Things I Want To Do

Even though this blog is entitled, "Things I Want To Do,"the below list are things "I MUST do." Some of these "things" have been on my heart for most all of my ministry. Some "things" have been on my heart a few years; some a few months; and a couple only a few weeks. But, these are "things" that I MUST see through in order to continue to grow in Christ. You see, I believe that when God lays something on your heart, He does so for His glory--and He receives glory when the task is accomplished and given back to Him. So here I go:

• I want to glorify Christ EVERY MOMENT of my life. I really desire to.
• I want to be the best husband in the entire world. I really desire to honor Kassandra.
• I want to be a Godly dad and be able to claim Ephesians 6:1-4 and Proverbs 22:6. I really desire to raise my boys to be Godly husbands and dads and for Kassandra to teach our daughter to be a Godly wife and mom.
  
• I want to preach the Word of God until I can't draw another breath. I really desire to, but often it seems such a daunting task--so I must fear the Lord and never take for granted the call on my life.
• I want to be content with whatever my heavenly Father supplies to me and my family. I desire to be anxious about nothing.
• I want to learn how to rest. I desire to rest physically, emotionally, and spiritually---but I have never learned how.
• I want to be a better steward with finances. Kassandra and I really desire to go into the next stage of our lives being able to bless others constantly--we want to give back what so many people have given to us.
• I want to write a book. I desire to see this through--maybe even real soon.
• I want to be in the habit of blogging everyday. I desire to leave a legacy of my thoughts and what God has taught me to my family and church. This is a tough one...much discipline needed.
• I want to be in control of my body. I desire to honestly take care of God's temple. Again, much discipline is needed.
• I want to love my neighbor as myself. I really desire not to be bitter or angry with anyone. This too is a daunting task.
• Last but not least, I want to leave a legacy of Christ, courage, and being the kind of person that does EVERYTHING that God lays on my heart---NO MATTER THE COST. I serve an audience of One.
  

Romans 5:12-21...Guilt versus Grace

This coming Sunday, I am going to be preaching from Romans 5:12-21. This is really an amazing part of the book of Romans. These 10 verses basically summarize what we have learned thus far from 1:18-5:11 and what we will learn and be challenged by in 6:1-8:39. Here’s how this section can be outlined:

• 5:12-14 references the fall and ruin of humanity. These three verses summarize 1:18-3:20.

• 5:15-19 references God’s rescuing of humanity by sending His Son as propitiation for all sin. These five verses summarize 3:21-5:11.

• 5:20-21 introduces a Christian’s victory because of God’s indwelling Spirit. This will be discussed in 6:1-8:39.

However, the heart of Romans 5:12-21 introduces us in great detail to the struggle between “good and evil.” This struggle did not begin with you and your first dilemma or your first moral decision in which you may have failed. Rather it began in the perfect Garden of Eden where the first man and woman lived in a beautiful, untainted by sin, garden. Their duty was plentiful and seemingly easy; God empowered them to be vice-regents over the earth. They were to have dominion over all creation, love each other, multiply, and have an intimate, personal relationship with God. The only stipulation: Adam had the choice to choose between good and evil. Since love is a choice, God placed in the garden a tree. Adam was to choose between “right” and this one solitary tree. He chose to disobey and eat from the tree. GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY!
Adam plummeted all humanity into sin. Oh, the guilt he must have felt. Actually his and Eve’s first decision was to cover themselves in guilt and not grace. They sowed together fig leaves to hide their shame. They hid themselves from God’s presence. That is EXACTLY what we do with sin. In our guilt, we hide ourselves and our behavior.

Join us this coming Sunday at North Park as we talk about what to do with guilt. Grace trumps guilt. We do not need to live in guilt. Guilt keeps us separated. Christ died for our guilt. Show up this coming Sunday and let’s learn how to deal with the guilt problem

Romans 1:1-17

In our quest to preach/teach through the grand book of Romans, we really haven’t spent much time, if really any in Romans 1:1-17. So, let’s deal with it in this blog.
Paul was a man on a mission. His mission? To spread a cure to a problem called sin and separation that was traced all the way back to the Garden of Eden through the sin of Adam. He felt his mission was to distribute the most precious gift the world had ever been given; the gospel of Jesus Christ—the cure to the sin problem. Paul simply wanted his readers to understand that he was about to unfold the reason why there is a “good news” to a “bad problem.” (For a better understanding of the church at Rome, read my blog entitled, “The Purpose, Occasion, and Background to the Church at Rome.”)
Here are a few key things that Paul does in this salutation to get the readers ready to hear the most amazing story ever.
1.Paul greets them in 1:1-7 with the final salutation in verse 7. Notice in verse 1 that Paul calls himself a “bond-servant.” The Greek word for “bond-servant” is doulos. No one wanted this title. It means “slave,” “under someone else’s control.” For Jews it even carried the idea of their slavery in Egypt. It simply meant “the loss of freedom.” Paul readily identifies himself as person who was under full control and service to his Lord, Jesus Christ.
2. Paul also calls himself an apostle. This word simply designated Paul as not just an ordinary preacher of the Gospel. He had a special task. He was appointed and sent out by God to do an extraordinary task that only a few had been asked to do.
3. In Romans 1:2-5 Paul simply but yet profoundly tells the church at Rome three things about the gospel message:
i. The origin of the gospel—vs. 2
ii. The content of the gospel—vs. 3
iii. The gospel’s purpose—vs. 5
4. In verses 8-13 Paul encourages these believers. A letter from a fellow servant but also someone of Paul’s stature would only affirm, confirm, and encourage their work. Here’s how he does it:
i. He prays for them—vs. 9
ii. He tells them that he wants to join them—vs.10
iii. He promises to help them spiritually and with ministry—vv. 11-13
5.In verses 14-17 Paul pours out his passion on this church. Since the power and dominion of sin is no respecter of person, neither is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul tells them that he feels as if he is obligated to share the gospel with everyone whom he comes in contact with. He sincerely felt as if he was in debt to people who knew not the saving grace of the Messiah. And Paul was not ashamed of his message, mission, or methods of the gospel.
It is my prayer that I become as eager and passionate as Paul with the gospel that saved my life. It is my prayer that NP becomes this eager and passionate about the gospel as well.
FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL, FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION TO EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES….

