mid-week jolt

american idols

2009-04-30T09:22:00.010-04:00

a silversmith named demetrius, who made silver shrines of artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. he called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "men, you know we receive a good income from this business. and you see and hear how this fellow paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in ephesus and in practically the whole province of asia. he says that man-made gods are no gods at all. there is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty." when they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "great is artemis of the ephesians!" (acts 19.24-28)

sometime in the mid-50's AD (not 1950's, just 50's), paul - while traveling around the mediterranean sea starting churches - visited ephesus, one of the great cities of the ancient world, complete with its temple to artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the world. while there, he called people out for worshiping and serving idols - gods that don't exist. this really hacked off demetrius, who made his living through the idolatry of others. he made little silver relics that represented artemis, the city's official 'deity' and number one tourist attraction. paul saw their obsession with artemis and let them know boldly that there was no artemis, only Jesus. it was a gutsy move, as it led to a riot and citywide confusion, in which the angry people of ephesus dragged paul before an official, seeking to get him killed or at least tossed out of town.

2000 years later, things are much the same. here we are, having had the truth of the gospel taught throughout our land for well over 200 years, and yet you and i still have our idols - our non-gods who we allow to be god over us - and we can still get pretty bent out of the frame when someone challenges us on them.

but paul was right. they are not gods. there are no other gods. only Jesus.

this story needs to challenge us today to identify our idols, and to get rid of them. angry defense of things in our lives that rank above god have no place in the lives of Christ-followers. this isn't to say that material things, or relationships, or goals or aspirations, or education, or fun are evil. but if they are our obsession; if they take first place in our lives - or better put, if our relationship with and service to God is lessened because of them - then they are idols. plain and simple. if they have achieved some kind of divine status in our lives, they are robbing God of his rightful place.

i encourage you to go back and read through the entire story: acts 19. put yourself in the place of demetrius and his customers. then identify your own idols. pray that God would lessen their force in your life. and start cleaning them out if you need to.

memorize this verse this week...

"I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not give my glory to anyone else,
nor share my praise with idols." (isaiah 42.8)

risk. restore. repeat.

2009-04-09T08:38:00.003-04:00

church signs typically have one of two affects on me. they either make me laugh - out loud - or they make me cringe, wanting to get to the sign and strip it of its message, which too often is condemning or judgmental. frankly, i hope THRESHOLD never has one of those change-the-message signs. they're just plain tacky.

at the same time, i love words. i love using words, studying words, sometimes thinking of just the right words to convey what needs to be said. so i sometimes also find myself wondering, if we DID have a church sign... hmmmmm.....

i've been reading the gospel according to luke recently, trying once more to get a better understanding of this man whose name i bear, who i aim to follow most closely. as i read through luke's rendition of Jesus, vis-a-vis the whole church sign idea, i find myself contemplating some words. they might not land on a church sign, but i think they convey what Jesus was about...

RISK.

one of the first things Jesus does in his public ministry is to go to his home church to preach. it doesn't go real well. in fact, by the time he says 'amen,' the congregation is ready to throw him over a cliff. whoa. can't say i've ever had THAT kind of reaction (if you ever have felt that way, thanks for keeping it to yourself. really.). following that, he begins aggravating the religious leaders by seemingly violating their rules, to the point that by the early verses of chapter 6, they are already wondering how to get rid of him.

didn't Jesus realize how risky these things were? i think he did. in fact, i'm certain of it. Jesus knew - as should we - that living according to the directives of God's kingdom is risky. it won't be well-received by some people. but Jesus, and his followers, do it anyway.

RESTORE.

another thing i noticed in the opening chapters of Jesus' ministry is that he seemed to have one focus - to restore people. according to the dictionary, restore can mean to bring back to an original condition, or to bring to a state of health, soundness or vigor. for some, it was physical healing - restoring one's body to a healthy state. for others, it was psychological or psychiatric - driving out the demons that plagued them. for still others, it was spiritual - forgiving sins as only God can do.

i love this about Jesus, and am passionate about being a church of people who seeks to do the same. the recent challenge to be out there blessing people is all about this, all about saying or doing things that make people more whole. things that bring restoration. this is the goal of both Jesus and his followers.

REPEAT.

when someone is on a mission, and they are accomplishing that mission, they keep on doing the same thing, over and over. Jesus went from place to place, healing people. period. sure he taught things along the way, but most often, those teaching were either about restoration, or in reaction to those who didn't like what he was doing. no matter. he repeated, over and over, words and acts of restoration. even as he hung dying on the cross - and this is only in luke's story - Jesus told the thief beside him that he would be in paradise by the end of the day. that is restoration in the most complete way.

RISK

RESTORE

REPEAT

if i had a church sign, i think that's what i would put on it.

feeling like a dog?

2009-04-02T09:22:00.005-04:00

so, 3 months in to the year, who's still at it? anybody out there still reading through or listening through the bible? if so, you're a quarter of the way home! that's awesome!

others of you feel like dogs for not reading as much as you want to or should - and usually because you just don't know how.

getting through the bible and having a fuller understanding of its overall story and message is life-changing. but so often, we either feel like we don't have the time or the know-how.

i want to use this week's post to teach you how to spend time with a small amount of text - just one chapter, or maybe even just one story - letting it sink in. drawing life from it. letting it permeate and transform you.

it's done by choosing just one chunk of the bible, and asking just three questions...

IMPORTANT: before you begin reading, pray and ask God to reveal to you answers to the questions you are going to ask.

1. WHAT IS TRUE ABOUT GOD?

as you read a chapter or a story, read it all the way through once. then go back and re-read it slowly, looking for answers to this question, what does this tell me about God? if you are reading stories in the gospels, the question might be, what does this tell me about God in or through the words/actions of Jesus?

2. WHAT IS TRUE ABOUT ME?

what do you learn about yourself? what has God done for you? how ought you to live? again, if reading stories where God or Jesus interact with people, can you put yourself in their situation? if you were there, how would you feel? what might change? how would your relationship with God be informed or transformed?

3. WHAT NEXT?

after reading and considering the first two questions, close your bible and ask yourself, what should i do with this? is God calling me to think or live differently? be still and let God speak to you apart from the words on the page. close your eyes and just listen quietly. then end your time by thanking God for what he has taught you.

this is a simple yet powerful way to interact with God's word as Christ-followers have for centuries. you don't need a class or a degree in bible or theology to interact with and hear from God in this way. and the blessings are fantastic.

hey, by the way - are you still out there blessing people? send me your stories!

tweet tweet

2009-03-26T10:06:00.010-04:00

i'm taking a few days off here at the end of the week, so this post is gonna be quick. two things.

1. happy birthday, midweekjolt!

this week marks one year since this blog began. as one who loves to start new things and struggles to see them through, this is a milestone! 52 weeks. 52 posts! sure do hope that at least a few of them meant something to at least a few of you. thanks for reading. shall i continue?

2. tweet, tweet!

this won't appeal to all of you, but social networking online is the rage, as many of you know. i see many of you already on facebook. and i am finally committing to twittering as well.

twittering is nothing more than sending and receiving updates known as tweets. anything you're doing, or have just done, that you want to share with your followers, you send it out as a tweet.

for example, through twittering, i know that one pastor i follow - one i have never met, but admire - was off yesterday and went to the national museum of history in DC - and this morning his tweet reminded me that i am God-commissioned according to Colossians 1.

another pastor i follow in L.A. is in NYC.

i'd love to see our tribe of Christ-followers follow each other on twitter - we can use it to let each other know who we're blessing out there. imagine asking someone if you can pray for them, getting a positive response, praying, then letting us all know - all in a matter of minutes! it will make our day! all of ours!

and you can tell that blessed person that if it's OK with them, you'll invite a couple dozen others to join you immediately. how cool is this?!

if you're interested, here's what you do...

visit TWITTER online and set up an account. quick and easy.

start hunting others from our tribe, and follow them. you can begin by looking at my profile where you will already find a handful of us. trust me, it snowballs in a hurry.

then - and for me, this is the key - set it up so you can tweet on your phone. this is what makes this work! no matter where you are, within seconds, you can send a tweet to let us all know:

I JUST BLESSED SOMEBODY!

you in?

let's go get 'em!

(how-to video )

go think about that

2009-03-19T07:58:00.005-04:00

when i was a kid, i got spanked a few times, but those never really bothered me. it was "one and done," you know? i mean, ok, a few swats hurt, for a second, but then life was on again! i could get over one of dad's spankings pretty dang quick.

problem is, he figured it out pretty dang quick, too.

so he changed the punishment.

when i screwed up, he made me stand in the corner.

"jeffrey, you go stand in the corner and think about that!"

i hated standing in the corner!

standing in the corner meant standing still.

not moving. not playing. just being.

i hated standing still. still do.

i understand now, of course, that punishment - standing still or otherwise - is not about a good parent having the final say or of inflicting pain simply because he or she is bigger than the child. discipline, and even punishment, is about correction. correcting behavior that is unhealthy or even dangerous for a child.

proverbs 3.11-12 says,

my child, don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when he corrects you.

for the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

as christians, when something bad happens in our lives, something that seems to stand us in the corner, something that we don't like, we blame the devil. we've been taught that satan hates God, and God's kids, and since we're one of them, satan is always gunning for us. so when something happens that doesn't seem to be in our best interest - as we define that - we blame the devil. and of course, he often is to blame.

but not always.

this proverb - quoted again in the new testament (see hebrews 12.5-11) - teaches us that God can be involved in our discomfort as well. God does discipline us, he does correct us, because he wants us to live lives that are healthy for us and honoring to him.

if you are suffering right now - sick, rocky marriage, out of work, unhappy, depressed, in a bad circumstance - could it be that God is disciplining you? is it possible that God has you standing in the corner right now, trying to teach you something that is ultimately for your benefit?

i wish i had a magic formula to give you so that you would know for sure. but at least take the chance to think about it. to pray about it. to examine your heart and turn yourself and your circumstances over to God yet again.

and while you're standing in that corner, please don't miss a couple key words in this proverb:

God corrects those he loves, those in whom he delights.

God does love you. he is crazy about you! and as so many fathers have said, his correction probably hurts him more than it hurts us. but he acts out of love.

he ALWAYS acts out of love. that's a guarantee.

now you go think about that.

you better sit down for this

2009-03-12T08:22:00.007-04:00

reading through the old testament is always interesting. there are always new things, always things i feel like i have never read before. i came across one of them recently.

we all know - or should - that one of the 10 commandments says this:

remember to observe the sabbath day by keeping it holy.

i've read a variety of commentaries over the years, and had many conversations over the full meaning of this commandment.

does it mean no work on sunday?

does it mean no work on saturday (the original sabbath day?)

does it mean i also shouldn't go somewhere that makes someone else break the sabbath rule?

or does it just mean that at least once a week, i need to rest, and to give God some undivided attention?

those questions aren't fully answered for me even now, though i do have some convictions about them. but as i read further into exodus this time around, i noticed that the mandate to observe the sabbath kept coming up, again and again (exodus 16.23-29; 20.8-11; 31.13)

and then i came to this.

anyone who works on the sabbath must be put to death.

(see exodus 31.14-15; 25.2)

i'll leave you to meditate over this on your own.

i'm taking today off.

more actual grace

2009-03-09T16:04:00.007-04:00

before you read this post -- if you have not read the one dated march 5, you will want to do that first. this is an amazing display of the care and glory of almighty God...

PART ONE is an email from debby castellow, the artist who drew the picture of emily rose... only she had no idea who emily was!

March 5, 2009

Dear Jeff,

We've really got to quit meeting like this! Just joking....I assure you you will be amazed at what I have to say! Last year this time after the prayer vigil you read a prayer I wrote during the vigil, to the Lord...This year it was my crayon drawing...to the Lord...You see I love those prayer vigils...I love spending time with God...I love Jesus and learn to love Him more everyday...Without Him I am nothing....seriously.

It has taken me some time this morning to quit crying after reading your blog. As usual God has touched my heart in a really profound way through all of this. To know that God works His love and grace through my feeble attempts at giving Him my heart is just very humbling ...

When I write, when I draw, when I am creative I am very open to God's leading. About 3 weeks before the prayer vigil I kept thinking God was urging me to paint a large canvas with the most beautiful purple I could mix....I saw in my mind, this beautiful, blond girl standing facing this brilliant yellow-white light (in my mind she was facing Jesus on the Throne of Grace...) She was wearing purple with blue undertones...When I got to the station at the prayer vigil, I knew it was the time to put it to paper...I knew in my heart that this was the place to draw the image I had seen...When I paint or draw or write it's like God takes the brush or pen and I am just along for the experience...I can lose all track of time and what's going on during those moments...it's just full of peace and total enjoyment....refreshing. At any rate as I was drawing with the crayon I was not happy with her hands because they were empty and I felt prompted to place a red rose in her right hand (signifying "I love You") and the goblet in her left (signifying "serving the lord" and communion with Him). Her purple and blue dress signify her being a part of God's Kingdom and the blue undertones represent being a part of the Family of God, chosen by Him. Now I can totally say I had no idea why I was prompted to share this drawing, I just knew it was what I could give to Him in the way of worship at that moment at that station. As a matter of fact I blushed after I pinned it to the curtain, wondering if anyone might find it much too intimate to display for everyone to see...I commented on Sunday after worship though to my husband that I was so glad that I could finally worship God with a people that understood intimacy with God...I could truly worship and not be shamed...Jeff your message Sunday actually was very freeing to my heart! The kissing thing... Ha! Thanks for being bold in what you preach.

I would be more than happy to meet the family with you and talk more about this drawing. In the meantime, please let them know that, that moment for them was directly from the Lord to their hearts at just the right time and in just the right way. And for that I am very happy and encouraged and honored to have been a vessel for Him to use!

In His love, Debby

PART TWO is a follow-up from emily's stepdad, mark mcelvey, dared march 9, 2009

In other words, she didn’t know us. She didn’t know about Emily. She didn’t have anyone else in mind. It was a drawing, an offering that God directly inspired her to do. She talked with us after the service Sunday, and she told us that she doesn’t do anything in purple, as a rule. She said that she thought maybe she’d draw one of her granddaughters, but their hair is much shorter, and the hair in the picture kept getting longer and longer.She doesn’t draw people, she mostly does landscapes.In other words, it was nothing she would choose to draw. Nothing in her life directly influenced that work.It came straight through her heart and hands from God to us. To all of us who miss Emily.

After reading that, if there is any room for doubt left in your hearts and minds about who God is, how He takes care of us all, and where Emily is now, then I don’t know what anyone can say to change your mind.

Psalm 71:20-21
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again.

Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces;

Lamentations 3:31-33
For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men.

Matthew 5:4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Romans 8:39

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:52-57

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

actual grace

2009-03-05T00:02:00.006-05:00

last december, emily rose, a junior at butler high school, went home to be with Jesus following a battle with leukemia. since then, her family has found a home at threshold, mainly because of the way members of the church have reached out to them in the ways they do best.

this week's blog is a bit different - i wanted you to hear from emily's stepdad, mark. the following is a testimony to the tangible activity of God in the lives of his people.

