Where Never is Heard

Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam,

And the deer and the antelope play,
Where never is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Tony Needs a Sermon Week is winding down, and I would like to thank everyone who participated. It has been challenging, humbling, discouraging, and uplifting - depending on the attitude of the sermonizer. The main thing I got out of it was a reminder to keep my attitude in check when I'm the one preaching the sermon. I'm not always good at that.

I watch several sermons online each week. On Facebook, someone posted an endorsement of a sermon because of a specific statement the pastor made. I was curious, so I watched the 140 minute service. I never heard the statement. There was a space of a few minutes where the sound was turned down - or some technical issue - or maybe I dozed off. What I did see was a frustrated man. He expressed his frustration with the ushers, the camera operator, and the media person. He came across as controlling and manipulative. I pray that he takes time to rest, that his church supports him, and that they thrive in their mission. 

I have several others that were encouraging and eye-opening for me this week. If you have time, you may want to check these out. 

Tullian Tchividjian Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World.

Chris Whitman The Value of Life

Holly Furtick This Time

Pete Hise No Other Name

Clark Whitten Stop Living in the Shadows

 

That's My Church!

Dear Transformers and friends of Transformation House,

Last night, we had the first of two classes for some of our leaders - those who are seen up front each Sunday. The class is called Being Upfront about being Up Front. I led this class, but I want to share a bit of what I got from the class.

I first asked for an evaluation of the service this past Sunday. Those who were up front during the service were Kristen, Tim, Derek, Lisa, Zach, Elena, Anna, Darnell, Amber, Tony, and Chris. I wondered, "To those who were first-time guests, who appeared to be in charge of the service?" The answer was "none of the above." Because everyone knows their role and fills it well, the Holy Spirit, who is truly in charge, can move us in any direction. When He is in charge, not one of us needs to take credit, there is a comfortable flow in the service, and everyone has an encounter with a loving God.

Another question that everyone answered was about their first impression of Transformation House. I asked if their first impression was correct or if they've adjusted what they believe about the church since their first visit.

One person answered, My first impression was that I was getting attention because that's what church folk do. They pay attention to first-timers, then it wears off over time. What I found was that the love they showed me on the first Sunday is the same love they show me now, almost two years later.

Another person said, My first impression was that this was different from any other church I had visited. I saw black, white, gay, straight, old, young, and all were accepted and have a place to belong and serve.

Another answer was, In my previous church, relationships were fake. Here, I feel like I fit in. Rather than just being talked to, I am heard.

I won't go on and on, so the final one I'll share was, When I came, I felt the Holy Spirit in this place - during worship and in interacting with others.

What gets me so pumped about these answers is that these all came from people that I had never met two years ago. At the time we were planning to start Transformation House, we prayed for God to send us to those who felt disenfranchised by the church. We prayed that in this place everyone could feel welcome and experience the presence of God. Every time someone spoke last night, I thought, "That's what we prayed for. That's exactly why we started this church!"

If you're not a part of a church that allows you to serve freely, I'm sorry. I've said it before, so I'll say it again, "If your church won't change, change churches."

Let 'em In

Paul McCartney wrote and sang,
"Someone's knockin' at the door,
Somebody's ringin' the bell
Do me a favor, Open the door, and let 'em in."

I'm thinking about this in terms of the American church cloistering in holy huddles behind stained glass windows. 

Frankly, I don't care if one more freshly-showered Christian leaves their church and comes to mine. In fact, if they're coming expecting recognition or position, they're coming to the wrong place. Our focus is always going to be on Jesus and on getting people to him. 

Truthfully, I would love to have a church full of people who are just knocking on the door but haven't fully stepped in. A man who can hardly stand and still smells from his Saturday night at the bar next door. The guy who can't stay awake because he spent the night on his computer trying to satisfy an emptiness. The woman who doesn't want to come in because she constantly hears voices saying she's no good. The mother who left her children overnight and can't tell you the name of the guy she woke with. The child who only hears screams and put downs all week. 

Jesus is for them. Transformation House is for them. 

Do me a favor, and let 'em in.

