Mike Henderson

Traveling Man

  When it comes to traveling out of town my favorite mode of transportation is driving.  For instance, this past week I drove to the north side of Atlanta in eight hours exactly.  Now if I had flown, say out of Richmond.  I would have had to drive one and a half hours to get to the airport.  Of course, you have to get there early so there is two more hours.  Then the flight is one and a half at least.  Now we are up to five hours.  After landing I have to go get my rental car and drive north in traffic; two more hours.  Essentially, the trip is about the same.

  However, I can listen to several podcasts, talk to Carol or whoever is with me, stop at Starbucks once or twice, and have a good seat.  Who knows.  You may get stuck in a middle seat in between two very large people.  (Which if the airlines are going to charge you for an overweight suitcase-I think they should allow you to get on the scale with your suitcase and charge accordingly).  Granted not everyone likes to drive.  But flying is not always a time-saver.  And the cost is a whole lot more. 

  About a dozen of us from New Hope are going to Unleash, an upcoming conference, which will be in Anderson SC.  The drive is six and a half hours.  Not a bad drive. 

  But my opinion may not hold much water.  After all, I have driven out west three times, once all the way to the Pacific. 

  At the end of day you have to travel in a way that suits you and gets you to where you want to go.  Hopefully you have some destinations in mind.  What are your financial destinations?  The time frame?  How about your marriage?  Your growth as a Christ-follower?

  You can tell right now what's not working, or can you?   I hope you will check out your mode of transportation and see if it's getting you to where you want to go. 

In Charleston

Carol,Gabe, and I are spending the day with my parents. We are getting ready to visit my grandmother who will turn 95 this summer.

It's like my body does not know how to function when I literally don't have to do anything. Even though I brought a book and other reading material I am trying to create some distance.

One of hardest things for me to do is relax. Debated about running out to Starbucks. Did not go and now regret it. Not that I had to have a cup of coffee, but I love relaxing with a cup when I am out of town.

Also when I visit my mom she has an agenda of sorts. She wants to take us to a Magnolia Plantation. Nothing like trees and their blooms I guess. Hey, she's my mom and I will gladly go. She loves flowers and plantations.

I took some videos to show my grandmother. She enjoys everything. And Carol brought her a couple of books to read. She still reads a lot and reads her Bible every day.

Of course, even when relaxing my mind is constantly thinking about how we can more effectively make disciples.

Which reminds me you do not want to miss this Sunday. Relax before then and then come expecting a challenge!

Creative Team

This is the first time I have written a blog on my phone, so it may be a little short.

The feedback from this past week's message was all positive. Sure, my intro was a little long, and my message went over some also, and some of the wording could have been changed.

With that said, and those comments were helpful, I just wanted to give a shout out to the Creative Team who challenged my original outline and some of the thoughts. Their valuable feedback led me to rework some of the structure and I believe help me deliver a much better message.

If you were not in the service we hope to have it online by Friday evening.

We are having a great time out of town. I am fired up about this Sunday's message. Don't even think about missing.

Honest with God

  Every Saturday night (other times also) in particular I ask God to reveal anything that may be in my life that may hinder His work in the service on Sunday at New Hope.  Too much is on the line.  Someone's life may be hanging in the balance.  I really don't know how God may choose to work. 

  One of the things I don't get to do is actually attend a service.  With the message on my mind as well as lots of other stuff the experience I have on Sunday is vastly different.  With that in my I try to attend a service or two online each week.  It still can't compare to being in a live service, but God speaks often to me in those times.

  This coming week Carol and I will be heading south.  We will be in Atlanta on Monday as I network with a few pastors in the area.  Then on Tuesday I will go to Charleston to see my parents and grandmother.  Since it has been over a year I had to find some time to make a quick trip to see my grandmother.  She will be 95 this summer.

  There may be a blog or two less next week.  We plan to be back late Thursday afternoon.

Lost and Found

  A few weeks ago I lost my driver's license.  First time that has ever happened to me.  No big deal, right?  After all, how many times have I had to pull it out and show it to a police officer in the last two decades?  None.  So I was not too worried or in a big hurry to go to DMV.

  While driving home on Friday I get a call from Dick's.  Evidently I dropped my license in the store, and it was picked up and put in the safe.  Finally someone figured I could probably use it.  So now I won't have to ruin a day with a painful visit to the DMV.

