Tonight we celebrated a couple of leaders at Quest who’ve spent the last year saying yes to Jesus in a remarkable way. They’ve gone above and beyond the reasonable, diving into the relentless, and everyone who knows them has seen the evidence of their yeses to God. They are rare people who make Jesus shine.

They’re rare because mostly we say no to the opportunities God puts in front of us. It’s our learned response. From the time my kids were little, they learned the meaning and the power of the word no. They heard it, they practiced it…and they put it to good use. (Or so they thought.) The truth is they’re a lot like me and you.

We practice saying no all the time…but what if 2010 was marked as the year we said yes? What if as leaders, seekers and Christ-followers we decided in advance to say YES to Jesus no matter what?

Do you have any idea what could happen?

I’ve watched the power of a seeker’s yes take them from a stalled-out journey into a relationship with the One they seek. I’ve seen the power of a Christ-follower’s yes to reach their friends with a simple invitation. And I’ve witnessed the power of a leader’s yes that can change the trajectory of hundreds of thousands of lives.

So what about it? Are you game? Just say YES. It’s still January…and THAT’s a New Year’s Resolution worth keeping!

How are you doing letting Jesus crack your code during this series?  He knows you and actually knows the combination to your heart…pretty remarkable! Justin gave a great talk this weekend highlighting the very real barrier sin creates in our lives…(thanks, Justin!). As you face what’s being stirred up in you, don’t forget…He made you to love you. That is His biggest goal for your whole life! Here’s a glimpse of what Justin saw this weekend:

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After 4 years, it’s so incredible to be back in Cracking the Code. The last time we did this series, I (Justin) was sitting in the seats just drinking it in like everyone else. I can’t believe that now…4 years later…I got to be the one tackling the barrier of sin as we brought “Paying the Price” back to the stage in the new 2010 version. Here’s a few of the things that rang out to me…

1. Everything shifted the moment people realized that our drama was the development of an affair right in front of our eyes. We downshifted into real and raw territory right out of the gates. It was uncomfortable and shocking — and it got people ready to deal honestly with sin. Thanks to Amber & Slim for portraying these characters — God really used you to help us see the “series of small missteps” that leads to a great fall.

2. Little by little we give sin the combination to our hearts and then are shocked when we find ourselves locked inside the vault with it. God helped us see that its sin’s place in our hearts that keeps us from experiencing His love. The place intended for the love of God becomes occupied with another lover.

3. Hardly anyone thinks of the sin they are committing as the development of a relationship with sin. The drama left us with an unforgettable picture of the seduction of sin, and gave us the question: “What sin has been your mistress?”

4. I’ll never forget watching people’s faces as I told the story of how Eskimos hunted for wolves. It was a gruesome and accurate picture of the destruction we bring on ourselves when we crave sin… it just leaves us lying dead in the snow. I don’t think anyone will forget that one for a long time!

5. Bringing Part 2 of the drama into the middle of the talk and watching the unfolding brokenness of a relationship with sin was haunting. I couldn’t get over the reality of how we drag innocent people along with us into our relationship with sin, wrecking everything we hold dear. The legacy of sin will not relent.

6. The reality is we can choose — no matter how far gone we think we are. We can break up with the sin in our life. We can leave our mistress (whatever sin it is) lying crumpled on the floor and walk out the door. We can choose a relationship with God over a relationship with sin.

7. The contrast of sin as a “pathetic mistress and cruel master” with the picture of Jesus as “Faithful and True,” “Friend of Sinners,” and the Good Shepherd (from John 10) who wants to lead us into a “rich and satisfying life.” He is the One who bled Himself out in our place, dying on the cross to pay the price so we don’t have to anymore.

8. I think a lot of times we get sidetracked with the fallout of sin in our own hearts and in the lives of people around us, missing that God is the primary person we’ve sinned against. When we’ll acknowledge our sin against Him, we can experience the freedom from guilt that we long for!

9. The simple 3 steps of breaking up with sin:

1. Stop right now: it will never get easier than it is right now.

2. Turn the other direction: Put distance between you and the thing putting distance between you and God. Lean into community!

3. Step toward Jesus: What step can you take to draw closer to Jesus and develop a relationship with Him?

10. So many people were doing real work with the barrier of sin…and they’re letting God set them free. I could see it in our faces, hear it in our worship, and I’ve heard some great things from LifeGroups already. Keep letting the Holy Spirit demolish this barrier in your lives! Jesus didn’t die so you could keep a mistress on the side — He wants your whole heart because only He can truly fill it up!

P.S. I encourage you to consider attending the Mat this Friday for the Chili Cookoff and Open Meeting. Many of you will need the community and structured approach to turn away from the sin in your life. You will find friends that will care for and encourage you as you choose a relationship with Jesus over the sin in your life. You can choose this — just don’t go it alone!

What’s the sin that has your number? The one that tries to crack your code for itself? Is it sexual sin, greed, insecurity, an addiction, pride, self-pity? Sin always promises what it cannot deliver…and it takes you places you do not want to go.

