Blake Bouldin

Random Thoughts

I'm speaking about money this weekend and really looking forward to it.  Money is a crazy topic to discuss at church for some reason.  Church people rank money up there with sex and alcohol and other stuff and they really want you to be careful when you address it.  How do I know this?  I wish I could show you some of the e-mails that I have received in 6 years when I have talked about money or sex.  Personally I think it is crazy!  I mean if you can't talk about what Jesus talked about, then what can you talk about?  The church, in my opinion, is way to sanitized which is one of the main reasons we aren't reaching people like we could.  Frankly, I don't think people who don't have a relationship with God want a watered down, superficial discussion on "how to" something better.  I think they want to grapple with the big issues of life like addictions and financial pressures, and relationship struggles.  Jesus Christ dealt with all those issues head on.  The church should too! 

Since I am on the topic of money, I have been thinking lately of some things I could give up.  I don't know why this is but when I think of all that I have, it literally brings tears to my eyes.  I have so much and much of what I have I don't even use and some of the stuff I do use I don't need.  For example, I could give up my Starbucks coffee two or three times a week.  And I could sell my car for a lesser car and do something with the money.  I could get rid of half of what I have in my closet and take it down to the Salvation Army.  I could drink water from the tap instead of Aqua Fina.  Yea..I could get rid of a lot of things I don't need so that others could have more.  I should.  Jesus was constantly reminding His disciples that to follow Him means to sacrifice.  That's a message preached far too little these days.

Friday Night Prediction: Sun Valley 40 Porter Ridge 16

Real Quick. Everybody that reads my blog knows that I am a HUGE Sun Valley fan.  This does not, however, take away from the fact that I feel for the coach at Porter Ridge.  Recently, The Charlotte Observer did a story on their struggling football team.  Many of the folks that live and go to school in that area jumped at the chance to rip the coach.  I've read several "anonymous" critics on line.  I hate that for this coach because anytime you are losing it's hard enough without having to hear all the crap from arm chair quarterbacks.  I hope coach Arsdale will be able to turn that program around.  I also hope that "anonymous" critics will get off the band wagon and understand how hard it is to win at a 3 year old school.

See you Sunday! 

Show me the money!

Society's view of money captured by ASBO Jesus.

 

What are people looking for?

OK, I want you to imagine for a moment that you are a first time guest at a church.  But not only are you a first time guest, you are an unbeliever and this truly is your first time in church since you were a kid visiting with a friend.  What would you expect?  What should you expect?  Let me offer my thoughts.

1. A friendly but not overly friendly welcome.  People want to feel like they are important or that they matter.  It's like when you walk into a restaurant, you aren't really looking for people to applaud, but you would like the wait staff to acknowledge your presence.  The same is true when people come to church. Churches that have a well trained and organized team of people greeting say to guests, "not only are we glad you are here", but equally as important, "we were expecting you".

2. Directions.  I can remember my first day of High School.  Man was it a scary experience.  Part of what made it so scary was that I had no idea where I was going.  The students who were returning knew their way around, but I was completely lost.  This is the way people who haven't been to church before feel.  Churches that have poor sign-age and no one in place to help people know where to go say very subtly to guest...we really don't want you here.  "Excuse me, but could you please tell me what I am supposed to do with my kids?" isn't something we should ever hear when guest walk through our doors.

3. Excitement.  Have you ever been to a ballgame where half the seats were empty and the fans that were there just weren't into it?  (Gosh, what I am thinking this is Panther country)  Sure you have.  So you know how ridiculously awkward and uncomfortable it feels.  No one enjoys sitting in a stadium that is only half full with disinterested and uninspired fans.  The same is true when people come to church.  I have been to some of the most exciting churches where people are buzzing around and excited about what God is about to do.  And, unfortunately, I have been to churches where people straggle in and act like that it was torture just getting there.  I don't know about you but the latter approach, if I were a unbeliever, would say to me that God is extremely boring and uninspiring.  Nothing could be further from the truth. That's why I hate it when Christ followers act that way.

