CAN YOU SPOT A “CHURCH DATER?” –THE PROFILE OF ONE WHO DATES THE CHURCH

1. A “me-centered” attitude. They go to church for what they can get

—social interaction, programs, activities. The common question of the “church dater” is, “What can church do for me?”

2. A “church dater” is Independent. They go to church because that is what Christians are supposed to do.

They are careful to avoid getting involved too much, especially with people. They don’t pay much attention to God’s larger purpose for them as a vital part of a specific church family. They go through the motions without really investing themselves.

3. A “church dater” tends to be Critical. They are short on allegiance and quick to find fault in their church.

They treat the church with the consumer mentality—looking for the best product for the price of Their Sunday morning. They are fickle and not invested for the long-term, like a lover with a wondering eye; they are always on the hunt for something better.

(These three points taken from, Joshua Harris-“Stop Dating The Church!” –Chapter 1- page 16-17)

Why Is the Church Important?

When it comes to the Christian life, the question of the church’s importance is
perhaps one that is too often overlooked. How often do we stop and think, “Why
is the church so important? What is the purpose of the church?” The answer to
such questions will provide us both direction for how churches should build the
body of Christ and encouragement to be faithful as we play our part in it.
In this lesson, we will explore the critical role that the local church plays in God’s
glorious purposes, as well as the overall vision of this particular local church.
We will find that our relationships with other believers are a tremendous means
of blessing, both for ourselves and others. God never meant for us to live the
Christian life alone. Instead, he gives us the marvelous privilege of traveling on
this journey together.

A. The ultimate purpose of the church is the glory of God.
1. The Bible clearly reveals that mankind stands in rebellion against God.
However, throughout history God has made himself known to people, called
them to himself, and gathered them together to worship him and bring glory
to his name. Because the church is uniquely God’s, we are to be distinctly
different from the world.
Exodus 19:4-6: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and
how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if
you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured
possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall
be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

2. Believers living after Christ came to earth have the even greater privilege of
joining together to enjoy and proclaim the pinnacle of God’s saving acts: the
death of Christ on the cross for our sins.
Ephesians 1:3-8: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for
adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the
praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In
him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us...”

B. The church’s role is exclusive.
The church is God’s chosen means for carrying out his purposes until he
returns. He has ordained no other organization or structure for this purpose.
Matthew 16:18: “...I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it.”
1 Timothy 3:15: “...if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the
household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress
of truth.”

C. Our true nature as the church, and as Christians, is corporate.
Throughout the history of redemption, God has been acting to save a people,
not a disconnected group of isolated individuals.
1 Peter 2:9-10: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of
him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were
not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received
mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
There are many aspects of the Christian life that we typically think of as
involving our personal relationship with God: our response to the gospel, our
growth in godliness, our love for doctrine, and our empowerment by God’s
Spirit. While all of these things are critical for our personal lives, it is possible
to understand them, incorrectly, as involving only our personal lives.
It is a key assumption of New Testament teaching that the Christian life is to be
lived out in relationship with other believers in the context of the local church.
Although we enter into a relationship with God as individuals, we nevertheless
enter into something greater than our own individuality: the church—the
community of God’s people.

Used by permission of Covenant Life Church.

(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/).

10 Things to Pray for Your Wife by Jonathan Parnell | January 3, 2013

Our hunger for God will not be confined to our closets. As we know him and delight in all that he is for us in Jesus, our joy in him reaches beyond personal experience on a quest to be reproduced in others. One of the simplest ways we realize this is by taking serious how we pray — by wanting and asking for others the same things we want and ask for ourselves.
It is a beautiful thing — a miracle — when we become as invested in the sanctification of others as we are in our own. And, of course, the best place to start is with our spouses.
So men, here are ten things to want from God (and ask from him) for your wife:

1. God, be her God — her all-satisfying treasure and all. Make her jealous for your exclusive supremacy over all her affections (Psalm 73:24–25).
2. Increase her faith — give her a rock-solid confidence that your incomparable power is only always wielded for her absolute good in Christ (Romans 8:28–30).
3. Intensify her joy — a joy in you that abandons all to the riches of your grace in Jesus and that says firmly, clearly, gladly: "I'll go anywhere and do anything if you are there" (Exodus 33:14–15).
4. Soften her heart — rescue her from cynicism and make her tender to your presence in the most complicated details of dirty diapers and a multitude of other needs you've called her to meet (Hebrews 1:3).
5. Make her cherish your church — build relationships into her life that challenge and encourage her to walk in step with the truth of the gospel, and cause her to love corporate gatherings, the Lord's Table, and the everyday life of the body (Mark 3:35).
6. Give her wisdom — make her see dimensions of reality that I would overlook and accompany her vision with a gentle, quiet spirit that feels safe and celebrated (1 Peter 3:4).
7. Sustain her health — continue to speak your gift of health and keep us from presumption; it is by blood-bought grace (Psalm 139:14).
8. Multiply her influence — encourage and deepen the impact she has on our children. Give her sweet glimpses of it. Pour her out in love for our neighbors and spark creative ways to engage them for Jesus's sake (John 12:24).
9. Make her hear your voice — to read the Bible and accept it as it really is, your word... your very word to her where she lives, full of grace and power and everything she needs pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
10. Overcome her with Jesus — that she is united to him, that she is a new creature in him, that she is your daughter in him. . . No longer in Adam and dead to sin; now in Christ and alive to you, forever (Romans 6:11).

And then a thousand other things. Amen.

Each December, we give above and beyond to bless Church At The Park and our community!

Like most churches and non-profit organizations, Church At The Park s depends on year-end donations to compensate for lapses in giving during the summer and other months. In many ways, a church’s income cycle mirrors the retail world—where shops depend on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales to generate 40% of the income they need. 

This year, Church At The Park hopes for $200,000 in year-end donations in order to correct our year-end deficit and to fund the ambitious vision God has given us for 2013.

December through February, a team of staff, council and volunteers are completing a strategic 

planning process, out of which emerged our vision focus areas through 2013-2014.

Our Year-end Giving will fund five priority projects in 2013.

The Weekend Gathering will allow us to connect the “community to the church” for every child, adult and guest.

Clear Vision and Financial Capacity: Fund a gospel-centered and celebrated vision with

a never-before level of generosity and a wide-spread commitment to regular giving.

Interns and Serving Teams: Grow the core of weekend volunteers until 20% of 

Church At The Park is experiencing meaningful community while serving our guests 

with excellence.

LOVE GOD Step: Create a specialized ministry team, and a campus focal point, to personally help every attendee make a lasting connection at Church At The Park.

Missional Groups. Engage 1,000 more people in Life Groups, where we form relationships and grow spiritually.

Make a generous donation today. Together we are transforming Church At The Park into a thriving church—where everyone experiences community and grows spiritually.

2 Ways to Make a Year-end Gift:

1. Mail a check to the office, or drop it in the offering basket at weekend gathering. Be sure to indicate “year-end” gift on your check. (2228 Pages , Durham, NC 27703)

2. Give by credit card online or at the kiosk in the main office. Click “donate” on the web tab.

Bryan Loritts: What Carlton Banks, Ice Cube and Denzel Washington Teach Us About Hiring

Here is some insight Pastor Bryan Loritts shares about the American church when face to hire a minority.

In an age of diversity, more and more churches and organizations feel compelled to hire minorities who will help them reflect our future, eternal, multi-ethnic reality. This is a beautiful and biblical pursuit. Yet I’ve seen the beginnings of something oh-so-beautiful turn into tragedy. The reason is simple and complex all at the same time- being so fixated on ethnicity that we forget culture.

Sociologist’s tell us that embedded within each ethnicity are various layers of culture. At one end of the culture spectrum are what we would label C1’s. These are individuals who while being of a specific ethnic minority have assimilated thoroughly into majority culture. Using my own ethnicity as an example (African-American), the image that should come to mind when thinking of C1 is Carlton Banks of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. With his Tom Jones-sweater-vest-khaki shorts-argyle socks-no dancing self, he embodied the C1 culture of African American ethnicity. Carlton was pretty much a white man clothed in black skin.

