Vacation, Books, and Conviction

Last week I was able to get away and spend some time with my family on vacation. I love going on away because it gives me the chance to obviously get away (duh), but it also gives me the chance to catch up on some of the books I have lying around. This year I got a chance to read a few books, but the one that has stuck out to me the most is called Radical by David Platt. David is the pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL and a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary which is the same school I attend (which is how I came across this book). David holds 3 different graduate degrees from NOBTS and is only 31 years old. He also went to the University of Georgia for his undergrad and has 2 undergrad degrees (Go Dawgs). 

In this book David tells stories of how American Christians say they love Jesus and proclaim that they are Christians but if you look at the world around us we are so far from what a follower of Christ should be. We fill our church building each Sunday worried more about who will be singing rather than who we are singing about. We decide to stay at home or go to another church if the senior pastor is taking a week off. We have made church about what we can get out of it instead of what we can give back to it. Christians get divorced at the same rate as non-Christians; more money is given to charitable organization than is given to the Church. Funny thing there is the church will be around forever and none of those organizations (no matter what cause they support) will be here. If you read your Bible Jesus didn’t die for any charitable organization. (DISCLAIMER: NOT ALL ORGANIZATIONS ARE BAD AND A LT OF THEM DO GREAT THINGS TO HELP PEOPLE). Just stating more money is given to these organizations than is given to the church. I know everyone in America is not a Christian, but 77% of Americans claim they are Christian or that their religion is Christianity, which is down from 88%. Somehow if 77% of Americans proclaim they are Christians then we have missed the mark and have made Christianity about OURSELVES.

I’m not trying to beat anyone up or make anyone mad. I just write because we have got to change how we live our lives, and if you don’t want to change you probably need to examine whether or not you really know Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17). I am just as guilty as anyone else when it comes to not being an imitator of Christ. I spend money on things that I don’t need, I watch things on TV that do not glorify God (NOT PORN, JUST REGULAR TV SHOWS. SO GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE GUTTER), I don’t always treat my wife and kids like I should, I have so many areas that I need Jesus to clean up and I know that only with His help can that happen. This month in our community we have seen people who have been so desperate that they chose to end their life. I was speaking with someone about this and I said that I could never understand that type of desperation that someone feels and you think you can’t go on living. It hurts my heart to know that there are people in our community and people who we hang out with that will die and go to hell because we were too busy to share the Gospel with them because we are worrying about how we look or what car we drive or what whether we will eat a NY Strip or Rib eye. In the fall we wrote hundreds of names on a wall in our church proclaiming that we would do anything to see them come to Christ. Where there have been a few names crossed off that wall and we rejoice for those Salvations (Luke 15:10). There are still hundreds more names that need to be crossed off.

So I challenge you what are you going to do, what am I going to do? If we want to see our families, our friends, our community, our state, our nation, our world change, it is not going to be done through anything else other than the church. We have to live out what Jesus said was the 2 greatest commands, to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second to love our neighbor as ourselves.  So let’s step up and be the church. Take Jesus to the world and quit waiting for the world to come to Jesus.

Mickey

Set List 7/25

What's The Difference Pt. 4

The Time Has Come-Hillsong
Desert Song-Hillsong
Lead Me To The Cross-Hillsong
Your Love-Chrystina L. Fincher
This Is Our God-Hillsong

Celeste and Carley did a great job leading yesterday as we finished up our What's The Difference series.  Don't forget we go back to 2 services this Sunday 9:15 and 11:00.  We are starting a new series called Epidemic.  See you this Sunday

Mickey

The Emperor's New Clothes and Our World (Habersham)

Almost everyone is familiar with the tale written by Hans Christian Anderson, the Emperor's New Clothes, we read it while in elementary school.  Just to clarify, the story tells of two tailors who offer the make the Emperor a new set of clothes.  The Tailor's trick the Emperor into thinking he was clothed, however he was naked.  The Emperor paraded through town with his new clothes and only a child spoke up to tell him he was naked, everyone else just kept quite.  Not wanting to appear ignorant or wrong, the Emperor continued to parade  before his people naked.

