Exclusive and Unique Cannot Be the Same As…

John Lennon bemoaned the fact that everybody’s talking about ism, ism, ism in his song “Give Peace a Chance.”  Not much has changed regarding that sentiment since Lennon recorded his song during him and Yoko’s infamous Bed-in in 1969.  Ironically, this idea that everyone should just abandon truth and embrace each other for the sake of peace has developed into a new ‘ism’- pluralism.  Therefore, for the next two days, the topic of pluralism will be discussed and debated at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary as part of the Greer-Heard Dialogue. 

Is Jesus’ claim that “no one comes to the Father except by me” valid?  Can’t a good, moral Buddhist get to heaven?  Don’t all religious roads lead to God?  These are the questions that pluralism raises as it grows in popularity in the United States and the rest of the world.  This isn’t just a big city issue.  It permeates our entire society.  In fact, it’s so in vogue they should probably change the name to ipluralism to better match its popularity.  Think I’m overstating things; let me put it to you like this.  Statistics tell us that 52% of all Christians in America believe other religions, other can Christianity, can be true.  In fact, more than 1/3 of Evangelicals hold this position.  This means that at lease 30% of the attendees of biblical conservative churches disagree with the notion that Jesus Christ alone provides the only means for salvation.   

Harvard University has launched what is called the Pluralism Project, an effort that on the surface seems very academic.  However, if you read carefully, you find that their aim is not merely to educate people about different religions, but to bring them to a point of acceptance of other religious views as equally valid.  Turn on the TV and you see how reality shows intentionally put people of different faiths and lifestyles together to promote tolerance and demonize exclusivity, thus further ingraining pluralism into the minds of Americans, including Christians. 

The fact is that the Bible and Christ are unique and make exclusive claims, claims that were not meant to be absorbed into to larger religious landscape but stand out and above everything as the only beacon of truth regarding God, sin and salvation. 

Check out www.4truth.net for learn the facts regarding Christianity and other world religions.  

New Church Plant in Metairie

Church planting is one of our biggest needs in the Greater New Orleans area post Katrina.  The newest effort is being led by Jim Louviere, a church planting veteran.  He is focusing on people in transition in the Metairie area north of I-10.  This means that a lot of his work will be in apartment complexes, a notoriously unchurched part of any city.  They are in the process now of conducting, what Jim calls, "pizza focus groups" which are designed to learn about people's lives and their attitudes towards church.  This helps Jim and his core team share the gospel in ways that connect with their target group.  Keep Jim and his team in your prayers as they seek the Holy Spirit's direction for planting this church.

A Sad Note

I was informed a short while ago that Greg Pembo, pastor of Vieux Carre Assembly of God, passed away following a stroke earlier in the week. I met pastor Pembo only once but his reputation of being an authentic witness and a man of integrity was well known among those that spent any time serving in the French Quarter. Greg went from bar owner to preacher through the grace of Jesus Christ and served at Vieux Carre Assembly of God for, I believe, fifteen years. His unexpected death is a shock that leaves a void not only with his family but in gospel ministry to the French Quarter. Please join me in prayer for the Pembo family in this time of loss.

A Great Time in East-Central Louisiana

I just returned from an On Mission Celebration for the OuachitaBaptist Association and it was a blessing.  I enjoy spending time with fellow believers and sharing with them what God is doing in the New Orleans area.  I also enjoy the ridiculous amount of delicious food that's placed before me.  That reminds me, time to hit the gym.  One of my favorite things about OMCs is spending time with the other missionaries and talking shop.  We have the best strategy sessions at these things and I think we all go back to our places of ministry with a fresh perspective on certain things.  

More respite than time off, OMCs offer a welcome break from our daily routine.  We get to step back and share the big picture of God's work in our area, something that can get overshadowed when on the field.  It lifts us up just to remember and tell all He has done.  We are also served and cared for by the most precious saints around.  The churches that host these events don't know how much we take away from these OMCs ourselves.  The benefit is defiantly mutual.  

