The Docusen Blog

Known by Love

2012-01-21T20:37:00.002-05:00

What are you known for? When people think of you, what are the first thoughts that come to mind? What do people think of when they think of our church?

We are taking a look at how the body of Christ can be known by love over the next several weeks at Center City Church. The series is based around John 13:34-35:

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Click the link below to view last week's message: Love is Vocal

But the Doctor Said....

2012-01-08T09:07:00.001-05:00

The story of Abram & Sarai in Genesis 11 is set up by a small statement in the middle of a particularly unfascinating description of a family lineage. But tucked away is a statement about one of the most prominent couples in Scripture: Abram & Sarai.

This is what the Word says about Sarai: But Sarai was unable to become pregnant and had no children. (Genesis 11:30 NLT)

I haven't gotten to this part of the story yet in my one year Bible reading plan, but I will go ahead and spoil it for you: Sarai not only ended up having a child, but she literally became the mother of an entire nation. God had a plan for her that was impossible to accomplish in the natural. She was barren. Unable to get pregnant. But God's plan was much greater.

So here is my thought for the day: it doesn't matter what the doctors say. Now...don't stop your treatments because of this blog or throw away your medicine. All I am saying is that if God has put a promise in your heart, there is no human diagnosis that can stand in the way of it being accomplished. There are no negative words spoken over you that have power to hold back the plans of God.

Place your trust in Jesus. Allow him to determine your steps. And you never know, the barren woman may just become the mother of an entire nation.

Don't Get Off the Boat

2012-01-06T10:10:00.001-05:00

One of the most intriguing & obscure Scriptures is found in Genesis 7 as the story of Noah is told. In short, God gave Noah an incredibly odd directive: build an enormous boat in the middle of the desert, because he was about to send a flood to cover the earth. God trusted that Noah would obey, even if it didn't make sense.

The story continues on and we find Noah completing this task in the face of sure ridicule and long days of incredibly difficult work. He loads his family on the boat, two animals of every kind and them the rains came immediately rushing down from the heavens.

This is an incredible act of obedience, but there's only one problem with my re-telling of the story: the rains did not immediately come rushing down from the sky.

Genesis 7:10 - After seven days, the waters of the flood came and covered the earth.

After SEVEN days! Those three words paint an incredible picture of faithfulness. After listening to the directive of God to build an enormous boat in the middle of the desert. After long days of back breaking work. After looking like a fool to follow God's command. And this was Noah's reward? Seven days of waiting.

I believe that there is a dream inside your heart. Even as you read this, it probably comes to mind. It may be extremely detailed or as vague as "I want God to use me to change the world." If you are in a season that your God-given dreams have yet to come to pass, I have a word of encouragement for you today: don't get off the boat.

God used Noah to save the human race as we know it. His faithfulness and obedience led to life and restoration of our world. But he had to listen carefully, work hard and stay faithful in the waiting for it to come to pass.

Listen carefully to God. Work hard. And wait patiently for God to honor his promises.

Don't get off the boat.

End of Year Giving Opportunity

2011-12-30T10:00:00.001-05:00

As 2011 is coming to a close, I want to give everyone an opportunity to consider an end of year donation to Center City Church. We are moving into 2012 with an incredible anticipation for all that God has in store for us.

Just this past week, we had a businessman in our community that I have recently met send along a $5,000 check. He said, "I have never been to your church, but if what I see happening in the community is half as good as what is happening inside your church, this is a great investment." That was followed by another gift of $5,000 from another man in our community that said, "Thanks for your investment into my family. Be encouraged."

Every gift is tax deductible and allows us to move into 2012 with momentum and a strong financial base to continue reaching our community. Thanks for your consideration!

You can give online via PayPal (click here) or send a check to:

Center City Church
401 Hawthorne Lane
Suite 110-219
Charlotte, NC 28204

**As long as a check is postmarked by December 31, it's still considered a donation for 2011 tax deductions.

$6.02 (A Lesson in Generosity)

2011-12-28T00:23:00.001-05:00

My oldest son, Max, was in the room the other day when I was telling the story of getting a $1,000 donation from an out-of-state friend toward Ebenezers Coffeehouse. The next day, I was reading the Bible with him and we started talking about generosity. Max has seen firsthand the way that God has provided for our family and he is so sensitive to God's voice (even at the ripe old age of eight years old).

A few moments later, Max came into the dining room with a jar full of money. He said, "Dad, I want to be generous. I have $6.02 that I want to give to help bring Ebenezers to Charlotte." I teared up. "Max," I said, "That's your money and you can do whatever you want with it." "I know, Dad, and I really want Ebenezers to come to Charlotte. Will this help?" "Absolutely," I replied.

I asked him again today if that's what he wanted to do with his money. "I already gave you that money for Ebenezers, dad. I really want Ebenezers to come to Charlotte."

And there you have it. An incredible lesson in childlike faith and overwhelming generosity from an eight year old. May my faith in Jesus be so pure. We're $6.02 closer to seeing our dream become a reality.

1,050 Seeds (Ebenezers Coffeehouse)

2011-12-26T11:27:00.001-05:00

Every Godly dream has a death before it fully comes to life. Jesus taught us this principle in John 12 as he teaches about seeds that must fall to the ground and die. The idea being communicated is simple: every seed has a hard outer shell. When a seed is planted in the ground, that outer shell "dies" as it begins to decay over time. When that outer shell is gone, the true life of that seed is released into the ground and comes to "life."

Dara and I have been dreaming of opening Ebenezers Coffeehouse (a non-profit coffeehouse & multiple use venue in Uptown) for over five years. We were thisclose last year to landing an amazing property in the heart of the city. We worked hard for ten months on plans. Walked countless thousands of steps around that property. And it all came to a screeching stop and fell through only days before it looked like we were going to get this property. The dream died. And I cried. Literally.

Four months (and no activity or plans being made) later, I got a random check in the mail. It was from a friend of Center City Church that had attended for a short season. She was now living in Tennessee and she wrote me a note:

"Pastor David, I wanted to be one of the first to invest into the dream to see Ebenezers come to Uptown Charlotte." Included in that envelope was a check for $50. I teared up and realized that this dream still had a pulse.

Fast forward 4 months. I just sat in a meeting this past week with two businessmen in our community that are incredibly supportive of our vision. After that meeting, I got an email from another out-of-state friend:

"I want to give $1,000 toward this (Ebenezers). It isn't much, but I want to sow a seed."

Every dream has to die before it can truly come to life. And now there are 1,050 seeds that have been planted into this vision. I believe with all my heart that we are about to see an incredible miracle of God's provision. And it all started with a random $50 check and a $1,000 email from two out of state friends.

What seeds are you planting into the dreams of others today?

Christmas in the City

2011-12-23T13:54:00.000-05:00

I want to personally invite anyone from the blogosphere to join us at 7pm tonight for Christmas in the City - a one hour candlelight Christmas service. We will be meeting at a beautiful, 100 year old church in the heart of Uptown Charlotte called Grace on Brevard.

The venue is located between 3rd Street & 4th Street along Brevard Street (near the Time Warner Cable Arena). I would love for you to join us as we celebrate this Christmas and enjoy our final gathering of 2011 together! This is a perfect opportunity to bring a friend to hear the message of Jesus and share a memorable evening in our beautiful city.

There is free parking starting at 6:30pm directly next to the venue.

Click here for directions to Grace on Brevard.

Hope to see you tonight!

Charlotte Family Housing

2011-12-21T12:04:00.002-05:00

Check out this article on Charlotte Family Housing. We are privileged to partner with their aim to end family homelessness in our city. This has been one of the most eye-opening experiences in my life. CFH is holistically helping families break the cycle of poverty. Absolutely love and respect the people that are doing this great work.

Click the link to read more about their new shelter that just opened at a local church in our community. http://ow.ly/86HvP

28 Nice Things

2011-12-12T13:46:00.002-05:00

This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen, and a beautiful representation of the life and love that comes from the heart of someone that loves Jesus with all their heart. Our dear friend, Lauren, decided to do "28 nice things" for her 28th birthday.

Instead of getting presents from her friends, she asked her friends to partner with her to love and serve our community in 28 different ways. So cool. Click the link to see for yourself. So inspiring.

