Maybe you are tired of all the UP allusions.
I still have this deep conviction it is the word our church needs to pray about and live out. That's why this Sunday we launched a new series entitled, "Downside UP." This series is based on 1 Corinthians 2. Paul is telling the people in Corinth that most of what they believe needs to be inverted - turned upside down. Things they have believe were contemptible are actually the things God values.
For example, Paul says in verses 1-5 that he did not try to sell Jesus to the Corinthians with eloquent words or complex logic. Instead, he focused on Jesus - and Him Crucified.
Then Paul said he relied on the power of God - not what he preached.
I think there are pointed questions for our church and for every church in this passage:
1. Are we centered on Christ? Churches can center on tradition, on other doctrines, and on personalities. If they center on anything but Jesus, they are off-center.
2. Are we focused on Christ crucified? Are we humble enough to admit we are helpless to change our past - only Jesus can forgive us.
3. Does anyone see the power of God at work in our churches? Is the truth of our message being demonstrated in changed lives? If not, why? Are we seeking God's power? Or are we frightened of what God's power might demand?
Monday, February 8, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Downside UP
If buttercups buzz'd after the bee,If boats were on land, churches on sea,If ponies rode men and if grass ate the cows,And cats should be chased into holes by the mouse,If the mamas sold their babiesTo the gypsies for half a crown;If summer were spring and the other way round,Then all the world would be upside down.
These are the lyrics to the song “The World Turned Upside Down.”
It was the song played by the British band while Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at the Battle of Yorktown. The unthinkable had happened – the Americans and the French had defeated the strongest military in the world – the British. The British, who had thought it was their god-given right to be victorious, had been humiliated in battle.
God turns what we think is true downside up. He says plainly in 1 Corinthians 1 that He chooses the foolish things, the weak things, the lowly things, the despised things – even things that do not exist, to make empty everything that is.
What we value – health, wealth, success, pleasure, security – God overturns and invites us to embrace surrender, submission, and service. This is how His power flows through us.
Has God turned your world downside up?
Join us Sunday as we launch a new message series about how God truly sees you, me, and the world.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Trulife - the work of the Gideons
I have invited Bob Reagan to lead Trulife tonight and share with you the work of the Gideons.
This great organization of laymen dedicates itself to spreading copies of God's word around the world. I hope you will be present as Bob shares about their work and how you can be a part of it.
This great organization of laymen dedicates itself to spreading copies of God's word around the world. I hope you will be present as Bob shares about their work and how you can be a part of it.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Report from Old Naledi
This Update is for Moruti James, the pastor of Old Naledi Baptist Fellowship, our partner in Botswana:Greetings in the name of our Lord and saviour Jesus.I hope this line finds you all blessed.God is great.First of all I will like to take this opportunity to thank you for your prayers,encouragements and support.I do hereby testify that they were not in vain.God is great.One of the major experience we have felt as community church is growth in numbers and maturity.As I am writing we are in the process of conducting another baptism about 12 in total and receive 10 new members.Thanks be to God.Children's ministry has grown so much.We now conduct three Sunday school classes with numbers increasing every Sunday.The youth ministry continues to impact young people in our community.They meet regularly on Thursdays.Thanks be to God.The women at the church continue to help at the Tlamelo project.Gardening plays a very crucial part of their ministry.In fact it is raining and soon we will see the landscape green.The women meet on Sunday at 5 pm.Different subject matters are attended to at these meetings.The men meet also at 5 pm and these have been successful meetings.Last Sunday the men decided to grow vegetables at the back of the church hall.Tomorrow we will till the softened grounds to plant.We are awaiting electrical connection after it was approved at church.We will start evening tutoring at porta camps asap.We have lined up several training workshops for different groups this year at our church.The first quarter will be devoted to training in church and financial management,worship and missions and sunday school training.Please join us as we seek to serve God in Old Naledi.By the way I must mention that the long awaited physical developments in Old Naledi are being implemented at last.These comprise running water in households,paved roads and electrification of houses.Once again you are cordially invited to join with us as we pray and where possible come join with us as we serve Him.Be blessed.
