Benji Kelley

Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer with Pastor Ted Blair...

2009-07-09T17:27:00.005-04:00

As many of you know, I have some close friends who are now battling with cancer. If you want to check out a moving video, check this out and please pray for all the people you know who have cancer. Let's also remember to pray together for the cure of cancer.

Hodgkins After Ted Blair (pastor of Livingway Church) found out he was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer, he began to video journal his journey.

Baptized into Christ!

2009-07-07T17:24:00.004-04:00

Galatians 3:27 says, "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

Check out this group of Christians, freshly washed in the waters of baptism! I LOVE IT! Baptizing believers NEVER gets old. This Sacrament wrecks me to the core. In 90 days we have baptized 120 believers and dedicated close to 30 babies! Dang - just typing that fires me up! This is Acts 2 kind of stuff, happening right here in central, NC in 2009!

Notice the diversity of this group. Notice the joy of the Lord on their faces. Each individual represents a person for whom God died and rose again! Each individual represents a life truly and recently changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

I still remember my baptism! When fully grasped, it is an event that forever marks a person.

Our culture has a tendency to be an event culture. We are encouraged to go from event to event. There is a whole discipline called "Event Marketing." The presidential campaigns of last year were run as a string of momentum building events.

Special events are important. They can mark special times for us. They can help us link the past to the future. They can solidify our memories and focus our thoughts.

However, if we live from event to event, we miss the time in between. We go from peak to peak without ever living in the valley or on the plains. Looking forward to the next event, anticipating the next big change can become addicting and a way to cope with the reality of life.

The cool thing about Baptism is that it is not just an event of the past - this Sacrament forever remains a present reality for the believer and even carries us into the future! The believers in this picture above will forever be a part of the baptized family of God! This is now a part of their identity! This event of the past will mark them in Christ all the days of their lives! I like how The Message translation puts it in Galatians 3:27:

"But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God. Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up... {Past Tense} It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ's life, the fulfillment of God's original promise." {Present Tense}

What is the Bible saying? Your past baptism event gives certainty to your life fulfillment and God's promise/plan for you! Baptism marks us permanently keeps our vision clear of who we are in Christ, what we are becoming, and where we are heading!

I can't wait to see that plan and promise unfold in the lives of these believers! May heaven expand and the Kingdom advance through these believers baptized into Christ!

Dependence Day

2009-07-06T10:16:00.002-04:00

Sunday Night Download...

2009-07-06T03:05:00.003-04:00

It is actually Monday but since most of you are sleeping away, like normal people, I will still call this Sunday Night Download. It is 3:30 am and I am wide awake. We came home from a very long day at the church and all crashed at 9 pm. As such, I slept really hard and popped up at 3 am. I don't like when that happens, but it does give me some really nice quiet time. The house is so quiet and the world is sleeping - kind of nice! Here are a few left-over thoughts from Sunday at newhope.

I can't believe we have baptized over 120 people in 90 days at the Southpoint Campus. I would say the new baptismal pool was/is well worth it! Baptims always wreck me, which is why I am probably up at 3 am.
We hung the American flag in Worship today for the Fourth of July celebration. I enjoyed teaching from Galatians 5:1 and the freedom we have in Christ.
The unplugged version of the Creed song, "In America," was cool.
I kept hearing newhopes say today at the Party on the Patio Baptism Celebrations, "I don't know any of these people..." That is so AWESOME!! BTW - 99.9 of the newhopers are still among us - they are just harder to identify among a thousand or so others who have found newhope! How cool is that...
Our racial diversity continues to grow. I know - I know - it is not about that, but I think it is so flip'in cool that we will one day stand before Almighty God fully representing the diversity of His created order.
Loved having Pastor Steve Ellis in the house today, not to mention in the waters of Baptism with me. It was great to get him water logged on his first day at newhope. :>) Please pray for him as he leads our church in the area of Discipleship.
One Prayer starts this Sunday - it is going to be GREAT so start inviting those friends.
The video testimonies, from all of these believer baptisms, are going to be so encouraging and inspirational in the months ahead. It is a new approach and I can't wait to hear from all of these changed lives!
Still thanking God for mom's salvation. Preciate all your prayers and support.
I shared a lot this morning about the personal trials Amy Lynn and I have been going through. Again, thanks for your prayers and support.
I am planning way out these days.
The new web site launching in the fall or early 2010 is going to be AMAZING.
I hope people aren't falling through the cracks. That keeps me up at night, as well.
Gary is the bomb on the drums. The dude is too cool for school...
I can't believe I get to do this...