Some Things I Believe

2011-12-12T10:06:00.000-05:00

I believe in the unlimited power of God.
I believe that Jesus saved me, set me free and changed my life.
I believe that Jesus loves you, no matter what you have done or where you have been.
I believe that there is no sin to great to make us unworthy of God's love or forgiveness.

I believe that our love for Jesus is the most important relationship we could ever cultivate.
I believe that time spent with Jesus, just sitting in stillness, silence and quiet is the most important break we can take in our crazy lives.
I believe that spending time with Jesus alone should lead us to love and serve others.
I believe that loving and serving others can be very difficult, frustrating and inconvenient.
I believe that loving and serving others represents, physically, the love and servant's heart of Jesus for all to see.

I believe in you.
I believe Jesus is calling you to a relationship with him.
If you don't know him, give him a chance. You won't regret it.
If you do know him, there's more of him to know.
I believe you were created to make a lasting difference in this world.

I believe in Jesus.

Our Art Reflects Our Maker

2011-11-17T18:15:00.000-05:00

Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church: Our Art Reflects Our Maker.

God has given each one of us a unique design to be used by him to make a lasting impact in the world. When you get to know your creator, you get to know your purpose.

The Time Is Now

2011-11-16T11:55:00.001-05:00

Center City Church opened to the community on April 4, 2010. We've seen some amazing things since that day. People coming to know Jesus as their personal savior and friend. Lives transformed by the message of the Gospel. Unusual obedience to the call of the lord. Radical generosity across our community. It's been an amazing ride.

We have felt the next shift in the past couple of months, and it's a shift outward. We have always had a desire to love and serve our community and beyond. But there is something different, something unique about this season. There's a group of people that have decided that the time is now to be wholeheartedly obedient to the call to love and serve those that are less fortunate. Orphans. Widows. The poor & vulnerable.

I have no clue what God will do in the next six months in our church. But I must say - I've never been more intrigued. The time is now to love Jesus with all of our hearts, serve him faithfully and respond to his call to reach out our hand and show the practical love of Jesus.

I Will Try To Be That Man

2011-11-15T10:00:00.002-05:00

One of the most challenging and inspiring quotes that I have ever heard is by an evangelist from the late 1800's named D.L. Moody. It drives me in ways that are hard to explain. Listen to the passion, commitment and desperation found in these two statments:

The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. I will try my utmost to be that man.

I have no clue what it means to be fully and wholly consecrated to God. My life is laden with inconsistencies and areas that fall short of perfection. But - like the old saying goes - if I shoot for the moon, I might get the stars. So here's to a lifelong pursuit to trying to be that man.

Some thoughts to consider: What can you do today to give more of yourself to Jesus? To trust him more? To love him more?

We Will Risk Everything to Obey

2011-11-14T13:21:00.001-05:00

I am teaching on one of our core values at Center City Church this weekend: We will risk everything to obey. It's a bold statement that is true of so many in our church. There are stories that can be told over and again about people in our community that have given their hearts and lives completely to God. It's absolutely beautiful.

This is also a statement that I speak over and pray over every person in our church. I pray that our relationship with Jesus is so intimate that he could ask us to do ANYTHING and we would be compelled to obey. No matter the cost.

Praying for an absolute wildfire of obedience in our church family. This is how we change the world.

Orphans & Widows

2011-11-10T00:19:00.001-05:00

Click the link to view this week's message from Orphan Sunday at Center City Church:

James 1:27 gives a clear mandate to care for orphans and widows at home and across the world. Center City Church joined with thousands of others across the world for “Orphan Sunday.”

Hard Work, Patience & Google

2011-11-09T15:42:00.002-05:00

I have always had a desire to change the world. But every time I would allow myself to be exposed to the needs of the world, I would get terribly overwhelmed. In the past month, God has arrested my attention and filled me with a motivation that I've never known. It started with this simple thought that went through my head:

Just because I can't do everything doesn't mean I can't do something.

Translation: you gotta start somewhere. And it turns out that a mixture of hard work, patience and Google is all it takes to make a difference at home and across the world. I spent an entire evening on Google the other night researching what's already happening in my community and around the world. I have been pleasantly surprised at the incredible number of great organizations that are already addressing needs in our community. So I started to email a bunch of different places, set meetings and simply express our willingness to explore how our church can come alongside them.

I want to change the world. It seems that it may simply start at the women & children's shelter down the street or by partnering with our local Department of Social Services office. So practical.

Let's do something. Together. More to come...

Learn and Live Well

2011-11-02T11:16:00.000-04:00

Proverbs 2:2-4 - Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.

The intensely practical book of Proverbs teaches us to seek, search and passionately pursue wisdom. The results are profound, lasting and meaningful. When we commit to search for wisdom, it means that we are searching for God. He is wisdom. He is understanding.

I want to live my life in this pursuit of wisdom. There's too much going on to walk blindly, so I need a compass. I need a true north to guide my direction. Wisdom is my compass. My direction. My peace in an uncertain world.

Commit to learn more about God and he will help you to live well. Wisdom leads us to care for others above ourselves, leads us away from self-centered actions and into the life that God has called us to live.

Learn and live well. That's my challenge for you, and me, today.

Don't Give Up

2011-11-01T21:21:00.001-04:00

Dreams are a funny thing. Nothing can keep you going with the adrenaline and passion that goes along with chasing down your dreams. And nothing can be quite as disheartening when a dream comes to an unexpected halt. I have learned over and again that the dreams of my life never seem to come on my timetable. And that is probably the best reality that I have experienced.

Good old fashioned hard work, discipline, stick-to-it-ive-ness and patience produce something that shortcuts never can: commitment. If you have a dream in your heart that has not come to pass, don't give up. This season may just be the most important season of your dream.

Proverbs 21:5 - Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

A Little Reminder...Ebenezers Coffeehouse (Charlotte)

2011-11-01T12:45:00.002-04:00

God put a dream in my heart five years ago that never seems to be too far away. Instead of building a regular church facility, the dream has been to open a non-profit coffeehouse/venue for our community. All profits will go into making a lasting difference at home and across the world.

We are partnering with Mark Batterson and National Community Church (Washington DC) to open the second Ebenezers Coffeehouse. It's going to come to pass. And until that day we will faithfully continue to take one step at a time until the Lord brings this to pass. Check out this video we made that gives a preview of what's coming to Uptown Charlotte in the near future:

Let's Do Something

2011-10-31T10:32:00.000-04:00

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see they they get justice.

These words have become an overwhelming, passionate and personal calling. I came across these words in a familiar place: the Proverbs. I have read the book of Proverbs over and over again, but for some reason, God saw fit to allow these words (Proverbs 31:8-9) to jump out at me and arrest my attention recently.

God created me with an ability to talk. To communicate. To carry a message and pass it along with passion. My heart is breaking over the fact that there are millions of children across the world that cannot rise up and speak for themselves. Their circumstances have stolen their voice. Orphans at home and across the world. Kidnapped children forced against their will into human trafficking. Babies dying because they have no clean water. This is not right.

Here is a pretty startling confession: I don't know what I'm doing. And I'm becoming more and more comfortable with that reality. I don't know how to change the world. But I have learned how to listen for and respond to the voice of the Lord.

We are in the process of partnering with organizations at home and across the world that are making a lasting impact in these areas. And I am resolved to commit my voice to this simple charge found in the Proverbs.

If you feel this deeply. If your heart races at the thought of doing something much bigger than yourself, email me: david@centercitychurch.net.

It's time to see the world impacted by our actions. God has prepared the body of Christ for this moment. He has given us time, resources and talent to change the world. We can't do everything alone, but we can accomplish more than we could imagine together. Let's do something.

Looking For People That Want to Change The World

2011-10-13T13:39:00.000-04:00

I stayed up last night staring at the ceiling. I couldn't get the thoughts out of my head: there are kids across our city and across the world that are going to bed tonight with no mom or dad in their life. There are children in our country and others around the globe that are in danger because they have been kidnapped and put into modern day slavery. This is not ok.

I'm looking for people that want to change the world. Not the kind of world changing that brings a ton of fame or notoriety to ourselves. But the kind of people that want to change the world one person at a time. One child at a time. We can make a difference. And if we work together, we can make a big difference.

