moments before… GODencounters Tennessee/Georgia

the staff assembled this morning. it’s the 2nd year of having a GODencounters here in Tennessee/Georgia (we are technically at Southern Adventist University). we added a few new people to the team and are waiting on a few others to come (volunteers from out-of-town and even out-of-state) but most of us met this morning for our first staff worship.

some of us spoke of our young adult friends, or those that have been mentioned to us, who need an encounter with the Living GOD. then some became vulnerable and spoke of the difficult times that have recently weighed heavy upon the soul.

it became real to me in that moment…

WE are in need of a fresh encounter with the Living GOD!

After reading Jeremiah 24:7 – “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart,” as well as some other texts, we began to pray. I must admit that, at first, I did not feel like praying. But then it happened. Something took over me, something I call the Holy Spirit. I was impressed that I must pray, I must seek God, I must return to God… because although all of life’s chaos and busyness and brokenness, GOD has given me a heart to know Him! GOD, the Supreme Ruler of the universe. GOD, the Almighty Lord of lords and King of kings. GOD, who is from everlasting and to everlasting. GOD, who is the Father of all compassion. Yes… this GOD has given me a heart to know Him! What a terrible and beautiful gift – a heart from GOD, to know Him and not my own ways. I’m broken in His grace and restored in His mercy. He loves me that much that He would see my sin-stained selfish heart and say, “No, that won’t do. Here, take this one instead… with it you will know Me, and when you know Me, it is salvation!” (John 17:3 reference)

So because of this new heart GOD has given me, it allowed me to pray. It inspired me to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy in time of need. There I was. There we were… encroaching into the throne room of GOD through prayer – seeking to encounter this LIVING GOD.

It is just moments before our first GODencounters gathering for the week – only a few hours to go… and it’s becoming clear that this time and this place and this Divinely-saturated space has been set apart by GOD Himself… so He may give people hearts to know Him, so He may be their Lord and they will be His people, returning to GOD will all their heart.

Baby Prayer for FUSIONchurch

FUSIONchurch in Atlanta, GA, just had the grand opening launch this past Saturday, March 21, 2009, in an art gallery just north of downtown.

This brand new church brought together 100 people to meet up over creative expressions of faith… mostly young adults. The entire praise team and drama team are all 20-somethings… and that pastor guy is still (barely) a young adult as well.

It’s also great that the treasurer is nearly 70 and a few other couples in their 60’s are supportive of the vision to have a casual, contemporary & creative church led by young adults and targeting young adults.

This “baby church” is now 3 days old… and many new young people are caring for it deeply and have indicated a desire to volunteer.

It is so encouraging to see the desire of young people to serve GOD. They are going to fulfill the vision of FUSIONchurch: UNLEASHING THE POWER OF TOGETHER.

Just this week, not only did FUSION worship in music, singing, teaching, prayers and praise… they also raised money to send Mercikley, in Brazil, to a university for an entire year!

Yes, Mercikley will feel the power of FUSION… it will change his life forever. My prayer and confidence is this:  that it will also change my life and yours… as we make a difference together!

Here’s my “Baby Prayer” for FUSIONchurch:

GOD. we submit to you. we are now a 3-day old church. we are just a baby… but we are Your baby.

Care for us, guide us, teach us, lead us, feed us, hold us, mold us, make us, break us, take us into Your plans from before time itself. May we fulfill our destiny in You, since we are created in Christ to do the good deeds You have designed us to do.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

~Ephesians 2:10

Have a great week exploding God’s love all over others!

NEW Young Adult Church in Atlanta, GA

FUSION

church

launches

March 21, ‘09

Casual. Contemporary. Christian.

FUSION meets in an art gallery, The DeFoor Centre, just a few exits north of downtown Atlanta.

At least 80% or more of the attendants are Young Adults in their 20’s and 30’s. Many are unchurched or just coming back to church.

FUSION is a new emerging faith community of people who are passionate about Jesus and His incredible love and grace. We are casual and contemporary… a safe place for you to explore life, faith, and God and not worry about where you’ve been or what you’ve done. We’re not worried about it and welcome and accept anyone – no matter your age, ethnicity, style (or lack of style), background, beliefs, doubts, fears and failures.

