So, this is our new puppy. What do you think we should name him?
MOSES or TATOE?

Holy Week Google Maps

This is something you might find interesting this week as you consider the happenings in Jerusalem 2000= years ago.

HOLY WEEK GEOGRAPHY

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

The Resurgence has a great article on the real St. Patrick...you can read it HERE.

Today is Fat Tuesday. Lent begins tonight at 12:01 am. Wonder what the whole thing is about? Here's what we're doing at Mystery.

What is Lent?
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are at the heart of the Christian Gospel, and Good Friday and Easter are two of the most significant celebrations of the Christian year. Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate Good Friday and Easter. Just as we carefully prepare for big events in our personal lives, such as a wedding or commencement, Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion (suffering) and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection.
The practice of a forty-day preparation period began in the Christian church during the third and fourth centuries. The number forty carries biblical significance based on the forty years Israel spent in the wilderness and Jesus’ forty-day fast in the wilderness. The forty days of Lent begin on Ash Wednesday (Feb 17th for 2010) and continue throughout holy week, not counting Sundays (which are reserved for celebratory worship). In practice, many congregations choose to focus Sunday worship on the themes of repentance and renewal.
As a period of preparation, Lent has historically included the instructions of persons for baptism and profession of faith on Easter Sunday; the calling back of those who have become estranged from the church; and efforts by all Christians to deepen their piety, devotion, and readiness to mark the death and resurrection of their Savior.

-The Worship Sourcebook

Why is Mystery observing Lent?
The season of Lent has not been observed by most of evangelical Christianity. Lent is typically associated with “high church” liturgical worship that many churches have been eager to reject. At Mystery, we want to recover aspects of the larger Christian tradition as a means to deepening our spiritual lives and live the gospel.
Even though Americans are increasingly secular, there is still openness to spirituality, and times throughout the year – especially Christmas and Easter – when culture is more willing to address spiritual issues. Lent is an opportunity for us to trust Christ more deeply, and maybe have an opportunity to share the gospel with those with whom we live and work.

Ideas for observing Lent:

Fast – Many people fast during Lent. The key to fasting is to keep it simple and meaningful. In fasting, the focus is not on what you give up, but on Jesus, who gave up everything he had to give us everything we need. Here are some ideas for fasting:
• Fast from meat, sweets, coffee, TV, etc.
• Live more simply in all of life.
• Walk rather than drive.
• Clean the house and give unneeded items to charity.
• Observe and hour of silence each day.
• Go without technology (email, internet, texting, etc.) one day a week.

Prayer & Reflection – Set aside time each day to talk to the Lord and examine your life for areas where you have not been looking to Jesus as Lord. Take time to repent, and realign all things with Him. Thank Him for what He accomplished on the cross and what He has done in your heart.
• Keep a journal of your prayers during this time.
• Consider your areas of sin, confessing and repenting where needed.
• Pray for your neighbors.
• Make a list of your priorities, what might need to change?
• Pray for your Community Group, Mystery, & Joplin

Study & Worship – Have a special focus of learning and praising God. If you’re fasting from an activity, like watching TV, replace that time with reading, studying, and worshiping.
• Read scripture each day, especially the Gospels.
• Discuss what you read with family, friends and co-workers.
• Read a book on the Cross during this time.
o 50 Reasons why Jesus Came to Die – by John Piper
o Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross – by Nancy Guthrie
• Worship Jesus with Psalms, hymns, or songs.
• Worship with your family during the week.

Service & Mercy – Devote time to being with and serving people. Allow your times of fasting, prayer, worship, and study to affect your love for people, serving because Christ has served you.
• Eat a meal (or several!) with your Community Group.
• Serve alongside your Community Group at a homeless shelter or other organization.
• Walk around your neighborhood while praying for it, look for opportunities to serve and love your neighbors.
• Write a letter to a friend or family member.
• Avoid gossip and being critical of others.

My Dangerous Daughter

Ok, ok...so this really isn't all that dangerous. But Lib was way proud of herself. I know you'll only like this if you're related to me...but I think that's pretty much the only people who check my blog anyway.

