Ministering When It’s Inconvenient

November 28, 2011 By nick Leave a Comment

I am re-posting this from my wife Nicki and my mother-in-law Elaine on Facebook. It appears the original post came from the True Woman blog by Erin Davis. This is a great article…

In Matthew 15:29, we find Jesus trying to rest on a mountainside. He barely sat down when a crowd of people came to Him looking to be healed. How did He respond? He healed them.

When Jesus received word that His cousin, John the Baptist, had been killed, He tried to grieve alone. But crowds of people followed Him and begged for His attention. Scripture tells… …us that instead of hiding in His grief, He had compassion and healed the sick in the crowd (Matthew 14:13–14).

On the night before Jesus was betrayed, He didn’t hide out. He didn’t run away. He spent the evening with His disciples. He even took the time to serve them by washing the mud from their feet (John 13:1–17).

If we look closely, we find an interesting pattern. We know that Jesus spent His time on earth serving others. But have you ever considered how often He ministered when it was inconvenient?

  • He served others when He was tired.
  • He served others when He’d have rather been alone.
  • He served others when He was sad.
  • He served others when He’d been serving non-stop for days and days.
  • He served others when things went terribly wrong in His own life.
  • He even served others when He knew His own death was right around the corner.

I am deeply challenged by this truth. You see, I don’t mind serving others when it’s convenient for me. I like to help out when it works into my schedule or fits into my agenda for the day. But there are lots of times when ministry is inconvenient. I’m tired. I’m stressed. I’ve got more important things to do than to meet the needs of those around me. Under those circumstances, I feel justified in giving priority to my own needs and temporarily ignoring the needs of others.

But this isn’t how Jesus lived. It isn’t how Jesus served. And it isn’t what He wants from you and me.

The reality is, serving others requires sacrifice. If we only do it when it’s convenient, we’re missing the point.

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A REALLY Big Announcement

August 12, 2011 By nick 1 Comment

As many of you know my position at my former job was dissolved back in June. Needless to say, it has been a very interesting couple of months. There have been some great God moments and then there have been some disappointments.

I am excited to announce that as of Monday, I will be the new Assistant Manager for the Men’s Residency Program with the Salvation Army. I will share more about this role in the future, but in a nutshell, it is one of the many great programs offered by the Salvation Army to assist people who are in desperate need. This position works directly with the program that helps the homeless receive counseling for addictions, assists with job training, Bible studies and many other programs to help men get reestablished into society and in some cases reunited with their families.

It is a great honor to be chosen to be a part of the Salvation Army team. They have a great reputation of helping people and seeing their lives transformed through the gospel of Jesus. Here is what their About Us page says:

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

I look forward to being a part of the mission God has given the Salvation Army in the CSRA. I believe it is the mission God has called every church to.

I would like to thank everyone who has been praying for our family while I was without a job, for those who have been praying that the right door would be open, and for those who have assisted us through various means over the last couple of months.

For those wondering, of course, I am still pastoring New Passion Church :)

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Having Trouble Forgiving? Maybe This Will Help!

March 22, 2011 By nick 1 Comment

I don’t promote my own messages or sermons on my blog. It just feels awkward. However, this past Sunday, I shared a story of hate and murder that consumed my heart for almost two years. God freed me and gave me the power to forgive the person that had wounded me. Whether you are having trouble forgiving a spouse or a former friend or just an acquaintance in life, my prayer is that this message from our marriage series, I Do…Not Anymore, will bring you similar hope and healing.

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180Weekend at TrueNorth Church Recap

March 21, 2011 By nick Leave a Comment

I had the opportunity this weekend and on Wednesday to participate in a movement of God.

A couple of months back Adam asked my friend Shane to speak for TrueNorth Church’s 180 Weekend for their students. Shane was not able to speak because his student ministry at Greenbrier Church was also hosting a similar weekend with their students, but Shane gave Adam my name.

