tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3351548916292349162024-03-14T13:12:16.806-05:00Holding to Truth...by Pastor Chad Everson, Senior Pastor at TrinityThis is the blog of Dr. Chad Everson, Senior Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church. MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.comBlogger433125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-74064627198187129912015-03-24T12:31:00.004-05:002015-03-24T12:36:34.909-05:00Pastor Chad Everson's Blog has Moved!<span style="font-size: x-large;">Pastor Chad Everson of Trinity Baptist Church is now posting through the Trinity website. To find his blog from here on out, please link to</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.trinitysouthaven.org/">www.trinitysouthaven.org</a></span></div>
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<br />MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-66224171117825395742015-02-18T07:00:00.000-06:002015-02-18T09:55:37.808-06:00I Love This Song<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Times; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Leading up to our Grand Opening and
celebrating our building renovation (even though there is a
lot more to do and our Children’s area will not be done for a few more
months as far as the décor goes), I have had the opportunity to reminisce a
little bit... to think about how far God has brought us. I think about what I walked into at
Trinity versus where we are now, how for the first time in 6 years we have church
that is unified and healthy (or much healthier). We have direction and a
passion! I must confess to you that there genuinely is no where I would rather
be and I have never had more joy being a Pastor than right now. But, I also must
confess that prior to this period in our fellowship I had never suffered in any
ministry like this (and that is saying quite a bit). From the depths of despair, doubt,
anger, sin, and you fill in any other blank you desire, it has been a long and tiresome time. Early on it was like we, as
a church, were in a place so dark and ugly, with so much division that, because
I was unaware of the history of it, I didn’t even know where to start. I have
said many times that one of the turning points for our fellowship was a “Repentance Service” we had my first year or so. God was working in lives but, we also had some get mad and leave because we were focusing on repentance. I have
reread some journal entries from that period and just reading them blew me
away. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Times; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">All of this to say, the song below sums up where are have come from and
where we are on this journey. It is an older song, but one I have listened to
time and time again. I am reminded that God has been faithful in spite of me.
He has loved me even when I doubted His love. Trinity, I love you. I am<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>blessed to be your Pastor and you have loved
me through tough days in our fellowship. Who would have thought, that after 6
years, much prayer, tears, sermons and meetings we would be here! Truly He was
in it after all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FzdbL1kXHQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FzdbL1kXHQ</a></span><span style="color: #434343; font-size: 15pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FzdbL1kXHQ" target="_blank"> </a> </span></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-20435206049635938182015-02-10T08:36:00.002-06:002015-02-10T08:36:50.736-06:00My MVP
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Times; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">As we prepare to celebrate our Kick-Off Sunday in our new building at the end
of this month, I began looking back over the last year and a half and
thought of all the people God has used to help our church body in this
transition and to help me personally. There are numerous flaws that I have, and
many areas that God is working to sanctify me in, but the one area that I seem
to “hit” way above average in, is the people that the Lord has allowed me to bring
in on staff. Being a Sr. Pastor now for almost 20 years I certainly have hired
some men on staff that were strike outs (just to keep the baseball theme) but
more often than not, God has blessed me by placing men around me that are full of grace, integrity and faithfulness. I am blessed to serve with the men the Lord has brought to Trinity. This
transition and vision would not have been possible without them serving and
leading. But as much as I appreciate them and as much as I appreciate the
overall leadership of the men and ladies in our church family, they are not my
MVP. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Times; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">My MVP is the lady that I live with and love, with whom I will celebrate her birthday this week and who will
forever be my Valentine. I could again, tell you the many flaws I have and sins
I struggle with...and some of them you know and others you don’t. But my bride
lives with me and sees them in HD. Many of the weaknesses in my life she has as
her strengths, many of the sins that God works out of my life, He uses her to
aid in that. She is full of grace and God has allowed her to help and love me
during some of the craziest times of this process. She has prayed for me
and with me, she has listened to my frustrations, doubts, excitement (many
times all happening in the same hour). God has called me to preach the Word of
God and for that I am blessed, but He has given me a jewel who few, if any, will
know how God has used her to strengthen me, encourage me and even rebuke me.
She is my MVP, God has put her by my side to get me through some of the most
difficult days in my life and to celebrate some of the greatest days in my life.
Thank you Trinity, for loving her and my family. Thank you Michele, and know
that <i><b>I love you</b></i> and you are the most amazing soon to be 23 year old lady I
know. </span><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Times; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="color: #434343; font-family: Times; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"> <i><b>Happy
Birthday and thank you. </b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-16188107911060130242015-02-04T13:22:00.000-06:002015-02-04T13:22:29.259-06:00An Exciting Time! Kickoff Celebration is Feb 22nd
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well this is the month! I will blog
multiple times I am sure, about our official Kickoff Celebration on February 22, 2015
at 10:30 am. This is not just another day in Trinity’s history... it might be
considered the most important day in Trinity’s history. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #434343; font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #434343;">This has been a long
journey, filled with very difficult questions: questions that led us to
discover what kind of church God was really calling us to be. It made us rethink what our
expectations should be. This celebration began forming a couple of years
ago when we were approached about selling our building and we had to ask what
kind of impact we were making on our city, if any. What kind of impact have we
</span><i style="color: #434343; font-family: Times;">ever</i><span style="color: #434343;"> made in our city? Should we sell? If so, where should we go? How
would a building be less of a “temple” and more of a “well", a place used to
engage people rather than just meet. How uncomfortable would this make us?
(we can answer that now…</span><i style="color: #434343; font-family: Times;">very </i></span><span style="color: #434343;"><span style="font-size: large;">uncomfortable at times!). What would this do to our attendance? Would we lose people?
Would we gain members? We set up different teams to help us answer these
questions and during this process we had team members step up with great ideas and
some even leave, but all contributed. Some who didn’t like the direction, helped the majority become more resolute in what we needed to be, while others who stayed sharpened our vision as what we needed to be. No doubt the Lord lit our path
and made things crystal clear. We have been able to strengthen our membership and our accountability. God has led new families to our fellowship, and has given
our entire church family a new passion and direction... this is worthy of celebration. This gives us opportunity to remind ourselves that He has
been faithful. Even when we didn’t see His hand, His heart was working for our
good and His glory. We will celebrate this milestone, this shaping period in our church family's life, but we will <i>not</i> attribute it to hard work or give ourselves a pat on the back for enduring through the inconvenience... we will celebrate our Lord who has been
faithful regardless of our unfaithfulness. We will celebrate that fact that we
have the opportunity to impact our community with the Gospel in a unique way we
have never been able to before. This is going to be a great day! A day worthy
of celebration and the one true God worthy of all of our adoration! Put it on your
calendars now. </span><span style="font-size: 15pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-17651641927847601412015-01-28T11:42:00.001-06:002015-01-28T11:42:07.958-06:00Thinking about Social Media Parents<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My boys are on Twitter and Instagram. They are aware that we regularly look at their phone and that we have information that will show us the texts
they receive and send (even if any are deleted), and information as to where they go on the internet. We do
this first because they need accountability, and then also because they need direction as they
learn to navigate social media in a world that we all know will change, but not go away. We also do it because they are our children and they are "borrowing" our phones. The phones and plans that we pay for, the electricity
that charges those smart phones and everything else. In short, this was
explained before they were ever given smart phones and has never caused a
single argument or even frustration in our home. Recently, I came across this
blog <a href="http://lifeasoflate.com/2013/04/parents-a-word-about-instagram.html">http://lifeasoflate.com/2013/04/parents-a-word-about-instagram.html</a>
that I pasted below. I think it is important we spend time talking, teaching
and learning about social media. There are some great uses for it, but as with
anything it can also be used for evil. This blog was written almost two years
ago, and while that is "dated" when you talk about social media, it is not when
you talk about the human heart. And this blog is more about “heart issues” than
social media issues. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<section class="post-title-wrap cf post-title-wrap-no-image" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #555555; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><h1 class="post-title page-title" style="font-size: 36px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em;">
Parents: A Word about Instagram</h1>
<div class="latest-post-date" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">
April 18, 2013</div>
</section><section class="content-wrap" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #555555; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
To the parents of middle-schoolers on Instagram:</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZAzd0J78vgBww5b7AAMcwNO_50pFKGEEdJ7UYKHARpENfVvHug_MtB6EWk080XZ5zlCtZZ9edF3llEs1WD04etySKL3oh4-MrItPTuCXZJZIaugHIngr-X1xnctTDyyHClYixRfgoz8K/s1600/Instagram_Icon_Medium.png" style="color: #565656;"><img alt="" border="0" class="aligncenter" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZAzd0J78vgBww5b7AAMcwNO_50pFKGEEdJ7UYKHARpENfVvHug_MtB6EWk080XZ5zlCtZZ9edF3llEs1WD04etySKL3oh4-MrItPTuCXZJZIaugHIngr-X1xnctTDyyHClYixRfgoz8K/s1600/Instagram_Icon_Medium.png" style="border: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin: 5px auto; max-width: 100%; text-decoration: none;" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
There is so much information out there about internet safety and you should definitely read up on that, but that’s not what I want to talk about.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Over the past several months, I’ve been noticing some interesting stuff on Instagram from your kids that I want to share with you.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
“Hey, weirdo, why are you following my kids?” Good question, and I’ll get to that.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
I am 25 years old, which is not just a fun fact, but important in the history of social media. MySpace started during my high school years, and Facebook started the year I went to college (when it was still just a site just for college students). So while my generation didn’t grow up with it, we were the first to use it. We’re bilingual, in a sense.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Your kids, on the other hand, don’t know a life without it and you’re doing your best to learn and keep up with it. So would you mind too terribly much if I acted as a bridge for a second? Give you some thinking material?</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Let me back up.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
My husband and I, along with our friends Kylie and Trenton, help in the youth ministry at our church. (Shoutout to the GREATEST 6TH GRADERS EVER!)</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Several months ago, Kylie and I were asked to talk to the 8th graders at the middle school girls’ sleepover.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
The topic was “<b>Finding your identity in Christ</b>“.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
I would have much rather talked to them about sex or drugs or something, because those are pretty concrete topics. We’d stand up and say, “Don’t do it.” End of talk. It would be so moving we’d be asked back to speak at every event, naturally.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Instead, we were tasked with talking about something that a lot of adults I know don’t even know how to apply in their own lives.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
What even is identity? And how do you talk to a group of middle school girls about finding their identity in an invisible God? And if they aren’t finding their identity in Him, where are they finding it?</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
After much thought and prayer, we decided to talk about something we know: social media. We talked about Instagram specifically, since a lot of these girls aren’t on Facebook yet and think Twitter is stupid.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
I’m sure you’re aware of Instagram if your kids are on it, but if not, here’s a rundown of the app:</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
1. Your child gets an account and starts following other users.<br />2. In return, other users follow your child.<br />3. Your child posts a picture to his or her account.<br />4. Other users comment or “like” the picture.<br />5. Repeat. 87 times a day.</div>
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<tr><td style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1px solid rgb(224, 224, 224); margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; word-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fCj9nueDlC2H13XZ7uCV5-Fr9JwfXqC0WoDfMCJxxghqzpFKEmn5BBsZ-U_9_HRPLPJlmk1NH8nfX2Qi_fxSMv0LCLLgXgGiRnEO0GgyhB8pQtS6qU9MyTy2sxz80bWPRqrnZu1nQzlE/s1600/22CF7F91-669E-4C48-A33A-B31E4F756621.png" style="color: #565656;"><img alt="" border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fCj9nueDlC2H13XZ7uCV5-Fr9JwfXqC0WoDfMCJxxghqzpFKEmn5BBsZ-U_9_HRPLPJlmk1NH8nfX2Qi_fxSMv0LCLLgXgGiRnEO0GgyhB8pQtS6qU9MyTy2sxz80bWPRqrnZu1nQzlE/s400/22CF7F91-669E-4C48-A33A-B31E4F756621.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; text-decoration: none;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #f6f6f6; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><td style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1px solid rgb(224, 224, 224); margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; word-wrap: break-word;">an example: left is my Instagram profile; right is the photo feed of all posted pictures</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
I love the app. It’s a lot of fun, but there are some components to it that I’m not sure we’ve thought all the way through.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Think back to when you were in junior high. How did you know you were “cool”? A popular girl probably wrote you a note and put it in your locker or asked you to sit with her at lunch, right? There were a few eyewitnesses and it was pure joy.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Do you remember back-to-school shopping? You bought the trendiest new shirts and shoes. But how did you know if your new shirt was cute? Someone told you, probably. How did you know if your new shirt was hideous? Again, someone probably told you. Or made fun of you, but luckily it was just between you and that person. Or – worst case scenario – between you and that person and their posse. Still, not life altering.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
That was then.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
