Our Largest Baptism Tomorrow

Tomorrow we move into a new building... but moving into the building will not be the highlight of my day. It will be baptizing over 20 people. I am not 100% sure on how many but I think it is pushing over 25 people. This will be our largest single day baptism. I CANNOT WAIT!!!! Let me tell you a secret... baptism is what I call "Payday!" It is the day we celebrate life change. Life Change is the culmination of our missional call. Thus... it is payday!

Over the last couple weeks I have been in awe of the stories of what God is doing the lives of the people that will be baptized. Don't miss this event. For more info go to http://www.northrockhill.com/ or go to the baptism link here.

Moving to New Location

Wow! What a week. We have been working hard this week to get a "Certificate of Occupancy." It was down to the wire... But we got it! Therefore, this Sunday will be our first service in our new building. It should be really cool. We will finally have much needed space. Ceilings for our preschool, parking, breakout "rooms" not dividers for children, twice space in auditorium, a real sound system, and a Lobby (at least one big enough for more than 10 people)... this is most exciting because everyone actually seems to like each other and likes to hang out and talk.

However, I do feel obligated to mention... it is just a building. I think NRHC has been successful not because of buildings... as a matter of fact you could argue in spite of buildings. I hope we do not get distracted from the main "Thang."

Kudos to everyone who has put in a ton of effort to make this a success. Special kudos to Ryan Allred is the Man! He has worked so hard and faced some really tough situations. I could never say thanks enough. It has taken a ton of pressure off me... even though I keep sticking my nose in everything. (We all know how big my nose is.) Again, Thanks to everyone.

Hope to be back to normal blogging soon. Got some really cool stuff stirring. Can't wait to share. With that said... I am going to bed... it has been a reallllllly long week. Hope to see you Sunday!

Suprise Prime Time Movies

Now Let's talk about Surprise Prime Time Movies. This is a list of some movies that you might be surprised that I think are Prime Time.

The Fisher King - 1991
Great Movie! Did not get a lot of public attention. However, Mercedes Ruehl won a Oscar for Best supporting Actress. It also had Robin Williams. It is a Drama. Why Prime Time? It was a complex movie that worked. It had a surprise ending. I remember when I first watched this movie with my best Friend I was impacted by it.
Warning: This is Rated R and not for everyone. Bad Language and very disturbing images.

Momento - 2000
This was a real surprise for me. This movie picked up a lot of attention over time and did pretty well at the box office on word of mouth. I missed it. However, I did rent it later. WOW! Great Movie. Why Prime Time? It also was a complex movie with a unique development of the story line. It went backwards. No words can explain... you just have to see it.
Warning: I hate that the first two are both Rated R. This has some very violent images. Use Caution if you watch.

Princess Bride - 1987
This is truly a classic. Great Fairy Tale for Entire Family. Great Cast. Why Prime Time? I watched this for the first time in college. I had never heard of movie and a bunch of my friends watched the movie one night and I had a blast! I have never forgotten this movie and have shared it with my family on many occasions. You cannot go wrong with this movie.

The Patriot - 2000
A Really good movie. Great Epic Adventure. Rooted in our History. (Especially those living in South Carolina.) Why Prime Time? I AM IN IT! I was one of the solders and was trained to use the rifles and everything. Need I say more!
Warning: Again... Rated R. Has some really graphic war scenes.

My Surprise movies that are Prime Time. What are yours? Chime in. You never know you might give me a great movie to watch.

Good Bye Old Friend

Yesterday was our last day in the Domes. It seems strange that we will no longer have such a unique building to identify our location. However, we will gain much needed space.

There have been some really great memories at the Domes. We have seen God do some really cool stuff. Lots of lives have been changed. I know that we have complained a lot over the years about the domes... but we must always remember they were a blessing. God used those buildings to develop us as a church. They will serve as a reminder of the time when we refined our vision. I think they prepared us for where we are now... and where we are going.

So I say... Good Bye Old Friend.

Just for fun... What do you call them? Let's see how many unique names we can come up with.

Prince Caspian Movie Review

It's Tuesday which means my weekly rant on movies. I know that I said we would look at Prime Time Movies that would suprise you. However, I went to see the new Chronicles of Narnia. I feel like I should share my insights. :) We will get to those surprise movies next week.

If you are just joining my blog you can check out my movie rating system here.

Me and my youngest son Caleb went to see Prince Caspian which is the next installment in the Chronicles of Narnia. Drum Roll Please...

