Some Thoughts About Aging

As I stand at the edge of 2012, I have a few new thoughts about life. January 7^th, I turn 51 – an age I never would have believed I would reach when I was 21. Things change when we realize that we are more than ½ of a century old! Some of those things for me are:

1.    If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. Even though in my mind I think I can still do the things I did in my 20s and 30s, my body is quick to tell me something totally different.

2.    I realize that I am living in the last days of my life. But, that’s okay. I’m not depressed about it, just more aware of the preciousness of each day. And like one person said, “The game is won in the second half, not the first half”. It’s more important how you finish than how you begin.

3.    Some folks think that age equals righteousness. However, I have found that the longer I live, the more I realize how far away from God’s righteousness I truly am. And that awareness makes me more grateful for the grace of God in my life.

4.    I now value the input of others in my life more than ever before. At a younger age, I didn’t quite believe that I needed others. I felt as though I could do everything myself. Looking back on the numerous mistakes I have made – and they are many – I now realize the importance of the wisdom, advice, and guidance of others.

5.    I am much more appreciative of my wife. After 28 years of marriage, I realize that I have spent more time with her than any other person on the planet. Without her, I would be lost! She completes me and I am thankful to God for blessing me with such a wonderful soul mate.

6.    I think less about how much I want to get accomplished and more about how I can pour my life into younger people so that God can accomplish what He wants to do thru them.

7.    I value my church more than ever before. I can now see that God has surrounded me with people with whom I can truly experience life. Things haven’t always been all fun and roses – in fact, some years have been like hell! But thru it all, I am beginning to realize that the people of the family of faith were put in my life by God as part of His plan to shape and mold me according to His plan for me.

8.    I can see more clearly than ever before, that God doesn’t put us in any church so that we can get our religious entertainment. But rather that we find the part He wants us to play in reaching those who have no hope or relationship with Jesus Christ.

These are just a few thoughts. I’m sure there are many more things you could add. Lynn and I pray that you all have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year! I’m excited about what God has in store for us in 2012!

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You Have A Story

I never cease to be amazed by the stories flooding in about how God is transforming the lives of the people at MVC. This week, I had the opportunity to listen a couple of folks that have greatly impacted my walk with the Lord. One of them is a local leader in our community. His take on “church” has been “religious” in nature rather than “relationship” in nature with others and with God. He shared about how MVC has been like “a breath of fresh air” for him and his family. He has never experienced such unbridled worship or outreach to the down and out of our society. And his impact on the people in the circle of his influence has been exemplary. Several of his employees and associates have began attending the church and their lives have been significantly impacted by the welcoming, loving, caring reception of the MVC family of faith and the ministries with which we join. His words to me this past week were, “My wife and I have shared about the great outreach of the church and how “we” are reaching this community. If there church were open for a service 7 days a week, we’d be there. We so enjoy the fellowship and atmosphere that it’s become a requirement for our weekly lives.” He also added that, “We can’t believe that this is an organization that’s not all about “me”, but it’s about “we”, and how we can change the world in which we live.”

I met with another person this week that wanted to share about how MVC had helped him face the disappointments of his past. He shared with me about how his childhood had been such a failure in his eyes. His parents were divorced when he was a young tot about 2 years old. At the age of about 12, he was sent by his father to live with his grandparents. During those formative years of school, he missed out on many of the opportunities for children to experience life with their mothers and fathers. He made various excuses for why they could not attend functions centered around mothers and fathers. And for many years, he carried a huge burden of anger against his parents, that greatly affected the decisions and choices he made in life. However, just recently, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit, he saw how God had sovereignly directed the events of his life, and used every challenge to form him into the person he is today. Although for years he regarded this as “fuel” for the anger he carried, he now saw it as God’s redemptive power in his life. Now, he uses that which was once anger, to be the catalyst for ministering to those who may have experienced the same that he experienced as a child.

Now, that’s the power of our Lord! That’s the influence of the Holy Spirit thru the lives of those whom are a part of the redeemed! Glory be to God! He is our “relentless Redeemer”. The One that is in control of all things! If you’re not already joined with a family of faith that is moving forward in this movement, join us for an exciting adventure toward Christ and the Glory of God as we “Exalt Him and share His love”! Be a part! You have a story that intersects with the stories of the people in your life, and has been perfectly fashioned to shows them how their stories intersect with the story of God – the Good News of Jesus Christ!