The Theme for 180 was Collide, so I went to their normal Element mid-week service to set things up and give a preview of the weekend. I left on Wednesday really impressed with the genuine worship from both the middle school and the high school, I also left feeling a little nervous. These kids are special and I felt like I may end up hurting what God was trying to do rather than help. After all, the previous two weeks have been CRAZY at home, at work and New Passion. I worked 52 hours the week before 180 at my normal job not including my second job pastoring New Passion and my primary job of husband and dad. I was facing 6 messages between Wednesday and Sunday, so I had no idea what to expect, and for most of the week I just wanted to just stop and shut my eyes. At times I didn’t feel like I had 100% to give this ministry and this special weekend. Of course, God is sovereign and he can use a donkey if he wants to, so I knew He was in control of the weekend.

I thought it was funny to learn that Cliff Jennings was leading worship. I have never heard of Cliff, so I had never met him, however, he is the Worship Leader at Stevens Creek Church in Grovetown. They meet just up the road from us, so here two Grovetown ministers were going to lead at TrueNorth (Come to find out his dad is Gene Jennings, the Executive Pastor at TNC). It’s funny how God puts things together. Let me add right here. Stevens Creek is blessed with a great worship leader, he’s almost as good as Jonothan :) – I got to talk with Cliff for a little bit after the final session, he’s a great guy, and Stevens Creek is blessed to have him.

All I can say is I felt the presence of God strongly at the Blok. A few students shared with me a little of what God was speaking to them from the weekend. If God so chose to use my feebleness, I am truly blessed and thankful.

I have a special place in my heart for North Augusta. My wife and her family are from there, my kids spend the weekends at my mom-in-law’s house there, I lived there for a while, went to school and church over there, and I eat lunch there sometimes. I’ve heard for several years that God is doing something great through TrueNorth, and now I’ve experienced it first hand. I heard things continued over into the Sunday service as well. I cannot wait to watch and see what God does next as they prepare to move onto their new property and continue to take the gospel to the community.

I can only pray that God ignites a fire in New Passion as he has in TrueNorth. Their people are excited, passionate, and the love of Jesus flows through them. I know that God is using their pastor Steve and youth pastor Adam as well as their other leaders greatly. I hope God does the same in Grovetown through New Passion and Stevens Creek what he is doing through TrueNorth.

P.S. We have a bright future. I’ve had the privilege to meet, speak to, and hear from a lot of local students over the last 4+ years, and Jesus has won their hearts and they are going to transform this world like we’ve  never seen before. I just know it!

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Love Wins by Rob Bell, My Thoughts and Opinions

March 15, 2011 By nick 11 Comments

I love Rob Bell and all of my friends who agree with him and the views that he proposes in his new book Love Wins which releases today. However, I disagree with Rob Bell and I would have to disagree with my friends who agree with the views he proposes in his new book. However, despite my disagreement, Love should Win among us all, and we should not allow our disagreements, no matter how deep they are to divide our love for one another. The moment your beliefs steal your love your beliefs becomes your god.

(UPDATED) Note: I have started reading the book, but am not finished, so far everything in the post stands true. I HAVE NOT read Rob Bell’s new book. I am was solely basing my opinion on three things: 1) The reviews from supporters of Rob Bell’s book and the reviews from non-supporters of the book (overall, the reviews agree on what’s being said on the content, but the disagreement comes in the beliefs of the theology and subject matter). 2) Rob Bell’s own views expressed in his interviews. 3) The pre-video released by Rob Bell to promote the book. 4) The theology of Universalism (in general)

Here are some of my major disagreements and initial thoughts on the subject. I’ll start with the most top disagreements in case you stop reading :)

The Chasm

No one can disregard the parable by Jesus, because it’s Jesus talking. I hear people all the time wanting to disregard words by Paul and others because it wasn’t Jesus, however this Scripture is from Jesus, so it carries a lot of weight.

