Hey you!

What are you doing with my camera!?



My daughter making herself a self-portrait.

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Cognitive Dissonance

Top 10 Things People Want for a Healthy Lifestyle

Paul Clitheroe in his book The Road to Wealth explains the dichotomy of human endeavor by first listing results from a survey asking 'What people wanted' and then matching that with 'What people spent most of their time chasing'.

10 Things People Want

1. Love
2. Connection
3. Fun
4. Peace
5. Freedom
6. Security
7. Growth
8. Self-expression
9. Adventure
10. Able to contribute

Now compare this list with the things we chase after...

The Things We Spend Most Of Our Time Chasing

1. Money
2. Fame
3. Sex
4. Recognition
5. Power
6. Responsibility
7. Achievement
8. Big House
9. New Car
10. Swimming Pool"

(HT: Your Hard Earned Money 2 Keep)

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological term to define the condition that results whenever a person attempts to hold two incompatible, if not contradictory, thoughts at the same time.

Why do we pursue the very things that we know don't give us satisfaction? Do we really want love, connection and freedom, for instance, if we are not willing to do all it takes and sacrifice everything to obtain them?

This issue really gets in my face, especially with the issue of connection and relationships. People say that they "Want" them. People come to our church, looking for a place to connect. People leave our church, because they say that they are not connecting. Are we willing to really go to the messy and hard places in order to relationally connect with others? That is what it's going to demand. Connecting and relationships sound good in theory, but in order to really achieve that level of community and connecting - it is going to demand that we allow people to get into our lives and into our business. It is going to ask of us -that we do "mission" and serve together. It will demand that we live in the gospel and be willing to forgive others when they've relationally dinged us. It is Acts 2 and Philippians 2 living, sacrificing for one another and considering others more important than ourselves. Are we really willing to go there?

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Amazing Grace

Had breakfast with a friend who just saw an advanced screening of the new movie of William Wilberforce, a member of the British Parliament who in the early 19th century fought to end slavery in Britain. The movie is called Amazing Grace

But this is more than just another movie about "history"

William Wilberforce's work is far from finished. There are still an
estimated 27 million slaves in the world today. Modern day slavery can
come in many different forms. Entire families may work long days in
rice-mills, brick kilns or on plantations. Children may be abducted and
forced to fight in a rebel's army. All of the people in these examples
are slaves—they cannot come and go as they please and are often beaten
or threatened with violence. They have no autonomy in their day-to-day
lives and deserve the right to be free.

(HT: The Amazing Change)

I am definitely planning on seeing this movie when it comes out at the end of February.

Technorati Tags: Slavery, Movie, Wilberforce

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WOW!??

"Wow! I absolutely adore this photo from the Times. Not one smile in the bunch, never mind ebullience, mania or even pleasant anticipation.

Just because a marketer says something is amazing, exciting or just plain wow doesn't mean it is."

(HT: Seth's Blog)

People evaluate and make judgments about us not based on our clever slogans or buzzwords, but rather what they see. What about Big Creek Church, what about you and I? When people come to Big Creek or any church for that matter, how are they greeted, what is their experience? We can't say that we are lovers of Christ and yet walk around looking constipated. When people come to church on Sunday morning what do they see in the people they meet?

I am not saying that we should paint on fake and phony smiling faces. Rather I am saying that God's love should be so captivating and transforming in our lives that it would spill over in our interactions with others. People would see Spirit-filled WOW! in our lives because we have met with Jesus.

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New Exercise Program

I have a new exercise program!

Exercise on my treadmill while watching "24"!

I never ran so fast before. That show is an adrenaline rush. (although these last couple of weeks have been a bit too slow!)

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The Kingdom of God can't be missed

tony morgan | one of the simply strategic guys: "If your church closed its doors tomorrow, who would really miss you and why?

A great question from Tony Morgan.

That is a great question to keep in front of us. It reminds us at Big Creek Church whether what we are doing is having a true kingdom impact.

Nobody is going to miss us if we are merely "playing Church". But the Kingdom of God provokes, it can't be hidden or ignored.