Prince Caspian = Matinee

Unlike the first Chronicles of Narnia which got a Prime Time rating this was still a great movie. Why Matinee? Simple... slow start. It took a while for me to "get into the movie" but when I did... it was really good.

Couple of quick thoughts.

1. Great Spiritual Metaphors. (I think better than the first in that respect.)
2. Great movie for most ages. It might be a little dark for younger children. However, ovreall it is really entertaining with very good humor and action. Me and my son Caleb talked about the spiritual themes all the way home. He seemed to pick up on most of the messages and he is only 10 years old.
3. Epic in nature.
4. And finally, A Great movie to go and support. Here is a thought... why don't we communicate to the movie industry that solid movies like this will do well. I think we should support quality movies. Especially when they are written by people who have a passion for Christ.

So what are you waiting for? Head for the movie theater and get a Big Tub of Popcorn and a large Drink and enjoy yet another good summer movie.

Does God Change His Mind?

During the sermon yesterday we skipped over a frequently debated text.

Exodus 32:14
So the LORD changed His mind about the disaster He said He would bring on His people.

Often when you read this text it seems so confusing. While planning the sermon we discussed the difficulty in this text and how it might create some questions. Due to the time constraints and the intent of the sermon, we felt dealing with this topic would only be a distraction from the Big Idea. Therefore, I wanted to invite a guest to blog on this topic. I have asked Dr. Richard Tompkins to write today. He is an apologist, a former staff member, and a part of our planning team. (Our Resident Theologian) Here is his comments on the issue of God Changing His Mind... This is also known as Open Theism.

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What is Open Theism?

Essentially those who call themselves “open theists” believe that God is a temporal being in that He exists within time rather then outside of time and as a result He does not have exhaustive knowledge of the future. Therefore, He must adjust His plans to the free choices of human beings since human decisions are utterly undetermined and unpredictable and so He does not know what choices they will make. As a result, God then is forced to change His mind at times, He is influenced by events that occur in the future, and He sometimes regrets actions that He has performed. Open theists find support in several passages in the Bible where it appears that God changes His mind or regrets actions He has taken. The most often quoted passages in support of this position are Exodus 32:7-10, Isaiah 38:1-5, and Jonah 3-4.

The Problem with Open Theism

The major problem with open theism is that it undervalues the sovereign control of God. Open theists overlook the vast evidence in Scripture that point to God’s sovereignty. The Bible is replete with passages that detail the sovereign power of God to control the world and His exhaustive knowledge of past, present, and future events. This includes control of human will and decision making (Is. 10:5-12; 14:24; 44:28; Acts 17:26; Gen. 45:5-8; Ex. 4:21; Jdg. 14:4; 2 Sam. 24; Lk. 22:22; Acts 2:23-24; Rev. 17:17; Rom. 9:17). Therefore, human freedom is not as indeterminate as open theists proclaim. As James 4:13-16 illustrates, we may think we are free to make decisions but there is a greater power and plan that overrides it.

Putting it all together

Here’s the truth: God really does control everything either directly or indirectly. Everything that happens, in the end, works in concert with His sovereign will (Eph. 1:11; Rom 8:28; 11:33-36). The Bible is clear that God does not fail in anything that He chooses to do (Ps. 33:11; 115:3; 135:6; Pr. 21:30; Is. 14:27; 43:13; Rev. 3:7). God knows the future and often predicted what will happen centuries before they happened including the decisions of people and how they would behave (1 Sam. 10:1-7; 1 Kg. 13:1-4; Is. 44-28-45:13; Jr. 37:6-10; Mt. 26:34).

If it is true that God really does know and in fact exercises control of the future, then what about those passages which the open theists quote that make it seem that God changes His mind? First, God has always provided a means for repentance that will cause Him to relent from exercising the judgment He has already prescribed (Jeremiah 18:5-10). Second, God has always relented in extending His promised blessings when people sin against Him. There is a major difference between God changing His mind and His relenting in the exercising of judgment or providing blessings. Relenting has always been a part of God’s sovereign and unchanging plan. It is not forced upon Him because He does not know what will happen. In truth it is a tool He uses to bring about His plan. Since God actively interacts with people as they live out their lives, He pronounces curses on them at times and blesses them at other times but all within and to bring about His greater eternal plan for humanity. This greater plan has not changed and can not ever change. God is working to bring it about both within time and outside of time, on earth and in heaven.

Looking for A Coach?