As some of you know, Amy, Brendan and I are now members of Threshold Church. THD reached out to us during Emily's illness and during the aftermath in a way that made us want to be a part of your worship and ministry. We first visited on Sunday December 28, 2008. We were planning on going to Elevation Church, but they didn't have worship that Sunday, and Amy and I were determined to go somewhere to be close to God on the first Sunday after Emily's service. Amy, Caleb, Zach and I attended, and uncharacteristically sat on the second row. As a long and proper Baptist, I'm more of a back row guy, but somehow we ended up at the front.

As the praise band started their second or third song, "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" we felt the spirit touch us. We had chosen that hymn for Emily's service just 5 days before. Then as pastor Jeff began to speak about 2008 coming to a close, and all the trials, all the hardships, all the financial hardships, the job losses and the deaths in the family, we began to feel the spotlight on us. We felt singled out, tagged, touched, lifted up. We knew in our hearts before the service even concluded, that THD was where God wanted us to be. To serve Him there.

After the service we spoke with Jeff, whom we'd never met before. We introduced ourselves, but he cut us off, saying "I know who you are. I was praying and worried during the whole service that what God wanted me to say wasn't too raw, too difficult, too soon for you." We assured him that while he may have been apprehensive, and we maybe wouldn't have wanted to hear what he said, that God knew it was what we needed to know.

Since that time, there have been many more moments, random meetings, school dedications and meetings, dinner with friends, that have been tough in the moment, sometimes tough immediately after, but, ultimately, in His perfect time, what we need and what we embrace.

This weekend, Threshold held a 24 hour prayer vigil tied with the youth's 30 Hour Famine for hunger initiative. It was held at the clubhouse in our neighborhood. Several prayer stations were set up to direct our prayers and reflection. Some of the stations directed us to look inward and confess to God our sins, our worries, our burdens. Some directed us to look outward to others, to help and to pray for them. One station was different, though. It was very open ended. It consisted of an easel with a large drawing pad attached, a wall for display and pins to affix the drawings. No directions were given, no suggestions, nothing to guide us except our selves and our prayers. Some pages were hung with scriptures, some with prayers. Some were simple drawings of the cross. Some were elaborate drawings of Christ's wounds, or images superimposed on the cross. We were there at about 10 pm Saturday night. Sometime between when we left and 7 am on Sunday, someone drew the newly posted picture (see the top of this blog). It, along with several other pictures, was displayed at the church service the following morning. As of now, we don't know who did it, or even for certain that they had Emily in mind. It doesn't really matter either way. But God put that image in someone's heart. Someone was compelled to draw a picture of a beautiful blonde young woman, with a rose in her hand and surrounded by purple light, entering into a glorious light.

We showed it to Jeff after service, and he immediately said "That's your girl, entering into God's glory." Michelle Gardner told us when we showed it to her about "actual grace". That is when God provides a tangible "something" for us to see, to hold, to cherish, as a reminder of His grace. We had not heard the term before, but we do believe that it applies totally to this picture.

Once again, our idea of "coincidence" is defeated. Our concept of God's sovereignty, His power and His Plan, however, is reaffirmed and heightened.

To whoever drew this picture, thank you. If you would tell us who you are, we would like to thank you personally. If you are not comfortable with that, then please know that we have already thanked God for you and your expression of caring. We will frame the drawing and we will hang it with respect and thankfulness to remind us where Emily has journeyed ahead of us.

(from Jeff - if you are the artist of this picture, or know who is, you can get in touch with Mark and Amy by emailing me, jeff.gardner@thresholdchurch.com)

the furious longing of God

2009-02-26T10:09:00.007-05:00

"i am my beloved's and his desire is for me"

- song of solomon 7:10 (esv)

as i spend time with you guys, as we worship together, as i pray for you during the week... i find myself wondering how fully you realize or believe in the fury of God's love. the power. the enormity. the intensity.

it's just one more reason to be in the Word constantly, because as you are, you discover this more and more. but just in case you are one today who doubts it, struggles with it, doesn't feel it - 3 thoughts...

1. meditate on the passage at the top of the blog. read it. reread it. think on it. meditate over it. own it. trust it. believe it. i came across it in chapter one of a new book i'm reading called, The Furious Longing of God, by brennan manning. i recommend anything he writes. the dude knows Jesus, flat out. listen to him.

2. watch this video. it's brennan. it's got a promo tag on the end for an upcoming event - you can ignore that. but listen carefully to the rest. good stuff.

3. attend the Threshold 24-hour prayer vigil this weekend, for just an hour. details are in the weekly e-newsletter or on our homepage, VIGIL. carve out an hour to hear and experience this amazing truth - that you are loved by the creator and lord of the universe. don't just acknowledge it in your brain. feel it in your soul. it's the deepest truth you will ever encounter. don't brush it off and just get on with your busy life. tune in.

i'll be praying for you guys this weekend at the vigil.

see you sunday!

here's the info on the book, in case you're interested.

The Furious Longing of God

by Brennan Manning

will starve for food

2009-02-19T09:44:00.009-05:00

26,000 children will die of preventable poverty, disease and hunger... today.

14,000 of them from hunger and malnutrition alone.

840 million people do not get enough to eat - that's 1 in 7.

21 billion people live on less than $2.00 per day.*

i was hungry and you fed me... when you did it to one of the least of these... you were doing it to me. (Jesus our Lord, in matthew 25.35, 40)

a week from tomorrow, february 28, the youth of THRESHOLD will begin a 30-hour famine. for over a day, they will refrain from eating and will spend time instead learning about the plight of world hunger and praying for those dying from it. they will also be raising money to help feed those in need. in other words, they will starve for food.

for more info on what they are doing, see FAMINE.

during the same weekend, february 28 - march 1, you are also invited to participate in events focusing on others.

I. FAST. while the youth go 30 hours without food, consider joining them, for at least one meal. skip just one normal meal and spend the time praying for others. visit the 30-hour famine website to learn more about global hunger. make yourself aware. go for a walk and consider how many people around the world must walk for miles to get food or even clean drinking water. and pray.

II. PRAYER VIGIL. pair your fast with an hour or two at our second annual prayer vigil. this 24-hour event was held on good friday last year, but we have moved it up this year to coincide with the famine and the food drive (see below). we have rented the clubhouse in providence hills neighborhood (mckee at pleasant plains roads) and will have it set up with 8-10 prayer stations, from 7AM on saturday to 7 AM on sunday. it will be an amazing time for intimacy with God. you'll experience prayer perhaps like never before as you visit various stations where you might do some reading, draw pictures, write a letter, watch a video, listen to music or just quietly pray. last year's reviews were tremendous. sign up now online to reserve your hour.

III. FOOD DRIVE. following the success of our october '08 effort, which bagged 4000 pounds of food, we are doing this again. on sunday, march 1, following worship, we will distribute around 2000 bags to homes in several local neighborhoods (not the same ones as last fall). it will only take about 30 minutes. the following sunday, march 8, we will collect the bags - same volunteers, same neighborhoods. all food collected will be housed at the common cupboard for local distribution. sign up you or your cell now online.

THRESHOLD is a movement, a church on the move. we exist for one purpose: to glorify God by being the expression of Jesus in our community and beyond. clearly Jesus taught us to feed the hungry - that's what next weekend is all about. i urge you to join in all the opportunities being provided. better yet, engage in these activities with your CELLmates!

"we beg you, master, be our help and strength. save those among us who are oppressed, have pity on the lowly, and lift up the fallen. heal the sick, bring back the straying, and feed the hungry. release those in prison, lift up those who falter, and strengthen the fainthearted. let all nations come to know you, the one God, and your son Jesus Christ, and us your people, the sheep of your pasture. amen." (clement of rome, c. AD 92-101)

* info from www.30hourfamine.org

on your knees

2009-02-05T09:20:00.011-05:00

To touch is to heal, to hurt is to steal.
If you want to kiss the sky, better learn how to kneel
On your knees, boy!

- from U2, Mysterious ways

in the past month or so, danielle has had surgery twice.

once to fix a hip, the second to fix the first. an infection set in after the first surgery that wasn't pretty and needed to be gotten out of there. it didn't seem to go a whole lot better than the first. she's a very young woman and to see her on crutches last sunday, making her way to the Lords Table, dragging her leg along behind her, was a difficult thing to watch.

i was invited to drop in on her super bowl party sunday evening (i know! what in the world was she doing hosting a party? well, she needed company and had a lot of help - kudos joe!)

when the game was over, four of us from THD remained, along with danielle and her hubby mark. we were cleaning up the kitchen a bit and decided that we needed to pray for danielle. so we seated her on a chair and gathered around her, laying our hands on her shoulders.

and we prayed. honestly. boldly. emotionally.

danielle went to the doctor monday. she didn't seem to feel any better and was anticipating the worst. but later monday, her facebook status read...

danielle is infection-free!!!!

not bad for one night of prayer...

(honest note: we weren't the only ones. a lot of prayer had already been going up on her behalf)

van called yesterday.

she was so excited, she just had to tell someone! i was the lucky one.

during the summer of '02, THRESHOLD was still in the womb - yet to be born until september. but those of us whom God called in the pre-natal phase were gathered one sunday afternoon. i asked all who were present to write down three names. names of people who either didn't know Jesus as Son of God, Lord and Savior, or someone who wasn't close to him at this point in their lives. one of the names van wrote down was michael.

she called yesterday to tell me that she had just talked with michael. he had been to THRESHOLD sunday for the first time. he found the worship and the talk to be very personal and emotional. tears flowed. God had his attention and was opening his eyes. he is so excited about what is going on in his spirit!

not bad for 7 years of prayer...

you get the point, right?

PRAY.

constantly.

st. paul puts it like this in 1 thessalonians 5.17: NEVER STOP PRAYING (nlt)

sometimes the bible seems really unclear.

not here. no excuses this time, baby: Never Stop Praying

sometimes you'll pray once. sometimes for 7 years. and sometimes for a lifetime.

but let's lose the attitude that somehow leads us to believe that God owes us an answer - the desired answer - on our schedule.

just pray. for as long as it takes.

after all, it really is a privilege. when we pray, we are seeking the face and the heart of God. and just being able to have the right to do THAT is amazing, really.

the desires of your heart? God really does want you to bring them to him.

why he waits so long sometimes is not worth the time it takes to breathe the question.

it's only time lost from prayer.

so... what are you waiting for?

on your knees.

what you need to do today

2009-01-29T09:21:00.007-05:00

let's get right to it this week.

i want you to be debt-free.

i don't want to use today's blog to toss out a dozen scripture passages about money. or to use fancy word construction to convince you. or to appeal to your emotions. i really don't think i need to. do i?

the economy is awful, and even if it weren't, too many of us just aren't living financially in a way that honors and glorifies God. and if the reason that we are on planet earth, according to His Word, is to bring Him honor and glory, then we all have work to do.

but even if you don't give a hoot about God's view of money right now, do this anyway. do it for yourself and your family. get this debt-monkey OFF YOUR BACK!

so here's the deal: take the rest of the time that you would normally spend reading this blog, and sign up for Financial Peace University.

i hope by now you know it's a 13-week seminar on sunday nights that will teach you all you need to know about managing the account God has entrusted to you in this life (you haven't forgotten it's really ALL His, have you?).

6:30 - 8:30 PM.

something for every one of your kids.

and only $99.

that is precisely $7.62 per week.

you can afford this. you NEED to afford this.

i guarantee you'll make the $99 back in the first week or two if you do what you're taught.

but if you need a scholarship, just ask.

and by the way threshold isn't making a nickel off of this, for any of you who still think this church is all about your money.

ok, so go.

hurry up, i'm sure you've got a bunch of stuff to do today.

and if you already have... Thank You!

Details:

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University

13 Sessions, beginning February 8

Each Sunday through May 24, except Easter and Mother's Day

$99, and well worth it.

Care provided for kids of every age (high school students are encouraged to take the seminar)

DEADLINE! Sunday, February 1.

actual grace

2009-01-22T09:43:00.007-05:00

tuesday was a gift from God. one of those tangible gifts of actual grace that give us those seemingly all-too-rare glimpses of his hand at work, reminding us that he is real and that he is at work. i've seen them over the years, when i have had the eyes to see. and i'm sure i've missed a bunch of them when i've had my spiritual head up my own assets, worried so much about myself that i had no clue that God was anywhere in the vicinity.

but tuesday i saw it. actual grace. God's tangible activity.

it snowed. not a lot. but it did. i heard that it hasn't snowed in charlotte enough to cover the ground since 2004. but tuesday it snowed.

and as if that weren't gift enough in itself, it was also inauguration day.

now forget about politics, okay? there's just something about each of these that reminds me that we get second chances. that no matter how bad the past, there is a future. that while there may be decay in our rearview mirror, our rearview mirror is showing us what we are leaving behind.

i have never been one to make much of a new year. to me, it was just the next month in a long, long linear processional. a new year was often more annoying than promising. i put the wrong year on my checks for a week or so. i couldn't get a treadmill at the gym. last year's calendar got put on a shelf and i couldn't find it when i needed to refer back to something that happened only a couple weeks earlier.

but not '09. not this year.

this year, for some reason, i am excited. i am optimistic. i am expectant. i fully anticipate seeing and hearing life-changing stories this year like never before. growing closer to God. learning how to glorify him more and more in everyday life. learning his better and applying it more often. embracing his people in small communities where we can love, trust and serve one another. getting ourselves freed up and healthy in any and every way necessary, in order to stand ready to serve God and those he points us to, whether across the world or across the lunchroom table.

our staff met all day yesterday to map out 12 months of opportunities intended to help us all move into and through one of the best years of our lives. in a few weeks, we'll put that calendar into your hands. but even before you receive it, i hope you'll be praying. pray that God will move in you with his Spirit in ways that will help you commit to the things that are most important this year. ask him to show you very clearly where you ought to be engaged and active for his glory and your own health. beg him to take away the resistance, the laziness, the fear or the apathy that keeps you from worship or cell or service.

promise to read his word this year. promise your kids that you will lead them spiritually this year. promise your spouse that you will get out of debt this year - or at least make a significant dent in it. promise those who ask you that you will in fact finally join their cell. promise yourself that you will leave your comfort zone for one - just one - significant serve experience.

'09. it's a new year. a year full of promise.

the snow and the events of tuesday are now also in the rearview mirror.

but don't miss their message.

God is present. every day is a new one. He gives second chances.

Father, we thank you for the moments when we are clearly reminded of your presence and your hope. so many of us need the eyes to see that right now. we need that promise. we need that anticipation. we want so desperately to be drawn by your Spirit into this new year. change us. transform us more into the image of your Son Jesus. cover our sins like a blanket of new snow, and inaugurate in us a new heart, ready to live solely for you and your glory. receive our humble and expectant pleas in Jesus' name. amen.

sweet!

2009-01-15T09:28:00.014-05:00

it's tuesday, 6:30PM. twelve of us hang out in the kitchen for about half an hour, sharing a new bottle of wine. the cincinnati chili is simmering on the stove, while the pasta, onions and cheese are waiting to join it in my one deep bowl. two by two we arrive, distributing regular but no-less-heartfelt hugs to one another, each of us doing a little lap around the kitchen island, then holding our place for the next pair to arrive.

