I love preaching the gospel and I love seeing people repent of their sins and believe in Christ.  I love preaching at churches, conferences, college campuses, and events where I am able to be myself and serve the people I am preaching to.  I have literally spoken at every conceivable kind of event (rock concerts, corn mazes, Catholic graduations, tent revivals, and Hindu temples).  But I don’t see many authentic MOVEMENTS of God; meaning, a kind of long-term, sustained Spirit initiated movement where people are saved, marriages restored, churches work together, and the whole thing continues to build momentum without human explanation.  I have seen a few, and I want to briefly tell you about one of them.
It is called IGNITE.  It began in 2006 in Maggie Valley, NC.  For 4 straight nights, over 1,500 people showed up to hear the gospel.  Hundreds were saved.  One night, I never even preached the sermon I prepared because people kept responding to the gospel; I would just stand up, talk about sin, the cross, the resurrection, and repentance, and people would run to the front to be saved.

Since that first event, IGNITE has spread all over the mountains of Western North Carolina.  We have seen over 2,000 people make professions of faith (400 in one night at the Ramsey Center at Western Carolina University).  We have seen over 800 surrender to a call to ministry.  Churches have worked together, denominational differences have been set aside, and tens of thousands of dollars have been given in each community so that the gospel can be proclaimed.  We have traveled to Brevard, Cherokee, Spruce Pine (twice), Andrews (twice), Marion, Maggie Valley (twice), Lake Junaluska, Western Carolina University, Mars Hill College (twice), and in 2010 we will be at the Asheville Civic Center for 3 nights.

Tomorrow night at 6:30 we are holding our kick off event for IGNITE: ASHEVILLE.  This is a free event for students and adults held at West Asheville Baptist Church.  You don’t have to dress up or pay anything to get in.  We are going to worship God, preach the word, and pray for the MOVEMENT to continue into 2010.  I hope  you can make it there tomorrow night, but if you cannot, pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to us and move on our hearts as we proclaim the love and good news of Jesus Christ to a generation that needs to know He cares.

IGNITE.  The movement continues…

For about the past 12 years, Crossroads has hosted one of our favorite annual events in the quaint southern mountain town of Gatlinburg, TN (the streets of which are filled with funnel cakes, chinese stars, and airbrushed t-shirts.  Good times).

This is your official invitation to join us for this great weekend event.  Here are the details of BOTH events that we hold simultaneously over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend.

MIDDLE SCHOOL / HIGH SCHOOL CONFERENCE

January 15-17, 2010.  Gatlinburg Conference Center.  $95 Conference Fee.  Preaching, worship, workshops, and way, way more than I can write here.  Go to www.crossroadsworldwide.com

COLLEGE / YOUNG ADULT CONFERENCE

January 15-17, 2010.  Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center.  $55 Conference Fee.  Panel discussions, provocative conversation, relevant Bible teaching and real community.  www.crossroadsworldwide.com

If you are a youth pastor, college pastor, teach a young adult Sunday School class, or volunteer to coordinate and plan events for your group, this weekend event is tailor made for you.  You will not find a 3 day conference of this magnitude at this price anywhere, and it is a tried and true event of excellence, 12 years running, including all your favorite Crossroads teachers and worship leaders (Carl Cartee, Matt Orth,Charie King, Clayton King, Brian Burgess, and Joe Jones.)

You can register now, or call our office for more info.  It’s open to anyone from any background or denomination.

704-434-2920

www.crossroadsworldwide.com

Mark Driscoll has said that other than Jesus, the first person he wants to meet in Heaven is Charles Spurgeon.  And for good reason.  We could all, as pastors and preachers, use a bit more of Spurgeon’s passion, focus, wit, and courage.  Here is a touch of Spurgeon for your inspiration today.

“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies.  And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms around about their knees, imploring them to stay.  If hell must be filled at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let none go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

I read an article in USA Today last month that stopped me dead in my tracks.  According to recent medical research, people who take a vacation regularly (twice a year) lower the risk of hypertension and heart attack by up to 60%.  The more vacations you take, the healthier you become.  Why?

