A Gift

A few women from one of our women's small groups came and babysat for Diana and I last night so we could have a date night. We are so very thankful. We actually went to a nice restaurant, enjoyed good food and adult conversation. We were celebrating Father's Day. I know it was last week but we use the Orthodox calendar. No, actually Diana was away last week and coming home on the day I left for Annual Conference so we were like two ships passing in the night and did not have a chance to celebrate Father's Day.

Thanks Tracy, Katherine and Sue- you guys (girls) are the best!

The Audience of One

In the post below I talked about the "audience of one"- God.

We try to remind persons often at New Season about the audience of one on a regular basis. We find that it is so easy for worship to become a performance for those sitting in the seats. This is especially true when we consider our style of worship and our place of worship. With screens, looping backgrounds, guitars and sometimes drums it might be easy for a worshipper to perceive worship as a performance for them. Throw on top of this the fact that our music people are on a "stage" in an auditorium and you have the recipe for worship as performance.

We like to remind people that worship is a performance in some respect- a performance for God. God is the audience for our worship and the object of our worship. We are always seeking ways to involve people in worship so they do not become mere spectators. Just naming that in worship to those gathered just like I did above goes a long way to dispel notions that the people in the seats are the audience.

Annual Conference Round Up

I have just returned from three days at our Annual Conference (the yearly gathering of United Methodist clergy and laity in the state of Virginia where we worship, pray, celebrate, debate, and order our life together).

I have been going for ten years and this was the best one yet I must say. In the past, these three day events can drag and be boring. While there was nothing earth shattering in terms of the items debated this year the music was awesome this year. The focus of the three days was ministry with young people so we actually sang quite a few Tomlin songs and other top 25 favorites. We had some younger people to share messages that were really good.

I know the music and style of worship ruffled some feathers and so that is good. One woman who was walking behind me coming into the civic center was talking to her friends and about how she was going to write a letter to the Bishop complaining about the ear splitting music- blah-blah-blah. I just shook my head.

What I should have done if I thought about it at that time was tell the women that while her opinion was valid she was not the audience for the music- God was. Too many times we get caught up in our preferences in worship and forget we are not the audience so in the end it really doesn't matter whether we "like" the music or not. What this woman was voicing was the consumer mentality that has beset those in the pews in our churches. I am sure this woman was from the kind of church that would bemoan the consumer nature of all those "new churches". Hmm, who is consumerist?

Kudos to those who planned and executed the worship at Annual Conference. A job well done!

Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy, one of the great brains and practitioners who leads Church Leader Insights is now blogging. If you are a church leader and are not yet familiar with Nelson and the wonderful resources he offers to help churches and their leaders go right now to Church Leader Insights. I have used some of their resources for assimilation, preaching calendar, for engaging people in the summer and more.

The fact that Nelson is blogging (and he may have been blogging for a long time and I am just waking up to it now) is a gift for all of us. Check out his blog here.

Only so much...

Everybody is quite aware of the high gas prices! Recently I have been to a couple of gas stations and filling my tank when the pump just shuts off. Apparently nobody can pump more than $50 worth of gas even when you pay with your credit card. I guess the only way would be to go inside and pay cash and have the clerk override the pump. I guess the stations are afraid that the card will not go through or something and so they limit the amount of gas one may obtain.

I wonder how many times I limit the work of God in my life? I wonder how many times I limit the grace God wants to shed abroad in my heart or limit the ways God wants to use me? If I am honest, I guess it is because either implicitly or explicitly I am afraid (like the stations) of losing: losing control, losing my own perceived value, losing wealth and privilege and standing. Yet, I am convicted, Jesus calls me (and you and everyone else) to lose myself to gain him. I hope I can become a better loser.

Caffeine for the Church Planter's Soul

Here is some caffeine for the church planters soul and for every follower of Christ for that matter. I love William Booth and his ideas of the church militant. After praying for a heart like Jesus for the lost and the least I will often pray for the fire and desire for transformation of a William Booth. I often make this quote part of my morning time with God.

"While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul with out the light of God, I'll fight, I'll fight to the very end!"
---William Booth
Former Methodist and founder of the Salvation Army

Worship Leaders at New Season

In the weeks ahead you will see some familiar faces up front leading worship at New Season. A group of skilled and trained worship leaders will be taking a larger role in providing worship leadership through giving the welcome, reading scripture, leading prayer and more. The participation of such worship leaders reminds us that worship leadership and worship itself is a shared experience among us all and is never dependent on one person. Please give your support to those from New Season who will be stepping up to help lead worship.

This is my effort to begin to reproduce myself in helping others to use their gifts to do things I normally do. This was the first Sunday I only did the message and presided at communion and Jimmy Mills did a great job leading. It was nice to give myself over to worshipping God more fully not having to worry about the next element coming up.