You Don't Have to Be a People-pleaser

 

Priority Shift

From Matthew 10:42
If anyone gives even a cup of
cold water to one of these
little ones who belong to Christ,
he will certainly not lose his reward.

What is your priority? How do you characterize your Christianity? What gets most of your time and attention? There are so many "Christian" issues that steal our resources and deplete our ability to serve, but have you ever noticed how in both testaments of the Bible, God constantly tries to draw attention to people in need? Many of the laws of Moses were in place to provide equity among God's people.

Consider this from the law in Deuteronomy 15:11, "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."

From the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah 32:6 "For fools speak folly, their hearts are bent on evil: They practice ungodliness and spread error concerning the LORD; the hungry they leave empty and from the thirsty they withhold water."
...

From Jesus' words in Luke 12, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

And from the apostles, James 1:26-27 "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Maybe it's time to turn your gaze away from your petty issue and ask God to direct your focus.

 

Copyright (c) 123RF Stock Photos

An Image of Jesus

Today, Transformation House was featured in the City People section of the Greenville (SC) News. The article was based on an interview that Amber Anderson and I recently gave to a reporter. I thought the writer, Donna Walker, did an excellent job of capturing our message and the heart of our interview with her.

The article started with this statement, "Transformation House aims to be a place where people can connect with one another, or with an image of God that they may not have expected to find." That really caught my attention: "an image of God that they may not have expected to find." I'm sure that's not how we stated it, but it is absolutely true.

We know that many people have a preconceived idea of God based on their past church experience, or their upbringing, or how God is portrayed through various media outlets. Some see him as an angry overlord, some as a sugar daddy, some as a distant, mysterious figure, some as a close, intimate friend.

Our goal in starting this downtown ministry, is to present to the people of Greenville a crystal clear picture of who Jesus really is. We are convinced that when they see him for who he really is, they will find him completely irresistible.

You can read the newspaper article online.

Why I Like Topical Preaching

There is a very simple reason that I enjoy topical preaching: It makes me look at the scripture from a perspective that I might otherwise miss.

I know there are theologians who insist that expository preaching (using a scriptural text and exploring its original meaning, context, and application) is the only way, or the "right" way to preach. Of course, there are no biblical grounds for that assertion. It's a good way to preach, but not the only way.

I think I prepare for both types basically in the same way. I always start with the scripture to see what it says, what was the context in which it was written, and how was it heard. I understand that what it says, and the context will always be the same, but how it is heard will be different in 2012 than it was when originally spoken or written. I see it as my job to preach it in such a way that the listener will not miss what God is speaking to them through the word today.

If the word was only intended for the original context and for the original hearer, then I could preach from any other book today and leave the Bible on the shelf. The original hearer is dead and gone, and the original context vanished long ago. I just don't believe that the Bible is that irrelevant to 2012.

This week, I had the privilege of preaching from John 4. Our topic was Heroes, and I found that as I read the scripture through the lens of that topic, I saw nuances of truth that would have escaped me otherwise. It was an enriching experience for me, and enlightening for our Transformers.

Do you have a preference of preaching styles?

Heroes Make an Impact

Transformers, I want you to know that you are making an impact. We will never know how far Jesus will take our stories or who he will touch with them, but keep telling them. You are making a difference. I am so blessed to be your pastor.

 

From yesterday: I know many people could relate to Amy's story yesterday. Two things that you should remember: 1) It is never too late to say yes to Jesus. If he is prompting you to do something or if you have been keeping your talents to yourself, all he wants is to hear you say yes. If you've said no five times or 500 times, all it takes to turn your life around is a simple yes. 2) God is not afraid of your questions or doubts. It doesn't matter how you feel about him, what matters is how he feels about you!

 

Mark your 2013 calendar for April 17/18. We will be traveling to Lexington, Kentucky for The Uprising.

 

Invite some friends to come to Transformation House with you next Sunday.

It Could Be Me

After you watch this video, you may be inspired to make a difference in someone's life. If so, let me know. I could use some help as we work in our city to help one person at a time change their destiny.

Would You Sign Up for This Free Trip?