The article further explained that good, old fashioned FUN is just as good for you as rigorous exercise, fruits and vegetables, and a good night’s sleep.  Frequent vacations bring relaxation, which opens up the door for fun activities.  And this makes you live longer and increases the overall quality of your life while you are alive by reducing the stress hormones that cause your heart to over-exert itself with worry, tension, and anxiety.

Leaders have a very difficult time with this concept.  Whether you are a pastor, a youth minister, an administrator, or a coach, when you are in a position of leadership where things MUST get done, deadlines MUST be met, and you never really get CAUGHT UP, you can always find one more thing to do.  One more phone call to make before you head home for supper with the family.  One more email to send before you go to bed.  One more spread sheet to print out.  But this doesn’t just apply to leaders.  It’s true for moms and dads and teachers and clerks and cab drivers.  We all tend to fill our lives until there is no margin.  And we neglect fun.

Granted, some people have too much fun.  Our culture is replete with lazy folks who will not work, live off their parents perpetually or just enjoy the couch too much.  But for the most part, our obsession with work (which is rooted in an our obsession with stuff, security, and significance) is killing us.  The science is solid.  The doctors and experts all agree.  If we don’t disconnect, turn off the Blackberry, and let our emotions and our spirits relax and refresh as we reconnect with God and our families, we will die.  Way too early.

What do you do for fun?  What do you enjoy, both alone and with your spouse, that you schedule weeks in advance?  What expenditures can you cut out during the year to be able to afford a weeklong vacation with your family next summer?  What small, fun things can you do weekly that will lower your cortisol levels, decrease your stress and your anxiety and your blood pressure?

Prioritize fun.  Without neglecting your job or personal and professional responsibilities, plan in advance the ways you will unplug from the deadly, consuming rat race.  Sit down with you husband or wife and put it on the calendar.  Then say no to anything that might come up that would steal you away from the fun.  A movie.  An overnight getaway to a bed and breakfast.  A walk around the park holding hands.  A concert.  Prioritize it now.

And in case you wonder…here is my fun list for the past week.  Clemson game Saturday. Bear hunting Monday.  Stryper (yes, Stryper) concert Tuesday.  And yes, I did kill a bear yesterday.  Now that is fun.

I have had the great honor of leading two very challenging and grueling backpacking treks to the highest mountain range on earth, the Himalayas.  The miracles I have seen while there are chronicled in my two books, Journals Of A Madman and Surrounded By The Sacred.  Those of us here at Crossroads have a tremendous love and investment in this region of North India.  If you ever go, you will understand why.

Crossroads is launching a new endeavor this coming February 2010. We will be starting a Community Discipleship Home in North India, very similar to the one we currently run here in Boiling Springs. We are so excited for this project and look forward to seeing this program get started!

The good news? we can still take one more MALE into this February’s program. If you or anyone you know (between the ages of 18-25) would be interested in this six month service and discipleship program in North India from February to July, please let our Missions Director, Justin Brock, know at crwwmissions@gmail.com or call our office at 704.434.2920

You will have the great honor to serve alongside some of the most unbelievable people on planet earth.  You will live on the grounds of a hospital there that serves the local community.  You will interact with Americans and Indians as well as tourists, hikers and trekkers from all over the world who frequent this popular destination.  For six months, you will be immersed in a culture of learning and service.

Oh yeah.  You also get wake up to the most unbelievable mountains you have ever seen.  Every day. For six months.

Also, this program will begin its second CDH session next summer and will run from July –December 2010. The second session still has spots open for males and females. Please contact Justin Brock if you are interested, or if you just want some more info as you consider it as an option.

Pray for us as we step out in faith and watch this program begin! We will let you know about the participants and all that’s going on with the program very soon.

www.crossroadsworldwide.com

crwwmissions@gmail.com

704-434-2920

Just because you are in a position of leadership, that is no guarantee that you will face criticism.  It is when you begin to lead by obeying God and His word that harsh words will be thrown at you, envy will be directed at you, jealousy will arise against you, and those you may have never even met become your critics.

We must yield and submit to the correction, admonition, and rebuke of those in authority over us and those we trust as men and women of God who hear from Him and have pure motivation for their rebuke.  But we deal with critics in a different way according the Psalm 118: 12-13.

They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off.  I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.