I am looking for a coach... and not for a sport. (My sporting days are behind me.) I am looking for a life coach. Sounds weird I know... but I am beginning to see the value in learning from someone who has went before me. I am always telling my kids that there are two ways to learn... from my mistakes or from your own mistakes. One seems less painful for them. Which begs the question for myself, "Why then not learn from others mistakes and good choices?"

I now have some new "handles" on communicating this big idea. While reading "The Divine Mentor" by Wayne Cordero I had some clarity on this topic. Our decisions come down to Wisdom or Consequences. That we will either learn from the wisdom of others or through our own consequences. One cost a lot more than the other.

I have been trying to figure out why I keep putting it off... Pride! I don't want anyone thinking I need someone else's help. Looking back that has been very costly and painful. Like I said in my sermon last week, "I am making a choice to be desperate. I don't want to wait until I become so desperate that I have to look for help."

So, I am looking for a coach. How about you?

My Top 10 Movies of All Time

The big summer hits are getting ready to hit the big screen. Iron Man was good. I am looking forward to Indiana Jones, The Dark Knight, The Hulk, and Prince Caspian. So let's get into the movie season by talking about Movies. I will use Tuesday's for the next few weeks to talk about Prime Time Movies. I will start with my Top 10 List. However, it is really hard to narrow down... but I will try. Here goes in no particular order:

The Matrix
Silence of the Lambs
Lord of the Rings (All Three)
God Father
Star Wars
Shawshank Redemption
To Kill a Mocking Bird (Older Classic)
The Count of Monte Cristo
Les Misérables (This may be a Surprise to many people... but this was a great movie that got little respect. Great cast, Great story, Great message, Great Epic, Great Movie.)

Tough to pick the Last one so let's look at some that are close:
Unforgiven
Braveheart
Rocky
Bourne Identity

This is my list... what is your list. Give your thoughts on my list and give your top 10. I will look at some other prime time movies in the weeks to come... so keep checking back. Next week I will look at movies that might surprise you that I consider Prime Time Movies.

THE BIG QUESTION

Let's dialogue on a really important topic. I was reading Bryan Plyler's Blog on Saturday and WoW! He presents a really great challenge for those of us who are planters or leaders in the "bible belt." I would also think that there is a lot of great application that will come to anyone. I thought I would share it and throw in my 2 cents and get your thoughts as well.

Here was his post and you can go to his blog and check out more great thoughts as well.

The question of the hour for this "post bible belt" missionary:

How do we relate to / deal with the "innoculated"?When you get a measles shot, they inject into you a weakened, dead version of the measles bug. Your body develops
antibodies so that when you encounter the full strength, "real" measles you aren't impacted by it. You have been innoculated against measles.

So many in the Southeast have been innoculated against the Gospel. They've had just enough of a dead, dying, weak version of the Gospel that they are oblivious to the real, full strength version. They see themselves as Christ followers but are missing the transformation that follows an encounter with the "real" Gospel--a Gospel full of Christ. They've had their shot of religion.

The folks I'm particularly concerned about are not antagonists--like the antagonistic religious leaders that Jesus faced. They are merely apathetic for anything more than nominal Christianity. As a missionary in the Bible Belt, what do we do with these people? I don't have the answers...yet...but I know it's a question that we Bible-belt missionaries, church planters, and church leaders have to wrestle with. What do you think?

I told you it was good. That is what we preachers call a "hammer." It is heavy and it hurts if it hits you. Here is my thoughts for what it is worth. I am diving into dangerous territory... why? because I am going to think out loud which may mean that some of these thoughts may be way off base. However, I want to learn so I will risk sharing to learn from you guys. So... don't hold me to this... yet... I am processing as well.

IF you have missionary minded core people/ key leaders... then I don't mind some "Innoculated," religious, church going people. Why? Well a couple reasons... 1) They might see those who are infected with the full gospel and want some. :) 2) They can still help resource (even if it is limited) the greater vision of a church.

I would say the key is that the innoculated cannot be allowed to have great influence or else they might innoculate those who are infected. In other words the apathetic if allowed could cause apathy to spread. This appears to be the great challenge. I certainly would not give those people a seat at the table of leadership. I would certainly not allow them any level of influence. However, the gospel is big enough and powerful enough to raise the most dead person to life.

Your turn... chime in with your comments.

