Live... Without a Net!!!

A Tuesday Night Walk

Some occasions live long in our memories, and tonight was one of those times for me.

While Bailey was with her dog in obedience class, I hung out for a bit with a couple of friends who are fasting along with our church. It was great to offer and receive encouragement as we continue this journey over the next four days. I'm thankful that God's put godly men in my life to keep me sharp!

But after we got home and everyone in our house went to bed, I put on my hoodie, flipped on the porch light, and went outside to read the Word. I spent some time in both Testaments, and then more specifically in the Psalms. We have a reading guide for the week. Today was Psalms 25, 32, 46, and 51. And then I reached Psalm 51:15 - "Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare Your praise."
Well, guess what happened... He opened my lips! I couldn't have held it in if I had tried! I had my iPod, cranked up some Matt Redman, Hillsong, Elevation Worship, and Delirious?, and started walking and singing (yes, out loud) through our neighborhood. I don't think I woke or disturbed any of the neighbors (I didn't hear any dogs howling along with my much less than average voice!), but I had an hour and a half of God moments right there along these streets!

Wow! Our God is truly amazing, and I'm continually filled with wonder at his perfection, power, and love. Tonight was one of those nights that I wouldn't be silent!

Yep, I pray that I never get over the sound of His praise on the lips of God's people. And he can open my lips whenever He wants!

Later ya'll!

A Few Thoughts on Fasting

As I write this, we are completing day two of our seven day fast. For some of us, this is a first. Others have done it before. But what matters most is not how many times we have or haven’t done it, but the heart and commitment we bring each time that we do it. Here are a few principles that should guide us as we fast.

Fasting is not a way to bring God close to our hearts. It is a way for us to draw near to God’s heart.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline, not a weight-loss plan or diet.

Fasting is about spiritual health, not about making ourselves physically unhealthy. When we fast, we should prepare our bodies to begin, maintain, and end the season of fasting. May we never forget that our physical bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit!

Fasting should be one thing that we do often as Christ Followers. But we will never do this until King Jesus rules our lives rather than Sovereign Stomach!

Fasting is not about making a “production” out of denying ourselves. Pharisees seek the pedestal of a spiritual superstar. Disciples know Who belongs on the pedestal as the only Superstar… and it ain’t us!

On the other hand, there is no shame in fasting. Satan loves to twist Scripture, even passages on fasting. He has fooled us into believing that, according to Matthew 6:16-18, we should tell no one when we fast. Well, next time you’re tempted to think that way, remember the truth of these words from Dr. Bill Bright…

“Many people are reluctant to tell others that they are fasting so they will avoid the sin of the Pharisees: fasting just to gain recognition for themselves. I strongly believe that attitude is a result of a wrong interpretation of our Lord's teaching and that it is a trick of the enemy who does not want us to fast, nor to share with your loved ones, neighbors and friends the benefits of fasting.

“By isolating ourselves from the support of other Christians, we will be more susceptible to doubts and negative influences (both human and demonic). We need the prayer shield of our Christian friends and family members to help us continue when we feel alone and when the enemy tempts us to give up.”

Fasting is not about “letting yourself go.” Jesus told his followers to keep up acceptable standards of hygiene as they fasted, so as not to draw attention to themselves. Pharisees in Jesus’ day were known to use dirt as a form of makeup and purposefully maintain slovenly appearances during their fasts. Why? To draw attention to themselves. On the contrary, Jesus taught that there’s no better time to keep your appearance lively, neat, and in order than during a fast.

Fasting is about sacrifice, not substitution. Substitution says, “I’ll eat this instead of that.” Sacrifice says, “I’ll deny myself this for a season to train my focus on You, my God.”

Fasting is a time for us to fill our lives with Scripture. We are called to be a meditating people. But our meditations aren’t meant to empty our minds. They are occasions to fill our minds with Scripture. Fasting provides the perfect opportunity to fill your life with God’s word as you deny yourself foods for a season. It’s a place to learn that man truly does not live on bread alone.

Good night, ya’ll!

Weekend Impressions

Isn’t God amazing!? By our count, 7 people stood to say that they prayed to surrender their lives to Jesus over the course of the weekend, either as a part of our DiscipleNow weekend or yesterday morning’s services! On top of that many more publicly stood to say that they were tired of “average Christianity,” and were ready to redirect their lives to more passionately follow Christ! We see a lot of exciting things in church, but the most exciting thing we ever see is LIFE CHANGE!!!

When the church genuinely makes Jesus’ cross and empty tomb its passion, God’s Spirit ALWAYS takes care of the results… Don’t believe me? Read this!

