May 25, 2008 by Pastor Jon.

I want to take you on a journey. What will Redeemer’s Way look like? Well what it will look like really depends a lot on those people that will come along on this journey. But here are some possibilities.

So sit back and picture it as if you are there. It is a Sunday morning. The service does not start for 30 more minutes, but people are beginning to gather. Of course there are smiling greeters at the door. Once inside the coffee, tea, and juice is flowing freely. Inside the sanctuary round tables and chairs fill the room. People laughing at one table, at another, friends are praying for each other. At another one someone is excitedly sharing something they learned that week from the word of God. Some are in suits, others in jeans and t-shirts. Some are cleaner than others.  Oh yea there is plenty of biker leather to go around. Culturally the room is melting pot of all races and ages. Also inside are the underground greeters. No name tags, but they are on the lookout for new faces and missing faces.

Soon the worship leader steps up and gets everyone’s attention. Quickly the leader is in “the zone” as they enter the throne room of God. Then they remember where they are and they reach out to the congregation and begin to draw them in. Soon people begin to dance while others lay on the altar. But some just stand still in the moment.

In the nursery a baby is crying. The nursery minister is holding her close and begins to quietly pray in the spirit. Then she starts to sing before the Lord. Also in the room is the mother that has not slept for several nights because of the crying baby. The nursery minister holds the baby with one hand, and lays her hand on the mom. She begins to pray, she begins to prophesy. Soon the baby stops crying and even a smile comes across her face. The mother sits down in a near by rocker as it seems a weight has been lifted off of her shoulders.

In another room, the children are learning to worship and praise. The older children line up across the altar and the younger kids begin to come down for prayer. The children’s ministers move along the line teaching the older kids how to pray for them. Not only are they learning the word of God, they are being mentored to be ministers. Not just for the future but for today!

During the youth service a similar seen is taking place. Adults line the back of the room. Some are security, and others are intercessors providing spiritual security for the youth and the youth ministers as they work. If this takes place during a regular worship service there is a good chance there are more adults with the youth than in the “big” service.

Tuesday afternoon around 4:30 cars begin to drop off kids of all ages. It is homework time. Inside are teenagers, young adults, parents and teachers ready to tutor those who need help. Teachers will be at school and find a struggling child. I will be at Redeemer’s Way church this afternoon, why don’t you stop by and I can give you some extra help. Other kids that do not need help will beg to still come so they can work on their studies.

Before the school year started we invited the teachers and support staff of the nearby schools to a Saturday morning breakfast. We spent the morning edifying and building them up. We conclude with prayer and assigning an intercessor(s) to each teacher and support staff to cover them the entire year.

Saturday morning Brothers of the Covenant Motorcycle ministry arrive early on their Harleys. Soon teenagers and young adults on their sport bikes (Yamahas, Hondas, Suzukis) begin to pull up. The Brothers are conducting a biker clinic. They conduct a safety lesson, and then they teach how to do a bike tune up and basic maintenance. Finally they are invited to meet back again in two weeks to go on a ride together.

It is Friday night. A youth band is warming up. Once again coffee and sodas are flowing. The purpose tonight is to simply provide a safe place for teenagers to hang out. A safe place for positive peer pressure to flourish

One week during the summer we set up a big tent at one of the local trailer parks, or housing projects. We will take VBS to the community. The kids just need to step out their door. No transportation required.

Another Saturday morning Pastors from the surrounding area begin to show up. Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Church of God etc. They will come tired and weary. We will feed them a great breakfast, teach them a great word then send them away with resources they can take back to their ministries.

Of course this list could go on. Because our members are involved in Rotary, Kiwanis Lion’s club, and other service clubs. We will be in the charity walks, school fundraisers, and community festivals. Whenever the community needs something, we get a phone call. We will be masters at networking and relationship building.  We will be everywhere.

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May 2, 2008 by Pastor Jon.