7 o'clock, and time has arrived to dive into the meal. but first things first. we gather side by side around the island - an altar almost, and in some very real ways it is - and we say thanks. thanks God, for this food and for the few hours ahead.

on to the dining room. it's an oval table, and getting a dozen around it is a squeeze - even before we eat. afterward, somebody is gonna have to push away a bit. it's another 30 minutes or so of joyful and rather loud conversation. what's up with kids, with jobs, with health, whatever...

seven thirty PM. we've been there an hour and bellies are full. the cincinnati chili was followed by a piece of dark chocolate cake and another bit of wine. God said "taste and see that the Lord is good..." no argument from me this night.

plates and silver make their way to the kitchen sink, and are replaced on the table by bibles - thin ones, thick ones, several translations. we open to philippians and begin our journey through it. we learn some things about the history and situation that gave rise to the letter. we pull out some stuff from chapter one that directly speaks to something we had all had an email conversation about last week. conversation is spirited and we don't all agree. a guy at one end of the table takes issue with a guy at the other end. it might scare some people to watch it, but i know these guys. i know how much they love each other. and i know in my gut that they both want more than anything to know the truth! to know what God is really trying to convey to all of us. this is awesome stuff!

we could talk all night, some of us, but it's now 8:30 and it's time to pray. we pray in different ways on different nights, but we have a major focus this night. i'll let arlene tell you about it...

"tuesday night my cell prayed for me. i was facing shoulder surgery the next morning. they all gathered around me and laid their hands on me and prayed. it brought tears to my eyes to have a group that loves me so much and really cares enough to be there for me. the prayer time definitely took away nervous anticipation and really calmed my nerves and spirit... i could really feel love and prayers going through directly to me. i had no problem sleeping that nite. my cellmates were all vessels used by God to calm me and give me peace."

"to my cellmates: i love you all... thanks for everything. i can't imagine not being in our cell. you're my expanded family. i can't imagine what it would be like without you guys."

so there you have it, THRESHOLD. a night in the life of my cell. if any of this story is at all attractive to you, and you aren't surrounded by community like this, it's time.

it's past time.

you know it and i know it and it's time to let other things go in favor of this new commitment.

we 12 will vouch - it's worth it.

if you're ready, click this link and fill out the form: I"M READY FOR A CELL

we'll have you in a cell that fits your needs and your lifestyle in no time.

i'm telling you, the cincinnati chili and the chocolate cake rock -

but what happens around the table AFTER dinner is the real meat.

and it is oh so sweet!

right arlene?

the bible this year... every day

2009-01-01T15:16:00.005-05:00

hey all. it's january 1st.
happy new year.

i've found a really nice podcast that i plan to access every day in '09.
i hope maybe you will join me.
it's called the daily audio bible.

if you listen each day, you will make it through the entire bible this year.
the reader's name is brian. he seems really, really cool. i think if he lived in charlotte instead of nashville, he might be a part of THRESHOLD.

here's the link: www.dailyaudiobible.com
you can listen at your computer (scroll to the bottom of the page).
or you can download the podcast via itunes.
there is also a version for kids.

if you've never gone through the bible in a year, give it a try.

if you don't care for brian's style, there are other avenues for doing the same thing.
google around and see what you can find.

if you're up for this and care to join me, let me know, ok?

lost in translation

2008-12-18T09:04:00.009-05:00

they speak spanish in costa rica!
who knew???

i don't speak spanish. i know a few words, a few phrases:
good morning.
how are you?
my name is jeff. what's your name?
where's the bathroom (donde esta el bano? - a good one to know).

but that's a far cry from knowing spanish. a far cry indeed.

at times it was very frustrating. frustrating to meet a new friend and have almost no idea what he was saying. i met pastor jeffry (really, there are two of us! God is good!) who i liked immediately. we could just sense in one another a love for God and for his people. there was so much i would like to have said to him. and in fact, as soon as i got home, i sent him an email. i used an online translation site. i typed everything that i wanted to say, in english, and hit the translate button. i copied and pasted it into the email and hit send. and held my breath. i had no way of knowing if the translation was accurate or not. i hoped i hadn't insulted his mother!

but during my time in costa rica, there was one time when translation wasn't an issue at all for me. during worship. each day, we worshiped with the kids who came to join us for the bible school. we sang in spanish, with spanish words on the screen. i made out some of the words, either because i knew a few or because we were singing songs i knew well, so i could translate in my head. but it was more than that. it was like, the words don't matter right now. i'm standing in an open-air multi-purpose space with a bundle of children, surrounded by gloriously lush green mountains in 70-degree weather, worshiping the creator of it all. sometimes words get lost in translation.

and sometimes they just get in the way.

on tuesday night of our time there, on our walk back from dinner, we passed a very small church - about 25 folks from the village were inside singing and swaying and crying out and dancing. each person was lost in worship. the front doors were thrown wide open as an invitation to join them. so we did.

and we worshiped.

man, we worshiped. for about 45 minutes, each of us seemed to completely forget about one another, at least i did. it didn't matter that there were only about 50 people in a space big enough for 250. it didn't matter that we don't worship so freely at THRESHOLD (though i sure wish we did). it didn't matter that i didn't understand hte words to the songs being sung, that they were all lost in translation.

i was lost in worship.

and i want to go back there again.

not so much to costa rica - though i am going back there too.

but i mean, i want to go again and more often to that amazing place where it's just God and me. a place where i can raise my hands and spin around, or where i can sit quietly and rock, or where i can be completely still - and worship. focus my complete attention on the maker and redeemer and lover of my soul. a place where words don't require translation because words aren't important.

hey. maybe sunday.

wanna go with me?

but what about...

2008-12-04T10:22:00.007-05:00

when i give a talk like i did last sunday about the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as God and the only way to the Father and to salvation, invariably questions arise. they take a variety of forms, but they are all more or less the same, and typically start with the same three words: but what about...

but what about people who never hear about Jesus?

but what about people who were raised in a different religion?

but what about people who believe in one God, but call him (her, it) something different, like allah or something?

i understand the questions, i really do. they usually come from people who already love, believe in and follow Jesus. and as they study Jesus, they find him to be loving, non-judgmental and accepting. and aren't we supposed to be like Jesus? and if so, how dare we condemn someone who doesn't believe like we do? especially when they never get the opportunity.

there are a small handful of things i can say in response to this, but for today, i want to let some of those questions hang. i want to invite you instead to read, meditate on, and hang out with an important passage of scripture. read it now, and then think through the questions that follow...

colossians 1.15-20; 2.9

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.

He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.

Everything was created through him and for him.

He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.

He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead.

So he is first in everything.

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

questions:

1. if God is God, and God can't lie, how firmly can you believe in and hold to the truth of these words you just read?

2. if Christ is the ultimate revelation of God, and the new testament clearly claims that salvation is in no one else except Jesus (see Acts 4.11-12), what does that mean for all people?

3. does it make sense to suggest or maintain that one God would reveal himself in ways that absolutely contradict one another? (major tenets of some of the world's best known religions are absolutely contradictory: for example, only christianity teaches that one comes to God only by God's own grace. this is completely contrary to the teachings of all other religions)

4. if God made peace with the world through the death and resurrection of Christ, what would we be suggesting if we said that that is not the only way to be forgiven and united with God?

5. if Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God himself, what kind of weight should we give to the words of Jesus about himself, his work on earth, and his connection to the Father?

6. how familiar are you with the words of Jesus about salvation, forgiveness, and how to have a personal, saving relationship with God the Father? (here, i want to recommend spending the next month reading the book of John)

i'll leave you with these questions this week. feel free to send a comment if this perplexes you, makes you mad, or leaves you wanting more. i promise to respond.

thanks

2008-11-26T15:04:00.006-05:00

to my threshold family,

sometimes i open my bible to the new testament letters of paul and use his prayers to pray for all of you. this week being thanksgiving, the one in ephesians 1 seems especially appropriate.

i hope you can hear my voice as you read it today...

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (ephesians 1.15-23)

i love you all and hope that you have a very blessed thanksgiving, no matter your location, your mood, or your circumstances. peace.

jeff

it's not rocket-science

2008-11-20T09:33:00.008-05:00

before moving on in my blog to things of december, i simply want to use today's post to remind you again of our november emphasis on caring for the least of these...

“then the King will say to those on his right, ‘come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. for i was hungry, and you fed me. i was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. i was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. i was naked, and you gave me clothing. i was sick, and you cared for me. i was in prison, and you visited me.’

“then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? or thirsty and give you something to drink? or a stranger and show you hospitality? or naked and give you clothing? when did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“and the King will say, ‘i tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (matthew 25.34-40)

if you haven't read the past two blogs, i invite you to do so now. if you have, but have forgotten, a re-read is in order. they both apply to this coming sunday, as we focus both on prayer and on caring for the needs of the world's least of these....

on sunday, we will pray. a lot. and we will receive your generous gifts to care for those who are poor or homeless or unsure of what the next day will bring. today, i ask only that you prayerfully consider how you can help. i know things are tight for us all. but for many, they are even tighter.

share your food with the hungry,

and give shelter to the homeless.

give clothes to those who need them,

and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

“then your salvation will come like the dawn,

and your wounds will quickly heal.

your godliness will lead you forward,

and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

then when you call, the Lord will answer.

‘yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

feed the hungry,

and help those in trouble.

then your light will shine out from the darkness,

and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

the Lord will guide you continually,

giving you water when you are dry

and restoring your strength.

you will be like a well-watered garden,

like an ever-flowing spring. (isaiah 58.7-11)

the christian life isn't always easy, but it's not rocket science...

the burden

2008-11-13T08:48:00.008-05:00

mondays are my days off, when i can get 'em. it's funny when you hang out with God for a living - sometimes on my day off i don't invite God along. i sorta figure that 6 days of his constant presence and conversation is enough, and mondays are for eating bad food, reading non-religious stuff, you know, being like everyone else...

this past monday, the calendar was clear, and i was looking forward to a day away from anything ministry-centered. in fact, i needed it. and while God was welcome to tag along, i really wanted him to let me be. let me relax. not interrupt my 1000-page non-religious novel. prayer was gonna be constrained to a "God is great God is good let us thank him for our food amen."

God had other ideas.

after a great thai food lunch - so far, so good - i settled in to read the novel. but i couldn't stay focused. my mind was continually drawn to God's whispers. it was like he was saying, we need to talk. we have a lot to talk about.

and so we did. all afternoon. and all evening.

so much for a day off...

we've been studying malachi together this month. the first verse reads like this:

the oracle of the word of the lord to israel by malachi.

the term oracle in hebrew can also mean burden. in other words, God is asking malachi to take on the burden of presenting God's word to God's people. as one who is responsible for that very thing myself, i know what a burden it can be.

but sometimes it's an even heavier burden to take words in the other direction. going to God on behalf of his people in prayer is also a pretty heavy thing, especially in times like these. again, a good burden, but a burden all the same. that's what i experienced monday.

on a regular basis, i am aware of struggling marriages, rowdy kids, financial pits, unhealthy practices, and dark minds. i am thankful that together, we have created a church -THRESHOLD - where we feel safe enough to share our struggles and our pains. it's important to have others around us who love us, who care about us, and who are willing to get on our knees for one another. that can be a burden.

monday, i felt its weight. but you know, it was a joy. as God and i talked all day and into the evening, we talked about a lot of you. his Spirit did a tremendous job of bringing many of you and your burdens to my mind, and in return i talked to God about them.

it was one of the best days "off" i have had in months.

as this week has continued, i continue to feel the burden to spend more time praying. so i will be doing that. i am convinced that right now, for so many reasons, THRESHOLD needs to be on its knees. here's how you can join me...

1. submit your prayer needs

on our website, there is a prayer request form that you can quickly fill out that will allow your burden, or someone you love, to be shared with people who will help carry it to the Lord. go there. fill it out. our prayer team and elders love to pray, and they want to help you carry the burden.

2. pray

i know you pray. but consider praying more. set aside more time in a more determined way. light a candle. use a designated place. talking to God all day is a good thing, but go to the next level of a more specific set-aside time. pray beyond your normal things. include more people. pray for your church. heck, pray for me. please. get more serious about believing that talking to God makes a difference. i know all of the questions and objections about unanswered prayer, trust me. pray anyway.

3. sunday, november 23

make sure to attend worship on the 23rd. we are going to include a structured, intentional time of prayer, maybe as much as half the service. we've done this a few times before and the response has always been amazing. i'm sure this one will be no exception. we'll lead you in praying for your self and family, our church and community, the economy and our elected officials, the nation and the world. and hey, please bring a friend that day. tell them what we're gonna be doing. if they don't already have a church-based relationship with God, chances are that right now, they could use some hope. you can give them that gift by inviting them into this special time of hope-focused prayer.

4. let me know

yes, i'm busy. yes, there are a lot of people for whom THRESHOLD is home. yes, there are a lot of needs. yes, i pray for many of you every week. and yes, it's a burden. please let me carry them. over 20 years ago, God called me to do this, and he has yet to call me to something different. i want to know how to pray for you. it's okay. it really is.

5. share the answers to your prayers

two of the main reasons God answers prayers is to bring glory to himself and to increase our faith. that happens best when we let others know what he has done. when God speaks to you through answered prayer, tell someone!

thanks as always for being my partner in expanding God's kingdom.

i'll be looking for the bruises on your knees!

dare you to move.

dare you to move::christmas

2008-11-06T09:09:00.009-05:00

well at least they let us get through halloween...barely.

but the wreaths and lights have gone up on the buildings of various shopping places, and that means it's time to turn our attention to spending more money than we have to buy a christmas that we deserve, and then some. right?

not me. i'm fighting back.

and i hope you'll join me.

the economy continues to be a challenge. more people than usual are not only gonna have more meager christmas celebrations, but there will be more hungry and more in the streets than in recent memory.

THRESHOLD collects money for our building fund every year on christmas eve. but the money isn't used to build a nice warm building for us to use for two hours once a week. our building fund is used throughout the year to help people rebuild their lives when the bottom falls out. a mortgage payment. a power bill. a car repair. a counseling session. a grocery gift card. we've been doing this since our first christmas, and i hope we will never stop.

but this year, i want us to do more.

i know, i know... many of you can't. in fact, more of you than in previous years have actually requested some assistance. and that's okay. that's why we do it.

but many of us are still pretty good financially. while our 401k's have lost half their value, most of us aren't retiring anytime soon. beyond that, for many of us, our income hasn't changed. if you are in that boat, let's row harder. caring for our brothers and sisters in Christ when we have the means is a mark of the church:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2.42-47

notice the emphasis on caring for one another, sacrificially even. this is the church that Jesus created.

through the month of november, i invite you to turn your attention with me to the needs of others. as Jesus instructed, we are to serve and sacrificially give in our own church, in our local community, and beyond. So here's what we're doing...

within THRESHOLD - in addition to our christmas eve building fund offering, we will also receive a building fund offering on november 23. last year's offering is gone and we have a handful of pressing needs immediately. look for the specially designated bowl by the cafe on that date.

locally - two options: our G6 homeless ministry will be selling sweatshirts which will be given to the homeless to provide a little extra warmth for them as the cold winter approaches. and any non-perishable food products may be brought in on the 23rd, which will be taken to the Common Cupboard for distribution.

globally - two more options: the first is to adopt a child in costa rica for christmas. a team of 18 people from THRESHOLD are heading to the orosi valley of costa rica on december 6 to conduct a week-long bible school for a bunch of kids. we would like each of them to receive a gift during that time. your donation of $20 can make that happen. and the second thing is the annual operation christmas (OCC) child shoebox drive. buy and fill shoeboxes with members of your cell. challenge your co-workers or fellow students. or just do it as a family. in addition, come spend an evening at the OCC processing center, checking the integrity of the box contents and preparing them for shipping. it's a fascinating and rewarding experience. the dates available for serving are tuesday, december 2 and thursday, december 11. if you would like to reserve some spaces, please email april butcher, april.butcher@yahoo.com.

i'm not a big fan of having christmas thrust at me the day after halloween. it almost seems demonic somehow. but the cool thing is, it gives us a jump start on being the church Jesus created... more time to do what's right as we care for others who need our care.

let's see how many people can benefit from THRESHOLD's DARE YOU TO MOVE CHRISTMAS!