Great Quotes for a Great Weekend...

2009-07-03T13:37:00.006-04:00

Happy Fourth of July people! :>) This is a great weekend. I hope you enjoy with family and/or friends. As you do, here are some powerful quotes as you celebrate:

Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics."

- George Washington's Farewell Address to Nation

"America was established not to create wealth but to realize a vision, to realize an ideal - to discover and maintain liberty among men."

-Woodrow Wilson

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not but religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

- Patrick Henry

"We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel."

- Benjamin Franklin (From the debates at the Constitutional Convention, June of 1787)

"I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"

- French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

- 2 Chronicles 7:14

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

- Proverbs 14:34

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people... it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other..."

- John Quincy Adams

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

- George Washington

"The choice before us is plain: Christ or chaos, conviction or compromise, discipline or disintegration. I am rather tired of hearing about our rights and privileges as American citizens. The time is come - it is now - when we ought to hear about the duties and responsibilities of our citizenship. America's future depends upon her accepting and demonstrating God's government."

- Peter Marshall

"Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought."

- Pope John Paul II

"Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."

- John Adams

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

- Edmund Burke

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

- Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we will pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of Liberty."

- President John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Friday, January 20, 1961

"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility I welcome it."

- John F. Kennedy

"Freedom is the last, best hope of earth."

- Abraham Lincoln

"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.'"

- Martin Luther King, Jr. (From his "I Have a Dream speech, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963)

"Patriotism is not so much protecting the land of our fathers as preserving the land of our children."

- Jose Ortega Y Gasset

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death."

- Thomas Paine

"I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death."

- Patrick Henry

"The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself."

- Benjamin Franklin

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

- 1 Timothy 2:1-4

"In reading over the Constitutions of all fifty of our states, I discovered something which some of you may not know: there is in all fifty, without exception, an appeal or a prayer to the Almighty God of the universe. Through all fifty state Constitutions, without exception, there runs this same appeal and reference to God who is the Creator of our liberties and the preserver of our freedoms."

- D. James Kennedy

"History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster."

- General Douglas MacArthur

"I speak as a man of the world to men of the world; and I say to you, search the Scriptures! The Bible is the book of all others, to be read at all ages, and in all conditions of human life; not to be read once or twice or thrice through, and then laid aside, but to be read in small portions of one of two chapters every day, and never to be intermitted, unless by some overruling necessity."

- John Quincy Adams

Here are a couple of random facts you might also like and hopefully find educational/edifying:

"My County, Tis of Thee" was written by a Baptist minister, Samuel Francis Smith.
"The Pledge of Allegience" was written in 1892 by a Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy.
The words "In God We Trust" are traced to the efforts of Rev. W.R. Watkinson.
Rev. John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Almighty God, thank you for this great land. We are so grateful. Bless us, Lord God, that we might be a blessing to those on this land and those afar. Send forth revival and stir the hearts of politicians, pastors, civil leaders, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, that together we might lift high the name of Jesus. Bring forth your peace and power that the world might look to the church to light the way of justice and salvation. We pray in the matchless name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, amen.

