Childcare will be provided.

Sunday, December 23rd
5:00pm
Mills Park Middle School

This will be our only service on the 23rd.  

Coming to a church plant was something that excited me because it would put my in my “sweet spot”. I would get to be in on something at the ground level. The DNA level. The systems I would have input in would help create a foundation for the future! It was an incredible thought.

In all of the creating and examining, I can get very lost in my own systems. Lately, the Holy Spirit has been gently reminding me of something that, much to my chagrin, I had neglected. He has been reminding me of the importance of prayer. In fact, the utmost importance of prayer!

It began when I picked up a book that was written when I was a teenager entitled Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, by Jim Cymbala. If you knew the circumstances by which I stumbled upon the book, you would say that it was one of those Holy Spirit moments! As I read the book and looked at Scripture, the Holy Spirit began to gently convict me that I had not been spending enough time still before Him, asking Him to move, and asking Him to start a revival in my own heart.

As my heart began to turn towards an attitude of prayer, I began to feel the presence of God in a new way. I found myself taking thoughts captive and running to Him when difficult circumstances arose. I found myself experiencing a “peace that passes all understanding” because I was “casting my cares on Him”. It was refreshing, releasing, and renewing! I no longer felt burdened by trying to produce results.

My dad once told me a story about the church I grew up in. The church had found itself in some financial trouble and there wasn’t a lot of certainty that the bills would be paid. When the Pastor told one of his Associate Pastors, the Associate kicked his heels on his desk and said “Well, we get to see how God is going to get us out of this one!” That has stuck with me through the years and I have longed to have the same attitude without having to work it up. I have found that the secret to consistently having this attitude is a strong prayer life.

I don’t want you to think that I have figured this whole thing out and that nothing bothers me anymore. I don’t want to give the impression that once I started praying everything fell into place and things now work just the way I want them to. What I do want you to hear is that while I still have struggles, bad days, and catch myself trying to fix things by myself; prayer has radically changed my life. I have seen and heard God more clearly because I have made a point to “be still and know” that He is God. I find it easier to rely on His power instead of my own and let Him take care of the results, and I find it enjoyable to see him work through difficult circumstances in my life. I have been able to more consistently have an attitude that draws attention to Him rather than the problems I face, and have discovered that a lot of the things I deemed as urgent where not important.

I am praying for you, Creek Church. That the Holy Spirit would gently call you to pray. To pray for those who do not know Christ, to pray that God awaken hearts in NW Cary to the Gospel, and to pray that a great revival would start in your own heart. I know it has in mine. Would you join me?

• I am learning. I always want to be pressed into the Lord and allow him to filter what I am learning from what is the latest fad to what will really help in carrying out the mission of God. I have been learning some new lessons, reminded of old lessons, and challenged by the honor of being both a sheep and a shepherd at the same time. I don’t want the learning to stop or my heart to be closed to lessons my pride won’t allow me to see. I have many opportunities to learn at The Creek – sometimes immediately and sometimes progressively - and I am grateful them all.

• Salvation and Restoration. I recently went to Chick Fil A with a guy who I have been praying for 3 years. Actually, his wife, my wife and I, along with countless others, have been praying for this guy, Tim, to get saved. Three weeks ago God saved him right in front of me. This never gets old! I remember saying to our wives 3 years ago, “One day he is going to get saved and I am going to baptize him in Jordan Lake. “ Guess what? His wife and I will baptize him September 23^rd at Jordan Lake. There is nothing like seeing someone get saved and what it does to their families. I have had a front row seat to this and I love it. Not only will we baptize Tim, but several others who have made a decision to follow Christ!

• My “Kitchen Table Tuesdays”. I have had many meals with my family at our kitchen table. However, I am not talking about a meal. I am talking about a study. A bible study for ladies that my kids and I see every week in our home. These are ladies – from all types of spiritual maturity – who come to our house to study the bible with Dana. Our family is seeing lives, marriages, and relationships restored at the table on Tuesdays. I love Kitchen Table Tuesdays.

• Triads. I have known for sometime there was a pillar missing at The Creek. I believe this pillar is Triad Groups. These groups consist of 3 men or 3 women who simply live life together. They meet several times a month to push, encourage, and challenge each other to grow in Christ. God has brought a couple here, Joshua and Raquel Rogers, who have been a part of Triad Groups for years. So, this coming week we will have 4 Triad Groups up and running at The Creek for the purpose of becoming a follower of Jesus not just a fan.