Mark 1: 32-38 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let them speak because they knew who he was. Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed; “Everyone is looking for you! Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else to the near by villages so I can preach there also. That is why I have come. (NIV) (Emphasis mine)

There is a lot we can learn from these few verses. It says that the whole town gathered, but Jesus healed many not all. Later when the town was looking for Him again, he moved on to the next town because that is what he was called to do. Jesus stayed focused on his calling. It would have been a “good” thing to stay in the same town, but there was a greater call. Because he had spent the solitary time with the Father, He was not swayed by the apparent need of the current town, but he knew when it was time to say “no,” and move on to the next.

People tend to live very busy lives. We often take on more than we should. This can just as easily happen in business, ministry and even our families. We do a lot of good things, but none of them become great. And these things are often unfulfilling and leave us feeling that we have not accomplished anything.

Chapter 5 in the book Good to Great by Jim Collins, he talks about the “Hedgehog Concept.” He defines it this way: foxes live a very complex and scattered life. Hedgehogs on the other hand do one thing and do it well. “[They] simplify a complex world into a single organizing idea, a basic principle or concept that unifies and guides everything.” p. 91

So has God called us to do a lot of good things, or has he called us to do a few great things. I tend to believe that it is the latter. We get caught up in the doing, and forget the purpose. Satan gets us distracted by doing “good” We get so busy we forget to spend time with the Father, with our families, we neglect our own health. God’s call is specific and sure. We must be able to identify that call, and then use that as the standard to judge the responsibilities and activities we take on

My goal is to try and live a life of focus. I want to live a life that goes beyond just doing. To do this I have to learn that is ok to say no. I have not found it yet, but I am looking for my “hedgehog concept.” What are those basic God given principles that unify and guide everything I do?

To live a life that is focused, we must define the essentials, and at the same time the non-essentials. First and foremost, we must be sure we have a strong habit of spending that solitary time with the Father. Without that we will never be focused on the right thing. I truly believe that our first focus should be on our relationship with the Father. Once that becomes our primary focus, ministry then becomes a fruit. We often get caught up and focus on the ministry but that only leads to us doing a lot of little things and then eventually burnout and discouragement.

Below are the examples from Good to Great. They were written for business, but I have tried to personalize them so that they can be applied on a personal level. Remember, before answering the following questions, we must be sure and seek guidance of the Holy Spirit. And also remember this is just a starting point.

1. What can you be the best at in the world?

Ø      What are your natural and spiritual gifts and talents?

Ø      What is your past experience?

Ø      Do you feel like you were born to do this?

Ø      What has God called you to do? Where do you fit in His plan?

Note: What you can be best at may not be what you are currently doing? p. 95

2. What drives your economic engine? (Think beyond money $)

Ø      What motivates you?

Ø      What gives you energy to keep going?

Ø      What will you do no matter what, even if you are not paid?

     3.    What are you deeply passionate about?

Ø      Where do your dreams take you?

Ø      What activities do you engage in that lead toward that passion?

I am sure this is a gross oversimplification, but it could provide a great starting point. The idea is to identify the activities of our lives that fulfill all three areas. These activities then become our focus. Yes there will always be times when we have to do other things that must be done. But do not let them become your priority. Spend time in the word and with the Father and he will keep you in focus on the right path.  Hopefully with the help of the Spirit we can discover the guiding principals that will bring focus and clarity to our lives. These are the things that we should focus on.

In Isaiah 48:17 God says that he will teach us to profit and lead us by the way we should go. Listen and He will keep you focused.

Now the hard part is to do it.

You can learn more about Good to Great by visiting www.jimcollins.com/

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April 21, 2008 by Pastor Jon.

So it was when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine 1 Samuel 17:48 (emphasis mine)

David ran out to meet Goliath. From a logical stand point, David was not the best choice to send against Goliath. He was small, young and inexperienced. He did not have the confidence of King Saul, his brothers, or the rest of the army.

1. David did not listen to the doubts of others, and drew confidence from his past experience. He reminded himself and King Saul of his victories over the lions and the bears.  He stood on the fact that he heard from God.
2. The Lord was with David and he knew it. David had a habit of praising and worshiping God. His relationship was strong and he was able to tap into the strength of that relationship.
3. David ran to the battle. He knew that the only way to win was to advance. He did not want to allow Goliath to have the advantage of momentum or position. He wanted that advantage.

So ask yourself, do you see yourself as God sees you? Do you hear from God? Do you have the confidence to move out and run towards the battle? (Step out into what God has called you too.)