24-hour followers

2008-10-30T10:51:00.014-04:00

24 hours.

one day, 1440 minutes. one full rotation of the earth.

in the course of a year, it's one day out of 365.

heck, if you average only 6 hours sleep a night, not 8, you will sleep 2190 hours in a year.

24 hours.

a fraction of the 8760 hours God gives you annually. just one day in 365 each year.

24 hours is nothing. almost nothing. and yet...

when each of us came to THRESHOLD on our first sunday, there was a chair for us to sit in, coffee or tea for us to enjoy, someone to smile at us and say hello, and a caring person to love on our kids (if we have 'em). those things were gifts. gifts from another person - a 24-hour-follower - who loves God and loves THRESHOLD, and who wanted us to be welcomed and relaxed so that God could speak into our lives. if we are still enjoying and growing in the love of God at THRESHOLD, those people - those 24-hour followers - had a lot to do with it.

are you a 24-hour follower yet?

scripture says: don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. you must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had... (philippians 2.4-5)

24-hour followers understand that as followers of Christ, we must constantly be on the alert to think of others first. and sunday mornings in our own church is the perfect place to practice.

more specifically, 24-hour followers identify one of three areas at THRESHOLD and give 24 hours to it. just 24 hours. just one full day a year in loving and caring service to one another, and to those whom God will be bringing to us. those three areas are:

1. SET -UP/TEAR-DOWN: put up the chairs, the stage, the screens. move some stuff into the kids spaces. drop a few carpet mats over some cords. then take it all down again after worship. sweat a little for Jesus and meet some other people you don't know. just 12 sundays a year. volunteer 2 hours on a sunday morning, once a month (2 hrs X 12 = 24 hrs). (personal note - this is where i serve beyond my leading and teaching. though i do it about 48 sundays a year. every sunday i am in town, i help set up, beginning at 7:30AM. it is definitely one of my very favorite times of the week).

2. CHILDCARE: teach children basic christian virtues and bible stories. it is so easy. and fun! the stuff is all pre-written for you. or just hold babies. c'mon some of you - you know you love babies! some teachers give one sunday a month ( hrs x 12 = 24 hrs), and others give one month per quarter (2 hrs x 4 x 3 = 24 hrs). either way, it's 24 hours. and you will have stored up tons of treasure in heaven as you put little children on the fast-track to the full life in Christ!

3. HOSPITALITY: set up the info table. make coffee (you know how i love you people!). stand at the entryways and smile! say hello. (could there be anything simpler or more enjoyable for the extroverts among us?!) again, you might give one sunday a month, or maybe one month a quarter - either way, do the math. it's only 24 hours.

24 hours - your gift of 24 hours - could mean everything.

so i'm wondering... if THRESHOLD is your church home, if it's the place you count on for spiritual life, for people who will be there for you when you are in need, the church where your kids are learning to know Jesus as savior, the movement of God you believe in...

if you have laughed with, cried with, prayed with, eaten with, been hugged by, prayed for, or loved on - by anyone at THRESHOLD...

would you give 24 hours?

this is not something you need to pray about, trust me. it's something you need to do. right now. send an email to info@thresholdchurch.com. in the email simply put your name and the one area you will give 24 hours to. one of our leaders will contact you.

just think. you might change a life this very sunday.

mission costa rica

2008-10-23T09:24:00.007-04:00

instead of reading my blog today, i would really like you to read the blog about our mission partnership with el jardin sagrado (church) and la gaviota blanca (youth center) in the orosi valley of costa rica. this partnership is the answer to about five years of prayer. in the past year, THRESHOLD has sent two teams there - one to provide a bible school for dozens of children, and one to renovate a youth center.

please spend some time this week getting to know about this partnership, and asking God where you ought to be involved. there is another trip scheduled for early december - commitments are being taken right now.

there is also a fundraising golf tournament on november 11 at firethorne country club. every dollar raised will go toward this mission.

thanks to jeff lewis for serving as our mission costa rica team leader.

thanks to van pennington for organizing the bible school last year and again this december.

thanks to cory wagner for creating the blog that gives so much great info.

and thanks to howard nifong for securing firethorne country club for us for the tourney.

guys, this is ministry at the next level - THD people listening to God and acting when he speaks!

check out these links:

Mission Costa Rica - mission info blog

Rick and Judith Grossman - our missionary friends there

November 11 Fund-raising Golf Tournament - please play and/or provide a sponsorship

i don't know what to say

2008-10-16T10:31:00.009-04:00

i talk to myself. a lot. and not just when i'm alone. if you sneak up on me in most any public place, you will probably hear me talking. grocery store. starbucks. in the car. doesn't matter. being short on words is not something i'm usually accused of. i almost always have something to say. whether it's worth listening to is another issue...

you may or may not be like me, but there are times when probably all of us are caught at a loss for words, when we don't know what to say - and yet these are the very times when we ought to be most prepared to say something.

when are they?

well, hear it from peter, original follower of Jesus:

"if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it." (1 peter 3.15)

i've been thinking a lot lately about our DARE YOU TO MOVE focus - about how to most effectively and yet naturally invite others into a more vibrant relationship with Christ within the context of the church that we have all come to know and love. how do we get people to discover what we have discovered? how do we encourage and excite people to spend a few sundays with us so that they can see that not all churches are stuffy, legalistic or boring? how do we invite people to church on sunday? what do we say?

there are all kinds of ways to do this. marketing. ads. cool series. your kid is playing in the band...

and i'm cool with all of them. when the ultimate goal is seeing people eternally saved from their sins, as well as seeing them know meaning in this life, i believe in getting them connected to God in nearly any way imaginable. but i also firmly believe that one way far exceeds the others...

YOU.

your STORY.

your EXPERIENCE of the real presence and power of God in your own life.

what is your story? what is your experience? if you had to write a one-page paper describing the reality of God in your life, could you do it? what would it say? and how animated would you be if you read it to someone out loud?

here's the deal. i want to encourage and challenge you to invite people to THRESHOLD. but what is ultimately more important is that you act as a conduit between God and the person you are connecting with; that you understand that you are being used by God to bring about a real, positive, and eternal change in the life of another person. it's not about putting more butts in our seats. it's about saving more souls for eternity, and about helping more people in this world experience the reality of God in their lives.

so it starts with the reality of God in yours.

before you talk to another person about THRESHOLD, see if you can answer these questions about your own life:

1. am i saved? that is, have i turned over my life - both in this world and the next - to Jesus Christ? how and when did i do that? what was my experience like? (if the answer to this question is 'no,' i would strongly suggest that you deal with it before worrying about seeing anyone else come to THRESHOLD).

2. what real difference does God make in my life? what might i be like if i didn't know God? what can i truly thank him for? what stories do i have to tell?

3. do i believe that salvation from sin is necessary, and that one only finds it in Jesus Christ? can this belief drive me to be more concerned about others, to the point that i am willing to risk ridicule in telling my story if it will see someone else come to Christ?

4. can i write that one-page paper describing the reality and necessity of having God in my life and of believing that Jesus died for my sins? would it be exciting and compelling enough to move someone to change?

these are questions that matter. they are questions that every one of us should focus on. our answers to these questions are what can and will bring about the salvation of souls and the betterment of the lives of real people and of our communities.

DARE YOU TO MOVE - the challenge before us is to see 600 people worshiping at THRESHOLD each sunday by Easter 2009. in six months, our God-sized dream is to double. but i can't say this strongly enough: this is not about competing with other churches. it's not about making a name for ourselves. it's not about money!

it's about getting serious about being the church that Jesus has in mind. it's about seeing unsaved people become saved people. it's about seeing spiritually dead people come to life. it's about seeing aimless people find a purpose for living. it's about helping hopeless people find hope. it's about caring for people, because people matter to God.

the goal of doubling simply reminds us that we are all in this together. each of us is called in our salvation to be about reaching others. no one is exempt. we are all sent.

so you meet someone new. you learn that they don't go to church or they are not experiencing life in Christ. you want to see that happen. you are having a conversation. the time seems right.

what are you gonna say?

when the going get's tough...

2008-10-09T08:46:00.017-04:00

when the going gets tough...

the tough get going!

who's with me?? let's go!

- brother bluto, animal house

their charter had been revoked.

they had been kicked off campus.

evil dean wormer had sentenced the delta tau chi fraternity to non-existence.

but then, a young, energetic, believing leader - the charismatic brother bluto - stood among his depressed fraternity brothers...

and dared them to move.

for some reason, this scene in the movie animal house reminds me of another scene from nearly 500 years ago (AD 1521), a more historic scene in which martin luther, the great german monk/protestant reformer, stood before an ecclesiastical (churchy) court, and was told to retract the statements he had made against the roman catholic church of his day. threatened with having his charter revoked as a monk and being kicked off the campus of the church - and maybe even the globe (read: killed), he uttered some equally famous words to those of brother bluto: here i stand. i can do no other. so help me God. in other words, i dare you to move me.

both bluto and luther understood something vital in their day: that they were part of something much greater than themselves. they were part of a movement, not just some mere institution. you might take away their fraternity charter, or their standing as a monk. you might strip away the bar from their frat house or the monk's robes from their backs. you might even threaten them with their very lives. but they believed in their cause. and they were willing to go to any length, to challenge any foe, to see the cause and the work of their movement continue. they were willing at any cost to continue to move... and to continue their movement.

you and i are also a part of something much greater than ourselves. as followers of Jesus Christ, we are part of a movement. and currently our movement is being threatened. our movement is a movement of sacrifice and selflessness. a movement of thinking of others before ourselves. a movement of caring and of changing lives. a movement of doing whatever it takes to see people lovingly brought into a saving relationship with Jesus AND of seeing non-healthy people, families, and relationships made more healthy and whole.

the current financial crisis that is impacting our country is impacting us. it threatens us as a movement. it threatens us because it tempts us to forget about others and look out only for ourselves. it threatens us because it can cause us to worry about things instead of lifting them up to God in prayer. this crisis is very real. it does impact many of us financially - there's no sugar-coating it. but it also gives us an enormous opportunity to remind ourselves how Christ-followers over two millenia have confronted crises and survived. thrived. continued to make an impact.

the black plague.

ethnic cleansing.

financial and empirical collapses.

bondage and slavery.

threats of death.

Jesus never promised that following him would be easy. but he did show us that following him would impact people and change lives. and for 2000 years, people have done so - in the face of crises far more dire than the one you and i face right now. in the face of an oppressive roman occupation and a legalistic and warped religious system, Jesus came to ordinary, everyday people and dared them to move. if you have received Christ as savior and if you follow him today, you can thank those followers who took up that dare... and every one who has done so since.

now it's our turn. it's a pivotal time in our country's history. people are uncertain and scared. i believe our community needs our movement - THRESHOLD - now more than ever. your neighbors, co-workers and fellow students need you. they need to experience the caring and love of Jesus in and through you. they need some reassurance that God does love them and that he will be there for them in the midst of whatever is coming.

this is no time to get selfish. it's not a time to sit around with our head in our hands and say woe is me. it's a time for action.

INVEST and INVITE: be smart with your money. curb your excess spending. and continue to give what is right in order that together, our movement can move forward as a force for good in our community and around the world. invite those you know who do not have a living relationship with Christ in the context of a local church. show them and tell them how this relationship is real in your life. how you have grown. how you now have faith that is pulling you through these uncertain days. and please understand this: you are not inviting them to fill a seat in church. you are inviting them to experience the life-altering power of God in their lives! there is a big difference.

this crisis is a very real threat. a threat to each family. and a threat both to THRESHOLD and to the wider church.

but i am not worried. this is not the first time God's church has been faced with a crisis. it won't be the last. and God himself will be in the very midst of it, calling us forward, daring us to move.

when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

who's with me?

what a week!

2008-10-01T21:29:00.004-04:00

150 volunteers, give or take...

375 bags of food collected...

over TWO TONS OF FOOD!

that's what we did together over the past two weeks with our Dare You to Move food collection outreach. way to go! you rock!

with that success still warming our hearts - and the tummies of the hungry - we now turn our attention to october. our new series is called: Unlocking the House of Blues. and it couldn't come at a better time. gas is still scarce, and congress is still trying how to figure out to maintain our financial stability. it's enough to make anybody blue.

when stuff hits the fan and life gets hard, how are we supposed to understand what God is up to? how are we supposed to deal with the anger or the disappointment or the confusion? on sundays this month, we'll be looking for the answers to those questions, while enjoying some great blues music at the same time.

invite somebody. this may well be one of the easiest times you will ever have to invite someone to consider their understanding of God and/or their relationship with him. while many people we know are not currently connected to a church home, chances are most of them still have some level of faith. let's take advantage of it during these uncertain times and invite people to find comfort and security in the only place it is ever certain - in the hands of God.

hey, thanks for all you do to bring the real presence of Jesus Christ into the lives of people in our community - the poor as well as the privileged. the hungry as well as the haughty. the down and out and the up and out. you won't lay eyes on a single person today who doesn't need to experience the full life that Jesus promised. as you invite them to do so, know that i'm praying for you. i look forward to meeting those you bring.

dare you to move.

feeling special

2008-09-24T14:49:00.010-04:00

in october of 2005, michelle and i spent a week in california to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. it was one of the greatest weeks of my life! we spent three days touring san francisco, then rented a convertible for four more days in wine country. the weather was perfect and the vineyard valleys were spectacular!

on the 5th evening of our 7-night trip, we were in glen ellen, a tiny village in the sonoma valley. we had eaten out every night, and while the food was excellent, we decided on this evening to grab some food from the hot bar/salad bar at a little grocery store within walking distance of the inn where we were staying.

while perusing the rather generous fare on the bar, michelle noticed one lone woman doing the same. she appeared to be in her late 60's perhaps, and clearly a local. so we asked her what she thought of the food, did she get her dinner here often.

"oh yes," she said, "two or three nights a week." she volunteered at the library in santa rosa, about 30 minutes from her home. we were sold, and piled our boxes high.

then michelle asked, "so, what is there to do around here?"

(you can see this coming a mile away, can't you?)

"well," said our new friend, "do you like wine?" (i almost laughed out loud, at both the question and the answer!)

"of course," we replied. "what wineries do you recommend we see?"

"well, i would recommend kunde, "she said.

(that was cool, because i had just had a glass of kunde cabernet a few days earlier, for the first time, and loved it!)

"and when you get there," our friend said, "have them call for me. i'll give you a personal tour." and as she said this, she handed us her card. her business card.