I'm looking for people that want to change the world. If that's you, I want to hear your story, your passion and your ideas. Email me: david@centercitychurch.net.

Just Be You

2011-10-12T12:33:00.000-04:00

Comparing yourself to the other guy/girl down the street or next door or across the world doesn't get much accomplished. Considering that God created each one of us uniquely to accomplish unique purposes, I say we all rise up and embrace exactly what God created us to do.

Galatians 6:4-5 speaks directly to this:

"Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct."

Let that resonate in your spirit today. And let it free you from playing the comparison game. If another person is successful in your field, celebrate with them. Continue to work hard, because your hard work is all you can control.

God created you to be you. Just be you.

Life. Money. Hope.

2011-10-06T10:00:00.000-04:00

We are kicking off a new series this weekend called "Life. Money. Hope." at Center City Church. We cannot become fully devoted followers of Christ without becoming a faithful steward of the resources God has given us. This includes every aspect of our lives, not just finances. But finances are a huge indicator of our trust in God. Excited to bring the truth this weekend - and some practical tips on managing money according to biblical principles!

Vision & Values Graphic

2011-10-05T11:57:00.000-04:00

A special thanks goes out to Nathan Longbrook for designing this 4x6 card that we handed out on Sunday at Center City. It graphically represents the vision & values of our church family. These statements describe who we are and how we express our faith.

Vision & Values of Center City

2011-10-05T11:52:00.001-04:00

Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church. We shared the vision and values of our church family. Exciting times!

Online Survey

2011-09-29T17:39:00.000-04:00

One of the ways that we continue to learn and grow as a church is to always be open to feedback from those who attend our church. We just launched an online survey to allow anyone, anywhere that has ever attended our church to let us know how we are doing.

If you attend our church currently, or have in the past, I'd love for you to click the link below and take this two minute survey to help us continue to improve what we do and how we do it! Thanks!

Center City Church Online Survey: CLICK HERE

Words, Words, Words

2011-09-26T16:51:00.000-04:00

I have spent the last couple of weeks clarifying and re-clarifying our vision statement for Center City Church. We'll be rolling everything out in the next couple of weeks as we continue to move forward and grow as a church. It's amazing to me how many hours can be spent on one sentence. It's worth it, though.

Our vision statement is a unifying force for our church. It's a filter for us to make decisions through as a leadership team. It's a declaration for all to see who we are and what we're about. So...the wordsmithing (<--- I made that word up) continues.

More to come...

Carry A Five

2011-09-21T11:19:00.000-04:00

I have challenged our church this week to carry a five dollar bill in their wallet or pocketbook with the sole intention of giving it away. We have been studying the result of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is a practical way for us to see how the Spirit can lead us to people at just the right time through acts of generosity.

If you want to join us, get a five dollar bill, keep it on you this week and say a simple prayer every day for God to lead you to the right person at the right time!

The Gospel: Make Disciples - Part 4

2011-08-29T00:08:00.000-04:00

Jesus made a promise in Matthew 28:20 that is so full of love and tenderness: “I will be with you always.” This promise was fulfilled via the Holy Spirit.

Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church (The Gospel: Make Disciples - Part 4).

We Are Never Alone

2011-08-22T14:40:00.003-04:00

After giving us the charge to make disciples all over the world, Jesus promises something so beautiful and so full of hope:

"And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b)

Jesus' promise was fulfilled in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit was sent to dwell in those who have accepted Christ as Savior. I am teaching on this during our gathering on Sunday at Center City Church. It is so powerful to know that the very presence and power of God lives in us through the Holy Spirit. This means that when we go to make disciples and pass on this message of freedom through Jesus, he is with us every step of the way.

What an incredible reality. I can't wait to teach this on Sunday!

The Gospel: Make Disciples - Part 2

2011-08-16T20:20:00.000-04:00

Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church (The Gospel: Make Disciples - Part 2).

Jesus left us with a clear command to make disciples, but before we can do that we must ask ourselves this question: Am I available?

A Culture of Discipleship

2011-08-09T12:00:00.003-04:00

The final command of Jesus to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20) has gripped my heart. This charge has captivated my attention, passion, creativity and intrigue.

I am well aware that this charge of making disciples - while simple in nature - is not at all easy. To make a disciple you have to find a person, share the message of Jesus and then be willing to walk with them through the ups and downs that are sure to follow. Let me put some skin on this...

It should be normal for us to bring up matters of faith in our daily conversations. It should be normal for us to wake up early to meet a friend for breakfast to talk about Jesus. Getting together with a friend for an hour over coffee should be a common occurrence. And those meetings should be filled with conversations about the Word of God, prayer and the lifelong journey of getting to know Jesus more. After all, it's this message of Jesus that sets us free from the chains of death and separation from God.

Let me be very clear: this is not about a new discipleship program. This is about creating a culture of discipleship. Huge difference. This is who we are and why we have come together as a family of faith at Center City Church. I am charged with a simple, yet deep and meaningful, call to make disciples who will then make disciples. And I plan on giving the rest of my life, energy and passion to continuing to create a culture of discipleship in Uptown Charlotte and beyond.

If you are a follower of Christ, this same call is yours. Let's respond together.

The Gospel: Make Disciples

2011-08-09T10:00:00.002-04:00

Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church

Jesus left us with a very simple command to make disciples, but are we really doing it? The charge is given to create a culture of discipleship and passionately respond to this command.

So Simple. So Overlooked.

2011-08-08T10:55:00.003-04:00

Vince Lombardi - the championship coach of the Green Bay Packers - used to start off his pre-season practices with five simple words: "Gentlemen, this is a football." He would hold the ball high over his head and begin to go through the fundamentals of football. How to run, catch, throw, etc. The point was made that to be truly successful, you have to excel at the fundamentals.

I taught this weekend on that very concept at Center City Church (Click here to view this sermon online). The Gospel message that Jesus taught included a very simple command in Matthew 28:18-20: Go into the world. Make disciples. Such a simple command. So simple, in fact, that is it largely overlooked in our current Christian culture.

My charge to Center City Church is to excel at the fundamentals. If it's so simple, then we all should do it. If it's the last command that Jesus gave, then it should be on our mind daily. Discipleship is not a program of the church. It is the responsibility of every person that has felt the love and freedom found in relationship with Christ. This relationship is not our secret to keep.

If you have a relationship with Jesus, who is one person that you can intentionally share your faith and your story with today? After all, the call to make disciples is not an option to be weighed for followers of Jesus. It is a command to be obeyed.

Make disciples.

Vacation Notice

2011-08-01T09:00:00.002-04:00

I will be taking a blog break for the week as we take our kiddos on a family vacation! Please direct any questions regarding Center City Church to beth@centercitychurch.net. Thanks so much and have a great week!

Baptisms @ Center City

2011-07-30T10:00:00.001-04:00

Baptism is an outward expression of a personal decision to follow Jesus. It's a very simple, yet very powerful demonstration of faith. If you have given your heart to Christ, but have yet to be baptized, we will be celebrating this moment together at the end of August at Center City Church. Email us at info@centercitychurch.net if you would like more information!

For a little glimpse at someone's story of baptism, check out this blog post from a couple of years ago. This was my recounting of describing what baptism is to Masha Malinsky (who had just recently given her heart to Jesus). This never, ever gets old.

It Doesn't End With You

2011-07-29T10:00:00.001-04:00

I have been reading the book Radical

by David Platt and have found myself delightfully challenged. One of the biggest areas that has been challenging me is found in chapter five as he describes the process of making disciples. Jesus had a very clear command as he delivered his last words to his disciples:

**Matthew 28:19 - Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

The idea is given that Sunday morning services at churches across the world were never intended for the message to stop with the listener. If we are truly intentional about receiving God's word, it will always be with the intent to then pass it on to someone else.

When we focus on others, we will always grow personally. We will listen better. We will pray for application in our own lives. And we will learn how to articulate our faith and challenge others to grow. Beautiful.

Mass Emailification

2011-07-27T12:25:00.000-04:00

I sent an e-mail via Constant Contact this morning to every person that has come through the doors of Center City Church in the past year. Just a quick note to let them know that I love them, believe in them and am praying for them today.