At Transformation House this Sunday we will have our first water baptism service since we started the church in February.  I am STOKED!  Our second one is scheduled for October 30.  These two Sundays will be very special.  Seeing people surrender and connect to Jesus is an awesome experience.  The last baptism I attended was at Brookwood Church earlier this year when my cousin's daughter was baptized on her tenth birthday. I'm STILL smiling over that one.

There is another aspect of transformation that really moves me - seeing someone finally "get it" after living years in confusion or trapped in a destructive lifestyle or mindset.  We have a church full of people like that. From the stage to the back door, our pastors and all around the room, we have experienced the life change that comes from living in right relationship with Jesus.

www.facebook.com/tonymoore

There are people who hesitated to come because of past church experiences, some who don't feel "worthy" or "clean enough" to come.  Think of the people in the Bible who came to Jesus.  He required no sit-ups, hail Mary's, or clean fingernails.  They came to him sick, naked, foaming at the mouth, groveling, filty, stained, broken, and some with their own agendas of what they expected from him.  Still, he put no prerequisites for them.  He touched them, loved them, healed them, fed them, rescued them, encouraged them, and taught them.  He welcomed them with open arms. 

He still stands, arms wide open, with an invitation to ALL.  Come with your piercings, your three-piece suits, your tattoos, your torn jeans, bare feet, scars, hurts, shaved head or ponytails, just come!  He still has no prerequisite.  Sure, some people, some churches, create barriers between Jesus and the people he loves, but those barriers are man-made.  They don't exist, they're illusions from the mind of the pious, religious people who forget their only hope is the grace of God. 

I'm saying this to say to you that the reason we started a church in downtown Greenville was to have a place where you can have free access to Jesus.  Grace - your "get into Heaven free" card.  No hidden fees, no secret code, nothing but an open invitation from the person who loved you enough to make SURE you could know him forever. 

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  Take him up on it.

If you 'd like to talk about it, the doors of Transformation House are usually open until around 8 p.m. every day, Monday through Friday, and our Sunday Open House is at 10.  We would love to meet you.

Leadership with a Twist

Our current sermon series at Transformation House is Chosen by the King, Leadership with a Twist.  When I announced the title someone said they thought Chubby Checker was going to show up.  (If you're over 40, think about it.  If you're younger, Google it.) 

The point of this series has been to show that everyone is a leader.  God has given us all a role to play in someone else's life as we give them encouragement and direction.  There are no barriers in God's plan, no hurdles.  If you're a follower of Jesus, you're a leader of someone else.  Jesus has commanded all of his disciples to make disciples. 

In Acts 2, Peter explained that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was to empower all believers: men and women, young and old, rich and poor (verses 17-18). 

Do you see yourself as a leader?  If not, what is holding you back?  Look around, someone is following you.

Heading Home

Approaching Greenville on Wade Hampton Boulevard reminds me how great a task is before us. Transforming a city one person at a time requires a long-term commitment. Our Transformers have made this a priority in their lives and are sacrificing their own agendas in order to follow God's call. Wouldn't you like to be a Transformer?

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Unleash at NewSpring

I got to spend the day with friends and colleagues at NewSpring Church in Anderson.  I have been to Newspring several times for other events, but this was the first time I've attended Unleash.  If you're interested you can click here view videos from previous years.

I won't give you a lengthy description of the conference, but let me say that the volunteers were phenomenal - as always.  You can't attend NewSpring's Anderson campus without feeling that they are really glad you came.  Also, Lee and the worship team always move my heart closer toward God.  They are incredible musicians, but their music abilities pale compared to the presence of God that fills the room as He inhabits the praise.  I have never made it through a worship time at NewSpring without tears.

Today, I felt that the welcoming volunteers and the worship team were matched by the profound teaching that I received.  There were four sessions: two general sessions and two breakouts.  Perry Noble taught (preached) in the general sessions.  I attended his Q&A session for senior pastors and the breakout session taught by Jake Beaty, Pastor of Care and Outreach. 

Now, I've read a few blog posts, watched some YouTube videos, and read Tweets that criticized Perry and NewSpring for their methods and for the "false gospel" that is preached there.  I have never been to NewSpring when the gospel was not presented, and it was clearer than ever today.  Every session pointed to Jesus and the transforming power of the Gospel.  Perry and Jake reminded us that our first calling was not to ministry but to be a child of God - ministry just flows from that relationship. 