This is now:</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Your middle schooler buys a new shirt and what’s the first thing she does? Takes a selfie (self-portrait, for those out of the loop) and posts it on Instagram.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Think I’m joking?</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
A quick search of Instagram shows us… oh, look! – this was posted 18 minutes ago:</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HUa_ZNmoKcFxUCG78RszYZ2YDTFtwyx2D4dFvRY8NGNyHoxO07dKIPK5E7eAtID5_GM2rQuRPwn5fN_7WcjfYQG014i74j6E7c0ageyePFLsc2P-3G-Ca-yYFYsvaxd5dov2u-km50u0/s1600/908879_902308874167_1475577889_n.jpg" style="color: #565656;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HUa_ZNmoKcFxUCG78RszYZ2YDTFtwyx2D4dFvRY8NGNyHoxO07dKIPK5E7eAtID5_GM2rQuRPwn5fN_7WcjfYQG014i74j6E7c0ageyePFLsc2P-3G-Ca-yYFYsvaxd5dov2u-km50u0/s1600/908879_902308874167_1475577889_n.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; text-decoration: none;" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Ok, so not a big deal, this is how the world is. Your kids feel the need to share every single decision they ever make with the world at large. It’s just “kids these days”.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
It’s true. It is “kids these days”. But does the feedback they receive on Instagram impact them? Do you think they base their identity in it?</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
What happens when your daughter’s new shirt picture didn’t get as many “likes” or comments as the picture her friend posted of her new shirt?</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Do you think she even cares about that stuff?</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Yea, I’d say so. Your sons do, too:</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTK5fohhZvOn_S_IpUYAoHB4tu9Lz7qWWhMQb3BYxnOlEJEh553yy4aX-bUsCwuLXiBHPqpjbubQ_ntW0vmKtNFO-OMiwt_19LmZtuHEJvQ9codQQIHP7-tmPbtksn0_hZtAX27wL4c5hyphenhyphen/s1600/908542_902311508887_981989781_n.jpg" style="color: #565656;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTK5fohhZvOn_S_IpUYAoHB4tu9Lz7qWWhMQb3BYxnOlEJEh553yy4aX-bUsCwuLXiBHPqpjbubQ_ntW0vmKtNFO-OMiwt_19LmZtuHEJvQ9codQQIHP7-tmPbtksn0_hZtAX27wL4c5hyphenhyphen/s1600/908542_902311508887_981989781_n.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; text-decoration: none;" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
This guy specifically asks for comments AND a certain number of likes. 40, to be exact.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<i>[Side note: don't forget to read what your kids post in the hashtags of their photos. (That's the # sign with a bunch of words crammed after it, like #40likesplease.) They use it as an aside comment, which, parents, is just as important to pay attention to as the photo caption.] </i></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
We’re no longer in world of handwritten “circle yes or no” notes between two people; your kids are living social lives on a completely public forum.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
This is not new information.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
But, taking it a step further: have you considered that your child is given <b>numerical values </b>on which to base his or her social standing? For the first time <i>ever</i> your children can determine their “worth” using <span style="text-decoration: underline;">actual numbers</span> provided by their peers!</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Let me explain…</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Your daughter has 139 followers which is 23 less than Jessica, but 56 more than Beau. Your son’s photo had 38 likes which was 14 less than Travis’ photo, but 22 more than Spencer’s.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
See what I mean? There’s a number attached to them. A ranking.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
And if you think they don’t actually pay attention to this stuff, read the hashtags on these photos:</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
</div>
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<tr style="background-color: #f6f6f6; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><td style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 1px solid rgb(224, 224, 224); margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em; word-wrap: break-word;">sorry for the ghetto circlage, but you get the point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Do you see what’s happening? #3newfollowers, #77likes #i#am#so#popular, #morefollowersplease</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
They’re definitely paying attention. And it’s definitely affecting them.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
It’s not just about <i>assumed</i> popularity anymore. It’s explicit. It’s quantifiable.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
At arguably the most awkward time in their lives, a crucial time of development when they are trying to figure out who they are and where they belong, this is what they’re up against. A quantifiable popularity ranking.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
So, back to the lesson we were supposed to teach. I started thinking about everything I’ve mentioned above and thought, “Maybe our girls are different. Maybe their faith buffers them from being caught up as deeply in this as their friends.”</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Wrong.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
In talking to our girls, I was blown away by their responses:</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
They know exactly – to the digit – how many followers they have (and who they follow that isn’t following them back). They get their feelings hurt when the popular kids “like” the pictures above and below theirs on the Instagram newsfeed, but not their picture. They delete pictures of themselves when they don’t get as many likes as they were hoping for. They don’t get invited to parties, but see all the fun they missed out on in every photo posted from it. They post ugly pictures of their friends to get revenge for some heinous act they committed (like saying Louis is their favorite One Direction member).</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<b>Whoa.</b></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Before we all freak out and delete Instagram and all other social apps, may I just say (with approximately zero authority or expertise on the subject):</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
This is no cause for mass hysteria. My intent is not to scare you away from these sites, because I don’t think the solution is to write them off entirely. This is a part of your kids’ communication that is here to stay. (I don’t just mean Instagram – it could die tomorrow. But social media? It’s here for good, in some form or fashion.)</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Remember: social media can be SO FUN. (I know you love you some Pinterest, girl.)</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
Plus, not all kids are the same. Some place an unhealthy amount of self worth in their social media accounts, some could care less about it. Regardless, it’s important to think about no matter where your children fall on the spectrum.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
My intent is to dig a little deeper into the impact these sites can have on your kids. To start thinking about how to safeguard childrens’ hearts and minds against what appears to a 12 year old to be concrete numerical evidence about their value and popularity.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
How do you regulate activity on these sites while keeping it fun for your kids? How do you talk to them about the numbers (likes, comments, followers) provided by their peers not being an accurate representation of their value and worth? How do you teach them to base their identity solely in Christ – to be confident daughters and sons of the King?</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
I have no idea.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
I can tell you what we talked about with our 8th grade friends:</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
We talked about posting photos of things other than themselves, to avoid setting themselves up for insecurity about their appearance. We talked about guarding their hearts with scriptures from God’s Word and reminding themselves whose they were. We talked about inner beauty and encouraging their friends’ strengths and…a whole host of other stuff.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
What we said isn’t really important. What’s important is where you come in, parents. You know your kids and you know the insecurities they face.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
I hope this information is helpful for you, or at least gets you thinking. Or, if all else fails, got you to smile at my own Instagram picture of my son in his Little Tikes truck at Sonic. You know that’s cute.</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
I love your kids so, so much and I want them to know just how special and wonderful and unique they are. I don’t want a stupid thing like followers and likes to tell them any differently.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</section>MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-83095856929753449682015-01-21T08:36:00.000-06:002015-01-21T08:36:13.457-06:00Great Resource to Use<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Several of you have written me telling me how much RIGHT NOW
MEDIA has already helped you. I want to encourage you to sign up for this media resource our church has for you. There are so many ways this can be used to help equip you personally as well as grow your family. Our family is using it right now as we go through a book together in family worship, <u>When Helping Hurts. </u> As we read a chapter and discuss it, we then watch the video specific to
this study. We have found that it enhances it significantly. There are marriage videos,
children’s videos and so much more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Our desire at Trinity is that we equip you
not only by teaching the Word of God when we gather, we want every member to take
responsibility for the discipleship of those in their home. However, we don’t
want to simply encourage you to that, we want to offer some tools that will
enable you to do that more easily. All of our schedules are hectic, but we make time for what is a real priority - my prayer is that we make discipleship
in our church and home a top priority. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you have any questions about Right
Now media feel free to email or go to our church website and register for it if
you have not done so already. Under the "Media" drop down menu, there is a label for "Equipping Center." This page is where you will find the link to Right Now Media and, in the days ahead, other resources that you and your family can use. We want to keep content updated and helpful things available to you. Once you are in Right Now Media, check out the different sections available to you - from Bible Study Videos, to Training Library to Conferences that were streamed, to the Kids Section. Let us know your thoughts. There is even an app you can download on your mobile
devices and here are a few of the videos you stream. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When Helping Hurts by Brian Fikkert<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Life On Mission (Youth Edition) by David Platt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">You And Me Forever by Fancis and Lisa Chan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Apologetics by Matt Chandler <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Raising Kids With A Faith That Lasts by Tim Kimmel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">God Is The Gospel by John Piper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Eleminating Debt by Crown Financial Ministries<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Stepping Up by Dennis Rainey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A Woman’s Passionate Pursuit of God by Karol Ladd<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Holiness Of God by R.C Sproul<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why We Believe The Bible by John Piper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Reason For God by Timothy Keller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Trapped: Finding Freedom From Pornography by Mart DeHaan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These are just a few of your choices, but as you can see
these cover a variety of topics and it is not including children’s videos and
other specific studies. I hope you take advantage of these tools and use them
in your<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>home to bring glory to God and
spiritual growth to your family. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-20533118007789457532015-01-14T12:59:00.000-06:002015-01-14T12:59:00.519-06:00Keeping Up with Technology<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I mentioned this Sunday, but <a href="http://www.trinitysouthaven.org/">www.trinitysouthaven.org</a> is the link to our new website we launched on Friday. We are hoping that you like the look of the site, but also all the new features of the site as well. You will be able to access my blog, and in the days ahead, blogs for all of our other ministry areas, directly on the site. There is also a member's area for you to create an account and sign in. In here, you will be able to access your family's profile, upload a picture (think online church directory), check out your giving history, see calendars for ministries that you participate in, check attendance or email your small group. It is our hope that you will get your account set up and start looking around! The median age of our church is very young and very tech-savvy, but our church leadership has not consistently led very well in turning you to all that we now have at our disposal. This site should be a great launching pad to all that we are doing. The site is where you can register for Wednesday night suppers (either for a month at a time or each week), sign up for Bible Studies, etc. In the days ahead it will become a real "hub" for information. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To highlight a few things we are doing:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> - Right now around 50% of our church giving is done online but, once our building is completed we will also have kiosks in the foyer and even the ability to simply text your giving amount to our system. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> - We will have several kiosk where you can check in your grade school children at our entrances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> While we will still have our main "children's check in" area, we will also have stations set up in the foyer, the gym lobby, etc. so that our members will not ALL have to go through the main children's lobby. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> - When you are on the website, you can also choose to follow us on Facebook and Twitter - there are links to each of the ministries' pages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Having each of these resources, as well as the information we give when our church family gathers will keep you up to date on the many ways we can serve our Lord together. These are exciting days for our Church family, I look forward to seeing you Wednesday at our new dinner and Mid-week service!</span></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-15923672091918456052015-01-06T12:03:00.001-06:002015-01-06T12:06:52.811-06:00Just Trying to Keep Up!<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One year ago we had no clue what building we would be worshipping in, who our Student Pastor would be, or what direction God would take our church. In fact there were far more questions than there were answers. To give a major understatement, as your Pastor I faced 2014 with more than a little apprehension. What a difference a year makes!!! We are in a new building, serving with some of the greatest men I have ever been around, with a church in a place that feels like home, being Pastor of a church that I could not imagine not being a part of. As "change" has become a way of life for us, and there is so much facing us in the coming days, I just want to give you some dates to take special note of:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>This Sunday</u></b> we will have our first <u><b>BFGs</b></u> in our new building with our new Master Teacher format. We will have <i><b>my class and John Miller's class in the worship center and Jon Rushing and Bubba Crowder's classes in the Gym.</b></i> Students will also be in the gym area, in the "checkerboard room." Classes begin at 9:00 am and your small group leaders should be contacting you this week with more information. By mid February we should be able to meet in our separate rooms in our new educational wings, downstairs for preschool and elementary school and upstairs for all adults and students. I keep reminding myself that this construction is only for a season. Thank you for your patience during all of this as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Service will begin this Sunday at 10:30 am</u></b> and we will kick off this new schedule by recognizing those who joined Trinity during this last round of New Member's Classes and having Baby Dedications. What a blessing it is to watch how God is working in our Trinity family. (Parents, please remember to pick up children ages 5 and up after BFG and take them to worship services with you as we have not yet started back to children's church)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget we are also kicking off our <b><u>Wednesday night services </u></b>tomorrow night, Jan 7th with Wednesday night supper at 4:30 and services beginning at 6:15. We will be in the Worship Center for BOTH tomorrow night as the gym is under renovation this week. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you haven't made your reservations yet, please call the church office at 662-349-3333 or email Debbie@trinitysouthaven.org to make reservations as soon as possible. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">By Friday, you will be able to make those reservations online on our new Trinity Website. Our website goes "live" Friday morning and it looks great. One of the new features to the website is a "members area" for you. You can create a log in and once accessed, you will be able to see and update your family profile, see a virtual "online directory" of our </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large;">membership, see classes and activities for our church and all the different calendars for the different ministries in the church. The website is where you can register for those </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ladies' Bible Studies beginning this week on our property (in the building we will eventually use as office space), find more information and links to the RightNow Media resource we have available to all members. and keep up to date with when your ministry area is meeting. Not only that, but we are also registering for the second round of Way of the Master Classes and Conversational Spanish classes online. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> If you have problems logging in to the system, email michele@trinitysouthaven.org for assistance. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wow...I know it is a lot. And this is really just the beginning. Over the next few weeks we will see lots of changes in the building. For a little while, it will look worse before it looks better. Next week we can look forward to the foyer and bathrooms being demolished or "gutted" and renovated - again, more mess before it becomes beautiful. But, we are on a journey and we are making progress! Only a few more weeks of stacking chairs, meeting on Saturdays to put them back out and going home with construction dust on our clothes, and then we will settle into our new home and be able to tell the stories of "when we first moved here we had to..." for generations to come. We are assured from our contractors that we will be able to use classrooms and be "in" the educational areas by our Grand Opening Celebration Day of February 22nd. We pushed this day back some so that we would actually be celebrating IN the full building. There will still be renovation to be done on areas like the kitchen and offices, but we will have use of the entire facility by that date. Can't wait to see it all! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, put these dates on your calendar and be in prayer for our construction crews, our staff and those working behind the scenes on all these different projects and ministry areas, and that the inspections and approvals are all timely so that construction dates can be met easily. Just think, not long and this building will be a great tool for us to be able to reach our community for Christ!</span></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-1178728223702505322014-12-17T11:04:00.001-06:002014-12-17T11:04:45.598-06:00As Life Gets Busy This Holiday Season<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">We all have regrets. Things with our job we would love to
redo, or words we wish were never said. Things get busy during this time of
year and it is very easy for all of us to miss the important things - the
things that really matter. Just a quick reminder for you and me as we move
through this holiday season…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hope this blesses you as it did me.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2014/10/08/what-we-wont-regret/">http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2014/10/08/what-we-wont-regret/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">After writing yesterday’s post on </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2014/10/07/does-god-have-regret/"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">God’s “regret”</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;"> and then reading </span><a href="http://www.ligonier.org/blog/husbands-hold-your-wifes-hand/"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;">R.C. Sproul Jr. write
poignantly about how he regrets</span></a><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 16pt;"> not holding his
wife’s hand </span></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">more, I got to thinking about all the things we are likely not to
regret when we get to the end of our days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret playing hide and seek
with our children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret turning off the t.v.
and putting the phone away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret that one night (or
week, or even season of life) we let the kids get happy meals just so they
would be happy and we could survive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret singing the same
hymns over and over until they became familiar enough to sing with the saints
around a hospital bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret the time we spent
hiding the word in our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret jumping in a pile of
leaves every fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret overlooking a lot of
little things that bother us about our spouses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret kissing our spouse in
front of the kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret going to bed with a
messy house if that meant we had time to chase the kids around in the backyard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret all the wasted time
with friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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whenever they’ll let us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret the times the kids
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softly back to theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret being a little bit
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret asking for
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret dancing at
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret giving most people
the benefit of the doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret commiting to a good
church and sticking around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret time spent in prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret going on long road
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Times; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">We won’t regret trusting Jesus.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-35481895662907599972014-12-09T09:42:00.000-06:002014-12-09T09:42:18.110-06:00Thankful<div class="s2" style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21px;">
<span class="s2">The week of Thanksgiving is always a great time for us as a family... It is about the only time we are able to take an extended trip home throughout the year and we get to just enjoy family during this time. It is also about this time that things slow down enough for me to just think through the ways God has worked in my life and in the life of our church body. Having said that, the blog that probably should have gone up during the week of Thanksgiving, was delayed as my wife (who edits and posts my blogs for me) was taking a much needed break as well! So, let me just stop for a moment and use this time to share a very short list of the things I have been thanking our Lord for this year:</span></div>
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<span class="s5" style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">The salvation of my family and myself: </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">When Paul says in Romans that he would wish himself cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of his fellow Jews, I must say I struggle to have that </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">heart beat, as I </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">am far less than Paul. I can’t think of anyone I would suffer in hell for in order that they would be saved, other than my boys and wife. However, my being cursed would not and could not help them in any way. But, I thank God that Christ became sin for us, and drank the wrath of God. I am thankful that I see evidence of God’s grace in the life of my family.</span></div>
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<span class="s5" style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">I am thankful our church family has a Kingdom tool:</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> This isn’t simply a building: buildings are everywhere. What we have is a tool that our church body can use to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is an exciting time and as we watch this building changing - may God continue to change us to conform to His image and make an impact on a lost world.</span></div>
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<span class="s5" style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">Our Church staff:</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> Almost six years ago when I arrived, I had never seen a more toxic environment within a staff and church. Today, I can say without any hesitation that I serve </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">with incredible people and unified staff. From our Ministry Assistants to our men who lead out in serving - they have been in situations this past year from being moved out of offices, to not having offices, to making copies in a garage and so many more things that it would have been very easy to get frustrated. At least the outward frustration didn’t show, and one of the greatest joys I have is the honor of serving side by side with these men and women. I love you guys.</span></div>
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<span class="s5" style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">A Tough Church:</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> The past six years we have gone through more than many churches go through in their entire lives. From people </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">serving as we </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">move our entire facility, changing our schedule, sharing space with two churches, purchasing an existing facility and worshipping there while it is being renovated, having no offices...to an array of other things that I won’t even mention on this blog, God has used those things to create something that few American churches have - resiliency and toughness. This is not a knock on other </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">churches,</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> the fact is being a church is pretty easy in America. We don’t meet in secret and we call it a trial when the air conditiorning goes out in the summer. But, we have had to endure some real tough times, and we have had to persevere. I believe God shaped us during this process to better use us in this new location. This was not fun, but I am reminded that our Lord never left us.</span></div>
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<span class="s5" style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">Perseverance:</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> I am glad I didn’t leave and, I am glad you didn’t either! It would have been easier at times, and there have been some people that this move was just </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">too much </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">for. But, the fact is we endured and were conformed to be right where our Lord wants us to be. To know you are where He wants you, and you see God is using you...that is a glorious thing for a church.</span></div>
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<span class="s5" style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">A passion for the lost:</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> Trinity is beginning to see people as lost or saved. I am not saying we have not done that previously, but the difference is what we believe and what we behave are finally going hand in hand. We see people that are lost, we have a record number sharing Christ faithfully, and an amazing number who have gone through Way Of The Master. 2015 could be an amazing harvest time! </span></div>
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<span class="s5" style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">• </span><span class="s6" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">I am thankful for my bride and boys:</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> It has been a blessing to see a portion of what God’s plan has been for Trinity all along. But, our staff and our church body </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">have </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">been working at what seems to be light speed. With my schedule, I could not calendar and meet with every contractor and company involved in this project. Michele has kept up with my schedule, taken stuff off of me and kept things running in ways that only a wife could. The time this has taken has, at times made things</span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;"> very difficult on us, but she has exceeded a Proverbs 31 woman. I know at times this year she has not had a very good husband, </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">nor </span><span class="s2" style="line-height: 21px;">my boys a very good Dad, but they have delivered great grace to me. This year and where we are - we could not have come through without you guys... I love you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px;">• </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">I am
thankful for the future:</b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> I have never had more anticipation in almost 25
years of ministry and 20 years a Pastor than at this very moment. What God has
done and what He is doing in our fellowship, family and staff is nothing short
of amazing. So, thank you to our staff, church, and my family for loving, praying and
serving beside me this year.</span><br />
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MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-14907764467694887352014-11-19T11:50:00.001-06:002014-11-19T11:51:05.799-06:00What a Great Day!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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Let me say that I am glad we opted for the chairs! Our first
Sunday in the new building and we were about 90% full - but we can add additional chairs when we have to! Honestly, right now
it is so nice to be all together in a place of our own where we can be the
church, that a little "family togetherness" is not a bad thing. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA1oAg1SVajTn3aT10e7uqLO1xmVmScD2iRrIgveXdN1PHKtRGUwfmkFlRBXvCrwRsmVWVcaHk1deTZCmv8DADUdpUpT9dDL3wUxRhzAlgjBkggGHlNBluSA01sVuwHq4O6Sw3Ve38cg/s1600/IMG_4977.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA1oAg1SVajTn3aT10e7uqLO1xmVmScD2iRrIgveXdN1PHKtRGUwfmkFlRBXvCrwRsmVWVcaHk1deTZCmv8DADUdpUpT9dDL3wUxRhzAlgjBkggGHlNBluSA01sVuwHq4O6Sw3Ve38cg/s1600/IMG_4977.PNG" height="400" width="223" /></a>The number of people that have helped us even get to this point starts
with our faith family, but it moves even beyond that to other individuals and
churches that God has used to simply show favor to us. For that, I am forever
grateful! We are obviously
in the renovation stage and people are working all around us and will be for some time. We are hoping for carpet in the
auditorium before Christmas but until then, and even well after that
time, there is a considerable amount of work to be done. There have been so many people in our fellowship that have made it crystal clear that they are
more than willing to help - and that makes us a very good team because we are
very much in need of help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I stated
Sunday, we need people on our Parking Team, Greeters and individuals who will
be willing to help on Saturdays at 10 am to set up chairs. Until the carpet is
put down we are going to have to take up chairs as a fellowship every Sunday
(that took about 10 minutes since everyone helped). Each of the next 4-5 Saturdays we will need teams of volunteers to give about an hour of time to set out chairs and make sure the auditorium is ready to go for Sunday. The chairs will be
in the Worship Center all we will need to do is set them up. You can sign up on
Michele’s facebook page or email anyone on our staff and we will get it to the
right person. Below, you will find the dates and the staff member heading them
up. You DO NOT have to contact the staff member that is over that particular
week, but we do need you to contact someone so that we know every weekend is covered.