Luke 16:19-31 is the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Why is this so important to Rob’s new book, Love Wins? Well, Rob said himself that he does not believe that Hell is locked from the outside, rather some people create Hell here on Earth while they are other people’s Hell. He also expressed views that painted Hell as a temporary place, a time-out, if you will. To Rob and his supporters it is a place that people choose to go until they are willing to view God for who he is and at that point, because Love Wins, they are free from their Hell. For Rob, Hell is not a permanent place.

Yet, the Bible and Jesus refute this view in Luke 16:19-31. In this parable the rich man goes to Hell and is in torment. He is suffering to the place where he requests that Abraham would send Lazarus to him to just give him a drop of water. Abraham refuses and says that Lazarus is with him being comforted while the Rich man was there in torment. He expresses even if they wanted to, they couldn’t because there is a great chasm separating them.  The rich man then requests for Abraham to send someone from the dead, like Moses, to WARN his family of the pending torment of Hell.

There are three main issues here that must be focused on:

  1. The rich man being in torment would have done anything and everything possible to get out of Hell being in the anguish and torment (flames) that he was in. He would have no problem at this point seeing God for who he really was and repenting to leave Hell.
  2. Abraham says that there is a great chasm separating the two places and neither groups can get to each other even if they wanted to. This is the most destructive truth to Rob’s viewpoint of an open door Hell.
  3. Notice the rich man did not ask Abraham to send him from Hell. He knew there was no escape and no way to leave, or he would have. He asked that Abraham would send someone from his side.

I don’t believe Rob leaves so many questions open ended because he is genuinely asking the question for his own benefit. He is asking the question to point people in the direction he believes, as well, he is painting a picture of those who disagree with him as being hateful towards him and attacking him. This is not true. I disagree with him but I am not attacking him. However, since we are asking questions, shouldn’t this one be asked and answered? What about the Chasm?

Hyper-Calvinist without the Calvinist

The Hyper-Calvinist that I know do not believe in evangelism. Why? Because in the end they believe that God’s elect are going to be chosen regardless and through His own means God is going to redeem those who he has predestined to be saved. Rob Bell’s view is not much different, he’s just promoting that EVERYONE is predestined because Love Wins and it would be unjust for God to allow anyone to go to Hell if he is love. There’s only one problem with this reverse Hyper-Calvinism and with Hyper-Calvinism while we are at it:

Romans 10:13-15 – Not only must a person have faith in Jesus alone for their salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), but they must call on the name of the Lord to be saved. Romans goes on to say that how can someone believe on a person they don’t know about and how can they know about someone they’ve never heard about. Beautiful are the feet of those who go and share the Good News of Jesus. This would be a moot point if in the end, someone can make a final decision that they were wrong this entire time and they need to believe on Jesus for their salvation. The need for the message of the Good News would be pointless and void because in the end, everyone (or for the Hyper-Calvinist, the elect) will be saved. Basically this view is saying we can be lazy and silent about Jesus because in the end Love Wins anyway.

Martyrs and Missionaries Must Be the Stupidest People on the Planet

If Love Wins as Rob Bell sees it and everyone ends up in Heaven anyway, then he just made Martyrs and Missionaries the stupidest people on the planet. Why would anyone risk their life or give up their life preaching a message that in the end doesn’t matter much for the people of other faiths who have good intentions, but just doesn’t happen to use the name Jesus when they refer to their god? I work for a church who supports a lot of missionaries. Some of these missionaries cannot have their names or locations printed in any material or posted on the internet because their lives are in such danger. What stupid people! Pack-up and come home, live life, have fun, enjoy every minute of it, and let God woo those people in the end.

How does this view of an empty or an open, non-permanent Hell, with an afterlife decision opportunity not diminish the gospel and the work of Christ here and now? How does this view not diminish the commission of Jesus himself to “go make disciples?” Do those of us who are able to lead people to Christ here and save God that extra work get some kind of prize in the end? Rob’s view, in my humble opinion, just keeps unraveling for me.