If not, then the place to start is with your relationship with Christ. Spend time each day in His word. Spend time in praise, worship and prayer. Make it a daily habit. This daily investment will continually draw you to find your place in God’s plan.

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April 14, 2008 by Pastor Jon.

In the book The Devine Mentor on page 77, Wayne Cordeiro writes, “If we are going to be a leader in our families, our communities and our church, then we must be a people who know how to take ground and move forward. To do that effectively you will have to know God’s word – memorize key verses. If all you are doing is playing defense you will continue to lose… Victory only comes to those who learn to go on the offense and succeed on the offensive.”

As Christians we must keep moving forward. Even when we are not 100% for sure where God is leading us we most move. Often times God will not reveal further direction until we show our faith and the willingness to be obedient. We must carry the presence of the Lord and be willing to step into the unknown. We also must be willing to leave behind the comfortable.

Joshua 3:13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the Priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan. Then the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap.—- vs. 17 Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in he midst of the Jordan.

1. Bear the Ark – The ark represents God’s presence.  This relates to the time we spend reading the word, the time we spend in prayer and fasting. If we neglect individual (one on one) time with God we can not walk in His presence. We must carry the presence with us.

2. Get Wet (Step into the unknown) — The Jordan River was in its flood stage when the Children of Israel crossed over. Odds are, it was wider, deeper and flowing faster than any other time of the year. While carrying the heavy Ark of the Covenant, the Priest had to step into the fast flowing strong current with the slippery and sinking muddy bottom. But once they did the ground became dry and firm. We must have faith to step forward and walk into the water.

3. Leave it behind – Matthew 4:18-20 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fisherman (This was there heritage, life, source of income etc.) Then he said to them “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” They immediately left their nets and followed him.

They had to leave behind the comfortable. They also had to step out into the unknown. Christ leads us to a place where we depend fully on Him. It is at this place we can find true peace, and find the life that God has called us too. As we die to self we find our self in Christ. As we step into the unknown we find revelation and life.

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January 2, 2008 by Pastor Jon.

Several weeks ago I was on a business trip in Tupelo Mississippi. My day began with a 6:30 AM flight from Atlanta to Jackson MS. After a 1 PM meeting I made the 3 ½ hour drive to Tupelo. I checked into the Hilton Garden Inn and decided to have dinner in the hotel restaurant.

The restaurant is small. It might hold 35 people. I walked in and asked if I could sit anywhere. The person behind the bar said, “Sure, you can sit at the bar if you would like.” I sat down at the bar and ordered a coke and a grilled chicken Ceasar salad. The person behind the bar’s name was Barry. He was covering the bar and the restaurant floor by himself. Barry handed me the remote for the TV; however, I spent more time watching Barry work. Someone would order a drink. Barry would pull down a glass from the cabinet and he would hold it up to the light to give it a thorough inspection before pouring the drink. He soon rushed over to the kitchen where he picked up a customers steak. He started to deliver it to the hungry patron when he noticed the butter and sour cream were missing for the baked potato. The cook passed the condiments over the kitchen counter. Barry then started for the restaurant floor again, but he noticed something else was not right. He walked back to the kitchen and resolved the issue himself. Later another customer ordered the special of the evening with a few modifications. The cook complained about the changes and complained that someone earlier in the day had not done their part. Barry looked rather perturbed and reminded him the “Customer is always right.”  As I enjoyed my salad I watched this repeated over and over. Barry flew back and forth from the bar to the kitchen to the floor, and my glass of coke never ran dry. He also kept holding the cook to a high standard. The next morning I met Guy the restaurant manager. He also made sure I was well taken care of for breakfast. I later checked out and was walking out the door, when I heard some one call out. “Have a good day sir, please come back and see us.” I turned around and there was Guy.

