Sunday was a great day at Journey despite being a holiday weekend.  Crowd was decent for a holiday, and even though we were short some musicians, the worship was awesome.  I had fun preaching a hard message.  Because it was football weekend I threw in some stories about Auburn football, my glory days (which were not so glorious) as a member of the Pell City Panthers football team.  The message was wrapped around the Red Letter Passage in Luke 9:22-27– If anyone would come after me let him deny himself,  take up his cross daily and follow me. 3 phrases that draw a line in the sand for anyone who calls themselves a Christ follower.  If you weren’t in the service Sunday, head over to the website  - journeytogether.net-  and listen to the message.  You can also download it on iTunes.  (it should be up later today).

While we talked Sunday about being a Fan, Friend or Freak… I wanted to mention a few freaks that we have at Journey.  They are Helene Whaley, Keith Thompson and Jeremy Thomas.

These 3 people definitely go far beyond the norm when it comes to serving.  Helene coordinates our set up and take down–the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MINISTRY IN OUR CHURCH.  If it were not for her and her team, we couldn’t do church each week.  She has done this for a couple of years and her love for Jesus is displayed with every chair she sets up, every tub she moves and every cafeteria table she rolls away.  She’s a freak!

Keith Thompson has been with us since before day one.  His family is one of the founding families and not a week has gone by that Keith has not served somehow.  He models Christlikeness and humble service to everyone around– including me!  He has led growth groups, in charge of the Cafe’ and hospitality, he’s at set up every Sunday morning and he’s served on our Strategic Leadership team.  He’s a freak!

Jeremy Thomas is one of those men that I’d love to clone!  He’s an incredible man of God who loves God, loves his family and his church.  He has given his all serving the Lord.  He is also at setup on Sunday mornings – you can usually find him in our JourneyKidz area hanging curtains.  But what you may not know is that Jeremy also cares for our finances and helps us move forward even in a tough economy.  I’ve seen God do amazing things in his life in the few short years he’s been at Journey. By the way– He was the first person baptized at Journey (for you trivia buffs out there)!  He’s a freak!

If you’re not sure why I’m calling some of my best friends freaks, you have to go back and listen to the message… it will clear up everything.  And I hope that you’ll discover and embrace your inner freak!

God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck

— SUNDAY, AUGUST 29TH, 2010 —

A Mormon television star stands in front of the Lincoln Memorial and calls American Christians to revival. He assembles some evangelical celebrities to give testimonies, and then preaches a God and country revivalism that leaves the evangelicals cheering that they’ve heard the gospel, right there in the nation’s capital.

The news media pronounces him the new leader of America’s Christian conservative movement, and a flock of America’s Christian conservatives have no problem with that.

If you’d told me that ten years ago, I would have assumed it was from the pages of an evangelical apocalyptic novel about the end-times. But it’s not. It’s from this week’s headlines. And it is a scandal.

Fox News commentator Glenn Beck, of course, is that Mormon at the center of all this. Beck isn’t the problem. He’s an entrepreneur, he’s brilliant, and, hats off to him, he knows his market. Latter-day Saints have every right to speak, with full religious liberty, in the public square. I’m quite willing to work with Mormons on various issues, as citizens working for the common good. What concerns me here is not what this says about Beck or the “Tea Party” or any other entertainment or political figure. What concerns me is about what this says about the Christian churches in the United States.

It’s taken us a long time to get here, in this plummet from Francis Schaeffer to Glenn Beck. In order to be this gullible, American Christians have had to endure years of vacuous talk about undefined “revival” and “turning America back to God” that was less about anything uniquely Christian than about, at best, a generically theistic civil religion and, at worst, some partisan political movement.

Rather than cultivating a Christian vision of justice and the common good (which would have, by necessity, been nuanced enough to put us sometimes at odds with our political allies), we’ve relied on populist God-and-country sloganeering and outrage-generating talking heads. We’ve tolerated heresy and buffoonery in our leadership as long as with it there is sufficient political “conservatism” and a sufficient commercial venue to sell our books and products.