Mardi Gras '09

Goodness gracious me.  Where do I start?  Perhaps the best place to start is to say, "Thank You Lord for your strength, mercy, protection, grace, discernment, love, peace, presence, and so much more over the past five days.  Thank You for the countless opportunities to engage people, pray with them, tell them of Your love and, yes, care for their physical needs when the revelry left them abandoned and abused on the streets.  Thank You for sending godly men and women to go out into the darkness to quietly love and even compel people to trust You.  Thank You for those places of refuge where Your Word and our worship brought emotional, spiritual and physical rest and healing.  Thank You for always winning even when certain brothers and sisters make a horse's rear end of themselves and the rest of us because they fail to love.  Thank You for sending believers to places we've not been and in numbers we've not had before to touch people we've too long ignored.  Thank You for working in the hearts of men and women who came to this city to lose themselves but instead found You.  Thank you for putting us before drunks, punks and movie stars to share your love.  Thank You for loving every vulgar, intoxicated, puke-soaked reveler enough to die for their sins.  Thank You for loving us just as much."  When it all begins and ends with Jesus Christ, what else is there to say?  

Here are some pics from the Quarter.  

BCM students sharing trough song and testimony 

The Cross 

Breakfast at Viuex Carre Baptist

Off To a Great Start

Churches across BAGNO have been turning in their commitments this week for Sharing the Peace of Jesus and more are expected to submit theirs over the next few days. So far 18 churches and two new church plants have joined together to lift up their communities in prayer and share with them the good news of Jesus Christ. At this point, over 50,000 households representing at least 125,000 people will be prayed for individually by members of BAGNO churches who will take to the streets in a few weeks.

Here's a look at the Mardi Gras outreach event that took place on Sunday, Feb. 15 at Lakeside Baptist Church in Metairie.

This was the first time ever something like this has been done at a Jefferson Parish parade by one of our Southern Baptist Churches and it was awesome. I love the fact that God raised up one of our smallest churches, with and average Sunday morning attendance between 25-30, to start something BIG for Him during Mardi Gras. They did a lot of hard work to make this happen and with the help of her sister churches, First Baptist Belle Chasse and Celebration, this event brought the love of Christ out onto the streets and to the people of Jefferson Parish. In the end, three people made decisions for Christ!

Praying For The Lost

The first phase of Sharing the Peace of Jesus is getting underway. Churches throughout the Greater New Orleans area are considering where God is leading them to conduct their prayer walks. Maps are being poured over by pastors like generals before a strike. On our the master map in my office, significant portions of the city are being filled in as commitments are made. Some churches have stepped up in big ways, one committing to pray for 7,000 households, another for 8,000 and yet another for nearly 10,000. More churches send in their commitments each day and my excitement builds as I consider the tens of thousands for red door hangers dotting our neighborhoods representing tens of thousands of households lifted up in prayer.

It's Just What We Do

The sun is setting and the temperature is dropping into the 50s with the wind blowing in from the north. Perfect time for a snowball. As I sat and savored every bite of my stuffed praline snowball, I wondered out loud, "Where else would this be normal?" There are a lot of things about living in the New Orleans area that produce that reaction. Most of them bring a smile to my face. The way we find a reason to celebrate anything, even if it doesn't make sense. The way we turn our noses up to Starbucks because we already know what good coffee is all about. The fact that we're geographically in the South but don't drink sweet tea. The fact that we actually believe King Cake is some sort of confectionery masterpiece.

I could spend all day listing things that make life what it is in New Orleans but don't make sense anywhere else. I could spend double that trying in vain to explain why we do these things. Honestly, we don't know ourselves. It's just what we do. The best thing in all of this is that with all our cultural triumphs, oddities and downfalls, Christ loves New Orleans. This is the driving theme in our outreach as we rapidly approach Mardi Gras. There will be many who come to our city during this time, claiming to represent Christ, with the message "God hates you." They'll be in our people's faces with bullhorns and signs driving them further and further away from the truth because they fail to understand the heart of the Gospel.

Do people sin during Mardi Gras? You better believe it and so do I. Does sin offend a holy God? More than we can possibly understand. Is God's wrath for their sin justified? Without a doubt. Is there a way to avoid God's wrath? PRAISE GOD YES! A way was provided out of love and it is out of love that we must reach out to New Orleans during Mardi Gras (and any time for that matter). Believe it of not, we actually show up at parades and help people have a good time. We give them food and water, clean places to use the restroom and chairs to rest their feet. We play with their children and serve hot chocolate when it gets cold. Do we confront sin? Yes we do, but it's done from a place of love, the same way Christ provided our salvation. We love New Orleans because Christ loves New Orleans and died for her. Our intent is to make that love known because it's just what we do. It's what we must do.

