Day 2 - Live from D6 Conference

Live from D6 Conference!

No We Won't Back Down!

Tom Petty had it right when he sang, "No I won't back down, you can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down." 

As many of you know Trinity Pinopolis began a new service called Trinity Sunday Night, a service geared towards the next generation and towards reaching people in our community. Well the day could have been interesting and was set up to be a disaster really. 

The family and I were settling into our new schedule of having Sunday mornings free before serving on Sunday night. I get a text from Hal, our Rector (lead pastor), asking if I had seen the TV in the parish hall (worship center). Last time I saw it was Thursday when I left. Well apparently, someone decided their home needed the TV more than we did. Long story short, and a police report later, I was reminded in my head of the Song from Tom Petty, "No I won't back down."

This song became a theme song for a good friend of mine in ministry when he and the church he was serving in at the time started going through a rough patch. He mention the song to me and I thought that was cute. But then I really read the lyrics. They really describe the life of a follower. Romans 8:31b - 32:

"If God is for us, who can be^[h] against us? ^32(BJ) He who did not spare his own Son but^(BK) gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?"

We also see a promise given to Joshua in Joshua 1:3: 

"Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses."

So with the reminder of Romans 8 and the promise of Joshua 1:3. My encouragement to you is to NOT BACK DOWN. Fight hell with water pistols. Take aim and the enemy and punch with a fire of worship. 

All that being I said, I am so grateful for the team that helped get Trinity Sunday Night off the ground. I feel because of the TV, the worship was just that much sweeter. I feel we encountered Jesus face to face and really felt a movement of the Holy Spirit. We could have easily given up, gotten down. But then I remembered that great theologian Tom Petty and his great words, No I won't back down. 

Trinity Sunday Night is going to be a great journey for Trinity Pinopolis. Be on the lookout for the Trinity Pinopolis podcast! Until then...

Grace and Peace.

Run, Phillip, Run

So I feel like Forest Gump, and Jesus is my Jenny. Ok, loose relation, but the idea is there. I have been undergoing some conviction about my health. I mean, I am in shape, since round is a shape, but I think I need to get fit. Now do not get me wrong, I am not going out to become a body builder, I just do not think that is me, but I do need to drop a pound or 20, and just be in shape cardio wise. In my study time this morning, I was looking for Biblical support for being fit, since I am trying to find motivation... so here is what I came up with:

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I had to ask myself if I was really glorifying God with the way I was treating my body, and the noticeable answer is, no.

"But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." - 1 Corinthians 9:27

Now I understand that Paul is talking so much deeper than me getting my tail running and exercising. But the idea is there for me and the encouragement to get myself under control. So do not go and blame me for being a heretic, or someone who loves to pull scripture out of context, because that is not my goal at all. I am just trying to find encouragement through scripture.

There are 2 underlining reasons, besides conviction in why I see to start running important. One main reason is for my family. I need to be healthy and strong for them, so I can be around for a LONG time. Not trying to get all morbid, but I do have a history of heart failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. in my family, and I need to get my body fit NOW, before it is too late.

The second reason come because I feel I need to be in shape, so when delivering God's word and doing God's work I can do my best. I hear that running is an amazing release for pastors and it allows you to just go run, and be in the presence of the Holy one.

My game plan? Couch to 5k. The whole idea is to get you to run a 5k in 9 weeks. The plan seems really simple and great for someone, who well, has never do this before. I am not trying to be the next USA gold medalist for cross country, even though it would be cool to run in the Bridge Run one day. Who knows, maybe some of my runner friends will see me there one day. I will keep you updated in my journey to being in a shape other than round.

In the world, not of it...

"Be in the world, and not of the world." Well I would usually put a reference, but I can't. No where in scripture do we find this exact wording. Now I will say there are parts of scripture that will, in context, bring forth the idea of not being of the world. The best place to look is John 15:19

19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." -John 15:19

Just a side note: We as followers are not of this world. When we follow Christ we become His, "Marked as Christ's own forever." (Justification: made righteous before God)

Here in John 15, the word world is referring to the human system that goes against the things of God, which we can say that our culture is very saturated with. But the first thing that needs to happen is what do we use to measure the "worldliness" of something?As long as we are comparing and defining by Biblical standards, and not standards that are set out by denominational covenants and bylaws, we will find what is Holy (of Christ) and what is not (of the world). We must examine through the lens of Holy Scripture.