I think it's so important to hear those three things. They never get old when said with a genuine spirit. And I mean those three things with all my heart about our church and all who have visited. I followed up that short statement by asking each person a quick question: what's going on in your world? The answer to this questions helps me to know how to pray for each person more accurately.

If you have been to our church (or just want to read the email), click here. You can also click the link at the bottom of the email to subscribe (or unsubscribe) to future emails.

Psalms: Reckless Abandon

2011-07-27T09:00:00.001-04:00

Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church (Psalms: Reckless Abandon). God is worthy of all of our praise and adoration. And we can run to him with a reckless abandon, no matter our past or present situation.

Good Ole' Fashioned Hand Written Notes

2011-07-26T10:00:00.003-04:00

Every first time visitor (that leaves us their info) gets a good ole' fashioned hand written note from me. It's just a really simple way of taking time out of my Monday to say thanks for coming. In the age of digital, immediate communication I think a hand written note really sticks out. I pray that each person that receives this in their mailbox feels the love and care that we have for them.

Here's a pic of the notes from the past two weeks at Center City. It's a really simple process. Our host team coordinator will gather the names/addresses on Sundays and hand me a stack of addressed & stamped envelopes. I go home and write the notes and send them out on Monday or Tuesday. I absolutely love our community and I feel like this is a really simple way to show each guest that they are loved & appreciated.

Sinner City Church

2011-07-25T10:00:00.001-04:00

I had a really funny conversation with a guest yesterday at Center City Church. We talked for a bit after the service and she said, "My friend has been telling me for months about her church that she loved so much, but I was a bit freaked out to come to it. She kept on saying 'Sinner City Church' and I thought to myself, 'I don't have any desire to go to a church called Sinner City Church. Well, I went ahead and typed it into Google and I couldn't find 'Sinner City Church' but I did find 'Center City Church' and that made me feel a lot better. I loved the service today!"

Hahaha...let this be a lesson to all of us that call Center City Church home to focus on pronunciation when we talk about our church! Funny story. Happy Monday.

V-Necks, Tom's & Designer Suits

2011-07-24T17:00:00.002-04:00

As I was laying out my clothes for today at Center City Church, my thoughts drifted to Dara's grandfather. We affectionately called him "Grandaddy." Most everyone else just knew him as Pastor Fenton Jones. He was an incredible man of God, a faithful husband, father and grandfather. And he is one of my heroes in the faith.

Grandaddy pastored for over 50 years. And almost every single message he ever spoke was done so in a suit. Not just any suit, though. Grandaddy had some serious style. We're talking some slick suits. And I couldn't help but wonder what Grandaddy would say to me today (he passed away several years ago) as I laid out my jeans, a v-neck t-shirt and my gray Tom's shoes.

The dress code has certainly changed over time, but one thing I know absolutely sure is that God has not. The same power and authority that Grandaddy spoke with in his suit for 50+ years is available to me as I preach to Center City Church in a v-neck shirt for the next 50+ years.

I love and miss Grandaddy. And I think he would have really loved a pair of Tom's. I'm glad that he didn't decide to pass on his style to me, but a belief in the power of the Holy Spirit and the charge to preach the saving message of Jesus Christ.

I do, however, have one of his ties. And it is very, very nice.

I Don't Know How But It Happened

2011-07-20T12:02:00.003-04:00

I love the story of the blind man that was healed in John 9. Jesus, by his amazing grace and power, healed this man of blindness. The religious leaders got all hot and bothered because Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath (a traditional day of rest in which no work was allowed).

The religious leaders were so worked up about obeying the LAW that they completely are lost to the fact that an incredible miracle had just happened. One of my favorite quotes in the Bible comes out of this moment as the religious leaders are claiming that Jesus had sinned by healing on the Sabbath.

John 9:25 - "I don't know whether he is a sinner," the man replied. "But I know this: I was blind and now I can see!"

I think this is an encouragement for all of us to not try to explain away the power of God or try to figure everything out. He does miracles. And miracles are impossible to explain or quantify. We have the opportunity to serve a God that is higher than us and able to do far more than we can imagine. Let go today and trust God. It's not about religion or rules. It's about a relationship with Jesus.

Psalms: All That I Am

2011-07-11T18:02:00.001-04:00

Psalm 103:1-5 shows us that we will never fully experience true worship until we have given ourselves fully to God. Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church.

We Love Charlotte

2011-07-09T22:35:00.001-04:00

So blown away by the response from our community today for our landscaping/painting project at Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School. We had 80+ people (a combination of Center City Church, the PTA from ETES and a group of students from New Jersey on a missions trip to Charlotte) that came to pitch in, work hard and do something great for our neighborhood. We had a great time and made some serious progress. We'll be back out there on Monday and Tuesday morning of this coming week to finish off this project and help beautify this school.

I love practically showing the community the love of Jesus. It doesn't always have to be in the proclamation of his message with our voice. Our lives and actions speak so much louder and I think some great things were said today. We love Charlotte.

Co-Working Space

2011-07-07T21:21:00.000-04:00

I have been working out of coffeeshops, local restaurants, public libraries and any other place I can find free wifi for the past 3+ years. With "office space" firmly cemented as priority #123 right now in the future church planting budget, you can imagine my joy when I first heard of Lightbulb Co-Working.

Lightbulb is a 2,200 square foot creative hotbed for local entrepreneurs and businessmen and women to office for an incredibly reasonable rate ($75/month). There's no assigned seating, about a dozen workspaces to choose from, wifi, a conference room for 12 and another meeting space that can fit four people. Free coffee, sodas and water. And best of all, you don't have to purchase guilt coffee at the local coffeehouse in order to sit down for an hour to check email.

If you are an entrepreneur, creative type, church planter or the like, you're going to love this concept. Check it out and see if there's one in your community.

Update: Ebenezers Coffeehouse

2011-07-05T17:09:00.000-04:00

We have been in an intense season of preparation, prayer and planning for the vision God has placed in our heart to bring Ebenezers Coffeehouse to Uptown Charlotte. God has opened some incredible doors over the past four years. All roads led to a plan that we presented to one of the top philanthropy groups in the world about three weeks ago. Our faith was high and all signs pointed to this coming together in an amazing way.

We got word this week that this philanthropy group has decided to pass on funding. When I got that email, it felt like a punch in the gut. So many dreams and plans associated with this vision. So many hours of late nights and lattes cranking out work. After about ten seconds of feeling absolutely stunned, I had this thought race through my head: I trust you, God.

Responding well to closed doors is so important in our faith journey. I'm in no way perfect at this, but I choose to believe that God has his best in mind for us. And my faith is high that his vision for our city will be accomplished in his perfect timing. I truly believe that the fulfillment of this vision will be greater than any of us could have imagined. While times like these are disappointing, I choose to receive this closed door with joy. Strange? Maybe. But I know God has all resources in his grasp and he will provide for his vision for this city.

Thanks for all your prayers and support along the way. I am excited to see what God has in store for our church and our beautiful city...

Psalms: The Reason to Worship

2011-07-04T11:00:00.003-04:00

We kicked off a new series this weekend at Center City Church. It's simply called "Psalms." We are going to be exploring the topic of worship for the next five weeks as we work through different passages from the book of Psalms. We will then switch and look at other aspects of the Psalms (joy, sorrow, heartache, victories, etc) during the month of August. I'm excited to teach out of this book for the next two months at Center City!

Click here to view this week's message - Psalms: The Reason to Worship...

Blog Drought

2011-07-04T00:30:00.001-04:00

I am resolving to get back into a rhythm of blogging. I have found out something about myself that is really interesting in this latest season of blog drought. When I am walking through really interesting seasons of which I can't give all the details, I find myself blogging less.

For instance, we have been in a process of exploring a potential property in the middle of Uptown Charlotte for Ebenezers Coffeehouse. I want to jump on my blog every night and update the process, but the only problem is that this specific process is not particularly the type of process that one can just expose to all of internetdom for consumption. Lots of moving parts with potential donors, working with the city, etc. So I find myself not blogging at all because I can't write about what I really want to write about.

