Love My Church

Today was a video of our pastor going into Church partners homes and asking them why they Love their Church.  It was good to hear the diff reasons why people are there.  the one that stood out to me the most was the fact that our Church (NRHC) partners with other Churches and Pastors in the area and around the state.  It is a partnership with one goal, building the Kingdom.  Churches that are not concerned about building its own church, but the Church.  Pastors with a Christ like mind set that shows they have the BIG PICTURE in mind.  That's awesome...  They are not competing with each other, but actually working together to reach more people.  It is all about the Big Picture, the Kingdom, the It Factor.  Wow, think about what it would be like if all Pastors and Churches had this in mind and not building their own church.  There is enough people in the community to share, we do not have to compete with each other, we can actually work together.  If we can get to the point where we send people to the Church that meets their needs and not our needs, they are more likely to enjoy their time at Church and stick around.  Not a bad concept.  As long as the Church is preaching and teaching the Gospel and stretching people and helping them grow into what God has called them to be, does it really matter which building they are in???  Kingdom Mindset...  That is why I attend NRHC!!!  God please continue to bless NRHC and other Churches that have You in mind and not themselves.  Thanks NRHC for allowing me the chance to share in what is going on their...

Esther

Going through the book of Esther over the last three weeks has been awesome.  The book Esther does not mention God's name at all however, you can see God's work through  out the "coincidences" of the story.  God has a plan for all man kind to be redeemed.  Are we going to play our part in His story, or are we going to miss out and watch others be in the plan.  In life you can do one of two things, opt in or opt out.  God is going to do what God is going to do.  The questions is, are you going to get in the story or not.  If you are for God or against God.  We have all heard the phrase "Pride Comes Before The Fall".  That is exactly what happens in Esther.  When we try to put our plans in place of God's plans, we fail.  Pride is an obsession of self.  Chris said it best, "Our best laid plans outside of God's purpose will be our downfall".  It all comes down to pride.  God said that the Messiah would come from the Jews.  Haman tried to kill all the Jews because Mordecai wold not bow down to him.  Unfortunately for Haman he tried to put his plan over God's plan.  It didn't work out to good for Haman in the end.  Haman built a gallows  to hang Mordecai with and ended up being hanged himself with the same gallows.   In life we build our on gallows when we try to carry out our plans despite what God has in plan for us.  We sell out for pride.  God is present even if you don't see him.  Esther is a perfect example of God being present and working to carry out His will, even though His name is never mentioned in the book. 

Me

I am trying to find my place in the Big Story,  God's story.

I was raised in Church and around Christian people through out my life however, like many people I have been putting more effort towards the things I shouldn't do rather than the things I need to do.  It's time for me to take the next step toward becoming what God wants me to be.  God desires us to be bold and barbaric when it comes to living out our faith.  I have heard and read most of the Bible stories through my life and I feel like I have a good understanding of a lot of what I have learned.  Maybe this is not as true as I thought.  About a year ago my wife and I realized that it was time for a change and to try something different.  We were not "back sliding" per say, but we did not feel like we were moving forward in our faith and in our walk with Christ.  That is why we are hear.  So we did what most people do and we waited around where we were.  Through some changes and some experiences we realized that God was telling us to MOVE ON,  so we did.  We changed Churches and started fresh with an open mind.  Let me say, in the future when God says move on,  I hope we move on a little sooner.  We have thoroughly enjoyed our new Church and the people we have got to know.  We do miss our friends from our old Church and we still love them as much as we did before.  I am not sure that I can explain it in words, but It is good.  I feel and hear God speaking and moving around me more than before and I am in a setting where I am hearing the Word taught in a way that mu ears and brain understands.  That's cool!  Not that our old Church is wrong or not a good place to worship, but the Church we are in now seems to speak to me in a way I enjoy and learn.  We are attending North Rock Hill Church in Rock Hill, SC.  We have made some new friends and are in a small group that meets one night a week.  We have created a bond in out small group that is helpful and nourishing to us.  The Pastor at NRHC is on to something.  His name is Chris and he is a funny and passionate man on fire for God.  Not long after we started attending NRHC Chris did a series called What If?.  What if we got IT.   What is IT and what if we got it?  (It), Is the Rein and Rule of Jesus in our Life.  What if we lived as if we understood Jesus"s rule and rein over us, how would we live?  How would we act?  What would we do different?  God has called us to be a reflection of Jesus to the world.  I feel like I have learned so much over the last year, and I realize more and more that I need to take bigger steps towards being what God is calling me to be.