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Matthew 16:1-12 - Jesus says obvious things that we still neglect.  First, read the signs.  God works in the obvious!  Second, like yeast, it only takes a little bit of bad thinking to mess up a whole life - or a whole church.

Acts 22 - Tell your story.  Don’t worry about the consequences.  Plus, God can use something as basic as where you born to prepare you for an episode of life 40 years later (Paul being born an Roman citizen).

Psalm 37:1-22 - Again, a familiar promise in the Psalms:  Verse 4 “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he wil give you the desires of your heart.”  This is the OT version of “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Exodus 35-37 - Two big things stand out to me in these chapters.  In reaction to God’s grace (He didn’t wipe them out after the big party with the golden calf), they bring an offering so great, Moses had to tell them enough - don’t bring any more.  That’s important.  God doesn’t want us to give until there’s nothing left!  He wants us to destroy selfishness through giving!

The other thing hat stand out - When they were busy constructing the Tabernacle, they weren’t partying or fussing!

It started in the second service Sunday.  I could feel my voice – never a good sign.  You are supposed to hear your voice, not feel it.  It started as a little burn in my voice box and by the third service it had progressed to a full fledged fire.  The smart thing would have been to stop and not talk – but instead I pushed and hoarsely finished the last service.
We went to lunch with some friends, and my voice shifted from quiet to whisper.  By Outreach at 5:00, I had nothing.  My lips were moving and deacons were laughing.  There was no sound.
Here’s what I learned from having no voice.  First, people match your volume.  More people have whispered to me this week than when I was in kindergarten.  Even when I have a full voice, I need to remember to lower the volume sometimes.  Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Second, I learned that when you can’t talk, make your words count.  There were some conversations I really needed to have.  Others were optional.  I got more to the point and I let go of some words that never needed to be said or heard.  Listen to Ecclesiastes 5:2:  “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”
Finally, I learned to lean on others. I asked Clayton to take TruLife teaching for me.  I had to ask Mark to pray during Prayer Force.  We had a five hour calendar planning meeting – I had to let others carry to ball.  And they did.  God’s work doesn’t depend on me.  There is great joy in stepping back and seeing others step forward.
My voice does seem to be coming back, slowly.  I have gotten some rest and I am praying I’ll be ready on Sunday to preach.  But given what I learned from losing my voice, it makes me wonder – Did God want to teach me a lesson?
Does God want to teach you a lesson too?

Every church needs an overarching purpose.  Ours is to help as many people as possible take their next step toward Jesus Christ.  We do this by helping people Know Jesus, Know Community, Grow Character, and Go Share.
But churches also need to answer “What’s important now?”  This past Sunday, at Vision Night, I shared with our church what God has laid on the hearts of our leaders.
We need to some face some BIG things in 2008:
1.       Reaching the people in our circle of influence.  Over 72,000 lost and unchurched people live in our county.  Within a 30 mile radius of our church, there are 178,000 lost and unchurched people.  How do we reach these people?  We Invite, Invest, and Include them.  We also need to develop a television presence on our local cable network and on the internet so people have a safe way to preview who we are.
2.       We need to look over the horizon to Africa and continue with our goal of having hundred of volunteers transform their lives by sharing a faith journey with African believers.
3.       We need God’s big power to pour out on our church.  Beginning next Monday, at noon, we will have a one hour prayer time called Prayer Force to ask God to anoint and empower His church and expand His kingdom.
We need to also get small in 2008:
1.       We want everyone to get in a group in 2008.  We like to launch five new groups and recruit 15 new adult leaders.
2.       We want to ask people to find themselves on the Leadership Pipeline.  Is God asking you to lead yourself, lead by doing, lead others, or lead leaders in 2008?
3.       We want people to FISH – First improve spiritual health throughout this year.  Read the Bible.  Pray.  Give.  Serve.
God will give you this year for a reason.  What is God saying to you about what’s important now?         

I’m taking a few days off after Christmas - resting, painting a daughter’s bedroom and so forth…

But I couldn’t resist saying “WOW” about the Christmas Eve service.  In case you missed it:

• Standing room only!  We brought in chairs and still had folks standing in the back and out in the lobby.   One thousand candles look really cool!
• Three great soloists! They did a great job
• Nathan, Jivan, and Rhyanna did a great job illustrating the angels telling the shepherd the Good News.  For everyone who ever thought the good news was impossible for them, it was a real picture that Good news of Jesus is for all.
• I’ll be spending this Sunday in church with Gina’s parents - but Clay will be preaching (for all the non- ADBC people, Clay is our Outreach Pastor - same name, no relation).  I know you will hear a great message!

Great Day at ADBC this past Sunday:

Great to sing the carols.  Laugh out Loud children’s time in all three services.  Best of all - two people accepted Christ in 3rd service.  That’s what it’s all about!!!

Thanks to Jim Arnemann for making the manger and the cross - and for making it fool proof for a guy like me!

This weekend, we hope to have between 2,500 and 3,000 people come to the Sumter Passion Play.  If you ask most of them, they would tell you they are Christians.  Many could tell you where they go to church.  Many of these who are self-identified Christians, have no real connection with God.  To use the right theological term, they’re lost. These are some of their thoughts:

1. “My granddaddy was a preacher, and my daddy was a deacon - of course I’m a Christian.” In the South, and in Sumter especially, some folks think being a Christian is their birthright.   Jesus dealt with people like this continously.  Here’s the truth:  every person is responsible for their own spiritual journey and choices.  It really is your decision. 