  When I first lost my license I did not notice.  It took several days before I realized it was missing.  Life is sometimes like that.  I heard of another marriage breaking up.  Wonder how long it took the couple to realize they had lost 'it.'  Wonder if they remember where the wheels started coming off. 

  Fortunately my driver's license was found and restored, but if it had not, a replacement could have been  made.  But too often in life things get  lost, relationships start heading south, and there is no quick recovery. 

  Even Christ-followers have been known to lose their first love for their Savior (Revelation 2:4).  Scary.  Because not everything that gets lost gets found.  Check your wallet and make sure you have not lost something important.

Easter is Coming

  Every year Easter is either our largest or second largest crowd of the year, with many first time guests.   That's cool and all, but the real question is, 'Will they stay?'

  While we try every week to create an environment that is conducive to people staying, there are still things to learn and keep in mind.

  For instance, it's not a good idea to ask people 'Are you a first time guest?'  If they get asked that too many times it can have a negative effect.  Allow them to just fit in.  Of course, you can always take the initiative and say, 'My name is .....I don't believe I have met you before.'

  So over the next few weeks practice meeting new people or getting the names of people you don't know.  I mean we do go to church together.  And it is awkward not knowing someone's name. 

  Every week let's get ready for company.  There will be new faces among us this week.  You've got your homework assignment.  Let's have a great day on Sunday at New Hope.

Distractions

  Every Sunday is different.  Sure, to the average person attending it may not seem so.  But this past week we were to set up on Saturday, but there was a schedule conflict at the school.  So we set up on Sunday.  Not a big deal.  But we did have a couple of distractions.

  And as I was talking to John Williams, who has been a huge asset to our setup and tear down team, and Skip, I reminded them that people come in every Sunday full of distractions.  I mean, after all, if I were Satan I would work to distract everyone so they would get absolutely nothing out of the service.

  Some will come after having an argument on the way to church, others maybe their child spilled milk all the way across the floor, and some are just plain tired.

  Distractions are real.  In one blog I read recently the pastor said he was distracted.  That's a reality.  In fact while reading this blog you may get distracted. 

  Distractions keep us from functioning at our highest level.  So before you come to New Hope this week ask God to intervene and help families come without distractions.  Ask that those of us who serve will be distraction free.

  Here is my final thought.  It's possible to come to New Hope and be unchallenged and unmoved simply because of the distractions in your life.  It's possible to not serve up to my potential simply due to a distraction. 

  Do not underestimate the negative power of distractions.  This week ask God to give us a distraction free service so that lives will be changed.

Do-Over

 Today was one of those days I wish I could have a do-over on my message delivery.  It was a great text and I simply did not do it justice.  

  Have you ever noticed how many do-overs occur in your life?  I neglected to say something, do something, buy something, call someone, text someone, and more.  I have even put off reading a book only to find out that had I read it sooner it would have made a difference in a message, someone's life, or my life.

  We'll never eliminate all of our do-overs, but as I begin a new week that's my goal for the week.  Can't be the goal every week.  And it does not mean I am striving for perfection.  That won't happen.  But it does mean I can be more purposeful and think ahead. 

  It's now Sunday night, and outside my message delivery I have no other do-overs from the day.  One day down and six more to go.

Love

This is the day of 'Love.'  What does love look like?  I Corinthians 13 gives a pretty good definition.

1.  Love is patient.
2.  Love is kind.
3.  Love does not envy.
4.  Love does not boast and is not proud.
5.  Love is not rude.
6.  Love is not easily angered.
7.  Love does not keep a record of wrongs.
8.  Love always looks for the good.

Sounds like some good stuff to blog about and live out.

Valentine's Day

  My most memorable valentine piece of candy shaped like a heart said 'Will you be my valentine?'  It was fun to pass out those pieces of candy.  Secretly you meant it.  You liked the girl.   But nothing has been as fun as actually finding someone who would 'be' my valentine. 

  Even the commercials tell us that Valentine's Day is near.  There are commercials about flowers and even one has gone so far as to promise a 'gift guaranteed to make women take their clothes off.'  If you buy that one do not give it to your wife in public!

  Anyway here is my valentine.  Have a great day.  Proverbs 18:22