Weekend Blurr

Picture on the right is a blow up that is featured on our 180 facebook page. Me playing basketball for the first time in ages with some teenagers at the Plantation Apartments Outreach in Socastee, SC.  The outreach was fun, -I turned purple in the face and ran my back into the pole.  Still sore.  But the old men won against the kids.  I always knew I would be a wily old man playing with tricks and elbows and stuff.  It was fun to compete again!

The weekend was great.  I was so blessed to bring the Word of God to Street Reach Mission in Myrtle Beach on Wednesday night, as well as Sunday am at Sunset Beach Community Church and again Sunday p.m. at 180.  I was so blessed and encouraged by all who attended.  Mixed in on Saturday was an outreach door to door invitation to the communities in Sunset Beach and an outreach at Plantation Apartments in Socastee.  Monday came and I drove Heather down to Charleston for a post-op office visit and just really enjoyed soaking up all the weekend activities.  Reflecting on the weekend with our nearly 2 hour car ride down and back, we discussed everything from the sermon, to the music, to the new faces and what we felt like what God has been speaking to us.  We were filled with love for the community in the outreaches, but a special love gushed from our hearts as we were surrounded by "old faithful" friends and co-laborers in ministry.  Rosa and Alberto, Tiana, Cassandra and Berto, Jr; Tom Ditzler and Elizabeth Fletcher all joined us for the Sunday am preaching.  Tom closed us out on acoustic guitar.  Having the posse with me was another level.  I felt the love of my brothers and sisters as they traveled an hour in the early am on their weekend time.  As well They traveled back and served in ministry positions at 180 in the evening.  We were reminded that we are to "hold on" and not faint in this season.  That if we can just endure, God is going to make a way for us if we do not lose heart.  The Lord continues to encourage all of us and what a blessing the meeting was.  We had a new drummer and bass player, a returning keyboard player and the band was "fulled" up.  The seats really filled up as well as we had many guests in the house.  The youth ministry is thriving, the cafe is up and running and people are worshiping God with all their hearts.  The Word of God continues to run effectively and we are blessed as the tourist season promises to bring many people into the mix of worshipers already assembled week to week at the ocean front venue, Sea Mist Resort, where 180 is located on Sunday nights.  Praise God with us as many of our medical bills have been paid off and our financial situation seems to be leveled out for the moment.  The reality is that our home is going to have to be sold so please pray for that to happen very very quickly.  We need FAVOR as this is one thing we are not able to carry right now.  Continue to pray for us to be effective witnesses as we reach out in the name of Jesus to those in Myrtle Beach this spring and summer. 

Leading Men To Christ

In light of our outreach Saturday to the neighborhoods surrounding Sunset Beach Community Church, I had the opportunity to read up on some inspirational books about sharing our faith and leading others to Christ.  In Watchman Nee's book, Leading Men To Christ, I read:

"There is a foundational work in leading men to Christ.  Before one opens his mouth before man, he first must open his mouth before God.  Some brothers and sisters are very zealous to lead men to Christ, but they do not pray for them.  A man may have a great interest in people, but if he has no burden to pray before the Lord, his work of saving souls will be ineffectual.  A person must have a burden before the Lord before he can witness to men.... We have to present these people one by one to the Lord and pray for them fervently before we can effectively lead them to Christ.  Those who are good at leading men to Christ are good at prayer.  If you have trouble getting answers to prayer, you will have trouble witnessing for the Lord.  If you have no confidence in prayer, you will have no confidence in leading men to Christ.  Hence, you must learn to pray in a practical way and not let this matter slip by."

In Nee's booklet: Witnessing, he notes:

"You should not meet the Lord empty-handed.  You should bring many with you when you meet the Lord.  How can a person sit still and act as if nothing has happened when he has believed in the Lord Jesus and is saved?  If a person has believed in the Lord Jesus and yet does not feel anything, if he considers this to be nothing marvelous or special, we doubt whether he has believed at all." 

And finally,

"Many Christians do not have much joy because they have never spoken anything for the Lord; they have never led a person to the Lord.....Platform preaching can never replace the personal work of leading people to the Lord.  A person who knows only to preach from the platform may not know how to lead people to the Lord.  We are not exhorting you to give a message on the platform.  We are asking you to save men. (Speaking of people who do not know how to lead others to Christ....)  They do not know what to do when a person is brought to them.  They are of little use.  The really useful ones are the ones who can lead men to Christ one by one."

Pray for us as we go tomorrow...that God would open doors for men to come to Christ! - Stu

Speaking @ Sunset Beach Community Church This Sunday 10 AM

Just wanted to put a shout out for this Sunday.  I will be preaching the Sunday morning message for my friend Pastor Richard Farrand who is out for the final week of his sabbatical.  Want to invite all that can make it.  We will be meeting at 10 am for a fellowship time and segway into worship from 1030 til about 12.  Lunch will be provided at the conclusion of the service and all are invited!  There will be Kid's Sunday School which will be great!  Please pray for the message.

Also, I want to invite any who would like to come and help me comb through 3 of the neighborhoods around the church on Saturday before the service Sunday am.  We will meet at the church at 10 am Saturday morning and pray and discuss our strategy for outreach.  We will head out about 1045 am in 3 groups and for about an hour go door to door and hand out church cards to the neighbors.  Pray for good success, open doors and receptivity to the gospel.  I am excited for the church at 180 and SBCC to come together for this opportunity to invite people to the kingdom of God and into a community of loving believers where they can grow in their God-walk.

Peace,

Stuart

Breaking Through To Community

Our Worship Arts Director at 180, Caitlin Beidler, gave me this blurb that I reconnected with in a notebook of mine.  Thought it would give an encouragement to each of you the importance of a couple of things...confession, community and community confession.  Read the unknown author's words of wisdom below:

"In confession the breakthrough to community takes place.  Sin demands to have a man by himself.  It withdraws him from the community.  The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him, and the more deeply he becomes involved in it, the more disastrous is his isolation.  Sin wants to remain unknown.  It shuns the light.  In the darkness of the unexpressed it poisons the whole being of a person.  This can happen even in the midst of a pious community.  In confession the light of the Gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart.  The sin must be brought into the light.  The unexpressed must be openly spoken and acknowledged.  All that is secret and hidden is made manifest.  It is a hard struggle until the sin is openly admitted.  But God breaks gates of brass and bars of iron (Ps. 107:16).  Since the confession of sin is made in the presence of a Christian brother, the last stronghold of self-justification  is abandoned.  The sinner surrenders; he gives up all his evil.  He gives his heart to God, and he finds the forgiveness of all his sin in the fellowship of Jesus Christ and his brother."   

I heard somewhere, that God forgives sins, but when we confess our faults one to another and pray for one another we get healing.  This concept is found in the book of James.  We need forgiveness, yet we need healing too.  To break free from heaviness and ineffective living, ask God to search your heart, be honest about what he shows you with some really faithful and trusted brothers.  The natural inclination is to hide it, but to break free, we must show it.  Take it to the light and expose our sinfulness to God and even in the context of community.  If you are lacking in this area, I encourage you to GET SOMMA DAT!

