A Venture in Titusville

Church Growth is Your Responsibility!

2012-02-13T23:31:00.004-05:00

Pastors spend valuable time preparing messages and lesson plans, managing the "business" of the church, providing oversight to the staff and ministries within the church, developing leaders, counseling members, and rushing to meet crises in their various forms.
In addition to these numerous responsibilities, most church members view the pastor as the sole promoter of the church within the greater community and
the one "responsible" for filling up the seats!
I would argue when numerical growth doesn't happen, it is RARELY the pastor's fault
and it is NEVER the pastor's fault alone.
I would argue nobody wants the church to grow MORE than the pastor/staff.
Most pastors and church staff spend hours praying for people to come
and additional energies inviting people to church everywhere they go.

HERE ARE A FEW REASONS WHY CHURCHES DON'T GROW:

1) Members don't invite people! Statistics show that many people would come to church if a friend/family member invited them, yet we withhold the invitation for reasons ranging from fear of being too pushy to the desire to "blend-in" in the workplace. Jesus needs people who can overcome their fears and stand boldly for Him and His Church!

2) Members fail to speak positively about their church in the community! The pastor is viewed as having a self-interest in promoting the church out in the community. Members have a much more powerful ability to be advocates/promoters within the community! Accentuate the positives and minimize the perceived weaknesses. Weaknesses are merely potential growth areas...especially for a "young church" such as New Venture.

3) Members are friendly enough, but NOT welcoming!
What's the difference? When people come to church, YOU might say "Hello!" and feel your obligation stops there. Rather, take it one more step and invite new people to sit with you, join you for lunch, participate in your life group, and BE YOUR FRIEND! The pastor/staff can only befriend so many people....and some people might just have a better connection with you! The pastor/staff cannot spend personal one-on-one time with everyone in the church on a weekly basis, it is just not logistically possible. It is one thing to make people feel welcome on Sunday, but another to make them feel like they are part of the "family".

4) Members are not "involved"! If you are serving in a ministry, it sends the message that you not only enjoy attending worship, but that you are ALL-IN when it comes to the success of the church. This sends a powerful message to friends and family! It has been my experience people who do the most complaining are often those who give and serve the least! Others invest their energy into helping the church overcome challenges and growth areas.

Next time you begin to wonder why the church isn't achieving it's potential, the answer may be closer than you think! Ask yourself: Have I been "involved" in helping my church succeed? Have I supported my church financially? Have I been vocal in my support for the vision of the church in the community? Have I been personally inviting people? Have I reached out to "befriend" new people, or have I just said, "hello" and moved on?

Invite someone to church with you THIS SUNDAY!!

CHRISTMAS SUNDAY RANT!

2011-12-13T16:45:00.012-05:00

I realize the CHRISTmas season is full of parties and family get-togethers, but I hope you will take the opportunity to worship with your church family on CHRISTmas Sunday!

Christmas rarely happens on a Sunday, so we have a unique opportunity this year! Sadly, I have heard of churches cancelling services on Christmas Sunday morning and/or changing worship times to accommodate people's "gift" time and/or other Christmas morning rituals (most of which gain their root in pagan practices anyway...but that is another blog for another time). Respectfully, I believe this kind of accommodation sends the wrong message on one of our Most Holy and Sacred times of the year. If there is ever a Sunday where God's house SHOULD be full and people SHOULD demonstrate their faith commitment to the World, CHRISTMAS is one of those days. I mean, would we cancel Easter Sunday Worship to do an "Easter-egg hunt?" or because we have "family/friends" in town? Don't answer that! Sadly enough, some would....and have!!

I have little sympathy for interfering with someone's "fun," when my Savior made such an incredible sacrifice on the cross for my sins! If you have family or friends who are upset because you want to go to church...boo-hoo-hoo!! I don't want to hear the "whining" and am frankly disappointed ANY committed Christian would miss ANY Sunday (let alone Christmas Sunday) because of what someone else thinks! How about taking a stand for Christ with your family and friends??

I understand some of you will be out of town or on the road (there ARE probably churches where you are going), but for those of you who will simply be missing from church because of "present opening" and/or some other activity, I would challenge you to consider what the Lord sacrificed for you and joyfully go to God's house for worship on Christmas!! The presents can be opened and the family activities can probably be done at another time. I am proud that our church (New Venture Church) will worship on Christmas Sunday @ 10:30 a.m. We will sing some Christmas favorites and have a great worship time!

Pastors and other church leaders:
Please don't feel guilty for expecting your congregations to SHOW UP for worship on Christmas Sunday! However, don't be astonished if they don't make it in....the pull of the world is strong! Those who DO make it will likely be blessed beyond measure...so give the day YOUR best!

Blessings
Charlie Arms
Lead Pastor, New Venture Church
Titusville, FL

Casey Anthony: "Innocent" vs. "Not Guilty"

2011-07-05T16:21:00.004-04:00

First of all, I have to admit I have NOT watched one single moment of "THE TRIAL". Of course, Floridians know this means the Casey Anthony Trial. People have been obsessed over this "event" which wound up receiving national attention. Having lived through the infamous "OJ Trial", I have come to accept that many people in America apparently have nothing better to do with their lives than to be wrapped up in the life of someone they don't really know!

As a conscientious parent, I will admit my disdain for Casey Anthony's parental oversight and my amazement at the circus of her life. However, a jury of her peers found her "not guilty" of murder. Apparently, the "evidence" wasn't strong enough for those responsible for the decision to "convict" Casey Anthony. Ultimately, only Casey Anthony (and GOD) know the full truth regarding what happened between her and her daughter. Our legal system may be flawed, because people run it, but I am blessed that we go through the process. I would rather a few people "get away" with something than someone receive the death penalty (or a prison sentence) who didn't do it. Want to know why I feel this way? Because God is JUST and NOBODY ever truly "gets away with it"!

What the reaction from this decision DOES teach me is that people desire JUSTICE! We hate it when we feel someone "gets away" with hurting others! The Psalmist cries out about injustice with the following words:

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. (Psalm 73: 3-4).

When people do bad things, or are bad people, we scratch our heads over why they seem to prosper. No doubt, Casey Anthony will probably get a book deal, a movie, and will remain a celebrity for years to come. We must not forget that a declaration of "not guilty" is not the same as being "innocent" of a crime! "Not guilty" only means there wasn't enough "evidence", in the eyes of the jury, to convict.