The Kingdom of God is powerful

And if Big Creek Church is about Kingdom business, then we certainly will be missed.

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Message to Me -Don't be a jerk!

Saw this cartoon and laughed, and cried because it also can so be true.


(HT: Pastor Greg)

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Listen to the Cry of Community

We are called as Big Creek Church to listen and respond to the cry of the community in Forsyth County, GA. We are called to reach out into our public schools, Homestead, Jesse's House, The Place and families in need.

This video aired at this Sunday worship.

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Communion Meditations

If you can start the day without caffeine; if you can get going without pep pills; if you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains; if you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles; if you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it; if you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time; if you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when through no fault of yours something goes wrong; if you can take criticism and blame without resentment; if you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him; if you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend; if you can face the world without lies and deceit; if you can conquer tension without medical help; if you can relax without liquor; if you can sleep without the aid of drugs; if you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion, or politics; then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog.

There are two realities to which you must cling. First, God, has promised that you will receive the love you have been searching for. And second, God is faithful to that promise. So stop wandering around. Instead, come home and trust that God will bring you what you need. Your whole life you have been running about,seeking the love you desire. Now it is time to end that search. Trust that God will give you all-fulfilling love and will give it in a human way. Before you die, God will offer you the deepest satisfaction you can desire. Just stop running and start trusting and receiving. Henri Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love, p. 12.

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young,
compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these. Citation: George Washington Carver

Love is not communicated in the big event but in the small acts of kindness. Citation: Richard Foster

The well-off and the secure have too often become indifferent and oblivious to the poverty and the deprivation in their midst. The poor have been shut out of our minds and driven from the mainstream of our societies, because we have allowed them to become invisible. Ultimately, a great nation is a compassionate nation. No nation can be great if it does not have a concern for "the least of these."Citation: Martin Luther King, Jr

Timothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, writes: Pastors often hear, "I work my fingers to the bone in this church, and what thanks do I get?" Is that the way it is? Your service was for thanks? Are you in your right mind? Servanthood begins where gratitude and applause ends. Timothy Keller, Ministries of Mercy (Presbyterian Reformed Publishing,1997)

his book, Searching for God Knows What, Donald Miller shares a story of how he helped a friend whose alcoholism was destroying his life: Last year, I pulled a friend out of his closet…His marriage was falling apart because of his inability to stop drinking. This man is a kind and brilliant human being, touched with many gifts from God, but addicted to alcohol, and being taken down in the fight. He was suicidal, we thought, and the kids had been sent away. We sat together on his back deck and talked for hours, deep into the night. I didn't think he was going to make it. I worried about him as I boarded my flight back to Portland, and he checked himself into rehab.

Two months later he picked me up from the same airport, having gone several weeks without a drink. As he told me the story of the beginnings of his painful recovery process, he said a single incident was giving him the strength to continue. His father had flown in to attend a recovery meeting with him, and in the meeting my friend had to confess all his issues and weaknesses. When he finished, his father stood up to address the group of addicts. He looked at his son and said, "I have never loved my son as much as I do at this moment. I love him. I want all of you to know I love him." My friend said at that moment, for the first time in his life, he was able to believe God loved him, too. He believed if God, his father, and his wife all loved him, he could fight the addiction, and he believed he might make it. Donald Miller, "Searching for God Knows What" (Thomas Nelson, 2004)

Technorati Tags: Communion, Quotes

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Always Prepared

I am an Eagle Scout and our motto was "Be Prepared". That motto isn't merely for scouting it also applies for Big Creek Church (and any church for that matter).

We always need to be prepared for someone new coming on Sunday Morning. We never know who is going to walk through our doors. We don't know what they bring with them when they visit. What previous baggage they have about church. People who visit Big Creek may have been hurt in the past from a church that just hammered them. They may be angry or fearful. We just don't ever know. That is why we need to be prepared. Be always prepared to show a visitor Jesus. Show them genuine warmth and kindness. And care enough to get to know them, because truly -people matter to God.