Stu

Sin of Indifference

 ²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. ²¹ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ²³ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

 This is the scripture that we looked at on Sunday.  Discussed a ton about Jesus not really happy with these cities, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum.  The reality is Jesus did a ton of His work in these places.  Capernaum was Jesus' home base for ministry.  The other cities described in comparison with these "cities of woe", Sidon, Tyre and Sodom...straight up filthy and moral cesspools. Jesus though says basically, their hell heat will be less than yours Capernaum, Bethsaida, Chorazin.  Why?  The sin of INDIFFERENCE.  Yawn.  Why is it such a big deal that these CBC (Capernaum, Bethsaida and Chorazin) cities are so offensive to Christ.  They paid their taxes, were hard working citizens, probably all contributed to the United Way and had HOA programs to ensure a nice city for all.  The problem was after Christ raised the dead, healed the sick and shared with them the reality of His Heavenly Kingdom, they could all but give a smattering of applause, much like a golf clap.  They recognized His power, but they did not identify with Him.  They did not see His value.  Their hearts were indifferent totally to the work that Christ had come to do.  The Bible tells us in this easy to glance over passage that Christ declares WOE, to these cities.  Indifference is very, very dangerous.  Church going can be dangerous too, if that is all you are about.  Jesus wants all of our hearts, lives and wills.  To surrender to Christ means to GIVE HIM FULL CONTROL, let go of the meaningless trivialities we call career and dreams and GIVE OUR LIVES TO HIM.  The result?  A transformed life....eternally.  With no heat.  God help us not to be like Capernaum and such.


Peace,  Stuart

Syd, Shots, and Thanksgiving

Syd got her shots for kindergarten today.  Been a long time since she had to go to the doc.  She was reeling from the pain Heather told me.  When I got to her at home she was watching goofy and the Disney cartoons rocking in her little girl rocker eating cut up hotdogs with multi-colored band-aids on her legs.

I asked Syd if she was mad at the doctor, and she said, "No dad, she was really good...." like a grown up.  I was so proud of her.  Sydney is my babyiest one.  Soon to be 5 in April, she is a reminder to me that while we labor and press in life, we need to remember how special each season in life is.  I will never take my children for their kindergarten shots again..... that is a sober reminder of my 40 year old self.  I feel 25 inside and remember when having a kid was a dream.  Something bitter sweet about these shots, makes me reflect on my personal life and the preciousness of my family, wife and kids.  I have the joy of spending every Wednesday with Syd from about 8-2.  Sometimes with her I find my mind drifting off, thinking about bills, or the church, or a tough situation with a relationship, or whatever....  God is reminding me to seize these moments.  Soon, I won't be able to spend these kinds of time with my kids.  I pray that I will be more sensitive to living in the now and not so much the tomorrow.  With all the uncertainty and frustrations in every one of our lives looking forward, it makes it that much easier to pause and give grace over the meal in front of my face this day.  Thank you Lord.  Thank You.

PLAYING TO WIN

Been discussing to the church that Jesus came to win what was lost in the fall to sin and the devil.  He constantly is charged up with being motivated to be a doer and not a whiner.  He implores us as followers to be much of the same.  I came across this great writing yesterday in my Bible.  There is a section in the back of my Bible and it addresses questions and issues.  This one, I am holding onto closely:

Jesus taught the law of constant prayer (to God) and steadfast persistence (in human endeavor):  He said, ‘ask and keep on asking; seek and keep on seeking; knock and keep on knocking.’  The Greek present tense emphasizes continuous action:  Jesus was not saying knock once and stop, but keep on knocking till the door is opened.  God, in his wonderful wisdom has built the world in such a fashion that only those who are diligent and who persevere win the highest prizes.  The person who is determined to achieve his God given goal, despite all obstacles, will wind up a winner.  Those who are faint hearted and faltering, whose minds are not made up about something, will always lose.  God makes us reach high for the better things.  Only a few will strive hard enough to win them.  Those who keep going in spite of problems, pain, and difficulty will eventually overcome them.  It is necessary to keep at something long enough to let the laws of use and reciprocity work for you.  The Apostle Paul proudly declared, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).  He wrote to the Galatians, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Gal. 6:9)  In whatever task God places you, do not quit, but stay the course.”  Spirit Filled Life Bible p. 2009

Good word to remember- Stu

When Believing Get's Hard

Studying a lot this past week.  Talking about a lot of stuff.  Just a nugget here, John the Baptist, giving up his entire life to usher in Jesus' ministry and kingdom, finds himself in jail.  In just a minute he will lose his head on a platter over a party favor.  This man is labeled by Jesus as being the greatest man to have ever been born of woman (nice props).   Until that day, the greatest man that ever lived.  Yet John found himself despondent, alone and with little hope.  He was looking for Jesus' kingdom to take over the world, yet Jesus had a different approach.  John's incomplete revelation caused much frustration within himself.  In his moment of despair, John reaches out to his sidekicks and says:
 

¹ Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.  ² And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples ³ and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”  Matthew 11: 1-2

John in his greatest moment of despair, did not just complain or run away from the issue, instead, he went TO Jesus.  The Lord surely wants all of us to walk in a sincere and deep abiding faith.  This said, it is no surprise that the Lord often finds His children in much doubt.  The reality is not If we will come into a place of doubt, but WHEN.   Jesus does an interesting thing.  To the accusers, Jesus shows no signs.  To the government officials and unbelievers Jesus does no miracles or long soliloquies about how REAL He is.  The unbeliever that is insincere and the accusing, Jesus knows He cannot win.  But John in desperation, in sweat and blood and fear, looks up from his dank jail cell and says, "Jesus, You are the One we EXPECTED aren't you?!!"  And what does Jesus do for this doubting brother?  He takes a minute from His speech and heals the sick, restores sight to the blind and raises the dead....then sends John's disciples back and says in essence- just reassure him, I'm the ONE.  Jesus is so good.  He won't address the accuser or the cynic, but the doubter, he will make an effort to encourage.  If you find yourself in doubt today about where God has you, or why you are there, try to do what John did....send for Jesus- He will meet you there with confirmation.

PS....John never got let out of prison, but lost his head.  And Jesus commends him as a mighty prophet who was faithful til the end.  Do we want comfort or to complete our destiny?

Stuart 

Out Reach Myrtle Beach: It is on

Ok, so people have been sharing the love and message of Jesus Christ in Myrtle Beach for a long time.  That is nothing new.  But our church stepped out in a committed and intentional way today with Impact Ministries in Myrtle Beach.

Impact has a unique way of reaching the area hotel and resort staff year around.  We were trained for a minute by Todd Wood, and we took our four dozen home-made chocolate chip cookies and headed out to the endless resort and hotels on the beach. 