So, look at these dates and your calendar and see if you would be willing to
help one or more of these Saturdays please. All Teams meet at 10 am.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6Gmp-UF100PjXpraxnqmKRkzCxUGTPaEelklrUii0HRXNwGdAio45MZHbq7zrv1P1f8eXFWDUd_evbmKbaSal4BsvlcGlywE6WU2RL_7d9o7nYx7M6ttc3GCXgrHpXEjQj_FyY17i5E/s1600/IMG_4960.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6Gmp-UF100PjXpraxnqmKRkzCxUGTPaEelklrUii0HRXNwGdAio45MZHbq7zrv1P1f8eXFWDUd_evbmKbaSal4BsvlcGlywE6WU2RL_7d9o7nYx7M6ttc3GCXgrHpXEjQj_FyY17i5E/s1600/IMG_4960.jpeg" height="150" width="200" /></a><o:p> </o:p></div>
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11/22 I am over this team<o:p></o:p></div>
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11/29 John Miller<o:p></o:p></div>
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12/6 Bruce Roberts<o:p></o:p></div>
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12/13 Jeff Summers<o:p></o:p></div>
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12/20 Bubba Crowder (we are hoping carpet is down by this
time)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpTZ3zNTdYCge6zpJyAY44KOwObeKPCuvVULjRnqw0iOXUFr56VE2XtIOeA86ENl2hinF_2Uy_Usxc-bFO3sWq7khHhw8c1iGEaMHeNgc32-Jhbge8Am0ybtzFIvopg9hDJ25NX1Mj14/s1600/IMG_4976.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpTZ3zNTdYCge6zpJyAY44KOwObeKPCuvVULjRnqw0iOXUFr56VE2XtIOeA86ENl2hinF_2Uy_Usxc-bFO3sWq7khHhw8c1iGEaMHeNgc32-Jhbge8Am0ybtzFIvopg9hDJ25NX1Mj14/s1600/IMG_4976.PNG" height="400" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDwx0_hLcl95U-lj_hPcnf8DmhyphenhyphenMXf7DKnQKILFqcqjjpWnaRxM3_zbM4BmUGqcQMeWqD-88Fxx14-Sk5bO0H1qheOuMvI5Eix4Lw4wz8bbnbxcc2ue_DIbOX_j26Rs-A6-TPaJ0hZQI/s1600/IMG_4978.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMDwx0_hLcl95U-lj_hPcnf8DmhyphenhyphenMXf7DKnQKILFqcqjjpWnaRxM3_zbM4BmUGqcQMeWqD-88Fxx14-Sk5bO0H1qheOuMvI5Eix4Lw4wz8bbnbxcc2ue_DIbOX_j26Rs-A6-TPaJ0hZQI/s1600/IMG_4978.PNG" height="200" width="112" /></a>Again, the more we have volunteer, the quicker the set up is... but if you will
plan for just over an hour, that should be enough. We had a wonderful first Sunday and
many more to come, but let’s finish out this year faithfully and pray our Lord
will use Trinity in a great way. Please contact us as soon as you can if you
can help on any of these upcoming Saturdays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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See you Sunday! <o:p></o:p></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-18487476407213626212014-11-11T12:44:00.001-06:002014-11-11T12:44:44.884-06:00The Day Has Come!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I have used this blog primarily for our church, but also for
believers in general. However, over the last 8-10 months my focus has been
intensified for our faith family. This week as I am writing, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am ecstatic because Sunday morning at 9 am
we will celebrate a new day at Trinity. I think of where we were as a church
body, almost 6 years ago. I think of those who God has brought us - those with a
passionate vision of reaching our world with the gospel, as well as those who have been here from the very beginning of my ministry at Trinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have hired staff, we have written by-laws,
we have met at different times for worship, Bible Fellowship Groups and in
different places. We have clarified our mission and priorities. All of us have
gone through times where it would have been easier to move elsewhere, but
something in us just knew there was something more, that God was really up to
something. We struggled to find an new building, then all of a sudden God placed
us in the midst of the largest neighborhood in North Mississippi. We have
covenanted together to walk this life side by side with grace and truth, to
honor our God. To say the least it has been an amazing ride. I can say with
total honesty that I am honored and excited to be Pastor of Trinity! You have been
faithful and have developed a true hunger and expectation for the Word. I will
write about several things regarding our new home in the days ahead, but the
purpose of this blog is to simply give some logistical direction. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Below you will find a map, our Parking Team will be in place
to direct and our Greeter Team will help you find your way to our auditorium
and temporary nursery area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have
our nursery open from infant-4 yrs old. We will begin Children’s Church once
again in 2015. There will only be three-four entrances ready for Sunday, but
this will still allow traffic flow to run smoothly. Please pray for these
services and don’t forget our prayer walk Saturday at 10 am. I am so looking
forward to seeing what God does with us in this new phase of life. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-13894343667572419702014-11-04T11:09:00.000-06:002014-11-04T11:09:15.062-06:00No Longer Homeless:<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">As of this past Tuesday October 28<sup>th</sup> Trinity is
no longer homeless!! You have seen the news articles in the paper, on the
internet and even on TV… and it is finally done. Now, the real work begins. We
will meet for our last Sunday at Grace Bible Church this Sunday, November 9<sup>th</sup>.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace has lived up to their name - they
have been so good to us as a sister church! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The frustrating thing to me about being in the
Bible belt has always been the competitive nature of churches in general. It is
not consistent with the gospel message, and it leaves the world somewhat
confused as to what it is we really do. So, a big thank you to the Grace Bible
family! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have been a wonderful
picture of grace in action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We now have nothing more than a nice tool; a building was
never our goal but it is a tool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we
must choose to use that tool to give us security and fellowship within our
walls, or we can use it to reach an area with the Gospel of Christ. I honestly
believe those who are at Trinity don’t just want a building to come hear
preaching, or a building with white columns with our church name on it… God has
done such a work in our fellowship that our focus is no longer inward but
outward, looking at the fields. While this vision will continue to take shape
as we go, there is certainly something big going on in our Trinity family. Some
of these moves will involve doing things we have never done, and frankly things
that go against our grain in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
exciting thing is, we are doing something that isn’t about us, it is about HIM!
To see the lost come to Christ is a very exciting thing, and I am honored to be
a part of this journey. I can blog, talk, journal and text about this move all
day, but I want to use the remainder of this time to just give you some
important dates and even an explanation of the “why?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our first official Sunday in our building will be <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sunday, November 16<sup>th</sup></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing that will be ready will be the
Worship Center and very nice temporary nursery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This “temporary nursery” (probably until January) is located in what
will eventually be our office area (probably appropriate knowing our staff!) as
it is already in good shape with clean carpeting and fresh paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will be while the children’s area is
being renovated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the children’s
wing is in better shape, the nursery will move there and the offices will be
renovated for office use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe
the children’s area will be ready for us to use by January although the
decoration will be done by World Of Wow in the April-May time frame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
have not seen their work, check out their website. They will be working in our
student and all of our children’s areas. <a href="http://www.worldsofwow.com/?gclid=CO_GkNze1MECFaE-MgodQnoAXg">http://www.worldsofwow.com/?gclid=CO_GkNze1MECFaE-MgodQnoAXg</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We will continue to worship at 9 am simply to keep things
somewhat sane during the holiday time. November 16<sup>th</sup> will simply be
a “soft opening” so we can get our feet under us. AWANA will continue to take
place at Hope Sullivan until January. Our current plans are that the first
Sunday in January we will move back to regular service times: 9am-BFG,
10:30—Worship Service and 5:30- AWANA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On Wednesday, 4:45-6 Mid-Week supper (we may not be able to begin this
in January – it will depend on the construction schedule) and 6:15 we will
begin a full midweek (Sunday evening style) service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On January 25<sup>th</sup> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>we will have our full Grand Opening. We should
have all our Greeter Teams, Parking Teams and everyone else set and running
smoothly, and we will be able to receive and minister to a much larger group.