My Heart and Romans

Preaching through Romans has been a matter of heart for me. For nearly 20 years of preaching and teaching the Word of God I have anticipated with honor and some trepidation for the Lord to ask me to preach an in-depth series through “The Greatest Letter Ever Written---Romans.” Over the years I have wrestled with Romans and wanted to preach through it, but God always seemed to lead me in a different direction. Even though I have preached “out of” Romans several times, preaching “through it" has seemed like the tallest mountain ever.

Now is the time. The Lord has confirmed in my heart that through years of study and digging into the history of my hero Paul and the church at Rome, now is the time. I am ready for the most daunting task of a preacher of the gospel. You see, there has been no greater exposition of the gospel than the book of Romans. There has been no more a glorious presentation of the plight of man and the grace of God ever penned.
Why has it taken me this long to be prepared to lead the church that God allows me to shepherd through the book of Romans? A few reasons:

1. Every single word of the Bible is inspired by God. Therefore, all 66 books of the Bible are authoritative, inerrant, and inspired. BUT ROMANS seems to be the magna carta of Scripture. To have the leading of the Holy Spirit to guide a church through such a golden work of God, one must be well seasoned, prepared, studied, and prayed up.

2. A church must be ready. NP has been on the journey of journeys (and thanks for sticking to the great call). God has asked us to do what seems like the biggest task ever. We had to spend a couple of years preparing and understanding what our Great Shepherd was asking us to do—and we now know. So, now that we know and understand NP’s purpose, let’s know and understand from a spiritual perspective why God has asked us to be such a different church. Romans will unfold and enlighten us to a full and deep understanding of man’s fate and God’s grace and our role as a local church in God’s redemptive purpose for this region.

3. It’s time for meat, and friend we are about to chomp on some steak. Romans is the meat of the New Testament. And I don’t know about you, but I am hungry.
Let me end this blog by giving you a quote from one of my contemporary heroes, John Piper. And I am in full agreement with this statement and couldn’t have said it better had I penned it. “I am not as moved now as I used to be by the tyranny of the urgent and by the need to respond to every trendy view that blows across the cultural sea in America. Well past midlife (not for me though…lol), I have a deep confidence that the best way to be lastingly relevant is to stand on rock-solid, durable old truths, rather than jumping from one pragmatic bandwagon to another. Romans’ is as solid and durable and reliable and unshakable and thorough as the truth can get.”

Purpose, Occassion, and Background to the Book of Romans

It’s the winter of AD 57 in a city located on a land bridge between Greece and Peloponnese. A city overwhelmed by heavy Roman commerce due to the shipping industry and tourism. The city’s name: Corinth. Located in Corinth was a wealthy man by the name of Gaius. He was a wealthy man converted under Paul’s preaching and one of the few that Paul baptized (1 Cor. 1:14). Gaius allows Paul and Paul’s secretary, Tertius (as Paul dictated the letter to Rome, Tertius penned it) to lodge in his home while staying in Corinth (Rom. 16:22, 23) as he was on his third missionary journey (Acts 20:2-3). He had hoped to travel to Rome and then to Spain , but he first needed to drop some money off in Jerusalem that had been collected for them (Rom. 15:19-32; Acts 19:21).

It was during this stay that Paul paced the floor in Gaius’ home with much on his mind. Rome had many converts and the amazing thing is Paul played no role in their conversion. This is obvious by his statement in Romans 1:13 where he had often planned to visit them, but was often prevented. Rome had converts either by converted Jews present at Pentecost (Acts 2:10) or the church was founded by both Jew and Gentile Christians who simply traveled to the capital city of the known world and eventually took up residence there. Regardless, there was a church in Rome that met in several houses (Rom. 16). Oh, by the way, Peter seemed to have nothing to do with the founding of the Church in Rome (Catholic Church) since he is neither mentioned by Paul in chapter 16 and by Paul’s statement in 15:20 that there had not been a foundation of the gospel laid in Rome yet…hmmmm!!!!).

So, there was a growing church in Rome that seemed not to have much if any apostolic influence. This must have driven Paul crazy. “Do they believe the essentials of the gospel?” “Who taught them?” “Are the leaders of the church in full agreement to the basic tenants of the gospel?” “Do they really understand that they are a part of a fallen race and in desperate need of the saving grace of God’s Unique Son, Jesus the Messiah?” These are just a few questions that had to be racing through Paul’s mind.

So what does the Apostle Paul do? He pens the first systematic theology of the Christian faith. Basically, it’s the Christian Magna Carta—the believer’s constitution. And what do we get out of this letter? Riches beyond our wildest imagination. A complete theological treatise that gives explanation of the entire gospel---The Creation…The Fall….Redemption…Consummation. In other words, the story of the Bible in 16 chapters entitled, “Romans.

DON’T MISS A SUNDAY AS WE TRAVEL THROUGH THE BOOK OF ROMANS. WE ARE GOING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEOLOGY AND THE APPLICATION OF IT THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE….IT’S GOING TO BE AWESOME.

