July 25, 2010 - Dream God's Dreams

(All messages posted here are rough sketches of the message given)

I can relate to the movie Field of Dreams. My life changed when I heard the voice. Because of hearing that voice, I have been places and done things I would not have ever chosen for myself.

Think back for a moment. Did you ever play-act? What did you pretend to be most often? Did any of you become what you wanted to be?

I wanted to be one of two things – an astronaut or a fireman. I did live out my other fantasy – I was a fireman. I loved it too. But I never tried to become the astronaut. Why? It may have been that I lost desire, but really, when I got older, I became embarrassed about telling people that I wanted to be something so fantastic. Most people would just laugh when I mentioned my lofty ambitions. So I left it back as a childhood fantasy.

This past week, I was kind of reminded of it as I was out on the beach. While out there one day I was watching these really cute girls – they were children – playing in the sand. They were building a sandcastle. It wasn’t the largest or most elaborate one that I’ve seen, but it didn’t matter – it was perfect for them. I could almost see them being a part of the act they were creating with their imaginations. It was fascinating! I could see that there was no limit to their imagination.

That’s the way children are though. But as people grow up, they lose much of their imagination and their vision.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 29:18,
“If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.”

In other words, when we fail to grasp God’s vision, we become stagnant, and we begin to die. How many people can you think of where this is the case? They go to work each day, but they just exist. Life is just a dull routine, without purpose, without passion.

Look with me at a good example of how to passionately live out God’s vision. It is Acts 2, verses 17 and 18. Peter is speaking these words right after God has poured out his Holy Spirit on those gathered together at Pentecost. While everybody is confused, he says,
"In the Last Days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. When the time comes, I'll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they'll prophesy.”

Now though we celebrated Pentecost several weeks ago, we still need to revisit it often to remember what happened and the significance to us here today. Pentecost is about dreaming God’s dreams – the ability to think God’s thoughts, to hear God’s thoughts, for the purpose of living God’s future.

I. Dream God’s Dream
When the Holy Spirit showed up in that Upper Room on Pentecost, those gathered together were just as bewildered as Kevin Costner’s character. They weren’t expecting something like this. They hadn’t planned for God to show up.

But on this day, God decided to show up and do a new thing. He gives them Spirit! They can now think God’s thoughts because God is with them – in them. This is confirmed in Hebrews 8:10 as it says:
This new plan I'm making with Israel isn't going to be written on paper, isn't going to be chiseled in stone; This time I'm writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I'll be their God, they'll be my people.

Can you imagine – God giving us a clear way to read his thoughts? Not just the ones that we have written in stone and on paper, but the very thoughts that he is thinking today! This is just awesome! And it a shame that most Christians don’t realize this! They want to relegate it away as fanciful dreams or wishful thinking, not dreams of reality – God’s vision!

But we can’t be too harsh on those who struggle with catching glimpses of God’s vision. We are all human and human vision is itself flawed. It is flawed because we tend to focus on ourselves. It comes down to what makes me happy, what I can get, and what puts me at the center. And the self-centered focus is further supported by consumerism and marketing. It feeds our egos to be more self-reliant and more independent. Think about all of the SUV commercials – in four-wheel drive, climbing steep muddy terrain – living life on the edge. That’s the vision they want you to catch, but I don’t know too many people that will sink $30,000 in a SUV and then take it out where it will get messed up. But you are promised with that sense of adventure and freedom. But all it really does is get us more in debt, more of living beyond our means.

But we’re not here today to talk about how to catch the vision for personal financial success – we’re here today to begin to grasp a glimpse of God’s future, here at Sunrise, and how your life is a part of that future. This doesn’t mean that we are going to bring Jesus into our dreams – it means that we are surrendering our dreams to grasp his. Dreaming God’s dreams.

The biggest obstacle that we will run into is that we are going to feel like we are limited. We are going to try to make God’s infinite dreams to fit into our finite understanding. But we’re going to have to stretch our imaginations on this one.

Here’s an exercise that will demonstrate just what I am talking about. On the reverse side of the insert in your bulletin, there is a graphic of nine dots.
What I want you to do is to connect all nine dots with only four straight lines and without picking up your pencil. Go ahead, try that.

When I first tried this, I failed miserably. I thought I could do it, thought I had done it before, but I couldn’t this time.

The problem I had was that I was constraining myself to some perceived boundaries. But, here is the solution and so you’ll see what I mean

You see, when you stop limiting yourself to these imaginary boundaries, it works!

The same goes with dreaming God’s dreams. We have to think beyond the boundaries of natural reason. We have to think big, really big! No not the jumbo, or the super-sized, or the mega-sized big, but
GOD-SIZED BIG! If you think back to what you have learned and been told about God, God never does anything small, or in an ordinary or expected way. It is always, what…big.

