What Do You See?

This is the back door to the Capitol Theater - where our Church gathers on Sunday mornings.
The backdoor of the 567 shares this great space.

What do you see in these pictures?



Trash? Weeds? A Broken chair or 2?



How about this - Could you see...
Flower gardens
beautiful landscaping
bright lighting
dumpsters moved and/or hidden
A small stage behind the old Liz Reeds
Stage lighting
maybe some outdoor tables set up on certain occasions
back door signs for the 567 and other businesses
Could you see a small outdoor music venue?
Can you see People moving around from Spaghetti Alley, Tokyo Alley, and the Downtown Grill... The smell of good food, the sound of good music, and maybe every once in a while a movie projected onto the side of one of the buildings?

Hmmmmmm... Are you ready to redeem our alley???

Addicted to Pornography

Breaking Pornography Addiction
By David Powlison, CCEF Faculty

Have you ever said anything like this?
“I’ve tried to stop so many times, but somehow I still end up in front of the computer surfing websites.”
“Cold showers, prayer, avoiding situations—I’ve tried everything. Is there any hope for me?”
“I know I should get help, but I am too ashamed.”
“I thought only men struggled with pornography, but I spend way too much time in my own little fantasy world.”

If you have, it’s likely that you are feeling trapped by an addiction to pornography and sexual fantasies. You feel guilty and ashamed, but you just can’t seem to stop. Maybe you are starting to notice that your relationships with the real people in your life are being affected by your struggle.

There is no magic bullet to free you from your addiction, but when you ask Jesus for help, he will come to you mercifully and firmly. Jesus welcomes all kinds of strugglers into his kingdom, and his Spirit will provide the deep-down change you long for.

Change happens when you face your behavior honestly, understand the roots of your behavior, and then go to God to work true change in your life. The true change that comes from God will affect not only your behavior, but also your imagination and desires in life. Do you believe God can do this? Take a step of faith; read this article, and ask God to use it to begin to change you.

Read the entire article here.

Bragg Jam Pics from the 567

Bragg Jam was huge this year and a whole lot of fun. This may have been the giggest year yet for the annual event. Thanks to all of our volunteers, not just from me, but from the 11th Hour's Brad Evans and all of the board who puts Bragg Jam together.

Here's a couple of extra shots from our Church - the Capitol Theater... where it was PACKED to say the least! They finished up at about 1:45am - We were setting up at 8:30am.

Why We Serve at Bragg Jam

I have been enjoying an e-mail conversation on what being missional means and looks like. I described some of that for NCCd - and how this weekend that meant many of our folks volunteering for Bragg Jam and serving in venues from the River Walk to several local bars. I explained that we would not be tending the bar, but selling merchandise and tickets, here's what followed with some editing:

Keith, I have been thinking about our conversations, and was wondering the purpose of your members serving in the bars. Don't get me wrong, I believe in reaching the lost. My father was in prison for 10 years and I grew up in bars rather than church, but I am curious how selling tickets open doors.

My response:
Primarily it is a relationship thing.
1) New City's relationship with those putting on the event just went through the roof - we provided 1/3 of their volunteers. This group - and their entire board are all working for the revitalization of downtown, where our church is. This event is a part of that revitalization. So - as a whole our involvement opens doors with all of those connected with this event. Some of those board members and I are already having great conversations about religion and Jesus.
Not only that, but this will also give us an opportunity to be a part of future decisions that shape who our city is and will be...
2) It allows our volunteers to step out of their comfort zone and go where Jesus would go - and I do believe that Jesus would go to those places. Our volunteers - mostly - have backgrounds of cultural withdrawal where everything not 'church' is bad and should be avoided. They are being stretched.
3) As they serve, many of them will serve with other volunteers they do not know - volunteers who are unchurched, unsaved, and generally feel condemned by the church rather than loved. They will (at the very least) get an opportunity to start a new relationship and be Jesus - if only for a little while tonight.
In all of these relationships we hope to ultimately show and share Christ. Perhaps
we will have the opportunity to share Him tonight - perhaps it will come over time as we develop new relationships.

Jesus was a friend of sinners - would people describe you or your church in that way?
Jesus was called a glutton and a drunk - not because he was one, but because as a friend of sinners, that was often the company that he kept. What are you or your
church in 'danger' of being called?
We want to go where Jesus would go.
Love those whom Jesus would love.