The Significance of Romans

Paul told Timothy that “All Scripture is breathed out by God…” (2 Tim. 3:16). “All Scripture” meaning the 66 books of the Bible. While no one book of the Bible is more “God breathed” or is held to a higher standard, the book of Romans seems to have made a huge impact on the history of Christianity and the key leaders of great revival and reform movements. For example in 386AD Augustine of Hippo was converted to Christianity by reading Romans 13:13-14. Augustine turned out to be one of the church’s most influential theologians and leaders.

The great reformer Martin Luther, a simple monk of the Augustinian Order, was struggling with his beliefs on salvation. As he was teaching the book of Romans to group of students he became more and more convinced by the theme of justification by faith alone (Sola Fide). After reading and grasping the truth that “the just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17), Luther was converted and seemed to singlehandedly dissemble the Catholic churches doctrine of a “works salvation.” In 1517AD in Wittenberg, Germany the Great Reformation began and the dark ages dissipated.

The great theologian John Calvin (1509-1564AD) was a pastor during the Reformation period. He has made a lasting impact on most all protestant denominations today with his strong view of the sovereignty of God. Calvin stated, “When one gains knowledge of the Epistle (Romans), he has an entrance open to him to all the most hidden treasures of Scripture.”

Romans has impacted and shaped the theology of evangelists like John Wesley to Bible translators such as William Tyndale to great commentators as Donald Grey Barnhouse. These men have impacted the world for Christ and when you glean into their testimonies it was the book of Romans that seem to impact and change them the very most.

The book of Romans will stun the intellectual and bring tears to the humble. Romans quotes the Old Testament more than any other book in the New Testament. Romans answers questions of a theological nature like no other book of the Bible. As I said in the beginning of this blog, all Scripture is inspired by God, however, Romans seems to be the theological pinnacle of Scripture. It simply yet profoundly and very succinctly unfolds and explains what the “the gospel” really is and does.

For the next 18 weeks (maybe even a few weeks longer) I am going to be systematically and thematically preaching through this magnum opus of Scripture. Also, I will be providing blog entries on the topics and matters in which I will be preaching. All I can say is “hold on to your hat” because we are about to dive deep into the Word of God. I have preached through several books of the Bible and preached out of Romans numerous times, but I have never preached through Romans. Pray for me because the study and preparation is going to be challenging. Oh, and please pray that I will stay faithful with my blogging on Romans. I want to teach as much as I can through the week to get us ready for Sundays.

MY PRAYER: When we get through Romans we will have a great understanding of the major doctrines of the Bible. We should know why we believe what we believe.

A Few Teaching Points About The Lord's Supper

This Friday, April 2, beginning at 9:00am, NP is going to begin reading the New Testament in the Worship Center. This event will last until 4:00pm or so. The amazing thing about this is the fact that the day in which we remember the death of our Savior, we will read the entire New Testament in His honor. Friday night, April 2, at 7:00pm, we will be experiencing "The Weeping Tree" presented by NP's Worship Arts Team. It is going to be an incredible time of worship and remembrance of the death of our Lord Jesus. As a part of the service, we are going to be observing the Lord's Supper. Let me give you a few reminders of WHY we observe this ordinance and WHO should participate in it.

The Lord's Supper, as called by Paul (1 Corinthians 11:20), bears other names as well. Such as, "Communion," which has implications to a Christian's right relationship with the Father and their right relationship with other believers, especially their local church. In 1 Corinthians 11:24, Paul used the term "Eucharist" (Greek="eucharistia"), which means, "giving thanks" to describe the event. Paul also called the Lord's Supper, "the Lord's Table" (1 Corinthians 10:21).

The Lord's Supper carries great theological significance in that it symbolizes the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. The bread and juice symbolize the very body and blood of Jesus Christ. Some denominations would see it as a sacrament which carries and gives salvation to the participants as it is taken. At North Park, we believe that the Lord's Supper is symbolic only. Though the Lord is greatly honored when we celebrate and partake of this ordinance, His presence is no more prevalent than at any other moment when we meet as a church body. We observe this ordinance "because" we are Christians and not to "become" a Christian. We simply observe and remember. Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 22:19, ..."do this in remembrance of me." The Apostle Paul, when giving instructions to the church in Corinth repeated the words of Christ and said, "And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,'This is my body which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'"(1 Corinthians 11:24-25). So, it seems pretty obvious that the Lord's Supper is a memorial event. Nonetheless, it is not to be taken lightly nor observed half-heartily, nor observed when one's heart is not right with the Lord or His church.

A few often asked questions about the Lord's Supper:

• How often should a church take it? There is no commandment on how often, other than the statement of Jesus and Paul that as often as you do it, do it is remembrance of the Savior. At NP, we typically observe the Lord's Supper once a quarter. However, there are those special times such as Easter, Christmas, or maybe some other significant event in our church life that we deem it very necessary to remember and be thankful. Nothing prohibits the number of times in which we partake.
  
