Serving with Your Friends

I had never volunteered with Habitat for Humanity until about a month ago. I had been looking for a regular service opportunity for myself and my home group. My friend Manny Rosado has volunteered with H4H in Lake Norman for some time and I started asking him about it. He got me the name of the big cheese in Union Co. and the rest is recent history. I don’t even know anything about building houses; between you, me, and the wall, I don’t even do things like paint walls neatly. That’s ok with them. I just thought the idea sounded cool. When our group showed up bright and early on that Sat. morning, we didn’t really know what to expect. Doug, the site manager, gave us all jobs and showed us what to do. With the help of some teenage volunteers and Russ Spinney (Kelly’s dad from the video at church about the $1G), we got a lot done. The roof was on and tar papered, the exterior insulation was finished, we Tyvek wrapped the house, and I got to help install hurricane clips.

I haven’t had a hard day of physical labor like that in a long time. My hand was cramping into a claw shape from swinging that hammer. Needless to say, I slept well that night. It also goes without saying- even though I’m saying- there are a ridiculous amount of pictures to document the occasion.

I went back 2 Saturday's ago, alone. It wasn’t as much “fun” though. Don’t get me wrong, I am entirely glad I went. I got to work with Doug again and the 2 electricians who were wiring the house. Those guys were so funny! The one guy talks like he is from the deep swamp of Louisiana (like that one character in The Waterboy- the one you can’t understand). Fun was an added bonus last time, but it gives such a great feeling to know I was helping someone who desperately needs a home. Give me any project to tackle and I would rather do it with my friends than go it alone. I'm going with my group again this Saturday; who knows what we'll be doing...

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecc 4:9-10 NLT

I would encourage everyone, small group or not, to find a way to serve in your community. You get the chance to meet new people and possibly share Jesus with them. One of the best parts of serving is that for that period of time, the world stops revolving around you (I must decrease) and it about reaching out to others (He must increase). John 3:30.

BE SATISFIED WITH ME

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,
To have a deep soul relationship with another,
To be loved thoroughly and exclusively.
But God, to a Christian, says,"No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone,
With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me,
With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone,
Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found,
Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.
You will never be united with another until you are united with Me alone,
Exclusive of anyone or anything else
Exclusive of any other desires or longings.
I want you to stop planning, stop wishing,
And allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing,
One that you cannot imagine.
Please allow Me to bring it to you.
You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things.
Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I AM.
Keep listening and learning the things I tell you.
You just wait. That's all.
Don't be anxious. Don't worry. Don't look at the things you think you want;
You just keep looking off and away up to Me,
Or you'll miss what I want to show you.
And then when you are ready, I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any of you could dream of.
You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready
(I am working even at this moment to have you both ready at the same time),
Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me
And the life I prepared for you,
You won't be able to experience the love that exemplified your relationship with Me.
And this is perfect love.
And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love, I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me.
And to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.
Know that I love you utterly. I AM God. Believe it and be satisfied.

~St. Anthony of Pauda~

Insufficient Worship

One of my personal habits is to blast worship music in my car on the way to Saturday night service at Southbrook. I sing like an idiot all the way there (20 min). I usually listen to Chris Tomlin or Charlie Hall. I actually got to see Chris Tomlin lead worship at Cricket arena this past Tues. night- pretty cool. This weekend while I was driving, I had a heart humbling revelation. I was kind of dreaming about what it will be like to one day be with Jesus and what it will feel like to worship Him in heaven. I realized that as much as I get jazzed up about our earthly version of musical worship, how awesome will it be to sing with angels and the entire bride of Christ in unison? The Holy Spirit said in my heart “you don’t even have a clue...”

I have such admiration for worship leaders and song writers. They have a way of putting into words and music the things on my mind and in my heart I didn’t even realize I wanted to shout to God. As God inspired as their words are, we can not even begin to imagine what it will be like on the day He calls us home.

Some of my favorite lyrics from Chris Tomlin are:
“I can sing with my last breath, sing for I know, that I’ll sing with the angels as we dance around the throne.”
“Darkness tries to hide… and trembles at His voice.”
“You see the depths of my heart, and You love me the same.”

Don’t forget to check out Pastor Rob’s blog!

Churches are Going to Have to Close Their Doors

Disclaimer: I am about to rant.

So I’m not a very politically oriented person. My bubble is pretty small. I grew up attending Catholic church, so I am familiar with organized religion, somewhat. After moving down to Charlotte, I realized that people are very concerned with what denomination you are as a Christian. In my mind, I’m like “It’s all just God and Jesus and the Bible; what’s the difference?”
Here’s the difference: I happened to glance at a newspaper this week and was caught by the headline saying that a Baptist church in Myers Park had been kicked out of the “Baptist Club” for welcoming gays into their church. HOLD UP, WAIT A MINUTE! It is now a bad thing to invite gays to church? That doesn’t sound like something Jesus would have voted for.
What is the basic difference between myself, or anyone for that matter, and a gay person? The answer is: we don’t usually wear our sin on our sleeve. Maybe we need to start asking individuals at the door at church if they are a sinner. If they say yes, we must promptly tell them they are not welcome.
At that rate, churches would have to start closing their doors. The pastors, greeters, child care workers, and all other human beings would have to be turned away. Anyone that said no, they weren’t a sinner would clearly be lying.
I don’t understand what goes on behind closed doors of church denomination meetings, and at this rate, I don’t want to know. I am so thankful that Southbrook Church is a place where all people, no matter their sin status, can come and be accepted, ministered to, and be shown the love of Christ. Pastor Rob has always made it very clear that we are that type of church, thank God.

I Lay My Pride at Your Feet

Guest blogger- Kelly Spinney
I have been going to Southbrook for a little over a year now and last weekend (10-28-07) was the best weekend I have had at the church. Thanks to my small group and the leadership of Jen, I had many opportunities to help serve. For most of Saturday and Sunday I was at the church doing something to help make the weekend a success. I can not explain how much fun I truly had.
The biggest challenge I faced was when Pastor Paul placed me as one of the greeters that had to be all the way up front encouraging people to sit as close to the stage as possible. If you know me at all, you know that I do not do things that are up front! I believe that I spend most of my time finding ways to help out that require the least amount of public exposure. I am controlled by my fear of people and the way they perceive me. Sadly, I tend to let this fear dictate what I will and will not do. It is easier for me to avoid the situations that invoke my fear instead of facing them head on. I avoid admitting my fear for what it truly is, pride.
So, the last place I wanted to be was the place they put me. I looked at my dad and asked him, “How am I going to do this?” There was my problem… I wasn’t going to do this. I had to give my fear to God and let him strengthen me to do the job ahead. I had to lay my pride at his feet.
By God’s strength I got through the day and ended up having the time of my life! It felt so good to rely on God and serve Him at the same time. I look forward to serving again and leaning on Him to lead me out of my comfort zone one step at a time.
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11

Happy Birthday Alison!

My sister Alison is turning 24 on Friday.

I love you, babe!