4. Relevance. Here is something interesting that I have noticed. I've noticed that when churches really get interested in creating relevant environments that deal with everyday issues, some of the old religious guard begin to bark that it's just not deep enough for them anymore.  Deep?  What does that mean anyway?  Some of the deepest truths in Christianity are as elementary as 2 + 2.  When I hear the word "deep" I think give me a break. Growing deeper in your relationship with God isn't the churches responsibility, it's yours. You can go as deep with God as you want OR you can choose to blame the church that it isn't providing what you need. That's your choice.  In my opinion, however, the church should be about providing relevant, challenging, life changing messages that inspire us to action not to contemplation.  Nothing...and I do mean nothing is less challenging and uninspiring than sitting and having to listen to someone talk miles over my head about things that won't mean a thing to me when my alarm clock goes off the next day.  And here's the deal, if that's the case for a believer, try and imagine how a relatively disinterested, uninspired unbeliever would feel. Scary isn't it?

5. Up to Date.  Let me explain.  About 8 years ago, I left a fortune 500 company that had state of the art everything to go to a smaller company for what I thought was a better career opportunity.  As it turns out, it was a move that ultimately led me into full time ministry.  One of the things that made me want to leave the company almost as soon as I arrived was how archaic they were in their approach to business.  Nothing was computerized.  They provided no cell phone allowance.  Prospecting was door to door without any help from technology.  Frankly, it was a joke.  What I experienced there is how people must feel when they walk into churches that haven't been updated in 25 years.  Now don't get me wrong, I am all for beautiful buildings and remembering our heritage, but let's get real.  If we are serious about reaching people, we have to relate to them from the vantage point of where they are today.  Black and white pictures of pastors from years gone by and hymnals and choir robes from 1966 don't do it.  Now what I am saying can make you mad or it can help you understand a little more clearly why a staggering 88% of children from Christian homes are leaving the church when they leave home for college.  My goodness, if the church isn't relating and retaining those we already have, how in the world can we expect to reach those who don't know or care about a relationship with God?

Until next time....

Compassion vs. Confrontation

I received quite a bit of feedback on my sermon yesterday on baptism.  One of the things that really hit people hard was my statement that "when it comes to unbelievers, compassion works better than confrontation".  I didn't have an hour to elaborate, but this is a huge subject that needs to be addressed.  Dan Kimball, pastor of Vintage Faith Church wrote a book entitled "They Like Jesus But Not The Church" and the whole emphasis is how society at large views Christianity.  It awakened me to the fact that militant Christianity does not work!

In fact, I was reading a blog recently about an author named Sam Harris who wrote a book called "Letter to a Christian Nation".  Harris' premise was basically all religion of any kind is bad because it contributes to wars and violence and militant behavior etc.. Now, as Christ followers, that might make us mad to hear, but you know what makes me mad?  The response to the book from Christ followers.  Check out this quote from Sam Harris.

"Thousands of people have written to tell me that I am wrong not to believe in God.  The most hostile of these communications have come from Christians.  This is ironic, as Christians generally imagine that no faith imparts the virtues of love and forgiveness more effectively than their own.  The truth is that many who claim to be transformed by Christ's love are deeply, even murderously, intolerant of criticism.  While we may want to ascribe this to human nature, it is clear that such hatred draws considerable support from the Bible.  How do I know this?  The most disturbed of my correspondents always cite chapter and verse." 

Dave Kinneman works for the "Barna Group" and not too long ago he reported what the perceptions are of unbelievers ages 16-29 are of Christians. It supports much of what Harris reports.  Here are the top 3 perceptions:

1. Christians are anti-homosexual: 91% of people surveyed said that they thought Christians were fixated on homosexuals and leveraging political power against them.

2. Christians are judgmental: 87% of people surveyed said that they doubt Christians really love people like we say we do.

3. Christians are hypocritical: 85% of those surveyed said that Christians don't act like they tell everybody else to act...with love and compassion.

What is my point?  My point is that Christ followers have some work to do.  Christ said be light!  Fill the world with hope.  Demonstrate my love.  Sacrificially serve.  Be kind.  Be compassionate.  Be forgiving.  Be filled with grace.  Show mercy.  Essentially, He said, Church be me!  From the looks of it, we (Christ followers) need to evaluate our strategy.  So,where does it start?  It starts by understanding the heart of an unbeliever.  And when it comes to unbelievers, compassion works so much better than confrontation!  Enough said....