Maybe this makes sense to no one else but me, but that's the reason for my relative blog silence. I'm choosing to get back into the mix again and start cranking out some thoughts in other areas. My blog is like a public diary. I never plan what I'm going to write. I write what I feel. And I feel like writing again.

Proverbs: Sayings of the Wise

2011-06-15T20:24:00.001-04:00

We are kicking off a new series this week at Center City Church - Proverbs: Sayings of the Wise. We will be taking two weeks to look at two different verses from Proverbs. This book is a collection of sayings from King Solomon. The Bible refers to King Solomon as the most wise man to ever live. I am excited to take a look into these simple sayings that bring a whole lot of truth.

The Weekly Recap

2011-06-14T19:33:00.001-04:00

We are kicking off a new small group this week: The Weekly Recap. It's an open-discussion forum on the previous week's message at Center City Church. We are excited to offer this new group that will help us to dig deeper and hear other perspectives on the messages taught on Sundays.

We will be meeting at Mugs Coffee in South Charlotte. Come at 6:45pm to grab a cup of coffee and the discussion will start at 7pm.

The Story of Esther - Part Four

2011-06-06T18:00:00.001-04:00

Click here to view this week's message from Center City Church: The Story of Esther - Part Four...

The story of Esther includes an over-arching theme that God can and will use anyone that avails themselves to him. Our part is to decide if we are willing to be used.

A Little Tweet of Truth

2011-06-05T09:47:00.000-04:00

I like to refer to the Proverbs at Old Testament tweets. The writers of the Proverbs can say more in 140 characters or less than we could ever dream to say with such concise clarity. Here's 59 characters of goodness for you that should motivate each one of us to work hard at whatever God puts in front of our path.

Proverbs 19:15 - Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry.

The Story of Esther - Part Three

2011-05-30T00:01:00.000-04:00

Click the link below to view this week's message: The Story of Esther - Part Three.

Esther 6 shows us a stark contrast between pride and humility. And the encouragement is to allow God to honor us in His timing.

Another Green Light

2011-05-25T16:55:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was an unforgettable day in the life of our vision to bring Ebenezers Coffeehouse to Uptown Charlotte. It was so great to have Mark Batterson with us yesterday as we toured this property. We have been discussing this partnership for the past four years. It was surreal to sit there yesterday as we looked across the table from each other realizing both of our dreams could be coming true in this process.

God put a dream in Mark's heart years ago that Ebenezers could expand into a franchise that would be replicated all across the country. We are one step closer as the meetings we had yesterday led to yet another green light.

I had been praying all week long that if this is not God's perfect will, that we would feel a red light during these meetings. Quite the contrary, each one of us left these meetings yesterday encouraged and energized about the viability of this property.

We are taking a few days to back away, pray and allow God to speak. We will then reconvene on Friday to make a game plan of how we will move forward. I am praying Psalm 119:105 over this entire process: God's word is a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path.

The Story of Esther - Part Two

2011-05-22T23:00:00.000-04:00

Esther 5 gives us a vivid portrayal of the pride of Haman - the antagonist in the story of Esther. And we see how pride is one of the most dangerous and undetectable sins.

Click the link below to view this week's message from Center City Church: The Story of Esther - Part Two.

In the Midst of Heartache

2011-05-19T13:01:00.001-04:00

I got a text last night stating that a friend just found out that her best friend has just been given seven months to live. I also just got done having coffee with one of my closest friends that is dealing with the harsh side effects of an eight month journey battling hodgkin's disease. Just two months ago, we just walked with our friends as they grieved through the loss of a parent.

All of these situations are absolutely heartbreaking. But all of them are spoken to directly in the Scriptures. If you are walking through something today that is breaking your heart, know that God is fully aware and fully engaged. And only he is able to bring peace, perspective and healing.

Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Center City Kids Logo

2011-05-18T00:20:00.003-04:00

We just finished the new logo for our kids ministry - Center City Kids. Thanks to Zach Whiteside and Dara Docusen for the concept and design! I love the variation on the original Center City Church logo!

The Bachelor

2011-05-16T11:14:00.002-04:00

I am convinced that the creators of the Bachelor stole the concept from the book of Esther. Follow me here, it's pretty obvious.

The premise of the Bachelor is that a bunch of beautiful women are whisked away to a luxurious location to compete for the heart and affection of one man. The premise of the first part of the book of Esther is that a bunch of beautiful women are whisked away to the King's palace to compete for the heart and affection of King Xerxes. Esther is given the "red rose" and becomes queen.

If you want to get wrapped up on a story of love, scandal, loss and marriage, I'd encourage you to read the book of Esther. You'll love it :-)

Service Project

2011-05-16T10:05:00.000-04:00

Center City Church and the PTA from Elizabeth Traditional Elementary School combined this weekend on a landscaping service project for the school. Click the video below to see for yourself! We had a lot of fun and so much was accomplished. Huge thanks to John and Ginny Gum for organizing this and working so hard. Great day!

The Story of Esther - Part One

2011-05-16T08:30:00.001-04:00

God chose to use a Jewish orphan by the name of Esther to rise to power and save the entire nation of Israel from destruction. We learn from her life that it does not matter what happened in your past. God can use you today.

Community Dinner

2011-05-15T23:09:00.000-04:00

We just got back from what was probably my favorite community dinner we've ever had since starting Center City Church over a year ago. Such a great evening of friends gathering and new friends being made. I love this atmosphere because it's so laid back. The concept is pretty simple: everyone brings something to eat and then hangs out for hours on end. That's all. No set schedule. No agenda. Just hanging out, enjoying each other's company and eating random combinations of food.

I love this church. I love those that are connected to our church community. And I love meeting new people that are exploring their faith in different ways. So blessed to be a part of this community.

A special thanks to Masha Malinsky and her family for hosting tonight's dinner! Such a warm and inviting atmosphere!

Worth A Thousand Words

2011-05-11T23:06:00.000-04:00

Photographs by the brilliant Emily Chidester:

Show Them Thank You

2011-05-09T17:47:00.003-04:00

We have an amazing group of volunteers at Center City Church. I'm so blown away that over half of our church is actively volunteering in different areas of our church. Such a blessing.

We had an opportunity on Friday night to show our volunteers thank you, not just tell them thank you like we do every week. We hosted a dinner in my back yard and had a blast enjoying each other's company and showing our gratitude to each and every person that helps Center City tick each week.

We love our volunteers! If you are a part of our church community and want to get involved and jump into one of our volunteer areas (hospitality, general tech, set-up/tear down & kids ministry) email us at info@centercitychurch.net.

Vision & Community

2011-05-09T17:15:00.003-04:00

Click the link below to view this week's message from Center City Church on Vision & Community.

Romans 12:1-8 teaches us that each one of us are uniquely gifted and mutually dependent on others. We can accomplish more together than we can on our own.

My God Can Do Anything

2011-05-06T08:06:00.000-04:00

I had this overwhelming feeling over and over again while reading the creation account written in Genesis 1. My God can do anything.

I had the same feeling again while reading through the miracles found in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). My God can do anything.

And I had that same feeling yet again last night as I prayed for our church and the vision that God has put in our heart to reach our community with the message of Jesus. My God can do anything.

God will go to any distance, ignoring the normal confines of human wisdom and provision to accomplish his purposes. As the all powerful God, nothing is too big, too expensive or too challenging.

My God can do anything.

Top 5 Sports Moment

2011-05-05T18:14:00.002-04:00

I had the chance to go to the PGA's Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte today with a good friend. While following Phil Mickelson for a few holes, he hit an errant tee shot that we literally had to run out of the way to avoid sure peril. He ended up just a few feet in front of us as he hit his recovery shot out of the rough. Easily a top five sporting moment in my life!

Here's a pic I sneakily took with my cell phone. And another of his errant ball...

Beautiful Neighborhood, No Community.

2011-05-04T16:18:00.001-04:00

While catching up with a close friend today, we talked about the high value of community. The reality of having people in our world that know, love and care for each other through all of the ups and downs, successes and failures, victories and defeats, etc.

He began to describe what his journey to the suburbs was like. After years of working hard, building his family and finding success in his job, he realized that his journey led him to a startling reality. "I live in a beautiful neighborhood, but there is no community here."

