Natural Born Killer.

Here are some reasons why.

One, as a sportsman, it is no surprise that Andy has deep passion and skill for killing it outdoors.  Sporting his life-time hunting license, Andy is always plotting his next kill to feed his family and maintain the wildlife population.  Sporting a full-suspension 29er, Andy is grinding the gears off road at a killer pace that only a few top-notch bikers can keep up.  Sporting his gym membership, Andy is keeping physically fit by killing each muscle group with reps ad nausuem.

Two, as a Senior Pastor, Andy consistently kills most stereotypes you may have for a Senior Pastor.  Unlike most pastors, he does not sport the big belly from too many pot lucks. Unlike many pastors, you will not find Andy showing off the latest hair trend.   Unlike too many pastors, you will never hear him talk negative with others about his church folk…even if they have hurt him or his family.  Unlike some pastors I have worked with, he is pure in his passion for purity and morality.

Three, as a man after God’s own heart, Andy’s burning desire is to point people to the ULTIMATE NATURAL BORN KILLER- Jesus.  I have never seen Andy make a decision that did not deeply consider how others will come to know Jesus better.  Andy is heavy burdened with the whole world knowing that the ONE who was born to this world to ultimately kill Satan, death, and sin is Jesus Christ.

Happy Birthday Andy-you natural born killer!

We are not only Christian people; we are also church people.  We are not only committed to Christ, we are also committed to the body of Christ.

I trust that none of my readers is that grotesque anomaly, an un-churched Christian.  The New Testament knows nothing of such a person.

For the church lies at the very center of the eternal purpose of God.  It is not a divine afterthought.  It is not an accident of history.

On the contrary, the church is God’s new community.

For his purpose, conceived in a past eternity, being worked out in history, and to be perfected in a future eternity, is not just to save isolated individuals and so perputuate our loneliness, but rather to build his church, that is, to call out of the world a people for his own glory.

-John Stott, The Living Church, p. 19.

• Large banner sign made it impossible to miss.
• We were greeted in the parking lot, as well as, escorted to all our corresponding children’s classes.
• Healthy food and juice was provided before the service.
• Kid’s rooms were well staffed and felt very safe.
• The pastor greeted us before the service and made us feel very welcome.
• Great contemporary praise and worship.
• Friendly faces. Clean facility. Passionate preaching.
• Worship bulletin was very help for note taking.
• Great expository message on Philippians 2 with the main idea that “A-TEAM” THAT SERVES GOD TOGETHER SERVES HIM BETTER.
• Was reminded that B.A. Baracus (Mr. T) didn’t like flying.
• Can’t get out of our minds Pastor Matt’s challenge, “We are sovereignly placed and positioned for God’s Glory”  Wow!!

Oh yeah, let’s not forget, the service concluded in time to beat the Methodists and Presbyterians to lunch:-)

God has big plans for The Creek Church.  They are loving people from the bleachers to the field!

They are sovereignly placed and positioned for God’s Glory in NW Cary!

“The command…implies there is nothing automatic about setting our minds on Heaven.  In fact, most commands assume a resistance to obeying them, which sets up the necessity for the command.

We are told to avoid sexual immorality because it is our tendency.  We are not told to avoid jumping off buildings because normally we don’t battle such a temptation.

The command to think about Heaven is under attack in a hundred different ways every day.  Everything militates against it.

Our minds are so much set on Earth that we are unaccustomed to heavenly thinking.  So we must work at it.

What have you been doing daily to set your mind on things above, to seek Heaven?

What should you do differently”

(Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, p. 21)

Specifically, Raleigh has been very slow to see churches go multisite, but that is soon to change.  Here a few churches that are adding multi-site venues in the Raleigh area.

• Vintage 21 (opening multisite in Durham)
  
• Cleveland Community Church (opening multisite in Raleigh)
• Hope Community Church (opening multisite in Holly Springs and Morrisville)
  

“and they say, “The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob does not perceive.”
(Psalm 94:7)

On the other hand, how very comforting to know that when we are suffering that the Bible teaches a very different truth.  Instead, Moses records in Exodus 2:23-25 that God considers our cries to our God greatly.

23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.
(Exodus 2:23-25)

Don’t miss the simple repetition of in verses 24 and 25.  In the Hebew, the author uses only 15 words in these verses, but repeats the word “God four times.  Each time the name “God” is used as the subject of a verse, putting emphasis ont he Lord Himself.

Today, our hope this come comes from the fact that God HEARS, God REMEMBERS, God SEES, and God KNOWS our suffering.  What a great God we serve.

Who Does Multisite?

• LifeChurch.tv United

Multisite on the Web

• The Multi-site Revolution
• Five Things You Must Know About Multi-Site Church

Church Planting Village on Multisite

• Multisite Church Planting Strategy (PPT)
• Multisite Church Planting Strategy (Word)
• Multisite Church Phenomenon (PDF)
• Useful Multisite Terms You Need to Know (PPT)
• Four Opposition Points for Going Multisite (PPT)
• Random Thoughts about Multisite (PPT)
• A Suggested Multisite Startup Budget (Word)
• Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Multisite Church (Word)

Defense of the Multisite Campus Model

• Biblical Defense of the Multi-Campus Church Model by J.D. Greear

• Gospel-repentance includes deep humility (vs. pride)

Have I looked down on anyone?  Have I been too stung by criticism?  Have I felt snubbed and ignored?

• Gospel-repentance includes burning love (vs. indifference)

Have I spoken or thought unkindly or anyone?  Am I justifying myself by caricaturing (in my mind) someone else?

• Gospel-repentance includes wise courage (vs. anxiety)

Have I avoided people or tasks that I know I should face?  Have I been anxious or worried?  Have I failed to be circumspect or have I been rash or impulsive?

• Gospel-repentance includes godly motivations

Am I doing what I am doing for God’s glory and the good of others or am I being driven by fears, need for approval, love of comfort and ease, need for control, hunger for acclaim and power, or the ‘fear of man?”

Download the entire writing by Keller by visiting Joe Thorn’s “On Repentance”