In a non-specific acknowledgement of recent blog posts concerning another pastor, early in the day Perry made his position clear by saying, "Hell really does exist, and people are going to go there unless we tell them about Jesus."

My greatest take-away was one point Perry made in the last session.  Here's my paraphrase:  He was challenging us to believe Jesus' words recorded in John 14:12 when he said that those of us following a God-given vision for ministry will look crazy to people who can't see the whole picture.  Those people may have a tendency to slow us down or stop us from fulfilling our ministry calling.  Perry pointed out that no great move of God recorded in Scripture happened because a person or group of people sat down and made a plan for the move of God.  More often than not, it happened when people stepped out in faith.  For instance, in the story of Jonathan and his armorbearer in 1 Samuel 14, we read, Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few." "Do all that you have in mind,' his armor-bearer said. 'Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”

Did you read that?  Perhaps!  Yet so often we ask for writing in the sky, or some other sign, to assure us that we're on the right track.  However, let me make this personal.  If I am truly called to pastor a church in downtown Greenville - and I am - then I can walk in faith saying, "Let's do something.  Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf."  God always backs up His calling. 

So, after today, I'm actively waiting to see what God will do as I partner with other Transformers and walk out in faith the call we have received.  I believe that Greenville will experience a great move of God.  Believers all over the city are living out their faith, those who are missing from our churches are crying out for help, and God is poised, ready to act on our behalf.  Perhaps today is the day.

Holiday on the House

I want to say thanks to everyone who made Holiday on the House possible.  Everyone who participated knows without a doubt that it is more blessed to give than to receive.  We gave the following letter to the families we assisted last week.

We feel honored to be a part of your Christmas celebration this year.  This is one of our favorite times of the year because of what this holiday means.  Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.  Do you know why?  Part of the reason is found in Jesus’ own words when He said this, God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, and to announce, "This is God's year to act!”

He didn’t say anything about coming to the good, the beautiful, the rich, or the religious.  He said he came for the poor, the prisoners, the blind, the burdened, and the battered.  Can you relate to any of those?  I sure can.  Jesus was born so that you and I could know that God wants to do something, “This is God’s year to act!”  God wants to do something for the poor, the prisoners, the blind, the burdened, and the battered.  God wants to do something for YOU!  In fact, He’s already started.  See, that’s why you have this letter and this gift – because God loves you. 

We love you too.  You are special to us and we want you to know that we are praying for you.  If you’re ever discouraged, please remember that you have friends at Transformation House that are thinking about you and praying for you.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

Pastor Tony Moore and all your friends at Transfomation House

...Wait for it...

When you were a kid, did you ever line up with your friends at a line drawn on the sidewalk ready to race to the end of the block?  Remember the anticipation?

Ready, set, GO!

That's where I feel I am now - standing with my toes touching that line.  I'm ready to charge toward the goal. For me, that goal isn't the end of the block, it is establishing a minstry center in the heart of my hometown.  The seeds of this dream were planted 20 years ago.  I believe that God's words to Habakkuk thousands of years ago are applicable to me today. 

Then the LORD replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.  Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

For 20 years, I have written notes, prayed for direction, discussed possibilities, and watched what God has done through others who have followed His vision for their lives.  One thing that seems to be an obvious necessity is a clear vision.  God said it to Habakkuk: write it down and make it plain.

Here's my plain vision: Establish a church on Main Street in Greenville that will give opportunities for worship, training, fellowship, and outreach - eventually, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

My toes are on the line, but this time, rather than racing against my friends, we are linked arm in arm running with a purpose toward what God has set before us.  We would love for you to join our team too.