This is an interesting video of a guy who brings his father to church. His father hasn't been to church in 20 years. This video isn't professional or well made, but it's REAL. It is about 9 minutes, but stick with it, it is worth the watch and you will be blessed by this man's love for the his father and excited that this dad is being drawn back to Jesus, step by step.



(HT: Perry Noble)

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God is on the move!

Wow, what a great evening last night! Big Creek Church had a leadership dinner event for the Capital Campaign and it was so cool. We had some families share how they were doing business with God over the past couple of weeks and what God had showed them as they considered their involvement with the campaign to build our new home on Bethelview Road. Rod and Dee Pettus and Chuck and Cheri Beckman shared their stories of God grace in their lives. Themes that both of these families shared were, "Listen" to God; Surrender; Trust; Scary!; and Joy! It has been an exciting journey, that only continues, for Jon, our lead pastor, our staff, our elders, our ministry team leaders and the church as a whole. This leadership event was designed for the leaders of Big Creek to come together and pledge our commitment to the campaign. And by doing so, get in front of the church and lead with our giving. It was just so exciting to hear how God is bringing renewal to people's hearts as we step out in faith.

Also during the event, we had dinner together and had some worship which was led by Sean Smith, a local recording artist, who is a friend of Big Creek Church.

Sean Smith sang a couple of his songs such as "Man of Meaning", but it was his song "Shut out the World" which has really spoke to the heart of this capital campaign, "Listen...Send Me".



Go here to listen to the songs from his album "Real" and you can listen to the music he sang last night at the event. Thanks Sean for blessing us and for bringing us to Jesus with your music.

And thanks Jon, our lead pastor, for being led by Christ, and following Him in obedience.

And thanks Mike Coffey, Rick Burkhalter and the entire Capitial Campaign team for your leadership and heart of service. You all are so awesome!

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Clear Leadership

"I always use Jack[Welch] as my example here. Every leader needs to clearly explain the top three things the organization is working on. If you can't, then
you're not leading well." - GE's CEO Jeff Immelt Things Leaders Do

The Simple Church needs to be clear, The Simple Church leader needs to be clear... this quote by Immelt reminds me of an Andy Stanley talk when he said that as a leader you don't have to be "certain" but you do need to be "clear".

As promised, coming soon, The Simple Church and Clarity!

HT: Jimmy Britt

Technorati Tags: Leadership, Ministry

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Human Contact

We underestimate the power of human contact. It doesn't have to be much. A touch on the shoulder. A smile and eye contact. A sincere hello. A phone call. A prayer.

We are hungry for genuine, authentic, caring, loving community.

Our lead pastor, Jon, got this email from a family that has only visited twice. They are such a neat and wonderful family and they gave us permission to make this email public. I don't share this email to just toot our own horn (I can share many of our failures as well). But rather I share this excerpt from this email to illustrate the power of what happens when we simply care for one another.

Jon simply cared enough to welcome and pray for this family and their child who has special needs. It seems simple enough, but unfortunately simple things are often neglected by the busyness of life.

Dear Jon,

I can't tell you how refreshing it has been for Lee and I to get to spend the last couple of Sundays at Big Creek. What a warm welcome we have received from this body of believers! We have been pleasantly surprised at all the kindness and concern shown towards our family--and we've only been there twice for goodness sakes! Is it like this all the time?

Your phone message was like water to thirsty souls--in all the years we have been at our other church never has a pastor ever called us to pray with us over our Lukey! We have secretly longed and prayed for this and you offered it so freely...God bless you and your wonderful shepherd's heart. I can see why God would entrust you with the care of this flock. We are so excited about what God is doing in this Church--the building, the community, the love --all of it has the distinct stamp of the Holy Spirit on it, in it, and through it. What a cool ride this is going to be!!!

Time to buckle up! Go, God!

Anyway, just wanted to say THANK YOU, THANK You and thank you again!