This is yet another reminder that the pursuit of success and prosperity often times leads to us building walls of seclusion. There is nothing wrong with building beautiful homes behind beautiful gates, but many times those gates can lead to lives that are lived without true community.

Our challenge as we all continue to work hard and continue to move forward is to remember to work equally hard in making sure the gates of our lives are open to friendship and accountability. We are operating in the most healthy context when we realize that we are all uniquely gifted and mutually dependent on others. We are wired that way. God created us to need others to operate properly (Romans 12:1-8).

What gates do you have locked shut in your life that keep people at a distance? And are you willing to unlock those gates and let people into your life?

Finding true community is no easy task. But at the end of the day, you realize that people know you, love you and accept you for who you really are, not for what you do, what you own or where you have been. You may have a beautiful neighborhood, but always remember that true beauty is found in community.

A New Season

2011-05-01T16:08:00.000-04:00

Something shifted in my heart today. It's kind of hard to explain. But all of a sudden, the last year made so much sense to me while Clark and Salina Beasley were leading our time of worship at church this morning.

This past year has been marked by an amazing community forming at Center City Church. We have seen many people come to know Jesus as savior and many more impacted by the powerful effect of living in true community. And all of this has been given to a time of building foundation.

I very much believe that God has brought our church into a new season. And it feels like it started today. I believe this next year of our ministry is going to be the year that our church begins to very much turn our attention outward. To the community around us that is so desperately looking for satisfaction. I believe we are going to serve in ways that we've never served before. And I believe that the foundation of Jesus and community is going to hold strong and secure the building that God builds over the next year.

It's always hard for me to know when spring turns to summer. But today was a distinct feeling of a new season for our church. I can't wait to see what God has in store.

A Vision for Center City

2011-04-30T21:50:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to teach tomorrow out of 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. This is the passage that God put on my heart right before we started Center City Church in April, 2010:

When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness — timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

This verse reminded me of the absolute, unfiltered power of the story of Jesus. His love. His life. His resurrection. And so we set out on a simple journey of sharing this message of Jesus and enjoying life together.

The roots will always remain the same: Jesus is at the center. But the methods will continue to evolve. I am excited to share publicly for the first time our vision to start Ebenezers Coffeehouse in partnership with Mark Batterson and the original Ebenezers Coffeehouse in Washington, DC. This is something that we have been working with Mark and his team on for four years. And it's getting closer.

We believe that the message of Jesus Christ is the most important story to ever tell. And we believe our vision for Center City allows us to tell this story in relational and creative ways both in the context of the church community and the marketplace.

So excited about the days ahead! Here we go :-)

Ebenezers Coffeehouse Video

2011-04-28T15:13:00.000-04:00

Click the link to view this video we shot recently at Ebenezers Coffeehouse in Washington, DC. This will give a great preview for everyone to see what we are working on bringing to Uptown Charlotte. I will continue to keep everyone posted on the progress as we are currently looking at a specific property in Uptown that would be perfect. Thanks for your continued prayers as we keep moving forward!

Embrace the World Around You

2011-04-27T11:31:00.000-04:00

One of the core beliefs that I hold to in life and ministry is that Christians are to embrace and engage in the world around them. Too many times, it's easy to find ourselves (those that profess faith in Christ) cordoned off by a buffer of our Christian friends, Christian music, Christian decals on our cars and Christian t-shirts with quirky acronyms.

While I have no problems with these things, I believe with all my heart that my faith is challenged - and strengthened - by being around others that do not believe in the same way that I believe. Sharing the same faith is not a pre-requisite for friendship. I have learned more about my personal faith and relationship with Jesus because of the many people in my life that simply don't agree with me and my beliefs. And these that I am mentioning became some of my closest friends. During this time, some have come to believe in the message, life, ministry, death, resurrection, love, life and freedom found in Jesus. And some have not. And all are still counted as friends.

Embrace the world around you. Love those around you. No matter their background and beliefs. Make friendships that are based on mutual respect. And don't compromise what you believe when faced with questions...just find the answers.

"Holiness is not to be achieved by withdrawing from sinners and a godless world. Rather, it is to be pursued in the confusing whirlpool of conflicting cultures, personalities, and values." - Roger Hahn

Resolve

2011-04-26T17:31:00.000-04:00

God has put a huge dream in our hearts. We have a vision to open Ebenezers Coffeehouse (a non-profit coffeehouse/venue) in Uptown Charlotte. It has taken four years of advancement, waiting, doors opening, doors closing, etc. And one thing that I have learned along the way can be summed up in one very powerful word: resolve.

There have been so many challenges along the way in seeing this vision come to pass. Thousands of hours of preparation, prayer and conversations. Thousands of dollars of personal investment into travel, research and pursuing this dream. The road has been filled with encouragement and challenges. Through it all, we continue to press forward.

If you have a dream that God has placed in your heart, don't back down. Work hard. Pray harder. And trust that God is able to accomplish everything he put in your heart.

Proverbs 20:4 - Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

A Vision of Simplicity

2011-04-25T16:16:00.001-04:00

I just came across this quote today that really resonated within me:

It's not in the flash of the style that you hone,
Or all the degrees you've compiled;
The Savior is looking for servants who own
The warm, willing heart of a child. —Gustafson

It is so easy to keep ourselves busy trying to pull stuff off that we lose sight of our greatest need: the power of God at work and on display. I am all about excellence, but the past year has taught me more and more that my neurotic obsession with excellence can many times cover up the warm, willing heart of a child to just do whatever God asks.

God has called us to a vision of simplicity at Center City Church. I don't think we are going to win many awards for the way our services are put together. But we believe in the all surpassing power of God. And we believe in every single person that walks through the doors of our church.

My oldest son, Max (7), doesn't have a clue how to pull off a crazy awesome production, but he loves God with all of his heart. He prays prayers that are genuine and powerful. I think I want more of that in my life: the ability to say a simple prayer for the unlimited power of God.

Coffeehouse Update

2011-04-21T14:01:00.001-04:00

We have been presented with an extremely unique opportunity to purchase a prime piece of property in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. We would then build Ebenezers Coffeehouse, a non-profit coffeehouse & multi-use venue in the heart of our city. The vision is to have a space that allows us to interact with the community on a daily basis. The coffeehouse would be laid back and have free wi-fi for all. The venue would host anything that you could imagine for the Uptown Charlotte community. And Center City Church would have a space to call home on Sundays and throughout the week with offices.

With all that being said, we are actively putting together a plan for how to move forward. I am asking God for wisdom and favor. If you pray, I'd be honored if you would pray for us in this process. This is a once-in a lifetime opportunity to secure a phenomenal location in our city. If it's in God's plan, everything is going to come to pass.

We are working hard. Praying hard. And believing for all to come together in the perfect timing of God. Will keep you posted!

If you want to read more re: the vision of Ebenezers Coffeehouse, click here.

Receive Him As King (Matthew 19)

2011-04-17T21:52:00.004-04:00

Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church.

In an exciting and historic scene, Jesus arrives in Jerusalem to a hero’s welcome as the people receive him as the one true King. Our challenge is to do the same in our lives.

Volunteer Opportunities Card

2011-04-11T22:39:00.015-04:00

Here is a look at a handout we produced to give people a clear understanding of how they can plug in, get involved and serve at Center City Church. We gave this to everyone in attendance on Sunday morning and had a huge response. So blessed to pastor an amazing, loving and committed group of people!

If you're a church planter or work at a church and think this could be useful, shoot me an email and I'll send you the .PSD file with the layers so you can save a bunch of time! (david@centercitychurch.net)

Sharing = caring. (<--- corny)

Matthew 16 - Jesus Deserves Everything

2011-04-11T12:47:00.000-04:00

Click here to view the teaching from this Sunday at Center City Church.

Jesus teaches his disciples in Matthew 16:21-28 that the cost of following him is nothing short of everything. And the result of that decision to follow is absolutely beautiful.

Center City Turns One!

2011-04-01T21:42:00.000-04:00

I am so excited for this weekend at Center City Church! This is the one year anniversary weekend of our church. Time flies!!!

We are kicking off the weekend with baptisms during our Sunday morning gathering. We are going to celebrate with our friends that have recently given their hearts to Jesus.