Pastoral and Staff Team Off-site Retreat

2009-07-01T23:00:00.003-04:00

Our team tries to get away every quarter or so to study, pray, focus on the season ahead, and strategically plan for the future. Our next off-site retreat is tomorrow! I love this team and always enjoy getting away with them. Tomorrow, we will meet at my house at 9 am and work until 5 pm. We would love to have you pray for us. Here is agenda and outline for the day:

Ministry Center Team Retreat
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
9 am – 5 pm

1. Morning Devotional

2. Game – Whoonu

3. The High Impact of Large Churches!

4. Calendar Planning

5. Operations

6. Lunch from Mediterranean Deli

7. University Vibe Discipleship Classes

8. Calendar Planning and Missional Initiatives

9. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (Part IV – Traction)

10. Surprise Excursion – 2:15 pm

1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…11It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4)

Sunday Night Download... (Two days late)

2009-06-30T10:49:00.004-04:00

Here are a few thoughts from Sunday's worship experience...

We concluded our Juicy Fruit series in the book of Galatians. I thoroughly enjoyed studying this book and remembering the importance of solid doctrine and the pure Gospel of Jesus! Paul is not playing and I love that...
The energy level was incredible. It absolutely fires the leadership of this church up when you come ready and passionate about worshiping our great God!
The new lights on the stage made all the difference. Here's a shout out to Clark Pro Media for coming in from Atlanta to fix the original light job. Thanks guys for standing by your work.
I am absolutely blown away each and every week by the number of first time guests. The most popular way in which people are hearing about/coming to newhope is through friendships. Nothing grows God's Church more effectively than building authentic and redemptive relationships with friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members and then inviting them to a kick'in church where children and students and adults are presented the Gospel! Way to go, newhope, and thanks be to God for sending laborers into the harvest field! (Matthew 9:38)
Speaking of family members, my mother was in church with me this past Sunday. After hearing my testimony a few months ago, I know this shocks many of you. It is too complex to cover here but in short we have been rebuilding our relationship. Late Sunday night, I spent several hours talking to my mother one on one and God flung open the doors for me to lead her in a prayer of salvation. My mom actually bowed her heart and head and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of her life in our family room!!!! (I never use that many exclamation points but this warrants it :-)) I am in awe of God's goodness and grace. Actually, I have been somewhat speechless on earth as the angels are partying in heaven! (Luke 15)
I really liked the song combination the Worship Arts Ministry did on Sunday after the message and during Holy Communion. "Cling to the Cross," coupled with "Amazing Grace" and the sacrament of Holy Communion created sacred space.
Ed Seacrest is an outstanding camera operator. He is the roamer on stage and does a superb job on Sunday mornings. Well done and thanks for serving, Ed.
Here's a shout out to the city of Durham for allowing us a second driveway. The second exit point seemed extremely functional and helpful and alleviating traffic jams and creating traffic flow.
It never gets old seeing God's people come to faith in Jesus Christ! NEVER...
I am already looking forward to Dependence Day at newhope this weekend and the Baptism Party on the Patio at 4 PM! Looks like we are going to have another huge group of believers getting baptized - that never gets old either!
I'm also looking forward to the One Prayer series in July!
The truth is, I'm looking forward to a lot of things!
The best is yet to come - peace and much love...

Juicy Fruit - Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control

2009-06-29T10:51:00.001-04:00

And Michael too...

2009-06-26T07:11:00.003-04:00

Yesterday might go down in my record book as the day my teen idols died. Who would have ever thought Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett would die on the same day? Strange...and worth some reflection.

I can still remember the parachute pants, Thriller and the videos, and singing those songs endlessly. Here are a few early morning thoughts as I reflect on these two deaths yesterday:

I must be getting old for teenage idols to be dying. Though they both died young, time is passing by, friends, at mach 5 speed. Slow down and enjoy your days. Grab those closest to you and express and share love.
The more I live the more I hate cancer. I know hate is a strong word, but dang, this disease is a killer.
People really need the Lord.
Death is no respecter of time.
As time went on, Michael became more and more strange but that never changed the fact that the boy could sing and dance like no other.
Farrah was a fighter but cancer had the last word. I hope she knew Jesus so that the Gospel actually had the last word. (I Corinthians 15)
God is good.
Life is short.
Farrah's death will be practically lost amid the death of Michael Jackson. In that respect, popularity and fame win the day!
Wouldn't it be great if we found a cure for cancer?
Isn't it great that God has provided a cure for sin and death - His name is Jesus!