I rant to say that the idea of being in the world and not of the world is hard, especially for students. Culture's main goal is to throw as much stuff at us to help persuade us how to live life. If you do not believe me, just watch MTV, or any other network for about 10 minutes and I can almost guarantee that they will in some way portray to you sex, alcohol, materialism, image, etc. (yes, even kid networks sell image, you know the newest gadget or coolest book bag, etc). You see, in order for ministry and evangelism to take place, we have to be in the world. If we tried to completely cut ourselves off from that junk, we might as well lock ourselves in a closet and wait for Jesus to come back (you even witness it driving down the road on billboards, on the radio, and on bumper stickers). We cannot hide from it, that would be IMPOSSIBLE. BUT we can study it and offer something completely different. We can offer and fulfilling life full of grace and love, from a forgiving Savior. We also must be praying constantly for protection against these things that can easily influence us, pray that we can hold a steady mind and eyes fixed on Christ, giving our best to be a radical follower, and not giving into the the temptation that is offered to us.

How do we do this? How can we be in the world, and not fall to the temptations of the things around us that we can term as worldly? I turn to Romans 12...

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Paul's words should speak for themselves. We are to approach this world with a renewed mind (grounded in christ, with the lens of scripture) so we can test what is right, acceptable, and yes, perfect.

So how do we as pastors teach this? How do we help those we teach understand how to be in the world proclaiming and living the Gospel, but to also protect themselves from the temptations that surround us?

First, I think we need to be doing some research. We need to research, test, and understand what our culture is throwing at us through music and media (the greatest avenue of communication). By listening, reading, watching, and understanding, I can begin to understand how I as a pastor can teach people how to determine what is good and what is not. Of course, I can easily tell them, in my opinion (and by Biblical Standard), what is good and bad, but what good does that do? Then we as the church by in to the stereotype that we just tell people they cannot have fun, and we are a crazy group of people with a bunch of rules that will determine where we end up. Are we as the church supposed to shake our finger and slap our Bibles at people and tell them they are horrible sinners that need to turn or burn? That they need to get their fire insurance? I don't think so. We are supposed to TEACH them how to decide for themselves.

Jesus taught his Disciples through parables, and do you think that left a lasting importance? Jesus wanted His disciples to know how to continue to live on and be evangelists when He left. Jesus knew he would not be with the disciples their entire ministry, so He did all in his power to equip them to keep going. I honestly believe that Jesus could have started his ministry and brought 3,000 people and began the church before going to the cross, but he chose to equip 12 men to do that. And we read in Acts about the day of Pentecost when the church began, the spirit fell, and 3,000 came to know Christ. We to, as pastors need to be equipping those we teach on how to determine what is Holy and what is worldly. (To be cliche': "Give a man a fish he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime").

Now do not go claiming me a heretic or adding me to some crazy twitter list. I do believe that there are things laid out in scripture that we as the body of Christ need to call people out on, and I think we can get to relaxed in our approach to holding people accountable and presenting the Gospel. The Gospel is both a message of grace and judgement for our sin. We do need to call people out of their life of sin, I just do not want us to become a culture that gives the diagnosis of the sin and the medicine to cure it and then direct them to their assigned seat in our place of worship. I am not an insurance salesman.

We need to teach people how to begin living towards being Set Apart (Holy) followers of Christ. It is a process (sanctification: the process of becoming Holy), on which will not be completed until the day of glorification: the completion, the consummation, the perfection, the full realization of salvation. A journey that I as a pastor travel as well. May we all support, hold accountable, and present Grace as we all work towards being Set Apart, Holy, Radical followers of Christ. And I pray that we as pastors begin teaching those we teach how to begin to discern what is Holy, and what is not.

A new Journey/ Book Review of Sun Stand Still

I cannot begin to tell all of you how long I have been wanting to post this blog. I know my boy Robbie Foreman can relate to this feeling of freedom I now have, since I can now release it!

I will say that along with this blog there will be a book review of "Sun Stand Still" by Steven Furtick. This will not be your typical review though. I plan to review in how this book spoke to me and what it did and is doing in my life.

The whole idea of the book is to live out and Audacious Faith through audacious prayers and asking God for what can seem to be the impossible. Steven uses the story of Elevate (where he is lead and founding pastor) and how God used a Sun Stand Still prayer to ignite the city of Charlotte, SC through Steven and the core team. I will say, if you have not read it, go get yourself a copy, a cup of coffee (or 3) and read away and be transformed in your faith. If you want a more in depth review of the "content" just google Sun Stand Still reviews and read away. If want real life application, please stay with me, grab a coke, and read on!