Hints of Mormonism

I guess if other religions despite their belief in the actual Jesus is acceptable in the end, then, it is also okay to grab a few ideas from the Mormon religion. From my understanding, Mormons believe that there are second chances after death as well. Of course there is some temple work that has to be done on the part of the persons loved one, but regardless, death is not the end, it is the beginning. People who hold a traditional view of the gospel message is being painted by Rob Bell as being closed minded and unwilling to accept new ideas about a progressive faith, he even gives a slight pity party to say how people hate him and are attacking him, which I have not seen. However, I believe what I believe because I have studied it out #1 for myself and it stands firm on Scripture. The question I have is this, “Where is there any hint of a second chance in the afterlife to choose Jesus or to see God for who he really is, anywhere in the Bible?” “Where did Jesus even hint at such a possibility?” Rob says he wants to have a conversation on these issues, so in my conversation, I would like these questions answered.

The Bottom Line

It wasn’t a day after the first blog popped up declaring that Rob Bell may be a Universalist, that those from Rob’s viewpoint started saying that people like myself only believe in Hell because it gives us permission to hate our enemies and that we have a twisted viewpoint to want there to be a full Hell, etc. I’ve never heard something  more outrageous in my life!!! I believe in a literal, hot, tormenting Hell, and I don’t believe there is a second chance after this life to choose Jesus. That’s why the reality of Hell must be preached here and that’s why the gospel must be preached now. I don’t want a full Hell, but that’s what I believe it will be if we become silent about Jesus and the gospel and if we start telling people to live life to its fullest now because in the end there is no way a loving God is going to let them go to Hell, so they can choose Him anytime they want. If I hated my enemy, this is the message I would preach. If I hated my enemy, why would I want to warn them about Hell? See how dumb that accusation is?

Love Wins because God loved a world full of people who took the perfect gift he gave us and we rebelled against him and through our sin we broke his ideal plan. Through this love of His, he sent the perfect sacrifice through his son, Jesus, so that all those who believe in him, would be redeemed. It would be disgraceful to call this act by God hate and it would diminish God’s power to say it’s not good enough and that we need an after-death grace period because the time on Earth He gave us was not long enough. Rob Bell wants to talk about Hell limiting the power & love of God, however, saying that a person cannot come to faith in the lifespan God gave them, would diminish God even more.

I may be totally wrong about Rob Bell’s views on this matter once I read the book, but based on his own answers in his interview and the reviews from those who both agree and disagree with him, I believe I am completely accurate. If I find I am wrong I will apologize and correct it as emphatically as I have dismissed it.

**Also, please note, I have not and am not attacking Rob Bell or those who agree with him, I have simply pointed out some of the areas where we disagree, Love Wins**

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Be Radical, Make War

November 10, 2010 By nick Leave a Comment

radicalHey New Passion Family and Friends!

I started reading a book called Radical by David Platt this week. I just started in Chapter 2 and I already regret that I did not start reading it before we began our Make War Series this past weekend. This is a MUST read, it is already confirming that we are on the right track with the Make War series and it’s helping solidify that we have to have a different perspective as a church (Yes, all of that in a chapter and a half).

The best news is…Amazon has the book right now for $5.50!!! [Go Order] The cheapest I’ve found it outside of Amazon is $11+ at Wal-Mart. I highly recommend ordering this book and making it a study companion during our make war series!

Check out the book’s video below:

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I’m Not Alright

October 22, 2010 By nick 3 Comments

“There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus…” John 3:1-2

I’ve heard various stories about why Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Personally I believe it was because he was curious about Jesus, and as the Scriptures point out, it was very evident that God had sent him to teach them a new way of finding right standing with Himself. However, Jesus was not popular with the Pharisees. In order to be accepted by his own people Nicodemus had to seek Jesus out in private.