I better go - I have to finish a message for Sunday. We conclude the Juicy Fruit series and celebrate Holy Communion together. Peace and much love...

Farrah's Fight Against Cancer...

2009-06-25T21:00:00.004-04:00

OK - I have a confession to make - my very first crush was with a poster in my bedroom of Farrah Fawcett. Many of you guys out there know exactly what poster to which I am referring. I was probably ten years of age and infatuated with this gorgeous blond woman. As such, I grew up watching many episodes of Charlie's Angels. Unfortunately, cancer took her life today.

I have been following Farrah's fight against cancer for the last few months. When I was traveling a a month or so ago I watched a Larry King special in my hotel room of her battle and how she has been recording this battle for the world to see the horrendous and awful effects of cancer. It has been a horrific fight to say the least. Some of the scenes were too painful for me to watch. She fought hard but as of today, the disease has claimed her life.

I am saddened by her death. (She was only 62) The more I live the more I hate cancer. Here is a link if you want to read more.

Lord God, none of truly understand cancer. It has claimed so many lives of those we know and love and those we do not. Lord God, bless the science and medical field and grant us wisdom and a cure. We pray this in the name of the One who holds the keys to life and death, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. (Revelation 1:18)

Father's Day and the Blessing of Dads

2009-06-22T09:43:00.001-04:00

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-20T15:08:00.005-04:00

I want to wish a very Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! This is one of my favorite holidays because, well, I am a dad and love it. :-)

I can't wait until Father's Day tomorrow at newhope church. Come join us at 8:45 or 10:30 am and bring a friend!

In the meantime, I thought you might like to read about a father and son that I admire and was blessed to get to know two years ago while running a half marathon at Virginia Beach. They are inspiring to say the least. Enjoy:

-------

Eighty-five times Dick Hoyt has pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.

Dick's also pulled his awesome boy, Rick, cross-country skiing, taken him on his back
Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike. Makes taking your son bowling look a little lame, right?

And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life! This love story began in Winchester , Mass. , 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.

"He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;" Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. "Put him in an institution."

But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the Engineering Department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. "No way," Dick says he was told. "There's nothing going on in his brain."

"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain. Rigged up with a computer that allowed him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his head, Rick was finally able to communicate. First words? "Go Bruins!"

And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the school organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, "Dad, I want to do that."

Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described "porker" who never ran more than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. "Then it was me who was handicapped," Dick says. "I was sore for two weeks."

That day changed Rick's life. "Dad," he typed, "When we were running, it felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!"

And that sentence changed Dick's life. He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.

"No way," Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then they found a way to get into the race officially - in 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the qualifying time for Boston the following year.

Then somebody said, "Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?"

How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick tried.

Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii . It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you think? :-)

Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? "No way," he says. Dick does it purely for, "The awesome feeling" he gets seeing Rick with a cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.

A few years ago, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters. Their best time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992 - only 35 minutes off the world record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to be held by a guy who was NOT pushing another man in a wheelchair at the time.

"No question about it," Rick types. "My dad is the father of the century."

And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries was 95% clogged. "If you hadn't been in such great shape," one doctor told him, "You probably would've died 15 years ago." So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.

Rick, who has his own apartment and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Massachusetts, always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including Father's Day races.

Rick likes to buy his dad dinner on Father's Day, but the thing he really wants
to give him is a gift he can never buy.

"The thing I'd most like," Rick types, "Is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once." :-)

If you want to watch a video on the Hoyts, click here...

The Law/Religion/Works of the Flesh Vs. The Gospel

2009-06-16T13:48:00.006-04:00

Several people have asked me to post the table I taught through the first Sunday of our Juicy Fruit series. Here it is - enjoy!

Love, Joy, and Peace - Galatians 5

2009-06-15T15:29:00.002-04:00

Giving birth...

