Seeing isn't always believing, but sometimes helps....a lot.

I had the opportunity to visit Browns Bridge Community Church yesterday for the morning services.  It was an incredible experience that truly impacted our family.  BB is one of the North Point Ministries campuses that is reaching an entire area just out of reach of the NP campus.  As we pursue a new church start in the Clemson area, knowing that we are partnering with one of the greatest strategic planting partnerships in the world, I am more excited than ever.   It is one thing to read about how things get done, it is another thing to see it in action.  Today feels like the first day 'on the job' in our journey.  The amount of uncertainty and risk is unimaginable.  However, the amount of confirmation in taking that risk is unmeasurable.  Over the next few months we will continue building a team of people and casting a clear vision to reach people for Christ in the upstate.  For more information on coming alongside our team, just email me at paul.carr@mountainlakeschurch.org

Position vs. Push'n

Jeannie and I first of want to thank all of you have been our close friends and who have prayed with us through this journey. Our last Prayer Letter was titled: Gods Timing. Our prayers have been answered, and of course in our Great God's mysterious way, we are now completely free to move forward with a clear path ahead.  We shouldn't have to live in fear of what God is calling us to do. However, we should always be fearful of not obeying what God is calling us to do. I believe that God is always positioning those who seek him. The Bible says that 'wise men (and gals) still seek him'. I am committed to being a lifelong 'seeker'. So why is God so interested in positioning 'seekers'? Primarily so that we can confront our greatest fears. When we confront our greatest fears, we realize our greatest weakness. When we realize our greatest weakness, we are left with complete reliance on God who can be made strong and utlimtaly glorified. Glorifying God should be the chief end of man. Our legacy and our plans should never be confused with the concern of God. In my lifetime, I have been way to concerned over the wrong things and have often failed to see how God was positioning me. I've learned that while God is about positioning me for his glory, he WILL NOT PUSH me. At some point, you obey and trust in what comes next. God is in the business of positioning us, not pushing us.

just say'n

Guest Blogger and my Best Future Friend: C.H. Spurgeon

If we were more like Christ


"It is enough for the disciple—to be as his Master." Matthew 10:25
No one will dispute this statement, for it would be unfitting for the servant to be exalted above his Master. When our Lord was on earth, what was the treatment He received? Were His claims acknowledged, His instructions followed, His perfections worshiped, by those whom He came to bless? No! "He was despised and rejected by men." His place was outside the camp! Cross-bearing was His occupation. Did the world yield Him solace and rest? "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests—but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head." This inhospitable world afforded Him no shelter—it cast Him out—and crucified Him!
So, if you are a follower of Jesus, and maintain a consistent, Christ-like walk and lifestyle—the world will treat you as they treated the Savior—they will despise you!
Do not dream that worldlings will admire you—or that the more holy and the more Christ-like you are—the more peaceably people will act towards you. "If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?" If we were more like Christ—we would be more hated by His enemies!
It would be a sad dishonor to a child of God—to be the world's favorite. It is a very bad sign—to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout "Well done!" to the Christian man. He may begin to look to his character, and wonder whether he has not been doing wrong, when the ungodly give him their approbation. Let us be true to our Master, and have no friendship with a blind and base world which scorns and rejects Him! Far be it from us—to seek a crown of honor where our Lord found a coronet of thorns!
"If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it—the world hates you!" John 15:18-19

Moving The Kingdom Forward

Over the past few weeks Jeannie and I have begun pursuing opportunities to move away from our current church position.   We have prayed hard and pursued only as God led.  While there were several options for us, God led us and landed us on the PROSPECT of planting a church in the upstate.  We were advised to explore the opportunity and more importantly, the need.  We live in a two county area of almost 200,000 people.  Over 90% are not connected to a meaningful relationship with Christ or community.  The excitement around starting a church began to grow on us.  We have done it before and know what the journey entails. 


I believe in the Churches chief mission. The church is a solid organization that will stand.  That is why we should stand for each other when the Kingdom of God and his infinite glory is at stake.  We are not at stake, our name is not at stake, our glory is not at stake, our legacy will even fade....However, the Church will stand and prevail.  I love being a part of that vision.  The Christ vision is one that we can all move forward with and have complete confidence of its outcome.  I learned about the Kingdom vision a few years ago when the church we were planting was looking for a facility in town.  I received a call one day from one of the local pastors of a strong well balanced church.   In short, he said "Paul our church has been going through a "KINGDOM" series and when we began to think through what we could do to live out what we believed...I want to let you know that we have a community center that has just been remodeled that we would like for you to use".. Pretty much just pay for utilities and help us reach our city."  That was one of the most vivid pictures of Christ that I have ever experienced.  Wow! God continues to bless both churches to this day. 

