Ride Views

This is a shot from the Poplar Street tunnel. I am not a photographer and my camera is my phone! Just thought I would share some of my ride views from around our city. It is my invitation for you to check out downtown Macon - maybe with new eyes.

For Chuck - downtown riding

Chuck, get a bike (and a helmet)

I love riding downtown - I see parts of the city that most people miss, there is such variety - terrain, sites, sounds.., there are lots of great obstacles.

One of my favorite spots is 7th street. Here are the docs along the side of the Trading Post warehouses.

Here's how it goes:

Come across a vacant parking lot - over a curb - up a loading ramp - then drop off the dock - down to the next dock - down the stairs and into the parking lot.

Or - another warehouse:

Up a ramp down the side of the bldg - tight turn - pick up speed - hop up onto a wooden bridge connecting 2 docs - off the bridge and immediately down a set of stairs. How fast can you make it through?

I Just Wake Up And Try To Do What Is Right...

I had lunch with a friend who is in the midst of life change, major life change. Everything in his life is in transition - job, friends, habits, addictions (smoking), hobbies - even a change in transportation. It is a life pointed in a much, much better direction and a friend I have prayed for more times than I could count. As we talked again today about all that is changing and how he deals with it, he said, I just wake up everyday and try to do what's right. (which led me to share the gospel again - he filled in the blanks as I did and said - yeah, I have been listening, just gonna take some time).
The change is good. But it comes with a cost - it is incredibly difficult, a little scary, and requires a lot of effort. Doesn't any real and meaningful change fit that description? Getting in shape? Losing weight? Changing Career? Going back to school?
Many have said that the election of our current president had more to do with a country wanting CHANGE than it did anything else.
I have been thinking about CHANGE for weeks. We say that we want change - in politics, in policies, in our city, with crime, in our relationships, in our families, in our churches, in our own lives - we want change. So, it seems we read about change, we talk about change, we vote for change - BUT most often, we are essentially unwilling to DO anything that actually brings about change.
What change do you want to see in your life?
Are you willing to stop talking and dreaming - or griping and complaining - and DO Something?
I commend my friend. I am proud of him.
One day he woke up and said, this needs to change. And he didn't wait for it to change. He didn't talk about it changing. He didn't vote for someone else to change it for him - he just woke up and tried to do what was right. And everyday since, he wakes up and tries to DO what is right.
Change. What are you willing to do to see it actually come about?

City Watch on TV 41

Click "Improving Downtown" for the story.

It is Finally Here!

www.NewCityDowntown.org (2.0)

Check it out!

There are still a few bugs being worked out but here are some features that are present now and some already in the works:
Become an active participant: Go to he "CONNECT" tab at the top of the home page. Here you can register as a website participant. Your MC will have its own page where registered and approved users can share MC sensitive info, prayer requests, upcoming events...
Pastor/Leadership Blog: We will be adding a blog to be shared by NCCd pastors and leadership.
Live Video Streaming/Vodcasting: We will begin working soon to add quality Live streaming of our Sunday gatherings and with increased storage capabilities we will be able to save video for video podcasting.

A huge thanks to Chris and Hannah Marney for all of their hard work!

Our Current Series on the Cross

In our current series we will slice substitutionary atonement (The “substitutionary atonement” refers to the fact that Jesus Christ died on behalf of all sinners) into 3 sections:
Propitiation preached by JD – Propitiation is the turning away of God’s wrath. The idea is that Jesus took the wrath of God that we deserve.
Expiation preached by Patrick – Expiation is the removal of sin.
Justification preached by Cameron – Justification is the act whereby God imputes the righteousness of Christ to us. We are made holy by His act.

While justification is not as much a ‘cross issue’ as propitiation and expiation, it is essential to our relationship with God in light of His perfect justice. Let me explain:
We are sinners deserving the wrath of God.
To enjoy God’s presence we must have propitiation. Our sin requires a just penalty. If God ‘overlooks’ the penalty, then he is not just. Jesus took the penalty.
Still – God is holy and cannot fellowship with unholy sinners. Though his wrath was appeased in Jesus, sin still had to be dealt with. In expiation Jesus takes our sin upon himself – he who knew no sin became sin our behalf.
Propitiation and expiation remove wrath and sin, but at best leaves us neutral. We need holiness in order to enjoy His holy presence. Justification is the act of God that declares us holy in Christ. With all three in place, God remains perfectly just and we are able to enjoy Him forever. In Christ, God has met every requirement for our relationship with Him. He has done in Jesus what we could never do ourselves!

A beautiful picture of propitiation and expiation can be seen in Leviticus 16:
15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat. 16Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses. 17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel. 18Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. 19And he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.
20"And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat. 21And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. 22The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.

