A Common Man from Nazareth

Who believes what we've heard and seen?
Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?

The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.
We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong,
on him, on him. (Isaiah 53:1-6; The Message)

Easter is coming! When Jesus came, there was nothing outwardly special about Him. He was born to common people, grew-up as a tradesman and only had three years of ministry. By the world's standards He was unnoticeable. But I am so glad that a few people did notice. And that they thought enough of Him to tell others. All down through history this is how the news was passed until it was passed on to me.

How about you? Do you know someone who needs to meet this unnoticeable man? If He has made a difference in your life, don't you want to allow that to happen to someone else too? This week, let's gossip about the single most important thing in our lives - our relationship with a common Man from Nazareth. Share your story, invite someone to church. People will come to church on Easter and Christmas that won't come any other Sunday. Don't miss this chance to speak hope into someone's life.

Dream Big...Pray Bigger!

Will

Come See Me

Just got an email from one of our band guys. He recently set up a Facebook page for our band and then subsequently set up an event through it for Come See Me 2009. For those of you who don't know, Come See Me is a week-long festival that they have every year here in Rock Hill, SC. Kind of a city-wide open house I guess.

Anyway, they are having a concert event on Sunday April 19th at Cherry Park and they invited the REVEAL Band to play in it. And through our Facebook event, we have 305 people RSVP'd to come. WOW!!!! I am shocked...and humbled...and so looking forward to it!

Dream Big...Pray Bigger!

Will

Rev 2:4

So yesterday I talked about a project that we did on the Staff/Deacon/Spouse retreat this past weekend and I said that I'd share with you my work so here it is:

First, the New American Standard Bible translation:

"But I have this against you, that you have left your first love."

So here is my rewritten version:

"Even though you do a great deal of good, there is one blemish on your record - you have replaced knowing and spending time with me and now instead you do in the my name."

Here are some others that I thought were moving:

"I want you back."

"What have you done? Don't put anything in front of me."

Wow! God was really working on our group this weekend. Here is part 2 - my prayer:

"God, I have abandoned You, my first love. I have sacrificed my time with You on the altar of ministry. I spend time singing about You and not to You. I read books about You and not Your book to me. I have chased a Cliffs Notes version of You because it is more convenient, more comfortable. Stretch me, Heal me, Ruin me for Your sake that I might return to You, my first love and renew our relationship."

I'd love to hear how you rewrote the verse or your prayer, post your response here so we can all be uplifted by what God is doing in you.

Dream Big...Pray Bigger!

It

This past week the ministry staff of First Baptist Church went on their spring retreat at White Oak Conference Center. It was a great time of planning and renewal. On Friday Night, the Deacons and their spouses joined us along with several of our spouses. After dinner, we met and had a time of worship. During this time of worship we watched a video message by Craig Groeschel (given at Catalyst 2008). Craig is the pastor of Life Church (a multi-site church with locations in several states.)

His message was about "It". Have you ever walked into a church and felt "it"? Maybe you have met someone and they just had "it"? Or for a negative example, have you ever walked into a church just felt that something was missing, that they didn't have "it"? This was a powerful message and several of our group had moving experiences. It is so encouraging to see staff members and deacons who are willing to fight for "it" in their lives - to get it and keep it.

As a follow-up to this video, Pastor Steve asked us to spend some time in Revelation 2:1-7, paying special attention to verse 4. He asked us to write this verse in our own words and then to write God a personal prayer based on this verse. I'll share my work with you tomorrow.

Dream Big...Pray Bigger!

Will

Set List 04.05.09

Here is the music that we used for 04.05.09. This was the final week of God's Purpose...Right Now. We actually combined all three services and bands and had one church wide service.

[Opening Song]
Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin

[Congregational Song]
God of This City - Bluetree

[Prayer]

[Special Song]
A New Hallelujah - Michael W. Smith

[Welcome]

[Congregational Song]
Great and Mighty
At the Cross
In Christ Alone (w/ The Solid Rock) - Keith Getty (Travis Cottrell version)

[Testimony]

[Special Music]
He's Always Been Faithful (w/ Great Is Thy Faithfulness) - Soloist Kim H.

[Message]
Rev. Steve Hogg

[Closing Song]
I Will Boast - Paul Baloche

The REVEAL Band kicked it off with the first two songs and then we had combined 10:30 band/orchestra/adult choir/kids choir on "A New Hallelujah. We then did three hymns. Kim Harvell did a great job on her solo and man did Steve bring it on the message today.

Today was our commitment Sunday for our new capital campaign and it was so encouraging to see people bringing their commitments up to the front. God is doing amazing things!

See other set lists on Fred McKinnon.com.

Dream Big...Pray Bigger!

Will

Thoughts from the Spa (Part 3)

One of the cool things at the Grove Park Inn Spa was the big pool in the center of the building. In it they had speakers that played music. But this music couldn't be heard if you were sitting on a lounge chair beside the pool. In fact you couldn't even hear it if you were sitting on a bench in the pool. To hear the music you had to put your head in the water so that your ears were under the water. Then and only then could you hear the music.

It reminded me of the verse in Psalm 46:10:

"Be still, and know that I am God." (NIV)

The NASB says, "Cease striving..." and The Message says, "Step out of traffic..." Man, now that is some great imagery. It goes really well with the idea of putting your head under the water. It is really cool how all of the outside noises get cut out and you are just surrounded by silence. This is how God wants to meet with us. For us to be able to cut out all of the noise and just spend time with Him.

Now I know that this is not always possible or easy. But it is necessary from time to time (even if it is for 15 minutes). Remember that God does not always speak in loud, jaw dropping events. Many times, He chooses to speak to us in soft whispers (See 1 Kings 19:11-13).

Try to find some time today to "Be still..."

Dream Big...Pray Bigger!

Will

Thoughts from the Spa (Part 2)

While I was sitting in the outdoor hot tub at the Spa on Friday, with the cool rain falling on my face, I saw several golfers running from the rain. They had their plans changed by the weather that day and they didn't look very happy. (After all, it is pretty expensive to play on that course.)

But I also saw several small birds happily chirping away in the trees. They didn't seem to be phased at all by the rain. They were doing what they do best - flying around and singing. And I thought that many times we act like the golfers and not the birds.

When life throws us a curve ball, what do we do? Do we raise our fist to the heavens and curse God and cry out in wonder and concern, "Why me?" Or, do we do what we were created to do. Praise God with everything we have in us? I'll be the first to confess that way too many times I act like the golfers. I get upset that MY plans had to be changed because of course I know what I need. But thankfully, I usually come to my senses and remember that God is in control and He is not surprised by whatever is going on in my life that I think is so outrageous.

"Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds." - Matthew 6:26 (The Message)

Is there something in your life that you are stressed-out about? Something that didn't go your way? Let it go and let God take back the reigns of your life.

Dream Big...Pray Bigger!

Will