We'll then break for a little while after service and then get back together for Center City's one year birthday celebration at Freedom Park. We'll do this the way we do best: cooking out, hanging out and a whole lot of cornhole. 5pm at Freedom Park Pavilion. Would love for you to join us if you can make it. We'll provide the plates, condiments and the charcoal. You bring something to throw on the grill!

This is going to be an incredibly memorable weekend in the life of our church. I can't believe it's been a full year since we kicked this thing off. What an amazing year. I'm ready to celebrate what God has done and look forward to what he's about to do!

Max, Jack & Bobcats!

2011-03-30T13:21:00.000-04:00

Dara and I took Max (7) and Jack (4) to the Charlotte Bobcats game the other night. So much fun! This was Jack's first professional sporting event and he was so blown away by the size of everything. He was totally on sensory overload for the first little bit. So cute.

This is a pic of what happens when you introduce a four year old to arena popcorn. Let's just say he went to town on the gigantic bucket of popcorn!

Correction

2011-03-30T13:10:00.000-04:00

Proverbs 3:11 - My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline, and don't be upset when he corrects you. For he corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

I love my youngest baby, Ben, with all my heart. He is a two year old full of life and energy. Lots and lots of energy. I found him jumping on the bed a couple of months ago. I told him to stop. He cried. I found him jumping on the bed a couple weeks later. I told him to stop. He cried again. My wife, Dara, found Ben jumping on the bed last week. She told him to stop. He cried. Really loud.

We were putting the boys to bed the other night and we heard Ben crying. Turns out he was jumping on the bed and fell into the foot board of the bed. Busted his front tooth so bad that it's now permanently pushed out of place in his gums until he loses it in a couple of years.

Every time we told him to stop jumping on the bed, he totally pitched a fit. He didn't understand why we weren't letting him have fun. And then he got hurt.

God loves you and I so much. He actually DOES want us to have fun, enjoy life and be happy. But he DOESN'T want us doing things that are going to lead to our version of jumping on the bed, busting our tooth out and dealing with the consequences for years to come.

What area of your life is God trying to correct?

If you trust him as a loving Father, not a prude that wants you to walk away from freedom and fun, you'll see that he always has your best in mind. Let him speak to you. Let him bring correction. You won't regret it. And you just might avoid busting your tooth out.

Praying in the City

2011-03-28T14:58:00.002-04:00

I have so fallen in love with walking the streets of Uptown Charlotte. I love spending time praying for our community. For each person as they pass me by in the busyness of Uptown life. For each family that is connected to each person. For the opportunities to come in the future that we can share the love and life found in Christ with so many.

I love the pace of the city. I love the sounds of the city. Buses rolling by. People talking on cell phones. Sirens in the distance. City life. All five senses. I love it.

This city has captured my heart. I pray that God keeps us here forever. That's my request. I look forward to the day where we will have a permanent space in the city to enjoy. Every day. I like the sound of that!

I'm praying for our friends and family at Center City today as I walk. Praying that God's word would be a lamp to guide their feet and a light for their path (Psalm 119:105). And I'm praying for all those that I've yet to meet. And those that have yet to meet Jesus. It's a good day in the city.

Joshua 23-24 - Joshua's Final Words

2011-03-27T20:28:00.000-04:00

Click here to view this week's message from Center City Church.

Joshua 23-24 shows the final scenes from the life of an amazing leader: Joshua. We look into his final instruction, caution and encouragement to the people of Israel.

You Never Know

2011-03-26T23:04:00.001-04:00

Dara and I pray over our kids every day. We thank Him for their safety, protection and health. With four energetic kids, we know that we need a little extra help from their angels :-)

We were putting our kids to bed tonight when we heard a scream from the other side of the house. We found our baby, Ben (2), sitting on our bed, bleeding profusely from his mouth. No one saw what happened, but it looked like he fell from the mattress to the foot board of the bed. His tooth was sunk back into his gums and he was absolutely freaking out.

After a terrifying half hour of uncertainty, the doctor talked us through everything and it turns out there not much we can do other than give him ibuprofen and manage the pain.

These type of parenting moments always remind me of how little I can control everything around me. I am grateful to God for his angels that protect us and keep us safe. I'm grateful for my kids and their health and the fact that this doesn't happen all the time. And I'm grateful that Ben's injury wasn't any worse that it was tonight.

Now it's time for bed. And we'll pray the same thing we pray every night. Safety, protection and health. Maybe we'll pray that one twice.

Samaritan's Feet

2011-03-26T14:41:00.000-04:00

Center City Church combined with other local churches in a day of service called "What If Everyone." Our group headed out to Samaritan's Feet today to help at a warehouse that sends shoes to people in need all over the world.

Keep your eyes (and your schedule) open for more upcoming projects around our city. A great way to get involved and show the practical side of our love for Jesus!

Joshua 11 - The Battle of Merom

2011-03-21T14:57:00.001-04:00

Click the link below to view this week's message from Center City Church.

Joshua 11 - The Battle of Merom
After experiencing incredible victories, Joshua faces his most fierce challenge before the final victory comes in the conquest of the land of promise.

Joshua 11 - The Battle of Merom from Center City Church on Vimeo.

Joy in Hardship

2011-03-16T12:17:00.001-04:00

I absolutely love this picture. This was taken during our friend, Hunter's, last chemotherapy treatment today. It is a picture of the joy that Hunter has found in the midst of the greatest hardship of his life: Hodkins Disease (cancer).

This picture tells so much of the story. A cheerful spirit during a terrifying season of life. His Bible has become his road map that led him to peace in the midst of uncertainty.

We celebrate with Hunter today the completion of his treatments and the fact that the doctors have declared him cancer free. Praise God! The next step will be to undergo radiation in the coming months to ensure this cancer doesn't come back.

Chemotherapy ends today. Radiation begins in a few weeks. And joy is found in Jesus along every step of the way.

Joshua 10 - Confidence

2011-03-13T21:29:00.001-04:00

Joshua 10 - Confidence: Joshua finds his confidence fully in the Lord, secures a great victory and passes on an important lesson that he learned along the way. Click the link above to view this week's message from Center City Church.

Lent

2011-03-09T18:09:00.000-05:00

Lent is a season of time leading up to Easter that helps us focus our attention on God. Accompanying this season of reflection and prayer is the practice of fasting. I highly recommend some sort of a fast multiple times per year. Fasting, quite simply, is removing something from your normal routine and replacing that time with prayer and reflection toward God.

Many times, people mistakenly assume that fasting is simply going without food. Not true. You can fast anything that will draw your attention to God consistently. One of the most effective fasts that I have seen in recent memory was when a young man in our church fasted Facebook for Lent last year. He made the comment, "I never realized how compulsively I checked my Facebook updates until I took that away from my normal routine."

What is something that you can give up between now and Easter? Sundays aren't included in the fast, by the way. So what can you give up on Monday-Saturday that will help you remember to allow God into your normal, daily routine. This can be a life altering season as you replace something simple in your daily life with prayer.

My wife, Dara, has also started a blog that will have Scripture readings posted online to help you stay on track with many others as we go through this season together. Click here to join along with us as we read God's Word together!

Flashback

2011-03-08T08:55:00.006-05:00

I'm having a serious flashback.

I remember sitting at the very same table I am at right now at Central Coffee fifteen months ago. We had a blank slate in front of us and a paintbrush in hand. Center City Church was yet to open to the community and I was thinking about the future. I distinctly remember the thoughts racing in my head, "we only get one shot at our beginning of this church." That's when I came across this verse in Proverbs 4:25-27:

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path.
Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

After reading that, I entered this into my journal on January 4, 2010:

"I have no idea what the turn of 2010 to 2011 will look like. But if I keep my eyes fixed on you I can be assured that it will look like the only thing that I have ever wanted for a church that you allow me to lead: it will look like You. Help me to never lose this most basic desire: that Center City looks like you."

2010 has turned to 2011. What I did not know then is now history only to be seen in my rear view mirror. And what I see is beautiful. Our aim is to look like Jesus. To act like Jesus. We mis-step and fall along the way, but I believe that we are absolutely making strides to honor Jesus in all we do. And for that I am seriously grateful.