Kunde Wineries

Jane Kunde

President

whoa! how cool was this!

the next day, jane gave us a private personal tour, including places that normal tour guests don't get to see, like the barrel aging cave where hollywood celebrities have had their wedding receptions. not to mention free wine glasses - nice ones - with the winery logo etched into them. and some really nice discounts on a few bottles of their best stuff. it was the highlight event of a highlight vacation. i loved being treated so special.

i sometimes wonder... do people who visit threshold feel as special as i did? do we all understand how we, like jane, have that capacity? it seems almost too simple, but with just a little thought and attention, we can make a visit to threshold quite a special experience. in fact, some experts say that people decide whether or not to return to a church a second time with in the first ten minutes - often based on how they are welcomed.

so here's the deal. as you know, i am considering october 5 a second grand opening for threshold. we have reached out into a number of villages in our community to let them know we are expecting them. we have designed a fun, yet relevant series for the upcoming month. we are stoked about growing the kingdom of God in this place. are we ready?

being ready means treating every guest as special. it means going out of our way to speak to them, show them around, answer their questions. any of us can - and hopefully will - do this. but in addition, we are looking for a cadre of hosts. people whose very lifeblood oozes with the desire to see people lovingly welcomed to our very special place. we are hoping for 8 or more volunteers for each of the four sundays each month. their role, while not any more or less important than any other sunday morning role, is vital.

so... two things:

1. if you love to meet people, welcome people, and make people feel special and at home, you should do this! if people have commented in the past on your amazing gift of hospitality, you should do this! if you love to fix up your home and invite people over, you should do this!

2. don't huddle. even if hospitality isn't your gift, you can shut down hospitality if you huddle only with the same few people each week. i know that part of what you love about threshold is seeing your close friends on sunday. that's cool. just keep in mind that newcomers are watching you to see if you are watching out for them.

kunde wine is one of my favorites. it's not the best wine on the market, nor the cheapest. it's good, yes, but i buy it primarily because the representative of that wine made me feel special.

this sunday, someone will come to threshold for the very first time.

whether or not they come back may depend on you.

and remember, you represent Christ.

will you make them feel special?

hanging out in bars

2008-09-18T09:52:00.023-04:00

i had lunch in a bar yesterday. at the counter. alone.

sat right there on the stool and talked to the bartender over a bowl of wings.

irreverent? sad? grounds for dismissal? not so fast...

if you were in worship a few weeks ago, you may remember my challenge to not spend all of your time with other christians. to be around some people who don't know Jesus. and of course, for many of you, all you need to do is go to work. but i work with church staff - you know, religious people!

so what's a guy to do? or at least a guy who is also a pastor? well, i figured doing what Jesus did would be a good place to start. so what did Jesus do?

he hung out in bars. or at least the first century equivalent.

don't believe me? take a look at mark 2.15:

"later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners (there were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers)."

okay, so it wasn't technically a bar. actually it was probably worse. bars have rules and management. levi's (later called matthew) house was his own house and these were his buds. things could easily have gotten way more out of hand.

now, people who visit bars aren't all heathens, and you can certainly find heathens in lots of other places. but as local places go, if i want to begin to connect with people in our community who don't have a vibrant relationship with Jesus in the context of a local church, i figured a bar is as good a place as any. and this one is right across the street.

John's Place is owned by John (who knew?!), whose last name i haven't gotten yet. he's a great guy, and his staff are welcoming and gracious. John seems glad to have us in the neighborhood - especially now that he knows that i mentioned hanging out there in one of my recent talks. everyone i have met there is a real person with a real life, and i have enjoyed asking them about those lives. and listening. my hope is that if they don't know how much God loves them, they will soon. so i'm hanging out there.

where are you hanging out? are all of your friends churched? are they all christians? i hope not. Jesus told the religious people who complained that he was hanging out in a bar that, “healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

and he also told those who would follow him that they should follow his lead.

here's the deal. threshold exists because within our community there are hurting people. people down on their luck. people with problems at home. people in debt. people who feel like they haven't got a friend and haven't got a prayer. and a lot of those people, when life seems to be dragging them under, hang out in bars. and if they are ever gonna feel some hope, if they are ever gonna feel like God cares about them at all, if they are ever gonna have someone listen to them who really cares, we need to be there.

so pick your spot. and if you wanna tell us about it, then do. we'll hang out with you.

if you wanna hang out and be Jesus to others with me, well, i'll be at John's.

ASK

2008-09-11T08:51:00.008-04:00

one of my favorite comedians of all time is steven wright. i love his plain-faced persona as he asks some really good questions. questions that make you go, "hmmmm....."

After eating, do amphibians have to wait one hour before getting out of the water?

Why do hot dogs come ten to a package and hot dog buns only eight?

If cats and dog didn't have fur would we still pet them?

(for a whole page of these, see http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy/stupid.html)

questions deserve answers, especially important questions. but way too often, questions never get asked. some people are afraid to ask questions because they're afraid they'll look dumb. others feel like they aren't even sure what questions to ask. others prefer just to remain uninformed.

when i first dreamed of threshold (sunday is the 6th anniversary of our first worship), i dreamed of a safe place to ask hard questions. i vowed that i would not shy away from questions that are hard to answer or hard to hear the answers to. when it comes to the full life that God intends for us in Jesus Christ, answers are vital. and answers come from asking.

for any of you who have questions- basic questions of the christian faith or harder ones beginning with the word 'why,' ASK is for you. ASK is a new 7-session gathering for any of us who wants to ask some questions about God, Jesus, the bible, the church, pain & suffering, how to live, you name it. we'll gather on thursday evenings at 7 for an hour and a half, maybe 2 hours (place TBD). it'll be a time of being real with God and each other. it'll be a time to get to know others who also ask questions. and it'll be fun.

the first session (please don't use the word 'class') of ASK will be october 9, running til november 20.

if you are interested, how about hitting me with an email now so i can begin to get an idea of how many we need to find room for. and hey, if you're willing to host in your home, that would be awesome. lemme know.

jeff.gardner@thresholdchurch.com

oh, and hey, i think this goes without saying too, but just in case... what a great thing to invite a friend to. let them know it will be real and raw. we'll wrestle together. we won't be beating people with bibles. and if they are afraid to ask openly, tell them you'll ask their questions for them. or send it to me in advance.

looking forward to it.

DARE YOU TO MOVE

going shopping

2008-09-04T10:57:00.009-04:00

after worship on september 21, i'm getting together with my cellmates (couples in my small group) and heading over to a local neighborhood. together we're gonna distribute grocery bags - one on every porch or door handle in the neighborhood. stapled to those grocery bags will be a note and an invitation to the homeowners:

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one. " - Mother Teresa
Within a few miles of our front doors there are people who don't have enough food to eat.
And that's not okay. Please, join Threshold in caring for people who are struggling with the basics of life, and fill this bag with non-perishable food. We'll come back by on September 28, between 12-3, and pick up the filled bags. And thank you!
Threshold is a group of everyday people who love and serve God and our neighbors. We are here to help build strong marriages, healthy families, and kids with values. We believe that together, we can make a difference in this world.
Threshold meets on Sunday mornings at 10:00, at the Siskey YMCA.
We invite you to come.

we're not gonna knock or ring doorbells. we're not gonna witness to anybody (unless they ask). we're just gonna serve in a visible, tangible way.

if you are a follower of Jesus, if Threshold is your spiritual home, and if you are gonna be in town on september 21, i'm expecting you to join in. we're going shopping. shopping for food for those who can't afford food on their own. and shopping for souls. commissioned by Christ in the gospels, we are going shopping to save people from the ravages of sin in their everyday lives, and from the ultimate eternal outcome for those who don't call Jesus their lord and savior. it's why we exist as a church. it's why we ARE a church. so if you are part of this church, i will be expecting to see you.

neighborhood captains are being recruited this week, and sign-up posters will be in the entry hall this sunday and the following sunday. please get your cellmates or friends together and sign up to go shopping in the neighborhood of your choice. if you live in one of the targeted neighborhoods, why not sign up for that one?

after we shop, our cell is gonna grab lunch together somewhere nearby. maybe we can all crash the same place and bring them the joy of our celebration.

then, on september 28, we're going back to those exact same neighborhoods - this time to pick up those bags full of food. same rules apply. after worship we head out. after the collection, we grab lunch and party! and again, if you're in town, then i'm looking for you.

have panthers tickets? sell 'em.

love to watch the panthers on TV at 1:00? so do i. set the DVR. this is more important.

A LOT more important.

DARE YOU TO MOVE.

watching God work

2008-08-28T10:01:00.008-04:00

i am so excited!

yesterday i had lunch at one of my favorite local spots. this place decorates their walls with the art of local artists, which is for sale for those who are interested. i noticed yesterday that the walls have gotten a bit bare. they need some more new art. so i asked one of the staff, who i've gotten to know by eating there regularly, what the rules were for selling art. i've got a new friend whose husband is a local painter looking for a way to sell his stuff.

she said there were no rules. if the stuff is tasteful, bring it in.

so i headed to another spot i frequent, where the new friend works whose husband is the artist. i told her that i had found a place where her husband could display his work for sale. this couple is from europe. they know virtually no one. he is a struggling artist and she works 80 hours a week at two jobs to make ends meet.

still with me?

this woman doesn't drive, so i offered to pick up the artwork, take it to the restaurant and make sure it gets hung in a favorable way. she seemed almost in disbelief - that finally she can get her hubby's work in front of the public, that maybe it will generate some income, that a guy she barely knows would go to the trouble to help.

two people. two conversations. virtually no effort.

and here's the kicker - i've been praying for these two people!

i sat down a couple weeks ago and thought about people whose paths i cross regularly. i asked God to reveal to me who i should pray for, who i might invite into the full life in Christ that we all know at threshold. these two made the list.

how cool is this!? i love watching God work!

what about you? who's on your list? who are you praying for?

i've asked this question of our elders and our staff just this week, and written down the names they've given me. i want you to know that they are in the game too.

now it's your turn. who are you praying for?

who do you know - or who are you getting to know - who (as best as you can discern) is not experiencing the full life Jesus promised by knowing the love of God in and through the community of a local church.. yet?

or as luke posed the question a couple weeks ago: whose salvation are you getting in the way of?

who are you asking God to save from sin, and bring into his kingdom?

who are you asking God to give the fullness of life in Jesus?

who are you inviting into the fun and excitement and authenticity of the threshold family?

do you have some people in mind? if not, you're behind. Dare You To Move wasn't just a three-week series. it's our full focus as a church. and it's gotta be the top priority of every one of us who claims to be committed to threshold. that's the only way we are going to double the number of people who are enjoying a full Christ-centered life within our family.

if you have identified one or more people, how are you positioning yourself in a way that will allow you to make a comment that witnesses to your faith? how are you getting to know this person in a way that will reveal to them that you are worth trusting, worth listening to. remember that we all need to earn the right to make spiritual comments to people in hopes of seeing life-change within them. and we earn that right, that trust, by offering ourselves up, by listening, by caring, by doing little things for others.

in the next few weeks, we will be offering you some specific opportunities to do just that as a full church family. but day in and day out, as you go about your everyday lives, let me continue to encourage you to get out there. to take risks. to care. to invite.

and at the risk of getting really monotonous - i'm still waiting on some of you to send me the first names of those people. let me pray with you. c'mon!

you're gonna be amazed at what God will do.

just waiting

2008-08-21T09:12:00.008-04:00

i believe in God but i wanna learn more. when i'm out places sometimes, i hear people talking about that stuff and i have no idea what they're talking about. it's kind of embarrassing.

these were the words of a friend of mine to me over dinner last night. he wasn't raised in a church and at least right now, doesn't have a real connection to God or a church. but - and here's the thing - he isn't an atheist. he isn't hostile to the church. he's just waiting for someone to clue him in a little more.

hey, i think i know what that feels like. a couple weeks ago i had a cigar with a couple guys and eventually the conversation turned to stocks and investments and trading and stuff. well dang - i was clueless. glad it was a really good cigar. i don't do well in a conversation when i've got nothing to say. i really wanted to be more up on what they were talking about but i have just never learned that stuff. and i didn't want to slow down the conversation by asking. or show my ignorance. so a chance to learn something, and maybe even to better my financial understanding, was lost.

i've known about God and Jesus and the bible for so long, i really have no idea what it's like, though, to not know those things. but my friend last night does. and because i follow Jesus, i have to understand that it is my responsibility to help him learn. not because i'm a pastor. because i'm a friend. because God has called me - and you - to be his witnesses. because this is a matter of life and death.

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? - romans 10.14

so... one of today's missions is to gather some resources for him. he says he doesn't read much, so that's a challenge, since i love to read and (you know me) i'm always at the ready with a booklist. the thing i really need to do though is to carve out some time for him. time for him to ask any questions he can think of, and then for me to raise the ones he doesn't even know to think of. i need to let him know that this stuff matters, and that i am willing to make a time commitment to him until he is able and excited to say: Jesus Christ is my lord and savior.

you know someone like this, too. they don't know the things you know, so they may stay quiet or turn the conversation in another direction. not because they're atheist. not because they're hostile toward church. maybe they just have no clue how to discuss these things. and maybe, just maybe, God has you standing right there right then so that you can have the amazing joy of teaching them.

and while i know you're busy, these are the things that matter, the things that need to take priority.

and remember, my offer still stands: send me the name of a person you know like this, and i will pray for you both every day until you have some exciting news to share about it.

who do you know who is just waiting...?

dare you to move.

the red key

2008-08-12T10:27:00.008-04:00

if your church is full of members, you get an occasional missionary.

if your church is full of missionaries, the rest is geography.

- erwin mcmanus

what a great quote! and what a great reminder that each of us is called, in and by Jesus, to reach out to those who are not experiencing the fullness of life that Jesus brings. we are missionaries - every one of us. it's simply up to you to ask God where your mission 'field' is.

sunday we wrapped up the three-week series called Dare You To Move, but i want to remind you that the challenge remains before us:

to double in size by Easter Sunday 2009

the red key you received sunday is a token and a reminder. but it represents a very real person. a person for whom Jesus died. a person for whom God has unlimited love. a person who has so much waiting for him or her and just doesn't know it yet... and YOU get to tell them! how cool is that!?!

sunday, i went quickly through four verses from the book of romans in the new testament, which simply explains the plan God has for people to know him and to receive salvation from sin and eternal death. here it is again:

1. romans 1.20 - for ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. so they have no excuse for not knowing God.

2. romans 3.23 - for everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

3. romans 6.23 - for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. romans 10.9-10 - if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. for it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

if you haven't read last week's blog post, please do. and please do not hesitate to send me the names of people you are praying for. my commitment remains to pray every day from now til easter for every name you send me. and for you.

now go unlock someone's eternity!

risky business

2008-08-07T09:00:00.006-04:00

it was early november, 6 days before the big homecoming game. michelle was a freshman, i was a junior. i had been threatening to ask her out since i first learned she was coming to carolina the previous may. and since august, i had been dropping by her room to make sure she and her roommate - both of them had graduated from my high school - were settling in to college life OK. kinda like a big brother.

(yeah, right. so when you gonna ask her?)

anyway, it was a monday, right after lunch. i ran into her outside the library (my favorite place to socialize). we talked a little, and eventually i said,

"so, you going to the game saturday?"

"probably."