2009-06-13T22:06:00.002-04:00

I can never say that I know what it is like to give birth to a child. Because of the way God has designed it, Amy Lynn endures that painful process. Thank you, Lord, and thank you Amy. :-)

But I will say that the process by which I just crafted and finished my message for tomorrow is the closest thing I can imagine to giving birth. I know, women, it is a stretch, but please bear with this man for a moment. I have been at it all week and that was long and painful and hard.

Like babies, some messages come easier than others. It always takes me at least 10 - 20 hours a week, but those 10 - 20 hours can be enjoyable in the truest sense of the word or downright difficult. The process of preparing a message can be either extreme or anywhere between the two. This week, that delivery process was painstakingly slow, difficult, and exhausting to say the least.

I can hear the Senior Pastors out there saying, "Amen." You know exactly what I am talking about. I just had a wonderful, yet impossible thought - wouldn't it be awesome if we could get an epidural for weeks like this. I am telling you I would have endured multiple 6 inch needles stuck deep within my back to not have to go through that process. :-)

Anywho - it is done, at 10:20 pm and thankfully I am fired up about delivering this baby tomorrow. If you are local and attend newhope, I can't wait to see you. If you are not local or attend somewhere else, please pray for your pastor each and every week. He/she probably works very hard to divide the Word of the Lord for you and the community of faith. If you are a pastor out there, take heart, you are not alone when it comes to the sermon crafting process. Hang in there and together, let's remember this:

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (I Corinthians 15:58)

MythBusters and Leadership, Part 2

2009-06-10T11:45:00.005-04:00

#2 – Leaders Must Always Say REALLY Nice Things

So, if you were in church this past Sunday you know we started studying Galatians in this new series called, "Juicy Fruit." If you missed it, you can check it out by scrolling down below this post. At any rate, as I read through Galatians several times last week in preparation for this series, I was taught this particular Mythbuster, namely that leaders have to always say "nice" things. Have you read Galatians? I think Paul was a leader! With the exception of Jesus, I would say Paul was the most effective and influential leader. Listen to some of the things he said in this book alone:

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:6 - 10)

1"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish?" (Galatians 3:1 - 2)

12"As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!" (Galatians 5:12)

For your edification and comfort, Webster says, "Emasculate means to perform an archaic practice of castrating humans or animals."

If we can't say amen, let's all say together, "OUCH." :-)

Let me be clear - too many people believe that Jesus and Mr. Rogers are the same guy! As such, too many people think that the call of the Christian and definitely the Pastor is to be a never ending human mass of niceness.

Now don't get me wrong - I like niceness. I think I am a pretty nice guy...most of the time. :-)
But hear me out - to be a Christian or a church leader does not always equate to being a nice guy. The problem with that kind of thinking is Scripture.

Take a moment and read John 1. To follow in the footsteps of Jesus means that we strive to strike a balance between grace and truth. And sometimes truth requires us to not be sooooooo nice. Take a moment and read John 2. Have you ever really grappled with Jesus running people out of His Father's temple with cords and whips and turning over the tables of the money changers? Listen, there is such a thing as righteous anger and I am convinced, there are times when Christ followers burn with the same kind of passion and intensity we find in the life of Jesus.

Because I have some extra time today, let's push the Mythbuster case a little further. Have you ever read Matthew 23? In our language, Jesus "Lost It!" (Don't get hung up on that - we all know Jesus didn't lose anything) But check it out:

In Matthew 23:15 He calls the most religious people in the world “sons of hell!” (Not what religious people like to hear...)
In Matthew 23:25-26 He tells the religious peeps that they are clean on the outside but not the inside. (That will get you looking on the inside...)
Matthew 23:33 He says, "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape from being condemned to hell." (Ssssssssssnakes - WOW)
In John 8:44 He calls these people “sons of the devil!” (Can't you hear them muttering, "Did Jesus just call us sons of the devil?" YIKES)

Like we discussed on Sunday, Paul, and here we see our Lord, Jesus, was not REALLY nice about religion and other common acts humanity.