II. Articulate God’s Dream
Dream visioning. It is making your life count for God’s purpose. Not only do you need to dream God’s dream, you need to articulate God’s dream.
Habakkuk 2:1-3
1 I will climb up into my watchtower now and wait to see what the LORD will say to me and how he will answer my complaint. 2 Then the LORD said to me, "Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else. 3 But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.

Does anyone know what the original Guttenberg Bible is? It is the first book that was ever printed, rather than copied by hand. It represents the dawn of the age of communication. This copy is very ornate and beautiful to look at, under glass. It is protected in a case enclosure so that nothing or no one can disturb it or damage it. But if we were needing to know its content, rather than its historical significance, this book is useless.

The same goes with God’s vision. What good is a vision if no one knows what it is? God vision is for all the people to see and rally behind. God never works in secret. The plan is out there for all to see and, for some, to scrutinize. But the one thing it is not, it’s not up for debate, no matter how outlandish it may appear.

III. Act on God’s Dream
Dream God’s vision! Articulate God’s vision! Act on God’s vision! Despite what others may think! Listen - God shares his vision and dream with people who passionately want to do God’s will. Did you hear what I just said? God shares his vision and dream with people who passionately want to do God’s will.

Isaiah, the prophet, was in the temple of God as we are today. Isaiah didn’t waste time when he was in the temple of God. Isaiah dream-visioned. So, in the midst of the singing and the preaching and everything that was going on in the temple, here’s what Isaiah heard:

"I heard the voice of the Lord. God said, "Whom will I send, and who will go for me?" Did you know that’s what God says when we come together in the temple of the Lord? "Whom will I send? Who will go for me?" God shares his vision and dream with people who passionately want to do God’s will. What did Isaiah say? Why do we call him the prophet Isaiah? "Here I am, God! Send me." Whatever it takes, whatever it costs, I don’t care. I just want to be used for your purpose.

Over the next few weeks, I will begin conveying the vision that God has been opening my eyes to for Sunrise. You will have the opportunity to have some input in how the vision is carried out. One of the ways is that I would like to get a Vision Retreat scheduled for early Fall in which, along with the Leadership Team, anyone can come and participate.

Let’s start Dreaming God-sized Dreams, Articulating those dreams, and then Act on those Dreams. Friends, God is dreaming of you and me, of how we can change not only ourselves, but the world. Dream on!

*Portions of this message were derived from a message by Mike Slaughter at Ginghamsburg Church

July 11, 2010 - What's Inside?

(All messages posted here are rough sketches of the message given)

Good Morning Saints of Sunrise! How are you doing this morning? Did you have a good holiday week?

Sometimes, things come as a bit of a surprise. Take this for instance – Does anybody these people:

They all look like pretty normal and unassuming people – the average American, but these are eight of the ten deep-cover Russian spies that were caught a little over a week ago. Some of these folk have been here for decades, blending in with neighbors, struggling with mortgages and credit card bills, having children and being members of the PTA, all while spying for the Russian government. The news shocked many people. Neighbors gathered outside of the Murphy family house sharing stories of disbelief. One said, “They couldn’t have been spies. Look what she did with the hydrangeas.”

Even more bizarre is that it seems any of the intelligence that they gathered could be found on the Internet in just a few minutes. It just goes to show that sometimes things aren’t quite what we first perceive them to be.

If you remember, last Sunday we were talking about this transition period from my perspective as the pastor here. The main idea was how I am finding that Sunrise is the right fit for my idea of ministry. Well, this morning, we are turning the tables just a bit and looking at the transition of bringing in a new pastor from your perspective, that is from the church’s vantage point.

Now I know I can’t speak for each of you, but I have been where you are many times before. I grew up a United Methodist, so, just like Carlton shared with you what he remembers about these transition periods, I remember them as well.

One of the things that always bugged me the most is that the new pastor was always different. He didn’t look the same or act the same, so I was naturally a bit skeptical about this new preacher.

That’s how we are about people and things that are…different. Watch this.



Let me tell you, friends, that was exactly the truth in my house the first time we bought (holding up a Costco milk jug) this milk at Costco. I think the only way we could ever get the girls to drink the milk was to pour it in an old milk jug.

We are naturally skeptical about change. We are wary of anything or anybody that deviates from the norm. Now, if you find yourself in that position with me, that’s okay; I understand. But hear this friends, you are in some great company too.

I want you to take a look at a passage of scripture that tells the account of some people in the early church that were pretty apprehensive about a new leader in their community. This comes from the Book of Acts, chapter 9, verses 26-31.

Acts 9:26-31
26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They thought he was only pretending to be a believer! 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus. Barnabas also told them what the Lord had said to Saul and how he boldly preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28 Then the apostles accepted Saul, and after that he was constantly with them in Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they plotted to murder him. 30 When the believers heard about it, however, they took him to Caesarea and sent him on to his hometown of Tarsus. 31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it grew in strength and numbers. The believers were walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

If you remember from reading your Bible, right before this account, Saul had a dramatic conversion experience. Before he met the resurrected Christ, he had been one of the most ferocious and ardent opponent of the followers of Jesus. He had many of the Jesus followers brought to trial and executed for blasphemy. Needless to say, he wasn’t one that any of the early Christians wanted to meet. Thus, when they heard that he claimed to be converted and was coming to meet with them, they were all cynical and less than trusting about Saul’s intentions. It was only after the testimony of their trusted friend, Barnabus, that Saul was accepted.