Get All Excited, Go Tell Everybody....

"Get all excited go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is king" are lyrics to a song I used to sing when I was a kid.  I thought of it this morning when I logged on to my blog and saw that the number of people that are reading this thing has gone up dramatically in the last month.  I got all excited and thought of the song.  OK, you can call me stupid.  I can live with that.

This weekend is a very significant weekend at WCC.  We are hosting our first "WCC Live".  It will be our opportunity to update our fellowship on 3 significant things. 1. Budget 2. Staff  3. Calendar.  If you attend WCC and are living and in town this weekend don't miss this event!  We are providing spaghetti for FREE.  So don't use lunch as an excuse.  Don't use childcare either.  We have that covered.  Most of all don't you dare say you want to go home to watch the Panthers because they don't play until 4:15 pm.  Besides, they were pathetic last weekend.  Oh, and while we are on the subject, just in case God hasn't revealed this to you, I will. As long as the vast majority of Charlotte's wine and cheese crowd continue to miss church every time the Panthers have a home game, we'll never win the Super Bowl.  When the Bible says "Don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together..." I can guarantee you it wasn't talking about assembling at Bank of America Stadium.  Go to church and pray for the Panthers people!  Then go to the game!  They need all the prayers they can get, and more importantly, people need to be in church! OK, enough of my soapbox......

A couple more things before I shut my blogging mind off for the weekend.  Saturday Angie and I are hosting a small group leaders meeting at our house.  We are introducing the new lay leader of this ministry when we get together.  I am pumped!  It looks like we have a great group coming too which indicates that our small group ministry is growing.  No joke...let me encourage you, if you aren't already a part of a small group, get in one. I absolutely LOVE my small group and can't wait for Wednesday's to come so we can all get together.  I bet, if you will make the effort to get involved in a group, it won't be long before you feel the same way.  What is it Rick Warren says?  Oh yea, "We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God's purpose by ourselves."  Dang he's smart!

Lastly, Sunday I am preaching on Baptism.  What an important topic.  What a misunderstood ordinance.  I guarantee you this weekend we will clear up some stuff for a bunch of people.  Don't miss it!  Until then, I hope your weekend gets started off right.  I hope your favorite team wins.  And most of all I hope I see your smiling face on Sunday! Adios.

Be Unreasonable

Rod Millet and I are reading a great book by Paul Lemberg.  The title of the book is Be Unreasonable.  I heard a pod cast by Lemberg and I thought..."I got to go get that book".  Interestingly enough there is a guy by the name of Clark Mitchell who pastors in Oklahoma.  Recently, I read one of his blogs and he has already read the book.  In the blog he shared what he had learned.  I could share with you what I have learned, but honestly what he says is what I would say.  This is great stuff.  Go get the book.  Here is what I have and am learning.  Thanks Clark.

• Expect the best from your team! As unreasonable as it seems, expect the best from those around you. Expect them to be successful! Count on it. Plan for it. Budget for it. Expecting the best give you the highest likelihood of getting it. Begin with the optimal scenario and truly grasp how to ensure it happens. Expecting the worst has a similar, but opposite effect.
• The great thing about being backed into the corner is the only place to go is forward. Don't be afraid of the corner! Don't let the corner defeat you!
• A conservative model produces conservative results! That doesn't mean not to use wisdom, but wisdom isn't always reasonable!
• Be afraid. If you're not a little scared, you're not doing anything worthwhile. All great ventures contain within them an element of risk and the promise of failure as well as success. If your not at least a little afraid, you're probably not doing anything that will ever be called great!
• It is only when things to cease to go well that we are forced to switch gears and look for solutions in unreasonable places. If only we could get ahead of the curve instead.

Good stuff huh?  Oh and if you are wondering what the picture is at the top of the page.  It's an unreasonable speed limit.  Have a good one!!

What Would Jesus Do?

I didn't hear or see it on the Emmy's, but I have since been informed about what Kathy Griffin said about Jesus when she accepted her emmy for My Life On The D-List.  Here is part of the quote:

"Lots of people come up here and they thank Jesus for this award.  I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus.  So all I can say is s--k it Jesus.  This award is my god now."

