On the Brink...Expecting and Attempting

None of us are rich. But 24 hours from now we get to -- one by one, dollar by dollar, giving sacrificially -- participate in making a difference. "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God," a missionary said 200 years ago facing a similar situation. 

I wish we were all independently wealthy and could, each one of us, with one stroke of the pen bless Pendleton Place by writing them a check for $10,000. That's not where we are though. So tomorrow I need you to join God in his miracle before our eyes. Join me in three ways:

1. Pray. With your family, on your own, with friends, however you do it. Pray out loud. Be bold in prayer in asking God to raise the $10k, bring awareness to Pendleton Place and to Origins
2. Give. Bid on a piece if you can or bring an item from the needs list or just a $5 cash donation
3. Bring others. Blow up Facebook, Twitter, and any other way -- including and especially personal invite -- to get people through the door

None of us will donate $10,000 but God can use us all in little ways to get it done. Even more, the money wasn't and isn't the point. The point always was making a difference, making sure every man, woman and child in our circle of accountability around us gets to hear the Good News of Jesus. I hope we are embodying that story well. Come flesh out the Gospel with me tomorrow, joining me in the mission that is far bigger than any of us. And know that I love you guys, love being your pastor, love the journey we are on, and can't wait to see what God is about to do among us. Expect great things and attempt great things!

Art Auction Prayer Guide

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright" (Psalm 20:7-8)

Scripture repeatedly speaks of a God who, in love, supernaturally provides for his people. He gives because he loves us. He also gives for his own glory and namesake. When he shows up and we speak up -- turning the praise back toward him -- people see and give him the credit. We aren't parting the Red Sea, inhabiting the Promised Land, slaying a giant, or shutting the mouths of lions, but we do need God to provide for us with our Pendleton Place Art Auction. Join me in praying for the following in the 10 days leading up to the auction. Invite people, spread the word, be there that night, bid on art... but more than all of that, join me in asking God to do what only he can do. 

Ask God...

Tuesday 10.12.  To give us $10,000 and sell all paintings  

Wednesday 10.13.  For no glitches in collecting money at the event

Thursday 10.14.  For our local artists helping with event to be intrigued and follow-up with Origins

Friday 10.15.  For the staff of Pendleton Place to see Christ in us and drawn to him and to continue to love these kids well 

Saturday 10.16.  For our local businesses and media to be intrigued and follow-up with Origins

Sunday 10.17.  For downtowners to come to and support the auction by bidding on art

Monday 10.18.  Whether or not he wants you to attend, bid, and give

Tuesday 10.19.  For downtowners to hear of Origins going forward and to join us in God's mission in Downtown Greenville

Wednesday 10.20.  For 10 artists, business owners and community leaders to serve as sponsors, advocates, and advertisers at the auction

Thursday 10.21.  For the kids of Pendleton Place to be loved, safe, healed, and to encounter Jesus and for God to bless their work

Calling a Spade a Spade: Spiritual Warfare

Thinking I was alone, I came to find out the last week or so has been discouraging for many of my friends. Marriages frustrated by miscommunication, misunderstanding, or -- yikes -- no communication. Jobs demanding more hours and work, and finances being stretched further than they've ever had to go. A greater struggle to spend time with Jesus in prayer, meditation, and contemplation leaves us feeling convicted and sapped. Temptation crouching constantly at the door. God pierced my heart with his love and grace last week... so as I was snatched from the funk, I saw others mired in it. Why all the frustration right now?
Then it occurred to me. A flood of scriptures came racing to my mind. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
Many of us are being bombarded by a spiritual warfare the likes of which we have never seen. Many of my friends are new believers and are facing a heavy dose of trial, of testing of and stretching the faith. Other friends are in key positions planning an art auction for charity, leading community groups, and seeking to live out their faith in front of others and are now being pummeled by an Enemy who wants it all to stop. It is the testing of our faith.
So rather than stumble or muddle through it, how do we walk strong in faith in these difficult days? A couple of truths.

• Remember the truth of "It came to pass..." That's one of the Bible's most encouraging phrases. Many trials last for a season. Stay the course.
• Know that the Enemy is a dog on a leash. He only has the power God releases to him, and we know God's purposes for our life are good. Temptation does not have to overwhelm us because it will not defeat us. When Satan comes at you, stand strong, run from temptation, and respond with truth from Scripture.
• Let your trial and the war inside you (and maybe surrounding you) serve its refining purpose. "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith -- more precious that gold that perishes though it is tested by fire -- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7). As the goldsmith purifies the gold through burning away impurities in fire, so our Father God can only burn away some of our imperfections through fire. But we can trust that the refining fire will result in us reflecting him, as pure gold reflects the goldsmith, when he looks at us. 

Stay the course. Stand together in community and accountability. Ask people to pray for you, and be diligent to remember God's people around the world who are suffering a more dire fate in a far greater danger for the sake of the Gospel. Persevere. The best is yet to come.

Funny Thing about Providence

Providence. Old puritanical people used that word. I never liked to think of God and the way he takes care of me as Providence. Just sounded dusty to me. But these days I am becoming more comfortable with it, as with many things ancient and anchored. Its easy to think God exists for me, bending to my every whim. Yet I am not happy with that little god, that good luck charm. I want a God who is big, unpredictable, and can only be followed because it is ridiculous to think I'm going to drag him along like a dog on a leash. Give me a big God. Give me YHVH, I AM, the God of the burning bush. Give me the God who parts the Red Sea, is a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, who provides heaven-bread every day and lets the extra rot. Give me the God of providence, not the god of my pleasure and comfort. 

Yet as I pray that, I know what it implies. I know I have to be ready to live with that Providence when he zigs and I thought he'd zag. That happened yesterday. This house situation has been enigmatic to say the least... and then we found the house. They were building it for us, in 29601, with one more room than we expected, at a great price. Deal on. Then the email about the builders' alteration of the deal. Sadly, deal off. And here we are again... without a house, trusting God, yet not sure where he is leading us -- only following the cloud today and eating the manna provided for this 24 hours. Funny thing about Providence. In love and mercy, he provides. That's it. He's unpredictable, inescapable, untamable, unchangeable and -- all the while -- unyieldingly faithful to provide. So here we go again, trusting that though we don't know where we are heading or exactly how we will get there, we know our Guide, Providence, the God of the Bible is trustworthy and knows the way.