Had a meeting last week with a man who has been visiting New Hope off and on this summer (in between family trips out of town). We work hard to make New Hope an inviting place to worship and serve. Lots of people contribute to that every single week. So it's always interesting to hear from people what drew them to New Hope and what happened that would cause them to be interested in staying.
In his case, one of the main factors was the person in the picture above - our friend Allan.
Allan, for those of you coming in late, is a fixture in our little town. He's developmentally challenged, but seldom if ever meets a stranger. He loves Nascar, baseball, the Florida Gators and New Hope. And New Hope loves Allan just as he is. We've been doing it for ten years now so we don't really even think of it as a choice anymore. God loves us. We love each other. Each other is everyone God puts in our path. Allan is loved - treasured, really.
Our new friend saw that, and measured it against his experience and found it "a God thing." One that told him things about New Hope without his hearing a single word from us. Kind of a "they will know you are Christians by your love..." sort of thing. I heard him say "one of the reasons I came back was the way you all treated Allan" and I thanked God for teaching us a lot about how to love through him. So many of us think that the only way God teaches us is through formal Bible study. That certainly helps ground us, but we have to live it out.
Our motto at New Hope "We love, because He first loved us" has become who we are.
There are no words for me to use to describe as pastor of this amazing group of people, how knowing that makes me feel. No words at all.
I love dandelions. I know, I know - they are a weed. But give them long enough, and though it doesn't seem anything is going on, they spread. And when they flower, it's beautiful. So I think God must love them too. But just looking at them, you wouldn't expect much. And yet...
You never really know everything that God has going on, do you? We really do "see through a glass, darkly" in this life. So the focus of a church and the people in it has to be following Jesus - loving Him with our lives and loving the people He places in our lives. Harder said than done sometimes. Circumstances can block your view of the little bit that you can see of what God is up to. But every now and then...
Opened the Kidmo "store" Sunday to a rousing reception. If you remember, Kidmo is a cutting edge discipleship tool for kids. It's high energy and high content that uses the latest in technology to bring the kids INTO the story each week and (this is what pumps me up) sends the story home with them in the form of the "MAP" or "Mission Action Plan" that they discuss and walk through with their parents each week. Well, we've put some incentives in play that encourage the kids to bring their Bible, return with a completed MAP, memorize their "Compass Point", and bring friends. Had a blast being the store keeper Sunday. I LOVE OUR NEW HOPE KIDS. One of the great joys I have in this job is being their pastor. So we had a great crowd over there and they had a blast both in SS and in the extended session (Children's Church).
Had a young woman come up after the service and wanted to know how she could tell if God was calling her to be a missionary. She's someone who deeply loves God and who - even though she struggles with illness - is very dedicated, faithful, and in love with what God has called New Hope to be and do. We talked for a little while and I hope I was able to give her some guidance. All the while I was thanking God for being a part of His work - not just here at New Hope, but through our missionaries - both the ones with that label through a denomination and those who are teachers, computer guys, granddaddys, moms, servicemen and women - through all the people God has blessed us with over the years.
The music set for worship was: He Reigns, Nothing But the Blood (Redman version), How Can I Keep From Singing, and In Christ Alone. Good mix of songs, and the praise team did great. Was great to have John Chandler on bass. He adds so much to the mix. We're working on some new songs and some old songs. Stay tuned.
We're walking through the book of Colossians and this passage, though brief, really illuminates both Jesus' role as Savior, and our state - both prior to coming to faith, and in Christ. Our culture tends to elevate the individual and give us affirmation regardless of our actions. Unfortunately, this has crept in the side door of the Church as well, and as a result we have people who are not truly believing that Christ had to die for their sins, because they don't see themselves as anything but a "good person." A recent study identified this and called it "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism." I briefly touched on that, but it's worthwhile if you are interested in the faith of millions today to check into it further.
I'm convinced that until we realize just how much we need a Savior, we will never truly appreciate God's grace. In that conviction, I stand with the author of the most beloved song in the church - "Amazing Grace." John Newton said this "'My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.'"
We were in Bible study last night - in Hebrews. The picture above is not from that study. :)
But at times it might as well be. The average American Christian has 9 Bibles in their home. There are 30 TV networks available on cable and satellite that are filled with Christian programming. Great teaching about Christ is available over the airwaves on TV and radio, and just a click away on the Internet. And yet, when I think about the average person I know who says that they are a believer, I have a sneaking suspicion that texts like Hebrews aren't where they spend their time (reading one of their 9 Bibles). Why have I come to that conclusion? Because I see the signs of "Jesus Deficit Disorder" all around me.
We've found ourselves lulled to sleep even though God has given us the Greatest Story Ever Told, because we think we know everything we need to know about Jesus. NO WE DON'T. Even if we have read the Bible multiple times. Even if we can recite large portions from memory. Even if we possess perfect attendance Sunday School pins that would give us the Baptist equivalent of General Petraus's medals - people who should be in love with Jesus should love to read, hear, or discuss what they've learned about Jesus again and again and again. It's like we think we've reached our "Jesus quota." Go back up and look at that picture again. The young woman on the right in the corner might not be asleep, but she certainly isn't enjoying herself.