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Biscuits, gravy, and a cheese and bacon omelet

Over the years there have been numerous people come and go through the doors of MVC. Of course, there are times when a person’s leaving was not such a bad thing. But, I would be lying if I said that it doesn’t hurt when some of them chose to leave. And it’s especially painful when that person is a long-time friend. How are you supposed to respond when someone you love comes to you, or sends you an impersonal email or voicemail that says, “We’ve been praying about it and have decided that we’re not going to be a part of MVC any longer.” And usually, the notification is followed by an explanation like, “We feel that the church isn’t offering enough of this…” Or, “The church has too much emphasis on this area and not enough emphasis on what we like.” Then at other times, the explanation is, “Someone said something to me that made me feel slighted.” Or, “I was out of church for two weeks and no one seemed to notice. Nobody bothered to call and check on me.” What about all the years of fruitful ministry that took place in that person’s life up to that point? What about all the friends and relationships that were formed? What about the nights spent together praying and supporting each other through the sickness or even death of a family member? What about the celebrations – baptisms, salvations, weddings, anniversaries, and other significant happenings in life? Don’t any of those things matter any longer? The other day I was eating breakfast with my mentor in a small restaurant nearby where we meet almost every Tuesday morning. Over the years, the food and service have been excellent. We have made many friends and enjoyed many a plate of gravy, biscuits, and cheese and bacon omelets. But on this particular morning, the service was poor, the waitress wasn’t very friendly, and the food was cold when it arrived at our table. Not only that, but the daily special had changed from the cheese and bacon omelet to a Southwestern omelet. I left the restaurant that day thinking, “I’m not coming back here anymore! This place stinks! I can’t believe I was treated so rudely and had to eat cold gravy! I also had to pay more for the meal I usually enjoyed at the special price.” After a while of steaming, however, I was reminded of all the good times. Was I going to let one bad experience overshadow all the years of happy times I had experienced there? How could I possibly give more weight to that one morning than all the other mornings of good food and great service? The bottom line was – I couldn’t. I was back the next Tuesday and I’ll be back there tomorrow, enjoying biscuits, gravy and a cheese and bacon omelet. I have great friends there that are more important than one bad morning and I’m a loyal customer. Sometimes I feel like church members act like disgruntled customers. Just one bad morning and it’s out the door. That leaves me wondering if we sometimes would choose to have more loyalty to a restaurant than we have to our faith family. There’s no doubt that if you come to MVC for more than a couple of times, you’re going to be disappointed. There will be things said and done that you won’t agree with. The church isn’t perfect because we’re made up of imperfect people. But don’t let a few bad experiences overshadow all the great experiences you’ve had over the years. Church is important. It’s the vehicle God has chosen for His people and the plan He has for shining the light of hope into a dark and fallen world. The Church is the bride of Christ and He gave His life for Her redemption. So the next time you’re tempted to quit because of something that has happened, let that experience draw you closer to God instead of pushing you out of the church. And remember that none of us are perfect – and that includes you.

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Thanksgiving Proclamation

George Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation




Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"


Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.


And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.




Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

Signed George Washington

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6 Characteristics of a Good Leader

I’ve heard it said that you can tell who the leader is by the arrows sticking in his or her back. Sometimes that might be true, but I believe there are other characteristics that we can identify as the marks of a good leader…

1. Not afraid to take chances. While wildly flailing in the wind is not a good trait for a leader, the good leader will not be afraid to take chances in leading others to the vision and goal. Even when the economy is sagging and there seems to be no possible way to realize the dream, the effective leader will continue to be a risk-taker who motivates and leads others to achieve what they previously thought was impossible.

2. Leads by example. A good leader should not challenge his or her followers to do anything they aren’t willing to do themselves. If the mission requires sacrifice, serving, giving, sharing, or whatever, the effective leader will be the first in line.

3. Is loyal to the team. I’m not saying that a good leader embraces substandard performance, but hanging in there with your team through thick and thin is a necessary characteristic of a good leader. A good leader will not check out when tough times come. Nor will he or she “throw other team members under the bus” to preserve their own behind.

4. Is able to make tough decisions. Leadership is not easy. Sometimes you will have to make decisions that aren’t popular and might even affect another person’s career or ministry. A good leader knows when tough decisions are required and is able to make them. Problems won’t disappear on their own. They have to be dealt with promptly for the sake of the mission.

5. Keeps the vision alive. It is very easy for a church or any organization to get so wrapped up in the mundane, day-to-day activities that the vision and goal is obscured. The effective leader relate, report and communicate the vision in everything that happens – to tie in the mundane events and day-to-day activities with the God-given vision and goal.

6. Is willing to embrace change. When our church began to transition, there were certain programs, styles, activities and ministries that we put in place. Those changes were a dramatic departure from the way things had been for years. Over time, however, all the “new stuff” we put in place became old. A good leader knows how to recognize when a favorite program, style, activities or ministry needs to be changed, replaced, or eliminated all together. You have to know when it’s time to make hamburger from your sacred cows.

This is not an exclusive list of characteristics, just a few that I have come to realize in others over the years.

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Thank You

I want to say Thank you – even though the words seem too small to convey the extent of my gratitude. October is pastor appreciation month, but this year, I am the one who is most appreciative. 2011 has been a roller coaster of a ride! The road was rocky at best, and many times I wondered if I would survive. But thanks to your love, prayers, and trust in me, God has, once again, proven faithful. Thank you for caring for my family and me. I know of no other place that I would want to call home. And I’m immensely hopeful for what the future holds for MVC. We are living in some of the most critical days of our time. People are desperately searching for hope and something solid upon which to build their lives. We have the answer – Jesus. And I am excited about how God will unfold His plan for our lives as we pursue His calling to “Exalt Christ and Share His Love”.

