Take Up the Towel

A big shout out to everyone who came early or stayed late to help make Sunday morning happen! There's just nothing like working together for the Kingdom. Something in me gets really excited to see so many serving Jesus, following His example and washing the feet of others. And if I'm getting excited about something at 6am that's saying a lot!!!

In John 13, it says Jesus put off his robe and took up a towel as he began washing the disciples feet. Robes are the stuff we hide behind. It's our title, position, dignity. But Jesus was willing to put aside this and take up the towel. What an image...God with a towel, washing the feet of humanity. It think our Lord gets excited when His followers take up the towel. When we are willing to come out from behind whatever it is that we are comfortable in and have used to dress ourselves up. When we lay aside the robe and wash feet.

-Ben

The Mission is on the Move!

We are on the move! This is so exciting. Nothing like stepping on new ground...feel like singing "We're taking it to the streets..." I promise I won't though.

There are a few pics of us moving some things out, getting ready to move things in. By the way, we're having a chair-cleaning party for anyone interested this Friday at 10:30 am, Ponch Comm Center. Come, clean some chairs, get a feel for the building, pray! I loved just being there, anticipating what God will do in the lives of people all over our community. I know it sounds funny to be so excited about moving into a gym and adding more work to the whole thing, but I feel that we are in step with the Spirit of God and NOTHING is more exciting than that.

Definitely feels like stepping out on the water, but that's when the miraculous happens! When Peter heard Jesus say, "Come," in Matthew 14 it was scary and exciting at the same time. In one sense you're thinking: This is insane...I'm about to STEP on water!!! At the same time, the voice of Jesus has captured your heart, something inside of you can't resist the invitation!

Where do you sense Jesus calling you to step out and, "Come?" I promise it will be scary. But it also promises to be miraculous.

-Ben

Lunch With the Governor...Where the Church Belongs

Tuesday, Pastor Deven and I had the unique opportunity to join area Pastors in an informal discussion with Governor Bobby Jindal. The discussion took place over lunch at the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge, and provided an open forum to address key issues and challenges affecting communities across Louisiana. Everyone was decked out in suits. Professional staff waited on us, and served our meal on fine china. I have to say it was pretty cool sitting about three chairs down from the Governor, drinking coffee and sharing ideas...Honestly, I felt like a kid sitting at the "grown-up" table for the first time. I did my best not to embarrass myself, and kept thinking: What am I doing here?!

But then again, isn't this where the Church belongs-in the center of the discussion about bringing lasting change to our communities? Too often, we feel uncomfortable, out of place even, in the public arena (whether it be a PTA meeting, on the job, the boardroom, the classroom, the Governor's Mansion! etc, etc). But the Church is still the only God-ordained, Jesus-commissioned, Spirit-empowered entity to bring lasting change to a broken world. The Spirit of the Lord God has anointed us! (Isaiah 61) This is both a humbling and a thrilling responsibility. The question is: Will we step up to bat? Will we speak up? Act? Engage? You are called to be an agent of change!!!

What opportunities do you have to bring change? If you've felt out of place, how can you overcome this? Where is God leading you to engage your community?
Remember, His Spirit has anointed you!

-Ben

Annie's Valentine

This Saturday is Valentine’s Day. It’s the holiday where most of us spend time with that special someone: a boyfriend or girlfriend, a husband, wife, our children or just our friends. We take the time to convey our love and appreciation for that person, not because of anything that they have done for us, but simply because they are a part of our lives. Each year on Valentine’s Day, the student ministries at The Mission, Red Tree (college ministry) and Varsity (high school ministry), strive to make Valentine’s Day encouraging and meaningful for those who need it most, not because of anything they have done for us, but because Jesus is the biggest part of our lives.

A little over one year ago a dear member of Red Tree and The Mission Church, Annie Donnell, passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was a beacon of encouragement for all who knew her. Although she battled everyday for her own life, she continued to inspire each of us. Even in her final days she continually expressed her determination to fight. On the Valentine’s Day before her passing, some of the students got together and visited her to encourage her. It was an amazing and uplifting time, not only for Annie, but for all who visited her as well.

Out of this moment, came a vision to bring the same encouragement and hope to others on Valentine’s Day, especially those who need it most. Last year the students visited North Oaks Hospital bringing balloons, cards, candy, and hope. This year, we will be visiting Bell Maison Nursing Home, where 120 residents will receive the same love, hope and encouragement that Christ compels through us.

