Elevation

The Gift of Perspective

jeremullet — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:21:16 +0000

One of my great friends, Stephen Snyder, just got back from South Africa where he spent a few weeks helping missionaries in a squatter camp. You can read more about it here.

He shared a bit of his trip to our students last Wednesday night and one part of his story really struck home with me.

He told the story of a young man, about 17, who he got to know while he was there. This young man had been through more than any old man would want to. He was on his own. He had seen his aunt burned alive by a group of men, he had been abused by his dad, and he was now completely on his own.

Stephen shared how this young man called him over one night and asked Stephen if there was anything he could pray about for him. Needless to say Stephen was floored. This young man asked to pray for Stephen. Unbelievable.

You know what this young man wants more than anything? To learn to read so he can read the Bible. Unreal. This kid has seen more than many of us will in our entire lives and he simply wants to know Christ more.

One thing I have learned in my short life is this… perspective is everything. I get physically sick sometimes at the things we get upset about. The pressures we crack under. We have no idea what hardship is. We have no idea what it is to be starving, yet we say that we are everyday we eat lunch late.

So the next time we update our facebook status with how our worlds our falling apart because we had a bad day, our friends have hurt us, or our relationships don’t work out, remember this. There is a young man in South Africa who wants to learn to read so he can know Christ more.

Chick-fil-a

jeremullet — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:03:42 +0000

I visited a Chick-fil-a today with my family. As usual we had a great time. I was sitting there watching my daughter play in the indoor playground and saw a case of moist towlettes hanging on the wall right beside the door of the playground. I was really impressed by this. I looked at my wife and said “I am going to write a post about what the church can learn from Chick-fil-a.” Well, a few hours later and here you have it.

Chick-fil-a is incredible. I have never had a bad time in Chick-fil-a, they are always well staffed, always say “My pleasure”, always clean, the food is unreal (especially the nuggets), and they are prepared for their guests!

Now I could probably stop right there and let you carry the analogies over, but there is so much more I want to say! Well at least a few more lines.

They know who they are serving and they make every effort to make their guests comfortable, from moist towlettes on the walls and those really good mints, to having people come by to fill your cup or carry your tray to the table. They go out of their way to make sure you want to come back.

Think hard, have you ever had a bad Chick-fil-a experience?

What if people would say the same thing about your church?

Generations

jeremullet — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:05:01 +0000

We had our first Generations, a family worship experience, at Elevation last Wednesday. We had right at 300 show up and worship together. Children of all ages, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, you name it we had it. Everyone but the family pet. It was great!

Check out what my wife had to say about it and some pictures from the event here.

You need to make plans to come to our next Generations!

Compassion Weekend

jeremullet — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:47:56 +0000

There is an old hymn that says “and they will know that we are Christians by our love.” In this simple line to a song that may not be sung very much anymore, there is great truth. The world should know that we are Christians by our love. Love is a funny thing. It comes in all shapes and sizes and, many times, in ways we least expect it to. We see love when Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and when he turns over the tables in the temple. I show love when I hold my kids after they fall and when I discipline them. Love is wonderful, it is extravagant, it is too much for us to fully comprehend.

This weekend we are going to show love in many different ways to our community and our world. From cleaning bathrooms at the pregnancy center and running a basketball camp for neighborhood kids, to partnering with Compassion and sponsoring children all over the world. This isn’t a fund raiser or a scalp hunt. This is so that they might know that we are Christians by our love and that God would be glorified.

We invite you to join us. Come out and help us reach out to our community and tell the world that Jesus lives!

Contact us for information on how you can help!
Elevation@gsdurham.com
919-286-2281

Worth it

jeremullet — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:08:37 +0000

I have been astounded by God the last few months of my life. Not by material blessing or answered prayer, but just by Him. I have been continually reminded that even without his blessings, or his stuff, that He is worth it!

I wonder if more often than not we get enamored with God’s stuff instead of with Him. He is the greatest good in the universe and yet we just focus on what he gives us (or doesn’t give us). This really convicted me a few weeks ago. I wasn’t ungrateful for what God had given me, I just kept wanting more. Not of Him but more of his stuff.

The one thing that keeps exploding in my mind every day is that He is worth it! Just Him. Just God. Just His presence. Just Him. He is worth it!

I have found a great treasure. A great freedom, and peace, and comfort in remembering this every day, He is worth it. I challenge you to stop focusing on Gods stuff. Stop praying for safety and security. Pray for His Kingdom, His purposes, His move in the lives of those around you. After all, He is not safe…but He is good.

The Super Bowl

jeremullet — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:33:43 +0000

If you had five tickets to the Super Bowl would you go alone? Of course not. You would invite your closest friends to go with you. Why? Its the chance of a lifetime, its more fun with friends, you want to share the wealth, and it would be a waste to go by yourself.

This Sunday, Easter Sunday, more people will attend church than all the sporting events combined for the entire year. This is one day when many people are more likely to say yes to an invitation to church.

This is it, the day we celebrate a risen Savior, our one true hope, a day when the life changing Gospel should and will be preached without apology. The day that could change your friends and acquaintances lives forever.

You have an ubandance of tickets. Will you go to the Super Bowl alone? Will you let the seat beside you stay empty? Will you pass up an opportunity to help someone meet Jesus.