NewSpring Leadership Conference

NewSpring Church, Anderson, South Carolina

Another week, another conference!  I think this is my last conference for this year - unless I'm invited to another one.  I am not a conference junkie, but this one was so close, and I admire the speakers.  I expected to receive a lot from the #NLC2010, and I was not disappointed.  I was pleased by several other things too: 1) The teachings were so Christ-centered.  Often, Jesus is left completely out as leaders are encouraged in their leadership skills and styles.  Not at this conference!  2) Lee and the worship team - despite the light show - faded into the background and let Jesus shine.  Please understand that I loved the light show, but generally you think the purpose of the lights is to illuminate the stage performers.  There were no performers, only worshipers. 3) I got to spend some time with friends that I didn't expect to see, and I got to meet some online friends. 

Here are some of my brief take-aways.

Francis Chan reminded us to walk in humble boldness.  Jeremiah 9:23-24 "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

Mark Driscoll used the Apostle Paul's example in Ephesians 3 to show the benefits that came from the apostle's suffering.  He said that, according to verses 7-9, Paul's greatest treasure was the Gospel.

Steven Furtick I was excited to hear Steven live for the first time - especially since this was the day his book, Sun Stand Still, was being delivered.  He chose not to speak from his book, but gave us all a copy to read for ourselves. He did tell us how to respond to critics and nay-sayers.  Just tell them, "Jesus told me to."

Perry Noble, our host, stayed in the background the entire day other than to preach once and to introduce the evening speaker.  I got so much from his message.  One thing that I want to always remember is this: You will never know what God wants to do through you until you know Him.

Jud Wilhite may be the speaker that I would most like to spend some time with.  He and his church (the place where it's okay to not be okay) are reaching people in Las Vegas.  Two things we should remember: 1) As long as we reach out to the broken, we will always have an audience, and 2) We should see restriction as an opportunity. 

Judah Smith was a Pentecostal powerhouse!  He said that when you launch out toward a God-given goal but you haven't reached it yet, what you do "in the meantime" is the key to reaching your destination.  We tend to see delay as denial.  I won't post all of the notes I took here.  I'm sure this one was just for me!

Andy Stanley gave what I felt was the most practical and encouraging information for church planters.  He helped me see the tension between what is, what has been, and what could be.  I won't post those notes either.  I need to study it out and see what God will do through it.

I'm so thankful to Perry Noble and the NewSpring staff and volunteers for this incredible day.  I was so proud to have our staff there.  I know that this day will affect the life of Transformation House.

The Nines

Last Thursday, I drank from a firehose.  For nine hours on 9/9/10 (thus, The Nines) I watched the video conference with nearly 100 speakers at 6 minutes each.  I was thankful for the break every half hour.  (By the way, I need a new comfortable chair for my desk.  Donations accepted.)  I wasn't sure I would last the entire day, but it was so encouraging and challenging that I couldn't pull myself away.

I just wanted to share with you some one-liners I gleaned over the nine hours. I can't guarantee that these are direct quotes.  They may just be what I heard rather than what was actually said.  I won't post everything I learned.  If you want more, click the title to this blog entry to view the videos or read the notes. 

If you follow me on Twitter, I apologize for bombarding you last Thursday.  Here are some nuggets that didn't get tweeted:

Dino Rizzo: God will bless what honors Him, not what honors you.
Jenni Catron: If life decisions were black and white, we wouldn't need leaders.
John Bishop: Risk everything to reach everyone.  (Wow!)
Thomas Hyatt: In bad times, ask "What does this situation make possible?"
Mark DeYmaz: Decision time? Ask, "Which way requires faith?" Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Stacy Spencer: Find Christ in your crisis.
Kem Meyer: We tend to overestimate what we have to say and underestimate how it's going to affect the other person.
Patrick Kelley: Psalm 25:3
Dave Ferguson: Yes
Eric Bramlett: No
Toby Slough: To be fully loved, you must be fully known.
Jonathan Falwell: God created me and called me to be ME.
Eric Geiger: Ministry should never over-rely on clergy.
J D Greear: The goal of a sermon is for people to leave worshiping.
Craig Groeschell: Less is more. Less time = more creativity. Fewer resources = greater innovation. Less structure = greater ministry.
Scott Wilson: The church should be the solution center for our communities.
Jud Wilhite: Don't miss the moment you're in while trying to get where you're going.
Laura Koke: Include young people in everything.
Brian Bloye: It's all about God's glory.  24/7
Greg Holder: Healing/Transformation/Change is a process. Wait for it.
Chad Hunt: You cannot grow your church until you grow your leaders.
Rick Rusaw: Not "come to us" or "go to them" but "BE WITH THEM."
Margaret Feinberg: You ask not because you have not. You have not an idea what God wants to do in your community.
Steven Furtick: When you tap into your uniqueness, God will use you to change the world.