The goal of the day:  to just say thank you to all the staffers at the hotels, see if there was an open door to share Christ or pray with them.  We found that some people were open, some were closed and some were in between.  Our hope is that by continually coming by and offering a nice gesture like cookies and a smile, we may have the opportunity to build relationships with the people.  We know that we will not reach everyone we reach out to, but we know that we will reach some.  People are reluctant (understandably so) in welcoming a stranger, but we feel that the Lord is leading us to reach out none the less. 

I will keep you up on what the Lord does in this outreach.  Already, Todd is inviting us to serve water bottles weekly to the life guards all up and down the grand strand.  He says over 50% of them are from foreign countries.  We will then invite them to a weekly dinner at a local church.  The Bible tells us that the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.  As simple as what we did today was, there are no huge testimonies. More than anything, we moved off of our booties.  Already, my heart is stirred for the people we met:  James working at the pool, Cassandra at the front desk, Noel pushing the trash buggy, to name a few that I remember.... God cares so much about these few.  Can you imagine all the staffers we did not get to?  We are excited to do what we can to partner with God to share the love and message of Christ to win our city to the Lord.

-Stu

Take Up Your Cross

I love this picture.  It tells it all about the attitude we need as Christ followers.  To be a follower you cannot go around the issues, you have to go through them.  If you skirt around it, God will only bring it back to you again in another way.

At times I have tried to run from issues in my life, but always find that I will have to face them again, so there is no use running, face it and go through....much like the rugby player in the pic.

Every runner hopes for daylight, and not a big brawly toothless giant to face.  We hope blockers go before us and with a burst of speed, we can break to the outside and cut upfield, unhindered and untouched for an exhilarating 70 yard touchdown.  The reality is more and more, life is like 3 yards and a bunch of toothless giants!  When we have to face life, and we don't find the daylight, we can't run the other way, we have to go through the opposition.

Finishing up from Sunday's sermon:  "Jesus Don't Want No Facebook Friends", Christ basically is telling us a followers that if we want to be recognized by Him, we have to be a TRUE friend.  He challenges us in Matthew 10:34-39 that if we want to be His, have the benefits of Him, and the fellowship with Him, then we have to follow His patterns:   "he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."
I explained Sunday that taking up our cross is not a religious symbol.  It is more like an electric chair.  The cross represents "putting to death" the aspects of our lives that are contrary to Jesus and His mission and Kingdom.  If we are unwilling, then we will run at the toothless giant and fall down before we are hit.  Do that once, and it is ok.  Do it twice and we will get a kingdom peer pressure grumbling.  Do it a third time and team Jesus will sit us down on the sideline.  Can you imagine fighting on a team and having a runner scared to fight through?  The cross we must carry deals with our prides, attitudes, lusts, envy's, immaturity etc...  We try to act like it is not there (the issue), but still we walk around depressed and frustrated with our lives. This stuff lingers because we won't crucify our flesh.... Jesus says, basically that if we are not followers (unwilling to put ourselves on the cross of denial) then we are not WORTHY of Him.  Not worthy means, we don't get His time. 

I was told this was a "hard word" Sunday.  But it is just the Bible.  One man came to me and said, "Stuart, it is hard to get on the cross!", and I agreed.  The more I think about his statement the more I want to say, "but it ain't gonna change just cause it's hard".  The labor, the struggle, the denial, the loss, the press, it is all worth it.  To the victor goes the spoils.  And we have a lot of spoils to look forward to.  Press in today- take up your cross and let Jesus have ALL of you.  He'll take the pain, you take the gain!

Stu

Jesus The Sword or Peace?

Caitlin and Leah Beidler paint in the darkest of places, City Soleil, Haiti.  Follow her along her mission the next few weeks at:
www.redemptionart.blogspot.com
Preaching Sunday on Matthew 10 some more and a scary statement is written:
"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." v.34

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.....but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."
1 Corinthians 1:18; 23-25.

The point here is that Jesus never intended to bring straight up peace on the earth.  Why?  Because not all will receive that peace.  Who is offered salvation?  All.  Who receive it?  Some.  What happens to those who don't receive?  They are angry at Jesus.  They may not agree with that, but it is true.  When you tell an ungodly person that their ungodly deeds will be judged and condemned, they will curse you.  If ungodly men are bent on sin, Jesus simply becomes a curse word....hence the sword, the cutting.  Even those who are "o.k." with Jesus, meaning, they are not violently opposed to Him, their neutrality is almost more of an indictment than the haters.  Meaning, the same end will come to a "nice" fornicator.  A happy cheater without God is still hell-bound.  The nice Muslim on the street giving 20 percent of his income to the mosque for outreach programs is still bound for eternal separation from God.  Jesus cuts this person up with the sword of truth because it will unravel all of the false peace that has been built in their fantasy world, created in their own minds.  Without Christ people MUST make an illusion of meaning for life and hope, yet Jesus unearths it all through the reality of death, disappointment, injustice and apathy.  Nothing on earth can bring hope but Christ finally.  The middle road man, the neutral man will inevitably be in the same condition as the violently opposed to Christ as their self made worlds crumble.  Another scripture describes the longing in the heart of man for God....

"For the earnest expectation of creation eagerly awaits for the revealing of the sons of God.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now."  Romans 8:18-22

People are longing for the TRUTH, but many will miss Him, because they would rather build false realities in their minds.  That is what makes the "Prince of Peace" a sword.

- Stuart

Who is With Me??? Sunday Focus This Week: Matthew 10:32-39

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."

Confession is necessary for Jesus to work in our lives. It is like a husband to a wife. Can you imagine a husband not acknowledging that he is married at a party, but instead flirts with all the other women. Yet when the couple get home, he begins to be intimate with affection and say, I love you baby. No, no, no…. that man will be out on the couch and better yet in the yard, with all his clothes and belongings. To act as if we are committed and connected with someone but act contrarily before others is to indeed say in contrast, “I have no part in you, or in this relationship”. Likewise when at home and in our backyard we enjoy our best neighborhood friends. Throwing the football, overnight, family beach trips, pizza, and video games. But when we get to school and get ready to sit down beside that friend at the lunch room, they mock and laugh and tell you to go sit with the other losers at the other table. Most of us know this feeling of identifying ourselves with someone as friends, yet in reality, when the call of friendship is needed, it is denied. Jesus says clearly here, “hey, if you love me, you better live it out in front of everybody. Don’t think you love me cause you go to church, cause church ain’t Me buddy. “ To copy a famous quote, standing in a garage doesn’t make you a car, lying down on bread doesn’t make you a sandwich, and going to church buildings don’t make you a follower of Christ. Jesus makes it plain. You want some of me? You better live for me out LOUD! More comin up Sunday- Stuart

Gospel Out or Implosion!