I love the song “I’m Not Alright” by Sanctus Real. I never had permission to not be alright for a long time as a Christian. Over the last several years things have changed and now I feel free to not have it all together. I understand that my goal is to become more like Jesus, but as long as I am alive, I will always battle my fallen nature. I just wonder, why is it that the church has created an environment where people have to act like Nicodemus did? Why is it that people don’t feel free to walk through our doors and freely say without the fear of judgment, “I’m Not Alright!“

  • I wonder how many lives would have been saved if people could say, “I’m Not Alright” and not be preached at?
  • I wonder how many pastors, who eventually ended up giving into moral failure, would still be preaching if they could have said, “I’m Not Alright” and not be shunned or abandoned?
  • I wonder how many teenagers would have grown up and raised their families in church if they would have had the freedom of saying, “I’m Not Alright” without being branded in a youth ministry?
  • I wonder how many people could have received hope and grace or found redemption if they had the freedom to say, “I’m Not Alright!“

Why is the church afraid to let people be broken and to seek answers? The honest truth is, growing up, at least 85% of the answers I received to my questions, were essentially “Just trust me” or “That’s what the Bible says” (without a Scripture reference or with a Scripture reference out of context). Could it be we are afraid for people to ask questions to seek healing for their brokenness because our faith and our beliefs have been based on what we were told to believe, so beyond that, we really don’t know how to extend help to people? We don’t have answers because we only know what we’ve been told to know?

I received a free copy of Anne Jackson’s new book “Permission to Speak Freely” at the 2010 Blogger’s Meet-up a couple of weeks ago. I haven’t read the book, in fact I forgot I had it until I started writing this post, but it sounds like it is full of stories from people who never had permission to speak freely in church. I look forward to reading it, Anne’s last book, Mad Church Disease was phenomenal!

Check out the video below and then join the conversation: “Why does it seem the church has created an environment where people cannot be honest when things are “Not Alright?”

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An Open Letter to Dr. Terry Jones

September 8, 2010 By nick 4 Comments

Dear Pastor Dr. Terry Jones,

I write this letter with little hope that #1 you would read it and #2 that it would make a difference, but I feel something should be said, whether the advice is heeded or not, that sir, is your choice.

As a fellow Christian pastor, I urge you to stop your blatant disregard of the Christian faith. Your continuation of your planned burning of the Koran, not only makes you a disgraceful American it disgraces the core teachings of the faith you claim to follow and represent.

I do not make my case based on personal feelings. I base it through Scripture which is strong enough to stand alone:

I make my case through…

Jesus

  1. Where in Scripture did Jesus ever destroy (in any way) the holy books or the temples of worship for any other faith or religion?
  2. Matthew 5:9-12 Jesus said the “Peacemakers” will be called the Sons of God – You do not make peace by inciting violence with your actions of burning the Koran. It goes on to say,  “Rejoice and be glad” when persecuted for righteousness sake, not go seek revenge or go make a “statement” when you feel others have done you wrong.
  3. Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus tells us to “turn the other cheek” and to go out of our way to accommodate those who seek to harm us. I’m curious, how does your burning of the Koran fit with in these instructions?
  4. Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus tells us to love our enemies. He asks, what reward is there in only loving your brother? Even the Pagans do that. How is inciting our enemies loving them? How do you open the door for the Good News of Jesus Christ, by angering them? I don’t know, maybe the word “enemy” from Jesus’ day meant something else…I’m sure it did.
  5. Luke 17:11-17, Jesus performs a good deed, a miracle. One of ten men came back to thank him, it was a Samaritan. I am sure you are aware that the Samaritans worshiped differently than the Jews, this Samaritan could have looked at Jesus with great disdain, but he didn’t, maybe it was because Jesus didn’t incite him to violence and hatred, he loved him, healed him, did good to him. I wonder, how are your actions on September 11, 2010 in burning the Koran, follow in Jesus’ example? Where did Jesus burn the Samaritan’s holy book? Where did he “take a stand?” Um, maybe I missed something, either way, Jesus’ method led the man to faith.

