Can you believe that Crosspoint is just a little over 10 months old?  It seems like yesterday it was January and we just launched the church.  And now we are getting ready to have our first Thanksgiving and Christmas season.  Of course we do not know what to expect as far as who will show up but one thing we know is that Jesus will show up and it is going to off the hook.  How do we know now that Jesus is showing up?  Because every week people’s lives are being changed.  Only Jesus can do that!

On another note, I am getting ready to have a meeting with our production team, where I will rollout the series for December and what I am going to be talking about for the whole month.  And let me tell you, I cannot wait for December.  I really believe that God is going to change our persepctive on how we see things this Christmas.  I am so pumped! 

Yesterday was awesome!  I was in Anderson, SC hanging out with Perry Noble and a bunch of other pastors. God has really been rocking my world and stretching me as leader since I have been in Perry’s coaching network.  God has anointed him and gifted him to motivate and encourage pastors to be all that God has created them to be.  I am grateful just to be in the network.

After leaving NewSpring, I stopped in Ashville, NC and ate with my friend Clayton King.  Clayton is one of godliest men I have ever met.  After sitting under Perry’s teaching for 6 hrs, I went and met with Clayton for 2 hrs. Clayton also took the time to teach me and pour into me as well.  Yesterday was like drinking from a fire hydrant!  After having “brain freeze” from all the information I was taught, I finally made it home at 12:30am. 

With that said, I am pumped about this weekend.  I really believe God is going to move and change people’s lives.  I encourage you to bring someone with you as we look at Jonah 2.

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I have been studying through 1 Corinthians and God has been challenging me like crazy.  I would like to share with you an entry in my journal that I titled “Hanging Out with Unbelievers”. 

I was reading 1 Cor. 5, where Paul was addressing sexual immorality.  There was a man in the church who begin to have a relationship with his step mother (I know, a Jerry Springer moment) and Paul told the church to remove him from the fellowship until he repents of his sin.  Then I came across verse 9 and Paul told the church not to associate with sexual immoral people.   The problem here is that some churches have taken this out of context and teach that we should be separated from the world and not associate with people who are unbelievers.  But if we put this verse in the right context, Paul is actually telling the church not to associate with a BELIEVER who is living a life of sexual immorality, not an unbeliever.  You may ask, “How do you know that?”  Keep reading verse 10, Paul told them he was not talking about people of this world (unbelievers).  To not associate with unbelievers you would have to leave this world and that is not possible. 

So what’s your point?  My point is we need to hang out with unbelievers!  Why? So they can see the love of Christ in us and hopefully respond to the gospel. 

Your church needs two things for it to grow healthy. You need people who do not have a relationship with Jesus and a clear presentation of the gospel.  Some churches present the gospel but they have no people in the pews that are far from God.  Why?  Because they do not associate with them!  Then you have churches who are packed out with tons of unbelievers but the church doesn’t clearly present the gospel.  You need both, unbelievers and the gospel to experience healthy growth.  I am sure there are other things you need but these two are key.

My challenge to you is to go after people who are far from God. Why? So they can become a follower of Jesus Christ.  Sound familiar?  It should because that is why Crosspoint Church exist!

I have not talked about politics on this blog yet and today I am going to share where I stand.  I have been thinking what to write and how to write it since last week.  Then my mentor (Perry Noble) said it as clear as it could be.  Here is what he said…

“I’ve just about had enough…and am so glad I left the country yesterday…that way I don’t have to listen to this crap anymore.

And no, I’m not talking about the politicians and their crazy adds on television that are right in line with a middle school “yo mama” fight!

I’m talking about the Christians who have prostituted themselves with the political process and taken their eyes off of Jesus as their Savior and put them on either McCain or Obama as their Savior.

It’s STUPID!  

Should we have a political opinion as Christians?  HECK YES!  Should we vote?  ABSOLUTELY!  I think a Christian who doesn’t vote is completely missing an opportunity that God has blessed us with as citizens of this country.

BUT…we can’t actually think that the salvation process is tied to who happens to be in the White House!

In reading through the Gospels the other day something HIT ME like a ton of bricks…the Jews missed the fact that Jesus was the Messiah because they were looking for someone to deliver them from the politics of Rome.

Let me say it more clearly–they missed Jesus because of politics!!!  (And religion as well…but that’s another post!)
For a Christian to claim that the world is going to be doomed to hell because a particular party happens to “control” the White House is a slap in the face of a Sovereign God.

He reigns!  Read through Scripture & it is so clear…God has used kings and princes that were sold out to Him…and He’s also used those who had no love for Him at all…all for HIS glory!

So…next Tuesday…go vote!  “For who,” you ask…well, here’s an idea…ask Jesus who to vote for…and then do what He says.  (Yes, it REALLY is that simple.)

Then…whoever gets elected…PRAY FOR THAT MAN OFTEN!  Even if the guy you want to win doesn’t…all the more reason to pray!

One more time…YES, we should have political opinions…and YES, it is OK if they are strong AND we believe in the cause…BUT PLEASE let’s not make the mistake of thinking that God is somehow limited by the policies and philosophies of a particular party!

HE REIGNS!  Always has, always will!”

There you have it…Be cool and go VOTE!