Hello New Friend

April 7, 2007 was a hard day. It is always hard saying good bye to a friend - one that you know you will never see again... but I did it. For the sake of the church plant I sold the best dirt bike I had ever owned - a 2005 Yamaha YZ 250.

Last Friday I said Hello to a new friend! A Yamaha YZ250F. I rode it for the first time Friday. Nice. It was the first time I was able to ride the track following behind Elijah - He LOVED it,,,and so did I. It was also the first time I was UNable to follow along behind Robby - He has gotten waaaaayyyy too fast! (give me a little time). My 7 days a week of work as the norm have officially ended. If you can't find me and I'm not answering the phone - I may just be on the track with the boys!

What is the Gospel? Good News part 3

The Gospel (the Good News that Jesus died for our sins) as NEWS is something that we hear and accept, not something that we DO. the Gospel is news about what God has done FOR US in Jesus, NOT what we must do for Him. We have turned the NEWS into RELIGION - and RELIGION is not about what God has done for us in Jesus, but what we must do for Him - what we must do to be heard, to be loved, to be accepted... News, Not a list of works.

Tim Keller compared Religion and the Gospel this way:

Religion: “I obey-therefore I’m accepted.”

Gospel: “I’m accepted-therefore I obey.”

R: Motivation is based on fear and insecurity.

G: Motivation is based on grateful joy.

R: I obey God in order to get things from God

G: I obey God to get to God-to delight and resemble Him.

R: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or my self, since I believe, like Job’s friends that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.

G: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus and that while he may allow this for my training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my trial.

R: When I am criticized I am furious or devastated because it is critical that I think of myself as a ‘good person’. Threats to that self-image must be destroyed at all costs.

G: When I am criticized I struggle, but it is not critical for me to think of myself as a ‘good person.’ My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on God’s love for me in Christ. I can take criticism. That’s how I became a Christian.

R: My prayer life consists largely of petition and it only heats up when I am in a time of need. My main purpose in prayer is control of the environment.

G: My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration. My main purpose is fellowship with Him.

R: My self-view swings between two poles. If and when I am living up to my standards, I feel confident, but then I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. If and when I am not living up to standards, I feel humble, but not confident- I feel like a failure.

G: My self-view is not based on a view of my self as a moral achiever. In Christ I am simultaneously sinful and lost yet accepted in Christ. I am so bad he had to die for me and I am so loved he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deeper and deeper humility and confidence at the same time. Neither swaggering nor sniveling

R: My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work. Or how moral I am, and so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral. I disdain and feel superior to ‘the other.’

G: My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for His enemies, who was excluded from the city for me. I am saved by sheer grace. So I can’t look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. Only by grace I am what I am. I’ve no inner need to win arguments.

R: Since I look to my own pedigree or performance for my spiritual acceptability, my heart manufactures idols. It may be my talents, my moral record, my personal discipline, my social status, etc. I absolutely have to have them so they serve as my main hope, meaning, happiness, security, and significance, whatever I may say I believe about God.

G: I have many good things in my life—family, work, spiritual disciplines, etc. But none of these good things are ultimate things to me. None of them are things I absolutely have to have, so there is a limit to how much anxiety, bitterness, and despondency they can inflict on me when they are threatened and lost.

What is the Gospel? Good News part 2

The Gospel is NOT first and foremost a call to higher moral standards and adherence to a strict list of do's and don'ts. It is news to be heard and believed...

The word "Gospel" meant in the original Greek language - Good News. The Gospel is the Good news that Jesus died for our sins and was buried and raised from the dead. That the Gospel is NEWS is very important. Webster's online dictionary defines news as: 1 a: a report of recent events b: previously unknown information . This is not a new definition, the first century Greek reader of the Bible would have understood 'news' in the same way. 'News' is a report of an event that has taken place. It is information that was previously unknown. The Gospel then is NEWS - it is a report of an event that has already taken place. It is information that was not known. The event of the Gospel is that Jesus came - He lived - He died for our sins - He was buried - He was raised from death. The event gives us the information - Jesus died for our sins.

In the study, Gospel Christianity, Tim Keller wrote:

* the Gospel is news of what God has done to accomplish salvation through Jesus Christ in history. It is not advice about what we must do to reach God.

* We do not achieve this salvation. We only accept it.

So, I say again, the Gospel is NOT first and foremost a call to higher moral standards and adherence to a strict list of do's and don'ts. It is news to be heard and believed.

This is the 2nd part of a multi-post series answering the question, What is the Gospel? (Part 1)

Downtown Destinations

This restaurant has a whole lot of diversity.