I hope that you are encouraged in knowing that God is moving at The Creek Church. There will always be challenges, but its up to us whether those challenges distract us or fine-tune our focus.

I don’t always like going to the eye doctor but I love the end result. Thank you God for fine-tuning my focus, because your mission is too important to miss!

But, let me tell you why I am so excited about The Creek Church. I spent some time over lunch with a member of The Creek this week. I almost cancelled on him because it was an extremely busy day, but my wife, who is a great encouragement to me, gently reminded me that people are why I am in the ministry. So, I went. I am so glad I went.

We met around 12:30 and just began to talk, I wasn’t trying to recruit him for any position we needed filled or asking him for help with some ideas, I was just there to encourage him. I left lunch that day ready to take on any issue or difficulty because of the attitude he had. He was all about Jesus. Not a particular church, not any pastor or staff member, he was all about Jesus. Let me tell you why this encourages me so much.

We live in a “Rock Star” world. I recently watched a news clip of a young guy who hired his own entourage and paparazi crew to follow him around New York for a day. The reaction was incredible. He signed autographs, posed for pictures, and had people tell him they loved him in movies he had been in and singles he had written on the radio. The funny thing is, he is not an actor or musician. He is just a regular Joe. It was a social experiment and his findings back up the idea that we are obsessed with celebrity and fame.

We as Christians today follow our favorite Pastor, Preacher, or Teacher with the same obsession. We attend a church because it has some celebrity status, or we follow a particular orator because he or she is the flavor of the month. What we fail to realize is that we are setting up idols for ourselves. We are worshipping false gods.

Meeting with this man from The Creek was so refreshing because he talked about Jesus. I told Pastor Matt, that if this guy was the last and only guy coming to The Creek I would still do it week in and week out. That is why I am so excited about The Creek, people are being pointed to Jesus. People are growing in love with Jesus. Students are talking to their parents about Jesus. New believers are sharing their faith with anything that breathes. People are wanting to obey Christ through baptism. Marriages are being saved from the brink of disaster and healed through Jesus. New volunteers are stepping up and serving selflessly.Triad groups are starting all over the place to simply do life together. I am excited because people like the guy I had lunch with are getting it, they are chasing after the savior and inviting everyone they meet to chase after Him too.

This isn’t happening in some other country, or state, or city. It is happening right here, in our little church. Get excited people, things are just getting good!

Well, 2 years ago I was fishing with one of my best buddies, Jared Brogden. It was evening time, and we were just killing the bass (that means we were catching them at a rapid pace). I only had a couple casts left so I wanted to make them count. I threw my spinner bait right alongside the bank and within two seconds, I hooked in to “the” monster bass. This fish was by far the biggest bass that I have ever had on my line. So I began fighting him and eventually I get him close to the bank and our eyes met. He knew I had em’ and he was not happy. Soon after I gazed in to his eyes, I lowered my hand to lip him and he fell off in very shallow water. And without even thinking – you guessed it – I dove in to the lake and tried to grab the fish, but he squirmed out of my hands. I then lifted my head out of the water, depressed, thinking that I just lost the biggest bass in my life. But then, I see him there, still in the shallow water, weak from the fight that he just put in on my line. I urgently approached the fish, grabbed him, and then chucked him on the bank.

Let me tell you something, he wasn’t a happy camper. I was, but he wasn’t. He was hating life. He had no joy and he had no freedom.  Do you know why? He was out of the water. As we all know, fish have been designed to live in the water. They’ve been wired to do life in the water. And whenever they are not operating in that way, there is no freedom and joy in their lives – only conflict, stress and disharmony.

The same goes with us as human beings, the pinnacle of God’s creation. Some of us are missing out on true freedom, life and joy because we have stepped out of the water. Think of the water as God’s purpose for us – living a life of worship. When we step out of the water on to the shore of the world, true joy, a sense of purpose, and satisfaction leaves us. Why? Because we are not operating in the way God has intended us to operate. Only in the water will we find true life. Only in the water will we find true joy. Stay in it, or jump in it.

Scriptures to reflect on: John 10:10; Colossians 3:17

I LOVE BEING YOUR PASTOR. 

When I was in seminary a pastor spoke in chapel who was introduced as Dr. Phil Qualls, my father in law. He quickly corrected them by saying, “I do not have a doctorate. I am a pastor.”

I have earned a Master of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry both from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. These degrees are what I have accomplished; being the Pastor of The Creek Church is what the Lord has accomplished. All of these degrees do not come close to the calling of serving as your pastor.