Too often, and for too long, American “Christianity” has been a political agenda in search of a gospel useful enough to accommodate it. There is a liberation theology of the Left, and there is also a liberation theology of the Right, and both are at heart mammon worship. The liberation theology of the Left often wants a Barabbas, to fight off the oppressors as though our ultimate problem were the reign of Rome and not the reign of death. The liberation theology of the Right wants a golden calf, to represent religion and to remind us of all the economic security we had in Egypt. Both want a Caesar or a Pharaoh, not a Messiah.

Leaders will always be tempted to bypass the problem behind the problems: captivity to sin, bondage to the accusations of the demonic powers, the sentence of death. That’s why so many of our Christian superstars smile at crowds of thousands, reassuring them that they don’t like to talk about sin. That’s why other Christian celebrities are seen to be courageous for fighting their culture wars, while they carefully leave out the sins most likely to be endemic to the people paying the bills in their movements.

Where there is no gospel, something else will fill the void: therapy, consumerism, racial or class resentment, utopian politics, crazy conspiracy theories of the left, crazy conspiracy theories of the right; anything will do. The prophet Isaiah warned us of such conspiracies replacing the Word of God centuries ago (Is. 8:12–20). As long as the Serpent’s voice is heard, “You shall not surely die,” the powers are comfortable.

This is, of course, not new. Our Lord Jesus faced this test when Satan took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the earth, and their glory. Satan did not mind surrendering his authority to Jesus. He didn’t mind a universe without pornography or Islam or abortion or nuclear weaponry. Satan did not mind Judeo-Christian values. He wasn’t worried about “revival” or “getting back to God.” What he opposes was the gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected for the sins of the world.

We used to sing that old gospel song, “I will cling to an old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.”  The scandalous scene at the Lincoln Memorial indicates that many of us want to exchange it in too soon. To Jesus, Satan offered power and glory. To us, all he needs offer is celebrity and attention.

Mormonism and Mammonism are contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They offer another Lord Jesus than the One offered in the Scriptures and Christian tradition, and another way to approach him. An embrace of these tragic new vehicles for the old Gnostic heresy is unloving to our Mormon friends and secularist neighbors, and to the rest of the watching world. Any “revival” that is possible without the Lord Jesus Christ is a “revival” of a different kind of spirit than the Spirit of Christ (1 Jn. 4:1-3).

The answer to this scandal isn’t a retreat, as some would have it, to an allegedly apolitical isolation. Such attempts lead us right back here, in spades, to a hyper-political wasteland. If the churches are not forming consciences, consciences will be formed by the status quo, including whatever demagogues can yell the loudest or cry the hardest. The answer isn’t a narrowing sectarianism, retreating further and further into our enclaves. The answer includes local churches that preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and disciple their congregations to know the difference between the kingdom of God and the latest political whim.

It’s sad to see so many Christians confusing Mormon politics or American nationalism with the gospel of Jesus Christ. But, don’t get me wrong, I’m not pessimistic. Jesus will build his church, and he will build it on the gospel. He doesn’t need American Christianity to do it. Vibrant, loving, orthodox Christianity will flourish, perhaps among the poor of Haiti or the persecuted of Sudan or the outlawed of China, but it will flourish.

And there will be a new generation, in America and elsewhere, who will be ready for a gospel that is more than just Fox News at prayer.

Just wanted to let you know that we had a fantastic time today! We truly enjoyed the experience, and we will be coming back next Sunday. Thank you for inviting us to be a part of your church. My daughter had a blast in Journey Kidz, and she was immediately asking if she could come back next week. It’s a great church and we already feel like we have a home there! My fiance’ and I  are looking forward to our future together and also having a place that we feel comfortable worshipping and learning about Christ. It has been a long time since I’ve felt so truly positive about life and I can’t wait to keep adding on to this wonderful feeling! Thanks again, and we will be happy to be active members of your congregation.

• This is what keeps me going when things don’t always go the way I think they should.
• I’m pumped about GROWTH GROUPS getting started back in a couple of weeks. You’ve got to get into a growth group if you want to continue to become like Jesus!  No more excuses… no more procrastinating… just do it!
• This week’s going to be a crazy busy week– I’m going to be in an Insurance Class for 2 days and a Test on Thursday.  We have our first DHR meeting to evaluate the first month with Jayson and Justin. They are still such a big blessing to our family.  And… Oh Yeah– Auburn Football kicks off THIS COMING SATURDAY!  WAR EAGLE!