Invite anyone and everyone to church this Easter. You could see the miracle of salvation happen right before your eyes.

Project Haiti

jeremullet — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:06:43 +0000

Join our team this August as we impact the poorest country in the world with the Gospel of Christ. Through orphan care, medical teams, and construction, we will proclaim the Gospel to a people who need the hope only Christ can give.

This will not be an easy trip. It will break you, but it will change your life forever. We aren’t looking for professionals, just the willing. Join our team and impact lives as yours is changed forever.

For trip details click here.

Come and Listen

jeremullet — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:56:36 +0000

God is moving in my life. God is moving in my wife’s life.

I am not talking about good quiet times, or consistent prayer. I am talking about a genuine move in which my wife and I are being changed. We are being dramatically changed. We are being ruined. Isaiah had a similar experience when he saw the God seated on a throne, exalted. I have to tell you it is the greatest feeling in the universe to be ruined by a Holy, Holy, Holy, God. I believe with all my heart that God is preparing us for something huge! I don’t know what it is going to be, where it is going to be, or when it is going to be, but I know that it is going to be great.

I have never been so sensitive to sin and the separation from God it results in, I have never been so open to the voice of God, I have never been so eager for a life that is far from ordinary. I am tired of living a pampered life in which I am more eager to get in debt for a car than giving to the needy. I am tired of complaining that I don’t have the latest greatest and failing to realize that I am in the top 3 percent of the world’s richest people. I am tired of warming a seat in church and never inviting anyone to sit with me. I am tired of being a professional pastor and part-time disciple of Christ.

I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in my family. I am excited to see how he uses my wife as she ignites for Him. I am excited to see what he does through me as I lead my family to the front lines for Christ. I desire to see what God will do when we start to live lives that require genuine faith in God instead of my savings account or retirement investments. I am ready to set the example for my kids to see that reading God’s Word is more important than watching American Idol, 24, Heroes, or Dancing with the Stars.

This is not about parading righteousness, this is not about reputation, this is about engaging culture and demonstrating that the Christian life isn’t about convenience, Sunday mornings, holidays, or meal time prayers.

You are invited.

God wants to work in your life just as he is in mine. He wants to move in you and leave you in ruins just like he is mine. It is never easy, but I can tell you from experience that it is the greatest, most incredible time of my life and it will be for you too. Are you ready to shake off the dust, to taste and see that the Lord is good? To break out of Christianity based on convenience? God is reaching out to you, inviting you to live an extraordinary life. I would take him up on the offer.

Some Time with My Wife

jeremullet — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:28:33 +0000

This is going to be one of those intimate blogs that gives you a glimpse into my life. Not that I believe you woke up this morning hoping and praying for a glimpse into my life, but just because I believe in being real and want you to feel like a part of the fam.

My wife and I are in Wilmington this morning, without kids, in a Comfort Inn and Suites. The same Comfort Inn and Suites we spent valentines day in way back in 04. Its been a while and we missed it. Its great! To be honest, we really needed it. I spent last weekend with 80 crazy students at a D-Now which was incredible! We had over 600 students for two nights worshiping a Great God. Needless to say it was awesome, but exhausting.

Things have been pretty busy lately, and my wife has suffered for it. After a couple rough days, we got up yesterday morning and decided we had better get away for a few days or else. So, after a few phone calls, off we went. Let me tell you, we haven’t been down here 24 hours yet, and we both feel incredible this morning! It was definitely a good choice!

For all you crazy busy men and women out there, take time to be with your husband or wife! It is the best decision you will ever make. Another bonus, it really pleases God!

Don’t worry about money, or all the things that “have to get done” just get away and leave with the two most important people in your life. Christ and your spouse.

See you all on Sunday morning!

Consumer vs Producer

jeremullet — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:51:59 +0000

Its pretty easy to distinguish the difference between someone with a consumer mindset and someone with a producer mindset. The real question is what difference does it make in the church? My answer, a HUGE difference!

I was browsing through Outreach Magazines list of fastest growing churches in America the other day, and I could’nt help but wonder, what is the difference between that church and our church? Aside from the obvious differences of location and leadership, what is the difference that makes them grow? Thats when it hit me. The difference is the mindset of the people. Every pastor I have ever asked “How did you grow the church?” has answered the same way. “The people grew it!” I have never heard a series did it, a book study, a church wide campaign, it is always the people who grow a church!

So whats the difference? Every church on Outreach’s list is full of producers! These are the people who aren’t concerned with what the church can offer them, but what they can offer the church. They are the creative types, always thinking of new ways to help the church make a deeper impact in their city and the world. These are the people who serve even when it isn’t convenient. They are the ones deeply rooted in Christ and spend time with Him daily. These are the people God has called all of us to be!

I know a lot of great pastors at churches that just arent taking off, and I know some bad ones at churches that are exploding. The difference is always the people. So which are you?

What mindset will we have?

Will we be consumers, never happy, church hoppers, always complaining and never offering any real help? Or will we producers. Those people who get things done through sacrifice and hard work.

I want to be a producer. I want God to move in this church, not to get on a list, but to see lives changed in a church where people are invited, welcomed, and cared for by a great group of producers who are more concerned about reaching people than pleasing themselves.