Now obviously this is blasphemous!  And obviously I disagree.  I mean think about this, 94% of America's founding era documents mention the Bible. 34% quote the Bible directly.  How can any well educated person not understand that the freedoms we enjoy in America are directly related to Jesus Christ who died on a cross 2,000 years ago? Her words are illogical.  Even if she doesn't believe in Jesus, from a historical perspective, she surely must understand that the luxuries of being able to pursue her career and to obtain wealth, and to live like she does are all made possible by the very God that she chose to fulminate against.

But what should our response as Christ followers be?  What would Christ's response be?  I think His words in Matthew 5 give us some indication. Jesus says:

"You are familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.'  I'm challenging that.  I'm telling you to love your enemies.  Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.  When someone gives you a hard time, respond with energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.  This is what God does.  He gives his best--the sun to warm and the rain to nourish--to everyone regardless: the good and bad, the nice and the nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus?  Anybody can do that."

And then He says:

"In a word what I'm saying is GROW UP.  You're kingdom subjects.  Now live like it.  Live out your God-created identity.  Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

I know what Kathy Griffin said was wrong and out of line.  But I have been wrong and out of line 1,000 times myself.  God's response to me has always been forgiveness.  He's always chosen to love me even when I was unlovable.  Isn't that what He has called us to do?  There is no excuse for what Kathy Griffin said.  But here's a question to consider: Do Christ followers stand a better chance of introducing her to our Savior by ripping her for her mistake or by loving her?  I think we all know the answer.  The question is will we do it? 

Jesus said: "Let me give you a new command: Love one another.  In the same way I have loved you, you love one another.  This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples--when they see the love you have for others."  John 13:31-35

Exchanging Religion For the Mission of God

WCC we had a great day yesterday!!  We had over the top record attendance for the youth! They literally packed the house!  And what about the energy they bring?  Man, I love those kids and I love the opportunity to be able to share God's love with them.  Oh, and don't let me forget, Trevor absolutely rocked the house with the service he put together!  In 6 years at WCC I can't remember a service as captivating as the one Trevor did yesterday.  Trev...all I can say is you make me proud!

Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California is starting a new series this month called "Don't Be A Christian: Exchanging Religion for the Mission of God".  I absolutely love the concept.  What they want to do is to compare and contrast the suburban middle class consumer Christian with the Christian described in the Bible.  There is such a huge difference in the two that they think it is worth discussing.  I do too.  In fact, I think about this all the time, but do churches today really reflect the church that Christ intended or created in the New Testament?  Check out these series titles which help answer that question:

Week #1: Worshiping: Don't be a consumer-Be a worshiper.  Man, I would love to preach on this one because this gets right to the heart of the matter.  Trevor wrote a song a few years back with lyrics that read, "All I have to offer, I give it all to you" These lyrics were written to describe what worship is supposed to look like.  Unfortunately, if these lyrics reflected our culture they would more accurately read like this, "All you have to offer, please give it all to me."  In other words, "I" want the best you got because "I" want good worship.  In six years of pastoring I have never, not once, ever had anyone ask me how they could become a better worshiper, but I have had scores of people tell me how they thought we could become better at worship. Crazy right?  It is driven by consumerism.

Week #2: Community: Don't go to church-Be the Church.  I love this one too.  What a misconception it is to think that somehow a building with 4 walls and a sign out front represents the Church. No, the Church is made up of a community of people committed to represent Christ in His absence. We, the Body, are literally His hands and His feet.  As such, our mission should never be centered on bricks and mortar, but instead it should be laser focused on being an accurate reflection of Christ in the world.

Week #3: Missional: Don't exist in the bubble-Be in the world.  Think about this for a second.  What would our churches look like if they REALLY began reaching lost people in the world instead of garnering other church hopping "Christians"?   Here is what I think.  I think we would have a lot more "outwardly" messed up people in church on Sunday mornings.  These people would more readily admit that they have problems with addictions and sexual preferences and other sins that "Christians" keep very secret for fear that they might be judged by other "Christians."  I think people would question more and trust less what the guy up front said because they wouldn't have been raised in a religious culture that taught them not to question.  I think people would be far less judgmental of those who didn't look and act like they did.  I think we would be criticized by other churches and "Christians" for the methods we use and the things we allow.   I think we would have "churched people" complaining about wanting to go deeper and not being fed which in reality would mean "I am extremely uncomfortable".  That is what I think our churches would look like. The reality is this: When Jesus said "Go", He didn't mean go and hibernate or go and isolate...He meant go and integrate.  That is what being missional is about.

