Big Apple Adventure

The time has come to learn our songs for VBS this year....

Big Apple Adventure Practice Video from Empowered Kids on Vimeo.

By Faith (Practice) from Empowered Kids on Vimeo.

Love You More (Practice) from Empowered Kids on Vimeo.

Why Don't You from Empowered Kids on Vimeo.

I Will from Empowered Kids on Vimeo.

Live It Out from Empowered Kids on Vimeo.

Why Worship?

I will worship God today because it is good and right to do so.

I will worship God today, not because of what it will do for me, or because it is popular, or because it is Sunday, or because I like the worship music, but for the simple reason that I was made to do this. To worship God is what I am here for.

Worship is not an asset. It is not an added benefit to my life like working out or taking vitamins. Nor is it a secret formula that will add a deeper dimension to my life. Worship is raw. Basic. Worship is the air I breathe. It is the blood pumping through my veins. It is the cells in my body that reproduce and keep me alive for this. Everything else I do is extemporaneous. To worship God is the root of my being. To not worship is to miss the fundamental reason for my existence.

Worship is what happens when you get in touch with God. Something about it is automatic. When any human being encountered a vision of God in the Bible, the same thing happened: they hit the dirt. It was the natural response. Some of that was fear, some of that was worship as expressed by awe and respect. Much of it was feeling little and insignificant in His sight. That's part of worship too, because we are. That's why it is so amazing that He is mindful of us. That He even notices us. (Psalm 8)

And because He loves us so much, and knows how far away we can stray from our stated purpose, and how much damage we can do to ourselves and others in the process, He has commanded us to worship Him. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Luke 10:27). That's not because He is arrogant, but because He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our fulfillment is in Him. The Rolling Stones get it right every time they sing it: “I can't get no satisfaction.” That's because there is no ultimate satisfaction until God is in His rightful place in our lives.

Think of it as God commanding us to do what we were meant to do. God is commanding us to do the one thing that will make us deeply satisfied and forever fulfilled. That's a twist, because we're so used to laws being overbearing, backbreaking spoilers of our fun. This is a law that commands us to do what will be our delight for now and for eternity.

by John Fischer

Called to Worship

Balanced Worship

Do you have a preferred “style” of worship? In some churches only a piano and organ are allowed for accompaniment, and if it isn’t in the hymnal, it isn’t sung. In other churches the drummer sits behind a Plexiglas wall so as to not overpower the band. Whatever the instruments used, some people prefer a quieter, contemplative service while others are attracted to a more lively celebratory style.

Which is right? Neither and both.

Neither is right if it is all a person experiences. If every worship time is contemplation, or every worship time is celebration, that is not right. What is modeled in the Bible, which is the right arbitrator of such
discussions, is a balance of reverent celebration and reverent contemplation. It may seem that hand clapping and knee bending don’t mix, but they do when we have a biblical balance in our worship.

The words of contemplative worship are found in a popular praise song: “Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our God, our Maker.” It is a quiet, reflective song, with words from Psalm 95.

But the psalm begins with, “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock, our salvation.” Those are the words of celebration. Sing and shout aloud!

Psalm 95 calls us to both contemplation and celebration. Our life of worship is lived not at the extremes. It is not to be an “either/or” but a “both/and” balance.

Consider your time of worship. Do you at times sing and shout aloud in celebration? Do you at times also bow down and kneel? If you are doing only what you prefer, remember, God wants us to be worshipers who both celebrate and contemplate.

Looking forward to seeing you in corporate worship this Sunday!

Kevin

Potential

The Bible teaches in Ecclesiastes that there is a time and a season for everything under heaven. I am excited about THIS time and THIS season! Anyone I have ever spoken to and mentioned FBC Holly Springs has immediately talked about the potential of this church to greatly impact this community for the kingdom of God. We all have potential.

The dictionary defines potential in a variety of ways:

1. possible, as opposed to actual
2. capable of being or becoming
3. a latent excellence or ability that may or may not be developed.
4. someone or something that is considered a worthwhile possibility

When we think of potential, there is hope and great promise. But potential is only the beginning of the equation! In all of the definitions listed above, there is an opposite to potential. There is a seed yet to germinate, a light switch yet to turn on the power, an engine yet to be started. There is great potential, but that alone gets you nowhere.

In the movie, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium there is a great exchange between Molly Mahoney and the wonderful Mr. Magorium:

Molly Mahoney: I'm stuck!
Mr. Edward Magorium: Oh, to my floor?
Molly Mahoney: No, sir.
Mr. Edward Magorium: Then what?
Molly Mahoney: Like a person. You remember when I was a little girl and I could play Rahmaninov's Second Piano Concerto and everyone was talking about my potential?
Mr. Edward Magorium: Mhm.
Molly Mahoney: Well, I am 23 now and everyone's still talking about my potential but if you ask me to play the song I know best... I'll still play Rachmaninov's Second.
Mr. Edward Magorium: May I suggest you stun the world with Molly Mahoney's First?


My boys started football camp this week and I loved the motto on shirts I saw there: "Be Uncommon". What a challenge! Move from potential to the realized actual of all we are gifted and called to be. Step fully into the life overflowing that Jesus came to give (John 10:10).

As a church, we have enormous potential. What can you and I do TODAY that will move us toward the actuality of impacting Holly Springs, Cherokee County, the USA, and the world with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ?

There are some great challenges coming soon. My first challenge to our church is this: EVERYONE needs to be connected to a small group Bible study. If you have never attended what we call "Sunday School" or "Life Application Bible Study" or "Connection Groups", then NOW is the time. Plan on it. Get up a little earlier and come ready to connect at 9:30 on Sunday mornings. You will find real people with real problems and a very real love for the ONE who loves you and I more than we can imagine, even in the midst of our "stuff". Now is the time. If you don't come, we will call or contact and invite you to come. We will persist, because this is what God has called and equipped us to do...pursue each other the same way He pursues us!


I love you all and can't wait until Sunday!


Kevin