Moruti James Mpopang
Monday, February 1, 2010
Sunday UPload
Observant readers of this blog will note that I have changed my Sunday review from Download to UPload - at least in part because we are focusing on moving UP in these season of our church's life.
We wrapped up the series Grow Up focusing on the first chapter of 1 Corinthians by talking about our true values. God values things we consider to be weak and foolish - and chooses to work through people who are weak and foolish. In fact, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 could be considered the theme verses of this blog:
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
The main point is this - we face a crossroads - trust God, or trust all the values the world tells us are more important.
In spite of the cold weather, we had over 1,000 people at ADBC Sunday morning. Plus, we had over 100 show up for training on Sunday night. What great people you are to be faithful to come even when the weather was inhospitable!
Be sure and be present this Sunday when we launch a new message series entitled: Downside UP.
We wrapped up the series Grow Up focusing on the first chapter of 1 Corinthians by talking about our true values. God values things we consider to be weak and foolish - and chooses to work through people who are weak and foolish. In fact, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 could be considered the theme verses of this blog:
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
The main point is this - we face a crossroads - trust God, or trust all the values the world tells us are more important.
In spite of the cold weather, we had over 1,000 people at ADBC Sunday morning. Plus, we had over 100 show up for training on Sunday night. What great people you are to be faithful to come even when the weather was inhospitable!
Be sure and be present this Sunday when we launch a new message series entitled: Downside UP.
Mark Richt's Testimony
I am not a Georgia Fan - but I am a follower of Jesus. This is the testimony of Mark Richt, head football coach at UGA - and a fellow believer. It bears sharing:
After playing quarterback at Boca Raton High School in Florida, I signed a football scholarship with the University of Miami. In 1978 I arrived on campus with my own agenda. I really believed that I would be the starting quarterback for the Miami Hurricanes my freshman season. I planned on being an All-American my sophomore year, winning the Heisman Trophy as a junior and then leaving early for a very successful career in the NFL.
Shortly after arriving on campus all of my plans were quickly interrupted by another freshman quarterback named Jim Kelly. I did not get to start as a freshman and going into our second season fall practice Kelly was named as the starting quarterback. I realized then that none of what I had planned for my career would become reality. Instead of growing and working harder, I allowed circumstances to dictate my behavior.
During the summer before my junior year, one of my teammates went on a retreat. He and I had spent our college careers aimlessly pursuing the party scene and upon his return I immediately witnessed a change in his life. He began to talk to me about GOD and how he had received CHRIST into his life. He would open the Bible and share scripture with me. He was excited about his new life and had an authentic passion for telling others about it. I was very drawn to his new found faith and really considered the Christian life. As I thought about the cost of following CHRIST, three barriers came up. 1) I thought that in order to become a Christian, I had to be perfect. 2) I thought that GOD would want me to give up football and send me someplace that I didn’t want to go. 3) My girlfriend and other friends were due to return from summer break and I did not want to give up anything that had to do with my current relationships.
As I struggled with these thoughts, it wasn’t long before I was back to doing what I wanted to do. During our senior year Jim Kelly went down with an injury, and I was given the opportunity to start. Because of some self centered decisions that I had made, I was disciplined and the opportunity of finishing my career as the starting quarterback for the University of Miami Hurricanes was gone.
After graduating from UM in 1983 I worked out in hopes that I would be drafted by an NFL team. I never got drafted. I did receive the opportunity to tryout with the Denver Broncos, but soon after arriving in camp another quarterback named John Elway arrived. Less then a week later I was cut. I moved back to south Florida and worked several odd jobs. I was very depressed and had no peace in my life. I thought that the only way that my life would matter or any chance that I had to be happy was to play football in the NFL. That next year I received the opportunity to tryout with the Miami Dolphins, but soon after arriving in camp another quarterback named Dan Marino arrived. Less then a week later I was cut.