Obviously, this doesn’t mean we don’t reach out and invite right now! It has
been amazing that during this crazy transition we have had visitors and people
join. I have never been more excited to be a Pastor, and never had anything in
my life that I was filled with more anticipation for. Make these dates a
priority on your schedule and in your prayer life. God is really at work in our
fellowship and I am so thankful to be a part of this!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-73503530764746933492014-10-21T11:37:00.000-05:002014-10-21T13:27:32.314-05:00Disagreeing Biblically <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We have read <u>Why Church Buildings Matter,</u> by Tim Cool. We have even brought him in as a consultant. This blog does such a good job of concisely explaining the importance of having strong convictions but understanding that those "3rd tier" issues that fall into "personal convictions" should not be a reason to divide under any circumstance. Hope you enjoy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://coolconversationslive.com/i-disagree/">http://coolconversationslive.com/i-disagree/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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I DISAGREE!</h1>
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If you have been on this earth for any length of time, you have…or will…find yourself in a situation where someone has an opinion about a topic that is diametrically different than yours. It may be a moral or legal issue…and those tend to be a little bit more black and white and the “correct” answer is usually obvious.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
But what about the areas that are not so cut and dry? What about those issues that are left to a person’s own interpretation based on their personal preferences, background and paradigm? What about those items that really have no wrong answer and yet you find yourself an opposite ends of the equation with another person who is equally as passionate about the matter…yet views the item through a different lens ?</div>
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Our (or maybe I should just say “my”) tendency is to bow up and dig our heels in. We quickly develop rationale to make our point and to possibly discredit the other opinion. We will then seek to rally support for our stance from those that are either part of our tribe or that we know will support our conviction.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
After living in a pastor’s home and then serving the church world for almost my entire life, I have seen this far too often in the church. Some of the most divisive I have been witness to have been:</div>
<ul style="border: 0px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Should we allow people to eat in the basement of the church? </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Should we build or not?</em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Should we relocate?</em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do we add modern music to our worship?</em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Should the choir still wear robes?</em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Is it acceptable to preach from a translation other than the King James?</em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.8em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Is it wrong to smoke, drink or chew…or date girls who do? (could not resist)</em></li>
</ul>
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As I look at that list…all I see are personal preferences and convictions. I am convinced that we could find some scripture somewhere to justify either side of these arguments. We could pontificate for hours on the righteousness of either side. And yet, in the scope of eternity, does it really matter. The key for me, is which side furthers the Kingdom of God and serves that local church…the body of believers…the best as they fulfill the vision they believe God has called them to. THAT…is the real issue. On most of these types of issues, I am not even sure God would have a preference…and I am convinced he would not waste a breathe dealing with such.</div>
<div style="border: 0px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
I was recently reading a passage written by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Maxwell" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; color: #3995cf; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">John Maxwell</a> were he references <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+14&version=NLT" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; color: #3995cf; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.3s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">Romans 14</a>and how Paul addressed this exact thing with the Church in Rome. In this chapter, Paul speaks not of eternal issues or absolute truths, but about “gray areas”—subjects that are questionable and maybe even fuzzy similar to the list above. Christians can differ on these issues and still be part of the same organization. On these issues, no scripture declares an unequivocal right or wrong.</div>
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Mr. Maxwell went on to provide a list of ways that Paul gave as a guide from which to address these issues:</div>
<ol style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Be open, not condescending (vv. 1–3).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Remember that everyone answers to the Lord, not to you (v. 4).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Cling to your own convictions (v. 5).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Whatever your values, your motive should be to please God (vv. 6–9).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You are ultimately accountable to the Lord (vv. 10–12).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do not cause anyone to stumble (v. 13).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t let others impose their values on you, and vice versa (v. 14).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Make love your highest aim (v. 15).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Major on the majors and minor on the minors (vv. 16–18).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Pursue peace and adding value to people (v. 19).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t destroy anyone by imposing your values on them (vv. 20–22).</li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 0px 1.4em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anything is wrong that is not done out of personal faith (v. 23).</li>
</ol>
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Good stuff…I have a <strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">long</span></strong> way to go!</div>
</section>MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-34400065479677494042014-10-14T19:46:00.000-05:002014-10-14T20:24:22.704-05:00"It's the Beginning of Something Big..."<span style="font-size: large;">For those who have not seen it yet, Trinity's move to the Colonial Hills neighborhood was the lead story for the Channel 3 Memphis news today. I'm attaching the link below for you to be able to see it, but we feel like it gave a good reminder of why we are doing what we are doing - this area needs a church home and, more importantly, needs the Gospel. We have been so encouraged by the positive reaction of people to our being there and in the interest people have shown as we have walked the neighborhood, going door to door letting them know we are moving in. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Lord, let us be faithful witnesses for you in our new mission field! Thank you for sending us a new facility and a community to unite with - let us glorify You in this endeavor. </span><br />
<br />
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<a href="http://wreg.com/2014/10/14/southaven-church-to-buy-controversial-performing-arts-center/#ooid=90bXQzcTpOUuFw1qvtoDQPqCaKfxcA6k" target="_blank">WREG Piece on TBC</a></div>
<br />
<script height="433px" width="770px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=ffbcf8e010eb4c238d3dda4eb935d806&ec=90bXQzcTpOUuFw1qvtoDQPqCaKfxcA6k"></script>MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-26925301957473716472014-10-07T08:00:00.000-05:002014-10-07T08:00:02.540-05:00Normal Days<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I was working on this blog and thinking about how crazy our life
is as a church family...everything from our final Sunday in our former
auditorium, to working to redo our website, setting up how our schedule will
run over the next month, preparing to meet with the City regarding our future
facility, having staff meetings in a home, and just "craziness" in general. Then, I
realized these were just normal days over the last 9-10 months. I would venture
to say that few, if any churches will experience what we have gone through by the
time all this is said and done. There are have been parts of this year that have been
overwhelming, other parts that have been frustrating and a few parts that have
actually been fun…or tolerable at least. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">One of the many things in transition right now for TBC is our website and technology. While making sure all our content is
in order for our website, we have asked different people to be in charge of
writing specific parts. One of our members who has been part of TBC since before I
arrived, was asked to do the “Our Story” section of our website. We gave her
very little direction, and below you will find her “assignment” and to say the
least, it is amazing. So, special thanks to Amy Rainey for letting me post this
on my blog today. Also, after her article you will find a reminder of our
schedule. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">TBC - Our Story</span></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In a culture where churches strive to
build bigger temples and expand its wall, most look at our church and question
why...well, the "why" or shall I say the "who", is what our
story is all about.....let me explain:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Our story, for most, is confusing at best
and down right stupid at its worst...no wait, let's try that again...<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Once upon a time was the greatest love
story ever known....hmmm not exactly what I was going for...<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It was the best of times, it was the
worst of times...well, that's actually pretty true but that is not our
story.....<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You see, our story began at the moment
The Gospel collided with our lives. This gospel brought us to salvation but it
didn't stop there...no, it's work had just gotten started. As the grace
of the gospel started to work in our lives we were stretched and strained as we
began growing in our knowledge of The Lord. Though our footing seemed
shaky at first, we were finding that the foundation of our theology was getting
stronger. The gospel began to move from our mind to our hearts. Within
all the inadequacies of our messy lives....God was working. As we began
to learn the hard truths of biblical manhood and womanhood...God was working.
As we were teaching the hearts and training the minds of our
children...God was working. As we struggled to become peacemakers in a
world filled with conflict....God was working. Then finally as we used the Word
of God to strengthen our church and covenant....God was working. As we
grew alongside other believers, we not only learned to give grace but also how
to receive grace. It was evident through trials and tears, through joy
and years of love and fellowship, we were becoming a family. The gospel
continued to move and permeate every area of our lives. We began to
experience the highest expression of worship from the outflow of our love for
God and His body....and it was amazing. <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">With fresh eyes we have a clearer vision
and a new passion to move outside our walls...to share that same gospel with
the world around us. We were commanded to "Go"! In obedience,
our desire is to be intentional in our walk with Christ....In the community...in
the commonplaces...where we live life. That is where we go, where we
minister, where we build, where we love...where we are planted. In this time of
sweet surrender, our hearts cry out together. That we "may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of The Lord Jesus Christ"(Romans15:6). <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Our desire then is this....That we will
not be casual Christians but we would be a white-hot passionate people of
Christ, that we may fully know Him, following hard after Him. May we never
again be a body trapped within our walls, waiting for others to come but may we
be The Church! A church overflowing life and light to a dying world. To
God be the glory forever! <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Schedule: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sunday 9:00am worship at Grace Bible<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">7145 Malone Road in Olive Branch, MS </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Sunday 5:30pm AWANA—Hope Sullivan Elementary<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">7985 Southaven Cir W in Southaven, MS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">BFGs are meeting in various homes right now. Please see the church website for more details: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">www.trinitysouthaven.org </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-75744767307297178382014-09-24T11:18:00.001-05:002014-09-24T11:21:24.095-05:00And Now We Begin….<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everything we have prayed for, looked to, waited for…we are now on the brink of seeing all of it fulfilled. So, I wanted to use this post to
simply encourage and inform. I want to encourage you to be in prayer for our
church family, the community in which we are preparing to plant our lives, and
our church and city leadership as we continue to negotiate in regard to our new
facility. Also, be in prayer regarding our sister church, Grace Bible who is so
graciously allowing us to share their facility for the next four weeks or so
until our building is ready to be occupied. As I have said before, I know of no other church that has
attempted to do what we are doing, and there have been very few resources we have been able to
call upon. However, it has been exciting to watch the Lord guide us and
direct every step we have taken. I don’t recall a time in my life when I have been
more excited, and anxious simultaneously. But I remember, we worship a big God who can do
more than we think or ask. Please stay faithful in your prayer, attendance,
service and giving during this huge transition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want to reiterate our schedule for the upcoming days. If
you have any questions you can e-mail or call our staff. </span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">This Sunday will be
our final service in our present building and we will only meet Sunday morning. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>October 5:</u></b>
Sunday morning we will meet at Grace and will continue to do so during the time
our building is renovated and being made ready. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">We will have
AWANA at Hope Sullivan Elementary on Sundays at 5:30. We will also have our
student worship during that time. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It is our prayer and desire that we will be
in our building at least for worship within the first two weeks of November. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: large;">The building will not be completed until some time in 2015 - it is a large
building and an incredible tool for ministry, but it will take some time to get
it fully prepared. I shared with you in our discussion regarding this that we
were going to really set this building up as a tool for the community and
church body. The company that we have decided on to do our children’s area as
well as our student area is World of Wow (here is there website) <a href="http://www.worldsofwow.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw14mhBRC0vdSNkI2l7CASJAC8OFS0WyBnPVTj5EYAzJRwnCmHi5-u7gzJzC3JNdv0VlAYKhoC0Uvw_wcB">http://www.worldsofwow.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjw14mhBRC0vdSNkI2l7CASJAC8OFS0WyBnPVTj5EYAzJRwnCmHi5-u7gzJzC3JNdv0VlAYKhoC0Uvw_wcB</a> Obviously, what they are doing for us will look different
than the samples on their website, but I am sure you get the idea. Again, if you have any questions, please let me
know. I am praying for us and excited to see what our Lord has in store for
this faith family. It has been a long, rough, fun, and emotional journey to say
the least... but God is preparing us for something great! Let’s seek His face
during this time. I love you and count it an honor to be your Pastor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><u>Summary of Schedule:</u></b></div>
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<b>Tonight </b>- Most BFGs are taking a short break until they begin meeting in home groups the week of </div>
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October 5th - 10th. A list of the BFG locations/days is posted below. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>September 28th</b> -<br />
9:00AM Worship at Brown Missionary Baptist Church </div>
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7200 Swinnea Road, Southaven</div>
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<br />
5:00 PM Student Ministry will be having a "hangout" at Strike Zone Bowling $10</div>
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5:00 PM AWANA volunteer training at Grace Bible Church, Olive Branch</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>October 5th</b> - <br />
9:00 AM Worship at Grace Bible Church </div>
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7145 Malone Road in Olive Branch (behind Shops of Southaven)</div>
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<br /></div>
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5:30 PM AWANA Ministry at Hope Sullivan Elementary </div>
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5:30 PM Student Services at Hope Sullivan Elementary</div>
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7985 Southaven Circle West, Southaven </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>Week of October 5th - Most BFGs will resume meeting, but in homes and other locations:</u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
<ul>
<li>Bubba Crowder's BFG - will be meeting Wednesdays at 6:15 PM at Stephen and Brea Lenox's Home. Childcare will be for 3 and younger at Mark and Dana Hall's home. Childcare for 4 and up will be at the Lenox home</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Michele Everson's BFG - will meet on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM at the Conger's home in Greenbrook childcare will be at the Conger home if needed </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>David Leverett's BFG - will meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Leverett's home </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Mark Avant's BFG - will be meeting on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Avant's home</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>John Miller's BFG - will be meeting on Sundays following morning services at Brown's Senior Adult Housing units (7399 Trinity Cove)</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Rosemary Miller's BFG - will be meeting Sundays following morning services at the Miller's home</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Addie Smith's BFG - will be meeting Sundays following morning services at the Smith home</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Peggy McCammon's BFG - will be meeting on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM at the McCammon's home </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Dr. McClatchy and Glenda McLearen's BFGs are TBA </li>
</ul>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-77503108266716783112014-09-16T14:37:00.000-05:002014-09-17T14:59:19.875-05:00Excitement<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Have I ever really taken a chance for the things of God? I
don’t mean taking a job or ministry position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I would say the biggest chance I have honestly ever taken, was coming to
Trinity. I have taken mission trips, and as a family we have stepped out on faith in
giving and certain other areas. But have I ever really stepped out into something that made
no sense anywhere but the Word of God? My tendency is to be secure, to take the
known path - the one I am familiar with. Since the age of 17 I have been doing
some work in the ministry in some way. I certainly don’t know a lot of things
but, I do know Baptist people and churches and what things are tough to do in a
church. But, here I am and here we are as a church body, embarking on something
that may make no sense to anyone but God. I was meeting with a lawyer last week
and she asked me a question, that while logical, I was kind of shocked she would do so. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asked “I see where you guys are moving
and I know there are a lot of people in the area (in fact the largest
neighborhood in North Mississippi), but most churches have moved out of that
area. Why are you guys moving in there?” Honestly, I was excited that I could articulate the “why” we were doing what we were doing. I shared with
her that this is the precise reason we are moving into that area...we need each
other. The area needs a church - a </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"><span style="font-family: Cambria;">place that gives the gospel and a church family to love them, and we need the area. We need to go into </span></a><span style="font-family: Cambria;">the fields and we need to actually DO some of what we talk about that a church is supposed to DO. As a
church body, we may need this area more than this area even needs us. We need to
be invested in our community, we need to get outside the doors of a building and reach people, understanding that our
needs are the same whether we were raised in church or not. First and foremost we need the gospel, then we need
community. There are scores of people in Desoto County that have never given serious thought to the gospel or some who have never even heard the gospel. We see countless people who attend a church or claim membership somewhere, but the gospel has never been a reality that has changed their lives. We have a hope that this world cannot give. My prayer is that we
lift up our heads and see the fields that are white with harvest, and begin to
pray for laborers to be in the field. My prayer is that we commit to be those
laborers! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Not everyone can travel to a foreign country to do "mission work"....but so many of us want to believe that THAT is where missions is actually done. It is easy to pray for or even give to a mission trip "over there" somewhere....but it is uncomfortable to think that I am called to reach out, to meet needs, to go right here in my own community and town. It is our prayer that this move will take us further away from <em><u>programs</u></em> and ignite a real
<em><u>passion</u></em> within our hearts to see people come to our Savior. We are not vacationing on a cruise ship waiting for Heaven... we are on a warship in this battleground for souls. The goal is not to be
entertained until we get to the sweet by and by. Our goal is that we bring our
Savior glory, we labor in the fields, and we all understand that we have
responsibility to display the gospel as part of this Kingdom. We are not
walking around seeing what suits us and meets our preferences, but we take responsibility and fulfill our
calling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">This is where we are headed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">This is not for the faint of heart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">This
is not church as usual. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">This is a high calling and the gospel is worth taking a
chance on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">It is worth putting our comfort on the line for. It is going to be
work - it is not going to be easy. It is not going to be the typical “American
Church” way. We won't be sitting back waiting on people to come through our doors and expecting them to like us because we have a building or because "everyone should go to church"...it will require us to get out of our pews and go out of the building - to go to them and bring the gospel to them. To get involved in lives and give of ourselves, just to show the love of Christ. Christ met people in the marketplace, at the well....the place where everyone came together - all types of people, from every walk of life had to go to the well. Somehow as churches today we have gotten it so backwards - we expect them to leave the well and come to the church. We have got to make a change. It won't be easy...we want our comfort zone, we want our security of tradition....and unless we do something to shake us our of our apathy and complacency...we will always "do church" the way we always have. But we really believe this is the way God has set before us, we will be able to say we
are taking a chance, one probably bigger than most of us have ever taken
individually but certainly bigger than this church body has ever taken. It is
not Trinity’s name on the line, it is not my name on the line. We are doing
this for the glory of God, we are doing this for the sake of the Gospel and it
is His name that will preeminent in this endeavor. It is a shame that we have to say it, but this is a radical step for the church today... but
in the end it will be worth it all. </span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Cambria;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">While we are waiting to be able to make this move I want you to look below
at our new schedule and locations for the interim period: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Sunday, September 21st </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">9:00 AM service at Brown Campus - 7200 Swinnea Road</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Sunday, September 28th </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">9:00 AM Service at Brown Campus - 7200 Swinnea Road</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Sunday, October 5th </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">9:00 AM Service at Grace Bible Church 7145 Malone Rd, Olive Branch</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">5:30 PM AWANA begins at Hope Sullivan Elementary 7985 Southaven Cir W, in Southaven</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">5:30 PM Student Services will begin at a location To Be Announced soon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Wednesday, October 8th </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Bible Fellowship Groups will be happening throughout the city in member's homes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">During this interim time, the church office will be operating from various locations. You will need to contact the church office either by phone at 662-349-3333 or contact our staff/administrative personnel via the church website and email addresses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span> </div>
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</div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-49882286871847189482014-09-10T11:40:00.000-05:002014-09-10T11:40:12.199-05:00When Do You Leave?