James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…” or as someone once said, “When we give our hearts to Jesus, we give our hearts to the helpless and the loveless.” Pray for us and the residents at Bell Maison.

Student Ministries, The Mission Church

Oatmeal

Can delight be found in Oatmeal?

Well, maybe not so much in Oatmeal, but in His Word? Yes. This is my story of how God has used my breakfast to highlight a truth about delight.

Jeremiah 15:16 "Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart!"

A look at my morning...Oatmeal, Oatmeal, Oatmeal. Yes, it is incredibly healthy, an enemy of cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, and is a great source of fiber. It is a great way to start the day in terms of diet. Agreed?

When I first started eating oatmeal, it was quite hard. Everything in me was rebellious toward the taste, texture, color and overall blahness of it. I loved my eggs, bacon and pancakes, but I kept forging forward toward my goal of bringing my blood pressure and cholesterol down. As you can see in the pictures, adding this and that to my oatmeal has made my breakfast much more interesting.

Monday - Strawberries

Tuesday - Walnuts

Wednesday - Blackberries

Thursday - Almonds

Friday - Blueberries

Eating Oatmeal could have just become a disciplined daily routine that would have brought incredible benefits, but being just a little creative has added so much. Today, because of months of being consistent with my Oatmeal, I not only thoroughly enjoy it, but I am healthier than ever.

What is my point? Well, I certainly don't view the word of God as boring or uninviting, but there are ways to add variety to our time in God's Word that will just spice it up!

Recommended Reading: I just read this book that helped me so much with a fresh approach to my daily devotional life, and I wanted to share it with you. It is the called, The Diving Mentor by Wayne Cordeiro. Sitting at the feet of Jesus can be and "is" the most incredible place to be. There is nothing wrong with keeping it FRESH!

Pastor Deven

Offense is much more fun that Defense!

I was going through the week as I usually do and thinking about the message from last Sunday morning. The part about being on offense instead of defense was still on my mind. It was like the Lord was relentlessly anchoring this truth in me.

Allow me to continue with that thought. The 6th chapter of Ephesians describes the spiritual armor God has provided for us. It speaks of the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, and the shoes that are the preparation of the gospel of peace.

Did you notice that all those pieces of armor are only for defensive purposes? The passage mentions only one weapon for offense. That weapon is the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.

If we are going to be leaders in our families, our communities, and our churches, then we must become a people who know how to take ground and move forward!

To get to a place we have never been, to move forward, to take ground, to score...we must learn more of God's word and use scripture as our weapon faced with challenges, when the enemy is trying to withhold what is rightfully ours.

Wouldn't you rather be fighting for increase rather than just defending what you already have? That is where the fun begins!

If an athlete's goal is just to keep the other guy from scoring, that athlete is history! If the goal is just to play great defense, if the only hope is to keep from being embarrassed again, then losing is a sure result.

Victory only comes to those who learn how to live on the offensive. Victory only comes to those who confidently take the weapon of God and put it into practice! That is what the word of God is designed to do. It is the catalyst for winning over our enemy!

What does that look like in everyday life?


When challenged to move forward:

1. find scripture that applies to your situation
2. memorize it (if you can)
3. write it on numerous post-its and place it in key places
4. believe it
5. renew your mind with it
6. speak it out with aggressive passion as often as necessary
7. stand firm despite further challenges
8. experience victory

Key Point - Your bible doesn't need to be beautiful or trendy, it is a weapon! It should feel like a baseball glove that has been worn and fits perfectly. When your bible feels like a glove, then you'll know you are using it as a weapon!

Now, get your sword and let's go and Kick Butt!

O Happy Day!

Heard a song recently that always puts me in a good mood. It's a remake of the old hymn, O Happy Day. Here are a few lines...

Greatest day in history/Death is beaten you have rescued me/Sing it out, Jesus is alive

The empty cross, the empty grave/Life eternal, you have won the day/Shout it out, Jesus is Alive/He's alive!

And O, Happy day, happy day, you washed my sin away

O, Happy day, happy day, I'll never be the same...

Death is beaten...You have won the day...Jesus is alive!

That changes everything doesn't it? It doesn't matter what else is going on, what else has happened, or could happen or didn't happen...Jesus is alive. That means you are no longer defined by your mistakes or your failures. Death doesn't have the final word anymore. No amount of loss or regret or suffering or hardship is beyond the reach of redemption and resurrection in Christ.

Forgiveness. Rebirth. Hope.

The Apostle Paul put it this way.

Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinth. 15:54-58

O, happy day!

-Ben