It Matters

A couple Wednesday nights ago I saw something pretty awesome. Our student minister, Pastor Andy, built a Wheel of Fortune game from scratch. Not an actual wheel, but an all digital wheel that would be projected on the wall and the student could control it with their foot. It was awesome! I mean, youth ministers these days are coming up with some pretty amazing ways to connect with kids, and then they incorporate God's Word into the meeting. It's a win, win. I put a picture of the promo image they made for the event. Unbelievable!

You know, the student ministry at New Hope is really solid right now. I came to New Hope in 2006 and was lucky to be the youth pastor for several years, but I've got to tell you, we weren't doing things nearly as cool as they're doing now.

High school students have their own meeting time on Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM, and middle school students have a Wednesday night program that is really strong right now. Parents, the onus is on us to make sure our children are at these meetings. They're too good to miss!

There is also a Sunday school class for middle school and high school at 9:00 AM, which is before our 10:00 AM Worship service. They even serve waffles to the kids who aren't able to get breakfast. Hope is Rising is the name of our group. Check out Pastor Andy's program here: www.hopeisrising.org

I also want to mention that the teaching of God's Word is front and center in these meetings. Pastor Andy does a good job of being in sync with what is happening in our worship services, so the teens are getting the same message everywhere they turn.

That brings me to our Children's Ministry. Pastor Taryn is one of the most passionate Bible teachers we have, and she just loves to be with the children. This was a picture taken of her during VBS this year, and no, she didn't know the camera was on her. :-)

Our Children's Ministry is called KIDCITY, and meets on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. Parents, children don't drive, but they respond best when they are in a consistent community. It is our responsibility to connect our children to things that put Christ first in their lives. God knows we do all we can to make sure they don't miss events that have nothing to do with God, why not make a commitment to plug your children in to Wednesday night and Sunday morning programming for a year.

You know what, that's a good idea. We should all commit to that. Let's be honest, there are times when our kids tell us they don't want to do something, but what if we, as parents, all committed to bring our children and students to church meetings that are designed for them? Maybe we could commit to a year of doing that, and also commit to a year of praying for our children and teens so that they would see the true importance of placing Jesus as #1 in their life.

It's starts with us, the parents. Yes, I am one of them...and I have children in both groups. I am committing to get them to church, and I'll pick yours up to bring them as well if I have to. I believe it's THAT important. Who's with me?!

What Does that Logo Mean?

I was excited this past week to see a brand new sign going up in our gallery at New Hope. Sean McDonald, our deacon over buildings and grounds, took our brand new logo and carved it into a sheet of metal, built a frame, added some LED lights, and BOOM! A new sign was on the wall.

If you have attended New Hope you have probably noticed that this new logo is popping up everywhere. Yes, it looks good. And yes, we are proud of the new "look" of the church. But I wanted to write this blog today to let you know that the logo actually has a deeper meaning.

A little over a year ago I began sketching out a new logo that I wanted to represent us as a church. More specifically, the church that I believed God desires us to be. The criteria for the logo was simple...

It needed to be memorable.

It needed to be pleasing the eye.

It needed a deeper meaning.


What we came up with (left) fits that description. When we unveiled the logo a year ago I explained its meaning to the New Hope congregation, but as they say, repetition isn't a bad thing. And since we have hung a new sign in our entry way, maybe it's time for me to tell you once again what it means.

1. The Circle

When a man and woman get married they place a ring on the finger of the other. This ring is a symbol of love and devotion. The circle goes around the finger and "connects" all the way around. Simply put, the circle is a symbol that means "forever". Whatever is contained within the circle stands as the thing that is most precious to you. In the case of New Hope, our circle will stand for what is most precious to us! That is why I knew that New Hope's logo needed to be circular. But what would go inside?

2. The Foundation

Matthew 7:24 "Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." 
It is absolutely essential that New Hope's teaching be grounding and built on the foundation of God's Word. That's why there is a bar representing that foundation in our logo. When you come to our church we desire to share His Word so that those who hear it can put it into practice, thus, enabling people to build on the rock.

3. The Arrow

On one side of New Hope's gallery we have placed our vision statement on the wall. Pursuing a Relentless, Unrestricted Relationship With Jesus Christ. When someone is pursuing Jesus with every fiber of their being, the natural overflow of that pursuit will point other people to Jesus as well. That is why we have made Pointing People to a Relationship with Jesus Christ as our first core value.

So, let's put the whole thing together...

The Arrow means that everything we do will point people to Jesus Christ, which is directly above the Foundation that is anchored to the inerrant Word of God, which is enclosed by a Circle that means this is what we hold most dear to our heart. We are...

Walk This Way

I’ve been thinking a lot about joy lately. Not happiness, but joy. Often times I’ll hear people talking about the things in life that make them happy, because happiness is a good thing, right? Yeah, it is, but happiness is often determined by your situation in life or your circumstances. You can be happy one moment, but then when something in your world goes haywire that happiness can disappear in an instant.