Sincerely,
Yvette

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Unleash 2007

A bunch of our staff from our team here at Big Creek Church are heading up to Anderson, SC to be part of Unleash with Perry Noble, Tony Morgan and their team. I have never met either of these men, but I have appreciated, from reading and listening to them, their heart for God, their heart for people who need Christ, and their heart for the church.

As an example, this post by Perry Noble really nailed some issues for me and our staff.

And as for Tony Morgan, we have been using Tim Stevens and Tony's books in our staff meetings.



Simply Strategic Volunteers

There is a $45.00 fee for Unleash which includes the registration for the Unleash 2007 conference and a barbecue lunch. This is an early registration cost, because the fee increases to $65.00 after March 1st. If you are able to make it to this one day conference - definitely make it happen.

Unleash 2007

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I like coffee, but it doesn't have to be pretty!

If_you_have_been_ a_reader_of_this_blog, you probably know full well that I like coffee. No, I love coffee. I love the taste. I love the smell. I love the jolt. It is a comfort drink.

Therefore you'll understand why I found this newest trend called Latte Art so interesting.

"In fancy coffeehouses, it’s becoming increasingly common for lattes and other coffee- or cappuccino-based drinks to be presented nicely, too (and at $4 a pop, rightly so), and some ambitious baristas have raised that final touch to what many consider a new kind of art form. That’s right: latte art."

(HT: mental_floss blog)

It is bad enough to pay $4+ for a cup of coffee, but I don't get this, nevertheless it does look pretty.

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Missional Capital Campaign

Building Buildings doesn't sound very missional. Putting tons of resources, time and energy just to build another building to meet just our needs, doesn't seem to put the community first. It might seem like that at first glance, but I believe that ultimately building a building isn't really the heart of the issue. A building is merely a tool. A tool to accomplish His Kingdom purposes. And that is how we see it. Here are the facts of the area that God has placed us.
We are in a county that is mostly new growth. It is one of the fastest growing counties in the area and the growth has consisted of turning farmland into new housing and development.
Therefore there are practically no preexisting structures that a church can occupy. And if we are called to reach men, women and families in our community who are in desperate need of Christ - we are going to have to construct and build something among them. In addition, we were given a strategic piece of land at a 1/4 of the land's value, the location where we plan to put our new church home.

Also we are outgrowing our current location, and lets be honest - we are hidden and out of the way, tucked away in the back of a business park on the far edge of the county. God has called us to be among the people of Forsyth county and to be a church that is a shining city on a hill, showing Christ by our presence and by compelling our people to go missionally into the community and show them Jesus.

Those are the realities of our current situation.

We are committed to make a difference in our community. But know that all these comments are not merely platitudes.

But we are putting our money where our mouth is!

We were convicted to not throw tons of money into glitzy, multi-colored brochures, just to raise money for our new church home. Most churches with Capital Campaigns may do that, we chose not to. We believed that God wanted us to redirect those resources to help reach out into the community.

This is an excerpt from the Capital Campaign brochure:

Why do we have this simple brochure?
Big Creek is not an inward-focused church. We are committed to our community. This drives everything we do and every decision we make. Because of that commitment,we decided not to spend money on a nice brochure but use the allotted money for the community. We chose to buy a van for the Homestead Community (a Hispanic community in Forsyth county). This will provide transportation for women and children to tutoring sessions, errands, community events, and to church.
You can download the full brochure here

Also go to our Capital Campaign website (here) to see what we are doing. The reason I tell you about the site is that it is amazing what can be thrown together with very little money. The website is a free blogger site, videos are hosted on YouTube, and the Powerpoint Presentation is hosted on SlideShare (which is Powerpoint for YouTube). It is simple, clear, communication.

Yes, Capital Campaigns can be missional!

Technorati Tags: Missional, Church, CapitalCampaign

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Day of Prayer

Yesterday I was mostly out of touch with email and the internet and in touch with my Lord (a very good trade off I think you would agree).

Every other month I go on a all day prayer and fasting retreat from 7-3pm. at the Ignatius House in Atlanta. About 15 men from around the area, from different churches gather together for a time of prayer and meeting with the Lord. We gather for some time together to share our lives with each other, but most of the time is alone, using the facilities and beautiful property of the Ignatius House.