"yeah? who you going with?"

"just some girls from the dorm, i guess."

"oh, ok. cool. i gotta find a date. it's homecoming."

"uh huh..."

end of conversation. i walked away. once again afraid to pull the trigger.

michelle went back to her room and vented to her roommate.

loudly.

"do you know what that jeff gardner just did!?!?"

the deal is, she actually wanted to go out with me. but i didn't know. i wasn't sure. i was afraid of being rejected. i don't do 'no' very well.

so i didn't ask.

i actually called her later that afternoon, and she agreed to go to the game with me. but many, many years later, i think she still wonders what i was waiting for.

it also took me three dates before our first kiss, and even then, she kissed me first. why? i didn't want to mess up the relationship i was working on. in the meantime, she just got tired of waiting.

risk.

sometimes we just avoid it like the plague. like when it comes to letting people know we love and follow Jesus. or when it comes to talking about the hope we have within us or why we serve. or when it comes to just inviting someone to church.

"what if they say no?"

"what if they reject me?"

"what if it messes up the friendship?"

let me tell you something. i don't know who you know or who your friends are or who you wish knew Christ. but i know this: you know someone who would say yes. you know someone - who is it? - who would listen to your story. someone who actually wonders about your faith and what they see in you that is different. you know someone who would have a conversation. someone who would say yes if you invited them to come to church with you.

i know. they might say no. they might reject your invitation or conversation. and yes, it could actually mess up the friendship.

but then again, it might not. maybe it will make them eternally grateful to you for saving their eternal soul. maybe they will be thrilled that your risk provided them a place to strengthen their children, their marriage, their self-esteem. maybe you will be the one to introduce them to their savior. maybe someone you know is actually tired of waiting, wondering if you will ever ask.

willing to take that risk?

i'm glad i finally took the risk on that november afternoon. a few years later, it allowed me to stand in a church as my beautiful bride walked down the aisle to stand by my side. and that risk has led to the overwhelming joy of two children - the next generation of Jesus-followers.

you know what? your risk could add to the bride of Christ. the Bible describes all believers as one, as the beautiful bride of Jesus the groom. your risk could lead to future generations of Christ-followers, simply because you asked. because you took a risk.

so... are you up for it? if you are, i wanna be in on it, okay? so here's my commitment to anyone and everyone reading this. if you have someone in mind and are ready to pull the trigger, send me an email and i will pray for you and for the person or family you have in mind. send me specific names - first names only are fine - and i will pray every day for both of you.

and to be honest, committing to pray like that every day is a risk on my part.

but it's one i'm willing to take.

i have a pretty good feeling it'll be worth it.

jeff.gardner@thresholdchurch.com

dare you to move

2008-07-31T12:05:00.006-04:00

i'm in the mountains this week, with my 4 best friends from college and their families. we first spent a weekend together here in january 1982. 26 years later, we are all married, with an additional 15 children in tow, from age 5 to 21.

yesterday, the dads took on the five oldest boys in basketball - 2 hours of gutting it out in the heat. the five of us have played together for so many years - we know each others moves, strengths and weaknesses, where each will be at any given time. but yesterday, that didn't matter...

because we're old. okay oldER, but older sometimes feels very old when five boys age 18-21 are running full-court like derby champions. but it got worse...

somewhere mid-game of the first go-round (we played, and lost, 2 close games), i twisted wrong and felt a stabbing pain in my lower back. next thing i knew i was on the floor, wondering if i would be able to continue... wondering if i could even walk, actually...

Dare You To Move - the words of our now-to-easter challenge of doubling the size of threshold took on new significance as i lay there. i didn't want to get up. i knew it wasn't impossible, but i knew it wouldn't be comfortable. but i also knew how long i had anticipated this day. from the days of the births of will, ben, jake, john, and graham, i knew the day would come when our boys would finally overpower us on the court, the day that they would show us once and for all that they were men now. and i had a pretty good feeling that this was that day. so, hurt though it did, i got up. and i ran - sorta - up and down that court for another hour - God knows how - because i was not gonna miss this. no way. no how.

Dare You to Move

when God planted threshold, he did so with joy and anticipation, and with a vision - a vision to reach the entire surrounding community with the joy and fullness of a life in Christ, in ways that are authentic and real, that bring healing and wholeness to all the definitions of life. for a few years we ran up and down with energy, inviting and drawing in our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors, people we meet at starbucks. but in the past few years, it's as if our back has given out, in a way. we have reached the plateau that nearly every church reaches and that most never move beyond: 200 in the worship space on sunday.

it's been a great six years. people have come to know Christ. marriages have been strengthened, kids have been baptized and nurtured, the hungry have been fed... but as i see it, we're not even halfway through the first game. i know, growing a church can be painful - that's why this 200-barrier is so rarely unsurpassed. but i didn't sign up for a game, only to throw in the towel when a little pain stabs me in the back. i signed up for the whole deal, and we aren't there yet. there's still a lot of game to be played. plateaus in the life of a church come. but i'm not stopping here. no way. no how.

last sunday i spoke of the challenge to be replicating followers of Jesus. this sunday we'll talk about the risks involved. the week after that, we'll discuss our individual responsibilities - after all, it will take every one of us playing.

i am more excited about the movement of God at threshold than i have been since the fall of 2002 when we first opened the doors. the potential to make disciples and see people loved into an exciting life in Jesus Christ is electric. i cannot wait for next easter!

lastly: after worship, i met a man who introduced himself to me and told me that God had spoken to him during the service. he said that God told him to affirm my call to us to be obedient (in our plan for growth). and he also said this: buy more chairs.

i did not get his name. i don't know if he was with one of you or not. but i sense in my Spirit that God did in fact speak through him. i hope you do too.

sacred pathways

2008-07-24T09:10:00.008-04:00

my daughter ashley is away this week studying theater at uncc. on tuesday night (wednesday morning) at 1:00 AM, my phone woke me up with a text message she had sent:

just had an EXTREME God moment. had to tell you. explain tomorrow. love you! night.

she called last night to tell me about it. during the hour before sending it, she had been lying on her bunk, ready to sleep, when some thoughts about the past began to invade her mind, making her uneasy. she jumped off her bunk, grabbed her ipod, and dialed up some worship music that had been very special to her a few years back that she hadn't listened to much since then. as the words and the music replaced the negative thoughts in her head, she tearfully welcomed the peaceful presence of God which was overwhelming her.

as i reflect on her story this morning, several thoughts come to mind:

1. i love my daughter! and i love that i can have a conversation with her on such an important spiritual level. young parents: please talk openly about the Lord daily in your home. when moments like this come along later, you'll find there is nothing like it!

2. i love how God shows up like this. ashley and i discussed what God might have been up to in this moment, but finding the right answer wasn't the goal. giving thanks to Him that he DID show up was the important thing.

3. philippians 4.6-7 says: don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. his peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

true that.

4. from time to time, ashley tells me that she wishes she felt God's presence in a greater way. i know the feeling - she and i were poured from the exact same mold (part of that i celebrate, and part leads me to pray so hard for her, bless her heart...). anyway, this morning i remembered a resource on my bookshelf. it's called Sacred Pathways, by gary thomas. it's a great resource which helps you discover how you best and most fully experience God. i recommend the book.

in the process of googling, i came across the short 45-question quiz that points you in the right direction. here's the link:

sacred pathways quiz

i'd love it if you would take it after reading the rest of this post. knowing ourselves is so important in so many ways. knowing how we best enjoy the presence of God should top the list of what we know about ourselves. there are 9 categories. you might pay most attention to the top 2 or 3. here are mine:

1. naturalist: you draw near to God through nature (being in the great outdoors)

2. intellectual: you draw near to God through your mind (study and knowledge about God)

3. sensate: you draw near to God through your senses (music, art, aroma, etc.)

and here's a webpage with a little fuller description of each type:

sacred pathways types

so... how do you draw near to God? or maybe better asked: do you know how God has wired you to best feel Him drawing near to you?

take the quiz.

me? i'm going whitewater rafting today!

soup for the soul

2008-07-17T13:09:00.008-04:00

in about 10 days, i'll be hanging out with my four best buds from college. as with most guys my age, one of the more frequent topics of conversation is health and weight. during my junior year at carolina, i roomed with two of these guys, and we were nearly identical in size, which was convenient when i forgot to do laundry.

twenty-five years later, there are still some real similarities in our build and our bellies. given that we are all still highly competitive, recent weeks have had me restricting my caloric intake with fervor, hoping not to be the heaviest of the bunch.

i know it's about health, not image, but hey, call me a little vain.

five weeks ago, tol - one of the 4 - and i were together over lunch. he took the opportunity to ask me what i weighed, and we discovered that we were within a pound or two of each other.

game on!

the very next morning at starbucks, i overheard a guy telling a friend about losing 40 pounds. God is good! i was about to discover the way to beat tol in the weight loss competition before our next get-together!

the guy told me that first of all, it involved a bet. so far, so good. tol and i had made one the day before.

next, he said, he did a lot of cardio. so tell me something i don't know. i hate cardio. fortunately, so does tol. so what else?

finally, during the week before the deadline, he purged. he went on the sacred heart diet (formerly known as the cabbage soup diet, among others). it's nothing more than taking the chance to get rid of a bunch of built-up toxins in your system, and gradually replace them with better stuff, healthier stuff. in the process, one also gets leaner.

so... the bet is on. caloric intake has been reduced. i'm trying cigars instead of cardio, which has had surprisingly positive affects. and next week: purge-time! anybody up for a little soup?

the past two months of sundays at threshold have been a theological version of this process. our series has been called GOD, and my hope has been that you have purged your heart, soul and mind of some of the toxins that have perhaps built up inside over the years. we all have a habit of creating God in our image, even though his word clearly tells us that it's the other way around. so every once in a while, it's good to simply revisit the truth about the nature and character of God. i hope that these talks have either confirmed things you already believed or challenged some that need to go. and either way, i hope that you are more fully aware than ever that God's chief passion and pleasure is his own glory, and that he is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him.

i used three primary sources for the series, and i want to strongly recommend you read at least one of them in the coming months. the first two would make a fantastic resource for cells to discuss. the third is for the academics among you.

1. the pleasures of God, by john piper

2. knowing God, by j.i. packer

3. systematic theology, by wayne grudem

ultimately, it's not about what anyone else thinks about you, it's about your health - whether physical or spiritual. my passion for you is your spiritual health. i hope the purging and refilling i've tried to share has you leaner, less encumbered by the things that keep you from enjoying the best life you can live as a child of God.

and heck, if someone else notices, nothing wrong with that!

birdfood for thought

2008-07-10T15:29:00.008-04:00

i'm back from my annual week at the beach. our accommodations were alongside a marsh which stretched from the house to the edisto river. what an amazing view. especially at sunset. each evening, when the tide was high, the channels into the marsh would fill up and overflow, bringing water to within yards of the house.

it was my favorite time of day.

i especially loved watching the seagulls. not the ones that you find roaming the parking lots of suburban shopping centers - how the heck did they ever wind up here, anyway?! no these were the black-headed variety. during the early evening, they would fly back and forth over the rising marsh waters, looking for food. day by day i watched their flights expectantly, waiting for a swoop or a dive that would result in one of them rising skyward with a fine catch of fish in its talons. or maybe a crab or some other small sea creature. but it never happened. not once did i ever see a single gull emerge from the water with something to eat. in fact, i never saw one even touch the water. heck, maybe they weren't looking for food. maybe it was just aeronautical calisthenics. who knows. but i'm betting they were grocery shopping.

now, i didn't watch for hours on end, and i didn't worry about them. i wondered, yes.

but i also remembered something...

look at the birds. they don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them.

Jesus said that, in matthew 6.26. it was part of a larger lesson:

“that is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? look at the birds. they don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. and aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? can all your worries add a single moment to your life? (matthew 6.25-27, NLT)

not a new lesson, i know, but definitely one to be reminded of. especially now, with the economic conditions and all that. but more than a statement about the economy, it's a statement about God. rather than launch into anything deeper, i'll leave it with you.

give it some thought.

come away with me

2008-06-26T08:21:00.015-04:00

come away with me and we'll kiss
on a mountaintop
come away with me
and I'll never stop loving you

three years ago, michelle and i celebrated our 20th anniversary with a trip to wine country in california. it was absolutely the best week i have ever spent with her. it was magical. the sights were terrific. the food was tremendous. the wine... well, it was napa, you know? c'mon! but beyond all that, it was us. just us. a whole week to focus just on her. over the years, we have taken weekends off together, even long weekends. when you're raising kids, it's tough to get away for a whole week. but the kids were old enough to have a house-sitter, and with cell phones, michelle could check in with them anytime her paranoid mother-radar kicked in. so for a week, it was us. just us. it was like returning to the days of our courtship, those intimate days when my heart was so utterly fulfilled. interestingly, our theme song for that week was come away with me, by norah jones.

after that trip, i swore when we got back that we would take a week off together every year thereafter.

it hasn't happened...

come away with me in the night
come away with me
and I will write you a song

the past two weeks have been pretty special in my spiritual life. i have been wrestling with creating the sunday talk series for the upcoming months and have had a hard time hearing from God. in addition, i am more convinced than ever that threshold is poised to grow in ways we have not seen before as we more intentionally than ever reach out into the surrounding community and let them know that we are their community church, and i have been talking to God about talking to you guys about all that.

to hear what i knew i needed to hear, i did three things: i hiked. i read erwin mcmanus books. i listened to steven curtis chapman songs. i returned to habits which had so often provided a channel for God's voice in my own past. the last one might seem a bit odd to you if it's not your taste in music (it's not so much mine anymore either). but some of those songs have spoken to me in former days in ways that have me where i am today. it was like listening to old love songs that, while no longer in vogue, penetrate to the heart. you know?

God's word says...

my beloved speaks and says to me: "arise, my love, my beautiful one,
and come away..." (song of solomon 2:10, esv)

it's from a love song in the scriptures that calls us to spend time away and alone with our God.

in mark 6, Jesus says:

"come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while."

you know, time away with God isn't just for professional christians. it is a vital part of your life. and not just your religious life, either. your whole life. God created you for an intimate relationship. i know that's a little tough for the guys, since God is so often understood somehow as being male. but like it or not, you have a loving God. a God who created you for intimacy and wants you to come away with him. for his joy and delight, yes, but also because you have important decisions to make. decisions you ought not make alone - especially when you have the ultimate omni-everything God of creation completely there for you. but sometimes, you are never gonna hear him if you don't do something different. if you don't pull away and focus only on him.

so... when's it gonna happen? and what does it look like? think back to the times when you are certain that you had heard from God in a way that fulfilled your heart. what were you doing? what were you reading? what were you listening to? what brought you face to face with God and had you in a place that was magical?

go there again.

i can tell by the way you walk...

2008-06-18T15:04:00.009-04:00

last week on a drive to wilmington, jake and i were discussing a story found in genesis 32. it's the story of another jake - jacob, actually - who wrestled with an angel by the banks of the jabbok river one night.

he was on his way to meet his brother esau, whom he hadn't seen in many years. when they were younger men, jacob had deceived his brother and stolen his birthright, giving him all the advantages of being the firstborn son in the ancient world, even though esau had been born first. jacob was a conniver and on this lonely night, his past was about to catch up with him.

the rest of his entourage, had gone on across the river to camp for the night, but jacob remained behind, alone, to sort out his future. he figured it was time to fess up and get honest with God. little did he know how painful it would be...

here's how the bible tells it:

Jacob stayed behind by himself, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he couldn't get the best of Jacob as they wrestled, he deliberately threw Jacob's hip out of joint.

