Feb 26

Heaven

Posted in: Teaching

I’m currently reading John Piper’s commentary on Jonathan Edwards’ The End for Which God Created the World, God’s Passion for His Glory. In it, John Piper unfolds the all too familiar saying that he coined, which Jonathan Edwards stated in a different way, namely that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in us. Then, Dr. Piper reviews 15 implications of this fact. Number 6 hit home for me. Something I’d never thought about. Here’s an excerpt from the first paragraph of the sixth implication:

Heaven will be a never-ending, ever-increasing discovery of more and more of God’s glory with greater and ever-greater joy in Him. If God’s glory and our joy in Him our one, and yet we are not infinite as He is, then our union with Him in the all-satisfying experience of His glory can never be complete, but must be increasing with intimacy and intensity forever and ever. The perfection of heaven is not static. Nor do we see at once all there is to see - for that would be a limit on God’s glorious self-revelation, and therefore His love. Yet we do not become God. Therefore, there will always be more, and the end of increased pleasure in God will never come.

I can’t wait. Such a profound thought from Edwards’ thinking and the extension of it to all of Scripture.

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Feb 25

Notes from February’s Service.

Posted in: Harmony Church, Greenville

Good

  • Worship was good, aside from one slipup. The song selection was great:
    • Home by Daughtry
    • Battle Cry by Michael Gungor Band
    • Song of the Redeemed by Charlie Hall
    • Jesus Paid it All by Kristian Stanfill
    • Never Let Me Go by Hillsong United
  • I’ve been told that the message was great. :) That’s always a good thing. I preached from 1 John 3:11-23. To love God takes a change in our inward tendencies, which only comes through belief in Christ. Belief in Christ is equivalent to loving God, which results in us loving people. Inward tendencies result in outward actions.
  • Our welcomers, I’ve been told, were extremely friendly.
  • Communion went smoothly.
  • The mission was put forth. By both Donald and myself.
  • We did get video (in HD) of 3/4 the service.

Bad

  • At the end of Battle Cry, there was a little transition/crowd-participation “glitch”. Lesson learned. It’s fun to laugh at on video though.
  • The video cut off short.
  • Couldn’t record straight from the sound board.
  • Didn’t have start up/ending music.
  • Sound was a little off.
  • Transition from music to speaking was way longer than it should’ve been.

Ugly

  • Two words: “Oh, oh”.
  • Only five people in the center. :D
  • Miranda and I fighting over a pickle during lunch. Not really…it was pretty funny. Will’s comment about pickle availability was hilarious.

Looking Forward To

  • Seeing people get involved and on mission (we had 14 recorded visitors!)
  • Growth for Easter
  • The art show taking shape
  • Working out the details
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Feb 18

Easter Plans.

Posted in: General

We are holding a community art show. In a bar. On Easter Sunday. Check out the details here: Dawn Show

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Feb 18

We’ve Got Men.

Posted in: General

After this past weekend I am thankful for what God has given us to start out with at Harmony Church. We have a group of men who care about the Gospel. They want to see their city changed. They fall short often, of course. Most of them are currently unmarried. But they are waiting for the right one. And they will surely treat her right. At Harmony Church, we know that nothing changes without men willing to fight for it. One of my favorite ideas from this past weekend’s men’s conference was one from Jonathan McIntosh: the idea of the man as a warrior poet. As Godly men, we are supposed to both create culture worth fighting for….and be willing to fight for it. I really see our guys as warrior-poets. Our danger is this: that we become complacent. We become lazy, which Tyler explained is just a form of pride. If you’re a man and you’re reading this in Greenville: Harmony Church needs you. Step up.

My simple prayer is this:

Lord, let us never be satisfied.

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Feb 15

I Feel Loved.

Posted in: Church Planting, Harmony Church, Greenville

Published yesterday in the Daily Reflector.

I would like to make a few comments on an article you ran a couple of weeks ago about a local church service in a local bar downtown. The zeal is commendable, but the place they held service was not appropriate.

I realize they are trying to shock people into listening to them. That is the reason they had the service in the bar. Yes, they made their point, but also cast a bad light on our lord Jesus Christ. No, he would not appreciate them making a mockery of him in the devil’s house. Yes, we are to witness as he would, but what did they do after the door opened at 1 p.m. Did they try, after their worship service, to help people see their need to not drink alcohol and come to know our lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior?

Yes, he died for sinners, but it looks like you just played church and really had no thought of helping souls to become born again. Please, stop playing church and pretending you are studying God’s word while in the devil’s workplace. God is not pleased with anyone being in the devil’s workshop, unless you are trying to win a soul to Jesus Christ our savior. By the way, I am sure the owner would not allow you to witness to sinners in his place of business after the service.

Yes, we all need to be sure we are not playing church wherever we are gathering. By all means, I commend you for studying God’s word but go from the devil’s workshop. Make a place that is commendable to God is my plea. Thank you.

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