It’s inevitable. No matter what line of work you’re in or how much you love it. No matter how good you are at what you do. Sooner or later, you’re going to get into a funk.

It happens to everyone. The best authors experience seasons where they hate writing and are lucky to have one good sentence in a hundred pages. The most passionate musicians have days where they don’t even want to pick up their instrument.

While funks are unavoidable, we don’t have to resign ourselves to them. From my own experience, I have identified four responses we can take to combat being victims to these times of low inspiration.

1. Don’t extrapolate your future based on your funk.
A natural tendency is to think that your funk is permanent. It’s a sign of a major change in performance or motivation that will never correct itself. It’s not. Don’t mistake momentary moods for permanent paradigm shifts. Your funk is temporary.

2. Give yourself the advice you’d give someone else.
Many times we know just what to say to other people when they’re in their own funks.

Go outside for a while. Escape from the prison of your own mind and emotions and do something nice for someone else.

And these things worked for them. That’s because they work for everybody.  Including you.

3. Resist the urge to justify your funk.
Trying to find the source of your funk won’t make you feel any better about how you’re feeling. In fact, it will only lead you to wallow in self-pity, which does nothing but create a cycle of a funk which leads to self-pity which leads to an even deeper funk, which leads to…

4. Work, don’t worry.
Don’t waste time worrying about whether or not your normal motivation level is going to return. Work harder than ever. Whether you feel like it or not. You can get back the motivation you didn’t have while working. You can’t get back the work you missed out on while you were waiting to feel motivated to do it.

If you’re in a funk right now, stay faithful to the work God has given you to do. And praise Him the second your motivation catches up.

I know that’s like asking someone to choose which child they love most… but I want to challenge you to think a little bit.  For me, I’ve always thought the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 has had the most impact on my life.  Not only has it impacted my life as a Christ follower, as I have sought to be a disciplemaker, but it has influenced the way I do ministry throughout the years.

Go… That’s a pretty radical term that shakes me from my comfortable life of ease and calls me to places and people that God is drawing to Himself.

…Make disciples of ALL nations… this helps remind me of my task AND my mission field.  If I’m not helping people “Live like Jesus lived, love like Jesus loved and leave what Jesus left behind”, then I’m not really making disciples.  I may be doing life with people, I may be transferring biblical information, but unless people are becoming more like Jesus, I’m not really fulfilling the Great commission.  And it speaks of the context of my calling.  I feel called to Auburn, Alabama.  That’s where God has placed me.  But to say I am only going to make disciples in Auburn negates the Great commission.  We are called to take the Gospel to the World!  And today we have the tools and ability to do that better than any other time in history… it’s called the internet.  I’m exploring ways now how I can lead our small church in Auburn, Alabama to have a big impact in the world.

…Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit…– This reminds me to help people go public with their faith and not just make a commitment to  ”do better”.  Baptism is an amazing symbol of a transformed life.  Going public with your faith is a way to tell the world what Christ has done in you.

…Teaching them everything I have commanded you…This is the essence of discipleship.  Taking what Jesus taught me and teaching it to someone else.  David Putman in His book, Breaking the Discipleship Code, calls it “leaving what Jesus left behind”.  What did Jesus leave behind?  His disciples who were disciplemakers.  They multiplied their influence and throughout the book of Acts we see the teaching of Jesus spread to other nations because they took what Jesus left with them and taught it to others.

…and I will be with you always even to the end of the age. This phrase gives comfort that Jesus is with me.  It gives boldness to remind me that I am never alone.  It gives me confidence that I can do EVERYTHING Jesus calls me to do.

What’s your favorite of the RED LETTERS?

Up at 5:00 to pray and read over the message.  I pray for people by name as well as friends in ministry that will be standing up and proclaiming God’s Truth this morning… I usually get a text message or direct message on Twitter from friends who are praying for me.

