One Small Step for Our Church, One Giant Step for Our Community!

Yep. It's done! We have officially closed on our loan. This month is the month we've been waiting for; we can now start construction of our new facility. Look for concrete in the next two weeks and steel to go up around the beginning of July.

Praise God! He's been with us every step and today was a big one. It was one small step for our church, one giant step for our community. I believe the landscape of our city will be different because of our faithful obedience to Jesus. Keep praying and get ready!

-Ben

10 Years = 3,650 Days!

This Thursday is a particularly special day for me. It's an important milestone that I'm really looking forward to because this Thursday Melanie and I will be celebrating 10 years of marriage! Thank you Jesus! I really can't believe 10 years have flown by this fast. That's 3,650 days of waking up and doing life together. If there's one thing I've learned in 10 years it's that you spell marriage, "W-O-R-K." But I have to say, I love my job!

Those first couple of years were tough. Lots of fighting. Lots of apologies (from me!). Lots of counseling. But it's been SOOOOO worth it. It's still a lot of work, but the kind that's truly rewarding. The kind that brings growth, true intimacy, and joy. Even as we started talking last week about The Holy Spirit being The Helper, I guess one of the reasons I'm excited about 10 years together is because I can look back and see all the ways God has carried us through! I've never needed The Helper more than in my marriage. Can I get an AMEN?!! I don't care who you are or who you marry, it ain't easy! But The Helper helps me see things differently, helps me apologize and admit when I'm wrong, helps me love, helps me forgive and forget, helps me know what to do when I don't have a clue...and He's great to talk to when I just feel like breaking something or running away!

Marriage for me is the ultimate crucible. So thankful for my wife. The Lord uses her in so many ways to challenge, inspire, and encourage me. I really know that much of who I am today is because of her. 10 years and two kids later I can say I love her more than ever...thanks to The Helper.

-Ben

Well, Whadda-ya Know?

Jesus says in John 8:31-32, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." The word "know" used in this verse is key in our relationship to the Lord because it means much more than an intellectual knowing of facts. That's usually our understanding of knowing, especially when it comes to knowing truth. I know 2+2=4. I know that George Washington was our country's first President. And so on. These are facts that we memorize, and many times we approach "discipleship" in a similar fashion.

But in this verse, "know" means more than information. It is a knowing that cannot be separated from personal experience. We could say we "know" about climbing Mount Everest because we know where it is, we know what supplies to take, we know how long it would take to scale, we know the dangers to avoid, etc. But have you ever heard someone who's actually experienced it talk about it? They know about climbing Mount Everest in a very different way. They know the thrills and the challenges. They know the taste of snow in their mouth. They know what frostbite feels like. They've been to the summit and been changed by the view!

Jesus invites us to climb the mountain. He invites us to an experience of truth that changes us and sets us free. We need more than information; we need transformation. Our "knowing" becomes multi-faceted, multi-dimensional, rich and above all relational. So, whadda-ya know? Are you enjoying a relationship with Jesus? Are you experiencing truth in a way that is changing you and setting you free?

If you're looking for a jump-start, I would recommend Mission Bridge School. It's a 10-week discipleship invitation to climb the mountain. To register, email me (ben@themission.org) or sign up this weekend. We start June 3rd!

-Ben

The Holy Who?

Very excited about this weekend as we launch into a brand-new series called "Help" that explores the Person of The Holy Spirit. Did you know The Holy Spirit has a nickname? He's called The Helper. That's really good news because I need a lot of help and He's eager to give it.

I feel like people in general have a lot of mixed emotions about The Helper...lots of questions and misunderstandings. Over the next three weeks we're going to look at three specific questions:

Who is The Holy Spirit?

What does He do?

How do we grow in this relationship?

It's a great series to invite a friend to. Looking forward to exploring this together.

-Ben

Big Day in May!

Can you say, "1400 pounds of crawfish?" Big Day in May is upon us! One of my favorite Mission traditions. Lots of good eating, laughs, and of course-competition!!! I hear there will be some B-ball, maybe some cabbage ball happening. I haven't played in a while, but I'm pretty confident in my game. I can always shoot. In fact, I'm laying down the gauntlet right now...let's do a 3-pt competition!!!

Rock-climbing, inflatables for the kids. It's gonna be great. Make plans to come and spend the afternoon with us after 2nd service at The Ponchatoula Community Center. And invite a friend and bring your game!

-Ben

Wisdom

Moses prayed in Psalms 90:12, "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom."

What an interesting prayer. There's something about a proper understanding and perspective on life that allows us to grow in wisdom. Without a proper perspective it's easy to become distracted, focus on the wrong things, be consumed by the moment, miss the meaning of our lives. In short, we don't grow in wisdom.

Wisdom as defined in the biblical sense can best be described as the ability or skill to live well. Proper perspective helps us grow in this skill. Understanding the brevity of life leads us to live now for what's eternal, what really matters, what will last. In the end, so much of what we focus on and lose sleep over just won't matter! God has given us all temporary resources (time, talent, careers, money, etc) that is to be invested and leveraged for eternal value. When we live for the eternal we are living well and growing in wisdom.

I was recently reminded of this as our team spent the past week in Bulgaria on outreach. Nothing like a mission's trip to energize you spiritually and help you regain perspective. By the way, beginning in June we'll launch our Summer Mission Bridge School, a discipleship experience designed to prepare you for a life on mission and living for the eternal. Below are a few pics from our MBS trip to Bulgaria. I honestly wish every person in our church could have been there with us. It was such an amazing time. I'd encourage you to think about joining us for our Summer MBS...it will change your perspective!

May you grow in wisdom,
-Ben

The Story

There is something amazing about a good story. There is a piece of joy or excitement or anticipation that grabs hold of you when you tell or even hear a good story. We sometimes forget the influence or inspiration that stories have in our lives; not just any story, but our story.

Jesus used stories over and over again, parables, to explain truths about Himself, God, His Kingdom and so much more. We read these parables found in the gospels, some familiar, others not so much, and we are moved to truly understand more about God. The most amazing story is, naturally, the complete story of Jesus. The story of how God came to earth and gave His life for us, is one that should never grow old. It should never grow dull to our ears or hearts when we hear or think about it.

Right now 11 people are preparing to leave for Bulgaria. They are going to bring encouragement to the Body of Christ that is there, and see God work through them to reach even more people for His Kingdom. However, they have no special tools: no PowerPoint, no fancy worship, no elaborate invites or gospel tracks. They won't have big and bold visuals with all the bells and whistles. They are, however, equipped with one special gift, their story. It is the story of what God has done in their lives. Some of their stories may have more "ups" and "downs" than others, but each one is essential and will be used by God to see many people drawn closer to Christ.

I think about my own story, my own parable of what God has done in my life. I think about how He has saved me and given me a new life. It is my own story of what Christ has done in me that moves me. This past Sunday, Pastor Ben read from 2 Corinthians 5 that Christ's love compels us. What God's love has done in us compels and urges us on. I think about how much Jesus has done and the transformation in my own life. I can only be urged to see the same happen for others. It is the same for all of us. God has truly done something in your life. Your story may not have many "ups" and "downs" but the grace and mercy of God has saved you none-the-less.

And so, your story too, should never grow dull. It should always be fresh and should compel you to tell others about what Jesus has done for you. It doesn't need to be elaborate with visuals and special effects or filled with six points and four scriptures on the plan of salvation. It just needs to be your story, about who you are, where you were, and where God has brought you to now. Have you told someone your story lately? If not, think about what He's done for you and let His love compel you to tell someone this week.

Compelled because of Him, 2 Corinthians 5:14

-Marc