• Who should take the Lord's Supper? This, my friend, is a great question. The Lord's Supper is for those who have been accepted by Christ (in other words "saved"), Scripturally baptized (by immersion following salvation), one whose heart is pure before their Lord, and a person who is in right fellowship with their local church. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 Paul said, "Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly." There you have it...it is a matter of the heart. If you have unconfessed sin, confess it and allow God to make you pure. If you are not in right standing with your church, get there or don't take it. This is not a North Park issue but rather a Bible issue.
• My heart's right, but I don't feel worthy to take the Lord's Supper? My answer to this question is "who does?" It's not my worthiness that God accepts, it is the worthiness of His Son, Jesus. God the Father accepts me on the merit of His Son. I will never be worthy, but Jesus always is, therefore because He lives in me, I am worthy. Now I know that 1 Corinthians 11:27 has the phrase, "unworthy manner." Here's what we all need to understand about that phrase: "Unworthy" is a word that implies taking the supper in a way that is not God-honoring and Jesus-remembering, such as, ritualistically, with an unrepentant heart, holding an ungodly attitude, or not in right standing with the church. Paul issues a grave warning to folks taking the ordinance in an "unworthy manner." The penalty could equal sickness or even death (see 1 Corinthians11:30).
• Can children who have not yet been saved take the Lord's Supper? To me this one is simple, NO! Go back to the second point I made. If your child has not yet received Christ as Lord and Savior, what a great teaching point about Jesus and His saving grace. Instead of trying to explain away why they can't take it or even make allowances for them to take it, teach them what it all means. The conversation with your child may go something like this, "The bread symbolizes Jesus' body which was given for us and the juice symbolizes Jesus' blood that was shed for us. So child, when I eat the bread and drink the juice, as your parent, I am remembering the day He changed my life and I am also praying that one day soon He will change yours."

See ya Friday as NP's Easter weekend begins

A Few Reasons To Get Stoked

Our amazing God has been doing some amazing things at NP. If you agree just pause and say either "amen" or "whooohooo"--whatever makes you feel good. We have seen our Savior save several lives, mend broken hearts, and rescue a few couples over the past few weeks. Wow!! What an amazing Savior we have.

Let me list a few things that I am really stoked about:

• This coming Sunday is week three of the marriage series and I have seen God work in an incredible way---can't wait till Sunday!
• March 28th is "Friend Day." Just think if everyone brings a friend. If your friend attends another church faithfully, invite them anyway and then pay them back by going to church with them one Sunday---just one though.
• April 4 is EASTER and we are going to have a blow-out Sunday. We are going to be having three (3) services on Easter (8:00, 9:15, and 10:45am). Let's fill up NP. There is no greater day to bring a friend or family member who needs Christ than on Easter Sunday....we are going to exalt our Lord and worship Him in an exciting way. It's going to be phenomenal.
• The month of April is "Get Ready" month. The three Sundays following Easter I am going to be preaching on the 2nd coming of Christ---that's why we are all wearing the orange wrist bands that say "Get Ready." If you don't have one you can pick one up this Sunday at the coffee shop.
• Starting in May I am going to be taking us through the book of Romans. This series will last 18 weeks. I am major stoked about this one. Romans is the theological pinnacle of the Bible. We are all going to learn much.
  

I have been in the ministry now for nearly 21 years and I have never been a part of such an awesome church as NP. God is continually adding to us. Let's keep praying, studying His Word, being faithful to worship and Community Groups, and let's stay on the great task that our Great God has given us.

I love being your pastor

Who The Marriage Series Is For!!

I am pumped about the upcoming series starting this Sunday entitled, "Secrets For A Successful Marriage." We attempt to carve out one month a year and focus on marriage--as we should. For it is the institution of marriage that is an image of Christ and the Church (Eph. 5:21-33) and this world is desperate to see such an image. Also, marriages are so challenged by an apathetic culture that offers the antitheses to marriage, that is, separation and divorce. Did you know that in one day’s time, 3,000 couples divorce; 65% of all new marriages end in divorce and of the remaining 35%, 10% of the couples say they are miserable. Therefore, I believe with all my heart that the Church must address and hold to a high standard the sanctity of marriage.

HAVING SAID ALL OF THAT, YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS MARRIAGE SERIES---WE ALL NEED IT.

Who is this series for:

• Everyone.
• Students. One day most all of our teenagers will either be getting married or at least entertain the notion of marriage. They need to learn how to use Scripture as the standard of marriage and not their peers or the culture. Now is the time for them to start listening.
• Those with a challenged marriage (a marriage in turmoil). This is a time for those couples who are struggling to show up at NP with a Bible and a notepad and beg God to teach, challenge, and change their marriage to be a marriage of "happily everafter," "For better or worse," and "till death do us part." THIS MONTH IS FOR YOUR MARRIAGE.
• Divorced people. You may have plans for another marriage---maybe you don't---maybe God has plans for you and you just don't know it yet. DON'T MISS THIS SERIES---IT'S FOR YOU! It's time that you show up and take copious notes to pass on to a future spouse on how you should be treated and how you will treat them according to God's Word. Also, if you have children, I'm sure you don't want them to go through what you have been through. Now is your time to be a parent/teacher. Sit with them and discuss the sermon/teaching with them and challenge them to hold high the Word of God and the sanctity of marriage.
• Single people. You are not exempt. You have no idea what God has in store for you. I pray that you will take this series serious and one day if you do enter into marriage, your Biblical expectations will be high. If the church does not hold marriage to a high standard and teach the expectations of it---no one else will. YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS SERIES.
• Older couples. You are much needed in this series. You may be thinking, "we don't need this, we have been married for 40+ years." I say, "YES YOU NEED IT AND WE NEED YOU." If your marriage is so perfect that you can't be challenged to be a better spouse, then now is your chance to pray for your pastor (ME). There are so many couples that are desperate to watch the godly example(s) of a seasoned couple and who desperately need to put down pride and be challenged by the Word of God---they need prayer. Don't you wan them to have what you have. You know things about marriage that we haven't learned yet--and we are destined for mistakes unless you teach us. PLEASE HEAR THIS: IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS FOR YOU, THINK ABOUT ALL THE YOUNGER COUPLES WHO ARE IN THE STRUGGLE OF THEIR LIVES---SHOW UP AND PRAY FOR THEM AS THEY ARE BEING CHALLENGED BY GOD'S WORD.
• Widows and Widowers. You are not being left out. Some of you had an amazing marriage and it should be your desire that those married experience what your marriage did with Christ in the middle--show up and pray--NP needs you and many marriages do to---do you really understand the power of prayer---cover your pastor and saturate the worship center with prayer. I promise you this, our enemy will be there because he hates what you had and wants no one else to have it. PLEASE PRAY. You may be a widow/widower that had a very unhappy marriage. I know you don't want any young lady or young many to go through what you went through. NOW IS A WORTHY MOMENT FOR YOU IN GOD'S KINGDOM. Begin praying now.