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">As our church family has been walking through our new covenant, I was sharing with another
pastor that I have been shocked at responses we have had. Overall,
the responses have been positive but the ones that were not have been varied as to why. Some are upset over what was <em><strong>not</strong></em> included in the covenant and think that our covenant should be more restrictive, and others are upset over specific items that <strong><em>were</em></strong> included. For me, both the positive and negative responses (and the dramatic differences between them) reinforced how seldom we
as people of God really contemplate how we live and why we do what we do. Statements made ranged from “When I signed the covenant, it made me aware
of how I need to really try to be in the Word of God more.” to “When I had to
sign this I realized I haven’t been….” When I look at our
new covenant that our strategy team put together, I see a document filled with the Word of
God and expectations that are thoroughly biblical. As we discussed it and preached through it, very few questions or comments came up about it and yet, when we had to stop
to sign it, it became something we actually had to think
twice about. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Some have asked why we "made so much" over our new covenant. Simply - because it is the center piece in
which we will strive to serve God together. This doesn’t mean we have all
obtained each of these things, but it means our hearts' desire is to strive to do them.
</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Here is the link to our covenant, for those who are not members of our fellowship. </span><a href="http://trinitysouthaven.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/7/5/10753478/covenant__statement_of_doctrine_and_belief.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://trinitysouthaven.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/7/5/10753478/covenant__statement_of_doctrine_and_belief.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">During this time of preaching through church membership, I spent a great deal of time
explaining why membership is biblical and what our responsibility is in
membership. As a matter of fact, several of the blogs I have posted have even dealt with church
membership. However, I don’t believe I have ever taken time to discuss why or
when one should leave a church. We live in America and we love convenience,
comfort and choices. Generally, it is for one of these three (convenience, comfort or choice) reasons that people will look for another fellowship. Most genuinely
believe they go to church primarily for themselves, rather than seeing the
church as a body and the need for one another (although they might not admit that overtly). I have heard of people leaving and even have had people leave over
everything from music, to décor, to following family members who left. Pastors have aided in
this in that we spend a great deal of time asking people to join our church by
telling them about all our fellowship can offer, rather than giving them
biblical instruction of the responsibilities of being a member of our
fellowship. The importance of loving the difficult to love, being with people
that are different than you, working biblically through differences and
conflict, getting our hands dirty because we are sinners dealing with sinners...all of that is kept quiet as it isn't a great sales technique to get people to join your church in our American Mega Church, "meet my needs" culture. Most want to know
what kind of trips you will do for my student, who can keep me entertained with my style of music, who will keep the sermons to the right length and topic so that I can go and just “feel better about me.” So, when I came across this blog </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">some time ago, I thought it would be fitting for me to post during this transition time for our church family. As I read
it, I concluded that I know very few who leave their fellowships with these as their motivating
factors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.gty.org/resources/questions/QA120/when-should-people-leave-their-church"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://www.gty.org/resources/questions/QA120/when-should-people-leave-their-church</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> (also seen below) </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Leaving a church is not something that should be done lightly.
Too many people abandon churches for petty reasons. Disagreements over simple
matters of preference are never a good reason to withdraw from a sound,
Bible-believing church. Christians are commanded to respect, honor, and obey
those whom God has placed in positions of leadership in the church (</span><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Heb. 13.7" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Heb.%2013.7" target="_blank"><span style="color: #82412a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Heb. 13:7</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Heb 13.17" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Heb%2013.17" target="_blank"><span style="color: #82412a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">17</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">).
However, there are times when it becomes necessary to leave a church for the
sake of one's own conscience, or out of a duty to obey God rather than men.
Such circumstances would include:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">If heresy on some fundamental truth is being taught from the
pulpit (</span><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Gal. 1.7-9" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Gal.%201.7-9" target="_blank"><span style="color: #82412a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Gal. 1:7-9</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">If the leaders of the church tolerate seriously errant doctrine
from any who are given teaching authority in the fellowship (</span><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Rom. 16.17" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Rom.%2016.17" target="_blank"><span style="color: #82412a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Rom. 16:17</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">If the church is characterized by a wanton disregard for
Scripture, such as a refusal to discipline members who are sinning blatantly (</span><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="1 Cor. 5.1-7" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/1%20Cor.%205.1-7" target="_blank"><span style="color: #82412a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1 Cor. 5:1-7</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">If unholy living is tolerated in the church (</span><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="1 Cor. 5.9-11" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/1%20Cor.%205.9-11" target="_blank"><span style="color: #82412a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1 Cor. 5:9-11</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">If the church is seriously out of step with the biblical pattern
for the church (</span><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="2 Thess. 3.6" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/2%20Thess.%203.6" target="_blank"><span style="color: #82412a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">2 Thess. 3:6</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">, </span><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="2 Thess 3.14" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/2%20Thess%203.14" target="_blank"><span style="color: #82412a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">14</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">If the church is marked by gross hypocrisy, giving lip service
to biblical Christianity but refusing to acknowledge its true power (</span><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="2 Tim. 3.5" data-version="nasb95" href="http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/2%20Tim.%203.5" target="_blank"><span style="color: #82412a; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">2 Tim. 3:5</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 18.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 15pt;">
<span style="color: #4e4e4e; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is not to suggest that these are the only circumstances
under which people are permitted to leave a church. There is certainly nothing
wrong with moving one's membership just because another church offers better
teaching or more opportunities for growth and service. But those who transfer
their membership for such reasons ought to take extreme care not to sow discord
or division in the church they are leaving. And such moves ought to be made
sparingly. Membership in a church is a commitment that ought to be taken
seriously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-21105172270710274792014-09-03T11:22:00.001-05:002014-09-03T11:22:25.017-05:00He Knows My Need
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When I read this post by
Paul Tripp it spoke to me on so many levels. I think it is also very
appropriate for where our church body is, as we are determining a new place to worship.
I hope this helps you and speaks to your heart as it did mine. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://paultripp.com/articles/posts/defining-your-needs"><span style="color: blue;">http://paultripp.com/articles/posts/defining-your-needs</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: #6eb0ba; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Defining Your Needs<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’ve been spending some time reflecting on Jesus’ teaching from
Matthew 6. I’ve laid out <a href="http://paultripp.com/articles/posts/%E2%80%9C/articles/posts/3-treasure-principles%E2%80%9D" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out;"><span style="color: #6eb0ba;">3 Treasure Principles;</span></a> I’ve explained the <a href="http://paultripp.com/articles/posts/%E2%80%9C/articles/posts/the-exclusivity-of-treasure-pursuit%E2%80%9D" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out;"><span style="color: #6eb0ba;">Exclusivity of Treasure Pursuit;</span></a> and I’ve
discussed some applications of <a href="http://paultripp.com/articles/posts/%E2%80%9C/articles/posts/earth-bound-parenting%E2%80%9D" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out; cursor: pointer; transition: color 0.15s ease-in-out;"><span style="color: #6eb0ba;">Earth-Bound Parenting.</span></a> Today I want to
talk about the word “need” found in verse 32.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or
‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all
these things, and <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">your
heavenly Father knows that you need them all.</span></strong>” (Matthew
6:31-32, ESV, emphasis mine)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h2 style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-line-height-alt: 15.75pt;">
<span style="color: #6eb0ba; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-transform: uppercase;">DEFINING NEED<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I would argue that Jesus is teaching that we're not responsible
for defining our own needs. Now, let's be honest - this doesn't make sense to
us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Think about it. Would you ever let a stranger go to the
supermarket and purchase your groceries; let a relative select your outfit for
the day; let a colleague plan your family vacation? Of course not: <em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"They don't know what I need to
eat or what I need to wear or what I need to enjoy my vacation."</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Here's an important principle to remember: <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">you and I struggle to give up control
because we think no one else knows what we need more than we do.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Listening to the surrounding culture doesn’t help, either.
Everywhere you turn you’ll find propaganda urging you to “chase after your
dream” or “do what you want” or “don’t let anyone tell you no.” You're
constantly bombarded with the ideology that no one knows you better than you
know you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Jesus counters this worldly ideology with heavenly theology: <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">only God knows what you truly need.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h2 style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-line-height-alt: 15.75pt;">
<span style="color: #6eb0ba; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-transform: uppercase;">EXISTENCE-BASED NEEDS<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Now, I need to include a quick disclaimer. I'm not talking about
the daily physical needs that are essential for human existence, like eating,
drinking, sleeping, and adjusting your wardrobe to the climate so you don't
overheat or freeze to death. Those are "existence-based" needs, and
God has made you a steward over your body (Romans 12:1 and 1 Corinthians 6:15),
so it's biblical that you take responsibility for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I'm talking about things - they can be physical, emotional and/or
spiritual - that you tell yourself you "need" to be happy. This could
be anything: increased income, a safer neighborhood, a more respectful spouse
or child, a church that loves your ministry, and so on. You fill in the blank:
"If only I had _______, my life would be better."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h2 style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-line-height-alt: 15.75pt;">
<span style="color: #6eb0ba; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-transform: uppercase;">GOD KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Even though it will be a struggle, I want to encourage you to
willingly and joyfully let go of the responsibility of defining your needs.