Far Away

I really like Lecrae and Reach Records. Here's a new song and music video from LeCrae.
Desiring God produced the music video for LeCrae's new song, "Far Away," over the weekend. It is now available for purchase, along with the mp3, for only $4.99.
If you want to buy just the mp3, it is available in iTunes for $.99. It is ranked 46 in Hip Hop as of now. Let's try to move it into the top 10!
All proceeds go to Haiti relief through Churches Helping Churches.

The Broken Heart

I received a copy of "The Valley of Vision" for Christmas and have been reading the prayers within it from time to time. Here is one that I found particularly applicable to me. I often feel I pray from a prayerless heart - my lips reciting words neither my mind nor heart are engaged in. Being a worship pastor, I must confess there are times when I am singing praise that is praiseless due to the hardness of my heart. But Christ is gracious to me, and in his wounds I find a covert...a hiding place.

O LORD
No day of my life has passed that has not
Proved me guilty in your sight.
Prayers have been uttered from a prayerless heart;
Praise has often praiseless sound;
My best services are filthy rags.
Blessed Jesus, let me find a covert in your appeasing wounds.
Though my sins rise to heaven your merits soar above them;
Though unrighteousness weighs me down to hell,
Your righteousness exalts me to Your throne.
All things in me call for my rejection,
All things in You plead my acceptance.
I appeal from the throne of perfect justice
To Your throne of boundless grace.
Grant me to hear Your voice assuring me:
That by Your stripes I am healed,
That You were bruised for my iniquities,
That You have been made sin for me
That I might be righteous in You,
That my grievous sins, my manifold sins, are all forgiven,
Buried in the ocean of Your concealing blood.
I am guilty, but pardoned,
Lost, but saved,
Wandering, but found,
Sinning, but cleansed.
Give me perpetual broken-heartedness,
Keep me always clinging to Your cross,
Flood me every moment with descending grace,
Open to me the springs of divine knowledge,
Sparkling like crystal,
Flowing clear and unsullied
Through my wilderness of life.

Yeah...so December was a tough month.

So, I've been away for a while. December was a crazy month. Family visiting, Holidays, and other craziness. I'm back...but I've already blown having AT LEAST a weekly post on here for 2010! Oh well!

I've been doing some thinking lately about priorities...for me personally, for my family, and for the church. I think that's a good thing to do consistently. I guess they're somewhat like resolutions, anyway, here are the biggest ones for me for 2010:

PERSONALLY -
Biblically Fit - Read the through the Bible twice. Steev and I are going to try and do it...Having someone else to go on the journey will hopefully help. This one will be tough!

Physically Fit - Run a Half Marathon in June (the same one i did last year) and (gulp) a Full Marathon in October.

Fiscally Fit - I'd like to raise the remainder of the support I need through 2011. I'm short about $12,000.

FAMILY -
My plan is to date my beautiful bride more consistently this year...I'd like to have a date night every other week.

I'd also like to take Libby on Daddy-Daughter dates once a month, and do some Dude Time with Gus once a month.

Consistent weekly family worship time. Anyone know of a good resource? (If you're looking for something I'd recommend "The Jesus Storybook Bible")

CHURCH
My hope is that we see leaders rise up from within our church...
New Elders, Deacons, Community Group Leaders, and Worship Leaders.

Thanks for your prayers for me and Mystery...2010 is going to be interesting!

Advent

Yesterday was the first day of the Advent season. In Advent we celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus, remembering that he came here to earth to redeem God's people. We also look forward to when he will come again and make all things new. Sometimes we lose sight of what this time is about because of all the craziness that goes on around us. Here are some daily bible readings that will help to focus our hearts on Jesus and fight against consumerism:

Week One of Advent
Sunday November 29
Jer 33:14-16, Ps 25:1-10,
1 Th 3:9-13, Lk 21:25-36
Monday November 30
Ps 90, Num 17:1-11,
2 Pt 3:1-18
Tuesday December 1
Ps 90, 2 Sam 7:18-29,
Rev 22:12-16
Wednesday December 2
Ps 90, Is 1:24-31, Lk 11:29-32
Thursday December 3
Lk 1:68-79, Mal 3:5-12,
Phil1:12-18a
Friday December 4
Lk 1:68-79, Mal 3:13-18,
Phil 1:18b-26
Saturday December 5
Lk 1:68-79, Mal 4:1-6,
Lk 9:1-6