We MUST move on and NOT allow anger to fester over this, as God will deal with all things in due time. Even the Psalmist came to this conclusion as he writes:

Psalm 73

¹⁸ Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
¹⁹ How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
²⁰ They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.

He goes on to write:
²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

Please remember when you see people "get away" with something, God sees it too, and His Justice is TRUE and FINAL! In the end, we should worry more over our own "guilt"...not that of others!

Here is how Psalm 73 ends:

But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds. (v. 28)

Blessings,
Pastor Charlie

Guarding the Flock

2011-06-21T07:19:00.006-04:00

Post-Father's Day, I have been reflecting on my role in our home as a protector. It is our God-given duty to protect our children and our wives from harm!

Most churchgoers do not realize how often the pastor serves as protector of the congregation. From a Biblical analogy, this is certainly one of the roles a "shepherd" had over his flock. Paul’s description of the pastor in Titus 1 closes with:

holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. (v9)

The reason for this qualification is seen immediately in 1:10f. Pastors need to be the sort of men (or women) who can refute false teachers because false teachers are around and they will cause trouble unless they are dealt with. This is also in view when Paul exhorted the Ephesians elders:

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 20:28-31)

You cannot serve the church as pastor if you are unwilling to confront error for the good of the church. Those who cower at danger or try to say these issues are not their concern show themselves hirelings and cowards. The true shepherd is willing to give his life for his flock. Surely here we are to imitate the pattern of the Chief Shepherd who said:

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He
who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees
the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and
scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about
the sheep. (John 10:11-13)

The shepherd loves his flock and is ready to die for them. This is not the creating of unnecessary conflict (as some take it). This is love in action, and can only really emerge as we establish close knit community where pastors are not CEO’s or simply hired guns but rather members of the community, the family, who have been called out for service.

I urge others in the church to answer the call to be on guard to "protect" the church. Each member of God's Church can fulfill this role of "protector" by refusing to engage in gossip and refuting those who would seek to create dissension!

Riding the Wave

2011-06-15T22:33:00.003-04:00

Periodically, in the life of a ministry or church, God blesses a group of people with what some call “The Wave.”

The wave is when God seems to do more than you can handle! During the wave, your buildings aren’t big enough, you can’t hire fast enough, you’re just hanging on for life.

I've been blessed in ministry to be part of this phenomena a few times.

Let’s start with some basics:

You don’t create a spiritual wave, God does. The ride you’ll take isn’t a result of your creative ideas or masterful leadership. God will certainly use those things, but He is the One who causes and directs the spiritual progress.
You can work with the wave or fight against it. When God is doing something special, you’ll want to cooperate with what He is doing. I honestly believe when God starts to do something new, too many church leaders get afraid and work against what God is trying to do.
The wave probably won’t last forever. When God blesses you supernaturally, ride the wave. If it starts to die down, don’t try to recreate the wave. Pray for the next one and ride it when it comes.

A wave can look like a group of teenagers coming back on fire from camp, a group of people getting baptized, someone getting called into ministry, someone catching the vision and getting involved, someone inviting a bunch of people to come to church with them.

A wave is coming! Keep your eyes open and your mind alert! Don't miss....be part of it!!!

Blessings
<><
Charlie

Rebuilding the Walls

2011-05-25T08:51:00.004-04:00

Nehemiah is a great book for us. It focuses aspects of leadership, honor, integrity, and determination — all under the direction of God. Furthermore, it encourages us to recognize that when God is behind something — and when we are willing to work — anything can be accomplished.

Nehemiah also offers warnings for those who profess to serve God as well as for men who seek (or fail) to lead their families.

Victory can be won. The enemy can be defeated. The path is paved with prayer, planning, action, determination, humility, repentance, and remembering what God has done.

Every athletic team, every business or organization, every individual, AND every church has to go through periods of rebuilding OR face withering away into mediocrity....or worse.

Where is it in your marriage, your family, or your spiritual life that you need to "rebuild the walls"?

Preparing for Easter

2011-04-23T10:08:00.002-04:00

FROM JOHN MORGAN (NVC Prayer Ministry Leader)
It was recently reported that crucifixion nails were found in a tomb alleged to belong to Caiaphas, a person instrumental in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The leap was that these nails must have been special to him since he saved them and therefore were from the cross of Christ.

The torturing and crucifixion of the physical man Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of prophecy, a confirmation of thousands of years of predictions. He was bruised for our sins and died in our place. Friday marked the giant check mark of confirmation that the baby born in Bethlehem was indeed the promised messiah.

Saturday was the sabbath when the people honored God through resting, a complete rest. No work, not even cooking, was done on the sabbath. The body that was quickly placed in the tomb on Friday lay there waiting to be prepared for its eventual demise. The remaining eleven of the chosen twelve were in hiding for their lives, knowing that they could be the next ones on the cross as this "religious rebellion" was crushed by the authorities. It was a dark day, one with virtually no hope.

The empty tomb on Sunday turned the world upside down. The "dead man" appeared first to a few, then to hundreds. He ate, something a ghost would not do. He shared His scars to confirm it was Him. He proved that death, the "ultimate defeat," could itself be defeated. With that, His promise of eternal life suddenly made sense; it was something that could be done. The barrier between God and man was removed permanently, giving us permission to come before God with any and all of our needs.

As we celebrate the anniversary of the victory of Jesus, the nails are not the critical part of the resurrection; the empty tomb is.

BETRAYED!!!

2011-04-14T23:14:00.006-04:00

We all love the triumph of Easter Sunday, which marks a day of victory and hope for all humanity. Over 2 Billion Christians world-wide will celebrate this pinnacle of our faith, which marks the day Jesus rose from the dead and conquered sin and death, proving once and for all He was the long anticipated Messiah of whom the prophets foretold!

THE WEEK LEADING UP TO EASTER DIDN'T SEEM SO VICTORIOUS...

Just a week earlier, Jesus was heralded by adoring throngs of people waving palm branches as He entered into Jerusalem riding a borrowed animal. On this Sunday, which Christians call "Palm Sunday", he was received as a king! Yet within a short time span, the crowds turned against Him and became violent. His message of love and forgiveness, didn't resonate with the people who wanted a military leader to overthrow the oppressive Roman government with lightning bolts from heaven. By Thursday, He was ARRESTED and by Friday He was CRUCIFIED.

