Obscurity

We live in a day of celebrity…when people are famous for "being famous." Huh! It creates this vicious cycle where people think they have to do something, anything to be noticed. Good, bad, legal? We don't care. We live by some 11th commandment that states "any kind of press is good press."
There are several problems with this:
1) It shortens our usable life. After your 15 minutes of fame, then what? By world's standards, you're cast on the refuse heap of used news and passed by for the next "big thing."
2) It creates false living. If I'm notorious for (blank), then I have to keep doing (blank) - or up the ante to stay relevant. We face increased pressure to live up to the image.
3) It robs us of greater purpose. If the end of "me" is to be notorious, then I've missed my calling, my purpose, and my reason. It is rather empty, when you think about it. And, in turn, it creates despondency and hopelessness.

The Bible gives us the perfect antidote for empty living. There is a great thought slipped into the pages of scripture. In a little letter penned to some friends in Corinth, Paul, the missionary wrote this:

26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He maynullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are inChrist Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, andrighteousness andsanctification, andredemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” (1 Cor 1:26-31 nas)

Life is a DIVINE work...not a human struggle. It's "by His doing" that we are, "by His doing" that we become, and "by His doing" that we sustain.

In the series, "Obscurity," we are look at some people in the Bible you've probably never heard of. They are, as we say, "Obscure - but not obsolete." They are people who discovered that the secret to really living is not being in the face of the paparazzi, but being in the grip of their Creator God. And because they are in His grip:

1) It extends life. They find a lifetime of usefulness and service. They find an eternity of hope in Glory.
2) It stabilizes life. I'm no longer trying to navigate the treacherous path of public opinion. Instead, I'm on a journey that has a divine initiative and direction. I'm playing by eternal principles that have never changed. I can walk forward with confidence.
3) It propels living. Life is no longer about image...it is about glory - HIS glory. Divine Purpose is a much more fitting motivator to the human condition than paparazzi or press.

Oh, and by the way - these obscure people - thousands of years later, we're still talking about them…. Think about it.

15 Days of Prayer

Wednesday, September 28th, was a BIG day. It's the annual observance of See You at the Pole, when believing students from all over the world gather around their school's flag pole to pray for their schools, their peers, their teachers, adminstrators, and their culture. The night of Sept. 28, THF had the pleasure of hosting a community wide SAW You at the Pole rally here in the THF building. We had multiple youth groups and hundreds of students gather for that event. We introduced something of which I wanted to include you. It's called 15 Days of Prayer

The concept is simple. September 28th (See You at the Pole date) was a Wednesday. Two weeks after See You at the Pole is another community-wide (see also - South Plains-wide) event for Students. It's called Fields of Faith, and its really being prompted and organized by area FCAs. They are praying for and expecting between 4000 and 6000 students from all different communities, schools, and Christian denominations to attend at Lowery Field on October 12th. Those students will hear a very clear message about the love and truth of Jesus Christ, be encouraged in their faith, and see first-hand that while they may be outnumbered in this world, that they are never, ever alone.

Including Sept 28, it is precisely 15 days between the prayers of See You at the Pole and Fields of Faith. It's 15 Days for God's people to show what they really believe - not by protesting or marching or arranging a Wall Street Sit-In...but by simply praying that the God of the universe, the miracle-working God who transforms us, would inhabit the prayers of His children and reach a generation. It's just that simple...

We encouraged your - our - students to take the 15 Days of Prayer challenge and begin to pray for a mighty moving of God leading up to and at the Fields of Faith event. I want to include you in that effort as well. Because, when God moves, we all need to be a part of it.

Here's how. Go to this website http://15day.textify.us and become a part of the journey.

Technology and the family of Christ get a glimpse of heaven

John, the Revelator, gave us a glimpse of heaven in Revelation 7:9-10 -

"After these things I looked, and behold a great multitude, which no one could count from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice..."

I've been blessed by God over almost 30 years of ministry now to go on many mission endeavors in a lot of places. One of the highlights is to get to worship with the folks we share ministry with in those places and to worship with them in their terms and their sounds. I've worship with chants and clapping, with a bolt for the main worship instrument, in Africa. I've worshiped with accordions (yes, even accordions) in Ukrainel. I've worshiped in a lot of languages. It is just amazing to get to sing the common song of the greatness and grace of God and know that culture and language will not always separate those who rally under the cross of Christ.

Its been a long time dream of mine to be able to bring the local communities of faith together to worship as one - simultaneously. Until recently it was just physically unattainable... But this last Sunday...well if you were in second worship celebration you already know...we got to do that. It was largely due to the diligent ministry of our THF Media team. I'm so grateful to get to serve with a church and with men and women who constantly press the envelope of what we are "able to do" toward "what God would enable us to do." I know of no other place that what happened Sunday could have happened so quickly. This is one of the things that I believe makes The Heights Fellowship truly and deliberately different.