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Time for a Comeback

For the second time this year, one of our local high school football teams staged a terrific comeback. The first was when Enka High School staged a 4^th quarter rally to overcome a 3 touchdown deficit and defeat Pisgah High School 47-43. Then this past Friday, Asheville High School overcame a 29-0 first half deficit to beat Reynolds High School 35-29.

While I am truly a fan of football, these two games show us much more than the power of teamwork. They’re a good reminder that it’s never too late for a comeback as long as you don’t quit.

There will be numerous times in your life when you feel as though you’re beaten and the enemy is running up the score. People will question your motives. They’ll want to know why you do what you do. And these attacks will grow as your success grows. They’ll attack your leadership style. Don’t get me wrong, godly leadership is not optional, however, every leader has a different style. And some will attack your style because you’re not like them. Others will attack your methods. Listen, people’s opinions of you are not more important than the leadership role God has called you to fulfill. The message must remain the same, but the methods we use have to be more than a carbon copy of what someone did successfully 50 years ago, especially when those methods are no longer successful.

So when you see these attacks coming from all sides, and you feel like you’re beaten down and defeated, don’t quit. It’s time to stage a comeback.

Consider the Apostle Paul. The first half of his life was spent trying to destroy the Church. He not only encouraged but also led zealous Jews to arrest, beat, and even kill those who claimed to be Christians. He didn’t have what might be described as a stellar spiritual life. But he had a second half comeback. He had a divine encounter with Christ, was forgiven, restored and called to be one of the greatest leaders of the first century Church.

Consider the biblical Job. He was a man of great moral integrity and avoided even the appearance of evil. His life was wonderfully blessed and God prospered him abundantly. But then, because of his fear, God allowed Satan to torment him unmercifully. All of his lifestock was stolen or destroyed. His children and his children were killed. He got boils all over his face and body. His wife tried to get him to “Curse God and die.” But Job, even though he must have felt that he was defeated at times, refused to blame God. Then his closest friends turned against him, blaming him for sin that must have caused this awful demise. Still, Job remained faithful. He didn’t quit. And in the end, he staged a comeback. He prayed for his accusers. He continued to worship God. “And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10

You may be behind in the game right now. Maybe you’re struggling in your business, your relationships, your marriage or your relationship with God. My encouragement to you is, “Don’t quit!” It’s time for a comeback. And if you do like Paul and Job and stay in the game, you will come back.

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6 Ways to Handle Criticism

If you’re a leader, criticism will be a part of your life. It’s a fact, so expect it to happen. Some of it will be good. Some of it will not be so good. Regardless, it’s best to be prepared and know how you’re going to handle criticism. I try to do the following when I encounter criticism.

1.    If the criticism is coming from someone that is hypercritical of everything you say or do, don’t give validity to their comments or suggestions. Dismiss them quickly.

2.    If the criticism is coming from someone that loves and genuinely cares about you, take note of their comments and suggestions and consider whether or not they are valid. If you disagree with the person, wait a day or so and then discuss it with them.

3.    If the criticism comes from an anonymous source, throw it in the garbage can.

4.    If the criticism steers you away from what God has led you to do, get away from it fast.

5.    Be very careful with criticism that begins with the statement, “God told me to tell you something…” or “I don’t necessarily feel this way, but a lot of people are saying…”

6.    Don’t take criticism personally. Incorporate it when it’s valid and helpful. Ignore it when it’s not. Your success does not depend on your critics but constructive criticism can very well give you a great boost.

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Thank You

Hey folks,
As a result of utilities such as GoogleAnalytics.com, I have been able to track the effects and subscriber statistics of my blog over the past several months and years. In view of the participation and interest, I have decided to change my approach in the following ways:
1. I will publish a leadership article periodically for those of you that follow such posts. And I will endeavor to publish a new post at least monthly.
2. I will discontinue the "congregational" posts as they seem to garner the least amount of activity.
3. I will enable the comments section to allow you to publish your responses to my posts.
4. I hope we will - together - provide encouragement, advice, and biblical direction to the ministries and missions of MVC.
Thanks to all of you....
Kevin

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Something well said

I wish I had the gift of communication like Steven Furtick, senior pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. In a recent post - "God's Glory or Grandma's Tradition", he wrote the following...

He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.

2 Kings 18:4

It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

The bronze snake had at one time been an instrument of transformation. It healed people. Saved them from the consequences of their sin. But then the people turned it into an object of worship. And thereby ruined it and robbed it of its power.

This is the essence of traditionalism. It’s not simply holding onto Grandma’s preferences. It’s when we take things. Good things. Effective things. And we end up worshipping them instead of the God who used them for a season. And it can happen to anything.

Hymns. Or modern worship.
Live preaching. Or video preaching.
One campus. Or multiple campuses.
Sunday School. Or small groups.

