The Space Between

September 3, 2010 By nick Leave a Comment

Check out this video from Pete Wilson, lead pastor at Cross Point Church, in Nashville, TN.

This message (Relentlessly Dedicated) is from Cross Point’s 3D DNA series.

If you are a Christ Follower and it doesn’t inspire you…I truly don’t know what to say. Watch it. Be inspired. Do something!

I pray God would use our community of faith at New Passion to make the kind of impact Cross Point has locally and globally in our area.

Reflections from the message:

  • The reference Pete made about 6 pennies, are you okay with that?
  • Pete referenced the average missions giving from the church was 2% and the average from individuals to the church was 2% – Are you okay with that?
  • Are you bored?
  • Do you buy into the consumerism approach to church? It’s got to fit within your mileage, its got to fit within your schedule, all of the programs, the style, the music has to fit you like a glove? Has church become about you?
  • How do you look at missions? Is it a program of the church? A great idea? Something you do when it fits your schedule and your budget? Or is it a part of your DNA?
  • How would your opinion about your problems change if you knew God would use it for his glory in the life of another person? (I.E. God used shadrach meshach and abednego in the fiery furnace to open the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar)

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The Attitude of Gratitude

August 30, 2010 By nick 9 Comments

We are in-between sermon series at New Passion, so yesterday I did a solo message on the Attitude of Gratitude. Generic, I know.

However, the title is all telling. I believe when we are grateful, it changes our attitude towards God and towards other people. I shared at the end of the message a list of people I am grateful for at New Passion, I also shared a video that convicted me in areas I had been ungrateful (It’s definitely a must see video by Pete Wilson: Watch  HERE – *Correction from the message: It was not India, it was a house in the Dominican Republic).

Think about it:

  • How would our attitude about the job we hate change if you realized there are millions of people without a job and became grateful that we at least have a job?
  • How would our attitude about our difficult children change if we realized that some people can’t have kids or have lost their child at an early age and were grateful that we’ve been blessed with the children we have?
  • How would our attitude about what God’s not given us change if we became grateful that he’s already given us everything we need?
  • How would our attitude about…Change?

So, if you were at New Passion this past Sunday or if you weren’t, continue the conversation and share a little of what you are grateful for:

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Thank You New Passion and Friends

May 11, 2010 By nick 2 Comments

supplies-in-vanHey New Passion Church and our friends who jumped in with us to help out Cross Point Church with their flood relief efforts! I just want to express how thankful I am to you all for caring enough for other people that you would sacrifice your time and money to send a van full of supplies and a financial gift to a church you may never visit and to a people you may never meet.

That’s what real love is all about.

The Good Samaritan helped a complete stranger who was overlooked by everyone else when he needed serious help. We love helping those who we know, but I believe it is an even stronger reflection of Jesus when we are just as willing to help those we don’t know, and at that, just like the Good Samaritan, go above and beyond just helping.

I really hoped that we could have done more to help in this situation. The news ran a story, the Christian radio even promoted what we were doing, yet the response came down to our church and a few of our friends, so thank you!

Here is what you did by the numbers:

  • $1,700 Financial Gift – This is huge! This was raised in less than a week and it is equivalent to half of our monthly income as a church (our monthly rent at the school for 4-weeks is $1,740)
  • 35+ Cases of Water
  • 3 Wheelbarrows
  • 8 Bottles of Bleach
  • 15 Pairs of Gloves
  • 48 Rolls of Toilet Paper
  • 7 Plastic Containers
  • A bunch of Cleaning Supplies (Sponges, Buckets, Etc.)
  • 3 Utility Knives with Replacement Blades
  • 2 Crowbars
  • 2 Flashlights
  • And a bunch of random items to help

2010-05-10-190213Not too shabby for a church that turned 9 months old this past Sunday and who runs an average of 80-85 people, half of which are children.

Pete Wilson, lead pastor of Cross Point, sent me this message: “Dude!!!!!! I was blown away by the financial gift you guys gave. Holy cow that was generous. Thanks so much Nick. Your church is amazing!!”

Ryan Bult, Missions Director of Cross Point, was very grateful for everything you all did, he expressed it many times to Billy and me personally.