So now you are asking what this has got to do with anything. Barry and Guy worked hard at making me feel welcomed and made sure I was well served. I wonder how many churches and Christians could meet the standard of the Hilton Garden Inn in Tupelo MS? Hilton has a simple mission statement “Be Hospitable” It was obvious that this mission was passed down to Barry and Guy. I am sure they attended several training sessions (and are reminded of it often) on the Hilton mission. Yeah the cook could make some great food, but he needed some more training on the “Hospitable” part. The Hilton even runs ads on their mission on the TV’s in their rooms. You can view it here. (Please do not give me a hard time about he video’s reference of Prometheus stealing fire from the gods)

As with most things I am able to apply the things I learn to the Redeemer’s Way church plant. So here is what I learned:

    1.  Redeemer’s Way must work (be proactive, be intentional) at making all feel welcome. Not just at the church, but in the community.

    2.   Excellence must be a hallmark with all we do. (Hold the glass to the light for inspection) Lack of money, personnel, talent, or the fact that someone else    

          dropped  the ball can not be an excuse. If we do not have the money, personnel, talent, or accountability perhaps we do not need to be doing it right now.

    3. Training and Mentoring – Training for the ministry leaders must never stop. They must have a clear understanding of the vision and mission of Redeemer’s Way.

        They must also know how to put it into action and live it out.  We will not just teach theory, but we will teach the practical application. The leaders must pass it on

         to others who will pass it on and they will pass it on.

As Christians this must be applied to our individual lives. I must live this out in all I do. I must live it out at home, at my job and out in the community. It will take hard work and perhaps some bruises along the way. But God has called us to be great. Success does not come by accident, but by being proactive, intentional and expending a lot of energy in the right places. The leaders that will come along beside me will not strive for excellence unless I live a life of excellence. My kids will not grow up and work hard to achieve excellence in all they do unless they see their dad doing it. With all things this excellence begins with my relationship with Christ. Then and only then I can bear excellent fruit. I am committed to living a life that is “Hospitable”

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November 13, 2007 by Pastor Jon.

I was reading a blog this morning by Mark Sanborn. I thought I would share his final points.  You can read his full blog by clicking here!

Do you wan to be a Hero or a Zero?

Action plan for Heroes:

1. Take responsibility for results.
2. Fix problems you didn’t create.
3. Think ownership, not avoidance.
4. Do more than necessary.
5. Be willing to extend yourself.
6. Coordinate the expertise of others.

Recipe for Zeros:

1. Take only the action necessary.
2. Let others fix the problems you created.
3. Think avoidance, not ownership.
4. Do just enough to get by.
5. Don’t exert yourself.
6. Pass the buck to others who have different skills and expertise

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October 29, 2007 by Pastor Jon.

I was thinking more about legacy this week. It looks like several of my future blogs will be on this topic. Saturday happened to work out so that I had individual time with each of my three kids. It was not planned, but I was able to take advantage of the day. I spent most of the day with Chris at a Cross Country Meet. That night Matt and I watched the movie “Flags of our Fathers.” Then there was still time to snuggle with Victoria and watch a “Barbie” movie. But during my time with Chris I was able to see the investments of my legacy bare fruit in his actions.

This is the third year Chris has ran Cross Country for his high school. The races consist of a 5K (about 3.2 miles) run through pasture, golf courses, woods, gravel etc. You should also understand that Cross Country is not the most spectator friendly sport. At most courses, the runners will start off and you will not see them again for about 20 minutes. Nor does it have the most parent support. On a team of about 10+ kids you may have 3 or 4 parents show up. For the most part Janice and I have made it a point that at least one of us would attend each meet. We have only missed a couple.

Each year I have tried to learn the name of each team member. Janice would often cringe at my boisterous yelling and cheering for each of Chris’s team members as they would run by. This has been my pattern for three years. Apparently that has begun to rub off on Chris.

On Saturday I drove out to Carrollton to the “Last Chance Invitational” 128 schools and over 1200 runners would race before the day was out. From Chris’ school only four parents made the hour and half trip from Stockbridge to Carrollton and one was the coach. Chris ran with the varsity team at 9 AM. So by about 9:22 Chris was done for the day. The JV team (only two boys made it that day for the JV team and no parents) would not run until 1PM. We could have headed home, but Chris really wanted to stay until they ran. I settled into my camp chair and watched the other regions take the field. Shortly before 1 PM we packed up the gear and took it to our car and the bus for a quick exit after the JV race was over. It appeared that the Varsity team was going to stay on the bus. (They did watch from a different location) Chris made it a big point that we needed to get back to see the start of the race. There were over 300 racers in the JV race and Chris looked hard until he found his two teammates. He walked up to the line and wished them luck. We cheered them on as they passed us twice along the two big loops of the course. Chris then rushed off to be sure he could greet them after they finished.