"Encounters" Begins Tommorrow

Brand New Series Begins Tomorrow. Here is the website Blurb:

"What if you could have one face to face meeting with God? What would you say? What would He say? Would you even want the chance if you had it? Moses didn't have just one such chance, in fact he had several. His life was a string of amazing personal encounters with God that found him as a fugitive shepherd in the desert and molded him into the leader of a nation and, more importantly, the man with whom God spoke as a one speaks to his friend. Beginning May 11, look closer with us at 3 of Moses' encounters with God and discover with us how we too can become God's friend. "

If you are a NRHCer then I hope to see you Sunday. BTW Don't forget to come with a good ATTITUDE.

Attitudes Impact Outcomes

I have been ruminating on something the last two weeks. It began on my trip to Orlando with some other Church Planters. We were discussing a future sermon and we found some really amazing big ideas in the text. It was funny because all of a sudden someone would break out into Pentecostal preacher mode to deliver the big idea... Wow! I have to admit it was really good. It did cause us all to laugh (a lot) but it was amazing how much I really learned. The next thing you know I was looking for big Ideas. What happened? My attitude changed. Attitudes impact Outcomes.

So the next time I am wandering why I am not getting much out of my Bible reading, the pastors sermon, a good book, or a small group discussion... maybe the problem is not the object but my attitude.

Jeremiah 29:13
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."

Movie Review - Iron Man

A Secret Dream I have always had is to be a movie critic. So when I watch a movie that I think is worth talking about I will blog about that too...

Here is my Rating System:

- Prime Time Movie

- Matinee Movie

- Dollar Movie

- DVD Rental

- Made For Television

I will tell you the truth... Prime time rating is rare for me to give. I think something has to be really great for me to spend my maximum dollars. Keep that in mind.

Iron Man - Matinee

Friday I went to see the opening of the new Iron Man movie and had very low Expectations. I do not like Robert Downey Jr. Therefore, I had low expectations... The Movie was really good. It is differently a Matinee and worth going and seeing on the big screen with a tub of popcorn and a large drink. It is in my opinion one of the better SuperHero Movies after SpiderMan 1 and 2, and after Batman Begins. It is really good and if you like movies this is one worth seeing.

Warnings: This movie does have two things that you should note before going and seeing. There is a intimate scene that goes too far in my opinion. It also has some violence that pushes the limits and will be a concern for some children.

Overall a pretty decent movie and should not disappoint.

What Movies are you looking forward to this summer?

Be A Missionary?

Today is my Birthday! The Big 38. I am running out of these things (B-days) so I thought I would try something different... Blogging! Have I lost my mind?

Why Blog? Great question. With thousands of people blogging that are far more intellegent than I am... why should I blog? I want to blog for several reasons:

1. For Myself. This will challenge me to think on paper. I have a hard time thinking period because I am so ADD... so maybe this will help me think more clearly.
   
2. For North Rock Hill Church. I want to also "leak" vision. I want to share thoughts and stories that will help our church to catch the bigger vision that God has called us to.
   
3. Finally, For Church Planters. I also want to share my thoughts on being Missionary. I think this will benefit others who are crazy enough to venture into the world of church planting.
   What is this Blog? Another Great Question. I will write here what I wrote in my link Why Blog?
   

This Blog is about being a Missionary. The question is not whether or not we are called to be missionary... the question is where are we called to be missionary? I want to explore ways that we as individuals can be more intentional in being missionary in our neighborhoods and communities.

I also want to explore the idea of the church being missionary. What would it look like if the church saw itself as a missionary to a city rather than a haven from the pagans.

Finally, this blog will explore the need for the missionary church to plant other missionary churches in other cities and nations. It should be our goal to give every man, woman, and child repeated opportunities to both hear and see the gospel.

This Blog will also be very random (ADD). I will think outloud about movies, music, my family, and "Stuff." What else would you expect from me?

Ultimately, I hope this blog will challenge us to obsess over what God obsesses over (Luke 15)... Which is the one who is lost.

Let the Journey begin!

Why Blog?

This Blog is about being a Missionary. The question is not whether or not we are called to be missionary... the question is where are we called to be missionary? I want to explore ways that we as individuals can be more intentional in being missionary in our neighborhoods and communities.


I also want to explore the idea of the church being missionary. What would it look like if the church saw itself as a missionary to a city rather than a haven from the pagans.
Finally, this blog will explore the need for the missionary church to plant other missionary churches in other cities and nations. It should be our goal to give every man, woman, and child repeated opportunities to both hear and see the gospel.


This Blog will also be very random (ADD). I will think outloud about movies, music, my family, and "Stuff." What else would you expect from me?