None of these are bad things, but they’re also not the ultimate thing. And therefore we shouldn’t treat them as such. Otherwise we run a dangerous risk.The very thing that you hold up as a tool for transformation today can easily become an idol of tradition tomorrow.

And God has a way of smashing our idols. Or rendering them powerless.

Don’t get me wrong. We should never lose our appreciation or respect for the things God uses to reach people and transform their lives. But we should also never allow them to steal God’s glory by becoming a greater object of our affections than God or the new ways He wants to work among us.

God’s glory is greater than Grandma’s traditions.
And our own as well.

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Inward or Outward?

I had a couple of dear friends that left the church a while back because they don’t agree with our vision to reach outwardly in ministry and missions. Their preference is a church that ministers inwardly as a priority. I wonder how many of us would have never had the opportunity to be saved if all churches held that philosophy? I like what Perry Noble, the pastor of Newspring Church in Anderson SC says: “Churches aren’t called to contain Christ rather proclaim Christ.” Jesus himself proclaimed that “[He] had come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 He also told the disciples “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38 I’m not upset at my friends’ decision, however it does cause me to wonder how many other believers are content to reach inwardly to the Christian world, and pay little attention to reaching the outside world. What about you? How committed are you to reaching outside the walls of organized religion? What are you willing to see happen in the church in order to reach the lost? Every now and then I have someone approach me at church to ask why we can’t go back to a church choir and hymns. Why can’t things be the way they used to be? Well, look at the fruit. There are churches all over the valley that continue to stay trapped in a 1950’s style of worship and refuse to change in order to reach more people. And guess what? They’re dying on the vine. And listen, it’s not just about a style… it’s about a heart condition. Is our heart to placate to the religious folks or see the lost come to salvation? Time for a heart check?

Also, I would like to express my sincere appreciate to all of you that participated in the Sourwood festival this past weekend. We made many new friends, handed out lots of bibles and literature, and shared hundreds of cups of cool Mountain Dew in Jesus’ name. This is a wonderful expression of reaching out to the community around us. I love my church.

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Exceeding Joy

I can’t even begin to describe to you the joy I experienced this Sunday as I was privileged to baptize ten new believers in Christ!!! As I looked around the auditorium, I was very much aware that many of our folks are on vacation and visiting family during the summer months. However, I could almost sense the presence of a heavenly host of angels, gathered together, worshiping our Lord and Savior over the glorious display of His love and grace! I never grow tired of celebrating God’s goodness and grace for every precious soul that is claimed for eternity. It is far greater than the richest treasure this world has to offer! Sure, we have been through a few challenging weeks, but today is evidence that God is still involved and working in our midst. So, let us not grow discouraged and weary in trying to do what He has called us to do. Rather, let us persevere in the confidence that greater things are yet to come for MVC and this city!!! I am so tremendously blessed to be your pastor and I look forward to many, many future experiences with you as we pursue God’s plan and purpose for our future.

Keep the Spiritual Leadership Team in your prayers as we continue to search for the Worship Pastor God has already chosen for our family of faith. We are excited to be on this journey together and can hardly wait for His plan to be revealed.

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Rest on Every Side

I was reading about King Jehoshaphat from 2 Chronicles 20 today in preparation for Sunday. What amazing faith and tenacity this man had! He is surrounded by three armies and facing certain defeat. Yet, he reminds the Lord that they are inhabiting the land that He had given to them through Abraham. He admits that his army is powerless to stop the enemy, however he declares to the Lord, “We can cry out to you to save us, and you WILL hear us and rescue us.” And then he leads Judah in a worship service. God then commands King Jehoshaphat to go out and meet the enemy. As they go, they continue their praise and worship to God. And as the people praise, God throws their enemies into confusion and they begin attacking one another. In the end, the enemies are defeated and not a single blow was struck by Judah against them. Isn’t that GREAT? I believe too many times we get wrapped up in devising strategies and plans to defeat our problems and the problem-people in our lives, that we stray totally away from praising and worshiping the Lord. Maybe, instead of kicking into survival mode the next time we’re threatened, we should do like the people of Judah and begin to praise and worship and “give thanks to the Lord for His faithful love endures forever!” Instead of focusing on the problem, change our focus to the problem-solver! Instead of sitting around with a case of “poor pitiful me”, count out blessings and give God glory! Then maybe we can experience the same thing as King Jehoshaphat. Verse 20 says, “So Jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.” Instead of being surrounded by threatening enemies, he was surrounded by peace and rest. Sounds like a good trade to me!

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Rear View or Windshield?

The other day I was backing out of the carport and broke off my driver’s side mirror on one of the support posts. I was looking in the rear view mirror and lost my view of the other things around me. That got me to thinking about how many of us live our lives. How many times do we live life focused on “what used to be” or “what is behind us” instead of “what is going on now” and “what lies ahead”? The reason the rear view mirror is so small and the front windshield is so large is because what lies ahead is so much more important than what is behind us. Our past failures, disappointments, fears, and etc. can make us feel frustrated, angry, lonely, and stuck. We can get so focused on “what might have been” or “what could have been” that we miss out on what God is doing now and what He plans to do in the future if we keep our eyes on Him. Paul said, “…this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and focusing on what lies ahead, I press on…” Great words for all of us as we move toward the goal that God has for us in Christ Jesus. Be encouraged. There is something great on the horizon and it’s just ahead!!!