I kind of get the whole car/exhaust thing.  The gospel has to be released from us.  Paul preached that he was in chains to the gospel.  My interpretation is that he was a prisoner to the message, it compelled him, he had no choice, he was a slave and the gospel was his message.  Other letters in scripture, Paul calls the gospel, "my gospel".  Reading that at first seems a little bit over the top, maybe a bit arrogant, but he meant it.  He had given up everything to Christ and Christ was everything to him.  His food, his time, his body, his well being, his rough treatment.  Paul did not need to be motivated to share the gospel, he had to be pulled off of people.  He was COMPELLED!  I get the picture of a car with no exhaust or at least a car with exhaust pipes plugged.  Can you imagine the backflow of danger?  That is what I am feeling right now as I type this.  I feel like such a loser writing about it cause I feel that there is an urgency like never before to like Paul, "pour out myself like a drink offering".  I am sure that an implosion will occur if I don't share today.  I spoke Sunday about how I would judge myself this week on whether I gave God something to germinate..... well, you would not believe the distractions.  Well, I'm at the library now.... no distractions.  You ready?  Time to drop some "G" bombs (gospel) in this place. I want to encourage each of you to be a fool for Christ today and give God something to germinate in your life.  New life, eternity, transformed lives....the world is waiting for THE message (and mine)....no implosion necessary- lets live in chains!

Stu

Ministry Culture: Chained to the Gospel!

It has been an amazing weekend and week and month at 180-degrees.  The Lord is challenging us to get off our hind parts and get the gospel message to the lost and dying world.  We have been so cut to the heart at how nobody is going to reach out to the lost if we don't.  I have been so energized reading at how the Apostle Paul was beaten with rods several times, whipped 39 times on 5 separate occasions; he was stoned once and left for dead; in prison countless times, shipwrecked, naked, persecuted and much much more.  All because he was "in chains to this gospel."  As we studied the Matthew chapter 10 study, we see that Jesus tells us that as believers we will also enter into a ministry culture of persecution.  I know I have shirked back and gotten really comfortable in my Christian walk.  Just tonight I was listening to a song and my wife asked me, "are you ready?"  I said, "ready for what?"  She said, "ready for Jesus to come back?"  I said, yes my soul is ready....but I have not fully run this race.  I have not poured myself out like the Apostle Paul.  I have not stretched my comfort zone at all like I have desire too.  I have been scared, hesitant, too busy and preoccupied.  This week and season is a new stretch for me and for 180.  We are going places we have never been before.  The quote I am using now is "PLAYING TO WIN".  Frustrated by sports teams that are looking to build esteem by everyone getting a trophy we are building a society that is based on "everyone is important".  And although that is true, in war, life, business, and even in faith, the victor comes through the victory.  Souls are lost, people are broken and I am so introspective that it makes me sick.  It is time to throw off myself and get after what I was gotten after.  Paul says it this way,

Philippians 3:12 (New International Version, ©2010)

 ^"12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."  COME ON JESUS....TIME TO GET US OUT DA WAY AND GET SOME GLORY IN MBEACH!!!!

Helping Others Turn

Scripture tells us how we are to bring the truth.  In 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul writes his young "Son" in the faith to help people be pulled out of ignorance and deception.  He writes:

"And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."  2 Tim. 2:23-26.

The reality is people in general....and often times are deceived. This is huge because they often think that they are serving Him, but scripture says they are serving him.  There are a lot of nuggets in the scripture above.... be careful not to be deceived; be on guard against satan;  acknowledgement of sin is not enough when we are wrong- repentance is necessary.  The jewel I find here today, however, is that when someone else is off, deceived or ignorant to the truth, we are to bring that person the truth.  But how we bring it is key.  First off we need to bring it without argument.  The minute our help becomes an argument is the minute our help should be withdrawn.  Teaching someone who is in deception requires gentleness and patience and humility.  When we are able to bring help we can bring it with a hammer or we can bring it with gentleness and patience (maybe requiring several confrontations, meetings or calls).  That is not what I want.  What I want is, "you listen to me so we can move on past that."  God is teaching us that His servant must be gentle, patient and humble.  If that is the character of the servant of the Lord then two more things have to occur before our friends can receive personal victory or breakthrough.  1) The Lord "perhaps" may grant the repentance (and bring them to their senses) and 2) They can break out of the snare that the devil has them in. 

All this helps me remember that I CAN'T SET PEOPLE FREE.  Only God can (perhaps)...."if" they come to their senses.  I don't have to fret or worry about being right, validated, or effective.  I just have to bring the truth.....in gentleness, humility and patiently.

God help me!-  Stu

Limp Legs

Something that has always bothered me:  People that live like the devil yet say profound and proper things about faith, proper living and/or morality.  I am sure this sounds self righteous to say, but when I have experienced this in the past, it makes me want to vomit.  Hearing someone who is irresponsible talk about the important of diligence.  Someone speaking of love and they are mean as a snake all the time.  A conversation with an unfaithful person as they discuss the importance of loyalty etc.... I often times try to overcome my sour stomach and tell myself to stop judging these folk. 

I came across a SERIOUS proverb in my studies today that at least touches on this subject.

"Like the legs of the lame that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of fools." Proverbs 25:7

Ouch.

Well, don't want to be so quick to judge, but it is a proverb to know, it isn't wrong to want to throw up when a beautiful truth spews out of the mouth of a ....well.........fool.  Can you say handicapped speech?

Peace- Stu

You Just Don't Want To Be Loved

Listening to an old jam today in my time of reading and prayer.  It was a song from the group "The WInans."  Been praying about all the people in my life who are outside of the Kingdom of God.  Listening to the lyrics put some thoughts in my mind about people refusing to come to God.  It could be because of unbelief, fear, or straight up rebellion.  What strikes me is the never ending pursuit that God has for people even being rejected daily for every type of excuse and well formed argument.  The lyrics are printed below:




If you turn your head away after hearing what I say.
You refuse to take my hand, then I'll understand
You just don't want to be loved.

If you turn away my gift follow after a myth.
If you'd rather be deceived then I must believe
You just don't want to be loved.

If you turn away the light, just to walk in the night.
I haven't heard a verbal no but your actions show
You just don't want to be loved.

You disregard all my calls as if I haven't called at all.
And all the time I know you hear, makes me really fear
You just don't want to be loved.

Oh with love and kindness I'll draw and with goodness I will lead.
With my blood I'll wash away all iniquity.
So come and take my hand, I will lead you all the way.
Your tomorrow will be much brighter than your yesterday.
So much brighter than your yesterday.

I bridle you with everything but your response is still the same
It seems all in vain you just don't want to be loved.
You always seem to hide the emptiness inside.
I will set you free If you turn to me, but
You just don't want to be loved.

Why won't you let Jesus love you?
Don't turn him away (You just don't want to be loved.)
I don't understand (You just don't want to be loved.)