David had enemies.  Real ones, not just bloggers and twitterers and contentious deacons.  David had to deal with assassins.  People plotted to kill him externally and undermine him internally.  A great portion of the Psalms deal with his emotions as he deals with critics, haters, and enemies.

But as a leader or pastor, you should notice several things from these verses.

1.  We cut off our enemies not by fighting them, not by attacking them, not by defending ourselves, and not by any human effort aimed at repaying evil with evil.  We cut them off like David did…we cry out to God and HE ALONE helps us.  HE rescues us.  HE comes to our defense.  If our motives and actions are pure and righteous and we have nothing to hide, then we need not fear accusations or threats or advances.  God is our defense and HE has got your back.  Stop fighting for your own honor and name.  It’s HIS honor and name at stake, and HE will defend it and rescue you from your critics when the time is right.  (Maybe He is allowing them to advance against you so that you will learn your own ineptitude at self-defense, humble yourself, and trust God for the outcome).

2.  We remember that those who come against us to discourage and depress us are nothing more than bees that buzz around your face.  They make some noise and carry a small threat of momentary pain, but on a real scale are miniscule insects compared to the size and power of God.  Those who cause you to worry and fret are like thorns and briars thrown into a fire.  They crackle and pop and burn hot and bright…for a few glorious seconds, then they are gone.  Done!  Burned up and never coming back!  Bees and burning thorns…so small and insignificant.  Unable to do any real harm.  So why fear them?  They will be gone soon enough.  Your critics and enemies will vanish after their brilliant display of…scaring you???  Really?  Yes.  That is exactly the point.  We lose sleep and increase anxiety levels over something so tiny, someone so petty, that will fly off like a bee and burn up like briars in a fire.

The point is simple; God is bigger than your critics.  He sees the assassin sent to do you harm.  Quit worrying about the assassin…it’s just a bee or burning thorns.  Let the LORD help you.  Call on Him for deliverance.  He is strong enough to answer and defend His name and honor, and He will.  We will be defended by Him so long as our mission is the same as His.  So when the accusations, criticisms and discouragement surround us, let us make sure we have nothing to hide, no sin that demands repentance, and then let us press into the LORD.  He can handle the haters.

Every pastor, every leader, every parent and spouse struggles with finding time in their lives for reflection, rest, fun, and prayer.  I call it MARGIN.

Here is where we go wrong: WE WAIT ON IT TO COME TO US.

The problem is, it NEVER comes to us.  We operate under a false assumption that one day soon, we will be completely caught up with work and ministry, all the emails will be sent and all the phone calls will be returned.  Once that day comes, when there are no emergencies to deal with or last-minute staff meetings, then…then the margin will magically appear and we will magically relax, refresh, and re-connect with God, our kids, our mate.  This will never ever happen, no matter how many times you wish upon a star.

DON’T WAIT on margin.  You must CREATE margin.

The rules of the game, if you are a leader of any sort, is that you DESTROY margin.  It is your nature.  You are constantly doing something, thinking about an issue, creating a sermon series, pre-writing the next book, rehearsing the next staff meeting.  By your very nature you cannot stand to have free, uncluttered time just sitting around.  You want to fill it up with productivity.

This mindset will eventually kill you if you don’t learn to create space in your life.  Don’t try to change who you are.  Continue leading and pastoring and teaching and serving, but pre-empt the future destruction by planning to be faithfully leading 40 years from now.  Do that by creating spaces in your daily routine where you disconnect from EVERYTHING and sit still and quiet.  Turn off your phone for 10 minutes.  Read one verse out loud from Proverbs.  Close your eyes in your office or study and center your thoughts on Christ, the cross, your wife, or your precious children.

Utilize your assistant or secretary by telling them that you are not to be disturbed for a short time.  If you don’t have that luxury, just disappear to a quiet place…a coffee shop or a public park or the grove of trees in your backyard.  Once you’re there, breathe deep, talk to Jesus, sing a worship chorus or an old hymn, or just be still and quiet.  Do what calms you down, find what you enjoy, and do it religiously.  Don’t ask permission.  Just do it.

You will NEVER create big margin in your life (for vacations or sabbaticals) until you can create small ones on a regular basis.