Enter a different word altogether: JOY

Joy is not affected by our circumstances, good days, bad days, or when something that is not of our “liking” takes place. Joy is a foundational approach to life that cannot be tampered with, and for me, that joy is found in one person, Jesus. I have fond memories as a child singing, “The joy of the Lord is my strength,” and it always stuck with me. After all, in a world that is full of crazy news reports every night and broken promises by those in authority over us, why wouldn’t I be joyful about the fact that my entire life rests on the foundation of a promise that will never be broken? And that is that Jesus lived, died and rose again on the third, all so that my sins could be washed away. Because of what Jesus DID, I am now blameless in God’s eyes. That means no matter what else happens in my life, I have that promise, and no one could ever take that joy away from me.

I am currently teaching this in a new sermon series called Walk This Way. I was reading Philippians the other day and was struck at how Paul could write such joyful, heartfelt words as he sat under house arrest. From the day Saul was converted (and became Paul) he had been preaching the gospel, planting churches and ruffling the feathers of the Roman officials. Paul was so vocal about what Jesus had done for him that the Roman officials threw him in jail as much as they could. Did that get Paul upset? Did he complain to Jesus and ask why more doors were not being opened for him? I would! Christians often believe if God calls you to something that everything will be smooth sailing and free of challenges. That’s simply not true! Jesus even said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

Tough times happen and circumstances change. The question is, will you respond in a joyful way like Paul, or will you choose the route of a complainer and let everyone know about your hardship?

Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi was joyful and encouraging to all. You’d of thought he was writing from a beautiful chair on the beach, taking selfies with his toes in the picture, overlooking the water. But again, he was in JAIL! But when the church at Philippi sent him a gift he was overcome with joy, and he was THRILLED to receive it. Even more so, he was thrilled to hear that the church at Philippi was as bold and daring in their declaration of the gospel as ever. Paul’s joy was in the Lord, and he expressed why he had that joy in Philippians 1:6.

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Simply put, every person who professes to be a believer in Christ should walk in pure joy! Why? Cause when you accepted Christ as your Savior you received EVERYTHING you would ever need. He became your foundation! There is nothing but Joy to be found in that. No need for complaining. No need for a bad attitude. You have the light. You have the hope. So BE the JOY!

There are four chapters in the book of Philippians, and they are often referred to as the “Joy” book. Yes, a book born out of dire circumstances is called the Joy book. Let me encourage you to read Philippians this month. Let me encourage you to take in every word, pray on it and jump into the JOY pool with both feet. Philippians is a great reminder to Christians everywhere that we need to Walk This Way!

ENOUGH

A few weeks ago I attended a pastors conference in Tulsa, OK. There were a lot of worshipful moments, funny moments and even some thoughtful moments. One particular time that stood out to me was a dramatic portrayal of how human beings grow from simple, fun-loving children, into complex, self-conscious adults. It’s a sad fact that as we age we begin to pay close to attention to our flaws, whether in the mirror or in our personality. We watch television, surf the net, and see plenty of examples of how we could look, feel and be better. The fact is, far too many of us go through life thinking we’re not enough. We think when God made us, He made too many mistakes.

Let me tell you a personal story. In a few months I will be selling my house. My family and I have lived in it for about 9 years, but the house itself is around 25 years old. I love it, but it was time for us to move because our family is growing. When we first walked into the house 9 years ago I remember pointing out all the flaws. It needed new carpet, a new deck, and the kitchen was outdated. We made an offer cause it was ENOUGH for us! Over the years we made upgrades where we could, fixed things when they broke, and cared for our home because it was ours.

Then we decided to sell…

We got the house ready for viewing, and in the extremely HOT Nashville housing market, had over 50 showings in about two weeks. It was non-stop people walking through the house, dissecting its appearance, pointing out every flaw, even criticizing upgrades we had made. “It’s too small. It’s outdated. It’s not private enough. I don’t like the layout.” All valid points for people who are looking for a home, but that didn’t mean we weren’t hurt by it. After all, we are the owners. It’s OURS.

Sometimes I think about the builder of our house. I think about the plans that were followed during construction. I wonder if the workers ever thought about the families that the roof would keep safe from thunderstorms, or the living room that would host so many wonderful friends and family. Yes there are flaws in the house, but that’s what makes it a home, and that home is ENOUGH for me.

Now, let me relate that to what we see in the mirror every day. You…yes YOU, are enough! Every single person walking this planet has flaws, and if the internet has taught us anything, it’s that people will go to great lengths to point out every flaw and try to convince you to be more.

But here’s a truth you need to know.

You were created. There were plans for you that the builder followed. Making sure that every spot and wrinkle was in the right place. In fact, the very things that you think are mistakes are probably the things that someone loves about you. It’s what makes you, YOU!

And YOU are loved by your creator…
AND YOU are loved by so many…

YOU. Are. Enough!