On the other end are what we would label C3’s. These individuals have refused to assimilate in majority culture. These are your rage against “the man” minorities, who look down on C1’s, labeling them at times as being “sell outs,” or “Uncle Tom’s”. Sticking with our acting motif, just think Ice Cube. If ever you see a film that has Ice Cube starring in it you know it’s a black movie (in every bit of a C3 sense). Okay, we’ll give Ice Cube a pass on Anaconda, but his other films fit the bill: Boyz in the Hood, Friday (et al) and Barbershop. Carlton Banks and Doughboy (Cube’s character in Boyz in the Hood) would never be caught doing anything together, anywhere. They’re both black ethnically, but that’s where the comparison’s stop.

Interestingly enough, the Bible speaks clearly into the issue of ethnicity and culture. The opening verses of Acts 6 unveils a dispute between the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews. Notice carefully that ethnicity and culture are mentioned here. Ethnically, Luke is talking about Jews, yet culturally he’s introducing us to C1’s and C3’s. Hellenism is the spread of Greek culture. The Hellenistic Jews, are ethnic Jews who embraced Greek culture. They named their kids Greek names, ate Greek food and dove headfirst into the sea of assimilation. These were your Carlton Banks of the Jewish ethnicity. On the other extreme were your Hebraic Jews. These were your classic C3’s who refused to do anything that would remotely suggest they weren’t “keeping it real”. No name changing, rib eating or Tom Jones listening here. To the Hebraic Jews, the Hellenistic Jews were deplorable, the epitome of compromise. So a clash exists, and at the center of the havoc is culture.

Some years later, the apostle Paul would sit down and write the Philippians. In chapter three of this letter, he chronicles his autobiography. It’s interesting that one of the things he talks about in reflecting on his life prior to Christ, is that he was “born of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews”. In these two statements Paul is revealing to us both his ethnicity and culture. When Paul says that he was “born of the tribe of Benjamin” he is stating his Jewish ethnicity. Yet when he goes onto say that he was a “Hebrew of Hebrews,” he is revealing his culture. To put it succinctly, he was a C3. No rib eating here. Paul’s identity was deeply, if not solely, rooted in his Jewishness.

There’s one other cultural layer tucked away in every ethnicity- C2’s. These are your people who can navigate different ethnicities yet retain who they are in the process. These are unique individuals who have adapted well over time, to the point where they can genuinely relate to and enjoy the company of quite an eclectic crowd. Returning to our acting image think Denzel Washington. Sure, when his film career was beginning his roles were primarily of a C3 nature. He played the part of Stephen Biko, the great South African civil-rights leader, and was a regular fixture in Spike Lee films (or “joints” I should say). Yet in the past twenty years, Denzel’s roles have transcended ethnicity. Sure he won the academy award for the street thug cop in Training Day, but he’s also starred in such ethnic neutral films like Out of Time, Unstoppable and Flight. Denzel would be just as comfortable hanging with Ice Cube as he would Carlton Banks.

In I Corinthians 9:19-23, Paul says something astounding, so astounding that I should quote it here at length:

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

Paul introduces us to his community, and notice it’s quite eclectic. He begins by saying that he has Jewish friends, then he would go onto say that he has Gentile friends- this is what he means when he talks of those “outside the law”. This is classic C2 language here: Paul, a Jew by ethnicity, is able to run in very diverse circles. The Spirit of God, and Paul’s intentionally placing himself in different ethnic contexts resulted in his transformation from C3 to C2.

Returning to the Problem:
Where my white brothers and sisters get it wrong is that they hire any black or minority face with a good looking resume to join their organization in the name of diversity. But what they never take the time to really ask and investigate is the question of culture. What am I really getting here? C1? C2? C3?

It’s important for me to say that I’m not making any kinds of judgments on any of the cultural layers. In fact, depending on the needs of the organization you may need any or all three of the cultures. If you’re just getting into the world of diversity and need to play it safe with your first hire, and want someone who won’t rock the boat, then go for a C1…if the job is a good fit. What I mean by this is never hire a Carlton Banks to lead your inner city ministry. WASTE OF TIME. But if the position is a culturally neutral one, and it’s your first minority hire, there could be a place for Carlton on staff.