Why won't you let Jesus love you.
let Him (Love you)

Don't UNBELIEVE

On Sunday I was talking about how God did so much to help the nation Israel as they traveled out of Egypt and wandered around the wilderness for forty years.  I have heard the hike they took was generally a very very short trip. It should have taken them DAYS to make the trip.  But because the people were so hard headed they never made it (at least the adults didn't....save two).  They all died in the wilderness.  

One of the interesting scriptures in Psalm 78 comes after God parts a sea, shows himself daily to the nation to remind them that He is with them through a daily cloud and a night fire in the sky.  He then splits rocks to water over 600,000 men plus women and children.  Can you imagine the water line?  You know they didn't have dixie cups.  After all of that provision, the people then say from what I can size in a very sarcastic tone in vs. 19, " “Can God really
   spread a table in the wilderness?".  I mean come on!  It is tough enough to feed a few hundred thousand people, more less in the middle of a desert!  I guess water from a rock and completely moving back water (into heaps) in order to move a nation away from the world's mightiest army and gushing water from rocks is small change to these guys.  I know what you might be thinking.... easy on the Hebrews!  The reality is that the New Testament writers implore us to look at them very closely (for an example!)  The answer to the sarcastic question of the Israeli's is YES I CAN (spread a table in the wilderness).  To those who can't seem to believe all that God did for nation Israel, then this post will more be amusing to you, but I still believe God did it!!!.  The question is "What does that matter for me?"  Everything.  In light of my life, situations, issues and challenges, I have found that I am simply not able to trust God enough.  I find ways to "unbelieve".  That is right, the red line is under that word because it is telling me that it is not a word.  But that is what I have to constantly guard against in my life.  Unbelieving God.  To believe God takes no hard work.  I mean you just take Him for what He says.  He loves me.  So many people can't seem to accept that. So they spend their time "unbelieving".  Many worry daily about their finances and future when God promises to provide for His children.  Unbelieving.  So often I wrestle with unbelieving God that it has been a smack in His face.  Lord I am sorry for unbelieving you, like the Israelites.  Help me to be believing and trust you for all that you say and will do.  And yes Lord, I do believe you can set a table for me in the wilderness (no sarcasm :) - Stuart

Scrap Metal, Souls and Wilmington Partners

Came back from a quick trip with a brother to Wilmington today.  It was awesome.  Thankful for friends and partners in ministry.  In our visit we were able to visit a dear friend in town for a java.  I was thinking how this person has been so essential in the ministry being able to continue on in support of 180 even though they have not been in the area, our meetings or services.  Every time they send a check, I am overwhelmed.  I think, what have we done to deserve this?  As we were talking, we were abundantly aware that God is the one who gets the glory, but wow, how awesome it is when a friend "see's you".  When you are "seen" to me that means to be valued and recognized as a legitimate and relevant work of God.  Just recently a close friend sent me a request for old metal parts for his mission in Africa.  The metal will go to help build their ministry project with the local orphanage and outreach.  I surrendered my family heirloom (as he calls it).  A 1973 VW.  He has gone back and forth with me about giving up a treasure.  Indeed it is a treasure in that I have held onto it for time and time and time, but never have been able to make it work for our family.  I dreamed of putting Jeremiah in it one day fully restored.  But as I began to pray about it, I felt the Lord say to me, metal for souls.  What is it worth?  Gladly I released the old car, tattered and smudged with grime and years of neglect.  In some strange way, I felt more partnered, more connected with Africa and the work that they are doing there.  It has been frustrating in this season in our lives to not be able to give much of significance for months and months, so in a strange way, being able to give this truly is a blessing.   I "see" this guy and his wife and what they are doing.  So to sow it into their ministry is a true and precious honor.

I think our Wilmington partner must feel like that too.  As they said, "The Lord put it on my heart to support your ministry."  Well, that ministry has meant my family for most part.  That is near and dear to me.  More and more amazed I am of how God will go to other towns if it takes that for people to "see you".  Wilmington, thanks for seeing us at 180 way down here in Myrtle Beach.  I will never forget your generosity that truly has helped us to stand.  Every soul saved will be attributed to your contribution, much like my junk VW in Africa.  Thanks simply for the gift, for "seeing me", and for being faithful.  And thank you God for all you do to never forget me laboring here for You.

PS-  to learn more about my Africa friends,Ken and Karen, click on their link comegowithus.org

PROVERBS 25:19

"Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint." 

Another title for this post could be "A Few Good Men."  I have learned a bit in the past few years of church planting.  There is a difference in testing/training and trusting.  Testing and training comes with a learning curve.  What I mean to say is, you expect failure quite a bit.  With that it is kind of easier to deal with sloppy results, because you basically factor in helping with a project or essentially bagging an assignment from another to do it yourself.  The idea is to see where individuals perform so as to improve excellence or proficiency.  I am learning that I have often mixed the two up (testing and trusting).  When placing full trust in an untested individual, the proverb written above plays out in truth.  Many times I have fully trusted in people that I thought were truly faithful and when that proved to not be true, wow did it hurt.  Perhaps it was my fault?  At least a bit.  The scripture basically tells us to not put faith in an unfaithful person, especially in an important matter...unless we are a glutton for punishment (or a toothache :) .  What I am taking from this scripture is to asses what are the expectations that I put on people who are around me.  For those of us in leadership training and development, I am learning that to release responsibility and task to a responsible person, what a JOY!!!  So, the battle becomes, "Who is faithful?".  My focus a bit now is to make sure that what I am assigning is to a proven and tested individual, or else, I should expect a learning curve (fit with a lot of clean ups).  Knowing that will help me and my teeth and ankles.


Stu.

Don't Miss Your Window

Windows in the sense in which I will be speaking this Sunday at our church 180-Degrees, are very important.  I recognize the significance of how they let in light and how they let in air.  They are good for breaking up monotony in design and such.  However, windows in the spiritual sense often represent a time, a season or a process in which the ability from heaven is at your door.  Meaning, God is bringing you to a place to do "a work", a task or perhaps fulfill an aspect of releasing a greater portion for your destiny.  Often times we do not recognize a window as we speak a "window of opportunity."  These times are not always.  They may be with us for a moment, or they may return later, but they are not guaranteed.  I will be explaining from my experience how I have missed some windows and share how the price I have paid in missing them has caused a greater awareness of their existence, and a heightened sense of God's workings as I continue on in life.

We will discuss how God wants us to recognize His windows so that we can procure the needed assets to move forward in our divine design and destiny.  If you are floundering in life and seem to be going around a carousel, this will be an exciting teaching for you.  Also, if you or others you know seem to never gain momentum in life and seem constantly frustrated, this talk will be a neat way to process some new information and revelation to push through to a more helpful walk with the Lord.  Either way, it will prepare us to recognize and posture ourselves for when these windows are open in our lives.

 

If you miss it...check out the link at vimeo.com and search the link

http://vimeo.com/user4501567/videos/sort:date    The title should be "Don't Miss Your Window."  I will try to get it loaded by Wednesday!