Week Two of Advent
Sunday December 6
Mal 3:1-4, Lk 1:68-79,
Phil 1:3-11, Lk 3:1-6
Monday December 7
Ps 126, Is 40:1-11,
Rom 8:22-25
Tuesday December 8
Ps 126, Is 19:18-25,
2 Pt 1:2-15
Wednesday December 9
Ps 126, Is 35:3-7, Lk 7:18-30
Thursday December 10
Is 12:2-6, Am 6:1-8,
2 Cor 8:1-15
Friday December 11
Is 12:2-6, Am 8:4-12,
2 Cor 9:1-15
Saturday December 12
Is 12:2-6, Am 9:8-15,
Lk 1:57-66

Week Three of Advent
Sunday December 13
Zep 3:14-20, Is 12:2-6,
Phil 4:4-7, Lk 3:7-18
Monday December 14
Is 11:1-9, Num 16:1-19,
Heb 13:7-17
Tuesday December 15
Is 11:1-9, Num16:20-35,
Acts 28:23-31
Wednesday December 16
Is 11:1-9, Mic 4:8-13,
Lk 7:31-35
Thursday December 17
Ps 80:1-7, Jer 31:31-34,
Heb 10:10-18
Friday December 18
Ps 80:1-7, Is 42:10-18,
Heb 10:32-39
Saturday December 19
Ps 80:1-7, Is 66:7-11,
Lk 13:31-35

Week Four of Advent
Sunday December 20
Mic 5:2-5a, Ps 80:1-7,
Heb10:5-10, Lk 1:39-45
Monday December 21
Ps 113, Gen 25:19-28,
Col 1:15-20
Tuesday December 22
Lk 1:46b-55, Mic 4:1-5,
Eph 2:11-22
Wednesday December 23
Lk 1:46b-55, Mic 4:6-8,
2 Pt 1:16-21
Thursday December 24
Is 9:2-7, Ps 96, Titus 2:11-14,
Lk 2:1-20
Friday December 25
Is 52:7-10, Ps 98, Heb 1:1-12,
Jn 1:1-14

Mystery in the News

The local FOX affiliate did a piece on us!
Here it is:


Thanks to Mike Corcoran at Fox for the great job!

Twenty Four Years Ago Today

November 10, 1985 was the day that I was baptized into Christ at Seymour Heights Christian Church in Seymour, TN. I remember that week before being convicted of my sin while washing my hair in the shower. I don't remember what I had been learning, or what was going on during that week...but I know that Christ showed me my sin and my guilt, and revealed to me his righteousness and freedom that were offered to me. I came out of the shower bawling and telling my parents that I wanted to be a christian. The pastor of our church came by sometime that week and talked to me about what it meant to be a christian, and my dad baptized me that next Sunday.

Erin and I were talking this morning about coming to faith and re-telling a little of our stories. As we were talking I glanced at my watch and saw 11-10 and remembered what happened so many years ago today.

Leaky Roof!

We spent a lot of time on the roof last week at the Mystery Building. Thanks mostly to two of our men here, we patched the roof and hopefully got it ready for winter. Last week's weather was amazing...highs in the 70's, and no rain whatsoever. We have known for some time that the roof needed repaired. It honestly needs replaced...but the bids on replacing our roof are pretty expensive...so we're trying to get the most out of what we have. So Jenka and Russ worked hard all week at patching our roof and making it so that we can at least get through the winter. It looks really good, and I am grateful for guys like Jenka and Russ.

We have great people who are part of our Mystery family!

October 31, 1517

Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg door.

You can read them here.

Reaching the Next Generation

(Sorry, I couldn't decide which picture was best...so I put both.)