Two goats were used ceremonially on the Day of Atonement.
One goat was killed for the sins of Israel and its blood sprinkled over the Mercy Seat. This goat served as a picture of the propitiation that would ultimately be completed in Jesus. The goat spilled his blood and sacrificed his life, ceremonially enduring God’s wrath for His people.
The priest laid hands on the Second goat, ceremonially placing the sins of the nation on that goat. The goat was then set free in the wilderness, taking with it the sins of Israel – expiation.

The Day of Atonement served as a picture of what God would do for His people in Jesus.

So -
Propitiation is Jesus taking God's wrath for us.
Expiation is Jesus taking our sins from us.
Justification is the imputation of Jesus' righteousness to us.
On Easter Sunday we will talk about how all of these beautiful provisions hinge on one thing - the Resurrection.

Phase II

Year 2 for NCCd is bringing about a great deal of change. Most people don't see the whirlwind of activity that surrounds New City and church planting and likely don't see the increase in activity right now. So - what don't you see?
Every Monday at 6pm our leadership team meets. We are working through a long list of things that includes better MC leader training, changes in our children's area, increased security procedures, membership, church planter/pastor-elder assessment and training... Add to those new website that will soon be ready and this:
Paul Evans is in the final stages of his elder candidacy,
Patrick is jumping in as our Executive Director (? we don't know what to call him!),
JD is still learning about all that overseeing the 567 entails AND is operating as the City Watch Coordinator!
Tyler is doing a great job leading our bands - but having bumps here and there,
We are looking at making some MC moves and having an MC Coach who would oversee all of our MCs and coach the MC leaders.
Meanwhile, I have the opportunity to be the official chaplain of the MIA softball team (Chris Horne heading up the effort to put the team together), Bragg Jam is right around the corner and the 567 will be a venue again (we may actually have this year's headliner!), we have been part of planning for the alley improvements that will soon take place behind the 567, I am talking with others about event planning for the downtown area that may include a National December Chili Cook Off, and possibly a future Beer Festival where brewers from all over the world showcase their creations.
It is going to be a good year.
On top of all of the increased activities I have a HUGE sense that we, as a church, have begun to settle. It happens. Things are flowing well - bands are sounding great - new guys are here to help - the 567 stays busy - our attendance continues to climb... things look good - so, we become satisfied. This leads to death.
SO - I have begun PUSHING! Yes - PUSHING! I am pushing the leaders behind the scenes. Pushing our guys to remember the urgency of our call and the mission. I am pushing them to NOT settle, to NOT be comfortable.
Phase II is underway!

Did You Quit Blogging? for Planter Wannabes

I have done a lot of hard things in 41 years.

I played some college football - Samford University. Football was like a job - up very early for workouts - school - practice - workouts - study hall - sleep - then start over.

At 30 I left a fun, good paying job and moved to another city in order to go back to school. We moved with 2 little ones, went 9 months without a job - drained all our resources, in school full time taking an average of 15 hours or so per semester I found a job working at something I hated for 35 hours p/week. I also taught in a local church as well. Then - while still in school - I took a church position as pastor and finished school. Full time school, full time job, full time fam.

I took an associate position at another church. I was the only staff pastor without an assistant, or secretary, or whatever you want to call it. During the busy months I worked 60 plus hours and was on call often! I worked almost every church event, started new ministries, expanded ministries...

But none of it compares to the past year and a half.
At the end of 2008 New City would have been considered a very successful church plant. We were pushing 150 in attendance and growing. We were connected to the city in amazing ways. The 567 was nominated as one of the city's best new businesses. Three guys were in the process of changing their entire lives in order to join us - moving from as far away as Spokane, WA.

Today those guys are here and we are creeping up to 200 in weekly attendance. I am daily amazed at the new doors opening in the city. We didn't win the best new business, but our events are at the 567 are generally a success and things are going great.

And I am exhausted.

Most weeks are still 7 days a week,
I am cramming to get a sermon done in 1/4 of the time I used to spend,
I meet with more people and more groups than I ever have in my entire life,
We are entering into some great planning for our future,
I coach 3 other church planters (and love them) and have a relationship with a 4th guy,
I have a wife and 3 kids,
I have friends,
I have guys who need my attention,
I have a young congregation with 3 weddings coming up (counseling, planning...)
I have a church planter assessment this weekend in ATL for a potential A-29er,
I have a memorial service in Woodstock,
We are growing
We are reaching new people

And I am exhausted.

A friend called today and asked me during the conversation, 'So, did you quit blogging? I haven't seen anything from you in a while.'
No. I haven't. Not much time lately.

For any would be planter who may see the 'glitter' of a Mark Driscoll, or Matt Chandler, or one of those guys...
Know that this is the hardest thing you will ever do.
Probably, or at least potentially the most rewarding - but almost certainly the hardest.