No one starts out planning to be entrapped by sin…no one flirts with the idea of an affair planning to let it ruin their lives and the lives of their children…no one gives into self-pity thinking it will leave them small and embittered.

Whatever the voice of sin is promising you…it is ALWAYS lying. The fun or comfort of the moment will open the door to a trail of pain and brokenness you cannot anticipate. You are not the exception, friend.

Praying for you today – that instead of choosing the sin that knocks at your door, you’ll respond instead to the Voice of the Good Shepherd who always leads you to freedom and life. Let Jesus crack your code…not the enemy.

p.s. Need help tackling this one? Watch Justin’s great talk from this weekend on Paying the Price for sin here.

I don’t usually blog on Saturdays, but I just had to take a minute to wish my friend, Perry Noble (pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC) a Happy 10 Year Anniversary. In January of 2000 Perry launched a church to reach the unchurched of Anderson, and 10 years later, God has rocked their world. NewSpring Church has seen thousands of people begin to follow Jesus, be baptized, and take their next steps in faith. By God’s grace, they now have four campuses all across the state of South Carolina and host web services each week where people all over the world can hear the Gospel.

Congratulations, NewSpring! Keep reaching your friends for Christ…eternity looks different because of you. And Perry…thanks for being faithful to His call. Can’t wait to see you live out all of God’s purposes for you as you lead NewSpring into the next. It’s a privilege to partner with you to reach this world for Christ. (Catch Perry this spring at The Uprising…coming to Lexington April 15th.)

If you’re in South Carolina, you can experience NewSpring’s 10 Year Anniversary Celebration live at the Bi-Lo Center tomorrow (Sunday) at 10:30am. Have a blast celebrating, NewSpring!

As a leader, there is NOTHING I need more than to stay close to Jesus…to hear His voice in my ear leading me, drawing me, compelling me, inspiring me, healing me and spurring me on to live out His purposes and plans for my life. For all the action we make happen as leaders, nothing can replace our time with Him…the time we spend letting Him love us, restore us, discipline and shape us and fuel us for the journey. In John 10:27, Jesus says, “My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”

* When my mom was dying, I really needed to hear His voice in my heart say, “I will never leave you Pete, I will never forsake you” out of Joshua 1.

* When I am tempted with sin, I need to hear God’s voice out of 1 Corinthians that says, “I will never let you face temptation that is too great for you son…I will always provide a way out for you to choose.”

* When things are really confusing and I’m not too sure which way to turn, I really need to hear, the voice out of Isaiah 30 saying, “Pete when you are walking in the way and you go to turn left or right, you will hear a voice behind you say this is the way now walk in it.” I need to hear that voice!

* Whenever I’m not sure which end is up, who is trustworthy, who is with me and who is against me…I can’t tell you how much I need to hear God’s Word out of Proverbs 3 say, “Trust in me with all your heart. Don’t lean on your own understanding. Trust in me with all your heart and I will direct your path.” I need that from Him.

* When I am tempted to get busy doing religion stuff and serving and doing stuff out of a motive that is “I oughtta do this” mode, I need to hear the voice of the Father say, “Slow down, Pete I never want you to perform for me. You aren’t earning approval from me.”

* When the climb gets steep and the road gets long, I need to hear him say out of Matthew 25…there will be a day where I look at you face to face and say, “Well done good and faithful servant. Now enter into the joy I have prepared for you.”

* When I am on the edge of forgetting who I am…when life and the decisions I’ve made and the voices I’ve listened to have me mixed up about who I am in my core, I need to hear the voice of God out of Matthew 3 say “You are my son, chosen and marked by my love, the delight of my life.”

He’s got life-giving Words to pour into your soul, friends. Don’t sacrifice your time with Him in doing things for Him. He can’t wait to meet with you.

Getting to spend time with our denomination’s President & Vice President today…along with 32 pastors of churches radically committed to loving people to Jesus. So encouraging. Love what Jesus is doing through us to spur each other on, sharpen each other and ready us for the next.

Always thankful to do ministry alongside great men and women of faith partnering together and cheering each other on. As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend. – (Proverbs 27:17 NLT1)

p.s. We’re designed to do life in community, friends…with people who are for us and lovingly point us to Jesus. Just a reminder that everything about God is relational! Need a community to do life with? Make your way to Quest!

I love the Dallas Cowboys, epic movies, Carson’s magic ‘fro, watching Corey dominate in football…spending hours on end with Jacki. But as much as I love them, none of them even take a close second to my passion for Jesus, and the love He’s planted in my heart for people.

Do you want to know how you’re doing as an advancing leader? The Bible is unbelievably clear that  love must be our highest goal…and that without it, everything else is worthless. Take a couple of minutes to do a quick heart-check, and ask yourself these questions…

• Do I love God more today than I did a year ago?
• Do the people closest to me experience His love through me?
• What are the primary passions of my life?