WARNING - WARNING - WARNING - Now, even as I type this, I am fully aware of how we have to be careful with this particular myth. If we are not careful, we can use these verses to warrant our own anger and/or sin. The truth is, when I am angry or not "nice," it is a result of my own sin/stuff more times than it is a result of righteous anger. However, that reality does not negate the fact that Jesus and His followers - Paul, you, and me included, will at times, be called upon to speak a courageous, challenging, and sometimes a not-so-nice word(s) for the cause of Christ and the advancement of the Gospel. Our obsession as Christians is NOT to be nice but rather, to live faithfully and obediently to the call and Word of God upon our lives.

The challenge, of course, is to do precisely that, with as much love as humanly possible.

The Gospel Vs. The Law - Galatians

2009-06-08T08:53:00.001-04:00

Sunday Afternoon Download...

2009-06-07T15:45:00.006-04:00

Most definitely one the best Sundays at newhope EVER. Someone forgot to tell us that Summer typically means slow down and lower crowds. Not at this church and I love it!

Juicy Fruit is going to be a blast! We gave thousands of packs of gun away to every newhoper who walked into the building. The banners and graphics looked great and the apostle Paul was just bring'in and sling'in IT in the book of Galatians! If you missed it, you can check it out at right here tomorrow.

The band was tight today and the new drums were awesome. Great job Worship Arts Ministry.

I can not believe the number of guests we are having every Sunday. The most popular way people are hearing about the church these days are from friends. Well done, newhopers.

Do you know how blessed we are to have our students (6th - 12th graders) learning from Jeremiah Dodson. I have known this dude for 12 years now and he is the real deal. We are fortunate that God has brought him back home to serve as our summer Interim Student Ministries Pastor. Welcome back, Jeremiah!

I am so proud of the children in our church. A large group of 4th and 5th graders went on a local missions trip yesterday. Way to lead, Amy Lynn.

Lots of folks are signing up to get baptized Sunday, July 5th at 4:00 pm. Mark your calendars everyone for the next Party on the Patio!

Carolina is on their way back to Oklahoma again. Bring it home this time, Heels!

After an entire year-long search, we have finally hired our first full-time Discipleship Pastor! His name is Steve Ellis. He will oversee Small Groups, Ministry, HOPE Missions, counseling and assist with teaching different classes, workshops, and Sunday morning messages! We are sooooo blessed and he will be well worth the wait.

I love it when the church comes to truly Worship and hear the Word! You have no idea what that does to me and the other leaders of this church.

There is no better news in all the world than the Gospel!

I think I am going to run another half marathon in September with some newhopers.

The new barista is a master. Nothing like the art of lattes! (Sorry, but I like 'em. :-))

My throat is ripped, my body is utterly exhausted, but my mind and heart are soaring with excitement and adrenaline. It is really weird.

The First Contact volunteers are the most gracious and giving leaders I have ever seen anywhere! Way to go and thanks for serving team!

I wonder when we will have to go to three Worship Celebrations. I am guessing November 1!

We have been in the new building three months now. I think we are really hitting our stride.

I wish tomorrow was Sunday again. :-)

If you play basketball, join us on the courts every Monday at 5:30 pm.

I am glad salvation belongs to God and has absolutely NOTHING to do with me!

I am looking forward to a full week in the office with no outside commitments or conferences.

We have our All Staff meeting tomorrow at 1:30 pm. I absolutely love the pastors and staff of this church. There is nothing I would not do for this team of men and women.

God is good...all the time!

A great comment about yesterday's post...

2009-06-05T09:42:00.006-04:00

So, I usually don't comment on comments :-), but Lee Davis, a newhoper, wrote me on Facebook and said this about my post yesterday on MythBusters and Leadership. PLEASE read down to the last paragraph/quote from past President, Teddy Roosevelt - it is AWESOME and well worth the read! Thanks Lee...