2.  “I go to church every time the doors are open.”  I go out to my garage every night to feed the dogs.  Does that make me a car?  Or a dog?  Following Jesus is about transformation of life, shaping of character.  God’s saving power brings change - is there any evidence in your life?
3.  “I believe in God and Jesus, but church if full of hypocrites.” Here’s the reality:  every person I have heard use that excuse is hiding something.  It may be a private sin they don’t want to deal with.  They may be ashamed of something in the past.  They were hurt but don’t want to admit it.  Christians need the church, imperfect as it may be, because church is where we grow our faith.  If ADBC isn’t the church for you, that’s fine - of the 200+ churches in the county, there is one for you.

4. “I know I’m not spiritually right, but I am too embarassed to admit it.”  If you grow up your whole life knowing the church answers, but you realize that you never had a real spiritual experience, you might feel so much shame, you’d rather fake it, than make it real.

So what can ADBC offer people: 

1.  The true story of Jesus.  Jesus had to deal with religious people who were out of touch with God.  Passion Play gives us a chance to tell the true story and give the Holy Spirit an environment in which to move.

2.  We can be real.  People who are trying to pretend their way through faith are drawn to realness.  Let’s not pretend to be put together, but talk about real ways God helps us on our journey.

3.  We can love people where they are.  Just because someone is out of touch, doesn’t mean our responsibility is over.  Love them anyway.

4.  We can give people a safe environment where they can see the gap in their own lives and the lives of real followers -and they can say, “I want what those people have.”

I’m praying Passion Play will be used by God to break through all kinds of spiritual barriers that people put up.

*Thanks to David Foster at davidfoster.tv who gave me idea for this form.

I admit I like preaching in jeans. Most Sundays I don’t because I don’t want to set up a stumbling block to anyone, but the video really called for it.

So, speaking of the video, how did you like it?  I need some feedback - is this a place for us to keep exploring - maybe not a regular thing, but every now and then?  Let me know by dropping a comment.  Even if I don’t post it, I’ll read it.

I also meant what I said about sending me a picture of your family.  I would love to be praying for your family in the coming year.  Send the cards to the church - 1305 Loring Mill Road, Sumter, SC 29150

I was touched by the number of people in every service who raised their hand, indicating there was something impossible they knew God wanted to do in their lives.  I am praying this will be a breakthrough month for you all.

Quick story - woman comes up to me after third service.  I know she has had a contentious relationship with her father, but through God’s grace, there has been some healing.  Her dad is coming to the Passion Play this week.  She told me, “I invited him and he accepted.  Amazing.  It’s like God has done the Impossible!”  We both laughed and smiled - because that’s what God does!

I’m not thankful for war, which takes too many lives too causally.  I am thankful for the courage and sacrifice of those who fight tyranny and serve our country.
I’m not thankful for incessant presidential debates and a primary season that started 18 months before the general election.  I am thankful I live in a country that allows me a voice and a vote.
I’m not thankful for HIV/AIDS, which robs millions of life and is decimating Africa.  I am thankful for God stirring hearts (including mine) to do something about it.
I’m not thankful it is taking so long for us to find an Education Pastor.  I am thankful for ministerial staff that steps up and does extra work and lay leaders who go the extra mile to make sure group life stays strong.
I’m not thankful gas is almost $3 a gallon.  I am thankful God has given me resources so I can still pretty much go when I want to.
I’m not thankful for people who treat their marriage casually, who are willing to wreck a family because they won’t be mature or sensitive or sacrificial.  I am thankful for marital love that is patient, kind, not thoughtless, or selfish, or rude (see 1 Corinthians 13).
I’m not thankful for people who think they can go through life and never ponder their impact on others, never take responsibility for their words, never apologize, and never take responsibility for themselves.  I am thankful for people who understand Rick Warren’s great statement – “Life is not about you.” 
I’m not thankful that every thing that tastes good, sticks.  I am thankful for Diet Dr. Pepper, a gift from God.
I’m not thankful for anxious gift giving, where we perpetuate old patterns of trying to say something, out of guilt or obligation, by spending money we don’t have on things people don’t need (electric back scratcher, anyone?).  I am thankful for simple gifts that express real love.
I’m not thankful my failures, the many times and ways I’ve failed myself and others, the toxic selfishness that still oozes up from the dark wounds of my soul.  I am thankful for Jesus Christ, His grace given to me, His salvation offered to me, His payment for all my sin and dysfunction. 
1 Thessalonians 5:18a says, “Give thanks in all circumstances.”  I wonder if God meant for us to look even at that bad, at the evil, and find Him at work?
Happy Thanksgiving.
 

When is killing justified?  If a robber enters your home, would you kill them to protect your family?  What if the robber was breaking and entering to provide food for his own family?  Would his actions be justified?

Should you ever lie?  Suppose your boss told you to lie to a client about the performance of a product.  If you tell the truth, you lose your job.  Does that justify a falshood?

Is it ever okay to break your marriage vow?  What about the couple that has grown apart?  They have no intimacy, no emotional connection.  A friendship develops for one of them.  Is permissible to satisfy an emotional longing outside the marriage?

The answers to these questions come down to authority.  Which authority has more power in your life?  Does the authority of love for your family override your respect for human life?  Does the authority of your own integrity override the authority of your boss?  Does the authority of your vows override the authority of your emotional needs?

Authority is more than a boss or a moral guideline - it is the voice you listen to.  There are many voices clamoring for your attention, wanting you to listen to them as the authority. What’s the listening pattern in your life?

People debate if there are moral absolutes, clear standards of right and wrong.  Many believe that truth is relative - what is true for one era or one culture, is not true for another.  Isn’t this the cause of such strife in Iran?

Sunday, I’m going to talking on “Time for Truth.”  The reality everyone has a truth compass that guides them - but are you following the right one?  If you don’t make time for truth, don’t be surprised if life goes in the wrong direction.