Jesus isn’t an ‘opinion,’ an ‘option', a ‘hypothesis,’ or a ‘conjecture!’ HE IS THE SOLUTION TO YOUR SIN, YOUR FAILURES, YOUR GUILT, YOUR PAIN, YOUR FEAR, YOUR DOUBT, YOUR LIFE, AND YOUR FUTURE!!! AND NOT JUST FOR YOU, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!

My goodness! Jon Harper brought the word yesterday morning! It was an absolute pleasure meeting him and his wife, Teresa, and having them with our students for the D-Now weekend. We thank them so much for coming to share with us. If you’d like more information about Jon and The Word Ministries, click here!

While we’re talking about D-Now, let me also thank all of our kids, our volunteers, and staff for making this a great weekend in the life of our church. Tim Whitman and his team (small group leaders, host families, singers, musicians, techs, cooks, cleaners, shuttlers, and everyone else) did a great job. And to top it all off, I now have a friend whose REAL name is ‘Shaggy!’

How about our worship team yesterday?!!! Our hope is Yahweh, Yahweh!

Quite a few of you know that yesterday many of us at G8way began a week of fasting. No, this isn’t about weight loss or dieting; it’s about preparing our hearts to be ready when God moves. I believe with all my heart that what we saw yesterday morning at church is but the beginning of a great work of God among us. Some of you might wonder how we’re holding up with the fast thus far. Well, after day 1, the most noticeable physical effect for me is the tiredness and a very white tongue! Spiritually, however, I’ve had plenty of opportunity to live this out! Continue to pray for all of those fasting this week!

What is “IT”? You’re gonna find out this Sunday…!

IT from Gateway Community Church on Vimeo.

What’s God gonna do among us next…? I can’t say that I know, but I can say that I can’t wait!!!

Later, ya’ll!

Thayer

Fasting @ G8way!

Wow! Only three more days until we begin a corporate fast at G8way Community Church. We are tremendously excited about what God has done, is doing, and will do in the future. Fasting, as one of the most powerful of all spiritual disciplines, makes us more sensitive to His leading in our lives. I believe he's got some amazing things to do among us, and I want us all to be ready to follow when He moves.

As we are denying ourselves food for this particular season, it will be very important for us to fill ourselves with the Word. After all, as Jesus so poignantly quoted Scripture, we do not "live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). And that's why we're giving you this Scripture reading guide to use during the fast. I would suggest that you read and meditate on these Scriptures at the times that you would normally be eating.

As you read them, pray. Each passage proclaims a message about our God, His character, and His deeds. These Scriptures continue to speak about the love of God for His people, His power, His perfection, AND our need to worship, trust and obey Him. Fasting is a perfect time to come to grips with this reality in your life. So while reading feel free to make notes, use highlighters to mark your Bibles, and do other things to help you remember what you have read… And not so that you can simply know the truth of Scripture, but so that you can meditate on it, and most importantly seek to apply it consistently in your lives.

• (April 25) Day 1 – Exodus 15:1-21; 2 Samuel 22; Psalm 1
• (April 26) Day 2 – Psalm 8-9; Psalm 18-19; Psalm 23
• (April 27) Day 3 – Psalm 25; Psalm 32; Psalm 46; Psalm 51
• (April 28) Day 4 – Psalm 100; Psalm 103; Psalm 111-113
• (April 29) Day 5 – Psalm 119
• (April 30) Day 6 – Matthew 5-7; John 13:1-17; Acts 13:13-41
• (May 1) Day 7 – Romans 8; 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2; Philippians 2:1-11; Revelation 5:11-14

Now remember, I am going through this right along with you. I believe with all of my heart that some of your lives will be forever changed. Furthermore, I believe that our church will forever be changed. It’s an honor to experience all that with you!

ONE MORE VERY IMPORTANT THING! Be sure to reference this link for particular instructions and guidelines for fasting… especially on the instructions for ending the fast found on page eleven. The Seven Day fast will end at 5 PM on Saturday, May 1!

Later, ya'll!

Thayer

Weekend Impressions

Passion for Jesus... There's no substitute for that in your life, or in our church's life!

How intentional are you about growing in Christ today? This week? This month? This year? This life?

It's awesome to see people picking up Bible Reading Plans after services! I pray I never get over that!

I've said it before, and I write it here again... If the only time you read your Bible is when you 'need' it, you are doomed to live at the mercy of your 'needs' rather than in the power of the Word!

Is there anything more pitiful than a an undisciplined and half-hearted Christ follower? It's like being proud to own a gold mine while needlessly starving to death!

Always pray that everyday you're 'getting' the whole idea of spiritual maturity more and more... not that you've 'got' it. When you've 'got' it, your time to be productive as a Christ Follower is at an end!

My kudos to all who'll be finishing up our "One Bible - 90 Days" challenge in the next couple of weeks! You guys pushed yourselves harder than you thought possible... God will honor that!