In the Limelight: Greek Corner Deli

Where it's at: the corner of Cherry and Second

What to do: Eat (sorry I don't have anything clever to go here)

It's been a few days since I made a DD post, because I thought I hadn't experienced anything new downtown to share with all of you. Clearly, I was wrong. Here I am, and I am posting about the Greek Corner Deli. It seems to me like one of those obvious places, but if China Wok gets a post, then GCD definitely should. I'm just saying.

GCD (that's a heck of a lot easier than typing out the whole name) doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside it feels like Greece in a way- plain white walls with scenic pictures of the beautiful Greek coastline. Every time I have been there, they have been pretty hopping. It's a popular place.

If you haven't visited GCD, maybe it's because you're a little alarmed by the Greek-ness of it. You're just not sure if you like Greek food. Well, have no fear, they mix in a little France, Italy, Cuba and America, so you're bound to find something you like. The menu includes salads, hot sandwiches, cold subs, and personal pita pizzas. If you're worried about the kids, they have a grilled cheese sandwich and a hot dog (the American representatives on the menu).

My first time, I had the Cuban, which is ham, pork, salami, pickles, spicy mustard and Swiss Cheese. (See, that is a lot of diversity in just one sandwich!) It's a hot sandwich, so they press it in a little grill thing and the cheese is all melty and delicious. My second time, I had the French dip (still more diversity), which is roast beef and provolone cheese with au jus. It was very good, but I could have stood for it to have a bit more kick to it. I have also heard from reliable sources that the Steak and Cheese hoagie and the Gyro are very good.

So don't be intimidated by the fact that is Greek. Come to the Cox for church, then head to the corner for lunch!

What is the Gospel? Good News

The question, at first seems simple enough - What is the Gospel? But ask 10 people and you may get 10 different answers! You may even get a few blank stares.

New City Church uses the word 'gospel' very frequently - perhaps too frequently. The problem is not the word itself, but the reality that each hearer of the word - particularly in the deep south - has his/her own definition of the word. We often use the same words in church settings, but not in the same way. So, I want to begin a series of posts on defining the gospel with the hope of bringing some clarity to our New City folks - for Sunday morning teachings as well as MC discussions and hopefully in understanding what it means to live in light of the Gospel. So here we go.

The word itself - Gospel - means Good News. The Gospel is Good News.

What Good News? Paul wrote it this way: 1 Corinthians 15: 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,²and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain. ³For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures...

In its simplest form then, the Gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and raised to life on the third day.

Acts 29 and the GBC

Recently, Jason Martin, lead pastor at the Journey Church in Atlanta shared with me that the local Baptist association is discussing steps to remove the Journey from their association of churches - the West Metro Baptist Association. The concern from the Baptist association is the Journey's affiliation with the Acts 29 network and their position concerning the consumption of alcoholic beverages (that the Bible teaches moderation not abstinence).

As a result of the conversation with the local association leader, Jason scheduled a time to talk with the Georgia Baptist Convention's (GBC) New Church Development leader, Butch Butcher. Jason's discussion with Mr. Butcher was described by Jason as gracious, but not good as far as the Journey's future with the GBC. According to Jason he was informed that the GBC will no longer support new churches that plan to affiliate with the Georgia Baptist Association and the Acts 29 Network. Current church plants receiving funding from the GBC who are affiliated with Acts 29 will continue to receive any promised funding, but no new churches will be added with dual affiliation. (New City does NOT receive funding from the GBC). Neither will they (the GBC) partner in events with Acts 29 churches.

The statements made seem to possibly flow from controversy in the Missouri Baptist Convention as well as fundamentalists rumblings in the Southern Baptist Convention. Some of those rumblings were voiced as proposed resolutions at the SBC's recent annual meeting in Louisville, KY. Those resolutions were:

that “all SBC entities should monitor” funds spent in “activities related to or cooperative efforts with Mark Driscoll and/or the Acts 29 organization” and entity heads should submit a report of expenditures to appear in the 2010 Book of Reports, submitted by Kent Cochran, a messenger from Calvary Baptist Church in Republic, Mo.

that SBC entities avoid “inviting event speakers” who “are known for publicly exhibiting unregenerate behavior ... such as cursing and sexual vulgarity, immorality, or who publicly state their support for the consumption or production of alcohol,” submitted by Ida South, a messenger from First Baptist Church in Mathiston, Miss

that author Mark Driscoll’s books be removed from LifeWay Christian Bookstores because of his “reputation for abusive and ungodly language and ... promotions of sex toys on his church web site,” submitted by Jim Wilson, pastor, First Baptist Church in Seneca, Mo.