By the way, one family came to our home and fell in love with it. They didn’t see flaws, they saw themselves raising a family there. In a short time the home will go from OURS to THEIRS, and I am very excited for them.

If you ever feel like you’re not enough, read Psalm 139. Let that Scripture reveal to you how perfect you are!

Psalm 139:13-15 (NIV)

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

SomeDay. OneDay. ToDay

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Don’t put off til tomorrow what you can do today.” It sounds pretty simple, but it’s pretty profound. That simple line of advice is easily discarded and thrown to the side for another day. How many people say, “I’ll start eating healthy...SomeDay?” Or, “I’ll start reading my Bible...OneDay.” The world is full of people who have the best intentions. And best intentions usually remain just that, intentions. I have found that the things we plan to do down the road are planned for “down the road” so we can avoid the obvious. Which is, we really don’t plan on doing it at all.

For example, when someone says, “OneDay I will read the Bible from front to back,” what they’re really saying is, “Here’s something I’ll probably never do.” I may be extreme in this thinking. I am sure there are some people who have made that proclamation and then did it, but I bet there are more people who made the proclamation and then never attempted it. The same could be said for people who plan New Years resolutions every year. Why do they fail? Because if people really wanted to achieve something they wouldn't wait until January 1st to begin. If it was really important they would begin as soon as the goal entered their head...Goals in the head have to be transferred to the heart or they will never be accomplished!

Go back and read Benjamin Franklin's quote at the beginning of this blog. (Go ahead, I'll wait)

Welcome back...Here's your question now. Why not start executing your goals today? Why put it off any longer?

Throw out the SomeDay’s and OneDay’s, and start working ToDay.

Jesus talked about tomorrow’s and today’s…

Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Yes, I know that this Scripture is talking about worry, and that Jesus is promising to provide for people each day so there’s no need to worry about tomorrow. But I also think this verse can point to the idea that Jesus wants us to take advantage of today.

I’ll close with this. When you put your big goals, hopes and dreams in the future, all you’ll do is wish away your present. And when that happens, you waste your days. You don’t want to ever be in a situation where you say, “I wish I had more time.” So what do you want to do with your life? What call or gift has God placed in your heart that is trying to break out? 

Forget about SomeDay. Don’t hope it will happen OneDay. Pursue it ToDay!

Josh Huisman

But God, Can't I Have it Now?

I have thought long and hard about this, and I have come to one conclusion: I would much rather have my prayers answered instantly, than wait. I would much rather pray for something ONE time, and have it appear immediately, than have to pray for something over and over and over.  I guess I just prefer everything to be easy. It’s not my fault because society has groomed me that way. Think about it, we live in a world of “instant.” Instant coffee, instant rice, instant information from the whole world through the internet, instant messaging, instagram, fast food and even express delivery. I mean, if my Amazon Prime Account has figured out a way to deliver a package to my door in one to two days, then surely the God who created the universe can be even quicker!

In Matthew 7 Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door shall be opened.” That Scripture leads me to believe God will answer my prayer requests with some immediacy, but what happens when the answer isn’t immediate? What happens when God’s answer is to wait, and keep praying? Well, I can tell you what I have done in the past…I don’t wait, and I move on.

Yep, I move on. I stop praying that particular prayer request. I chalk up God’s silence to being God’s will and move on to other things. But is that really what God wants me to do? I don’t think so. In fact, I think too many people use God’s will as a loophole to stop praying and believing for something, when God hasn’t even given an answer yet. Let’s examine this a little more.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” But again, didn’t Jesus say ‘Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened?” Do these two statements contradict each other? I don’t think so. Should we pray for God’s will to be done? YES! Should we ask God for things in prayer, bringing our petitions to Him? YES!!

Here is why I believe that. You and I don’t know what the will of God is. The only way we can know God’s will is if the Holy Spirit reveals it to us. Henry Blackaby wrote a teaching study called Experiencing God. One of the lessons in that study is that “God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways.”  One thing I know for sure, I am not supposed to decide for God what His will is. If I am bringing a request to God, and a definite answer hasn’t come, then the response isn’t, “It must NOT be God’s will.” The response is, “Keep praying!”

Check out this Scripture…

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Whoa!!! Did you catch that last verse?  It said the will of God is for us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.

Let me wrap this up. There are moments when suffering will happen, and there will be times when the answer to our prayer will not come right away, or may even be, “No.” There are moments when our hope will reach a new low, and God will appear to be silent. There are moments when it will feel like our prayers our bouncing off the ceiling and falling back to the ground. “God, can you even hear me?” It is in those trials that God calls us to persevere, to be persistent in our prayers…until He gives us the definite NO…or the definite YES. In the words of Jim Valvano, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”

Don’t believe me? Check out this parable that Jesus told…

Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Always remember this: Our persistent prayers are the physical evidence that we believe NOTHING can stand in the way of God. So just keep praying!