we wish you merry christmas...

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior this week and look forward to 2011, we want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


from The Bagley's

you are the reason for the season...

You are the reason for the season.

I realize that might seem like a strange thing to say this time of year.  After all, that’s not what we see on the billboards and bumper stickers, wrapping paper, and cards this time of year.

That statement doesn’t make much sense unless you really consider why we have a Christmas.

You see, I’m the reason for the season.  If it weren’t for people like me, you wouldn’t be getting all the presents you’ll receive this week.  If it weren’t for people like me you wouldn’t be preparing to celebrate with friends and family this week.  If it weren’t for people like me, God would have never had to send his Son into this world.  But it’s because of people like me and it’s because of people like you; it’s because of your friends and relatives that we even have a Christmas.

When God saw my sin, and your sin, and the sin of this world…

His response wasn’t judgment, thunder and destruction…

His response…He gave His son.

If it weren’t for my sin and the mess I was in, He wouldn’t have come at all. 

You see, the sin of this world and the mess we find ourselves in isn’t a disruption to Christmas.  It is the very reason for Christmas.

Let me sum it up this way…

For God so loved the world.

And here’s Christmas part… 

That He gave his only begotten Son.  That whosoever believes in Him,

That means anyone who would put their faith, and trust and confidence in Him.

Would not perish, but have ever lasting life.

You see, I have something in common with every single person I will gather with this week to celebrate Christmas.  That we collectively are the reason for the season.  We are the reason that God sent His Son into the world.

Has there ever been a greater gift?

You really are the reason for this incredible season.

change the world by embracing change…

An interesting question...
What does the future of the church look like?


Two Histories of the Church from Granger Community on Vimeo.

Pride and conceit appear when people get comfortable. And, the church is full of two types people; those who are set in their ways and those who aren’t. I am encouraged and motivated to change the world by embracing change. (From Granger Community)


What will be the next chapter in the story?

creating financial margin

I had the opportunity to speak at Jersey on Sunday morning (5.2.10) as we concluded our series on Creating financial Margin.  We learned that God is very interested in what we do with our money.  Not because He needs it, but because He knows that what we do with our money is an indication of what is going on in our heart. 


Creating Margin 5/2 from Jersey Baptist Church on Vimeo.

I gathered some of my material from Ed Young Jr. and Andy Stanley.  They had some incredible insights to share as it related to God and how closely tied we are to our finances.
It was a great morning and my hope and prayer is that God will use this message to touch hearts and change lives as we learn to live life with limits.  Thank you Pastor John for the opportunity.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:21...
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  

amazing love, how can it be...

that you would die for me.


But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.  -Isaiah 53:5-7


Thank you Jesus.

thank you (emerge)

I wanted to take just a moment to say thank you to all of you emerge regulars out there...

In 2004 I was part of a team that helped bring the idea of worship venues to reality at Jersey. We launched our first remote venue in 2004.  It was a tremendous success.  In 2005 I was part of a team that helped create and implement our Emerge venue.  I can still remember the excitement and anticipation that surrounded the launch of that venue.  In the spring of 2006 I was asked to take the lead role in the Emerge venue along side Chris when our good friend Horace was called into new roles within our ministry.  And so the journey began…

The last four years leave me without words.  I simply don't have the vocabulary to express my heart of gratitude for the opportunity to lead and my appreciation for the incredible people that attend and have attended Emerge.  Thank you for the last four years.  Leading and serving you in Emerge has been unquestionably one of the best things I have ever done.  You all are truly incredible.  

I just want to say a final thank you to an incredible group of volunteers.  From our Welcome Team and Environments Team to our A/V Team...You all have been fantastic to work with over the last four years.  A huge thanks to our band.  You guys are phenomenal.  To all of our teams...you also need to know just how much Jersey appreciates you.  You don't hear it nearly as much as you should, but you are loved and valued more than you know.  How cool is it to know that you have all played a part in allowing God to touch hearts and change lives.

Finally, I want to thank three amazing and gifted worship leaders that I have been honored to serve alongside.  You guys are such a huge part of my life.  Serving with you in ministry will forever mark my life.  I hope I was able to invest in your life the way you invested in mine.  We watched God do some pretty awesome things together.  You guys are a true blessing.

Watching God move at Jersey and in Emerge has been beyond amazing.  We have worshipped our great God together and we have watched life change happen together.  I have no doubt that it will continue as Justin and Erik lead you moving forward.  Man, these guys are fantastic!  I am so excited to watch as God continues to move through their leadership.

Let me just say one more thing as I close this note...

Our worship should happen every day, not just Sunday's.  Our worship should be a full life response to who God is and What He has done in your life.  However, when you walk into Emerge on a Sunday morning to worship, remember the special gift that you have been given.  You have been given the gift of worshipping together with your friends, your family and those who love Jesus.  Not everyone on this earth can say that.  That is special.

Guys, we should want our worship to a blessing to God.  He has given us so much.  As you worship Him through what you say, sing, hear or give this Sunday...worship Him in such a way that it would be a blessing.  Can you imagine God watching our worship to Him and being pleased?  Can you imagine putting a smile on the face of God?

Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. -Hebrews 13:15

Thank you so much!  I love you all. 

Brian