One might think crucifixion would be the toughest part of the ordeal Jesus endured. I personally don't believe this to be true. Here are a few of the things I believe were even tougher for Jesus:

He was betrayed by one of His 12 disciples for a bag full of money.
He was deserted by those he loved and healed....so they could selfishly save their own skin.
He was judged a heretic by the religious leadership...people He was making sacrifices to save.
He was stripped naked, embarrassed, and beaten in front of everyone.
He was mocked and ridiculed for His faith.
He was forced to carry His own cross through the streets after being beaten beyond recognition.
His most promising disciple, whom He said would lead the church, denied Him with curse words.

While His death was excruciating, I believe these factors made the events of Jesus death, much more painful for Him. Jesus told His followers, "“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) Jesus didn't mean we would ALL have to be crucified, but I do believe He intended to communicate that following Jesus would not always be easy.

Sometimes we are betrayed and/or abandoned by those close to us. Sometimes we will be mocked for our faith. Sometimes the people you count on are selfish and worry about their "own skin" more than yours. Sometimes LIFE WILL BE TOUGH! God gives victory to those who persevere; who "finish the race" and "fight the good fight!" Just like Jesus claimed victory from death three days later, we too can claim our own victory by NOT GIVING IN OR GIVING UP!

As you prepare for the victory of Easter....don't forget the cost of your salvation or the call to follow His example in your life!

See you Sunday!
Charlie

WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?

2011-02-13T23:31:00.011-05:00

"What On Earth Am I Here For?"
This will be the question we will answer over the next couple months @ New Venture Church!
Don't miss this!!

We are setting out on a 40 day spiritual journey called "40 Days of Purpose" starting March 4, 2011 with a special KICKOFF PARTY. We invite everyone to join us on this exciting and inspirational journey! If you have a friend, family member, neighbor, or co-worker you have been trying to share your faith with, you will want to encourage them to join you in this journey. The design of this campaign will challenge every believer, while also maintaining its appeal to those who are either exploring faith for the first time or the first time in a long time. This is a great way to get started and/or to revitalize your walk with Christ!

There are THREE basic components of this 40 day experience:
The following start on March 6th...

1) The Groups (we currently have 40 groups which will be meeting in homes all across the area during the campaign)
2) The Gatherings (each Sunday morning worship service during the campaign is specifically designed to correlate to the theme for the week)
3) The Book (each participant will be given the Purpose Driven Life book for personal reading each day during this 40 day spiritual experience)

While it is beneficial to attend everything during the campaign...the group experience is absolutely essential to get out of this journey!

Millions of people have experienced this 40 Day spiritual growth campaign in communities just like ours all across the world. 40 Days of Purpose is a spiritual journey based on Pastor Rick Warren's (Saddleback Church) NY Times Bestselling book, "The Purpose Driven Life," which has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

HOW DO YOU SIGN UP?

1) Sign up to host OR attend a group at our 40 Days of Purpose GRAND CENTRAL table on Sunday morning at New Venture Church.
2) Email Pastor Lou (lou@new-venture-church.org) or Laura Morrissey (office@new-venture-church.org) and they will help you find a group in your area that is meeting at a time which works for you.
3) Call the church office (321-267-2824) and ask for either Lou or Laura.

CAN I INVITE PEOPLE I KNOW?

Absolutely! We are HOPING you will! Your host will not mind if you bring people with you...just let us OR your host know so we can have materials available. We have special invitation cards for you to use that you can pick on at our Headquarters or on Sunday Morning at the GRAND CENTRAL table.

MEEKNESS ISN'T WEAKNESS

2011-02-07T10:20:00.003-05:00

The words "wimpy" and "Christian", do not belong together! I am nauseated by Christians who are pushovers! Somehow, our culture has confused "meekness" with "weakness". This is probably where we get our pictures of a skinny, pale, and feminine looking Jesus!

Meekness means a calm temper, someone who is not easily provoked. It does not mean weakness. Biblical meekness comes from one who has a peaceful heart and doesn't panic in times of adversity, pressure, and/or personal attack.

Christians are FIGHTERS! The Bible clearly tells us to prepare ourselves for battle:

(Eph. 6:10-17) Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

(I Tim. 6:12) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Jesus himself is depicted in Scripture as one who fought against injustice and the tyranny of the establishment. In fact, at one point he was quite violent, as he used a whip to drive "money-changers" from the temple! (John 2:13-16)

It's not about WHO we are fighting AGAINST as much as it is WHAT we are fighting FOR! We shouldn't look for fights (that is sinful), but we shouldn't back away from one either. If you are fighting against SIN and for JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS, God will be on your side! Jesus and I are a majority in every situation!!

THOSE WHO TALK ABOUT GOD'S CHURCH AND GOD'S SERVANTS

2011-01-27T19:49:00.007-05:00

"People who come to your church and speak ill of other pastors/church leaders are often the first people who will speak poorly of you!" A professor in seminary taught me this, and in 20 years of ministry it has (sadly) proven to be true.

Be warned of those who visit and/or join your church and immediately start complaining. Be doubly warned of those who use vehicles like Facebook to trash pastors and/or churches publicly...this is not good for the Kingdom. Such persons are passive-aggressive individuals who are lovers of controversy and negativity.

These are persons who have likely been confronted on serious sin issues and refused to change, so it was easier to leave and claim some sort of injustice. Such people are extremely dangerous!
Some will say, "You shouldn't judge people!"....but the Bible teaches that among believers there IS judgment which must take place for the integrity of God's church.

Read I Corinthians 5:11-13
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

The enemy uses people to create division, doubt, and distraction....don't be a TOOL of the enemy! Please refer to I Timothy 5 (below)....and remember: a "witness" is someone who actually saw and/or experienced something themselves....NOT someone who has an opinion. A TRUE believer will make an appointment with his/her pastor or church leader and speak in a civil manner and in such a way as to gain understanding.

17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. 21I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

MAN VS WIFE

2011-01-25T17:14:00.008-05:00

God designed a man and woman to work together in their marriage, so why are we at war so often?

This is a discussion we will have in an exciting new message series starting THIS Sunday (Jan. 30) at New Venture Church

If you are trying to make sense out of why your marriage/relationship failed (or is failing);
If you are merely EXISTING in a marriage/relationship in which you are unhappy;
If you are thinking of taking the leap into a NEW marriage/relationship;

LET ME STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME AND GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS SERIES OF MESSAGES!