The passions of an advancing leader will always come back to loving God and loving people. And if you’re not passionately in love with people, leaders, you’re in a dangerous place.

This week was not what we expected. A 7.0 earthquake in Haiti rocked our world, and I was reminded in the middle of tragedy how much our Father longs to reveal Himself to us…in our everyday waking, eating and sleeping…and in the tragedies and joys of our lives.

You are His dearly loved child, and He wants you to know Him and be known by Him more than anything in the world.

Here’s a snapshot of the some things that rang out to me from the weekend:

1. Watching the pictures of the devastation in Haiti as we sang Hillsong United’s Solution, I almost couldn’t contain myself. I was so proud of your response in the urgency of the crisis. You gave almost $18,000 in a special offering to support relief efforts in Haiti. Well done, Questers!  Visit our website for more information on how you can help!

2. Hearing Sharon sing Kelly Clarkson’s Because of You after seeing video stories of people I know and love who almost didn’t make it was a reminder of how miraculous it is that we ever turn to Him. You are NOT meant to live a “Because of you…” life, friends. Jesus can show you a better way. Awesome video…we will get it online soon.

3. “Where has your pain taken you?” Your response to this question will be directly related to your answers to the questions we asked last week: (1) How much do I feel loved by God? (2) What are my barriers to experiencing God’s love?

4. The barriers in our lives that keep us from truly experiencing God are the often the fruit or product of the hurtful influences and experiences of our lives. Identifying where our pain has taken us…and what the voices are that draw us away from Him (as important as that is), though…is NOT the primary goal.

5. Goal #1: Wisely lead your response to the hurts in your past. (1. Refuse to nurse hurts! 2. Go right to the person or group that hurt you! 3. Resolve to be quick forgiver!) No matter how difficult these steps may be…they are far easier than living a resentful, bitter life of revenge & woundedness.

6. Goal #2: Learn to recognize and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd into tomorrow. (Spend time with Him, read His word. His Voice will always lead you to freedom and life, into community in His Church…and into advancing His cause and not your own.)

7. The image of the potter and the clay on stage was a reminder of how much He loves to shape us into something beautiful. We can let God be the One to shape our lives instead of the brokenness, hurt and pain that so often leads us away from Him. (Thanks for leaving us with such a beautiful image of His handiwork, Amy.) He made you once. He can remake you again.

9. In the midst of God’s opulent love, there are always other voices competing for the ear and the heart of the sheep. In Genesis 3, the enemy enters the scene for the first time…and he’s immediately a competing voice with God…calling into question His trustworthiness and His authority. Eve was convinced (Adam too)…and in an instant, they traded intimacy with God for the competing voice (who never delivers on his promises). Every competing voice in our lives aids in building barriers that prevent us from experiencing God’s love for ourselves.

10. Walking through verse after verse God uses to dispel the other voices in my life was a holy moment. I could sense Him tumbling down barriers all around us. It was remarkable. That is ALWAYS what His voice does in our lives, friends. I beg you not to form unholy alliances with the voices from the hurt in your past or those with unresolved issues in your present. If you do…you will pay the price as you realize you are not experiencing His love for yourself.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

P.S. I loved seeing so many 1000s of you in church this weekend (Lex. & Frankfort)…God is obviously doing something special in this series…so let me encourage you to invite a friend to join you this weekend. You will be doing them a huge favor to bring them with you.

What voices have influenced you along the way? Where did they come from? The betrayal of a spouse, the harsh words of a teacher, the bitterness of a friend, the anger of a parent…we can form an unholy alliance with voices from our pasts – nurturing them, letting our lives be shaped by them.

For those of you whose hurt has taken you to dark places that leave you carrying the infection of the voices in your past…I’m sorry. And I want to remind you…God can take the broken pieces and make you whole. You do not have to let the painful, distrusting, bitter voices of your past lead you one more day. They may act like a friend or a protector, but they are NOT. They are competing voices that keep you from the One who made you to love you! This weekend at Quest, God gave us great handles that can crack your code. The voices that have left your responses to life broken do not have to lead you into tomorrow. Listen to the Voice of the Good Shepherd, friends. He will always lead you to freedom and life.

The Uprising is COMING! And I’m not exaggerating when I say that I am PUMPED out of my MIND over what God is stirring up!!! You don’t want to miss this!!!

1. Today is the LAST DAY to get Super Early Bird Tickets to The Uprising! The $49 rate ends at midnight, so register NOW! (Prices go up $20 tomorrow, so don’t miss out.)

2. Check out this shoutout from Perry Noble, one of the main stage speakers for The Uprising, and the Lead Pastor of NewSpring Church. Can’t wait to partner with you in Lexington on April 15th, dude.

3. Don’t miss Pete Wilson’s new blog on The Uprising today. The Senior Pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, Pete’s a great guy with a strong influence thru social media. Thanks for helping get the word out, Pete!

Come be a part of The Uprising with us!