Beach Sabbath

How often do you ever see the words "beach" and "sabbath" in the same sentence?

Well, that's going on here. We're taking a beach sabbath. My wife and I are taking a weekend away. Much needed. Very much needed.

Since becoming part of the team at Church at the Triangle back early in 2009, I've been serving just about every Sunday. Don't get me wrong. I love it. But it was time for a break. And, let's face it, it's biblical. God calls us to sabbath. And He tells us that He created the sabbath FOR US!

Who am I to disobey my Creator?

So that being said, we're taking a beach sabbath. See y'all next week. Tanned, rested and ready.

In Christ,
Jay

That's CRAZY Talk!

Do I seem just a little crazy to you?

Kinda out there? Just a bit off my rocker? Honestly, I hope so. And the reason: my love for Jesus. The Apostle Paul said the same in 2 Corinthians 5:13a.

"If it seems that we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God..."

My desire is that I would have such a passion for Jesus and His glory that the world would think I'm at least a little loony. That's because a love for my Lord is so out there, so counter culture, that it does seem crazy by the world's standards.

This week at Church at the Triangle, we're starting a new series called "Crazy," based on that same idea. Curious at what a Gospel-centered crazy looks like? Well, join us for the next few weeks.

We'll also be singing a handful of new songs, so you might want to listen to them before coming. Here are the tunes we're singing this Sunday at the Experience.

Do I seem a little crazy to you? I sure hope so.

In Christ,
Jay

"Home" Music

We just finished our "Home" series at Church at the Triangle. We set the tone with some great music before and after the Experience. Here's a sample of what you might have heard if you have joined us.

In Christ,
Jay

Experience Sneak Peak

Here's a sneak peak of Sunday's Experience at Church at the Triangle. We're holding our first outdoor worship event at the Meredith College Amphitheater this weekend...with a picnic to follow. From what I understand, we'll even have a "bouncy house." I might break a hip, but will have to give it a try!

Check out our set list...

Hope you can join us at 10:30am this Sunday morning.

In Christ,
Jay

Sunday's Set List

Never tried this before. But here's an iMix of the band's set list for Sunday, May 31st at Church at the Triangle. Enjoy.

Jay

The Prodigal God

Thank you, sir. Can I have another?

These words rang in my head as I read Tim Keller's amazing book "The Prodigal God." This itty bitty 132 page punched me in the gut like Buster Douglas pounded Mike Tyson. With each paragraph, Keller's insights on Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son landed body blows on my soul.

And somehow, I liked it. In someway, it was good for me. In the words of the great philosopher and theologian John Mellancamp, "It hurt so good." Kinda like a velvet hammer.

Thank you, sir. Can I have another?

In "The Prodigal God," the author points out that we have long overlooked the powerful Second Act of the parable, what Jesus had to say about the Older Brother. He correctly reminds us that the Older Brother is just as lost as his younger sibling. The Older Brother has obeyed his Father in order to get something in return...NOT out of love.

For someone like me that's worked hard to obey the Lord, it makes me stop and wonder about my motive. Am I obedient simply because I want something? Shouldn't the Father's love be enough. Ouch.

Thank you, sir. Can I have another?

Do yourself a favor. Read "The Prodigal God." But be warned. It packs a punch.

In Christ,
Jay

The Woman on the Bench

She haunts me. I see her wherever I go. Her words ring in my ears. The woman on the bench.

This past Sunday, Lead Pastor Lee Towns played a video called "An Unspoken Plea" in the conclusion of his message. In the video, a woman on a park bench talked very frankly about how we, as Christ followers, treat her. She says we call her "lost," and has no idea what that means. We judge. We condemn.

The woman on the bench asks questions are like daggers through my heart.

"What are you going to do when you leave this building? Are you going to share with me what you've been learning? Or are you going to just bottle it up and pull it out next week for your friends?"

Ouch.

Funny thing. Now I see her everywhere. In every conversation I have with my friends at work. In the car next to me at the intersection. In the eyes of every person I see. There she is...the woman on the bench.

I have to admit that I've had a miserable few days since meeting her this Sunday. Suddenly God is allowing me to see people as He sees them. It's both awesome and awful at the same time.

It's all because of the woman on the bench.



In Christ,
Jay