Everyone who we talked to  who is in the middle of this crisis and are trying to put their lives back together again expressed their gratitude for your sacrifice and gratitude for them. Your love for them was evident in our being present and delivering the items you donated.

This crisis is not over! We will continue to partner with Cross Point in the future. Billy and I are discussing our best approach, so stay tuned as we reveal the next phase of our Nashville Flood Relief Effort. We’ll also talk more about this Sunday!

Thank you all…I’m proud of you all!

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Late Night Sneak Peak

May 8, 2010 By nick Leave a Comment

Here is a late night sneak peak at the Video we are showing before our special offering tomorrow for our Nashville Flood Relief Efforts. This video was created by Cross Point’s team, we just added our message at the end. Let’s step up big tomorrow at New Passion!

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The Influence of Sacrifice

May 7, 2010 By nick Leave a Comment

In my post yesterday I shared how New Passion Church has committed to selling a portable sound system that we are not using and is in storage so we can give the money to Cross Point Church for their Nashville Flood Relief Efforts. We’ll only get $300-400 for the system, its not a lot of money, but it’s just one more small part that we can contribute.

In all honesty, this sound system is special to me. It isn’t to my worship leader Jonothan. In fact, when I first showed him the system, I think he laughed really loud inside his head & then verbally asked how much money we had and said our first major purchase when we got the money would be for a new sound system. Not because it is not a good system; only because it would not fit our needs for growing into the future. It is however special to me. Why? Well, because its New Passion’s first sound system. Given the money we had and the sacrifices we had to make, the $800 we invested to get the mixer, speakers, mics and cords was a huge deal. I was excited! In fact, instead of getting rid of it, I’d rather  plate it in gold and put it in a trophy case.

So, why is it easy for me to let it go? Because of the influence of sacrifice. Jonothan understood that we were limited in our early days financially. We still are, but we are in a much better place than we were 1-2 months in. We are in a better place financially because of people like Jonothan who are willing to sacrifice and therefore influence the entire DNA of our church. Jonothan had a prized possession; his motorcycle. He sold that motorcycle to purchase new NICE speakers and a new NICE sound board for New Passion to use in our worship services. We’re still developing our band, so its kind of funny right now to see two singers plugged into a 32 channel Allan and Heath board :)

allanheathboard
Every time New Passion and our people have sacrificed for a Kingdom cause, God has blown us away with his response. We’ve never given or sacrificed to get a response, only to be obedient. This Sunday as we collect supplies and financial gifts for our Nashville Flood Relief Efforts, we don’t expect anything locally to come of it. We do however expect God to use our efforts globally in Nashville for the BIG church. We don’t sacrifice to get or to gain. We sacrifice to influence others for Christ. There is no better church in the world that I would want to partner with than Cross Point Church. It has been amazing to see the influence they’ve created out of their personal sacrifice. Their pastor, Pete Wilson, said the other day that this is being called the 1,000 year flood, he sees it as a once in a 1,000 year opportunity to reach out to those who are in crisis.

Will you join us this Sunday? If you can’t be there will you join us online HERE or HERE to donate to their relief efforts? Even a sacrifice of $5 can influence a changed world for someone. Will you bring one or several of the requested supplies? We’ll be collecting supplies at Cedar Ridge Elementary School (1000 Trudeau Trail, Grovetown, GA 30813: Directions) from 8 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. You don’t have to stay for the service, you can simply drop off and leave. Will you share the link to our website and our Facebook Events page on your Facebook or with your friends through Email or other Social Media sites? Even if you are from another state, you can get involved, you can get others involved. Join the people of Nashville. Influence others through your sacrifice!

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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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Attention Church, Your Family Needs You!!!

May 4, 2010 By nick Leave a Comment

train-tracks-washed-awayYesterday, I posted that New Passion is going to do all we can to assist Cross Point Church in Nashville. Many of their church’s families and staff have been directly devastated by the floods this weekend. Here is a report from their first day of relief efforts via Pete’s blog…Pay attention…Pete is specifically requesting help. Hey Church, this is our family, they are in need, so let’s step up and help!

I’ve never been more proud of Cross Point then I was today. I couldn’t believe the number of volunteers who showed up throughout the day at our Cross Point Bellevue Campus (which is now our flood headquarters) to help serve our community.

