we’re doing in the Kingdom of God! The teaching and passion of the apostle Paul was to run the race to win! (BTW – that is why I was so ticked off last Sunday when the coach of the Indianapolis Colts did NOT play to win but rather played it safe. I don’t care if it is business, politics, marriage, parenting, or ministry – like the apostle Paul, I think we should play to win!)

And a win, according to the entire New Testament, is when people experience the love, grace, power, and transformation that comes when someone has an authentic personal relationship with Jesus. And personally speaking, I am addicted to that encounter in my own life and will strive to bring others to that same experience until the day I die. If God will keep sending the people I will joyfully preach as much as God calls me to preach! If it means I die a little prematurely than I would have otherwise, that too is cool. Paul said somewhere else, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

When it is all said and done, though, I want to echo the words of the apostle Paul when he said towards the end of his life, “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have long for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6 — 8)

Welcome Video from Sunday...

2009-12-29T20:38:00.002-05:00

Some have asked my where-abouts on Sunday. Well, that tells me that you know I wasn't in church BUT that you weren't either! :-) They showed this welcome video in my absence.