Sharing the Peace of Jesus

If there's a city in the United States that needs to experience true peace, it's New Orleans. Actually, they all do, but I live here and am therefore daily confronted with this need. From neighbors that live in anxiety due to illness to those that live in fear because of their street-thug lifestyle. From the angry driver on the interstate to the angry resident protesting on the steps of City Hall. From the elderly women too afraid to go outside her house to the mother still grieving the loss of her two year old son who was murdered by a father no longer wanting to pay child support. The New Orleans area is messed up because of one thing and one thing only – sin. The drugs, the violence, the poverty, the poor education, and so on have their root in the fact that people sin and that sin ruins everything. In other words, the problems in New Orleans are, to quote Blind Willie Johnson, “nobody’s fault but mine.”

With an equal share of the blame and monopoly on the truth, The Church is the only group in position to reach beyond itself and offer a viable solution that strikes at the heart of the problem. This is what Sharing the Peace of Jesus is all about. Its aim is to turn The Church loose on the New Orleans area to pray for each household in the city, share the Gospel with each person in the city and then gather in the harvest from what the Holy Spirit has done through these efforts.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be going through the four milestones of Sharing the Peace of Jesus: praying, engaging, sowing, harvesting, and explaining how our churches intend to fulfill each aspect of this strategy.

Check out this video to learn more about our strategy.

2009 - A Year of New Beginnings

While the rest of the world records the passing of years in B.C. and A.D., we in the New Orleans area have adopted our own designation for the advancement of time. Because August 29, 2005 marked such a dramatic turn in our history, all historical items area referred to in reference to this date. For example, we’re entering into the fourth Mardi Gras season after Katrina and we just had our second snow since the December before Katrina. It’s basically a B.K. and A.K (Before Katrina & After Katrina) timeline and for many of us, it will be the dominate timeline for the rest of our lives.

This is important to remember as we enter into 2009, or the fifth month of A.K. 4, because each new year brings us further into our recovery and as we make this journey we have questions to answer and obstacles to overcome. As we’ve pushed forward, I’ve given my own description of each year. It helps me see where God is taking us and how that differs, the majority of the time, from were we think we are supposed to be. This is how I’ve labeled the past several years:

2005 – The year of Katrina
2006 – The year of preparation
2007 – The year of prayer
2008 – The year of turning the corner

So what do I think 2009 will be? I believe this year will be the year of new beginnings. For all the work we’ve done since Katrina, I really believe we are just getting started. Some believe we should already be done and have this Katrina business behind us but they don’t live here and are only thinking about the bottom line. However, where the rubber meets the road, things are about to get very interesting. Yes, even more interesting than they already are. 2009 will bring a completely new BAGNO, new Director of Missions, new staff, new vision and direction. It will also see new ministry opportunities that did not exist before Katrina. The Sharing the Peace of Jesus evangelistic emphasis will give our churches the opportunity to reach more people in 2009 than in any year before. Church planting efforts in places like Central City are now underway, an answer to at least three years of fervent prayer. These are just the things I know are taking place in 2009. No doubt there are numerous surprises the Lord has for us and I am excited about being a part of His great plan.

Merry Christmas

Jaime and I want to wish you a very merry Christmas as we celebrate the advent of Jesus our Lord.

Cold, Wet, White Stuff

When Jaime left for downtown early in the morning on Dec. 11, the air outside was cold, the clouds were thick over head and light showers were expected throughout the day. Boy, were they wrong! I would be at my home office working away for the next two hours while, unbeknownst to me, cold, wet, white stuff fell from the sky and quickly accumulated on the ground and anywhere it would stick. There I sat in my own little world, staring into a computer screen and listening to the tap, tap, tap of the keyboard while one of the most beautiful scenes in all creation was happening outside my window. Lucky for me, there's this thing called Facebook on the internet. I usually have it open at various times during the day while I'm working so I can see what my friends are up to. It’s a welcome distraction, one that informed me that things were happening outside I wasn't aware of. Updated statuses began popping up on screen. So-and-So says "It’s snowing!!!!!" What’s-Her-Face "is building a snowman." I stopped and looked behind me at the window with the roman shade pulled down and wondered what I would see when I peaked at the other side.

Weather is so fickle in Southeast Louisiana that I was afraid all I would see was gray skies, dead grass, and my neighbor out in his driveway having a smoke. My head flew back and my mouth opened wide to let out a huge belly laugh the moment my eyes caught site of my yard blanketed in white with huge flakes falling fast. There's something about snow for us in the Deep South that brings instant euphoria. I ran out into the backyard and stood their in the frigid air, big grin on my face, eyes blinking, still laughing. I wished Jaime were home so we could enjoy the snow together. I called my parents, who live in almost five hours north, to rub it in. Snow in the New Orleans area is a once in 10-20 year event. December 11 made the second snow fall within four years. That's a lot of snow for us. We could get used to this if it snows again by 2012. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The Focus of All Thanks