I wanted to share some reflections and some ways that the Lord spoke to me during that time.

We started our time with a devotional from the facilitator Len Sykes, and we talked about faith, and Len read from Hebrews 11.

As I took some time to reflect upon faith and trust, I began to think about my challenges of faith. Everyday there are new challenges to trust God, and it is hard. There are faith and trust challenges in my ministry, in my personal life, and with my family and wife. Why is it so difficult to trust God amidst these challenges and struggles. I wanted to get to the nub of these issues and peal the issue back like a skin of an onion.

What I discovered was this... I don't trust God because I desire control, I desire control because I fear, I fear because I am not captured and surrendered to God's grace and love.

I don't trust because I desire control. I want to be in the drivers seat. I think that I know better. My way is best.

I desire control because I fear. I fear the disapproval of man. I fear failure. I fear living in obscurity. I fear being misunderstood.

I fear because I am not captured and surrendered to God's grace and love. Therefore I took a long time simmering and marinating in God's Word and His love and grace for me. (1 John 4:18 - Perfect love casts out fear)

Psalm 23 - His presence is with me, having Jesus is all I need
Psalm 91 - He is a protector, a refuge, a fortress. His love is trustworthy, I can count on it.
Psalm 103 - His love doesn't fail - it's everything I expect and much, much more.
Hosea 11:1-4 - His love is there for me, even if I don't notice it.
Matthew 10:29-31 - He thinks about me, God knows me better than I know myself. I have value and worth to Him.
Romans 8:31-39 - God gave me His Son, the GREATEST gift and sacrifice, why should I think that He would withhold any good gift from me.

The source of my lack of trust and faith is that I haven't fully surrendered to God's love. I pray that my heart would be fully captured by God's wonderful grace and love, and that I would live out of His love today in every area of my life. - Amen

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The Importance of Reading

A good word.

Albert Mohler:

Reading is an important Christian discipline. Further, growth as a Christian disciple is closely tied to the reading of the Bible, as well as worthy Christian books. This is why the Christian church has championed the cause of literacy.

Do our own young people read books? Do they know the pleasures of the solitary reading of a life-changing page? Have they ever lost themselves in a story, framed by their own imaginations rather than by digital images? Have they ever marked up a page, urgently engaged in a debate with the author? Can they even think of a book that has changed the way they see the world . . . or the Christian faith? If not, why not?
(HT: Justin Taylor)

AMEN. For a guy who has over 1,200 volumes in my library, I guess you could assume I like to read. This book below, has been a good resource for me on how to be a "smart" reader.


How to Read a Book

Technorati Tags: Reading, Books

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Ignoring the cry of the community

Got this sad and disappointing information from my friend up in Lockport Assembly of God.

39 percent of pastors reported in a recent survey they are not highly
interested in offering more programs for the community. Some of the
stated reasons:
read more here

One reason listed is that reaching out into the community is not a major priority for their church and their community has no major needs. Our communities are crying out. In North Georgia we have a lot of affluence and homes with well manicured lawns, but believe me there are a lot of people living with pain, families that are broken, and people in desperate need for Christ.

(HT: Pastor Ron)

Technorati Tags: Missional, Outreach

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Has the E-Word lost it's meaning?

The USA Today has an interesting article on what it means to identify oneself as an Evangelical.

Who's an evangelical? Until last year the answer seemed clear: Evangelical was the label of choice of Christians with conservative views on politics, economics and Biblical morality.

Now the word may be losing its moorings, sliding toward the same linguistic demise that "fundamentalist" met decades ago because it has been misunderstood, misappropriated and maligned.

Evangelical: Can the 'E-word' be saved?

Also George Barna's most current report was referenced in the article. He just came out with a new survey exploring Who Qualifies As an Evangelical.

Barna looks at people who classify themselves as "Evangelical" and measures it against what are historically considered the 9 essential marks of an evangelical.