We are spiritually anemic and as a result are weak in the ability to live the life God has laid out for us, and changing the world? Forget about it. As Keith Green put it, "Jesus rose from the dead, but you, you can't even get out of bed."
This can change. We can change. The antidote is Jesus. Praying to Jesus. Meditating on His Word. Studying His life. Sharing His love. We need more Jesus. True joy is not found in the ideal circumstances we all seem to wish and hope for. True joy comes from being in a living, active, growing relationship with the Son of God.
We've run forward and have dived into the deep water at New Hope. Opening our hearts and minds to God's Holy Spirit through two of the most Christ-centric books in all the Bible - Colossians on Sunday mornings and Hebrews on Wednesday night. I've read them devotionally over the past few weeks, and began the humbling task of breaking them down and crafting messages and teaching materials to use. The texts have amazed me, encouraged me, and excited me about Who Jesus is and just what I've received in Christ.
What you've received in Christ.
As the old song puts it "and the things of earth with grow strangely dim, in the light of His marvelous face."
Yes they do.
Take some time before Sunday comes and read Colossians 1:15-23. Take a step back and see if you can grasp just who Jesus is - and what power He has - and what He's done - what He is doing - and what He will do.
15 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. 16 For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. 17 He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. 18 And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. 19 So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. 20 Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross. 21 You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. 22 But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. 23 You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message. Col 1:15-23 (MSG)
Mack Kirkland and Lois Somerville were married in a beautiful ceremony Saturday evening at New Hope. This was a joyous event for all of us at New Hope who love them both. It was awesome.
Sunday's worship was great too. Maybe some of that joy carried over, but people really seemed to be singing. The set included two songs that we hadn't done in over a year and for the life of me I don't know why, because they were awesome.
All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises - with a great lead-in from Sean
O Worship the King - David Crowder
Lord I Lift Your Name On High - complete with motions!
Made Me Glad - Hillsongs
Amazing Grace - All of it! That's right - we sang every verse and we SANG!
The message was the first in a series I'll be preaching from Colossians. New Hope has done so much ministry and service over the last couple of years, I've come to the conclusion that we need to spend some time exploring and discovering the riches of what we have received by God's grace. Jesus is everything. He is enough to meet our every need. But we sometimes seem to have a Jesus Deficit Syndrome and it keeps us in bondage to our emotions and a slave to our circumstances.
So we are tackling Hebrews on Wednesday night Bible study and Colossians on Sunday morning. Total immersion in Jesus. Had the best week of study I've had in a long time last week and attribute that to two things - first, I'm reaching for more time in the Bible and working with some of the old tools - pen and highlighter that I used years ago. Less laptop and more of an open Bible with notes scribbled on post-it notes and filling the margins. Yes, I have tons of help on the laptop, but for some reason the old school way made me slow down and really dig into the text.
The text Sunday was the first I ever preached at New Hope. It's one of those passages where Paul opens his heart to the reader and he lays out exactly what his prayers are for the people God has given him to care for. It was easier to identify with now than it was years ago. The people God has placed me in are dear to me, and I pray every day for them and for God to fill their lives with His grace and peace. So as we start our walk through these two great books,I'm believing that God is going to do great things among us.
The majority of churches in the Southern Baptist Convention are not filled with thousands of people. They're not filled with hundreds of people. The vast majority are smaller churches with less than 200 members. Of those churches the vast majority of them are not filled either. And yet, great things happen there.
Year after year, the churches that make up the SBC meet in their annual meeting and vote another large church pastor to shepherd the denomination's efforts. The size and scope of those efforts are immense. The largest number of permanently funded missionaries. The biggest number of seminaries and the largest number of seminary graduates. Disaster response on a scale that has the Red Cross and Salvation Army asking for SBC help. Maybe that's why men from large churches are always picked. They have first hand knowledge of large organizations.
Well, here in Valparaiso Florida USA and through small churches all over the SBC world, great things are happening.
I was asked the question recently, "What's the best compliment you have ever received in the ministry?"
That made me think. My answer came after reflecting on just what the church I have been given to serve and to care for has done over the years.
"Your church does more ministry with less than any church I have ever seen." It was a comment given at our "Advent Conspiracy" store's open house last November. The comment could have been said to any member of New Hope. We did it together.
We have sent shoes to Soles 4 Souls twice and have the materials to do it again. The sight of people leaving their shoes behind in the sanctuary and walking out into the world gets me every time.
We've fed, clothed and housed orphans through the SBC's and FLBC's system and through Amazima, World Vision, and Compassion. Individuals, classes, and the church as a whole now have sons and daughters all across the world.
We've given life to people dying for lack of clean water through our contributions and partnership with The Water Project as well as through the efforts of the SBC. Our first effort helped build a well in Kenya at GPS Coordinates: Latitude -0.355350 Longitude 34.628833 that is serving 400 people. This is what they had before.