I bet you're like me. This time of the year gets absolutely crazy and you feel like your going to lose your holiday mind. I tell myself every year that this go-around will be different. I'll get better control of my schedule and say no to a few bring a covered dish, can good, white elephant gift, and $10 to cover the rest family fun social holiday gatherings. I love a good party, but only in moderation. I tell myself I'll get my shopping done early. Then I look at my calender and realize I probably won't do that either. I tell myself I'll watch what I eat, but I just can't see it all when it goes by so fast. I also tell myself that I'll be more grateful. I'll stop and reflect on what God has done and give Him more than my usual passing expression of thanks. I'm usually like a teenager yelling "Thanks Dad" over my shoulder as I head out the door having just secured the car keys or a fist-full of unearned money for a night out with my friends. However, when I take in what God's providence has provided, I'm awestruck. I saw the blessings pour in. I stood helplessly as Katrina took them away. I learned, really learned, that Jesus is all-sufficient. I watched with great humility as He, again, poured out His blessings. I used to spend Thanksgiving being grateful for living in the United States, having a house and cars, having jobs that pay well enough to not worry about bills, and so on. Although I'm extremely thankful for all this, our time with nothing more than Jesus put things into perspective. All life owes its existence to a good and gracious God who loves us beyond comprehension. To this day I can't wrap my mind around the cross and the new life it brought me. I cannot fathom the greatness of my salvation; what it cost, what it covers. Nothing I think I own compares. Despite my foolishness, I'm forgiven. Despite my shame, I'm being sanctified. Despite the grief I've caused, I experience grace. True life flows from Christ and to Him alone, although with inadequate words, I express my ultimate thanks.

Now The Real Work Begins

After three Restoration Fests, a Hispanic outreach service, and numerous evangelism teams in the streets, the work of the Holy Spirit during Crossover New Orleans resulted in 168 professions of faith. We praise God for each and every one of them. But before we wipe our collective brow in thanksgiving that Crossover is, well...over, let us remember that the weekend of November 8 & 9 was only the beginning. The year plus that it took to plan and execute the various Crossover events only served to get us to this point. Now is the time for follow-up. Those 168 individuals made a decision; its up to our churches to make them disciples.

It may take five minutes or less to lead someone to Christ, but it takes a serious investment of time and effort to make them disciples. When you move from numbers to names the reality of the disciple making process begins to set in. Numbers can be easily filed away while we pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. Names remind us that there are people attached to those numbers and that our job is just getting started. Follow-up always brings to mind the parable of the sower from Matthew chapter 13. We faithfully sowed seeds during Crossover but really don't know for certain onto what soil they fell. The process of follow-up helps us make that determination and gives us the opportunity to try and cultivate the pathway, rocky ground, and thorns into good soil that will produce fruit. Crossover New Orleans has always been about starting something big for God, being a catalyst for a mighty movement of the Holy Spirit. Our obedience and God's faithfulness will produce permanent citizens for His Kingdom, but only if we are obedient.

"Do I Need To Apologizes To Jesus?" - A Crossover Story

When we were planning Crossover New Orleans and considering all the various aspects of the Restoration Fests, I knew we would attract a lot of children. Kids are easy to entertain. Give them snowballs to eat, room to run around and inflatables to go crazy in and you've got yourself some sticky yet content kids. The trick is to grab their attention long enough to for them to hear the gospel in a meaningful way. Luckily for us in the New Orleans area, we have Philip and Debbie Smith. They've got more tricks up their sleeves and tools in their bag than I can count, or at least it seems that way. When it comes to working with children, they're two of the best. That's why I knew I wanted them at our Restoration Fests.

In this particular instance, Philip was busy but Debbie was able to attend both the Central City and Westbank Restoration Fests. With the help of some volunteers, Debbie set up a multi-station area designed to creatively share the gospel with kids. Picture a group of loud, hyper and ,yes, sticky kids sitting quietly and listening with full attention to the good news of Jesus Christ. Its one of my favorite sights in all we've done since Katrina. There's just something special about connecting children with a God who loves them.

During one of Debbie's presentations of the gospel, an 8 year old girl asked this profound question, "Do I need to apologizes to Jesus?" That's more than just cute, its dead on accurate. Its the question everyone must ask and give an answer for. By the end of the weekend, Debbie had shared with 138 children and 10 adults and helped them gain a better understanding about Jesus and the fact that, yes, we do need to apologize to Him. Three of them made decisions for Christ and we rejoice with them.