-Stu

MMMMMMM.....cafe ole!  A lot is going on in our church these days.  For now we are completing our audio and visual purchases.  We are also up and running with a nice cafe on Sunday service times.  We offer a nice tasting Joe with sodas, pies and snacks and a nice sit down bar area.  Our focus right now is beefing up our childcare area.  We don't have a lot of wee-kids but we are planning to get some new supplies to prepare for the bitty ones!

If anyone has an old babygate play yard (the kind where you keep kids contained) and a lightly used spongy type of flooring/matting for the kids, holla at a brother.  That stuff will run around $200-300 for what we are looking for and right now every dolla makes a brotha holla.

Thanks for always being interested in hearing what is going on in the life and ministry of 180-degrees!  Please pray for us, specifically Jose (with a hairnet); that he will come to faith in Christ as we reach out to him with the GOSPEL!!!

- Stu

 The song below is "You Just Gotta Know" from a rap artist named Lecrae.  Not sure about the calamity line, so someone help me out.  But truly listening to this song on the way to school with the kids.  It spoke to me in a gentle way like a dagger in the heart :).  I think my mindset was a bit frustrated with my own inability to even be the man that I know I should be, want to be and hope to be.  In it all I struggle in the reality of it all that at least I know that I am desperate for God's help in all of that and that sometimes it scares me that people all around me don't know about it, but have the intellect to fly to the moon and all that.  And even people that know God is for true, struggle to surrender to Him for fear of being dropped (note last 2 lines).  In it all I am overcome by the lyrics "I know I'm loved and I'm pursued).  Just thinking how God created this ball, split open seas to let a million people escape the world power (Egypt), made the sun stand still, delivered death row inmates from fire pits and lion cages...and He even considers my life.  Overwhelming.  Enjoy the lyrics below and if you like to get your gangsta lean on, download the song, it is sweet.  JJ gives it a 5 rating.  - Stu

"(Yeah) I sit and hear the guitars play, Wonder if they could, what would stars say or Venus and Mars say
Or say that we want it our way....Stars so desperate to shine that they go on livin' the hard way
The intellect to travel to Mars but so blind, We worship Venus but she don't even know who we are
And she never cared why cuz she wasn't there...When I was tryin' to drown my sorrows in a pool of despair
I ain't perfect, sometimes I feel worthless, Worth less than that is the image that Ive purchased
Man, from the shades to the shirt to the shoes, Just another fool tryin' to cover he's confused, that ain't cool
Sometimes I hate the man in the mirror....Cuz I know he's a liar and a cheater and a killer
People say they love him but they love what he can give 'em, But deep inside he knows that there's a reason for him livin'

(Uh) You know I need YOU like aqua, Day without ya got me so nauseous,
If I ain't cautious, I'm gonna self-inflict my sickness You know it's true, YOU as my witness
At how YOU witness my inconsistence...Yes, the ovation when I need your assistance
And I just gotta know that even though I'm a misfit, I'm still worth more than calamity's French kiss
Yes I'm loved, and I'm pursued, And though I can't feel it, still I know that it's true
Somebody woke me up, and yeah, I know it was YOU....And yet I keep tryin' to steer clear of YOUR view
Cuz if YOU get me, I know that YOU got me....But I'm so insecure I can't believe that YOU want me
But then I heardYOU went outta your way to adopt me..
Well you can have my all if you swear you won't drop me

Happy Anniversary 180-Degrees CHURCH 6 YEARS

The picture to the right is truly about the best one I could find in my limited arsenal.  It was taken about the same time we left Virginia for Myrtle Beach.  This Sunday, marks our 6 year journey mark as a local church plant in the Myrtle Beach area. 

The picture was taken on a Thanksgiving weekend with some dear friends visiting with us.  Jeremiah is pushing a late "4" years old in the picture.  J is now a 4th grader.  The warriors dress is called the "armour of God".  It was given by a dear friend in Richmond, VA upon his birth. 

As I reflect on 6 years of treading into the devils playground in Myrtle Beach, I am reminded of the many who started with us, came along side and have moved on.  As a young church we are still celebrating many firsts, but many things God has truly established.

This year in our facility transition we are truly being blessed and experiencing freer worship of the Lord.  Our community groups are growing with new people being brought in.  Many struggling with sin and weights of life and destructive habits are experiencing new life transforming grace from the Lord Jesus Christ.  We are truly in chains to this gospel, and it is an honor to press into one more year of holding it down til He comes.

In the picture above I can remember what was going on in my head... there was so much excitement, zeal, passion and ideas in my head.  What would it look like?  Who would we reach?  What would it feel like?  Nikki, Louis, Jaimie, Caitlin, Ray, John, Michael, Jenn, Rosa, Danny, Trevor, Christopher, Maddie, Babs, Karen, Terri, Debbie....... you are why we came!  I thank God for the " ....."  those are all the others that I of course did not mention.  On the other side of 6 years there has been much press, much confusion, dissappointment, even dissillusionment, but never has the passion to serve our Lord Jesus Christ been stronger. 

As my wife cried over a gut wrenching trial in our community, she said, "I can't wait to go to Heaven."  What she meant was," it is hard"... Life, situations, people, the enemy of our own souls, the reality of tragedy and sickness and death.  She did not mean it in a negative way, but truly she is longing to be with our Jesus where there will be no more struggle, press, and trial.  Until then we will work while it is day.

Join us if you can for our 6th Anniversary service this Sunday evening at the Sea Mist Hotel.  You can check us out on FB at 180degreeschurch for more updates.

Peace-  Stu

Growing Hurts....If You Let It

Ok, ok, I ain't gonna lie, sometimes when you are building something, it gets hard.  Building people is tricky too.  You may say, what do you mean building people?  Well that is what we are in the business of as children of God.  There is a process in our growth in the spiritual just like the natural.  We go from baby and being spoon fed, to teen interdependence, to adult dependence to reproduction.  The cycle may not be cognitive as it is natural, yet there is a definite process to personal growth and development.  Some have a positive and healthy process in growing up in the natural and some are about as dysfunctional as you could imagine.  The calling is for parents to have a clue and to be formational in the shaping of their children.  Selfishness, ambition, greed and such- all hijack people from the calling of forming children into healthy and functional adults.  That we see perfectly in the natural (rude and insecure people overly needy and unbalanced). 

In the spiritual we see a similar parallel.  Jesus says to us in Matthew 28:19 to go and make disciples.  What in the heck?  How does one do that.  My coin phrase in our church is "you can't make what you are not."  Well, the spirit is not different in this case than the natural.  What I mean to say is that one has to be spoon fed, then they must become interdependent in their learning and application of spiritual truth, then they can move onto birthing other sons and daughters.  Problem is people think because they are 35 in the natural, they are mature in the spirit.  Wow.  Imagine a baby balancing a checkbook, or serving in military conflict.  But I see that every day in the spiritual.  One of the things that I am wrestling with now as a pastor/discipler is that some people will not "allow" for the process of their own spiritual growth.  The one difference in the natural and spiritual process is that natural children are "forced" into having a growth process.  In the spirit it is much more an invitation and a submitting to the process, in the natural parents come with the package.