I will see everyone Sunday....Be in prayer and be ready to worship...it's going to be an amazing month.

Sunday Night Reflections

Today was a challenging day for me. WOW!! Being interviewed about God's vision and direction for NP was a blessing and "an out of the box" moment for me. But thank you for all the affirmation of how you feel like you "get" be a part of what our Lord is doing through NP. Yes, these are challenging and adventurous days, but we have a challenging and adventurous God. So "thank you" Lord for letting me, too, be a part of such an awesome, challenging, and adventurous church.

God never intended the Church to be a "one to two hour" a week meeting place; He intended for it to be a lifestyle. He never intended the Church to be a museum of religious moments. He intended the Church to be a bunch of radical, sold-out people that are dangerous to the god and ways of this world. I do not believe for one moment that God has called NP, or any other New Testament church, to be a luxury liner cruising across the beautiful seas enjoying the scenery of an awesome creation while discussing exactly how God the Creator made it all happen. Yes, we need to study and learn, but guys the bottom line is this--God has called the Church to be a battleship and not a luxury liner. He has called and commissioned us to conquer the world for Jesus. The Church is not about a "cause" we are about the "cross."

Being a Christian means we are people of action. Just read how it all began in the book of Acts. Really---just read the title to the book---The ACTS of the Apostles. In other words, "The ACTIONS" of how the Church began and the mandates to keep it moving forward as an active, action-oriented, progressive body that is to tell and show the people of this world who and what Jesus can do. We are not saved to live in a museum or a zoo to be stared at. We are saved to be life changers that ACT as a catalyst of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Well, in a nutshell, that was the vision that I cast this morning. NP has a great future and we are NOT trying to be the biggest church in town an we are NOT trying to just become a different church. We are NOT just trying to build on 20 acres. We are asking God to mold us into a church that the lost and unchurched people of this community will want to come and be a part of.....Let's get busy NP'ers.

I Absolutely Love Being Your Pastor. Thanks for your trust and love.

It Just Can't Be Advertised Enough!!

I am so focused, pumped, and juiced up about what's going to be happening at NP that I am beside myself. We have great days ahead. Let me just share with you what is going to be happening here over the next few months.

• The Choice, Desire, and Will of God series is just really beginning. I am blown away how God has already begun to change and tweak hearts...and we have three weeks left...three weeks that is going to get down to the nitty-gritty of understanding how to interpret God's will for your life.
• Community Groups in February are going through a Francis Chan study called, Sold-Out To Jesus. Chan is going to take us on a three week journey through Philippians 3:1-11.
  
• In March we are going to take a journey through Scripture on how to have a strong, God-honoring marriage. We will entitle the series, The Secrets of a Successful Marriage. This is going to be awesome for all of us, but also, if you know of a couple (or maybe even a single person) who is wounded because of a strained or broken marriage----bring them to NP.
• On March 28th (the Sunday before Easter) we are going to have "Bring a Friend Day." This is when we are going to be challenged to invite a friend to NP...bring your best friend...even if they have a church home. You may have to pay them back by going to church with them....it's okay!! Here's the point. If everyone brings a friend and our focus is on filling up NP with our friends...surely in a crowd of people that size, there will be some who do not have a church home. They will see and experience a "jam-up" worship service and they will feel so welcomed that they will want to come back...the following Sunday is Easter!!! Get the point. Now, if they have a church home, that's okay. It's good to sit in church with a friend. Pay them back by going with them one Sunday (not Easter though...lol). I just figure that odds are if we have 50 guests, surely there will be a few unchurched "friends" at NP on the 28th.
  
• EASTER!!! THE BIG CHURCH DAY OF THE YEAR. It is going to be "crash-bam-boom-bang" on that day at NP. I don't know what that phrase means, but what I am trying to say is Easter Sunday at NP is going to be Jesus honoring and a "blow-out" worship time. It's going to be so awesome that we are going to have THREE (3) WORSHIP SERVICES (8:00am; 9:15am; and 10:45am). We are going to really work our community with evangelism and invites that God is going to honor our efforts and pack us out. On March 28th, each Community Group will receive 200 door-hangers (that's over 2000). Each group is going to be challenged to saturate their neighborhood with door hangers that will advertise the Easter Sunday Services and the series for April called, Get Ready! This is going to be a series on the Second Coming of Christ.
• Oh, almost forgot. The GOOD FRIDAY worship service and Lord's Supper will be held at 7:00pm in NP's worship center. You don't want to miss it either...what a great day to remember and celebrate Christ's redemptive work. Also, at some point on Good Friday afternoon we are going to begin reading the New Testament out loud in the worship center (time will be announced soon). Several of you are going to be asked to be readers. We will start in Matthew 1 and read through Revelation 22. The entire New Testament will be read out loud at NP. You are welcomed to come sit and listen to the whole reading or just show up when you can, come and go as you please, but from beginning to end, God's Word will be read on Good Friday. Ain't that just cool?
• Last thing. Your Pastor and Staff loves you so much. We serve God by serving you. God is about to do something HUGE at NP. He already has, but we anticipate a great movement of the Holy Spirit in a way that is going to be unprecedented. The table is set. Here's what your Staff needs----PRAYER. THE HARDER WE ATTEMPT TO SHEPHERD A CHURCH UNDER THE GREAT SHEPHERD'S GUIDANCE, THE HARDER SATAN ATTEMPTS TO THWART GOD'S WORK THROUGH US. The enemy loves it when we get discouraged, gossiped about, torn-down, and stepped on. I am going to ask you to really pray for us. And when you see Shannon Byrd, Kevin White, and Jay Baker tell them how much you love and appreciate them. They are working and serving their fingers to the bones.
  