I have had tons of questions on our plans and possibilities.
We now ask that you pray for us as we explore the possibility of a North Point Community Church partner in Pickens County.  An area that needs to hear the simple message of Christ in a relevant way, a church that is led by biblically qualified elders, promotes community life, and pursues global missions.  And, for the staff of Foothills Communith Church who will continue to move forward in their vision to reach people with the good news.

just say'n

the danger of short cuts

Well summer is here so it's time to make some serious adjustments.  It only took about a week, but our 2 teenage boys are already bored.  So, I took it upon myself to pick up an employee application for Zack yesterday.  (if week 1 is any indication of what's to come...that is going to change)  He came up to my office and we spent some time going over the application process.  It was kinda kool to sit and work through something that will be with him the rest of his life.  He is beginning to put together the pieces of what will eventually become his resume.  These early first steps in employment are important and it gives me a great opportunity to invest in his future by spending a little time with him.  There are a few things that caught my attention that made me realize are timeless values:
     1. print clearly....it reflects your attitude
     2. take your time and do it right....it reflects your respect for authority
     3. answer every question.....it reflects your character
     4. be honest.....it reflects your trustworthiness
     5. be concise....it reflects your competence

The temptation, as we get older, is to cut corners on every single value.  For some reason we begin to believe that we deserve that right when in actuality that is a lie.  I hate it when people cut corners.  It is arrogant and reveals the depth of their integrity.  Cutting corners on these 5 values will never help you achieve respectable success.  The key word there being respectable.  I know many people who are perceived as successful but have very little respect with the people they think they are close to.  So, think about that. The danger of cutting corners may cost you more than you can pay. How much more thorough would you be with these 5 values if you knew what 'THEY' know but are not telling you? Trust me....they know who you really are, but will never tell you until it is too late.

just say'n

Rambling blog old school...

This past week has been a great one.  Last Monday I got to play in the BiLo Charities Golf tournament at The Reserve.  David Odom and I had breakfast early at The Reserve before teeing off at 10am.  The morning was perfect as we looked over the mountains on one side and watched the sun rise on the other. We shot a team score of 60.  The night before Jeannie and I attended the pairings party for the event and I met this guy.

I got to shoot the breeze with Dabo a bit and invited him back to FCC.  Dabo introduced me to Brad Brownell, the new Clemson basketball coach.  A great evening..no doubt.  We ended the FCC softball tourney last Sunday as well.  It was the best year yet.  We had over 100 players compete for the Championship.  The championship tournament was Saturday and Sunday.  Our team played the best it could and pulled out a third place.  This past week at work I began winding down some of the groups stuff.  This summer we will be concentrating more on getting people connected to SERVE teams.  Today Zack and I mastered the yard.  I'm in the middle of building a rock wall on the front side of our yard.  The erosion is getting bad, but I think we found the trick.  Tomorrow I will be playing in a golf scramble at Chickasaw.  The funds will go to help build a womens shelter in Oconee County for abused women.  My team is David Odom, Eric Emerson, and Tyler Swain.  Should be a first place team.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Been kinda nice Rambling through this blog old school today. I kinda miss the verbal splurge of old.  Blogs have gotten to clean and square and well written and all that other boring stuff.  Sure it's important to write well, but blogs were originally born out of the hope to just jot thoughts and not worry so much about all the technicalities.  Sure I'll return to that, but this was nice.  Reminds me of the original work of the disciples soon after Christ left.  There were no camps, no updated translations, no conferences, no Andy Stanley, no buildings, no measurables, no plans, no charts, no Fellowship One, no financial worries, and no posturing...there was just the raw need for God to be glorified through a simple message that was radically changing the hearts of thousands.  Wouldn't it be nice to go back and spend a few weeks with those guys...just you, a story, and a hope.

just say'n

Thinking Lately

One of the things lately that I have been thinking about is my son Zack.  He is now 15, drives better than me and "knows more" than me.  Having spent 15 years in student ministry I have the luxury of knowing somewhat to expect, so it is a blast to now experience "it".  I am completely proud of who he has become and becoming.  He recently set off, during spring break, to do some landscaping.  It was kinda his first job outside of home stuff.  As a father, I was really hoping he would have a good experience and work hard.  It was great to hear he was asked to work again.  He is growing spiritually as well.  We are re-engaging in a weekly devotional together.  We have done that for about 5 years.  We will be looking at leadership principles of the new testament.  I know that if I can't live out and teach the principles to my own son than nothing else and no one else matters.  If it isn't happening at the house, than.......really....really...what are you doing pastors that counts?  I have also been thinking about his incredible willingness.  He has learned to hunt, skateboard, work out, run, clean around the house, and take more responsibility with his special needs brother.  Zack is going to be used by God in an incredible way.  I love praying everyday for that.  I think the hardest thing for Zack will be focusing on one or two things he is good at.  Right now his world is an options playground.

just say'n