While the resolutions did not pass, they do demonstrate the conflict within the denomination. New City is affiliated with the Macon Baptist Association, which also affiliates us with the Georgia Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention and we are 100% Acts 29.

Affecting Culture - Tim Keller

Greg Wood just shared this with me from Tim Keller -

May 2006 Reform and Resurge conference,

Session 6.

Here is his 6-fold model of how to affect the culture & rightly relate Christ to the culture:

1. We need to have more Christians living long-term in cities

2. with a deeper grasp of the gospel

3. who are creating dynamic counter-cultures inside the city

4. integrating faith with work

5. pouring themselves out sacrificially for the common good of the city

6. contextualizing (the message of the gospel in understandable

language).

His Voice

A local publication - His Voice - picked up my blog from Faith Around Town

interesting... From it, His Voice asked me to write an article about New City's interaction with the City for next month's publication.

Downtown Destinations

This restaurant has two personalities, and I'm friends with both.

In the Limelight: Michael's on Mulberry AND Between the Bread
Where it's at: On the corner of Mulberry (duh) and Second
What to do: Eat at Between the Bread by day and Michael's by night

Yes, it's two different restaurants, with two different names, in one place. Before I begin, I want to say that I have debated for hours on end as to whether I should split this into two separate blog posts because of the split personalities. Ok, that's not really true. It was more like a fleeting thought that I quickly dismissed because it meant more work for me. But it would have been kind of funny, right?

Anyway, I ate at Michael's for the first time a couple of months ago, but I just ate at Between the Bread Monday. As far as atmosphere goes, Between the Bread is bright, casual and comfortable. I sang, whistled and bursted into laughter multiple times while there, and no one seemed to notice, which tells you a little about noise level. Michael's is a lot like Between the Bread, only darker. They are the same place, after all.

The reason for the two names is that they have two completely different menus. If you're smart, you might get that Between the Bread offers mostly sandwiches. If you're like me, you might look at the menu for a while, notice that everything comes on some kind of roll, then the name will start to make sense, but only after someone explains it. Michael's is a bit more formal, like your typical salad, entree and dessert place.

At Michael's, I had the Grilled Salmon, and, if you like salmon, I'd highly recommend it. It had a really great flavor. For dessert, I had some chocolatey goodness that looked like a piece of cake and tasted like heaven. [I really love chocolate.] Michael's also has steak, sea bass, chicken and pasta. Entrees run from $18-24.

At Between the Bread, I had the Blackened Chicken Sandwich with fries. It was really, really good, though the chicken was a tad slippery, so it almost got away from me and the bun a few times. Between the Bread offers lots more sandwiches, salads, soups and pasta. Lunch will run you $7-10.

Between the Bread is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday. Michael's opens at 5 p.m. for dinner Monday-Saturday. Give them both a whirl!

Slow Progress in a Bad Economy

Last October/November the downtown Macon outlook was promising and the attitude positive. I was talking regularly with some of the city's developers and in the works were several projects totaling more than 100 new lofts within a couple of blocks of where I sit. The redevelopment of the buildings meant not only new residents, but new businesses... restaurants, shops, a market.

Then came the economic CRASH.

With it, the banks stopped lending

and property values began falling

Immediately the work stopped. Construction projects were shut down as doors were locked and workers were sent home. How quickly the outlook and attitude changed. While the economy is showing some signs of turning - the buildings still sit... EXCEPT one.

Two doors down from the 567 sat a vacant and distressed Liz Reed's. Once a really cool music hall with plenty of great local music, Liz Reed has been silent for some time.

Just before the economic halt, the buildings owner was making plans to renovate, revive, and restore the building. Though more than one tenant has fallen through because the economy, the buildings owner continues to push forward... in part, for the good of the city!

The deck of the building is being rebuilt and taking shape.

It came into being as a result of several conversations regarding the transformation of the parking lot and alleys behind Liz Reed. The deck will double as a 2nd floor stage that looks out over a soon to be re-paved and re-lighted parking lot. It will serve as one of downtown's largest outdoor venues! Hopefully this fall - with new lights, new landscaping, and a new tenant the alleys behind the 567 will be filled with music - with art - with food from the 5 neighboring restaurants and with people enjoying a cool night in the heart of the city.

Not only have we (New City/the 567) been a part of the planning and talks, but we will also have a great opportunity pull our block together, contribute some music, and celebrate our community! Can't wait.