7:00am– set up the church… I’m grateful for Helene Whaley, Keith Thompson, Jeremy Thomas, Bobby Whitehead for showing up and setting up each week (I’d love to add YOUR NAME to this list!)

After unloading the trailer, helping set up the children’s area I went to put out  our directional signs. Then I headed to the church office.  (quick shower then more study and prayer)… I pray for the service… every element from the guest services, to the technical stuff that I’m not allowed to touch, to the childrens ministry, to the coffee, to the transitions.  I pray mostly for lives to be transformed by the gospel.

Back at the church by 9:30–walk through to make sure everything is where it needs to be.  Listen to the Band rehearse for a few minutes, chat with some of the volunteers, then off to read over the message one more time.

At 9:45 we are suppose to be doing a service run through… talking through transitions and making sure we’re all on the same page.  (we MUST get better at this!)  The Prayer Team is praying for the service.  I do a mic check then I begin to wander through the room praying for God to fill it up with people who need to hear a fresh word from Him.

10:15 is gametime!  Worship begins… I usually slip out during the last song to pray and prepare myself for the weight of delivering God’s Word to God’s people.  I step (literally) under the umbrella of God’s authority (I learned that from Craig Groschel) and prepare to speak boldly the word of truth.

After church, I’m usually in the lobby greeting people for a while, then it’s off to load the trailer… (We really need to find a couple of volunteers with trucks and trailer hitches to take on this ministry)

Trailer’s loaded, church has been turned back into a school, we drop the trailer, lock the doors and head home… where I usually try to crash for a while.

THAT’S EXACTLY WHERE JESUS WANTS US TO BE!

When we have a sense of desperation, we realize that Jesus is more than enough to meet our needs, give us hope, set our feet on the rock and give us a solid place to stand.  Sometimes the “rough patch” you are going through in  your marriage, in your job, at school, with your kids, etc are allowed, even orchestrated by God to cultivate a sense of desperation so that we will recognize that without Christ we are nothing.  This is not meant to be self depricating and for those of you who are “Negative Nellies” just looking for a chance to badmouth yourself– this is not that opportunity!  But the reality of the Gospel is that we are nothing without Christ.  All the “good” we can produce is irrelevant if we don’t have Christ formed in us.

Jesus said it in John 15 – ”I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

NOTHING.  When we realize that we can do NOTHING without Christ it helps us see our DESPERATE need for Him… not just for our salvation, but for everything in our lives.  On our BEST DAY, our BEST EFFORTS still yield- NOTHING.  Without Jesus we can do nothing of any eternal value.

Prayer:  Lord, today I realize I can do nothing without you.  I am desperate for your presence and power in my life.  Please remind me, my family and my church that your desire is to be formed in us so that we will bear much fruit.  So please help us live this day with a sense of desperation.

• We finished up 5 Things that Grow Your Faith… I LOVED this series… we saw some real life change happening… not just in the way of people taking their Next Step, but also through some of the stories I heard throughout the series, that some people have made some significant changes in the way they make decisions, read the Bible, see their coworkers, and approach every day with a spirit of expectation.  I’m grateful God broke through in such a powerful way!
• Our band is getting better each week… and it’s expanding… Thanks Jordan for playing bass yesterday.  I told everyone how much I loved watching our band play, not because they’re just great musicians, but because they are incredible worshippers!  It’s evident in their voices and on their faces!
• This week will be a busy week… we MUST find a few more people to help with Set Up and Take Down… especially in the area of loading the trailer.  if you have a vehicle with a trailer hitch you are qualified!  give me a call!  We also must find some more people to plug into our guest services areas… If God is going to send us people to minister to, we must be prepared to receive them.  If you can smile and greet someone, you can be part of our guest services team.
• Our children’s ministry is growing… yesterday was a great day for JourneyKidz… great crowd and it was the first day our new foster children, Jayson and Justin were a part of it… they LOVED IT!  And they loved Mrs. Rachael too!  We need to have more volunteers to pour into the lives of our children.
• Tonight we have our Ministry Team leader meeting.  I always love meeting with our leaders.
• Last question … based on yesterday’s message… “Are you living with a spirit of expectancy?”  if so, what are you expecting and anticipating God to do in you and through you?