I’m so excited we’re doing this series, White Flag. The story of Jonah is amazing. We get to address some questions like,
“Why do you run when things get hard?”
“Who is really in charge of your life?”
“When God asks big things from you, are you willing to listen?”
“When things don’t go your way, how do you handle it?”
“What will it take for you to wave the White Flag and let God be in control?”

Here’s what has got me so pumped- it’s talking about topics like these which lays the groundwork for God to do amazing things in people’s lives. For God’s spirit to move people’s hearts from feeling burdened & weary, to experiencing His grace and love. Case and point: Katie & Mikki. They’ve been coming to Forefront for 5 months. Mikki had some experience with church before this, Katie hadn’t really been around church at all until now. As roommates, they saw our website and decided to “give it a go.” Sure enough, they are both excited about what God is doing in their lives, serving with our Student Ministry, and connecting in ways that only point to God’s amazing work.

For Mikki and Katie, it was finally the time to go from seeing through a fuzzy lens, and getting clear sight from God about life. Living it with eyes wide open- which means coming to the realization that it’s time to wave the White Flag. Check out their stories…

Mikki & Katie Baptism from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Seriously. I love watching God move through Forefront Church.
Got a story about how God has used His church here at Forefront to change your life? Email it to jason@forefront.org. I’d love to hear it.

Oh, and yesterday we showed White Flag Challenge #2: Paintball Edition. It wasn’t pretty.

White Flag Challenge #2: Paintball from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Yesterday at Forefront had some great energy. Even more than normal which was cool. If you missed service, here are something things to help you out this week:

• The band keeps cranking out amazing worship song sets. I love getting to work with Justin and the musicians here. If you want to listen to some of the tracks they played (by the artists who wrote them), click here. If you don’t have Spotify, you should! It’s free and a great way to listen to music.
•  Each week we post the messages online for you to listen to. You can listen on our website, via iTunes, or we post it on the blog after it’s loaded up (it’s available Monday afternoon/evening). If you use iTunes, you’ll be able to subscribe and get them automatically downloaded to your computer every week. It’s wicked awesome!
• Parents Night Out is this Saturday at the Forefront Warehouse. A chance to get away from your kids and get your date night on, FOR FREE! If you’re interested in this, just email becky@forefront.org with your kid info by the end of the day today, so they can have a head count.
•  If you were looking for the books I mentioned in the opening sermon for “White Flag” yesterday, here they are:
  - The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel
  - Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus
  - Starving Jesus by Craig Gross & J.R. Mahon
• Men’s Retreat is March 29, 30, and 31. Good news, if you need to take off, you only need to take Friday off! It’s starts Thursday evening, giving you plenty of time to get home, change, and drive on down to Nags Head with us. Beach house, 40+ dudes, no kids, no wives, real talk, practical application to how to do life together. And as Dan mentioned yesterday, lots of BACON. Email dan@forefront.org if you’re interested. We have 40 spots, 26 of them are already filled! Get on it bros!
• Hey Ladies!! Don’t worry, we haven’t forgot about you. There is a Ladies Retreat in April, sign-ups will be out soon. And, you all have done such a great job with this Crisis Pregnancy Center Baby shower that is coming up. We’ll be having a Big Wrapping Party and Ladies Night at… OUR HOUSE! It’s Saturday, March 1oth, 2012. Last time we had all the ladies over at our house for this, there was tons of food, laughter, and 35+ ladies making new friends. It’s going to be awesome! Email carrie@forefront.org if you are interested!
• Oh, if you missed last week, here are a couple of the videos we showed in service (we’ll have the paintball one from yesterday posted later today)…

White Flag Challenge #1: Air Soft Shootout from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

White Flag: Series Intro from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Just the other day I was talking on the phone with a fellow Forefronter. As we were chatting it up for a bit, I began to imagine he was one of the cool kids in high school. Walking the halls with a swagger that Kanye or Jay-Z would be envious of. Giving high fives & fist bumps with the other athletic kids, and enjoying “hellos and hey bros” from people as he strutted through his little kingdom, that we mere mortals call high school.

To be honest, he had confirmed many of my thoughts I was thinking in previous conversations. He was admittedly a cool guy in high school. Teachers knew him, ladies loved him, guys wanted to be him. But, there was something deeper he never mentioned when it came to being that guy.

He was lonely.

No matter how many people were around, he always felt like the only person in the room. Since he carried the facade for so long, it only made sense that it would naturally continue into adulthood. And it did. As we told stories and shared over the phone, I realized something, he wasn’t just wrestling with loneliness, he was screaming passive aggressively through the phone for a friend. For someone to talk to. What started as a simple conversation about a church event, turned into an hour and a half discourse on life, growing up, parent stories, and hashing through old wounds.

I felt for him. And, I think he heard me, but I started to get choked up a bit thinking through this. Mainly because…

In his loneliness, he’s not alone.

He isn’t alone, because- it’s you sometimes too. You go to Gel Group, attend church service, serve at events, spend time with people, hang out with your family & friends, wind down from a long day, lay your head to rest and think…

“Man, I wish I had someone to talk to about ___________.”

It’s okay. People get lonely. He’s not the only one. You’re not the only one. I’m not the only one. I get lonely, and I have human contact with friends daily. I’m not lacking for contact with people. But, contact and conversation doesn’t equal feeling together with others.

Make It Meaningful.

