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He Met You At The Airport

Heather and the kids arrived home from vacation yesterday afternoon.  Their flight was coming into Raleigh (two-and-a-half hours from here), so I made a few sacrifices yesterday.  They weren't grand or applause worthy; they were minor.  I took a vacation day, drove through a determined rainstorm, paid for gas, paid for parking, walked for an eternity (apparently, Southwest's terminal is in the Quarantine Quadrant of the airport), carried the world's heaviest luggage to the car, drove back through the perfect storm, listened to twenty-seven stories about grandad's dog, Murphy and, when we got to the house, I unloaded the luggage that, unfortunately, had not lost any weight during the drive.  I made a few sacrifices, but I would do it all over again tomorrow.  I would do it all over again because it meant that I got to be with the people I love.

Even though it's certainly not to scale, I wonder if this is how Jesus felt?  He made sacrifices.  I'm not talking about paying a couple of bucks for parking or throwing his back out lifting Heather's obscenely heavy suitcase - He made real sacrifices.  He left Heaven; He put on flesh; He lived among us; He was tortured and mocked and brutalized; and He died.  He died for you.  That was His sacrifice.  And He did it because it meant that from now throughout eternity, He gets to be with the people that He loves.  As I read the Bible, and as I read of God's great love for humanity, I can't help but get the feeling that He would do it all over again if He had to. 

Jesus made sacrifices for you.  Jesus met you at the airport.  Aren't you glad He did?

Thank You

 

Weekend Recap | 11-09-09

Food for the hungry, students at the soup kitchen, a new song rocks, drums on milk crates, the set up team goes surfin', stereotypes perpetuated ("men and women pack differently"), notes taken, Thanksgiving dinner announced, and God has a plan.  In case you missed it, here's the recap...

Pre-Encounter Playlist...

Stonez of Christ - (Jedi Mind Tricks); God Almighty, None Compares (David Crowder Band); When Love Takes Over (Kelly Rowland & David Guetta); All The Right Moves (One Republic); Meet Me Halfway (The Black Eyed Peas); Battlefield (Jordan Sparks); Again (Flyleaf); Take It All (Hillsong United)

Worship Set...

Freedom Is Here (Reuben Morgan); Oh Happy Day (Steve Fee); Here I Am To Worship (Tim Hughes); Be Thou My Vision

Message...

God had a plan.  The river would be crossed, the battle would be won, the victory was assured.  God's plan for Joshua and the Israelites had been set in motion, and they would see God's hand at work.

So it is with you.  God has a plan and a purpose for your life.  He has gone before you and made a way if you will but follow.  In the second message of the Unstoppable series, we look at Joshua's example and talk about how to live in God's plan for our lives. (click here to listen or subscribe in iTunes)

The Double "Now THAT'S a Compliment" Moment of the Day...

I spoke with a young man after the service who is originally from Michigan.  He said, "This church reminds me of my church back home.  I went to Mar's Hill.  My pastor was Rob Bell."  This made me happy.

And on a visitor card, someone who heard about us through Facebook wrote, "This is like my church in Miami, Flaming Road Church".  This also made me happy.

Perhaps we should change our name to "Flamingo Hill".

Thanksgiving In The CR...

Church Relevant family dinner!  We'll provide the turkey and drinks; you provide your favorite sides and desserts.  (contact Heather at hroberts@ec.rr.com if you have any questions)

"I Grew Up In A Very Strict Christian Home"

Strummin' my pain with his fingers, singing my life with his words, killing me softly...

Blatant Plagiarism of the Day | 11-05-09

On the topic of the message of Jesus...

Why no weapons?  Why no well-oiled political machine?  Why live in constant vulnerability?  Why not identify a scapegoat, an enemy, a target of hatred?  Because, Jesus says again and again, this kingdom advances with neither violence nor bloodshed, with neither hatred nor revenge.  It is not just another one of the kingdoms of this world.  No, this kingdom advances slowly, quietly, under the surface - like yeast in dough, like a seed in soil.  It advances with faith: when people believe it is true, it becomes true.  And it advances with reconciling, forgiving love: when people love strangers and enemies, the kingdom gains ground. 