This certainly isn't an exhaustive list of all the 'whys' nor is it an exhaustive explanation of our missiology, but hopefully it will help those who read and question understand a little better why we do what we do.

Mission flows from the gospel. Understanding the gospel is essential to a right missiology.
For example - Jesus came for the sick, not the well - GOSPEL
Jesus came for sinners, not the righteous - GOSPEL
Jesus took on flesh and dwelt among us (rotting flesh, dirty rotten stinking sinners) - GOSPEL
Jesus suffered and died for sinners - GOSPEL
No matter who we are, we are sinners all the same - we share a common problem (no matter how good or bad our rules and laws deem us), we are sinners in need of a Svior - we all share a common solution > Jesus.

Some Pics of My City

Just took a walk around the block - needed to take a break from the sermon prep...

The Rabbit Hole of the Gospel

The Matrix is one of my favorite movies... This scene is one of my favorite scenes:



Several recent conversations have reminded me of this scene.
As I talk with different people about the Gospel and Religion - about living rather than practicing, I often think of the Blue Pill and the Red Pill.
The Blue Pill is Religion - take it and you wake up tomorrow and believe whatever you want to - everything continues as it has.
The Red Pill is the Gospel - take it and EVERYTHING changes. Take it and enter into Wonderland - see how deep the rabbit hole goes!

The Gospel changes EVERYTHING.

H U G E Impact

An impact player is someone who by their presence alters the outcome of an event. High impact players make a difference. Brett Favre was an impact player (and may be again?). Michael Vick, love him or hate him, was an impact player.
New City Church is becoming an impact player! I just got a look at he list of volunteers for this year's Bragg Jam.
Think about this...
Of all the bars, taverns and venues in Macon, only nine were selected as a Bragg Jam venue - the 567 is one of them!
There are approximately 73 Volunteers serving all over Macon for Bragg Jam - 24 of that 73 are New City Church volunteers!
That is a Huge Impact!

Gospel Leadership

This past Sunday we talked about church leadership - specifically the overseer of I Timothy 3. As we ran through numerous NT passages we saw that:

1) The Overseer is male - the authority in the church

2) The term Overseer is used interchangeably with Elder and Shepherd/Pastor - all descriptions of the same office in the church

3) The local church had a plurality of elders/overseers/shepherd-pastors

There was not a single LEAD pastor but a group of equals who worked together

4) The primary responsibility – not the only – but the primary responsibility of this group of men was to guard the true gospel of Jesus Christ. All other duties of prayer, teaching, and leadership are tied to their gospel leading.

These men are the Guardians of the Gospel - leading in the gospel - loving the Bride of Christ - working, striving, and sacrificing to see her nourished and growing in the gospel.

A Difficult and Beautiful Gospel Truth

I Peter 1 ... 5For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

The marks of an 'effective and fruitful' follower of Christ, it seems, should be - faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.
Do you desire those things? Not simply to possess in part, but to have them and to be growing in them?

Probably you do desire those qualities - probably you have tried to attain them. Maybe you have tried many times. Maybe you have tried really hard.

So what's the problem? Why can't you seem to get it? Why does it seem that you aren't growing in this fruit?

'Maybe,' religion whispers, 'you just aren't good enough for this Christianity thing.'
'You're a failure!'
'Try harder!' religion shouts! 'You just are trying hard enough.'
'If you were REALLY a good Christian you could do it.'
Perhaps religion has told you to compare yourself with someone else - and has told you 'you should just be like them - see how THEY have it all together.'

Is that you? You've tried and failed, and tried again.

Stop trying. It is true - you cannot do it. You are a failure. Try as hard as you can to be as good as you can - and you will fail again.
Pick yourself up by your bootstraps, dust yourself off and with even more resolve try again! And you will fail.

The problem is not our effort - it is our sight.
Religion teaches us that Jesus saves - and then we must work - and work harder!
But not the gospel...
9For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Peter does not say that if we lack these qualities and are not growing in them we should TRY HARDER - he says that we have become nearsighted, we are blind - because we have forgotten the good news - that Jesus, the perfect has come! He lived out those qualities perfectly for us. He suffered and died for us - in our place because no matter how hard we try to get it right we can't. He has cleansed us from our sins. He has empowered us with His Spirit. he has defeated death and risen victoriously as our King who sits at the right hand of God.