We understand that each of us is on a journey and we want you to be true to yourself in exploring spiritual depth. We believe that as you do, along with us, God will be more fully revealed – along with His love and grace, forgiveness and healing, peace and hope, laughter and joy, as well as the purpose and meaning for our lives.

Some churches are creative and have a lot of fun. Other churches dig deep into the Bible. A few churches are great at connecting people. FUSIONchurch aims to be all three.

Vision

Unleashing the Power of Together

FUSION is the process of atomic nuclei uniting together at the sun and the difference in mass between them is released as power. We feel that power at over 93 Million miles away!

When we come together in unity around the Son of God, Jesus Christ, God’s power is released in our lives and felt at far-reaching distances. As we lay down our differences and unite in Christ, we unleash the power of together!

United together in Christ, we are a powerful force for good.

Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one;
they get a better return for their labor.
~Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT)

Mission

FUSIONchurch has no mission apart from God. It’s not the church’s mission but rather it is God’s mission. We are simply joining God in what He is already doing.

FUSIONchurch is UNLEASHING THE POWER OF TOGETHER through God’s mission:

Search. Find. Form. Send.

God searched for me. I will search for others.
God found me and is forming me into something new.
God will find others through me and form them into a new creation.
As Jesus Christ was sent for us, and then sent us, we send each other…
To go… and make followers of Jesus.

When we gather, God’s power is unleashed in us and then through us as we go back out on His mission. Many churches gather for a worship service and stop there. America is home to many 1-hour Christians every week, practical atheists, who “believe” in God but don’t live like it matters.

We gather to…

“Encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.”
~ (Hebrews 10:24,25)

We cannot separate the Word of God from the work of God. The church, as the body of Christ, is not only the mouth for Jesus but also His hands and feet.

FUSIONchurch seeks to impact the lives of others in significantly measurable and tangible ways – to fight injustice and oppression, to relieve hunger and poverty, and ultimately to inspire and restore purpose through the abundant life Jesus offers humanity through selfless love and giving.

For thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out… I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,” declares the Lord GOD. “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick.”
~ Ezekiel 34:11-16

Please PRAY for FUSION and connect us with anyone you may know in Atlanta!

You can join our   ::   FUSIONchurch Facebook Group

We are holding a 21-Day Prayer Campaign from March 1-21, leading up to our Grand Opening. You can log onto Facebook and post a prayer on our Group page beginning March 1.

May the mission of God come alive in Young Adults… may they be empowered to live for Christ and share the Good News of salvation by grace through faith, and tell of His glorious return and the hope in everlasting life… may they seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick… may they BE THE CHURCH by being the hands and feet of Jesus.

_________________________________________

~ Chris Bullock

Lead Pastor – FUSIONchurch

www.fusionchurchatlanta.com

Worship As A Way Of Life

We worship. It happens. On purpose. By accident. We worship.

Worship requires something, or someone, to be the object of our affection, our interest, our desire, our obsession.

Steeple nor pew, altar nor temple are needed. Elements, rituals, equipment, rites – aids for our worship. But worship transcends the tools that assist us. Tools only serve to facilitate the deeper connection between the object of worship and the depth of the soul.

Desire links passion with purpose, no matter how right or how wrong, creating a craft of invention. Innovation through action springs forth in worship. Name it any other, it remains to be true. We worship what we want. Worship is selfish. Worship is selfless. It gives glory to its’ object and expects a favor in return. However, unadulterated worship gives glory for its’ own sake. There is no personal agenda other than honoring the beauty in the eye of the beholding worshiper. In this adoration, worship is found to be fragmented with death and yet full of life. Worship becomes a beautiful surrender.

To worship God as a way of life, it is His glory that reigns supreme. The catalyst – our surrender and His mercy. “For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all . . . in view of God’s mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” (Romans 11:32; 12:1)

Worship (of God) as a way of life becomes all consuming. It requires death to self in order for us to be living sacrifices. It’s easy to be a dead sacrifice. Anyone can die. There is seldom an act of worship in dying. Unless it’s death to self and alive to God. Death to self means death for my disobedience – not to an abstract law but the relevant relationship with my Redeemer.