Wanna fast with us next week? Let me know!

Prepare yourselves, people! I believe with all my heart that God's getting ready to rock our world at G8way and beyond!!!

In a world the same, YOU be the difference!

Later!
Thayer

In Honor of April 15...

Basketball and Ministry

Yesterday, my school, Clemson University, introduced a new head coach for their men’s basketball program. Brad Brownell is taking over the team formerly led by Oliver Purnell, who moved on to Depaul University last week.

Many of you who keep up with college basketball know that Clemson is not a historically powerful force in men’s basketball. They’ve had some good teams through the years, but they’ve never been tournament champions in their conference, the ACC (actually, they’ve only played in the conference tourney championship game twice in the fifty-plus year history of the conference), and season-to-season consistency in success has for the most part eluded them. They’ve often been a byword in a league that features traditional powerhouses like Duke and North Carolina, and Tarheel fans are all too happy to remind everyone that they have NEVER lost a game to Clemson on their home court… Trust me, NEVER!

It remains to be seen what Coach Brownell will be able to accomplish at Clemson, but at his introductory press conference yesterday, he said some things that resonated with me, especially what he called the Three Principles for his team…

Passion. "I think you have to be passionate. ... I don't believe you wake up on the wrong side of the bed. ... You wake up with a good attitude and you hit the ground running, and let's make it happen. I want guys who are passionate about our team"

Purpose. "I think you have to work really hard. There is no substitute. If you don't work, you're not going to win. It's not going to happen. More than working hard, you better work smart. ... Talent is God-given. Skill is what you should be measured by."

Pride. "We're going to take great pride here when I'm the coach in being a Clemson Tiger. We're going to be proud of who we are, who we're playing for, and we're going to give you great effort."

I like those three principles. Each one is scriptural, and I believe that they have far-reaching applications in every endeavor… most especially in ministry.

Think about it…

Passion: What if every Christ follower (pastor, staff member, volunteer, etc.) approached ministry with a victorious attitude? What if we made up our minds to kick malignant attitudes to the curb, and remember that there is no enemy that can withstand the power of Jesus Christ? It couldn’t help but affect every area of our lives, could it?

Purpose: What if we stopped wishing for better circumstances or even stopped wishing we were someone else, and really measured our success in life by how hard we strived to achieve our purpose (not someone else’s) in life and ministry? What if we genuinely, joyfully, and continually put in the time and the hard work to find, refine, and deliver on our skills and gifts to achieve our purpose in life?

Pride: What if we put aside “false humility” and self-deprecating behavior, and remembered that we can glory in Jesus Christ, His love for us, and His calling on our lives? What if I lived this life, not forgetting that I am remarkably and undeservedly loved by Him, but that I carry HIS Name, that people judge Him by my actions, and that the way I choose to live my life (for better or worse) is a reflection on Him?

A few things to dwell on, huh? I pray you ask yourself these questions, and then make these three things real in your life!

And BTW – Go Tigers!

Later,

Thayer

“Enchanted” with Theology

If there’s anything that can make Christians look like the south side of a north facing mule, it’s our enchantment with “theology.”

Now don’t get me wrong, theology has its place. I’m not ashamed of what I believe, and I don’t apologize for what our church believes. Some of you may like it, others of you may not.

But I am exhausted by endless theological “posturing.” I know way too many pastors who are so enamored with someone who lived hundreds of years ago that they’ve forgotten that they are supposed to be enamored with the Jesus who lives forever! Their theology books are falling apart, yet their Bibles are collecting dust. They are so bent on knowing what to believe, that they’ve forgotten WHO to believe in. All in the name of “theology!”

I’m especially exhausted by it when I consider that…

Theology's never been dead, buried, and resurrected. It's never saved anyone, renewed anyone, healed anyone, or sanctified anyone, and it's certainly not coming back to earth for anyone!

Nobody who really follows Jesus ever sings for their theology or prays to their theology. It's not theology who throws a party when the prodigal comes home. Theology isn't gut-wrenched when it sees the plight of people who are like sheep without a shepherd. Theology isn't the way, the truth or the life. It's not the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. It never made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, or the lame to walk. It will never be the Creator, the Son of the Living God, the Only Begotten, the Suffering Servant, the King of Kings, the Alpha, or the Omega!

Our people don’t need to leave our church services amazed at excellently nuanced theological expositions, they need to be awe-struck by the awesome power and compelling love of God! And as helpful as the theology scribes may be, if I rely upon them more than on the truth of God’s Word, I’m the very embodiment of 1 Corinthians 13:1.

Clanging cymbal or messenger of God? Which will it be?

Flame away!!!!