Although I cannot prove this thought, it appears to me that Hans Christian Anderson was writing about our ability to hide reality from truth in our lives.   Often times we act as if we are clothed all the while knowing we are naked.  Everybody around us knows we are naked, but for some reason we just act as if things are all right.

I am motivated to write this following a few weeks of senseless activity in our community.  I was informed this morning that since July 4th there have been 6 suicides.  Six people became so desperate that they took their lives into their own hands and ended it.  To say that I am broken would be an understatement. My heart breaks for the families who are left to pick up the pieces, I can't imagine what they must be going through and I pray that God walks with them.

Revelation 3:14-22 (KJV)
¹⁴ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; ¹⁵ I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. ¹⁷ Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: ¹⁸ I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ²¹ To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. ²² He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 


Scholars say that John's writings to the Laodicean church was a warning to our modern day churches.  Study of Revelations reveals that John addressed seven churches about their condition.  Laodicea it would appear was considerably like our churches in modern day America.  We are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm.  As a result we don't really see what we have become.  We say we are rich, but we are poor.  We say we are clothed in white, but we are naked.  We act as if we can see, but our eyes are filled with infection.

I see this played out everyday in the modern church and specifically in Habersham County.  We say we are Christian's but care more about what we drive, what we have, who we know and what we look like.  All the while people are dying all around us of despair.  We strut around in our fancy attire while the hurting world passes by laughing at our nakedness.  We claim to be holy, but our hearts are far from it.  Our churches are worried more about competing in softball or attendance verses telling the grand old story of Jesus and His love.  We care more about separating ourselves from sinners (people just like us) over loving everyone and doing all we can to see them meet Jesus.  We care more about our beliefs verses our behavior.  We cry at funerals and talk of the pain, hurt and disbelief, but decide to do nothing in response to see our community change.

Tonight I went to the Funeral home to pay respect to a family I do not know that well.  As I waited in line I heard people talking about their new car, the new tires for their new car, their new job, how good so and so looked, watched as people chatted as if they were at a family reunion.  This all happened mind you while a young man lay in a casket facing eternity.  I would guess this happened in all six of the settings of the last few weeks.

When will it change?

When will we change?

Will we continue to sit around and act as if we are clothed when we are naked?

Personally I am praying for a move of God.  We don't need revival we need obedience.  We don't need another meeting we need an anointing.  We don't need another singing, we need some holiness.  I realize that this may be cliche, but we need a II Chronicles 7:14 movement to over take our churches and our community.

No one is immune from what I am calling for.  I have sin that must be dealt with, you have sin that must be dealt with.  Our community is filled with so called "Christians" who need to repent and fall on their faces before God asking for his mercy.  ²² He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.   


Dear God, the Almighty Creator of our World
forgive us of our sin and nakedness.
Cleanse us from the top of our heads to the bottom of our toes.
May your Holy Spirit fill our homes, our jobs, our schools, our churches
and our community.
Strip away in our lives the attitudes and actions that are far from you.
Be merciful to us and grant us your power.
Protect us from all the enemies attacks and schemes.
Unite our churches as we seek to see our community transformed for you.
Be glorified and praised in this world and may you come quickly
to take your children home.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

I realize that this rant is strong at times and very difficult for some of you to read, but my sadness, anger and frustration overcome me.  I pray the same feeling overcomes you and you join in this prayer.  The Bible says, "the effectual fervent pray of a righteous man avails much".  Let's pray, believe and receive what God has already promised.  Let's declare spiritual war on Satan's attack of our children, spouse, families and churches.
Enough is enough!  We will not allow the enemy to take another piece of ground  by the power of our Lord!

Desert Song Video

Here is video of Carley sing Desert Song


Desert Song from Fellowship Church, GA on Vimeo.