I realized then that the plans that I had made for my life were shattered. As I was preparing to leave the premises, I was approached by an athletic trainer that worked for the Dolphins organization. He asked me what I was planning to do now and asked if I ever considered a career in coaching. During my short stay in Miami I scored very well on the QB tests and having been around Kelly, Elway and Marino I had a pretty good grasp on what a great quarterback looked like. After some time had passed I got a call from Florida State Head Coach Bobby Bowden. He offered me a graduate assistant position working with the quarterbacks at FSU. I jumped at the chance and in 1985 I moved to Tallahassee Florida.
I was into my second season at FSU and thought that I was doing fairly well, until one fateful day in September. We had an off weekend and one of our players was shot and killed while attending a party. This tragedy was terrible and heartbreaking for our team. The next day Coach Bowden called a team meeting. No one was allowed in the room but players and me. Being a graduate assistant I was in there to take roll. Coach Bowden addressed the incident and towards the end of his message he began to talk about spiritual matters. He pointed to the empty chair that was assigned to the fallen player, and talked about death and his faith. He asked every one of us in the room to look at the chair and then he asked, if that was you do you know where you would spend eternity?
He communicated the GOSPEL to us that day. Coach Bowden explained that GOD loved us and that HE had sent His one and only SON to die for our sins. He assured us that if a person receives CHRIST that he will live for eternity in a real place called Heaven. At the end of that meeting he told the players that if they had any questions or anything on their hearts, to please come and speak to him. I was a broken young coach, so the next day I went to see him. He took me through the GOSPEL and explained what it meant to be a Christian. I remembered back to my college days, sitting with my roommate and hearing of GOD’S love for me. It was time. My life had not turned out like I planned, I understood how self centered and prideful I was. I saw my sin revealed and the reality of GOD’S love for me.
Coach Bowden led me in a prayer that day, and I received GOD’S mercy, forgiveness and peace through what CHRIST had done for me. I understood that my life would never reach the point where I would be good enough to earn GOD’S love. It is a free gift. I left Coach Bowden’s office a new man. I found peace and meaning for my life. I married my beautiful wife Katharyn in 1987. We had our son Jon in 1990 and David in 1994. We began to address the topic of adoption with our Sunday school class at church and in 1999 we welcomed Zach and Anya home. During these years I had the wonderful opportunity of coaching at Florida State and working for Coach Bowden. I love Coach Bowden and am eternally grateful to him for giving me my first job in coaching and most importantly leading me to the LORD.
In December of 2000, University President Michael Adams and then Athletic Director Coach Vince Dooley came to Tallahassee and interviewed me for the position of Head Coach of the UGA Bulldogs. After many hours of prayer, Coach Dooley called me and I accepted the position. We moved to Athens in January of 2001 and have truly been blessed. We have a great church, an outstanding school for the children and a wonderful staff. Throughout all of life I try to live according to COLOSSIANS 3:23 – “And whatever you do, do heartily, as to the LORD and not to men.”
I am so thankful to now live my life with peace.
Shortly after arriving on campus all of my plans were quickly interrupted by another freshman quarterback named Jim Kelly. I did not get to start as a freshman and going into our second season fall practice Kelly was named as the starting quarterback. I realized then that none of what I had planned for my career would become reality. Instead of growing and working harder, I allowed circumstances to dictate my behavior.
During the summer before my junior year, one of my teammates went on a retreat. He and I had spent our college careers aimlessly pursuing the party scene and upon his return I immediately witnessed a change in his life. He began to talk to me about GOD and how he had received CHRIST into his life. He would open the Bible and share scripture with me. He was excited about his new life and had an authentic passion for telling others about it. I was very drawn to his new found faith and really considered the Christian life. As I thought about the cost of following CHRIST, three barriers came up. 1) I thought that in order to become a Christian, I had to be perfect. 2) I thought that GOD would want me to give up football and send me someplace that I didn’t want to go. 3) My girlfriend and other friends were due to return from summer break and I did not want to give up anything that had to do with my current relationships.
As I struggled with these thoughts, it wasn’t long before I was back to doing what I wanted to do. During our senior year Jim Kelly went down with an injury, and I was given the opportunity to start. Because of some self centered decisions that I had made, I was disciplined and the opportunity of finishing my career as the starting quarterback for the University of Miami Hurricanes was gone.