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Sowing and Reaping

As we conclude our series on Grace this week, I am going to talk about the principle of sowing and reaping. During my study time, I ran across this article that I thought was pretty good. I am not sure of its truthfulness, but it is a good illustration of reaping what you sow.
The following story appears on the Internet on a site intended for lawyers: A Charlotte, North Carolina, man bought a case of rare, very expensive cigars and then insured them against … fire. Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile and having yet to make a single premium payment on the policy, he filed a claim against the insurance company, stating he had lost the cigars in "a series of small fires". The insurance company refused to pay but the man sued - and won. The judge stated that since the man held a policy from the company in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable, without defining what it considered to be "unacceptable fire" it was obligated to compensate the insured for his loss. Rather than undergo a long and costly appeal, the insurance company accepted the judge's ruling and paid the man $15,000 for the rare cigars he lost in "the fires". When the smoker cashed his cheque, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of arson. With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the man was convicted of intentionally burning the rare cigars and sentenced to 24 consecutive one-year terms. Sunday Mail 9-11-97 p58

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About Sunday

Hello MVC!!! I truly enjoyed worship at MVC this past Sunday. We continue to see God transform lives!!! Just a few things I’d like to share with you today.

1 – This series is one of my favorites, not only because it’s about my favorite subject – Grace – but also because we are seeing people accepting God’s grace right in front of our eyes!!! I never get tired of seeing folks come to faith in Christ. Thus far that has happened for about 21 people!!!

2 – Keep the community VBS in your prayers. Thanks to all the volunteers that are helping make this ministry possible. I heard we had over 300 children show up Monday!!!

3 – Also be in prayer for the youth camps this year!!! The middle school students are going to Screaming Eagle Camp and the high school students will be traveling to Daytona Beach, Florida. Pray for protection during traveling as well as for a transforming experience in the lives of those who will be participating.

4 – The Spiritual Leadership Team continues to receive resumes for the Worship Pastor position. Please join us in praying that God will give us discernment and eyes to see the person He has for MVC.

5 – If you haven’t already done so, please sign up to volunteer to help out at this year’s Sourwood Festival. This is a HUGE outreach for our church and provides us with an opportunity to share MVC with the community. Come help serve a cold cup of Mountain Dew from Mountain View!!!

6 – Each week I grow to be more and more encouraged by what God is doing and will continue to do in our church. I believe the next phase of MVC is going to be bigger, better, and more of a blessing than ever as we “Exalt Christ and Share His Love” with the people of Black Mountain, Swannanoa, Asheville, and Western North Carolina!!! It is sooooooooo good to be back!!!

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See God

I was talking to my doctor today and he said something quite interesting. He said that he believed that if a person did not see God in this world that they would not see Him in the next world. His comment was not about seeing God on Judgment Day, but about having faith in a God beyond this world. In other words, if a person can’t see God in things here, why would he or she be able to envision an eternal God beyond this life? What a hopeless thought! I began to wonder: how many times have I been so caught up in the battles, events and activities facing me at the moment that I totally missed God? It’s like not being able to see the forest for the trees. The Psalmist David said, “The earth declares the glory of God and the earth shows His handiwork.” God is present all around us. He desires to dwell with and minister to us. Let’s not miss His presence. See God! Glorify and praise Him for His presence and His empowering for His children.

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Moving On

I would like to share a post with you from a man I respect and pray for continually… Perry Noble

I have interjected several “personal” changes to reflect upon and address the faith family at Mountain View in a more personal way….

“To say that God “rocked my world” last week would be an understatement…it was more like a divine slap in the face and a sobering reminder that lost people really do matter to God!

Here’s the way it happened…

Charisse (my three year old daughter) and I went to get ice cream last Friday night. (One of her favorite things to do!) There is a place near our home called “Yogo Express” that has become one of her favorite places…you go in, get a cup, put the yogurt in it, THEN go to the toppings area and put your toppings on and then you pay…by the ounce.

When we walked in the place was slammed, there were people everywhere. So…I held her hand and we walked together to the area where we got our yogurt cups…she wanted chocolate yogurt with mint chips for her topping, so, I put all of that in her cup and then got ready to get mine.

BUT…when I looked down to tell her that hers was ready…she was GONE!

I looked around and didn’t see her anywhere. She had been right by my side five seconds before that… I panicked!

Seriously…the scenarios that can run through a parents mind in a short amount of time are unbelievable.

I began calling her name…and I literally was plowing over people…trying my best to control my heart as it was literally about to explode out of my chest.

Then, after only about seven seconds (seemed like an eternity though) I saw her…she had gone to get napkins for us but had not told me.

I scooped her up and hugged her…and I can’t explain to you the overwhelming joy that shot through my body as I knew that she was not lost! (If you are a parent and this has happened to you…you know exactly what I’m talking about.)