The flooding is widespread and worse than I could have ever imagined. Their calling this the 500 year flood. It’s hard to imagine the amount of work we have ahead of us but I’m so excited to get back at it tomorrow. This is church!!! Also so proud of the number of churches around the country who are either sending people or money! I love it when the body of Christ acts like the body of Christ. (Read the Rest of the Post HERE)

I don’t care how you get involved. Just get involved!!!

New Passion & Augusta/CSRA: We are collecting supplies, donations, and taking a special offering THIS SUNDAY (Mother’s Day). What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than to care for all of the mothers who are displaced in Nashville and in the surrounding areas? If you donate towards the relief effort, it is 100% tax-deductible and we will add it to your yearly contribution statements.

We’ve set up a special site: http://flood.newpassionchurch.com to give you all of the details for our local efforts.

You can also give directly to Cross Point’s Flood Fund HERE. Thanks for helping!!!

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Nashville Flood Relief

May 3, 2010 By nick 1 Comment

nashville-flood-relief-text

Hey New Passion (and anyone else interested):

Nashville, Tennessee was devastated with massive flooding yesterday. Pete Wilson tweeted some of the bad news as he was hearing from his people and today reported on his blog that many people from his church, Cross Point Community Church, including their staff have either been displaced because they have lost their entire home or because their homes have been severly damaged. Many of these people do not have flood insurance.

Church, this is our family! We are going to do what we can to help! I know we are not a huge church, but I’ve seen our people show up big when other opportunities to live out our faith have come calling. We’ve set up a special website so you can get involved: http://flood.newpassionchurch.com

You can also follow @npmissions, @newpassion, @Billy_Wilson, or Me on Twitter or join our Facebook Page to stay up to date on the details of our involvement.

Go to the site, call, text, email your friends & family and get them involved. Do what you can, but please do something! Thank you!

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UNLEASH 2010: Breakout Session 1

March 4, 2010 By nick 2 Comments

perry-noble1stevenfurtick-buttonUnleash 2010 Breakout Session 1: Senior  Pastors Only

Perry Noble &
Steven Furtick

Breakout Session Notes

God can speak through people who are equivalent to Balaam’s donkey – Steven Furtick (They’re pretty much jackasses…Don’t tithe, don’t get involved, etc. But God can speak through them)

  • The parameters of the overall vision gives the leadership freedom to lead & think Big – The overall vision comes from the pastor – Steve Furtick

(I was reminded about this quote from Church Planters Conference) “You can’t have a strategy without first having a philosophy” – Pete Wilson

  • When you hear from God and your leaders know you hear from God, you can lead them to do some stupid stuff :) However, you have to REALLY hear from God, you cannot front like you hear from God.
  • Leaders have to choose the path of humility – “God cannot lift an unbowed head” – Steven Furtick
  • The unspoken lid to our leadership is the fear of being burned – Steven Furtick
  • The Great players play hurt. Preach hurt, don’t preach bitter! – Perry Noble
  • God’s promise is bigger than your perhaps – Steven Furtick
  • A pastor cannot choose his successor – Perry Noble quoting Rick Warren

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Velocity 2010 Session and Breakout Notes

February 24, 2010 By nick 1 Comment

velocity-buttonVelocity 2010 Church Planting Conference

Mountain Lake Church was not able to ramp up their bandwidth for the WIFI network in time for the Velocity 2010 Church Planters Conference. This was like a forced Blogging and Twitter fast for me, but it wasn’t a bad thing. All of my attention was on the speakers and taking old school notes :)

Here is a landing page for all of the notes I was able to take (now posted on my blog) for each session, except session 5, and for the Breakouts I attended, some of the notes may not make any sense to you, they probably will not make much sense to me once I go back and review some of them, because several of the speakers had in-depth studies and terms that I couldn’t record before they moved on:

Main Session 1: Shawn Lovejoy
Main Session 2: Alan Hirsch
Main Session 3: Steven Furtick
Breakout Session 2: Pete Wilson
Main Session 4: Dave Gibbons
Breakout Session 3: Tony Morgan
Main Session 6: Rick Warren

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