Ok, I'll stop here.  This is just the tip of the iceberg.  Check out The Nines website for more information.

This week is another firehose week for our staff.  Chris, Joshua, and I will be at NewSpring this Thursday to hear from Perry Noble, Steven Furtick, Mark Driscoll, Jud Wilhite, Judah Smith, Francis Chan, and Rick Warren.  What a line-up. 

Transformation House will not be built because we mimic any of these men of God or because we use their methods.  However, God is using them to bring us encouragement and to challenge us to live by faith.  That's where we are; living by faith in the One who is able to do so much more than we can do and so much more than we can even expect.

Failure Isn't Final

So, how bad did you mess up?  Bad enough that you want to quit?  Enough to feel disqualified, unworthy, or incapable of fulfilling you dreams and goals?  Have you convinced yourself now that you just don't measure up and you never will?

I'd like to suggest before you throw in the towel, that you give it another go.  Seriously, how bad could it really be?

After all, if everybody who failed just gave up, we'd still be in the Dark Ages - or probably at least somewhere in the Industrial Revolution.  Think of all the conveniences we wouldn't be enjoying if inventors had given up on the first (or second, or tenth) try.

Or how long would it have taken the other 10 disciples to create the Church if Peter had gone back fishing - permanently?  But wait, that wasn't even Peter's first pitiful failure was it?  How many times DID he fail?  Let's see, he failed at walking on water, he failed to understand Jesus' parables, he tried to prevent Jesus from fulfilling His mission, Jesus called him Satan (that one goes in the epic failure category), he failed to see the point of the Transfiguration, he failed the forgiveness quiz, he failed the servanthood test, he failed the anger test, he failed to stay awake during Jesus' most crucial prayer meeting, he failed to keep his word, and maybe worst of all, he denied even knowing Jesus on Jesus' most sorrowful night.

Based on all of that, it seems that Peter would have won The World's Worst Failure of Biblical Proportions.  Or did he?  I think we sometimes confuse these two words: fail and fell.  Actually, Peter succeeded at walking on water until he fell in fear.  He stumbled at Jesus' parables but came to understand them in time... and on and on.  Peter's failures were only momentary, and momentary failures are not failures at all.  There is a difference between a fall and a fail.

Peter was destined for greatness, and it shows throughout his life's story - even when he fell.  It was in God's plan that Peter would be a leader.  After all, who was the first (and only) disciple to say to Jesus, "I want to walk on water with you" and step out of the boat?  Peter.  Who thought he should plan Jesus' itinerary?  Peter.  Who had a sword to lead a charge against Jesus' enemies?  Peter.  Who constantly was at Jesus' coattails, watching every move and listening to every word?  Peter.  And when Peter did decide to go back fishing after Jesus' crucifixion, what did the other disciples do?   They followed him!  (John 21)  Even when he fell, Peter couldn't help but live out his God-given destiny as a leader.

Still, Peter didn't have to live out the rest of his days leading from failure.  Something happened on the Day of Pentecost to transform him forever.  Peter began to live, speak, think and act in the power of the Holy Spirit rather through his own abilities.

From my own experience, I can assure you that the Holy Spirit can still turn a mess into a message.  That's what Transformation House is all about:  We want to see people transformed.  We don't look at anyone as a hopeless failure but believe that there is potential through the transforming power of God to give us all a fulfilling purpose. 

TRANSFORMATION HOUSE

He is the God of the Miraculous

Yesterday morning, during my prayer time, I was captivated by God's miraculous nature.  I was preparing for my day and anticipating having lunch with Pastor Chris and a friend who has been a tremendous blessing to Transformation House over the past 9 months.  At the same time, I didn't want this to just be another ho-hum day.  In my prayer I began to rehearse miracles from Biblical times:  blind eyes that were opened, lame people who were healed, children who were raised from the dead, the day the sun stood still. 