Youth at Camp Day 1

We had a good turn out for day 1. The  folks we taken in awe at the beauty the camp holds. 80 acres sure looks big! The plans to prepare the camp are big! Habersham Baptist and Tate's Creek are all working this week. It provides a good time of fellowship with other Christ Followers. Enjoy the Pics!

Set List 7/11

What's The Difference part 2

We Won't Be Quiet-David Crowder (Undignified Chorus Tag-Matt Redman)
Desert Song-Hillsong
You Reign-Hillsong
Our God-Passion
Grace Will Be My Song (Bridge Only)-Fee

Great time worshipping with everyone.  Hope these songs fill your week and you sing them as loud Mon-Sat as you did this past Sunday.  See you Sunday.

Mickey

Summer of Serving Children's Camp July 12-17

This week we are joining Habersham Baptist at The Atlanta Children's Foundation Mission Project in Toccoa. Here are some pics but seeing it in person is best. Fellowship youth will be on site Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Plan on join us as we help prepare a place for needy children. We will be working on various types of projects around the camp. Some of the projects are: painting exterior buildings, repairing a dock, repairing an outside staircase, putting up fence on Thursday, and cleaning the big house. If you are interested or have any questions, please let me know. We could use your help make a difference in Georgia's foster children.

Directions go towards Toccoa and at the bottom of the mountian turn right away from Toccoa (Towards the old tate Patrol Office) Turn left onto GA Hwy 184. Go 6 miles and turn left onto Gulley Road. At Gulley road turn left at rock collumns which will lead you to the camp.

Adults welcome anytime during the week with the big day on Saturday!

Summer of Serving

Elijah and Ashley

THE CREW!

                                            Chief dont-wanna-colddrink

Summer of Serving Can Drink Give Away.

Yeah it was kinda hot, but worth sharing love to folks. We had a great time and enjoyed much humor as folks tried to figure out WHY? When we give away, no strings attached we share the same love as Christ. This messes people up, me included. His love for us will never be fully known till we join Him.

Next can give away Saturday July 17, 10 AM Meet at the church and we will go load and go up to the cross road.

A BIG THANK YOU to all that helped today, even Chief. lol

Will You Examine Yourself?

Oswald Chambers

Joshua said to the people, ’You cannot serve the Lord . . .’ —Joshua 24:19


Do you have even the slightest reliance on anything or anyone other than God? Is there a remnant of reliance left on any natural quality within you, or on any particular set of circumstances? Are you relying on yourself in any manner whatsoever regarding this new proposal or plan which God has placed before you? Will you examine yourself by asking these probing questions? It really is true to say, “I cannot live a holy life,” but you can decide to let Jesus Christ make you holy. “You cannot serve the Lord . . .”— but you can place yourself in the proper position where God’s almighty power will flow through you. Is your relationship with God sufficient for you to expect Him to exhibit His wonderful life in you?



“The people said to Joshua, ’No, but we will serve the Lord!” ( Joshua 24:21 ). This is not an impulsive action, but a deliberate commitment. We tend to say, “But God could never have called me to this. I’m too unworthy. It can’t mean me.” It does mean you, and the more weak and feeble you are, the better. The person who is still relying and trusting in anything within himself is the last person to even come close to saying, “I will serve the Lord.”



We say, “Oh, if only I really could believe!” The question is, “Will I believe?” No wonder Jesus Christ placed such emphasis on the sin of unbelief. “He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” ( Matthew 13:58 ). If we really believed that God meant what He said, just imagine what we would be like! Do I really dare to let God be to me all that He says He will be?

We Unite/Freedom is Here

Here is a video of We Unite and Freedom is Here from last Sunday the 4th.  If you missed it enjoy.  Sunday's Set List:
We Unite-Elevation Worship
Freedom is Here-Hillsong
Break Free-Hillsong
Our God-Passion
How Great Is Our God-Tomlin
Yours Forever-Hillsong

Mickey


We Unite/Freedom is Here from Fellowship Church, GA on Vimeo.