I had the chance to go to the PGA’s Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte today with a good friend. While following Phil Mickelson for a few holes, he hit an errant tee shot that we literally had to run out of the way to avoid sure peril. He ended up just a few feet in front of us as he hit his recovery shot out of the rough. Easily a top five sporting moment in my life!
Here’s a pic I sneakily took with my cell phone. And another of his errant ball…
While catching up with a close friend today, we talked about the high value of community. The reality of having people in our world that know, love and care for each other through all of the ups and downs, successes and failures, victories and defeats, etc.
He began to describe what his journey to the suburbs was like. After years of working hard, building his family and finding success in his job, he realized that his journey led him to a startling reality. “I live in a beautiful neighborhood, but there is no community here.”
This is yet another reminder that the pursuit of success and prosperity often times leads to us building walls of seclusion. There is nothing wrong with building beautiful homes behind beautiful gates, but many times those gates can lead to lives that are lived without true community.
Our challenge as we all continue to work hard and continue to move forward is to remember to work equally hard in making sure the gates of our lives are open to friendship and accountability. We are operating in the most healthy context when we realize that we are all uniquely gifted and mutually dependent on others. We are wired that way. God created us to need others to operate properly (Romans 12:1-8).
What gates do you have locked shut in your life that keep people at a distance? And are you willing to unlock those gates and let people into your life?
Finding true community is no easy task. But at the end of the day, you realize that people know you, love you and accept you for who you really are, not for what you do, what you own or where you have been. You may have a beautiful neighborhood, but always remember that true beauty is found in community.
Something shifted in my heart today. It’s kind of hard to explain. But all of a sudden, the last year made so much sense to me while Clark and Salina Beasley were leading our time of worship at church this morning.
This past year has been marked by an amazing community forming at Center City Church. We have seen many people come to know Jesus as savior and many more impacted by the powerful effect of living in true community. And all of this has been given to a time of building foundation.
I very much believe that God has brought our church into a new season. And it feels like it started today. I believe this next year of our ministry is going to be the year that our church begins to very much turn our attention outward. To the community around us that is so desperately looking for satisfaction. I believe we are going to serve in ways that we’ve never served before. And I believe that the foundation of Jesus and community is going to hold strong and secure the building that God builds over the next year.
It’s always hard for me to know when spring turns to summer. But today was a distinct feeling of a new season for our church. I can’t wait to see what God has in store.
I’m excited to teach tomorrow out of 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. This is the passage that God put on my heart right before we started Center City Church in April, 2010:
When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness — timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
This verse reminded me of the absolute, unfiltered power of the story of Jesus. His love. His life. His resurrection. And so we set out on a simple journey of sharing this message of Jesus and enjoying life together.
The roots will always remain the same: Jesus is at the center. But the methods will continue to evolve. I am excited to share publicly for the first time our vision to start Ebenezers Coffeehouse in partnership with Mark Batterson and the original Ebenezers Coffeehouse in Washington, DC. This is something that we have been working with Mark and his team on for four years. And it’s getting closer.
We believe that the message of Jesus Christ is the most important story to ever tell. And we believe our vision for Center City allows us to tell this story in relational and creative ways both in the context of the church community and the marketplace.
So excited about the days ahead! Here we go 🙂
One of the core beliefs that I hold to in life and ministry is that Christians are to embrace and engage in the world around them. Too many times, it’s easy to find ourselves (those that profess faith in Christ) cordoned off by a buffer of our Christian friends, Christian music, Christian decals on our cars and Christian t-shirts with quirky acronyms.
While I have no problems with these things, I believe with all my heart that my faith is challenged – and strengthened – by being around others that do not believe in the same way that I believe. Sharing the same faith is not a pre-requisite for friendship. I have learned more about my personal faith and relationship with Jesus because of the many people in my life that simply don’t agree with me and my beliefs. And these that I am mentioning became some of my closest friends. During this time, some have come to believe in the message, life, ministry, death, resurrection, love, life and freedom found in Jesus. And some have not. And all are still counted as friends.
Embrace the world around you. Love those around you. No matter their background and beliefs. Make friendships that are based on mutual respect. And don’t compromise what you believe when faced with questions…just find the answers.
“Holiness is not to be achieved by withdrawing from sinners and a godless world. Rather, it is to be pursued in the confusing whirlpool of conflicting cultures, personalities, and values.” – Roger Hahn
God has put a huge dream in our hearts. We have a vision to open Ebenezers Coffeehouse (a non-profit coffeehouse/venue) in Uptown Charlotte. It has taken four years of advancement, waiting, doors opening, doors closing, etc. And one thing that I have learned along the way can be summed up in one very powerful word: resolve.
There have been so many challenges along the way in seeing this vision come to pass. Thousands of hours of preparation, prayer and conversations. Thousands of dollars of personal investment into travel, research and pursuing this dream. The road has been filled with encouragement and challenges. Through it all, we continue to press forward.
If you have a dream that God has placed in your heart, don’t back down. Work hard. Pray harder. And trust that God is able to accomplish everything he put in your heart.
Proverbs 20:4 – Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.