As I have made a point to cheer for Chris and the other kids, I did not realize I was setting a standard for my son. Chris probably does not even recognize the transfer either. I am glad that he picked up my positive characteristics in my unguarded moments. We really do not know when our children are watching and what they are learning from our words and our deeds. However the investment required my time and making Chris a priority. It is nice to see that it is paying off. The investment and time have been more than worth it.

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September 8, 2007 by Pastor Jon.

It has been a couple of weeks since Michael Vick pleaded guilty to raising and killing fighting dogs. Like many others, I wanted to see him cut from the Atlanta Falcons and sent off to jail. He deserves to be punished, right?  But as often happens, God will not leave my “thinking” alone.

If you fast forward to a Redeemer’s Way service of the future, what would happen if Michael showed up one Sunday? Would the greeters meet him with a welcome hug? Would the ushers help him find a seat? Will other members reach out and make him feel welcome?  Can Redeemer’s Way create the environment so that the Holy Spirit is free to work in all?

The other Friday as I drove to and from work in Atlanta, I learned there was a sci-fi and fantasy convention called Dragon-Con in town. A lot of the convention goers were dressed for the occasion. They were dressed as characters from their favorite show. As I was driving home, I saw a young lady struggling to walk up Harris Street. She was wearing a pair of boots that laced up to her knees, a pair of bat wings, and mini skirt. The boots had a four + inch sole and she had heavy black eye shadow and lipstick on. So what happens if she and her friends show up at Redeemer’s Way? Would people stare and whisper? Or would someone reach out introduce them to some of the regulars? Would they feel welcome?

Either we are serious about reaching and loving ALL for Christ, or we are not.

I pray that Redeemer’s Way will become that church where all are welcome. If they do not come, we can not lead them to Christ. We will not compromise our values, but we will be proactive and intentional as we reach out with the loving hands of Christ to ALL. Some may think we are strange or a little weird, but as long as we are about the Fathers business that will be OK.

Oh yeah, you are welcome here!!!

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September 4, 2007 by Pastor Jon.

This is a response to my wife’s question (See Church Log dated 9/3/2007) How does someone get out of poverty? There is no easy answers but Redeemer’s Way must first minister to the spirit, the soul (mind, will and emotions) then the body.  

Redeemer’s Way must share the gospel to all. We must be proactive and intentional to reach out to those who are not currently involved in a church. We will not just lead others to Christ but help them to become His disciples. We must war against the spirit of poverty. Christ can and will redeem them from sin, and break off the chains of the struggles of life, but if we stop here we will fall short of our call. 

James 2: 14- 17,  What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Next we must address their soul needs. This is defined as their mind, will and emotions. As RWC grows we will be able to offer “Life” classes. These could include literacy, GED, English as a second language, parenting classes, budgeting and personal financial management. We will also offer recovery ministries such as Celebrate Recovery.  I am sure this will only be a partial list of what we can offer.

Finally we must be able to minister to the body. This will include food and/or clothes closet. If we can not start one of our own, we will find an existing one we can partner with. We will build a strong deacon ministry to support the widows, and single parents within RWC and our community.  We will not just walk the walk, but we will “do” the walk.  We will build ministries that will minister to the complete person.

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August 15, 2007 by Pastor Jon.

This is such a strong image that describes what ministry at Redeemer’s Way will be like; I can not believe I have not already put this out on the blog.  Several months ago during praise and worship at Living Way, I saw a vision of Redeemer’s Way. The altar was packed with people wanting prayer. As they began to leave, there were piles of broken chains left behind. Then the words came to my mind, “House of Broken Chains.”

Redeemer’s Way will be a place where people can be healed in their bodies, mind and spirit. Lives will be restored by the love of Christ. The “Chains” of the struggles of life will break and fall off through the power of the Holy Spirit. Redeemer’s Way will be a “House of Broken Chains”

Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

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