A Heretic Comes to Town (Part 2)

Why would I say Marcus Borg is a heretic?
What is heresy?
heresy, in religion, especially in Christianity, beliefs or views held by a member of a church that contradict its orthodoxy, or core doctrines. (Columbia Encyclopedia)
In Christianity, heresy is a "theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the Roman Catholic or Orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, creed, or religious system, considered as orthodox. (Answers.com)

Marcus Borg is speaking at Mercer University next week:
"Thinking about God Again" Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 10:50 a.m.
"Thinking about Jesus Again" Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m.
"Thinking about the Christian Life Again" Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m.

Though he professes to be a Christian and is speaking in the chapel of a "Christian" university, those who attend should not assume that Marcus Borg is indeed a true Christian. In fact, by the above definitions of heresy, Dr. Borg is a heretic.
In my previous post I gave my first reason for making such a statement:
1) Marcus Borg does NOT believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus.

Here is my second:
2) Marcus Borg does not believe in the deity of Jesus.
The following is from an article by Arthur Daniels, Jr entitled: The Case Against the god of Marcus Borg and the "Jesus Seminar" and can be found HERE.

In his own words, Borg writes, "As such, myths can be both true and powerful,
even though they are symbolic narratives and not straightforward historical
reports. Though not literally true, they can be really true; though not
factually true, they can be actually true. The stories of Jesus' birth are myths
in this sense. Along with most mainline scholars, I do not think these stories
report what happened. The virginal conception, the star, the wise men, the birth
in Bethlehem where there was no room in the inn, and so forth are not facts of
history. But I think these stories are powerfully true...The stories of Jesus'
death and resurrection contain a mixture of historical memory and mythical
narration." (pp. 101,102).

John 1:1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15( John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") 16And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

A Heretic Comes to Town

What is heresy?
heresy, in religion, especially in Christianity, beliefs or views held by a member of a church that contradict its orthodoxy, or core doctrines. (Columbia Encyclopedia)

In Christianity, heresy is a "theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the Roman Catholic or Orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, creed, or religious system, considered as orthodox. (Answers.com)

I received the following invitation today:

Christianity Scholar to Deliver Smith Lectures At Mercer

MACON — Prominent author and Christian scholar Dr. Marcus J. Borg has been named the 2009 Harry Vaughan Smith Distinguished Visiting Professor of Christianity at Mercer University. Dr. Borg will give three lectures as part of his appointment. All three are free and open to the public. Dr. Borg will speak in Newton Chapel on Mercer's Macon campus. Each lecture will build upon the theme "Rethinking the Big Questions: God, Jesus and the Christian Life." The times and subjects of each lecture are:

"Thinking about God Again"
Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 10:50 a.m.

"Thinking about Jesus Again"
Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m.

"Thinking about the Christian Life
Again"Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m.

"In our day, no one has written more critically and faithfully about Jesus than Marcus Borg," said event organizer Dr. Richard F. Wilson, professor and chair of the Columbus Roberts Department of Christianity. "His deep and broad learning, his sometimes stunning candor and his disarming piety come together in ways that appeal to large audiences of students, teachers and honest pilgrims."

WHY WOULD I CALL Borg A HERETIC?

Since we have a number of Mercer students at New City Church, I want to make certain that they/we know and understand the beliefs of the man described as one who has 'written more critically and faithfully about Jesus' than anyone else in our day. I will lay out some of those beliefs in a series of posts - this being the first.

1) Marcus Borg does NOT believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus.
The teaching of the bodily resurrection of Jesus has been a part of Christian doctrine since the resurrection of Jesus in bodily form. It is Orthodox Christian belief. Dr. Borg denies this belief.

From an interview with Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly November 7, 2008

Professor MARCUS BORG (Oregon State University): I do believe in the resurrection of Jesus. I'm just skeptical that it involved anything happening to his corpse.

Prof. BORG: The truth of Easter really has nothing to do with whether the tomb was empty on a particular morning 2,000 years ago or whether anything happened to the corpse of Jesus. I see the truth of Easter as grounded in the Christian experience of Jesus as a living spiritual reality of the present.

Prof. BORG: I think of the great Easter hymn, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today," with all its soaring hallelujahs. And I see that hymn as profoundly true even though I don't think its truth depends upon the tomb having been empty or something happening to the corpse of Jesus. Christ indeed has risen, but to confuse that with an event that you could have photographed, I think is to trivialize the story.

Read the entire interview HERE.

Of Borg's position, Al Mohler writes:
But belief in the bodily resurrection is not merely foundational, according to Scripture, it is essential. As Paul argues in Romans 10:9, the Gospel comes down to this: "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" [emphasis mine]. Beyond this, Paul's logic in 1 Corinthians 15 demonstrates the reverse -- if Christ is not raised then we are still dead in our trespasses and sins.