On the other hand, if you’re hiring someone to run your non-profit community development, whose work will primarily entail relating to other C3 minorities, then for sure hire Ice Cube! Assuming the Ice Man loves Jesus and meets the job qualifications.

But if you’re looking for upper level leadership (lead pastor, teaching pastors, etc) who will lovingly nudge your body in more multi-ethnic directions, Denzel is your man.

Hope this helps. In future blogs, I’ll show you why I believe C2 leaders are best qualified to lead at the highest levels in churches and organizations looking to diversify. I’ll also show you how to spot them.

Our Vision: Our vision is summarized in Jesus’ Great Commandment to "Love God, Love People, and Prove it." What does that look like in action?

Love God
Gospel-Centered Life

Jesus demands that we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength… As a Church, the gospel demands us to love God in every faculty and every capacity of our being and it should express the fullness of our affection for God—the fullness of all the ways we treasure him. At the Park we understand that the Kingdom of God, is a matter of the heart and not ritual. It is a matter of heart devotion not hard duty. Loving God is found in Gospel-Centered Life. We believe the reason people feel so unsettled and unhappy in life is because they have rejected God’s rule over their lives. Our rejection of God’s love rule has left us under a state of corruption and condemnation, and His absence has left a huge void in our hearts. Jesus Christ is God Incarnated; He satisfied God's Virtues of love by absorbing God’s righteous wrath against our sin and bridged the gap between us and the Father. We believe that the saving love of God is God’s commitment to do everything necessary to captivate us with what is most deeply and durably satisfying, namely himself. Since we are sinners and have no right and no desire to be captivated with God, therefore God’s love enacted a plan of redemption to provide that right and that desire.

 Love People
Christ-Centered life

"Love one another as I have loved you" mean we should live as Christ lived, in community; you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus revealed the depth and breadth of his love for his disciples, called them and gathered them unto him. We lived together, worked together, ministered together, break bread together and shared a common purse. We believe Jesus lived life the way it was meant to be lived, because of that love he had for others. We do life together. By becoming a community of Jesus followers we must turn from our self-worshiping, self-serving lifestyles and become the followers (disciples) of God we were created to be. Christ Centered means love. We believe the love we have for each other shows that we are truly Jesus’ disciples, as a community we are called to love as Jesus loved. We are not designed to live our lives alone. We need community. We need one another. We need Christ-Centered Lifestyle.

Prove it
Cross-Centered Life

We are committed to cross-centered living, by putting to action our love for our community, we cannot help but deal with others by the same manner we deal with our own souls. We’re for people. We’re for our community in loving our neighbor as ourselves. We are committed to keeping our church simple by living a cross-centered life, by appealing to the love of God in the cross for all advancement in work, worship, community, nations, sanctification and proving it. We’re for our community and the generosity to the poor will flow through us because we hold fast to the gospel as our profession (2 Cor. 9:13).

Why Does God Reward Fasting?

The Daniel Fast is a plant-based partial fast. It is based on the Prophet Daniel when he was under the rule of Babylonian kings for their personal service. Daniel recorded three occasions of fasting, though he likely fasted many more times since he was a man of God.

Daniel 1:12-15 is where we find the model for the 10-day Daniel Fast.
John Piper writes, One crucial question remains: Why does God respond to fasting?
Why does he reward us when we fast? That he does is strewn
across the pages of the Bible and history. And Jesus promised he
would: “Your Father who sees [your fasting] in secret will reward
you” (Matthew 6:18, RSV).

Church At The Park family, we are going to fast from Jan.23-Feb. 1, 2012.
Fasting can help you get back your passion for JESUS! It can reconnect you to JESUS! These next 10 days, whenever you have a desire for your favorite foods, you will be reminded of why you are fasting because it sharpens our spiritual focus and strengthening our prayer, and help us to identify with Jesus and aiding us in repentance or our desire to hear the Gospel.

Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast

All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon

All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.

All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.

All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.

All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.

All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.

Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.

Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.

Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast

All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.

All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.

All sweetenersincluding but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.

All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.

All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.

All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.

All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.

Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.