In light of God’s mercy on my disobedient life, my body (my life: all I am and all I have and all I can do) is sacrificed: my disobedient desires, thoughts, wants are sacrificed on the altar of spiritual worship so that I am living a holy and pleasing life to God. Worship becomes a way of life. The object of my worship: God, receives glory through the way my life is lived out on a day-to-day basis.

Worship is not an event but a way of living. Spiritual acts of godliness permeate the life as the body is in full submission to the Spirit of God as a life of worship.

_________________________

~ Chris Bullock                                                                                                                                                                            _________________________

www.fusionchurchatlanta.com

Identity Theft

sometimes i feel like my identity has been stolen!

fraud has been committed.

not my social security card, credit cards, etc…

but my actual identity. not the stuff that says who i am, what i own, how much i’ve got or owe.

but me. my actual identity – who i actually am.

by whom? by what?

before you think i forgot to take my meds… hear me out… maybe this will resonate with you.

what makes up a persons identity?

think about it. it’s the persons name, family, friends, job/career, culture, history… but mostly, it’s what PEOPLE think about you and what YOU think about yourself and how much you allow those thoughts to mold you – you identify with those thoughts – thus creating your “identity.”

Wikipedia says that identity formation is the process “by which a person is recognised or known (such as the establishment of a reputation). This process defines an individual to others and themselves.”

Do you want to be “defined” by your “reputation”? The one that others think about you? The one that you think about yourself??? Which reputation, from which group of people?

It sounds like identity theft to me!

I mean, seriously, most people build up a reputation that does not accurately reflect their true self. Right? I’m not saying it always happens… but so often, we put on a face, whether for good or bad, in order to accommodate our social setting. Consciously or not, we have different faces for different places. We commit fraud — we are fake, not the real deal.

Average Joe is a different guy at church than he is at the sports bar, or when he’s at work or playing family games with the kids.

The epitome of this idea can be best understood in the life of a teenager, who is coming to terms with who they are, but cannot risk to expose all of their experimentation with individualism. How many teenagers are THE same person with their parents as they are with their friends? What’s ironic is that as teenagers, most of us made comments like, “My parents just don’t understand me,” as if we really understood ourselves!

Can we afford to have our identity come from what others think about us, or from what we think about ourselves? Is there another way?

It’s one of the existential questions — Who am I?

I guess that depends on where you find your identity?

Do you find it in your car? Your clothes? Your career? Your cash?

Or can it be found . . . in your Creator?

God says we are his sons and daughters. Do we believe him? Or will we let Visa and Versace dictate who we are or are not, by what we have or have not?

The stupid and the intelligent things we do often give us our reputation.

Is our identity in what we do, or can it be in what God has already done?

Is our identity in what we or others think about ourselves, or is it in what God thinks about us?

Maybe our true identity cannot be defined by the things of this world… but by the One who made the world and gave us life.

Besides, who knows you better than the One who made you?

You and I are both guilty of identity theft. We are frauds . . . fakes!

We have stolen our true identity by pretending to be somebody we were not created to be!

But our identity can be formed by what God thinks about us and what He has done for us by coming to this world in the life of Jesus Christ and becoming our sin, dying as our sacrifice, restoring to us our original eternal identity. In Christ, we have eternal value. He paid the infinite price for us. Our identity in Christ means we are of unmeasurable worth.

Won’t we stop stealing our God-given identities by trying to be somebody we were not created to be? and start living like sons and daughters of the Most High God? … all the time, in every situation?

I want to be the same person I am supposed to be all the time.

No faking.

Totally real… authentic… transparent… me.

By God’s grace, I am what I am. (1 Cor.15:10)

Let’s be children of God.

GODencounters in Georgia-Cumberland Conference, May 28-31

2008 Theme: Worship As A Way of Life

In his book, The Air I Breathe, Louie Giglio initially defines worship as “our response to what we value most.” He goes on to say that worship is the activity of the human soul. God created us to worship. Whether we recognize it or not, we worship every day… a lot of things… sometimes God.

He goes on to say whatever we worship, we become obsessed with, whatever we become obsessed with, we imitate. Whatever we imitate, we become. If we worship money, we become greedy; if we worship stuff, we become materialistic.

So, if this is the case, I wonder how my life would be different if I could truly grasp what it means to . . .

worship God as a way of life!

What do you think it means to: Worship God as a way of life?

I’d love to hear any of your thoughts.