But God had something else in mind for me, and I think I need to share it with the body of Open Door. God is compelling us to love. He is compelling us to compel others to join us in the spirit of worship unto our Father. Bishop Courtney McBath spoke on Wednesday night to an excited church that got even more excited for what God was doing. I’ll admit I was slightly uneasy with the amount of excitement happening around me, but then again I haven’t been to a charismatic church service for 5 months so that explains it. One of the first things the Bishop said was, “Just one explosion is all it takes to set a church aflame.” And while the context of his whole message was about Calvary Church specifically, I believe it was very personal to my life, and maybe even some of yours.

See I have been in this consistent state of “good.” Everything’s been good! School is good. Friendships are good. Church is good. Ministry is good. Work is good. Life is good. It’s all good! But why in the world do I feel like everything is not good? My walk with the Lord is good, you know. I don’t get into the Word as much as I should, but my relationships are thriving. My ministry is solid. My conversations are often about Christ and things in Scripture. But……..what’s wrong?

I have been content. Content with where I am at.

Which, don’t get me wrong, is a good thing. I’ve been trying to learn how to be content with the place in life where God wants me. But I’ve crossed over into the realm where I’m comfortable.

Comfortable is bad.

Now we’ve all heard before that, “If you’re comfortable in your spiritual walk, then the devil’s got you right where he wants you.”  It’s true. Comfortableness is dangerous.  And that’s where I’ve been.

I don’t know where you all have been lately with God, but I encourage you to be wary of being too comfortable. I haven’t felt a stirring in my heart or spirit about anything for a while, and the past 2 days I’ve just been broken by stories I hear and the conditions of this country. I’ve teared up twice this week. I haven’t cried in over 6 months, which is very odd for the extremely emotional person like myself.

I know this was long winded, but I hope this encourages you some to get up and stop sitting on your spiritual couches, and start being an explosion in the church.

Harrison Peaks

Summer Intern

Open Door Church

Who is this newly come intern that thinks he knows so much about relational integration in church communication? He’s trying to change things around here! He wants to start using videos and updating church web info every day! And he talks so much. Words seem to fall out of his mouth because there’s no room left on the tip of his tongue.

Oh right, that’s me. Hello, world. I’m Harrison Peaks. The new guy around the office here at Open Door Church. I’ve made official history here at ODC by being the first Communications Intern. Actually, the first intern here ever. So that’s pretty cool. I talk often. But I’m supposed to! I’m a communicator!

First order of business….that first paragraph was totally facetious and sarcastic, yet holds some snippets of truth. Things will look a little different here and there (both through the church’s social media and on Sundays). I just want to bring a new flavor and some fun to the congregation. I fear that we as Christians often take ourselves entirely too serious. I’m here to lighten things up. Be creative. Bring some new ideas around. I know this may scare some of you. We all tend to freak out at the mention of change, don’t we? It’s ok. Have no fear. I have a supervisor that will keep me grounded when I get too carried away with a (more than likely silly) idea.

Ultimately, I am here to help. As the Communications Intern, I want to help communicate clearly the vision of Pastors as inspired by God….to you: the church. So if you have any ideas or want to throw me some feedback on changes with the Facebook, Twitter, the website, or Sunday announcements, please let me know. Help me understand. Help me help you. We’re all in this together. Expect to see a lot more updates, blogs, and videos from me (vicariously ODC) this summer! Here’s to a great summer of fellowship, relationship, and most importantly Love.

- Harrison Peaks, summer intern, Open Door Church

Television evangelists are great – they encourage and inspire, they give you a good little kick in the rear when you need it, maybe they offer up a quick catchphrase from the Bible to help you get through the day.

But – we need a church.

We need a physical building that exists in our physical world. We need flesh and blood people, not just television images. The friends that you will find at your church won’t just be companions, they will become your life’s blood and support when this whole following Christ through the turmoil thing becomes too hard. You need people who will come to your house to weed flowerbeds and trim unruly azalea bushes when it all becomes just too overwhelming. You need men to play racquetball with and to build fences and move furniture.  You need someone who will track you down and make sure you’re okay when you go AWOL from life. You need pastors who will come to the hospital when you find out your dad isn’t going to make it through the night. And you need church ladies who will organize and cook the most amazing meal you’ve ever had for the lunch held after your dad’s memorial service.

There’s a lady in our church who’s been here for many years, but who hasn’t been around a whole lot lately - for lots of reasons. And honestly, because we have had so many new members join in the last year, there aren’t a lot of people here who know who she is. Her dad passed away just a few days ago and the response from our church has been on par with what I’ve come to expect (visits, meals, phone calls, etc.). But she didn’t expect it and said something like “but I haven’t even been at church in a long time. I didn’t think you all would do this for us.”

She’s family.

You are family.

And even if it’s been a while, for whatever reason, you can come back anytime. You should come back. Let your church people love you. Extend yourself to love others.

You need us and we need you.

It’s never too late. Because once you’re in, you’re in.

Hockey, for instance.

Today I read a story about how fans of the Montreal Canadiens cheered when a player on the opposing team was injured when a puck hit him in the face. According to Yahoo!, the Canadiens’ fans are known for their “inappropriate booing of anthems and cheering of injuries.”

But why is this permissible? Competitiveness? All’s fair in love and war? Good ol’ fashioned team rivalry? The author of the story doesn’t completely object to cheering at a rival team’s misfortunes (including injuries). He chalks it up to just being part of the game, the culture, of his ”fandom.”

And so I thought (outside of sports), what are some of the statements I’ve heard people make when they hear of other’s misfortunes?

• A new mom returns to work after maternity leave and is greeted with a pink slip (well, I guess that’s what happens when you take advantage of the government’s FMLA leave).
• A neighbor’s house is in foreclosure (well, I guess that’s what happens when you waste money and don’t pay your bills).
• A suicide bomber kills dozens that have gathered for prayer in a Mosque (well, I guess that’s what happens when you worship the wrong god).
• A famous singer dies alone in a hotel room (well, I guess that’s what happens when you won’t stop using drugs).

Translation: they deserved it.

When really bad things happen to me, I usually don’t think “I deserved that.” Why be so quick to label other’s misfortunes as being “deserved?”

Now, thanks to the fans of a hockey team I’ll probably never see play, I am humbled – to respond with love in a way that Christ would.

And to leave the culture of competition behind.

“Things are going to change.”

Profound, right?

Jobs are going to change. Relationships are going to change. Companies are going to change. People are going to change.

Change is inevitable. The question is will it happen to you or through you?

Right now, a relationship you’re in is changing. Will you recognize that and be part of the change? Will the change happen through you? Will you work hard to actively make the relationship better? Or will you ignore the change, let the relationship change in all the wrong ways until eventually the change happens to you?

Right now, the industry your company is in is changing. New markets are being born. Old ones are dying. It’s the wild wild west out there. Things are changing. Will the change happen through you? Will this be a moment you step up and help steer your company into the next decade? Or will you ignore the change and wait for the marketplace to pass your company by until eventually the change happens to you?

Some change is going to catch you off guard. This is going to come as a surprise to you, but you’re not God. There will be changes that hit you out of nowhere like a rogue wave.

But for the rest of them, the changes you see coming, the ones we all see coming, there is a choice.

Change can happen to you or through you. (And trust me, through is significantly more fun!)

from Jon Acuff’s blog on January 25, 2012

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