Paul

  1. Look at 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, now go study the rest of Scripture. For every “act” of violence, hatred, or wrong done against Paul, where did he one time respond with a “protest” or “standing up against his foes” or any other demonstration of what was “right” in his eyes? Where? He preached the Gospel. His life was for Christ not his own.
  2. Check out Acts 14:19-22, Paul was stoned and left for dead outside of the city. I bet Paul got back up and made a protest against them for burning his Bible and attacking his fellow believers, don’t you? No, he went back into the city, preached the Gospel and encouraged the believers, declaring that one must suffer many hardships as a believer. It sounds to me that Paul did not need to “act” out in order to “stand-up” for his beliefs. He just lived them out, whether it cost him his life or whether he got to keep his life.
  3. Furthermore, check out Acts 17:16-34, Paul goes to Athens and is encountered with a people who followed many gods and different religions. I bet we see here where he goes and destroys their temples and their idols and their holy books. Oh, man, once again, a peacemakers approach. He actually “preaches” against them and uses them to contrast the Truth and the Gospel.
  4. We are instructed in Colossians 4:5-6, to be careful with how we deal with non-believers, to be full of grace and to be seasoned with salt, so that we may have an answer for everyone. I wonder how your approach on September 11, 2010, falls within these instructions?
  5. In Acts 16:16-40, Paul and Silas are in prison. They have the opportunity to escape, but they know that in doing so it would cost the guards their life, so they stay and because of that the guards come to faith. Unlike you, they were unwilling for their faith to cause another person their life. You sir, make a mockery of the Christian faith when General Petraeus warns that our American soldiers will have the risk on their life increased by your actions and you ignore it! You may be willing to die for your faith, but you are not a peacemaker when you are causing & increasing problems for others on your behalf. If one attack happens because of your actions and any soldier loses their life, their blood will be on your hands, so I guess you might be very proud of them sacrificing their life for your right to be foolish.
  6. In Romans 12:14-21, Paul urges us to BLESS those who persecute us and to not pay back evil for evil. How does your plan fit within that instruction?

The honest truth sir, there is no Biblical foundation for which you can say your actions are in the name of Christianity. What you are doing is in the name of Dr. Terry Jones and the Dove World Outreach Center. Maybe its your way of getting a little fame and a little bit of news coverage, but you in no way are promoting the Savior Jesus or his teachings. You can twist Scripture all you want to make your point, people have done so for centuries, but you will be hard pressed to present grace and love through your actions. Our instructions are to go into all the world to make disciples (Matthew 28:19) as Christians we are called to represent Christ. You are not doing that and you are not paving the road for the Gospel to be preached, in fact, you are perverting the gospel, with a gospel of hate. Here’s a novel idea, arrange a massive prayer meeting not a Koran burning service, but then again, that may mean you think God is big enough to change the hearts of those you disagree with.

Sincerely,

Nick Carnes

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Suffering Afflictions and Going the Second Mile

July 14, 2010 By nick Leave a Comment

Oswald Chambers’ Devotion for July 14…

Suffering Afflictions and Going the Second Mile

But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. – Matthew 5:39

This verse reveals the humiliation of being a Christian. In the natural realm, if a person does not hit back, it is because he is a coward. But in the spiritual realm, it is the very evidence of the Son of God in him if he does not hit back. When you are insulted, you must not only not resent it, but you must make it an opportunity to exhibit the Son of God in your life. And you cannot imitate the nature of Jesus- it is either in you or it is not. A personal insult becomes an opportunity for a saint to reveal the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus.