So in understanding this process, been having some challenges on encouraging people to get in the process of their own spiritual growth process and it can at times be overwhelmingly frustrating, especially if the individual thinks they are somewhere they are not (they are in spiritual diapers, but leading a bible study etc...).  Many struggle with submitting to the process of growth.  Internalizing this makes me frustrated much like a coach is frustrated by an unwilling player on a team, or a husband is frustrated with an apathetic wife. 

Cheap answer is to not care and let people fall in their own pride.  Other answer is to shirk my responsibility as a man of God and just live my life and let people fumble.  John MacArthur in his Matthew Commentary offers some strong words about the topic of half hearted spiritual people: 

"When Jesus called the twelve to Himself, He carefully instructed them about what they would be expected to do and endure.  In so doing, He excluded the half-hearted people who wanted the benefits of the kingdom but not its commitments.  He elected to Himself only those who were willing to enter the narrow gate and walk the narrow road."

Ouch-  time to grow up-  Stu

HARVEST TIME!!!!

We have the honor of having with us at our local church  180-degrees this weekend Todd Wood.  Todd is the founder of Impact Ministries.  A dynamic Christian totally committed to reaching the lost for Jesus Christ, Todd exudes passion for Christ with a personal love for Jesus that will leave you wanting more every time you talk with him.  Right now our church is in a season of harvest, and it is essential that we know and understand how to be effective in loving the people around us into the eternal life that Christ died to give them.  Todd will help coach us on how to have the right mind set while equipping us to all be better messengers of the gospel.  We look forward to some practical application steps in partnering with Todd in reaching out to our community and specifically the Sea Mist Resort staff and employees.  If you have a heart for evangelism, or know of friends who want to share their faith but don't know how, this weekend will be a huge blessing for you all. Check out more about Todd's ministry at impactmb.org. 

Hope to see you Sunday at 6 pm at the Sea Mist.  Remember this will be our last 6 pm meeting as we move back to 5 pm in February.  -  Stuart

Look at the Snake!

This morning was reading a story to my children at the breakfast table and it was scary.  A lot of people seem to lack in the area of "hearing God speak."  This morning reading the story to my children I heard loud and clear the Lord speaking to a situation that surrounds my life and ministry.

The story in a short nutshell goes like this.  Israel, God's chosen people were wandering in the desert for 38 years.  They were having to wander in circles because all they could seem to do was complain and bellyache about how God rescued them out of their slavery to bring them to a promised land.  All they had now was 2 years left on the trip itinerary.  Now the route God took them was honestly a bit ridiculous, but He wanted to test them to see what was in their heart.  Upon finding out that they were an independent and prideful people, constantly complaining against God, the process and God's man, Moses, God told them they could stay out there in the wilderness with their ego's and ungrateful selves.  At this point I will pick up in the book of Numbers...because of the continual bellyaching, God sent a host of poisonous snakes to the camp.  They were in cookware, sleepware, bushes and tents.  In reality the hundreds of thousands of Israeli's were infested with snakes.  The camp was in dire need of intervention.  As usual, Moses went before the Lord and was asked to erect a bronze serpent on a pole and have the people look at it when they were bitten.  Think about it.  Absolutely ridiculous.  Look at the snake and don't die.  And do you want to know what happened next?  Some of the people did not look at the bronze snake on a stick!  Goober.  Are you kidding me.  Yes, the reality is people die around us all the time because of pride and arrogance against God.  Do you think God needed to put a snake on a stick to rid the camp of poisonous snakes?  NO!  But he wanted to see if the people would HUMBLE themselves, listen to Moses and FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS!  Some did, some unbelievably simply would not.  Today is no different.  If I could plead with you today....to not harden your heart against God, and what God is speaking.  It may mean life or death to you, and it might mean living a life of less than your calling and destiny, or it might mean continual wilderness.  Look at the snake-  Stu

September Prophecy: Living Out

As a local church pastor, I teach that God has not only spoken (scripture), but that He is continuing to speak to those who desire to hear His voice.  Sunday I made mention to a word that we believe God spoke to us corporately in Sept. 2010.  As I spoke Sunday, here is the prophetic word that was released to the church on the 5th of September in 2010.  We believe that we are at the Harvest time now, so it is time for us to get the invitation to all.  Pray through this word as we continue to walk it out as a church.....


"Come unto me, I have many things to show you.  Now is the hour!  Gather together my sheep and feed them, pray over them. The times are going to get turbulent.  The sheep need to be on solid ground, so they will stand in the days ahead.  My ways are not your ways, I have plans for my people.  Look unto Me for direction, stay close, keep your eyes fixed on my face.  The tempter is out to snare and destroy!  Listen for My voice in the darkess to lead you into the light.  Hold on and don't let go!  I will be right by your side.  My ways are higher and they are brighter, they are peace, happiness, they are narrow, self-less and full of LOVE.  Find my way and you will find my Glory!  Desire Me and Me alone and you will find Me.  Knock and I will answer, seek and you will find Me.  Let your hearts be ablaze for Me.  Not the world!  Spend time with me, sup with me, get to know Me.  Our time will be sweet, like the fragrance of honeysuckle.  For you are my bride and its time to prepare yourself, for the Groom is coming!  I am coming for my bride that is ready.  Fill your lamps with oil, cleanse yourself, soak in my presence, put on your wedding apparel of holiness and purity.  For the hour is drawing near.  I am preparing a place for my bride and I am ready to receive her.  Send out the 'invitation' to all, invite them all!  Go to the highways and byways, the hedges and the ditches, the high places and the low places.  It is time to gather, for the wedding will soon begin."

Failures Ain't That Bad

Ok, Heather hates this picture.  I wanted to make it my email picture, but she absolutely refused to get in agreement on it.  So here it is in a lone cameo.  I have no idea what I was saying but it had to do with something about "4".  A cookout/outreach to the Fresh Brewed community last summer.

Was reading from a new friends book, From Crackers to Caviar (James Cooper).  He writes about failure/success..... 

"If you haven't failed, it's because you haven't tried anything.  You have to get out there and become comfortable with the fact that there are times where you will miss the mark if you want to become a success.  You have to learn from your mistakes and you have to get your mistakes quickly out of the way so you can try again.  You can't fear failure, quite the opposite, you have to embrace it.  One of the key differences between successful and unsuccessful people is that unsuccessful people fear failing; they fear trying, because there may be a chance of failing.  But successful people understand that there's a lesson in their failure.  Michael Jordan says this, 'I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career.  I've lost almost 300 games.  26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.  I've failed over, and over, and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.'