Blessings,
Charlie

2011-01-05T08:35:00.005-05:00

NEW MESSAGE SERIES:

Starting Sunday, January 9 · 10:30am

Over the next 3 weeks, we will be looking at God's desire to "bless" us and what we must do to position our lives to BE BLESSED!

Hint: It doesn't just happen because we believe.

Don't Miss this Great Message Series!
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS!!

WOLVES IN THE CHURCH?

2011-01-04T22:33:00.006-05:00

The enemy will use people to cause division and destruction in the church. Sometimes they are deliberate and sometimes they are accidental, but wolves emerge. Beware!!

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." Matthew 7:15

"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people." Romans 16:17-18

If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions, and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit. I Timothy 6:3-5

From a Christian Brother: Patrick O'Connor (permission given to share)

Characteristics Of Wolves In The Church

Sharp Teeth – He or she appears to be very friendly, they wear sheep’s clothes, sound like sheep, but later on they will start biting the church by their canine teeth by criticizing some church programs and the pastor. And one by one, members will start disintegrating and some will start thinking the same as these wolves.

Pointed Ears – He or she have an excellent hearing ability enough to hear the criticism of the leaders and set some private meeting with some of the members and the main topic is all about the leader’s fault and mistakes. And the worst thing is, they will even try to encourage you to pray for your leader to sow some doubts.

Padded Paws – They have sharp paws which they use to steal. They don’t use the doors, nor have any respect to the owner. The same is true about inside the Church.The wolves inside the church does not seek advice nor recognizes the authority of leaders.

Big Mouth – They appears to have a flashy, painted smile but have the last word in every conversation. He is more legalistic to the core and have greater interest on issues that seems to be spiritual so that he can have some followers. He would prefer to stay in power and judges and condemns all who disagree with him. He does not like to be corrected and when confronted with his sin, he refuses to discuss it rationally and will call it bitter argument or something like vicious attacks.

Shifty Eyes – He can easily see unattended sheep and those spiritually weak flock and fill in them all the criticisms and rules.

Slobber – He is not usually satisfied with what he got. He will leave the other sheep bruised and well beaten up and moves again to look for greener pastures looking for unsuspecting sheep with careless shepherds

2011-01-01T11:10:00.002-05:00

Sunday Showdown:
Sports vs. Church

Yet another "excuse" people use for missing church is the battle of "Sports vs. Church". It's become the Sunday morning dilemma in homes across the nation. In the homes of Christians, Church should always win!

There are three areas where this issue has impact:

1) YOUTH SPORTS:

With weekend sports leagues growing in popularity, schedules have stretched further into those hours that were once the exclusive domain of churches. I am pushing back, asking coaches and time-starved parents to keep worship time holy, even if it means their children's teams have to play some other time. There is nothing MORE important you can do with your family time than WORSHIP GOD TOGETHER.....if you can honestly share with me what activity is MORE important, I would love to hear from you.

Many of you know I played football in high school and college and am an ardent football fan. As much as I personally love sports, I don't want my kids to grow up with great sports memories and no Biblical knowledge. In Deuteronomy 6 (and several other passages), the Word of God tells us we are to teach and train our children in the Scripture. We are to teach our children about priorities....it is hard to do this when other activities are more important than God and His Church. When you pull your child out of church for sports, you are communicating the reality that this activity is more important than God.

Parents (often deluded) will push back and say, "my kid has great potential", citing Tiger Woods father (or some other parent of a high profile athlete) who pushed him towards excellence. Parents say this, not realizing they have an incredibly higher probability of winning the lottery. Do you realize less than 1% of all high school athletes earn an athletic scholarship to college (of any size), and an even smaller percentage of athletes make the transition from college athletics to the professional ranks? Do you know the percentage of amateur baseball players, golfers, etc. who turn pro? Extremely low! Do you realize 75% of all professional athletic careers last less than five years? THE QUESTION YOU MUST ASK: "THEN WHAT?"

It all boils down to time, and the precious lack of it for families. As the growing demands of homework, weekend errands and sports compete for families' free time, church often loses. This trend helps explains why the Church doesn't grow and why families are breaking up! Values and priorities are all mixed up. STOP USING SPORTS AS AN EXCUSE TO AVOID GOD, THE CHURCH, AND MOSTLY...YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A PARENT TO TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT GOD!

2) TV SPORTS:

In the day and age of recording devices, missing church for a game on TV is just ridiculous and blatant disregard for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross! Hit the "Record" button! This shouldn't have to be said, but I hear this excuse often.

I realize there are times when someone gives you tickets for a game or you have an opportunity to see your favorite team LIVE! OK, God is not a ogre and will not be upset with you going to your game. Because games are expensive, this is probably not going to happen that often!

3) FISHING, GOLFING, LEISURE ACTIVITIES:

The old saying, "I can worship God at the lake or on the golf course as good as in church!" is just hogwash! You're not worshiping God...you're avoiding God and His people, probably because your heart is far from Him. You probably need to get some things right with Him or someone else in your life and you don't want anyone to tell you this is true. While one CAN commune with God in prayer in any location, the Greek word for "church" is "ecclesia", which means "gathering". I've never heard of a "gathering" of ONE! The Church was God's creation for YOU! When you don't attend, you are basically saying, "God, I know more than you!" You are running from God's plan for you and how you were designed to function: in Christian community! You can't encourage yourself or hold yourself accountable.

See you Sunday @ The Gathering

Astronaut High School (10:30 a.m.)

Blessings,
Charlie

The Church is Full of Hypocrites?

2010-12-29T08:56:00.002-05:00

I've heard this excuse for NOT going to church: "The church is full of hypocrites!"

Here are some comments about that:

1) There's always room for one more: YOU

2) You're assuming we don't know there are hypocrites in the church AND that we condone hypocrisy...both of which are FALSE! You also probably believe others shouldn't judge you, but here YOU are judging others. God will judge hypocrisy....you must answer for yourself!

3) This IS a hypocritical statement:

You're going to be a hypocrite and not attend church when God clearly calls us to assemble together regularly in Scripture.....because OTHER people are hypocrites?

4) You don't apply this logic in any other area of your life:

We've all heard of medical quacks—but have you you stopped going to the doctor? There have been news reports of hamburger contaminated with E. coli—but have you stopped eating Big Macs? Jonathan Pollard and Benedict Arnold were phony, hypocritical Americans—but are you planning to leave the country?