Last Sunday was the single most awesome and special moment of worship I've ever shared corporately. I was moved to tears and still tear up when I remember it. Thanks Media team, thanks THF family, and thanks be to our great God who gives us human pilgrims the ability to share in the journey. It was truly special to get to taste a tiny bit of what heaven may be.

Here is the link if you want to view it or share it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3RQEL4U_3E

Pastor Mike

Dealing With It...

It seemed innocent enough. It was a simple observation that led to an even simpler (I thought) solution. My wife said, "I don't like the wall paper in the Dining Room." I said, "Hey, babe! No problem there. Watch me take it off the wall, snapping fingers, just like that."

A few turns of the wall paper remover, a few squirts of water, and little tug here and there and it was done!!!

I hear Vizzini from "The Princess Bride" here: "You'd like to think that wouldn't you!"

Then came the cabinets, the counter tops, the new lighting, the rewiring, the heating and air. Floors, finishes, paint...lots and lots of that. New appliances because the old ones just wouldn't do. And the drywall...always the drywall. It's in the house, in my nose, my eyes, every crevice and orifice. It's even in my dreams. Dear God! Someone make it stop!! :-)

To quote good old Vizzini again: "INCONCEIVABLE!!"

Two years later, we're still at it. We've poured through time and energy and lots of money. Sort of like Columbus, we think we can see the shore, but after this long at sea, we're not certain. Two nights ago, my wife uttered these words, "This project just never seems to end!" We can only hope, sweetheart.

That's the way it is in life, isn't it? A seemingly benign turn...a simple decision...an "easy" call. No problem. No worries, right? Then WHAM, you find yourself on a road you didn't plan on. It's always something, isn't it. Maybe it's health, or perhaps its financial. Maybe even your financial health! Or it's your relationships, your job, your kids. Or, maybe you struggle with anxiety, self-doubt, guilt, shame. The burden can be relentless.

Wait a minute, some say. I thought Christians weren't supposed to be anxious! I thought life after Christ was supposed to be a breeze! I mean, the standard answer a Christian is supposed to give when asked, "How's it going?" is "FINE!"

When life isn't fine, how do you deal with it?

Guess what? God's got our backs on this! Really, He does. Listen to Jesus' words in Matthew 11 - "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (28-30 msg)

Give Jesus some props here. He knows about that which He speaks. He's been there.

Come experience the truth of Jesus' yourself as THF looks into its brand new series, "Dealing With It!" You'll be really glad you did.

Called It

One of my "great commuppences" in life happened during my sophomore year in basketball. I had a friend named Larry - a year or two older than I - who was the starting guard on our varsity squad. I started on the sophomore team. Playing the position of guard in the same program meant that we were constantly scrimmaging against one another. By nature and age, I assumed the role of the "younger brother." Those of you who know me will find it no surprise that I was "chatty" and "scrappy" on the court. Yep. I talked a lot of smack.

One day Larry had enough of my talk and challenged me to a game of "one on one" after practice. (See also -"wanted to put the punk in his place.") I was under no illusions who was going to win - Larry was really that good - but I felt like a good showing against my varsity counterpart would satisfy my belief that I deserved a shot at varsity. The short of it is that I lost badly. The point though is that Larry "called" every shot. He literally told me before it happened what was going to happen. He let me know, in no uncertain terms, who the better player - and the player more deserving of that coveted varsity spot - was.

Perhaps no act in sport illustrates dominance over the opposition more than "calling your shot." Think Babe Ruth pointing his bat at the centerfield bleachers and calling his shot against the Cubs in the '32 World Series. Remember that old television ad of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson "calling" their shots in an epic game of HORSE. When you can call it, you demonstrate a complete mastery of your game and your opponent.

Rewind a couple of millennia. On resurrection day the angel told the women who had come to Jesus' now empty tomb - "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying." (Matt 28:6 nas) It is THE greatest "called it" moment in history. You've got a "chatty" and "scrappy" Satan who has thrown his very best stuff against the Son of God. Satan is self satisfied. He is smug. I mean, you can't argue with death. That's pretty final...

Until the third day - then, Jesus rose from the dead. But then the angel gives us the clue: Jesus called it. Said it before the fact. The Old Testament and the gospels both speak of Jesus' insistence that He would be mistreated at the hands of the Jews, that He would be crucified and die - but that He would raise on the third day. It screams of complete mastery over the universe, over life, over death, and over the power of the enemy. What's that we always hear in sports: It ain't bragging if you can back it up. Well, Jesus didn't just back it up... He called it in advance, well in advance.