Here is an excerpt from his report:

Barna suggested that those who describe themselves as evangelicals more closely resemble a segment that his company has labeled the "born again Christian" population - a group that displays an above-average interest and involvement in religious activity, but whose religious fervor and commitment is nowhere near that of true evangelicals. (the whole report can be found here.)

The term evangelical has lost much of it's meaning and punch. The label has been so diluted and too often when the label evangelical is used it carries with it some negative baggage. That is why I prefer referring to myself as a "Follower of Christ". If I am counting my syllables correctly "Follower of Christ" and "Evangelical" each have 5 syllables (if you are an English teacher - please correct me), so it requires no more effort to identify myself as a Follower of Christ, but there is greater benefit by doing so. When I identify myself as a "Follower of Christ" I pointing to Christ as the total of my identity and not any political/social agenda or cultural identifiers. Who I am is totally bound up in Christ and Him alone.

Technorati Tags: Church, Culture

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This is a weird and unfortunate story

"Think of the most crime-ridden place on Earth and what comes to mind: Sao Paulo, Brazil? Lagos, Nigeria? The Bronx, New York?

Try the Vatican. The small nation-city ruled by Pope Benedict XVI apparently sees more criminal cases per capita than any other part of the world, the German magazine Spiegel reports."

Holy See Official: Crime at Vatican Running at Biblical Proportions

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Guilty Pleasure

(Nicholas Zitzmann Audition, part 1)
(Nicholas Zitzmann Audition, part 2)

Tonight is another episode of American Idol. This is one of the few shows that are our whole family can watch.

These early episodes are like watching a train wreck - it is hard to watch some people really embarrass themselves but at the same time I can't avert my eyes.

Does that make me a bad person?

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Christians Everyone Should Know - Jonathan Edwards

I think one of the most important ways we can be encouraged as followers of Christ is to look back at the lives of men and women of faith who have come before us. Christian History magazine has a great series on the 131 Christians Everyone Should Know (based on the book).

I would like to periodically draw your attention to these followers of Christ and share my thoughts and opinions concerning why in fact we should know them and never forget them.

Jonathan Edwards -America's greatest theologian

'[I wish] to lie low before God, as in the dust; that I might be nothing, and that God might be all, that I might become as a little child.'
(to read more about Edwards go here)

What I appreciate about Jonathan Edwards is that although Edwards is considered the greatest theologian that American ever produced, he was a man with a deep abiding walk with God. Edwards shows me the unity between theology and devotion. My study of theology should not ever mute my affection for my Lord, in fact it should only enhance it (you may think that statement is obvious, but if you ever go to seminary or talk to those that have, -for most seminarians, studying theology can have a deleterious effect on our affections toward the Lord - I hate to admit this, but it is true). Granted, Edwards' writings are very challenging to read, but the more I have persisted with his writings and thoughts the more my life has been blessed.

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Listen to the cry of the Community

This week at Big Creek Church we are continuing with our series entitled "Listen". And the focus this week is on Listening to the cry of the Community. This Sunday will focus on showing Christ to others and being a missional and sent people into the community. I came across this recently and thought it had an interesting relevance to this Sunday. Although this is a serious report, I give this to you with a little tongue in cheek. It is from Mental Floss.

Be nice, and your brain will grow

Or

maybe it’s the other way around: if your brain grows — a specific
region of the brain which scientists have recently linked to altruistic
behavior, that is — you’ll be nice. They’re not sure yet. What Duke
University researchers do know, however, is that the
posterior superior temporal sulcus is larger in people who regularly
engage in what the study calls “helping behaviors,” which is to say,
activities which have no obvious benefit to oneself.

While there’s certainly still more research to be conducted, the implications thus far are fascinating: perhaps truly selfless acts are rare because thepeople who perform them regularly are, well, abnormal! (HT: Mental Floss)

Technorati Tags: Charity, Science

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"24" Deep Thoughts

1. How can Karen Hayes get cell phone reception in a Presidential bunker that is probably miles under the ground, when I can't make a cell phone call in certain parts of my house?