Hope to see you this Sunday @ worship!
Charlie

More Crazy Excuses for Not Attending Church

2010-12-28T14:30:00.003-05:00

More Crazy Excuses for Not Attending Church:

1. Well, I could not come to the church last Sunday, because there was a sermon in the radio. (Not as good as LIVE! You can't get the support, encouragement, accountability you need....or build Christian friendships AT HOME)

2. There are too many hypocrites in church.
(You are right, but that doesn't excuse you!)

3. I can’t follow what they do, so why should I just sit there.
(Can't OR Won't?)

4. I don’t like the songs we have to sing.
(You might be surprised...we like to ROCK!)

5. I’m not religious.
(Note: We aren't either)

6. I don’t like all the hollering and yelling some people do.
(Note: We don't do this at NVC)

7. I don’t go to church on Sunday because getting the kids dressed in their Sunday Best first thing in the morning makes me cuss and curse the Lord……very loudly.
(Good: You don't have to dress up to come to New Venture!)

8. I don’t go to church cause I have a feeling that God doesn’t like agnostics. (God loves YOU even if you don't love Him.)

9. Early one Sunday morning, two men were on a golf course. One turns to the other and says, “You know how religious I am. I couldn’t go to church this morning because my wife is sick.”
(It's too cold to golf right now anyway!)

10. There is too much praying going on.
(You can pray as little or as much as you desire! We don't force you to do anything!)

11. All the parking spaces are full.
(We have LOTS of parking...we meet at Astronaut High School's auditorium)

12. I’m afraid that I might get bitten by a Christian and turn into one myself.
(I promise....we don't bite!)

13. I’ve nothing for the offering because I’m saving up for a gas-powered sweater.
(Give or don't give....that is between you and God!)

14. I’ve nothing for the offering because I’m saving up for a gas-powered sweater.
(In here TWICE...for effect!)

15. I was forced to go when I was a younger.
(Isn't it great now that you can CHOOSE to go?)

Put the Excuses Behind this year and get plugged into God's Church!

NO EXCUSE SUNDAY @ NEW VENTURE CHURCH
Astronaut High School
10:30 a.m.
(Coffee and Donuts @ 9:30)

Blessings
Charlie

FOOTBALL AND EXCUSES FOR MISSING CHURCH!

2010-12-23T10:25:00.006-05:00

People have many excuses for why they don't attend church. What if you used those same excuses for why you don't attend football games? You would sound pretty silly.

Why I stopped going to ball games:
1. Whenever I go to a game, they ask for money.
2. The other fans don't care about me.
3. The seats are too hard.
4. Coach never visits me.
5. The referee makes calls I don't agree with.
6. Some of the games go into overtime and make me late for dinner.
7. The band plays songs I don't know.
8. I have other things to do at game time.
9. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.
10. I know more than the coaches do anyway.
11. I can be just as good a fan at the lake.
12. I won't take my kids to a game either. They must choose for themselves which teams to follow.
Citation: Mike and Amy Nappa, A Heart Like His (Barbour, 1999), pp.182-183.

Stop making excuses and make a commitment to be present with God's people at church this Sunday!

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:19-25 (ESV)

TOP FIVE EXCUSES FOR LEAVING CHURCH

2010-12-18T15:59:00.006-05:00

On January 2nd, we are hosting "NO EXCUSE SUNDAY!" We will be discussing all the excuses people use for not coming to church and will be talking about how to overcome those excuses! HINT: this would be a great day to bribe your friends/family to come with a meal or something!

Over the years, I've heard many excuses for not coming to church, but I've also heard excuses "CHRISTIAN" people used when they STOPPED going to church. If you have used one of these...or thought about using them, you should repent and get your heart right with God. You are testing God and are making church more about YOU than about HIM!

EXCUSES FOR LEAVING CHURCH:

5) I missed a couple Sundays to see if anyone would notice and nobody called (or not enough people called).

If you have used this one, just be honest....you were already leaving and decided to do this on your way out so you could have someone to blame besides yourself for not going to church or being committed to God. You probably weren't called because you weren't in a life group, had already stopped being involved, and your attendance was so sporadic that missing a couple Sundays didn't stand out. Even then, someone probably called, but you had already convinced yourself to move on because you couldn't give God/The Church time anyway.

4) The church is getting too big and impersonal!

First of all, I have been to small churches which are impersonal, so size doesn't make a church impersonal. Lack of involvement, however, can make a church feel impersonal. Jesus always had large crowds following Him and the Early Church was comprised of very large numbers, which met in home groups, which we would call "life groups"....get involved in one! Secondly, you can take some initiative. Why does the staff have to track you down to make sure you aren't left out? We create opportunities all the time for you to be in groups and studies designed to build friendships and grow in your faith.

3) The church has changed!

Yes...and there will be much more change in our future! God's Church....if it is healthy....will grow and change just like you do over the course of your natural development. New Venture has moved through infancy, and at three years old, is still a very young church. We have had the struggles of growing pains as God has fine-tuned our mission and developed our team. As any church grows, people will come and go. Sometimes we will send people out to minister in other churches and sometimes people will be with us for a while and move on. In the end, God builds His church as He sees fit. If you want to be part of a church where everything stays the same all the time, I encourage you to find another church home. It has always been communicated that we will take bold steps to move and grow with the Spirit of God.

2) The church keeps talking about money and commitment OR I don't like how they spend the money OR something about money!

35% of the adults who attend New Venture contributed $0 this year.
35% of the adults who attend New Venture contributed less than $600 this year.
30% of the adults who attend New Venture contributed 80% of our giving.

The Bible states each "Christian" is to tithe (give 10%) of their income in faith to support the mission of God's Church. The mission of New Venture Church is tied to the faith and commitment of our people. If you don't support the mission of NVC, then please don't give and don't attend. Every dollar we spend is to advance the mission/vision of the Church. The staff will freely admit there are things we have tried which haven't worked and there have been times a project didn't work out exactly right, but there is no frivolity in our spending. The staff of NVC are also counted in the 30% who give 80%
I think this speaks for itself! We would triple our budget if every family at NVC were to be obedient to Scripture and simply tithe. People leave the church over money because they don't want to commit to God....or they want to be in control of the vision/mission.

1) Somebody said or did something that hurt my feelings and/or upset me.