This Spring season at The Heights, we are going to focus on that mastery...that Jesus called it. We've launched with a series we have entitled The Road to the Cross. And we will go far beyond the road to the cross. The point of our time together will be that anyone who can show the complete mastery of these things deserves to be followed and worshiped. And not only is Jesus worthy of our attention and devotion, He is able to assist us in the lives that we now lead. He is able to bring us through this experience victorious. And He is able to insure an eternity in heaven. It will be "just as He said."

Join us in that journey. You won't be disappointed.

Are You Stressed? Hang in there...

I got this today in one of my readings. Found it helpful. It's from a great leader of old, a guy named Charles Spurgeon. Funny isn't it, how our specific human condition is so common regardless of the date, time, and place? I find great encouragement in these words. Hope you do too.

If none of God's saints were poor and tried, we should not know half so well the consolations of divine grace. When we find the wanderer who has not where to lay his head, who yet can say, "Still will I trust in the or, when we see the pauper starving on bread and water, who still glories in Jesus; when we see the bereaved widow overwhelmed in affliction, and yet having faith in Christ, oh! what honour it reflects on the gospel. God's grace is illustrated and magnified in the poverty and trials of believers. Saints bear up under every discouragement, believing that all things work together for their good, and that out of apparent evils a real blessing shall ultimately spring--that their God will either work a deliverance for them speedily, or most assuredly support them in the trouble, as long as He is pleased to keep them in it. This patience of the saints proves the power of divine grace. There is a lighthouse out at sea: it is a calm night--I cannot tell whether the edifice is firm; the tempest must rage about it, and then I shall know whether it will stand. So with the Spirit's work: if it were not on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters, we should not know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it, we should not know how firm and secure it was. The master-works of God are those men who stand in the midst of difficulties, stedfast, unmoveable,--

"Calm mid the bewildering cry,

Confident of victory."

He who would glorify his God must set his account upon meeting with many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord unless his conflicts be many. If then, yours be a much-tried path, rejoice in it, because you will the better show forth the all-sufficient grace of God. As for His failing you, never dream of it--hate the thought. The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.

He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 nas

New Live Stream Capabilities from THF

The THF media crew is always cooking up new ideas to make God's truth and the church's outreach accessible. Recently, we have made several major upgrades to our live streaming capabilities and are now able to offer our live stream to several mobile devices including the iPhone, iPad, Windows Mobile Phone, etc. You now have the capabilities to take THF Celebrations with you everywhere you go right in the palm of you hand.

Also in this upgrade we are able to expand our abilities past streaming to just a PC, you can now watch from your Mac as well so that no matter what mobile device or computer you might have, you still have to ability to join us as we celebrate together at The Heights Fellowship.

To make this experience as easy as possible we have integrated a new URL to make it easier and faster for you to to navigate to us from your computer or mobile phone. THFLIVE.org is the quickest way to catch us on Sunday mornings on our live stream.

Available Devices:

iPhone
iPad
iPod Touch
Windows Mobile Phone
PC
Mac
Android (Coming Soon)
Go check it out!

Happy New Year

There is a lot of weirdness attached to New Years' celebrations around the world. It's uncanny - see also, insane - what people in other nations and cultures do to ring out the old and ring in the new...

Bolivians - change their underwear. Admirable, yes...and certainly advisable. But if you only do it once a year... Just sayin,' Bolivia.

The Danish (the people, not the pastries) break dishes on their neighbor's porch and jump off chairs to squish evil spirits. Seriously, Denmark!

People from the foreign nation of Minnesota - smash bananas. Must be reflective of the abundance of banana plantations in the greater Minnesota vicinity.

Of course, we have our own domestic weirdness - tossing salt, eating black-eyed peas, or even worse, hog jowls.

I find that all these oddities have a few things in common:

1) They look to dispense with a past of failure or pain
2) They seek to secure a bright future
3) They look for love or romance
4) They hope to find fortune

Funny! God answers all four ... and without the weirdness. In Jesus, and Jesus alone - apart from all other religions and "-osopies," we find forgiveness and redemption, future and hope, forever love, and the favor of a divine inheritance. And the coolest thing is that God tells us it begins the moment we trust Jesus with our eternity...

if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 nkjv

What is it you're resolving to do this new year? What do you want to change, to add, to start? Welcome to 2011. It's your year. So, may all things in your year be new in Jesus. Come check out our series and worship this Winter and Spring at THF to see how that lives out.