I grabbed this book about 3 months ago with the intent of blogging about it, since that is why I was able to get a free copy, that I would agree to blog about the book. I couldn't get into the book for some reason (no offense Steven). The content was great, and life changing, but for some reason I could not be committed to reading and get it done. I later picked up Erasing Hell by Chan, read that quickly (another amazing book) and then felt lead to pick up Sun Stand Still and finish. Well, that took about 3 days and now I know why I could not get in it. I needed the message now, and not three months ago. God's timing was perfect, mine, as always, stunk.

Over the past 6 months or so I have been in prayer about the next step in ministry. I knew God was stirring my heart for something new. I think so often we feel that something new in ministry, means a new church, new people, and sometimes a new place to call home all together. There were times where I wondered where "next" was and where it was going to be, when all along God wanted it to be right here, where I am.

Three and a half years ago, I joined the staff and ministry here at Trinity. A young minister, finishing college, from a different denomination, unsure of the future, but certain of the call that God has placed in my life to come to the community of Pinopolis and begin my journey in ministry. The last three years have been full of ups and down, successes and failures, celebrations and sadness. After much prayer and many discussions with Father Hal, Karey, and mentors in ministry, my family and the church leadership has begun to see what God has called us to do as a ministry.

Recently Hal, the Rector (fancy name for senior pastor) I serve with, came to me about the realization of a needed change in focus at Trinity. The need was to begin becoming a church that lives out the Great Commission, Acts 2, in summary, be a church that goes and Evangelizes. Through prayer and discussions, the Holy Spirit laid on him a new mission and vision for the church and we began to move forward, with audacious faith. As we prayed and took time to realized the demographics of our area and our congregation, we noticed on big thing. The communities around us are slowly getting younger, but we as a church are getting older. There is a huge gap of what we call the "Next Generation" (Ages 35 and younger) attending worship. So, with the new vision and mission we realized that a core of what we do has to target them.

With that stage being set, I am excited to share that I have been called to step into the role of the Next Generation Pastor here at Trinity. As of September 11, I will no longer be attending the Sunday morning worship at Trinity and will be developing a worship service that is geared towards the next generation and the unchurched that will take place onsite Sunday nights at 6:00 PM starting September 18 (you are invited). I will be responsible for leading and developing Evangelism, Outreach, Worship, and Discipleship for the Next Generation (I will still be doing Youth Ministry on Wednesday nights). So right now I am flying an airplane and trying to put it together in the air, but God is guiding, blessing, and holding it all together. Stepping out on faith, since this model is very different than what most epsicopal/ anglican church are doing.

This is how the book ties in...

The idea of faith is something that was taught to me at a young age. I understood the concepts of by faith and not by site, by faith and not by works, but I believe I just realized what it means to live out and live in my faith. I began to understand to place my trust so hard in Christ that if he were to remove himself, I would fall flat on my face. I also felt that I was too busy praying and not doing anything, but waiting, when then I learned that I need to be working and praying at the same time (addressed in the book). The book gets you to the point of developing a Page 23 vision and Sun Stand Still prayers. SSS prayers can be short term and long term, and trust me, you will find both in your Page 23 vision.

I will say for me, I am still tweaking my Page 23 vision and my Sun Stand Still prayers, but I know that the new adventure of being the Next Generation Pastor is playing a huge role, as we step out in faith in this new service, knowing that God will bless it, and send people to hear about the gospel. I encourage you to live out your faith everyday and trust God to do big things in your life and through your life. I could easily debunk all of Sun Stand Still in this blog, but if I did I would communicate in a messy way what Furtick communicates so beautifully. Be prepared to be bold, step out and let God use you. I will say that it is a crazy ride, a beautiful struggle, and I am no where near the end, I am just at the beginning.

I do ask that you keep Karey, Sanders, and myself in prayer as we start this journey. Pray that Jesus will place a hedge of protection around our family from the darts of the enemy. The enemy wants nothing more than to keep people from walking into the light of Salvation, and seeks to target those who carry the Good News. Also be praying for the relationships we will build and for God to begin placing those people in our lives who would benefit from Trinity Sunday Night. Pray that our faith in God to do something huge in this community will change the way the gospel is seen in the lives of many. The days ahead are both clear and muddy at the same time, but I know that God is sovereign and will appoint the correct viewpoints and discernment in His time. I look forward to sharing with you what God is doing among us. Please never miss the opportunity to be used to further the Kingdom and know that I am praying for each and every one of you. Thank you for your support, love, and prayers. Keep the faith and press onward and upward.