The next time you sit with someone- really look at them & listen.
Quit thinking about what you’re gonna say next.
Really, stop it.
You’re still thinking about it, listen to them.
What you’re THINKING of saying isn’t as important as what they ARE saying.
Be engaged.
Ask questions that matter.
If you thought someone was sad, how would you try to make them feel loved?
Okay, now do that when you are with others.
Yeah, I know it might feel weird.
Get over it.
They think you’re weird anyway.
This will just confirm it for them.
But, they’ll finally be able to say-

I have someone to talk to. And they care.

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably seen the “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” video circling YouTube (At least 16+ million have and continues to climb). Well, it stirred all kinds of controversy about whether or not it’s okay to hate religion and still love Jesus. Jay Bakker hates religion, Mark Driscoll hates it, Andy Stanley encourages you to lose it, so does R.E.M. 

It’s interesting. There are plenty of things done in the name of “religion” that are hurtful. I’ve even said “…it’s not about rules and regulations, but a relationship.” People hear religion, and they go running for the hills. It’s scary because of the stigma and social injustices that have happened in the name of God, faith, the church, etc.

But, I’m also a bit torn. I read passages like James 1:27, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” So, there is a religion that is pure. In the NIV, it’s put this way, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless…”

So there is religion out there, untainted by you or I, that God looks down at and goes, “Man, they finally got it.” I pray I get there one day. I don’t think I’ve arrived- there’s plenty to learn in this journey of faith. This dialogue doesn’t look to be going away any time soon. Many different people are putting out responses (I’ve included one below), but what should our response possibly be in all of this?

As we search after God, let’s not strive to talk poorly of the church (which Jesus died for and will come back for one day), or religion (because anything can be tainted and abused by messed up people), and instead search out to honor God, share our faith, and build one another up in love.

Because after all, Love > Hate.

Carol Of The Bells from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

I loved our Christmas Eve/Eve Service. It was a great way to wrap up 2011. The year had some amazing things take place…

• Sending a team to Joplin to help with the clean-up relief. So pumped we were able to be a part of that.
• Packing an 18 wheeler with supplies and sending it down to Alabama for hurricane relief. The news came out a did a story, it was awesome to see something on the news that positive. You guys rock!
• Two teams to Vietnam to finish the water system for 600+ people to have clean water and build dorms for kids who need a place to sleep. Our impact there over the last few years has transformed that village. This year is going to be even better!
• 17 people to Mexico to build homes for families in need. That valley is forever changed with the love our high school ministry has shared there. If you have time off during the summer and haven’t gone yet, you are TOTALLY MISSING OUT! Go this year, seriously.
• Working with PIN Homeless ministry. We have groups making lunches, people serving, and donations every week to help aid this work. I love it.
• Our Children’s Ministry collected hundreds of pais of socks for the homeless.
• Collecting supplies & throwing a huge baby shower for the moms of CPC at our warehouse space! We discussed whether or not to give other churches the opportunity to do this and not do it in 2012. The CPC reps told us they LOVE what the ladies & church have done. It’s the best shower they have all year! You guys are fantastic!
• 88 kids in the special needs program and their siblings were given an amazing Christmas thanks to the gifts you gave. There are a lot of things we could be doing with our time, but giving back to the community is HUGE. I love that our church isn’t just about what happens on Sundays and in small groups, but we are actually OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
• We saw the school lunch program happening and 100 kids have better food in Vietnam because of you. I was able to see this first hand, and let me tell you, there is no greater feeling than seeing the love of Jesus transcend in a practical way with people. Love it.
• Watching as 35 people made a decision to follow Jesus. This number is actually more, but since we don’t film every baptism, we don’t know an exact number. Anytime I get down, this is the thing that keeps me going. Every other week, and then some, people are coming to Jesus. And… those are just the salvation stories. There are dozens, even hundreds more who are making decisions every week in other ways.
• 7 Marriages that were on the brink of divorce decided to work it out. And they’re thriving! I cannot say enough how big it is that we value families and aid them in following Jesus. If you’re hurting alone, there’s no excuse. We’re here for you. We love you, please come talk to us. We are here to help.
• Saw 600+ people at our Christmas Eve/Eve Service. 3 years ago we did this and had 455 people. I was blown away then, and with all the craziness that God’s church at Forefront has seen… I was blown away again as we saw so many new faces of YOUR FRIENDS there. Remember, they want to come to church and are receptive to it. The one thing holding them back? YOU. Take a step and talk with them about God, church, your faith. You’ll be amazed at what God can do.
• The next day we went to over 58 different places and handed out thank gifts & goodies for people working on Christmas Eve. This is one of my favorite things we do every year. When we could be having a service about Jesus, for us, feeling cozy in a building, singing songs and enjoying ourselves… we went out and honored others. Because we didn’t feel right having a service for us while people are away form their homes & families working. The hospitals, naval bases, fire stations, police stations, grocery stores, McDonald house, and more were all so thankful. I love that you guys care more about others than yourselves.

We’re prepping for our December 23rd service.
It’s a Friday Night, 7pm at Ocean Lakes High School.
It’s going to be intense!

While we’ve been out filming videos for the service, we film little teasers along the way to peak your interest. Here is teaser #2 (We loaded it to YouTube & Vimeo last night, and it’s been blowing up. This is probably due to the fact I fractured 2 ribs at the hands of an angry James elf. Dr’s visit confirmed it yesterday. Merry Christmas!)

Christmas Teaser #2 from Forefront Church on Vimeo.