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Pastor Benji,

I just got finished reading your blog about leadership. I agree with you that a true leader is one that can make those hard decisions and does so even knowing that he will never please everyone. I too grew up in South Carolina (Hemingway) around the same time you did. I knew my pastor well outside of church and can remember there were times when he and the elders of the church had disagreements on the direction our church was or was not heading. I appreciate what you do and am continually impressed with newhope church. As you are leading the way for others to follow, I thought you might like the following quote:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." (Teddy Roosevelt in a speech titled, "Man in the Arena")

Keep on fighting the good fight - Lee Davis

MythBusters and Leadership, Part I

2009-06-04T09:13:00.003-04:00

Have you seen Discovery Channel's MythBusters? The show seems to be doing well. Basically, these two dudes, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, take popular ideas/notions/theories in the culture and test them to see if they are accurate or not. It is kind of cool because sometimes I learn that what I had originally thought or perceived as truth was and is actually way off! And even though I do not watch the show regularly, the few times I have stopped by I find it interesting and educational.

I am starting a series of posts called "MythBusters and Leadership." If you lead a church or ministry department or anything for that matter, you might find this helpful. Nothing will hinder a leader more than starting to buy into the myths swirling around about leadership. Here is the first one - I hope you enjoy.

Myth # 1 – You Must Be Liked By Everyone.

Nothing causes burnout among pastors more than this notion. I have seen so many pastors wear themselves out and many, unfortunately, leave the ministry as a result of this myth. Listen, you can not nor will not be liked by everyone if you truly are leading for Christ and change in the world!

As you know, we are about to start a message series at newhope on the Fruit of the Spirit. As such, I went into the woods yesterday and read the book of Galatians. What a great book! Right off the bat, Galatians 1:10 reminded me that I have a choice in life - will I strive to win the approval of man or the approval of God? The verse says this:

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

I have a confession to make - I like it when people like me! I think every leader does. I have never actually met a person that loved to be hated. But hear this - if we are going to strive to be the leader that God wants us to be then we must embrace that there will be times when we will be disliked in order to honor the One! God's leaders have to decide if they are living to hear the applause of men/women or the applause of two nail scarred hands? I choose the nail-scarred hands.

In Acts 7, we find Stephen's speech. It began pretty normal. At first, he was following the “rules” of an excellent communicator. He established common ground with his audience, he spoke with authority and had the crowd locked in for a while. All of a sudden Acts 7:51-53 happens. If you read the entire speech it is perfectly normal until this point.

At this point, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, Stephen spoke with power and conviction. If you have the time, read the entire chapter here! Clearly Stephen knew that he had to be true to the ONE who had called him…and that he would one day stand in front of Almighty God and give an account.

The result…the crowd killed him (see Acts 7:54-58). But check this out - Jesus honored him and stood up to receive him into the Kingdom! Can you imagine getting a solo standing ovation from Jesus when you die? (Now that is stink'in cool :-)) Stephen was willing to be disliked, even to the point of being killed, rather than dishonor Jesus!

Courageous leadership means we must be willing to make tough calls. Our calling is not to be liked by people but rather to be loyal to Jesus. You might want to read that one again.

When it is all said and done, leaders, I repeat, we MUST live to hear the applause of two nail-scarred hands. Compared to that, all the other fan-fare, accolades, and/or popularity means absolutely nothing.

Part 5 – God in my Shack – My Personal Testimony...

2009-06-02T11:30:00.003-04:00

Kris Allen - American Idol 2009

2009-06-01T22:23:00.003-04:00

Kris Allen Singing "God Of This City"

Yes - I am an American Idol fan. In fact, this year our entire family enjoyed the season. And we were thrilled when Kris Allen won. We were pulling for him or Danny.

At any rate, I want to congratulate Kris Allen and let you see see a deeper side of this young man. Clearly, he understands that there are more important things than winning American Idol. Enjoy...

FYI - Kris is a worship Leader at New Life Church in Arkansas with Pastor Rick Bezet.

Check out this video of Kris Allen singing "God Of This City".

Enjoy!