I love being the pastor at The Creek Church because I love the people he has called me to pastor.

I LOVE THE HAHN FAMILY

Matt and Erica will be leaving in August for Columbia, SC. Matt will be pastoring Awaken Church. On July 22^nd and 29^th we will take a special love offering for the Hahn family. Please pray about the amount the Lord will have you give this month to this family. Let us demonstrate we are a sending church by blessing this family. You can also give to the Hahn family online at  www.thecreekchurch.org. 

SERVE YOUR CITY – August 20^th – 24^th 

I am so excited about the opportunity to serve our city. From partnering with Global Hope India to feeding families at the Ronald McDonald House is Chapel Hill, our week will be filled with opportunities for you and your families to make a difference in our cities. Check out website frequently for details and to register your family. Do not miss this opportunity to be a light!

LIVE OUT THE GOSPEL

Last Summer our Huddle Group hosted a backyard bible club in our house. We invited our whole neighborhood and God brought kids to our home to hear about the Gospel each night. On Saturday morning, after the week long BYBC, one mom and her daughter came knocking on our door with a giant cookie that said, “THANK YOU.” Her mom recently said, “When we drive by your house my daughter tells me the story of Jonah because you guys taught it to her.”

What are you doing this Summer as a family with the Gospel? I want to encourage you to do something in your neighborhood with the Gospel. Host a backyard bible club, a block party, or cookout. Live out the Gospel in your neighborhood this summer.

PRAY FOR THE CREEK

I ask you to pray for the elders and staff at The Creek as we seek the wisdom from Jesus as we lead our church. Please pray for the Hahns as they move to Columbia, and for Kelli Creswell as she ministers in New York . I believe our best days are before us and I am so thankful that we are sending people out to proclaim the Gospel. Keep praying the Lord will help us get better before we get bigger.

Oh, and don’t forget…..I LOVE being your pastor.

He said to them, ”Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” Luke 8:25

There are two questions in this verse that, I believe, are two of the most important questions ever asked. We have the scene of a group of avid fisherman in a boat, in a sea, in a storm, terrified. This was a huge deal. They wake the “Master” and He rebukes the storm. Everything becomes calm.

Now you would think that Jesus would say something encouraging like “It’s ok” or “Come, let me give you a hug”. Instead he, rather pointedly asks “Where is your faith?”. This is the question Jesus asks? Now?

He was, as he always was, getting at the deepest levels of who we are. What or whom is our trust in? These men had just seen the miraculous healing of the centurion’s servant and the dead man in Nain. They had heard the teachings of Christ, yet they still didn’t get it. Our faith is only as good as what we put it in and we, like the disciples, have so much history to look at when it comes to Christ, yet we put our faith in frivolous things. Our bank accounts, our health, our government, our military. Rarely the one whom even the winds and waves obey.

Which brings us to our next question. “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water and they obey Him?” Now this is the crux. Who is Jesus? A good teacher? A prophet? A lunatic? Our answer to this question says everything about us. It is the most important answer we will ever have to give. Make no mistake Jesus left no room to be a good teacher, he is either the Messiah or he was crazy.

If we truly know who Christ is, if we esteem Him as he ought to be, if we would put our whole faith in Him, the storm no longer matters, only the one riding out the storm in the boat with us.

Where is your faith? Who is this that even the winds and waves obey Him? How we answer these two questions will dictate whether or not we weather the storm.

When I read the Scriptures I am amazed at how often God speaks. He speaks to His people, through His people, and for His people. He is constantly speaking. This should tell us something about God. One, he is not silent, two he has something to say! In other words, when God speaks his isn’t just adding to the noise, he is cutting through it. He never speaks without having something to say.

What about us? When I say “us” I mean those who follow Christ. Do we always have something worthwhile to say when we open our mouths? Is what we say worth listening to? Are we imitating God as Ephesians 5:1 instructs us? Is our speech full of grace as Colossians 4:6 commands us? Are we saying anything worthwhile at all?

With everything that is going on in our world, I believe that we (the Bride of Christ) MUST have something to say! We must cut through the noise with the Hope we have in Christ. When we open our mouths to speak we should have something to say. Something worth listening to.

Challenge yourself this week to have something to say. Don’t pass on the opportunity to share love or hope, to share the Gospel, to speak peace into someone’s life, to build up others (Ephesians 4:29), to share the truth. We cannot forget who we are in Christ, what we have found in Him, what he has given us charge to share with others. I believe we could shake our neighborhoods to their core if we had something to say.