2. If all of Chloe's friends die around her than note to self, "Don't be Chloe's friend!"

3. How can a stud like Jack Bauer, have a brother who is such a weasel?



Technorati Tags: 24, Humor, Television

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Some movies that provoke

I know that I am behind the times in recognizing this movie, since it has been out for a while. But this was one of those movies that I wanted to see for some time but just never got to it. A couple of days ago, I did get around to renting it and that only disappointment I had was that I waited so long.

Hotel Rwanda



This movie is about a hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (played amazingly by Don Cheadle) and how he was able to save the lives of over 1,200 Tutsis' by sheltering them in his hotel. This was a compelling story of one man's courage and his compassion to do whatever he could to save these lives from the Hutu militia in Rwanda. This is a story of a man who acted like a modern day Oscar Schindler. You definitely need to watch the special features on the DVD. The feature that will make you cry is when Paul returns back to Rwanda and his visit to one of the biggest genocide memorials is documented.

But before I had ever watched Hotel Rwanda, I saw Sometimes in April

This film is a HBO production depicting the Rwandan genocide. This movie didn't have the flash and star power of Hotel Rwanda, but it surpassed it as more compelling film. Sometimes in April takes the audience outside of the relative "safe" compound of Hotel Rwanda and reveals a much gritter and scarier side of the genocide. In fact some of the scenes in the movie are not for the faint of heart, but of course there is no way a film maker can sugarcoat the genocide of 1 million people over a period of 100 days.

When we watch these movies, we look into the past, seeing events over 10 years ago and we are reminded that not much has changed. The motto of survivors from the Holocaust was "Never Again". Unfortunately horrific events of genocide continue and continue from the Holocaust to the present (just look in the news about what is happening in Darfur, Sudan).

A couple of months ago, a friend gave me a DVD called Invisible Children and said that I needed to watch it.

Invisible children

Invisible Children is a 2003 documentary based on the experiences of three college students in Northern Uganda. What they found were thousands of people affected by the insurgency of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). The resulting story focuses on the war's effects on children, particularly child solders.

They found that thousands of children flee their homes nightly in order to escape being abducted. Children in Uganda are regularly abducted by the LRA to be trained as child soldiers. The children have only two options, either stay in their homes and be brutally abducted by the the LRA or flee. So every evening, the children run from their homes and walk miles to find shelter in hospitals or bus parks in the city. (Wikipedia)

I know that movies provide great escapism, but movies also provide an opportunity to get under our skin. Too often I live with my head in the sand, living in my safe, American bubble. But movies like Hotel Rwanda, Sometimes in April and Invisible Children burst that bubble. After watching these movies, I am tempted to want to turn away, but the gospel compels me not to. The gospel compels me to act. The gospel compels me to pray for and seek justice...

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:16-18

I can't turn away, and I must speak out for those who don't have any voice. Christ's love compels me to do nothing less. Unfortunately, I have allowed my own busyness and my own little agendas to consume my attention. I repent of my own self-absorbed life and agenda.

Let these movies provoke your heart, but don't let it just end there, speak out and let others know about these injustices. Currently there are opportunities for us to act, go to Invisible Children website to get more information. Let us make more noise, let's get on our knees to pray and let's allow our hearts to be driven to compassion and action.

Technorati Tags: Rwanda, Movies, Review

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That was so awesome!

If you were there yesterday morning you saw all of our children in the worship area. We emptied every nursery and kid's area and brought our children into the sanctuary to pray for them. That was a powerful moment. It was powerful, on one hand, to see all the kids! They outnumber the adults 2 to 1. Also, it was so cool to pray for them and to let them know that as adults we are supporting them and helping them navigate their unchartered waters of childhood and adolescence- and therefore was also publicly honored the adults who serve our children.

I was so stoked after leaving Sunday morning - I floated out the door.

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The Power of the Cross

Anytime I have an opportunity to post sermons of Tim Keller from Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, I immediately post them. If you are not familiar with Tim Keller, you can go to his church's website, but let me assure you - everything I've ever listened to from Tim Keller's preaching from the Word has been good food for my soul. Nevertheless I highly recommend him.