I kept her close to me for the rest of the night…and when I put her down to bed I hugged her a little longer and and little tighter…I thought she was lost, gone…but she wasn’t, and for that I was (and AM) so thankful.

However, later on that evening I felt the Lord say to me, “Now you know how I feel about lost people.” BAM!”

I have preached on the importance of evangelism for a long time. In fact, one of our core values “Evangelism” – finding lost people. But, I had NEVER seen the importance of evangelism through the lenses of a father who is obsessed with the lost!!!

“The feeling God allowed me to feel for seven seconds was one of the deepest, most intense feelings I’ve EVER felt…and because of that Luke 19:10 has taken on a whole new meaning!

God is PASSIONATE about reaching lost people…and HIS followers SHOULD BE AS WELL! Evangelism is not an option for those who say they are followers of Jesus…it is a COMMAND! AND…read through Luke 15 and notice that in each of the three stories something is lost, what is lost is found…and because of the lost being found a party/celebration begins!!!”

Mountain View, we cannot stop doing this…let’s keep doing ALL WE CAN to reach out to people who are far from God! Let’s share our stories with them…let’s get them to church THIS Sunday…and let’s continue to BEG God to give us a harvest of souls unlike the world has ever seen!!!

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Unconditional Forgiveness

respect and pray continually for in his divine calling… Perry Noble

I have interjected several “personal” changes to reflect upon and address the faith family at Mountain View in a more personal way….

“To say that God “rocked my world” last week would be an understatement…it was more like a divine slap in the face and a sobering reminder that lost people really do matter to God!

Here’s the way it happened…

Charisse (my three year old daughter) and I went to get ice cream last Friday night. (One of her favorite things to do!) There is a place near our home called “Yogo Express” that has become one of her favorite places…you go

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What About Osama?

As most of you, I watched the reports unfold about the killing of Osama bin Laden. At first, my reactions were of jubilation and great celebration. I was entirely comfortable with the parade of people celebrating in New York’s, Manhattan. At the same time, however, as a follower of Christ, I was sobered by the reality of what had just happened. How should we as Christians respond?
In order to dissect this question, I believe it’s important to define the situation in which we find ourselves. Were we simply targeting a religious icon in an attempt to squelch an uprising? Were we seeking revenge? Or, were we simply pursuing an enemy combatant? I contend that we were pursuing an enemy combatant of the United States.
If that be the case, then the resulting question is whether or not using force is necessary to remove the threat of this enemy of the United States.

When you study the life of Jesus, you notice that he never called a soldier who came to him in faith out of his military duties. Never once did Jesus say to a Roman Centurion, “Leave the Army!” And in His own life, He was known to use force, such as when clearing the temple.
As a result, the idea of a just act of war has been with Christian thinking from the beginning. But it has been very carefully spelled out. According to James Emery White, the conditions for a conflict to be just are as follows:

*There must be an urgent and imminent threat;
*It must be an act of defense against aggression – never simply for conquest or as an act of aggression – only a defensive war is defensible;
*It must be ordered by one who is in authority to do so;
*It must be for a just cause;
*It must have the right intention – it should not be based on revenge, but as an act of neighbor love and protection, with peace as its goal;
*It should be the last resort; peace and resolution should have been attempted;
*The force used must be proportionate to the desired ends – meaning that the evils caused by the war are less than the evils to be righted;
*It must seek to minimize non-combatant (civilian) casualties;
*It must have a reasonable chance of success.

I agree with James on all of these points...

So, what do you think? Did these things meet the threshold of a “just action of war”? Do you think Osama bin Laden had a direct connection to the attacks on 9/11? Did he pose an imminent threat or, by influence, cause extreme prejudice against the United States of America?

Listen, I do not celebrate the death of any person, but I can celebrate the death of evil. So from my vantage point, this was a justifiable action. May God have mercy on the soul of Osama bin Laden. And may God show much grace to the souls that have died at Osama's hands.

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What Do We Have To Offer

I read two very interesting blogs today. One was about “Alignment” by Seth Godin and the other was a very similar topic by James Emery White. I thought I would share the latter with you since it touched a nerve with me.


Why do people go to Walmart? Do they go for the products? For the food? For the friendly greeters at the doors? No. They go because Walmart offers “inexpensive”. That’s exactly what they want.

And because Walmart is in alignment with what people want – meaning, they know it’s what people want and so they give it to them – they are successful.

Play this out with other successful relationships.

People want Apple to offer “cool.” So does Apple. So everyone is happy – despite the prices.

People want Google to provide the location of things on the internet. It does. So we keep googling.

Starbucks? We want legally addictive stimulants, but with cache. Starbucks is happy to comply, which is why Starbucks is now the world’s third largest restaurant chain.

But what happens when things don’t line up? What happens when people want cheap, but the company wants profit?

Or people want to find what they’re looking for online, but the search engine wants to direct me to ads and sites that I don’t care about but have paid for the traffic?