I know, I know...this is my second post of the day...I'll try and pace myself from here on out. Kevin DeYoung has some good insight on reaching the next generation so I thought I'd link to them:

Grab Them With Passion

Win Them With Love

Hold Them With Holiness

Challenge Them With Truth

Amaze Them With God

Fishing with Dave

I had a great time this weekend with my friend Dave McNay. He flew in Thursday night, then after breakfast on Friday morning we took off to see if we could catch a few trout with our fly rods. Friday morning was cold and rainy...not what most people would consider good fishing weather. It didn't bother Dave and I a bit, and we layered up and had a great day of fishing. The weather kept most people inside and we had the streams to ourselves. Our first stop was Hickory creek in Neosho. I had only been there a couple times before, so I wasn't real familiar with where to fish. A guy from Neosho told us about the other part of the stream that was in a city park...so we headed there and finally found some fish. Dave found a sweet pocket where several trout were holding. We both caught fish out of it...the picture at the top is one of the fish I caught out of there. Dave landed 6 trout from Hickory, and I managed to bring two to hand. We were off to a good start!

From Hickory, we headed east to Granby - the oldest mining town in the Midwest evidently. In Granby, we grabbed some lunch at JJ's. It's pretty much the only place in Granby as far as I could tell. Over lunch we talked about some ideas Dave has for a children's book. He has some good ideas, and I'm excited about the prospect of doing some illustrations for it! Who knows where it ends up, but it will be fun!

Our next stop was Jolly Mill and Capps Creek - which is several miles east of Granby. Jolly Mill was great...Dave and I both landed several fish and were a little disappointed we didn't bring a cooler to keep some of the trout we caught. We braved the wind and rain the entire afternoon...which is pretty easy to do when you're hooking fish! The sunset was amazing as the clouds in the west were finally clearing and turned bright red as the sun dipped below them. At dark we packed up our gear, took off our waders, and went searching for some mexican food...which we finally found in Republic, MO.

After dinner we headed to Branson, resisted to temptaion to see Yakov, and found a campsite at Table Rock Lake. We were looking forward to the prospect of hooking into some large trout in Lake Taneycomo in the morning. At daybreak we got up, packed the tent and headed out - only to find that Taneycomo is blown out because of all the rain we've had in SW MO lately. It was unfishable. So, we found some breakfast at a place where a Monopoly tournament was starting and some old dude that looked EXACTLY like Santa Clause was eating with his friends who weren't even close to looking like elves.

After breakfast we took the scenic route to Roaring River State park. The weather was amazing on Saturday...warm and sunny. So there were a TON of people trying to catch trout at Roaring River. Neither Dave nor I was excited about the idea of elbowing in between two people to try and catch anything...so we left Roaring River without even getting out of the truck. Part of the joy of fishing is in the solitude...and Roaring River looked more stressful than anything else. We went back to what we knew - Capps Creek at Jolly Mill! There were several people fishing Capps when we got there, but nothing like Roaring River, so there was plenty of space to find your own stretch of water. Dave and I both caught several fish...and had a great time enjoying the weather and the fishing. I haven't had the chance to do anyhting like that in a while and it was great to be able to spend osme time with an old friend.

I am grateful to Jesus for Dave. I always have been. He was someone I looked up to in Youth Group growing up...even though the more we talk, the more we both come to see that we desperately needed saving form our religiosity! Christ has proven himself faithful to both of us and we are both blessed beyond measure with salvation, good church families, great wives and beautiful children. Thanks Dave for the great weekend fishing, talking, and praying together!

Yom Kippur

Today is Yom Kippur in the Jewish calendar...here's a good article on the significance of this day for Christians.

The Heavens Declare...

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." Psalm 19:1

I am amazed by God's creativity. He overflows with creativity. I wonder how many things He has created that the Hubble Telescope will never see. I eagerly await Heaven where I will be astonished at His beauty.

Check out the slide show HERE.

What Jesus has done...

Mystery Fall Update

Hello from Joplin!
I hope this newsletter finds you doing well! Things are well here in Southwest Missouri. We have had a busy but nice summer! It has been a fairly mild here and the heat has not hit us with the full force it usually does. I am excited to be a full time pastor as I have officially transitioned from CIY to Mystery this month. A summer highlight for me was preaching three weeks in a row at Mystery this July. It was a great opportunity, and I am really enjoying being able to preach more often as I pastor here. If you are interested in any of the messages from our services, please check out our podcast. You can access it via our website or on itunes. If you happen to listen to a message I preach, I would love your feedback as I am always looking for how I can improve! I am excited about the fall here in Joplin and am looking forward to what Jesus has in store for Mystery!

