The Factory

I had the privilege of driving car pool this morning. Why? Because as you read yesterday, I "Unzipped" and removed the top from my Jeep, and of course a cold front is moving through with rain all day! I left my doors and windows at the office and had to take my wife's van to work...hence, I had car pool duty!

Anyways, while listening to the chattering of the kids on the way to school, I heard them talk about how much they love chocolate. I told them that we had been to the famous Hershey Chocolate Factory in Hershey, PA. They wanted to know what it was like to see all that chocolate being made. I then told them we had been to Vermont and been in the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory and the huge Jelly Belly Factory outside San Francisco. They were amazed when Peyton was telling them how all of these "yummy" treats were made.

I am often asked what is our vision or goal for people when they begin coming to CSF and stay here? Our desire for each person is that they will meet Jesus Christ here and accept Him as their Savior. However, there is more to it than that. We desire that all people would re-orient their lives around the truth of God and His Word the Bible. That they would become fully-devoted followers of Christ that are passionate about impacting their world.

The goal is full devotion to all of God's principles and ways. That our heart,values and desires would become like Gods. This of course does not happen overnight and it is a journey! However, it is attainable.

People ask why we desire to have a large campus with ministries, training, sports, care centers and much more happening here seven days a week. The answer is very simple...full devotion to Christ cannot happen by attending a worship service once a week. Moreover, full devotion is as much marked by what we do as what we know. Our area, city, state and world needs people who are fully-devoted to Christ and His plans and purposes in our world.

At CSF we desire to "produce" Christ followers who live with the same God-like passion as William Borden. One that moves forward with Christ and says with a passion: No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets. (If you missed last Sundays message you can listen to it online at www.charlottesouth.com


This Sunday I will be dealing with the hard topic of how a Close Encounter with Jesus helps to heal our hurts. From the young lady who was shot at UNC to people in our own circles of influence, we know that life brings real pain. Bring a friend this Sunday to this life-changing and world view changing message. Don't forget TIME CHANGE!


Todays Bible Reading: Mark 14. This Chapter and the next two reminds us that following Christ does not always make us Healthy, Wealthy and Wise as many of today's TV pastors would have us believe. Jesus, the Bible teaches, was at times a man of sorrow. He understands our pain....because he has been there.

Knowing Jesus many times does not change our painful circumstances, it changes us in the middle of those painful times. Again...this Sunday I will share very specifically about this!