The man said, "Let me go; it's daybreak."

Jacob said, "I'm not letting you go 'til you bless me."

The man said, "What's your name?"

He answered, "Jacob."

The man said, "But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it's Israel (God-Wrestler); you've wrestled with God and you've come through."

Jacob asked, "And what's your name?"

The man said, "Why do you want to know my name?" And then, right then and there, he blessed him.

Jacob named the place Peniel (God's Face) because, he said, "I saw God face-to-face and lived to tell the story!"

The sun came up as he left Peniel, limping because of his hip.

the parallels and application of jacob's experience to our own are interesting.

1. first, now that jacob stopped to consider his future in light of his past, he found himself alone and wrestling. how many times have you or i done the same? to proceed ahead in life in a way that is worth living, sometimes it's vital to get alone and process, to reflect and repent. no doubt jacob was feeling remorse for the way he had duped his brother, especially knowing he would face him in the morning. he wisely chose to face his memories and his future alone. but i wonder if he knew how difficult the evening would be.

2. at the beginning of the story, we're told that jacob wrestles with a man. by the end, we learn that it was actually God himself. i think it's fair to say that this wrestling match was clearly a 'come clean with God' experience.

i have these fairly often. i screw up enough to have to wrestle with God more often than i would like. but this spiritual battling is often the only way i can go on in a way that makes any sense. what about you?

3. before jacob can let this ancient WWF match go, he demands to know the name and see the face of his opponent - kind of like wanting to take the mask off nacho libre. he refuses to let go and says, "bless me and tell me your name." jacob had to be sure that it wasn't his mind playing tricks on him. this was serious stuff. fighting through his past and his future required the presence of no one but God.

i know how he feels. sometimes in my wrestling, i wonder if i'm just playing mind games with myself, or if satan has once again wormed his way into my sub-conscious. that's why i find it key to take my stuff to God in prayer, and to test his responses with his Word. if you are fighting spiritual battles without prayer and your bible, you're gonna lose more than a hip (see next paragraph).

4. the heavyweight event ends with two things that will change jacob's life for the rest of his days. first, God changes his name to Israel, which means, "you wrestled with God and hung in there." secondly, jacob's hip is knocked out of the socket and he never fully recovers. he can still walk, but the limp is noticeable.

if God gave you a nickname, what would it be? would you be willing to be known by it for the rest of your life? is it noble enough, or is it pretty putzy? and what about your gait? can people tell by the way you walk that you have striven with God for the things that matter?

i hope the next time you stop to consider your future in the light of your past, you'll remember ol' jacob. follow his lead. struggle with your God. be willing to be changed. walk differently.

no pain, no gain.

20 years of shepherding

2008-06-05T13:21:00.007-04:00

on june 5, 1988, i became a shepherd.

on that day - 20 years ago today - i knelt before an auditorium filled with hundreds of people as a group of pastors laid their hands on me and ordained me into the ministry of the church. as i sit here now, reflecting on these past 20 years, i am overcome with emotion. even before God began the amazing feat of creating the universe, he not only chose me to enter his kingdom, he chose me to lead his people into the knowledge of his love and grace. there is truly no higher honor.

over the years, i have rejoiced with angels when ordinary people just like me have said yes to the invitation of Jesus and allowed him to be lord and savior of their lives. i have celebrated with young parents as they have brought their precious infants and children to the waters of baptism and made vows to raise their children to know the Lord. i have led young couples through the saying of other sacred vows in marriage. i have stood at bedsides and watched people - the very old and the way too young - slip from this world into the next. i have laughed and cried with hundreds of different individuals through the joys and the sorrows of life.

there have been moments when i have hated ministry and almost walked away. but there have been far more of them when i have felt that i am the most privileged man in the world.

this very moment is one of those.

for the past six years, i have shepherded a church - a group of Christ-followers - who understand what Jesus had in mind when he called the church into existence. these amazing people - you who together call yourselves THRESHOLD - have loved me, accepted me, allowed me to be vulnerable and transparent. but more importantly, you have followed my lead. in these past six years, i have understood more fully than ever before what it means to follow Jesus. and i have tried harder than ever before to do just that. and you have walked with me. sometimes behind me, more often beside me. and together, we have experienced the tremendous sovereign grace of almighty God in the most amazing ways.

i sat down today to write some random reflections about the last 20 years - things i have learned and experiences i have had. but i don't want to do that now. to those who love Jesus by my side - you who are called THRESHOLD - i want to write just one thing to each of you and to all of you:

thanks.

i love you more than i can say.

on scooters and heresy

2008-05-28T16:10:00.011-04:00

these days, the scooter pictured is my transportation means of choice. well, choice, sort of. four drivers live in my house and i can't afford another car, much less the gas - so i ride the scooter. i do love it - it's the ultimate convertible: wind in the face and all that. and i love spending only about $7 a week in gas.

but then there are days like today...

i knew the weather was coming when i headed out around noon. i was just hoping that the rain wouldn't get here til about 2:30, since i was going to be about 10 miles from home for a lunch appointment. so much for hoping. by the time i was done it was raining pretty well, so i ordered up a triple espresso to wait it out a while. by the time i finished the caffeine fix, the rain had let up some - down to a sprinkle. i had a light jacket and my helmet, so i headed home.

the first 7-8 miles weren't so bad. it was raining lightly, but the windshield blew most of the rain over or around me. little did i know that i was just about to ride into the teeth of the storm.

the last 2 miles soaked me! better rain gear and my full helmet sure would have helped. and paying a little more attention to what i was up against...

before i left for the appointment, i received an email asking me why i dissed a book last sunday in my talk. the book is called, "a new earth: awakening to your life's purpose," by eckhart tolle. maybe you've seen the stacks of this book in the stores. if you watch oprah, you know it's her new 'bible.'

i did dis it. to pick up this book and buy into its message is like riding a scooter into the teeth of a rainstorm. there's plenty there that looks and sounds good - and frankly, i agree with some of the premises. the author freely speaks of god and quotes jesus. but if you're not watching, you're headed into the teeth of a storm.

on one hand, i hesitate to dissuade you guys from reading things and making up your own mind. after all, if you follow Christ, read the scriptures, pray, etc., you can see the heresy on your own.

on the other hand, in my ordination vows, i agreed to be a shepherd to my people, to sound the warning when danger approaches. the scriptures call me to this. so that's why i'm writing this. in case any of you might just buy into "a new earth" as truth.

the book teaches several things that oppose biblical Christianity: it sets up each of us as gods; it equates Jesus with buddha and others as merely a good teacher; it uses bible verses out of context; and minimizes the effects of sin and the need for a savior. and that's just for starters.

if you want to read further, i recommend you check out this link: http://biblicalspirituality.org/newearth.html

to some of you, all of this may seem like much ado about nothing. may be.

but at the risk of being redundant, i remind you of a quote from last week's blog:

what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

knowing what the bible teaches about God is so crucial. for that reason, i will be teaching a series on sundays in june called, "GOD."

riding a scooter in the pouring rain isn't a real good idea. but if you're gonna do it, be prepared.

same goes for what you read these days...

the pursuit of God

2008-05-24T12:06:00.010-04:00

on may 18, luke recommended a book for those who really want to put God above all else.

this book, the pursuit of God, by a.w. tozer, is available to be read for free online.

click on the title of this post to go directly to the site.

what are you reading?

2008-05-22T09:56:00.013-04:00

this morning over coffee, matt asked me, "what are you reading?" he's the third person this week to ask me that. do you people really lead lives so dull that you need a pastor to recommend a book to you? dude!

but actually, i am thankful for the question. i read. all the time. and you should too. reading is an age-old, but never-old way to fill your brain, and ultimately your spirit, with things that matter. in reading for the next sunday series, i came across these words:

what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

if these words are true (from a.w. tozer, in his book, the knowledge of the holy), then that alone is a good reason to read. maybe we all know this instinctively - and maybe that's why so many people ask me what i'm reading. so, why don't i tell you. but rather than give you the books in my current reading stack, let me give you some titles that will help you think a little more deeply - and a little more orthodoxly - about God. when i head for the beach for a week each summer, i take a mindless novel, since theology is pretty much everyday stuff for me. but maybe your week at the beach would be a good time to think a little more deeply about God. if anyone is really interested, then, here is a summer reading list to consider:

A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

John Piper, Desiring God

John Piper, The Pleasures of God

J. I. Packer, Knowing God

J. I. Packer, Concise Theology

Brian McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus

N. T. Wright, Simply Christian

C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

(why do all these guys use their initials?)

note: these are not for the faint of mind - you may find yourself reading many of these paragraphs more than once.

if you're looking for something a little lighter, but still significant, try one of these:

Josh Mc Dowell, More Than a Carpenter

Andy Stanley, Am I Good Enough? (formerly How Good is Good Enough?)

Paul Little, Know Why You Believe

Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ

followers of Jesus lead others to become followers of Jesus. it's not just the job of pastors, teachers, and elders. it's the call on each of our lives by the same God who created us, who saved us, and who sustains us. we are supposed to make noise about our faith, just as we are to live according to the beliefs of our faith. but a lot of the time, we are not sure exactly what that faith really teaches below the surface of Jesus loves me this i know. books like this will give you the assurance and the confidence to live according to God's will and to speak to others about the truth.

so i invite you to dig into one of these titles this summer. grow your faith. focus your mind. strengthen your convictions. wrestle with God.

oh yeah, and have fun!

600? are you serious?

2008-05-15T08:45:00.004-04:00

you caught that, did you? the challenge to grow our sunday morning attendance to 600? yep, i actually said that. in public. on a sunday morning. and why not? what we have for people is far more important than great coffee (not many other things are, i know, but this is Jesus we're talking about!)

ps - if you're already lost, you might want to review my talk from last sunday...

in fact, maybe we ought to up the ante a little. what about 600 by easter? why in the world shouldn't Threshold double in size? after all, we worship in the YMCA with the largest membership in the united states! and they're building neighborhoods around us like mad. people are moving into our backyard by the hundreds. God has uniquely positioned us - both geographically and stylistically - to be able to reach a ton of people with the best message ever proclaimed. if we're not proclaiming it, then we're being disobedient:

go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. teach these new disciples to obey all the commands i have given you. (Jesus' last words - see matthew 28.19-20)

who do you know who isn't experiencing the joy of a relationship with Jesus in the context of a loving and accepting church? there's gotta be at least one. who is it? can you get someone in mind? will you commit yourself to pray for that person? and for yourself, to be ready to invite them, or to answer them when they ask what's different about you?

people are dying out there. they are facing an eternity of separation from God if they don't hear and receive the message of God's love in Jesus Christ. and even now they are dying. but in the community we love, the community of Threshold, they can find acceptance, caring, meaning, purpose, and strength. you have, right? so let's not hog it. let's share it. let's welcome in all who need what we have to offer. let's grow this thing!

600.

by easter.

seriously.

three talks every sunday

2008-05-07T18:55:00.006-04:00

during my seminary days, my preaching professor used to say that there were three talks every sunday: the one the speaker planned, the one the speaker gave, and the one the people heard. that has been true more sundays than i care to remember. however, this past sunday wasn't one of them. the text was 2 corinthians 8 & 9, and the topic was giving. in the context of our current series, the point was simple: christians give. so together we walked through these two really cool chapters and i shared with you frankly, honestly and humbly. when it was all said and done, i left the stage feeling that at least this week, i had given the talk i had planned. but is that the one you heard? many of you over the past few days have let me know that the answer to that question is yes.

so i just wanted to use the blog this week to do two things. the first is to say thanks. i can't tell you how awesome it is to be a part of a group of people who would allow me to give the talk i gave. your response has been amazing, not only with your kind words of affirmation about the talk, but also as it affected your giving. sunday's offering was terrific! thanks for responding so quickly to the need that was laid before you. on one hand, i'm not really surprised - that's who you guys are. but since i know how hard the economy is hitting some of you, i guess i was surprised even so. all in all, i am so very thankful to God for his faithfulness, and to you for hearing him, for obeying him, and for stepping up so that we can continue to be a strong and vibrant church that is absolutely determined to see the kingdom of God expanded right where he has planted us.

the other thing i want to say this week is that while i don't mind talking about money - it's a very prevalent topic in the bible - i hope that i won't have to lay out our needs in such detail very often. of course, you are always entitled to know where we stand financially. if you ever want to know how we're doing, contact one of our leaders and we'll be happy to let you know how things are going. but on sundays, i still want to be sure we never come across as a church that only seems to be asking for money. as each of us grows in our relationship with God, and in our obedience to him, i have no doubt that the necessary money will continue to come in, especially if we will all remember the truth we heard and the feelings we felt this past sunday.

before i wrap this up, as promised, here are the elements of a giving attitude as we looked at them sunday in paul's letter to the corinthians, chapters 8 and 9.

followers of Jesus give:

1. eagerly (8:11-12)

2. proportionately to what they have (8:11-12)

3. with balance between their own needs and the needs of others (8:13-14)

4. willingly (9:5-7)

5. cheerfully, hilariously! (9:7)

6. trustingly (9:8-10)

and when we give, two things happen:

1. needs are met

2. God is glorified

again, thanks for stepping up. i'm glad that we all enjoyed the same one talk this week.

next week? well, we'll just have to see...

not to be served, but to SERVE...

2008-04-29T09:07:00.008-04:00

last sunday in worship we examined mark 10:32-45. in this text, Jesus reminds his followers not to be a top dog, but an underdog. not one who strives to rule others, but one who serves others. thanks to all who signed up to join the serving ranks within the family of threshold. for those of you who didn't, i hope you will prayerfully consider it. i can't stress this enough: people are dying out there. marriages are dying. relationships are dying. faith is dying. we've been called to do something about it in this community, and it's gonna take every one of us. so join the movement!

beyond our community, children are dying around the world for preventable reasons. you and i can make a difference there as well. consider sponsoring a child through compassion international - only $32 a month. you'll change a life - maybe even save it - and you'll never miss the money.

Compassion International Video

got a question?