Weekend Impressions

Week 2 of “Pure Church” – Getting Connected!

Pure Church from Kevin Gardner on Vimeo.

James Hatfield brought THE WORD yesterday. Talk about hitting hard… a Pure Church LOVES! I challenge you to keep John 13:34-35 close to your heart always!

The Spirit of God was heavy on our campus yesterday! The singing, the message, and the commitment time were evidence that He’s really working in us. Take this to heart… He WILL DO some amazing things in our church in the days ahead!

In the course of an unrelated conversation I had with someone yesterday afternoon, God has potentially opened the door for G8way to do something ABSOLUTELY and RADICALLY ASTOUNDING in our community this December. That’s right… we’re already preparing for Christmas. I guess it’s true… it gets earlier and earlier every year! :)

If you don’t expect God to do amazing things God’s among us when we gather together, why should God do amazing things among us? He responds to faith… always has, always will! AND “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” – Hebrews 11:6

Looking forward to fasting the end of this month. I crave the opportunity to do anything that makes me more sensitive to Jesus’ heart, the Father’s voice, and the Spirit’s leading. Join me if you believe that’s what God wants you to do. Click here for more information!

Twenty days through the New Testament… A fitting end to our “One Bible/90 Days Challenge” which will conclude at the end of April. If you’re interested in joining us on this journey AGAIN THIS FALL, let me know!

I WORK among some of the most amazing people on the planet, but I LIVE among some of the most amazing people in the universe. Amy, Julia, Bailey, Madi, and Avery… YOU ROCK!!!

This weekend provided several all-too-tragic reminders that MARRIAGES ARE UNDER ATTACK. The saddest thing is that most of the marriages I see crumbling before my eyes are imploding. Evil attitudes that lurk in husbands and wives’ hearts are a much greater enemy than any external foes. Pray with me that Jesus Christ will change the hearts and change lives of all who are far from him, including those couples who seem hell-bent on destroying themselves along with their relationships.

“Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God.” – William Carey… What are you expecting God to do in your life, His church, and His Kingdom today? What are you willing to attempt wholeheartedly for Him today?

IT is coming…

IT from Kevin Gardner on Vimeo.

Later ya’ll!!!

A Few Thoughts…

This past Easter Sunday was one of the great weekends in G8way's history. Between both services, we had 408 in attendance -- our second largest attendance ever! We believe God is preparing our hearts to do some pretty big things in our midst over the next few months. Honestly, I can't wait to see what He does!

With that in mind, I'm going to invite you to join me in doing a few things (some practical and some spiritual) in regard to our personal lives and our church's life...

• Pray! As Christ Followers, the communication lines between us and the Father are always available. In fact, Jesus is always at his Father's side interceding for us. Pray that our hearts will seek Him, trust Him, and obey Him as never before. We want our hearts to be ready when He moves!
• Arrive at church early! As we have more and more guests each week, it will be important for all of us to show up at church a little earlier than we've been doing. Instead of simply planning to show up at church right at 9:30 or 11, we must discipline ourselves to leave the house in time to arrive at 9:15 or 10:45, about 15 minutes earlier than many of us do. When we make that a consistent practice, we and our church's volunteers will have a much easier time getting everyone checked in and in place BEFORE the service begins!
• Fast! I'm writing to a bunch of Baptists here who may have never fasted before, and I've been to enough church dinners to know that quite often, it's King Stomach who reigns rather than King Jesus! But hearing Jesus' words in Matthew 6:16 should remind us that it's not "if" we fast, but "when" we fast. Fasting has always been a way for those who follow Christ to draw themselves closer to the heart of the Father. By denying ourselves for a particular period of time, we open our eyes to the spiritual realities around us and tune ourselves to better sense God's prompting personally and as a church body. That said, several in our church, myself included, will begin a 7 day juice fast beginning April 25. We'd love to have you join us, and if you want we'll be glad to pass along more information to you. Simply contact me, and I'll be glad to send it to you!
• Expect God to Show Up at Our Services! Question: How many times have we been to church with no anticipation that something AMAZING would happen? Answer: Too many times! And read this carefully... the lack of anticipation in our services can squelch and quench the work of God's Spirit among us. He wants passion from his people, not mediocrity and half-hearted effort. For that reason, I'm gonna ask you to begin shifting your attitude to one of excitement and expectation that God's gonna show up and show off at our services. Church is so much more than a weekly routine. It's a time for all of us to encounter a crucified, buried, and resurrected Lord! THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ORDINARY ABOUT THAT! So from this point forward, eagerly and passionately expecting him to change lives forever every time you come into his presence!

OK people, we're gonna do this together. As I wrote above, I believe God's about to move mightily among us. Let's let Him move and move freely in our personal lives and our church's life!

God Bless!