DMin

The last week or so I have not done much blogging as I have been taking the last class for my DMin (Doctor of Ministry) studies down at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond. After this class I will start my final project. My anticipated project is going to about churches planting churches and helping our Annual Conference come up with a plan to do so. I am looking forward to this since I believe that the most effective way to make disciples of Jesus is to plant churches. And, the most effective ways to plant churches is through existing churches giving birth to new churches. It is easy to work on what you are passionate about. Please pray for me.

Coming Home

I am really excited about the opportunity to return home to one of the first churches I served. At age 23 I went to serve my first appointment at the Caroline Charge (St. Paul's UMC and Mt. Vernon UMC). Interestingly, the previous pastor to me was 83! Talk about a change!! Today I get to go back and preach at Mt. Vernon's homecoming and enjoy some of the best eating known to man.

The folks at these churches had so much patience, demonstrated so much care, love and nurture that they have had great influence on my life, my ministry, and my family. I give God thanks for them and am just really treasuring the time to be with them.

Yet, just like returning home to the places we grew up, things change. Mostly that means that people I served, served with, cared for and loved in the three years I served at these churches are not around anymore. That stinks! But, that is part of what we celebrate today- God's faithfulness through these and other persons' witness and how their witness will help to shape the future. May God be praised!

Summer of Service is Coming

This summer our emphasis at New Season is the Summer of Service. Here is part of a worship program insert we have made for it...

What is the Summer of Service?
The summer of service is the way that the people of New Season Church will seek to impact the Massaponax and the Greater Fredericksburg community this summer by serving our community and sharing the love of Christ in practical ways. We believe as a church we are not to just “take” from our community but give. By following the example of Jesus who said he came “to serve and not be served” we seek to make the name of Jesus famous in our mission field through these simple acts of service. Small things done in great love can change a community.

What activities will be happening during the Summer of Service?
There are a number of activities planned including give aways at County events such as the Spotsylvania Film Festival and at the Patriot Park Concert series. We also plan to volunteer to help with the Spotsylvania Stars and Stripes Spectacular Fireworks. Every Saturday through out the summer we will seek to give away free water bottles at the Spotsylvania Farmer’s Market. We will also deliver yard sale survival kits to our neighbors having yard sales.

Can children participate?
Yes, by all means, children accompanied by an adult are welcomed and encouraged to participate as their parents deem appropriate. This is a wonderful way to demonstrate to children that part of following Jesus means serving others. Each Sunday during the summer our BLAST Children’s Ministry will be working on a project to benefit someone in our local community.

How do I sign up?
It is really easy to sign up. You may sign up for any of the activities listed on the back of this sheet by filling out the Mother of All Sign Up Sheets in your worship program. Or, you can sign up online at https://newseasonchurch.wufoo.com/forms/summer-of-service-opportunities/.
Jesus told His disciples, "Love each other as I have loved you". (John 13:34 CEV)

Pushing Buttons

This past Sunday we began a brand new message series called "Don't Push My Buttons" that is about dealing with the button pushers in our lives. You know who they are. You love them, but sometimes you wanna drop kick them. How do we handle the difficult people in our lives without destroying them, or going crazy in the process? Believe it or not, there are answers. In this series we will be talking about our button-pushers, discovering ways to hide our "buttons" and learning how to cope when we get "pushed" too far.

We started it off with how to deal with and stay away from toxic people and toxic relationships recognizing that sometimes we just have to give toxic people over to God who is infinite in love, forgiveness and mercy.

Memorial Day Sunday at New Season Church

We had a great Memorial Day Sunday at New Season Church this past Sunday. Every Memorial Day and Labor Day we move our whole set up outside and worship outside. After our worship celebration experience we have a cook out. We did not come up with this idea but stole it from this guy.

This is a great change of pace and is refreshing break from the routine of the same location. It is also really great to "join with all of creation in manifold witness" of how awesome God is by worshipping him. No neighbors have complained about 9AM sound checks and a good time is always had by all.

The only problem is wind. God has a wonderful sense of humor when he allows my message notes to be blown off the music stand. At least it makes the message shorter.

The Malachi Challenge

This past week I issued to the followers of Christ who consider New Season Church their church home what is called the Malachi Challenge. You can see the contents of the challenge below. We can offer such a challenge because...

• We trust God to do what he says he is going to do.
• We know God desires our good.
• We operate from a position of abundance and not scarcity- God owns the whole universe.
• God is faithful to all his promises.
• God calls us to risk.

Here is the Malachi Challenge

Malachi 3:10
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

Terms:
· I understand that this form must be completed and received by New Season Church prior to my beginning of the Malachi Challenge.
· I understand that I cannot seek a refund prior to the end of my Malachi Challenge Period, and that I cannot seek a refund for any contributions made prior to the beginning of my Malachi Challenge Period.
· I understand that any request for refund must be received by New Season Church within 30 days of the end of my Malachi Challenge Period.
· I would like to test God's faithfulness by accepting the Malachi Challenge. I agree that for the three-month period I state below, my household will contribute to God, through New Season Church, a tithe equal to 10% of our income. At the end of the three-month period, if I am not convinced of God's faithfulness to bless my life as a result of my obedience to his word, then I will be entitled to request a refund of the full amount of contributions made during that 90-day period.