As a new pastor here at Sunrise, I understand some of your apprehensions. It takes time to get use to change
- Takes some questions
- Takes some eyewitness accounts

So, I understand anyone who wants to still ask around about me. I hope what you will find out is that I am one who is earnestly seeking to follow God’s leading and directions as your pastor. But in order to do so, friends, I need your help.

Over the next couple of weeks, I am going to be prayerfully seeking God’s vision for Sunrise. And so I am asking for you to be in prayer for God to start revealing this vision to me and others. I truly covet your help with this.

I have to admit, I need your help because coming to Sunrise has put me in a peculiar position. For most of my pastoral career, my focus has been on trying to move churches into passionate worship, small group ministry, and team leadership. But guess what, Sunrise is already doing all of this, so I am having to reorient my leadership strategy. That’s why I need your help.

Hopefully, beginning when I return from vacation in a couple of weeks, we will start dreaming and articulating the journey that God is laying out for us. One thing I am sure of, it will be exciting for us and we will all be changed by our journey together.

In the meantime though, please do be in prayer. But also, feel free to sniff (sniff the empty milk jug) around and find out what’s on the inside.

July 4, 2010 - Making a Good Fit

(Tim entered wearing Danny's clown shoes)

Well, Karen told me to wear what Danny would wear, so here you go! Thought this would be a good transition moment.

Actually, the video was kind of accurate. Karen did tell me that I could not wear my old comfortable shoes to church. Okay, so they’re a little worn, a little dirty, a little (sniff)…never mind. But they’re comfortable! These are some shoe that I have had for a couple of years now and they fit me good! I don’t have to tie or untie them. I just slip them on and off at will. But, she’s right – they are not ones that I need to wear today – but I get to keep them to mow the grass in.

I did have to look for a new pair of shoes the other day. I can be a little picky about picking them out too.

- Need to be good quality

- Need to fit my preference

- Need to feel good

- Need to be able to get the job done

This pair that I am putting on and a pair of Fila sneakers seemed to fit the requirements pretty well. The strange thing is that after I bought them, I began to see the similarity between buying new shoes and becoming the pastor at a new church. If you think about it, a pastor coming in to the church pretty much has to meet the same kind of requirements as a new pair of shoes:

- Need to be good quality

- Need to fit my preference

- Need to feel good

- Need to be able to get the job done

This morning, I am going to share with you my thoughts about becoming the pastor here at Sunrise. I have to admit, it can be a rather intimidating task. While you have graciously welcomed my family and me, for which I am extremely thankful, the job before me is monumental. I don’t know if you know this, but Sunrise is highly thought of in the community and in the conference. I have heard nothing but good things about you and have been utterly shocked with the number of people who know of the church. Which brings me back to why this is so intimidating – I don’t want to mess up a good thing for either of us.

As I was preparing for this message, I began thinking about another person who was faced with taking over a lead position – Joshua, who followed Moses. I want to read to you the account about Joshua being thrust into his new position. This will come from Joshua 1:1-9, which I will have up on the screen.

Joshua 1:1-9

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

(Prayer)

Although Joshua was put in charge of leading a whole nation into the Promised Land, for which they had been striving for well over forty years, I feel like I can relate with him just a bit. I ask that you allow me some leverage here as I paraphrase this text into how I see it in our situation.

1 After Danny Leonard had received the news that he would be moving, the Bishop said to Tim , husband of Karen and father to Katie and Emmy: 2 "Danny my servant is moving. Now then, you are going to Sunrise. There you and the good people there are to get ready to embark on a new venture into the communities that surround them. This is the area that God is entrusting to them. 3 I am giving you every opportunity to share the Love of Jesus every place where you set your foot. 4 Your area will extend from the intersection of Us 52 and University Parkway, and from the great river, the Yadkin--all the Forsyth County--to the great county line on the east. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you as long as you follow Christ. As God has been with Danny, so he will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the masses of Forsyth County who have never known the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the laws of God and the discipline of the Church; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let the Great Commandment and Great Commission leave your heart or mind; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to follow the guidance. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Has not called you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Now, I know that this seems to be very much directed toward me, but that’s for a reason. Just as God had to give some reassurance to Joshua as he was about to take on a great responsibility as a new leader of God’s people, I need to hear those words of assurance as I begin my role here as your new pastor. This scripture forms my theological foundation. Next week, we will look at this transition from your point of view and give you a theological basis.

(Time was given for Q&A)

Okay, blog followers, do you have some questions you want to pose to me? I will try to answer them, but if I can’t, I’ll at least “cha-cha” for an answer.

(All messages posted here are rough sketches of the message given)