After graduating from UM in 1983 I worked out in hopes that I would be drafted by an NFL team. I never got drafted. I did receive the opportunity to tryout with the Denver Broncos, but soon after arriving in camp another quarterback named John Elway arrived. Less then a week later I was cut. I moved back to south Florida and worked several odd jobs. I was very depressed and had no peace in my life. I thought that the only way that my life would matter or any chance that I had to be happy was to play football in the NFL. That next year I received the opportunity to tryout with the Miami Dolphins, but soon after arriving in camp another quarterback named Dan Marino arrived. Less then a week later I was cut.
I realized then that the plans that I had made for my life were shattered. As I was preparing to leave the premises, I was approached by an athletic trainer that worked for the Dolphins organization. He asked me what I was planning to do now and asked if I ever considered a career in coaching. During my short stay in Miami I scored very well on the QB tests and having been around Kelly, Elway and Marino I had a pretty good grasp on what a great quarterback looked like. After some time had passed I got a call from Florida State Head Coach Bobby Bowden. He offered me a graduate assistant position working with the quarterbacks at FSU. I jumped at the chance and in 1985 I moved to Tallahassee Florida.
I was into my second season at FSU and thought that I was doing fairly well, until one fateful day in September. We had an off weekend and one of our players was shot and killed while attending a party. This tragedy was terrible and heartbreaking for our team. The next day Coach Bowden called a team meeting. No one was allowed in the room but players and me. Being a graduate assistant I was in there to take roll. Coach Bowden addressed the incident and towards the end of his message he began to talk about spiritual matters. He pointed to the empty chair that was assigned to the fallen player, and talked about death and his faith. He asked every one of us in the room to look at the chair and then he asked, if that was you do you know where you would spend eternity?
He communicated the GOSPEL to us that day. Coach Bowden explained that GOD loved us and that HE had sent His one and only SON to die for our sins. He assured us that if a person receives CHRIST that he will live for eternity in a real place called Heaven. At the end of that meeting he told the players that if they had any questions or anything on their hearts, to please come and speak to him. I was a broken young coach, so the next day I went to see him. He took me through the GOSPEL and explained what it meant to be a Christian. I remembered back to my college days, sitting with my roommate and hearing of GOD’S love for me. It was time. My life had not turned out like I planned, I understood how self centered and prideful I was. I saw my sin revealed and the reality of GOD’S love for me.
Coach Bowden led me in a prayer that day, and I received GOD’S mercy, forgiveness and peace through what CHRIST had done for me. I understood that my life would never reach the point where I would be good enough to earn GOD’S love. It is a free gift. I left Coach Bowden’s office a new man. I found peace and meaning for my life. I married my beautiful wife Katharyn in 1987. We had our son Jon in 1990 and David in 1994. We began to address the topic of adoption with our Sunday school class at church and in 1999 we welcomed Zach and Anya home. During these years I had the wonderful opportunity of coaching at Florida State and working for Coach Bowden. I love Coach Bowden and am eternally grateful to him for giving me my first job in coaching and most importantly leading me to the LORD.
In December of 2000, University President Michael Adams and then Athletic Director Coach Vince Dooley came to Tallahassee and interviewed me for the position of Head Coach of the UGA Bulldogs. After many hours of prayer, Coach Dooley called me and I accepted the position. We moved to Athens in January of 2001 and have truly been blessed. We have a great church, an outstanding school for the children and a wonderful staff. Throughout all of life I try to live according to COLOSSIANS 3:23 – “And whatever you do, do heartily, as to the LORD and not to men.”
I am so thankful to now live my life with peace.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Church Goes On
Several folks have texted me and asked if we are having services tomorrow.
OF COURSE!! We trust people to use their own judgement, be safe, and worship our great God.
Our policy at ADBC is we do not cancel services. We'll be there for as many folks can safely make it in!
See you tomorrow!
OF COURSE!! We trust people to use their own judgement, be safe, and worship our great God.
Our policy at ADBC is we do not cancel services. We'll be there for as many folks can safely make it in!
See you tomorrow!
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