I love you guys and love being your pastor.

My Personal Valentine (Part 2)

In June of 1989 my life totally changed. I was at Ben Geren Park playing softball when I noticed this "sports trainer" who was working for Parker Orthopedics. I was smitten. Allow me to back-up a little bit. Now I will say that I had been smitten a few times before, but this one was different. Pryor to meeting this sports trainer, I had been on a marathon run trying to escape the call of God on my life to be in the ministry. I thought pastor-types were sissy's--some really are too. In the summer of 1988 I got serious about God and surrendered to His call on my life. I began praying for the "perfect" girl. And it had been my experience to this point, that the "perfect" one did not exist. I was getting so frustrated because I was getting very serious about following my Lord but I was also 23 and lonely for a companion. And then it happened--after all the dates, blind-dates, and scary dates---I saw Kassandra Williams walking to the concession stand where her training room was located. I saw her..that's all...I just saw her. Something happened in my heart on that June day. So, I conveniently got hurt...it worked to. We met, she patched me up...we dated a year...was engaged a year and the rest is history. Actually there is more to the story of me asking her out--maybe I will tell that one later. Let me get to the main point of God's special gift to me that I call "MY WIFE."
Kassandra and I will have been married for 19 years this March 16th. I was in the ministry before we met and God knew just what He was doing when He joined us together. Being in the ministry is all we know. We have had no dating, engaged, or married life outside of a ministry to our Lord through a local church. To be honest with you, that has been a little tough over the years. Our lives have always been transparent and to top that off, I am a very extroverted, transparent guy...I know that is tough for a woman too. A large number of pastors/ministers never have a fruitful ministry because the wife has a hard time with transparency and "sharing" a marriage and husband with a church.
Of all the women that God ever created, He gave me the best. I truly believe that too. She is my best friend, lover, life partner, mother to our children, and prayer/ministry partner. She is completely committed to all the above statements---she is completely committed to me and I can honestly say that I have NEVER doubted it for one single moment.
I could fill up pages with braggadocious statements about what an amazing mom she is, but this blog is for me to brag about her being an amazing wife to me. Proverbs 31:10-23 sums up her life.

• I trust her more than I have ever trusted myself.
• Her intentions are to always pray, protect, and provide ministry to her husband and pastor.
• She is the most amazing prayer warrior I have ever met. If you only knew how she hovers over me with prayer, even in the middle of the night and has been known to pray for me all night so I could sleep. Even in those "angry" moments that pastors go through...she makes me pray with her. If I say, "I can't," she will grab my hand and pray anyway...and yes it has made me mad before too...but oh how God has blessed me with a prayer warrior wife.
  
• I am her ministry. She keeps the nursery at NP...but that's because she loves babies. But I am her ministry. She is seen more than she is ever heard at church...but then again, I am her ministry. Most pastors don't have this joy either.
  
• She never complains to me...I'm serious, she is the least complaining person I have ever met in my entire life. I would know, because I am a complainer.
  
• She is not a drama queen..LOL. That may sound funny to you, but drama queen women get on my last nerve...praise God I am not married to a drama queen.
• She has an amazing ministry outside the walls of NP...very few know about it, but she blesses women and children in need...that's all I can share about that.
• She understands the heart of the Ephesians 5 "submissive" wife. I have never, no not ever had to worry about her being anything less.
• Often times when I see a woman acting in an ungodly way and usurping the spiritual authority of their husband or even acting in a way that is embarrassing to "womanhood" I often walk away thinking to myself, "I will never have to be embarrassed because of Kassandra."
• She is my lover...and she makes me feel like the most manly man in the entire world. Enough said there...right?
  
• I have never one time ever thought that we were not going to make it...if anything it has been her who has held us together through thick and thin.
• She has been my strength, resting place, my safe place, and my sounding board as I have been filled with much grief, anger, and tears...and she has not one time made me feel as if she gets tired of me expressing any of those things.
• We have been impoverished and now are comfortable...her attitude has remained the same through it all...uplifting, encouraging, and satisfied. When we were poor, she made us rich.
  
• She is my girlfriend, bride, and gift from God.

I will not apologize for bragging about my wife. She deserves it and much more. I am who I am as a husband, dad, and pastor because of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life coupled with the best and most worthy wife a man has ever had.
I LOVE YOU KASSANDRA--YOU ARE MORE BEAUTIFUL TO ME TODAY THAN YOU WERE 21 YEARS AGO WHEN I MET THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TEENAGE GIRL IN THE WHOLE WORLD. IF WE LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO CELEBRATE 75 YEARS OF MARRIAGE, I WILL STILL THINK YOU ARE SMOKIN' HOT AND WILL LOVE YOU MORE THEN, THAN NOW.

The History of Valentines Day (Part 1)

Why is it that every February 14^th we celebrate a love holiday called Valentine’s Day? According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.) Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

Another interesting history mystery that surrounds the celebration of Valentine’s Day goes back to 270AD, the supposed death date and burial of Valentine. The Christian church banned the celebration of many Roman feasts and declared them pagan. However, there was an effort to appease the peoples by “Christianizing” certain pagan celebrations—Valentine’s Day being one of them. The pagan Roman celebration went something like this:

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goat hide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage.