Or people want to walk into a store and find exactly what they want, but the salesperson wants to push certain items and up their commission?

Or people want to watch the movie, and the provider wants to show me commercials?

There is a radical disconnect, and the relationship suffers, or just ends.

Let’s apply this to the church.

What is it that people entering a church want?

I would suggest that they want the church to offer spirituality. Community is a plus, but that’s not what they are primarily expecting when they walk through the doors.

I know that the church isn’t a company; we don’t want to be consumer-driven where the “customer” dictates the product; and that mere “spirituality” is a far cry from the dynamics of life in Christ.

But let the point play out.

People do come for spirituality. They don’t know to come for much more in our day. So that’s what they are looking for. It’s the one thing they think the church has to offer their lives that they don’t already have, and that they may not be able to find anywhere else.

Churches that provide spiritual experience and an introduction to a spiritual life create an alignment with the person that continues the relationship.

Churches that don’t, experience disconnect.

In many ways, this is a significant shift in thinking for those who seek to connect with the unchurched population. In the eighties and nineties, churches were seen as being out-of-touch and out-of-date. As a result, many responded by contemporizing the church. They updated the music, implemented drama and media, and addressed contemporary topics with biblical wisdom. All of which, I might add, I am all for and have written about many times.

Some, however, went too far. They seemed to feel that the goal was to reflect culture as opposed to building a bridge into culture. In the end, alignment was lost. People came wanting spirituality only to find the world they were already in. They wanted God, and they got the Doobie Brothers.

Today the mistake is similar, except now it’s the perceived need to match the world in terms of technology and, perhaps even more, the “hip.”

And again, all fine - to a point. The point where it ceases to be fine is critical, and again comes back to alignment. People are coming for spirituality; how sad it would be if all they got were designer t-shirts and the latest display from Apple.

If you want alignment, you won’t just try and give them “Disney” with your children’s program; you’ll give the parent what they most want, which is religious education and character formation for their child.

If you want alignment, you won’t just give them creative tie-ins using music from Coldplay or Radiohead, but a sense of encounter with the living God.

If you want alignment, you won’t just highlight your Mac’s and sound and light, but a direct and compelling message that brings Christ to bear in such a way it intersects the deepest needs of their life and calls them to radical followership.

You will often hear church leaders say that they are not competing against other churches, but against every other available use of time on a Sunday morning. Or lately, that they are competing against the entertainment industry or technology of the world.

But do we really think that we’ll win people to the church with Starbucks, contemporary music, and high-tech presentations? I think not. If they want Starbucks, they’ll just go to…well, Starbucks. And to Netflix. And to iTunes. And to Apple. It’s not that we shouldn’t make ample use of technology, only that it’s not the greatest felt need of the people who enter our doors.

In truth, we are competing against the spiritual emptiness of the world. When we align ourselves with that need, we actually have something to offer the world that it doesn’t already have.

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The Bells Of Easter

During the days preceding Easter, while Napoleon was preparing to overtake the Austrian village of Feldkirch, the residents gathered to pray for deliverance. On Easter morning the church bells rang to signal the day of worship. Napoleon heard the bells but didn't realize their significance; he thought the bells meant that the Austrian army had come to reinforce the village, so he sounded retreat. When the bells of Easter ring out, the enemies of God are forced to retreat. (McHenry's Quips, Quotes and Other Notes © 1998. Hendrickson)

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It Is Finished

When Jesus died on the cross late afternoon, Good Friday, he cried out one final phrase, three famous last words: “It is finished”. There were probably some within hearing distance who thought his words were a cry of despair, as if he were saying, "It's over. The dream has ended." The truth is, however, it was a cry of victory. "It is finished." This phrase can also be translated "Paid in full."

What did Jesus' death actually pay for? What did it accomplish? Simply put, Jesus' death paid the price for our sins. Through his death, we have forgiveness. With his death, Jesus bridged the gap between God and man, between sin and redemption, between this temporary life and life eternal.

So, when Jesus said, "It is finished," he was saying, "My work is complete...I have paid the price for the salvation of humankind." The writer of Hebrews said, "Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people." (Hebrews 9:28) Paul said: "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." (Ephesians 1:7)

The message of the cross is "It is finished." There is nothing you can do to earn more of God's love or to gain his mercy or to deserve forgiveness or to receive salvation. Jesus paid it all. His work is complete. That's why his last words: "It is finished," is the message of the cross.

The message of Easter is: "It is just beginning," because through the power of the resurrection, we have been given new life. It's not that we follow a God who exists somewhere out there, far beyond us. This God becomes part of your life. He comes to take up residence inside you. His Spirit fills your spirit with his presence. He can take a life that is dead with sin and failure, and make it alive again. He does that for everyone who comes to him. He can do that for you.

There are many people today who desperately need an empty canvas. You need a blank slate - a fresh start. You need the etch-a-sketch power of God's forgiveness, and it's available to you. You can begin your new life today. You can become the person God created you to be, through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Come learn more about this marvelous revelation this Sunday as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior.