Name (Printed)_______________________________

Signed Name _________________________________

I choose the time for my Malachi Challenge Period
to be from ________________ to _________________.
(Please choose a three month period)

Plastic Surgery

Don't forget this Sunday we are going to be performing a little "PLASTIC SURGERY" at New Season. You do not need to be a doctor for this surgery, have any special instruments besides a pair of scissors, or have thousands of dollars. However, you will ultimately feel a lot better and heck you may even look better too.

This Sunday at New Season we will be "cutting it up." Bring your credit cards to publicly cut up as an act of worship that says "I trust you, not money, O God to provide for all my needs and to give me worth." We will also worship God by shredding all those annoying credit card offers that come in the mail.

So, be praying about what credit card God wants you to cut up in front of him and the community of faith as an act of worship and come kick the credit card companies in the teeth by shredding up their solicitations!

Mad Money Principles

There's two guiding principles when it comes to our "stuff" in this world that totally changes our perspective when we understand them.

1. All that we have- money, possessions, family, clothes, food, our next breath comes from God. The Bible is quite clear that the earth and all that is in it belongs to the Lord. (Psalm 24:1 and many other places).

2. God has given us caretaker responsibilities of all his stuff and he wants us to use it in ways that bring him honor through engaging in the power of positive giving. We will not take it with us as there has yet to be a U-Haul seen entering heaven. The gut wrenching question for everyone, especially in our culture of affluence, is what will we say when asked to give an account of how we took care of his stuff?

Mad Money

We have begun the Mad Money series at New Season Church where we are talking about God's plan for how we use our money and possessions.

For followers of Christ how we use our money and possessions is a discipleship issue. If you want to know where someones passion lies then just consult their checkbook register and their calendar. Where one spends their time and money says something about what they value.

Jesus talked more about money and possessions than about heaven or hell combined. In the consumer culture we live in his messages and the whole of scripture contains important principles that can give us a proper perspective about money and possessions. In the end, money need not drive us mad.

Bob Robert- Reproducing Track

Here are my notes from Bob Roberts from NorthWood Church talk at the Exponential Conference as part of the Reproducing Track.

Churches will multiply that are filled with disciples.
Within the first year a church has to be planting a new church.
The longer a church waits to plant a church the less likely it will happen.
Set the DNA early.

5 Core Things about Christianity that have had an effect/ impact on all religions:

1. Covenant- the essence of the Gospel is covenant.
The grid for God’s operations are societies.
Israel was supposed to be a model of a nation that followed God.

2. The cross- it reconciled all things- redeems all creation.
Christ is for the WHOLE world, he redeems ALL things.

3. Commission- before you have the commission you must first have the disciple.
Matthew 5 is the description of a disciple.
The commission is expansive and for all people.

4. Community

5. Connectiveness.

The Divine and Human Dance

I have often read from Mark Batterson from National Community Church- “pray like it depends on God, work like it depends on you” or something like that. I thought it was original to Mark and it may be, but I was recently reading Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer Towns who says the same thing.

Both I believe are describing this divine human dance whereby nothing is going to happen that is good apart from God’s power and will. Therefore, we have to pray with faith. Yet the Bible also has something to say about works. In Wesleyan terms we would talk about cooperating with God’s grace and work in the world. So, while on the one hand we pray fervently recognizing God’s sovereignty and grace we also are called to cooperate where God is working.

Here is how Elmer Towns puts it, “When you face a problem don’t limit yourself to prayer. Prayer is wonderful, but when you only pray, you haven’t done enough. The Bible teaches both “faith and works.” On our knees we pray as if everything depends on God, but we get up and work as if everything depends on us.” P. 49.

Back and Recovered- Almost

We are back from the Exponential New Church Conference and have just about recovered. As always after coming back from anytime away it is always a whirlwind upon return with catching up on things at home, at church and on sleep.

Overall, the Conference was good and was inspiring and I learned much. I will post the remainder of my notes in the days ahead. We left early on Thursday morning to do our 12 hour drive back to Virginia and so missed Tim Keller and Rick Warren and so will have to catch the podcast.

Exponential Plenary Session 2

Andy Stanley spoke at Plenary Session #2.

Vision- a mental picture of what could be fueled by a passion that should be.
Vision always begins as a burden.
Must communicate what the win is in making your vision clear.

How to Make Vision Stick
1. State it simply
Memorable is portable.

2. Cast it convincingly
A. Define the problem
B. Offer a solution- this is your vision
C. And explain why now

3. Repeat it regularly- keep casting it!

4. Celebrate it systematically.
Make public examples of people who live out the vision- celebrate it.
Use stories- they illustrate the vision.
You want people to say, “Oh, that is what you are talking about.”

5. Embrace it personally.

Gem
The curse of knowledge- you think everybody knows what you know because you shared it once.