Try harder? This is tough... NO.
Don't try harder.
Remember the gospel.
Remember what He has done for you - and look beyond your failings and imperfections and look to Him.

II Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

The first Peter fruit of the growing Christian does not come by our righteous efforts, but by gazing at the glory of HIS righteousness. Sanctification - the process of growing in these Christian fruit comes - and we are transformed from glory to glory into the image of Jesus - not by stupendous effort or disciplined lies - but by beholding His glory.

THAT is Good News.
It is a Beautiful Gospel Truth.

The Big Story

In 3 minutes could you share the BIG STORY - Creation / Fall / Redemption / Restoration?
The biggest shortcoming I see is written of by JD Grear - HERE -and that is, that while the major themes of the BIG STORY are presented and the approach is much more holistic than other 'presentations', it is somewhat man-centered rather than God centered. While God is mentioned, the problem of sin against God is minimized. And while the approach is holistic, and restoration is presented, restoration is more than human - we are restored to a right relationship with God.
That said, a few minor tweaks and I think James Choung's presentation is pretty good.
Maybe this will be helpful to you. What do you think?

Here’s my attempt to explain the Christian faith… in three minutes. Crazy, right? InterVarsity asked me to do it, and here’s the result. I wanted to present a more holistic faith — something closer to the gospel that Jesus taught. Of course, many details will be painfully left out in such a short amount of time. So it’s not anything close to a perfect presentation. But it forced me to make it concise, so I appreciate the assignment — though I would never share it this quickly in person. James Choung

The Not So Distant Past of My City

Macon's Terminal Station, photo by Andy Carter

Pastor Daddy, Check this out...

Sojourn is an A-29 church. Daniel Montgomery, lead pastor, is my A-29 coach. I was checking something else out on Sojourn's site when I saw this...

Sojourn's first children's book, Pastor Daddy, written by Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles with illustrations by Tessa Janes, is now available to purchase. You may order a copy online through the publisher for $11.95.

From the preface:“Pastor Daddy was written to teach preschool children the Christian doctrine of the home as a “little church” where the father teaches his family God’s commands and leads them to worship the one true God.The home is the front line of ministry to children—not the Sunday school or public church gathering. All the practices present in a Christian worship service—the Scriptures, prayer, and praise—should be present in the home as well. Pastor Daddy teaches this truth by repeatedly putting church and home side by side—on adjacent pages. God expects parents to teach their children when they sit down for meals, when they drive along the road, when they lie down for bed, and when they get up in the morning. These “pastoral” duties can be daunting for dads. So, Pastor Daddy also serves as a reminder that these duties are done in light of God’s grace shown to us through Jesus’ work on the cross.”

Only Downtown...

Diversity really is beautiful. I am coming more and more to enjoy it. And there are some things that could only happen when your office is a storefront coffee shop downtown...
There are NO lights on in the place as I am working and really not looking for visitors today, a meeting and seeing my family off this morning to B'ham have put me a 1/2 day behind. Then the door opens...
The salesman jumps right in and begins to talk to me about advertising in his magazine - The Barfly, 'Middle Georgia's Premier Nightlife and Entertainment Magazine.'
(I'll keep the story a lot shorter than our conversation turned out to be)
After a few minutes of listening and then trying to explain WHAT the 567 is and what we do, I struck a chord with Martin. As it turns out Martin has pastored a couple of UPC churches (United Pentecostal Church). UPC churches are typically the very fundamental Pentecostal churches who wear long dresses - at least the women and girls do - and who keep clean shaven faces *both men and women :) So forever we talked about theology and ecclesiology - touching on subjects like trinitarianism, incarnational church, the incarnation of Jesus, and the possibility of losing one's salvation (a UPC doctrine). The crazy thing is that Martin used to run a coffee shop in Chicago and had some great ideas for the 567 so we'll talk again soon.
No sooner had the door closed behind the Barfly dudes than I saw our upstairs neighbor - Brad Evans and Chris Horne carrying a bookshelf by. I ran out to grab the door to the stairway for them when a shelf fell out. We laughed about me being a big help by picking up the shelf while they lugged the whole thing up the long steep stairs. Then when we made it to the top - Brad and Chris still ragging me - the shelves banged the wall making a turn. Brad said, "Man, I hate when the preachers around and I can't cuss!" We all three laughed and I invited Brad to feel free to cuss if he wanted - I had heard them all before and probably said most of them at one time or another. Still laughing, Brad said, "Oh I was just joking, the preacher doesn't keep me from cussing." More laughing - you just had to be there. With that I passed on the fallen shelf and headed out the door with thanks from Brad and Chris for all my help.