Tim Keller preached on the cross at the Christian Life Conference, Second Presbyterian Church (Memphis, TN).

1. How the Cross Converts Us (Acts 8:26-40)

2. How the Cross Changes Us (Romans 6:1-14)

3. How the Cross Unites Us (Ephesians 2:11-22)

4. The Cross and Suffering (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

(HT: Justin Taylor)

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Communion Meditations

'God is speaking all the time, all the time, all the time.' ... If God is
speaking all the time, what am I doing all that time? I want to be listening all the time, all the time, all the time.

Rosalind Rinker, Communicating Love Through Prayer

Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering of Christ, and it is
therefore not at all surprising that Christians should be called upon to
suffer. In fact it is a joy and a token of his grace. The acts of the early
Christian martyrs are full of evidence which shows how Christ transfigures for his own the hour of their mortal agony by granting them the unspeakable assurance of his presence. In the hour of the cruelest torture they bear for his sake, they are made partakers in the perfect joy and bliss of fellowship with him. To bear the cross proves to be the only way of triumphing over suffering. This is true for all who follow Christ, because it was true for him.

Deitrich Bonhoeffer; The Cost of Discipleship

19 So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also."

John 8:19

The knowledge of God is the great hope of sinners. Oh, if you knew Him
better, you would fly to Him! If you understood how gracious he is, you
would seek him. If you could have any idea of his holiness, you would loathe your self-righteousness. If you knew, anything of his power, you would not venture to contend with him. If you knew anything of his grace, you would not hesitate to yield yourself to him.

C. H. Spurgeon

Technorati Tags: Communion, Quotes

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Is it merely simply Christian?

The post title is a play on words from two books, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and Simply Christian by N.T. Wright. Both of these books are two of my all time favorites.

Internetmonk has a good post that compares and contrasts both books side by side.

Both of these books provide excellent opportunities for people to access/and enter into a discussion of the Christian faith. And so if you have a friend, family, neighbor, or coworker that you are reaching out to, these books provide a wonderful opportunity to create spiritual conversation.

Technorati Tags: Christianity, Apologetics, Book Review

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Giving a shout out!

This is a double shout out. John Ottinger has a great post about our new Assistant Worship Leader, Paul Reeves - go over to John's blog where he has some great links to Paul's music.

And as I said in my earlier post about our staff, I agree with John, Paul is a great addition to the Big Creek team, and I am so excited to be working alongside him.

Technorati Tags: Church, Ministry

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The Georgia Carnival - Part Deux

Welcome to those of you from the Georgia Carnival! Thanks for stopping in. If you are here through other means, please check out Georgia on my Mind, a blog of Georgia and her Bloggers. John Ottinger (from Big Creek) and I both have submissions listed- so please check it out.

Technorati Tags: Georgia

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Listen to the Sound of the Next Generation

Our continuing series on "Listen" this Sunday will focus on the Next Generation - our children and youth at Big Creek Church. And it is going to be a way cool service. Sarah, Matt, Trey and Caleb are doing an excellent work integrating our youth during the Sunday worship service - but what I can't wait to see is when every young person marches into the Sanctuary (even those from the nursery - although they won't be marching but rather be carried by one of the high schoolers :-) ) To see every infant, toddler, child, and teenager in the worship service is going to be a powerful testimony and statement about the impact and influence we have and can potentially have on the next generation.





Technorati Tags: Children, Ministry, Church, Youth, Generations

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What provokes change?

From Todd Hiestand's blog, a very provocative thought.



Here is an excerpt from his post:

Keith Matthews is discussing the topic of “Why People Change.” He outlines two main reasons people undergo major life / character transformation:

1. In a state where things are so painful it compels you to change
2. A new compelling vision for a different reality of life

Now, here is something to ponder: As pastors do we spend most of our time trying to keep both of these from happening?

Technorati Tags: Missional, Ministry, Church

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