The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not, “Do your duty,” but is, in effect, “Do what is not your duty.” It is not your duty to go the second mile, or to turn the other cheek, but Jesus said that if we are His disciples, we will always do these things. We will not say, “Oh well, I just can’t do any more, and I’ve been so misrepresented and misunderstood.” Every time I insist on having my own rights, I hurt the Son of God, while in fact I can prevent Jesus from being hurt if I will take the blow myself. That is the real meaning of filling “up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” ( Colossians 1:24 ). A disciple realizes that it is his Lord’s honor that is at stake in his life, not his own honor.

Never look for righteousness in the other person, but never cease to be righteous yourself. We are always looking for justice, yet the essence of the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is- Never look for justice, but never cease to give it.

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It’s Not Just a Prayer

May 6, 2010 By nick 1 Comment

“…and help the sick, the hungry, and the poor”

prayerThat’s what Gavin asks every time he prays. For a long time Nicki and I simply let him pray it, but over the last couple of years, we’ve done our best to show him opportunities where he can actually be the answer to his prayer.

Today is the National Day of Prayer. Millions of prayers will be hitting the airwaves all across the country. I am so excited that people will take the time to pause and to pray. I truly believe prayer is the conduit that ushers in God’s power. However, as I think about the most famous prayer, The Lord’s Prayer, I can’t help but to recognize that it wasn’t just a prayer. Jesus didn’t simply toss up some words to his Father and expect them to happen. There is a portion of the prayer that only God could answer, but for the rest of it, Jesus was instructing us to pray for the ability and the strength to accomplish that which we are called to accomplish. Jesus didn’t just pray this prayer, he lived it, check it out:

“…Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”

What was God’s will? That Jesus would come offer himself as a sacrifice for all of mankind, so that whoever places their faith in him would have salvation. Jesus did that. What’s God’s will for us? That we go about sharing the Good News and allowing our lives to be driven from the message of the gospel.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

Jesus did this. Remember the cross? “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do?” Remember the conversation with Peter in Matthew 18? “How many times should I forgive my brother who sins against me, up to seven times?” and Jesus replied “No, not seven times, but seventy times seven.”

I believe like Gavin, we are caught too many times praying for a solution to the world’s problems, but it ends there. I guess we expect Manna to fall from heaven to feed the poor. Blankets to drop down from doves to cover the homeless. And medicine to seep out of the ground to heal the sick. As I’ve been in the middle of raising awareness for our local area to help with the flood relief in Nashville, I’ve never been more frustrated by the words, “I’m praying for them.” Or, I can’t bring supplies or a donation because I’ll be at “My” church, but “I’ll pray for them.”

Why am I bugging everyone on Facebook and Twitter to get involved with the Nashville Flood Relief? Because I know Manna doesn’t fall from Heaven, I know doves don’t deliver blankets, and there  isn’t such thing as medicine crops. Pete Wilson, lead pastor at Cross Point in Nashville said it best, “This is called the thousand year flood, I see it as a once in a thousand year opportunity.” (Watch Their Update Video) I am doing what I can, whether you are tired of seeing my updates and blog posts or not, because I believe there are some prayers that Jesus intended on US being the answer to; while he provides us the resources, the ability, and the strength!

I can’t say this any more clearer. Church, this is OUR family. What if 50% of your church staff lost their homes? What if a big portion of your congregation & friends lost their homes? Would you be asking for help? Would you hope your family would come along side you? So, where are you at?

Everyone can give something. Supplies? We have a list of stuff needed HERE & We’ll come pick them up, if you are local and can’t drop them off. Donation? You can give online Here or Here if you can’t be there Sunday to drop it off or to give in our special offering. Everyone has $5 to give. Some may have more. You may have $1,000 that you can pull out of savings. Acts 2:44-45 “All the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.” In addition to our special offering, New Passion has a portable, powered 8 channel sound board with two speakers that we are selling. Everything we make on that “possession” will be “shared” with Cross Point. So now, it’s your turn. Whose prayer in Nashville can you answer on the National Day of Prayer?

Our special site for the Nashville Flood Relief Effort in the CSRA: http://flood.newpassionchurch.com

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