What is your treasure?

Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:19-21

When I read this passage the question that penetrates my mind is What is my treasure? What's yours?  For Jesus, the thing he treasured most in the world were lost people.  People who did not have a relationship with him.  It's what drove him to tell the stories that he told and go the places that he went.  It's what drove him to argue with the religious "elites" about such sacred subjects as work on the Sabbath.  I love it when Jesus says to a group of men trying to make him out to be a bad guy because he is working on the Sabbath, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?  How much more valuable is a man than a sheep?  Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath!" In other words, Jesus was saying, "you guys are so steeped in your stupid traditions and your way of doing things, you have forgotten what the treasure is...the treasure is lost people!

So what's your treasure?  The quickest way to find out is to listen to your heart. Your heart dictates what you do and where you go.  It is what directs who you spend time with and who you don't. It directs where you spend your money and what you spend your money on. So do some introspection.  What's your treasure?  Let me end this blog with a principle that I learned from a guy by the name of Vince Antonucci.  Check out this quote.

"We find God’s heart for lost people by being around lost people, and we lose it when we’re not. So here’s the question I continually have to ask myself: What can I do to get myself around lost people? Because if I’m going to improve at reaching lost people, I need to understand and have God’s heart for them."

Random Thoughts

My wife just sent me a "You Tube" video about children suffering with cancer.  I know that seems morbid, but our niece Abbie had a malignant brain tumor 3 years ago and since then our hearts have gone out to children who get this terrible disease.  Abbie is in full remission now and for that we can say "Thank you God!"  but there are so many children that don't make it.  As I watched the video I couldn't help being filled with emotion.  I thought of how I would love to hold each one of those children in my arms and say "it's gonna be alright. You are going to make it."  Watching children suffer is so hard.

Speaking of children, I am so proud of mine.  My son Bryson is a freshman at Sun Valley and on the JV football team there.  I say I hate to brag...but that's a lie.  Bryson is absolutely tearing it up.  He plays wide receiver and I think he is the leading receiver on the team.  I know he has scored 2 touchdowns in the last 3 games.  That's pretty dang good if you ask me.  I gave him the ultimate compliment the other night after they lost to Weddington when I said "Bryson, you are far better than I ever was!"  That is so different than what he has heard growing up.  My mantra to my boys has always been that next to God I am the strongest man in the world and nobody can beat me.  Crazy, I know.  But my dad told me early on that if I can convince my boys at a young age that I am "all that", when they get older, they'll still believe it.  Bryson knows better now, but I think I still have Brett and Brad fooled.

Kudos to my man Trevor.  I have people ask me from time to time what does Trevor do?  Well, in a nutshell he does a lot.  He plans our services. He arranges and composes the music we sing.  He rehearses with the musicians.  He does our IT stuff.  He creates most of the videos that you see.  He produces the trailer we run before each service.  Make no mistake about it.  Trevor is one busy man.  Couple that with the fact that he has just added a new addition to his family and life is pretty hectic right now.  This week, Trevor has been working on the "Ignite" service we are doing for our youth this Sunday.  (By the way, if you have youth...send them to this.  It starts at 9:00 am and is going to ROCK!!)  But anyway, Trevor is doing all the music and the message this week for that service and so I have probably said 3 words to him all week.  He has been working his rear off to get it all ready. I love that! I may not say this all the time, but I think Trevor is the best worship leader in Charlotte and feel extremely blessed that we have him.  He and I have been together for 6 years now and the longer we work together, the more I appreciate what he does.  If you see Trevor this weekend and get a chance to talk to him, tell him thanks!  He deserves it.

Still counting em down until Sunday and the WCC Invitational.  I have been praying for a big day!  I hope you have too!  Until then....keep Investing and Inviting.  Later.