So, What is God Doing?
God is doing some awesome things, both in my heart and in the heart of Mystery. I guess I’ll start with me. Jesus has used Mystery to continue to change me. The years I’ve spent doing ministry have been good, and there are some incredible things that I’ve seen Jesus do in people’s hearts and lives, but I’ve never really been a pastor to people. For most of my ministry, I’ve tried to keep people at a safe distance. Through Mystery, Jesus is changing me into a person who comes along side people to point them to Him rather than someone who keeps them at arm’s length so things don’t get too messy. I’m learning a better perspective on leading worship. I still want the music to be well done and relevant – but even more than that I’m learning the importance of shepherding the hearts of those who are helping to lead and play music. Are they worshipping Jesus? Not just on stage for the four or five songs we may do on a Sunday, but are they worshipping Him throughout their week? Do the lyrics of the songs mean anything to them as they live their lives Monday through Saturday? As we have continue to grow as worshippers, we see evidence of Jesus moving in the hearts of our church family - specifically in our Sunday morning gatherings.

Coming alongside people does indeed get messy though! We want to be a church that seeks the good of the city for the glory of Christ…and so we have seen people of the city begin to come to our church. Some of these people are quite poor as Joplin has many people who live below the poverty line. Joplin is also a city full of addictions – gambling, alcohol, meth, etc. We live in a city that is full of hurting people, people who need to know the truth and grace that is in Jesus. We have an incredible opportunity to share the gospel with people, but we need wisdom and compassion in order to best help. In all honesty, this has been something that has forced me into places that I am not comfortable. Scriptures talk a lot about the poor…and they cannot be ignored because they make us uncomfortable! Thank you for your prayers for me and for Mystery as we seek to truly help people first and foremost through the gospel of Jesus

Another one of the things Jesus has allowed Mystery to be a part of is a monthly event called ArtWalk. On the third Thursday of each month, our building downtown becomes an art gallery as it is filled with local Art, live music, and great food. Not many churches have an opportunity to love and serve the city each month in the way we do! People come to see the art, eat the food, and listen to the music and we have a great chance to meet them, and a huge opportunity to live out and share the gospel! Many of the artists who come are blown away by how the people of our church love and care for them. One of the ladies from our church prepares food for the event every week and the rumor is that our gallery has the best food in the ArtWalk…it doesn’t surprise me a bit!

Thank You!
Finally, I wanted to say thank you for your support of the work here in Joplin. You are such a huge encouragement and blessing! Thank you for your prayers for us, and thank you for your financial support! Jesus is growing a church, and changing a city through what you are doing! If you would like to talk or have questions, please feel free to email me at nate@mysterychurch.com, or call at 417.781.7771.

What In the World is Going On?

I can't believe the weather we're having here in SWMO right now. The high today is only supposed to be 83. This is not the middle of July weather for us! It has been wonderful.

This month has been so busy! I finished up leading CIY MOVE in Durango, CO, celebrated the 4th with Erin's mom and dad, and then came back to Joplin where I have preached the last two weeks. This week will be the third Sunday I have preached in a row. I've never done anything like that before. I have really been stretched. I came back from CO excited to sing and lead music...but in Jesus' providence I haven't been able to do that yet. Not leading has allowed me time to think through the fall, and allowed me to focus on what really matters and what Christ has called me to: Making Disciples. In all that I do, the goal is to point people to Jesus. At the outset of going "full-time" with Mystery...I cannot lose sight of that calling. No matter what I'm doing, I have to be centered on Christ and His cross while pointing others to do the same. What does that look like in regards to "leading worship"? That is what I've been thinking about recently.

Mystery has been doing some exciting things this summer. Since our move to downtown, we've been able to be a part of Main Street Joplin's Discover Downtown Third Thursday. We have hosted an art walk each 3rd Thursday of the month since May. It has been really cool to be able to have artists come and show their work in our building. This month we had a band from Joplin - Big Canoe - come and play while people enjoyed the art. Big canoe was great, and it was great to have them play in our building. I hope to be able to play a few songs in August for Art Walk. It would be a lot of fun!

I am really looking forward to the fall and what is in store for Mystery!