Mike Henderson

Sneak Peak

This week I begin a new 4-part series entitled "Holy Discontent."  The first message centers around the parable of the Lost Son in Luke 15.  My approach will probably be different than any you have heard. Also, the band will be fired up so July will end on a high note.  Don't miss it!

As the schools start back up I will be doing a 2-part series on worship called "Fanatic."  Should be a fun two weeks.

Then our big kickoff for the fall will be in September at we launch "One Month to Live."  We will present the Gospel and this will be a life-changing series.

In November we will do four messages on prophetic events entitled, "What in the World is Going On?"

The fall is going to be amazing and we are praying for some huge things.  Anything less would be an insult to God. So that's what's coming!  New Hope will be the place to be.

Forgottten

Yesterday I had a good idea for a blog.  But then I forgot the idea.  I forget a lot.  Don't hold that against me.  So that blog will never get written, unless the thought reappears one day.

But don't we all forget things?  We forget to say 'thank you,' give someone a call, file something, or even put something in a safe place.  Better yet I have put things in a safe place and then forgotten the safe place.  It was so safe, it was safe from me remembering it.

The truth is we forget a lot.  So what systems will you put into place so you don't forget.  At New Hope we have a system so that every guest who gives us information is not lost.  We have not always been good stewards of that info, but we have upgraded the way we do things.

For me I have no excuse.  With my phone always with me, I can voice record notes, write myself notes, or even Jott myself or someone.  Wonder if I can finish out the week without forgetting something else?

Overload

With several people in our house who seem to be constantly on the internet and streaming video, one more video download sure seems to run slow.  I am downloading some video podcasts, but think I will wait until the morning.  Adam's gaming stuff must take a lot of bandwidth or something.

Our human bodies are similar.  One of the concepts I truly believe in the one of emotional ram.  Our emotions can only handle so much at one time.  I realize the Bible says God will not overload us (1 Corinthians 10:13).  So that must mean that we overload ourselves or we have not adequately learned how to respond or control our emotions.

For instance, if I yell, or become disagreeable why is that?  Let's move away from the fact that I am responding incorrectly.  Let's dig down, and find out what's at the root.

What has me overloaded?  Trying to do too much at one time?  Not taking time off?  Attempting to add one more thing to the pot?

It's not enough to just say, "That's the way I am."  That's a cop out.  It's time to take a closer look. Often it is simply a case of overload.  So quit trying to stream so many things at one time.  That one thing will probably help.

Process Before People

It must be a natural reflex to make something personal.  Some time ago I mentioned that during the music the keyboard was noticeably silent.  Immediately the individual made it personal by responding, "I guess you don't want Jake (not his name) running the sound board.

Now why the response?  I never said someone, or a person made an error.  I was simply pointing out an observation.  Maybe the keys were supposed to be low or silent on that particular song.  My goal was to 'ask what rather than who.'  

In other words, start with the process rather than a person.  Admittedly, even though I tried that the other person immediately turned it personal.  

I think that may be somewhat of a natural response, but I would not shy away from asking what first. Chances are there will be a procedural flaw or a flaw in the process that is causing the problem.  Just try and return something at a store.  If it takes an hour, it's more than likely a process problem and not a people problem.

So when a problem arises, think 'process before people.'

Music

It's hard to deny the impact of music.  In the Old Testament Saul was refreshed and uplifted greatly when David played (1 Samuel 16:23).  After David became king he went all out on the music.  In 1 Chronicles 15:16-22 he assembled skilled musicians, lots of instruments, and loud music.  He was big into celebration. With that in mind we have switched gears concerning our music. During the summer months we have rethought our approach.  Our music just wasn't having the consistency nor excellence that we wanted.  

Furthermore every Sunday we want you to know that our goal is excellent music that will lift your spirits. As a result we are going to be working with a few bands who would like to partner with us as we seek to serve our people as well as those you bring or those who decide to give New Hope a try.

This coming Sunday Chase the Lion will be with us once again.  This is a group of young,dedicated Christ-followers.

When you and your friends show up one of the first things they come into contact with is our music.  We want everyone to get the sense that something awesome and significant is going to happen.  Once again in 1 Samuel 4:5 Israel was very vocal in their praise for God.  Quiet and subdued worship is missing in the Bible.

When you come this week I hope you will sing and lift up your voice in awe of the God we worship.

Extra Time

It's not unusual for me to think 'I hope such and such does not come up.  I do not have time.'  Think about that.  Who has time to get brake lines replaced (that just happened to me).  That takes a couple of hours to get car to mechanic, leave, and later go get.  What about that trip back to town to get something you forget?

The point is we have time for the things that are bearing down on us.  The urgent stuff.  Why is that we fail to schedule time to think, create, relax, goof off, learn something new, or go on an adventure?  Maybe we should pretend we just got the flu, take a couple of days off and do what we have put off.

But we don't because we don't have the extra time.  Yes you do.  In fact, if you did get the flu, you would 'make' the extra time. And your business would not fail and go under.  Haven't you noticed that when stuff happens, life goes on.  So you really do have the extra time.  

Now what have you been putting off?

Character and Conscience

Over the weekend one of the great football players in recent history was shot multiple times and killed. What a tragedy. While the exact details of Steve McNair's death are still being investigated some things are clear.

First of all, his brother claims he was a great role model.  I would disagree.  He was a great football player who did some great things for local charities.  But he was married and had four kids.  And he was hanging out with an unmarried twenty-year old woman...at 2am in the morning in a condo.

Here's the point.  Why do we so often misjudge the character of others?  Even if we do not do it publicly we do it privately.  We overlook things like pride, unethical behavior, and unsavory behavior.

To top it off we do this with friends.  Rather than politely confront a friend and share what we believe to be a character issue we allow our 'friend' to continue on.  How many confronted Steve McNair?  Maybe several did and he ignored them.  Obviously his brother thought it was ok to run around with the girl he was with.

This past week my message on the National Conscience addressed the issue of how our consciences drift.  Ten years ago perhaps Steve McNair would not have thought about doing what he did.  But somewhere along the line his conscience drifted and behavior he would not have tolerated he now tolerated.  

And the sad part is, it ultimately led to his death.  Right now there may be behavior in a friend's life or yours that you are tolerating.  Why do we do that?  If change is not forthcoming the end result may not be pretty.