Really? This is probably the biggest reason people leave, but just let me say one word: FORGIVENESS. Church people say and do stupid things sometimes. In 20 years of ministry, I have been hurt many times by careless, insensitive things people have said or done, but I'm not going to LEAVE CHURCH because of it. Jesus was hurt by the people closest to Him and we hurt God's feelings all the time. We have "grieved" His Spirit on a few occasions! You have a forgiveness issue, my friend, if you are using this excuse to leave or stay away from church. YOU HAVE MISSED THE WHOLE POINT OF CHURCH....WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST! It is our job to love and forgive each other! You are MORE wrong than the person who said or did something stupid! Perhaps you're assuming they even know they've hurt your feelings? Perhaps you have an sensitive spot which nobody could predict? Whatever the case...you have a mandate to go to that person and make it right (read Matthew 18:15-20)!

As you begin to make your New Year's resolutions....why not make getting back in Church a priority!

Blessings
Pastor Charlie

THE GREAT INVITATION!

2010-10-24T15:51:00.003-04:00

NEW VENTURE CHURCH is ready to take greater action to REACH OUT to our community. Starting today, we have embarked on a campaign simply called, "THE GREAT INVITATION!" Together with our outreach team we are challenging, encouraging, teaching, and equipping our church family to take the message of Christ to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers!
Today several people GOT SAVED!
We also started handing out $30 to each family/household who would take the challenge of using the money to reach out in either a simple or creative way to others! Maybe you'll have someone over for dinner, buy something for them, or do something creatively to communicate God's love!
Our goal during this campaign is for EVERY person at NVC to start inviting people to Christ and the Church! We are setting a November 7th worship attendance goal of 500 people! If every family joins in this endeavor, we WILL get there!
This is up to you NVC family!

WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE?

2010-09-14T00:24:00.003-04:00

It is interesting how often I hear people say, "If I win the lottery, I'll help the church build a new building!", 0r "If I win the lottery, the church will get my tithe!" First of all, I'll hold you to this!!! Secondly, if you win 100 million dollars, You should give MORE than a tithe!!

When one wins the lottery (or Publisher's Clearinghouse), they are often asked if they want ONE LUMP SUM or PAYMENTS OVER TIME. Which got me to thinking about INVESTING in CHURCH GROWTH! Actually, there were several questions this thought process raised:

If you had to choose, which would you rather have? (or better yet, which do you think God desires most?):

$300,000 in the bank right now OR a church full of people who give $300,000 EACH YEAR?

$300,000 in the bank OR a church growing from 200 to 500, by reaching out with the Good News and seeing people's lives changed?

500 people a part of a church without a building OR 200 people with a church building?

I think I know which God would choose! God's economics are often different than ours. None of us have bigger vision than God! In an ideal world, it would be great to have BOTH, but Jesus promised, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33) If we choose to step out in faith, He will provide!

Blessings
Charlie

EMBRACING CHANGE

2010-06-29T10:31:00.003-04:00

For too long, the Church has been a bastion of complacency and maintenance. The Church is often the last organization to respond to changes in culture and address issues of the present day. If we are to be a transformational agent in today's world, we need to embrace change. I'm not speaking of changing the message of Christ, but changing the methodology by which the church operates. The church must be more adaptive.

I have to confess: on a personal level I don't like change. I like having a set group of friends I can count on, a similar pattern to worship each Sunday, and I even like to order the same foods at the same restaurants! Change is something which has had to grow on me.

10 years in the United Methodist Church was comfortable, but God has called Rebecca and I into a journey over the past 10 years to shed the fear of change and to grow beyond our fears. I have seen this fear over the past several months as New Venture Church has moved out of our comfortable church building and into a high school auditorium. Even though the space if FAR better for us to do worship AND reach out to our community, people still like the place called "COMFORTABLE"!

This fear of change has been evident in the growth stages/evolution of our church. The first five years of life for any person or organization usually contains the highest amount of CHANGE! Let's face it: from birth to kindergarten is a lot of change. NVC is three years old this December! We have seen massive amounts of change and development organizationally.....AND THIS SHOULD BE EXPECTED!

Change has also taught me that in today's world it is not realistic to think a growing, moving church will be the same five years from now as they are today. The MESSAGE remains the same, but hopefully we get better at some things and we become MORE effective. People will change too....some people will grow with the Church and some will choose not to adapt and will opt for another experience. WE SHOULD NEVER BE SURPRISED BY CHANGE IN A GROWING ORGANIZATION.

The caterpillar can never become a butterfly if change doesn't occur! When we stop embracing change, we will likely become irrelevant and stagnant. The Bible teaches us of a God who instigates change in our hearts! The challenge of faith is to be in motion, like the wind of the Holy Spirit!

SEE YOU AT THE CHANGING PLACE THIS SUNDAY!
PC (Pastor Charlie)

STANDING UP IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

2010-06-05T10:41:00.009-04:00

Our family just returned from a week long vacation in Washington D.C. I must say every Jr. and/or Sr. High student (pretty much everyone) in our country should be required to visit our Nation's Capital and merely study the inscriptions upon each monument erected to those who have fought to preserve our history as American people. I think such a visit would curb some of the "America is an evil ogre" mentality which is taught in school.

God is given honor in nearly every single one! These references aren't simply vague references to mystical concepts, but inscribed to honor our Creator. It is quite clear they had the Bible in mind.

My favorite was at the Jefferson Memorial (pictured right). Under the dome, you read the words: "...I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." - Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush, September 23, 1800

On another panel in the Memorial to Thomas Jefferson are these words: "God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. (Wow!) Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free. Establish a law for educating the common people. This it is the business of the state and on a general plan."

No wonder America has achieved so much and experienced such great blessing in her short, albeit influential history. I believe God raised up men (and women) such as Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington, etc. who were filled with such conviction to light the path for us all. Visiting Arlington National Cemetary and the War Memorials visually reminded us that the sacrifices continue today for these principles. The love these men had for the people and nation of America was profound and the honor they gave to God in their pursuits should serve as an example to us all.

The real question for us to consider: "Will we respond to God's call today?" Will we fall into the trap of hating America and each other? Will we stand by as the principles which have been preserved through the years by the blood of our forefathers fall? Will we stand up for God? Will we love each other enough to speak the truth?

How do we get there?? I believe the ONLY way is to be unified behind the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us! Let's reach as many as we can and make the largest impact we can possibly make. Let's become the "light of the world"!