Here are three reasons that should help:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: #6eb0ba; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1. God is Creator<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You're not just handing over responsibility to your spouse or any
old neighbor; the Creator of the universe is responsible for all your needs.
Remember, God created us; we didn’t create us. It’s fundamental Sunday school
theology, but it makes all the difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If you were an inventor and you came up with an innovative and
complex piece of machinery, no one would know the project better than you. You
could make it do things no one else could do, and you would know exactly what
it needs to operate. After all, you built it from scratch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The same is true with God; as Creator, he knows everything about
your inner workings - physically, emotionally, and spiritually - so he knows
exactly what you need. It just doesn’t make logical sense for a piece of
creation to define its own needs over the Creator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: #6eb0ba; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2. God is Omniscient<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">God not only knows everything about you, but he knows everything
about everything. He knows what the weather will be, how the stock market will
ebb and flow, and every other miniscule detail of the universe that will impact
your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">You can't predict the next five minutes. And not only that, you
and I tend to live for the gratification of the here and now. How warped does
that make our perspective? If the goal is to get immediate pleasure, we’re
going to pass up on a better life tomorrow just to get instant (and lesser)
pleasure today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h4 style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: #6eb0ba; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.75pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. God is Omnipotent<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">God is all-powerful; you can barely control your hair in the
morning! So, even if you were omniscient and knew what you needed, you wouldn't
have the power to provide it for yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">By giving God the responsibility of defining your needs, you're
placing your life in good hands. Not only does he know everything about you and
everything about this world, but he's able to control it and provide exactly
what you need in the exact moment when you need it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h2 style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 9pt; mso-line-height-alt: 15.75pt;">
<span style="color: #6eb0ba; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-transform: uppercase;">HANDING OVER RESPONSIBILITY<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Hopefully by this point you've noticed a theological mistake in my
argument: since when is it human right to give anything over to God? Good
observation: <strong><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">It was
never, nor will it ever be, our responsibility to define our needs.</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But that doesn't mean you and I will still try. We'll write up a
shopping list of things we "need" to be happy, and when that list
isn't met in a timely fashion, we'll be irritated, angry or depressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Jesus offers a much better way. He's encouraging us to give up
control and let our soul be at peace, resting in the Heavenly Father.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 13.5pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">God is creator; he knows how you operate. God is omniscient; he
knows exactly what today and tomorrow hold. God is omnipotent; he can control
every microbe of the universe. And on top of all those things, God is good.
"He will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in
Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) All you need is the evidence of the
Cross to know that God will meet your needs, for his glory and your good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-53434682103049318592014-08-20T18:12:00.000-05:002014-08-21T13:18:43.030-05:00Preparing to Launch<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">There has been a great deal said about males who are between 20 and 40 years old and are still playing video games in their parents basement, refusing to grow up. Paul has reminded us that when we become men we are to put away childish things. Now, that is not to say we can never play a video game, or throw the ball, but it is making sure we understand that we are to focus on things that matter. We are to take responsibility. My boys and I talk a great deal about what biblical manhood looks like...there are times I give them a living illustration of what manhood is and there are times I give them a living illustration of what it means to avoid biblical manhood. At TBC we have spent a great deal of time discussing what biblical manhood is supposed to be, what the expectations of God are for us and how that plays out in our work, home and personal life. I thank God for each man who has gone through our Men’s Fraternity classes and it is always a joy to see how God has used that teaching to sanctify all of us. When men fail to launch out into their biblical roles, it leaves homes in shambles and society in a mess. Sadly, the same can be said about our churches. God has given us a calling to “GO” make disciples. Most of our work, especially in the Bible belt, consists of getting people to come to us rather than us going to them. At Trinity we are at the cross-roads of making a decision to launch into an area that is very different not only for us as a church body, but for most churches that we are familiar with. While we have a nice amount of money in the bank, we had to make a decision of whether we wanted to spend it on a nice building a new area (which we pondered), to get a place temporarily and then decide what area of town we wanted to move into (which we actually voted on), or to move to an area in our community that has fewer churches, in a community but not in a major intersection. At this time we are still waiting to see what God does, but it looks like we are going to go into a neighborhood filled with people - the high majority (over 85%) of which is unchurched. As I have been praying about this, I have come to the conclusion that the only thing more tragic than a young man who will never launch out and be what God has called him to be, is a church that fails to launch. A church that is safe, a church that lives its life with people that never stretch them to be more open, accepting, generous, dedicated...a church that spends all of its time with people who look, talk and act just like they do. A church that resembles The Stepford Wives more than it resembles a missionary launching pad. I am excited about what God has in store for TBC and I am excited that we are faced with doing something that actually will cost us something…something more valuable than money, even more valuable than time....it will cost me my comfort. In truth I think I speak for the majority of us, we are comfort creatures. So, I am asking our TBC family and those who follow this blog to please pray for wisdom and God’s grace in the venture. </span><a href="x-apple-data-detectors://0/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true"><span style="font-size: large;">This Sunday night</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> I will begin a new series that I hope will prepare us to “Go” to “Launch,” into our community penetrating it with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We will examine the things that keep us as believers from doing this, and what will allow our hearts to burn with the Gospel message and bring it to the world around us. I have never been more excited to be Pastor of anywhere, and I stand with expectation to see what God has in store for His Body at TBC. See you Sunday! </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-59308698646186655552014-08-12T12:38:00.001-05:002014-08-12T12:38:29.634-05:00Needy People<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are in a
strange time as a TBC Church Family. While it is exciting, it is also stressful and a myriad of other
emotions, all rolled up into one. God has blessed us as a body in abundance. There are so many changes in front of us...and even today we will have
a meeting with group to possibly negotiate with in regard to a new
facility. We have had changes in our schedule, in the way we conduct our events and, this Sunday we will vote to approve our new statement of faith (1833
New Hampshire Baptist Confession)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>along
with our new church covenant. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Change can be exciting but it can also make us
feel uneasy at best, or down right terrified at worse. Many people are more panicked over change in their daily lives than over life ending! Over the last
year - actually over the last 3 years I,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as
well as most of the people in our church, have run the course of all of these
emotions. In the midst of this we have met, searched, prayed, talked, stayed
awake at night and a whole of lot of other things... but in the midst of this,
here is what I realized: the fear or anxiety I feel can serve as a portal to a
wonderful spiritual reality. The reality is that I was never intended to be
self-reliant. By design we are all needy. The idea of me being "independent" is
foreign to the Word, in fact real maturity is becoming MORE DEPENDENT on Christ and less independent. Independence only works during good and
peaceful times and it falls apart when “life” hits. The reality is that tough times and bad
things are going to happen. Things that I dread may actually be a reality for me, my
family and this church body... even as I write this, a knot has formed in my stomach.
In his book <u>Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest</u>, Dr. Ed Welch says, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>“Another way
of expressing our personal vulnerability is through our experience of need.
There is a close connection between what we fear and what we think we need. If
we need comfort, we will fear physical pain. If we need approval from others,
we will fear being criticized. If we need love we will fear rejection….Whatever
your need is a mere stone’s throw from what you fear.”</em> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The bottom line
is I have watched our fear and faith grow at TBC. During this time we have
even watched some people leave, and much of that was admitting that it was just
being unsure of what would happen. We all value security. What I value I love,
and what I love I have a tendency to put my hope in. Some of our greatest problems
are when we put our hope in the wrong things and it can cause fear to override all
other voices, even the voice of truth. Sometimes fear is good, it can actually
keep me from danger. When I see a 200 pound dog coming at me when I am on jog,
it is natural to fear and even healthy for me to fear. It can lead me to
protect myself. But when fear grips me over “what could be” or “what might
be,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must learn how to stop and figure
out what issue of the heart my fear is displaying. When I see the dog, the
truth is that dogs can bite and one that size could kill me so I better do
something. However, when I fear something that <em>could</em> happen, I need to ask
myself two questions: (1) What do these fears say I trust in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2) What do these fears say I really
love?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes those questions reveal
that my trust is not in Christ who is really my only help in my time of need,
and it displays that I love me more than anything. I love my comfort, I love my
way of doing things, I love the way I see church more than I love anything
else. It may reveal the heart of sin, which will work in my sanctification.