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Hang In There

I read this blog from Steve May and decided to publish it word-for-word for you to enjoy. Maybe it will encourage you as it did me.

"We have no control over most outcomes in life. We do our best to influence them: eat right to stay healthy; drive carefully to avoid an accident; invest wisely to accumulate a net worth — we try to influence outcomes, but we can't control them. Sometimes we get sick anyway, sometimes the car wreck isn't our fault, sometimes seemingly good investments go south.

Several years ago I realized that I couldn't control outcomes, but I could control one thing that is biblically guaranteed to work in my favor every time. What is it? Perseverance. Stick-to-it-iveness. The habit of getting back up and trying one more time. I can't control results, but I can control whether or not I quit. No one else can make that decision for me. It's mine alone.

This is how Johann von Goethe said it: "Perseverance lies within the affordings of everyone; its power increases with its progress, and it but rarely misses its aim."

Here's what he's saying: Persevering is something anyone can do. The longer you do it, the stronger you get, and the more likely you are to succeed.

Every minister, missionary, pastor, church planter and Christian disciple needs to understand this. You'll have a chance, and sometimes many, to give up before you really get going. A greener pasture and a wider path will tempt you from time to time. Sometimes quitting just seems to make sense: it's easy and appears to be painless. But deciding to stay when leaving is easier is often the key that opens the door to God's abundant blessing.

Napoleon Hill said, "Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit." I believe he was speaking from both observation and experience; this principle has certainly been true in my life. Babe Ruth's take on it was, "You just can't beat the man who won't give up." (Even the devil understands this; when you resist him, he flees. James 4:7)

Paul challenges us: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9)

Let's begin this week determined to keep doing good. Let it not make us weary. There's a harvest waiting if we don't give up."

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Son Shine

As Spring approaches, we are warmed by the sun rather than frozen by the chilling winds of Winter. I, for one, am glad to see the warmer temperatures! Another thing that happens is that our daylight hours are extended. Instead of waking up in the dark, we wake up to sunshine which lasts long into the afternoon and evening. As I think about the sunshine, I’m reminded that we are to be “Son shine” to the world. Jesus called himself “the light” and called us to be “people of the light”. What does that mean? It means that our lives are meant to bear witness to the love and grace of Christ. Being a witness doesn't always involve passing out tracts or bringing in the most visitors on High Attendance Sunday. Every Christian doesn't have the same gifts, but every Christian can find ways to reflect the light of Christ to the people he encounters every day. Maybe that would simply mean spending time with a co-worker who is going thru a difficult time at home or at work. Or maybe it could be simply having a good attitude even though things aren’t going so swell in your own life. Possibly it could mean that you show patience and understanding with a waiter that gets your order messed up. Whatever, being "Son shine" simply means that you carry yourself in such a way that shows the light of Christ within you. Live your life so that those in the darkness can see his light in you.

Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

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Spiritually Stubborn

One thing I’ve noticed over the years in believers is a type of spiritual stubbornness that causes them to hold back from what God wants for their lives. For example, I’ve seen believers have a problem with another believer only to hold on to a grudge or discuss the issue with numerous other people, but they are too stubborn to follow the teachings of Matthew 18 in resolving conflict. I’ve also heard leaders say during leadership meetings, “I don’t know what the bible says on this issue, but this just isn’t Baptist!” Spiritual stubbornness can cause your heart to grow cold and your ears to grow deaf to the voice of the Lord. It will render both the Christian and the church ineffective. So what are some characteristics of being spiritually stubborn?

1. Being Overly Critical – Some people can find something to criticize about everything, even if they have to stretch the truth. And more often than not, their criticism is based more on exaggeration and deception than the truth. Dale Carnegie once said, “Any fool can criticize—and most of them do.” A critical attitude can cause once-enthusiastic Christians to fall; it can choke the life out of once vibrant churches. The best way to stop being overly critical is to: a) Don’t get caught up in the petty stuff. b) Make sure you know what you’re talking about (know the facts). c) Try doing what you’re criticizing. It’s easy to throw stones if you’re not the one being thrown at.

2. An Apathetic Attitude – This happens so often to churches that focus inwardly and never broaden their vision to what God has called them to be. Our budgets are focused on inward ministry and the comfort of the saints rather than on reaching out to the lost and disadvantaged around us. When we grow apathetic to the lost and stop caring about those who are hurting, we lose our effectiveness, both as individual believers and as a church.

3. Pride – This characteristic is rampant among the ranks of so-called “mature” Christians. They run from seminar to seminar, conference to conference, to book after book, and they can debate and present numerous doctrinal and philosophical doctrines. But the sad thing is, they’re not ministering to others. They have all the knowledge in their hearts, but it doesn’t translate to their hands. They have become “hearers of the Word but not doers of the Word.”

So, where do you find yourself in this post? Have you developed a type of spiritual stubbornness? If so, confess your sin to God and repent. Resolve to avoid spiritual stubbornness by serving. Serving others is the antidote for being overly critical, apathetic and full of pride. And when we’re serving, we’re being like Christ.

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