Right now we are collecting money to drill a well for people in the Sudan. have any of us been there? No. But God is there and He's called us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Led by our girls ministry, we've given stainless steel bowls to kids in Haiti, formula to orphans in Honduras, VBS materials to the Ukraine, blankets to elder Navajo, and sent an amazing contribution to LOVE 146, an organization that is working to end human trafficking.
We've gathered, packed and sent off with love 20 "Buckets of Hope" that are feeding Haitian families as you read this.
There's so much more, including what one of our Bible Study class did just a couple of hours ago feeding some tired and hungry World Changers over in Ft Walton Beach lunch and making sure the team of 15 teens and adults are well hydrated and cared for.
If you see our folks out and about long enough, chances are you'll see them wearing T-shirts like this one that helped a couple adopt an Ethiopian child.
Or any of several others that made sure kids got treatment for HIV, or people got clean water, or you might see the Toms shoes on someone that by their purchase made sure someone else got a pair too.
There's more but here's the deal.
Those are all GREAT THINGS - GOD HONORING - KINGDOM EXPANDING THINGS
And God led, encouraged, and empowered the people of New Hope Baptist Church whose numbers don't seem to count for much in the SBC scheme of things to do them. It gives me chills to think that I was here when God did such amazing things that literally have changed the world.
So if you are looking for a place to learn about what God is like, what God's people do, and don't care what size the buildings are - if you want to worship, fellowship, love and serve with people who have a God THAT BIG - then come see us.
From my office window I routinely see the best that the world's aeronautical engineers can turn out. The finest of America's Air Force and occasionally the finest of other nation's air forces as well combine with commecial aviation and private planes to really give me a show. But today, this showed up.
Friends, we are not worthy of comparing ourselves to the Creator. You should have seen the way this kite turned and glided. It was amazing.
10 Creation and creatures applaud you, God;11 your holy people bless you.They talk about the glories of your rule,they exclaim over your splendor,12 Letting the world know of your power for good,the lavish splendor of your kingdom.
Psalms 145:10-12 (MSG)
It's the hand of a child in Uganda, being held loosely by an American volunteer who came to Africa to bring hope to the hopeless. Uganda has seen its share of trouble - from despotic dictators, to famine and unrest. But in recent years, as the heart of God's people was moved by the Holy Spirit to care for the poor, more and more Christians and others of like minds headed into the country, pictures like the one above have ceased to be taken there.
Here's another picture. It's the picture of one of those Christians that came to Uganda to make a difference. His name was Nate Henn and he was a volunteer with Invisible Children - an NGO that hoped to reach and care for the children who had been forced into the wars as soldiers. This weekend Nate went to watch the World Cup final with some of "his kids."
Terrorists detonated bombs during the match that were designed to inflict the most damage possible. Nate perished in the blast along with over 60 others and some of the children were injured. A Somali- based Islamist group claimed responsibility for the blasts there and another elsewhere in Uganda. They hoped to sow fear and they succeeded. But they did not win. Nate gave his life for the kids - he didn't lose it.
My prayer is that the publicity surrounding Nate's death will cause a flood of even more people who are willing to come and serve and if necessary, die to be God's hands and feet to the poor and defenseless. Jim Elliot said it best - "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to find what he can never lose." The work Nate did here on earth will live on. But we mourn his passing tonight and pray for his kids.
Tackled the next parable in a series where I'm trying to expose people to the way Jesus tied theology to life - everyday life AND eternal life. It was the parable known as "The Rich Fool." You know the one - it's about the guy that is so successful he has a little talk with himself about the future, then gets a wake up call from God. It starts though with a lead-in snippet about a young man asking Jesus to intervene in a probate matter.
Brothers and sisters, I know WAY too much about probate issues after my brother and I walked that road together in the wake of our father's passing. And Bunny has had a smidgen of the pain visit her as well just recently. So even though I was just tackling the next text, God knew when I'd approach and would use it to speak His Truth to our family as well as to the New Hope family. Had others thankful for the message as well. Thank God, folks. Thank God.
This week's context was the week after the 4th, and the occasion of a major advancement in our Fellowship Hall extreme makeover. The guys worked 11 hours Saturday (thanks again Craig, Scott, Taylor,and Mack) getting it done. And everyone was marveling at just how good it looked. More to come.
We chose some songs for that part of worship to engage people and lift Jesus and His work here among us.
God of This City - the Tomlin version but with a bluesy start that really was great
Indescribable - beautiful song for a beautiful summer morning
Your Grace is Enough - love this song's blending of OT and New
Come Just As You Are - "hear the Spirit's call..." yep, that's what to listen for
Had a good crowd and also had a very involved and responsive group at our church conference that evening. Of course the coffee and Bunny's caramel cake probably amped everyone up some. But we discussed what God was leading us to do and how to do it better.
Praying this week for Joe Stoy and the five boys he's bringing with him to RA camp. New Hope paid their way - boys from our neighborhood who need this - and we're praying that God will honor the investment with life changes that will last forever. This is the first time New Hope has sent boys to camp, and I'm really looking forward to hearing about what God did.