I have no idea what the turn of 2011 to 2012 will look like. But if it looks anything like what we've experienced in the past year, sign me up. I love what we are doing. I love the journey we are taking together. And I am so grateful for our loving God that has formed a beautiful reality in Uptown Charlotte that so many appreciate and enjoy.

Joshua 10 - The Sun Stands Still

2011-03-07T07:58:00.000-05:00

View this week's message from Center City Church by clicking the link below:

Joshua sees God perform miracles to ensure victory in battle. We learn an important lesson from this: our God can do anything.

Uncertainty & Peace

2011-03-03T14:44:00.002-05:00

A video encouragement from Uptown Charlotte. Uncertainty brings insecurity. But time spent with the Lord brings peace, understanding & security.

Joshua 9 - Deception

2011-02-27T21:59:00.000-05:00

Today at Center City Church was a very straightforward day as we shined the light of truth on the topic of deception. You can view this week's sermon on Joshua 9 by clicking the video below:

Mentoring

2011-02-25T17:23:00.000-05:00

Dara and I had the privilege of spending the day today with one of our mentors. A man that has spoken clearly into our lives for the last 8 years. With clarity and timeliness, our friend has been there at the most pivotal times in our lives.

We enjoyed a beautiful Charlotte day and hours of conversation. He met some of the closest people in our world that have surrounded us at Center City Church. We talked life and ministry. And I'm so much better for it.

I am challenged to make sure that I am investing into others deeply and meaningfully. In the same way that our friend has spoken into our lives, my charge is to continue to pass on lessons I've learned to those in my life.

Who are you teaching the things that were taught to you?

Thoughts on Getting Rich

2011-02-23T14:58:00.005-05:00

I've been thinking about getting rich lately. Not so much about "how to get rich." More about the idea of being rich and how simply meaningless it is unless something is done with the wealth that is built up on this side of heaven.

I drove by the Carolina Theater this week. This is an historic theater in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. It's been sitting in disrepair for over 40 years. But in it's heyday it was one of the most glamorous and sought after venues in the southeast. But there it sits, forty years later, simply a shell of what it once was. It was known for it's intricate details, majestic architecture and famous artwork. But like all beautiful buildings, it had a shelf life. Time got the best of it and now it just sits there with only hints that speak of its former glory.

I feel like this theater is a visual representation of our pursuit of wealth. There's nothing wrong with working hard and building a sound financial foundation for our families and our future. But when that becomes our end goal - to be rich - we have completely missed the point. Wealth gives the wealthy an opportunity to help those in need. But many times that point is lost once wealth is achieved.

Proverbs 23:4-5 - Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.

What's your end goal in life? Are you chasing after wealth? I'm reminded that the only thing that will last forever is investment that we make into people. It reminds me to sit face to face with my kids and teach them the truly important lessons of life. It places high value on time I take to sit with people and share my journey of faith and how Jesus changed my life. That leads to life everlasting. Life that will never fade or dim. Life that will never become broken down like the Carolina Theater.

Here is a concise thought on getting rich: wealth doesn't last forever. So that leads to an incredibly important follow-up question:

Who or what are you investing into today?

Joshua 8 - Redemption

2011-02-21T21:25:00.000-05:00

Joshua failed in his leadership and obedience to God in Joshua 7. But Joshua 8 tells a beautiful story of redemption & second chances. This is so applicable to each one of our lives. Click the link to view this week's message from Center City Church.

Having a Blast

2011-02-21T11:06:00.001-05:00

This past weekend was so meaningful to me and our entire leadership team at Center City. We enjoyed a wonderful service yesterday as we worked through Joshua 8. This is an incredible story of redemption and second chances. You can view online or download via iTunes if you want to check it out. There was such a sense of God's love and power in the room.

I am loving the atmosphere that is being laid by Clark and Salina Beasley. They are absolutely phenomenal at leading us in worship and pointing our attention to God. And I certainly enjoy watching them stare up into the ceiling while singing at the top of their lungs as though they are making sure that God can hear them quite clearly :-)

Our group is growing in their relationship with God and more and more people continue to come and dive into the beautiful community that is forming. I'm having a blast leading this church. I don't feel overwhelmed or stressed. I feel healthy. I feel blessed. And I feel fully aware that all the great things that are happening are because of the incredible grace of God and his power at work in our lives. All praise to God for the season that we are in at Center City Church!

Patience (Don't Look Around)

2011-02-18T17:46:00.003-05:00

There are amazing works of God happening all across our city. I look at churches that I deeply respect like Renovatus Church (Pastor Jonathan Martin) and the Branch Church (Pastor Derek Turner). Both of these churches were started by amazing men of God that sacrificed so much to get where they are today. But it took years and years of consistency, tough decisions, prayers and commitment in the face of adversity. Their success as healthy and thriving churches in our community did not happen overnight. There was a steep price that was paid that most will never see or understand.

It is so easy to look around and see others thriving and growing. And if I'm not careful, that can lead to frustration and impatience. We have experienced a season of slow, healthy and methodical growth at Center City Church, but no one is going to write a book titled, "Center City Church: How to Explode a Movement of Phenomenal Numerical Church Growth." But somebody could write a book called, "Center City Church: How to Grow a Church by Five People a Month Super Slow and Consistent." I actually really like our book.

What I've learned is that healthy things take time to grow. I have to patiently and consistently make the right decisions, over and over again. I have to learn how to pray and learn how to trust. And I can't look at another church that has already paid that price and expect to skip those important steps of learning and growing - both personally and as a church.

I am so grateful for pastors like Jonathan Martin and Derek Turner. Their influence has shown me the result of what happens when pastors pay the price of patience. And the result is beautiful.

This can be applied to each one of our lives. Don't get frustrated when you see someone in your field succeeding or accomplishing the same dream that only lives in your heart. Ask questions. Learn from them. And embrace the one thing that never develops quickly: patience.

I Want Something Old

2011-02-17T23:09:00.001-05:00

I have always been wired to chase after things that have never been done. To take new ground. To go after huge dreams. But the more we continue to move forward at Center City Church, the more I find myself looking back.

I am so overwhelmed and encouraged by the stories of the pastors that have gone before me in Charlotte. The pastors that poured out their lives for God, for their family and for this community. I have been captivated by the story of Alfred Garr, an evangelist that put down roots in the 1930's in Charlotte. He prayed over and over and over again for the people that lived in this city. He asked God unashamedly for miracles. And miracles happened. Over and over and over again.

The very streets that I am walking and praying each week in Uptown Charlotte are the same streets that Dr. Garr walked and begged God for miracles. And I'm so encouraged that the same God that answered his prayers is the same God that hears our cries for this community.

I want something old. Tried. True. Tested. The power of God, unadulterated and unfiltered. I want to see miracles. And I am asking God to do what he has already done. To show his miraculous, unmatched power in this city.

In the Meantime

2011-02-17T16:21:00.001-05:00

God put a huge dream in our hearts close to four years ago. We have a vision to open a coffeehouse/venue (Ebenezers Coffeehouse) in the heart of Uptown Charlotte. Instead of building a space solely for our church to meet in each week, we envision opening the coffeehouse to the community sixteen hours a day, seven days a week. We see a multiple-use venue that can hold anything from a national recording artist to a public school graduation. But it doesn't happen overnight. And I'm becoming more and more ok with that.

In the meantime (between the revelation of the dream and the completion), I have learned so much. Patience hasn't always been at the top of my list, but I can see it's value as I try to use every moment as preparation for the fulfillment of this dream.

We are in an exciting season right now with a lot of people and potential partners coming around this dream. We continue to have meetings line up one after the other as we share the plans. And we have seen miraculous doors of favor come our way.

I'm also learning quite a bit about the fact that we are not the only thing happening in our city. We want to play a complimentary role in our city, not take it over. We want to be a part of the fabric of the Uptown business community as much as we want to be a healthy and thriving church. And all of these things take time.

In the meantime, I'm learning how to pray. Like - really pray. It's become a normal part of my weekly routine to head to the city, walk the streets and pray for God's wisdom, favor, understanding, patience and direction. As far as I can see, I want this to happen five minutes from now. But every moment longer than my own impatience has taught me so much.

What dream do you have in your heart? And what are you doing in the meantime before it comes to pass?