something worth posting

yea... i know its been 2 months since i've posted. i'm really gonna try and do better with that. i've basically been just trying to catch up and catch a rhythm in columbia. but i knew i needed to post this, especially for all of our newspring people, and in particular our columbia campus.

if you've ever known me or read this blog before, you can usually catch that i truly believe that the gospel is so much more than coming to church and singing songs... that to truly follow Christ means that we are giving to the "least of these" and actually making a real difference in the world.

that being said, all newspring campuses are having a turkey drive this week. our columbia campus is partnering with the oliver gospel mission in downtown, and helping to feed literally hundreds of families who normally wouldn't be able to have a thanksgiving meal otherwise...so here's where you come in and what you can bring that would help greatly... some can bring one thing, some can do the whole box...either way, its a small but hugely significant way that we can truly be Jesus to people...

* 10-12 lb Frozen Turkey
* Frozen Pumpkin Pie
* Canned Whole Kernel Corn (15.25 oz)
* Canned Yams (29oz)
* Canned Jellied Cranberry Sauce (16oz)
* Stovetop Style Stuffing (6-8oz)
* Kraft Style Boxed Macaroni & Cheese (7.25oz)
* Canned Peas (15oz)
* Canned Green Beans (14.5oz)
* Turkey Gravy Packets (.87oz)

the end of the world & the beginning of a campus

september 27th is almost here. that's the day that the newspring columbia campus launches, and holy cow i couldn't be more excited. all the work days, long hours, and extensive praying are going to pay off, and we know that. our biggest prayer is that people far from Jesus would come and see Him in a whole new light, and that some would see Him for the first time.

and, what could make september 27th even more awesome? i think a series on the end of the world should do that. check out this promo video for the series...its already scared me this morning... trust me, don't miss the opener on the 27th either. epic would be the word

get over yourself

i spent much of my morning this past friday reading in 1st Samuel. it told the story of when the israelites tried to take the ark of God into battle with them, thinking it would protect them....but what transpired was that they were defeated and the ark was stolen. not the best day imaginable.

my friend brandon wrote a great post on another story from the old testament in 2nd chronicles. i talks about how in this story, Jehoshaphat sent in the worshippers first before the battle began. they were the preliminary ammunition. they completely won the battle because of their willingness not to honor themselves or any physical thing, but to worship the God who was over it all.

two very different strategies.

i want to be the 2nd story. i hope and pray that i never think just because (in my own case) we are taking newspring church to columbia, sc, that the city will turn upside down in love with Christ. (much like the first story) it takes so much more than one church. it takes a serious move in the lives of Christ followers to die to anything contrary to Jesus. we are only part of the movement He is already creating.

God will do with me and with this church and with this movement what He wants. the sooner we realize that He is bigger than any dream we could ever dream, the better.

i hope that none of us in any facet of society think that anything we could do on our own will ever advance the kingdom of God. and if we do, i pray we all get over ourselves.

i hate snakes...

this is the first video from our new series titled five lies of the devil.... take 3 and a half minutes and check this out... awesome. our production guys are genius.

5 Lies of the devil message video, the snake from NewSpring Production on Vimeo.

laugh.

for those of you who are dads... you know that this is about the most awesome sound you could ever hear...

our new cola addition

as many of you know, a major part of any church and any church start is a children's minister. and to find that person that God has designed to send you is often a tough task. but as alden always says, he thought that he would find a children's minister before finding a worship leader...

i guess God had bigger plans :)

so, with that, i want to personally welcome john shelton to our newspring columbia team.

john has been in ministry for most of his adult life, working as a missionary, music minister, and children's minister. he and his wife have three kids, all of whom are awesome. we've met them all and honestly, they're the definition of "cool kids." his heart for seeing kids come to know Christ and develop their walk with Him amazes me. and for the dad of a little girl, this means a ton to me.

3 huge reasons i'm excited about john and his family joining us...

1) as a dad, i love knowing that natalie will grow up in a children's ministry with a children's minister that reminds her every single week that no matter how she dresses or what her personality is like, Jesus died for her and loves her unconditionally. i also love that she will be in a ministry that helps her walk with Christ grow in a way that speaks to her understandably. that's incredible to say as a dad.

2) as a worship leader i'm so excited that the people that i'll be leading in worship can rest in the fact that their child is in an environment where they are safe, and one that is relevant to their lives. and one that will tell them the gospel every single week in a way that they will understand.

3) simply, cindy and i already love this family. we've talked numerous times about how excited we are that we'll be cooking out with them and just hanging out in general. (and which if you know me, you know that if it involves hanging out with us, it usually involves cooking or at least food in some way :) )

so there you go, that's my take on what's going on with our new campus. exciting stuff. so john, welcome to the team!

a little perspective

in fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted... 2 timothy 3:12

all too often when i think that i'm being persecuted, its because of money issues, or when i don't feel so great, or when ignorant people criticize me or what is going on in our church, or even other churches....etc. but then i read this article...

to sum it up... a few days ago, half way across the world, 8 christians, including children, were burned to death for their faith. burned to death for proclaiming Christ in a place where Jesus isn't accepted. the incredible thing about this is that we know that they were welcomed with open arms into the presence of Christ. the tough thing about it all is asking ourselves if we would have done the same thing that they did...

so the next time we think we're being persecuted in america, maybe we just need a little perspective...

on the day when i see all that You have for me

when i see You face to face

their surrounded by Your grace

all my fears swept away, in the light of Your embrace

where Your love is all i need, and forever i am free...

no weeping, no hurt or pain, no suffering

You hold me now,

You hold me now

no darkness, no sick or lame, no crying

You hold me now,

You hold me now

-hillsong united