Talk about polar opposites! One minute conversing theology with a couple of UPC guys, the next laughing with the owner and editor of the 11th Hour about how he wanted to cuss. A swing that took place in the span of about 45 seconds. Only downtown for a pastor whose office is a storefront coffee shop! I love it.

The Visitor and Sunday Heroes

This Sunday's message was from I Timothy 2 and we saw how the Gospel spoke to some of the problems in Ephesus. Among other things we saw that the gospel is INCLUSIVE rather than EXCLUSIVE. It is for everyone - Jew and Gentile, slave and free, red, yellow, black, white and any mix thereof, rich or poor. The reality of the Gospel is that no matter what categories we best fit in, at the heart of it we are no different than any other category. We are all sinners in desperate need of a Savior. And we all share the common provision - JESUS.

Where religion leads to pride - we are better than others because we do these things, or don't do those things...- the Gospel leads to humility - I am a sinner in desperate need of a Savior.

When THAT Gospel is grasped and begins to work through us, we find it easier to love the unlovely - the alcoholic, the drug abuser, the old out of control homeless woman that visits the church - The Visitor.

I was humbled, almost to tears last night when I re-lived some of the days events. The Visitor was an older, black, scarred, homeless woman who 30 years ago would be safely kept in an asylum where she could be cared for and not harm herself or others. She sat through the service. Following the service she continued to sit at her table. Kimberly, one of our folks who had been with the kids during the service, talked with the visitor.
Then, as I spoke to others someone said, "we need to get some help for her!"
"Why?" I asked.
"She just stood up and wet the floor."
Our visitor stood - bent over - urinating on the floor.
Kimberly held her arm and helped her stand.
Justin headed to the kitchen and I followed him, a minute behind.
When I arrived Justin had located the mop and bucket as well as some cleaning supplies. Quickly and quietly he was out the door with mop in hand.
By now Kimberly and Lex (one of our guys) were each holding an arm and walking the visitor to the front of the theater and finding out where she needed to go.
Justin mopped the floor clean.
Outside, I joined Kimberly and Carley as they walked the Visitor down the sidewalk to Christ Episcopal where she would have lunch. The walk was slow and labored.
About 1 and 1/2 blocks away with all well under control I headed back to the theater to make sure cleaning and everything else was OK. I later learned that when I left the visitor began loudly cursing every passerby as she cried from the pains of life. Carley and Kimberly walked with her.

The Gospel is not exclusive. Kimberly, Carley, and Justin got it.
With quiet compassion they became the Gospel.
Maybe the visitor was too far gone to see Jesus in them, but I wasn't.
Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

A Sad Loss

Landon Tate Dillard
Landon Tate Dillard -WESTCLIFFE, CO - Landon Tate Dillard, 16, was called home by his Heavenly Father on Thursday, July 3, 2008, on Uplift Mountain in Westcliffe, CO. He was serving as a staff member at Operation Uplift, a Christian youth camp. He was surrounded by dear friends while participating in a mountain bike training ride. A memorial service will be held at 6P.M. Sunday evening, July 6 at First Evangelical Church, with a visitation at the church from 5:00 P.M. until the hour of service. The Rev. Tim Long and Rev. Glenn Lyles will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Operation Uplift Memorial Fund, c/o First Evangelical Church, 3601 Fulton Mill Road, Macon, GA 31206. -Landon was an energetic, enthusiastic and a fun loving young man. He was an avid guitar player and vocalist. He used his talents for Jesus with "Offering" praise band and "New City Band" at New City Church, downtown. Music was his passion and his way of ministering. He was bright, clever and full of love. He was loved dearly by all who knew him. -During his short life, he also excelled in piano and volunteered at Tabernacle Day Camps and Music Camp. He was homeschooled for ten years and attended Veritas Classical School. He would have been a graduate in the class of 2009. He lived life to the fullest and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. WE LOVE YOU TATER! -Landon is survived by his parents, Marvin and Sharon Dillard; his three brothers, Blake, age 19, Hampton, age 10, and Hayden, age 7; his grandparents, Ray and Charlotte Dillard and Billy and Merle Lyles. He was also survived by several aunts, uncles and cousins. -Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery has charge of arrangements. Landon T. Dillard
Published in The Telegraph on 7/5/2008.