2008-04-26T15:54:00.002-04:00

let's try something new. if you have a question about theology, the bible, contemporary culture & christianity, or why we do something at threshold, email it to me and i'll answer it here on the blog.

jeff.gardner@thresholdchurch.com

earth day

2008-04-21T16:04:00.017-04:00

since 1970, april 22 has been earth day. the goal in originating this observance has been to draw attention to the care of the environment. it's another one of those days that i wish we didn't have to have. not because i disagree with the focus - quite the contrary. the fact is, as Christ-followers, we shouldn't need such a day. trite as it might sound, we ought to act like every day is earth day.

you know, maybe earth day was created by Christ-followers, for all those other people who don't give a rat's ___ about this beautiful planet our God created. yeah, that's it. that's the ticket. right. unfortunately, earth day was more likely the idea of some guy most Christ-followers would call a liberal tree-hugger, or some other interesting title.

let me ask, when did things get so backward? when did we Christ-followers abdicate our role, our call, as stewards of this planet? when did we forget that God told adam in the garden of eden that his job - and by default, the job if all humankind - was to tend to and care for creation (see genesis 2.15)? why is it that so many church-goers label people who do care about creation with so any not-so-nice terms? i think we've lost our way.

so while i wish it weren't so, we do need an earth day. maybe in the future we won't, but for now, we still do. why don't we get serious about all the things God has called his people to, including care of this planet? like it or not, those who don't follow Jesus are usually looking at those of us who do to see how serious we really are about it.

if you're still reading, and haven't already jumped down to post some fun-filled comment about how i must be some kind of left-wing communist or something like that, let me give you a few thoughts about how to make earth day more of an everyday thing.

thanks to jessica gilmore for putting this list together for us.

earth day events

tuesday, april 22 - belk tower UNCC: showcase of environmental efforts; free school and office supplies; alternative fuel car displays.

friday and saturday, april 25 & 26 - clean-up of stumptown park, matthews.

friday, april 25 - matthews community center: free screening of "an inconvenient truth," 7PM.

earth day activities for your family

1. take your family on a hike to enjoy God's creation; explain to your children why the planet is special and maybe read the creation story.

2. change one of the light bulbs in your home to a compact flourescent bulb.

3. never throw spent batteries in the trash. they contain mercury, a hazardous substance that will leak into groundwater or be burned and released into the air. don't go there. either switch to rechargeable batteries or collect used batteries in a shoebox out in the garage, clearly marked. then take them to a recycling facility once or twice a year.

4. use rags or towels instead of paper towels for cleaning.

5. store food in bowls or tupperware that can be reused endlessly.

6. use unbleached coffee filters (not bleached).

7. use more waxed paper that is biodegradable (instead of foil and plastic wrap).

8. refrigerator temperatures should be set at about 40 degrees, give or take a degree or two. freezer temps between 0 and 5 degrees are just right. colder settings waste energy and won't help food. did you know that your friendly refrigerator has a voracious energy appetite? it is the biggest consumer of electricity among household appliances and responsible for 10-15 percent of the electricity you use each year. older refrigerators, as a rule, are far less efficient than the newest ones - as much as 50 percent less efficient. but buying a brand-new, energy-efficient refrigerator is not always in the cards for most of us. fortunately, other things will help. don't set the thermostat too high. Lowering the temperature even 1 degree will make a big difference. if your refrigerator is near a heating vent, or always in the sun, then change the location, cover up the heating vent near it or cover the window. turn on your "energy saver" switch near the thermostat. clean the condenser coil. this one, very simple thing can improve the efficiency of your refrigerator reducing your annual energy costs by $20. get rid of your second refrigerator. if you don't need it, don't waste the energy. make sure the doors seal properly, and keep the cool in.

9. plant a tree, or two, or even three. they're beautiful, they provide shade, consume CO2, and they produce oxygen. But there are other reasons to plant trees - as wind breaks to save energy, and as shade to lower cooling costs. and even the short-term help while we get our act together is a good thing. as for plants, do everything you can in your yard and garden to create ways in which plants use less water. choose hardier plants, plant things in groups that need more water and put in mulch to help keep moisture in. when you mow your grass, make sure you do it smartly - with sharp blades, and only when the grass needs cutting. finally, make sure you water your lawn sparingly. all of these will conserve energy.

10. it's difficult, but in today's consumer economy, an easy way to conserve energy is to simply use - and buy -- less. every time you buy something, energy has gone into getting that product to you. so the less you buy, the more you save energy-wise. this could be the single biggest way to make a positive impact for creation. if everyone used less, the impact would be large indeed. here are a few specific things you can do:

a. buy in bulk. In short, bulk items use less packaging, which translates into less energy.

b. go through your closet. donate or recycle what you really don't need, then make a pledge not to replace everything you just got rid of. a great place to donate to is the local women’s shelter or goodwill store or trailer.

c. buy quality products that will last longer. over time, you'll obviously buy fewer products that way.

d. be sure to read the "Change Your World" section of Threshold's weekly newsletter for further tips on how to help and impact the environment for GOOD.

if for no other reason...

one of the biggest reasons we don't pay more attention to the environment is because, and let's face it, it's inconvenient and it takes effort. most if not all of us are more concerned with ourselves day in and day out than in others and our world. the cool thing about so many of jessica's suggestions is that we benefit! we save energy, which saves money. we buy fewer things, so we save money! we ebay all the crap we don't really need anymore and we make money! so if you just can't get to it in obedience to God's call, do it for the money! (of course, don't forget to tithe on the money you make!)

choosing a bible

2008-04-14T10:21:00.007-04:00

as promised in my talk yesterday, i want to give you some thoughts on how to choose a bible if you have recently decided to buy one. there are two main things to look for in a bible: translation and features. you'll want to consider them in that order. let's take a quick look at each...

1. translation. this is also sometimes known as 'version,' as in "what version of the bible are you using?" originally, the bible was written in two ancient languages. the old testament was written in hebrew and the new testament was written in greek. obviously these two need to be translated into english if you and i are gonna understand anything. this requires the work of translators - people smarter than me who take the hebrew and greek and translate it into english. in recent decades, more and more groups of translators have been at work, offering english-speaking people more translations or version than ever before in history.

when you go to a bookstore, you will have your choice of 10 or more translations. some will be very literal, a real word-for-word translation. others will be a little freer with their translating, more of a thought-for-thought translation, which will make for easier reading. more literal translations tend to have longer sentences which often require reading more than once in order to fully comprehend their meaning. less literal translations read easier, but may not be as accurate in conveying precisely what was meant. so there's a trade-off, and you need to decide which you prefer.

my advice would be to go to a website like www.biblegateway.com, and take a look at some bible passages in several different versions. this will help you decide which you enjoy the most. if it's not readable, you aren't gonna read it. for the record, i teach from the new living translation on sundays at threshold.

2. features. there are a variety of types of bibles on the market. some are daily bibles, assigning you several chapters a day for those who want to read through the bible in a year. if the bible is pretty new to you, i would not recommend one of these. there are other good bibles out there that have a daily reading schedule on the back if you decide to tackle this at some point. there are devotional bibles, which will tuck daily devotional readings among the pages of the bible, and tell you which passage of scripture to read along with the devotion. not a bad place to start. there are plain old text bibles, with no bells and whistles. you simply get the text of the bible with no book intros, study notes, helps, etc. again, if you're sorta new, you'll want more. i like to recommend a study bible to most people who are looking to get serious about reading and studying the bible. my favorite, one i have used for many years, is the Life Application Study Bible. it is filled with all kinds of things to help you understand what you are reading: book intros, book outlines, themes, timelines, maps, charts, and explanations to help you both understand and be challenged by what God's word has to say. the LASB is available in a handful of different translations, so after you decide which version you want, you can look for that version in the LASB.

once you've decided on translation (version) and features, the last thing to decide is what look you want. they come in paper, hardback, leather-like, and leather. black, burgundy, brown, blue, etc...

so... if you're looking for a bible, good luck. if i can help you decide or answer more questions, leave a comment with your email, or email me direct through the threshold site, and i'll be in touch.

whichever bible you choose, be assured that reading it regularly will net awesome things in your life. so get out there!

Remember: Don't Forget to Bring Your Bible Sunday

2008-04-09T22:39:00.002-04:00

this week's blog is below

relax already

2008-04-09T18:34:00.017-04:00

WARNING: this post is bluntly honest, but i'm not looking for your sympathy or affirmation, so don't give me any, okay?

i beat myself up a lot. probably doesn't show 'cause it's all on the inside. but if you know me well, if you hang out with me long enough for me to get really transparent with you, you'll hear it. maybe you do it too. funny thing on my end though - i know all about God's grace, and think i can teach it with the best of them, but i have a tough time receiving it myself. i'll bet a therapist would tell me that i must have had a parent that was hard to please. i don't think so. or maybe i'm just one of the those over-achievers. puh-leez. my resume wouldn't bear that out either. if anything, i think i just long to hear the heavenly Father say, "well done good and faithful servant." and for some reason, i just have trouble hearing that.

one of the things i beat myself up most about is that threshold isn't reaching and drawing nearly as many people as i would expect or desire. i mean c'mon, you and i know what an awesome community THD is, so why aren't more people coming or receiving Christ or growing in faith or serving or whatever??? maybe if i were a better teacher, a better leader, a clearer visionary, a stronger get-er-done-er, or whatever...

this afternoon i was at starbucks with mike moses, lead pastor of lake forest church in huntersville (lake forest is a sister church of ours, both churches intentionally planted by the same mother church. after ten years, they welcome about 2400 people to worship every sunday). after almost two hours of shop-talk, and of unloading my feelings of inadequacies on him, i asked him: "mike, you know how to grow a church. you know me. you know threshold. if you were gonna give me some advice right now, what would it be?" then i sat back and waited for something challenging. something i knew i was incapable of. one more thing to make me feel inadequate.

what my friend mike said (and how he said it) was one of the greatest blessings i have received in a long time. he said this: "jeff, first i would tell you that what you guys have done at threshold in just five years is an amazing thing. you have created a church where people come to Christ, a church that feeds the homeless, a church that is already serving in other parts of the world, a church that is so creative and special. i hope you are celebrating that." and not only did he tell me that, he was choked up. tears almost came to his eyes. and mike's no baby.

"why the emotion?," i asked him.

"because i get emotional at the sight of beauty, and threshold is a beautiful bride of Christ," he said.

wow. well said.

and shame on me for thinking or believing anything otherwise. of course, it wasn't just me. it's also been all of you. through us, God really has done something very special in outfitting a very beautiful bride for his Son.

as i reflect on mike's words now, i want to share two things with you:

1. thanks. thanks for being my family and my partners in extending the kingdom of God's grace and mercy. threshold is an amazing and creative and beautiful family, and i am most honored and humbled to be your pastor. for your friendship, and your trust, and your co-laboring with me as the body of Christ, i can't thank you enough. well done, good and faithful servants.

2. if you beat yourself up like i do, quit it. step back and remember that you, too, are a beautiful child of God. there is no one like you, and God had everything to do with that. everything. you are unique and talented and special and loved and cared for and forgiven. right now, stop and celebrate that fact. when God looks at you or even thinks of you, He gets all emotional. you can bring up all the reasons why He doesn't or couldn't or shouldn't, but that doesn't change the fact that He does. so relax already. listen to almighty God remind you that you rock His world.

'cause you do.

perfect vision

2008-04-02T21:27:00.012-04:00

when i'm speaking on a sunday morning, i have no trouble looking at you guys and saying with conviction that God knows each of us intimately. but when i get up in an airplane, like i did a couple weeks ago, that whole thought process goes a little screwy. when i'm up there, i can't see all the thousands and millions of people that God supposedly knows so lovingly and loves so knowingly. it really messes me up sometimes.

but the other day in my prayer time i was reading psalm 11. check out verse 4: "the Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. he watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth."

i closed my bible and began to pray around this verse. here's where i went...

God has perfect vision. perfect. not just 20/20, but perfect. he really can see absolutely everything. we think 20/20 is perfect, but it's only perfect for imperfect humans. God's perfection is so far beyond what we can imagine as perfect.

there is no hindrance to what God can see like there is for me. he sees it all. on the one hand, God sees everything about my past, unhindered: my regrets, my failings, my sins. i'm not sure i want him to see all that, but if he does, i might as well face up to that fact. on the other hand, God also sees my future: my potential, the things i can accomplish. and because i am in Christ, he sees me as holy, redeemed, loved. nothing can hinder that either. and man, that is comforting. he sees the child he loves. he sees the stuff ahead in my life. and nothing takes him by surprise. i may not be able to seee around the next corner, but he can, and if he is with me and for me (see romans 8:31), then i can relax in that. i mean think about it - if God can see everything perfectly and unhindered, then what am i always so worried about. relax man. trust him.

a guy named david, the greatest king in the history of israel, seemed to know this when he wrote psalm 139, about 3000 years ago. spend some time reading this psalm slowly. and if anything strikes you that you don't mind sharing with me, send me a comment. i'd love to know if any of this connects with somebody besides me. thanks.

here we go:

PSALM 139

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

5 You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
      I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
      if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
      if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
      and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
      and the light around me to become night—
    12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
   To you the night shines as bright as day.
      Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
      and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
      Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
      as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
      Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
   Every moment was laid out
      before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
      They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
      they outnumber the grains of sand!
   And when I wake up,
      you are still with me!

ready to get married?

2008-03-26T12:17:00.001-04:00

the bible uses an abundance of great images to help us picture our relationship with God. one of my favorites - though i admit, it's a little difficult as a guy - is that of a bride and groom. a wedding. a marriage. God's the groom, the church is the bride. but not the church as in a building with a steeple. the church as in people who have received Jesus as savior and director. as in you. me.

a lot of us as the bride prefer living together outside of marriage. in other words, having a pretty committed relationship with the groom without the full commitment of an actual wedding ceremony. i think it's just sorta where we are as a culture. gotta leave our options open because something better might come along. maybe not a better savior, but perhaps a better church. know what i mean?

but i think God still wants us to be people of commitment. wants us to live out this bride and groom scenario full bore. the father wants a wedding! so, what does that look like?

at threshold, it looks like this:

a four-week mini-cell where you hear and tell stories. after all, stories is how we learn to understand. four sunday mornings, 8:30-9:30AM. threshold's story. God's story. the church's story. your story. what are they and how do they intersect? how can this marriage of christian and Christ be all it can be? and how can it bring glory to the Father?

if you are a regular thresholdian; if you consider threshold your spiritual home, how about making it official. join me and our elders on sunday mornings and take the leap. let's get to know one another. let's talk about how we can live together in the holy bonds of membership. if you're interested in a deeper relationship with Jesus through his church, i'll see you on sundays at 8:30am during the month of april.

oh, and the wedding will be may 11 at 10AM.

save the date!

New Member (Pre-marital) Class

Sunday Mornings, 8:30-9:30AM

April 6, 13, 20, 27

Big room across the hall from backstage

Bring a Bible please

New Member receiving - May 11 during worship

Baptisms to follow worship for those currently unbaptized

a mid-week jolt

2008-03-25T18:57:00.000-04:00

maybe you need this, maybe you don't. could be that i'm the only one who does. but it just seems that seeing most of you guys only once a week isn't enough. facebook* has been awesome for communication to a point, but my need goes deeper than just making contact, sharing notes on the wall, or an occasional scrabulous word. i need to talk. not verbally of course - duh - though this blog thing does let me post an audio file (so be looking for that in the future). no, i need to ramble. i have this deep desire to help shepherd you more than just 30 minutes or so on sundays. so that's what this blog is for: to share ideas, readings, prayers, reflections, pictures, travels - things and events from my world that might be of help in yours. when i come across a book, a scripture passage, a movie, a person, a song that might speak into your faithlife, i'll write about it here. feel free to take it or leave it. feel free to post a reply. feel free to send me suggestions in return. this is for all of us, to help us be more intentional about imitating Jesus to the best of our ability, for the glory of God.

oh hey, and listen, if any of this makes it beyond my own little world into yours, please let me know. if nobody bothers to read it, i'll go hiking instead...

: )

*facebook: see www.facebook.com

it's a great way to stay connected with others.

threshold has a group.

my cell has a group.

i'm in groups with friends from the past, etc.

check it out.