Violent revolutions, in this sense, aren't revolutionary.  Noisy regime changes are utterly predictable - brought about by displays of power and hollow promises and indomitable wealth.  In contrast, the message of Jesus may well be called the most revolutionary of all time.

This kind of revolution, on the one hand, seems laughable.  It's the crazy dream of poets and artists, not the strategy of generals and politicians.  Anyone who believes it should be laughed at or perhaps pitied.  It's hard to imagine anything more unrealistic - perhaps pathetic is the most fitting word for it.

On the other hand, what other kind of revolution could possibly change the world?  Perhaps what's crazy is what we're doing and pursuing instead - thinking, after all these millennia, that hate can conquer hate, war cure war, pride overcome pride, violence end violence, revenge stop revenge, and exclusion create cohesion.  Perhaps we're the crazy ones!

-Brian McClaren (The Secret Message of Jesus, pg. 32,33)

May I See Your List?

Recently, I was talking with a young man who had written a list of all of the things wrong with himself.  He had dutifully crafted a lengthy documentation of his faults and his failures - there were many.  I asked him if he could remember some of the things he had written down.  He didn't have to remember; he had the list with him.  He took the folded notebook paper from his pocket, handed it to me and began quoting verbatim the inadequacies I was reading in bullet format.   

I'm sure that a minister with more experience would have handled this situation more wisely.  I imagine that someone with more compassion would have handled this list more sympathetically.  I suppose a pastor with more patience would have dealt with this inventory more carefully.  But I took another route.  I tore it up.  I ripped his list into little pieces, threw it into my trash can and told him never to make another one again. 

I may have overstepped, but I did it for this reason: GOD DOES NOT KEEP LISTS.  I Corinthians 13:5 tells us that "love keeps no record of wrongs".  Hebrews 8:12 tells us "I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."  When we came to God, He forgave us our sins, He put us on a new path and, mercifully, He ripped up our lists.  God does not define you by what you have done, God defines you by what He created you to do. 

Your list is your limit.  God wants to work in your life in spite of your past.  He wants to transform you and use your life for His glory.  So maybe it's time to put your list down.  Better yet, maybe it's time to rip it up.

Never Could Have Made It

This is the song that's burning up my iPod right now...

Weekend Recap | 11-02-09

It was off the hook yesterday at Church Relevant.  A new series, double-digit visitors, the worship team makes a cameo in the CR Kidz ministry, seating extends to the lobby, the computer actually works, we kick off our monthly Grab Some Xtra initiative, the hot chocolate is a hit, grace is the theme and someone gives their heart to Christ after service.  In case you missed it, here's the recap...

Pre-Encounter Playlist...

Worship Set...

All Because of Jesus (Steve Fee); Give Back Our First Love (Ben Kampmeier); Beautiful Jesus (Kristian Stanfill); The Heart of Worship (Matt Redman)

Message...

Yesterday, we kicked off a new series titled Unstoppable,and we focused on God's unstoppable grace.  In the first chapter of Joshua you get the feeling that God is about to do something big.  God is preparing Joshua and the people of Israel for battle.  But before the war is to be fought, grace is extended.  Rahab is from Jericho.  Rahab is a prostitute.  Rahab is far from God.  But He comes to her anyway.  He comes to her door, and He offers salvation.  It is not earned, it is not deserved, it is just given. 

This same grace has been given to you and to me.  Grace to save, grace to protect and grace to transform our lives.  This is unstoppable grace. (click here to view or listen at the CR media page or click here to listen or subscribe in iTunes)

Highlight of the Weekend...

After the service we had a chance to pray with someone for salvation.  There is nothing greater than seeing people come to Jesus!

We Call It The Bus...

We've had eight straight weeks with over 100 in attendance, so we're having to get creative with our seating.  If you don't show up early, you just might end up sitting in The Bus. (one row down the middle and a seat on each side...cuh-lassic!)

CR E-Newz (the z makes it edgy)

If you didn't receive yesterday's CR E-Newsletter on your email machine but want to find out the latest church info, simply click anywhere on these fourteen highlighted words indicating that they are a link.  Get used to clicking, I think computers might be here to stay.

VLOG | 10-29-09