Okay, now to the fat baby with wings, diapers, and a bow and arrow named Cupid. What the heck is up with this? Cupid has not always been a flying baby angel. It all started about 3000 years ago with a Greek mythological sex symbol named “Eros” (The Greek word for “erotic” kind of love). Supposedly, he was so handsome that he could make both gods and humans go weak in the knees. His bow and arrow was for both love and hate—a gold arrow tip for love and a lead arrow tip for hate. Apparently Eros was a little deviant too. In one mythological story he shot Apollo the sun god was in love with a nymph named Daphne. Eros shows up and shot Apollo with a gold tipped arrow and Daphne with a lead tipped arrow. Their relationship never worked out.

Eros’ downfall came when he fell in love with a mortal named Psyche (actually he shot himself in the butt with his own golden tipped arrow in the site of Psyche). As he became less and less the erotic god of love, he became younger and younger in the hearts and minds of people. Through the centuries as Greek myth gods begin to be less and less important, a few stuck around under Roman rule and festivals; Eros’ name was changed to Cupid. During the Renascence Period, artists began to paint the symbol of cupid using baby angels called “Putti” as his symbol. In the 1700’s when people started sending Valentine’s cards, the little “Putti” symbol called Cupid became the icon and he is just as popular. However, if Eros the love and sex symbol could see what he has become today, I think he would be ticked off.

A Few Reasons Why I Am Juiced About NP

I am so focused, pumped, and juiced up about what's going to be happening at NP that I am beside myself. We have great days ahead. Let me just share with you what is going to be happening here over the next few months.

• The Choice, Desire, and Will of God series is just really beginning. I am blown away how God has already begun to change and tweak hearts...and we have three weeks left...three weeks that is going to get down to the nitty-gritty of understanding how to interpret God's will for your life.
• Community Groups in February are going through a Francis Chan study called, Sold-Out To Jesus. Chan is going to take us on a three week journey through Philippians 3:1-11.
  
• In March we are going to take a journey through Scripture on how to have a strong, God-honoring marriage. We will entitle the series, The Secrets of a Successful Marriage. This is going to be awesome for all of us, but also, if you know of a couple (or maybe even a single person) who is wounded because of a strained or broken marriage----bring them to NP.
• On March 28th (the Sunday before Easter) we are going to have "Bring a Friend Day." This is when we are going to be challenged to invite a friend to NP...bring your best friend...even if they have a church home. You may have to pay them back by going to church with them....it's okay!! Here's the point. If everyone brings a friend and our focus is on filling up NP with our friends...surely in a crowd of people that size, there will be some who do not have a church home. They will see and experience a "jam-up" worship service and they will feel so welcomed that they will want to come back...the following Sunday is Easter!!! Get the point. Now, if they have a church home, that's okay. It's good to sit in church with a friend. Pay them back by going with them one Sunday (not Easter though...lol). I just figure that odds are if we have 50 guests, surely there will be a few unchurched "friends" at NP on the 28th.
  
• EASTER!!! THE BIG CHURCH DAY OF THE YEAR. It is going to be "crash-bam-boom-bang" on that day at NP. I don't know what that phrase means, but what I am trying to say is Easter Sunday at NP is going to be Jesus honoring and a "blow-out" worship time. It's going to be so awesome that we are going to have THREE (3) WORSHIP SERVICES (8:00am; 9:15am; and 10:45am). We are going to really work our community with evangelism and invites that God is going to honor our efforts and pack us out. On March 28th, each Community Group will receive 200 door-hangers (that's over 2000). Each group is going to be challenged to saturate their neighborhood with door hangers that will advertise the Easter Sunday Services and the series for April called, Get Ready! This is going to be a series on the Second Coming of Christ.
• Oh, almost forgot. The GOOD FRIDAY worship service and Lord's Supper will be held at 7:00pm in NP's worship center. You don't want to miss it either...what a great day to remember and celebrate Christ's redemptive work. Also, at some point on Good Friday afternoon we are going to begin reading the New Testament out loud in the worship center (time will be announced soon). Several of you are going to be asked to be readers. We will start in Matthew 1 and read through Revelation 22. The entire New Testament will be read out loud at NP. You are welcomed to come sit and listen to the whole reading or just show up when you can, come and go as you please, but from beginning to end, God's Word will be read on Good Friday. Ain't that just cool?
• Last thing. Your Pastor and Staff loves you so much. We serve God by serving you. God is about to do something HUGE at NP. He already has, but we anticipate a great movement of the Holy Spirit in a way that is going to be unprecedented. The table is set. Here's what your Staff needs----PRAYER. THE HARDER WE ATTEMPT TO SHEPHERD A CHURCH UNDER THE GREAT SHEPHERD'S GUIDANCE, THE HARDER SATAN ATTEMPTS TO THWART GOD'S WORK THROUGH US. The enemy loves it when we get discouraged, gossiped about, torn-down, and stepped on. I am going to ask you to really pray for us. And when you see Shannon Byrd, Kevin White, and Jay Baker tell them how much you love and appreciate them. They are working and serving their fingers to the bones.
  

I love you guys and love being your pastor.

Sunday Night Reflections

Well, it's time to wrap up an exceptional day! Looking back on this Lord's day a few things really stick out:

• The worship time in the first service this morning was a little different for me. I'm not too sure why, but while I was preaching I just felt like I was not connecting....then it happened. God just saturated me with a peace that said, "Hey, don't forget, this is for Me and My Word will penetrate hearts--and it did. God so spoke to people that have been struggling with hearing His voice in their decisions. Thank you for sharing with me how God speaks to you during worship times at NP.
  