We truly mourn with Marvin, Sharon, Blake and he rest of the family. Thanks for letting Landon be a part of New City's start! I look forward to seeing him again one day.

Cul de sac 4th O July

It is an annual tradition.

Naming Names - Creflo Dollar and Joel Osteen

In Sunday's sermon on the Gospel from I Timothy 1 this past week, I named the names of a couple of well known and well liked preachers. I have had a couple of questions as to whether or not naming names is appropriate (it isn't something I normally do). So why do so this time?
The problems that Timothy was sent to fight in Ephesus arose from a twisting of the Gospel. There were myths and endless genealogies as well as those who added the Law to Jesus. The results were terrible - fighting and anger in the church, a loss of order, confusion... not unlike many of our churches and much of Western Christianity today. There is much at stake.
Sadly, as the church has moved further and further from the Gospel and from good theology in general many church goers cannot distinguish between truth and lies. Mention the name of Jesus and we are happy and accepting. Not everything with Jesus' name is really the Gospel. People need to know that.
Take a look and listen to Creflo Dollar - is this really what the Bible means when it talks about 'the righteousness of God?'



Creflo twists the Gospel message into a message of health, wealth, and prosperity. That doesn't seem to be the Gospel that Paul enjoyed, or preached. It doesn't seem to be the Gospel of the countless martyrs who lived and died in faith and even in the joy of the Gospel.
Creflo turns the great and glorious news of the Gospel and all that God has done for you in Jesus into a man centered means to live large. That's not the Gospel. The righteousness of God that Jesus suffered and died for had NOTHING to do with your Wendy's order. That's just sick.
So are people coming to Jesus because they love and trust Him - because they have beheld His beauty and glory - Are they coming in repentance seeking FORGIVENESS or are they coming to that great vending machine God who wants to give them a raise, a new car, and a great house?

Here is a note from one of our Acts 29 pastors in India. Does this sound like prosperity?

Please uphold us in your prayers as some of our church members were beaten badly by anti-christian elements on 16th of this month as they were going to carrol singing from house to house that night. We have not informed to the police as Christmas is nearing and we dont want to run arround the police station during this time, instead we are informing the local leaders about the situation. One of the team members by name Prabhu is sevearly beaten and is undergoing treatment and i appriciate your prayers for his quick recovery.
Pastor Sudhakar Hyderabad.

Maybe the poor guys just didn't have enough faith, huh?

Then there is Joel Osteen. Joel knows the Bible, which says - I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me. Jesus, John 14:6. The Good News is JESUS - the Gospel is JESUS. Jesus has made the way - Jesus has taken our place on the cross, Jesus' blood is where we find cleansing and forgiveness. In Him their is justification, and righteousness and all that is needed to rightly relate to God, our Father. And apart from His name, Acts 4:12, there is no other name by which we are saved... sorry - I could go on!
What, when asked by Larry King before potentially millions of watchers did Joel say?



So - name names? Yeah. There's a lot at stake.
What do you think?

NCCD (D is for Denver)

New City Church downtown
meet New City Church Denver.

This is Aaron and Kristen Carlson. Aaron is pastor of New City Church Denver - officially launching as such this fall! Aaron and I had several conversations in the months leading up to Vail and the A-29 Pastors Retreat about our New City and his vision for a New City Denver. It was GREAT to spend time with Aaron and Kristen in Vail. It made me even more excited about New City Denver's launch this fall. I think one of the greatest things about our network has to be people like Aaron and Kristen! Look for more info soon on how we can help be a part of seeing New City Church Denver's launch...
Churches planting churches - sweeeeeeeeeet!