"God, if you did all those things, You are certainly capable of opening doors for me today and leading me to divine appointments with the right people, at the right time."

This phrase came to my mind, "He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we are able to ask or think according to the power that works within us."

Lunch on Main Street, Greenville

Well, I met Pastor Chris and our friend for lunch.  We shared our hopes and vision for future ministry opportunities in downtown Greenville.  Our friend said, "There's somebody you need to meet."  He picked up his phone and made a call then asked if we wanted to ride a few blocks to meet this guy.  Of course we did!

I won't go into the details here, but before the afternoon was over, we had met three different people who are investing blood, sweat, tears, and dollars in ministry to people in downtown Greenville.  Each one of these men were encouraging and offered their support as we take our next leap of faith.  Chris and I spent the entire afternoon downtown.  We now have four different buildings that are possible locations for Transformation House.  And that's just the beginning!

Our families went to RWOC for the evening service.  One of the first songs we sang was He's Able by Deitrick Haddon.  Then, Pastor Steven Ward got up and told us that we need to keep knocking until God opens the door but that we shouldn't expect Him to open a door if we aren't knocking. 

After worship, Pastor Ben Miller preached a GREAT word on dealing with frustrations.  I won't describe his message here because I believe every word was straight from God's heart to mine.  But, he ended by reading Ephesians 3:20 - you know, the verse that says God is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."

At Transformation House, we are believing for great things.  While we're believing, we're working as if it depends on us, knocking and expecting the door to open, asking knowing He will answer, bleeding because it's a cause worth dying for, praying because we know it depends on God alone, giving because if it's worth having, someone else needs it too, and living like King's kids.

Wouldn't you like to be a Transformer too?

Created with Purpose Part 2

Tonight, we continued our IN THE BEGINNING series with part two of Created with Purpose.

For anyone trying to discover their purpose in life, here is some advice:

• Make a decision.  Don't wait for writing in the sky before taking a step into your destiny.  I believe God has already put in you everything you need to carry out your purpose.  What are you passionate about? Where are you gifted? What brings you joy?  When you find that answer, you will find your purpose.  God is not waiting for you to "find His will."  He is waiting for you to DO something.  Then, He will bless what you set your hand to do just because you belong to Him.
• Patiently wait for your work and passion to bear fruit.
• Don't waste time on things that don't matter or on things that God won't bless.
• Don't step into a role just because it's the only door open.
• Don't stop pursuing your passion.  Hebrews 12:1-3
• Give up control in areas that you can't control.  Proverbs 16:3
• Find God's will in His word.  2 Timothy 2:15
• Hang out with people smarter than you who have succeeded at what you want to do. 1 Corinthians 11:1

At Transformation House, we believe we should carry out Christ's commission as found in Matthew 28:16-20 and Luke 4:16-19.  The church in general, and Transformation House specifically, should find our purpose for existence in Isaiah 61:1-3:

• Anointed - set apart and given the ability and authority to perform the following tasks
• Preach good news - our message is Christ-centered, it is the message of our daily conversation
• Bind up brokenhearted - a place of refuge, arms and words of compassion
• Proclaim freedom for captives - to help those who deal with issues of life find freedom from their struggles
• Proclaim release from darkness for prisoners - to help people who have no hope of change find the way to a transformed life
• Proclaim God's favor and vengeance - point out the truth that grace is available now but judgment waits alternately
• Comfort mourners, provide for the grieving - put our money where our mouth is, don't just tell people that there is hope, give them hope; tangibly interact with those who have suffered loss
• Restore beauty for ashes, gladness for mourning, and praise instead of despair - be different from every other place.  No long faces and no sob stories.  We are all about beauty, excellence, grace, joy, contentment, praise, and encouragement.

Sounds like somewhere I want to be!  Join us.

The above picture is the interior of the building we are praying for.  The Board of Directors for the property is deciding this week if they will approve our proposal.  The room pictured would be the gallery when furnished with a coffee bar and casual seating.  This is the area we would like to have open each evening.  Thanks for praying for us this week.