Sorry About Yesterday–OK, not really! August 15, 2005

If you were at New Spring yesterday I hope you have calmed down by now. I have seriously pondered hiring the police to escort me around town for the next several days. But before you get ready to call the office with a bomb threat you need to remember two things, #1 – You have got to admit–it was funny! #2 – You will never forget what worship is!

For those who might not have been there–let me explain what happened. (You have got to go to our website and download the message–even if you can only listen to the first five minutes I promise it will be worth your time.)

Yesterday I began telling this story about how Lucretia and I went to a really nice place to eat supper and had the privilege to meet Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. I went on to say over the course of time I spoke with him and told him all about our church…and to make a long story short (once again, listen to the message) he asked could he and Faith attend a service. I told them absolutely and then announced to the crowd that he was there and asked if they would help me welcome him to the stage.

I will have to admit I have never seen anything quite like what took place…in short, people went bonkers. At the 6:00 service last night people even were trying to get their camera phones out to take pictures–it was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed.

I walked off stage for a second and then came back out and asked, “you bought that?” I have since realized that at that very moment my life was in danger–people were ready to pull me off the stage and beat the poo poo out of me. They had their hopes up that Tim was there…and I had lied to them (God has forgiven me).

But I used the entire illustration to make a point–which I will expound upon here, why is it that we can get so excited about Tim McGraw, a person who has really never done anything for any of us–but when it comes to worship we sort of go through the motions. The fact is that Tim McGraw was not in the house yesterday–but Jesus Christ was…and I asked, “What would happen to the church that was just as excited about Jesus as we just were about Tim?” I believe a church like that could transform an entire community…even region of the country.

What we are passionate for will show. Many people are passionate about politics. I believe it is the responsibility of every American citizen to vote; however, my hope does not lie in the Republican or the Democratic party. If I truly thought politics could change the world I would resign as pastor and run for office.

Others are passionate about sporting events. People will spend tons of money and time every weekend in the fall when it comes to football. We go into the stadiums and scream until we can’t talk. We get sunburned in the early part of the season and some even suffer frostbite during the latter part. Now I am a huge football fan–but what difference has a football team ever made when it comes to eternity.

Passion consumes us–every person you meet is passionate about something…and there is no exception. My point yesterday was why can’t we be passionate about something that matters, the church–or someone that matters–Jesus Christ?

I would have to say that yesterday was one of the top 10 moments in New Spring’s short history. I pray we never forget the lesson we learned yesterday–that every time we get together that Jesus Christ is in the house…and that we will be pumped about it and continue to invite others to see & hear what is going on.

(Props to Fellowship Church and Ed Young. This was not an original idea–I first learned of this about four years ago when I heard a tape of Ed doing this same illustration to his church. I have wanted to do this at New Spring ever since…but the time was not right until this past weekend. You guys at Fellowship keep cranking out the creativity!!!)