Thoughts to consider!
Blessings
Charlie

2010-05-17T12:35:00.001-04:00

LET'S BE REAL!!

“For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known” (Matthew 10:26).

We are in a message series at New Venture Church entitled "In Rhythm" where we are looking at the difference between our private self and our public self (the masks we wear). Last week, we discussed "Being Real". Church people DO fall into the trap of being hypocrites....a claim from non-Christians I really don't refute. Unlike non-Christians, we have the Bible as our guide and the Spirit of Christ as our power to be saved.

Often we try to hide from God and others. Here are some ways we do that:

1) Ignoring pleas/caution from the people who love us (often family and close friends) to get help for our problems.
2) Getting mad (anger is a tool we use to attempt to control someone) at people when we are confronted about sinful behavior by a brother or sister in Christ.
3) Leaving Church when the message doesn't fit my personal worldview...even though it is clearly a Biblical viewpoint. It is amazing how we enjoy personal comfort over the pursuit of God!

We are being challenged to BE the CHURCH. Yes, God takes us as we are, but it is NEVER his desire to leave us broken and in our sin. We are a NEW CREATION and the OLD IS PASSED away! Sometimes, we celebrate our sin and idolize our brokenness, instead of praying for real LIFE CHANGE! God is able to help us OVERCOME our sin and be healed of our addictions!

Let's be REAL.....some of us don't want to change! Be honest with God and yourself if you value rebellion, anger, pride, lust, etc, more than Christ!

Blessings
Charlie

TERRORISM AND THE CHURCH

2010-05-06T09:26:00.012-04:00

Terrorism and The Church

Take a stand against spiritual abuse!

Some people are just so "hell-bent" on destruction and full of malice that they will sneak around with masks on and plant bombs when they think nobody is paying attention. They often look like normal people, but scheme in dark, secret places. These are people who will never go through the proper channels of diplomacy and civilized behavior, but will justify doing anything and saying anything to achieve their objective to destroy or kill the "infidel". Their demands are so ridiculous that they were rejected by law and decency.....so they turned to violence and propaganda as a means of control and fear. Confronting such persons is usually a waste of time, but as Christians we must always cling to hope.

Sounds like something from the Middle East, but disgruntled people who leave the church they once committed to support do these things every week in America.....usually after they stop giving to God, serving in the Church, and often even attending Church. If you hear someone tearing down another church, church member, or church leader by name, you must stop and wonder what kind of person would do that? You must also stop to consider the "fruit" of a person's life. In my 20 years of ministry experience, usually spiritual terrorists are people who were confronted about their sin as the Bible instructs us to do and so they got mad that they couldn't go around hurting people and defaming Christ with no accountability. The Bible clearly stands against gossip, so you know this behavior isn't from God....so from where does it come? Answer: the pit of hell!

Christ warned us that we would be "persecuted" and that the "enemy" is always on the job. Don't be collateral damage from a spiritual terrorist attack. Be firm and realize this is part of what Christ meant when he said we must "take up our cross and follow Him."

Hear the words of the apostle Peter:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
(1 Pet 5:9-11 NIV)

Standing firm,
Pastor Charlie

GOSSIP

2010-05-03T11:18:00.002-04:00

The Hebrew word translated “gossip” in the Old Testament is defined as “one who reveals secrets, one who goes about as a talebearer or scandal-monger.” A gossiper is a person who has privileged information about people and proceeds to reveal that information to those who have no business knowing it. Gossip is distinguished from sharing information in two ways:

1. Intent. Gossipers often have the goal of building themselves up by making others look bad and exalting themselves as some kind of repositories of knowledge.

2. The type of information shared. Gossipers speak of the faults and failings of others, or reveal potentially embarrassing or shameful details regarding the lives of others without their knowledge or approval. Even if they mean no harm, it is still gossip.

NOT GOSSIP:

1) Speaking directly to someone about their behavior. It is not gossip to go directly to someone and tell them they are doing something wrong. In fact, we have a duty to warn other believers about such behavior.

2) Taking information and twisting it or fabricating information. That is lying and slander...a whole other set of sins...also addressed in God's word!

In the book of Romans, Paul reveals the sinful nature and lawlessness of mankind, stating how God poured out His wrath on those who rejected His laws. Because they had turned away from God's instruction and guidance, He gave them over to their sinful natures. The list of sins includes gossips and slanderers (Romans 1:29b-32). We see from this passage how serious the sin of gossip is and that it characterizes those who are under God’s wrath.

WORSHIP PASTOR SEARCH

2010-04-30T20:14:00.002-04:00

NVC is on a nation-wide search for our next worship pastor. Over 170 resumes have been submitted. We have two candidates who have passed all the preliminary screening and are in the final stages of the interview process. Tony and Laura Wolf were with us last weekend (April 24-25) and Bob and Wendy Bender will be with us this weekend (May 1-2). Please be in prayer for the staff of New Venture Church who will be discussing this selection with me and for me (as your lead pastor) as I listen to God about who would be the best fit to join our team.
There may be additional candidates as we continue this process. Your feedback is welcome. Please email me with any thoughts on these candidates: charlie@new-venture-church.org

UNLEASHED STUDENT MINISTRY

2010-04-30T19:48:00.007-04:00

After a few weeks of prayer,discussion, and
reflection! Our Jr. and Sr. High students came up with several GREAT NAME IDEAS for their youth group! The one that WON last night was "Unleashed" student ministry (check out our cool logo...t-shirts coming soon)! We have assembled a great leadership team (Dee Maynard, Theresa
Bailey, Pete Morrison, Yasmin Gonzalez, Shane Sadler) and I am pumped about heading up this group! We are working toward a huge LAUNCH event in July when 50+ students will be joining us from around the country for some major youth outreach across our community! We will be meeting on Thursday nights and having fun monthly hang out events...with our next event being a pizza and movie night coming up on May 15 to see the new release of Robin Hood!! We also want to do a youth retreat sometime this summer (details will be forthcoming). We are going to communicate a lot more than in the past. We want to see parents INVOLVED in what is going on...if you can help with events, please let me know. Pray for youth ministry at NVC!