After all, when I look back at the things that have kept me up at night and
all the predictions I have taken - when I think of all the horrible things that<em> could</em> happen in
certain scenarios, I realize that my track record of correctly guessing the
outcome of situations is pretty poor. My reasoning ability fails me and my power of logical
conclusions often isn’t logical at all - but in truth even these are dictated by fear and doubt. In
truth, I must understand that I have to go outside myself for an answer and seek
the God who is in control. This doesn’t mean than everything will turn out perfect,
but it does mean that I can trust the God who IS perfect and will never leave,
forsake, or fail me. And that is a truth I can rest in... even when the situation
doesn’t feel very restful. <o:p></o:p></span>MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-54017666488235587862014-08-06T10:51:00.000-05:002014-08-06T11:03:08.128-05:00When We Worship the Wrong Things...<span style="font-size: large;">We were created to be worshippers....the problem is we often, in our flesh, worship the wrong things. We take the things in our life that are good, wholesome, beneficial and, because of our sinful natures we turn them into idols of our worship and dedication. Instead of keeping Christ preeminent in our lives and allowing Him to order all of our steps each day, we allow those things that we see as most precious to us to dictate our path and Christ can come along as long as He falls in line with our plans. While none of us would admit that outwardly, we show this subtle shift in thinking through our actions everyday. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So, what is it that becomes more precious to you than Christ? Again, many times it is something that is meant to be good and a blessing to us. For some....could it be your job? Your church service or ministry area? Could it be your kids or family? In the blog below from Gospel Coalition, Jason Helopoulos did a great job of looking at how to tell if our families have taken the subtle and deceptive shift from blessing to idol in our lives. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2014/07/24/7-signs-we-are-worshipping-the-family/">http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2014/07/24/7-signs-we-are-worshipping-the-family/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 16px/22.39px proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit;"><a href="http://www.universityreformedchurch.org/about-us/staff/jason-helopoulos.html" style="background: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #78b147; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">Guest Blogger: Jason Helopoulos</a></strong></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; direction: ltr; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 16px/22.39px proxima-nova, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
I love my family. I love being a husband. We celebrate sixteen years of marriage this week and I can’t imagine living life with anyone else. I love being a father. I have two kids that delight my soul. I can’t wait to see them in the morning before I head off to the church and I am always anxious to see them in the evening when I return. There are few things I enjoy more in this life than being a father. I love my family. However, having said that, I want to be on guard against loving them inordinately.</div>
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I am thankful for the growing emphasis upon the Christian family in evangelical circles. Our two children are home schooled, so I am in no way opposed to homeschooling. We attempt to practice family worship each night of the week, so I am not opposed to family worship. For goodness sakes, I wrote on<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Neglected-Grace-Family-Worship-Christian/dp/1781912033/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406052695&sr=8-1&keywords=a+neglected+grace" style="background: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #78b147; line-height: inherit; text-decoration: none;">a book</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>on the subject. I am passionate about it. We have attempted to have our children in corporate worship with us since they were babies. I am working on a book on that subject as well, so I am not opposed to children in worship.<em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>However, there does seem to be a tendency with the home school/family worship/children in worship emphasis that can turn this good thing upon its head.</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If we aren’t careful, instead of encouraging worshipping families, we become family worshippers. The following are<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit;">possible </em></strong>signs that we have begun worshipping the family rather than encouraging our family to be worshippers:</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit;">We Seldom Host Others: </strong>If our home is seen<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; line-height: inherit;">primarily</em><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>as a citadel set against the world, there is a problem. A home centered upon Christ will be marked by growing hospitality. It is a way station of truth and worship. We gladly invite others into it for rest, encouragement, and strengthening.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit;">We Seldom Reach Out to Others: </strong>If our family is so insular that others don’t know us, there is a problem. A Christian family filled with love and worship should overflow to those around them. Neighbors and co-workers can’t help but be touched by the love that permeates in and cascades from our family.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit;">We Seldom Serve in the Church:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>If our family is so focused on just being a family that we can’t attend mid-week bible studies or are so intent on being together Sunday morning that the parents can’t teach Sunday School or assist in the nursery, there is a problem. As a Christian family we are to see ourselves as part of the community. Not separate from it. Not more important than it. But essential to it.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit;">We Seldom Have Time:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>If our family is always busy with its own activities, whether soccer, piano, ballet, family vacations, or even family worship to the point that we have little time for others, there is a problem. The enrichment and growth of our children, even in spiritual things, is not to pull us away from people but towards them. Yes, we only have so many years to train and teach our children while they are at home. But are we teaching them that they and their activities are the center of life or worshipping Christ and loving others is what is most important?</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit;">We Seldom Sacrifice:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>If our family is reluctant to give generously, because of what it costs our family, there is a problem. We hesitate to give above our tithe to missionaries, the local church, the building fund, or the homeless shelter because our children’s college education comes first. We neglect supporting the church member headed out on a short-term mission’s trip, because our family “educational trip” is more important. We always have an excuse. And it is always our family’s need that provides the ground for that excuse. Rather, the Christian family should be generous in giving—generous to the point of giving sacrificially.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit;">We Seldom Have Flexibility:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>If others feel like they are always interrupting our family by calling, visiting, or proposing a time to get-together, there is a problem. Others will notice it before us. They begin to feel like our family’s routine cannot be interrupted under any circumstances. We convey this consciously or even subconsciously and others pickup on it. Rather, our family should be noted by its flexibility and joy when others stop by, friendliness when called, and availability when needed.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit;">We Seldom Speak Well of Others:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></strong>If our family tends to have an arrogant air about it, there is a problem. We have it together. Others don’t quite understand the importance of the family, worship, and our calling as parents. Our conversations are too often critical and judgmental. If only others understood as we do. May it never be! Our families should be filled with thanking God for others. Our children should hear us commending and promoting others. People should find that we are refreshing to their souls, rather than critical of their practices.</div>
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By all means, let us enjoy and treasure our families. Let us celebrate the gift they are. Let us pour out our lives and hearts into ministering to our spouse, rearing our children in Christ, and filling our homes with the love and truth of Christ. However, in so doing, let us also be worshippers of the Christ we are seeking to honor. Let us worship Him in our worshipping families, rather than worship our families in the name of worshipping Him.</div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-42360178258644373612014-07-31T13:59:00.000-05:002014-07-31T19:00:41.479-05:00The Wild Wicked West<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The length of this blog is longer than normal, but this is what happens
when believers behave in a way that even the world would view as vile. </span></b></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.bpnews.net/43061/suicide-of-ergun-caners-son-reported"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.bpnews.net/43061/suicide-of-ergun-caners-son-reported</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u style="text-underline: thick;"><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I saw the link above my heart broke for the Caner
family. Let me be honest and say upfront that I have more issues with Dr. Caner with regard to everything from his theology to practice... but
that can be said of other men, and can be said by other men about me. Let me also state that while I may agree with some of the adversaries of Dr. Caner theologically, I would not align myself in their camp in practice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is the problem:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When professing believers go to such a public
source as the internet to blog and attack</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, while both
believers and unbelievers watch things play out, it does damage not only to the
Kingdom but to families. There is a desire for many people to call on opinions
to just cease about the Caner family following this tragedy but in truth, that is a
desire to avoid the obvious. This 15 year old boy who committed suicide has
been attacked by bloggers posting things on twitter, he watched his Dad be
attacked and attempted to be destroyed by bloggers, and if you have the
ignorance to believe that these things did not contribute to the psychological damage of
this child, you live in the Land of Oz.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Let me be clear, I do not agree or condone Dr. Caner, I do believe there
are some “issues,” but it is of no benefit in the Kingdom to carry on vitriol
and arguments in a public forum. When I look at Matthew 18 I do not see the
Universal Church nor the World involved in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>correction. Dr. Caner says he is a believer so I must then treat him as
such and at the very least, go to him as a brother. Nothing in the Word of God
states that if he doesn’t listen, I then go to the internet to allow a hell
bound world to watch as we disagree. Many of the people who have blogged on him would be more welcome to fill my pulpit
than Dr. Caner simply because of doctrinal stance, but that is my prerogative as a Pastor, however there is no place
under any circumstance for us to litter the street with our disagreements for a lost world to watch
this play out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s think for a moment
what Paul would have done with someone such as Dr. Caner. I think he may have dealt with
this issue in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Philippians 1:15-18:</b></span></div>
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were some men preaching with wrong motives, and some with right motives. Some
had questionable integrity, and some exposed questionable desires of the heart in their actions. In these situations, Paul didn’t let that side track him and he didn’t call them out
publically. Why? Because they preached Christ. Dr. Caner has attacked, been
somewhat divisive and antagonistic at times when he should not have been. But
in truth, I have too. I have been inconsistent, I have been antagonistic at times and,
unless you are totally blind to your heart…you have been too. Here’s the point,
there is nothing wrong with confronting error, there is nothing wrong with
calling out someone on a lie. There is absolutely nothing wrong when we speak with grace and
truth and this should be done. But the "how" is just as important as what you are saying and the reasons why you desire to say it. I grew up in a
Bible preaching church that was not afraid to preach Matthew 18, but like most
churches there were some in leadership that were a bit apprehensive about
actually practicing it. I am currently the Pastor of a church that stands out as a "three headed creature" in our community because we actually do practice it, but even in our fellowship when
something is confronted the first question we ask is “Who has a relationship
with this person?” The reason we ask that? No one has ever been brought to
repentance by someone on a blog calling them to turn in repentance. Even if every word is
true, is it really helpful? Is it really Biblical?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it being a talebearer? Am I going after
another brother? I am from Georgia, both of Caner brothers are Presidents of Baptist
Colleges in Georgia (one is my alma matter), if I were a Georgia Pastor today I would send my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>young men out of state before I sent them to
either of those schools. However, to go after these men who, while theologically
different from me they are not heretics, is wrong. There are men who are not
preaching a true gospel to whom we turn a blind eye, there are men in Georgia
who have brought in groups who baptize the same teenager three times in three
nights because he wants a different group of the Power Team to baptize him. In
the SBC we have Pastors who have inflated, manipulated and shown little to no integrity
with numbers, who we are totally silent on and who would never be confronted over
that. But in our cowardly society we feel bold when we get keyboard courage and,
through the anonymity of a blog we tear down other people. What is the motive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you call out a teenage boy, when you
tear down his Dad, when you harass him like a poodle nipping at his heals and
you see the family damaged forever, have you done your job? Have you
accomplished your goal? Do the Caners preach a false gospel? Is it a works
salvation? Do they preach the god of the Mormons? Preachers, Christians,
brethren - I think we would rather devour each other and make sure we "expose someone" than do
something Kingdom worthy. There are more churches in the Bible belt, more
churches in our county that preach a weak or distorted gospel than probably
anywhere in the world. While a blog explaining the difference between a true gospel and false gospel might educate some or answer questions for those who are curious enough to look, there is no benefit to dragging a man or family into a public forum like the internet for a modern day verbal stoning. My job is to
deal with the small area of God’s Kingdom I have been appointed to and ground
them in truth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have heard it said by someone “The internet is the great
equalizer” and that is true, but here is the issue…all men’s opinions are not
equal. Some of these bloggers, in their Mom’s basement being verbal snipers, when
they publically begin to talk with their wild eyed hatred and envy are exposed
as what they are…mean spirited kooks. So, it puts the guy who sits stringing sentences together with hatred and venom (you know, the one who if you saw him in real life you would realize he is NOT someone to put a lot of "stock" in) in the same forum with the folks who desire to grow, educate and help . If you do have credibility and fall into this second category, then try asking what your real
goal is? By saying this/blogging this, is it slander? Is it tale bearing? Can it in fact damage the gospel more
than if I saying nothing. If I believe in the sovereignty of God and the
sufficiency of Scripture, then I am going to handle things biblically and when
I am out of Biblical options, then I stop. Do bloggers, haters, vicious attacks
share the blame for the brokenness the Canners are going through right now? I
would say by observations and experience, sadly it is resounding yes. I don’t
intend that mean spirited. I do however, mean it to say that if as a blogger you can post
“the blaming and finger pointing need to stop now”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my question is why "now"? Truth is truth even when tragedy strikes. If "in the name of
decency" you are calling a stop to it now, why should it not have stopped before this tragedy? Is decency not required until harm is done? Let's make a commitment to be
decent and just stop. </span></div>
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MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-335154891629234916.post-31494850540965536432014-07-23T08:45:00.000-05:002014-07-23T18:56:23.626-05:00Theology Not Just For Our Head, But Also Our Heart<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">In my counseling and my interaction with people, I have
sadly realized that much of our theology hits our head but doesn’t reach our
heart. Let me illustrate:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I know I worship a sovereign God. He is faithful to
me…. He in fact, has always been and will always be faithful to me. He would
never do me evil, there is no evil in Him. I know this, I can teach this, I
read these truths in the pages of the Word. The problem is too often I do not
preach to myself and my heart, which is very deceitful, and lies to me. I once
heard it said that our enemy doesn’t desire to fill our hearts with hatred for
God as, for the believer that would not be a good strategy, but his desire is
to make us forget God if only for a few minutes. If I am allowed to look at my
situation, my hurt, and my circumstances what happens is that the truths that I
know, the truths that I have read about and experienced - those same truths
grow strangely dim in my heart. This is why I need the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is why we need other believers.
Somewhere in our lives we have come up with the idea that being encouraging
means telling someone that everything will be okay, that if they just hold on
that God will take their proverbial lemons and make lemonade. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What real encouragement is, is speaking truth
to one another when our heart does not believe what our head knows. The truth
is sometimes the battle with cancer is lost, that life is messy, and sometimes
it doesn’t work out like I want it to. But that is no reflection on God’s
sovereignty, it is no reflection on God’s character, it is simply a reflection
on my nearsightedness, on my inability to comprehend God’s ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times I have to come to the reality that
it’s not my theology that needs help, it is me actually believing my theology
practically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one of my favorite books,
<u>The Success Syndrome</u> by Kent Hughes, he points out that one of the
elements of success is “believing what you believe” and the point he is making
is just what I have been explaining, that too often we don’t really act on what
we believe. I believe forgiveness should happen, but I won’t do it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe I should prefer my spouse but I just
don’t do it. I believe God is in control but my emotions state other wise. The
problem is when I don’t believe truths that are declared in the Word, I end up
sleeping with the enemy. This enemy robs me of rest, hope, energy, wisdom,
grace and so much more. This short post is meant to serve as an real
encouragement in truth for both you and me today…remember, God IS in control. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is good and He is working in the best way
in your life as a believer so you can give Him the most glory. This is not
always easy - it sometimes feels horrible…but He is still good. </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
MEversonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13452840573583942268noreply@blogger.com0