• The second worship service was....well....stinkin awesome. As always NP's praise band rocks. They did extremely well in the 1st service, but the 2nd service...they were jammin, folks were praising, and my confidence in what God had already done encouraged me so much that I just "let go and let God."
• I met a new couple this morning that God is doing a work in and they have been longing for a place like NP.
• The interview time during the sermon with Jay about God communicating with he and Kim just cinched it all up.
• Today was my Mom's birthday and yesterday was my oldest niece's birthday. After the first service my dad came to my home and fired up the smoker. By 4:00pm we had near 15lbs of pork and grilled deer steaks. My whole family (and my buddy Bob Fry) ate and prepared for the Super Bowl.
• Oh yes, the Super Bowl. My youngest child, Haley was born in New Orleans while we were attending seminary there. We were all pulling for the Saints....Way to geaux Saints!!
• With the exception of not having Community Group, today was a great Sunday...but they all are. GOD IS SO GOOD TO ME, MY FAMILY, AND NP. THANK YOU LORD!
  

God The Communicator

This Sunday is week two of the series, "Choice, Desire, and the Will of God. As we kicked off the series last week, my purpose was to just give us an overview of the "guidance of God" in every aspect of the Christian walk. This Sunday we are going to start peeling back the layers of understanding God's Will--and we will do so by grasping the fact that God is a God of communication; He talks to us constantly....we listen rarely. Allow me to give you just a brief snippet of this coming Sunday's challenge.

If anything is crystal clear from the Bible, it's the fact that God speaks to His people. From Adam in the Garden to John the Revelator, God speaks. The hard task for us is clearing up sinful ears, and cluttered mind to simply listen. GOD DOES SPEAK. We seem to always want a "burning bush" experience like Moses had; some miraculous sign like Moses and the Israelites received in the wilderness; an angel speaking and warning us like Lot heard; a vision/dream like Peter received. We are asking for a sign, a voice, or something. Listen to the words of Jesus as He addressed a people who constantly wanted to see God work in a way that would prove that it is really God who is speaking and working, "...Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe" (John 4:48). Actually, Jesus was saying this in a condescending way...basically "where's your faith people?"

I like what Henry Blackaby said "The fact that God spoke to people is far more important than how He spoke." God may use the miracle of a "burning bush" experience to speak to you. But I hope we all understand that the very fact that the God of the universe sent His Son to be a Mediator between His holiness and our sinfulness, and when we embrace His Son through the work of the cross, and when we do the Holy Spirit invades us and makes our bodies His dwelling place---THAT'S A MIRACLE!! The same God that walked and talked with Adam, lit up the bush for Moses, and wrote on the wall for Daniel to interpret is the SAME God who lives in me....and He talks to me. How? "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the world" (Hebrews 1:1-2). How does He speak to me? Through His Son who now dwells in me...I don't need a burning bush or some donkey...I have the indwelling Word in me.

Come to NP Sunday and let's unfold just how God speaks to us and moreover, let's talk about how we can best hear a "thundering, still-small voice" that is always communicating with us.

What would North Park become if:

• we lived each day to prove that we serve a God that is alive?
• we would really see the world as God sees it?
• we really believed that God's infinite love can be experienced everyday?
• we became so missional that praying about reaching the world would become a reality and not just a prayer journey and fancy church talk?
• we would take the Word of God serious and live it out to the entire world?
• we would be disciple makers?
  
• we would ALL adjust our beliefs, behavior, character, and values to line-up with God's ways?
• we would identify where God is at work and join Him?
• we ALL committed together that we are going to give as God gives---freely, joyfully, and sacrificially?
• we loved our neighbor as much as we loved ourselves?
• we shared the message of salvation with every lost person that came into our lives?

What would North Park be? A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH!!

7 Reasons I Want To Be at North Park This Sunday

Things are really exciting around North Park these days. The Sunday morning worship experience is stinkin' AWESOME! This Sunday is going to prove to be incredible as well. Let me give you a few reasons that I am major pumped about what the Lord is doing here at North Park AND WHY I DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS SUNDAY!
1. God is being genuinely worshiped by genuine, authentic people. We sing and praise Him like crazy and then He challenges us with His Word. We talk to Him--He talks to us---sounds like a relationship, doesn't it?

2. I don't know about you, but I have really been out in the world this week Serving the Savior and Reaching the World? I need to be around fellow believers for encouragement.I need to hear you worship with me. I need to hear from God with you. I need to know you're battling with me to win this world for Christ.

3. The music. I love listening to NP's praise band rockin' for God. Music prompts me to worship and converse with God. I can't wait to sing with you.

4. The offering. I really get excited about giving back to God for the sake of the Kingdom. When Kassandra and I give, we partner with you--then we all partner with the Lord to reach every need that we possibly can for His glory.

5. The Word. I have really been challenged by the Word during this Sold-Out series. I really want to be serious and have a passion for what the Lord has specifically given to one local church--NP.

6. My family. We all can worship here. My little girl attends the first service and sits with her mom and then second service--she gets to go to an awesome childrens center and be impacted by an awesome childrens team that is teaching her about an awesome God. She is learning more about being a disciple of Christ than she ever has--I love it! And my boys, they sit with their friends and love to worship at NP--now that makes a dad/pastor happy.

7. I am not looked down on because I dress casual. The me you see is the me I will be! I tend to worship the Lord more genuinely when I can just be who I am in Christ and I don't have to pretend to be something I am not.

See you Sunday.