Sunday Prayers

2009-05-31T05:58:00.002-04:00

Lord God, please speak through me this morning. Use my words to bring glory and honor to your Son Jesus.
Thank you so much for saving my soul/Shack 21 years ago. I am finally starting to see that it was not just a mess but a "beautiful mess."
Bless other churches throughout central NC and all over the world today. Anoint their pastors and edify the believers and grant that we may be, for You, the faithful bride of Christ!
Thank you for all the new people coming to newhope. Let them sense the warmth of this community.
Also, encourage and move mightily in the lives of newhopers that have been with us for quite some time. Let them sense their place and role in leading this church forward.
Thank you for my family, Father. I stand amazed at how you would take a sin-sick prodigal and give him such a wife and 5 kids. I am in in awe and grateful beyond words.
God, today I share my testimony again. I think this is the third time in seven years at newhope. Give me courage. Give me peace. May we give you all the glory and honor.
I love you, Lord. I honor you. I give you every second and moment of this day - do with it what you will. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...

My Testimony and the Fragrance of God's Grace this Sunday...

2009-05-29T09:21:00.002-04:00

There is nothing quite like the smell of something pleasant to the nose. I love the smell of fresh baked goodies. Regardless of how much I am trying to watch what I eat, if I come in and smell Amy Lynn baking, it is "game over." :-) Most of you know I have a really nice rose garden that consists of 51 gorgeous plants that produce the loveliest red, white, yellow, pink, and purple roses. I know - I know - I don't seem like a rose gardening kind of guy. Listen, I am just weird. I ride a Harley Davidson, love bass fishing, and have a rose garden. "Go figure." Amy Lynn calls me her Renaissance man. :-) At any rate, my roses are exploding and you would not believe the aroma. You can actually smell them across the yard. They are a lot of work but worth it for the fragrance they offer and the smiles they bring across people's faces when I give fresh cut roses!

Likewise, there is nothing quite as bad as the smell of something that turns one's stomach. I have never liked the smell of spoiled milk. When I was kid, I came running into the house on a hot steamy day and I am not proud to say, grabbed the milk jug and "chugged" the creamy white liquid straight from the gallon. The milk had turned sour and I have never forgotten the experience! It was awful.

The apostle Paul rightly understood this love/hate relationship we have with differing smells and so he spoke of the fragrance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is like a feast to the senses and so at one point, the Word of the Lord says,

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death, to the other the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the Word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men and women sent from God! (2 Corinthians 2:14 - 17)

This Sunday at newhope church I believe we will have that fragrance of Christ Paul mentions above. In both Worship Celebrations, we will wrap up The Shack series and I will be sharing my personal testimony and how God's grace is in and through and all over my "shack." We will then celebrate Holy Communion together as the aroma of bread and wine rise to the nostrils of God and we all sense the "fragrance" of the knowledge of Him!

Most of you know I have this spot in the woods where I go to be with God, pray, read, and sometimes sing. (Pray for the birds - they don't like my singing and who can blame them :-)) Just today, while in the woods, I started smelling cedar. The smell was strong. I looked to the ground and there beside my feet was a little cedar tree that had been snapped in half from my stepping. Now follow me here - that snapped cedar tree was, for me, a tangible sign of grace as I am coming to understand it. There at me feet, in my world, during my quiet time, God's creation was helping me understand what Steven Curtis Chapman has called, "The fragrance of the broken."

As you come this weekend, or watch/listen to my testimony via the Internet, make no mistake about it, you are coming NOT to hear anything of any significance from a mere man. In fact, my story is nothing more than a really bad sinner being saved by some really sweet smelling grace. It is a story of the fragrance of the broken.

As you come, let me encourage you to open your senses to the spiritual. We talk often about "eyes of faith." This weekend, come with noses of faith! My hunch is that you will smell a peculiar fragrance. A fragrance, if you will, of broken humanity receiving the broken body and shed blood of Jesus Christ!

It's a sweet fragrance of the redeemed and I hope we can share it together!

Cosmic Cravings in "The Shack" Part 4

2009-05-26T08:30:00.002-04:00