Pastor Charlie

TOXIC PEOPLE

2010-04-29T14:20:00.001-04:00

Charlie Arms Great quote:
"The people with whom you assemble, you will begin to resemble."
The Bible puts it this way:
"Do not be misled, bad company corrupts good character!"
(I Cor. 15:33).
There are toxic people in our lives...can you recognize when you're making an impact on others and when THEY are making an impact upon YOU!
Great article to read below:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art39146.asp

THE PERFECT PASTOR

2009-10-02T11:21:00.004-04:00

THIS WAS SENT TO ME IN AN EMAIL RECENTLY:

A recent survey has compiled all the qualities that people expect from the perfect pastor. Here we share some of them with you.

Results of a computerized survey indicated that the perfect pastor preaches exactly 12 minutes. He frequently condemns sin but never upsets anyone.
He works from 8: a.m. until midnight and is also a janitor.
He makes $60 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives about $80 a week to the poor.
He is 28 years of age, and he's been preaching for 30 years.
He is wonderfully gentle and handsome.
He gives of himself completely but never gets too close to anyone lest he be criticized. He speaks boldly on social issues, but must never become politically involved.
He has a burning desire to work with teenagers; he spends all his time with senior citizens.
He makes 15 calls daily on parish families, visits shut-ins and the hospitalized, spends all his time evangelizing the unchurched, and is always in his office when needed.
If your pastor does not measure up, simply send this letter to six other churches that are tired of their pastor too. Then bundle up your pastor and send him to the church at the top of this list. In one week you will receive 1,643 pastors; at least one of them should be perfect.
Have faith in this letter. One church broke the chain and got its old pastor back in less than 30 days.

O, how miserably I fail.
Blessings
<><
Charlie

(Thanks Dee for sharing this!)

ON THE SIDELINE?

2009-09-09T11:50:00.005-04:00

I love sports! I am SOOOOO happy that college football season is back! As much as I love watching sports, I have always enjoyed playing sports even more. As time moves on, I find that I am more often watching from the sidelines or stands. I miss participating in the games. I am making a commitment today to participate in more games! I'm going to have to get myself in better physical shape and make time for the games!
As a Christian, it is easy to spend more time watching others serve Christ than it is to "get in the game" and be a participant. Are you willing to get in the game? Getting in spiritual shape is as easy as taking a moment to pray and commit yourself to getting off the sideline or out of the stands and into the "game". Then, you have to "make time" for Christ. The great news about serving God is that you never have to retire and there are NO boundaries (except, self-imposed) which prevent us from participating in some way!
As in any sport, there seem to be more people in the stands than in the game! This should not be so in God's kingdom? Anyone agree?

UNCOMFORTABLE

2009-08-03T21:34:00.005-04:00

Over the past 18 years in ministry, I have learned to deeply appreciate Jesus' words in Matthew 16:24, which instruct us to "take up our cross" and follow Him. This calling is why pastors, missionaries, and devout Christians of all backgrounds are willing to make incredible sacrifices to share Christ and serve others.
In stark contrast to these words, it would seem the church has developed the twisted logic that being a Christian should make life easier and going to "church" should be comfortable. Instead of preaching a message of ease and comfort, it would be more appropriate to say that following Jesus will mess with your life and create chaos. This position is most highly confirmed by Scripture!
I would even argue that if you are COMFORTABLE as a Christian, you NEED A CHANGE! Only in places of comfort are we most vulnerable. Only in places of comfort are we less likely to take the kind of risks Jesus would desire. When you are willing to be UNCOMFORTABLE, you will grow and be blessed more than ever. For the sake of Christ...FLEE FROM COMFORT!
CHARLIE

METAMORPHOSIS

2009-07-08T22:27:00.004-04:00

As most of you know, our church building is undergoing a series of renovations and will be transformed into a more aesthetically pleasing and logistically dynamic facility. THIS PROCESS IS A MESSY AFFAIR! Dust, debris, noise, and disorder are all realities we face during this remodeling process. No area of New Venture Church will be left untouched by this metamorphosis. The process of change and transformation is often awkward and inconvenient. We are all required to have patience and understanding.

On the "flip-side of the coin", this remodeling project will enhance church life for everyone at NVC and make most of our ministries more effective. We will gain usable space, maximize our facility, and have a more attractive place. In short, all the pain and discomfort have the end goal of greater effectiveness for our ministry.

Jesus used object lessons to teach and it would be senseless for us not to examine our current paradigm in the context of our journey of faith. The lesson Jesus would probably have us embrace is that CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION IS OFTEN MESSY, BUT THE REWARDS ARE GREAT!

In Luke 5, Jesus used this analogy:
"No one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.' "

When we become Christians (or take fresh steps of faith), we begin a process of being a "new creation". The image I get is of new wine being poured over my life. At first, it runs into my "old wineskin" or my old way of thinking and behaving and there is the inevitable conflict, turmoil, and frustation because I am not immediately a "new creation".

We must first acknowledge that SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION TAKES YEARS...NOT MINUTES! When we initially make the decision to follow Christ, we try to do better and make the appropriate changes in our lives. However, the process of transformation is not always simple and easy, but is often quite MESSY!! When we acknowledge our need for God, begin to desire more of what He has for us, and begin this process of spiritual transformation, we often assume that we should be super-Christians within a matter of days. Unfortunately, we are tempted to believe that this decision will make life easier and all our problems will mystically disappear.

The late Mike Yaconelli wrote a book entitled, "Messy Spirituality", which describes the patience and understanding needed during the process of spiritual transformation. As new Christians, we often thinkI would recommend this book, which is available on Amazon. The FACTS are these: When we are new and/or young Christians, we know little about the Bible, which is a Christian's main source of guidance. Therefore, we are prone to many mistakes from simple ignorance. At this early point in our faith, we usually have very few "Christian" friends, so we try to rationalize our own way through decisions and face our struggles alone. We have not yet realized and/or had the opportunity to appreciate the benefits of Christian"family". As new and/or young Christians, we also bring our baggage and bad habits over with us into our so-called "new life".

I want to encourage all of you in your faith journey to prepare for a "marathon" not a "sprint". Your journey is bound to be MESSY, but realize that true spiritual transformation requires a complete paradigm shift in our thinking (Romans 12:1-3). Start thinking long-term and begin with little steps. It's not how you start your journey that counts or how many bumps in the road you encounter, but how you finish the journey that determines success! The end result is worth it!!

My New Blog!!

2009-06-30T02:32:00.000-04:00

I am very excited to begin a new blogspot! This will be a fun way for me to express myself and share insights about my journey of faith here in Titusville, FL. Check back in soon!