You have to become comfortable with failure because failure is the incubator for success.....We know that Edison had 2000 failed attempts before he finally found the right material (for light bulb filament)  Edison continually questioned about his repeated attempts and subsequent failures by reporters.  When asked about all his failures he said this, "I have not failed.  Not once.  I've just found 10,000 ways that didn't work."

Don't be afraid to fail...Go for it!!! You can do it!   Stu

Charlies Angels and Membership

OK, so I do not have a clue about this picture except it totally is absolutely confusing.  And funny. Caitlin reminds me of Charlies Angel girl and Kelly like Vanna White.  So if either of you dare, you can post comment to explain.  Or not.

The Lord has been speaking to me this week, and we discussed in detail that God truly has a plan for you and not only is that plan individual in nature, but it is corporate in blessing.  By that I mean the church is to be working together by what, "every joint supplies" as in the context of being a body.  Scripture throughout, tells us that the church is a body and we are members.  Somewhere along the way, even "sensitive churches" are dropping that label altogether because of the negative connotation that "member"  brings with it:  country club, moose lodge;  and AARP (exclusivity).  Membership in church is not like that of exclusive society, it is connection and effection.  Connection meaning, when you surrender your life to Jesus, you immediately become part of His body and thus you become a "member".  Not a membership like club,  but a breathing, life giving and essential part of what God is doing, like in the human body.  Why is that important?  Because you have to now FUNCTION in a new way.  Before Christ we do as we want when we want and how we want...now??? you are a part of something greater than yourself.  But really? Sure...just read Ephesians 4: 11 thru - Chapter 5.  You have to give something only you can give.  Some of us are like a voice box, some like a tendon in the knee, some like an ear and some like a kidney.  We have to know our part and do it.

So what does that mean for me?  How do I get to understand that and flow in it?  In proverbs, the scripture says that your "gift will make room for you."  Don't sweat it...just get involved and start to do what you can do and do it well.  Listen to your passion and take a step there.  If you are unsure, find out where there is a need to be filled and serve there diligently until God releases more insight to what you are to do and what you do well.  God will begin to make a way for you to be used greater and greater in the corporate calling you have.  It is important not to forsake this calling because we need each other to fulfill the will of God in the earth.  So understand God's heart- you matter and you are needed, so get in place and let your gift "make room for you."

What do the pictures have to do with this post?  Absolutely nothing except part of Caitlin's call in the body is to be goofy and make people laugh.  Other than that the pictures don't match the articles...as you can see somebody needs to get to work in the body at 180 because I continue the legacy of random photo placement in my blog posts!

Get connected and know you matter as a MEMBER!

Stu

Second Gathering @ our New Home: And A Huge Testimony

Our second gathering at the Sea Mist Resort was awesome.  We were able to put into place 4 or 5 new positions of leadership.  The Lord is speaking to us that we are right in the timing of harvest so of course that is an amazing time.  The past 6 years have totally been groundbreaking, relational building and sometimes taking two steps forward and one step back.  There seems to be a momentum and a building that we have not seen to this level.  Spending all night Saturday with about 20 core leaders at our Community Life Kickoff was great as we are strategically aligning ourselves to better care for and nurture new believers in the Lord. One value that is huge in the ministry is COMMUNITY.  Without it, people struggle.  With so many opportunities to make connections all around us, we know the church needs to be a family dedicated to love, care and cover one another, and that not just on a Sunday morning. 

One of our immediate needs was met this past week and I just wanted to celebrate that with you.  Kelly Edwards, our Song Leader came to me at our Kickoff Event Saturday night and informed me that an annonomous donor sowed the needed $6,000 for our sound equipment!!!!!!  That was such an amazing breakthrough for our ministry and how we are looking to worship God together with a quality system.  I have always seen God work with Heather and myself on a family level, but never have I seen God move on behalf of a corporate group of people like I am eyewitnessing now.  I am seeing the community rally together in one accord, with one mind and heart and with that, much is going to be birthed in this season.

Thank all of you for your prayers as we do believe we are in the center of His will right now.

If you would like to, look below a couple of posts and see the investment we are about to make in the sound systems/A/V stuff.  I posted it right around the holiday.

Happy New Year

I spoke to a lady in the parking lot the other day, "happy New Year!" and she said, "just the New?"  Talk about speechless.....180-degrees has truly turned a corner in the Spirit, and for sure we are moving in a new level of momentum.  As we all move forward in each of our lives, I thought I would post a writing from Jonathan Edwards, the great preacher and theologian whom God used to bring revival to colonal America:



"I claim no right to myself, no right to this understanding, this will, these affections that are in me.  Neither do I have any right to this body or its members, no right to this tongue, to these hands, feet, ears or eyes.  I have given myself clear away and not retained anything of my own.  I have been to God this morning and told Him I have given myself wholly to Him, I have given every power so that for the future I claim no right to myself in any respect.  I have expressly promised Him, for by His grace I will not fail.  I take Him as my whole portion and felicity, looking upon nothing else as any part of my happiness.  His law is the constant rule of my obedience.  I will fight with all my might against the world, the flesh and the devil to the end of my life.  I will adhere to the faith of the gospel however hazardous and difficult the profession and practice of it may be.  I pray God for the sake of others to look on this as self-dedication.  Henceforth, I am not to act in any respect as my own.  I shall act as my own if I ever make use of any of my powers to do anything that is not to the glory of God or to fail to make the glorifying of Him my whole and entire business.  If I murmur in the least at affliction, if I  am in any way uncharitable, if I revenge my own case, if I do anything purely to please myself or omit anything because it is a great denial, if I trust myself, if I take any praise for any good which Christ does by me, or if I am in any way proud, I shall act as my own and not God's.  But I purpose to be absolutely His."

I pray that we could be Wholly His in 2011.  To God be the glory.....Stu

COMMUNITY LIFE KICKOFF EVENT THIS SATURDAY!!!

A little out of focus...but whatever Jaimie and Heather are getting....I want it.  Thank God for laughter.  Below is a redo of an email I sent out for our community kick off at the Springmaid Beach Resort.  Check the link above to get directions.  It is the Resort Conference Center 3rd floor (top)

RSVP LIST FOR SATURDAY KICKOFF


1) Michael Tucholski

2) Jennifer Tucholski

3) Trevor T

4) Christopher T

5) Kelly Edwards

6) Kristen Bowers

7) Karen Roady

8) Elizabeth Fletcher

9) Jaimie Baskins

10) Louis Sirvent

11) Nicole Sirvent

12) Landen

13) Maddie

14) Janet Greene

15) Zeke

16) Rayne

17) Debbie Benedict

18) Skip Benedict

19) Tom Ditzler

20) John Mashburn

21) Tim McCray

22) Ray Dynia

23) Alberto Gomez

24) Rosa Gomez

25) Tiana

26) Cassey Maye

27) Berto

28) Stuart Royall

29) Heather Royall

30) Jeremiah

31) Alexandra

32) Sydney

33) Caitlin Beidler