Crossover New Orleans Report Coming Soon

News of what God did at each event, photos and more. Check back soon.

Kicking It Up a Notch.

One of the things I enjoy most in my ministry is seeing churches and individuals take their Great Commission involvement to the next level. Such was the case this past Friday night at First Baptist Kenner's Fall Fest. It’s come a long way from my first attendance several years ago. Crammed into our acoustically challenged fellowship hall, I would characterize that night as noisy, chaotic, and smelly. It was Lord of the Flies meets Parish Fair (or County Fair for those not privileged to live in Louisiana). After Katrina, our Fall Fest took a new and more purposeful direction. Although still crammed into the fellowship hall, the fest now carried a theme that allowed kids to move from booth to booth and hear stories from the Bible, including the story of Jesus; his death and resurrection.

This year, our Fall Fest took its next bold step towards being a true community outreach event. The stuffy confines of the fellowship hall were traded in for the spacious, and highly visible, field on the church's campus. By the way, I can't name five other Southern Baptist Churches in the metro area that have access to property like this. Nearly all our churches are landlocked, even the "big" ones, and to have open green space that's nearly the size of a football field at your disposal 365 days a year is a resource I wouldn't take a million dollars for. Its potential for outreach is staggering. (If any of my church family is reading this, let it sink in. That field is pure gold!)

Not only did the fest change venues, it also shifted from a children's event to one that offered something for the whole family. The best change was an increased emphasis on sharing the good news of Jesus with the community. Add a new pastor who got behind the event and greater ownership from the church and you have an event that does more than give out candy. You have a genuine outreach event that seeks to connect people with Jesus Christ and his church at First Baptist Kenner. Over 150 families registered at the gate this year and I know of at least two professions of faith. Those in attendance had a great time and felt welcome at First Kenner. More importantly, many of them heard the Gospel. Was this year's Fall Fest perfect? Of course not, however, it was a big step in the right direction and I'm already excited about next year's event.

Tis The Season - For Festivals!

Not that we in the New Orleans area need a reason to throw a party, but Fall is here so we are. The place to be this Friday and Saturday will be at any number of Fall Festivals held by Baptist churches throughout the metro area. There will be games, candy, music, and things for kids to jump around on. I'm convinced that companies that rent inflatables get absolutely giddy around this time of year from all the business they get from churches. Most importantly, these events will provide our churches with opportunities for sharing Christ with their communities. It looks like we'll have good weather this weekend so hopefully that will translate into lots of people attending this year's festivals which will mean lots of sharing and seeds planted. Fall is traditionally a time of harvest and my prayer is that we will use these events to glorify God and share the gospel so that we will have our own time of harvest.

Vacation - It Makes God Happy

Jaime and I spent all of last week in Miami doing nothing that resembled work. We had the time of our lives. I know too many in ministry that think vacations are for chumps. They typically end up burned out and bitter, spending the rest of their lives blaming those hypocrites in the church for not appreciating their sacrifice and causing their emotional and spiritual downfall. One of the best pieces of advice my daddy gave me about going into the ministry was to protect my family. "There are a lot of churches out there," he said "but you've only got one family." I found it easy to follow his advice because he practiced what he preached. Growing up, my mamma, brother and I never wanted for his attention. It’s a gift I have long cherished and one I intend to pass on to my family.

We were staying at Jaime's dad and step-mom's house while in Miami. Actually, I think the house belongs to a Siamese cat who graciously agreed to let us stay. We hadn't been their 20 minuets when Jaime looked over at me and said, "This has been the longest conversation you and I have had in over a month." Being a woman, she would know these things. It really hit me though. We were visiting with her dad and step-mom that entire time and whatever things we said to one another while catching up with her folks during that 20 minuets had trumped any conversation we had had in over a month. Boy, did we ever need this vacation. I knew things had become far too busy for the both of us but I would have bet money we had spent more time together than that. Apparently, I'd have lost big.

Scripture makes it abundantly clear; God takes this family business very seriously. I honor Him by honoring Jaime with my undivided attention, snuggling on the couch, pillow talk at night, catering to her needs, and other various and a sundry husband and wife stuff. I felt more relaxed with her than with any activity during the week. It was a joy to see us both unwind and put the daily grind out or our minds. It was a joy to make one another the focus or our time and efforts. It was a joy to be reminded just how beautiful God created family to be. It was a joy to know that our time together was more pleasing to Him than any event I can plan or loan Jaime underwrites. It is for these reasons and more than I will never, ever feel guilty about taking a week off to honor God by honoring my family.